Page 97 of Lorran
“Alana told me she talked to you two days ago,” Sonia huffed.
“And we’re at a hospital—”
“Are you hurt? Did that alien hurt you? I’ll crush his bones and—”
“I’m fine,” Wyn said, speaking over Sonia’s threats to grind Lorran into dust and turn him into paint pigment and use his remains to paint vulgar graffiti. As far as threats went, it was rather good. “There was a rescue mission, and one of the crew was hurt. Now we’re waiting and there’s a kid, and I watched him yesterday because Lorran was off doing alien things and I can’t exactly just leave this six-year-old kid alone to phone home.” Wyn paused, waiting for a reaction. “Well, can I?”
“No, no. Shit. Are they going to be okay?”
Wyn shook her head. “No, and that sucks. We’re just sort of waiting for the inevitable.” She gave Sonia a highly edited rundown of events.
“Okay,” Sonia said in a skeptical tone. “That’s exactly what you told your momma. How about you tell me the truth?”
“What? I’m not lying by omissions. Why would you even say such a thing?”
“Really?”
Wyn sighed dramatically. “Fine. Comms were out forweeksbecause apparently the Suhlik are getting gun-happy again, and no one knew I was coming, and they shoved me on this shuttle and I just went with it becausetrust the system.” She made air quotes, though she couldn’t recall who or what she quoted.
“Never trust the system.”
“Exactly, and Lorran—total sweetheart, by the way—didn’t trust me not to accidentally blow up their shuttle so when they got to the ship that sent the distress call—a ghost ship—they made me suit up and go with. But get this! That ship blew up.”
“Get out!”
“Well, it was a fire and a minor explosion. And then we tracked down the escape pods to this abandoned base and we went air skating, so that was good,” Wyn said hurriedly, excitement making her rush. “And we went target shooting, and I used this badass rifle. Real Terminator stuff. Then this wolf-bear animal attacked, and I shot it. In. The. Face.” Wyn beamed. “That was super gross, but also hot. Lorran is so hot. You should see him. And sweet and funny and he listens to me.”
“Oh my God, who are you?”
Wyn waved away Sonia’s question. “Anyway, long story short—”
“Wait, that was the short version?”
“The people from the ghost ship? Doing secret, illegal research. Real supervillain stuff and the Suhlik showed up, and that’s why we’re in the hospital. And I like him, Sonia. I really do. And it’s not my sky-high expectations, it’s not.” Her words faltered, unable to explain her happiness. “I’m just happy.”
“With exploding ships and Suhlik shooting at you? Because you’re doing that thing where if you talk real fast, I won’t notice you’re lying.”
“I’m not lying,” Wyn said.
Sonia leveled a look at her.
“Fine. Fine! Ugh. How do you do that?”
“It’s my mutant power. Now tell me how the big bad aliens are oppressing you.”
“It’s not…it’s not like that, but it’s a lot. Like there’s no chill setting. It’s all explosions and running for your life and it’s exhausting.” Wyn flopped down onto a chair. “I know I said I wanted excitement for inspiration but now I feel like that cautionary saying, be careful what you wish for.”
“May you live in interesting times.”
“That’s the one. Screw interesting times. Give me humdrum.” Yeah, that was all she had to say about that. She hoped things quieted down once they got to theJudgment. “What about you?”
Sonia ran a hand over her short hair, a vivid blue today. “I gave the call center notice. I’m doing your idea.”
“I knew it!” Then, “Which idea?”
“The year-long star cruise. I mean, fuck, it’s not my money. I might as well spend it on something outrageous, yeah? The call center is eternal. It will be there when I get back.”
“Waiting to devour your soul.”
