Snippet #1415013

Grant sat in his room admiring his tools, now all perfectly oiled, polished and ready for.... For what, exactly? He didn't know. But they were ready. He let out a deep breath that wasn't quite a sigh and got to his feet to start exploring the ship. He carried the glass of water with his fingertips wrapped around the rim, letting it swing by his side as he strolled through the confines of the ship. "He's been a while" he muttered as he inspected the cockpit briefly. He'd never even tried learning to fly, someone of his class could only really dream of owning a ship of any significance but if it came to operating a drill, a compressor, a mass filter system or any giant piece of machinery then he was the man. He was also, surprisingly to many, incredibly adept with computers. Most automated systems needed setting up and programming before they could be put to use and he just happened to be in the right place at the right time when someone was needed to replace the last programmer (Who met an unfortunate end in a hydraulic piston). He took to the systems easily and found himself getting from file to another without even thinking about it. He was banned eventually when management caught him looking up their confidential information one day when he was supposed to be setting a route for the next drilling expedition. But it didn't stop him, he got onto the job again on the next station. And the next. The only station thereafter that he didn't use any such equipment was the one he'd just come from. Mostly because they had no such equipment. A means to an end he thought. Just like me. Was it a depressing thought to him? Not a chance.

He wondered what kind of programmes were running on the ship he now stood inside and wondered further if he'd be allowed to take a glance, maybe play around a little. Nothing major, just a fiddle. He was bored and had become that way quickly. He needed something to do and it didn't seem like there was much on offer. Either that or he just couldn't see what was there. So, for the third time, he returned to his tools, pulling a 7 inch straight-edged blade from his toolbox and walking through to the kitchen to sit down and start sharpening it.