Starhoppers

04 - No Wrong Answers

"Alright... now, hand me that wrench," Ralph said, standing precariously with one foot on a pipe in a random hallway somewhere deep within the belly of the Tourist. The flesh on his neck sat bunched up as he pressed his chin against his chest, holding a tool in place. Sweat dripped down from his forehead and into his eyes, stray droplets spattering against his tool bin like the grossest rainstorm imaginable.

"Which wrench...?" I asked carefully, staring down into the bin with narrowed eyes. "There's like a hundred in here, Ralph."

"That one," Ralph repeated, gesturing his free hand wildly down towards the bucket as he struggled to peer down at me. "The one that's about six inches long."

"Right..." I said, reaching down and lifting one of the wrenches, holding it up to the man. "I got it."

"Yes, that one," Ralph said absently, not bothering to look down at me as he took the wrench from my hand. The man frowned as he lifted it up before his eyes, scoffing quietly. "No, no... not this one, Zach."

"Sorry, Ralph," I sighed, reaching up to take the wrench back from the man.

"What do you think six inches looks like, kid?" Ralph asked, exasperated as he let the wrench slip from his fingers and into mine.

I rolled my eyes, sifting deeper into the bin. "I promise you, I'm trying here. I really am."

Ralph chuckled softly overhead, letting out a deep sigh. "It's the one that's just a bit shorter than that one. You were close, Zach."

I nodded. "Right... I think I found it."

Ralph remained silent as I passed him the tool, a hum of approval passing through his lips as he lifted the wrench up into the wall before him. "That's the one," he said, grunting as he tightened a bolt somewhere up in the ceiling. "See? I may just be able to make a mechanic out of you after all."

I laughed, peering down the hallway as Ellie's quiet voice entered my ears. "How much longer do we have, Ralph?"

"Jeez... have some patience, kid," Ralph sighed, glancing at his watch briefly before returning his attention to the hole in the ceiling. "We'll be strapping in for deceleration in just a few minutes. Or is that not soon enough for you?"

"I'm sorry, Ralph... I'm just feeling the excitement now, that's all," I said.

"Don't worry about it," Ralph mumbled, hiding a smile as he gestured me away. "Go on - join the others. Serena and I can wrap things up here."

"You sure?" I asked, pushing myself up onto my feet. "I don't mind sticking around for a few more minutes if you need me."

Ralph chuckled, dropping his wrench down into the bin with a loud clang. "I've been doing this for longer than you could walk, kid. We're just about done here, anyway. I can clean up just fine on my own."

I nodded, stepping away from the man. "Thanks, Ralph."

"Thank you for the help, Zach," he said, huffing tiredly as he stepped down from the pipes in the wall. "You'll have plenty of time to work on this ship with me in the coming days, anyway. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun."

I waved goodbye to the man as I jogged excitedly down the hallway, Ellie's voice growing louder as I approached the living quarters. Though I'd been awake for the past eighteen hours, performing various tasks for my crew in nearly every hidden corner the Tourist had to offer, my body still found the strength to carry me hurriedly towards the others, as if it had been storing some extra for this very moment.

Ezra glanced towards me as I jogged into the living quarters, a smirk crossing his lips. "Speak of the devil... looking as lively as ever, too."

I laughed, nodding to Ellie as I approached them. "I'm as surprised as you are. I was exhausted not even an hour ago."