Robots vs. Fairies(49)
“But . . .” Jela caught the captain’s gaze and waited until she had joined them. “But the more reliable course of action would be to send the control console to the surface.”
“Alas. We cannot risk them seeing my petite nature. But you have given me hope.”
Of course. Because that would let the “natives” see that the Consortium was lying to them from the very beginning. And that was not something that Jela could voice.
Fluttering higher, Diplomat Foenicul turned her palms up in thanksgiving. “When can you depart?”
“That depends on the captain’s needs. I am responsible for the entire ship, and this is a task that can easily be delegated to another technician, such as Okeke, who is already on the surface.”
“Oh, but Okeke was not able to resolve the problem, and with such delicate negotiations, I need only the best.” Diplomat Foenicul lowered her gaze. “No offense to Lieutenant Okeke, of course, but surely you see how much the Consortium of Worlds needs you.”
Standing a little behind the diplomat, Captain Afaeaki rolled her eyes, and that was the only thing that kept Jela rooted to her spot. The captain understood how much the Consortium “needed” anyone. While they were technically an independent ship, turning down a Consortium job had a strange tendency to turn into a treason charge. “You have your orders, Chief Engineer Dedearian.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jela saluted and stalked off the bridge. She’d have to ask someone to feed Sadie while she was conducting the universe’s most pointless away mission.
*
Under normal circumstances, Jela would have flown herself down to the planet, but pulling an all-nighter after a week of double shifts left her less than confident in her ability to stay awake for two hours. Besides, with Sal flying, she could nap on the way down.
Only the change in engine noise told Jela that they were on the ground. She opened her eyes and straightened in her chair. “Handled with your usual grace, I see.”
At her side, Sal’s tentacles curled with delight. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Hope you brought a book.” Jela unbuckled her restraint and swung out of her seat. “This is gonna be dull.”
She headed for the landing hatch and toggled it open. The outside air was a little cool and smelled of cinnamon and seaweed. Okeke was already crossing the clearing where they’d set down. Her own ship, and the giant robot, were waiting at the other side. The robot’s anodized teal shell made a startling contrast with the vivid red foliage that surrounded them. The low trees gave way to reedy grass and then to a broad lake.
Jela lifted her arms overhead, in an attempt to wake up, and stared across the lake at the city on the other side. The buildings were set well back from the lake and surrounded by a beautiful mosaic wall. The undulating patterns of blues and greens put her in mind of Sal’s tentacles. There would be nothing unique here in another hundred years.
“Hey, Chief.” Okeke had a smear of grease next to her nose. “Sorry you had to come down.”
“Lady knows, it’s not your fault.” She headed over to the cargo hold to grab the transmission booster, with Okeke at her side. “I shoulda sent the transmitter with you in the first place.” She should have said there was nothing to be done and left it at that.
“Well, clear skies and all that.”
“Huh.” Jela stepped back from the shuttle as Okeke undid the hatch. The sky overhead was a crystalline blue, with nary a cloud. “Has it been clear like this all night?”
“Random lightning, but no clouds.” Okeke grabbed one end of the case holding the booster. “You said it was solar activity?”
“That’s what it looks like.” She lifted one end of the case while Okeke grabbed the other. “From the ship, the aurora borealis looked pretty stunning.”
The hatch to the shuttle opened, and Sal stuck her head out. “Will I be in your way if I read on the steps?”
“Knock yourself out.” Getting a chance to breathe air that hadn’t been recycled for decades was something no one would pass up. Heck, even Jela was feeling more alert, just from air and natural light.
They carried the booster over to the other shuttle, not that it needed proximity to the giant robot to work, but once they got it working, she’d be leaving it with Okeke.
Okeke snorted. “Too bad we couldn’t have the giant robot carry this for us.”
“Well . . .” Jela set her end of the case down. “I mean . . . we need to test all the parameters of the ‘Diplomatic Personal Surrogate.’?”
“Yes, ma’am. Of course. Of course that’s what we need to do.” Okeke grinned and led the way over to the controls. She’d set them up outside the shuttle, hoping that they could act as a synced relay for the system aboard the ship. “Want to do the honors?”
She’d rather let Okeke have the fun, but given Diplomat Foenicul’s insistence on using the “best” of everything, it was probably safer if Jela used the giant robot. If anything went wrong with it, she didn’t want Okeke to take the brunt of that. And that, really, was why she hadn’t tried to sabotage anything regarding the mission. It had the potential to get everyone in her department in trouble. “Yeah . . . Yeah, I guess I’d better. Why don’t you look for a rock for Adika while I do this?”