A RECOVERY

by: Mr. David R. Dorrycott

<Snowy. I have a target. Incoming Z-27.2 X-33 Y+17. Speed Warp 5.6 degrading. Target appears unpowered.>

Snowaters didn't even look up from her soymilk/burger lunch. "Degrading?" she asked. "Hydrogen friction or outgassing?"

"That's faster than the Diamond can go so how do you plan to recover it. With a drone?"

<Correct. Readying a recovery drone now. Between it and the Diamonds best speed. We should effect recovery in 47.2 hours. Standard.>

"All right" she decided. "Go ahead. Its not often we locate this kind of random event. Let me know an hour before contact."

<Launching drone. Will do. And Thanks.> Kalith returned to its previous project. After all it would be almost two days before they could catch up with whatever the object was.

....Almost two days later......

<Snowy. One hour until contact. Recovery drone has effected a successful capture. Is awaiting our arrival.>

Snowaters crawled out from under her covers. "Huh? Wait, oh yes, the object. What do you have 'Lith." she asked.

"What caused the damage?"

"Ok, lets bring it aboard and see what we can do with it. Something new right?"

....Seven weeks later....

Snowaters stepped back from the small robot, pulling off her mask while setting the airbrush on the table. "Well, for better or worse that's the best we can do. Good thing it was originally designed as a female or we could never have fit the anti-matter power system in. Not without extensive redesign." She picked up an interface cable and approached the robots head. "Ready to download your data pack Kalith" she asked.

<Ready> it replied. <I like the wings. I would never have thought that design. For a cooling system> it replied.

Snowaters fingered the small feathered metal wings. "Well, we couldn't duplicate the power systems and the anti-matter exchanger needs a heat dump. Wings are prettier than fins. Maybe when it gets home its designer can replace our systems with the original. At least we kept the breasts in line with the body size. She still looks like a twelve year old."

<Correct. Since the face only had minor damage. I was able to rebuild it as it originally looked. Transferring data pack now. I gave her the mentality and personality. Of a twelve year old. Her creator will probably stack dump. But she needs it to navigate the warp pack.>

"An interesting design. I wonder what could have caused the explosion" she asked.

<Don't know. At least the design held up. Sent the blast forward. Instead of a simple explosion. It might have been a test or used as a weapon. I doubt we will ever know> answered Kalith.

....An hour later....

The robot sat up slowly as Snowaters unhooked the last datalines. She carefully closed the last access hatch then stepped back.

<All systems appear functional. I have implanted the recovered data into the robots matrix. It will return to as close to where it came from as I was able to determine> said Kalith.

Snowaters grinned. "I would love to see the owners face when this comes home to roost. Well, lets get her down to the shuttle bay and get her on her way" she said.

Moving slowly the robot followed Snowaters down the the shuttle bay where a modified recovery drone waited. "A saddle and steering wheel instead of a cockpit?" Snowaters asked.

<Well, that appears to be what this robot would be most comfortable with. Ready for launch.> Kalith replied.

Snowaters buckled the robot in then activated the probes systems. "Are you sure it has enough power to make it." she asked.

<It will arrive at the designated coordinates in two weeks. Enough power will remain for several hours of further travel. After that, the robot is on its own> Kalith replied.

Snowaters exited the bay, activating the cycling system as she did. "I hope she makes it" she said. Minutes later she watched the small craft lift up and exit the bay. 'I wonder what their going to make of the poodle skirt' she thought as she watched the disappearing craft.

IDOL ROBOT (c) Ed Hill

Snowaters, Kalith, Star Diamond (c) Mr. David R. Dorrycott