Shadows of Slavery by Simon A. G. Spencer

Author:Simon A. G. Spencer [Spencer, Simon A. G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, scifi, space opera, spaceship, space, epic, gladiator, pirate, war, gods, fight, fighting, battle, starship, diplomat, magic
ISBN: 9781928011668
Publisher: Brain Lag
Published: 2022-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Fateful Meetings

While nowhere near a top-notch Valk pilot, regular practice flights had given Marissa a great deal of confidence with the suits. After that first flight, Barnes had taken the suits out several times a day, regularly rotating out one of the pilots to include Marissa. She didn’t get to fly every time, but it was clear that Barnes was letting her try the suits more often than the trained pilots. He really did seem to see potential in her, and Marissa was happy to live up to it. She grasped the basics of flight quickly, as he’d said she would, and after only a week, she could dart and weave through space almost as well as the other pilots. She joined in a couple of their games of tag, and although she hadn’t caught anyone yet, she came just a little closer to out-manoeuvring them with every attempt. It was exhilarating, like learning how to fight all over again, but without the spectre of death looming so close by.

She’d expected the other pilots to be cold to her, seeing her as an intruder among their ranks, but they welcomed her in and out of the suit. Even Samson, the pilot who’d been grounded on that first flight, didn’t seem to hold a grudge. She sat with them during meals, and they would bombard her with jokes and stories of their previous missions. It was a lot like being with her friends back on Aegis, and she began to wonder whether this was a subtle scheme devised by Barnes to recruit her. Flattering, if it was true, but Marissa wasn’t optimistic about the mercenary lifestyle. She just wanted to get her current life back in order.

The last couple of flights had become a tad more challenging. While flying through space was relatively simple due to the lack of gravity, Barnes insisted the pilots needed to practice with actual flight. This was easier said than done; they were in the middle of nowhere, with no planetary bodies large enough to provide a strong centre of gravity. This left the Valiance’s artificial gravity, and the only space remotely large enough to allow room for flight was the cargo hold, which was already packed. They tried anyway, clearing as much space as they could without chucking things outside.

Marissa still struggled with walking in the Valk, and it became even more of a chore with the metallic wings spread out behind her. They threw her off balance, making her legs wobble when she tried to stand up straight. She watched the other pilots for guidance, but none of them seemed to agree on a method for standing. Orson stood as straight as he could, feet spread so far apart that a wrong move might cause a nasty accident, while Deltis remained in a sort of crouch, as if she meant to break into a sprint at Barnes’ call. The rest were similarly awkward, so Marissa didn’t feel too bad as she wobbled and tried to stay upright.

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