It was the beginning of the
month and my pension check was already in, over at Hawk Haven. It was also
time for the Monthly inspection. Part of the requirements I had to keep my
Courier's License. Well not really but I preferred it that way. I could keep
my other vehicles in shape, but the HummingBird was a bit out of league for
me. I trusted the Steel Twins when it came to keeping vehicles of its type
in shape.
Besides I also
had another monthly "Special Delivery" for the Steel Twins. It was a package
of football vids (including Pre-game and Post-Game stuff) along with Science
and Engineering magazines from earth. They never had a return address on
them. Strange.
'Yeah right'
I think to myself with a smirk as I arrive at Hawk Haven.
With ease I land
the HummingBird near the repair bay. No sense in making them haul any tools
they need half-way across the hanger. I take the time to shut every one of
the systems down. They can be brought back online when they are inspected.
This also gives the Twins time to finish up what ever project they are currently
working on.
I remove my helmet
after disconnecting it from the HummingBird and open the canopy. Dropping
it into the seat as I climb out and wait.
"Ow! Grr..." Steelheart shook her hand. *Really*, she thought
*I should learn to pay attention to which hand I'm using around live electrical
systems* She quickly cut the offending shorted wire, and spliced in the new
one.
"You okay, Sis?" Will asked from the other side of the Maraj.
"Yeah, I'm ok. Just clumsy today." She looked up at the clock.
"Oops, Phantom should be due in anytime now for the Hummingbird's monthly
inspection. You guys okay to finish this on your own?"
"Sure" Will replied, and Bluegrass just waved his hand.
Steelheart wiped her hands off on a nearby towel, then went outside
to check for Phantom.
Sure enough, there was the Hummingbird, Phantom leaning lazily
up against it's side.
'Heart suspected that the last posture was just a ruse.
"Hullo, Phantom", Steelheart said, smiling. "The month sure has
gone by fast, hasn't it?"
I just chuckle and nod.
"Ayep. Time flies when your either busy making runs or chasing the bad guys
Hmm? Oh," I reach into the cockpit and grab the clipboard "Sign would ya?"
then I toss it to her.
I then head around
to the back and key the cargo hatch and drag out the small crate with the
'goodies' in it. It's heavy due to the magazines so I grunt softly as I lift
it. "Where do you want this?"
Steelheart caught the clipboard deftly, and scanned for a second
to find the sign line.
She looked up briefly as Phantom asked her a question. "Oh, over
on that table is fine." 'Heart indicated one that was half clean, half cluttered
with tools. 'Heart toyed with the idea of taking it to the table herself,
as it seemed to be a heavy box, but she didn't think Phantom would be impressed.
Oh, well, time enough later to see what goodies they had gotten this month.
When Phantom was finished, 'Heart tossed the clipboard back to her.
"So, let's see how the Hummingbird has fared this month, hmm?"
Catching it deftly,
turning in one smooth motion and tossing it into the cockpit. "I promise
I wasn't hot-dogging it on any of the runs the past month." Chuckling. "What
systems do you want to check first? All of them are currently shut down so
I'll have to bring them back on line."
My hairs up in
a braid right so that I don't have to worry with it. "You got it easy. No
hair to worry about getting snagged in the engines or singed when getting
too close to sparks." But there is no way I'm going to get it cut. It's taken
me over six years to get it this long.
Steelheart chuckled. "Armor does have its uses. I do have hair
under here; it's just that no one here aside from my brother has seen it.
Okay, why don't we start with the sensor relays? It's not the hardest part,
but it's the most tedious. Our main diagnostic computer went offline today,
so we're working by hand" Steelheart went over to the table, picked up a
hand instrument, and walked over to wait for Phantom to bring the sensor
arrays online.
"Oh fun and joy…. NOT!"
I comment before climbing up into the cockpit and bringing the sensors online.
"Want to download the sensor scans before running the test? Less internal
memory clutter to deal with." Watching the lights go from red to orange to
green finally. "All sensors are…" before I finish a wailing starts in the
other part of the hanger. "Ye Gods! What is that horrible sound? Reminds
me of a wounded and dieing animal."
It's Bluegrass's
music playing.
"Can I go kill
it? Please?" I'm making some horrible faces but there's laughter in my voice.
I love picking on people, but I'm never mean or spiteful. "Or better yet
gag him. Ever heard a country song played backwards? The Guy keeps his house
and truck, his girl comes back and his dog is still alive."
I'd crank up
my own music but I don't think anyone here in Hawk Haven would appreciate
a battle of music between the pair of us.
Steelheart had to stop for a moment, she was laughing so hard.
"So I've heard. Don't ever tell anyone this, but there are times
I agree with you. Although I have heard much worse. Can't say I'm a big country
fan myself, give me some good old rock & roll any day. But, despite his
taste for country music, I like him, a good one to have at your back when
the laser shots start flying. Ok, back to business. Yes, let's download the
scans, that way, if anything’s off kilter, I won't wipe 'em all out in my
scan."
'Heart started the downloading. "Whew, you really traveled this
month! This may take a while." She stretched, feeling several vertebra pop,
loudly.
"Give me a list of your
favorite artist and I'm sure I can get them for you."
I can't help
but wince slightly at the popping sound. "Heavens woman." I toss my braid
back over my shoulder after looking at it. I know once I reach the Commanders
age I'm gonna be one of those old grouchy women that have a sour attitudes.
Standing up and
swinging my legs over the edge of the cockpit I drop down lightly. Walking
over I look at the readings. "Eh, well considering I'm doing special runs
out past the Light-Year Limit several times a week, what do you expect?"
I peel out of
my jacket, leaving my arms bare to the shoulders, and toss it onto the closer
wing. While my skin is natural light, the few visible scars stand out darkly
against it. I've gotten so use to them I ignore them now. Doesn't help that
I wear black 90% of the time.
"Want to bring
up any of the other systems while that's downloading?" I can't help but glancing
towards the direction of the music. "I'd cut the strings of his guitar but
I know how much getting replacements cost. Especial if they have to be special
made." Muttered more to myself then Steelheart.
Steelheart grinned at Phantom's reaction. "It's not as bad as
it sounds, I swear this metal exoskeleton of mine amplifies it. Heh, I'll
get back with you on that list, it'd be nice to have some alternatives sometimes."
She looked over at the display, oh joy, only 20% downloaded. This
is gonna take a while. 'Heart took a good look at Phantom as she tossed her
jacket in the ship.
"Ya know, most Limbo folks would consider you nuts for takin'
deliveries past the Light Year limit. Even we Hawks don't go out there with
impunity. 'Heart shuddered slightly. There were a few too many close calls
out there for her comfort.
"Oh, and I guess I'd have to officially frown on you cutting those
guitar strings. The damn thing does make a good weapon sometimes." Steelheart
grinned and winked at Phantom.
Chuckling. "That's why
I'm called Heyoka by some. 'That Crazy Star Wolf' by others. I'm certified
nuts. One of the reasons I'm retired out. Head shrinks said I was too screwed
in the head to be considered fit for combat duty anymore."
"Anything can
be a weapon. Just gotta have the right attitude. As for the hoodlums past
the Limit, they know I'm the only one that's willing to make the run so they
behave. Not to mention I've taken them in a bar fight or two." An innocent
look crosses my face at that mention. "And the man in the back said everyone
attack and it turned into a bar room blitz And the girl in the corner said
boy I wanna warn you it will turn into a bar room blitz." I sing softly.
Now when I claimed I couldn't sing, well I kinda lied. I can sing, just not
well. My voice is to low and gravely to be worth anything other then singing
blues songs.
"You fit right in, then. I don't think anyone who chooses to move
out here is particularly sane" She gave Phantom a wry grin.
Steelheart spun around rapidly at Phantom's song "Wow, Barroom
Blitz, it's been ages since I've heard that one.
My body is my main weapon these days. Between my strength, and
these implanted lasers, I'm never unarmed. Good thing, too. One too many
close calls for my comfort."
'Heart paused. "May as well bring up Navigation while these scans
finish downloading. I'm saving engines and hull for last, I've been up to
my eyeballs in that on the Maraj this morning."
A sheepish look, "Just
don't let on that I can sing, or even play for that matter." Nodding "Sure."
With that I go back to the ship and haul myself back up into the cockpit
and key the Navigation systems. "So what did you guys get into this time?"
I can't see the Maraj too well from where I'm at. "Doesn't look too bad from
here, but then again if you've been working on it all day, it must have been
pretty nasty. Bet if you wasn't doing this then you'd be making the big bucks
as a Engineering Tech."
*chuckle* "no problem, your secret's safe with me. I can sing
too, but I think I've made most of 'em forget about that. I only ever admitted
to it once" 'Heart grinned as Phantom went into the cockpit to key up Navigation.
"The Maraj? Oh, Windhammer got a good shot at it. Blasted me right
out of my pod. The Kidd, too. We managed to chase him off, but I'm glad no
one witnessed that little fracas; we didn't look too sharp there. As for
the Engineering Tech field, I'd p*** off some stuffed shirt way too quickly.
My ummm... sharp attitude is barely tolerated here some days."
Laughing. "I always
ticked off the flight Engineers when I flew. Course then again that was when
I was flying Front line Combat. Of course the ships would come back scorched
and battered to pieces. When they even came back that is." I lean over the
side and prop my head on my arm.
"You know, if
we really wanted to be devious and do something that would put the guys to
shame, I'd say we should get together and do some cover songs. I think T'Pau's
Heart and Soul would be a good one. I got the tracks for the extended version.
Not to mention several other of their songs. Heck, I have a small recording
studio back at my place."
No one has ever
been to my place. It’s a rare offer I make to let anyone go there.
Steelheart balanced at the edge of the cockpit while Phantom spoke,
plugging the diagnostic unit into the navigation system. She blinked in surprise
at Phantom's invite. Phantom was reserved on a good day, 'heart had never
known for to be so talkative.
'I'd like that. There's one old standard I'd like to cover, my
mother's favorite" she said, a note of sadness in her voice.
"Gonna take a sentimental journey,
Gonna set my heart at ease,
Gonna take a sentimental journey,
To renew old memories"
Steelheart sung low and soft, so no one else could overhear. She
couldn't even believe she was singing for Phantom.
A slow smile. "Deal
then. If I don't have the tracks I can get them." Leaning back out of the
way while Heart works. "You know, I don't think I ever remember getting your
name. Not what you go by, but the person behind the steel exterior."
Ye gods, it sounds
as if I'm hitting on her!
'Heart smiled to herself at the flash of dismay she sensed after
Phantom's last question.
"No, I don't think I ever told you. I'm Emily Heart. My codename
was originally a play on my surname, and became even more apropos after I
got my mechanical ticker during alteration. We used to try to keep out real
names secret, but the Mob has long since hacked into all of our profiles,
no sense in continuing to hide ourselves, but we all tend to do it anyway."
"'Steelheart' Hmm?"
shaking my head. "Well Tit for Tat as Papa Charlie was wont to say." I offer
her my hand. "Zannatasia Izzabella Vernadeua. A mouth full. I know. But I
tend to shorting it to Zan for convenience sakes. Or skip it all together."
Chuckling again.
Glancing at the
unit. "How much longer till everything's downloaded?" Not impatient, just
curious.
"Yeah, I hear that. The only person who calls me by name on a
regular basis is Will. Oh, and Bluegrass when he's getting ready to ask me
to do something he knows I'm not going to want to do." She chuckled. "I glare
at him every time he calls me Emily, 'cause I know I'm about to spend the
next several hours fixing whatever he's mangled."
She looked over at the display. "I'd say it's got about 5 more
minutes. Your navigation systems look good. Go ahead and power the rest of
the ship up now. For everything else, all systems have to be running"
"Why don't you let him
stew in his own juices for a while and refuse next time? Let him try and
put it together and find out how much trouble it is. Maybe he won't break
it as fast the next time around."
Reaching forward
just slightly, fingers dance across the switches and keys. A moment later
the soft thrum of the engines could be heard as well as felt. Only one system
was still off. "All the systems?" An innocent grin. The one I left off is
the sound system. My finger hovering over that last switch.
With a wry grin, 'Heart said "Somehow I think you already know
the status of your sound system. And the last thing I need is for Quicksilver
coming in here and rattling off what regulations I've broken this time."
She rolled her eyes.
"As for Bluegrass, most of the time it does have to do with Mob
tangles, so I really can't blame him. Doesn't mean I have to like the mess
the ships come back as, though."
Just then, the sensor download bleeped, indicating it was done.
"You mind if I make a copy of these for our records? Steelheart
asked Phantom.
"Drat!" Snapping my
fingers then sticking out my tongue like a kid would before chuckling. "Actually
he'd have to rant and rave at me. But anyways, Sure. Just don't worry about
the blank spots. That's from were I shut all the sensors down when I'm almost
home."
Motioning towards
the display in front of my seat, with my fingers. "All systems are alive,
green and read for what ever you wish to put them though." Then I prop my
head on my fist as my elbow rest next to the throttle lever.
"Thanks, we can use all the star charts and anomaly information
we can get" Steelheart walked over to a desk unit, and plugged the hand unit
in to copy the info.
She then grabbed two more hand unit to check the engines with.
"Just set the engines on idle. I can take all my readings from
that." She plugged one unit into the sensor array, and as Phantom idled the
engines, plugged in the second unit to read engine performance, and emissions.
"This'll just take a moment. And nah, he'd yell at me, 'cuz I'm
the one that quote 'knows better'. Don't get me wrong, he's a good field
commander, just sometimes 'the book' just doesn't cover what we're dealing
with..."
"Sounds like someone
I worked under once. Only problem with that guy was he was a Desk jockey
and had no concept of front line tactics. Cause of his 'By the book' Attitude,
a whole unit got killed. I heard he was killed along with several others
in a suicide attack."
I close my eyes
partially listening to what's going on around me. The subtle tension that
seems to be my constant companion slowly bleeds away. The sound of the engines
is like a lullaby. Calming and relaxing.
Steelheart gave a low whistle. "That's rough... I'm sorry. Luckily,
Quicksilver isn't bad, and he is good at making decisions on the wing...
we've gotten hurt, but that's par for the course out here. I've been in situations
where people have died from bad decisions, but not an entire unit... that's
gotta leave a scar."
I reach forward and
flip the switch to the sound system, making sure its just loud enough Heart
can hear it. I flip though the selection till I find the right song.
It starts out
with keyboards and drums. Almost haunting in the melody. Then softly the
guitars come in. Finally the singer starts. A low soft voice. Tired sounding
at first but gaining energy.
~ You see me
now a veteran of a 1000 psychic wars
I've been living
on the edge so long where the winds of Limbo roar
And I'm young
enough to look at and far too old to see
All the scars
are on the inside
I'm not sure
that there's anything left of me
Don't let these
shakes go on
It's time we
had a break from it
It's time we
had some leave
We've been living
in a place
We've been eating
up our race
Oh please don't
let theses shakes go on.
You ask me why
I'm weary, why I can't speak to you
You blame me
for my silence, say it's time I change the rules
But the wars
still going on dear and there's no end that I know
And I can't say
if we're ever
I can't say if
we're ever going to be free
Don't let these
shakes go on
It's time we
had a break from it
It's time we
had some leave
We've been living
in a place
We've been eating
out our brains
Oh please don't
let theses shakes go on.~
A Solo guitar
takes the center stage between verses
~You see me now
a veteran of a 1000 psychic wars
My energy is
spent at last and my armor is destroyed
I've used up
all my weapons and I'm helpless and bereaved
Bones are all
I'm made of
Did I hear you
say this is victory?
Don't let these
shakes go on
It's time we
had a break from it
You Say it's
a time to heal
But I say it's
a bit to real
Cause I've been
sliding into hell
Oh please don't
let theses shakes go on.
Don't let these
shakes go on
Don't let these
shakes go on ~
"That song just
about sums it up." I say softly.
Steelheart was silent for a moment after the songs end. "And you
decided to retire out here? That song pretty much describes life out here.
Or any large inner city area back on Earth. I'd like a copy of that one,
disquieting as it is. It describes things so well."
One of the units bleeped, breaking the mood. "Hmmm, seems like
your gravitational field sensors are close to burning out. May as well go
ahead and replace those."
Shutting off the sound
system and sitting up. I lean over the cockpit edge. "Yeah. Nice and quiet
out here. Everyone leaves everyone else alone. Especially those that frequent
outside the limit. Sure." Chuckling "Should give you the one called the Mob
Rules too." Still leaning over the edge. "Most defiantly. Don't want them
to blow out when I'm gallivanting in the Limit."
Out of the corner
of my eye I catch movement. Either Will and Bluegrass are finished or it's
Quicksilver come to stick his nose into our business.
"Just the opposite for me, every time I stick my nose outside
of Hawk Haven, I invariably get shot at, and that's on a good day. And there's
one saurian I definitely never want to get up close and personal with. The
few times I've had to go outside the limit, I've been in sickbay for weeks
recovering. I may be hard to kill, but I can get pretty mangled, despite
the steel plating" She thumped her chest for emphasis. She and Phantom were
mere centimeters apart by this time. "Sure, any new music would be good."
"Yeah, those are sensors you want to keep, nothing worse than
having to fight gravity."
Steelheart turned at a sound in the doorway. There stood Quicksilver,
with a perplexed expression on his face.
"Maybe you should travel
with me some. I could show you a thing or two." Wiggling my eyebrows at her.
"Like how to let the wild side of yourself take front seat. Or maybe letting
your hair down and enjoying yourself." Dropping my voice to a husky teasing
level. "Bet I could get you to scream my name…." I never finish the sentence
as I turn to look in the same direction she is looking.
I can't help
but think how that would sound to anyone not in on the conversation. I'm
fighting to keep from grinning like a Cheshire cat. I wonder what's going
on in Quicksilver's mind as I turn and look at him.
Steelheart smiled at Phantom's words. *She has a point. I've hardly
been outside of Hawk Haven non-work hours since I got here* 'Heart thought.
At Phantom's last words, 'Heart swiveled back at her, eyes widening slightly.
Then she caught the edge of Quicksilver's feelings. Consternation and embarrassment
were topmost, she couldn't quite tell what else, but the overall effect was
a bit unsettling. She leaned over and whispered in Phantom's ear, "So, was
that last comment to tease me, or him?" A giggle escaped her. Yeesh, giggling!
Just like some silly kid! What a day this is turning out to be.
Chuckling throatily,
I turn and reply in her ear. "I was gong to say..I bet I could get you to
scream my name as I pull combat maneuvers through the Limit at full throttle.
Mostly about how your going to kill me for pulling stunts like that" Leaning
back I smirk then wink at her. "Maybe both?"
I glance at Quicksilver
and the look on his face. It's priceless. Wish I had a camera. I start snickering.
Before too long I have one hand covering my face and the other wrapped about
my waist as I curl up in the seat and laugh harder then I have in ages.
Maybe I should
yank Heart into the cockpit to really goad him.
"Nah, I'd be yelling about all the extra maintenance it would
take if you kept punishing the engines like that. I'm a technician, remember?"
She winked at Phantom.
The confusion and embarrassment she sensed from Quicksilver is
too much. She gripped the edge of the cockpit as she doubled over it, laughing
quietly until tears streamed down her face.
"hehe.. hehe.. True.."
still laughing. "Either get in" Wiggling my eyebrows in a comical fashion.
"Or you might fall out." A thought of Will chuckling as he continues to work
on the Maraj and Bluegrass scratching his head in confusion crosses my mind.
It only causes me to laugh more.
I'm just waiting
for Quicksilver to stick his head in to see what's going on
"Well, I need to get in to read these diagnostics, I'm getting
a crick in my neck from leaning over like this. Poor Will, he knows what's
going on here, and he's trying so hard not to laugh over there. Oh, boy,
I think Quicksilver’s headed in here" She rolled her eyes at Phantom as she
tried to think of the best way to get in the cockpit without stepping on
Phantom.
Catching my breath finally.
"I've been stepped on before so don't worry about doing me any harm." Reaching
out for her arm and pulling. I'm stronger then I look, but nowhere as strong
as she is. Course I'm not sporting the hardware she is either. Just the basic
civilian's model. I also slide as far to the side as I can. There's room,
but not much. Things are going to be pretty close and personal.
I can swear I
hear SilverMoon's voice in the back of my mind shout 'It's about time you
let someone inside those walls of yours!' and Kestrel doing a victory yell.
I can't help but smile. Both have always been there for me. From the time
I was little, all the way to today.
Steelheart chuckled as phantom pulled her into the cockpit of
the Hummingbird. *I haven't laughed this much in months* "Cozy in here, isn't
it?" She looked at the instruments plugged into the craft. "Well, the rest
of the sensors are working fine, and engines are performing at 93% efficiency.
The emissions are a bit high, but well below max limits. I'll want to track
that, though, if they keep going up, we'll need to redo the emissions system.
That's a major job, so I don't want to do it until we have to."
Just then, she saw a silvery head stop by the ship, and Steelheart
grinned down at Quicksilver from the cockpit
"Just think what the
back seat is like. Oh, Hello Quicksilver." Lacing my fingers behind my head
as I lean back. Me and Heart are so close at the moment, that we're touching,
even though I'm half turned to the side.
"Considering
the age of this bird, I'm surprised the engine has that high of an efficiency.
Took nearly a month or overhauls and refits to get it where it is today.
As for the emissions, I'm most likely going to have to find another place
to refuel. Or else get some fuel tanks installed below the hanger over at
my place. The only thing I don't have to worry about is weapons. Had them
removed to make room for the cargo space. The energy generators took up most
of that back area. The back seat was the Gunner's chair. Besides the quad
lasers, it could carry a small payload of AI guided missiles for surface
runs."
"Yeah, if the weapons systems were in here, you'd have no cargo
space in this thing. The engines could be tweaked out some more, probably
close to 97%. The parts aren't too hard to make, It'd take about 10 hours
to do the entire refit. If I ever get some downtime, that is. You're right
about fuel quality, that'd help take the emissions down."
She looked over the cockpit "Can I help you, Quicksilver?"
"Um, no," he mumbled, "just wondering what was going on in here.
I'll leave you two alone. Later" He all but fled the room.
Steelheart laughed until her sides ached "oh, that was too funny.
He deserved it tho'. His emotions were a clear enough clue as to EXACTLY
what he was thinking"
I break out laughing
again as Quicksilver fled. "Oh dear Goddess!"
It's a few before
I calm down again. "I'd love to see the security vids of this little event.
If anyone other then your Brother knew what just happened, Poor Quicksilver
would be harassed about it for a long time. As it is I bet you get side looks
from him. You got Psi talents Eh? Empathy? That's gotta be a tough thing
to live with at times. Like when someone's pretty badly injured."
I silently give
a prayer that I'm never injured badly enough to need help.
"If you ever
need time away from this place to get centered again. You can crash at my
place. Heavens knows it's big enough. Plus it would be a better place to
work on the HummingBird. Hanger's equipped with a workshop. Makes me wonder
if it was going to be used as a second Base before the Mob got out of hand
and you guys had to come here."
"I'm a full blown empath, but not really trained. So I can read,
but I can't project. That’s probably a relief to most people. I do have telepathic
abilities, but only if the thoughts are loud, as if in fear or anger, or
if someone is directly trying to contact me. Hence, I could read how Quicksilver
felt, but not exactly what he was thinking. And yeah, it's a good thing Will
is the soul of discretion. We both are, really, since we're so closely linked.
And yeah, it's bad when anyone's injured. Usually thoughts and feelings are
too easy to read. It can unnerving, being able to feel what others feel,
I have to be careful, if the emotions are too strong, I can get trapped in
their situation, and I become them, in a way, enough to cause real trauma
to me." She shook her head. "Probably more than you wanted to know on that
subject. As for the invite, I'll take you up on that. I've been here for
what, twelve, thirteen years, with no vacation? It's a wonder I have any
sanity left. Anyway, let me go get those relay replacements for you. And
then you'll be good for another month" Steelheart jumped out of the cockpit
to retrieve the necessary parts. That was quite a bit she had said right
then, very few knew the extent of her empathy, or what it could do to her.
I shake my head at her
words. A full-blown empathy with absolutely no training. A glimmer of anger.
What the hell was someone thinking when they sent her here like that? Unless
she never told anyone. My anger fades to understanding. I chew on the inside
of my lower lip in thought.
"Twelve or thirteen
years? Damn, I was just turning 15 or 16 at the time. It would be another
year or two before I got into the military." I'm telling my age here. "All
this time with no vacation." Shaking my head. "Someone has really been running
rough-shod over you, I hope you know that. Or else you happen to be one of
those few and far between individuals that are natural suckers when it comes
to work" Chuckling.
"Will and I were 16, emancipated minors, brand new in the marines.
Normally they reject youngun's like us, but pure aptitudes were high enough
that they let us slide. I think we're the youngest members of the team, I
can never remember Kidd's age. But Mimians mature sooner than humans. And
yeah, we're all suckers in that regard. We really don't have any backup,
and there really is not retiring out of the Hawks. These changes are permanent.
I can retract the armor, but it takes quite a bit of effort, and I'm still
partly cybernetic underneath."
She headed back to the Hummingbird with the replacement sensor
parts.
"Ohhh A pair of Jar
Heads huh? Hmmm I'm guessing that Bluegrass is the Fly Boy or the Ground
Pounder of the group. What's Quicksilver? The squid?" I was using the old
terms for the different branches of the military.
"16 huh? You
know, that makes you older then me still. By anywhere from 5 years to 10.
Wouldn't think it by looking at the pair of us." I leaned over the edge again,
resting my chin on my crossed arms. Flicking my braid with a finger absently.
"Bet there's not a strand of gray in your hair. Need a hand?"
"LOL.. We got snapped up on Navy detachment duty so fast, I spent
more time on ship than on ground before I signed up for the Hawks. That's
why I know so much about air and spacecraft. Do our former branch behaviors
still show that badly?" Steelheart made a face"
She made it over to the ship. "Sure, these are pretty easy, just
open up the panels in the cockpit and I'll pop the ones on the belly, take
out the old ones, and I'll string in the new ones. I do like that in this
model. Someone thought about frequent sensor replacement.
"Yeah, I wouldn't have thought I was older than you. But I never
really guessed at how old you were. Heck, I don't even know what my hair
looks like, haven't retracted my armor in years. It's probably gotten long,
though. I'm still not sure how that part of out biology works."
"Well" a sly chuckle,
"when you get the time off next go around, I'll pick you up and we can head
back to my place. That way you can go though the music I got and we can pick
out the ones to do covers to. And you can 'Let your hair down' so to speak.
Might do you good to relax some away from the guys."
I reach down
to the access panel and released the catch do that the sensors could be switched
out. "Reminds me of the old computers of the late 20th century. Plug and
play. As for my age," Shrugging, "I'll be 29 in a few months."
Steelheart released the 2 panels in the belly of the craft, and
threaded the new wires up to Phantom "Just plug those in." She then proceeded
to install the sensors into the appropriate brackets, and replaced the access
panels.
"Actually, I'm gonna go talk to the Commander after this, on all
our behalf’s. It’ll be one at a time, but you're right, we're all perilously
close to burnout. Here" and she scribbled a number down on a scrap of paper,
and handed it to Phantom. "This is my private line. Drop me a note, and we'll
get together when my leave gets approved"
Steelheart made a few last minute adjustments. "Well, you're good
to go for another month there, Phantom."
Taking the wires, I
found the right spot and hooked them in, then looked at the sensor display.
"Back online and a steady green." I take the scrap paper and tuck it away
in my pocket. "My line should be on file somewhere in this place if you need
to call." With that I reach into the back seat for my helmet, I moved it
there earlier, and put it on.
"Thanks Heart.
I'll catch you on the next trip. Tell that Teddy Bear of a Brother of yours,
thanks for being a good sport!" With that I let the cockpit canopy close
and bring the engines on up for take off. After giving her a thumbs up, I
maneuver the Hummingbird out of the hanger and back home. I had some things
I needed to take care of now.
"Good Luck with
the Commander, WyldHart." I say softly to myself.
~Fini~
Veteran of a 1000 Psychic Wars by Blue Oyster Cult
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