Exit Interview

Kate emerged from the passenger dorm, a stark figure in black who cut across the bay toward her. “Will I see you in town?” she muttered.

“Most like,” Marisol whispered as the two women passed. “Catch me at the hotel.” The sledgehammer hung in her left hand as she strode toward the aft stairway. To her left, a flash of motion. The mechanic glanced over to see Riley Thorne. The pilot was busying herself, preparing the mule to make a run through the snow toward town. Lurking behind her was the perverted photographer, Leo. At sight of Marisol, he offered a wink and a knowing grin.

*Won’t miss him, either,* she thought as she turned to approach the lieutenant. *Not the perfect setting, but there’s no time like the present.* Who knew? Leo might even give her reason to swing the sledge…

“Riley,” she announced herself from behind the other woman. “Got a minute?”

Seeing a way to put off spending time with Leo, Riley was all too happy for the opportunity. “Sure.” She replied. “Everything okay with the ship?”

Marisol nodded. “Boat’s good. The reactor’s in “Shore Power” mode. Your fuel’s coming tomorrow at ten-thirty. The waste tanks still need emptying...maybe the fuel guy knows who will do that.” She walked slowly alongside the taller woman as the report continued. “Starboard shuttle will sustain the current crew and passenger count for eighteen hours. You’ve got helm, comms, and maneuvering thrusters, but no engine.” She paused. “I sent you a list of all the parts that’ve been stripped away. If it was my money, I’d say you’re better off just buying a replacement engine. Finally, suits,” the mechanic concluded. “All six are charged and ready. They’re tagged for passengers and the kids on the crew, plus yourself. I jury rigged one for Haddie. She looks like a stack of hotcakes, but it’ll work. I’d recommend you take her suit shopping.”

“Finding parts on New Kas will be difficult as it is, finding an entire engine? Next to impossible.” The pilot concluded. Suits would be less an issue - plenty of shops to get things like that if what the Captain were saying was true. “But we can talk about replacement engines when we get closer to the core, less likely to run into the same trouble we had at the Skyplex. I’ll make some calls, how long you think it’ll take? And do you think you’re up to the job?”

Marisol shrugged. “Mech shop on the Skyplex could drop another one into place in about forty-eight hours. You want to go that route because they’ll have the hoists and structural cutting/rewelding gear to make it happen right. But I won’t be along for that trip,” she said. “This’ll be my port of call.”

“Oh?” Riley relied, quirking an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. The engineer hadn’t said anything about being along for a short hop, they’d just picked her up on Valentine for Rut’s sake . “New Kasmir is your port of call? This just crop up?”

“A couple weeks back,” Marisol replied. “Had my mind made up for me. Oh,” she lifted an index finger. “Don’t forget you’ve got a dozen sides of beef and forty cases of hotdogs in cold storage. They might sell pretty well here.”

“I haven’t forgotten. I plan to put the crew chief on it after they get back from unloading the hairballs. I don’t much appreciate the lack of notice, we could’ve put the word out back when your mind was made up for you, but the Veil’s found mechanics and decks in places sparser than this. Damn shame - thought you were decent at your job.”

The mechanic gave a wan smile. “Thanks. I put in some effort,” she said. “Mechanics are pretty easy to find, leastways that’s what your crew chief told me as well. You oughtta be fine,” she added. “I don’t expect my share today. I’ll come back around in a couple days to collect it.”

“Oh, we will be,” Riley said with certainty. So *that’s* where this cropped up from. Part of ship life was the knowledge that crew came, crew went, crew was fired, hired, it was no wonder the Captain no longer bothered learning no one’s name. “Just out of curiosity -- this is because of your kerfuffle with the crew chief?”

“I’m partial to breathing,” Marisol answered. “Think I’d like to keep it up awhile longer.”

“Didn’t think you were the delicate sort, but I’m sure you’ll do fine on New Kasmir.” The pilot retorted with a nod of her head. “I’m sure Adler and the others’ll miss you as well.”

Lunar Veil’s ex mechanic allowed herself a chuckle. “That’s me,” she said, “just a dainty little blossom.” The smile remained as she continued, “Room’s all cleaned up and ready. I repaired the evidence of the crew’s love. Just need to change clothes and grab my things.”

“Appreciate that -- or more like the Deckhand’s appreciate that. You sure your mind is made up on this? This is your play?” The pilot would take up residence on New Kasmir herself before asking anyone to stay on the ship -- but she couldn’t help be slightly disappointed in the woman’s mettle - but that wasn’t here nor there, Marisol didn’t want to be on the ship, regardless of the reasons, they were hers and hers alone.

Marisol nodded. “My play is to stay alive awhile longer. Nearly had that play ended for me twice since Valentine. I’m not superstitious, but I’m not inclined to stick around to see if third time’s the charm.”

Riley raised both eyebrows this time. “I think you’re being a little hyperbolic about Jat, but again, if your mind is made up, your mind is made up. I didn’t see you as the sort to be chased off anywhere you didn’t want to be chased off to begin with, but I’ve definitely been wrong about people in the past. We’ll make sure you get your fair cut from the drogs and any other job we run while here - it’s only fair, you did help us get to the planet, after all.”

“The dogs,” Marisol offered, “and the meat. All I’m asking.” She made a half turn. “I’m gonna go change and get my things.”

“You’ll get what’s fair.” Riley insisted. “Take care of yourself engineer. We take off in four days - make sure you come collect what’s yours by then.” Riley turned on her bootheel to head back towards the mule to take Leo to town. With one going - she suspected it was only a matter of time before Adler decided to make this his port of call as well. *He can tell it to the Captain,* she inwardly grumbled, half missing the days when Keller on drunken whims and binges would fire entire crews at the same time.

Marisol climbed the stairs. *cum se, cum sa,* she mused, before making one final drop into her room. New Kasmir wasn’t exactly a hotbed of activity, but short of whoring she’d avail herself of whatever opportunity presented til her next opportunity to get off this planet...and back home.