One Giant Leap

by Keith Martin

  None of the other woman seemed to know anything about her, though he asked them all. She was so small... tiny in fact and so beautiful. She was perfect. High cheekbones, bright dark brown eyes as big as a does, hair as black as a tunnel five thousand feet down and well past the belt line over ample breasts, her figure…WOW! This was the one he had first taken a shine too. She was one hot woman. She couldn’t be but four foot seven, at best maybe ninety pounds. She was nice to talk with, and she was a good listener. But she only had time for her laptop.

  By the time the twenty-four hours where up, they had gotten word that G-1 was back from Vandenberg with a load of personals. Beds, bedding, furniture, and all manner of supplies for the up keep of five hundred women soon to be added to the population.

  One woman didn’t have any worries about her move to the Moon. She had her man, and wasn’t letting go.

  * * *

  As soon as the isolation chamber door locks opened the small woman took off down the hall to explore the base on her own. She had her laptop in a shoulder bag and she vanished into the crowded halls. She loved everything she was seeing. Plants seemed to be everywhere. The floors where all carpeted. Windows allowed the sun to pour into the halls, giving the place a feeling of warmth and friendliness. She was amazed at the beauty of it all.

  She had expected to find stark white sterile areas the designers had made for the base on the Moon. She had seen the plans for the base many times, and also base construction photos just after they were completed. This place was nothing like the base she thought she would find here. This was a garden with a base running through it.

  She was drawn to the chow hall by the aroma of searing beef and a hungry belly. She’d eaten lightly while in isolation. Her nerves bothered her to no end. This was the first time in her life she had done anything like this. Fear, excitement, wonder, loneliness, anticipation, joy, and just plain old need all attacked her at once.

  She opened the chow hall doors and walked right in. The place was just getting ready for a shift change; it was for the most part empty. She noticed the eyes of the servers following her to her seat. One of them moved over to her side and asked if she could get her anything. The woman was a stunning blond and she wore a well fitting, floor length skintight dress. It was sexy without being sluttish.

  “I would like a cheese burger with fries if I could please.” She asked demurely.

  “We make a great shake too. We have fresh black berries right now. I could whip you up a real sin of a shake?” She said with a smile.

  She agreed to try it all and waited for her meal where she’d been seated. After removing her cloak She opened the laptop and continued her work. May was starting to relax and it felt good.

  When the meal came she was shocked. It was a bounty that could feed her for days. “I can’t eat all of this. I would burst. What do you do with the food that’s not eaten?”

  “We have livestock here on the Moon. They love the chow hall slop. Grows the pigs fast!” The server informed her. “Just eat your fill and enjoy. We don’t let anything go to waste. If you want to take the shake with you, go ahead. Just drop it in any of the cans that you will see all around the halls and the cup will find its way back here. This place runs like a well-oiled watch.” She extended her hand in greeting. “I’m Connie.”

  She didn’t wish to let anyone know who she was, yet. She didn’t want to be fussed over. She took her hand and said. “Hi Connie, I best eat before this gets cold.” Hoping it would end there.

  Connie let it pass and told her to ask if she wanted for anything.

  The meal was fantastic. She ate all she could and hardly touched it. It was obvious that these burgers where meant for the mining crews. She felt guilty to be wasting so much food.

  She put up her laptop and stretched her belly. She could not remember when she’d eaten so much. With her bag over her shoulder and her shake in hand, she waved to the servers and started for the doors. Connie shouted after her, inviting her to come back any time.

  She exited the chow hall and was instantly taken in by the school up the hall in a great expansive area. It was surrounded by long hedges of strawberries cascading down tall trellises set in massive planters. The children were at play and there was all manner of toys, books, colors, paints, jungle gym and slides. There was even a sand box. The kids ran to and fro as they went about the task of being young.

  “Hi. I’m Terry. You must be one of the new girls. I thought I knew everyone on base.” A teacher approached her.

  “Yes I just got here today. This is amazing. I didn’t know there was anything like this here.” She looked over the open school. There had to be fifty smiling faces running around, spending energy like it was going out of style.

  She knew if she kept wandering around someone would recognize her. Then her surprise for Otto would be lost. So she just went ahead and asked. “Where would I find Chair Chisholm?”

  “Up here we call him Otto. He lives down that hall there.” She pointed in the direction of the long hallway. “Just walk about half way down there and ask anyone for directions. We all know where Otto and his wives live. I would show you myself. But if I turn my back on these angels for too long it’s the devil to pay.” She said light heartedly. It was obvious she loved her work of caring for the young.

  She started to turn to go then asked. “Could I ask just one question?”

  “Shoot?” Terry shot back.

  A wave of her hand encompassing all of the school she asked. “Who made this place?”

  Terry knew this woman was asking more than just who made the school. “You mean S.M.B?” She asked just to be sure.

  “Yes. I think so?”

  “Well some corporation made the components. But it was Otto who gave it all life. When I got here just after the first pods were put in place, it was like a hospital. All white and clean. Then the virus hit and Otto showed up, everything changed after that. He figured out how to give this place life. He made this into a home for everyone. Don’t get me wrong; we did help him a bit. It was his vision that brought all this to life. Wait until you see the gardens, and the chamber.”

  “It sounds as if you admire him?”

  “We feel like a part of his extended family. I don’t know of one person on the Moon who wouldn’t do anything for the guy. We all love him.” Terry’s words conveyed the feelings of the base personnel.

  She was impressed. “Well I’ve taken enough of your time. I don’t want you to lose any of those darling children. I’m sure we will see each other again soon. Thank you so much for the chat.”

  “Have fun exploring. It will take you days to see it all.” With this Terry turned and ran after a child who was screaming for the joy of the chase. “THAT’S IT YOU ARE DOG MEAT AND IM GOING TO EAT YOU!” Terry loved her work and all the scattering little smiling faces she helped care for.

  Her walk down the hall was an assault on her senses. The smells of the fruiting plants that seemed to be growing everywhere, herbs growing outside every door, the odor of fresh paint drifting in the hall…it all took her breath away as she walked along discovering it all.

  Three well-dressed men with women on each arm were giving the women she had come up with a tour of the base. As they passed the only two who really knew whom she was on sight stopped and bowed deeply kneeling to the floor. As soon as they did, all the women knew they faced their Empress and followed suit. The one who chose to be their spokeswoman apologized in Chinese for not noticing her, while prostrating herself repeatedly. All of the women in the group placed their foreheads to the floor out of respect.

  She accepted their apology, and asked them to rise and go on with their tour, to not be distracted from what they were doing.

  They couldn’t help their training. They bowed repeatedly as they walked away, never turning their backs to her.

  * * *

  Fred thought he recognized her when he spotted her in the chow hall, now he was sure. He had followed at a distance to give
her the room she obviously wanted. He wondered why she hadn’t arranged for this visit. He figured she wanted to surprise Otto. Well he was not going to spoil her surprise. But he was not going to let her out of his sight. No one would get fresh with the Empress on his watch. If anyone even approached her he was moving in for the kill. Otto would have his head if some overly amorous miner pawed her.

  * * *

  She found the painter at work and stopped to watch her as she turned the hall into a work of art. She was painting a scene from a forest. It covered the whole hall…ceiling to floor. It was life in still. She was such an artist it all looked real, like it would step out of the wall at any moment. She could almost feel the breeze drifting through the trees. “Excuse me.” She addressed the artist.

  “Can I help you?” She asked turning with her brush in hand.

  “How big will this painting be?” She asked amazed. Her eyes bright with wonder.

  “The whole base, God help me.” The artist chuckled. “Otto asked me to do some painting, like a fool I said yes. Now look what I’ve done, it will take a lifetime to finish.”

  “Otto told you what to paint?”

  “No, no… Don’t get me wrong… I love this. It’s all I ever wanted to do. He just asked me to paint after he saw some work I did for a friend. Told me to do whatever I wanted to do. Start wherever I wanted to start. So I started at his front door.”

  “His front door?” She asked excitedly. She knew it was close by.

  “Just walk to the start of the painting. He is on the right.”

  May thanked her for the directions, slowly walking through the forest on her way.

  Her escort was never far away at all times, but she was so distracted she didn’t notice him. If she had, she would have known him.

  * * *

  She made it to Otto’s door, and she inspected herself to make sure she was looking crisp and clean. She pulled her hair back to gather it behind her, and slowly reached to knock on the door.

  A massive fist reached past over her shoulder and knocked for her. “Hi Empress.”

  “Fred?” She exhaled surprised as the door opened and Otto stood before her.

  * * *

  He was struck dumb. He knew his eyes had to be lying to him. He could only see her standing in his doorway. “May… OH MY GOD!” He said as he took her little hand in his massive paw. “Girls we have a guest.” He started to guide her into his home. Her laptop vanished from her shoulder in his swift hand. “Thanks Fred.”

  “It’s just a job!” Fred shrugged his shoulders, as he turned to walk away. He had work to do. His phone came up, and the call went out. In seconds this base was going to be a hive of cleaning and polishing. “Give me ten Otto.”

  Otto gave Fred a smile to let him know he caught his request and closed the door.

  May bowed to Otto out of respect and in greeting. “I finally get to meet you in person Chair Otto.”

  A single finger went to her chin; slowly he raised her back up to her proud self. “I am just a man that is all. You will not bow to me young lady.”

  “Yes Otto.” She responded as Jill and Linda both came from the bedroom.

  They greeted her as old friends. With kisses and hugs they took her to sit between them on the couch.

  Their chatter was music to Otto’s ears. His momma had not raised a fool; he just stood back and let them have their time. Words could not describe his amazement as he looked at the women before him, his two stunning wives, and this most beautiful China doll. She was so small he could hardly believe his eyes, it took his breath away. She spoke with no accent, and chatted away with the girls like they’d just come from class.

  As they wound down, May looked slowly around and asked. “You all live in this place?”

  “Yes, this is home, next door there is a unit where you’re going to be staying. Its door opens right here in our entrance. So we will be roomies.” Otto said with a smile.

  Fred was getting his ten and then some. Otto was sure the whole base was hard at it by now. He knew the old General would have them hopping.

  * * *

  May grew quiet as she looked over their quarters. It felt very much like a home to her. She searched for the right words. She didn’t wish to insult these people she so respected. “You’re home is so…. modest.” She continued to look around as she tried to visualize their lives here on the Moon. “You will raise a family here?”

  It was Jill who showed May things were not as they seemed. She started to fidget like an excited child and asked. “Can we show her the house honey, we have to show her the house, let’s go show her the house now.” She stood and took Mays hand to leave, not waiting for Otto’s reply. “Were going to see the house, call transport, we need a ride to the house, HOUSE!” She excitedly blabbed as she headed for the door.

  He had to chuckle at his young wife. She stood before him so ready to go running through the base in her nightgown. “Make us some coffee, so we can relax while you two get ready silly. No wife of mine is running around half dressed.”

  She stopped and looked down at herself and turned a shade of red. She leaped towards the bedroom and pulled May along with her. “Get your own coffee.” She stuck out her tongue at him playfully then vanished.

  * * *

  He ordered up transport while waiting for them to dress, as it arrived he thanked the driver for delivering the transport.

  “Is it really Empress May?” The woman asked softly.

  “In the flesh, kind of got in under our radar.” Otto answered cheerfully. He understood that May was going to be the talk of the base. He figured this was as good a time as any to set the personnel of S.M.B. at ease. “Please spread the word that Empress May should not to be bothered, she is to be shown respect at all times. I don’t want to see a base full of bowing fools. Everyone is to go about their business as usual.”

  “I will pass the word Otto.” As she bowed to him playfully she kept up the fun. “Yes Master, as you wish Master, your word is law Master.” And then headed down the hall giggling like a fool.

  He got the girls loaded up and started the slow drive to the main chamber. All three had mounted the back seat; he was now just their driver. They chatted excitedly about all they knew about the base and gave May a grand tour.

  While she was distracted Otto phoned Ton. “Ton I have Chair May here… Yes on the Moon… We are headed down to the house now...no, I’m not kidding.”

  “I’ll have David moved right away. She will never see him.” Otto thanked his friend, and then hung up. He slowed his driving to give Ton’s men time to stash David out of sight.

  * * *

  Ton knew the personnel working at the Chisholm dig would not be able to hear his call. So he ran from the mining shack to the lift and got up there. His orders were simple, clear a path through the rubble and get out. He thanked them for their work and told them to take the rest of the day off. There was a round of cheers at this news and they bantered moving towards the lift offering to buy Ton a beer at the club for his kindness.

  * * *

  “May, this is the ramp down to the main chamber. This is a little thing we have going on up here that we don’t talk about.” He started to pull down the ramp as he reported to her all he knew of the chamber, of their plans to expand on the concept with the other chambers being dug at all times. He was just finishing his report as he pulled out onto the main chamber floor.

  The sheer size of it took her breath away. There had to be hundreds of people walking through this chamber, yet it looked empty it was so massive. She stood in the back seat after he came to a stop and looked out over the vastness of the place. There were sound’s of digging. Slag cascaded from housing units down onto the chamber floor landing with a crash like a waterfall of broken rock. Compressors and Jackhammers did battle for dominance of the chamber. Loaders picked up vast loads of slag and moved them into a tunnel to one side. There where two massive airlock doors and the loaders were loading one chamber as th
e airlock door stood open.

  There was what looked like a stage with a solid rock podium carved into the center of it on the wall of the chamber, and a perfect amplifier had been carved over the stage. It was stunning in its simplicity yet functional and ornate in the artwork of its carving.

  Women carried picks and shovels heading to work and transports ferried crews to and from far off workstations.

  “Sorry about the noise. We have to keep at it or we will fall behind.” Ton surprised her as he walked up to the transport. He lifted her by her waist and set her to the chamber floor like she was a feather.

  “And you must be Ton?” She surprised him as she took his paw in her little hand. She had reports on all the key S.M.B. personnel. After all, she was the Empress of China.

  “Well the whole base knows who you are Little One. It’s nice to meet you.” He gave her a smart little bow, and offered his arm for her escort.

  They took the lift up and stopped at the Chisholm dig. As soon as the girls were off the lift, Ton pulled Otto aside for a quick chat. “He’s stashed, and on ice. The men are watching him and he is going nowhere.”

  “Thanks Ton. I don’t want May to see any dissent on the base. We are all one big happy family here.” Otto liked the way Ton did his work. The man was on top of things at all times.

  The call button was hit at the bottom and Ton sent the lift on its way. It stopped on its way up and Terry pulled both of them onboard then continued up to Ton’s place. She had at least a dozen women with her carrying cleaning supplies. “We have a crowd on the way. Chief is bringing his party favors and a load of booze is being delivered. We need to get this place cleaned up and you men need to get that man out of the chamber. If he starts to scream the Empress would hear it. I will not have that happen on my watch.”