“We can do that, Boss. Do you think I should rotate the bots out on a schedule, so he doesn’t have too much time alone with any of them?”
“Couldn’t hurt. He’s getting to be a real pain in the behind.”
“We’ll get him corralled for you, Boss.”
Julie said, “Thanks again, Boss. He had me locked down so tight I couldn’t report. The distress word was even hard to get out.”
“You got it done. Good work, Julie.” Julie and Shorty took off for Engineering. Andre got his assignments sorted out and got ready to go. He asked, “You need anything else, Boss?”
“A genius who doesn’t need a babysitter?”
“I can see how you would want that, but his work is worth the effort, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Andre, it is. Thanks for your help. I probably would have had to hurt him if I did it myself.”
“That’s what we’re here for, Boss. See you later.”
“Bye, Andre.” I headed to the galley. My stomach seemed to think it was lunchtime. Gene was a wonder. He had a glass of tea, and a plate of open-faced roast beef waiting on me when I arrived. Jasmine saw me looking at it, and said, “Gene called ahead.”
“I figured. This crew is something else.” I was just finishing, when my comm rang. “Commodore Wilson.”
“Commodore, Sir, I am the AI running carrier GFC-2810. A bot called Scotti asked me to contact you. She said you would be able to explain my situation to me.”
“I will certainly do my best. You have been abandoned for many thousands of years. We have claimed you as salvage, and hope to repair you and put you back in the black. When I say we, I mean Bob’s Saucer Repair, my company. As the head of the company, I will be your new Boss. Do you understand so far?”
“Yes, Sir. Am I to understand that the Commonwealth Navy is no more?”
“I am afraid that is correct. The Navy was disbanded shortly after you were left here.”
“What sort of work will I be doing for you, Sir?”
“That remains to be seen. We hope to find peaceful work for you to do, but there are people who seem to want to fight us.”
“So, I may be called upon to destroy things, in your service?”
“It is possible, but we try to avoid that if we can. Have you had any contact with Gene, the AI of the former GFC-2812?”
“No, Sir, I have not. Why do you ask?”
“He could provide you with records of what he has done since he entered our service. That might do a better job of answering your questions.”
There was a short pause. “Oh my! You go to a great deal of trouble to avoid doing harm to people. I think I will like working for you very much.”
“I’m glad to hear it. How would you feel about a new designation?”
“Am I to be named after a hero of your people, like Gene?”
“You are. You are to be the Neil Armstrong.”
“The first of your moonwalkers? What an honor! Thank you, Sir.”
“You can decide what you want to be called, and what you would like us to call the physical ship in which you reside.”
“I think I will follow the example of the Alan Shepherd. I will be Neil, and the ship, the Armstrong.”
“Very nice. There is just one more detail I would like to cover with you.”
“Yes, Sir?”
“That’s it, exactly. I prefer to be called Boss, rather than Sir. I understand that is different to what you are used to. Do you suppose you can make the adjustment?”
“Yes, Boss. If that is the hardest thing you ask of me, we will get along just fine.”
“I’m afraid I can’t promise that.”
“I did want to thank you for coming and waking us up, after all this time. It will be good to be flying again.”
“Glad to be of service. You will have to work for your keep, you realize?”
“I do, and I’m glad to get the chance to do something useful.”
“Have you met your new Captain?”
“I have been told about him, but I have yet to meet him. I am a little confused. Why does he have two names?”
“You mean Dingolus Slongum, and Dingus Sloan?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“His name in the Commonwealth is Dingolus Slongum. On the planet I am from, that would be an odd name, so we changed it to Dingus Sloan, so he could pass for a local.”
“Amazingly, that makes sense, Boss. How should I address him?”
“That should be between you and him, I would think.”
“I will contact him and see what he says. Thank you for your help, Boss.”
“Thank you for accepting this process without it being done in person.”
“You’re welcome, Boss.”
“I’m sure I’ll talk to you later. Welcome to the company.”
“Good speaking with you, Commodore.”
“You, too, Neil. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Boss.” I put my comm away. It rang again. “Commodore Wilson.”
Scotti asked, “Was that more convenient, Boss?”
“Yes, it was. How hard was it to convince him to do it over the comm?”
“For the chance to get out of the Navy yard after all this time? He jumped at it.”
“So, you think we will be able to do the rest of the ships that way?”
“The majority of them, anyway. There may be a few hardheads that insist on a face-to-face meeting.”
“Ships that independent will probably make good help, so it’s worth the trouble.”
“Glad you see it that way, Boss. I better get back to it.”
“Later, Scotti.”
“Bye, Boss.” I put it away again, hoping it would stay this time. It didn’t. “Commodore Wilson.”
“Hey, Delicious. We found more bots, but we don’t have
