Mitchell's Revenge

Rufus eased the Guardian Angel into the docking bay allocated to them by spaceport control on Tiberion. The blind side made manoeuvring the ship difficult. It was an indication of his skill as a pilot that he managed it without further damage. He didn’t even nudge the docking bay walls. The Angel wobbled as Rufus set the ship down on its landing pads.

“That didn’t feel so good,” said Flex as he grasped the console in front of him.

“Feels like one of the landing struts is buckled,” said Bolter. “We must have taken another hit.” He smacked at his keyboard in frustration.

“Damn thing. Just not reading properly,” he swore under his breath. “We’ve got a lot of damage to fix at the U.S.E. shipyard.” He looked pointedly at Flex.

“How’re we going to pay to fix her?”

Flex rubbed his eyes.

“We’ll offer to trade,” he said. “Your software fix for repairs. I’d say what we’ve got to offer is worth a small fortune to them. We might even be able to negotiate a coat of paint!”

Flex glanced at the vid feed. Two of the moon’s security detail had arrived in the docking bay to check them over. A uniformed man and woman stood on the tarmac just inside the connecting doors, examining the ship with puzzled expressions.

“Obviously never seen anything like us before,” said Flick. “Better go and say hello.” She hesitated, halfway out of her seat.

“Will you look at that,” she gestured towards the doors. “Natasha didn’t even say goodbye.”

They watched as Natasha made her way across the tarmac with PB tucked into a handipak on her back. The small dog’s head bobbed as she walked towards the security staff. She greeted the woman with a kiss on each cheek as if they were old friends. She shook hands with the young man.

“She knows them!” said Rufus. “She’s been here before by the look of that.” He stared pointedly at Flex.

“Alright everyone,” said Flex, “We’re going to be here for a few days, so let’s make the most of it. I want each of you to see what you can find out about Natasha. Quietly. If the IGM get wind of what you’re doing we’ll all be in strife. So, mostly observing. Don’t ask too many questions and don’t get into trouble.”

“You know about the restitution rule here don’t you?” asked Lou quietly. Flex looked at her.

“What restitution rule?”

“If you as much as bump into someone in a walkway, you must apologise,” explained Lou. “If you don’t make restitution for an actual, or even a perceived wrong, security will come after you. There are cameras everywhere. So be careful.”

“Thanks,” replied Flex. “How do you know this? You’ve been here before too?”

“No,” Lou shook her head. “I read a lot.” Flex chuckled.

“Are you leaving us here too?” he asked. Lou shook her head again.

“Actually, I’d like to join your crew,” she said. “If you’ll have me. I can earn my keep. I’m fit and I’m strong. I like you. I think I’d be an asset!” She blushed furiously with her last comment.

Flex smiled at her. “You’ve already proven that,” he said. “If you think you’d enjoy life on the scrounge you’re welcome to join us.” He watched as the rest of his crew solemnly nodded their agreement. Flick grinned at Lou.

“It’ll be nice to have another girl on board!” she said.

Lou blushed again and dipped her head. She walked shyly towards Flex and put out her hand. He shook it firmly and smiled at her again.

“Thank you,” she said. “I won’t let you down.”

Flex began to issue instructions.

“Flick, you and Lou make the security check with the two down there on the tarmac. Bolter and Rufus, I want you come with me to take a look at the landing gear. Snatch and Grabb, do what you want, but stay out of trouble. OK?”

“Yes my Captain!” Grabb grinned. He thumped Snatch on the back. He glared up at Grabb.

“You really are a pain in the arse!” he muttered. “I’ll go around on my own thanks very much. See you all later.” He stomped off in the direction of his quarters to collect his gear.

“Touchy!” said Grabb.

“We’ve all been ship board too long,” said Flex. “It’s probably better if you separate anyway. Take a break from each other. But I say again Grabb, stay out of trouble.”

“I will, I will. See you later then,” said Grabb and disappeared towards his quarters.

Flick updated her handipalm with the details security needed.

“Come on Lou,” she said. “Let’s get the formalities over with and then we can go exploring.”

The two women left the bridge and went down to the tarmac to meet the security staff. Olga Restinova and Phillip Lumme watched them approach. Flick was transfixed by the images on the big vid screen at the end of the docking bay. Lou was taking in everything around her, including the mood of Olga and Phillip. She was relieved to feel nothing more than curiosity. She tugged at Flick’s arm.

“Snap out of it!” she hissed at her. “That’s exactly what the screen’s there for. To hypnotise you.”

Lou jerked her arm again. Flick shook her head and her eyes suddenly refocussed.

“OK, not good,” she said, straightening her back and nodding her thanks to Lou. She held her handipalm out to Olga as they reached the doors.

“I’m Flick Andersson, second in command,” she said, “This is Lou Pejic. Former freight handler, now part of our crew.” Olga accepted the handipalm.

“Olga Restinova,” said the other woman. “This is Phillip Lumme. That is a very odd ship you have there. It looks like a patchwork quilt!”

Flick laughed. “You could say that. She’s been repaired so many times we’re lucky she still flies. But the Angel’s nimble when she needs to be. And she’s the only home I know.”

“How long do you plan to stay here?”

“About three days,” replied Flick. “We have some repairs scheduled so we can’t stay long.”

Olga raised an eyebrow as she studied the manifest details.

“You’re leaving two passengers here?” It was more of a question than a statement.

“Yes,” replied Flick. “I believe you know Natasha. She hitched a ride with us a way back. We rescued Bot Ramsay in the Spansion Shipping Lane. He wanted to get off here. You probably heard about the Eridinanian attack.”

Olga nodded as Flick related the facts. She gave no indication that she knew Natasha. Lou sensed differently. Phillip stood silently, studying the Guardian Angel. Olga quickly scanned the manifest and handed it back to Flick.

“Everything seems in order,” she said. “Tell Bot he’s to report to security before he goes anywhere else. We have to log all arrivals planning to stay for longer than a week.”

Flick nodded. “I’ll tell him.”

She and Lou began to walk back towards the Guardian Angel. They stopped in their tracks as Grabb emerged from the ship dressed as a penguin. A very tall, black and white penguin. He grinned as he walked towards them and saw their expressions. He twirled around in front of them and the tails of his suit coat floated out behind him.

“What is that?” asked Flick. “What are you doing?”

Underneath the black tail suit coat, he had on a starched white shirt which buttoned up the front, culminating in a stiff white bow tie. The long trousers had fine black ribbon down the outside leg and skimmed the tops of a pair of very shiny black shoes. He twirled around again and laughed at the two women. He winked at Olga over Flick’s shoulder, who was doing her best to stifle her laughter. Phillip shook his head in dismay.

“There has to be one every couple of months,” he muttered. “Come on Olga, we’re done here.” They left the docking bay.

Grabb stopped twirling and bowed to Flick and Lou.

“Care to dance?” he asked.

“What?” asked Flick. “Have you gone completely mad? Nobody dances in a get up like that!”

“Oh, yes they do,” Grabb assured her. “There’s a ballroom here. With high tea, and a Wurlitzer. You have to dress appropriately. And my suit still fits! After all these years! So I’m going dancing. See you later!”

He strode towards the exit doors.

“Don’t you get into any trouble!” Flick shouted fruitlessly at his retreating back.

Lou started to laugh. Softly at first, then full bodied shrieking, followed by an embarrassed snort. She was bent over double by the time she stopped. Her sides hurt. Flick stood with her hands on her hips shaking her head in dismay.

“You may be laughing now,” she admonished. “But we’ll have to get him out of some scrape or other. Just you watch.”