The days slowly turn into weeks. I never thought space travel could be this boring. Every day is exactly the same, and soon I’m craving some action.

Woods prediction has been right. The warp drive runs smoothly, and all I’m in charge of is bringing him coffee and listening to his stories to pass the time.

Could be worse.

The old man considers himself somewhat of an amateur botanist. He says plants are more like starship engines than most people realize. I have to take his word for it, for I have next to zero knowledge on either topic, but his stories help me get through the day.

Fourteen days into our trip we pass the Nezdek system. I half expected an ambush or a battle… but nothing of the sort happens. The HF Boomerang whizzes by, undisturbed.

I contemplated stealing one of the cruisers, but when I headed into the shipyard to scout the area a Zoran guard immediately accosted me. I made up an excuse on the fly about checking up on the ships, but he forcefully removed me from the bay and told me to stay on my own level.

The Zorans have imposed martial law on the ship. I figured I could freely walk around, but that’s out of the question.

So much for that plan.

At least I haven’t had to face that fire-red general since that very first day. The way he looked at me, his radiant eyes piercing my very soul… I can’t shake that feeling, no matter how many days have passed.

I wake up on the twenty-third day of our trip, wondering where my sister is, when my com beeps.

It’s Woods again

“The general wants you to come down to the shipyard ASAP.”

“The general?” I ask.

“The very same.”

Oh crap.

I rush out of bed, throwing my uniform on as fast as I can. My hair is still a mess, but I don’t care. I gulp an insta-coffee down and run down towards the shipyard.

Did that guard tell him what I tried to do?

Was I being that obvious?

General Dost is supposed to be a real hard-ass. Oh god, is he going to court martial me right on the spot?

When the elevator doors open I see the docks are filled with heavily armed soldiers. I slip my way through their ranks, heading to the very front.

I find General Dost talking to a human Federation captain. I recognize him instantly — Captain Donovan Ferguson. He’s a hero and a symbol for humanity. His face is plastered on every billboard as the Federation try to drum up new recruits.

I’d be starstruck if the Zoran general didn’t scare me so.

“Uhm, g-general?”

I hate how insecure I sound.

Dost turns towards me. His fiery, yellow eyes land on me, but his face shows no sign of emotion. My heart flutters, but I try to ignore it.

It’s almost working.

“Y-you asked for me.”

“Where is your suit?” he asks.

“My what?”

“Your suit. How can you go down to an unknown planet in just your uniform?”

“I… what?” I stammer. “P-planet?”

I feel like an absolute fool. The general rests his fists on his sides, and I can’t help but notice just how damn big his biceps are.

“Yes, Miss Winters. Planet. We have reached Delta Y. Our destination. The very reason that you and I are both on this vessel. Or have you also forgotten the purpose of our mission?”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment. Why didn’t Woods tell me I needed to bring my spacesuit?!

“N-no. Sir.”

He nods to one of his soldiers, and a second later they return carrying a human-sized space-suit.

“Put this on,” he says. He strides away, and I’m left alone, clutching a bulky spacesuit in my hands.

“Ouch,” Captain Ferguson says. “I suppose first impressions aren’t your thing, huh?”

Same thing seems to apply to you.

I ignore the captain’s needling as I try to slide the spacesuit on. I’ve never worn anything like this in my life, but I’ve got to make it look convincing.

I fail miserably.

From the corner of my eye I can see the Zoran general is keeping an eye on me, and that only makes me more nervous.

Is this a test?

When the suit falls on the floor for the fifth time, Dost sighs and strides over with large, purposeful steps.

This is it. He’s going to kick me off his ship.

My heart leaps into my throat when Dost places his hands on my sides and lifts me up as if I weigh next to nothing. The feeling is electric. No man has ever carried me before, yet this red giant does so effortlessly.

“Ferguson, hold the suit up,” he commands.

A second later Dost lowers me down me into the spacesuit and zips me up. I’m almost sad to feel his strong, powerful hands leave my sides. I thought I felt embarrassed before, but now my cheeks must be as red as Dost’s skin.

He nods towards a shuttle and I waddle my way over, trying to walk as best I can with all this added weight. I sit down and take a deep breath.

Okay, so I’m headed down to some alien world apparently.

No biggie.