Page 49 of Sol Survivor

“Jacks, made from ground flour, eggs, and milk.”Leah met her gaze as she flipped one.“Pinch of salt, some sugar, and a rising agent.”

“They smell incredible.”Vic drew in a deep breath.“The sugar sweetens the air.”

Leah offered a stiff smile.“Set out the plates.I’m sure the crew will be here soon.”

Vic did as asked, eager to eat.While she placed a fork to the left of each plate, and a knife to the right, she snuck glances at Leah.Her friendliness had Vic on the backfoot.Zebras didn’t change their stripes, or so the saying went.

With his nose buried in his tablet, Grunt barreled in, almost colliding with Vic.He whispered an apology and settled onto the bench.All had their spots, and Vic had inadvertently stolen Leah’s at the first breakfast.Now, Vic sat next to Tiny and on the edge of the bench.As far as Vic was concerned, Leah could squeeze between Grunt and Nikko until doomsday.

“Tomorrow, we reach Europa.”Trent bounded in, sliding into Nikko’s spot since he was manning the bridge.“Can’t wait to show you the ropes, Vic.”

“A moon?”She rose to order him an orange juice—his preference.

“Yup, and an endless source of ice.We can’t mine it fast enough.”He grinned when she offered him the glass.

“Why aren’t there more ice haulers?”She drained her coffee and rose to pour another.

“An unexpected storm on Jupiter impacted the haulers positioned on Europa at the time, cutting the numbers in half.They’re frozen relics on the surface.”Leah scooped scrambled eggs onto each plate, followed by stacks of jacks.

“Did I miss it?”Dieter strode in with Tiny close on his heels.

“Miss what?”Vic asked, then bit into the jack.She groaned, closing her eyes to savor the doughy sweetness.

“That.”Leah laughed.

Vic paused, her mouth gaping on the verge of taking another bite.“Oh.I’m so sorry.I can eat in my room—”

“And we miss out on your reactions?Nope.”Leah squeezed between Trent and Grunt.

“Did you want a coffee, Leah?”While chewing on a jack, Vic hitched her thumb at the vendor.

“Please, black with sugar.”

“Mine and Tiny’s are the same as yours,” Dieter called out, throwing an arm across Tiny’s shoulders for a hug.Her cheeks flushed pink again.

With her gaze resting on Tiny, Vic swapped mugs as the vendor poured the coffees.

She served the mugs, then joined the crew, diving into her scrambled eggs with gusto.After this, she planned to teach Tiny defensive strikes.Then Dieter would fetch Vic to, at last, show her the engine room.Daily, she went out on the ship with him to check panels, fuses, or a leaking seal.Today, she would go alone because he had to prep the ice riggers.

She was a little nervous, but the butterflies in her stomach weren’t half as bad as her debut Ring match.Nikko told her to nap in the afternoon since her first bridge duty was that evening while everyone slept.Her life was settling into one of relaxation, laughter, and good food.

Still, in the quiet hours alone in her quarters, she longed for arms to hold her, cradling her against his obsidian chest.Silly, that’s what she was.She’d met and fucked Drafe in a day.To harbor any affection for him was crazy.

Then there were the dreams, of deserts, of the sweltering salt plains, of a sky with two suns.When she awoke, the fragrance of morning dew and warm sand filled her senses, as if she recalled memories.No way would she mention her madness to Tiny, not when endless dunes reminded her of home.

Rising, she stacked her plate into the washer.Sol-rays would clean the dishes, leaving whoever cooked next to pack them away.She was scheduled to do breakfast next, with the crew thinking frying shouldn’t be too hard.Farg, she hoped so.

“Meet you in five, Tiny?”Vic squeezed her shoulder.

Tiny nodded, her purple curls bouncing.All looked at her, curious as to the reason behind the meet-up.“I messed up a test, so Vic agreed to let me scan her again.”

At that, the conversation renewed.

In the gym, Vic climbed onto a suspended machine that supposedly mimicked swimming.It gripped her around the waist and allowed her to propel herself forward.It had taken her an hour to figure out what exercises worked, not that she had any idea if she was doing them right.Still, she loved the sense of freedom it gave her, as if gravity no longer limited her movements.

Dieter called to her, his face raised.“What’s going on?Tiny never fargs up.”

“Just teaching her a few defensive moves, Deets.”

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