The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link by Daniel Hanks Read Free Book Online Page A

and Bob looked at each other.
    “Hi, Kathy,” I said.
    “What do you want?”
    “Jack doesn’t believe I passed the test.”
    “I don’t either. Put him on.” I handed Jack my assistant.
    “Hi, Kathy. Is he lying? Ah, shit, no way. You’re kidding! Thanks, Kathy. You need to come see him. Yeah, he’ll be here. Bye.” Jack handed me Margret. He shook his head. “Aced it. Damn. How?”
    “I work hard,” I said.
    “You did. You aced it,” Bob said. He jumped up, shook my hand and pounded my shoulder.
    Kathy came into the shop a few minutes later. She looked frazzled. “That little bitch posted this.” She pressed her assistant and a picture of me holding her hand filled the wall. “She’s insinuating we’re having a relationship.”
    “I wish.”
    “What? You’re just a kid,” she said.
    “I know, but you’re an amazing woman, and I should be so lucky.” Jack flinched.
    “You’re an evil young man. This won’t hurt me, but you could find yourself taking the test again.”
    I shrugged. “So. I can take that test any time they want to give it to me.”
    She turned to Jack. “What are we going to do?”
    Jack walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle and cups. He poured four of them halfway full. He handed me one, then went around handing Kathy and Bob one as well.
    With a nod, he said, “To Drake, our new second-year apprentice.”
    I took a deep gulp and then coughed my fool head off. No one should drink this shit, I thought between gasps for air and spasms.
    “Smooth,” Jack said with a laugh.
    Bob patted me on the back. I wondered if he tried to help or if it was just an excuse to pound on me. After catching my breath, I noticed Jack’s cup was half-full. Mine was a quarter. Crap, he could have warned me.
    “Let’s move on into my office and discuss young Drake’s problem in comfort,” Jack said.
    As we followed him to the office, Bob saddled up to me and gave me a nudge. “Kid, this here is sipping whiskey, not soda pop. A big gulp could kill you.” He smiled.
    I stopped and looked at the yellow liquid in my cup. Kathy put her arm around me. “Just small sips and you’ll be fine.” She pushed me forward into the office.
    Jack reached over and poured more whiskey into my cup. “Most of the time it’s good to be in a hurry, but it can be dangerous to rush a woman or whiskey, boy.”
    Kathy let out a sharp laugh. “Jack, you’re one of the best engineers I’ve met, but you know nothing about women.” She took another sip of her whiskey.
    “I don’t think that’s correct. I know women,” Jack said. Bob put his head into his hand and gave it a small shake.
    Kathy let out a loud cackle. “Okay. Whatever you say. Drake, you want advice. You’d better come to Bob or me. Got it?”
    Bob shook his head. “I have no answers for you, son. I’ve been married a long time and don’t know nothing, except that I love Vivian.”
    I looked over at Jack, who poured more whiskey into his glass. “Been single for the last ten years,” he said, slurring his words slightly. “Since my wife died. Only woman I’ve ever loved too. Tessa.” He raised his glass in a toast. I took another small sip. The shit wasn’t bad.
    I looked over at Kathy. She studied her glass. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble. Can I do anything?” I asked.
    She looked up at me and laughed. “I’m not in any trouble. Every woman on this ship will think I’m lucky.” She smiled. “That’s not a bad thing for me. Men don’t care about older women having a fling. If they do, screw them or don’t screw them, I should say.” She paused. “You might be asked to take the test again. Young women might think you’re a trashy guy.”
    I was high so I told her, “Well, looks as if I’ll be spending time talking to you. Looking into your eyes is all I’ll ever need,” I said. Jack scowled, Kathy giggled and Bob groaned.
    Kathy looked at Jack. “What have you been teaching him?”
    I