The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link Read Online Free Page B

in the area are listed other as the means of discovery,” Margret said.
    “I think all the wells were discovered by Grandpa.”
    “This is just shit talk. I‘m going,” Tammy said. She got up and stalked out of the room.
    Jenny laughed. “That was funny. I don’t care if your story was made up or true. I’m just sick of hearing about water every night. Thanks for shutting her up.” She raised her glass.
    I finished my drink. “Sorry, Brice, got to go. Jack wants me at it at five. Thanks, hope we’ll do this again soon.”
    * * * *
    Margret awakened me in a daze. I sat up and smacked my head on the inside of my tube. I hadn’t slept well, and kept dreaming I was inside a coffin. I climbed out and found several of my roomies were sleeping on the couches and floor. Guess I wasn’t the only one who felt cramped in a tube.
    “Drake, by the shower is a locker that has your work uniform, boots and safety glasses. You’re required to wear your uniform. Sorry,” Margret said.
    After taking my shower, I pulled out the ugly brown coveralls and work boots. The coveralls were sad. They had pockets all over and my name printed on the left breast. I’d never worn coveralls in my life. Dad had tried to get me into a pair once, but I rejected them. No way was I going to wear that stupid-looking gorilla suit. I swallowed hard and climbed into the rag, avoiding looking into any mirror.
    I staggered into our mess hall, grabbed a stack of donuts and two cups of coffee. I balanced them on a plate. Margret give me directions to maintenance. The halls were empty at four thirty in the morning ship time. Good thing or I might have spilled the coffee. She led me down a hallway past store rooms to a set of double wide doors. The sign read, Restricted area maintenance. Ship personnel only. On the wall was a palm reader. I placed my hand on it, the lock snapped and the door slid open.
    The room was dark. I was the first to arrive. I stepped inside, and the lights came on, illuminating the clean shop. To the left was a room crowded with electronic test equipment. Ahead was a conference room, and to the side a nice office. I took the coffee and donuts into the conference room, then wandered through the others. Going to the right I found workbenches and two replicators. Everything was neat and clean, except one bench that was covered with tools and junk. I sighed. Well, I’d found my work area.
    I jumped at the sound of the lock releasing. Jack entered, carrying a thermos of coffee in one hand and tablet in the other. “Good, you’re early. I like that. Clean that pile of shit up,” he said, heading toward his office.
    It didn’t take long before I had a stack of coffee cups for the mess hall. I put all the tools away, adding the screw driver and wrench I’d found in my tube. As I worked, I heard the door lock snap again. I looked up as another man entered. He’d been sitting next to Jack on the shuttle.
    He walked over and shook his head. “I’m glad you’re here. I didn’t want to clean up that mess. Name’s Bob.” He stretched out his hand.
    I stood and clasped it. “Drake. Nice to meet you.”
    “Where you from, Drake?”
    “Mars, born and raised. And you?”
    “Earth, New York. We left when I was ten.”
    “The Yankees. Did you see them play?”
    “No baseball. I was too young.”
    “Ah, too bad. I hate the Yankees, but I’d love to see a game in person.”
    “You have this looking passable. Let’s see what we have going today,” Bob said.
    I followed him to the conference room as the door snapped again. A tall, thin woman with a tight bun of hair on her head lifted her nose in salute as she passed us. Without knocking, she barged into Jack’s office and then closed the door.
    Bob laughed. “That little firecracker was Stella Sterling, our boss, or better yet, Jack’s boss. Ah, donuts and coffee. I’ll show you around. Those two will be at it for a while.” He continued dropping crumbs as he spoke. “One of