[RW] Pegasus Trading Company - Rimworld 1.7

[MonochromeClown]

A strange looking woman with plant-like hair came towards our village in the early morning looking distressed. She only managed a few words before Banz hushed her away, apparently she was a former member of the Mathlock Partners and had been chased out for giving them the wrong advice about... a tree? She didn't explain but from what we gathered they were apparently on their way to our settlement and soon...

Half a day later we spotted a large group of them headed out to the fields. Veronica spotted drop pods of materials, they were planning to siege us with mortars, we wouldn't have been able to withstand such an assault and so me, Veronica, Eddie and Sadie geared up to meet them in the field.

"How many lost souls do you think you'll drag back home with us, captain?" Eddie joked.

"You've been collecting folks?" Sadie looked at me. "Was wondering where all those people came from."

"Uh yeah... Well, some of them came to us but... We've been helping people out where we can, give them a better life." I rubbed my head, awkwardly.

"Aw that's sweet Cap, you were always good with the crew, it makes sense." Sadie smiled.

"That's true, you helped me and Richie out giving us that job." Eddie nodded, agreeing. "And Veronica too!"

"Thanks... I appreciate that." I smiled, looking at Veronica.

Veronica wasn't chatting, she was checking her weapon and I decided to copy her and check mine too. Soon we were on the field, seeing the pirates gathering materials and starting to build their defenses. Veronica fired a shot suddenly, I saw someone go down but the rest didn't notice. Following her lead we each fired shots into the raiders when they stepped away but they quickly figured it out and started to rush us.

There were so many of them and they were well armed too, we were quickly outnumbered.

"Fall back!" Veronica shouted.

But I knew if we did they'd just run straight into the settlement, I stood my ground firing into the crowd, I wouldn't let them hurt my people... it was hopeless, I'd clenched my eyes shut on instinct as bullets flew past my head, hitting the ground but it suddenly grew quiet. I heard Eddie gasp next to me.

"Captain? Did you-" He started.

I opened my eyes, they widened in shock. We were surrounded by a shield, it was then I noticed the loud buzzing in my head and the tingling in my arms. Veronica didn't waste time looking awed, she and Sadie continued firing. Our shots rippled through the shield while the pirates couldn't penetrate at all and soon we had vanquished them, they fled away from the settlement.

"Wow, that's new?" Sadie punched my shoulder. "When did you start doing magic?"

"Well... It's a lot but, some time ago now I guess." I said."

"There's folks still alive in the field Captain, should we..." Veronica asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "Please..."

Veronica didn't say a word, just doing as she was told. Her and Eddie brought back two captives. A furry looking creature and a blue Starjack. I went to bed with the tingling still in my arms... How much else was there to discover?



Pog and Searle joined the settlement soon after, the two had been talking a lot and were now close friends. Searle was happy to stay after we rescued him and Pog followed Searle. Pog approached me after spending some time in the dining room that night, he looked a little embarrassed but had this determined look on his face.

"So... I guess I have to call you Captain now huh?" He said.

"Only if you want to, and I'm calling you... Pog?" I said back.

"Uh, yeah for now."

"I could call you something else, if you'd like?"

"Maybe..." His face blushed.

I smiled awkwardly, figuring something was on his mind. "If you need to talk about something... I'm here."

"Well... there is one thing." He nodded. "But I don't know if you'd like it."

"You're not leaving are you?"

"No, I got nowhere to go really..." He shook his head. "I don't know if my old crew would take me back now."

"Okay I'm listening, if it's troubling you I want to help out."

"It's just... Before you brought me here I'd already been thinking about... some things."

"Mhm?"

"Gender things?"

"Oh?... Oh!"

"Yeah."

"So you're-"

"I think I might be..."

"Well you don't have to be worried about that!" I said, smiling. "You're transgender? You're not the only one here."

"I'd like to try... she?" She said, sheepishly.

"Of course! Would you like me to tell the others?"

"No... Not yet."

"Just between us then?"

"And Searle..."

"I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me, uh-"

"You can just call me Pog for now... I haven't thought of a new name yet."

"Alright, you let me know when you've come up with one okay?"

She nodded, smiling. "Thanks uh- Captain." 



Thanks to Hilde, Minlin and Banz we were able to gather some steel from the nearby hills. I asked for the steel to be used to build research benches for Rom and anyone else willing to take a crack at researching. We were able to produce a half-decent lab, Rom was happy by the construction and was seen smiling at dinner that night.

For their work Hilde and Banz each took an smg we had looted from the recent raid, I didn't know how I felt using dead people's guns but I couldn't just rely on some random shield to protect us from the bigger raiding parties... The extra protection would be good.

Apparently Eddie and Phyllis got into a physical altercation after Eddie supposedly insulted Phyllis' grandfather. She was furious after the fight but Eddie told me he respected Phyllis more for her attempts. The news stunned me but hopefully things like that wouldn't become common around here... Especially not with Eddie, with his hussar genes I could easily see him breaking someone's arm.

Later that day I took the shuttle out to go trade with Hiwood, a settlement of the Green Mesas, they were rough cowboys with a focus on ranching but they had some useful things. Namely medicine, components and a couple guns. I traded them some of the looted weapons and some statues made by Brandi and Soran. All and all a successful day aside from the fight.



Olive and Rom took the weapons, Ragnar begged me for one of their own but I wasn't about to let the teenager have a gun or fight. Ragnar wasn't inexperienced but I couldn't live with myself if I made them fight when the adults could handle it. Flint asked if she should start producing armor as well and I gave her the go ahead to start on that, flak vests and pants to protect vital organs, it wasn't much but better then nothing.

Fishing had become a very important part of our diet, and it was fun to go out there as a group and sit and just talk while the waves lapped at our feet. Olive was proud of herself for suggesting it, long gone are our food insecurities, though we'd have to be careful not to over fish the area. Even the twins were out with us fishing on the beach.

The two prisoners we captured from the last raid had started to talk, the furry one was called Taz while the Starjack's name was Davila. Taz had been very receptive, talking to us willingly while Davila had been almost aggressive, shouting at Taz for speaking and even yelling at Lorena the girl from the hunters who came after Maria. Taz was young, barely an adult and Davila was a middle aged man. I didn't like the way he talked to Taz, I couldn't see him joining our settlement but I'm not sure what to do with him yet...



Lorena joined the settlement, according to her joining us was better then returning home without a bloodfeeders head. I imagine Maria felt conflicted about hearing that, still... she's just a child, it would be unfair to send her out there alone. We started work on a building for hosting community events, parties, gatherings, other such things.

I heard gunshots during the day and almost panicked grabbing my rifle but it quickly ended before I could get there. I saw Veronica and a dying wolf, and Pog with heavy injuries... Turns out she had been attempting to tame the wolf but it turned on her and tried to kill her. Veronica saved her life, even if she was against brining Pog back I'm glad she'd still defend her.

Searle seemed immensely distressed about Pog's condition when we returned, Pog was jokingly reassuring the griffon and the two held hands while Pog was tended to.

"I'm glad you two are so close." I said.

"I reckon we're more then close heh..." Searle grinned.

"Searle..." Pog groaned.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

"They're lovers, Petre." Veronica said, as she tended to Pog.

"Oh!" I gasped. "I had no idea-"

"Well it wasn't supposed to be all public." Pog sighed.

"C'mon darlin', they ain't gonna break us up." Searle chuckled.

"Of course we wouldn't, we could even get you a bed together if you'd like?" I said.

"Uh... That might be nice actually." Pog nodded.

"Mhm, we're both adults so I don't see why not!" Searle looked excited at the idea.

"I'll put it on the to-do list then!" I smiled at the pair. "You're our second couple!"

"Hm, thanks Cap." Pog smiled back at me.



Not soon after Pog and Searle's relationship came to light another was announced very publicly within the dining room, unfortunately I was not there to witness it but Banz proposed to Hilde in the middle of a game of Faro. This came as a shock to me to hear it, a marriage so soon? How long had they even been together? Talking to them they seemed happy, if this is what they want then this is what they want. We arranged a place for them to sleep together.

The living quarters were finally finished, missing only the bathrooms. The barracks were converted into more workshop space. We had enough space for sixty people to live in the settlement, though I'm not eager to fill all that space just yet... Especially not in winter while our food stock is low. Fishing has been keeping the meals coming but we really should be stockpiling more vegetables, something to do next spring.



Next day during the night a child called us on our coms console, his name was Howard and he was being hunted by dusk prowlers. He begged us for safety and of course we accepted. We met the child half-way, shielding him from the vicious dogs. Luckily none of us were harmed, however the child was... a highmate. Everyone was quick to comment.

"You're safe now Howard, is there someone we can return you to?" I asked, kneeling down to his level.

"No... I dunno..." He was young, barely out of his toddlerhood.

"Petre... I don't think the kid has parents." Eddie said.

"Poor kid, probably just made to be sold off." Banz said, Eddie shot him a look.

"Don't talk about him like that, Banz, he's just a kid." Rom glared at him.

"I'm not saying we should throw him out!" Banz defended himself. "But the reality is-"

"He isn't just a product." Eddie frowned, staring at the kid.

"Not saying he is..." Banz grumbled.

"Will someone come looking for him?" Veronica asked.

"Anyone who does is bad news." Eddie said.

"We're not handing him over to anyone, he stays with us." I said.

"Easy Capn, lets just get the kid inside shall we? Then we can figure things out from there." Sadie tried to reassure me with a smile.

"Right... Are you hungry Howard?" I asked the child.

"Myeah..." He said tiredly.

"Lets head to the kitchen, I'll get you something nice to eat okay?" I patted his head.

The kid smiled at me, seemingly unaffected by the argument that happened in front of him. I lead him back in, fed him and helped him find a room to stay in, my room. I trusted folks here but I also knew what the implications of a Highmate child were and I couldn't help but be protective of the small boy. Still, the sick feeling in my stomach everytime I looked at him had me on edge, it wasn't his fault... but I hated the fact that even out here people who would profit of this still existed.



Taz joined the settlement, he was eager to get away from Davilla. I'm still unsure what to do with the Starjack, he's unwilling to listen to us. For now we're keeping him locked up, at least until spring, the thought of sending someone out into the winter disturbs me. Taz however is eager to help out, I'm not sure what these pirates are doing with their people but so far only Davilla seems to want to go back to them. Taz is skilled at medical and handling, more medics is always welcome and having another trainer around for the dogs is helpful too.

 There was a party later that day, the first of many in our new hall. It turned out to be more fun then I thought, even Howard had a nice time. After the party Brandi asked me to come out with her to the beach, I accepted and we sat down against the sand, listening to the waves as they crashed against the shore. She looked at me, a smile on her face.

"So... When are you going to ask me out?" She said.

"Ask you out?" I questioned.

"I've been flirting with you since I got here you know."

"Oh yeah... I know, I just-"

"You just what? C'mon Captain... I like you." She nudged over to me.

"I figured you might but I wasn't sure if..."

"If it was real?"

"Yeah, I didn't really consider someone would actually want me."

"What? Have you never had a girlfriend before?" She asked, surprised.

"I mean. Not really, not a serious one." I blushed, embarrassed.

"Aren't you like... thirty? Were there no hot babes on your ship?"

"It's not that... I was just so busy and, it felt inappropriate to be in a relationship with a crewmate."

"Is it inappropriate with me?"

"It's different but... Everyone still considers me captain, I don't want to force someone to-"

"Petre, you aren't going to force me to do anything." She smirked. "Unless I want you too."

"Ah-" I blushed harder. "But you're my responsibility, if I mess up with you then you might have to leave."

"Even if I do, it's not like I can't take care of myself." She shook her head. "Just try it, you're so alone all the time."

"You think I'm alone?"

"Mhm, you've got everyone's respect but you've got no one who's really... yours." She pushed herself closer, touching my hand.

"And you want to be mine?" I said quietly.

"I do, I really do..." She whispered to me.

"O-Okay... We could, try." I swallowed.

"Do you want to kiss me?" She took my head in her hands, facing me towards her.

"Not yet.... I want to be sure first."

"Hah, you're so cute captain... I'll be here, when you're ready."

She touched my face for a moment longer, then patted my head and got up, walking away. I watched her leave for awhile, listening to the sound of the waves. My heart hurt, fluttering in my chest. This was not what I expected landing on this planet... But I wasn't against it either.