CHAPTER 20

The Black: Aboard the cattle-hauler, 14 Months Ago

Well damn. Next stop Whitefall, whether I’m likin’ it or not. After that it’s back to Persephone. Shoulda stayed on Jianying, ‘spite of them crazy folk up in the hills.

Guess I might as well face it. Gonna get scragged sometime in the next year. Odds’re bad if I stay on Whitefall. Practically non-existent I go back to Persephone. Shit.

Yup, shit is what I got. Shit for a job, and shit for prospects of better. Mama always said as tough times build character. Well thank ya Ma, but I’ve got ‘bout all the damn CHARACTER I can use.

What the.........? Grav just bounced. There it goes again. Best un-ass this bay afore I’m surrounded with floatin’ cows and shit.

Out the hatch and shut it tight. Better find out just what the hell’s goin’ on.

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“We’ve got a problem,” says Captain Hanley.

“Core’s got a fracture and is going unstable. We’re going to have to set down somewhere and repair it. Looks like the best bet is going to be Hera. There’s a salvage yard there, name of Mossberg. Talked with the owner and he says that he’s maybe got parts that will do. Only problem is that he wants a fair bit of money to actually do the repair. He’s got a rad suit, but says he’ll have to pay hazard to his man. Can’t blame him for that, it’s not a job I’d want to do, even with the suit for protection.”

I’m gonna hate myself for this.

“I can do it, if he’ll let me use the suit. Won’t have to pay hazard on his man, save you some coin, won’t it?”

“Yeeeeees, but, you’ve done this before?”

“Nope, cain’t say as I have. Worn a rad suit before, durin’ the war. Survivor retrieval in a hot zone. Your mechanic, or his, talk me through it, I can get it done.”

“Well that does open up some possibilities, doesn’t? Let’s just ask Mr. Mossberg, shall we?”

Me an’ my big mouth. Get to work in a hard suit via waldo’s and vid. Surrounded by enough radiation to kill me in about an hour. The get