“Maybe climate change destroyed the colony?” Niklas said.
Dathan flexed his shoulders. “We were raised on the desert world of Zerzura. I think we can handle some sand. TheInfinitasis equipped to deal with sand, water, jungle, gas and ice.”
She nodded. “Excellent.”
Zayn shifted. “TheInfinitasdoes need maintenance on the singularity drive.”
Dathan groaned. “That’ll take too long.”
“And you’ve already postponed it once,” said a voice from the doorway.
Eos spun. A slim man in baggy work clothes and black grease staining his face, stood in the door.
“If you’re headed out that far,” the man continued, “it’ll pay to replace the drive.”
Eos blinked at the low, melodious voice. Not a man, a woman.
Looking past the clothes and the grease, she saw a pretty face with a pointed chin and bright amethyst eyes. Her hair was as dark as Dathan’s and chopped off in a haphazard style that made Eos guess the woman cut it herself.
Those blue-purple eyes fixed on Eos. “Hello.”
Niklas moved forward. “Eos, this is our cousin and resident mechanical expert, Malin Phoenix. Mal, Dr. Eos Rai.”
Malin grabbed a rag out of her back pocket and rubbed at her stained hands. Three swipes and she gave up. She held up her dirty hands and offered Eos a wry smile instead. “Welcome to Khan. And I only answer to Mal. I take care of the scrap business while these three tour about the galaxy.”
“We’re about to plan another tour,” Dathan said with a wink.
“Figures.” Mal tucked the rag away. “Dr. Rai, I suggest you don’t listen to any of the crap these three will feed you.” WhenDathan swiped out a hand, she ducked it with practiced ease. “Especially this one. He can charm his way out of a Boll viper pit.”
Eos suppressed a smile. “Thanks for the advice.”
Dathan shook his head. “Don’t listen to her. She was raised by our junker uncle who dragged her all around the quadrant scavenging scrap parts. Her manners are rusty.”
Zayn slung an arm around Mal’s shoulders. “But she’s the best starship mechanic this side of the Magellan field.”
Dathan pointed. “Surprised you aren’t drooling over your rusted metal parts.”
“I’m on my way. Got a wreck coming in. A ZT-300 light cruiser, and its turbopumps are intact. You do need to overhaul the singularity drive, though. You don’t want to end up needing speed and not having it.”
“How long?” Dathan asked.
“With Z’s help, two days tops.”
“No.” Eos leaped forward. “We don’t have that long.”
“Why?” Dathan demanded.
Mal backed up. “My cue to leave.” She tossed them a jaunty salute and headed out.
Dathan stalked closer to Eos and cocked his head. “You keep springing surprises on us, Dr. Rai, then I’m going to think you aren’t trustworthy. You see the irony in the treasure hunter not trusting the upstanding academic?”
Her nose wrinkled. “I’m sorry.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Why don’t we have a few extra days?”
“I wasn’t the first person who bought the scans. The mining companies sell scans of any planet without minable resources to recoup some of their costs. They don’t care who buys them.”
“Do you know who the other buyer is?”
