COMBAT SALVAGE 2165 by A.D. Bloom Read Free Book Online Page B

he’s ever had to burn in. He said if he left you alone with a QF-111, he’d find you pleasuring yourself with your pecker in the barrel of a 140 mike-mike."  
    " Raleigh’s just saying that because I make him look bad. Bottom line is: I can fix the parts of that breaching ship that your crews haven’t worked before."  
    Horcheese scrutinized him with those queer, milky white, artificial eyes and he suddenly wondered if she could see thermal and see his blood flow and know how hot he was right now under his skin. "Astronautics Maintenance Technical Specialist Meester," she said. "You will now take three steps back and get the fuck out. You will not bother me again."
    On the second backwards step, Harry Cozen opened his mouth. "Take him."
    " What? Mr. Cozen, I have to object to th-"  
    " He’s lucky," Cozen said.  
    "Really? How do you know that?" He was surprised to hear Horcheese ask the question like people being lucky was a real thing. Now, they both stared at him together, scrutinizing him, looking for god knows what and Tig wished he’d never come to Bay 3. Harry Cozen’s gaze was sharp like broken glass and Horcheese’s stare had a weight to it that made it hard to breathe. Tig tried not to visibly squirm. "He d oesn’t look lucky to me ," Horcheese said.  
    " I take a brief, but very close look at everyone who comes aboard this ship," Cozen said, "where they came from, who they are, what they are. I knew what Tig Meester was right away, the minute I put my eye on him." Cozen now seemed to purposefully bore into the spot between Tig’s eyes with his stare. "The simple fact that he’s still alive says he’s lucky. As well as skill, getting Tipperary repaired and back with the convoy will require luck, Chief. So AMTS 3rd class Tig Meester goes on Audacity with you."  
    " But…"  
    " Is he not a fully qualified Astronautics Maintenance Technical Specialist?"  
    " He’s an ought-six alright, but he’s too cherry for this. He’s just three days out of training."  
    Harry Cozen said, "Everyone has a first day, Chief." And then he walked away, leaving Tig standing in front of a clearly displeased Chief.
    " What’s your COS?" she said, pinching the spot between her eyes while squinting them shut.  
    " Astronautics MSys Specialist. M-17-06-03"  
    " Mechanical Systems… Who’s your assigned ESys partner?"  
    " I am." The voice came from over his right shoulder, and Tig whipped his head around so fast that pain shot through his neck. Parker stood two steps behind him, off on his right side about sixty degrees like she was his wingman. He had no idea how long she’d been lurking there. "I’m AMTS Meester’s ESys Specialist," she said. "I’m his assigned partner."  
    " Then, you’re going with him," Horcheese said, and a fresh wave of fire shot up Tig’s body under his skin.  
    " But that’s… But… no!" He could feel Parker behind him trying to burn a hole through the back of his head with her eyes. He tried not to look at her while Horcheese waited to see if he’d say anything else.  
    " Mr. Meester," Horcheese said, "Are you attempting to inform the Ops Chief that AMTS Parker isn’t good enough to do her job?"  
    " No!" Tig almost shouted it. "She’s good. It’s just… We’re not going to be working on the 151s or junks... I don’t need an ESys partner for this, I can do it alone."  
    After he said that, Horcheese’s lips pressed together hard and made a thin line. "No. She’s your partner. She comes along."
    " She doesn’t have to be out there just because I am," he said.  
    " She’s your partner. She shares the risk." Horcheese began to walk away. She stopped after two steps, turned and said, "That's how it works. So don’t fuck up and get her killed."  

6
     
    He and Parker boarded Audacity last. The junk's Crew Chief stopped them and the rest of the redsuits right after coming through the open airlock. "I am Crew Chief Phipps." Phipps had a lunar drawl, the thick kind