Castaway Chapter 15

[Ed Man]

A Different Path
Chapter 15

Peter was going in Ben’s house when he seen a dog peeping from behind Ben’s leg wagging it’s tail.
“Ben I see you got a dog.”
[Ben] “I picked it up at a pet store I seen one a long time ago and thought they were neat and this little guy, well I just wanted it.”
Peter reached down and petted the dog asking. “What’s it’s name?”
Ben smiled and said. “Lucky.” When Ben said the dogs name it barked ounce.
Peter looked at Ben puzzled about the dogs response. “The dog barked when you said his name like it knew it.”
[Ben] “He does know his name. Some Teladi enhanced it’s DNA. You should check the pet store out besides pets they also train dogs for the military and security agencies.”
Peter took the address down on his PDA and followed Ben into his den where he showed Peter a few of the tricks the dog knew. Ben had his android bring drinks and snacks in after he sent the dog to its room.
[Peter] “So the dog has it’s own room?”
[Ben] “Yes he does what else am I going to do with all the rooms? I have a bedroom upstairs, one downstairs and one on the other end of the house.”
[Peter] “I take it you haven’t found a woman to spend your credits yet and make your life miserable?”
[Ben] “No I haven’t but tell me about the hot little number you came home with?”
[Peter] “Not much to tell right now.”
[Ben] “Not sure about her? [Peter shrugged his shoulders.] I got news for you no one every is till you’re on top of the world or get your heart ripped out. Women you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them.”
[Peter] “Tell me Ben what have you been doing and what’s happened since I went to the Alpha Site.”

While Ben and Peter were catching up the killer at the Alpha Site hired to kill the Teladi so his second in command could take his place is trying to find the Aid who made the deal and kill him before he‘s caught and rolls over on them. The Aid took a Harrier and all the credits he could and run before the Teladi rat he worked for had a chance to turn him in.
“Have you found him yet?” The man ask as he holds a empty bottle he’s trying to get the last drop out of.
[Killer] “No and stay of the com it’ not secure and before you ask I‘ll get you a bottle.”

The killer set’s down at a table with a man he’s worked with before. “Do you know where he is?”
[Tracker] “I found him do you have the credits?”
The Killer slides a bag of tokens over to the man. [Tracker] “He’s held up with a woman on a outpost here’s there location. Do you want the location of the Harrier he’s been using?”
[Killer] “How much do you want?”
[Tracker] “I think he’s hiding the credits he stole on it. I want 10% of the take on the ship for it’s location.”
[Killer] “It’s a deal.” [Tracker] “The Harrier he took is setting in the long term docking bays leased out in one of his girl friends alias names no point in leaving it.”
[Killer] “No I need you to help I’ll split the take with you on the ship I don’t want to leave it and I can’t count on my companion with the bottle he’s become an liability with all his drinking. You boost the ship and meet me back here. I’ll take care of everything else.”
[Tracker] “What about your friend with the bottle won’t he be upset about you cutting him out of the deal?”
[Killer] “He want mind, he’s not coming back.”

As the two left out for their ships the Killer giving his partner his last bottle they headed for the outpost.
While back on the Planet Sam tells Peter. “Kirsch has just got to the house and want’s to see you.”
[Peter] “Tell her I’ll be their in a few minutes.”
[Ben] “I take it you got a date?”
[Peter] “I don’t know Kirsch just got a promotion and she wants to talk.”
[Ben] “Good luck with your date Peter.”
Peter went to the house not knowing what to expect as he went into the living room and walked over to the sofa where Kirsch was setting. Kirsch looked up smiling wearing a little black dress. “Peter can we see each other now?” Kirsch asked as she stood up and pulled herself up close to Peter looking him in the eyes waiting on a answer.
[Peter] “Do you really want to get involved with me as complicated as my life is?”
[Kirsch] “It’s the only thing I want.”
Peter looks at Kirsch as she holds him tight waiting on some kind of response. Peter eases his head down and kisses her neck and whispers in her ear. “I can’t promise you anything.”
[Kirsch] “I don’t want anything but you.”
Peter smiles as he kisses Kirsch while they ease down onto the sofa and into each others arms.

A few hours later back at the Alpha the Killer and Tracker have docked at the outpost where their mark is hiding out. The Killer sets in his ship while the Tracker hacks the systems and checks on the ship and mark to make sure they’re in place for the job. The Tracker goes to the Killers ship and goes in as the hatch closes behind him he notices the killers partner face down passed out strapped in a chair still holding on to his bottle.
[Tracker] “The mark and his girlfriend are in their room laying down here‘s a key card for the room.”
[Killer] “How long will it take you to get into the ship?”
[Tracker] “I’ll be gone before you get to their room.”
The Killer smiled as he took the card and put it in his pocket saying. “I’ll be a little late getting back to the bar I got to get rid of some excess freight I been carrying for to long.” The two men looked at the drunk as he set in the chair still hanging on to onto his bottle passed out. Just as the Killer planed when he put a knockout drug in his partners bottle of space fuel so he would be easy to handle when the time came to eject him into space.
The Killer made his way to through the outpost heading straight from the room. No one checked his ID or looked at his face as he entered the section where the room was. Security was at it’s best inactive in a place where people didn’t want to be seen or found.
The Killer slid the card through the reader as it lit up and the door unlocked. The Killer eased the door open and cut a small wire leading to a buzzer fixed on the door to sound if the pin is pulled out.
The Killer looks at the buzzer thanking how it would have worked if the poor sap that had put in on the door had did it right and made the wire shorter they would be getting up right now as he eased into the bedroom takes his pistol fitted with a silencer and looks at the man and woman as they lay in the bed sound asleep take aim and shots the man in the head.
The Killer stands there for a minute waiting on the woman to wake so he can see the terror in her eyes just before he shots her but she never makes a move. The Killer so wanting to terrorize the woman he was going to kill just for the sick twisted pleasure he found in looking a victim in the eyes just as he killed them.
The Killer eased close to the bed as he turned the light on and put his hand over the woman’s mouth with the pistol right between her eyes. The woman woke up trying to scream as the Killer shook his head no and asked. “Where’s the credits if you want to live.”
In a frantic state she points to a closet. “There in their.”
The Killer drags the woman out of the bed and over to the closet. “Get them out I want to see them.”
The woman trembles as she pulls the bag out and opens it up showing the tokens stacked in the bottom.
The Killer places his pistol in her face asking. “Is this all of them!”
“Yes! Yes! It’s all of them!” The woman cries as she slides the bag at the Killer while trying to slip back out of reach.
The Killer grabs her hair pulling her back close saying. “Do you want to live or die?”
“I want to live please don’t hurt me I’ll do anything you want!” The Woman replies as she trembles in fear as the Killer points the pistol at her ready to shoot.
The magic words the Killer was waiting on the woman to say as he smiled at her and said. “Change your clothes so we can leave if you want to live you go with me.”
The Killer watched as the woman slowly changed in front of him and said. “I’m ready what do you want me to do.”
[Killer] “I can think of a lot of things for you to do like right now get on your knees.”
The Woman trembles as she eases down to her knees looking up at the Killer willing to do anything to say her life.
The Killer looks down at the woman and steps back and points the pistol at her head watching the fear on her face as she looks at the Killer he shoots her in the head ending the sick game.
The Killer scans the bag and room for any traces he may have left behind as he pulls out a can of acid cleaner and set it in the middle of the floor take the bag of tokens and moves to the door and shoots the top off the can as a mist shoots up he closes the door and makes his way out of the apartment as the smoke from the cleaner eases out from under the bedroom door the Killer leaves the apartment and heads back to his ship with the bag of tokens and leaves the outpost.

The next day after work Peter went by the pet store Ben told him about and asked the clerk to show him some of his trained dogs. The salesman took Peter to the trainers office in the back of the shop next to the kennel. After deciding what kind training and size of dog Peter wanted the Trainer started showing the dogs to Peter. Peter noticed this one dog that seemed to say I’m the one you want pick me as it wagged it’s tail looking at Peter.
The Trainer brought the dog in to show of how well the dog had been trained making it do several tricks and basic commands the dog understood. Then he showed how well the dog could smell out about anything it was told to find including people, drugs and explosives.
Peter was a little shocked at the price they were wanting for the dog and was about to walk out when the Trainer offered Peter a deal on the dog. Peter stopped and looked at the dog as it set their wagging it’s tail looking back at Peter. “I’ll take it. Come on boy you’re coming home with me.”
As Peter paid for the dog the sales clerk asked what Peter what he wanted to call the dog the Trainer had been calling him Goop. “I want to call him Goo-doe.” The Clerk entered the name on the dogs ID chip and in their records as he replaced the collar with one that had the dogs name on it along with it’s tags then handed Peter a leash. “You’ll need this for the dog.” The Clerk replied as he hooked it onto the dogs collar and set Goo-doe in the floor. The dog looked up at Peter waiting on a command. “Come on Goo-doe time to go home.” Peter stated as he walked out the door, with the dog trotted along beside Peter wagged his tail all the way to the flyer.
[Sam] “Commander do you want me to make the dog a box to transport it when you travel in space it can not wear a spacesuit?”
[Peter] “Yes and make him a bed with a blanket and a water and food bowl. Find out what kind of food I need to get for him the trainer told the brand they used. Do I need anything else?”
[Sam] “Treats to reward him with and a box for him to do his business in. I’ll start making them. Commander what do you plan on using the dog for?”
[Peter] “Nothing other than being a pet but you never know that super sensitive nose of his may come in handy if I loose a sock or something.”
Peter pulled the flyer into the garage and took the dog inside. “This is your new home Goo-doe.” Peter was showing the dog around the house when Kirsch came in and stared at the dog asking. “Peter what is that thing following you is it dangerous?”
[Peter] “It’s called a dog and his name is Goo-doe he’s my new pet watch.” Peter had the dog do a few tricks as Kirsch watched.
[Kirsch] “I don’t know anything about dogs Peter.” Peter called Goo-doe over to Kirsch and told him.
“This is Kirsch she is the woman of the house and you are to obey her.” The dog looked and smelled of Kirsch and barked ounce.
[Kirsch] “Peter the dog acted like it under stood you.”
[Peter] “He does understand some things he’s been trained. One bark means yes, two barks means no.”
[Kirsch] “How smart is he Peter do I need to watch my back when he’s around?”
[Peter] “No let me explain what a dog is and what he’s trained to do.” Peter tried to explain to Kirsch the best he could about the dog and what it was but to someone who never seen or had a pet it was a hard concept to explain. After a while Kirsch petted the dog. “Peter why is it wiggling it’s tail back in fort and opening his mouth when I petted him?”
[Peter] “He’s happy. That’s his happy face and he’s wagging his tail because he’s happy pets like to be petted and shown attention. He likes you.” Goo-doe barked ounce. “See I told you he liked you.”
Kirsch smiled as she petted him some more as he set down at her feet soaking up the attention.
[Peter] “Sam pull up some data on dogs for Kirsch. It’s time to pay me some attention Kirsch come on in the kitchen and lets eat. Come on Goo-doe I’ll show you your bed and area.”
The dog trotted of with Peter as he showed it the utility closet that was now going to be it’s area.
Bed on one side, food and water bowls in the middle, poop box on the other side under its own air cleaner.
Peter returned to the kitchen to enjoy a meal and what was left of the evening with Kirsch.
The next morning got up early and left for her two day business trip with her staff to the Trading Station leaving Peter at alone for the weekend.
Peter watched Kirsch fly off for work from the window as he sipped his coffee. “Sam I think it’s time I hired some People for the Base show me the list you have. Sam I want you to build a Mercury Hauler for the Base to sell goods out of and put a constructor unit onboard along with worker drones with security upgrades and two Human Androids. Start looking for orders and keep the runs spaced out as much as possible to every port so not to attact any attention to where the goods came from. I’ll use the funds it makes to help support the base.”
[Sam] “The Chief has sent a secure message telling about some of his people who’s contracts are up he recommends you hire if you can. I’ve already done background checks on them and rated their status.”

Peter looked at the list of personnel and picked out the ones he wanted. “Sam send the ones I picked out a invite for a interview. I’ll jump to the Alpha Site in the Tempest and conduct the interviews from space.
I’ll call for the support ship if everyone signs on I’ll need the extra passenger space and cargo room.”

Peter jumped to the Alpha Site and started the interviews and before long had hired more than he could carry onboard the Tempest. So the support ship was called in piloted by a android and would remain cloaked following the Tempest as it picked up the new recruits and transported them onto the support ship as it went to the various sites on the moon.
The last stop was made and the final two had boarded. Only seventeen people had been hired but some were married with children filling both ships up with people.
The support ship jumped as soon as it was cleared while peter had to break orbit and fly to open space and out of scanner range of anyone before he could jump.
The Doctor moved into the Base medical and started processing the new personnel one at a time giving each of them a earpiece and PDA. Hours after the support ship had jumped Peter cloaked the Tempest and jumped to the planet and transported the remaining crewmen down to the base.
The weekend was all but gone as Peter landed the Tempest.
[Sam] “Commander do you plan on showing the base to Kirsch it will be hard to keep it from her with her staying here.”
[Peter] “I wasn’t planing on showing her the base. I trust her but she won’t be staying here much longer she’ll be moving to the shipyard as soon as it’s operational and then we’ll have to make time to see each other.”
Peter set down to eat as Goo-doe came out to see him. “We’ll I quess it’s me and you buddy.” Peter said as he petted the dog thinking how much he missed Kirsch.
Peter took his PDA out and read the messages Kirsch had sent him. As he read the last one Kirsch had sent just a hour earlier explaining how she was missing him.
“Sam get me a line to Kirsch I want to talk to her.”
While Peter tell Kirsch he’s missing her too the new recruits are getting settled in. The next few days Peter spent his evenings at the base getting to know the new recruits. The Mercury was in space and had already made a few deliverys. Kirsch and Peter were planning a quite weekend alone together at home before the grand opening of the shipyard. Peter and Kirsch both knew that ounce the shipyard opened Kirsch would be busy for a the first several weeks and the only time they would get to spend together would be when Peter flew up for a quick visit.
The weekend came and went a little quicker than normal for Peter and Kirsch as they set in the kitchen waiting on the call from Kirsch’s team at the company docks saying they were about ready to go. They were flying up in the company TP and Kirsch was going to fly along as a extra escort with the group.

Peter and Kirsch were setting on the landing deck patio watching the sun come up with their arms around each other sipping coffee when the call came. “This is flight leader we will be leaving in ten minutes do you copy?”
[Kirsch] “Copy that flight leader I’m on my way.” Kirsch kissed Peter holding him tight looked in his eyes without saying a word and kissed him lightly on the lips and headed for the Disco that was loaded and ready. Only looking back to wave just as she went in the ship.
Peter watched as the Disco lifted off the pad Peter walked to the side of the house and watched the Disco fade away into the distance headed for the docks.
“Sam tell me when they reach the station or if anything happens.” [Sam] “Understood Commander.”
Peter went back into the house to the dog setting waiting by the door. “Goo-doe you want to go to the office with me today?”
The dog barked ounce as he wagged his tail so hard it looked like it was going to snap off as he followed Peter as he got his things. Peter headed for the garage with his briefcase in one hand dog box in the other with Goo-doe close behind.

[X1000]

Goo-Does very cute.

[SpitfireJB]

Great story I started following josh with Lost in time and have went back now and started geting the back story. This is a great series!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!