Pursue the Past: Samair in Argos: Book 1 (50 page)

              Her suspicions were piqued when a few conversations stopped when she turned back to the room at large.  She had just made an ass out of herself playing with the coffee, so perhaps at least some of the conversations had stopped just so people could point and laugh at her.  Looking around, she did see a few people grinning and then going back to their meals.  But one group in the corner was eyeing her as though she had done something wrong. 

              Tamara sighed.  “I do not have energy for this today.”  Ignoring the group, she stepped into the chow line behind two other crew members. 

              Cookie looked up at her from his place in front of the cooktop where he was stirring a huge pot of soup.  “Ah, my girl, there you are!”

              Now she blushed, embarrassed.  That drunken kiss had made its way around the rumor mill of the ship at the speed of light.  It also didn’t help that in trying to be funny and ingratiate herself with the crew, Stella had plastered that image on every screen, vid terminal and communicator on the ship.  Apparently, Tamara had programmed a wicked sense of humor into her fledgling AI.  And it was funny, truth be told, even though she was the butt of this joke.  Cookie, of course, knew that this was joke, though he
very
much enjoyed the kiss.  But he’d known it was just a bit of fun during a party, nothing more. 

              “Hello, Cookie,” she said, forcing a smile to her lips.  “Here I am.”  She inhaled and the scent of the spicy pasta dish in the pan on the galley counter filled her nostrils.  After the grueling shift she’d just been through, it smelled heavenly.  Of course, it would have anyway as Cookie was excellent at his trade.  “That smells amazing.  I’ll have some of that and a couple of those biscuits.”

              “Of course, my love, of course.”  He ladled a heaping plate for her and put three of the crusty rolls on there as well.  His smile slipped a bit.  “Are you all right, Tamara?”

              She smiled, chuckling a bit.  “I’m beat, Cookie.  A very long shift.”

              He nodded, his face still serious.  “That is easy enough to tell.  But after you threw back a cup of coffee over there, you looked about as though you thought someone was going to shoot you.  Has something happened?”

              She looked him in the eye.  “I don’t know, Cookie.  You’re the one who seems to have his finger on the pulse of the ship.  You tell me.”

              His eyes swiveled to the group in the corner.  “They’ve been sitting here for over an hour.  That isn’t weird, but they’ve been whispering, all conspiratorial like.  Then when you came in the room, they got all squirrelly.  Weird.”

              Tamara sighed heavily.  “Thanks, Cookie.  Talk to you later.”

              “There was talk of a khen game in here at 2200.  You interested?”

              “I’ll try to make it, Cookie.  I am really tired though.”  She picked up her tray.  “And I think I’m going to head this off,” she said flicking her chin at the crewmembers in the corner. 

              “Good hunting,” he told her.  She beamed at him, then turned and walked straight over to their table.

              “Hi kids,” Tamara said without preamble.  She plopped herself down at the end of the table, not asking for permission.  Once seated, she smiled at all of them and then dug into her meal with a gusto.  Cookie had really outdone himself this time.  “How are things?”

              It was clear no one had expected her to confront them like this.  There were only four of them, three humans (two male, one female) and one male zheen.  Ka’Xarian wasn’t the only zheen on board, but this one was from the cargo division and she didn’t know him that well.  In fact she’d only see this one, whose name was Kek’Shar, a few times and they hadn’t spent any time together.  They didn’t answer her, just gave her sullen looks.

              “Look, guys, it’s clear we seem to have some sort of problem,” she said between bites of food.  Taking another sip of coffee, she waved a hand and raised her eyebrows to indicate they should continue.  “Come on.  I’m not one for skulking around.  Let’s just get it all out in the open.”

              “We don’t like the way you’re changing things,” the woman said.  She was one of the old crew, from cargo.  Tamara tried to place her and her implants helpfully supplied the information.  Her name was Sylvia. 

              “Oh really?” she asked.  “And what changes don’t you like?”

              “This isn’t a warship,” Sylvia replied, her tone a bit sulky.  “We’re a cargo vessel.”

              Tamara nodded, taking another forkful of the pasta.  “Absolutely.  I’m not trying to make it what it isn’t.”

              “Bullshit,” one of the men spat.  “You’re building more guns!  You’ve got a military starfighter in the boat bay!”

              Tamara smiled, though there was steel in her eyes.  “Oh, I’m sorry.  You’re right.  I should have just sat out the little conflict we had at Hecate.  I’m sure the locals would have been completely understanding and helpful, but my warmongering ways are what set them after us.”

              “We’ve had three engagements in the last four systems,” the man pressed.  “That’s more than we’ve had in the last
twenty
jumps.  The only change we’ve had is that we picked you up.”

              “Okay, my being there or not wouldn’t have changed
anything
about when we got attacked at Instow,” she shot back.  “They hit us almost as soon as we dropped out of hyperspace.  That was a horrific experience for all of us.  Especially for you, Sylvia,” Tamara pointed out, though her voice grew gentler as the young woman’s eyes flashed.  “Which makes me wonder why you’d hate some of the changes we’ve made.”

              Sylvia didn’t speak, she just sat there in boiling fury.  If her eyes were laser cannons, Tamara would have been burned to cinders.

              “So what exactly seems to be the problem with the changes?”

              “The weapons, you dizzy woman!” the first man hissed.  “You’ve turned this ship into a battlewagon!”

              Tamara nearly choked on her food as she snorted a laugh.  “
I
did all this?  In the time I’ve been here, I’ve heard a great deal of bitching from a great many of the crew about how naked they feel out here. 
Grania Estelle
is a big ship, but whenever there’s a problem, the first thing out of everyone’s mouth is ‘why don’t we have more guns?’”

              The four of them clammed up, refusing to answer.  They returned to the remnants of their food and try as she might, Tamara couldn’t engage them in conversation.  Stella popped on Tamara’s HUD, shaking her head.  “I think they dislike me.  I’ve caught them commiserating on more than one occasion.  I tried to explain to them that all of the upgrades and changes were all for the good, but clearly it didn’t work.”  Her voice came across as a whisper.  Tamara nodded.

              “So, why do you hate the AI?” she asked suddenly.  The others jerked as if they’d been stung.

              “Why would you say that?” Sylvia demanded.

              “Because Stella told me that she saw you were… well she used the word ‘commiserating’.”

              Now they all looked guilty.  “That thing is nothing but a spy,” Kek’Shar hissed.  His antennae were quivering in rage.  “Everywhere we go on this ship, that…
thing
… follows you.  Watches you!”

              Stella was giggling uncontrollably in the corner of Tamara’s HUD.  “That is what you’re angry about?  You don’t like Stella?”  The four of them exchanged glances then looked away from her.  “So that’s why you hate me.  Because I brought on a new crewmember?”

              “
That
…” Kek’Shar said softly, “is
not
a crewmember.  “It is a machine designed spy on us, to monitor what we’re doing.  All day long.”

              Tamara just shook her head.  “I… you…”  She trailed off.  Taking one last bite of food, she stood up.  “I’m not even going to argue.  I could tell you that Stella was designed and built to help, to run automatic systems aboard the ship, to make things easier for the crew.  But clearly, you’re not ready to listen.”  Standing, she gave them a lazy salute, gathered up her tray and mug and walked off.

              “I don’t think they expected you to do that, Tamara,” Stella said.  “They expected you to sit and argue.”

              “They’re ignorant and small minded,” she snarled, genuinely upset.  “I can’t believe they would think you are like that.”  Then Tamara paused, as she bussed her tray over to the dish area.  “You
aren’t
spying on them are you?  You didn’t just make a liar out of me?”

              Stella frowned at her, crossing her arms over her chest.  “I am tied in to all the ship’s systems, Tamara.  Of course I’m watching.  But you taught me that there are things that are important and there are things that are simply happening.  I tend to ignore most of what is going on, unless there is some sort of emergency or if they address me directly.”

              Tamara nodded.  “How discreet are you being?”

              The AI actually sighed.  “As much as I can be.  I peek in on you every so often, as you know, and every so often I’ll show my avatar on displays and screens, though never in anyone’s quarters unless they call me.  I don’t talk to any of the crew unless they engage me, or if they’re talking about matters pertaining to the ship.  Or if they’re doing something dangerous or criminal, which I haven’t had much opportunity to get into, thankfully.  Oh, and I’ve warned people away from the replicators a few times.  They keep thinking that those machines are toys.”

              Tamara shook her head.  “Any of those four?”

              Stella nodded.  “Yes.  Kek’Shar in particular.  He tried to replicate a chrome-plated neutron rifle that he somehow got the specs for.  Why chrome plated of all things?  That certainly wouldn’t help the weapon’s function any.  I allowed him to upload the specs, but when he tried to get the weapon, I cancelled the order.  He tried three additional times and at different times on the ship’s clock.  Finally, when he tried to hack the machine, I had Security get involved.”

              Tamara groaned.  “Did he lock up the replicator?”

              Stella shook her head.  “No, Tamara.  I made sure that the cycle was cancelled before he got a chance to do so.  Though I’m sure you’ll want to check the machine for yourself.”

              “Do I need to?”

              The AI considered it.  “I did a software scrub to purge his malware program, but I’d feel better if you did a once-over.”

              “I will.”  She yawned.  “Does it need to be done now?”

              The AI shook her head.  “It can wait until the morning.  Get some sleep and then take a look.”

              “Thanks.”  She looked at her friend.  “I’m sorry they’re being so petty.”

              Stella shrugged.  “Truth be told, I’m not looking to be everyone’s friend, Tamara.  Some of you, certainly.  You created me and you treat me like a real person.”  She held up a hand to forestall Tamara’s protest.  “Xar is a sweetie.”  That made Tamara snort.  “Kutok and I have very reasoned and interesting conversations.  I respect the Captain, though I don’t know if we’ll ever be friends.  But I’m not so desperate that I’m going to try and make those… weasels like me.”

              Tamara beamed at her, pride in her smile.  “Good girl.”

              “Six more nodes,” Ka’Xarian said, pleased.  “The sixth one just finished right now.”  He gestured as four members of his team were lugging the shield node out of the replicator and onto a hover pallet. 

              “That’s excellent news,” Stella replied, smiling, her image from the shoulders up appearing on the replicator display.  She had been monitoring the replicators and had already known this information, but she
was
pleased that the job had been completed and also was pleased at the pride in the zheen’s voice.  He was chittering to himself, another sign of his happiness.

              “Yes, it is.  With these little babies installed and with the increased output from the reactor, we’ll be able to maintain about ninety percent shield power.”  His antennae were flitting around, as though he couldn’t keep still.  He nodded to his team members, who left the replicator bay, taking the hover pallet with them.

              “Does that mean the ship could fly faster in hyperspace?  I mean we’re able to hit Yellow level seven right now.”

              Ka’Xarian apparently calmed a bit at that question.  “I’m sure we could.  In fact, with increased shield power like that, I know we can.  Not too much more though.  We’re going to have to do a full workup on the hyperdrive as well as the ship’s structural integrity.  As we are right now, we might be able to break Green level one, but I don’t think we can get more out of it.  We’ve replaced a lot of the ship’s components, but she’s an old girl.  It’d take a yard to get her up to middle of the green.  I think we might be right about at her max for speed.  But still, we’re going so much faster than we ever were before.  Green level one?  I’ve
never
gone that fast before.  On
any
ship!”  The excitement was back.