Castaway Chapter 12

[Ed Man]

Kirsch Moon
Chapter 12
Peter docked and asked the men who wanted a job on the Mercury four of the men were ready to sign on while one wanted to check on a woman he had been separated from. Then Kirsch pulled Peter to the side and asked. “Why did you pay my debt if you don’t want me as your servant?”
[Peter] “I do want you to work for me.”
[Kirsch] “But you paid to get me out and now you want to hire me, I’m a little confused don‘t I owe you?”
[Peter] “Yes I paid to get you out but I want you to work for me because you want to not because you owe me.”
[Kirsch] “I gave a oath to be your servant if you got me out and all I have is yours and what I have is myself it is my way I am your servant. I will work of my debt to you then I will go.”
[Sam] “Peter according to the records, that when the Demos people give their word they keep it. It is a focal point in their culture and for her not to honor her word would bring disgrace on her and her family.”

Peter tried to think of the right words to say as he looked at Kirsch. “Welcome Kirsch I am honored to have you as one of my employees. Let’s find you job in my company.”
[Kirsch] “I am your servant where you go I go. I am yours alone.”
Peter was starting to think he should have listened to Mitch. “I need you to take a few test and see what your ability’s are just set here and follow my AI’s instructions.”
Kirsch was a little uneasy about taking the test but did as Peter ask.

Peter sent the new crewmen to get outfitted while he looked over the latest reports on his Miners and Disco.
“Sam how’s the shelter going?” [Sam] “Everything is finished except for some lap equipment. The docking area and construction bay is complete and the drones and construction units are ready.”
[Peter] “And the satellites are they ready to deploy?” [Sam] “At your command Peter.”
[Peter] “Deploy the satellites Sam.”
[Sam] “It will take a few extra minutes to deploy the ones in the outer fringes of the system.”
Peter looked at the monitor as he started getting real time data from the two in his area and then the ones from the planet as they linked up to the system. Peter watched as Sam inspected the positions in deep space for the satellites and then placed them one by one.
[Peter] “Sam do an intense scan on the occupied sections and trade lanes in the system first then work on the rest.”
Peter looked to see how Kirsch was doing on the evaluation test. She had been stranded in the system on a wreck. The only name she had was Kirsch and the rescue team that found her gave her the last name moon just to finish their reports so she keep the name calling herself Kirsch Moon. Her test showed she had the ability to become anything she wanted.
Peter went over to Kirsch as she finished the last test. “Kirsch lets go and get you some gear if you’re going to help me you’ll need to dress the part. Are you hungry we can eat before we go if you are?”
[Kirsch] “I’ll eat when you eat can I get you something?”
[Peter] “No but if you are I want you to eat.” [Kirsch] “I am a little hungry.”
Peter went to the storage locker and pulled out a jumpsuit that would fit Kirsch so she could get out of that frayed and stained jumpsuit she was wearing.
[Peter] “I found a jumpsuit that should fit you that you can wear when we go to get your gear.”
Peter laid it down in the chair beside her and turned to fix himself a cup of coffee. As he turned back around Kirsch was already undressed and picking up the jumpsuit to put on.
[Peter] “Kirsch we need to talk about some guidelines and limits for you if you ’re going to work with me.”
[Kirsch] “Did I do something wrong do you want me to take the suit off?”
[Peter] “No keep it on! Kirsch you’re not a slave I need you to conduct yourself as a assistant and equal no a slave you have the right to say no if you want. Sam help me out give me some rules of conduct.”
Sam started explaining some guidelines to Kirsch as Peter set their stunned at how easy Kirsch was willing to do what ever he said without any hesitation. Peter noticed that Kirsch was getting a little annoyed with all the correction she was receiving, but she was trying to take it all in. Peter waited till Sam was finished then he tried to give her some encouragement before they headed out. After a few words of praise form Peter he decided to let Clair take Kirsch to the women’s department and pick out some outfits.
Peter took Kirsch to get her some equipment and then to took her to the office and had Clair take her to the women’s department to pick up what she needed. When they left Peter went to his office. “Sam what happened to the young man that went looking for the woman?”
[Sam] “He’s in a bar talking to some outlaws that are trying to get some credits from him for help they can’t give.”
[Peter] “Please explain what’s going on.”
[Sam] “The woman he’s looking for left for the planet two days after he disappeared on a freighter as a crewman. The two crooks are telling him they know where she is and will take him to her for 500 credits.”
Peter headed out to the bar to talk to the man before he ended back in a slave pit or dead. Peter walked up to the man as he was talking to the two outlaws. “I need a word with you will you come with me?”
The man looked at the crooks. “You two wait here I’ll be back in a minute we’ll work something out.”
[Peter] “You’re about to get yourself in some real trouble. If you want to find out wher your girlfriend went you need to ask the right people not somebody in a bar looking for a easy mark.”
[Man] “And just who would you check with? They said they knew which outpost she was at!”
[Peter] “You come with me and I’ll show you how to find out where she is for free and if you want to go back to the bar and them two you can.”
[Man] “I’m all ears captain lead the way.”
Peter took the man to the security department and up to the information desk. “Tell the clerk who you are and have your ID ready to show her and then ask about your friend and if she knows where she’s at.”
The young man went and did as Peter told him to and found out the woman had left for the planet.
The man thanked the woman as he looked at Peter knowing that Peter had saved him again. “Is that job on your freighter still open?”
[Peter] “Yes but the real question is do you want a contract or a one way job to the planet?”
[Man] “I guess a one way to the planet. I got to find her.”
[Peter] “That’s fine with me but if you want to go I had better get you ready and onboard.”
Peter hurred the man to the supply office and bought him some personal items and jumpsuits for the trip. The freighter had extra spacesuits if he needed one. The other men had signed a six month contract which got them a new spacesuit, company outfits and a basic PDA.
Sam had finished the repairs and upgrades on the freighter and it was ready. The crew had been given a tour and were settling in and were ready to go. The Captain was waiting on Peter to arrived with the last member of his crew at the docks observation deck looking out on the Mercury.
Peter was watching the Captain and Crewman walking to the Mercury when Clair and Kirsch came up.
[Clair] “Kirsch wanted to know where you were and I thought we would come and watch the takeoff with you.”
[Peter] “Did you get everything?” Peter could tell Clair was not very happy about the shopping.
[Clair] “I did the best I could, she has everything she needs now can we talk in privet?”
Peter asked Kirsch to stay and wait while he and Clair went out into the entrance hall.
[Clair] “What are you going to do with her Mr. Stone She has no training or people skills?”
[Peter] “Let’s just get right to the vital questions like why I singled out Kirsch when she wasn’t any value to the team. Well first of I don’t owe you any explanation for anything I do! But just to keep the ideals for running wild let me clear it up for you. I recognized the unknown language she was using which links her to my mysterious past so I paid her fine. I don’t think she’s going to be any help regarding my past, but she scored high grades on the test I gave her so she could be trained to do anything. She has vowed to work off her debt even after I released her from any obligation to me. I’ll take care of her and train her at a job and go from their. Is that clear enough for you?”
[Clair] “I’m sorry I even said anything Mr. Stone I work for you and it’s none of my business what you do. But yes you explained it very well if I can help in any way just ask. She’s not like anyone I have ever met.”
[Peter] “Yes I found that out myself. But that means she needs our help all the more if she’s going to learn how to fit in and be helpful.”

The next few weeks confirmed Kirsch had turned out to be a great assist to the team filing in where she was needed. Shipments were starting to come in and the company had send two small Mercury freighters to make the deliveries in. Customers were starting to come in to look at the new vehicles and options as they started showing up and their buddies were talking about the one they had seen or used. The Company had sent the word down to open a small dealership on the moon to sell and service the vehicles. Kirsch had becoming a vital part of the team but Peter was about to head back to the planet and he didn’t know how Kirsch was going to react so he called her into his office. “Kirsch I’m about to return to the Planet in a few days and stay their for a while. I want you to know that you are free to do as you want and your position here at the Alpha Site is yours to keep.”
[Kirsch] “I go where you go. I must keep my promise.”
[Peter] “Then I’ll pay you what you owe me and you give it back and we’ll call it even.”
[Kirsch] “Then you dishonor me! I must do it honestly or it means nothing.”
[Peter] “Then you go with me we leave tomorrow.”

The company had sent new people for the dealership and the team was going to stay for one more month to help with the transition. Peter had been recalled to take charge of the small vehicle division that had just got a boost in production from the sales in the Alpha Site. But now it was time to return to the plant and regroup. All the other sales trips would be much shorter only taking days instead of the extended stay the team would have to stay at the Alpha Site before returning to the planet.

Peter had put the Harrier to use hiring a pair of pilots to fly taxi runs at the Alpha Site. The big Mercury was running faster after the engine upgrades cutting over a day of the travel time each way making a big incress in the profits. And the young man found the woman he was so determined to hook up with. She had moved on to another man leaving him crushed. So he waited on the Captain of the Mercury to return and begged for a job. He now works on the Mercury as a deck hand along with the other men from the slave pit.
And as for the woman he was so focused on she has moved on to yet another man and they left the planet.

Peter had said his goodbyes to the Chief and had loaded up Kirsch and his things and took off. The Team was going to return in a new Disco the company had sent for their use so Peter was returning with the Buster deadheading behind the Tempest in escort.
Peter had a maids quarters for Kirsch at his house but it would be hard to keep the underground base form her so Peter decided to test the waters. “Kirsch you know you’re not from these systems and you know I understand your language. If I tell you how we ended up here I need you to vow never to talk about it to anyone ever can you do that?”
[Kirsch] “Yes you have my word.”
[Peter] “Both of our lives depend on you keeping the things I’m about to tell you secret.” Peter told Kirsch the story of how they both had ended on the wrong side of the Ancients and had been sentenced. Kirsch was upset at the story as she asked. “Who was I working for you made no mention of that? And why do you remember and I don‘t?”
[Peter] “I don’t know who you was working for. And I don’t remember my AI hid on the ship I was stranded on that’s how I found out it made contact with me after I was released form medical. I must have had friends within the Ancients ranks because my memory erase was not as destructive as yours my AI was able to inject me with a nanobot that has been repairing the damaged sections of my brain.”
[Kirsch] “So my memories are gone forever?”
[Peter] “I’m sorry Kirsch I wish their was something I could do to help restore your memory. I have scanned you several times looking for a sign of improvement but the damage is permanent.”
Kirsch was angry at first then she covered her eyes as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Peter placed his hand on her shoulder and said. “Kirsch I’m sorry I can’t help but I’m glad I found you and hope you can forgive me for the part I played in you being here.”
[Kirsch] “The Ancients must have read my memories to know which ones to erase so they know. Why didn’t they just kill us and be done with it all?”
[Peter] “It’s against their belives to just kill they erase who they were and place them in a different time to start over. According to my AI most all who were condemn returned to the same evil lifestyle and ended up dead because of it.”
[Kirsch] “Like me in a cage when you found me.”
[Peter] “Kirsch I don’t think you’re a bad person you were just doing a job just like me. You honor yourself and your word to much to be a evil person you can be whatever you want Kirsch no matter what you may have been. I decided that for my life when I first woke up in medical not knowing who I was.”
[Kirsch] “I read your file your first mission out you rescued the owner of the company we work for. And then you rescued her son and the list go’s on! Me I do as I’m told I serve that’s what I do I’m not like you.”
[Peter] “You’re smart and beautiful and you have a new life to live you can be whatever you want Kirsch. Why did you offer yourself to me as a servant?”
[Kirsch] “I knew you could get me out and you understood my language.”
Peter smiled as he looked at Kirsch. “Have you ever loved anyone or feel the need to be held by someone or when you go to your room do you wish their was someone waiting on you to give you a kiss because they missed you?”
Kirsch eased over to Peter and kissed him. “Do you want me to do that I would like to make you happy?”
[Peter] “Would it make you happy. You have the servant part down but to love someone you’re glad to see them and you want to spend all the time you can with them.”
[Kirsch] “Like I do you? Will you let me make you happy?”
Peter pulled her close as he kissed her back and said. “I want you to be happy, would you want to be with me if we were just co-workers?”
[Kirsch] “You’re the only one I want that’s all I know.”
Kirsch snuggled up beside Peter with a satisfied look on her face and kissed him on the cheek.
Peter put his arm around Kirsch woundering how did his trying to decide if he should tell her about the base get turned into a relationship? Peter looked at Kirsch not knowing what to do. He did fill alone and knowing she was their did make him fill good.
[Peter] “When you fulfill your obligation will you still want to be with me Kirsch?”
[Kirsch] “All I know is right now I’m happy that you’re holding me close.”
[Peter] “What I need to know from you is can I trust you with my secrets and can you keep them no matter what happens between us or how much time has passed?”
[Kirsch] “Yes have my word I will keep your secrets with me to the death.”
[Peter] “Good I’ll show it all to you when we get to the house I have on the planet and one now. Sam jump to a safe distance from the planet.”
The Tempest jumped two hours away from the planet.
[Kirsch] “How close are we? Did you just jump the ship without a Gate?”
[Peter] “Two hours out and yes I did jump the ship. It can jump from point to point. Sam cloak the ship and take us in when we reach a safe transport range transport the ship into the Base.”
[Kirsch] “How did you get your hands on the advanced technologies?”
[Peter] “Most were from years of research and a few after scanning and studying working or damaged units. One was from a Ancient that waited till I discovered how to make a new power plant. He wanted to save me the trouble and the chance that I may have destroyed half a system doing the research he gave me the data on a detainment unit and told me to work backwards. This is one I do remember a little about I understood how to make it work on a mission in the jungle.
The Base we’re about to enter I reverse engineered and adapted the technology from a abandon structure the Ancients had made I found buried in a hillside. The Base is alive like a plant it’s harder than rock and stronger than steel and if it’s damaged in some way it will repair itself. It was designed to live of the heat of the planet and generate a type of energy we can use to power our Base. The base will live for nine hundred years then it will die. After death it will remain in tact and as strong as steel it will just stop repairing itself and producing power.”

The Tempest transported into the base as Peter and Kirsch got out and looked around at the empty Base. [Kirsch] “Peter where’s the people?”
[Peter] “We’re it for now I’m still in the starting stages of this operation I need people I can trust we’ll pick them up a little at a time. Let me show you the control room and get you a earpiece and PDA.”

Peter showed Kirsch the rest of the Base and let her pick her quarters out and showed her his quarters. “Kirsch let’s eat and get some rest then we need to get back on the ship and go back out into space and come in like we just got here.”
Peter went to his room after they ate and laid down then he heard Kirsch. “Peter can I come in their with you or can we return to the ship? I just don’t think I can rest in here all alone in a empty base.”
[Peter] “I’ll be there in a minute we can go to the ship if you want.”
Peter was walking with Kirsch to the ship and noticed how tense she was acting. “Are you alright?”
[Kirsch] “I’m just a little uneasy I fill like I’m inside a giant creature. The house is it made out of the same stuff?”
[Peter] “No it’s just a normal house we’ll be their in a few hours I never been inside it. My android has placed the furnishings I ordered and made the beds all we should have to do is walk in and make ourselves at home.”
The Tempest left the Base and jumped to the location they would have been in the trip to the planet. Peter waited till Kirsch got settled in her cabon and laid down before he laid down wondering if Kirsch did fill something or was she just over-stressed. A simple test would be easy enough to do later on to find out but for now sleep was all Peter needed as he closed his eyes and turned over.

[Ed Man]

I got a little behind on posting so here's a nother