Defying Gravity by Davi Mai

Author:Davi Mai
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi, science fiction, lgbtg, romance, lesbian, sci-fi, gay, women in space, feminism, feminist science fiction
Publisher: Davi Mai
Published: 2019-12-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9: NO WOMAN NO CRY

Lana found a second glass deep at the back of the storage area, brand new; she needed to rip open its sterile pack. The wine glasses were less than elegant, with sipper tops on them to stop the wine floating away. She came back with them both full and put Amari’s next to her meal.

“Again, I’m sorry about Ank. I‘d re-program his settings but I’m trying to improve his cognition. If I dumb him down, I might lose the understanding he’s developed.”

“He’s okay,” said Amari, “I can’t be any more embarrassed, since the pod and everything.” She stopped talking and picked up her wine.

“That’s a red wine called 'Shiraz', from somewhere in Australia called the Barossa Valley.”

“I know it,” Amari replied, lifting her glass to her lips, “I mean, I haven’t been there or anything, but I know Australia—big Uranium mines there. They also have severe water shortages, and an extended drought means they can’t live inland anymore. The mines are nearly all robotic now. The Barossa Valley gets special water allowances; it’s controversial.”

Lana just stared at her moving lips, listening to that voice.

Amari stopped in her tracks. “Oh, I’m sorry! Where did that come from? It looks like I paid more attention in Geography than I thought. That was boring. My throat is better now though,” she gulped down wine to stop herself talking. Lana drank too, having nothing to say.

Honey, I would listen to you talk about Australian uranium mining all night.

Fearing an uncomfortable silence, Lana grabbed Amari’s new tablet and leaned over the command chair to show her the basics of calling up the library and some useful apps. Amari paid attention, eating her meal and nodding. With the meal finished Lana showed her which compartment to put the waste into. Ank did something technical with the trash; she wasn’t sure what, but it got sorted out whenever they returned to the Vee for maintenance.

Amari wasn’t comfortable taking up the single chair any longer, so they both sat on the floor at the back of the cockpit with their backs up against the wall. Lana retrieved anchor straps and showed Amari how to hook one at a fastening point in the wall, stretch it across her tummy and hook it up at the other side to prevent floating away when her mag-shoes weren’t flush with the floor. They looked through the tablet together.

Ok, now I’ve got her sitting on the floor strapped to the wall. There’s nothing weird about that right?

Lana refilled both their glasses. She had a slight buzz on and thought she’d better eat something. Eating a meal like Amari’s would be too awkward the way they were sitting, so she grabbed a protein bar instead. She sat down and refastened her strap.

When they came across the music app on the tablet, Amari livened up.

“Oh yes, please! Can I put music on?”

“Be my guest,” Lana replied and braced herself for whatever teenage noise was currently popular back on Earth. She had no idea.

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