First Flyght – Chapter 28

“And that’s it.” With a grunt, I twist the ratchet and secure the last bolt into place.

“I can let go?” Carlos pulls his hands away from the fish tank and lets them hover before I nod. He slaps his hands together, ridding them of the dust of Ossun that clung to the large pieces of my aquaponics set up.

I smile at the system as I step away from it and stretch my back. Soon, there will be water and fish in the tanks. The growing trays span the length of the auxiliary bay, and all the pipes are connected between them and the tanks. My sensors are up and running too.

“All right.” I nod as I survey the room. “All right. Good. This will do.”

“What about the lights?” Carlos asks, throwing himself into my chair. Something tells me he doesn’t get much in the way of exercise.

“That’s the tricky part.” I throw my tools back into my toolbox. “I can germinate seeds with the ships’ lights and warmth, but they won’t grow until I get the full spectrum LEDs installed in here. And I can’t do that without a mechanic. I need them wired directly into the system.”

I grab my towel and mop up my face as Marcelo enters the room.

“Did I hear the word ‘mechanic?’” he asks. He’s dressed up again, probably just back from interviews and scouting missions on Palo Alto. “Wow. You got all of your equipment set up. I had wondered when you’d get around to it.”

His smile is warm and kind, and I dial down my defenses. He’s a good guy and not being critical. Remember that, Vivian.

“It was time. I have plants to grow. Deals to make.”

“Indeed, you do.”

So far, no one but Ken knows the details of what was in Dad’s seed box. I’m going to shower and sleep, and as soon as we’re through the jump ring to Ossun, I’ll sit everyone down and have the conversation.

What will they think of me? I’ve become a drug dealer, something I thought was beneath me. Well, not yet. But soon.

When I said I would do anything for my family, was this what I meant?

It eats away at me while I stroll through my equipment and explain to Marcelo how it works. How did I go from summa cum laude to peddling drugs?

Actually, come to think of it, only smart people would do something like this. I have the brains to figure out how to grow everything, make what I need to distribute, handle the financials, and keep it all undercover.

“So now, I need the lights installed,” I say to Marcelo, pointing my finger down the meridian of the stacks of growing trays. “Above each. But they need to draw steady power, and I don’t want to upset the balance of the Amagi.”

“Well, I have good news for you.” Marcelo crosses his arms and leans back against the open wall. “I have two candidates for you to meet once we reach Ossun. One of them lives in Sakata City. The other is currently employed by a maintenance company at Ossun Orbital Station One. Since we’ll be in both places, I’ve asked them both to come onboard the Amagi for a week so we can get to know them.”

I swallow, and my throat is suddenly as dry as sand.

“Great. We need a mechanic.”

“These men prefer to be called ‘engineers.’” Marcelo corrects me.

“Okay, fine. Engineers.” I’m too tired to argue that the term doesn’t matter.

“I can’t wait until that’s no longer my job.” Carlos pumps his fist as he makes his way out of the bay. “I had run out of duct tape, anyway.”

“Ha, ha!” I yell after him, then drop my voice to Marcelo. “He better be kidding.”

He shrugs. “I’ve never once looked in the engine room.”

“Captain?” Ai’s voice echoes through the bay. “Skylar would like you to come to the bridge. It’s time to say sayonara to Palo Alto and find love elsewhere.”

Marcelo and I smile at each other. We leave the auxiliary bay and make our way past the cargo bay.

“She’s growing on me,” I whisper, and realize that Ai can still hear me, so why bother? “You’re the best, Ai!” I raise my voice. “Tell Skylar I’ll be right there.”

“Aye aye, Captain…” Except she purrs it like she’s about to jump into bed with me.

I laugh, and Lia waves from knee deep in the pigs. She has a smile on her face so things must be going well, despite the noise and smell these pigs make.

“Well, I’m looking forward to meeting these two men. Will I have to make a choice in a certain amount of time?”

Marcelo smiles as he breaks off to head to his shuttle. While it’s docked on the Amagi, he can use it like his quarters.

“Oh, Ms. Vivian, you never have to choose. But they may not always choose you.”

His smile is wicked, and my lips drop back into a frown. He winks at me.

“No worries. I’m sure they’ll love you just like everyone does.” He waves as he heads off.

Totally not true. There are plenty of people out there that hate me. Let’s hope we never run into them.

I should stop off in my room, shower and change, before I subject anyone else to my sweaty body, but I don’t like to keep Skylar waiting.

“Hey,” I say to Skylar as I enter the bridge. This is not a place I spend a lot of time even if I’m the captain. This is Skylar’s domain, and she fits in here so well.

She’s dressed comfortably today, looking like she’s ready to go run on the treadmill, not fly the ship. But she’s gorgeous as usual. I hover over her before she looks up.

“Hey!” She breaks her eyes away from the ship’s systems. “Wow. You look like you’ve been exercising. We should put this one in the record books.”

I crack a smile, still remembering how she told me to stay away from Ken.

Yet… I went and did the opposite.

“Very funny. What’s up? Ai called for me.”

She waves at the second seat, the one meant for me. “Have a seat. You need to interface with OS Command before we get clearance to leave.”

Orbital Stations always have these routines to follow that I don’t understand fully yet.

“How do I do this again?”

I pass my hand through the Hecate interface, and it displays my credentials.

“Signal Command and get in the queue. They’ll step you through everything.”

I find the signal mechanism, and I’m put in the queue. Third in line waiting.

“I just want to say…” Skylar turns to me, so I turn my head to acknowledge her. “That I know we’re in a tough spot, but I think you’re doing a great job.” She smiles, and I feel a gram of guilt for not having told her of my alternate plan yet. But that confession is only a few hours away. Will she be angry or impressed? I have no idea, and my insides squirm with doubt.

“Thanks. I’m sure we’re going to get through this, and I have some good news to tell you about, once we’re through the jump ring.”

“Oh really?” She raises her eyebrows. “Look at you, being all secretive and shit.” She throws her head back and laughs. “I love the suspense.”

“This is Orbital Station Command,” interrupts in my ear. I turn back to the interface.

“This is Captain Vivian Kawabata of the Amagi. We’re requesting permission to… leave?”

The man on the other end of the call lifts a corner of his lips. “Are you unsure of your status?”

“Uh, no.” Ugh. Kill me now. “I’m new at this. Sorry.”

“You’re requesting permission to disconnect from Orbital Station,” he informs me.

“Yes. Yes, I am. Requesting permission to disconnect from Orbital Station.” My face heats.

“Smooth. Real smooth, Viv,” Skylar says with a chuckle.

“Amagi cruiser, we show your accounts are paid and in good standing. You have permission to disconnect from Orbital Station and proceed to the Palo Alto-Ossun jump ring. We confirm that you have a 00:43 reservation slot for jump. You are required to check into Customs on the other side. Confirm?”

“Confirmed,” I reply.

“Thank you for docking with Orbital Station. You are clear to disconnect. We hope to see you back again someday.” The man nods curtly and disappears.

“Okay.” Skylar works through her list of procedures, and within a few moments, the pressure in the ship fluctuates enough to pop my ears.

Then everything out the bridge window dips.

“And we’re away!” She takes control of the ship, her hands moving between the controls on the dash and her interface. “Are you ready for more grand games and good fun?”

Her smile is infectious, and I can’t help but smile back.

I pull my legs up and hug them to my chest as she turns the ship towards the jump ring. In a little over an hour, we’ll be returning to the Brazilianos System. Back home and onward to more business, more trials, more decisions. But most of all, more adventures await us on the other side of that gateway.

“Let’s do it.”