full
“Code White” by Madison Rye Progress (read by Kergiby)
All of captain Soot's confidence is shaken when a shift starts to go horribly wrong, and the ghosts of the past demand attention…
Tonight’s story is “Code White” by Madison Rye Progress, whose graphomania occasionally gets the best of her. She is the author of a round dozen books, with her most recent, Idumea, telling of the escape from samsara in a digital world.
Read by Kergiby, a Full Time Panther.
Alert sound effects by Afya212, licensed under a Creative Commons license.
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If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/code-white-by-madison-rye-progress
Transcript
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Ghost
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Tonight’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Code
Speaker:White”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Madison
Speaker:Rye
Speaker:Progress,
Speaker:whose
Speaker:graphomania
Speaker:occasionally
Speaker:gets
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:of
Speaker:her.
Speaker:She
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:author
Speaker:of
Speaker:a round
Speaker:dozen
Speaker:books,
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:most
Speaker:recent,
Speaker:Idumea,
Speaker:telling
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:escape
Speaker:from
Speaker:samsara
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:digital
Speaker:world.
Read
by
Speaker:Kergiby,
Speaker:a
Speaker:Full Time
Speaker:Panther.
This
is
Speaker:a
Speaker:test
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Station
Speaker:Alert
Speaker:System.
Speaker:At
Speaker:this
Speaker:time
Speaker:no
Speaker:action
Speaker:is
Speaker:needed,
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:levels
Speaker:are
Speaker:within
Speaker:expected
Speaker:parameters,
Speaker:and
Speaker:no
Speaker:psionic
Speaker:or
Speaker:epistemic
Speaker:threats
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:detected.
Speaker:In
Speaker:case
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:actual
Speaker:emergency,
Speaker:remember
Speaker:to
Speaker:proceed
Speaker:at
Speaker:once
Speaker:to
Speaker:evacuation
Speaker:shuttles
Speaker:unless
Speaker:otherwise
Speaker:instructed.
Speaker:This
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:test
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Station
Speaker:Alert
Speaker:System.
Speaker:Please
Speaker:return
Speaker:to
Speaker:your assigned
Speaker:duties,
And
Please
Speaker:enjoy
“Code
White”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Madison
Speaker:Rye
Speaker:Progress
Attention!
Station
Speaker:alert
Speaker:level
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:set
Speaker:to
Speaker:white!
The
station
Speaker:is
Speaker:suffering
Speaker:dangerously
Speaker:high
Speaker:levels
Speaker:of
Speaker:glimmer,
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:several
Speaker:active
Speaker:psionic
Speaker:threats,
Speaker:or
Speaker:there
Speaker:is
Speaker:another
Speaker:significant
Speaker:epistemic
Speaker:emergency.
Speaker:Turn
Speaker:off
Speaker:all
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:probers.
Speaker:Seek
Speaker:psionic
Speaker:insulation.
Speaker:Psychics
Speaker:should
Speaker:report
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:Mantis
Speaker:for
Speaker:mindbreaking.
Abby
clutched
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:armrests
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:seat
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:evac
Speaker:shuttle,
Speaker:still
Speaker:docked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:station,
Speaker:jolted
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:explosion.
Speaker:Crates
Speaker:slammed
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:wall.
Speaker:Lockers
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:med
Speaker:bay,
Speaker:not
Speaker:yet
Speaker:bolted
Speaker:securely,
Speaker:wobbled
Speaker:and
Speaker:rattled
Speaker:in
Speaker:place,
Speaker:threatening
Speaker:to
Speaker:tip
Speaker:over.
Speaker:Everyone
Speaker:jounced in their seats, glasses
Speaker:and hats —
Speaker:the
Speaker:protective
Speaker:headgear
Speaker:the
Speaker:Psionic
Speaker:Mantis
Speaker:had
Speaker:passed
Speaker:out —
Speaker:clattered
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:floor.
She
shrieked,
Speaker:though so did
Speaker:several
Speaker:others
Speaker:aboard.
Speaker:Many
Speaker:went
Speaker:scrambling
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:insulated
Speaker:headgear,
Speaker:those
Speaker:most
Speaker:unfashionable
Speaker:of
Speaker:accessories
Speaker:that
Speaker:nonetheless
Speaker:protected
Speaker:one
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:effects
Speaker:of
Speaker:high
Speaker:glimmer.
The
captain,
Speaker:still
Speaker:standing
Speaker:outside
Speaker:the
Speaker:airlocks,
Speaker:was
Speaker:shouting
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:hall,
Speaker:voice
Speaker:distorted
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:very
Speaker:strangeness
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:air.
Speaker:It
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:sparkly.
Speaker:It
Speaker:looked
Speaker:too
Speaker:loud.
Speaker:Something
Speaker:about
Speaker:everything
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:off,
Speaker:as
Speaker:though
Speaker:two
Speaker:universes
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:and
Speaker:juddered
Speaker:against
Speaker:each
Speaker:other,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:flares
Speaker:of
Speaker:one
Speaker:reality
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:other.
“815!”
the captain hollered from the
Speaker:hall. “No, don’t treat
Speaker:them
Speaker:here,
Speaker:treat them in
Speaker:the
Speaker:shuttle
Speaker:med
Speaker:bay!”
Attention!
Station
Speaker:alert
Speaker:level
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:set
Speaker:to
Speaker:white!
The
station
Speaker:is
Speaker:suffering
Speaker:dangerously
Speaker:high
Speaker:levels
Speaker:of
Speaker:glimmer,
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:several
Speaker:active
Speaker:psionic
Speaker:threats,
Speaker:or
Speaker:there
Speaker:is
Speaker:another
Speaker:significant
Speaker:epistemic
Speaker:emergency.
Speaker:Turn
Speaker:off
Speaker:all
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:probers.
Speaker:Seek
Speaker:psionic
Speaker:insulation.
Speaker:Psychics
Speaker:should
Speaker:report
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:Mantis
Speaker:for
Speaker:mindbreaking.
“Mama,
what’s–”
“Hush,
baby,”
Speaker:her
Speaker:mother
Speaker:said,
Speaker:tucking
Speaker:Abby
Speaker:as
Speaker:close
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:safe
Speaker:distance
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:flight
Speaker:chairs.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:enough
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:mother
Speaker:to
Speaker:hug
Speaker:around
Speaker:her
Speaker:head,
Speaker:damping
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:paws. “Hush.
Speaker:It
Speaker:just
Speaker:means
Speaker:things are
Speaker:going
Speaker:to
Speaker:feel
Speaker:really
Speaker:weird
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit.”
From
across
Speaker:the
Speaker:aisle,
Speaker:her
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:face,
Speaker:always
Speaker:so
Speaker:calm,
Speaker:crinkled
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile. “It’s
Speaker:alright,
Speaker:little
Speaker:Soot.
Speaker:The
Speaker:boom
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:the
Speaker:prober
Speaker:going,
Speaker:which
Speaker:means
Speaker:that
Speaker:things
Speaker:will
Speaker:level
Speaker:out.”
She
nodded,
Speaker:watching
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:captain
Speaker:chased
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:paramedics
Speaker:aboard
Speaker:and
Speaker:dashed
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:cockpit.
Speaker:A
Speaker:scant
Speaker:moment
Speaker:later,
Speaker:the
Speaker:airlocks
Speaker:bolted
Speaker:shut
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:shuttle
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:station,
Speaker:strangely
Speaker:placid.
Her
father’s
Speaker:explanation
Speaker:soothed
Speaker:her
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:her
Speaker:mother’s
Speaker:reassurances
Speaker:didn’t.
Speaker:They
Speaker:worked
Speaker:together
Speaker:to
Speaker:settle
Speaker:her
Speaker:nerves,
Speaker:each
Speaker:coming
Speaker:from
Speaker:two
Speaker:different
Speaker:angles.
“We’re
still
Speaker:leaving,
Speaker:though?”
He
nodded. “They’ll
Speaker:have
Speaker:the
Speaker:advanced
Speaker:crew
Speaker:come
Speaker:through
Speaker:and
Speaker:get
Speaker:everything
Speaker:all
Speaker:straightened
Speaker:up,
Speaker:not
Speaker:us
Speaker:everyday,
Speaker:ordinary
Speaker:chumps,”
Speaker:he
Speaker:said,
Speaker:a
Speaker:chuckle
Speaker:rumbling
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:his
Speaker:words. “We
Speaker:couldn’t
Speaker:get
Speaker:drainers
Speaker:done
Speaker:in
Speaker:time.
Speaker:Safest
Speaker:to
Speaker:just
Speaker:head
Speaker:out.”
“Okay,”
she
Speaker:said,
Speaker:doing
Speaker:her
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:embody
Speaker:that
Speaker:confidence.
Speaker:Settling
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:seat
Speaker:and
Speaker:tugging
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:mother’s
Speaker:awkward
Speaker:embrace,
Speaker:Abby
Speaker:ran
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:unruly
Speaker:mop
Speaker:of
Speaker:white headfur —
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:break
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:otherwise
Speaker:all
Speaker:black
Speaker:coat
Speaker:she’d
Speaker:had
Speaker:since
Speaker:birth —
Speaker:to
Speaker:try
Speaker:and
Speaker:straighten
Speaker:it.
“Abigail?!
Where’s
Speaker:your
Speaker:hat?
Speaker:Where’s
Speaker:the–”
Attention!
Station
Speaker:alert
Speaker:level
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:set
Speaker:to—
There
was
Speaker:no
Speaker:discontinuity.
That
was
Speaker:the
Speaker:worst
Speaker:part,
Speaker:they
Speaker:would
Speaker:often
Speaker:think
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:woke
Speaker:from
Speaker:yet
Speaker:another
Speaker:nightmare
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:day
Speaker:a
Speaker:decade
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:half
Speaker:ago,
Speaker:that
Speaker:awful
Speaker:glimmer-induced
Speaker:mind-swap.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:no
Speaker:discontinuity.
Speaker:There
Speaker:should
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:some
Speaker:break
Speaker:in
Speaker:their —
Speaker:or
Speaker:her,
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:themself
Speaker:back
Speaker:then —
Speaker:perception
Speaker:of
Speaker:time,
Speaker:some
Speaker:blacking
Speaker:out,
Speaker:some
Speaker:fading
Speaker:to
Speaker:white
Speaker:that
Speaker:presaged
Speaker:the
Speaker:shift.
Speaker:If
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:singular
Speaker:event
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:ripped
Speaker:her
Speaker:mind
Speaker:briefly
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:body,
Speaker:split
Speaker:her
Speaker:identity
Speaker:in
Speaker:twain,
Speaker:it
Speaker:ought
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:felt
Speaker:like
Speaker:something.
There
had
Speaker:not
Speaker:even
Speaker:been
Speaker:a
Speaker:perceivable
Speaker:decrease
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:unnerving
Speaker:tang
Speaker:of
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air.
She
had
Speaker:been
Speaker:there,
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:flight
Speaker:chair,
Speaker:running
Speaker:her
Speaker:paw
Speaker:through
Speaker:her
Speaker:headfur,
Speaker:just
Speaker:this
Speaker:twelve-year-old
Speaker:mouse
Speaker:her
Speaker:dad
Speaker:always
Speaker:called ‘little
Speaker:Soot’,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:cockpit
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:wildly
Speaker:different
Speaker:body,
Speaker:sitting
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:unfamiliar
Speaker:controls.
She/he/this body cried
out
Speaker:in
Speaker:shock
Speaker:and
Speaker:agony,
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:captain,
Speaker:whose
Speaker:body
Speaker:she
Speaker:now
Speaker:inhabited,
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:well
Speaker:and
Speaker:truly
Speaker:singed
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:explosion
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:prober,
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:CMO,
Speaker:the
Speaker:kindly
Speaker:Dr.
Speaker:R,
Speaker:was
Speaker:caught
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:act
Speaker:of
Speaker:slathering
Speaker:burn
Speaker:ointment
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:side of
Speaker:her/his/this
Speaker:body’s
Speaker:face.
Speaker:They
Speaker:both —
Speaker:these
Speaker:two
Speaker:bodies
Speaker:no
Speaker:longer
Speaker:inhabited
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:correct
Speaker:minds —
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:in
Speaker:shock
Speaker:and
Speaker:horror.
“No
no
Speaker:no–” Dr.
Speaker:R/not
Speaker:Dr. R was
Speaker:saying.
Speaker:The
Speaker:swap
Speaker:had
Speaker:hit
Speaker:them
Speaker:all,
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:no
Speaker:idea
Speaker:who
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:speaking
Speaker:through
Speaker:Dr.
Speaker:R’s
Speaker:mouth.
Abby/the
captain/this
Speaker:body
Speaker:wailed
Speaker:and
Speaker:clutched
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:console,
Speaker:mashing
Speaker:who
Speaker:knew
Speaker:which
Speaker:buttons
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:panicked
Speaker:attempt
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:something,
Speaker:anything
Speaker:solid
Speaker:and
Speaker:known,
Speaker:something
Speaker:to
Speaker:anchor
Speaker:herself/himself/this
Speaker:body
Speaker:to.
Alarms
blared.
The
shuttle
Speaker:slewed
Speaker:sideways,
Speaker:back
Speaker:in
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:station
Speaker:and
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:FTL
Speaker:jump
Speaker:point.
None
of
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:otherwise
Speaker:prosaic
Speaker:afternoon
Speaker:ever
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:into
Speaker:their
Speaker:dream,
Speaker:and
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:none
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:agony
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:evening
Speaker:and
Speaker:months
Speaker:after,
Speaker:the
Speaker:reconstructive
Speaker:surgeries
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:muzzle,
Speaker:learning
Speaker:to
Speaker:walk
Speaker:again,
Speaker:learning
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:as
Speaker:two.
It
always
Speaker:ended
Speaker:in
Speaker:silence,
Speaker:a
Speaker:warm
Speaker:rush
Speaker:of
Speaker:air
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:face
Speaker:that
Speaker:blended
Speaker:seamlessly
Speaker:into
Speaker:wakefulness.
The
dream
Speaker:clung
Speaker:to
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:like
Speaker:the
Speaker:whispers
Speaker:of
Speaker:spiderwebs
Speaker:caught in
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:little
Speaker:streaks
Speaker:of
Speaker:memory
Speaker:that
Speaker:would
Speaker:tickle
Speaker:a
Speaker:whisker
Speaker:here,
Speaker:the
Speaker:rounded
Speaker:rim
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:ear
Speaker:there.
Speaker:Days
Speaker:like
Speaker:these,
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:most,
Speaker:the
Speaker:long-healed
Speaker:scar
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:reconstructed
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:would
Speaker:itch
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:lisp
Speaker:that
Speaker:came
Speaker:with
Speaker:it —
Speaker:one
Speaker:they
Speaker:bore
Speaker:proudly —
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:more
Speaker:pronounced.
They
would
Speaker:make
Speaker:their
Speaker:way
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:with
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:practiced
Speaker:ease
Speaker:as
Speaker:ever,
Speaker:and
Speaker:yet
Speaker:just
Speaker:below
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface,
Speaker:simmering
Speaker:uncomfortably,
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:dream.
Speaker:There,
Speaker:just
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:their
Speaker:skin,
Speaker:would
Speaker:be–
“Captain
on deck,”
Speaker:the
Speaker:automated
Speaker:system
Speaker:announced
Speaker:as
Speaker:soon
Speaker:as
Speaker:their
Speaker:ID
Speaker:was
Speaker:recognized.
Speaker:The
Speaker:faint
Speaker:chime
Speaker:that
Speaker:followed,
Speaker:doubtless
Speaker:engineered
Speaker:to
Speaker:sound
Speaker:soothing
Speaker:and
Speaker:reassuring,
Speaker:always
Speaker:sounded
Speaker:inquisitive,
Speaker:as
Speaker:though
Speaker:the
Speaker:station
Speaker:was
Speaker:curious
Speaker:to
Speaker:hear
Speaker:their
Speaker:thoughts
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:matter.
“Yes,
yes,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:muttered
Speaker:under
Speaker:their
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:though
Speaker:with
Speaker:their
Speaker:lisp,
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:dream
Speaker:still
Speaker:dogging
Speaker:them,
Speaker:it
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:breathy
Speaker:yeth, yeth. “I’m
Speaker:here
Speaker:now.”
The
seats
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:board room
Speaker:were,
Speaker:thankfully,
Speaker:all
Speaker:full
Speaker:already —
Speaker:or
Speaker:had
Speaker:been,
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:command
Speaker:staff
Speaker:rose
Speaker:to their
Speaker:feet.
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:waved
Speaker:them
Speaker:off
Speaker:with a smile. “Sit, sit. Sorry I’m
Speaker:late.
Speaker:Couldn’t
Speaker:decide
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:five
Speaker:identical
Speaker:outfits
Speaker:they
Speaker:give
Speaker:me,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said
Speaker:breezily.
Speaker:They
Speaker:let
Speaker:their
Speaker:expression
Speaker:warm
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:lopsided
Speaker:smile —
Speaker:though
Speaker:all
Speaker:smiles
Speaker:are
Speaker:lopsided
Speaker:when
Speaker:only
Speaker:half
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:snout
Speaker:works. “That,
Speaker:or
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:all
Speaker:here
Speaker:early
Speaker:because
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:Dr.
Speaker:R’s
Speaker:last
Speaker:shift
Speaker:on
Speaker:this
Speaker:rotation.
Speaker:Congratulations,
Speaker:my
Speaker:dear
Speaker:friend.”
Applause
around
Speaker:the
Speaker:room.
Speaker:Earnest
Speaker:applause,
Speaker:too, Soot
Speaker:was
Speaker:pleased
Speaker:to
Speaker:notice.
Speaker:Dr.
Speaker:R’s
Speaker:reputation
Speaker:as
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:kindest,
Speaker:most
Speaker:competent
Speaker:CMOs
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:sector
Speaker:was
Speaker:well-earned.
Speaker:The
Speaker:old
Speaker:man
Speaker:was
Speaker:positively
Speaker:beaming,
Speaker:the
Speaker:wrinkles
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:showing
Speaker:how
Speaker:truly,
Speaker:deeply
Speaker:he
Speaker:inhabited all his
Speaker:smiles.
There
were
Speaker:short
Speaker:speeches
Speaker:from
Speaker:all of
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:command,
Speaker:all
Speaker:veterans.
Speaker:The
Speaker:head
Speaker:of
Speaker:security
Speaker:praised
Speaker:his
Speaker:efficiency
Speaker:in
Speaker:getting
Speaker:the
Speaker:crew
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:moving
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:injured.
Speaker:The
Speaker:chief
Speaker:justice
Speaker:praised
Speaker:his
Speaker:commitment
Speaker:to
Speaker:treating
Speaker:everyone,
Speaker:not
Speaker:just
Speaker:the ‘good
Speaker:ones’
Speaker:on
Speaker:board.
Speaker:The
Speaker:logistics
Speaker:officer
Speaker:jokingly
Speaker:grumbled
Speaker:about just
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:stickler
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:about
Speaker:turning
Speaker:on
Speaker:suit
Speaker:coordinates,
Speaker:which
Speaker:so
Speaker:often
Speaker:degraded
Speaker:during
Speaker:cryosleep.
When
attention
Speaker:finally
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:Soot,
Speaker:they
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:and
Speaker:stood,
Speaker:paws
Speaker:clasped
Speaker:behind
Speaker:their
Speaker:back. “I’ve known
Speaker:Dr.
Speaker:R
Speaker:since I
Speaker:was
Speaker:a child,
Speaker:and
Speaker:must
Speaker:say
Speaker:that
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:few
Speaker:who
Speaker:are
Speaker:as
Speaker:cool
Speaker:under
Speaker:pressure
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:is.
Speaker:I
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:do
Speaker:my
Speaker:best,
Speaker:but…well.”
Chuckles
around
Speaker:the
Speaker:table.
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:knew
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:temper.
“I
will
Speaker:not
Speaker:say ‘thank you for
Speaker:your service
Speaker:to Nanotrasen’
Speaker:or
Speaker:anything
Speaker:so
Speaker:crassly
Speaker:capitalist,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:say
Speaker:thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:your
Speaker:service
Speaker:to
Speaker:us.
Speaker:We
Speaker:wouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:quite
Speaker:as
Speaker:whole
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:without
Speaker:you.”
Speaker:They
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:forward
Speaker:and
Speaker:offered
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:old
Speaker:CMO
Speaker:to
Speaker:shake. “Earnestly,
Speaker:thank
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Doctor.
Speaker:Congrats
Speaker:on
Speaker:being
Speaker:kicked
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:ladder
Speaker:to
Speaker:Central.”
More
applause.
Speaker:An
Speaker:extra
Speaker:few
Speaker:boxes
Speaker:of
Speaker:donuts
Speaker:were
Speaker:set
Speaker:out,
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as
Speaker:an
Speaker:extra
Speaker:carafe
Speaker:of
Speaker:coffee
Speaker:for
Speaker:some
Speaker:and
Speaker:sparkling
Speaker:juice
Speaker:for
Speaker:others —
Speaker:it
Speaker:would
Speaker:probably
Speaker:not
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:great
Speaker:start
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:shift
Speaker:if
Speaker:half
Speaker:of
Speaker:command
Speaker:was
Speaker:sick
Speaker:from
Speaker:caffeine
Speaker:poisoning.
After
a
Speaker:few
Speaker:more
Speaker:minutes
Speaker:of
Speaker:amiable
Speaker:chatter
Speaker:and
Speaker:yet
Speaker:more
Speaker:handshakes,
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:called
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:meeting
Speaker:to
Speaker:order.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:simply
Speaker:a
Speaker:sharing
Speaker:of
Speaker:tasks
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:day,
Speaker:a
Speaker:report
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:status
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:station
Speaker:as
Speaker:left
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:previous
Speaker:shift (new
Speaker:windows
Speaker:outside
Speaker:evac
Speaker:indicating
Speaker:a
Speaker:meteor
Speaker:strike,
Speaker:grime
Speaker:and wrappers
Speaker:everywhere
Speaker:indicating
Speaker:a
Speaker:lack
Speaker:of
Speaker:a janitor,
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:on).
They
always
Speaker:kept
Speaker:such
Speaker:brief.
Speaker:There
Speaker:was
Speaker:little
Speaker:need
Speaker:for
Speaker:more
Speaker:bureaucracy,
Speaker:when
Speaker:many
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:would
Speaker:also
Speaker:be
Speaker:dealing
Speaker:with
Speaker:paperwork
Speaker:throughout
Speaker:the
Speaker:day.
Speaker:Only
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:found
Speaker:such
Speaker:enjoyable.
It
was
Speaker:all
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:ethos,
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:worked
Speaker:a
Speaker:command
Speaker:role
Speaker:such
Speaker:as
Speaker:this.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:a
Speaker:leader
Speaker:in
Speaker:many
Speaker:ways,
Speaker:yes,
Speaker:but
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:all
Speaker:a
Speaker:support.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:an
Speaker:older
Speaker:sibling
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:crew.
Speaker:One
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:kind
Speaker:ones.
Speaker:One
Speaker:who
Speaker:might
Speaker:offer
Speaker:corrections
Speaker:or
Speaker:gentle
Speaker:ribbing,
Speaker:yes,
Speaker:but
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:wanted
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:them
Speaker:succeed.
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:was
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:helped
Speaker:buoy
Speaker:them up,
Speaker:helping
Speaker:engi
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:thermo-electric
Speaker:generator
Speaker:here,
Speaker:helping
Speaker:med
Speaker:with
Speaker:chems
Speaker:there.
Of
all
Speaker:the
Speaker:departments,
Speaker:though,
Speaker:they
Speaker:paid the
Speaker:most
Speaker:attention
Speaker:to
Speaker:epistemics,
Speaker:the
Speaker:department
Speaker:that
Speaker:tracked
Speaker:the
Speaker:intersection
Speaker:of
Speaker:anomalous
Speaker:events
Speaker:with
Speaker:this
Speaker:world,
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:in
Speaker:which
Speaker:they
Speaker:inhabited.
Speaker:Trauma
Speaker:will
Speaker:ever
Speaker:do
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:does,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:no
Speaker:desire
Speaker:to
Speaker:ever
Speaker:let
Speaker:happen
Speaker:again
Speaker:what
Speaker:had
Speaker:had happened
Speaker:to
Speaker:them
Speaker:so
Speaker:long
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:The
Speaker:accident
Speaker:that
Speaker:tore
Speaker:at
Speaker:their
Speaker:face
Speaker:and
Speaker:tore
Speaker:at
Speaker:their
Speaker:identity,
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:them
Speaker:ever
Speaker:in two,
Speaker:ever
Speaker:as
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:and
Speaker:Abby,
Speaker:command
Speaker:and
Speaker:kid.
Speaker:They’d
Speaker:credit it
Speaker:with
Speaker:being
Speaker:the
Speaker:driving
Speaker:motivation
Speaker:for
Speaker:who
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:as
Speaker:Soot,
Speaker:and
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:time,
Speaker:they
Speaker:would
Speaker:credit
Speaker:it
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:much
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:childish
Speaker:immaturity
Speaker:that
Speaker:remained
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:other
Speaker:self.
Not
that
Speaker:they
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:also
Speaker:love
Speaker:Abby.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:just
Speaker:that
Speaker:now,
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:Soot.
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:had
Speaker:work
Speaker:to
Speaker:do.
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:got
Speaker:a job
Speaker:at
Speaker:Nanotrasen, had studied
Speaker:hard
Speaker:and
Speaker:passed
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:qualifications,
Speaker:had
Speaker:wormed
Speaker:their
Speaker:way
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:ranks
Speaker:of
Speaker:command.
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:had
Speaker:taken
Speaker:that
Speaker:childhood
Speaker:nickname
Speaker:their
Speaker:father
Speaker:had
Speaker:given
Speaker:them,
Speaker:pinned
Speaker:their
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:courage
Speaker:and
Speaker:calmness
Speaker:to
Speaker:it,
Speaker:and
Speaker:adopted
Speaker:it
Speaker:as
Speaker:their
Speaker:own.
Abby
had her
Speaker:own
Speaker:work
Speaker:to
Speaker:do,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:was
Speaker:work
Speaker:of
Speaker:comfort
Speaker:and
Speaker:processing.
Thankfully,
today,
Speaker:epistemics
Speaker:was
Speaker:well-staffed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:by
Speaker:some
Speaker:very
Speaker:bright
Speaker:researchers
Speaker:at
Speaker:that.
Speaker:Of
Speaker:note,
Speaker:the
Speaker:mystagogue
Speaker:was
Speaker:someone
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:trusted
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:as
Speaker:paranoid
Speaker:about
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:were.
They
shook
Speaker:their
Speaker:head
Speaker:to
Speaker:clear
Speaker:away
Speaker:the
Speaker:cobwebs
Speaker:and
Speaker:lingering
Speaker:threads
Speaker:of
Speaker:last
Speaker:night’s
Speaker:dream
Speaker:and
Speaker:instead
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:vulp
Speaker:looking
Speaker:eagerly
Speaker:for
Speaker:approval,
Speaker:a
Speaker:young
Speaker:critter
Speaker:looking
Speaker:quite
Speaker:proud
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:TEG
Speaker:setup.
“Best
burn
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:seen
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:while,
Speaker:actually,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said,
Speaker:spending
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:cherishing
Speaker:the
Speaker:look
Speaker:of
Speaker:elation
Speaker:that
Speaker:came
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:tech’s
Speaker:face.
“Thanks,
cap!”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said
Speaker:brightly,
Speaker:bouncing
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:toes —
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:as
Speaker:best
Speaker:as
Speaker:one
Speaker:could
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:atmos
Speaker:hardsuit. “Should
Speaker:keep
Speaker:us
Speaker:going
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:shift.”
“The
volumetric
Speaker:pump
Speaker:is
Speaker:at…?”
“Five
liters
Speaker:per
Speaker:second.”
“Is
that
Speaker:the
Speaker:lowest
Speaker:you
Speaker:could
Speaker:get it
Speaker:without
Speaker:the
Speaker:pump
Speaker:backing
Speaker:up?”
Their
expression
Speaker:fell
Speaker:slightly. “Yeah.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:math,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it’ll
Speaker:still
Speaker:last
Speaker:us.”
Soot
smiled
Speaker:reassuringly. “Then
Speaker:that’s
Speaker:all
Speaker:I
Speaker:care
Speaker:about,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:worried,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said,
Speaker:resting
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:vulp’s
Speaker:shoulder. “Just
Speaker:make
Speaker:sure
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:not
Speaker:overfilling
Speaker:the
Speaker:hot-loop
Speaker:next
Speaker:time,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:have
Speaker:your
Speaker:senior
Speaker:engi
Speaker:certification
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:spot.”
They
laughed
Speaker:and nodded. “Want
Speaker:me to pull any plasma out
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:hot
Speaker:loop?”
They
shook
Speaker:their
Speaker:head. “Like
Speaker:I
Speaker:said,
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:worried
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:aren’t.”
They
nodded
Speaker:and,
Speaker:hearing
Speaker:the
Speaker:call
Speaker:for
Speaker:help
Speaker:in
Speaker:putting
Speaker:the
Speaker:anti-matter
Speaker:engine
Speaker:to
Speaker:sleep for
Speaker:the
Speaker:time
Speaker:being,
Speaker:dashed
Speaker:deeper
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:department.
Speaker:The
Speaker:AME
Speaker:made
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:initial
Speaker:source
Speaker:of
Speaker:energy
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:necessary
Speaker:backup,
Speaker:but
Speaker:was
Speaker:too
Speaker:expensive,
Speaker:fuel-wise,
Speaker:to
Speaker:run
Speaker:the
Speaker:whole
Speaker:shift.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:long,
Speaker:the
Speaker:thud…!
Speaker:thud…!
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:AME
Speaker:drifted
Speaker:to
Speaker:silence.
“Cap,
can
Speaker:you
Speaker:come
Speaker:to
Speaker:epi?”
Speaker:the
Speaker:mystagogue
Speaker:whispered through
Speaker:command
Speaker:comms. “It’s
Speaker:not
Speaker:super
Speaker:urgent,
Speaker:but…”
They
frowned
Speaker:and
Speaker:toggled
Speaker:to
Speaker:command
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:own
Speaker:mic
Speaker:and
Speaker:murmured, “Heard,”
Speaker:in
Speaker:return
Speaker:before
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:once
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:rest
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:engineering
Speaker:team
Speaker:and
Speaker:walking
Speaker:station-north
Speaker:to
Speaker:epistemics.
As
they
Speaker:walked,
Speaker:they
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:out
Speaker:their
Speaker:PDA
Speaker:and
Speaker:tapped
Speaker:to
Speaker:open
Speaker:the glimmer monitor.
389Ψ.
They stopped
walking
Speaker:and
Speaker:started
Speaker:jogging.
Speaker:They
Speaker:worked
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:their
Speaker:expression
Speaker:level,
Speaker:doing
Speaker:their
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:merely
Speaker:busy
Speaker:and
Speaker:not
Speaker:panicked.
Speaker:After
Speaker:all,
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:a
Speaker:captain
Speaker:run
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:halls
Speaker:wasn’t
Speaker:uncommon…
“Status,”
they
Speaker:said
Speaker:briskly,
Speaker:bowing
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:mystagogue,
Speaker:a
Speaker:frightfully
Speaker:competent
Speaker:young
Speaker:human
Speaker:named
Speaker:Cleo.
“Prober’s
off,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said
Speaker:breathlessly. “Found
Speaker:a
Speaker:mite
Speaker:wedged in
Speaker:behind
Speaker:it.
Speaker:I
Speaker:hate
Speaker:that
Speaker:sound.”
They
grimaced. “So
Speaker:do
Speaker:I.
Speaker:Did
Speaker:you
Speaker:grind
Speaker:it?”
She
immediately
Speaker:brightened
Speaker:and
Speaker:nodded. “Oh,
Speaker:yeah,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course!
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:never
Speaker:turn
Speaker:down
Speaker:free
Speaker:ectoplasm.
Speaker:Did
Speaker:you
Speaker:know–”
“Cleo,”
they
Speaker:said,
Speaker:smiling
Speaker:faintly.
Speaker:They
Speaker:knew
Speaker:well
Speaker:the
Speaker:urge
Speaker:to
Speaker:infodump,
Speaker:and
Speaker:it
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:certain
Speaker:type
Speaker:of
Speaker:mind
Speaker:to
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:a mystagogue. “Glimmer?”
“Oh. Right.
Uh…yeah!
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:been
Speaker:rising
Speaker:steadily.
Speaker:I
Speaker:called
Speaker:you
Speaker:out
Speaker:here
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:some
Speaker:more
Speaker:direct
Speaker:input.
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:going to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:research,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Whispers-to-Ghosts
Speaker:has
Speaker:already
Speaker:put
Speaker:the
Speaker:call out
Speaker:for
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop.”
“Good,
yes.
Speaker:Stop
Speaker:research,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said
Speaker:as
Speaker:clearly
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:could
Speaker:manage.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:lisp
Speaker:always
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:worse
Speaker:when
Speaker:stressed,
Speaker:and
Speaker:few
Speaker:things
Speaker:stressed
Speaker:them
Speaker:out
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:high
Speaker:glimmer.
Speaker:They
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:out
Speaker:their
Speaker:PDA
Speaker:and
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:rise
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:graph
Speaker:showing
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:levels. “At
Speaker:this
Speaker:rate,
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:might
Speaker:go
Speaker:code
Speaker:white
Speaker:once
Speaker:it
Speaker:hits 450?”
She
balked,
Speaker:frowning. “Usually
Speaker:I
Speaker:wait
Speaker:until 500.
Speaker:That’s
Speaker:standard
Speaker:operating
Speaker:procedure,
Speaker:right?”
Soot
straightened
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:forced
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile. “Right.
Speaker:You’re
Speaker:right,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said,
Speaker:taking
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath. “We’ll stick with 500.
Speaker:If
Speaker:the call’s
Speaker:already
Speaker:been
Speaker:put
Speaker:out
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:channel,
Speaker:hopefully
Speaker:people
Speaker:listen.”
Cleo
rolled
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes. “Most,
Speaker:I
Speaker:think,
Speaker:but
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:give
Speaker:people
Speaker:what’s
Speaker:essentially
Speaker:anonymous
Speaker:telepathy,
Speaker:people
Speaker:are
Speaker:going to
Speaker:use
Speaker:it
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:assholes.
Speaker:There’s
Speaker:someone —
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:Whispers
Speaker:knows
Speaker:who —
Speaker:who has
Speaker:been
Speaker:mass-sleeping
Speaker:people
Speaker:near
Speaker:them
Speaker:just
Speaker:for
Speaker:funsies
Speaker:who
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:want
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop.”
They
did
Speaker:their
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:hold
Speaker:back
Speaker:a
Speaker:snarl.
Speaker:Within,
Speaker:they
Speaker:felt
Speaker:Abby
Speaker:stir.
Speaker:After
Speaker:all,
Speaker:the
Speaker:spike
Speaker:in
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:that
Speaker:fateful
Speaker:day
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:intentional,
Speaker:and
Speaker:one
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:raise
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:was
Speaker:through
Speaker:reckless
Speaker:use
Speaker:of
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:such
Speaker:as
Speaker:what
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:colloquially
Speaker:dubbed ‘mass
Speaker:sleep’ —
Speaker:yet
Speaker:another
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:powers,
Speaker:though
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:one
Speaker:more
Speaker:easily
Speaker:abused
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:metapsionic
Speaker:pulse
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:Psionic
Speaker:Mantes
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:on.
Catching
some
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:emotion
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:face,
Speaker:Cleo
Speaker:stiffened,
Speaker:turning
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:away
Speaker:as
Speaker:though
Speaker:preparing
Speaker:to
Speaker:distance
Speaker:herself
Speaker:from
Speaker:an
Speaker:angry
Speaker:captain.
“Sorry,
Cleo.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:not
Speaker:what
Speaker:the shift
Speaker:needed,”
Speaker:they
Speaker:said,
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:reining
Speaker:in
Speaker:their
Speaker:expression
Speaker:to
Speaker:settle
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:reassuring
Speaker:smile
Speaker:they
Speaker:could
Speaker:manage
Speaker:in
Speaker:place. “With
Speaker:Dr. R’s
Speaker:last
Speaker:day,
Speaker:I
Speaker:was
Speaker:hoping
Speaker:for
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:sailing.”
She relaxed
once
Speaker:again. “Right.
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:be
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:him
Speaker:go.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:leaned in
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:closer,
Speaker:lowering
Speaker:her
Speaker:voice
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:added, “Some
Speaker:days,
Speaker:I
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:blame
Speaker:him.”
“It
does
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:wild
Speaker:here,
Speaker:huh?”
Speaker:They
Speaker:chuckled. “Wouldn’t
Speaker:change
Speaker:it
Speaker:for
Speaker:anything.”
“Captains,
I
Speaker:swear…”
Soot
laughed
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:their
Speaker:head,
Speaker:bowing
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:mystagogue
Speaker:before
Speaker:padding
Speaker:out
Speaker:to
Speaker:continue
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:rounds.
The
next
Speaker:few
Speaker:hours
Speaker:really
Speaker:were
Speaker:smooth
Speaker:sailing.
Speaker:The
Speaker:Head
Speaker:of
Speaker:Security
Speaker:had
Speaker:already
Speaker:set
Speaker:up
Speaker:their
Speaker:officers
Speaker:in
Speaker:teams
Speaker:of
Speaker:two
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:patrols
Speaker:were
Speaker:full
Speaker:of
Speaker:kind
Speaker:smiles
Speaker:and
Speaker:jovial
Speaker:greetings.
Speaker:Service
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:caught
Speaker:up,
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:Head
Speaker:of
Speaker:Personnel
Speaker:doubling
Speaker:up
Speaker:on
Speaker:janitorial
Speaker:duties
Speaker:and
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:efficient
Speaker:chefs
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:ever
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:privilege
Speaker:of
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:work
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:filled
Speaker:the
Speaker:snack
Speaker:bar
Speaker:with
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:a
Speaker:hundred
Speaker:unparalleled
Speaker:mothmallows;
Speaker:simply
Speaker:divine.
Speaker:Engineering
Speaker:was
Speaker:so
Speaker:well
Speaker:staffed
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:practiced
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:Lighthouse-class
Speaker:station
Speaker:that
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:settled
Speaker:into
Speaker:frezon
Speaker:production
Speaker:in
Speaker:order
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:bit of
Speaker:extra
Speaker:money
Speaker:for
Speaker:logistics,
Speaker:who
Speaker:were
Speaker:no
Speaker:slouches,
Speaker:either.
Speaker:The
Speaker:internal
Speaker:finances
Speaker:of
Speaker:Nanotrasen
Speaker:and
Speaker:its
Speaker:resource-allocation
Speaker:algorithms
Speaker:veered
Speaker:way
Speaker:too
Speaker:far
Speaker:into
Speaker:hypercapitalism
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:tastes,
Speaker:but
Speaker:they
Speaker:could
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:understand
Speaker:an
Speaker:efficient
Speaker:station.
They
did
Speaker:their
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:trust
Speaker:that
Speaker:epistemics
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:run
Speaker:smoothly
Speaker:by
Speaker:Cleo,
Speaker:and
Speaker:forced
Speaker:themself
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave
Speaker:it
Speaker:be
Speaker:as
Speaker:best
Speaker:they
Speaker:could —
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:where
Speaker:they
Speaker:checked
Speaker:in
Speaker:no
Speaker:more
Speaker:or
Speaker:less
Speaker:frequently
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:departments.
And
what
Speaker:a
Speaker:curious
Speaker:department
Speaker:epi
Speaker:was.
These
two
Speaker:universes
Speaker:slip-sliding
Speaker:against
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:did
Speaker:so
Speaker:differently
Speaker:across
Speaker:space.
Speaker:When,
Speaker:it
Speaker:turns
Speaker:out,
Speaker:you
Speaker:are
Speaker:a
Speaker:corporation
Speaker:spanning
Speaker:the
Speaker:larger
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:arm
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:galaxy,
Speaker:that
Speaker:has
Speaker:real,
Speaker:knock-on
Speaker:effects,
Speaker:for
Speaker:what
Speaker:worked
Speaker:in
Speaker:one
Speaker:location
Speaker:may
Speaker:not
Speaker:in
Speaker:another.
Speaker:Worse,
Speaker:this
Speaker:changed
Speaker:over
Speaker:time,
Speaker:rendering
Speaker:some
Speaker:research
Speaker:moot
Speaker:even
Speaker:from
Speaker:one
Speaker:shift
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:next.
Speaker:You
Speaker:learn
Speaker:less
Speaker:about
Speaker:how
Speaker:best
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:universal
Speaker:micro-reactor
Speaker:fusion
Speaker:cell
Speaker:and
Speaker:more
Speaker:about
Speaker:how
Speaker:to
Speaker:most
Speaker:efficiently
Speaker:research
Speaker:micro-reactor
Speaker:fusion
Speaker:cells.
Other
sectors
Speaker:even
Speaker:named
Speaker:it
Speaker:the
Speaker:science
Speaker:department
Speaker:rather
Speaker:than
Speaker:epistemics.
Speaker:They
Speaker:named
Speaker:the
Speaker:lead
Speaker:the
Speaker:research
Speaker:director
Speaker:rather
Speaker:than
Speaker:mystagogue.
Speaker:They
Speaker:named
Speaker:the
Speaker:person
Speaker:in
Speaker:charge
Speaker:of
Speaker:investigating
Speaker:anomalous
Speaker:occurrences
Speaker:something
Speaker:far
Speaker:more
Speaker:plain
Speaker:that the ‘Psionic
Speaker:Mantis’.
This
sector,
Speaker:however,
Speaker:was
Speaker:something
Speaker:else.
Speaker:Here,
Speaker:the
Speaker:veil
Speaker:was
Speaker:far
Speaker:thinner.
Speaker:Here,
Speaker:whole
Speaker:religions
Speaker:sprung
Speaker:up
Speaker:around
Speaker:this
Speaker:very
Speaker:fact,
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:point
Speaker:where
Speaker:many
Speaker:stations
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:chaplain
Speaker:dedicated
Speaker:to
Speaker:such.
Here,
glimmer
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:problem.
That
simple
Speaker:measurement
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:friction
Speaker:between
Speaker:planes,
Speaker:a
Speaker:number
Speaker:that
Speaker:started
Speaker:at
Speaker:zero
Speaker:and
Speaker:yet
Speaker:which
Speaker:had
Speaker:no
Speaker:upper
Speaker:bound,
Speaker:became
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:tell
Speaker:just
Speaker:how
Speaker:bad
Speaker:things
Speaker:might
Speaker:get
Speaker:because
Speaker:of
Speaker:that
Speaker:friction. At 500Ψ,
Speaker:the point at
Speaker:which
Speaker:the
Speaker:station
Speaker:moved
Speaker:to
Speaker:code
Speaker:white,
Speaker:auditory
Speaker:hallucinations
Speaker:became
Speaker:possible,
Speaker:as
Speaker:did
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:spectres
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:dead
Speaker:or
Speaker:ghosts
Speaker:of
Speaker:past
Speaker:selves.
Speaker:As
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:climbed,
Speaker:so
Speaker:too
Speaker:did
Speaker:the
Speaker:effects.
Speaker:Those
Speaker:with
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:would
Speaker:succumb
Speaker:to
Speaker:headaches
Speaker:and
Speaker:nosebleeds,
Speaker:new
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:users
Speaker:would
Speaker:appear,
Speaker:and,
Speaker:as
Speaker:Soot had
Speaker:witnessed
Speaker:firsthand,
Speaker:wide-spread
Speaker:psionic
Speaker:chaos
Speaker:might
Speaker:ensue,
Speaker:such
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:mass
Speaker:swapping
Speaker:of
Speaker:consciousnesses.
Several
things
Speaker:might
Speaker:raise
Speaker:glimmer.
Speaker:Using
Speaker:psionics.
Speaker:Researching
Speaker:anomalies
Speaker:or
Speaker:artifacts.
Speaker:Glimmer
Speaker:mites
Speaker:and
Speaker:wisps,
Speaker:pests
Speaker:that
Speaker:they
Speaker:were.
Speaker:Even
Speaker:just
Speaker:running
Speaker:the
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:prober,
Speaker:a
Speaker:device
Speaker:which
Speaker:conducted
Speaker:small-scale
Speaker:research
Speaker:within
Speaker:its
Speaker:shell,
Speaker:generating
Speaker:some
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:knowledge
Speaker:required
Speaker:to
Speaker:accomplish
Speaker:tasks around
Speaker:the
Speaker:station,
Speaker:would
Speaker:raise
Speaker:it
Speaker:steadily.
Soot,
ever
Speaker:conservative
Speaker:when
Speaker:it
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:glimmer,
Speaker:instructed
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:prober to
Speaker:be
Speaker:turned off at 300Ψ and that
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:users
Speaker:stop
Speaker:relying
Speaker:on
Speaker:their “powers” at 350Ψ except in
Speaker:case
Speaker:of an
Speaker:emergency.
Speaker:If
Speaker:it
Speaker:climbed
Speaker:higher,
Speaker:if
Speaker:they
Speaker:hit
Speaker:code
Speaker:white,
Speaker:a
Speaker:request
Speaker:for
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:users
Speaker:to
Speaker:voluntarily
Speaker:take
Speaker:mindbreaker
Speaker:toxin
Speaker:was
Speaker:put
Speaker:out.
Speaker:They
Speaker:would
Speaker:throw
Speaker:up,
Speaker:they
Speaker:would
Speaker:get
Speaker:dizzy
Speaker:and
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:wash
Speaker:of
Speaker:colors,
Speaker:but
Speaker:their
Speaker:psionics
Speaker:would
Speaker:disappear
Speaker:and
Speaker:glimmer
Speaker:would
Speaker:drop.
Those
who
Speaker:refused,
Speaker:those
Speaker:who
Speaker:sought
Speaker:for
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:reason
Speaker:to
Speaker:cause
Speaker:a
Speaker:spike
Speaker:in
Speaker:glimmer,
Speaker:were
Speaker:subject
Speaker:to
Speaker:more
Speaker:drastic
Speaker:measures.
Speaker:After
Speaker:all,
Speaker:the
Speaker:Mantis
Speaker:carried
Speaker:a
Speaker:psi-breaker
Speaker:pistol
Speaker:and
Speaker:knife
Speaker:for a
Speaker:reason.
Some were
careless,
Speaker:some
Speaker:were
Speaker:bad
Speaker:actors.
If
Abby
Speaker:was
Speaker:at
Speaker:front,
Speaker:if
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:along
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:ride
Speaker:simply
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:visitor,
Speaker:she
Speaker:worked
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:Psionic
Speaker:Mantis.
The
job
Speaker:was
Speaker:not
Speaker:so
Speaker:drastic
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:training
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:sound.
Speaker:For
Speaker:the
Speaker:most
Speaker:part,
Speaker:she
Speaker:would
Speaker:just
Speaker:walk
Speaker:around
Speaker:and
Speaker:talk
Speaker:with
Speaker:people.
Speaker:She
Speaker:would
Speaker:listen
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:stories.
Speaker:She would
Speaker:flit
Speaker:about
Speaker:from
Speaker:here
Speaker:to
Speaker:there.
Speaker:She
Speaker:would
Speaker:sit
Speaker:cross-legged
Speaker:in
Speaker:chairs
Speaker:and
Speaker:tell
Speaker:them
Speaker:about
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:her
Speaker:special
Speaker:interest
Speaker:was
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:week.
Sure,
she
Speaker:would
Speaker:also
Speaker:send
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:occasional
Speaker:metapsionic
Speaker:pulse —
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:defining
Speaker:features
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:job,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:deciding
Speaker:factor
Speaker:as
Speaker:to
Speaker:who
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:Mantis
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:shift —
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:out
Speaker:who
Speaker:around
Speaker:her
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:psionics user
Speaker:and
Speaker:take
Speaker:notes
Speaker:just
Speaker:in
Speaker:case,
Speaker:but
Speaker:mostly,
Speaker:she
Speaker:just…talked.
Speaker:She
Speaker:just
Speaker:existed
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:station’s sibling —
Speaker:though
Speaker:perhaps
Speaker:less
Speaker:an
Speaker:older
Speaker:sibling,
Speaker:as
Speaker:Soot
Speaker:thought
Speaker:of
Speaker:themself.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:still
Speaker:childish,
Speaker:still,
Speaker:in
Speaker:some
Speaker:weird
Speaker:way
Speaker:only
Speaker:twelve
Speaker:years
Speaker:old,
Speaker:despite
Speaker:this
Speaker:twenty-seven
Speaker:year
Speaker:old
Speaker:body
Speaker:she
Speaker:inhabited.
Speaker:She
Speaker:just
Speaker:mingled
Speaker:with
Speaker:her ‘family’
Speaker:and
Speaker:helped
Speaker:how
Speaker:she
Speaker:could.
Soot
didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:the
Speaker:specifics;
Speaker:they
Speaker:weren’t a
Speaker:doctor
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:they
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:pretend
Speaker:to.
Speaker:They
Speaker:could
Speaker:recite
Speaker:the
Speaker:proper
Speaker:nouns,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course —
Speaker:plurality,
Speaker:DID,
Speaker:what-have-you —
Speaker:but,
Speaker:to
Speaker:them,
Speaker:life
Speaker:was
Speaker:just…life,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:well-lived
Speaker:one.
All
they
Speaker:knew
Speaker:was
Speaker:that
Speaker:sometimes
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:Abby,
Speaker:that
Speaker:remembering
Speaker:things
Speaker:that
Speaker:happened
Speaker:while
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:Abby
Speaker:was
Speaker:like
Speaker:reading
Speaker:a
Speaker:story,
Speaker:ill-conceived
Speaker:and
Speaker:more
Speaker:often
Speaker:than
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:picture
Speaker:book,
Speaker:scant
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:details.
Speaker:They
Speaker:imagined
Speaker:it
Speaker:must
Speaker:feel
Speaker:similar
Speaker:to
Speaker:Abby,
too:too:
perhaps
too:remembering
too:what
too:happened
too:to
too:her
too:as
too:Soot
too:was
too:akin
too:to
too:remembering
too:a
too:dream.
Such
thoughts
too:were a
too:comfort
too:to
too:them
too:as
too:they
too:wandered
too:from
too:department
too:to
too:department,
too:checking
too:up
too:on
too:the
too:staff,
too:all
too:the
too:heads
too:of
too:each, from the
too:mystagogue,
too:Cleo,
too:to
too:the
too:chief
too:medical
too:officer,
too:Dr.
too:R.
Gilbert
Rosenthal
too:was —
too:had
too:always
too:been —
too:the
too:type
too:of
too:command
too:staff
too:that Soot
too:looked
too:up
too:to.
too:Efficient
too:without
too:being
too:brusque.
too:Calm
too:under
too:pressure
too:without
too:coming
too:off
too:as
too:carefree.
too:Friendly,
too:kind,
too:likable.
too:His
too:bedside
too:manner
too:was
too:as
too:suitable
too:for
too:children
too:as
too:it
too:was
too:for
too:cantankerous
too:heads
too:of security, and
too:his
too:skills in
too:management
too:were
too:so
too:honed
too:as
too:to
too:be
too:all
too:but
too:invisible.
too:The
too:medical
too:department
too:under
too:his
too:eye
too:just
too:worked.
Soot
could not
too:but
too:make
too:sure
too:they
too:stopped
too:by
too:at
too:least
too:once
too:an
too:hour
too:to
too:check
too:in.
too:They
too:helped
too:as
too:they
too:could,
too:of
too:course (did
too:they
too:have
too:a cleanbot? How were they on Pyrazine? A ChemVend restock already?),
too:but
too:they
too:made
too:sure
too:to get
too:at
too:least
too:a
too:few
too:words
too:in
too:with
too:Dr.
too:R
too:each
too:time,
too:and
too:each
too:time,
too:they
too:realized
too:yet
too:more
too:just
too:how
too:much
too:they
too:would
too:miss
too:their
too:friend.
It
was
too:during
too:one
too:of
too:these
too:visits,
too:while
too:they
too:were
too:chatting
too:with
too:Dr. R,
too:catching
too:up
too:on
too:how
too:his
too:final
too:day
too:was
too:going,
too:that
too:Soot
too:let
too:out
too:a
too:stifled
too:cry
too:and
too:fell.
Everyone
fell.
too:All
too:those
too:who
too:had
too:been
too:standing
too:stumbled
too:to
too:the
too:side
too:and
too:crumpled
too:as
too:though
too:gravity
too:had
too:suddenly
too:shifted.
too:It
too:had
too:all
too:the
too:sudden
too:panic
too:and
too:jolt
too:to
too:one’s
too:understanding
too:of
too:the
too:world
too:as
too:going
too:down
too:a
too:staircase
too:in
too:the
too:dark
too:and
too:discovering
too:there is
too:one
too:more
too:step
too:than
too:one
too:expected.
It
was
too:by
too:its sudden decrease
too:that
too:Soot
too:noticed
too:the
too:tang
too:of
too:high
too:glimmer
too:in
too:the
too:air.
too:Perhaps
too:the
too:scent
too:was
too:merely a
too:confabulation —
too:Cleo
too:had
too:explained
too:that
too:she’d
too:never
too:heard
too:of
too:glimmer
too:having
too:a
too:scent
too:associated with it — but they’d seen
too:no
too:reason
too:to
too:set
too:it
too:aside.
too:To
too:them,
too:it
too:was
too:sour
too:and
too:metallic.
too:It
too:made
too:their
too:whiskers
too:bristle
too:and
too:their
too:hackles
too:raise,
too:as
too:they
too:were
too:now.
Sure
enough,
too:within
too:moments,
too:the
too:ever-calm
too:voice
too:of
too:the
too:sophic grammateus whispered
too:over
too:comms, “Noöspheric
too:discharge
too:detected.
too:Glimmer
too:level
too:has
too:decreased by 43 to 428Ψ.”
No no no…
a
too:little
too:voice
too:spoke
too:within
too:them.
too:No
too:no
too:no
too:no…
They pressed
the
too:voice
too:gently
too:but
too:insistently
too:down,
too:offering
too:what
too:love
too:they
too:could
too:to
too:the
too:one
too:who
too:spoke
too:those
too:words.
too:It’s
too:alright,
too:it’s
too:okay.
too:We
too:have to
too:work.
too:It’s
too:alright,
too:it’s
too:okay.
“I
have
too:to
too:go
too:to
too:epi,”
too:they
too:said
too:briskly,
too:dusting
too:off
too:their
too:uniform.
“Of
course,
too:Soot.
too:Hey–”
too:Dr. R
too:reached
too:out,
too:snagged
too:one
too:of
too:the
too:mouse’s
too:paws
too:before
too:they
too:could
too:simply
too:dash
too:away,
too:eyes
too:searching
too:their
too:face. “You
too:going to
too:be
too:okay?”
They
nodded
too:curtly,
too:realized
too:the
too:lack
too:of
too:reassurance
too:in
too:the
too:gesture, and smiled.
too:They gave
too:that
too:hand
too:a
too:squeeze,
too:pulled
too:free,
too:and
too:jogged
too:from
too:med,
too:heading
too:down
too:station-south
too:toward epistemics.
“Captain!”
Cleo
too:called
too:before
too:they
too:even
too:reached the
too:windoor. “Prober’s
too:off —
too:has
too:been
too:for
too:a
too:few
too:minutes
too:now —
too:and
too:all
too:research
too:is
too:stopped.”
“Psionics?”
“Whispers-to-Ghosts
is
too:out
too:now
too:but…well…”
Soot
frowned.
“Well,
we
too:haven’t
too:heard
too:from
too:it
too:in
too:a
too:little
too:bit.
too:The
too:parameds
too:are
too:doing
too:a
too:sweep
too:for
too:it
too:now.”
“Concerning,”
they
too:mumbled.
too:That
too:the
too:Mantis
too:was
too:missing
too:during
too:what
too:appeared
too:to
too:be
too:a
too:spike
too:in
too:glimmer
too:was
too:not
too:a
too:positive
too:sign.
Soot
what’s–
too:Memories
too:of
too:Abby
too:tugged
too:at
too:them.
too:The
too:part
too:of
too:them
too:who
too:still was
too:Abby —
too:not
too:Captain
too:Abigail “Soot”
too:Dale,
too:but
too:Abby —
too:started
too:to
too:press
too:more
too:insistently
too:to
too:the
too:front.
too:They
too:were
too:Soot
too:now.
too:They
too:had
too:to
too:be
too:Soot
too:now.
too:Abby
too:could
too:return
too:to
too:front
too:after
too:the
too:shift.
Shush,
it’ll
too:be
too:okay.
too:It’ll
too:be
too:alright,
too:they
too:promised
too:her,
too:promised
too:themself.
They
toggled
too:their
too:comms
too:to
too:the
too:med
too:channel. “Med,
too:status
too:on
too:Whispers-to-Ghosts?”
too:they
too:murmured,
too:striving
too:to
too:pronounce
too:the
too:sibilants
too:in the Mantis’s name.
“Crit in maints,” came
the
too:breathless
too:hiss
too:of
too:the
too:voice
too:of
too:Drags-the-Bodies,
too:one
too:of
too:the
too:paramedics. “Stable.
too:Halfway
too:to
too:the
too:bay.”
“Shit.”
“What?”
They
frowned
too:over
too:to
too:the
too:mystagogue. “Whispers was downed in maints. I’ll keep you up to date
too:on
too:command
too:comms.”
too:With
too:another
too:quick
too:tap,
too:they
too:switched
too:to
too:the
too:command
too:channel
too:and
too:continued
too:smoothly. “AI,
too:move
too:us
too:to
too:blue.”
“Understood,”
came
too:the
too:whispered
too:reply.
The
station’s
too:alert
too:status
too:has
too:been
too:set
too:to
too:blue.
too:There
too:is
too:an
too:ongoing,
too:known,
too:or
too:suspected
too:security
too:threat
too:to
too:the
too:station
too:or
too:its
too:crew,
too:or
too:another
too:significant
too:security
too:emergency.
too:Crewmembers
too:are
too:advised
too:to
too:follow
too:commands
too:issued
too:by
too:any
too:relevant
too:authority.
Cleo
jumped
too:at
too:the
too:sudden
too:blaring
too:announcement,
too:as
too:did
too:the
too:other
too:members
too:of
too:the
too:epistemics
too:department,
too:now
too:all
too:suddenly
too:lit
too:in
too:the
too:blue
too:of
too:the
too:alert
too:lights
too:on
too:the
too:walls.
“Stay
safe.
too:Send
too:your
too:department
too:out
too:in
too:pairs
too:to
too:hunt
too:for
too:mites
too:or
too:wisps.”
Cleo
nodded. “I
too:think
too:Lio
too:has
too:been left
too:with
too:telegnosis
too:the
too:last
too:few shifts.
too:I’ll
too:see
too:if
too:he can
too:give
too:the
too:station
too:a
too:once-over
too:while
too:glimmer is
too:low
too:enough.
too:Five
too:minutes
too:shouldn’t
too:push
too:it
too:too
too:much
too:higher.”
Soot
nodded.
too:Letting
too:the
too:body
too:drift
too:into
too:a
too:trance
too:while
too:some
too:form
too:of
too:inner
too:sight
too:wandered
too:around
too:the
too:station,
too:watching
too:and
too:listening,
too:would
too:be
too:quite
too:handy
too:in
too:hunting
too:down
too:more
too:information. “Alright,
too:have
too:him
too:coordinate
too:with
too:the
too:AI.”
She
nodded
too:and
too:whirled
too:around
too:to
too:dash
too:back
too:into
too:the
too:department.
Soot jogged
back
too:up
too:toward
too:medical.
too:Dissociation
too:nipped
too:at
too:their
too:heels,
too:but
too:they
too:gently
too:pushed
too:back.
too:Abby
too:would
too:have
too:her
too:comfort,
too:all
too:the
too:comfort
too:she
too:deserved.
too:After
too:work,
too:after
too:work…
Whispers-to-Ghosts
was
too:a
too:slight
too:lizard
too:with
too:gray-green
too:scales
too:and
too:a
too:perpetually
too:faraway
too:look
too:in
too:its
too:eyes.
too:This
too:distant
too:gaze
too:didn’t
too:seem
too:to
too:be
too:affected
too:by
too:the
too:fact
too:that
too:a
too:doctor
too:was
too:rapidly
too:sealing
too:up
too:a
too:wound
too:on
too:its
too:shoulder
too:with
too:a
too:cautery
too:and
too:hypospray,
too:skilled
too:hands
too:unshaking.
“Whispers,
are
too:you
too:okay?”
That
gaze
too:drifted
too:over
too:to
too:some
too:point
too:just
too:over
too:their
too:left
too:shoulder. “Oh.
too:Captain.
too:Yes.
too:This
too:one
too:is
too:okay.”
“Can
you
too:tell
too:me
too:what
too:happened?
too:What
too:do
too:you
too:remember?”
A
dreamy
too:smile
too:came
too:over
too:the
too:lizard’s
too:features,
too:the
too:slouchy
too:fez
too:that
too:was
too:a
too:symbol
too:of
too:its
too:office
too:only
too:adding
too:to
too:the
too:jaunty
too:expression. “This
too:one
too:was
too:walking
too:the
too:halls
too:and
too:sent
too:out
too:a
too:pulse,
too:and
too:thought
too:it
too:felt
too:something
too:in
too:the
too:maints
too:behind
too:the
too:dorms,
too:so
too:it
too:went
too:to
too:look.”
too:There
too:was
too:a
too:raspy,
too:hissing
too:laugh,
too:which
too:got
too:the
too:Mantis
too:a
too:frown
too:from
too:the
too:doctor. “This
too:one
too:thinks
too:it
too:was
too:stabbed.”
Soot
stood
too:up
too:straighter
too:and
too:pulled
too:out
too:their
too:PDA,
too:starting
too:up
too:a
too:new
too:note.
Sensing
the
too:expectancy
too:in
too:Soot’s
too:posture,
too:Whispers-to-Ghosts
too:continued. “It
too:lost
too:track
too:of
too:the
too:pulse,
too:but
too:thought
too:it
too:heard
too:mites,
too:too,
too:and
too:so
too:it
too:walked
too:toward
too:west
too:solars.
too:Something
too:spun
too:it
too:around
too:and
too:punched
too:it in
too:the
too:chest —
too:or
too:so
too:this
too:one
too:thought,
too:until
too:it
too:started
too:to
too:get
too:light-headed.”
too:Another
too:laugh,
too:another
too:dirty
too:look,
too:though the
too:doctor
too:finished
too:the
too:final
too:injection
too:before
too:stepping
too:back. “This
too:one
too:passed out
too:faster
too:than
too:expected.
too:It’s
too:very
too:thankful
too:for
too:Drags.”
Drags-the-Bodies,
another
too:lizard,
too:though
too:colored
too:in
too:shocking
too:blue
too:and
too:deep
too:black,
too:grinned toothily
too:from
too:where
too:they
too:stood
too:nearby,
too:folding
too:up
too:their
too:roller
too:bed
too:again. “Just
too:doing
too:my
too:job.”
After
they
too:finished
too:typing
too:down
too:the
too:report
too:and
too:sending
too:it
too:off
too:to
too:security,
too:Soot
too:nodded,
too:smiling
too:up
too:to
too:the
too:paramedic. “Yes.
too:Thank
too:you,
too:Drags.
too:You
too:do
too:your
too:job
too:well,”
too:they
too:said.
They
snapped
too:a
too:salute
too:and
too:trotted
too:back
too:to
too:the
too:front
too:desk
too:where
too:the
too:paramedics
too:usually
too:parked
too:themselves.
Another
psionics
too:user aboard
too:found
too:by
too:Whispers-to-Ghosts’s
too:searching.
too:The
too:sound
too:of
too:a
too:glimmer
too:mite,
too:those
too:mindless,
too:fuchsia-shelled
too:bugs
too:that
too:served
too:as
too:anchors
too:between
too:the
too:noösphere
too:and
too:this
too:reality.
too:Violence
too:in
too:the
too:maintenance
too:tunnels.
Violence!
This
shift
too:was
too:supposed
too:to
too:be
too:smooth
too:sailing.
Soot,
please–
too:whispered
too:that
too:ghost
too:of
too:their
too:other
too:self,
too:a
too:plaintive
too:clutching
too:at
too:their
too:paw
too:that
too:felt
too:so
too:real
too:that they
too:clenched
too:their
too:fist
too:in
too:an
too:attempt
too:to
too:squeeze
too:back.
too:I
too:want
too:to
too:go
too:home…
“Shush,
little
too:one,”
too:they
too:murmured,
too:then
too:waved
too:off
too:the
too:curious
too:glance
too:from
too:the
too:Mantis.
too:Speaking
too:more
too:loudly,
too:they
too:continued, “We’re
too:now
too:on
too:code
too:blue,
too:so
too:please–”
The
station-wide
too:alert system
too:gave
too:a
too:pleasant
too:chime,
too:followed
too:by
too:the far
too:more
too:frantic
too:voice
too:of
too:Cleo. “This
too:is
too:your
too:mystagogue.
too:Station
too:status
too:is
too:now
too:blue-white.
too:Glimmer
too:is up
too:at 550
too:and
too:still rising. I
too:need
too:a salv
too:to
too:come
too:help
too:blow
too:the
too:prober
too:in
too:space, and I
too:need engi
too:on
too:hand
too:just
too:in
too:case.
too:Any
too:psionics
too:who
too:are
too:willing,
too:I
too:have
too:mindbreaker
too:at
too:the
too:ready.
too:I
too:know
too:it
too:sucks,
too:but
too:hey,
too:you’ll
too:see
too:some
too:pretty
too:colors
too:and
too:get
too:a
too:bonus
too:on
too:your
too:paycheck.
too:I
too:repeat,
too:station
too:status
too:is
too:now
too:blue-white.
too:Stay
too:safe,
too:just
too:an
too:hour
too:left.”
I
want
too:to
too:go
too:home.
too:I
too:want to
too:see
too:mama.
too:A
too:plea
too:for a
too:parent
too:who
too:had
too:very
too:nearly
too:died
too:in
too:the
too:same
too:accident
too:that
too:had
too:led
too:to
too:this
too:splitting
too:of
too:self.
too:A
too:request
too:for
too:comfort.
The
sensation
too:of
too:tugging,
too:of
too:pulling,
too:of
too:Abby’s
too:grasping
too:paws
too:only
too:grew
too:stronger.
too:It
too:was
too:so
too:real,
too:and
too:made
too:all
too:the
too:more
too:so
too:for
too:the
too:Mantis
too:staring
too:at
too:the
too:space
too:beside
too:them
too:from
too:which
too:they
too:heard
too:her
too:quiet
too:pleas.
The
dreaminess
too:of
too:Abby
too:struggling
too:to
too:take
too:front
too:interwove
too:itself
too:with
too:the
too:electric
too:tingle
too:of
too:glimmer
too:in
too:the
too:air.
too:Glimmer
too:being
too:so
too:high,
too:perhaps
too:it was
too:no
too:surprise
too:that the
too:ghosts
too:of
too:the
too:past
too:had
too:begun
too:to
too:make
too:themselves
too:known.
Evac
soon,
too:they
too:thought back,
too:cooing
too:soothing
too:reassurances.
too:One
too:more
too:hour,
too:just
too:like
too:Cleo
too:said. Just
too:hold
too:on,
too:Abby.
It
was
too:times
too:like
too:these,
too:when
too:Abby
too:most
too:expressed
too:that
too:need
too:to
too:come
too:to
too:the
too:front,
too:to
too:be
too:the
too:identity
too:that
too:drove
too:the
too:body,
too:seeking
too:for
too:comfort,
too:that
too:Soot
too:most
too:often felt
too:haunted.
too:It
too:was
too:not
too:wrong,
too:not
too:unpleasant,
too:was
too:even
too:at
too:times
too:cherished,
too:but
too:it
too:was
too:still
too:a
too:haunting.
too:It
too:was
too:an
too:intimation
too:from
too:a
too:ghost
too:that the
too:ghost
too:become
too:real
too:and
too:they
too:become
too:the
too:ghost,
too:that
too:they
too:trade
too:places.
They
just
too:needed
too:to
too:make
too:it
too:to
too:the
too:end
too:of
too:the
too:shift.
too:Should
too:their
too:identity
too:unlatch,
too:should
too:they
too:disperse
too:into
too:the
too:demanding
too:presence
too:of
too:their
too:younger
too:self,
too:they
too:would
too:have
too:to
too:step
too:down
too:from
too:command,
too:pass
too:it
too:off
too:to
too:another —
too:Cleo
too:would
too:be
too:the
too:ideal
too:choice
too:for
too:acting
too:commanding
too:officer,
too:given
too:the
too:events
too:behind
too:the
too:stress.
too:Such
too:was
too:on
too:their
too:record
too:and
too:would
too:not
too:reflect
too:on
too:their
too:career
too:at
too:all,
too:and
too:yet
too:it
too:was
too:still,
too:in
too:its
too:own
too:way,
too:a
too:little
too:humiliating
too:for
too:Soot.
Better,
instead,
too:to
too:focus.
They
slipped
too:from
too:the
too:med
too:bay
too:and
too:sought
too:out
too:the
too:head
too:of
too:security
too:instead.
too:They
too:needed
too:the
too:no-nonsense
too:professionalism
too:of
too:Artie
too:to
too:keep
too:them
too:grounded
too:and
too:in
too:the
too:moment.
too:They
too:had
too:worked
too:countless
too:shifts
too:together,
too:and
too:few
too:knew
too:them
too:better
too:except
too:perhaps
too:Dr.
too:R.
“Cap.
Was
too:just
too:looking
too:for
too:you,”
too:Artie
too:said
too:briskly
too:when
too:Soot
too:fell
too:in
too:step
too:beside
too:him.
too:The
too:ruddy
too:vulpkanin
too:cut
too:an
too:imposing
too:figure
too:at
too:the
too:best
too:of
too:times,
too:especially
too:given
too:that
too:he
too:stood
too:half
too:a
too:meter
too:taller
too:than
too:Soot,
too:but
too:now
too:he
too:moved
too:with
too:a
too:near
too:mechanical
too:grace
too:with
too:the
too:subtle
too:servos
too:within
too:his
too:hardsuit
too:helping
too:to
too:keep
too:him
too:going. “Come
too:out
too:to
too:the
too:dock
too:with
too:us.”
“Is
that
too:where
too:you’re
too:heading?
too:I
too:just
too:wanted
too:to
too:make
too:sure
too:I
too:stayed
too:on
too:top
too:of
too:what’s
too:happening.
too:Just
too:going
too:along
too:for
too:firepower
too:for
too:the
too:prober?”
Artie
reached
too:up
too:with a
too:paw
too:to
too:tap
too:at
too:a
too:button
too:on
too:his
too:collar,
too:the
too:helmet
too:of
too:his
too:hardsuit
too:slipping up
too:over
too:his
too:head
too:and sealing to his suit with a pneumatic hush. “No. I
too:have
too:a
too:hunch.
too:I
too:grabbed
too:a
too:glimmer
too:monitor
too:from
too:Cleo.
too:It’s
too:rising
too:too
too:steadily
too:to
too:be
too:from
too:psionics,
too:and
too:too fast to be
too:just
too:from
too:mites
too:or
too:wisps.
too:Something
too:else
too:is
too:going
too:on.”
Soot
felt
too:their
too:gait
too:falter
too:beside
too:the
too:vulp.
too:There
too:was
too:no
too:announcement
too:of
too:a
too:discharge,
too:no
too:break
too:in
too:the
too:stride
too:of
too:any of
too:the
too:secoffs
too:around
too:them,
too:but
too:the
too:sour
too:scent
too:of
too:glimmer
too:in
too:the
too:air
too:was
too:still
too:strong.
too:A
too:strong
too:paw
too:helped
too:nudge
too:them
too:back
too:on
too:course,
too:at
too:which
too:they
too:gave
too:a
too:tired
too:smile
too:of
too:acknowledgment. “Glad
too:someone’s
too:keeping
too:an
too:eye
too:on
too:it,”
too:they
too:muttered.
Artie
gave
too:the
too:barest
too:hint
too:of
too:a
too:nod,
too:and
too:they
too:made
too:the
too:rest
too:of
too:the
too:journey
too:to
too:the
too:salvage
too:dock
too:in
too:silence.
Soot had
only
too:ever
too:seen
too:a
too:prober
too:explosion
too:once
too:before
too:in
too:their
too:life,
too:and
too:this
too:one
too:acted
too:as
too:confirmation of
too:the
too:strange
too:beauty
too:of
too:the
too:glimmer-fueled
too:fire
too:of
too:it
too:all.
too:Whatever
too:comprised
too:the
too:combination
too:of
too:materials,
too:compressed
too:gasses,
too:and
too:crystal
too:matrices
too:that
too:made
too:up
too:the
too:piece
too:of
too:hardware
too:made
too:for
too:a
too:bright
too:flash
too:and
too:a
too:scant
too:second
too:of
too:electric
too:blue
too:flames
too:tracing
too:outward
too:before
too:what
too:fuels
too:there
too:were
too:were
too:consumed.
Soot…
Her
too:voice
too:was
too:starting
too:to
too:sound
too:far
too:more
too:real
too:to
too:them,
too:far
too:more
too:present.
too:She
too:was
too:starting
too:to
too:sound
too:far
too:closer
too:to
too:this
too:world.
too:They
too:felt
too:they
too:could
too:almost
too:catch
too:a
too:glimpse
too:of
too:the
too:ghost
too:of
too:her
too:in
too:their
too:reflection
too:in
too:the
too:glass
too:of
too:the
too:airlock
too:window.
No…she
was
too:there.
too:If
too:they
too:looked
too:just
too:right,
too:if
too:the
too:light
too:shined
too:just
too:so,
too:it
too:was
too:not
too:their
too:face
too:that
too:they
too:saw
too:in
too:the
too:gently
too:smudged
too:glass.
too:It
too:was
too:hers.
too:Same
too:black
too:coat,
too:same
too:unruly
too:white
too:mop
too:of
too:headfur,
too:yes,
too:but
too:her
too:eyes
too:bore
too:a
too:pleading
too:innocence
too:that
too:theirs lacked.
too:The
too:expression
too:lacked
too:all
too:of
too:the
too:calm
too:confidence
too:that
too:they
too:strived
too:for,
too:even
too:in
too:moments
too:of
too:vulnerability
too:like
too:these.
too:There
too:was
too:fear
too:there,
too:yes,
too:and
too:terror,
too:but
too:there
too:was
too:also
too:so
too:much
too:of
too:the
too:wonder
too:that
too:had
too:filled
too:them
too:all
too:those
too:years
too:ago.
They
tore
too:their
too:gaze
too:back
too:to
too:the
too:rapidly
too:expanding
too:cloud
too:of
too:debris
too:from
too:the
too:blown
too:prober.
See,
little
too:one?
too:they
too:reassured
too:her,
too:this other
too:portion
too:of
too:themself
too:living
too:just
too:beneath
too:the
too:surface.
too:There
too:it
too:goes.
too:Safe
too:and
too:sound,
too:out
too:in
too:space,
too:no
too:one
too:hurt.
A
moment’s straining.
too:A
too:vague
too:pawing
too:at
too:the
too:barrier
too:of
too:dissociation,
too:the
too:thin
too:line
too:that
too:separated
too:front
too:from
too:back,
too:present
too:from
too:absent.
And
then
too:she
too:subsided.
Realizing
that
too:they
too:had
too:been
too:holding
too:their
too:breath,
too:they
too:let
too:it
too:out
too:as
too:carefully
too:as
too:possible,
too:masking
too:it
too:by
too:reaching
too:for
too:their
too:PDA,
too:quickly
too:tapping
too:open
too:the
too:glimmer
too:tracker
too:once
too:more.
Glimmer
had finally
too:stopped
too:rising,
too:sitting
too:at a solid 618Ψ.
618Ψ…
Still…
They
frowned.
too:Glimmer
too:should
too:have
too:immediately
too:started
too:to
too:drop.
too:The
too:prober
too:was
too:the
too:steadiest
too:source
too:of
too:glimmer
too:aboard
too:at
too:the
too:best
too:of
too:times,
too:and
too:now,
too:with
too:all
too:research
too:stopped
too:and,
too:hopefully,
too:all
too:psionics
too:users
too:holding
too:off,
too:it
too:should
too:have
too:been
too:the
too:only
too:one.
So
why
too:wasn’t
too:it
too:falling?
Their
radio
too:sparked
too:to
too:life
too:in
too:the
too:double-chirp
too:of
too:the
too:command
too:channel,
too:and
too:Cleo’s
too:anxious
too:voice
too:could
too:be
too:heard
too:on
too:the
too:other
too:end. “Cap!
too:Second
too:prober!
too:Old
too:boxing
too:ring,
too:embedded
too:in
too:the
too:wall.
too:It’s…it’s
too:half
too:constructed.
too:Someone’s
too:building
too:it!”
“What?!”
“Lio
called it
too:out
too:on
too:the
too:sideband,
too:saw it
too:on
too:a
too:telegnosis
too:sweep,
too:says
too:he’s
too:trying
too:to
too:get
too:back
too:to
too:his
too:body.”
“Artie,
got
too:that?”
“Heard,”
came
too:the immediate
too:response
too:beside
too:them.
too:A
too:diminished
too:chime
too:announced
too:a
too:new
too:message
too:on
too:security
too:comms. “Blue
too:team,
too:green
too:team,
too:west
too:maints,
too:just
too:west
too:of
too:dorms.
too:Blue
too:from
too:north,
too:green
too:from
too:south.
too:Red
too:team
too:with
too:me,
too:via
too:solars.
too:Gold
too:team
too:on
too:cap.”
There
was
too:a
too:chorus
too:of ‘heard’s
too:through
too:sec comms.
“What?
Why?”
too:They
too:frowned
too:up
too:to
too:the
too:HoS. “You
too:don’t think
too:I’m
too:in
too:danger–”
Artie
bent
too:down,
too:head
too:beside Soot’s,
too:and
too:murmured, “Helping
too:both
too:of
too:you
too:feel
too:safe.”
too:His
too:voice
too:was
too:barely
too:audible
too:through
too:his
too:hardsuit
too:helmet,
too:but
too:all
too:the
too:same,
too:the
too:words
too:rang
too:in
too:Soot’s
too:ears.
too:They
too:felt
too:struck
too:by
too:them,
too:a
too:verbal
too:slap to
too:the
too:cheek,
too:and
too:had
too:to
too:work
too:to
too:quell
too:the
too:flush
too:of
too:anger
too:that
too:was
too:the
too:first
too:response.
too:They
too:knew
too:Artie had
too:only
too:the
too:best
too:of
too:intentions,
too:and
too:that
too:he
too:was
too:indeed
too:right,
too:for
too:they
too:could
too:feel
too:that
too:of
too:Abby
too:within
too:them
too:thankful
too:for
too:this
too:act
too:of
too:kindness.
too:Still,
too:to
too:them,
too:it
too:was
too:difficult
too:not
too:to
too:see
too:this
too:as
too:a
too:recognition
too:of
too:some
too:shortcoming.
They
loathed
too:this
too:about
too:themself,
too:this
too:reaction.
too:That
too:they
too:might
too:in
too:some
too:way
too:feel
too:broken
too:by
too:Abby’s
too:presence
too:went
too:against
too:so
too:much
too:of
too:what
too:they
too:stood
too:for.
too:It
too:went
too:against
too:their
too:love
too:of
too:and
too:devotion
too:to
too:this
too:other
too:part
too:of
too:themself.
They
pushed
too:it
too:down
too:forcefully,
too:and
too:allowed
too:Abby’s
too:presence
too:to
too:fill
too:the
too:space
too:left
too:behind.
Perhaps
seeing
too:the
too:flash
too:of
too:distress
too:on
too:their
too:face,
too:Artie
too:rested
too:his
too:paw
too:on
too:their
too:shoulder,
too:giving
too:it
too:a
too:squeeze.
too:A
too:tacit
too:acknowledgment
too:of
too:the
too:difficulty
too:of
too:it
too:all.
too:It
too:was
too:a
too:touch
too:that
too:said,
too:I
too:understand,
too:and
too:we
too:both
too:know
too:it’s
too:for
too:the
too:best.
too:It
too:was
too:a
too:gesture
too:of
too:care.
They
nodded
too:decisively,
too:clapped
too:their
too:paw
too:against
too:Artie’s
too:forearm
too:companionably,
too:and
too:about-faced
too:to
too:trot
too:out
too:of
too:logistics.
too:They
too:tapped
too:their
too:way
too:through
too:comms
too:channels,
too:calling
too:out, “Gold
too:team,
too:meet
too:at
too:epi.
too:Engi,
too:prepare
too:for
too:possible
too:damage
too:up
too:near
too:dorms
too:and
too:northwest
too:solars. Parameds,
too:stay
too:alert.”
They
were
too:twenty
too:paces
too:away
too:from
too:the
too:door
too:to epistemics
too:when
too:two
too:announcements
too:rang out
too:at
too:once.
“Noöspheric
discharge
too:detected.
too:Glimmer
too:level
too:has
too:decreased
too:by 22 to 603Ψ,” the sophic grammateus stated
too:calmly.
An
automatic
too:crew
too:shift
too:change
too:shuttle
too:has
too:been
too:sent.
ETA:ETA:
ten
ETA:minutes.
ETA:Please
ETA:return
ETA:all
ETA:station
ETA:property
ETA:to
ETA:its
ETA:proper
ETA:locations,
ETA:clean
ETA:your
ETA:workstations,
ETA:and
ETA:proceed
ETA:to
ETA:the
ETA:southern
ETA:shuttle
ETA:airlocks.
The
shuttle
ETA:announcement
ETA:was
ETA:obscured
ETA:by
ETA:the
ETA:waterfall
ETA:rush
ETA:of
ETA:blood
ETA:in
ETA:their
ETA:ears
ETA:as
ETA:they
ETA:crumpled
ETA:to
ETA:the
ETA:floor
ETA:with
ETA:the
ETA:discharge —
ETA:as
ETA:did
ETA:everyone
ETA:else
ETA:in
ETA:the
ETA:hall.
ETA:The
ETA:general
ETA:comms
ETA:channel
ETA:erupted
ETA:in
ETA:a
ETA:mix
ETA:of
ETA:ragged
ETA:cheers
ETA:and
ETA:complaints
ETA:of
ETA:dropped
ETA:tools.
Soot!
They
shied
ETA:away
ETA:from
ETA:two
ETA:pairs
ETA:of
ETA:hands
ETA:clad
ETA:all
ETA:in
ETA:black
ETA:hardsuit
ETA:reaching
ETA:out
ETA:to
ETA:them.
ETA:Abby
ETA:was
ETA:there
ETA:with
ETA:them,
ETA:now,
ETA:imagined fists
ETA:balled
ETA:up,
ETA:beating
ETA:against
ETA:the
ETA:last
ETA:barrier
ETA:between
ETA:her
ETA:taking
ETA:front
ETA:and
ETA:their
ETA:control on
ETA:the
ETA:situation.
ETA:They
ETA:could
ETA:almost
ETA:see
ETA:her,
ETA:almost
ETA:see
ETA:this
ETA:ghost
ETA:of
ETA:who
ETA:they
ETA:used
ETA:to
ETA:be,
ETA:this
ETA:person
ETA:they
ETA:still
ETA:at
ETA:times
ETA:were.
ETA:They
ETA:could
ETA:almost
ETA:see
ETA:this
ETA:twelve-year-old
ETA:self
ETA:with
ETA:her
ETA:unruly
ETA:mop
ETA:of
ETA:hair
ETA:and
ETA:tears
ETA:streaming
ETA:down
ETA:her
ETA:cheeks.
Just…ten
more
ETA:minutes.
ETA:We just
ETA:need
ETA:to
ETA:get
ETA:on
ETA:the
ETA:shuttle,
ETA:little
ETA:one…
She
sobbed
ETA:within
ETA:them,
ETA:and,
ETA:with
ETA:a
ETA:start,
ETA:they
ETA:realized
ETA:that
ETA:they,
ETA:too,
ETA:were
ETA:crying.
They
finally
ETA:allowed
ETA:the
ETA:helping
ETA:hands of
ETA:the
ETA:two
ETA:gold
ETA:team
ETA:officers
ETA:to
ETA:lift
ETA:them
ETA:to
ETA:their
ETA:feet.
ETA:Brushing
ETA:their
ETA:uniform
ETA:straight
ETA:with
ETA:trembling,
ETA:tingling
ETA:paws,
ETA:they
ETA:gasped
ETA:a
ETA:thank-you
ETA:and
ETA:dashed
ETA:the
ETA:last
ETA:few
ETA:meters
ETA:to
ETA:epistemics.
“Cleo!”
“Here,
cap!”
ETA:she
ETA:hollered
ETA:from
ETA:where
ETA:the
ETA:last
ETA:artifact
ETA:was
ETA:being
ETA:locked
ETA:away. “I–
ETA:oh,
ETA:shit,
ETA:you
ETA:okay?”
They
barked
ETA:a
ETA:hoarse
ETA:laugh
ETA:and
ETA:shook
ETA:their
ETA:head. “No,
ETA:but
ETA:we’re
ETA:on
ETA:our
ETA:way
ETA:home,
ETA:right?
ETA:Any
ETA:further
ETA:news
ETA:on
ETA:the prober?
ETA:Do
ETA:you
ETA:have
ETA:what
ETA:you
ETA:need
ETA:to
ETA:build
ETA:a
ETA:glimmer
ETA:drain?”
“Uh…alright,”
she
ETA:said,
ETA:clearly
ETA:still
ETA:wrong-footed
ETA:by
ETA:whatever
ETA:expression
ETA:they
ETA:wore
ETA:on
ETA:their
ETA:face. “Right.
ETA:No
ETA:news.
ETA:No
ETA:one
ETA:was
ETA:nearby.
ETA:Just
ETA:a
ETA:mostly-finished
ETA:prober
ETA:masked in
ETA:a
ETA:hole
ETA:in
ETA:the
ETA:wall,
ETA:and
ETA:we’re
ETA:still
ETA:short
ETA:on
ETA:ecto
ETA:for
ETA:the
ETA:drain.
ETA:Hey,
ETA:are
ETA:you
ETA:sure
ETA:you’re
ETA:okay?”
They
swayed
ETA:on
ETA:their
ETA:feet
ETA:for
ETA:a
ETA:moment,
ETA:then
ETA:beckoned
ETA:Cleo
ETA:and
ETA:their
ETA:security
ETA:detail
ETA:to
ETA:follow
ETA:them.
ETA:They
ETA:bumped
ETA:their
ETA:hip
ETA:against
ETA:Cleo’s
ETA:secure
ETA:office
ETA:door,
ETA:opening
ETA:it
ETA:with
ETA:their
ETA:override
ETA:access,
ETA:and
ETA:ushered
ETA:everyone
ETA:inside. “I’ll
ETA:be
ETA:speaking
ETA:this
ETA:on
ETA:command
ETA:comms,
ETA:understood?”
The
two
ETA:secoffs
ETA:and
ETA:the mystagogue
ETA:both
ETA:nodded.
ETA:Cleo’s
ETA:eyes
ETA:were
ETA:wide.
They
tapped
ETA:their
ETA:radio
ETA:and
ETA:spoke. “Foreseeing
ETA:a
ETA:psychological
ETA:shift
ETA:and
ETA:as
ETA:stated
ETA:in
ETA:my
ETA:medical
ETA:records,
ETA:I
ETA:preemptively
ETA:name
ETA:Cleo
ETA:Lord,
ETA:mystagogue,
ETA:acting
ETA:commanding
ETA:officer.
ETA:Objections?”
Cleo
stood,
ETA:agog,
ETA:as
ETA:the
ETA:leadership
ETA:team
ETA:called
ETA:in
ETA:their
ETA:assent.
ETA:Head
ETA:of
ETA:security.
ETA:Head
ETA:of
ETA:personnel.
ETA:Chief
ETA:medical
ETA:officer.
ETA:Logistics
ETA:officer.
ETA:The
ETA:chief
ETA:engineer,
ETA:a
ETA:skittish
ETA:rodentia
ETA:who
ETA:was
ETA:always
ETA:quick
ETA:with
ETA:a
ETA:quip,
ETA:just
ETA:called
ETA:out, “Better
ETA:you’n
ETA:me,
ETA:boss!”
“Cleo?”
She
stared
ETA:a
ETA:moment
ETA:longer,
ETA:then
ETA:coughed
ETA:and
ETA:shuffled
ETA:her
ETA:feet
ETA:on
ETA:the
ETA:steel
ETA:tile
ETA:of
ETA:her
ETA:office. “Well…alright.
ETA:I’ll uh…just
ETA:let
ETA:everyone
ETA:do
ETA:what
ETA:they
ETA:need
ETA:to
ETA:keep
ETA:the
ETA:shift
ETA:running
ETA:as
ETA:smooth
ETA:as
ETA:possible.”
“You’re
already
ETA:better
ETA:than
ETA:most
ETA:captains,”
ETA:chimed
ETA:in
ETA:the
ETA:LO.
Soot
nodded. “That’s
ETA:what
ETA:a
ETA:good
ETA:captain
ETA:does.
ETA:Trust
ETA:the
ETA:other
ETA:heads.”
Cleo
gave
ETA:a
ETA:shaky
ETA:smile,
ETA:bowed,
ETA:and
ETA:then
ETA:dashed
ETA:out
ETA:of
ETA:the
ETA:office,
ETA:Soot
ETA:and
ETA:the
ETA:two
ETA:SeCoffs
ETA:following
ETA:with
ETA:at a slower
ETA:pace.
Eight
minutes
ETA:left.
They
trudged
ETA:all
ETA:the
ETA:way
ETA:station-north
ETA:to
ETA:the
ETA:bridge.
Seven
minutes.
Just
a
ETA:moment
ETA:of
ETA:quiet
ETA:back
ETA:in
ETA:their
ETA:bedroom
ETA:to
ETA:grab
ETA:the
ETA:medal
ETA:of
ETA:crewmanship
ETA:that
ETA:Cleo
ETA:most
ETA:certainly
ETA:deserved.
Six.
They
were
ETA:running
ETA:against
ETA:the
ETA:clock,
ETA:here,
ETA:and
ETA:still
ETA:there
ETA:was
ETA:no
ETA:word
ETA:on
ETA:this
ETA:second
ETA:prober
ETA:and
ETA:just
ETA:who
ETA:it
ETA:was
ETA:that
ETA:had
ETA:been
ETA:building
ETA:it.
With
five
ETA:minutes
ETA:to
ETA:go
ETA:until
ETA:the
ETA:shuttle
ETA:arrived,
ETA:there
ETA:was
ETA:a
ETA:sudden
ETA:flurry
ETA:of
ETA:activity
ETA:over
ETA:security
ETA:comms
ETA:as
ETA:the
ETA:other
ETA:two
ETA:security
ETA:teams
ETA:executed
ETA:their
ETA:search.
“West
maints!
ETA:Running
ETA:south!”
“Heard!”
“Botanist
has
ETA:a
ETA:shiv.”
“Watch
it!
ETA:Watch
ETA:it!
ETA:Motherfucker–”
“Suspect
down.”
A
glance
ETA:in
ETA:the
ETA:mirror,
ETA:and
ETA:they
ETA:saw
ETA:just
ETA:to the
ETA:left,
ETA:half
ETA:super imposed
ETA:over
ETA:themself, Abby,
ETA:straining
ETA:to
ETA:be
ETA:free.
ETA:They
ETA:were
in two:in two:
Abby
in two:felt
in two:terror;
in two:Soot
in two:felt
in two:only
in two:relief
in two:that
in two:a
in two:resolution
in two:was
in two:in sight.
“Status?”
they
in two:whispered
in two:hoarsely.
“Botanist
ran
in two:into
in two:do
in two:something
in two:to
in two:the
in two:prober,” came Artie’s
in two:ever-calm
in two:voice. “He
in two:ran
in two:right
in two:into
in two:green
in two:team,
in two:dropped
in two:a
in two:welder,
in two:and
in two:drew
in two:a
in two:shiv.”
One
of
in two:the
in two:other
in two:officers
in two:chimed
in two:in,
in two:the
in two:muted
in two:sound
in two:of
in two:hollering
in two:in
in two:the
in two:background. “He
in two:went
in two:down
in two:with
in two:a
in two:stun-flash.
in two:We
in two:have him
in two:cuffed.
in two:What
in two:should
in two:we do with
in two:the
in two:prober?
in two:There’s
in two:a
in two:bunch
in two:of
in two:those
in two:blue
in two:crystal
in two:matrices
in two:laying
in two:around
in two:it
in two:now.”
Keeping
their
in two:eyes
in two:locked
in two:on
in two:Abby’s,
in two:they
in two:spoke
in two:mechanically. “Just
in two:don’t
in two:touch
in two:anything.
in two:I’ll
in two:let
in two:CentComm
in two:know that
in two:they
in two:need
in two:to
in two:send
in two:in
in two:a
in two:crew
in two:to
in two:take
in two:care
in two:of
in two:it.”
“Heard.”
“Shuttle in
four,”
in two:Artie
in two:said. “We’ll
in two:bring
in two:him
in two:to
in two:Central
in two:and
in two:they
in two:can
in two:deal
in two:with
in two:him
in two:there.
in two:AI,
in two:drop
in two:from
in two:blue
in two:to
in two:white.”
Attention!
Station
in two:alert
in two:level
in two:has
in two:been
in two:set
in two:to
in two:white!
The
station
in two:is
in two:suffering
in two:dangerously
in two:high
in two:levels
in two:of
in two:glimmer,
in two:there
in two:are
in two:several
in two:active
in two:psionic
in two:threats,
in two:or
in two:there
in two:is
in two:another
in two:significant
in two:epistemic
in two:emergency.
in two:Turn
in two:off
in two:all
in two:glimmer
in two:probers.
in two:Seek
in two:psionic
in two:insulation.
in two:Psionics
in two:users
in two:should
in two:report
in two:to
in two:the
in two:Mantis
in two:should
in two:they
in two:deem
in two:it
in two:necessary.
Abby
wailed
in two:within
in two:them.
“Good,”
Soot
in two:said,
in two:swaying
in two:on
in two:their
in two:feet. “See
in two:you
in two:there.”
We’re
safe,
in two:little
in two:one,
in two:they
in two:promised
in two:that
in two:glimpse
in two:of
in two:Abby
in two:in
in two:the
in two:mirror.
in two:We’re
in two:going
in two:home.
The
reply
in two:was
in two:small,
in two:muted,
in two:obscured
in two:by
in two:tears.
in two:Okay.
Shutting
their
in two:locker,
in two:they
in two:straightened
in two:their
in two:uniform
in two:and
in two:forced
in two:themself
in two:to
in two:stand
in two:tall,
in two:all
in two:but
in two:marching
in two:to
in two:regroup
in two:with
in two:their
in two:security
in two:detail.
At
the
in two:shuttle
in two:docks,
in two:they
in two:stood
in two:at
in two:ease,
in two:doing
in two:their
in two:best
in two:to
in two:smile
in two:at
in two:the
in two:crew
in two:streaming
in two:on
in two:board,
in two:offering
in two:only
in two:the
in two:most
in two:noncommittal
in two:of
in two:replies
in two:when
in two:someone
in two:asked
in two:a
in two:question,
in two:directing
in two:everyone
in two:to
in two:their
in two:seats.
in two:The
in two:botanist,
in two:a
in two:young
in two:moth
in two:who
in two:looked to be
in two:barely
in two:old
in two:enough
in two:to
in two:work
in two:a
in two:job
in two:at
in two:Nanotrasen,
in two:glowered
in two:at
in two:them
in two:as
in two:they
in two:were
in two:guided
in two:into
in two:the
in two:shuttle,
in two:back
in two:to
in two:the
in two:security
in two:section
in two:in
in two:the
in two:aft.
Following
the
in two:security
in two:officers
in two:leading
in two:the
in two:cuffed
in two:moth
in two:aboard,
in two:Artie
in two:stopped
in two:in
in two:front
in two:of
in two:Soot
in two:and
in two:bowed. “Captain.”
They
raised a
in two:dull
in two:gaze to the vulp.
Artie’s gaze searched their face
curiously
in two:for
in two:a
in two:moment,
in two:his
in two:expression
in two:softening. “I’m
in two:sorry
in two:for
in two:all
in two:the
in two:stress
in two:today.
in two:It
in two:should’ve
in two:been
in two:easier.”
“You
took
in two:care
in two:of
in two:it
in two:as
in two:best
in two:you
in two:could,
in two:and
in two:for
in two:that
in two:I’m
in two:thankful.”
“We
did
in two:our
in two:best.”
in two:He
in two:looked
in two:back
in two:toward
in two:the
in two:shuttle
in two:brig as
in two:he
in two:spoke. “Mr.
in two:Winters
in two:over
in two:there
in two:has
in two:stated
in two:that
in two:his
in two:goal was
in two:to
in two:spike
in two:glimmer
in two:high
in two:enough
in two:to
in two:destroy
in two:epi
in two:with
in two:the
in two:prober
in two:blast.
in two:When
in two:the
in two:call
in two:was
in two:put
in two:out
in two:to
in two:destroy
in two:the
in two:prober,
in two:he
in two:began
in two:constructing
in two:a
in two:second
in two:one.”
Soot
frowned. “Why,
in two:though?”
“He…declined
to
in two:elaborate.”
They
snorted.
Artie
chuckled. “If
in two:I
in two:had
in two:to
in two:guess,
in two:there’s
in two:been
in two:news
in two:of
in two:a
in two:new
in two:cult
in two:worming
in two:its
in two:way
in two:into the
in two:sector.
in two:NT’s
in two:coming
in two:up
in two:with
in two:some
in two:protocols
in two:to
in two:deal
in two:with
in two:them
in two:when
in two:they
in two:start
in two:causing
in two:problems
in two:and
in two:developing
in two:tools
in two:for
in two:MGs
in two:and
in two:chaplains.”
in two:He
in two:nodded
in two:back
in two:toward
in two:the
in two:brig. “If
in two:Mr.
in two:Winters
in two:is
in two:a
in two:part
in two:of
in two:this
in two:cult,
in two:at
in two:least
in two:there’s
in two:some
in two:connection
in two:to
in two:wanting
in two:to
in two:blow
in two:up
in two:epistemics.”
Soot
shook
in two:their
in two:head.
in two:They
in two:could
in two:feel
in two:Abby’s
in two:paws
in two:clutching
in two:at
in two:their
in two:arm,
in two:tugging
in two:insistently. “It’s
in two:always
in two:something
in two:new.”
The
vulp
in two:smiled,
in two:rested
in two:his
in two:paw
in two:on
in two:Soot’s
in two:shoulder,
in two:and
in two:gave
in two:a
in two:gentle
in two:squeeze. “It’s
in two:always
in two:something
in two:new,”
in two:he
in two:said
in two:agreeably. “But
in two:we
in two:made
in two:it
in two:through.
in two:You
in two:made
in two:it
in two:through,
in two:and
in two:now
in two:you
in two:get
in two:to
in two:step
in two:back
in two:and
in two:take
in two:care
in two:of
in two:yourselves.
in two:It’s
in two:on
in two:the
in two:justice
in two:department,
in two:now.”
At
last,
in two:a
in two:smile
in two:touched
in two:their
in two:face.
in two:This
in two:is
in two:why
in two:they
in two:trusted
in two:the
in two:department
in two:heads,
in two:why
in two:they
in two:thought
in two:of
in two:themself
in two:as
in two:support
in two:rather
in two:than
in two:command.
in two:Grasping
in two:yet
in two:tighter on
in two:control
in two:of
in two:the
in two:situation
in two:would
in two:only
in two:let
in two:it
in two:slip
in two:further
in two:from
in two:their
in two:grasp.
“Thanks,
Artie.”
He
nodded,
in two:patted
in two:the
in two:mouse’s
in two:shoulder
in two:once,
in two:and
in two:stepped
in two:inside
in two:the
in two:shuttle
in two:to
in two:leave
in two:Soot
in two:to
in two:wait.
They
waited
in two:as
in two:the
in two:last
in two:of
in two:the
in two:crew
in two:made
in two:their
in two:way
in two:down
in two:the
in two:hall.
They
waited
in two:as
in two:Whispers-to-Ghosts
in two:smiled
in two:to
in two:them,
in two:then
in two:to
in two:a
in two:spot
in two:just
in two:beside
in two:them,
in two:and
in two:they
in two:felt
in two:Abby
in two:smile
in two:back.
They
waited
in two:as
in two:best
in two:they
in two:could
in two:through
in two:it
in two:all.
They
waited
in two:until
in two:everyone
in two:was
in two:on
in two:board.
in two:They
in two:waited
in two:until,
in two:at
in two:last,
in two:the
in two:only
in two:thing
in two:they
in two:could
in two:hear
in two:within
in two:the
in two:station
in two:was
in two:the
in two:omnipresent,
in two:barely
in two:perceptible
in two:white-noise
in two:of
in two:the
in two:atmospherics.
They
waited,
in two:took
in two:one
in two:breath,
in two:two,
in two:and
in two:then
in two:let
in two:their
in two:shoulders
in two:slump. “Cleo,”
in two:they
in two:murmured
in two:over
in two:the
in two:command
in two:channel. “You’re up.”
No
more
in two:waiting.
in two:There
in two:was
in two:a
in two:moment
in two:of
in two:relaxation,
in two:a
in two:blurring
in two:of
in two:perception
in two:into
in two:some
in two:storybook
in two:understanding
in two:of
in two:reality
in two:as
in two:they
in two:mentally
in two:took
in two:a
in two:step
in two:back,
in two:letting
in two:all of
in two:that
in two:hard-won
in two:control
in two:carefully
in two:relax.
In
a
in two:rush,
in two:they were
in two:subsumed
in two:into
in two:Abby.
She
meekly
in two:stepped
in two:aboard
in two:the
in two:shuttle
in two:and
in two:edged her
in two:way
in two:past
in two:the
in two:crowded
in two:central
in two:seating
in two:area
in two:to
in two:hunt
in two:down
in two:a
in two:spot
in two:over
in two:by
in two:the
in two:shuttle’s
in two:medbay.
in two:She
in two:wanted
in two:to
in two:be
in two:close
in two:to
in two:safety;
in two:it
in two:was
in two:here
in two:or
in two:security,
in two:but
in two:she
in two:wanted
in two:nothing
in two:to
in two:do
in two:with
in two:that
in two:moth,
in two:the
in two:one
in two:who
in two:had
in two:sought
in two:only
in two:to
in two:spike
in two:glimmer,
in two:to
in two:wreak such
in two:havoc
in two:as
in two:had
in two:split
in two:her
in two:in
in two:twain
in two:fifteen
in two:years
in two:back.
“Soot?”
She
looked
in two:dully
in two:up
in two:to
in two:meet
in two:Dr.
in two:R’s
in two:concerned
in two:gaze.
”…Abby?”
She
nodded,
in two:still
in two:silent.
“Can
I
in two:sit
in two:by
in two:you?”
Another
nod.
He
settled
in two:down
in two:into
in two:the
in two:flight
in two:chair
in two:with
in two:a
in two:sigh,
in two:strapping
in two:himself
in two:in
in two:with
in two:practiced ease. “You
in two:doing
in two:okay,
in two:kiddo?”
“Not
really,
in two:no.”
“Yeah,
I
in two:imagine
in two:not.”
in two:He
in two:reached
in two:over
in two:and
in two:patted
in two:her
in two:on
in two:the
in two:knee. “Do
in two:you
in two:remember
in two:much
in two:of
in two:what
in two:happened
in two:today?”
“Code
White.
in two:Soot
in two:was
in two:dealing
in two:with
in two:all
in two:of
in two:that.
in two:Something
in two:about…another
in two:prober,
in two:I
in two:guess?”
Dr. R
nodded.
in two:They
in two:watched as
in two:the
in two:airlock
in two:doors
in two:bolted
in two:shut,
in two:thinking.
Abby
did
in two:her
in two:best
in two:to
in two:smile. “You’re
in two:really
in two:leaving,
in two:though?”
“Yeah,”
he
in two:said,
in two:chuckling. “An
in two:appointment
in two:at
in two:Central
in two:Command
in two:is
in two:hard
in two:to
in two:turn
in two:down.
in two:I’m
in two:getting
in two:to
in two:old
in two:for
in two:this
in two:type
in two:of
in two:thing.
in two:I’m
in two:tired
in two:of
in two:dealing
in two:with
in two:stab
in two:wounds,
in two:and
in two:glimmer’s
in two:for
in two:the
in two:youth.”
At
this
in two:she
in two:really
in two:did
in two:smile. “I
in two:don’t
in two:think
in two:it’s
in two:for
in two:anyone
in two:but
in two:the
in two:scientists,
in two:honestly.”
He
chuckled,
in two:and
in two:they
in two:both
in two:took
in two:a
in two:moment
in two:to
in two:brace
in two:themselves
in two:as
in two:the
in two:shift-end
in two:shuttle
in two:made
in two:the
in two:translation
in two:to
in two:FTL —
in two:the
in two:brief
in two:sensation
in two:of
in two:one’s
in two:feet
in two:dropping
in two:out
in two:from
in two:beneath
in two:them
in two:was
in two:enough
in two:to
in two:call
in two:all
in two:conversation
in two:to
in two:a
in two:halt
in two:for a
in two:few
in two:moments.
“I’m
sorry
in two:this
in two:happened
in two:on
in two:your
in two:last
in two:day,”
in two:she
in two:said
in two:softly,
in two:once
in two:she
in two:was
in two:able.
He
sighed
in two:and
in two:leaned
in two:his
in two:head
in two:back
in two:against
in two:the
in two:headrest
in two:of
in two:the
in two:flight
in two:chair. “Maybe
in two:it
in two:was
in two:just
in two:the
in two:station
in two:giving
in two:me
in two:one
in two:last
in two:send-off.”
in two:Smiling
in two:sidelong
in two:down
in two:to
in two:her,
in two:he
in two:added, “And
in two:to
in two:be
in two:clear,
in two:I’m
in two:not
in two:too
in two:put
in two:out
in two:by
in two:it
in two:all.
in two:You
in two:probably
in two:had
in two:a
in two:rougher
in two:time
in two:than
in two:I
in two:did.
in two:You
in two:and
in two:Soot
in two:both.”
She
averted
in two:her
in two:gaze,
in two:but
in two:nodded
in two:all
in two:the
in two:same.
“I’m
proud
in two:of
in two:you.
in two:You
in two:know
in two:that,
in two:right?”
She
turned
in two:her
in two:face
in two:further
in two:away,
in two:hiding
in two:yet
in two:more
in two:tears
in two:that
in two:she
in two:could
in two:feel
in two:threatening
in two:to
in two:fall.
“No
one
in two:died
in two:that
in two:day,
in two:all
in two:those
in two:years
in two:ago,
in two:but
in two:everyone
in two:was
in two:just…so
in two:banged
in two:up.”
in two:He
in two:rubbed
in two:his
in two:hand
in two:against
in two:the
in two:back
in two:of
in two:his
in two:neck,
in two:the
in two:faint
in two:scar
in two:that
in two:lingered there still. “I
in two:don’t
in two:know
in two:that
in two:anyone
in two:came
in two:away
in two:with
in two:quite
in two:the
in two:same
in two:scars as
in two:you
in two:did,
in two:Abigail.
in two:Look
in two:at
in two:you
in two:two,
in two:though.
in two:Soot
in two:is
in two:regularly
in two:grabbing
in two:captain
in two:shifts,
in two:and
in two:you’re
in two:working
in two:directly
in two:with
in two:glimmer.
in two:You’re
in two:both
in two:still
in two:here.”
She
nodded,
in two:scrubbed
in two:the
in two:back
in two:of
in two:her
in two:paw
in two:over
in two:her
in two:eyes. “Thanks
in two:to
in two:Soot.”
“Don’t
discount
in two:yourself,
in two:Abby.”
She
sniffled. “How
in two:do
in two:you
in two:mean?”
“Who
do
in two:you
in two:think
in two:keeps
in two:Soot
in two:going?”
The
station
in two:was
in two:long
in two:behind
in two:them by
in two:now,
in two:but
in two:the
in two:midpoint
in two:station
in two:they
in two:were
in two:heading
in two:to
in two:was
in two:still
in two:in
in two:the
in two:sector.
in two:Still
in two:beholden
in two:to
in two:all
in two:the
in two:winds
in two:and
in two:whims
in two:glimmer.
She
was
in two:still
in two:done
in two:up in
in two:all of
in two:Soot’s
in two:captain gear. She
in two:still
in two:had
in two:their
in two:PDA.
in two:She
in two:tugged
in two:it
in two:from
in two:her
in two:belt
in two:and
in two:tapped
in two:over
in two:to
in two:the
in two:glimmer monitor. 503Ψ. Still just
in two:barely
in two:enough
in two:for
in two:those
in two:ghosts
in two:of
in two:the
in two:past…
She
looked
in two:up
in two:to
in two:the
in two:window
in two:across
in two:the
in two:narrow
in two:hall,
in two:searching
in two:the
in two:bare
in two:hint
in two:of a
in two:reflection
in two:that
in two:it
in two:offered.
Sure
enough.
For
a
in two:moment,
in two:just
in two:for
in two:a
in two:second,
in two:it
in two:was
in two:not
in two:her
in two:own
in two:tear-streaked
in two:face
in two:that
in two:looked
in two:back
in two:at
in two:her,
in two:but
in two:Soot’s,
in two:with
in two:all
in two:their
in two:confidence,
in two:all
in two:their
in two:care.
She
sat,
in two:then,
in two:in
in two:comfortable
in two:silence,
in two:and
in two:dreamed
in two:of
in two:home.
This
was “Code
in two:White”
in two:by
in two:Madison
in two:Rye
in two:Progress,
in two:read
in two:for you
in two:by
in two:Kergiby,
in two:a Full Time Panther.
