When the Sun Turns to Darkness

When the Sun Turns to Darkness

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Six

Do NOT Upset the Doctor

"Mam? Captain wants you on the Bridge" Rake informed Rebecca.

She looked up from the screen she was using. "Tell him I'm bu... No, no." She sighed, swallowing a drink of water before continuing. "Ask him, politely please, does he wants this bay fixed so he can jump, or the sight of my ugly face in his office." She turned back to her work without waiting an answer, absently catching a snicker from Rake before he switched channels. Truth be told her crew wasn't integrated yet, they were still stumbling over each other trying to get the work done. ‘Hell’ she thought, taking a second to scream at suit M-14 to get out of Martinez's way. ‘Truth be told, I leave and someone's gonna get seriously killed here.’

"Mam?"

She looked up again, scowling. "What is it Rake" she asked.

"Captains Adj. says later is fine. He'll just take an extra couple ah pounds outta yer ass. Also wanted yah to know they caught the bomber. Reporter lady from GNN. She’s already headed home, sans ship, sans suit."

Rebecca smiled behind her gold plated safety visor. "Good for her. Well tell yah tha truth Rake I could spare it. Look, you need a break. Blanca's back so she can take your place."

"Yes Mam. What about you?"

"I'm fine" Rebecca lied. "Plenty of O2 in the hookup. I'm tandem tied to these braces. Soon as they get Discovery's nose locked in I'll transfer there. At least it'll have a head."

"Understood. I'll be back in twenty."

"Sixty, that's an order."

Rake blinked, signaling his agreement with one gloved hand. Nodding was almost impossible in a space suit. "Sixty then. Bring you anything?"

"Kathleen" Rebecca noted.

"On company time Mam?" Rake asked, surprised.

"We need a medic here. I trust her. We're losing time sending people to medical just to get patched up then sent back. Might as well have someone here." She winked at Rake though he couldn’t see it behind the gold. "Besides, have you ever tried it in a spacesuit?"

"Got your point Mam. I'll bring her with me." He turned, looked five-forty then kicked off towards the nearest airlock.

Rebecca switched off her transmitter, groaning in pain. Her suit was too small. It had been meant for a child. But nine hours ago they'd grabbed and now she was paying for it. Her back had chilled so much she could barely move and she'd also grabbed a setup meant for a male. Her bladder was killing her.

"Captain?" A female voice asked. Rebecca looked up to find Blanca floating next to her. The Marines arms looked stiffer than Rake's. Probably bandages Rebecca decided.

"Your taking Rake's place until he gets back" Rebecca informed her new partner. "Gofer, relay orders, check things for me. General aw-shit work. Up to it?"

"Yes mam" Blanca agreed. "What's first?"

"Getting you up to speed" Rebecca admitted. She pointed at a stripped shuttle fifty meters away, half in and half out of the docking bay. "DISCOVERY's our loaner, we've been striping her for everything. Nose is

replacing the Control Tower, most of the rest's being used to repair bomb damage. I want you to check on the following, in order. Buss D work, that's down in the Decant station. Then the mating of DISCOVERY's nose to our ship. Finally see what those idiots are doing outside." She paused a moment to gather her thoughts. "I'm playing traffic control in here. Call me on Channel six, its clear except for you and I. Also monitor channel zero, keep me updated on anything important."

"Bridge?"

"Yep, they keep bugging me. I give them a report every thirty but they can't keep off my ass. I'm too busy to talk to pencil pushers. Now get moving." She suddenly switched channels. "BARKER, you damn idiot. That's not where I said to lash that BDB at, now move it." She sighed, shaking her head in her helmet. It was exhaustion and Rebecca knew it, but there wasn't time for breaks, and no replacements either. And her bladder wanted to empty. NOW! She went back to work.

Meanwhile back in Sickbay a tired, harassed Kathleen was livid at the news Rake brought her. "She's been out how long?" Kathleen asked, grabbing a zero-gee med-kit from stores. "In a kids suit?"

"Nine hours Mrs Wilkins" Rake admitted. "More like ten by the time we get back there."

"Great, she's killing herself. Look.. ummm... Find a suit she can wear, I'll get her inside. She's still weak from that stupid shrimp. We ought to have spaced that jerk instead of shoving his ass on a shuttle. We still have eight food poisoning patients in here. I need to at least get some fruit juice in her. Pineapple will do. I think she hates the stuff." She moved carefully, following Rake out of the medical section.

"Beggin the Doctor's pardon" Rake asked as they moved carefully along busy tunnels. "But if she hates the stuff, why make her drink it?"

"Teach her a lesson" Kathleen answered. "Best way I know how." She stopped suddenly as three men hauling something bigger than them crossed their path. "Then I'm a Vet, don't know if it works for humans."

Rake's mouth opened. "A vet? But... she wants you to treat people. Are you qualified?"

"Hey" Kathleen snapped back as they started forward again. "I've had my arm up to the shoulder in a bulls ass, delivered mares with breach births and spaded animals by the dozen. Other than the fact you have two legs instead of four your not that much different." She paused to study Rake a moment. "Except I think you'd howl just a bit more than that bull did if I shoved my arm up your ass that far."

Rake paled at the image. "Uh... Its this way Doctor" he said with a slightly squeaky voice, changing the subject.