Deep Six Chapter 17

[Ed Man]

I Care For You
Chapter 17 Deep Six

Gabe was surprised at Donna’s announcement of her love for him as he set not quite knowing what to do or say as he looked at Donna.
Donna took Gabe by the hand. “I know I must have caught you off guard and it’s not the right time but I had to tell you how I felt.”
Gabe looked at Donna as she set there waiting on a reply and said. “Donna I care for you and I trust you. You mean I want to date you kind of love or something else?”
[Donna] “I want to date you of course.”
[Gabe] “I’m your boss Donna this could get real complicated quick. Everything I’ve ever studied says not to get romantically involved with a employee.”
[Donna] “I already have fillings for you Gabe. All I’m asking for is for you to give it a try and if it don’t work out or if you want me to I’ll leave. I already made out and signed a document waiving all my rights away to show you I just want to be with you.”
[Gabe] “Donna I don’t know what to say or do. I’m lonely and you’re a beautiful woman and you are hot! But I don’t want to hurt you or do something I’ll regret. You’re my friend and I like you so give me a little time and lets just keep it friendly for right now and see how it works out.”

Donna took Gabe by the hand and smiled. “That’s all I want is a chance. What do we do next?”
Gabe was at a loss as Donna set waiting then stated. “I meant about work and replacing the Pilot.”

Gabe looked at a message that just buzzed in from Simon on his on his PDA stating. “Someone is wanting to hire the Neptune to deploy another wheat farm five days from now in Three Worlds. Do you want to take the job?”
Gabe showed Donna the message asking. “What do you think?”
[Donna] “It is a good way of making extra income I would say take the job.”

[Gabe] “You’re my assistant now and your first job is to check out the client and make sure everything is alright and if it is secure the job. I want to hire some Navy pilots so try and take care of it before we get to Argon Prime so we‘ll know how many pilots to hire.”
Donna gave Gabe a little kiss on the cheek. “Thanks I’ll get right on it.”

Gabe headed out for Argon Prime while Donna was busy checking on the new client and right as they were docking she stated. “Gabe the owner checks out and it looks to be a good job I’ll sent the contract over to him now.”
The two went into the station and pulled up the most recent list of Navy Pilots looking for work and had started checking on their backgrounds when the contract come back signed.
Now the next question was how many Pilots did they need now. Gabe still wanted to promote Luke so he decided he had better talk to Luke about it first and see what position he wanted before placing him over something he didn’t like.

Gabe was counting in his head trying to decide how many pilots to hire and if they needed anymore crewmen. Donna, Luke and Cherrit would be needing replaced and one extra so at least four skilled pilots and two more crewman should be enough for now.
After Gabe told Donna the number he sent Luke a message asking him what position he would like to have if he could choose one.
Before the list of new personnel to interview had even started Luke replied back stating. “I like what I do but I always wanted to Captain a freighter.”
Gabe sent him a message back asking if he wanted to be full time Captain of the Caiman he was own.
A quick yes was sent right back. Gabe looked over at Donna. “Donna Luke is Captain of the Caiman now notify him first of his promotion then his crew and Cherrit.”
Donna smiled as she said. “Yes Sir right away.”

The list was picked out and the interviews started as they each one came in hopeful they would get the job.
Deep Six had progressed above the normal two ship operation to a full fledged company with lots of opportunity’s to expand and people were starting to take notice. Gabe and Donna had selected twelve Pilots and six crewmen to interview then select the best four Pilots and two Crewman out of the group.

The interviews were going well and the plan was to get the interviews over and done with. Then call it a day and think about who they wanted to hire and rest for the night then finish up the next day.

After a good rest Gabe checked on the Station as he got up. It was in it’s finishing stages so Simon had already restarted the sector search and would be pulling the Neptune up out of the sector traffic to a more secure position within the next several hours.
All the other reports were good and everything was running well for now so Gabe buzzed Donna from his room and invited her to meet him for breakfast in the restaurant next door.
Gabe seen Donna as she came into the restaurant and part of him was glad to see her as she set down with her warm glowing smile that she had on her face for him.
“Did you sleep well Gabe?” Donna asked as she reached over and put her hand on his.

Gabe looked up at Donna as her eyes seamed to sparkle as she looked back waiting on a reply.
Gabe looked over at Donna and for a second thought about reaching over and kissing her but mumbled out. “I sleep okay what you want to eat?”
Donna picked up the menu as Gabe looked at his peeping over the top to take a quick look at Donna a couple of times as he smelt her perfume.
Donna looked up at Gabe. “Is everything all right you’re acting a little strange or is it just me?”
[Gabe] “No not really every since you told me you loved me I feel different about you. I don’t know how to act around you. I wanted to reach over and kiss you and touch you back but didn’t know if I should or not I’m really confused right now.”
[Donna] “Come with me to my room for a minute we need to clear up the do’s and do not’s.”
Donna took Gabe into her room and closed the door and kissed him and set him down on the bed and took off her jacket and belt and shoes and stood in front of him with her arms and legs spread out like she was about to start exercising. “Gabe you can touch any thing on my body you want too right now while were in here or somewhere privet. You can hold me or kiss me any time you want. If I don’t want you to kiss me or touch me I’ll tell you real quick to stop you can count on that.”

Gabe was dumbfounded when Donna set down beside him and gave him a kiss. “Gabe I do love you and I hope you’ll learn to love me. Why don’t you take me out on a date when we get done with the hiring.”
[Gabe] “I like that ideal that sounds good. How about dinner and a movie.”
Donna reached over and kissed Gabe. “You got a date.”

Gabe set quietly on the corner of the bed a little dazed thinking somehow he had missed it again while Donna slipping her things back on. The two headed back to the restaurant to eat and finish the hiring.
When the final ones were picked out to hire Gabe was looking at Donna and come to the conclusion that neither one of them was very good at relations with the opposite sex.
Gabe wished he had stood up and put his arms around Donna and kissed her in the room then waited outside and Donna had just laid it out like a drill instructor in her room.
But Gabe also knew they both would get second, third and forth chances to get it right.
It was going to take some time but Gabe knew the learning experience they would face together was well worth it all. It was the end result that was the real prize.

The contracts were sent out and all but one was accepted so a replacement was picked and had quickly signed on so the hiring was over with as Donna sent the others messages saying all the positions had been filled. Now it was time to get them back to the Neptune and start their training.

Gabe loaded up the first four and jumped back to the Neptune while Donna waited on the other three to show up who were coming from planet side and other sectors.
Donna had a Steward waiting on Gabe when he docked to direct the new personnel to their rooms and get them started in their training and set up a tour of the ship when the others arrived.

Gabe headed back to wait with Donna on the rest of the new recruits to show up thinking if Donna is as resourceful in their relationship as she is in her job he had a real keeper on his hands.
As he docked Gabe stopped by the coffee shop and picked up a coffee for him and a hot chocolate drink he had noticed Donna always got.
Gabe handed Donna the drink. “Thanks Gabe I was woundering if I scarred you earlier?”
[Gabe] “Well maybe a little at first then you kissed me and I knew you wasn’t going to kill me.”

Donna laughed as she kissed him. “You know I always heard when you first fall in love you just want to eat them up and later on you’ll wish you had. I thank the trick there is to keep your love fresh and alive.”

[Gabe] “Where did you pick that up at?”
[Donna] “I did read a couple of books on how to have a healthy relationship. You can read them if you want but I like you just like you are. You already treat me well.”
Donna smiled as she snuggled up beside Gabe as the two enjoyed their drinks and just setting together waiting on the new recruits to show up.

A few hours later while they were waiting on the final worker to show up Simon relayed the Neptune’s new position to Gabe. The station was finished and it was in the hands of the inspectors now and they had hit the jackpot and found a old Elite surrounded by wreckage the from several Xenon ships. The dead Pilot’s body had already been returned to the Argon Navy and the ship was in the hole being repaired and refitted into the new model Elite.

Gabe showed Donna the message with a big smile on his face. The Elite added the extra firepower to the Neptune’s fleet of support ships and with a jump drive installed a much needed support ship for any of the companys ships that may need a little backup.

The last crewman showed up and Gabe set course for The Wall and load up on energy cells on the way back. The Buzzard entered The Wall and Gabe seen a damaged Buster headed their way with a slightly damaged Pirate Nova hot on his tail and about to reach weapons range on the Buster.
The talk was heated between the two ships as the Nova fired on the Buster as the two hurled names at each other.
The Buster was begging for help and Sector Security was at the North Gate headed for the battle but the Buster would never survive long enough for them to make a difference.
Gabe could hear the Pirate trying to get the Buster Pilot to give up the coordinates to something then he would fire a few more shots into the now burning Buster.

Gabe was at full speed headed for the Nova and responded on a open channel. “Pirate Nova stand down and surrender or I’ll open fire on you!”
“Stay out of this you stupid /////// xxxxx \\\\\\\ I’ll kill you and everyone in this sector if I have to to get what I want do you understand you /////// xxxxx!”
Gabe brought all his weapions on line and slowed speed a little as he neared range then opened fire while dodging the incoming fire from the slower AHEPT weapons as the green blazing shot flew past the Buzzard as it sweep wide while Gabe pounded the Nova with his guns till the Nova’s shields were gone and parts of the hull were flying off.
The Pirate ejected into space as Gabe pulled away to recharge his weapons having run the banks empty.
Smoke poured out of the Buster into void of space making a large blur of the ship until Gabe seen weapons fire from a single weapon lighting up the skys all around the ejected Pirate as the Buster tried to get a hit on the Pirate.
Gabe was out of range but yelled. “Stop firing Buster Pilot!” But to late for the Pirate as he made contact with on of the shots and the Pirate was incinerated.

The COM opened from the Buster. “You tried to save my life! [As the flames and smoke was about all you could see as a man coughed spiting blood onto the camera lins.] Here are the coordinates to a Nova don’t leave her there shes yours!”
The Com went dead and a few seconds later the Buster exploded into a ball of fire.

Donna reached over and took hold of Gabe’s arm when the ship exploded as tears ran down her face.
Gabe took Donna’s hand and held it tight as he looked at her saying. “We’re alright Donna it’s all over.”
Donna pulled he arm back and wiped he eyes and looked at Gabe with a worried look saying. “I’m alright now.”
Gabe had seen the look a many of times on Pops face as he told him to be careful every time he left out in his ship. Donna was worried about Gabe’s safety now and nothing he could do or say could change that.

Gabe pulled over to the Pirate Nova and claimed it and scanned it for contraband. The ship was clean and one of the shields was still working. The Neptunes recovery Nova was out making a shift change on the sector search so a tow back to the Neptune would have to wait.
Gabe looked over the ship it was sound and the guidance systems were working so he transferred a repair drone and kit over to start the repaires while they waited on Sector Security to get there and sign off on the incident.

A Officer in a Disco showed up seconds later and few minutes after that they were ready to leave. They had seen it all and had everything recorded. Gabe had to watch the recording before he signed off on it and the ship to ship message where the Buster pilot gave Gabe the location of the Nove wasn’t on there.

As Gabe set the Pirate Nove on auto pilot to fly to the Neptune Donna asked. “Gabe who are going to send to check out the Nova that man made sure he told someone about before he died.”
Gabe set the Buzzard to auto pilot for the Neptune as he looked at Donna knowing exactly what she was getting at. It was more that likely a dangerous mission and she didn’t want him to go. “I don’t know what to do about it yet. But I believe it’s worth checking out. Like you said he used his dying breath to make sure someone knew where it was.”

[Donna] “The dying part is what I’m worred about. And the Pirate thought it was worth killing for and was willing to take on a whole sector security force to find out where it was. Whatever it is that’s so important about that Nova is extremely dangerous and should be left alone. Some things are just not worth the trouble they bring.”

[Gabe] “I’m not jumping into nothing right now I’ll give it a few days and think about what you said and talk to Simon before I decide what to do. I know you’re trying to look out for me and I want to thank you for that.”
[Donna] “Not just you this could have an effect on all of us. The question is do you think it’s worth that chance?”
Gabe didn’t say any more he knew Donna was right everthing he done form now own rolled down onto every ship he owned and the people working for him.

Gabe docked the Buzzard and went to his quarters to get some rest while a team headed out to escort the Nova back to the Neptune. The new people had taken a tour of the ship and were settled in and resting when Gabe woke up.
The repair crews had all teamed up and were putting the finishing touches on the Nova. They were all excited as the M3 came off the repair list and onto the list of ready fighters onboard the Neptune.
They had repaired a second 25 meg shield and were waiting on parts for the third 25 meg shield to get back from the Equipment Dock. Weapons and missiles were loaded and its speed and rudder was maxed out.

The whole team watched as the ship did a trial flight then practiced firing on a target drone before docking again. The repair shop had showed such pride in the Nova Gabe knew he would have to keep it no matter what.
Gabe watched on the monitor as the teams returned to work on the Elite and Disco. While he thought about the Nova hidden deep in one of the sectors on the fringes of the Gate system bordered by Pirates. The Nova would be nice but Donna was right it just wasn’t worth the risk and trouble it could create for Deep Six.
Bit broke the quite moment Gabe was enjoying. “Commander you have a message from Argon Prime.”