Read The Science Officer for Free Online Page B

Mister?”
    Javier could read the avarice in his voice.
    Avarice? Right, pirates. All about money.
    “Sir,” he said. Damn, this was just like the Fleet days. Maybe he needed to paint his monitor lavender or something. Just to keep him from getting all serious and stuff. “If the crash date being broadcast is correct, at least seventeen years.” But. “However, the power source is extremely weak, and well past it’s expected lifespan.” And the kicker. “You would normally have had to be almost in orbit in order to pick it up, if you weren’t looking.” Or hadn’t just hired an expert on sensor systems to go beyond standard baselines.
    Sokolov was doing calculations in his head. “That suggests survivors maintaining it, or at least good maintenance worksystem robots,” he said. He turned to the Navigator. “Mr. Alferdinck, plot a jump to get us close. Ms. Sykora, prepare a landing team and wake Smith up to fly you in.” He saved the best for last. “Mr. Aritza, you will accompany Sykora’s team to investigate the wreck.”
    Javier goggled at him, completely off–guard. “What do I know about xeno–archaeology?”
    Sokolov got that evil Captain’s smile going. “The fact that you even know the word puts you ahead of most of the crew, Javier. That’s why I hired a Science Officer.”
    Javier cursed inside as he unbuckled from his seat. That man was entirely too good at this.
    On one hand, things wouldn’t be boring.
    On the other hand, surviving these people long enough to have them all arrested was going to be a task.
    Crap .

Part Two
    Javier grabbed Yu and swung by the cargo deck for a quick teaching session.
    “Okay, Ilan,” he said, “since I’m going to be down on the planet for however long, you’re in charge of feeding the chickens. First step, locate them. I’ll wait here.”
    Yu goggled at him briefly, then put on his serious face and headed aft.
    Javier let go a breath and grabbed the feed bin. He set it on the counter, cracked it open, and thrust a hand in.
    There. Suvi.
    He closed his fist and pulled his best friend out, sliding her into a pocket, safe. If they had found her, his life wouldn’t be worth a bucket of warm spit.
    Yu clomped back into the botany station. “Found them,” he beamed. “Sleeping in the apple trees.”
    “Good,” Javier replied. He pointed at the feed bucket. “That’s chicken feed. Don’t worry about refilling the bucket today. I have more in cold storage.” He picked it up and handed it into Yu’s uncomprehending clutches.
    Ilan looked kinda lost, which was the point here.
    “What next?” he said softly.
    Javier smiled. “Now you open it up, fill the scoop halfway, close the bucket, and follow me into the forward bay where the fruit bushes are.”
    He paused as Yu di so, the image of serious scholarship. They headed forward.
    Surrounded by fruit bushes and meta–dwarf and columnar fruit trees, Javier gave Yu a serious look. “Okay. Now cluck.”
    “I beg your pardon?” Yu’s face went completely slack.
    “Cluck,” Javier said. “Like this.” He made a sound with his teeth and tongue.
    Yu repeated the sound, sort of. A few times.
    “Good,” Javier said. “Athos will usually find you first. d'Artagnan will almost always be last. Just stand here clucking until all four arrive, and scatter a little grain as you see each one.”
    Javier stepped back as the first hungry lady arrived in a fluster of wings.
    Yu dumped a little of the grain out, and was suddenly ankle deep in chickens as two more surrounded him.
    “Good, Ilan,” Javier beamed. “Do this every morning around the start of day shift. And make sure you check their water dish in the vegetable garden. You’ll probably need to fill it ever three days or so.”
    “What about you?” Yu asked, a little panicked.
    “I’m going to be planet–side, probably for a couple of days at least. Enjoy.”
    Javier stepped out of the room, down the hall, and out of the arboretum.
    Suvi was