Read Fool's Gold (The Wandering Engineer) for Free Online Page B

put
it on the table so Jorge could see and be a part of the discussion.
    “What's
taking so long?” Jorge asked as he put the cups in the sink.
    “The
Captain and Purser are in a meeting,” the Admiral answered.
    Jorge
looked at his arm. “Does it always do that?” He pointed to the jack.
    Irons
smiled. “That and more. You get used to it after a while.” He chuckled at
Jorge's disbelief.
    “Yes?
Who is this? Oh Admiral? Wearing out your welcome so soon?” the captain
cackled. Irons smiled.
    “Not
exactly captain. It seems that Juanita's family needs a hand. I would like to
trade parts and a small fighter craft for parts for their tug and a visit to
sickbay for Juanita's father,” he reported. The captain grunted then was
silent.
    “Juanita's
father?” she asked after a moment. Jorge frowned but didn't say anything.
    “Yes
captain, he's been extensively injured. Multiple contusions, damage to his
right knee, broken right arm, cracked and broken ribs, as well as internal
injuries. He is running a low grade temperature which indicates ongoing
infection,” he reported quietly. Jorge stared at him until Iron's smiled.
“Implants do have their uses.” He tapped his temple with his left hand. Jorge
shook his head.
    “Right,
I'll go along with that or Juanita would never forgive me,” the captain said in
exasperation. “After all that she did, she earned a little peace of mind. Now
about those parts...” Iron's noted her desire to make a profit and tried not to
laugh.
    The
dickering went fast and furious; he uploaded a list of parts Sprite had
compiled, as well as a list of what they needed. The captain was all set to
dicker over power and transportation to and from the ship when someone cut her
off. “Captain, you've got an appointment in two minutes remember?” Julia said
softly. Irons chuckled.
    “All
right, just get the load here and pick up the finished parts. I'll have Faith
go over your list and get started as soon as you make the first delivery.” She
hastily signed off.
    “Admiral
you still there?” Julia asked softly.
    He
chuckled. “Thanks for the save Julia. I'll get the parts out ASAP along with
Jorge. I may have to load him up on the pallet as well; I doubt he could handle
climbing the ladders I had to use to get here from the docks.” He looked over
to Jorge. He shook his head. At least he was honest about that Irons thought.
    “All
right Admiral, give us a call when you’re on your way, we'll have someone
keeping an eye out for you,” Julia assured him. He nodded.
    “Thanks.
Signing off.” Sprite cut the channel and he un-jacked.
    “We've
got to get that pallet up, then I... I mean we can load it and be off.” The
Admiral stood.
    “What
about this?” Jorge pointed his crutch to the open door to the Admiral's bunk.
    “Oh
yes, thanks for reminding me.” Irons stepped around the table and past the
wounded man. “Looks good. Green light.” He pulled the part out and looked it
over. “Yes, looks good.” He tapped the universal port with his finger and felt
Proteus send out a diagnostic probe. After a moment the AI lit a green dot on
his HUD. “Yup, diagnostics check out. She's good.” He set it aside and placed
another component inside. It began to melt. Jorge watched it with wide eyes.
    “You
know, I never saw a replicator work...” He watched the part melting. “Is it
melting it with heat?” He looked up to Irons who shook his head.
    “It's
using nanites and magnetic fields to pull the part apart molecule by molecule. Then
it will build a new part from the materials.” He waved to the living room.
    “These
quarters were once a business. That's why you have the replicator and gear you
have. The dishwasher, all of it. Apparently they were small quarters for a
small inner system transportation company.” He looked over to the Valdez
patriarch who nodded. “Your food replicator isn't very complex or advanced, but
it can handle basics if fed the right material. Let's get