Terminal Gambit by J.S. Morin & M.A. Larkin

Author:J.S. Morin & M.A. Larkin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781643550794
Publisher: Magical Scrivener Press

So, the Prime Guardian was now fighting the Convocation. With black holes. Right outside the station.

The way Marcy Dakota saw it, that was definitely the last straw. In fact, that qualified as someone taking said final straw, chopping it into bits, and throwing it inside the deep fryer to watch it sizzle. The straw was charcoal at the bottom of a vat of boiling oil at this point.

And Marcy had had enough.

The Gadabout was leaving at nineteen hundred tonight. It was supposed to leave in the morning, but after Cedric’s temper tantrum, Captain Miller bumped her departure time up. Marcy had already booked passage anyway, so she got the comm letting her know to be on board in three hours.

A shame they couldn’t bump the time up more.

She found herself taking the central lift up to the pinnacle and realizing that, despite years on the station, she’d never actually been above level 8. The Dancing Cricket had catered the occasional conference, so she’d been up there to check on her employees once. Otherwise, she was mostly confined to the Upper Circus.

She’d certainly never visited the director’s office above Operations. What reason would a lowly chef have to call upon the high-and-mighty corporate executives? The lift dropped her off all too quickly, and Marcy found herself standing in a central lobby occupied by a single empty desk and a long walk to glassteel double doors.

Not quite what she’d pictured this place looking like. It was kind of sterile … though she couldn’t really say what she’d expected. More warmth? Knowing Hiroko, the woman probably had liked things Spartan.

Marcy passed by the desk, trailing her fingers over the glass top. Kendra must have sat here for years.

Now, though, the woman had occupied the director’s office just beyond. Pausing at the doors, she hit the chime.

A moment later, those doors whooshed opened, and she found herself staring down a confused-looking Kendra.

“Marcy? What are you doing up here?”

“The Gadabout is leaving in a couple of hours.”

“Yeah, they just cleared it with Operations.”

“That’s my ride.”

Kendra winced. “Oh. I hadn’t thought about … I, uh …”

“They’ll be dropping me at Troy.”

The other woman managed an obviously forced smile. “Wow. Nice planet.”

“Oh, I’m not staying there. I’m … I took a job aboard the Prancing Unicorn.”

A moment of hesitation. “Wait, isn’t that the FairyLand cruise liner? You’re gonna be a fairy princess now?”

Marcy groaned. “A chef, Kendra. I’m gonna be a chef on a cruise liner.”

“That thing’s still running? During the gawd-damned apocalypse? What, do they offer discounts to keep the tourists moving?”

“You’re the one who said planets aren’t safe. The ship just keeps moving. I’ll get room and board in a five-star liner, plus a fairly generous salary in case …”

Kendra stepped around the desk. “In case the galaxy doesn’t end?” She chuckled. “Yeah. Sounds nice. Don’t suppose they’re hiring a social director, huh?”

Marcy hesitated. “Social director. You mean like the job you’ve had for more than a year, only with rich tourists instead of religious zealots?”

“Sounds like a vacation for me too.

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