Spark the Runner Ch. 06

"Welcome aboard," the Third Mate greeted them. "Not exactly our finest hour."

"What's the problem?" Collier asked.

"The Fresh Water distiller," Murphy told him. "Desalinization is off. Can't find what's wrong and without it, we don't leave." Spark had a sudden inspiration.

"Would you mind if I took a look?" he asked, which got really strange looks from Murphy and Manford.

"Uh, no... have at it," Murphy decided, stepping back a bit, as did a bunch of the yellow-jackets.

This is where I play wirehead, Spark thought to the Professor and Okami. Hang tight.

He walked over to the control console they'd been looking at and noted with satisfaction that it had a net jack. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a patch cord, then squatted down in front of the machine, jacking into it, then under his arm. Then he zoned out.

It looked like a standard network of industrial controls, with a couple of twists. He could sense xeno tech and when he went looking for it, found several processors controlled by alien programming. The process for separating out pure dihydrogen monoxide had several steps, but the last one -- normally an electrolysis process to create pure hydrogen and pure oxygen, then put them back together -- had been replaced with some form of xeno polarity generator that simply pulled intact water molecules away from everything else. And that's where the problem was. Not in the polarizer, but in the gate control that measured the flow through the device.

Man, it's good to know I can still do this kind of shit, he thought to himself as he backed out and unjacked.

"You need to replace the gate control to your xeno polarizer," he told them as he stood up. "Your diagnostics say it's fine, but they're lying to you. It's reporting 100% open when it's only about 10%."

"Wirehead?" Manford asked him, somewhat brusquely, but not insulting.

"Yeah, Chief," Spark nodded, tapping his temple. "Platinum card."

"Thanks," the Chief nodded, then looked to one of his crew, who took off. Spark was betting he was headed for replacement parts. "Good thing you came along."

"Glad to help," Spark told him. "We've got a huge investment in you folk being successful."

"Pretty sure we will be, once we get the gremlins out of the system," Chief Manford answered.

"And unless our guests have any questions," Collier stepped in, "I think we'll get out of your way and let you finish succeeding."

"I've got one quick question," Spark told them, getting their attention. "How long can you stay submerged?"

"Technically?" Murphy asked. "Forever, although I presume you mean 'and stay alive'. Still, nearly forever, or until the food runs out, whichever comes first. The Vegan power plants are half a million years mean time to failure. Our air and water can be synthesized as needed. We can hunt for food with the mini-sub. As long as we don't go stir-crazy, we can be down a very long time."

"Mini-sub?"

"Yes, sir," Murphy nodded aft. "We've got a five-man mini-sub and sealed launch bay aft of here, between the ballast tanks."

"Could I see that?"

"Sure," Murphy told him, then turned to the Chief. "You've got it here, Chief, right?"

"Yes, sir," Manford told him. "We'll change out the gate and let you know what happens."

Murphy turned back to the party and said, "Number One?"... then headed for the aft hatch. Collier and the rest of them followed along. When they got to the hatch, Murphy ID'd himself to the lock and opened the hatch. "Straight ahead," he told them. Collier stepped through first and lights came on as he did. Everybody else followed and Murphy came in last, closing the hatch.

Before them, suspended in a cradle, was a submarine, reminiscent of a cross between an air bubble and a dragonfly with its wings folded back. Spark came to a halt and just stared.

"What can I tell you?" Murphy commented as he joined them. "The Crescians are big fans of the Dragonspy DLX. It actually works out better than the movie. Pilot and co-pilot are in front, where the big bubbles are. The boat's engineer is behind them and there's space for two more people behind him. The 'wings' actually control thrusters and have a wide range of articulation, making it very maneuverable. The primary thrusters make it pretty fast. There are extendable 'front legs' with manipulators that are controlled like waldoes. It's meant for exploration, but there's a lot of other things it can do. Including hunting and fishing, if needed."

"That actually looks pretty cool," Spark admitted. "And we're probably overstaying our welcome. I've seen what I wanted to see. Unless Okami, Su Ling or the Prof have anything else, you can escort us back up and out of here and Ms. Alvarez can get us out of your way."

"I have nothing more," the Professor spoke up.

"Nope, I'm good, too," Okami added.

"I am fine," Su Ling told them.

"Then if you will follow me," Collier told them, "we'll head back to the Levitator and back up to Sail 1. Number Three, let me know when Chief's got the distiller fixed."

"Aye-aye," Murphy told him, and the rest of the group headed for the exit.

* * * * *

"That is some serious hardware."

Spark was sitting at dinner with Lizzie, Okami, the Professor, Charlie and Su Ling. Lizzie had ordered online from the company store and put together another of her excellent creations... this time resembling fried chicken, boiled potatoes, green beans and corn. Nobody at the table was bothered by the fact that the "chicken" came from Regulus, the "potatoes" came from Callisto and the "corn" and "beans" came from Deneb. They all found it delicious.

"Based on what I have seen in your memories, husband," Lizzie answered, "I completely agree."

"With four subs each for here, Penzance, Rio, Luanda, Shizuoka, Vancouver, Brisbane and Chimbote, plus three each at Rum Point, Valletta and Negombo, and two each at Utqiagvic and Palmer Station, we're looking at a fleet of forty-five of those Collectors. Even with one down at each enclave for maintenance, that's still a formidable harvesting fleet."

"Next time we get a chance to go aboard one of those," Spark told the others, "we make sure Lizzie and Charlie get a good look. In fact, at 200 knots, Negombo to Brisbane is about twenty-four hours. Maybe we could hitch a ride?"

"However, Jamie," the Professor put in, "they would not have a reason to transfer one of Negombo's to Brisbane."

"Sure they would... one goes each way, start at the same time, see who finishes first. Put a couple of those boats under a twenty-four hour stress test. You'd at least know what they could do."

"It is an idea worth considering," Lizzie agreed. "We will certainly have time to make arrangements before we get there."

And I would like to point out that Charlie has come along very, very quickly in mastering Filtering and Directed telepathic contact, she added, thinking to them all. She is rapidly becoming my star pupil.

Charlie blushed. A fire engine red kind of blush.

I'm not that good at it, really... she automatically thought back to them all. Lizzie's just really good with immersion and rewards...

You do realize you just thought your response to all of us, Su Ling observed, which brought Charlie up short. That sort of automatic response will work well when you are dealing with our partners. Lizzie must be right... you are a very apt student.

Not really, Charlie thought back. She's just really... motivational ... Then blushed again.

Have you ruined Charlie for all mankind, wife? Spark teased her. You've probably set a bar so high, even the Arcasians won't be able to get over it.

I am not exactly sure who, husband, was 'setting the bar', Lizzie thought.

When Spark caught her meaning, he turned to look at Charlie. "Really?" he asked aloud.

"Nympho, remember?" she muttered into her food. Su Ling, on the other hand, had a look of raw curiosity.

"Is this a personal matter that I should stay out of?" she asked. "The Second Chakra energy ramping up around here is palpable."

Charlie took a deep breath, exhaled, and turned to Su Ling.

"I'm a nymphomaniac," she stated. "Before running into Jamie and Lizzie and Okami, it got me in a lot of trouble. 'Cuz I really like sex. And I've gotten pretty good at it. Unless you compare me to the Symbiote, in which case I'm a NUB. Anyway, they finally managed to sate me, which opened up a whole different world of not being distracted by being horny and I've had a chance to learn and grow, and now I've got this awesome job working for the Professor -- who ain't shabby in bed, either -- and I'm going to be dealing with 'partners' who can be as randy as I am...

"And, honestly... you're lookin' pretty good, too. If I hadn't just spent the day in Lizzie's bubble, I'd probably be after you."

"And you now are no longer interested in being 'after' me?" Su Ling asked evenly.

The whole room went quiet.

"Uh, well..." Charlie kind of fumbled. "You're really cute, ya know? And, um, I... you know?... I thought Lizzie's effects would last a lot longer..."

Okami was the one that laughed. "Girl, Lizzie'd have to render you comatose," she chuckled.

"She, uh, sorta did..." Charlie admitted. That stopped Okami's laugh.

"She did?" the Canilupe asked incredulously. "Full, drain-you-to-unconsciousness out of it?"

"A few times, yeah..." Charlie admitted again. "Like I said, she's pretty good at motivatin'..."

"A few..." Okami stared, slack jawed.

Charlie has quite a bit of natural libido, Lizzie commented. And she likes to use it. The concept of 'draining her' may not apply.

Does that infer I may need reinforcements? Su Ling asked, and Spark would have sworn she was actually as ingenuous as she seemed. Except for her quiet, controlled and probably determined demeanor.

I count four, saddled up and ready to go, Spark thought to the others. Unless it's been too long a day for you, Professor.

I suppose I should be held in reserve, he smiled. Fresh troops for the 'climactic' battle, as it were.

Charlie slowly turned to face each of them, and only after she'd made eye contact with all five, did she tell them, "oh, my God... I've died and gone to Heaven!... thank you, Lord, thank you..."

"By the way," Su Ling commented, turning her attention back to her food, "Norleeith, Glithlor and Sardanuum will be here in about an hour. I'm not sure if Belamon will be coming along or not."

* * * * *

Charlie was passed out in the living room with a huge, blissful smile on her face.

So were Spark, Okami and Su Ling... and Norleeith, Glithlor, Sardanuum and Belamon. It looked like a Lust Bomb had exploded.

Tonya and the Professor were sitting at the dining room table, sipping tea, nibbling biscuits and looking quite pleased with themselves. After all, it had been an epic debauch.

Su Ling's news at dinner, that they were going to be having guests, altered the entire trajectory of the night. Mostly because Spark, Tonya and Okami realized what was going to happen when the Irresistible Force of Charlie's libido met the Immovable Object of the Crescians' stamina. And if Belamon showed up... well, the possibilities were endless.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Okami had asked without preface. Most everybody seemed to automatically know what she was talking about.

"Well, she needs a certain amount of cultural immersion," Spark opined.

"She will have a powerful buffer available to her, through our presence," Tonya offered.

"If we're not too distracted," Okami countered. "Although the Crescians tend not to break their toys."

"It will be very intense, regardless," the Professor put in. "Having a plan would not hurt."

"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Charlie asked. She had a feeling they were talking about her, but she wasn't going to presume.

"We're going to visited by three folk that take 'randy' off the charts," Spark told her. "They're most likely interested in Lizzie, Okami and me, since we're the Trade Reps. But they get one whiff of your libido? Either you won't be walking well for a week or they're going be so out of it, they miss their meetings. Or both. In any case, it has the potential to be legendary."

Charlie was staring at him.

"You mean, you can really have sex with an alien?" she asked.

"Yes," Tonya told her. "With minor adjustments. Did you not understand that their stock in trade is sex?"

"Real sex..." Charlie answered. "Not just mind-to-mind stuff? I thought they were, like, all kinds of powerful telepaths and that's how their sexiness affected you. But seriously? You can have real, honest-to-God physical sex with the Crescians?"

"And the Sirians," Okami told her. "One of my favorites is a long tie on a big knot. If Belamon visits, you might get a chance to find out."

"And the Denebites, Regulans, Vegans -- though that one is a lot weird -- and Arcasians, that we know of," Spark told her. "Not sure about the others, yet. Theoretically, we should be able to enjoy sex with any of them."

"Lizzie," the Professor interjected, "I think we need some controls in place." Charlie was starting to breathe harder and... well, not exactly 'foaming at the mouth', but close. After a moment, the others could see her visibly calming down.

"Thank you," she told Tonya. "My mind can kind of run away with me."

"Riding along with you will be quite the adventure," Tonya smiled. "Since you enjoy fisting, you should be able to accommodate the Crescian males easily."

"For Glithlor and Sardanuum," Spark told her, "I'm guessing slightly smaller than my forearm. Erect."

"Whoa..." Charlie murmured. "That's pretty, um... big."

"You're starting to get the idea," Okami told her. "So eat up and drink up, because you're probably about to exercise it all off."

"And the reason it's only a 'probably', is because they only asked to see us Trade Reps," Spark told her. "They find out about you... catch your scent... and we mere Trade Reps will be forgotten about in a trice."

"Could I get a bit more tea, Su Ling," the Professor asked with a bemused look.

"Certainly, Professor," she told him and went to the kitchen to get his tea. She was giving it to him when the door chimed.

"I'll get it," she told the group, then went to answer it. When she opened it, after looking through the little spy-hole, it turned out to be the Crescians, Norleeith, Glithlor and Sardanuum.

Greetings, Su Ling, Norleeith thought to her and to the others at the same time. May we presume we have the right quarters and the right time?

You certainly may! Su Ling thought back. Please, come in...

She stepped back to allow the Crescians to enter. As soon as Norleeith crossed the threshold, Spark and the Professor stood up. Charlie started to, but Spark put a hand on her shoulder, indicating she should stay seated. Etiquette, he thought to her over the microband. Charlie stayed seated.

Greetings, Mr. McLeod, Norleeith thought as she reached the table, her pod slightly behind her in a triangle. Professor Lenox. I hope we are not interrupting anything, she added as she glanced at the table with the remains of dinner.

You're not, Spark thought back to her. Welcome, Norleeith... and Glithlor and Sardanuum. It is nice to be able to meet you more... informally. May I introduce my wife, Ms. Lizzie McLeod? he went on. At the mention of her name, Tonya stood and bowed slightly.

And you've met Ms. Okami, Spark went on and Okami did the same rise and bow slightly that Tonya had done. And the Professor's personal assistant, Ms. Charlene Gilmore? We know her as Charlie.

Taking her cue from Tonya and Okami, Charlie stood and did the slight bow of the head.

And since we will be close coworkers going forward, Spark finished, we would appreciate you using our less formal names of Jamie, Lizzie, Okami and Charlie. The Professor still gets called Professor. Since neither Lizzie nor Charlie have met you before, would you introduce your pod?

Certainly, Jamie, and thank you, Norleeith thought. I am Norleeith of the House Chu'urn, adjunct professor of Xenology and research assistant with the Crescian Institute of Applied Sciences. My podmates are Glithlor -- he nodded at his name being mentioned -- an adjunct professor of Linguistics and also a research assistant with the C.I.A.S., and Sardanuum, a research assistant in Mathematics. We have been granted the honor to study here on Earth and work with the Consortium on a variety of projects.

Welcome, all! the Professor told them. Since there are so many of us, shall we move to the living room?

Certainly, Professor, Su Ling thought up. Norleeith, if you and the others would care to follow me?

Su Ling turned and headed to the much more spacious living room, complete with enough couches and chairs to host perhaps a couple dozen visitors. Everybody except Spark and Charlie went to follow her.

"Holy shit..." Charlie muttered aloud as she started stacking up plates and such, to clear them to the kitchen.

Is there a problem? Spark asked over the microband as he lent a hand. He could see Charlie have to concentrate for a moment before she could answer him over the transceivers.

No... I don't think so... she answered. And you weren't kidding!... Those guys are hung and she's turning me on like crazy, just walking by me! Am I going to survive? Spark smiled. He knew the feeling.

Yeah, you'll be fine, he thought back. We'll make sure you stay alive. You may be comatose for awhile, but it will all be good. If you want to make some points and get noticed at the same time, cover the piece Su Ling missed... ask them if you can provide some form of refreshments. I don't know if being exposed to Earth habits has affected their preferences, but you could certainly find out. And do it telepathically. They will understand you wanting to practice, to build your competence.

Thanks, Charlie answered. After we get the dishes cleared. It only took a few moments to get everything to the kitchen, sorted and stacked. Then Spark walked back to the living room with Charlie.

The couches and chairs were laid out in a semicircle on either side of the room, with a separate "conversation pit" in front of the large vid-screen entertainment wall. The Crescians were arrayed on couches on one side, with Su Ling in a chair also on that side, and Tonya, Okami and the Professor were arrayed on the other, with obvious spaces for Spark and Charlie.

As they entered, Spark moved to sit next to Tonya while Charlie moved over in front of the Crescians. Spark could see that same look of concentration she'd had earlier.

Most welcome guests, she addressed them and had everybody in the room's attention. I am only a day into learning how to use telepathy, by way of biological enhancements. So if I stumble a bit, I hope you will forgive me. I noticed that you might want refreshments... At that point, Su Ling was up to full attention, but wasn't interfering. We have many Solarian beverages and snacks to offer. Is there something I can get you?

Norleeith did a subtle quick check with her podmates before answering.

Thank you, Charlie, she thought. In fact, we have become rather enraptured by your Solarian Apple Cider. We each would like a glass, if that is not too much trouble. We find it quite refreshing.

I can help you, if you like, Charlie, Su Ling thought.