The next morning, Jax eased out of his quarters as quietly as he could so as not to wake Naomi.
“Hey, Skip,” he whispered, looking at the ceiling as he padded into the commons.
“Yeah, boss?”
“What’s on the to-do list?” He pressed a few buttons on the coffeemaker and smiled warmly as the familiar clunks and whistles sounded, announcing that the brewing process had started.
“The biological system needs some love. Our trip to Mariposa, and now all of you, are doing a number on it.”
The coffee maker dinged. Jax pulled a mug from the cupboard. “Anything less, you know…gross?”
There was a pause as the ship’s SI scanned the substantial list of things that needed doing. “Lots, but depending on how long this job lasts, you really should look into the biologicals.” Another pause. “Sorry.”
Jax sipped his coffee. “Wonder if I can make Naomi do it?” He shook his head. “I guess it’s my responsibility.” He moved to the staircase.
In the quarters that Steve and Kori were sharing, Skip said, “You’re clear. He’s down in Engineering.”
“Thank God,” Steve said, standing. “He was gonna try to get us to clean the shit tank, wasn’t he?”
“He actually debated making Naomi do it,” the SI replied, then realized his slip up. “I’m sure he was joking. Girlfriend and all. You know, the sex.”
Kori ran a hand down her face. “Thanks, Skip, that’ll do.” She looked at Steve. “Coffee and an ass-kicking?”
Steve grinned as he opened the hatch. “Mario Kart 2099?”
She nodded. “You know it!”
* * *
The biological systems for the Valerian Coop Infiltrator were tucked in along the port and starboard sides of the ship, accessed from the engineering space. With space at a premium, especially on smaller craft like the Osprey , the biological systems were tightly integrated and operated at high levels of efficiency.
Jax removed a gloved hand from an access panel and examined it. “We need a bot for this.”
“That’s pretty offensive,” Baxter said from the opposite side of Engineering, where his charging cradle was situated.
Jax held up the gloved hand. “This is shit, shit from four people, not to mention the way too many we rescued from Mariposa.” He made a face as he peeled the glove off so that it was wrong side out. He dropped it into a recycler and grabbed a fresh pair. Before slipping both on, he sipped his coffee. “Gimme some work music at least.”
Skip obliged by playing some oldies from the overhead speakers in the relatively large engineering area. Jax reached into the access panel again, this time with both hands. Somewhere inside that particular piece of equipment was a high-powered impeller meant to churn the tank, pulverizing any chunks.
Jax dry heaved while holding his head back away from the opening, looking up and away from his work. “So gross.”
* * *
Mr. Ichiko was the last to rise. He found Steve and Kori still on the sofa engaged in the cartoonish race of their lives. Naomi was sitting at the small cafe table reading something from a data tablet, a cup of coffee steaming next to her.
“Good morning, my friends,” the jovial Japanese man said as he moved to the coffeemaker.
Naomi looked up. “Good morning.” She smiled.
“Hey,” Steve and Kori said in unison, their eyes never leaving the main display and the game on it.
“Where is our Captain this morning?”
Steve snickered, and Skip answered, “The Captain is down in Engineering making repairs to the biological systems.”
The older man made a face. “Oh, that doesn’t sound fun.”
“Possibly the worst job on a ship,” Steve said as he leaned to the right as his cart, driven by a mushroom, drifted off the course slightly. “Damn it!”
“Ha!” Kori shouted as her cart, driven by a woman in a pink dress, roared past.
Hours later, Jax walked up the staircase. “You all need to get more fiber.”
Steve looked at him. “Man, you need to shower, now.”
“You reek,” Kori agreed.
Mr. Ichiko nodded. “You do indeed stink, Captain.” He held up a pot, steam wafting off it. “I am preparing dinner. It will be ready when you are showered.”