Alice ran away shortly after not even looking at them.
And that was the last they saw of her that day.
Tommy told Simon that he had little sleep last night and he will be taking the next day off.
He didn't really have to tell him that since there were no rules about the work,everyone worked when they wanted to and for how long they wanted.
He did it just so that the big man wouldn't come looking for him when he was a no show the next day and he definitely didn't want Alice to come looking for him.
Before he went to his room he stopped by the shop and filled up his 4 canteens and then he bought 6 more, placing them in his backpack.
That night he diluted the alcohol, getting 3 liters of booze.
All he needed was 1 liter but he thought that it was better safe than sorry.
After all that he proceeded to drink it and after 2 liters he passed out.
It wasn't that he had low tolerance,he passed out when alcohol reacted with the drug.
When he woke up it was already the afternoon of the next day and he had the worst headache in his life,which had to be a sign that it worked because he never had a hangover no matter how much he drank in the past.
According to his friend it took 12 hours to totally get rid of the drug and after that you were immune to it.
Tommy checked the time and it was more than 18 hours since he started drinking but he decided to wait 2 more hours just to be safe before he ate another nutrient bar.
He used this time to get himself in order.
After a sonic shower and a shave he also drank 2 liters of water to satiate his thirst.
This was an illuminating experience for him, now he understood why his mercenary buddies were always so groggy after they sobered up.
When the time was up he finally could fill his stomach.
Before getting rid of the drug that was already accumulated in his system he didn't dare to eat not knowing how much was already in him.
After eating his fill and washing that down with water he felt sleepy so he went back to sleep.
That night he slept really well and no nightmares interrupted his rest.
When he woke up he was fully rested so he got ready and went to work.
He arrived at the dock earlier than usual so he was alone and after looking at the half dismantled shuttle he couldn't believe how many details he overlooked previously.
This shuttle was easy to build and dismantle if you knew what you were doing but thanks to the drug he missed all of the things that now were obvious.
He got to work and it was way easier to get the materials. It only took him 2 hours to fill one of the grav-carts, before it took twice the time.
Now that he has his learning ability back to full strength. He studied every part he dismantled and thanks to that it got easier and easier to get the materials.
Where he previously used a cutting torch bow it only took a screwdriver or a wrench and a few moments later the part was dismantled.
When the others saw how fast he was progressing and that he was not using his cutting torch they couldn't understand what was different.
When it was time for a break Tommy was sitting only with Simon Alice was nowhere to be seen since the day before.
-How are you doing it?
Simon finally asked.
-I think that it was that day off that helped me to see what i couldn't see before.
The younger man answered and technically he wasn't lying, he just wasn't telling the whole truth.
-Maybe i should try it as well, if it helps you then there is a possibility that it will help me too.
I don't even remember when I took a day to rest.
Said Simon in deep thought.
-You won't know until you try, and besides there is no one here to forbid you from taking a day off.
Said Tommy.He already decided that if it worked Simon would be next in line to get rid of the drug.
He wanted to help Alice first but remembering her reaction it was very likely that they would have to use force to make her drink a liter of diluted spirit.
-Ok I'm sold,I'm taking tomorrow off.
Simon said enthusiastically
- Well then have a nice rest oh and before I forget. Come to my room this evening. I have something to show you.
Said Tommy finishing his bar and leaving in the direction of the engineering.
When he looked at his programming studies he was horrified at the potency of the drug and he started to doubt that it only affects learning and curiosity.
He was generally a quick study ,he learnt almost anything on the fly.
What he couldn't understand now was how the hell did he never even question his slow learning speed.
Right now he was going through the course he found at a lightning speed, all the things that were giving him a hard time before now weren't a problem at all.
Going at his current phase he would finish this course in a matter of days.
And that was not all.
The moment he opened the schematics he again was astonished.
-How the F*** Did I miss all of this?
He asked the empty room.
While looking at the schematics he saw earlier he found many details that he could swear were not there before.
He was in disbelief at himself. How did he miss so many rooms and corridors?
How did he manage to miss a whole warehouse the size of the central area on this side of the station.
Tommy really started to suspect that Diazium was either affecting way more of the brain than what he was told.
-It's possible. She was drunk as hell when she told me that story.
Tommy thought .
-The only other possibility is that it was somehow enhanced but fortunately for me they left its weakness alone.
Well there is also a third option and that is that there is another drug added but it's a small possibility.
He knew for a fact that the water wasn't tampered with so the only other way to distribute a drug was through the air but that was doubtful.
In the end they may be coming here just for the materials but he doubted that they wanted to drug their ships' crews, it made no sense.
He decided to look into it the next time he went to the other side.
The rest of the day went like that; the only difference was his training which he amped up even more than before, once again questioning what the hell was he doing for the last three months.
When he was finishing his running session he spotted Simon coming his way.
-So what did you want to show me?
Asked the big guy.
-Come with me, it's in my room.
Simon nodded and followed him.
In his room Tommy presented Simon with a canteen.
-You know, I can get my own water.
The big guy was a little confused.
-It's not water,take a swig.
Tommy said, looking at him with a smile.
Simon was still at a loss but he did as he was told.
-Oh damn…
Was all he could say while coughing.
He never suspected that Tommy would really go and steal some spirit to drink.
-You know that she's going to skin you alive when she finds out.
Said the ex soldier when he could finally catch his breath.
-Drink it today,and come back the day after tomorrow then say that again.
Tommy challenged him, still smiling.
-And in case Alice catches you with that i know nothing i just give you a canteen of water.
So I would be cautious if I were you.
Simon quickly hid the canteen in his backpack,he didn't ask for more because he knew that Tommy couldn't take too much of it without Alice noticing.
He said his goodbyes and went to his own room.