About 16:30 Mel stopped by the office. “Nice job on the lock and passageways,” she said.
“Thanks,” I told her. “I think that’s the last bit of the ship that needed to be brought up to snuff, except maybe here in the office.” I looked around embarrassed because I hadn’t thought of it even after sitting in there for over a stan.
She chuckled. “Don’t sweat it. We’ll only be in port a couple of days, and just so the OOD knows, I’m going ashore to get dinner at a real restaurant. I’ll have my tablet. Bip if you need me.”
“Okay, that leaves just me aboard as officer?” I asked.
“I think so. Try not to break the ship, okay?”
I laughed and agreed.
When she’d gone, I headed to the galley. Mel had reminded me of something. I found Mr. Vorhees with his head in an oven looking over a tray of cookies. The smell was wonderful, and the cookies looked absolutely gorgeous.
“Mr. Vorhees?” I called from the galley door.
“Yes, sar?” he said, pulling the sheet out and shutting the oven off.
“I’m going to be the only officer aboard for dinner tonight. Is there any reason why we have to use the wardroom?” I asked.
“Sar? You don’t fancy dining alone, then?” he asked.
“No, Mr. Vorhees, I don’t,” I said with a grin. “Is there any reason why I can’t take my chances on the buffet here on the mess deck with the other six people aboard?”
“No, sar, if you don’t mind eatin’ with the common people,” he said with a grin.
I laughed. “Well, I don’t know about the common people, Mr. Vorhees, but I’d be honored to dine with the crew. I’m guessing that would save you and the duty messmate a bit of work?”
“Yes, sar, it would indeed, and you’re welcome on the mess deck any time.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vorhees. I’ll take you up on that while we’re in port.” I made a mental note to see about getting the wardroom secured. We were eating the same food, so it just made extra work for the galley to serve an individual plate in another room just for me.
“Thank you, sar,” he said and went back to getting the evening meal ready.
I prowled the ship looking for anything amiss or out of the ordinary until 18:00 and then headed back to the mess deck for a bite to eat. As I worked through the buffet, I found a small pebble of envy for those who were eating ashore. Still, it seemed like old times to have a mess deck tray in my hands again, and I took a seat at one of the tables. It didn’t matter which. I was the only one there.
Charlotte D’Heng came in shortly after I sat, and she did a double take when she saw me on the mess deck. “Sar?”
“I couldn’t see having the wardroom set up when I’m the only officer aboard. Join me if you’d like, Ms. D’Heng.”
She got a tray and did just that.
“Pardon if me I nibble and go, sar,” she said. “I want to give Juliett as much of a break as I can.”
“I’ve stood my share of brow watches, Ms. D’Heng. No need to apologize.”
The pleasant company made the bland food more enjoyable, and she soon traded places with Juliett who came to join me for her dinner as well. By then I was down to coffee and some of Mr. Vorhees’s cookies. There was no question that the man could make great ones. Apparently he was more baker than chef, and I wondered if he’d mind a few pointers.
While Juliett and I were eating, the engineering crew came in—the elegantly tall Lignaria from power, Ari Baronofski from environmental, and Mosler from grav. When they entered, all in a bunch as they did, they looked like any group of crew I’d seen anywhere. Seeing me sitting at the back of the mess deck with Juliett brought some confused looks, but they collected their food and took a table near the buffet.
Juliett finished her dinner and headed back to the lock, and the engineering crew left shortly after. With nobody else around, I figured I might get away with talking to Mr. Vorhees. Since the coast was clear, I took the chance.
“Mr. Vorhees?” I called when he came out of the galley to check the buffet, which was another adequate but largely monotonous collection of soup, sandwich, and casserole.
He smiled and came over.
“This isn’t quite the same ambiance as the wardroom, is it?” he asked.
I chuckled. “No, but there are times when I think this might actually be better.” After a couple of heartbeats I added, “If you’ve got a few ticks before you have to pick up here, I’d like to talk about…menus.”
He shrugged and settled across from me. “Sure thing. You’ve helped me out a lot in the last few weeks, Mr. Wang. How can I help you?”
I leaned forward and cradled my coffee cup between my hands.
“This is awkward, John. I don’t want to stick my nose in where it’s not wanted but as I’ve been watching you and your crew over the last few weeks, a couple of things seem pretty obvious.” I looked him in the eye then and said, “This is just me talking here, John. If you think I’m out of line, I’m out of line. Just let me know, okay?”
“Okay, sar, I think I can do that.”
He looked a little apprehensive, and I knew full well I was pushing my luck.
“First, let me just say you’re an excellent baker. Your cookies and cakes are marvelous.”
His smile lit up the mess deck. “Thanks, Mr. Wang. I love to bake. It’s the reason I took the lateral into the Steward Division.”
“I thought as much. You’re also really good with your staff. Penny and Karen are both hard workers and very personable, at least from the ‘customer’ side of the house. They take good care of us. You may have issues I don’t know of, but if you do, they’re sure not obvious from my seat.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wang. That’s very nice of you to say. They’re both great people to work with. To be honest, they treat me like a rather dim uncle at times, but we get along I think.”
“I have a watch section like that myself. Just between you and me…I’m not entirely sure they’re not right some days.”
We shared a chuckle over that.
“So? What’s the but, Mr. Wang?” he asked as the chuckles petered out.
I didn’t even try to pretend. “My sense is that you’re having problems with the everyday meals. You’re great with the baking, but when it comes to the rest, you’re following a recipe, but it’s not really working out a well as you’d like.”
He sat very still for a few ticks.
“Am I wrong, John?” I asked. “Tell me to butt out, and I’ll say no more.”
He thought about it for a few more ticks and then shrugged. “No,” he said, “if I’m gonna be honest with myself, these aren’t meals to remember.”
“You’re a good man in a tough job, John, and I didn’t want to joggle your elbow, but I didn’t want to leave you floundering if I can give you a hand.”
I watched him considering the idea and I left him to his thoughts.
“Well, you were right about the coffee and cleaning up the mess deck,” he said at last. “What’s your idea this time?”
“What’s in your spice pantry?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Normal stuff. Salt, pepper…”
“Parsley, garlic, basil, oregano?” I asked.
“Yeah, I guess. Come on. I’ll show ya.”
He stood up and I followed him into the galley.
He walked to the back of the prep area and pulled open a locker door. There was a canister of salt and a large can of ground black pepper on the handiest shelf. Under that was a collection of dusty cans, jars, and bottles. The oregano didn’t look like it had been opened in a month. Tins of onion and garlic powder were so covered with galley grime that I would’ve been afraid to hold them over a steam kettle for fear the crud might melt off, drip into the pot, and poison the crew.
He looked into the locker with me and said, “Doesn’t look very good does it, sar.”
“Well, John, let’s just say, I think I can help if you’re willing and interested.”
/> He stood there for a couple of ticks looking into the crufty locker.
“I don’t really have anything to lose, do I, sar?”
“You’re a good cook, John, and a great baker. I think you could be a great cook as well with a little help and some honest feedback.”
“Where do we start, sar?”
I grimaced into the locker and said, “Make some room here. Toss anything you haven’t used this trip. We need to make some room.”
“Okay.” He shrugged. “Then what?”
“Then tomorrow morning we’ll go shopping.”
He began to grin. “You’re having fun, aren’t you, sar!”
I shrugged. “What can I say? I started on the mess deck, and I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for it.”
He chuckled.
“Oh, hi, Mr. Wang,” Penny Davies said from the galley door. “More big plans?”
“Shh,” I said. “It’s a secret.”
She smiled and turned to Vorhees. “Are we ready to break down the buffet and do the clean up, Mr. V?”
“Yes please, Penny. When I’ve cleared out this mess, I’ll give you a hand,” he said with a glance at me.
I headed back to the office by way of the brow. Juliett was working on her ship handling course and keeping an eye on the lock.
She grinned at me when I came up to the watch station.
“You planning more changes, sar?” she asked.
“Changes, Ms. Jaxton?” I asked.
“Yes, changes, Mr. Wang. You know? When what we do today isn’t the same thing as yesterday? Those kinds of things, sar.”
“What makes you think I’m responsible for any changes, Ms. Jaxton?” I asked innocently.
“Sar,” she said patiently, “please don’t play innocent. Charlotte saw you in the galley with your head together with Mr. Vorhees. Are we going to be getting something good for dinner any time soon?”
“I think so, Ms. Jaxton.”
“If you can do for the menu what you did for the coffee, Mr. Wang, the crew will be in your eternal debt.”
I chuckled as I made my way to the office.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
BREAKALL SYSTEM
2358-SEPTEMBER-09
After weeks of standing bridge watch together, standing watch in the ship’s office felt a little lonely. I think Charlotte missed my company, because she soon camped out in the office too. She had only a couple of weeks to get ready for her test and was fretting over it. Personally, I thought she was ready, but I couldn’t say anything. I spent some time drilling her on her able spacer practice tests anyway. There wasn’t a lot else to do.
At around 20:30, Arletta came into the office. “Hey, there!” she said. She looked like she was up to something.
“Hi, yourself,” I replied.
Charlotte added a polite, “Good evening, sar.”
“Ishmael, I need a favor…” she said.
“Do you want me to leave, sar?” Charlotte asked.
“That depends on how badly you want to see an officer beg, Ms. D’Heng,” Arletta said with a grin.
“What do you need, Arletta?” I asked.
“I need you to trade watch with me. If you’ll take my watch tomorrow afternoon, I’ll take yours the following morning.”
“The whole section or just us two?” I asked her.
“Just you and me. I’ve got an appointment that will pretty much take all day. I tried to change it to the day after, but I can’t.”
I looked at Charlotte. “You have any problems with that?” I asked.
“Standing watch with, Ms. Novea?” Charlotte asked. “No, why would I?”
“Just checking. Nope that’s no problem for me either,” I told Arletta.
“Thanks, both of you,” she said with a grin in Charlotte’s direction, then headed off into the ship.
“What do you think?” I asked Charlotte. “You really going to be okay with Ms. Novea?”
“That depends, sar. She’s not going to try to form her own harem, is she?”
“You’re an evil, wicked woman, Ms. D’Heng,” I told her with a laugh.
“You’re quite welcome, sar,” she said and went back to her studies.
At 23:30 Charlotte got up and stretched. “Well, sar, I’m gonna head to the mess deck now. Apones will be dragging in soon.”
The fact that she didn’t want to be alone in the same small room with Burnside was left unsaid.
“Okay, Ms. D’Heng. Have a good day off tomorrow and have fun with Ms. Novea.”
“Thanks, sar. We’ll have a right cheery hen party, we will. Ms. Novea, Juliett, and I. Guess who we’ll all talk about?”
She didn’t wait for an answer, just sailed out of the office and headed into the ship.
David Burnside came into the office on the stroke of 23:45. He reeked of beer and was still in his civvies. He’d obviously had just come from the lock. “I relieve you, Mr. Wang,” he said very precisely. “Sign off the watch, and I’ll change my clothes.”
If he was slurring just a little bit, it was hard to tell. He looked steady enough. He didn’t wait for me to even acknowledge his order, but turned and stalked heavily toward his stateroom in Officers’ Country.
That was beyond acceptable, but I really didn’t have any options. I followed his command, and put him on watch. I also stopped by the lock before going back to my stateroom, passing Juliett on the way.
“A heads up about tomorrow, Ms. Jaxton. I’m swapping watch with Ms. Novea. She’ll be your OOD for the next watch.”
“Anything serious, sar?” she asked.
“I don’t know. She asked for a favor and I said yes. We didn’t get into the particulars.”
“Very good, sar. I’ll find out from Charlotte. Good night, sar.”
She smiled brightly and headed off toward deck berthing.
I just sighed. She probably would find out from Charlotte and long before I’d find out anything from Arletta. Shaking my head, I continued to the watch station at the lock. “Mr. Mallory,” I called, as I came down the passageway.
“Good evening, Mr. Wang, can I help you, sar?”
I walked up to the watch station and leaned on it, trying to think of how I wanted to phrase the question. I looked up and saw the intercom grill on the bulkhead and decided to go for the direct approach.
“Is Mr. Burnside drunk, Mr. Mallory?”
“I’m sure I don’t know, sar. I’ve been asleep for the last four stans and just now got up to relieve the watch. Is he even aboard?”
“Yes, Mr. Mallory, he is. If you run into any problems, please bip me?” I asked.
“Of course, sar.” He shrugged.
“Thank you, Mr. Mallory. See you tomorrow.”
That was about all I could do. I contemplated calling Mel or Fredi, but under the circumstances, there was little they could do, either. I shrugged it off and went to my bunk. I just hoped he didn’t do anything to kill us all before he sobered up.
When I went back past the office, he wasn’t there, but I heard voices on the mess deck when I turned off to go to Officers’ Country. It sounded like Apones and Burnside, so I didn’t fret it. He was at least up and moving around.
My tablet bipped me awake at 08:00. It wasn’t a lot of sleep, but it was some. I’d missed breakfast, but I knew the morning cleanup would be getting done soon and I wanted to take Mr. Vorhees down to the Oh-one Deck for some shopping before he started working on lunch.
There was no sign of Arletta, and I wondered what she was up to that would take all day. I brushed that thought out of my mind and focused on getting myself clean, awake, and into an undress uniform for a short trip ashore. By 08:30 I was on the mess deck and made a cup of coffee serve as breakfast.
Penny Davies was swabbing down the mess deck as I came in, keeping a careful eye on Apones who sat—nose down—at his usual table in the back. She smiled when she saw me. I waved and she knew enough not to get between me and the coffee. She finished sweeping while I applied
caffeine to my blood stream through oral ingestion, then came over and stood shyly.
“Good morning, Ms. Davies,” I said softly to keep from waking the watch stander.
“Mr. Wang,” she started, “I just wanted to say thanks.”
“Don’t mention it, Ms. Davies. I didn’t do anything except call for help.”
“You didn’t take advantage of…um…the situation. You could have…others would have.”
“No, Ms. Davies,” I told her with a smile. “I couldn’t.”
“Well, thanks, anyway. It’s better. He keeps pestering, but I keep saying no, and his trained gorilla over there has kept his distance, so…thanks.”
“You’re welcome, for whatever it’s worth, you’re welcome.”
She took her sweeper and headed back into the galley just as Mr. Vorhees came out.
“Ah, Mr. Wang,” he grinned when he saw me.
“Just getting a little liquid breakfast,” I said raising the cup. “You about ready to go shopping?”
“Oh, aye, sar, I got that locker cleaned out, so it’s right spiffy. Now you’re gonna tell me what I should put back into it, right?”
“I’m ready now, Mr. Vorhees. If morning clean up is done and you can accompany me?”
“Of course, sar. Penny’s just going to finish up, and I have one small little task to do before I leave.”
I drained the cup and put it on the tray in the sideboard. Mr. Vorhees walked over to the pile of clean trays that were waiting for lunch service and picked the top one off the stack, turning it this way and that in his hands. I watched curiously for a while before he noticed me looking.