Ok maybe not RICH, Rich.
It’s only about 12,000 credits but this money was just given to the refiners for years.
Every time I dropped off Ore, they would keep this money.
Usually once a month for over 5 years.
60 times.
720,000 credits at least those turds kept and didn’t pay for.
That would buy a small apartment for my sister or 2 Gulwings to expand the business.
Feeling wronged to have to survive off only 3000 to 5000 a month when they’ve been taking 12,000 a month for free.
Just saying it’s not worth their time to pay for the smaller increments of these rare metals.
Trying to get out of the downward spiral of thought, I console myself that they will never get my free money again.
I may not know ‘exactly’ what I want to do, but the way forward is slowly opening up to me, like a flower in Spring.
As a child, my family was poor but never lacked in love, so it just felt like other families struggling to survive.
We at least had each other.
Making money and helping others sounds fun.
But that is next week’s problem.
Today I need to prepare for docking.
Also I’ve gotta clean up Bessie to be able to show it to my sister if she wants to come aboard.
She’s also an owner of Bessie, even though I do all the work, so I’ve got to keep it presentable to others.
It’s easy to let it get away from you while out in the field(space).
Sooo… it’s spring cleaning day.
The day before docking is like rushing to frantically clean up the whole ship.
‘No no, I’m not living like a hobo, look how clean everything is.’ Also, if I go out and find a nice lady, it’s no fun to bring them back to a dirty ship.
They definitely don’t appreciate that.
After a month out in the field, a little companionship sounds very nice.
If you look carefully there are still dust bunnies hiding under and behind some equipment, but the main areas are ‘clean’.
The sheets are all washed and bed made.
Floors are all swept and lightly mopped.
Equipment is wiped down to remove the dust.
Music coming from the speakers makes it much more fun, so I’m bopping up and down while cleaning.
It’s not as bad as it seems, but cleaning is one of those jobs you just keep putting off until you can’t any more, and arrival is tomorrow so it’s gotta be NOW.
Gotta be presentable to the ladies.
Finally done with all the cleaning, which to me looks spotless but I know as soon as anyone else steps aboard, they’ll see all the imperfections.
It’s slightly nerve wracking, feeling like what you are doing isn’t good enough.
Ugh.
Leave it alone.
Let it go.
I’ve more important stuff to do: like scheduling my dropoff and getting the coordinates to drop off the ore, ordering fuel and lubricants for Bessie and the equipment.
I also spend time going through emails, which are mostly all junk mail.
It’s Taxing doing all these fiddling jobs.
My specialty is definitely not administration.
Or cleaning.
It’s so much more fun to be out in the field: actually doing stuff.
In fact I’m more interested in building stuff than mining so my new powers are a better fit for me than being a miner forever.
Building a space base sounds like a lot of fun to build.
They are actually worth good money once finished.
Many people have made asteroid bases and there’s even businesses that specialize in it, but none with my special abilities.
Also I could add engines to mine and make them movable bases, more like a massive ship you can live on.
It reminds me of building tree houses or forts as a kid, in my previous life.
Who didn’t make a couch cushion fort as a kid?!
I check the local real estate listings online, looking to see what asteroid bases might be selling for.
Just a little inspiration.
Initially only finding a few, they are mostly smaller, only 5000 square feet to 10,000 sf and they sell in the 5 Million credit to 10 million credit range.
Seemingly averaging around 1000 credits per sf.
And that’s with only orientation thrusters, not any main engine.
If I add engines maybe I could get 1500/sf or even more.
OoOo The asteroid Beta is on(lets just call the asteroid Beta from now on) can easily handle up to 250,000 sf.
That’s a LOT of work and I’m not sure if it’d be worth it.
Maybe start with a 50,000 sf Asteroid Ship.
That sounds like a bit of work, but could be a fun summer project for a few months.
IF i could sell it for 75 Million credits, that’s the price of a bare bones, basic model, brand new cruiser.
A CRUISER!!
200-500 meters long, big guns, lots of space for personnel and equipment.
Big engines.
Heavier armor.
Massive Power Plant!
Canteen and kitchen for real food.
Entertainment facilities… Heh big expenses too but lets gloss over that for now.
When the time comes, income will increase enough to cover expenses so I’m not too worried about it.
Pulling myself out of day dreaming, it’s back to reality, and my empty ship.
A few people wouldn’t be too bad, but only the right people.
And no one can ever learn of my powers.
It would have to be done cautiously.
The rest of the day flies by and before I know it, I’m in line to deposit my ore at the industrial park next to Luna 7, my hometown in this life.
After an hour’s wait, it’s my turn.
Exie expertly maneuvers the ship into position, less and less for me to do every day.
I’d usually turn the controls over to the port authority for docking but Exie does it perfectly.
The actual unloading is quick, the docking procedure is what takes all the time, so we’re done quickly and heading off to our berth at the transient docks.
Once again, Exie does it perfectly, even smoother than the Auto Docking provided by the port authority.
Its good to be home, even though it feels like the first time for me.
Its new and old at the same time but feels like an adventure.
New experiences are the spice of life.
Remembering my appointment with Uncle Lin, I gather up all the loose credits donated by pirates to deposit into the bank.
No need to hold all these credits on me, I just hold 10k for spending money.
I call it fun money, but most of it will go towards supplies for the next trip out.
Some will definitely be used for meals out and drinks, important stuff heh.
Once back at port most crew will splurge, spending most of their money immediately until they are broke and have to go out again.
It’s a vicious cycle, feast or famine.
It never stops.
Very few are able to actually save credits.
Walking with an upbeat step, I head to the restaurant for lunch with uncle Lin.
I’m still unsure what he wants to discuss, but that doesn’t matter.
I’ve survived a life or death ordeal, made good money, and even have a new power.
There’s nothing to be upset about.
Life is good.