After a month's time Tommy could finally walk without any help and his injuries were more or less healed and left some spectacular scars on his torso.
On the other hand Alice thought she was in heaven.
More than half of her Medical equipment was working and as for the rest there was nothing that they could do because they lacked the necessary parts.
Tommy was also happy that in exchange for his repair work his debt was written off.
When Alice came in Tommy was tinkering with another broken piece of her equipment.
She was happy to see everything he could do for her but she also knew that he was doing it to distract himself.
He never told her why he was exiled and why he was beaten half to death when he was tossed into the station,but that was ok even if they got to know each other quite well. After all everyone has their own secrets and she wasn't going to pry into his.
-Hi, i didn't see you there.
Tommy said, bringing her out of her thoughts.
-Hi, you were so focused on your work that it would be a crime to interrupt you.
They both laughed a bit.
-But enough of that i think, you're healed enough to get registered and get your own place to stay.
It didn't sound like she wanted it to so she panicked a little.
-I'm sorry'It's not like I'm chasing you out and I'm thankful for all that you have done for me.it's just that i don't think you want to stay forever in this med room.
He knew that she didn't want to offend him or throw him out but she was right.
Tommy immersed himself in repairing everything he could that he forgot where he was and that he could not stay here forever.
- Don't apologize. It's natural that now that I'm healed I need to leave and find my own place.
He said seriously.
-But i have a small favor to ask of you. He added a little embarrassed.
If there was something he didn't like it was asking for help.
-What is it she asked curiously ,after seeing his embarrassed face.
-Can you show me around the station? I haven't seen any of it beside this room.
-That's not a problem,besides we need to get a room for you to stay in and an implant for your ID and credit account.
She said , trying to remember everything that was needed to live on this station.
- Ok, let's see what is needed on our way.
she finally said walking to the rood and Tommy followed .
Walking through the station She explained what was where.
And Tommy was looking around trying to remember the layout of this massive construction.
The station was divided into sectors and each sector had its own docs, its own shop and its own collection point for materials.
Looking outside through the gigantic window made from some kind of transparent material in the main area you could see thousands of derelict spaceships ranging from small fighters up to colossal transport ships.
There were three main sections: Red,Yellow,and Blue. Each of them looked like a separate station but connected through one central passage between them.
They were in the Blue section and in the main area Alice showed Tommy the shop and the registry.
Where he got implanted with his ID chip which served also as a credit card and a room key.
It was not a pleasant experience for Tommy in other words it hurt as hell but it was all automated so there was no one to complain to..
Also in the registry he got a voucher chip for the shop to get some work clothes,and it was a good thing because his own clothes looked like rags thanks to the torture hes ben thru.
And the last thing he got was a room number which was his new home.
After he got everything from the shop the next stop was his room to change the clothes and leave the rest of the things including some food Alice had bought for him.
The room was simple: a bunk, a small table, a simple chair, a cabinet and a small toilet in which Tommy saw himself and was in disbelief .
He saw a thin face and body which was a result of his wounds and having a fever for over a week.
He also had long hair and was sporting a beard which he hated but couldn't do anything about without any toiletries.Other than that he was 180 cm in height around 70 kg of weight ,quite handsome face and piercing, steel gray eyes.
Ignoring his looks he took a sonic shower and changed his clothes.
Next on the list was the docking bay and the dry docks where some people were dismantling something that looked like a small shuttle.
He saw maybe 30 people working there.
-Is this all the people in this section?
He asked Alice while looking at the dry dock.
-No there are some more but all the exiles in this section number 80 people more or less .
She answered while looking at the people working below them.
-So why is there only one small shuttle here when this dock has enough room for a cruiser and it's the smallest dock as far as i can see.
He said pointing at another 3 docs which were getting bigger the further they went.
- We would like to get a big ship but all we have are magnetic harpoons on a cable that are meant for small vessels, to tow in one of the big ships we would need a tractor beam and they are either out of commission or were dismantled long ago.
She pointed to the empty emplacement where the tractor beam emitter once was.
-Besides she continued , we don't have the facilities to dismantle such a big ship, remember when i told you that everything is damaged on this station,that's what i meant.
As far as I know only the life support systems and power systems are in good condition. The rest is a wreck and we don't have anyone to repair all of that, not to mention the parts needed for repair, everyone here is working just to have enough to eat and drink and little comfort we can get.
She said,her voice filled with regret.
-I'm sorry I forgot that this place is supposed to be a place of exile so of course they won't make it easy to live here.
he said droping his head in shame.
-It's ok. All you have seen is my small medic room .And as a mercenary I think that protein bars are a normal kind of food to you so it was easy for you to forget especially when you were repairing my stuff.
They both went silent after that, both lost in their own thoughts.
-Hey there Alice! A booming voice brought them back to reality.
-Hi Simon she shouted back. waving her hand at the big guy working on the shuttle.
-Com on, she said, grabbing Tommy by the hand and walking towards the dry dock.
Getting down there took 5 minutes .
-Oh we have a new guy. Welcome Im Simon Floyd,it's a pleasure to meet you.
Said the hulking man with an enthusiastic smile offering his hand, the man was easily 210cm bald and built like a world class bodybuilder,he had brown eyes and an infectious smile plastered on his face.
-Thomas Zieliński,said Tommy accepting the hand shake.
-He's not new Simon. Alice spoke with a tired expression .
-I told you about him, remember the guy that was half beaten to death when you and the rest brought him to me?
-Oh so that was you, sorry you had so much blood on your face that i didn't recognize you.
-Its ok and thank you if you didn't carry me to Alice i would probably be dead now.
Tommy said with a smile on his face.
-Well, what are you doing here? Asked the big man.
-I'm showing him around, now that he's healthy again and will probably start working here soon.
Alice said.
-Glad to hear that.said Simon patting Tommy on the shoulder.
The more of us the faster we can finish this ship and get another.
Said Simon with a big grin on his face.
-Ok but not today I have some more things to show him so we'll be going now.
Said Alice to Simon and started heading back.
-It was nice to meet you.Said Tommy following her.
-See you around. Said the big guy and went back to work.
After they walked for some time Tommy asked:
-Who was that guy? He looks like a bodybuilder but behaves like just another ordinary happy go lucky guy.
-He's a good man but he's not that simple. He might look like a big and silly guy but he's sharp as a whip when he needs to be, and other than that he's a great guy to know and is always helpful when he can.
The main reason I introduced you to him, is that he always works on the ships and he's always looking for help dismantling them.
After that little detour Alice showed him the collection point for the materials,which looked like an oversized platform with a scanner array to one side , a computer terminal on the other side and a big door on the floor.
-Here you can drop your materials she said and explained how it worked.
Which was simple: you scan your ID,you place the materials, the scanner did its part and the materials list along with their prices were displayed on the computer terminal,after confirming the sale,the floor opened and the materials fell through at the same time credits were deposited to your account.
After walking around for so long Tommy was exhausted so he said his goodbyes to Alice and went to his own room devoured a nutrition bar and fell asleep.