Chirk is secretary to the Psychlo security chief, Terl, at the mining installation near Denver, Colorado on Earth.

Terl acquired Chirk as a secretary because she was stupid enough not to be any menace and good-looking enough to be decorative. She got drunk with economical speed and had other advantages too.

Her utility was in blocking off callers and shuffling administration papers back for somebody else to handle.

Her dedication to Terl and willingness to assist in his underhanded schemes comes solely from a promise of a fortune and a huge house together back on their home planet, Psychlo.

Befriending Jonnie Goodboy Tyler, she provides vital information to the human rebellion.