I’d done my own math while she was talking. Their departure window shouldn’t open for another three days. “I tracked him to their ship,” Khayat leaned forward now, and the enchanted steel in her eyes sparked with every word. The Titanese lesson, but with fewer explosions. Iskander had started a radio show to “liberate Callisto’s downtrodden,” and the Panjos had no sense of humour. She took me through the whole show, because that was the problem. Domed Rovaniemi, the Queen City of Valhalla, had been the last holdout against the fascist Pan-Jovian tide on Callisto. After Rovaniemi, he said he couldn’t stay quiet any more.” “Closer to pure of heart and block of head, really. idealistic.” Khayat clasped her hands together. It was why I wore a smartsuit under my jacket, so that I could keep breathing if they ever aimed their guns Theta’s way. Theta was farther away from Callisto than Callisto was from Jupiter, but I knew the Titanese lesson: distance was no protection. That was enough for me to pause mid-wipe. “Yes, well, that’s what I’m hoping.” Khayat folded her hands in her lap and shuddered. “The real fine stuff is what we do together.” Whether it was my turn for an inspection shift or time for sword sharpening, my partner never let me forget. Ordinary, time-consuming, and vital to survival in Theta. Her eyes were polished armour, cool and gray. Lee, you’ve already impressed me,” Khayat said as she sat. It wasn’t often that an agricultural librarian needed my services. Lifelong Theta resident, glowing reviews from the life-support volunteers, and a little office in Sector Three. “You must be Rana Khayat.” Tall, dark-skinned, bright-looking enough to hold my attention. Badasses like Siderosa Lee, consulting swashbuckler, win contracts. My most interesting cases were from habbers, because habbers didn’t come my way until they figured out their problem was beyond them. My client entered wearing fine high heels and the calm stability that came from long years in habitat gravity. I projected confidence so brightly that every once in a while I forgot what I hid beneath it. Same with my leather jacket, tailored to fit comfortably over my smartsuit. Smoke in the air didn’t make it any easier to oil a cutlass, but it made me look badass. I had enough time to light a fresh cigarette before my office door told the client to come in. Series: The Tales of Gorlen Vizenfirthe.Series: From the Lost Travelers’ Tour Guide.People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction!.
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