In search of a Goddess

[MotokoSusu]

Part 4: Even a Goddess Needs Help

I sit in the office waiting to hear the news of the work the Shizuha was going to need. Sitting in a chair look at her sitting still in space while resting my head on the sill I dozed off. While in this state of twilight things run through my head recounting all the events in this long journey. I am startaled awake by the opening of the office door. In walks in the manager of the Shipyard and the head shipwright. The look on there face was not something would want to see as if the doctor is about to tell you that a family member had died in the operating room. My optimizum had turned to depression in a matter of a nanosecond. They hand me a data pad with a litany of repairs needed. I read through the list.

1. 130 primary hull breaches
2. 12 secondary hull breaches
3. 1 nav computer
4. Repairs to weapons station and automation
5. Bio-dome repairs and reseeding (require Zoner Shipwrights brought in)
6. Repair to Drive System including repairs to Reactors and fine tuning (require Zoner Shipwrights)
7. repairs to ventral intakes and dorsal intakes
8. Repairs to hanger launch systems
9. Repairs to electrical systems
10. Updates to APU Systems
11. Flight Control System
12. Minor Systems refits
13. Life Support Systems tuning (require Zoner Shipwrights)

After reading over the list I had to ask what the cost where going to be for the repairs. The Manager clears his throat and tells me the cost where going to be 173 million. He then continued “But with the Hull plates and Engine parts in the cargo bay that will reduce the cost by 35 million”. So thinking to myself now I am looking at a 138 million repair cost. The Manager could see by the look on my face, which he most likely had seen many times before, that I was trying to figure how I was going to come up with that much. He interrupted my chain of thought when he asked what I had planed for the gunboat. Immediately I answer him with a resounding NO! “ I will never part with my Gunboat she has been with me since I took out on my journey and beside I would have never made it if not for her” I told the Manager. He looked puzzled at me and I had to ask him “What don't you understand NO!”. He then remarks “ You misunderstand me.” How could I misunderstand such a simple question. Looking down at the table he could see I was angered over the whole question. That this point the Manager says” Oh you thought I meant the Gunboat sitting in the hanger deck of the Shizuha”. Again I was become more confused. I was thinking that the Manager had some sort of space sickness that caused him to make stupid comment and questions. He hands me one of the Inspection photos and in it was the Gunboat and Fighters that had been sitting in the cargo bay. At this point I was feeling like the biggest fool in the universe tho it would have been nice if he clarified which gunboat, but I did jump to the conclusion. I had no interest in keeping scrap on the Shizuah that was something the Junkers where known for. I was puzzled tho what was their interest in them and when I asked him he just smiled and told me that there are people that will pay good credits to get their hands on ships like that. This made me wonder what 4 busted up ship that I have never seen before could interest buyers to pay big money for. It made no difference to me at this point, if they wanted them and it reduced the cost of repairs I was all for that. So once again I was left in the office to stare out the window at the Shizuha. The manager returned to tell me he had great news there was a buyer for the 4 ships and the repairs where only going to cost 41.5 million credits. This was great news but all I had left from this adventure was little over 21million. I proceed to tell the Manager of my financial situation and he started laughing. This was unacceptable him laughing at me and before I could lash out at him for being disrespectful he explains that ships of the size of the Shizuha, the repairs are paid for on a credit plan because some repairs are for more costly. More costly I think to myself then 173 million. After it all sinks in the Manager hands me a data pad with all the contracts for biometric signature. Great he says we will get on it right away.

I return to the Shizuha while the repairs go one. The daily comings and goings of the repair crew became a normal routine of daily living on the Shizuha. Repair ships buzzing about fixing the hull. The Zoner shipwrights arrive. They where a seasoned lot and could tell they where not much for talking. They off loaded all the tools in the landing bay and wasted no time on getting started on the repairs. These Zoners where much like what I had read in old earth history that described a group known as the Amish keeping to themselves, hard working , excellent craftsmen and governing themselves. I go tot the bridge and sit in the Captain's chair listening to the chatter of the repair crew on the bridge. Most the topics of discussion where the condition of the ship. Some never thought they would ever see the inside of a Nephlem. All the commotion on the ship was nice it had been so long since I had people around, it was a nice feeling. While sitting in the seat I hear footsteps behind me so I turn to the sound and to my surprise it was one of the Zoner shipwrights. He stands there looks at me for a period of time then asks me where did I find this ship. I lead him back to a pile of papers and maps. I dig through the pile and hand him a sheet of paper and point to the planet “This is where I found her sitting on the side of a mountain” I tell him. After a few minutes of him milling through my papers he walks off.

In the maelstrom of repairs I had totally forgot to contact my family letting them know that I had put in at Renzu. I contact Yuki and give her the details and the pass code to enter the through the hanger deck so they will not have to use the traffic control of the station. A couple of days pass and I notice a familiar vessel approaching the bow. It was my families transport. I run down to the hanger deck like a child to free candy. They land in the hanger next to my gunboat and the hanger doors shut and pressurize and soon the door opens father, mother, and Yuki. I open the door to the hanger and run across the hanger deck. Yuki tackled me half way in a giant hug soon mother joined in. The hanger echoed of crying and laughter. Mean while Father stood like a stone. His face showed no emotion not a smile nor a frown. After all this time way I would have thought father would have lighten up on his disgust of me, but I guess time does not heal all wounds. I stood in front of father like a cadet at the academy in my flight suit with the arms tied around my waist . He looks at me top to bottom and speaks “Motoko... where are you boots?” I fidget and look down and I had grown so accustom to running around the Shizuha with out my boots that I left at the Bio-dome. “They are mid ship with mud on them sir” I tell my father. Father replies “Mud.. on a spacecraft”. At this point I am holding back a laugh from remembering when I first noticed the mud on my boots. Father I can see was not entertained by and mother was giving my father the evil eye, that look that you can tell she is the one that has the real power in the house. Mother speaks out “ I told you I would have nothing of this” looking at father. At this point I decided to give father a hug regardless how he would feel about it. What had happened shock me to the very core of me. Father was clenching me and spoke “ I missed you Daughter. Please do not run off again”.

After everyone had time to dry their eyes and gain composure I take them on a tour of the Shizuha. I start with the lower decks making our way to the upper decks. Showing them all the points of interest. We make our way down the halls, one after the other. Mother looks and me and asked how I did not get lost in a ship this size. Pointing to the wall showing mother where I had written numbers while reaching in my pocket where my hand written map was. In the distance something caught my fathers eye. I look down the hall and it must have been my boots sitting in the hall. Father then asked why are my boots sitting in the middle of the hall. I had forgot all about the domes in the this tour. I lead them down the hall to the air lock. I slip on my boots and press the switch to open the airlock. The doors open and the air rushed in once again with the smell of a fresh rain. They looked into the dome and seemed to not be as excited as am about it. It was not what they are accustom to living in a sanitized environment of planet bound life. Finally we make it to the bridge the first thing Yuki does is run to the captain's chair and pretends she is in the middle of a space battle. Father looks at me like I broke a protocol by letting her sit in the “chair” I reassured him she can not set off anything because it required a biometric scan to unlock all the systems. I could see fathers eye light up being on the bridge of a capital ship once again. All I could see that he was reliving the time he spent as a first officer on a cruiser. After a lengthy stay on the bridge and Yuki managed to destroyed the enemies of Kusari falling asleep in the chair. Father approached me and told me that I have become more then he could have wished for a Captain of a Battleship and with that came a great responsibility. Father told me to walk with him where he proceeded to tell me the responsibility for the crew that would serve this ship. I was awestruck at all the experience and wisdom my father has from the years of service. After father had completed telling all that he needed and waking up Yuki, father told the family that they have taken up enough of the Captains time and need to head home. I walk them to their ship and see them off waving from the small hanger door.

Time goes on the repairs continue on schedule with a few things remaining when the Zoner from before confronts me. He had continuing question about the final resting the place of the 0010 they refused to use the name that I had given her which I can understand and do not push the issue. I think from his view point I was a grave robber of some sort. I cooperating with his questioning. He was wanting to know if I have found any personal belongings of several Zoners he had placed on a sheet of paper. I told him that I had not gone on a room to room search of the crew quarters since I took control of the ship. After more questioning I had to ask him why the interest in this line of questioning. A dead calm came across his face and then proceeded to tell me that distant relatives where aboard 0010 and that he wanted to be able to bring any information back to his family. At that point he asked if he had permission to search the vessel for any information and belongings. I granted him the permission and asked if he wanted any help in searching but declined my help and walked off.

The day has come the last of the repair crews are not leaving the Shizuha. All the systems are running at peek performance. A sense of relief comes. I make my way down to the hanger deck to see off some of the last repair crews that I have spent so much time with over the past months. I open the small hanger door and the last of the Zoners where loading up and I look to the right of me and noticed the plaque had been changed to read “Goddess Shizuah” “Under The Command of Motoko Susubo” “May Your Goddess Protect You”.

Even a Goddess need help.

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