Allison yawned and blinked tiredly as she flipped through the various options on the wall screen. She was slouched on her couch, so her head was barely visible above the cushions. Her feet were up on the coffee table. She was wearing a pair of sunglasses, a pink Space Stallions T-shirt, a pair of black leggings and a pair of bunny rabbit slippers she’d found in Hazel’s old room. They obviously had not fit the girl because they were still in the package and stuffed into the closet. She was also hung over again. At least this time she remembered getting there.

She was doing what the rich teens of the thirtieth century would refer to as doom shopping. She didn’t know this because she’d never had any amount of money to her name. Before Eyre left for home, she’d transferred the measly sum of three hundred thousand credits to her online account from her trust fund. She’d made all of fifteen thousand credits since she started in the summertime and that included a month of hazard pay, this was before taxes of course leaving her with a grand total of eight thousand credits to her name, before the whole trust fund thing. She sighed and clicked on another few outfits before going to the check out. She’d managed to spend a thousand credits on clothes. That was her splurging.

Allison flipped back to the Sabre 9230. The fastest motorcycle on the market. No battery, just pure fusion power. The kind of bike that was fast enough to do something stupid on. She put it into her online shopping cart. With delivery to Eden Prime it came to just under two hundred and eighty thousand credits. She flipped it out of her cart and changed the color to blood red. Added the extra holo-HUD interface. Then put it back into her cart. Cost after taxes and delivery, two hundred and ninety thousand and six hundred fifty-six credits. Her mom would kill her. She popped it in and out of the cart a few more times pondering if it was worth the fight.

Allison groaned and rubbed her forehead when she heard the building’s front door buzzer. She absently flipped on the front door vid to picture in picture. It was Miles carrying two cups of coffee and a bag of food. She scowled because he looked downright perky this morning. She just hit the unlock button. A few minutes later he came out of the elevator and knocked on her door, which she unlocked with her holo-HUD.

“Hey! Good morning kid, how you feeling?”

Allison adjusted her sunglasses so more light was blocked from the annoyingly bright dome hologram. He put a coffee down in front of her and dropped the bag of food on the couch. She looked at him through her sunglasses.

“How are you so happy? We drank half of the alcohol in the bar last night.”

He shrugged.

“You know you can block the light with your windows right, kid?”

Allison groaned.

“Too much effort. Easier to just put sunglasses on.”

Miles shook his head and went over to the apartment’s control panel and turned-on shade mode. The apartment darkened. This left the wall screen as the only real light source. He stood beside the couch with his arms crossed.

“Wow, a Sabre 9230, must be nice. Your military gig must pay really well.”

Allison pulled off her sunglasses and leaned forward. She dropped them on the table and grabbed the coffee. She took a drink and made a face.

“Soya Milk?”

He shrugged.

“What do you think this is, a colony world? It’s not like we have cows.”

Allison grimaced and took another drink. She dug into the bag of food he’d brought her four breakfast burritos and two bottles of Synth-O. She inhaled the burritos then gulped down the blood and collapsed back onto the couch.

“Thanks for breakfast.”

He handed her the other coffee.

“Drink this too.”

Allison gave him a dirty look. She drank the coffee down in a few gulps.

“You just stop by to check on me?”

Allison reached up and tapped the lights on her holo-HUD. Allison squinted.

“Lights… bad idea.”

She picked up her sunglasses and put them back on and closed her eyes. She heard Miles rub his hands together.

“You know that favor you owe me? I’m calling it in.”

Allison leaned forward, pulled her sunglasses down her nose and looked at him to see if he was serious.

“Seriously? Today. You and your friends got me that drunk the night before you want me to fly?”

He nodded.

“Yep, so come on senorita let’s get a move on, we’re on a schedule. Deals a deal.”

Allison flopped her head back.

“Ugh, fine.”

She grabbed her water bottle took a long drink from it and shuffled to the hanger bay’s panel. She tapped in her code and the door slid open. She pushed her sunglasses up to ward off the harsh glare of the brightly lit hanger.

“Bit… Bit wake up.”

Miles stepped behind her and he swore in Spanish.

“Are you planning a war?”

Bit spoke.

“Allison, you are not in any shape for flying currently.”

Allison nodded.

“Duh, that’s why you’re going to be doing the flying.”

Miles looked around.

“Who is that? You have a co-pilot or something? Man, her voice makes her sound hot.”

Allison pointed to the fighter.

“That’s Bit, my fighter. Bit, Miles, Miles, Bit. There. Now can we all stop talking so loudly.”

Miles shifted from side to side.

“Well, we got a ship. We just need someone to fly it, none of us knows how to plot an FTL course out of the sol system.”

Allison turned to Miles.

“Where exactly are you taking me?”

Miles scratched at his full black beard.

“Well, we’re uh, breaking into a secure BMC storage facility on Titan, then we’re plotting an FTL jump to Sauroid Prime to drop the package off with the client. Simple in and out. All you have to do is get us there. You can stay in the ship.”

Allison took another drink of water.

“Bit, plot a course for Sauroid Prime please, meet me there. Take your time. Okay? And Bit if anyone asks, you’re on autopilot because I’m on board and sleeping…”

“As you wish, Allison, but I am dubious of your choice of friends, and this all sounds highly suspicious and possibly criminal.”

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Allison sighed.

“See you there, mom.”

Bit made a sound akin to an annoyed hrmph. Allison closed the secret door and turned to Miles who was starting to look impatient. Allison shook her head at him.

“What? Are you getting me to steal a ship or something?”

Miles gave a half smile.

“Something like that.”

Allison groaned and shuffled to her room. She dialed her mom and started pulling off the clothes she was wearing. She had her armor on up to her waist and was pulling her bra on when her mother answered.

“Allison? Are you alright, you look awful? Are you staying up until all hours?”

Allison sighed.

“I was up late last night hanging out with some new friends. I’m going to spend a day or two on Sauroid Prime. Do a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Universe so I have something to write my essay about for religion class after the break, is that okay with you?”

Her mother seemed confused.

“You, are going to a religious pilgrimage?”

Allison nodded and pulled her armor over her shoulders and sealed the seam in the front. Her mother narrowed her eyes.

“Why are you in your armor then?”

Allison sighed.

“Because I’m flying a starfighter and my registration says, must be in full environmental suit when flying this craft. My armor is a full environmental suit.”

Her mother frowned.

“Your attitude needs work, Allison Wanjala.”

Allison smiled and tried to play nice.

“Sorry mom, I’m just a bit cranky, you know how I get when I don’t sleep. I’m going to catch up on the trip. Not much else I can do in FTL. I’m going to take it easy. It’s roughly Forty Light years, I should be there in eight, maybe nine hours. I’ll get there just in time for their breakfast. I’ll message you when I get there okay?”

Her mother tapped her fingers for a few moments.

“Fine, but you call me as soon as you get there.”

Allison waved.

“Thanks, bye mom.”

Allison stood up and held onto a wall. She was still woozy. She was proving very good at overwhelming her nanite’s toxin processing power. She looked in her vanity mirror.

“I swear, I’m never drinking again.”

She grabbed her sunglasses on the way by her dresser and put them on her forehead. She refilled her water bottle and looked at Miles. He put down two painkillers in front of her.

“You should take these.”

Allison pushed them back towards him.

“They don’t work on me unless I take enough to kill a normal person and that comes with its own problems. Alright where is this ship you want me to fly?”

Allison slid her Qual’sa pistol into a holster that formed and her combat vibro knife into one that formed by her boot. Miles motioned to the elevator. Allison pulled an oversized hoodie on that she had borrowed from Hazel’s closet. He looked at her as they rode the elevator down.

“That’s Hazel’s isn’t it?”

Allison nodded. When the elevator doors opened she slid her sunglasses down and squinted when the bright sunny winter sky the dome was projecting assaulted her eyes. There was a red van waiting. She got inside when Miles opened the door for her. She sat down in the darkest corner she could find.

Miles sat down in the passenger seat. There were a few people already in the van. The three men in their thirties were dusky skinned and all looked like they would have originated from New Amazon Dome. The woman who was also in her thirties was black. Her tone was lighter than Allison’s parents. Allison didn’t recognize any of them. That didn’t mean she hadn’t met them. She’d been really drunk the night before last, especially after the blood from a very drunk Kennedy. The driver had a fancy looking cybernetic arm. In fact, everyone in the van had a lot of expensive cybernetics, or chrome as they were more often referred to. One was a full torso job with reinforced arms and an accelerator. The woman had cybernetic eyes and a data jack that must have cost a fortune. Allison didn’t know much about mercenary work, beyond what she’d seen on holos. She was pretty sure this was a very highly skilled and highly paid crew. The man with the full torso conversion pointed his thumb at Allison.

“Who is she supposed to be, Miles? I thought we graduated from micky mouse shit and babysitting years ago.”

Miles pointed at Allison.

“Who? Her? You don’t recognize her?”

“No? Should I?”

Miles shrugged.

“Nah Dimi. She is our pilot.”

The woman looked over at Allison and without asking felt around the back of Allison’s neck.

“No data jack? How’s she supposed to fly? What are we paying her anyway?”

Miles turned back to face the woman.

“Zebra, just chill. She’s a professional. She doesn’t need a data jack. And she’s doing this to return a favor. Relax guys, I did my research. She knows her shit.”

Dimi rubbed his thighs.

“Well, she’s pretty hot anyway.”

Zebra smacked Dimi on the back of the head.

“She’s a fucking teenager you perv. Dude.”

Dimi laughed.

“That’s the best thing about high school girls, I keep getting older and they just stay the same age.”

He punched Miles’s arm.

“Right bro?”

Miles unleased a tirade of Spanish at Dimi about being a creep. Allison’s translator would have told her exactly what he’d said but she had her eyes closed and couldn’t see her AR HUD.

“Just shut up, please.”

Allison held her head. Zebra glared at Miles.

“Is she hung over? What are you thinking el tonto? You didn’t sober her up? Give her painkillers? The fuck man.”

The driver who hadn’t said anything laughed.

“You bet she is hung over. Between her, Miles, and that Numari chica they must have drank half the beber at Harbor last night. I ain’t seen no one go toe to toe with Bandito like that. This chica is legit. Miles is right, she’s a pro. We in good hands, once she gets over the hangover. She is a genuine, one hundred percent starfighter pilot.”

Allison nodded slightly. Yep, she recognized that voice… Pinto. Zebra punched Miles in the arm.

“You knew we were pulling this job, and you got her drunk? You are such a moron.”

Miles turned to Zebra.

“No, she got herself drunk. She shows up at harbor and everyone buys her drinks.”

Zebra looked between Allison and Miles.

“Shit, she’s her? That Ensign Wanjala? Man with a name like Wanjala I thought she’d be black. How the hell did you get a name like Wanjala?”

Allison sighed and sat up.

“My parents are from the Africa dome. I’m adopted. I’m a pod kid… or whatever you call them here.”

Zebra grinned showing her white teeth.

“No shit.”

Zebra spoke in Swahili.

“They teach you the language?”

Allison responded in the same language.

“Yep, make me read in it all the time.”

Zebra grinned again and offered her fist. Allison bumped it. Zebra continued in Swahili.

“Preach it sister. It’s nice to have someone with us that has some culture. Twenty years of this lot I thought I might go insane.”

Dimi groaned.

“Speak English or Spanish, so rude.”

Zebra stuck up her middle finger.

“You want sex tonight you best shut that chromed up mouth of yours.”

Dimi seemed sufficiently chastised. Allison noticed the two were wearing matching wedding bands. She smiled and took another long drink from her water bottle. They parked at the space port. Miles was reaching into a gym bag at his feet and tossing overalls out and ID badges. Then tossed an Ident chit injector at Allison.

“That’ll last you for, two hours, right?”

Allison tried to recall the conversation where she told Miles her ident chits kept getting destroyed or rejected. She realized it was Numari who was saying she could replace hers with inorganic ones and she’d be able to keep them in for about thirty minutes.

“Give or take, or whatever, I’ve never timed it.”

Miles nodded.

“Wait until everyone gets changed and inject it.”

He tossed her two bottles of Synth-O.

“So, you can heal the injection site.”

Allison blinked at him from behind her sunglasses.

“Dude, it’s not like I control it. It just happens.”

He shrugged and opened the glove box and grabbed the first aid kit.

“Then find something to cover it up with.”

Allison pulled on the overalls and tucked her hair up under the cap. She kept her sunglasses on. Miles motioned for her to inject the new Ident Chit so she did. She let loose a loud ouch. They always hurt going in. She grabbed a bandage and pulled it over the wound. She chugged the two bottles of Synth-O. Dimi looked a bit freaked out suddenly.

“She’s a vampire? What the fuck are you getting us into Miles?”

Allison finished the water in her bottle and hooked it on a belt loop on her overalls. She looked at Dimi.

“I’m half vampire, okay? I only bite half the time, and don’t worry I don’t drink cybernetic hydraulic fluid, you should be safe.”

Zebra laughed.

“I really like her Miles; We’re going to keep her.”

Allison stood up unsteadily and shook her head. She spoke in Swahili.

“My mom would probably tan all of our hides and still have steam left for more.”

Zebra grinned then laughed.

“So true, sister, so true.”

Zebra helped her down. Allison adjusted her sunglasses. They walked into the spaceport. She’d covered infiltration and espionage basics as part of her Military Specialist training. She understood the general gist, the golden rule was to act like you belonged. Allison was far too hung over to act anything but hung over. The security guard at the last checkpoint before they were in the transport area was giving them a lot of attention. Allison stumbled and he was forced to catch her arm. She laughed.

“Sorry, I was so drunk last night. I tried to call in, but this asshole was like, no we got a job to do. And he was the one buying the drinks. Talk about worst bosses. Usually do maintenance at our corp’s private space port. Where’s the ladies room? Is there water fountain?”

She pointed at Pinto. The group walked on while Allison distracted the security guard. He was falling over himself to help the poor damsel in distress. She went to the washroom indicated. In truth she felt like she was going to burst with all the water she’d drank. She took care of business then refilled her water bottle. She held it up to the security guard who was watching her and waved. He waved back. She caught up to the crew. Miles was directing her via comm link. They were all leaning on the wall by a hanger door. Allison swiped her hand and the door opened.

Everyone walked inside. Miles pointed at a couple of pilots and was telling Dimi to go knock them out. Allison put her hand on Dimi’s forearm.

“Just hang back.”

She walked up to the two pilots and started chatting them up while they went through their preflight checklist. When both were turned away from her, she drew her Qual’sa pistol and stunned them both. She reached down and removed their holo-phones. She tossed them to Zebra who hacked them and ripped their flight plan authorization, along with their landing codes for Titan Corporate dome. Zebra put one on and so did Pinto. Then she dusted her hands off. Dimi dragged them off. Pinto injected them with what Allison’s scanner determined was a sedative. Everyone climbed on board the BMC flagged transport.