Mercer kept glaring at me, so I stepped around him.I’d answer their questions but not out here.
“I can’t believe this,” Mercer muttered, but he followed me onto the ship.
Dax brought up the rear.Once he stepped into the cargo hold, Burn hollered “clear!”She slapped the button to bring the ramp in and close the external door.
43
Lacy
A couple days later,Burn, Dax, and I were gathered on the bridge, going over my latest lessons.We’d fallen into a routine since our discussion in the mess hall: we’d come together several times a day for meals and lessons.Dax and Burn would do some kind of workout in the small gym.Sometimes, but not always, together.I made sure to stay away from the gym when Dax was working out.The temptation was too great.
Then Dax would cross-train Burn on running the ship.The woman was a sponge, absorbing whatever lessons Dax or I threw at her.Knowing her background now, it made sense.My parents had supported whatever my sister and I wanted to learn.I couldn’t imagine growing up in a world where the opposite was true.
Burn was on her way to becoming a competent pilot, which was why we were all on the bridge.Giving her a chance to work in the controlled chaos that could occur in transit.
The radio crackled to life.“Fortuna, this isRed Ranger.Please respond.”
All three of us stared at the comms.“Red Ranger?”I asked.
Both Dax and Burn looked surprised.Then Burn said, “That sounds like Mercer.”
We were a few hours away from Justin, our rendezvous point with the rest of their crew.“Do you think it’s them?”
Burn had already grabbed the radio.“Red Ranger, this isFortuna.”
“That you, Burn?Good to hear your voice.”
She smiled.“You, too, Mercer.So, uh,Red Ranger?”
“Commercial transport would have taken too long, so we rented a courier ship.She’s sleek and red and fast as hell.”
“You sure it’s not a woman, Mercer?Sounds like you’re in love,” Burn teased.
“You know his thing for redheads,” another voice said.I figured it must be Orion, their heavy artillery guy, since as far as I knew we were only expecting two new crew members.
“Remember that time on Proxima?”Burn asked.She and Dax and the voices on the other end all laughed.I felt a tinge of jealousy.
“We can reminisce in person,” Dax said, putting an end to their casual conversation.“We’re still a few hours out.What’s your ETA?”
“We’re already here on Justin,” Mercer said.“Thought we’d do a little shopping, stock up the armory and whatnot while we wait.You all need anything?”
Burn and Dax looked at each other, then at me.I shrugged.“We’re pretty set on supplies, but fresh food is always good.Weapons-wise, that’s not my area.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line.“That your stowaway, Dax?”Mercer’s lighthearted tone had been replaced by a harder one.
Fuck it.“Yep, that’s me,” I said before Dax could.“My name is Lacy.”
There was a muffled laugh on the other side.Then the second voice, Orion, said, “I like her.”
“Don’t buy into that damsel in distress shit, Orion.She stole our ship,” Mercer said.
I dropped my head back.I was so tired of the accusations.Layla damn well better appreciate what I’d done for her.“For like a whole few hours,” I muttered, not caring who heard me.
Dax set his hand on my back, rubbing small, comforting circles.I leaned into his touch.We’d avoided any overt displays of affection the last few days, though that didn’t mean we hadn’t snuck kisses and a little heavy petting in the hidden corners of the ship.
“Look, we can discuss this later rather than take potshots now.Mercer, you and Orion go shopping.Get weapons, fresh food, and whatever medical supplies you think a ship regularly traveling to the ass-end of nowhere needs.Our med bay looks well stocked, but I’d prefer you get whatever you need or want.”
“Roger,” Mercer said.“I raided the stores at home for medical supplies.We’ll be as well stocked as a hospital.”
