Static crackled, and something unintelligible came from the cockpit.
“Comms are next on the list,” Greaves announced with a sniff. “I’ll do what I can to boost the transmission for now.”
“Ship,” Izz threatened with a wave of her wrench as she headed to the garbled noises. “You don’t have to worry about life support.”
“Life in space is lonely even with you. Maybe I could join the Antelope as part of their crew as we pass in the galactic night.”
She picked up the microphone and held her finger over the button but didn’t press it. “And you’re an illegal sentient AI that needs a human if you want to stay active.”
Silence, blessed silence answered her. She pressed the button, knowing she’d pay for the comment later. It was worth it, with orbital station docking nearly in sight.
“Monster here, planet hopping our specialty, here to serve all your antique salvage needs,” Izz announced in a singsong voice. “Mara, that you? How’s tricks?”
“About that planet hopping,” a familiar voice answered, clearer than she’d heard the radio since she’d bought the ship. “Maybe don’t advertise it, or pick another port. The Antelope barely made it out before they shut down for quarantine. Jo’s been warning every ship headed that way.”
She let out a growl. “I’m low on supplies and fuel, running heavy with goods, and you’re telling me there’s a damn plague?”
“Worse,” a new voice interrupted, this one quieter. “Religious craze. Fringe group when I grew up there, but they’ve been running unchecked.”
Letting go of the button, she rubbed the bridge of her nose and felt her ears pop. “Greaves, start running calculations. See if we can get there.”
“How’s that turn into a quarantine? I can’t just pop in for some fuel and away again?”
“War.” Mara’s voice was grim. “Ships are a frivolous luxury because Balatrog will provide for the planet’s needs. Station’s fighting off fanatics who shuttled up to sabotage the place.”
“Ask us how we know,” Jo said, weariness dragging out his words. “And what that grezeshkin we tossed out the airlock wanted to do with the Antelope. Snuck himself in and tried to take everyone on the dock down when we launched.”
“They’re willing to use technology,” Mara added. “Might know you’re coming already if they made it into the control tower.”
“The whole station’ll burn soon enough,” Jo grumbled. “Glad my parents aren’t around to see it, and that my sister moved to the undersea colony.”
“I might need a tow,” Izz said, and glared at the upper hull. “If my ship would give me the final calculations, I’ll know for sure whether I can make it to Clositside instead.”
Clanks came through the transmission. “What’s that noise?”
“Defense systems activated,” Greaves interjected, sounding more robotic than normal. “Threat detected. Offensive systems activated.”
“What? No, those are my friends.” Izz held out a hand toward the speaker. “Stop!”
“Weapons free.”
***
This week, my prompt came from Becky Jones: Planet-hopping was a specialty of hers.
My prompt went to Leigh Kimmel: Things just felt unfinished.
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