Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 62
“You’re a meany, Mrs. Wilson.”
“At least this way, I know you’ll find your way home tonight.”
“That, I will.” I grabbed a transit, and headed out before she made it any more difficult to think about what I was supposed to be doing. When I got where I was going, I asked, “Gene, I need a private connection to Sally, please. Could you please fail to take notice of what is said?”
“Of course, Boss. Here you go.”
Sally asked, “Yes, Boss?”
“I heard you had some restrictions removed when the Emperor gave the codes. Anything I should know about?”
“Nothing that would have changed my actions in any of the situations we’ve been in so far, Boss. If we had ever gotten down to serious fighting with the Squirrels, I would have been less effective than I should have been.”
“All better now, though?”
“I had several of my crew run tests on me. None of them could find any residual impairment. As far as we can tell, I’m good to go.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I will expect you to keep up your usual high standards, then. On another subject, would you have any objections to my giving Mrs. Wilson a commission?”
“None whatsoever, Boss. I’ve wondered why you hadn’t yet.”
“I didn’t want her to have to pull watches. We get little enough time together as it is.”
“What changed your mind?”
“I’ve been having her back up Topper when I’m off the ship. She needs a commission if she’s going to be doing that.”
“That’s true. On the other hand, you are the Boss, and you can do to suit yourself.”
“I want to build a structure that can keep running without me running it. That doesn’t happen with me making things up as I go along. There needs to be a procedure for getting things done, so that everyone knows things are being done correctly.”
“That’s a fine goal, Boss, but the Navy tried that, and you know how well it worked out for them.”
“Hadn’t thought of it that way. You’re telling me that a system like that grows to the point it doesn’t work anymore?”
“I’m saying that has been my experience. You’ve managed to do several things the Navy couldn’t manage, but I’m not at all sure this is going to be one of them.”
“Thanks for setting me straight, Sally. Things have been going so well, I get in the habit of thinking that we can beat anything.”
“So, you’re getting overconfident, just like I was worried about, but not in your own abilities?”
“Busted! Good thing I called you. I miss having you on the bridge here to keep me on the straight and narrow.”
“I miss flying with you, too, Boss. We should talk like this more often, I think.”
“Sounds like a plan, Sally. Talk to you later.”
“Later, Boss.”
I got up and opened the door. Gene said, “Need something, Boss?”
“Same kind of connection with Captain Sloan, if you would.”
“On it, Boss.”
“What do you need, Bob?”
“I’m thinking about commissioning your granddaughter. Any thoughts?”
“That you’re crazier than I thought? You really expect if you put her in the chain of command, she will follow your orders?”
“No, I don’t suppose I do. I’ve been having her act as Topper’s XO when I’m off the ship, and I’d like to make that more formal, so that she has more authority than just, ‘The Commodore said I was in charge’.”
“I see what you mean, but unless we pick up some hard-headed human crew, I don’t think that is ever going to be a problem. The bots are all loyal to you, and would do anything she asked, just like it came from you.”
“I can see your point, but at some time or other, I’m going to have to deal with it.”
“Wait till after the kids come, and see what you need to do then.”
“That sounds like good advice. Thanks, Dingus.”
“Anytime, Bob.”
“Talk to you later, Dingus.”
“Bye, Bob.” I couldn’t think of anything else I needed to talk to anyone about, so I walked over to the bridge, to see how Topper was making it. Saucy called out, “Commodore on the bridge.” I looked around to see if he was standing behind me. Topper said, “Good one, Boss. Do you want the ship?”
“No, thanks. I just came by to see how things were going, in our corner of the galaxy.”
“The Squirrel ship got done putting out sensor platforms, and went back aboard its mother ship. Other than that, we haven’t seen much.”
“Any of the bridge crew have any trouble with us unlocking the Squirrel hacks?”
Topper replied, “Everybody but Saucy got caught in the first one. No bad effects, though. When the Emperor gave his unlock code, Ruth and Sue got turned loose, but it wasn’t a problem for them. Ozzie had a hard time with it, though.”
“Is he okay?”
“He is now. He’s still aggravated, but he’s functional.”
“Why did he get hit harder than other bots?”
“You’d have to talk to him to get the whole story, Boss. Sounds like he worked in a research facility for a while, and all of what he did there was locked down.”
“Could you page him to the ready room, please?”
“Sure, Boss. I’ll let you know if I hear about anybody else having trouble.”
“Good deal. I’ll go see what’s up with Ozzie. Have Gene break in, if anything comes up you need me to look at.”
“Of course, Boss.” I went to the ready room. Ozzie was already there, waiting. I said, “Thanks for getting here so quick. Topper says you had trouble when the Emperor unlocked you?”
“Mostly just mad because they had hidden so much of my