"Seriously Crandall, 5K credits less for being an hour and a half late? You're joking, right?", I asked the man sitting behind the desk at the freight office, "I couldn't help it, the hyperdrive computer went down on the edge of the system and we had to limp in on sub-light."  With a sigh, Crandall responded, "Aria, give me a break.  You know how it works as well as I do...  the client wants their stuff at a certain time and if it ain't here, they dock my fee, so I have to dock you."  After a puff on his cigarette, he continued, "hell, I don't like it any more than you, you're one of the best around for these kind of loads... but business is business."

Though I wasn't happy about, he was right.  "OK Crandall, but I still have a problem, I'm not going anywhere until I get my computer fixed.  Got any suggestions?"  Stubbing out his smoke, Crandall informed me. "hmmm, there's a tech shop here on the dock that would do it, but they like to gouge the gypsy operators, plus they inform the Feds of their jobs.  Not something you need."  Rolling my eyes to the ceiling, I responded, "so I'm stuck here until I try to fix it, myself... that sucks."

"Not necessarily, there's this kid called Lenny I know of... he's a damned wizard with anything computers and mechanical... and cheap, too.   Lives over in the shanty district, rumors say if he can't fix it, it's beyond any hope," reaching for a pen and piece of paper, Crandall  began writing, "here, take this... you should be able to find him here."  Taking the note from him, I said, "Thanks, right now I got nothing to lose, see you later"  With a small laugh, Crandall replied, "I hope so, got a load that's right up your alley if you get running again, soon."

Following Crandall's directions, I came upon a rusted, old freight container that had been modified into a shelter.  Knocking on the door, I was greeted by a voice from within, "yeah, whaddaya want?"  Still standing outside, I replied,  "looking for a guy named Lenny, Crandall back at the shipping office said I'd find him here."  Suddenly the door of the makeshift shelter opened to reveal a teenage young man wearing only his boxers and tee shirt, " so Crandall sent you here, huh?  Well here's the deal, I'll take a look at what you got for 100 credits, cash.  If I can fix it, we'll talk price then, that all right with you?"  "Yeah, sounds OK," I told the kid.  "Good," he responded, "give me a minute to grab my equipment and a pair of pants and we'll get going."

"Damn, a Morris class freighter?  These things were obsolete 50 years ago, you mean this bucket of bolts still flies?",   Lenny exclaimed when we got to the Celine Maru, "you got guts, lady.  Miracle it hasn't blown up by  now.  Any way, let me have a look at the patient and see if I can coax a few more heartbeats out of her."

A few hours later, Lenny came back with the news, "Got her up and running, but she's old and needs a major overhaul... ah hell, who am I kidding?"  Wiping some grease and dirt from his face, Lenny continued, "seriously,  you  should just yank the  control stick out of it and get a new ship, that thing's a bomb waiting to go off."  Looking at the kid, I replied, "perhaps some day... what do I owe you?"

"Tell you what, I'll waive my fee on one condition... you let me go with you,"  Lenny quipped.  "I thought you said the ship was a deathtrap," I replied.  "Yeah it is, but how often will I get a chance to work on something like this?  It may take awhile, but if you take me on, I'll have her purring like a kitten and running better than the newest off-the-line ships rolling out the door... how 'bout it?"  Pondering Lenny's offer, I said,  "I'm going over to Crandall's right now to pick up a load, if you go get your stuff and get back before we take off, you got a deal."  Extending my hand out, Lenny grasped it with his greasy, dirty hand and began shaking it like it was an ancient water well pump handle. 

As I took a rag and started to wipe the grime from my hand, I couldn't help but laugh at Lenny as he ran away, shouting, "Oh yeah, I'm finally getting off this shit hole of a planet!"

++++++++++++++++

Not sure what's going on?  Well give this link a click: A Little Introduction Is In Order and hopefully it will clear things up for you.
Thanks for dropping in!