Wrenlaunchedherselfoffthe tower crane, piercing the dark emptiness of space.She flew forward, her breath hitching while she waited for the whiplash of her ankle harnesses keeping her tethered.Below was the umber-periwinkle of Pluto, orbited by other stations, satellites, and tourist ships.Behind her was the Demeter Science Station, her home.For now.
Silence reigned, ruined only by her breathing.So she held it for as long as she could.
Some feared the nothingness around her.Others hated the loneliness.She relished both, savoring every moment spent in peace.
As many times as she did this, it didn’t fix the state of her life.When her boots hit the station walkway, every horrible thought about her situation slammed into her.
Wrongly convicted of corporate espionage?Check.
One stupid hack… She’d gotten cocky.The stakes had been too high, but the rewards, had she succeeded, would’ve set her parents up for life.Of course, she hadn’t covered her ass.What she’d done for the good of Earth had been twisted by an E.A.F.prosecutor.
Stripped of computer privileges?Check.
Her tech skills had defined her for most of her life.She’d had to find another her, dig deeper into her psyche.No matter what she did, a piece of her was missing.And she had two years left of her five-year tech ban before she might feel whole again.
Considered a snob by many because of her education?Check.
Sure, she’d landed her job with the welding skills her father had taught her, but thanks to her finishing school elocution, the maintenance staff didn’t treat her as one of the crew.
Couldn’t talk to scientists and engineers because of her criminal record?Check.
Not welcome in the slums nor among the science teams left her on her own.As she liked it.
But this… She drew in a deep breath and hummed in contentment.Few things kept her sane: bungee-jumping into space, tending to her bonsai, a long pull of splice, and her alien romance smut.Some poor E.A.F.agent had to read it, too—just to be sure ‘well-endowed alien dragon shifters’ wasn’t code for something else.She giggled.
“Pony, get back here,” Dallas snapped, then cleared his throat from a perpetual tickle—louder through her helmet’s speakers.
She gritted her teeth.‘Rainbow Pony’ had been her initial nickname, so named for her colorful hair.Unfortunately, that sobriquet had been too long for anyone to keep up.
“I closed out my shift.Can’t you just leave me the hell alone?”She waited and prayed he was done talking to her.
“Seems like your usual suicidal dive has stirred up the tourists.A dozen calls to emergency services have the powers-that-be coming down on my head as your unlucky supervisor.Get your feet onto solid metal.I dunno how many times I’ve asked you to not do this when folks are awake.”
She scowled, glanced once more at Pluto and Jupiter beyond, the sun’s rays starting to reach her.“Shit,” she muttered.“Gimme five minutes.”
“You have two.Station-Sec’s on their way already.”
She groaned.“Thanks for the heads-up, boss.”
Tapping the heels of her mag boots, she activated the boosters and spun, shooting toward the crane.If…she…could…just…reach—
“Ah, come on, Turner,” Clemence whined on the maintenance frequency.“I thought it was you causing havoc again.”Station-Sec slowed their shuttle beside her, its orange exterior too bright in the weak sunlight.He hung out of the gaping compartment, his focus on her.
“Sorry, sir.Forgot the time.”She winced.All lies.
“I’ll take it from here.”Pierce emerged from behind Clemence and leaped out, crossing the short distance to fall in beside her.He maneuvered well with his boosters, making it seem effortless.
“Very well, sir.”Clemence saluted him then double-slapped the inside of the shuttle.
She stared at its disappearing engines, choosing not to talk.Awkward silences were her domain and preference.
“Ms.Turner,” Pierce said, his husky baritone tingling her ears.
“Captain,” she said, smothering a grin.When she was younger, she’d nicknamed him Happy—Harold Antony Pierce.
He’d known her since she was a teenager, and she suspected he acted like her brothers expected him to.She had two and didn’t need a third.There was no doubt in her mind that he updated Leon weekly.He had, in fact, chosen sides.
“Lovely day for a little sightseeing.”
