Chapter Ten: A NEW CREWMATE
After the informal debrief, David took the time to go up to the Hub, and see Tessa. It would likely be the last free time he'd have for at least the next day while he filled out the formal reports. Almost as soon as he entered her shop, he'd had to brace for a flying tackle. The gremlin had heard about the battle in the Oort Cloud, and was overflowing with excitement to hear about how well her mods had performed. She was a little disappointed they hadn't needed to use the particle cannon, but perked up when David described how they'd gotten to fire a Casaba round. Then the conversation shifted to other topics.
"So, the rumor mill's been just boiling lately. Got yourself swept up by a skeleton, did you?"
"C'mon Tessa, it was a lot less glamourous than you're making it sound. And even at that, we just meshed well as a team."
"That's how it starts… But still, I was right… On both count's actually…" the gremlin said thoughtfully.
"How's that?"
"Well, you did get up to something on the way back… I know it wasn't that, but still, you two did get pretty close. It's not just anyone who'll open up like she did about their ambitions and insecurities... And I was right about the pirates!"
"So, what does your intuition say about the future, oh wise gremlin of the Hub?"
"My advice? Keep your eyes on your inbox, and your cards close to your vest. Like it or not, you're a bona fide Hero now, and that will be very attractive to some."
"You make it sound like I'm now some kind of mamono magnet…"
"In a sense, that's pretty accurate."
All David could do at this point was pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh, as his friend snickered.
A few days later, David was in a good mood, Moira had called, and they had talked for almost an hour. She'd been happy to be catching up with her mother, and the two had (even with her reservations) headed back to Earth. According to her, between the back pay MHI felt they owed her, and the opportunity to see how much the world had changed in five years, she was going to take some time to re-acclimate before taking the SRS formal induction course. She'd also planned to unplug for a bit, so he shouldn't be surprised if he didn't hear from her for a while.
He'd never admit it, but he was actually starting to become fond of her. It hadn't been something as dramatic as her physically saving his life or anything… But he hadn't been lying to Tessa either. She did mesh extremely well with himself and Mitch, fitting right into their workflow in a way that had felt natural. Their conversations just revealed more facets to her that he was happy to discover. She apparently had a wicked sense of humor, and played several instruments. Between her talents and abilities, plus trained skills and prior experience in space, he would be pretty disappointed if she didn't end up assigned to the Knight.
After six months, their contact had become sporadic, but still fairly consistent, with a call roughly every two weeks or so. David had passed the time running drills with Mitch, testing new equipment from both the official SRS technology department, and improvements developed by Mitch and Tessa. (The gremlin actually managed to get herself an official job as a "Technology Consultant/Developer" after she came up with a significant enough improvement for shipboard life support systems that Command had ordered all existing craft to be retrofitted with it.) The human even found himself watching Pursuit Challenge reruns in his off hours, if for no other reason than to get a better sense of how being a mamono was part of Moira's personality. (The show had experienced a resurgence in popularity after celebrating their 90th season)
Then the news came from Command. Apparently, the Knight's mission had "made it clear that the new class of ship was best served with two organic SRS personnel aboard, to increase performance, and efficiency". That should have been good news… Except that it seemed the Admiral hadn't been able to pull any strings, and David was to be assigned "whomever was determined to be most suitable". That meant he actually wasn't looking forward to this week's call, since it would have to be almost immediately after he'd gotten his new partner settled in.
Strangely, there was no indication as to who or what his new partner was… Just a formal notice of personnel assignment, indicating that one "Francis Crane" was to be assigned to his vessel, effective immediately. She was listed as a "golem", but there were several subspecies in that category, so that was no help either. Still, orders were orders, and Moira had promised she'd be back out at Gagarin soon, even if she had to "take a job in the agricultural ring".
So, here he was, back in Bay 31, staring out the bay doors at the Earthrise again, as he awaited the next chapter in his assignment. There was a tone in his earpiece, and Mitch's voice came though his shoulder remote.
"It would seem that our new partner has arrived."
"Looks that way buddy. Well, let's go say 'hello'."
Walking across the bay towards the stationside lock, David resolved to make the best of it. After all, it wasn't the new crewmember's fault she'd been assigned here. Best to ensure that her experience was a pleasant one. Once the hatch opened and he saw who it was, he froze.
"Hello, David," Moira said. "It's good to be back."
"Moira! Not that it isn't good to see you," David exclaimed, as he gripped her hand, and pulled her into a half hug, "But I'm on duty right now, and Mitch and I's new crewmate will be arriving any minute."
"David," the skeleton began, "I never told you my middle name, did I?"
"Wait…" The light was beginning to dawn, and the human put the pieces together in a flash.
As he did so, Moira gave a gentle laugh. "The look on your face was just like Tessa said it would be!"
"Remind me to tell her off when we "formally" meet." The human stated flatly, rubbing his face in exasperation.
"David, it was a most clever prank, was it not?"
"Mitch, don't tell me you were in on this too?"
"I was sworn to secrecy, but the true mastermind behind this was indeed Miss Tessa." The MI responded.
"OK, ok, you got me," the human said easily, having relaxed enough to appreciate the effort that had gone into setting this up.
"But why go through all the trouble?" He continued, as they walked across the bay, past the Knight in her cradle, to the open bay doors.
"Because, David, I want us to be close. Not just as crewmates, but as friends. And only close friends can be relaxed enough to have fun with each other like this." Moira bumped his arm with her shoulder. "Also, isn't it traditional for there to be pranks played whenever a new crewmember arrives?"
The human rubbed the back of his neck. "I think you have that backwards… but I can appreciate the thought… I suppose?"
"There was another reason," the skeleton stated as she looked away, her voice becoming shy.
"Oh?"
"It's… nice. To be out here. Doing some good. I bet you can guess that I didn't have too many people I was close to growing up?"
"I think I can see that."
"So, to be out here, with a friend – with several friends. And doing a job I think I can grow to love. It's… I really don't have the words."
"Hmm." The human mused. "Yes, I can understand how you feel."
They looked out at the Earth in companionable silence, before Mitch made his presence known.
"So, now that our third has arrived, shall we begin?"
And so they did.
