The Scapegoat: a Capricorn Adventure

Mars Part 3

"I will see you all later." Peyton bid farewell to the crowd in the cafeteria.

"See you, Peyton." 

"Another time, Peyton".

Linnet and a few colonists returned her salutation absently. After weeks of absence, however, the meaningless social banter was music to her ears. Was it possible a Capricorn could be accepted anyways?

****

Her meal over, Peyton descended to one of the computer rooms to search for work. She was a good pilot, and her electronic record soon had her accepted by a company that ferried water and minerals between the mines in the asteroid belt and the establishment on Mars. She was due to report for duty the very next day.

At the spaceport she was told that she would be assigned to piloting one of the older ferries, a pile of junk really, that collected huge tanks of hydrogen and oxygen to transport back to Mars. 

"On Mars, the gases will be combined to form water," The Company Representative said enthusiastically. "Then the water will be fed into the artificial lake used for hydroponics."

Peyton nodded.

"When the colonists have enough water stored in the lake terraforming will begin," continued the Rep. "Although no one knows how successful that will be."

Peyton nodded again. "Every little helps."

"Scientists are experimenting with desert plants that can survive with very little water, and tundra plants that can survive in extreme cold and with very little sunlight." The Rep looked cheerful. "There is speculation that a combination of the species might be successful. In the meantime, pilots are needed to collect resources."

*******

It was out on one of the mining plants that Peyton first met Jed. He appealed to her because he was wearing a yellow spacesuit. The suit was old and stained from many hours of intense labour, but still emitted a defiant yellow gleam. Jed's hair also glinted with red tints when it was struck by a ray of light from the fluorescent beacons that lit the mining operations. The reddish tint was attractive when combined with his medium toned Hispanic skin.

"Hey there!" the Pilot called, climbing out of the ferry.

"Hey there yourself!" Jed was pleased to receive a visitor.

"Do you have a load for the ferry?"

"There is quite a pile." Jed showed her around and the two began talking.

Peyton found herself making excuses to drop by the asteroid Jed was mining quite frequently. This was not difficult, because Jed was assigned to one of the better mines, on an asteroid that was almost as large as a small moon, and hydrogen and oxygen were valuable imports, as were some of the additional minerals the mining plant dug up.

Through the process of a few visits, Peyton and Jed struck up an acquaintance.

One of the first spteps was to exchange star signs. Peyton was surprised to learn that Jed was an Aquarius.

"I thought perhaps you might be something earthier," she admitted. 

"I'm a thinker," Jed said. "despite being stuck all the way out here."

"A thinker is good..." Peyton could see the possibilities. 

"What are you?"

"I'm a ...Pisces." Peyton had longed to be truthful, but some instinct insisted she stay in the closet, so as to speak. It was not safe to be a Capricorn on the planets, and they were not very far away, as the spaceship flies. 

Jed was intelligent and quick-witted and Peyton enjoyed their brief exchanges in the line of duty. Although Peyton knew that it wasn't safe for her, a despised Capricorn, to fall in love, she found herself longing to see Jed outside of the limits of their business transactions.

"I will see you next trip."

"Another time!"

****

On the next visit, after her ship was loaded with materials from the mining operation, Jed took a few moments to chat out on the platform, before inviting Peyton into his work-space. Her  heart  performed a dizzying leap as they sat in his tiny office, drinking hot coffee and gazing out into the vastness of space. 

Jed began to wax lyrical about the constellations, and showed her his star diary. Peyton would wonder at the combination of brawn and intellect in his disposition.

"I'm impressed."

"Other than mining - there isn't much to do out here."

"You are like a hermit."

"Sometimes its by choice, sometimes it is not."

It was at those moments that Peyton longed to lean forward for a kiss, and admit to Jed that she was a Capricorn. If she were very lucky, the miner, being a thinker and having never lived on Mars, would be free of prejudicial Capricornisms. He might even accept Peyton for herself. 

"Jed," she whispered. 

"What?"

Jed was not looking at her, but out to the universe, pointing out the constellations. She noticed that he lingered on Aquarius and her supposed sign, Pisces, but he missed Capricorn. Unfortunately, some instinct, some undefined inner sense of warning stopped her from revealing her heart without a more encouraging sign from her companion.

"Nothing." 

Peyton was buzzing with feelings that she wanted to let out, but it was not safe for her. Not safe at all. The passion might reveal her Capricorn nature, and provoke Jed's scorn. 

"Don't be shy..."

"You are like a prophet of old, gazing into the stars."

The compliment was safe, and Jed was happy to accept it.

"Thanks."

"What do you see?"

"I see a Pisces with a shadow on her face."  

"You were looking out into space."

"Against a background of stars of course."

****