Chapter 10

‘Adam, how well do you think I would do on the Geometry final if I took it tomorrow?’ I asked as I got into bed at the end of the day.

‘About 80%, the next four chapters of your book will give you the final concepts needed for full mastery, and leave you ready for Algebra 2.’

I got back out of bed, opened the gate to my fast time pocket, and got back in bed.

When I awoke, I asked Adam how long I had slept.

‘Nine and a half hours.’

I stepped back into my bedroom, and got comfortable at my desk, pulling out a plate of quiche and a hot mocha. I spent the next four hours studying, with only a bathroom break. As I got to the last chapter, I finished my second mocha, and a third slice of quiche.

‘So how would I do now?’ I asked Adam.

‘Based on the scheduled test, and your understanding of the practice problems, I estimate a 95% correct score or better.’

I looked at the time, just after 4 am.

‘Anything going on with the Urgomax? Has my spaceship been unloaded yet?’

‘The Urgomax are fine, your ship is expected to be fully unloaded by this time tomorrow.’

‘Anything interesting I can do for the next couple hours?’

‘Remember Nina Osaka, in Ireland?’

I sat up straight, ‘very well.’

‘She’s driving, and has a slow leak in one of her tires, she’s about 5 minutes from a flat tire.’

‘What do I need to be the KISA?’ I asked.

‘Knight in shining armor? A jack, and a new tire and wheel to replace the damaged one, plus the tools to remove the wheel and attach the new one.’

‘Send me pictures of each item, but I’ll use you as the power ratchet for the tire bolts.’

‘It’s called an impact wrench, and they remove lug nuts, not tire bolts.’

The pictures of the tire and rim needed, plus the other tools arrived as text messages on my phone. I reached in and pulled them out of the photos, dropping them in my storage pocket universe for quick access.

I looked thru my clothes for a bit, then asked Adam what the weather was.

‘Cool, breezy, and dry.’

I changed into appropriate clothes, blue jeans, long sleeve dress shirt, and a sweater vest. I almost added a necktie.

‘Show me a map of the area.’

The map showed a live view, as it zoomed down to a highway running roughly east and west. It took me a moment to remember they drove on the wrong side of the road. I opened my desk drawer and pulled out a blank card, ‘Can you emboss this with Sam Atwood Knight in Shining Armor?’

Adam flowed over the card, and pulled back. Printed with laser heat precision, and embossed, the business card was ready. It looks good, my name was the larger top line, the Knight line was below and in a smaller font size. I looked at the back, Adam had added, ‘Damsels rescued, monsters slain.’ I ignored the twinge in my stomach at the sudden sound of monsters screaming in pain in my mind.

The projected map was sufficient, as I aimed for a spot behind the sign on the side of the road. A simple teleport, and the car pulled to the side of the road, the tire flapping loudly.

She didn’t notice me, but instead was cursing heavily as she pounded the steering wheel. I stepped around the big blue sign, looking up. A big 5 in a black rectangle held no meaning, neither did Sli Amach Next Exit 2km.

I guessed Sli Amach was the next town. I dropped the tire and the wheel next to the car, and knocked on the window.

She screamed, and hit the door locks.

“Lovely day isn’t it,” I told her.

“Where did you come from?” she screeched.

“Local damsel rescue society. I’ve got a fresh tire if you want it,” I said pointing to the side.

“I’m not paying you.”

“Of course not, all part of the service,” I told her, and held up the business card.

She squinted at it, then lowered the window just enough, so I could slide it thru.

I gave her a brief salute, and a big smile. I turned and walked behind the car, pulling out a flare, lighting it, and tossing it down the road. I dropped a couple traffic cones as well, and stepped up to the rear driver’s side tire. My butt was going to be hanging out into the highway.

I jacked up the car, and Adam shifted to remove the lug nuts. He even made the noise I’d heard at the tire shop as I removed the lugs.

‘Can you edit any picture she takes so that I appear to be in medieval armor?’

‘Done.’

I glanced up as she tried to take a picture of me as I worked, and gave her a big smile and a wink. She couldn’t get the angle, so tried taking a photo using the side mirror.

‘Can you add ‘objects in the mirror may not be believable’?’

I couldn’t tell if it was my chuckle or Adam’s that was louder.

The old wheel came off, the new wheel went on. I started the lugs by hand, then Adam tightened them down. I dropped the car, and pulled the wheeled car jack out from underneath. I set the old wheel and tire at the side of the road along with the jack, then walked back and collected the two cones. I left the flare to burn itself out.

On the shoulder I walked to the passenger window, and knocked. It lowered slightly.

“All done fair maiden. Would you like the tire, or shall I mount it as a trophy at headquarters?”

She looked around, bewildered, and probably wondering if she was on a hidden camera prank show.

“Just keep it,” she said, putting the car in gear, and driving off.

I waved a happy goodbye as she gunned it back into the highway.

Everything got tossed into my junk drawer, and I teleported back to my room.

‘That was fun,’ I said, looking down at my hands.

I carefully opened the door, and stepped across the hall to the bathroom, where I washed the grease and dirt off. I stepped back into the hallway to find my Dad standing there.

“Playing dress up at 4 am?” he asked, not looking amused.

“Sorry I woke you.”