CHAPTER FIVE

Jen stood in front of her station, suited up to protect against the toxic air, as she watched the ship from Perros land. It kicked up huge clouds of red soil as it touched down, and even though she was wearing a helmet, she raised her arm reflexively to shield her face.

The ship’s doors opened, and three suited figures jumped out. Jen waved them over and led them into the airlock.

As soon as breathable oxygen had replaced the toxic air, they unlocked their suits. “Thanks so much for coming,” Jen said as soon as her helmet was off.

“That’s our job,” the team’s leader, a tall and wiry man, said. “What’s the problem?”

Jen watched as they unsuited. Their team was composed of two men and a woman; they all looked tough and capable—exactly what she needed. “Long story,” she said as they hung up their suits, "but it’s been pretty crazy down here. Come in, and I’ll explain everything.”

The doors slid open, and they entered the main part of the station. Jen turned to smile at the assistance team as Alessicka and Carly, as quiet as shadows, appeared behind them. Jen didn’t need to give any signal; they all knew what needed to be done.

“We’ve made some changes on this station. Want to see them?” she asked, beaming at the three newest additions to their small colony as her sisters shed their human skins.

Part Two

STATION 332

CHAPTER SIX

“Diamonds, huh?” Charles watched the glittery sand-like shards rise in a flurry around their landing ship.

“Yeah, they’re sure pretty,” Jay said from the seat opposite her.

“I hate diamonds.”

Jay twisted to look at her, a delighted grin spreading over his stubbled face. “What, really? A girl as pretty as you doesn’t like diamonds? You continue to surprise me, Charlie.”

“Screw you,” she spat back. “They’re ugly, overpriced lumps of carbon. And please, keep calling me Charlie. I’d love an excuse to force-feed you your own genitals.”

Jay was wise enough not to retort, though his grin widened further, exposing more of his large white teeth. Horse’s teeth, Charles thought to herself as she flashed him her middle finger.

Their ship hit the swirling surface, its landing struts digging deep into the bed of clear dust. The engines powered down, and Charles unhooked her safety belt, stood up, and stretched with a relieved sigh. The moon had made for a difficult landing, and her muscles were sore from being held in the seat for two hours.

The door leading to the pilot’s quarters opened, and Robin jumped out, her face looking even more haggard than normal. She tied her steel-grey hair in a short ponytail as she glanced between her two team members. “Suit up. We’re going to do this job quick, okay? Get in, and get out. If they ask us to stay for tea, you have my permission to punch their faces.”

Charles laughed as she pulled her suit out of the overhead compartment and started shimmying into it. She’d first met Commander Robin an hour before boarding their ship, and she thought it was a damn shame she hadn’t known her longer. The older woman hated her job with an intensity that Charles could only respect.