Fiction Fragment Friday
This may very well be my favorite installment of the Starship Oddity Saga. When I decided to bring Lumsdon back I really worried that I had wrote myself into a corner and wasn’t sure how to deal with him. I knew the story needed tension though and he was the perfect way to provide it. After writing this week’s story I can honestly say it will add a lot to the overall tale.
This installment is notably absent of comedy. I always knew that the book would start extremely light and get more serious as the drama ramped up. Yes that does mean I see this as a novel being created in short parts that will need to be smothed out in future drafts. Unlike my previously written novels I don’t know where I want this one to wrap up. I have so much story to tell and I and I want it to stand alone as a complete story while leaving itself open to sequels.
“What the hell have you done to the ship?” The large man at the bottom of the ramp did not look happy. It was a mutual feeling.
“Hello to you too Mr. Lumsdon, and welcome back aboard the Oddity. If you could follow me to my office, I believe we have a few things to discuss.” The smile on my face was far from authentic, but I was proud of myself for being able to present it, nonetheless. I would need to deal with the instinctual anger I felt at seeing my new First Officer’s face. In my head I just kept repeating the phrase control the things you can, mitigate the things you can’t. As I turned to enter the ship, I listened for footsteps behind me and did not hear them. “Just to be clear Mr. Lumsdon that was an order not a request.”
“Two months and they’ve already got you doing it. The ship’s name is the Odyssey even if Oddity does fit the new paint job.”
“I am well aware of the ship’s legal designation Mr. Lumsdon, but I assure you we are very close to finding the legal loophole we need to rectify that. In fact, I believe Miss Southerland sent me a solution to that just before I met you at the dock. I simply haven’t had time to read it yet.”
“Southerland? What’s that air brain have to do with anything?”
I spun around in place and let just a fraction of my anger show on my face. “Let me be perfectly clear Mr. Lumsdon. This is my ship, and you will treat her crew with respect. Do you understand?”
“Aye Captain. It’s your ship.” Then under his breath he added, “for now.” I chose to ignore his response for the moment. It would not do the ship’s morale any good to get into a screaming match with Victor Lumsdon there in the halls. It was best to get him in my office behind a closed door. Control the things you can, mitigate the things you can’t.
I had hoped to reach my office without further conversation, but he didn’t seem to know how to keep his mouth shut for more than a few moments. He continued to make snide remarks under his breath loud enough to ensure I would hear them. I continued to refuse to acknowledge his presence. When we reached the bridge Miss Southerland, per my instructions did not make eye contact or respond to any prodding from Lumsdon. I held the door to my office open for him and closed it very loudly once he was past. It was a momentary slip in my control, and I mentally chided myself for it.
“Please have a seat Mr. Lumsdon.” I pointed to the chair across from my desk and settled into my own. As I prepared to start, I looked up and saw feet propped up on the corner of my desk. “Boots on the deck, Mr. Lumsdon. You are creating extra cleaning work for crew services, and they have enough to do as it is.”
“Crew Services? What the hell is that?”
“One of many updates to the ship I need to inform you of Mr. Lumsdon. I think we have a foundational issue to deal with first though. You don’t have to like me. You don’t even have to respect me as a person. You, however, will respect me as captain whether you feel it or not. In this office behind closed doors, I will give you a lot of leeway to express yourself. You will not address me as you have been in front of the crew ever again though.”
He smirked at me, but he did lower his feet to the deck. “Just what do you think you can do about it? You want to put marks in my record? Already plenty in there and I have it on good authority that anything you add is going to be wiped clean once you’re gone.”
I took a moment to compose myself before responding. “Thank you for confirming a handful of my assumptions with that response. It changes nothing. Outside this office give me a reason and you’ll be confined to quarters and left on the dock faster than you can file your report to Elaine. This is my ship now and I am not going anywhere.”
“We’ll see about that. You’ll slip up and when you do I’m gonna be right here watching as you get booted out of the company.”
I pushed back my initial responses. I needed to be very careful with my wording. Control the things you can, mitigate the things you can’t. “Instead of assuming what I’m going to do how about shutting up and listening as I tell you what I’m going to do.” I held up my fingers and started counting off. “One, I am going to improve life for the crew on this ship. Two, I am going to make this ship exceedingly profitable. Three, I am going to change the reputation of this ship on the docks. That is what I’m going to do. I would like my first officer to help with those goals. What I will not do is allow anyone to prevent me from accomplishing them.”
“Do you even know what ship you’re on? This ship is the dump of the fleet. Nothing’s going to change that.”
I reached down and hit a couple buttons on my tablet. I was getting pretty good at automating work to occur with just the press of a single button. “Yes Mr. Lumsdon I know exactly what ship I’m on. This is the Oddity.” I held my hand up to stop him from interrupting me. “Trust me I’m going to get the name on file to match the name I had painted on the hull.” I pulled out a ship tablet from my desk and slid it over to him. “Your new ship access has been setup. Check your mail now and you’re going to find the new org chart. I’ve made some changes since you left.”
I waited a few moments while he read the updates I had sent him. It wasn’t just the new org chart. I’d also included the updated procedures and standing orders. While it was information that he would need if he intended to actually perform his job, my real motivation was to stall for time. He looked up at me. “Burton? You gave Burton my job?”
There was a knock on the door. I stood and walked towards it. “Yes Mr. Lumsdon I did and if you look through the past few status reports from Engineering you will see the progress she has made with ship maintenance.” I opened the door and accepted the two trays of food from Miss Torres. I inhaled deeply and enjoyed the aroma. “Thank you, Miss Torres.”
“Anytime Captain.” She pulled the door shut behind her since my hands were full and I returned to my desk. I sat down one tray in front of Lumsdon and the other in front of myself.
“What’s this?”
“That Mr. Lumsdon is breakfast. I wasn’t sure if you had eaten before reporting for duty, but I haven’t yet. I enjoy doing business over meals.”
He snorted. “I’ve had the food on this ship, and it don’t look or smell nothing like this.”
I pointedly took a bite and let out an exaggerated moan of delight. “I think you will find that the food quality has improved considerably since Chief Louise started giving cooking lessons.”
“What’s a cargo jockey know about cooking?”
“I think you will find that many of our crew have previously untapped skills for us to discover. Please give it a taste. I hate eating alone.” I actually had no problem eating alone, but he didn’t need to know that.
I watched as he took the first bite of quiche and saw the expression on his face change. He looked up at me. “This is really good.” For the briefest moment he seemed to forget who he was talking to in his shock. It couldn’t last though and his scowl soon returned. It was a start though.
“Mr. Lumsdon, the way I see it here is our problem. You’ve been assigned to a role this ship has never had or needed. You are going to be getting a paycheck though, so I need you to provide value to the ship. We don’t trust each other though for good reason. Does that sum up the issue well enough?”
He snorted again. “You got more problems than that but sure let’s start with that one.”
“Well with that in mind I’m putting you in charge of ‘Special Projects’”
“That sounds made up.”
It was my turn to smile. “That’s because it is. I just made it up. You’re going to report directly to me and make no changes without my direct approval. Your first project is to make yourself useful.”
“Useful to who? You?”
“The ship Mr. Lumsdon. I want you to figure out what your position could do to help the ship make money or run smoother. I want you to present a plan for that to me by the end of the week. To do that you need to make yourself aware of all the changes and improvements that have already been implemented. All those reports I just sent you would be a good start. Read them in your quarters away from the crew until the lunch senior staff meeting. In that meeting I want you to observe and learn. I’m guessing that’s one of the duties Elaine assigned you anyway.”
“Let me get this straight. I get to make my own job?”
“Not at all. I’ve given you your task. Find a way to add value to this ship. I will reject anything you present me that doesn’t do that.” I made my tone as cold and harsh as I could. “If you can’t do that, I will find another way to have you removed from this ship. I suspect we would both be better off in the long run if that doesn’t happen.”
He thought for a moment before replying. It was the first time I had ever seen the man think. “We can agree on that at least. I don’t know what you’re trying to pull here Captain, but you can’t beat her.”
“I think you are underestimating me Mr. Lumsdon, but you may very well be correct. If that is the case and I’m off this ship a year from now I can promise you that I will be leaving it far better than I found it because that’s what this crew deserves. Dismissed Mr. Lumsdon. I trust you can find your way to your new quarters without incident.”