Kiko and Felix

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Kiko yawned quietly as she sat her toolbox next to the access panel. Reading the number she checked the clipboard in her hand. "29A-C, double check Artie" she called to the air.

"29A-C is correct Kiko" the ships AI replied from a nearby intercom. "You've been working a long time again, shouldn't you get some sleep? These long hours can't be good for your metabolism."

"I know" she replied. "But this thing's been bugging me since we fixed the external antenna. There's no reason for a half-percent signal loss before it even gets to the antenna, not according to those manuals you've given me. After I check this junction box I'll crash, okay?"

"All right, if you insist. Just remind me not to complain next time" Artie grumbled. Several dull thumps came from behind the panel. "Security locks have been released, go ahead and enter."

Kneeling, the mouse released two catches. The hatch swung easily in her hand, beyond it a dimly lit tunnel reached towards the stealthships outer hull. "How close to space will I be this time" she asked, as she examined the clearance.

"At the closest point, don't take a deep breath" Artie answered. "You'll have your back against the inner hull, there's only twenty quells... I mean, twenty-two point three centimeters between you and deep space.

"Two handspans" Kiko muttered to herself. She started pulling small belts on her coveralls as tight as possible. The shapeless mass of cloth soon reveled the curves she'd been carefully hiding from Felix. Shoving her plastic toolbox ahead of her she squeezed into the opening. "Who was this designed for in the first place" she complained.

"A race much smaller than yourself, and much less attractive" Artie answered. "Tell me, why do you make yourself so unattractive around Felix. Are you afraid he might take advantage of you?"

Kiko reached the short tunnels end, squirming around she twisted along her new path, parallel to the ships hull. "No, not that. Ever heard of shipboard romance? Well, we're out here in a dangerous situation, he rescued me from a life or, more likely death situation and there's no other female available. Not only that, he's forever cut off from his own kind. A few months of this and I'll be the most attractive woman he's ever seen."

"I know your interested in Felix, why not take advantage of the situation."

Coming to a stop near the suspect junction box she opened her toolkit, selecting a driver for the seals. "Yep, I like Felix, I like him a lot. Enough to accept he deserves better than a middle aged broken down bar hopping woman who's probably been with more men than he could imagine. Anyway, I'll be gone as soon as he doesn't need me, off on another ship, station or planet." She spun the releases, watching as each popped out on spring loaded catches. Finally the panel dropped out, falling against her nose and causing her to sneeze. "Besides, what honor is there in stealing a mans heart when he has no defense? In any case I don't know who tried their best to end my life, not even why. I'd be selfish if I pulled someone I really cared for into something greater then they could handle."

"We are very capable Kiko, we have been in many a tight spot before. Certainly we could handle anything you might have chasing you."

"Yeah, sure" she whispered, her attention more on the wiring than her conversation. "Nice job, very clean, very professional... Besides, he deserves children and we're not compatible." Picking up a light she traced a bundle of cables, suddenly stopping as she came across several carefully hidden splices. "Artie, when was this last serviced?"

"About six years ago, at Hoth Station. Standard preventive maintance. Hold on while I check."

While she waited Kiko followed the lines to a small black box hidden within a cable tube. Pulling out a fiberscope she examined the box. Several leads went into it, one exiting to attach itself to an antenna lead. "Found your signal loss" she groaned, "I just hope it isn't explosive."

"What do you mean explosive" Artie asked. "My records show nothing more than a systems check and cleaning." There was a moment of quiet, while unknown to Kiko Artie aroused and briefed Felix. "Hook my remote into your fiberscope and let me see what you found."

"Hang on" she whispered, more from habit than fear her voice might trigger some sort of fuse. Pulling a small gold cylinder from her pocket she attached it to the end of her fiberscope. Running a small lead out, she attached it to the junction box's metal frame. "Getting a signal?" she asked.

"Yes, quite clear, now show me this item you've found." It was a matter of seconds before Artie was seeing the same thing Kiko had examined. For several seconds the tunnel was quiet, Kiko's breathing the only sound. "Its Imperial" Artie reported. "Probably an echo locator or microsquirt-transmitter. I can't see any trip wires but I can assure you its going to have some kind of explosive built in."

"Shut down this section" Kiko ordered "I'll remove it and we can space it."

"It could explode" Artie warned. "In that small area, that close to the hull..."

"So someone's going to finally get rid of me" the mouse growled. "Look, this thing might be set for your 'Imperium' but it's probably detectable by others. If it blows that access hatch will auto-seal. Felix hasn't had time to get a fixation on me, he can get the mess cleaned up, repairs and a new mechanic, a prettier one at any station. We leave it alone and some night when everyone's asleep we'll take a torpedo up the tailpipe." Artie's view changed as she withdrew the probe. "I'd rather not die in my sleep if you don't mind. I want to see it coming next time. Close that access hatch will you?"

Air pressure changed as the access closed, sealing the mouse in with her problem. "I strongly suggest you rethink this" Artie urged.

"I couldn't sleep knowing it's here Artie, so let's just get it over with. Besides, I'm here now and taking care of the problem will be no more or less dangerous than a year from now." Shoving her toolbox aside she forced herself closer to her work. With nimble fingers she slowly pried the box out of the tube, letting it hang from its wires as she retrieved an energy probe. A few minutes checking told her what she wanted to know. "Artie, there's a really low current travelling from the purple wire to the grey one. I think that's the trigger so I'll jump those two."

"That sounds about right" Artie replied, "A low voltage trigger is common with Imperium traps. Look for a short energy pulse after you make your jump, it could be as much as six minutes between pulses. It isn't common, but I find it in my notes as a possible second trigger."

"Got yah" the mouse replied. Working slowly she ran a length of jumper between the two wires, carefully snapping it into place. A careful check showed good contact. Holding her breath she clipped each wire, expecting an explosion and hoping for none. "You know Artie" Kiko said as she worked, "I really think you owe me after this. At least tell me what these Jedi people are." Nothing happened, and the following long term monitor didn't pick up the suspected second trigger so she cut those wires as well. Pulling the box out she sat it aside, taking the time to clean up her work area and reseal the junction box. "Light this section up and run a check while I do clean up and reseal." While she waited she set the offending unit on her toolbox.

Several minutes passed as the AI ran delicate tests. Finally satisfied, Artie reopened the link with Kiko. "The good news is my signal loss is gone."

"What's the bad news" Kiko asked as she closed her toolbox.

"You can't fit through the access tunnel ahead, it narrows too much. You'll have to back up with that thing and I, for one, don't like it."

"Lovely" she cursed. "Both of us forgot to check the blueprints. I am getting tired, or old. All right, hang on." Moving slowly she backed away from her toolbox, reaching out to pull it towards her as she moved. This continued for about two meters when suddenly she couldn't move anymore, something had snagged her coveralls. No matter what she tried she couldn't back up any further, and she couldn't reach the snag in such tight quarters. Her attempts to move forward were met with the same problem. Sighing, she laid her head on her arms. "Artie? she asked. "Just how narrow is it ahead."

"Slightly smaller than your hips Kiko, what's your problem" the AI asked.

"I'm stuck, I can't go either way" she sighed. "I'll have to dump the coverall's and come back for them later." She looked up the tunnel, barely able to see where several cable pipes ran through the access. "And I thought I could fit anywhere" she cursed "It's diet time again." Shoving both toolbox and Imperial tracker as far ahead of her as she could she went about the difficult task of disrobing in the tiny space.

"I've opened the security locks, when you get there just hit the hatch hard" Artie reported. "It's designed to pop open if hit from the inside." A short moment of silence followed before the AI asked its next question. "I've a question, why aren't your bothered by the tight space Kiko. Most other lifeforms show some sort of disquiet in the same situation. Your as calm as if you were in your workroom."

"Gotcha on the hatch" the mousling answered as she extracted her foot from her clothing. "Someone got locked in huh?" She paused, thinking. "Well, I guess you'd figure it out anyway. When I'm with a lover, well I like to be tied up Artie. So places like this are more exciting that uncomfortable."

Artie remained silent for several minutes. "Several someone's" he finally replied. "A strange style of play, but if it is what you like, you have my blessings."

"Busy?" Kiko asked, suddenly noticing the uncommon delays in Artie's conversation. "If I'm bothering you..."

"No" Artie answered, "I do run an entire ship you know and I've been double checking blueprints. Even for me that takes time. Once you exit the tunnel, turn left and go twenty meters. There is a seldom used emergency airlock there. Set the box inside and I'll do the rest."

"Understood, I'm at the squeeze point now." She reached out, trying to move any of the four conduits. The heavy metal pipes barely budged. 'Better be enough give' she thought to herself. Less than a meter past the squeeze point was her exit. 'So close' she thought, 'and so damn far away.' Exhaling as much as she could, she slid under the pipes. Moments later she began forcing her body to fit in an area much too small for it.

Felix was waiting outside the hatch, ready to help the moment Kiko exited. Unknown to the mouse Artie had been keeping him up to date with a com-tap from the moment the mouse had found the Imperium device. Suddenly the hatch popped open, a toolbox flew out causing him to involuntarily back up.

Moments later a nude, and very bloody mouseling slid to the deck with her back to him. Before he could speak she rolled to her feet and ran away from him.

"Fast, isn't she" Artie commented as Felix watched her toss the box into the airlock. In seconds the lock cycled, un-reclaimed atmosphere carrying its single deadly occupant away as the outer door opened. Minutes later one of the ships guns spoke, there was a small flash and it was over. Kiko slid to the deck, exhausted. Felix walked up to her, squatting down beside her.

"Nice work" he commented quietly.

"Makes the day go by" she replied, still gulping air.

"Let's get you to sickbay, those are some nasty wounds you've picked up."

"These? There not all that... Oh my God" she exclaimed, realizing what she wasn't wearing (anything at all). Covering herself as best she could with her hands she stood, backing away from her employer, a look of fear on her face.

Felix stood, he hadn't really seen the mouse in anything near fitting, hadn't realized just how much a woman she was. Turning his back to her he chuckled. "Look, I'm serious about those wounds, pressure wounds don't heal as well as cuts unless you deal with them fast. You go to sickbay right now, that's a order. When your through meet me in the galley. And stop acting like I'm going to nail you to a bulkhead and have my way with you."

"Yessir" Kiko stuttered, turning to limp down the corridor.

A few minutes later Felix was sitting in the Galley, sipping a hot cup of coffee. "She'll be in sickbay at least an hour Felix, maybe two" Artie reported. "Somehow she fractured her hip bone, it's going to take a bit to get stabilized."

"Take her off duty until she's healed" Felix ordered, "And I mean lock her out of her work area. Hell, lock her in her room if you have too, she's no good to us dead. We'll recover her clothes later, there's plenty of time." He sipped his coffee again, remembering the sight he'd beheld just minutes ago. "You sure she's going to be okay?"

Artie mulled over that question, "No, I'm afraid her condition is terminal" he finally replied.

Felix jerked suddenly, spilling some of his coffee. "What do you mean, what's wrong?"

"She's in love with you, and she doesn't want you to know because she's afraid you'll be hurt" Artie answered. "People like that have been known to take chances they normally wouldn't."

"In love?" Felix gasped. "We've only been together what, a month? That's not even time to become good friends, much less fall in love."

"You forget her history, and how a Jedi in shining armor saved her life in deep space" Artie answered. "Although she'd probably call it a Knight in Shining armor. We could do worse Felix, she's highly intelligent, healthy, talented.."

"And has strange tastes in bed" Felix finished. "Look, we'll go over this in six months, if she's still here. I'm not about to fall in love with her, I've been alone in deep space with prettier princess's before and didn't fall for that trap. We've been together too long for you to think I'm that weak willed for fargs sake."

"Of course knowing Han would have handed you your heart on a platter if you did didn't have much to do with that."

Felix laughed. "Han, now there's a character. I wish I could talk to him again, or that brother-in-law if his. They always seemed to have the right answer when you really needed it. Gods Leah was beautiful, I thinks she's the most beautiful human I ever met." He remembered the last time he and Han had met. "Even though the Imperium was falling, they could still field a nasty force. Just killing a mad Emperor and his number one sidekick only crippled the Empire. It's still a long crawl up to freedom." He set his empty cup down, rubbing his still sleep filled eyes. "You say she's interested in the snowspeeder design?"

"Yes, but the shuttle bay could barely hold one even though its empty. Nor do we have the supplies or equipment to build one in the first place."

Felix smiled. "I'll bet you a case of Tev Wine she could build one out of cardboard and bailing wire. She's been working too hard anyway, I mean, this ships in better shape than after our last overhaul. Maybe a hobby will slow her down, at least get her fixation on me transferred."

"That sounds like a good idea. She can spend the time it takes to heal her hip converting the design from our specs to this Galaxy's. But you know she's going to learn more about us, and where we came from if you allow this."

"Maybe too much?" Felix asked. "Somehow I don't think we're taking that big a chance. Still, keep an eye on what she has access to. I don't want her suddenly pulling a stormtroopers outfit on us."