Tikki replied, “I hope you still feel that way, when Dad lets me start dating.”
Snappi said, “Excuse me, I didn’t realize you weren’t grown.”
“No offense taken, Captain.” I didn’t know if we should give them a little privacy, or stay as chaperons. Luckily, Rikki came wandering into the bay about then. He strode up, and I asked, “Rikki, have you met Captain Dressi?”
“No, I don’t believe I have. Nice to meet you, Sir.”
Snappi stuck out his hand to shake. “Nice to meet you as well. Tikki and I have been talking over the comm, since the Commodore doesn’t have one that connects to our network. Let me assure you, I meant no offense. I wasn’t aware she was under age.”
“Just until next month. I can’t believe she used that on you. She must think you’re something.” Snappi looked at Tikki, with a perturbed expression. She said, “Oops, busted.”
Snappi looked over at me. “What do you have the ornery one here doing?”
“She’s my Deputy Chief Engineer.”
“That much responsibility, at such a young age?”
I said, “No offense, Rikki. If you saw the rust bucket she was keeping in the black for her Dad, this is actually less of a job than that.”
Rikki said, “Hurts to admit it, but I think you may be right.” My comm rang. It was Dixie. “Yes, Dixie, what do you need?”
“I just wanted to tell you, Boss, that the Marines over on the flagship found enough evidence to confirm which drug was given to the Ambassador. I’m ready to wake him up. I thought you might want to be here for that.”
“Yes, I do. Do you mind if I bring a few people with me?”
“Not at all. His nephew?”
“Yes, and a few others, if you’re sure it’s okay.”
“The procedure isn’t dangerous, Boss. Bring whoever you want.” I turned to the crowd, and said, “Dixie is ready to wake the Ambassador. Anyone want to come watch?” Suddenly, we were all headed for the transit. When we got to medbay, Rhonda directed us to a darkened room. The Squirrels with us all nodded approvingly. I asked, “Why does the room need to be dark?”
Tikki said, “It eases the transition from hibernation to the waking state, just makes the whole thing more pleasant.”
Dixie said, “I’m glad I got it right, then. The translations of your medical manuals aren’t as helpful as I hoped.”
I asked, “But you’re sure you have the right antidote?”
“Yes, Boss. One hundred percent.”
“Proceed, then.” She gave Natti a shot, and his breathing began to change. Slowly, he opened his eyes. I said, “Dangit, Natti, you’re not going to get out of our agreement that easily. Trying to hibernate, so I have to deal with somebody else. I’ve seen it all, now.”
I got him. He started in, “It wasn’t like that at all, Commodore. I didn’t do this to myself. Someone did it to me without my permission. I was assaulted.”
Snappi said, “He knows that, Uncle. He is just, what is their expression, ‘yanking your chain’.”
“Snappi? What are you doing here?”
“Came to rescue you, Uncle. Seems the Commodore here beat me to it.”
“I’ll have to get all the details, but can that wait? I need to find the little Squirrels’ room, and I’m more than a little hungry. Going into hibernation without any prep is not good.” Dixie guided him to the facilities, and then we headed for the galley. Once he had gotten himself around some breakfast, Natti said, “A fellow I thought was loyal to the rebel cause snuck up behind me, and dosed me up. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in your medbay, Commodore. How did you figure out you needed to rescue me?”
“We thought something must be wrong, when instead of you, a shipload of troops showed up for the second negotiating session. They seemed to want that fellow whose diplomatic immunity you revoked. After we took care of them, we went ahead and recaptured your ship for you, but we weren’t sure which chemical they had used to put you to sleep, so we had to wait to wake you until our Marines found out what was used. Several of your ships on patrol nearby had mutinies, and they came here to punish us for taking your flagship. Your nephew let me know that they were on their way, and we were able to receive them properly. Snappi showed up with a fleet to take the ships back, and decided to be cute, and slip into the system in a surveillance ship. We had him stunned and caught before we realized he was friendly. I think that about catches you up.”
The Ambassador said, “Commodore, there are holes in that story I could drive one of your semi-trucks through.”
Snappi said, “I can fill you in on the details later, Uncle. He’s telling the truth.”
“I have no doubt of that, Snappi. He isn’t telling nearly all of what happened here, though.”
Nikki asked, “What is it that you wanted to hear, that he didn’t tell?”
“For one thing, what possessed him to take the flagship?”
Nikki replied, “One of the boarders claimed to have cut your throat. As soon as the boarders were stunned, he said, ‘I want the Ambassador, or his remains, on this ship ASAP.’ The Marines decided it was a good day for a boarding exercise.” Natti looked at Snappi. “They always make it sound so matter-of-fact, don’t they?”
“Yes, Uncle. Like boarding and taking over a ship of the Empire was something they did every day.”
I replied, “Not every day, but the walnut vendors seem to send ships fairly regularly. At least, this time you sent some folks to fly them home. Seemed like people got upset when I showed up in orbit at Oak.”
Natti said, “Oh my, yes they did!
