Mari knew that the hardest part of getting her space walking certification wouldn’t be the test – it was all the space walking she’d have to do after she passed. While going outside wasn’t a primary part of her job, occasionally technology needed a glorified ape to help do its job. Lee, the technical engineer, spoke through Mari’s earpiece. “You …
Mari bounced up and down on a holographic trampoline in Eli’s living unit, a gaggle of chibis jumping with her. This time her holographic companions were a baker’s dozen of colorful blobs chirping “chibi” in harmonious tones with unblinking eyes like black buttons. Since arriving at the Hex, Mari had spent her slivers of free time unwinding at her new …
Andre knew he only had a matter of time before the Alliance Informatics Department came for an audit of the infrastructure – no, the ecosystem – that their co-op had built on the Hex. The structure was to become the premier data relay between the inner Sol system and the outer planets as colonies continued to spread, so the project was …
Dawn rose over the glow of the fire eating up the hills, as it had done for most of the season. Which, at this point, made up the greater part of the year. Mari set out early to catch her launch that day, mostly to get out of the house but also because she had no hope of sleeping. Not …