Black Hole Heartbeat

Ana - 28

Ana sat at her desk, tearing pieces from a cupcake. She wiped the frosting from her fingertips as West's voice came through her com bracelet.

Miss Yukishnov. I need to speak to Miss Ranger

"I thought her bracelet was set up receive messages from you?"

Bring her to the room. And you should remain present

"Are you going to tell her about the surgery?"

Bring her, Miss Yukishnov

Still eating the cupcake, Ana rushed to Elizabeth's quarters. She found her in the gym instead,

pounding a punching bag. She waved her over. Elizabeth dried her face on a towel. There were

deep bags under her eyes. Ana explained that West needed to see her.

"Where'd you get the cake?" Elizabeth said.

"Rusalka gave it to me. I think she swiped it from the kitchen." "Oh. I didn't realize you two got along so well," Elizabeth said. Ana waited to see if Elizabeth said any more. She didn't. "She's not very good at making friends. Neither am I. We don't expect normal behavior from each other, because we don't know what normal behavior is."

They reached the central chamber. Ana pressed her eye to the reader and Elizabeth turned

away. Ana pushed the door open then stepped back. She gestured for Elizabeth to continue

forwards. "I'm only here to observe," she said, "It's you he wants to speak to."

The voice poured into the room again.

Hello again Miss Ranger

"This about the thing Querius found?" We'll get to that. I understand you have added more to the crew roster than I was expecting.

Characters of ill repute

"Their repute is no more ill than mine," Elizabeth said.

Ana hated the chill of this room. She hoped West would keep it short.

A thief with a penchant for grandeur and your old squad. Two broadcast stars igniting inter

species conflict and another who has brought along his paramour; the highest ranking Torfus

ever to resign her post in the military, an incident which occurred in mysterious circumstances.

It is not the low key affair I was hoping for

Mysterious circumstances? "They're a necessary part of the team."

They shall have to prove they are "And if they don't?"

Her voice echoed around the chamber. Cold and damp and full of shadows.

In any case, another addition is required. Someone with the expertise to make sense of Loslou's findings

"You telling me we need an expert to help our expert?"

Querius Loslou is a virtuoso in interpreting ancient artefacts, but what he has discovered

requires someone well versed in lesser known species. Cryptozoology

"I take it you have someone in mind?" Elizabeth said.

Uhkira. He has a small base on Blue 2

"The Barely Charted?"

That should give you some idea of what kind of Krei he is. He won't be expecting you

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elizabeth said.

No answer.

She turned to Ana. "I think that's all we'll get," Ana said.

Elizabeth left the room quickly. She wouldn't look Ana in the eye.

"Is something wrong?" Ana asked. "Let's just get this mission sorted."

They reached the flight deck. Donovan swiveled around in his chair.

"Any news, Captain?" "We're heading to The Barely Charted."

"Nice. Anywhere special?"

"Blue 2," Ana said.

"Travel to The Barely Charted is forbidden," Mogg told them. Ana hadn't noticed he was there. He had a screwdriver in his hand, leant over one of the control

stations. "You're no fun, you know that?" Donovan said.

"Any idea on an ETA Donovan?" Elizabeth said, ignoring Mogg. "We're on the outskirts now. With warp drive we'll be there by the time you reach the hangar, if

you walk slowly."

"Slowly it is."

They headed for the armoury.

"Get ready," Elizabeth told her.

Ana attached her white body plates and tucked her first aid supplies away.

"Should I take the derringer or the assault rifle for this one?" she asked, holding each of them

up. "Why do you even have that derringer? It won't do any damage," Elizabeth said without looking

up.

"Sam gave it to me." Elizabeth turned around, "It's cute. But assault rifle should be your go to from now on."

There was a knock on the armoury door, a playful melody.

"Come in, Lavell," Elizabeth shouted.

Lavell handed her a bracelet.

"This a new design?" "I suppose they would be, to you. I've made some improvements, mainly to the com link

function."

Another knock at the door. Hard and demanding. "A captain's work is never done. I've told we're to call you that now. Captain Ranger," Lavell said

with a teasing smirk. "Call me captain and I'll blast you out of the airlock," Elizabeth said, smiling.

Elizabeth opened the door. Isoline was stood there.

"We should come on this mission," Isoline told her.

"We?" Ana asked.

"Brack and I."

"What makes you so sure?" Elizabeth said. "This is not a simple treasure hunt, digging for metal in a pile of dirt. Uhkira's lair will be

heavily guarded. The presence of one as highly training as myself will only aid the mission, won't it?"

Elizabeth stared at Isoline for a moment.

"Fine. Get suited up then meet us in the hangar."

Isoline nodded and walked away with long strides.

"Am I still coming?" Ana asked.

Elizabeth looked at her, eyes widening, like she was half asleep.

"Yeah."