M.L. Skye's Blog, page 23

Sunday Snippet: Outcasts

Whew. It's been a week. Had another trip to the emergency department with a family member and, thankfully, things seem to be okay and we're getting closer to having some answers.

Had an okay week of television viewing, mainly because my brain was kind of scattered all over the place. Started out with watching the behind the scenes and episode breakdowns for Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Thoroughly enjoyed both.

Caught both episodes of a Silent Witnesstwo-parter. This is one I kind of remembered and I ended up liking it a lot. Some cool intrigue mixed with the science.

Enjoyed two more arcs of Classic Who. I believe there will be a new companion joining the crew but I'm not sure how soon that happens.

Watched two more episodes of UFO Witness. This one isn't nearly as entertaining as the lost evidence series but I'll finish it out.

Caught four episodes of The Muppet Show. Pearl Bailey, Jean Stapleton, Loretta Lynn and Alice Cooper were the guest stars. I'd forgotten about the Alice episode and really enjoyed watching it again.

Enjoyed two more episodes of McCartney 3, 2, 1. It's so cool to watch the breakdown of how many happy accidents shaped the sound of Paul's career.

Watched two more Master Class lessons with LeVar Burton. The first was a case study of Rootsand how that story impacted so many. The second was about the importance of the oral storytelling tradition. I'm so glad I gave this series of lessons a try.

Got two more episodes of Peak Practice viewed. I didn't finish the second episode, mainly because one of the characters annoyed me so much I couldn't watch it. I'll pick back up with the next one and see if I missed anything important.

Caught another full episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and I'm almost finished with another one. I'm sort of on the fence with this show right now. I literally hate Blackwood with a passion and I'm close to saying I'm done because I can't stand him.

Enjoyed another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. I gotta say I'm impressed with the narrative so far. There's some serious intrigue I'm enjoying along with a mix of new concepts that I'm fascinated with. Lorca is compelling to watch.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. I'm enjoying the second season a lot and I might have to go look up the crossover episodes again.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I really love this show. I switched to a different streaming provider and should be able to continue the second season without a delay.

I'll probably finish out the week with another episode of New Rugrats and another Chicago Med. I'll discuss those next week.

That's it for television recaps. Tonight's post is from Outcasts, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Frannie Boyd and Thorn O'Reilly are stuck in a bad situation with no way out. But when the people they love are threatened, they'll play hardball to protect what's theirs, even if they have to go up against an admiral to do it.

And a sneaky peek…

Thorn O'Reilly finished his after action report and flipped the folder closed. He'd left out a lot, things he didn't want put on the official record. "Definitely can't include anything about the Gaspra." Or how everything since the arrival of the ship had gone pear-shaped.

The Gaspra's commanding officer ruled by fear and intimidation. Admiral Naught read every single report and she'd already clearly stated opinions should be left at the door. She wanted facts and nothing else. None of her officers questioned her decisions.

Thorn leaned back in his seat. "I wonder what would happen if anyone tried?" Probably nothing good.

He wanted to find out why Naught's crew thought they'd come out to rescue the Deimos. "Better yet … why is she letting them believe it?" The admiral had an insidious way of twisting the facts to suit her own purposes.

Sets my teeth on edge.

The Deimos had been off the grid for months, running a stealth mission to get intel on the Gamma base. The crew had been cut off from sending the data back—thanks to the Gamites destroying the communications buoy. And the CO had strict orders not to break radio silence.

Thorn shook his head. "The Gamites don't even realize what they hit." A damned good thing, too.

The cloaked beacon showed up as space debris on sensors. An ingenious concept that kept the enemy from knowing the Deimos hovered on the perimeter of Gamite space. Not a bad thing, except for the fact it left his ship effectively stranded.

Thorn snorted. "And we've got orders not to leave the area unless the Gamma base did."

So … they played a dangerous game of cat and mouse, staying out of range and hidden from the enemy. His CO had the info needed to destroy the base, but not enough fire power. At least not the right kind.

"It's gonna take radiological weapons to blow the station disguised as an asteroid."

And the sum total Deimos had? Zero. To do it right, a second warship should also fire at the same time.

So they'd been stuck. Doing useless recon runs to gather intel that went nowhere but could come in handy if they found another way to decimate the base, which they didn't think would happen.

Until the Gaspra showed up, rolling in like a savior for the rescue.

Thurgood O'Reilly, Thorn's grandfather, announced a big celebration after the Gaspra arrived. Too bad the party got nipped in the planning stages. Naught wouldn't authorize it. Why?

Thorn rolled his eyes. "Because according to the admiral, the Deimoscrew has nothing to celebrate." Their failure at protecting the communication buoy that cut them off didn’t warrant it.

Hello? Stealth mission. If they'd tried to protect the beacon, the enemy would know of their presence. Which strict orders stated they had to avoid at all costs.

Thorn didn't understand her logic.

Yet … apparently, the esteemed admiral figured they should've taken on the Gamites—even though they were astronomically outnumbered and would violate their orders not to reveal themselves—and protected the buoy.

Right. Zero sense. Which made Thorn ask questions. Ones the admiral didn't like.

So … his report to command wouldn't be much. He'd discuss his reservations with his commanding officer off log. Sometimes being related came in handy that way.

Gathering up the report, he added the flight roster and tucked them into a large envelope. Rising from his desk, he crossed over to the hatch and pushed it open. Flipping the lights off, he decided to personally deliver the files. If he got lucky, he'd have a chance to sit down and have that conversation when he did.

His grandfather couldn't be on board with Naught's bullshit. No way.

This story is coming together bit by bit. It's slow going but I think it's starting to take shape and I know where everything is headed.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Out of the Box, Into the Burn

August 1, 2021 

So … I can't believe it's already August. I'm kind of not ready for the summer to be waning down and fall to gear up. Because once fall hits, the holidays are around the corner and I'm not quite ready for that yet. LOL

Had a decent week of watching television again. I finished up the last two episodes of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. They were set around the holidays but the Christmas one only hinted about the season. The finale took place on New Year's Eve and I loved it. LOVED IT!! Even Percy the Putz didn't annoy me overmuch. And Peregrine and James are kind of back on track and that makes me very happy. I'm very much looking forward to a third series and crossing my fingers that it happens.

Caught both episodes of Silent Witness's season twelve opener. I should have remembered these but I didn't. Enjoyed the cases and look forward to more. Twelve is a little longer than usual so there's that, too.

Finished up season seventeen of Classic Who and started season eighteen. I'd forgotten Four got a different scarf but rediscovered that fact in the first arc of eighteen. I like the first one the best.

Watched two more episodes of UFO Witness. These episodes feel a little staged but they're interesting. I'll finish out and see where it ends up.

Started season three of The Muppet Show and got four episodes watched. The guest stars were Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson, Leo Sayer, Roy Clark, and Gilda Radner. I like the small changes to the opening and the show set-up. Looking forward to more.

Began a new documentary series with McCartney 3, 2, 1. I watched two episodes and loved both of them. I'm excited to see the rest because it's not focused only on the Beatles. It looks like we'll see a full scope of McCartney's music.

Caught two more Peak Practice episodes. So far, season four is pretty solid. I'll look forward to seeing the rest of the season.

Was able to catch two more Master Class lessons with LeVar Burton. He spoke about authentic storytelling and connecting with your audience. I got some good information from both lessons. I also enjoy listening to him speak; he's very eloquent without being stuffy.

Ended up watching two episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I thoroughly loved the Doctor Cerebus episode and I'm going to keep all the scenarios in mind for later seasons. I have a feeling several easter eggs were dropped in that one. Not as much of a fan of the dark wedding episode. I absolutely loathe Blackwood and I'm hoping it's not going to become a case where my dislike of him ruins the show like it did with Hiram and Riverdale. I literally can't watch any scene he's in without hating it.

Watched two episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Finished up the first season and started the second. Nice to see and learn a little more about Breen. This show is just quirky enough to really hold my interest. I got annoyed with one of the detectives in the finale, but I'll reserve judgment because I love her otherwise.

Caught the second episode of Star Trek: Discovery. It went in a direction I totally didn't expect but I'm down for being surprised. So far, I'm enjoying the show and look forward to a redemption arc for Michael.

Finished up season one of Chicago Med and truly enjoyed the finale. Colin Donnell continues to be amazing to watch. I loved him in Arrow and really enjoy him in Med. The opening episode of season two is very entertaining.

Loved Passionflix's season two episode of Driven. I'm thrilled there are two more eps to watch and another season to follow.

Last but not least, I got another episode of New Rugratswatched and I have to admit I love the new version. Definitely not the same as the classic version but the updates are spot on and fun to watch.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Out of the Box, Into the Burn, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Parry Thrum, a superior pilot, is sidetracked with an injury and relegated to planning a mission on an enemy outpost instead of flying in to save the day. When one of her superiors rejects every parameter she comes up with, Blake Bradley, another excellent pilot, steps in and backs her up—the out of the box, into the burn approach is just the thing to take their opponent by surprise, and a very Parry plan.

And a sneaky peek…

Parry Thrum shot a quick look in Blake Bradley's direction, the only warning she'd give for what would happen next. "All due respect, but you're wrong. Sir." She addressed Colonel Ernst Carbine, also known as the idiot giving the latest briefing.

Blake's shoulders slumped and he shook his head. He'd warned her to back off and not give the colonel any trouble. The man didn't appreciate when she interrupted him.

Colonel Carbine stopped talking and gave her a nasty glare. "No one asked for your opinion, Thrum. You got a problem you can speak when it's time to ask questions." He huffed out an angry breath.

Parry rolled her eyes. "Right. But only if you call on me … which you won't." He never did because she asked about stuff he didn't have answers for.

Carbine jabbed a finger toward the exit. "Get out. Now. Your buddy, Bradley, can inform you about this operation."

Parry sighed and got up. "He won't have to. Your parameters are straight out of our outdated protocols and we're going to get hammered out there." She shook her head and started for the hatch.

Carbine came around the podium and stalked after her. "Hold up there, Thrum. Who the hell do you think you are?" He grabbed her arm and gave her a shake.

Temper flaring, she jerked away and stumbled backward butting up against the row of seats and losing her balance. She went down hard, getting her leg stuck between the back of the fold down seat and the arm.

White hot pain shot through her knee and she winced, trying to wrench free. "Holy crap. That hurts."

Gasps sounded around her and everyone turned, climbing up to check on her. Blake's head popped up over the rest and he grimaced then shot Carbine a quelling glare.

He nudged one of the pilots on the end of the row. "Better call the medics. She's not walking out of here."

Filled with panic, Parry sat up then grabbed the back of the seat in front of her with one hand and the cushion of the seat behind her with the other. "No, don't. I'm fine." She pushed up, sucking in a pained breath before her vision started swimming.

Blake's hand clasped her shoulder. "You're so not fine. Stay down before you do more damage to your leg." He crouched down. "Not exactly the exit you were hoping for, yeah?"

She bit down on a snarky comeback and shrugged. "Maybe not, but someone had to say something. We've lost half a squadron." Because they kept using the same three maneuvers against enemy combatants that they trained, for fuck's sake.

Blake gave a brief nod then backed out of the way when two medics came rolling in with a gurney and their med bags. Parry tried to quell the nervous tension building in her shoulders but she didn't have to look at their faces when they rolled her pant leg up to assess her injury. She'd definitely sprained her knee, maybe worse. A loud buzzing filled her head when they immobilized her leg and got her loaded on the cot. She glanced up and met Blake's gaze then closed her eyes in defeat. She'd be a scratch for this mission and she could only hope they didn't lose any more pilots before someone finally came to their senses and tried something new.

I'm completely sure where this one is going but the scenes are clear when they pop into my head. Looking forward to diving a little deeper on this one and see where it ends up.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Organic Chemistry (a Civil Revolution novella)

Had a slower work week and got a good bit of cleaning and clearing done. I also got some solid viewing time in. I'm also somewhat stunned that August is just around the corner. This year is flying by.

I started my watch week with Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries and got two episodes finished. The first one did indeed have Percy the Putz involved in his usual shenanigans. The second one made my heart ache but I thoroughly enjoyed getting some background on Birdie. I'm loving the episode titles for the second season as much as I loved the first season's. Can't wait to finish season two up this week, which I think is probably doable.

Caught two episodes of Silent Witness. These finished out the eleventh season and I'm getting into the seasons I've definitely watched before. I'll be starting season twelve this week.

Enjoyed two arcs of Classic Who and I'm getting close to the end of the seventeenth season. Not sure how many more Four has but I'm excited to start Five's tenure soon.

Finished up UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I thoroughly enjoyed both seasons and got a few neat little plot bunnies from what I viewed.

Caught four episodes of The Muppet Show and finished out the second season. The guest stars were Bob Hope, Teresa Brewer, John Cleese, and Cloris Leachman. Looking forward to starting season three.

This was my week for finishing up seasons. I watched the last two episodes of The Hardy Boys and I'm so excited there's going to be a second season. I really enjoyed how everything played out and I'm so happy everyone got the ending they deserved. Also kind of thrilled there's a seed planted for more possibilities for the eye.

Watched two episodes of Peak Practice. The first one finished out the third season where everyone said good-bye to Beth and Jack. The second started season four with Will on the hot seat trying to save the practice. Glad to see Andrew sticking around for a bit and I kind of liked the new doctor.

I finished up the Master Class with David Carson. I enjoyed getting his insight to graphic design and learned some new things. I also started a new class with LeVar Burton on storytelling. I'm very excited to work through this series of classes.

Caught two episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm loving how accepting the group is being about Theo and I'm kind of interested in how the academy stuff is playing out. I like Nick okay but I'm a little twitchy about his motives. Can't wait to find out if there's more going on there.

Enjoyed two more episodes of the Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved this show. The wine episode ended up being a great little mystery and the golf course episode was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved seeing the story play out on that one.

Started Star Trek: Discovery and have to admit I'm cautiously optimistic. I quite enjoyed the first episode. I'm looking forward to more.

Watched two episodes of Chicago Med and have to say again I'm so glad I'm finally getting to watch this series from the beginning. I'm getting close to the end of the first season and I'm looking forward to the season two.

Passionflix premiered season two of Driven and the first episode rocked. I loved the first actor that played Colton but the recast works very well. Looking forward to the next three episodes!

Started UFO Witness and liked the first episode. It's only a single season so I'll see where things go.

For nostalgia's sake, I started the new version of the Rugrats(heretofore referred to as New Rugrats). The original will always have a special place in my heart since all three of my kiddos loved the show. It had the rare ability to appeal to little ones and grown-ups with so many inside jokes. The new version is quite charming and I'm happy to say I think I'll enjoy it.

Last but not least, I started a new episode of Blue Heelers. It's a two-parter and looks to be kind of interesting with lots of bridges being burned and internal affairs out for blood.

Whew. That's if for television this week. Tonight's post is from Organic Chemistry, an Civil Revolution novella.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Dominic Marinelli and Etta Morgan meet under very difficult circumstances, but form a relationship built on one basic need … sex. When Etta decides to strike out on her own, Dom has to figure out why it bothers him so much.

And a sneaky peek…

It's just not right. I saw her first. Wanted her first.

Had her first.

Too bad Dom hadn't been able to keep her.

Dom Marinelli cursed the twisted fates of inconvenience. One look at Lex Durban and Dom had lost Charlotte forever. They'd hit the refugee underground after spending a solid week living in each other's pockets and the only thing Char had to do was smile and Durban had been on her like a shit ton of bricks.

Not that Dom had been any different. He'd pulled Charlotte out of a bad situation and offered to get her to the camp. She'd hopped on the back of his bike, scared and shaking, but ready to go.

She didn't know him, but she'd put her trust in his ability to get her where she needed to be.

Safety.

And in that exact moment he'd fallen for her. It didn't matter that she had a price on her head. Or that the corporation she did R&D for had put it there. It didn't even bother him they had to lay low and take a very circuitous route to get to the underground.

Because he considered every moment with Charlotte a gift.

Two days into their journey they had the sweetest sex he'd ever experienced. He opened up and told her things he'd never shared with anyone else. Told her about his craptastic childhood. Maybe if they'd met differently—extreme circumstances provided a shared intimacy almost from the first instant—he wouldn't have fallen so hard. And maybe he'd just been alone too long.

Neither had made any promises, but Dom thought they might have a chance.

Until Lex.

Dom really wanted to hate Durban. But he couldn't. In fact, Lex proved to be a good man, one Dom called friend.

Durban took charge, got in everyone's face, and rode their asses. Everything Dom didn't do, or would think of doing. A natural leader, Durban often made himself a target to protect others.

Dom worked more effectively in the background, hovering in the shadows, to watch and observe. His ability to blend in and ferret out pertinent information made him a good counterpoint to Lex's sometimes swaggering presence.

In spite of the elephant in the room, Lex and Dom worked well together. Dom's feelings for Charlotte rarely got in the way. If he needed a break from the happy couple, he left the compound and scouted for intel. So what if he pushed the envelope sometimes and stayed out longer than Lex's limitation of forty-eight hours?

Dom usually made the extra time worth it. A foraging excursion, a resupply of necessities, liberating medical goods … he never came back empty-handed.

And okay, he kinda liked that Char worried about him and fussed over him when he came back.

He never claimed not to be a sick bastard.

Durban would eventually rip Dom's ass for constantly breaking protocol, but until he did, Dom had some control. Not that he made it a power play. Dom had no desire to give orders and be responsible for the refugee compound. He did his bit and pitched in wherever they needed him.

Lex should kick Dom's ass for thumbing his nose at the rules. They were there for a reason. Dom had a feeling the other man cut him slack because he got it. He understood Dom sometimes needed to lick his wounds and be alone.

Like now.

I'm so excited about this series, especially if it comes together the way I'm hoping it will. There's at least one more book, possibly two after this one.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Operation Moot Point

Another crazy-busy week but I got a lot of television watched. Finished up some short-term projects and got started a new long-term project that I'm excited about. July is almost over and I'm kind of surprised by how fast it's flying by.

On the television front, I actually got four episodes of The Muppet Show watched. Julie Andrews, Jaye P Morgan, Peter Sellers, and Petula Clark were the guest stars. Had a funny conversation with my brother about the reason I've been rewatching the series—mainly because it's something I remember us doing when we were way younger—and he regaled me with how he remembers certain skits more than he remembers the guest stars … and that's actually kind of true for me, too.

Ended up getting in two episodes of The Hardy Boys also. Really excited the guys got into the secret room and I loved how they completely disagreed about what to do with the pieces of the eye. Interested in what Stacy's game actually is. Something tells me she's not quite as ready to trash everything to do with the circle as she claims. I love how shady all the possible baddies are on this show. I can't wait to see how the first season ends with the finale.

Caught two episodes of Peak Practice and enjoyed both. I liked being able to see Beth and Jack grieve for their loss. Andrew is definitely growing on me, which is a good thing because he sticks around for a long time. Will is Will and I like him as he is.

Watched two more Master Class lessons with David Carson. The first focused on designing impactful magazines and I got some good information from that one. The second one was about designing your future and had the four group members trying to predict what their future would like in design. It was interesting and I liked the group overall.

Enjoyed two more episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The final with midwinter as the backdrop ended up being really good. The opener of season two with the epiphany set some interesting dominoes in play. I'm kind of excited to see where things go.

Loved the finale of Street Legal. I'm kind of hoping there's a second season because I'd like to know where the characters end up going. I kind of didn't see the partners hooking up coming but I'm interested in how that ends up playing out.

Caught two episodes of Chicago Med. Both were excellent. I'm so happy I'm finally able to catch this show from the beginning.

Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries had a great episode. Watching James and Peregrine tiptoe around each other makes my heart equally happy and sad. I love seeing the ramifications play out with them though. Next episode looks really good with Percy the Putz stirring the pot again.

Watched the second part of Silent Witness and ended up really enjoying the ending. I think I caught it during my initial run because I vaguely remember how things played out.

Got a full arc of Classic Who in and enjoyed the four episodes. I'm still not sure about the whole new regeneration of Romana but we'll see how the season plays out.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. I'm nearing the end of season two and I'm not sure if there's another season or not but I quite enjoy this show.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and, so far, it's interesting. There's a reporter that's annoying but otherwise good story rolling out.

Started a new-to-me series with Brokenwood Mysteries. I loved the first episode and look forward to see how the next few hold up to the premiere.

That's pretty much it for television. Tonight's post is from Operation Moot Point, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Zia Rogue and Keb Belova are highly trained soldiers and put in charge of Operation Moot Point. Between them and their specialized skills, they should be able to plan the surprise party for the base commander—if they can stop arguing long enough to actually get the work done.

And a sneaky peek…

Not a single ship fired at him when he dropped down to follow Zia's trajectory. Not even the surface rail guns aimed his way.

Hitting the thrusters, he hit the halfway point. "I'm as crazy as she is." He kept going intent on saving her ass.

A single thought circled around in his brain. I can't face life if she's not in it. What that meant on a deeper level, he couldn't answer. Instinct drove him to keep moving so he didn't have to find out.

He shot past the final enemy raider and rolled into the space next to Zia.

Zia's voice crackled over the line. "What the hell did you just do?"

Keb blinked, a little stunned to still be breathing. "I came to get you."

Zia sputtered and choked. "Why? Seriously … why would you do something so stupid?"

Keb bit down on the truth. "Because two on this side and ten on the other gives us all better odds." And it meant she wouldn't die alone. "You got the message out, right?"

She huffed out a breath. "Fine time to ask. But, yeah, I did."

Zeb slowly started forward. "Then we'll close ranks and take out as many as we can until reinforcements arrive." He switched over to address the full squadron. "Hold positions for ten count. Cut all chatter." He didn't want anyone to lose focus. "Tighten the net by mark zero four every seven. If the raiders stray out of the zone, tear 'em up." He eased forward a little more.

Zia's voice came over the ship to ship. "I didn't get an acknowledgment. We don't know if we'll get help."

Keb shrugged. "Doesn't matter. We've got a small window of opportunity here. We're between the enemy and their satellite, which means they can't call for more ground assistance. We hold the line here for thirty and do as much damage as we can." They'd be fucked on epic levels if another squadron didn't show.

Zia muttered on the ship to ship. "I still don't get why."

Keb didn't give her an answer. "Squawk twice if you get an acknowledgment. Otherwise, go silent. We have work to do." He wouldn't—couldn't—have a heartfelt conversation with her about the why.

Mainly because he still hadn't wrapped his brain around the depth of his feelings yet. And might never do so. Zia never made things easy and usually went out of her way to make them as difficult as possible.

Lining up a target, he let loose with a volley of gunfire and hit his mark. Zia followed suit and took out another raider.

"And there we have it. Nothing like a gun battle to act as a distraction."

I'm having more fun with this one than expected. Keb keeps sticking random little ideas into the story and I'm here for it.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flip side.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: One Last Chance

It's been a busy week with medical emergencies—not mine, thankfully—and vacationer pickups. Also had a few work projects to get worked in.

Had a great week for television. Started out by finishing up the sixteenth season of Classic Who and I got a start on season seventeen. Interesting choice to have Romana regenerate as the princess of the final arc. We'll see how that plays out.

Watched another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. The focus was on the Royal Air Force and I enjoyed the episode. I also started the next one which feature sacred sites and UFOs.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Lou Rawls and Cleo Laine were the guest stars. Had a great conversation with my brother about watching this show while we were growing up.

Enjoyed another episode of The Hardy Boys. The jury is still out on whether the grandma is a good force or a not-so-good one. I'm really excited to watch the next episode with the secret room.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and, yep, a tragedy occurred. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the last of Beth and Jack, which is actually what I expected. I'll look forward to their sendoff.

Caught another Master Class with David Carson. This one talked about working with clients and I got some solid information from the session. I might not work full-time with graphic design, but I do work with clients on a regular basis and the lesson had some good strategies for meeting expectations that can apply universally.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina had an interesting episode. I'm still not a Wardwell fan and even less so after this episode. I'm kind of excited to see what Cerebus is going to bring to the story and Zelda made a bold choice I didn't quite expect.

Watched the penultimate episode of Street Legal. I have to give Steven Lund kudos. I loved his journey in this episode. Olivia overstepped in a way I didn't quite believe. I hope there's a bit of an explanation in the final episode of season one.

Enjoyed another Ready Room recap. I'm having a lot of fun with guest stars who were previous cast members. I might not be able to say the same with season two. I'm not a Q fan in the slightest. Here's hoping the writing makes me change my mind.

Finished up another episode of Blue Heelers and enjoyed it. I also caught another episode and started a new one. I'm creeping up on the halfway point of season three.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med. Again, I really enjoyed the multiple threads. Will's arc impressed me. I loved the opening scene with Rhodes and Will working together and getting along, mainly because of the reactions of the rest of the team.

Watched another episode of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Bertie cracks me up. I love Samuel and Violetta. I'm hurting for Peregrine and James but I can't wait to see more and how they work things out. I miss Fleur and I'm kind of hoping we'll see more characters of the Adventuress Club. So far, season two is making me very happy.

Enjoyed the first part of Silent Witness's two-parter. Nikki's dad is a piece of work. I'm kind of glad I can't remember how things play out with him. Looking forward to seeing the second part this week.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from One Last Chance, a sexy short that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Uma Banks, a natural born pilot, fails everyone she loves. But her biggest catastrophe is Fitz Winterson, a lifelong friend who should be more. Uma has one last chance to make things right … if she doesn't blow it again.

And a sneaky peek…

Uma, heartbroken she wouldn't sign a contract, cried on Fitz's shoulder. A complete testament to the chemical enhancements of the pain killers.

Fitz offered her some solid advice. "You could enlist."

Uma stared in open mouthed shock. "Are you insane? I am notmy mother." She shuddered. "And I don't want to follow in her footsteps."

Fitz lifted a shoulder. "Then don't." He sat next to her on the bed. "Outdo her. Opt for pilot training and go off planet." He squeezed her hand. "You could earn a spot in OCS and work your way up through the ranks." He slid a sideways glance her way. "Imagine your mom's utter irritation if you became an officer."

Uma scoffed but it made her think. Her mom retired as a sergeant major and held little regard for commissioned officers. Maybe because she'd been passed over for selection each time her name had been submitted for consideration. If Uma wanted to go a different route, applying to flight school meant almost certain acceptance in the officers candidate school … as long as she passed muster and made it through basic maneuvers.

She took the three days she spent in the hospital to consider the idea. Met with recruiters several times and signed on the bottom line two months before graduation. She shipped out the day after. Her mom didn't see Uma off. Her rage and disappointment in Uma's choice sent Ursula on a binge.

But Fitz showed up when Uma called him. Something shifted during their exchange at the hospital. She wanted to share the news with him.

Fitz met her at the station the night before her scheduled departure. "Congratulations. I'm proud of you." He hauled her close and hugged her.

When he set her back away from him, she smiled, basking under his praise. "Thanks for coming. It means a lot." She stepped forward and pressed a kiss against his lips.

Fitz cupped her face and whispered. "I've got a room across the street. Come back with me?"

Filled with hope, she nodded and took his offered hand.

She owed him so much. Not the least of which could be the future she might have.

This one is kind of all over the map right now but it's slowly coming together. Uma is being very vocal and Fitz is patiently waiting his turn.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: One Hot Mess

Happy Independence Day if you're in the US. If not, I hope you're having a terrific weekend. Our weather is very pleasant and mild so I'm not going to complain about that. I will express frustration with random people letting off fireworks, but only because our doggos hate them.

Had a truly jam-packed, great television viewing week. Started and ended the week with No Offence. I finished up the series and I'm not disappointed at all. What a experience!

Also watched Silent Witness and I'm almost through the second episode of the two-parter. I watched the first part at the end of last week and should have this one finished up by the time I'm ready to post this blog entry.

Caught another arc of Classic Who. The fifth part of the key has been found so I'm almost ready for season sixteen to come to a close. So far, I've been on the fence with this season but it's enjoyable.

Watched an episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one dived into the cover-ups in the US. I'm always fascinated by how much this show reminds me of the X-Files. I love it.

Enjoyed two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Rudolf Nereyev and Elton John were the guest stars. Really enjoyed Elton.

Caught an episode of Peak Practice. I'm starting to like the new doctor. He kind of rubs everyone the wrong way but I truly feel for the guy coming to a small village where the residents are all used to things being a specific way.

The Hardy Boys had a terrific episode. I'm kind of interested in how the boys are dealing with starting at a new school and uncovering their mom's past there.

Dove into another Master Class with David Carson. I didn't think I'd get much out of the whole collage lesson but I did walk away with a few ideas about how textures and colors work together on a physical level.

Watched Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and, wow, Sabrina definitely had a bomb blow up in her face. I'm kind of glad to see it but also now wondering how everything is going to play out. Still not a big fan of Wardwell.

Caught another episode of Street Legal and thoroughly enjoyed. I'll be honest … I'm not always a fan of Olivia but I enjoyed her interaction with Emily. I'm also really interested in the dynamics of the partners. Definitely going to enjoy watching the rest of the episodes.

The Ready Room had a great recap and family reunion with Wil, Jonathan, and Brent. Such a fun episode and really looking forward to the next one.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and really enjoyed it. I'm totally down for the rivalry between Halsted and Rhodes but I'm looking forward to when they're really great friends too.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. I'm kind of interested in how this one plays out because Nick has been getting on my nerves lately. We'll see if that improves or not.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from One Hot Mess, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Eva Twine and Van Jefferson have a very friendly rivalry when their teams compete for the galaxy championship. But when Van questions what Eva will wear to the celebratory masquerade, she decides to rock his very foundation.

And a sneaky peek…

Eva ordered a drink at the bar. She felt very conspicuous in the killer dress even if it seemed to have the desired effect. More than one head did a double take when she'd walked into the ballroom.

Too bad none of those second looks had come from the source she wanted.

The bartender placed a scotch and water in front of her. She picked it up and took a sip then narrowed her eyes in his direction. The guy's lips quirked and he winked at her.

"Don't look now, but I think you've got an admirer." He quickly picked up a bin full of empty glasses and made tracks to the sink.

Had Van finally shown?

Eva turned around slowly and fought the urge to laugh out loud at the pole axed look on his face. Okay, the dress and heels? Totally worth it.

Van's gaze traveled slowly up and down. "Eva?" His eyes raked over her again. "Wow."

She lifted a brow. "What? Didn't think I had it in me to pull off a chanteuse?" Another nice, slow sip from the scotch and water gave him time to work his tongue loose and provide an answer.

He let out a low whistle. "No." He frowned. "Er, wait. That's not what I mean."

She chuckled. "Telling me I look kick ass awesome would not be remiss." Her lips curved in a smile.

Van licked his lips, his eyes going over her from head to toe again. "You do. Amazing." He met her gaze again. "No, incredible." Beautiful.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it. Me in a getup like this might be a once in a lifetime deal." Draining her glass, she set it back on the bar.

Van moved to stand beside her. "Well, I'm glad I got to witness it then." He reached out but drew his hand back and shoved it in a pocket.

Eva finally registered his costume. He'd gone old world detective. It should have looked very clichéd, but on him, somehow it came across as authentic. Right down to the concealed weapon in the cane.

She sent him a crooked grin. "Look at you. Interesting choice." And strangely hot, but she kept that to herself. "Very cloak and dagger."

This one is so much fun to write. Eva and Van have terrific chemistry and I love how this book is coming together.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Off the Hook

Long week with a zillion phone calls to settle everything on getting a new vehicle to replace our totaled one. Happy to say as of Friday it's all taken care of. Yay!

Not a bad week with work projects and a solid week of good television. Started out with Street Legal and I'm ending with another episode of the same. Starting to really enjoy this show.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room and thoroughly enjoyed Evan Evagoria's interview. Such a great character he played. And he's a huge fan of the franchise and that came through so much.

Also watched another episode of Chicago Med and enjoyed the three threads playing out during the episode.

Enjoyed another episode of No Offence. This show … man, it's so good. Not sure if there will be more episodes, but I'm so glad I found this one.

Caught the second part of Silent Witness's two part episode. Yeah, they're all two part episodes, I know. This was a really great one and I liked how everything came together by the end.

Watched another arc of Classic Who. They're still on the trail of the time key components and this episode ended up being more fun than I originally thought it would be.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers and it's got some drama, which seems to be woven in more than usual. Great episode so far.

Caught another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused around UFOs and US presidents. Actually pretty interesting viewing.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Dom Deluise and Bernadette Peters were the guest stars. I'm still nostalgic for the first season, which is probably my favorite.

The Hardy Boys had a great episode. The tall dude is finally—maybe—done for. Liked getting a little more information on Laura's past and I'm trying to decide if I want the grandmother to be super bad or a red herring of goodness.

I viewed another Master Class with David Carson on graphic design. This one had another lesson about color and I found it fascinating.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is going to some interesting places. I can't decide if I want Sabrina to really twist everything on its ass or if she needs something to blow up in her face. I'll find out by the next episode if that happens.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Off the Hook, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Esti Warf's relationship with Wyatt Corben is tested when she agrees to give his younger brother a chance to pass basic flight. Wyatt knows in his gut his brother doesn't have the chops, but he can't get Esti to budge on her decision, especially when his old man pressured her into accepting Wilton as a cadet. Both are on the hook, trying to keep peace in the family and still maintain their bond as a couple.

And a sneaky peek…

"Hey, bro. Dad pulled rank and got me into Esti's class."

Wyatt Corben gripped the phone tighter in his hand. "He what?" What's the old man thinking?

 Stupid question. Wharton Corben wanted both sons to follow in his footsteps. No matter what.

Wyatt had a few doubts about his brother's ability to handle a five-ton craft in the darkness of space. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Frankly, the idea made Wyatt's stomach drop to his toes.

Wilton had keen intelligence, but he rarely did well on written tests, hence the reason he failed to get into flight school in the first place. "You know I'll back you if you want to study something else."

Wilton hemmed a little. "Eh … I don't know."

Wyatt grasped at the first thing that popped into his head. "What about the corps of engineers? They've got a fantastic program."

Wilton snorted. "Duh. I don't test well, remember. You know how hard that exam is."

Solid point, but Wyatt had a trump card. "True. But your practical knowledge is off the charts. Half the test grade is applied knowledge."

Wilton didn't respond. Probably not because he didn't want to, but the easy road had already been laid out for him.

Wyatt tried one more option. "What about intelligence? The way you manage to keep details straight in your head and your skill with blending in would make you a good fit."

For someone who didn't manage to do well on exams, Wilton had an almost counterintuitive ability to forget nothing. For some reason, something got lost between his brain and filling in the answers on a test. Wyatt often envied the way Wilton adapted to situations and fit in easily. Every time they moved to a new base, Wilt made friends within the first few days.

Wilton sighed. "I'll keep those ideas in mind, Wy, but I gotta give flying a go. You know the old man won't accept anything else."

The door opened behind Wyatt and Esti entered their quarters. Maybe he could talk some sense into her before his old man dropped the bomb.

Wyatt closed his eyes. "Yeah, I know. Just consider everything, okay?" He ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket.

Esti sank down on the sofa and Wyatt shook his head. How the hell did he approach this with her? She wouldn't appreciate him sticking his nose in but, dammit, his brother's life could be on the line.

Esti glanced up, her face unreadable.

"My dad pulled rank and wants Wilton in your class."

"Your dad stopped by and asked me to enroll Wilton in my class."

They spoke in unison.

His gaze met hers. Her mouth snapped shut and she folded her arms across her chest. Shit. He might be too late.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly. "What did you do?" Too much to hope she told his dad to take a flying leap off a cliff.

She lifted her chin. "I said yes."

Well, fuck.

I love writing the family dynamics in this one. I'm hoping no one comes off as a bad guy and I think I'm getting the vibe I want on the page.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Nugget Training

Apparently, the week before last ended up being bizarre not only because Mercury is in retrograde but two other planets are squaring up. I'm kind of glad I made it through the insanity. The past week had some challenges but things finally started coming together and smoothed out. Whew.

My youngest kiddo returned from Alaska where she had a great time. She graduated high school last year and she and my dad finally got to take a trip this summer. They had great weather and got to do a ton of fun sightseeing events.

Had a slightly slower than usual television viewing experience. I started out with a new episode of No Offence. Viv had quite the revelation at the end of the episode and I'm interested to see where things go from here.

Enjoyed another episode of Silent Witness. This one has some quirky undertones and I'm interested in the second part to see how everything plays out.

Caught another episode of Blue Heelers and started a new one. Since my new washing machine arrived, I've been catching up on laundry and getting some quality time in on my Australian show.

Watched a full arc of Classic Who. For some reason, I thought they only needed to find four pieces of the key, but it's actually six. Should be interesting to see how the final three play out.

Enjoyed another episode of UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This one focused on UFO tech, which I find fascinating. The theories that come out of the woodwork regarding why and how the technology is used always makes me smile.

Caught two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Guest stars were Madeline Kahn and George Burns. Both were shows I didn't remember.

Watched a great episode of The Hardy Boys. Things are starting to come together and I'm really interested in where things will end up. I'm ready for the tall guy to get served. Just saying.

Enjoyed a new episode of Peak Practice. I have a feeling the next one will have a tragedy but I rather liked the new doctor they introduced. Looking forward to more from him.

Caught another Master Class on graphic design. This one focused on life as a working designer. I didn't think I'd get much out of that lesson, but I actually did. Even if I don't want to pursue graphic design as a career, the concept of what's important in the career you choose provided some good information.

Finally, I'm watching another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This is set around Thanksgiving and there are some great character reveals. I like this show but I'm not champing at the bit to get to the next one … yet. This episode does have an awesome guest star in Michael Hogan and I'm happy to see him in the mix. Reminds me to send positive vibes out and hope his recovery is going well.

That's pretty much it for television and life updates. Tonight's post is from Nugget Training, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Bonnie Bash has issues with remembering boundaries and it gets her in trouble with Taggart Allen, her immediate superior—especially when she sometimes forgets she has to respect the rank. She quickly learns why she frustrates Tag so much when she's thrust into training a group of fifteen newbie pilots, nuggets, and not one has a clue or even cares about how the chain of command works.

And a sneaky peek…

Tag waited until the last student exited the classroom before pushing away from the wall. He'd been standing sentinel for the past half hour, dying to know how things went. From the mood and comments of the class, Bonnie didn't overwhelm them and she'd sparked their competitive spirit.

She strolled out, carrying an armload of files.

He fell into step beside her. "Turning over a new leaf, Bonnie?" He referred to her folders and the satchel she had hooked over one shoulder.

She quirked a smile. "I guess so." Pausing, she turned to face him. "Honestly, I didn't realize how horrible I must sound during the briefings until I got fifteen malcontents going off at the same time. It sucked." She started forward again.

He stifled a chuckle. About time she realized how disruptive her running commentary tended to be. Score one for him.

She did a quick rundown of the first session. "Once they got settled, we made progress. They've got lots of questions, which I expected." She waited a beat. "And they're not stupid ones. That's never a given."

Tag grunted. "You pretty much squashed that in the mud. I doubt any of them will be brave enough to waste time … theirs or yours." Another good thing since they didn't have time to do a lot of hand-holding.

They reached the end of the corridor before she gave him a sideways glance. "Pissed off I stole your speech?" Her eyebrow arched.

He snorted. "Hell, no. More like surprised any of it stuck." Seriously, she nailed it pretty much word for word.

She laughed. "Hey, if I’m going to steal, it's gonna be from the best." She walked away, grinning wide.

It's gonna be from the best…

Tag sputtered. "Wait, what? Did I hear you correctly? The best?" He took off after her. "Bonnie! Hold up."

Her laughter rang out and he did exactly what she wanted.

Gave chase.

I'm having a great time writing the dynamic between Bonnie and Tag. It's fun to explore an established relationship that undergoes a challenging situation.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not the First

You know, it's been a week. I don't which planet is in retrograde right now but it's effing everything up. LOL My washer died and the delivery of the new one has been moved three times. I might get it Tuesday but I'm not holding my breath. The husband had a deer smash into his vehicle and it's a probably a loss. My daughter's car is having issues. I'm kind of scared to even walk outside in case the sky falls or something else weird.

All that said … I'm not really complaining. It's just a lot of bizarre, inconvenient stuff hitting all at once and I'm kind of scratching my head and wondering how soon the universe will right itself. LOL

Had a great work week and got some solid television viewing in. I started out UFOs: The Lost Evidence. This episode focused on abductions and I always find those stories fascinating.

With the new season of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteriespremiering this week, I caught the behind the scenes special from season one. Lots of fun information and interviews.

Watched another episode of The Muppet Show. The guest was Steve Martin and he had fun with his appearance.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. The mystery is getting deeper and I'm thoroughly enjoying the way everything is coming together. I love the group of friends and how they're completely in on the whole deal now.

I enjoyed another segment of Master Class. David talked about developing logos and I got some good information from him. I have a few tweaks to make to a couple of logos I've put together for book series.

Caught another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I'm getting a little more invested in the characters and I'm interested in where everything goes. I love Hilda's new job!

Peak Practice had a good episode. It took me a while to get into the storyline but I liked how the show played out. It seemed like it was going to go in a tragic direction but ended up not going that route.

Started a new to me show with Street Legal, which is a spinoff of an eighties original. I loved the premiere episode and think I'll end up liking this one.

Caught another episode of the Ready Room, recapping episode four of Picard. Wil is a lot of fun when he's interviewing the actors and I loved the behind the scene special effects segment.

Started an episode of Chicago Med and, so far, I'm enjoying it. The surgeon character is such an ass he's fun to watch. Another aptly titled episode with choices as the theme.

Last but not least … Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteriespremiered!! I've been so excited for a second season and I'm so happy I had two episodes to watch. This show is so much fun and it took a direction I didn't expect but I'm totally there for. Peregrine isn't a carbon copy of Phryne and that thrills me. I have so much love for the sixties vibe, too. Not sure why that era fascinates me so much but I'm almost always down to watch things set during that decade. And I'm over the moon I'll have another episode to watch soon!

That's pretty much it for this week's update. Tonight's post is from Not the First, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Katen Knox and Paul Macabes, pilots, soldiers, lovers, weigh in on opposite sides of a proposal to produce new planes while stationed in deep space. Not the first time they've been on different sides of an issue, they quickly learn it's hard to keep the professional drama out of their personal space.

And a sneaky peek…

"Are you insane?"

Katen Knox glanced over her shoulder. "You're not the first to suggest I might be." Her lips quirked at the sight of her fellow pilot, Paul Macabes, sprawled in her bunk with a sheet barely covering his groin.

Paul tilted his head sideways. "You'll never get a project like that up and running." He shook his head. "No way."

Katen smiled. "Your lack of confidence is so predictable." She tugged the rough mock-up from the wall. "I'm absolutely positive we can pull this off." Rolling the sketch up, she tucked it into her desk. "We have to do something. Maybe this works, maybe it doesn't, but we're down by thirty percent capacity and if we drop much lower, we'll lose the progress we've made." Mapping and defending the mineral-rich asteroid belt took top priority … until they needed equipment and supplies.

Paul rolled a shoulder. "What happens if your big plan isn't feasible? We'll be down even more." He shook his head again. "Between skirmishes with the Lobos and damage incurred during the mapping, we've got finite numbers we can use."

Katen made her way back to the bunk and crawled up beside him. "How about you let me worry about making it happen and you just sit back and look pretty?" She skimmed her hand along his thigh.

Paul laughed. "You're already planning to run this up the chain of command during our briefing later, aren't you?" He hooked his hands under her shoulders and moved her up to straddle his lap.

Katen nodded. "I am. We'll see how much faith the admiral has in me." She twined her arms around his neck.

Paul leaned in close. "I can't wait to hear your pitch." His mouth hovered over hers.

Katen went in for the kiss. "You'll be duly impressed, I'm sure." She didn't give him time to reply, meshing their lips together again.

Paul would take counterpoint to her point. He usually did. But she liked the challenge of proving him wrong. Running the idea by Paul. Then decided to take it to the briefing because he said it couldn't be done. When he threw down a challenge like that, she couldn't pass it up.

Just like she couldn't pass up being with him right now.

I'm hoping to really nail the story down on this one in the near future. So far the sages are giving me random scenes and they're not in order. Not so fun.

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Not Quite Paradise

Well, hello, June. It's mind-boggling to think half the year is pretty much gone. I'm rather glad summer is just around the corner even though I'm not a huge fan of super-hot temperatures.

I've been in a weird place lately and pondering whether there's something else on my horizon. Lots of ideas are jostling in my brain. Stay tuned … I might have more to come on this topic.

Decent week of television this week. I started out with three episodes of The Muppet Show. Judy Collins, Nancy Walker, and Edger Bergen were the guest stars. Each episode ended up being pretty fun.

Caught another episode of The Hardy Boys. I'm enjoying the mystery and I really like the sibling interaction. It'll be interesting to see how deeply the grandmother is involved.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice. The show took a turn I didn't expect, which I always enjoy.

Enjoyed another Master Class with David Carson. The fifth lesson focused on putting yourself into your work. I came away with some great ideas.

Caught another episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Once again, I ended up surprised by Zelda. Still not a huge fan, but I think I'll end up liking her character arc.

Watched the third installment of The Ready Room. Michelle Hurd is such a cool actor. I've enjoyed her in almost everything she's participated in.

Caught another Passionflix Quickie. Hooked ended up being a lot of fun. I loved having an older couple as the main characters.

Ended up watching a full two-parter of Silent Witness. Really liked the storylines and their outcomes even though both weren't optimal.

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers. This one features a biker club and, so far, it's pretty decent.

Caught an episode of Chicago Med and liked the storylines. The reunion theme fit most of the scenes. The one confusing bit with the super-great surgeon maybe planted some seeds for future episodes. Not sure about that one.

Watched another episode of No Offence. I'm thoroughly enjoying the third series. Dinah and Viv are formidable and I love how Spike kind of slides in wherever he's needed. Good stuff.

Started a new arc of Classic Who. The second part of the key search isn't quite as interesting as the first, but I love K-9's interactions with everyone.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Not Quite Paradise, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Janee Neff and Oxley DeCosta are military transport pilots flying a peacetime mission to pick up new recruits when their craft crashes and strands them on a deserted moon. The couple discovers things aren't exactly what they seem when they find their signal beacon is destroyed by blaster fire, which means their unexpected vacation isn't quite paradise after all.

And a sneaky peek…

Janee Neff handed a clipboard to the deckhand. "Thanks, Wan. We won't be out long, right? The little pings shouldn't be a problem." Pre-flight checks always found little blips that shouldn't be cause for alarm.

Wan Jennings arched a brow. "You know if you come back with anything more than what's on this list, the chief will want your head on a pike." The deckhand rolled a shoulder. "It's your call, Janee." She backed out of the ship and pressed the release for the docking cables.

Janee gave her a thumbs-up then activated the panel to close the door. "When doesn't the chief want my head on a pike?" But she wouldn't be flying this time.

Oxley DeCosta swiveled around in the pilot's seat. "The only time you're not on the shit list is when you're washing the birds." He gave her a lopsided smirk.

She snorted, but didn't comment. Mainly because he didn't have things wrong. She ended up washing a lot of spacecrafts to soothe the chief's ruffled feathers.

Slipping into the copilot's station, she shot Ox a sideways glance. "We gonna take off or what?" Routine runs were boring enough … delaying their launch wouldn't make things more interesting.

Ox grunted. "Sure." He began the process of taxiing the mid-sized transport vehicle into the bay for takeoff. "Prepare to be dazzled into a semi-stupor of long-range scans and recon scouting before picking up the new recruits." Entering the marked location, he signaled the LSO and received the okay to lift off.

Janee gripped the arms of her chair. "Let's hit the black." She loved the sequence of barreling through the launch tube and hitting the inky darkness of space.

Ox pushed the joystick forward and they shot down the tunnel, gaining speed until he pressed the trigger and blasted out into the universe.

Janee checked their coordinates. "Heading for Hepheta's moon to establish synchronous orbit on my mark." Keying in the number sequence, she paused until they flashed on the screen. "And, mark."

Ox hit the jump switch and they winked out of sight then appeared directly above one of the moons of the planet Hepheta.

Janee verified their status. "We're a go for long-range and recon of the third moon." Spooling up the equipment, she did a quick rundown. "Breathable atmosphere, craggy outcroppings, H2O. Wow. A veritable paradise so far."

Ox snorted. "Right. Give it time. Let's see what the other two moons and the planet have going for them." He radioed the flagship then set their transport to the sequence. "Four days of mining data from the surface. Ugh."

Janee laughed. "What's the matter, Lieutenant Hot Stuff? Do the numbers make you go cross-eyed?" She loved teasing him.

Ox kicked back in his chair. "Yeesh. You jumped in before I could finish and say at least I had good company, but yeah, forget that now." He made a show of crossing his arms over his chest and pouting.

Janee rolled her eyes. "Fine. You get a free dig with no retaliation but you have to wait at least twenty-four hours to use it."

Ox gave her a wide grin. "I'm a patient man. Done."

Janee smiled. This would be a fun four-day jaunt.

Janee and Ox have some conflicting ideas about where this story is going but they'll always work out their issues … and maybe kick my sages into cooperation. LOL

 

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye