Chapter 13
Once back in their cell, Luce explained that the next day a guard would come for them and take them to their assigned areas to work. They would work a 14-hour day and then be given tokens for the day's work. They could then go to concession area and purchase food and other necessities. They could go to the bathing areas, cook their own meals in their cell, and relax before the next day's labor.
"Well, that's slightly better than some of the other times we've been slaves." Theta tried to make a joke, but no one laughed so he continued. "If we are allowed to roam around to go to the spring for water, the public baths, the concession areas, then maybe we can wander around and maybe find a way to escape."
"You must be very cautious." Luce warned. "The best time would be early in the morning before the other workers wake up."
"How are the prisoners awakened each day?" The question came from Rose.
"A rapid ringing of the bell that lasts for several seconds, or that's what happened the last time I was a slave." Aaron said and Luce nodded in agreement.
" I would suggest that we wait a day or two until we understand the worker's and guard's schedules before we attempt to find an exit." Jack said and they all nodded.
"Judging from what we have seen so far, we could easily end up dead, or much worse. If we are caught wandering around unauthorized areas. I think Jack is right, we need to proceed with caution."
"Doctor, didn't the Protectorate say that the Scorpions send a cargo ship every third lunar cycle?"
"Yep."
"Ok, so, um, one of the first things we need to find out is when the next cargo ship is expected and once we know that we can begin fine tuning the plan." Aaron added.
"Luce, how long is a lunar cycle on this planet?" Theta asked.
"28 days"
"Well, we have to be out of here in under 56 days then." Theta said, looking meaningfully around the group.
Luce looked confused and asked Theta "Why must you be free in less than 56 days?"
"Luce" Rose said, "We have to be out of here in less than 56 days because I will not be pregnant."
"And I won't let that slime ball Dace touch her!" Theta added and then realized that his own personal feelings for Rose were showing. He decided he didn't care. He had to make the 'amator' thing believable didn't he?
"But, how can you be so positive that you will not be pregnant in 2 lunar cycles?" Luce asked Rose and she blushed. She wanted kids with the Doctor, but not forcibly.
Aaron and Jack were getting uncomfortable with this line of questioning and both got up and moved around the compartment, checking out their new 'home'.
Rose looked at Theta for help but he shrugged his shoulders and looked down uncomfortably at the floor. She also understood the importance of keeping up the 'amator' charade.
"Well, for one thing, the Doctor, um...the Doctor and I are ...ah, ...well, in our society, making love is something that we are not ...ah, that is, um, it's very private between two people."
"We can ensure that you have privacy." Luce offered earnestly.
"Well, even if we have privacy, I still can't get pregnant."
"Why not?"
Thankfully, the conversation was interrupted by a young woman and her mother who appeared in the doorway. "I heard we had new dwellers and we came to welcome you to our neighborhood." The young woman said. Then she added, "My name is Kareen and this is my mother Rican." The young woman appeared to be about 17 and her mother, Rose thought, looked to be about 40, but she suspected she was probably only about 35 or 36.
"Rica, is that you?" Aaron asked from on one of the 'beds'. Rica looked at her confused. Aaron sighed, "How come no one recognizes me?"
"Air?"
Aaron smiled, "The one and only!" She smiled and they started chatting away like old friends. Jack cleared his throat to get their attention. The two girls stopped and glared at him, but they soon went back to talking.
"So, who's that hunk of man over there?"
"Who? Jack?"
Rican nodded. "Is he yours?"
Aaron blushed and whispered, "I wish." She sighed, "So what's up?"
"Oh, right. I know that you will not receive any tokens until tomorrow so I brought you some fire chondrite for your fire pit and some rice. I know it is not much, but it will sustain you until tomorrow."
She handed the gifts to Rose, assuming that as the woman of the group and the oldest, she would be the one to handle all the domestic chores.
She thanked her and placed the fire rocks in the pit in the center of the room and the dry rice in the pot that hung over it. She then looked at Aaron as if to say 'what do I do now?'
Aaron took one of the torches down from the wall and put it to the small stone shards in the fire pit. The stones instantly flamed up like charcoal briquettes that had been soaked with lighter fluid. Next, she carefully poured an amount of water into the pot with the rice and began stirring it with a stick.
Rican, the mother, turned back to look at Rose and said, "Which of these men is your amator?"
Theta saw the confusion in Rose's face and quickly took a step forward. "That would be me. I'm the Doctor."
Her face broke out in a big smile "It is nice to meet you Doctor." She said.
Rican turned back to Rose. "He is very handsome. You are very fortunate indeed."
Roselooked positively uncomfortable as she gave Rican a watery smile.
"It is getting late. If you need anything else, my daughter, sons and I are right across the passageway."
"We will see you in the morning." Kareen said and the two left the compartment.
"Well, that was too weird." Jack said. "Now I guess I know how you feel, Doc."
Suddenly two strong, young men appeared in the doorway to the compartment.
"I am sorry to have startled you." the one began, "but our mother, Rican, asked us to bring these items to you." He held out four blankets with 5 ceramic mugs balancing on top of them. His brother held out 5 ceramic bowls, some spoons and a wooden bucket.
Rican suddenly re-appeared behind her sons "I noticed you had only one bucket." She began, "you will require a second bucket for washing. I am sorry I do not have pillows for you. The blankets are old, but they will serve you well. You may keep them, as I do not need them. You may also keep the bowls and mugs. Kareen makes them." She said proudly.
"Thank you very much, Rican." Rose said, truly impressed with the woman's generosity.
Rican looked at her again and said, "I am so sorry, I asked your amator's name, but what is your name?"
"You can call me Rose." She said smiling at the woman.
"Rose." Rican tried out the word. "I like it!" She declared. "Rose, do you know where you would like to work in the complex?"
Rose looked confused. "What do you mean? I thought we all just work in the mines."
"I wish," Aaron said. "But the women have to do other jobs like sewing, laundry, pottery, yada yada. You can work in the laundry with me, it is pretty simple."
Rose mouthed a 'thank you.'
"So," Aaron said, addressing Rican's sons "How often do the Scorpions send a cargo ship to collect what you have mined?" She already knew the answer, but figured it was a way to find out when they were next expected.
The question took the young men off guard. "Ah, every third lunar cycle." One of them replied as if she were a complete moron.
She nodded and continued "How long until they come for their next ...collection?"
The young men eyed him suspiciously but one of them finally replied, "We had a collection 22 days ago."
Jack picked up on the uneasy feeling this line of questioning was receiving and decided he needed to lighten the mood. He stepped up to her and put his arm around her shoulder as if they were an old married couple. Aaron struggled to retain a blush. "So, Rican, once we get settled in and have earned some...ah..tokens, can we have your family over for dinner, to, ah, repay you for your hospitality?"
Rican smiled a warm, friendly smile at Jack and said, "That certainly is not necessary, Jack, but we would be pleased to dine with you."
"That's great!" Jack replied.
"Well, we will leave you so you may get settled in and rest." She smiled at Jack again, and indicated to her sons that they should leave.
"Goodnight and thank you again!" Rose said.
"You are most welcome."
After Rican's family left, the group ate the rice she had provided, washed the dishes and placed them on a high shelf carved out of the rock wall.
"It will get cold in the caves at night" Luce explained "so, we will have to keep the fire burning all night."
"Since I don't really sleep, I'll stay up and watch it." Theta said.
"I'll stay up with you." Rose said. Theta looked at her a little worried, but agreed.
Everyone sat in silence staring into the fire for a time when Luce finally spoke. "There is a privacy curtain above the opening to our compartment, that may be rolled down while we sleep. I will show you."
Luce stood, walked to the doorway and rolled down a green canvas curtain. He turned and looked at the group "Theta and Rose should take that pallet." he indicated the pallet on the left side of the compartment "It is the largest. I will take that pallet." Luce indicated the pallet on the right wall near the screened off toilet area.
"Jack and I will take these." Aaron indicated the bunks that she and Jack were sitting on that were located across the back wall of the compartment. The bunks were nothing more than a heavy wood slab attached to the cavern wall with chains on each end. 'At least,' thought Jack, 'they are up off the floor'.
The group looked around at each other uneasily. Finally Aaron spoke. "Well, I'm heading in for the night. Night!"
"Night." They all mumbled and did the same. Rose scooted closer to Theta and put her head on his shoulder. "Doctor?"
"Hmm?"
"What did Aaron mean about you regenerating?"
Theta sighed, "Well, when I time lord dies, we don't actually die, only our body does. We just get a new body. It's like having a second chance at life."
"Ohh." She was silent for a moment. "Doctor?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you think Jack likes Aaron and Aaron likes Jack?"
Theta chuckled, "Who knows Rose, who knows."
so what do you think?please tell me! oh, im going on vacation for this month. but as soon as i get back, i'll promise to post three chapters!
