Page 19 of Full Speed to a Crash Landing

Centauri-Earth. That explains why she’s so nice. Closest to Earth, the first settled world outside the original. Half the people on Centauri-Earth claim to be descended from the original colonists, which is statistically unlikely but pretty decent for the tourism trade with so many people spending buckets on pilgrimages to the home world.

“I’ve been to Agra.” Both my and Saraswati’s eyes widen a little as the captain speaks. “I did a tour of the Old World after I graduated officer academy.” Her eyes grow a little distant. “We spent so many days at sea.”

“Did you see the oceans?” I ask.

“Oh, of course not. But the landhoppers brought us to the cities on the tour.”

She was on one of those fancy cruises, then. Every porthole is actually a digi-screen, displaying idyllic views and blocking out the brown, dead sea water. Landhoppers carry guests directly into the tourist bubbles.It’s the only way to view Earth now,a tourist once told me. To see only the parts that are clean and fake.

“I’m going to guess you’re from Gliese-Earth?” I say.

For the first time ever, Ursula looks at me as if she’s impressed. Last world to be colonized, although it’s had a few centuries to grow. I’ve only been there a handful of times. It’s a pain in the ass to get to, which may be why it has a growing movement of people who want to withdraw the world from the United Galactic System. I don’t care enough to keep up with the politics of it all, but Gliese-Earth basically claims too much of its money goes to the other worlds and they don’t get enough benefits from the union. But Gliese-Earth absolutely would produce someone who thinks they saw all Earth has to offer from a view in a landhopper. It pains me to think of my new best friend that way, but it’spretty obvious Ursula was raised to think of my planet as a commodity to consume, a box to tick off.

I glance at Rian, the only other person in room. He smiles without answering the implied question. I’m going to guess he’s from Rigel-Earth. He seems like the kind of guy who comes from Rigel-Earth. A world full of pretentious assholes. It has the best portal systems, the best natural resources, the best world design, and the taxes and regulations to keep riffraff like me off-world. If Gliese-Earth thinks of my home as a product to consume, Rigel-Earth only thinks of it as a burdensome charity case. Most people who have never had to look at the golden safety net underneath them to know they’ll be fine if they fall have no concept whatsoeverthat poverty isn’t a matter of bad choices and poor planning.

But if Rian’s from Rigel-Earth, that makes me want to punch him, and he’s got too pretty of a face for me to actually want to smash it in, even when he says “user error,” so I tell myself he’s from Gliese-Earth and his sharp eyes that always seem to stare right into the heart of me are a result of protesting the government’s bid for secession and not because he’s actually that intelligent.

“So, anyway,” I say. “About theRoundabout.”

“We’re not discussing the mission,” Captain Ursula says instantly.

“Well,theycan’t discuss the ship,” I say. “But I can. And maybe something I say will help.”

I clock the way Magnusson glances at Ursula. I’m right. They know it. Whew, do I love it when that happens.

“I’m assuming from all this secrecy that you guys are looking for something specific on board theRoundabout. Let me go ahead and answer the question I’m certain you’re thinking,” I add, pointedly looking at Magnusson and Saraswati. “All I was able to do was make one load of scrap metal, all of it sheets of wall paneling, pretty much.”

“And a cracked solar fuel rod,” Rian mutters.

I glare at him. “None of which I’m assuming you were looking for in the first place.”

Magnusson stuffs his spoon in his mouth, but Saraswati gives me a little nod, confirming what I already know.

“So, where did you guys explore—the forward or the aft part of the ship?”

Magnusson glances at Ursula. Saraswati just answers me. “Forward.”

“Yadav!” the captain says.

Saraswati shrugs. “Fine, reprimand me, but if we’re going to get the—”

I pretend not to care, but come on, how can I not?

Saraswati’s mouth snaps shut. She doesn’t saywhatthey’re looking for. Instead, she says, “If we have any hope of finding theitems, we can use all the help we can get. Especially after—”

“Enough!” Captain Ursula roars, throwing her spoon on the table. “Yadav, you’re walking a dangerous line right now.”

“Hey, I don’t want to get people in trouble.” I hold both my hands up in a show of peace. “If Saraswati can’t talk, let me.”

“You certainly love to do that,” Magnusson grumbles.

I ignore him because I’m the bigger person. “I’m guessing that whatever you’re looking for isn’t that large. It’s at leastsomething that two people working together can pick up.” I gesture at the two ground-crew members. The shuttle they rode in on wasn’t big enough for a hover lift, nor did it have the cargo room to store anything too sizable. “Plus if you’re talking about the forward...the nose of that ship is in a rift. With lava at the bottom. And on not exactly stable ground.”

I think for a moment, tapping my chin. “Yeah, either way, you’re going to need me.”

Ursula cocks an eyebrow at me. “What makes you presume so?”

So uptight, this one. “Right, so, option one is that whatever thing you’re looking for, it’s inside the ship still, but it’s not safe to reach. Ground’s unstable, magma’s trying to break through the cracks in the earth to burn it all up, et cetera, et cetera.” I don’t pause in my speech, but I can tell from the others, this isn’t right. Saraswati’s frowning, and Magnusson is grinning. “Option B is—”

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