Syzygy

Vega Dignity

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(I need the cross-crank again.) Andra held out a hand expectantly and was pleased to felt the familiar handle land in her palm without hesitation. (Thanks.

(This is surprisingly calming,) Cygnus replied as he worked busily on a panel nearby. He was between meetings, and had taken to coming down to help her with her ship whenever he had some free time. Andra still hadn't figured out why, and he still hadn't deigned to answer when she asked. (Is that why you're always down here?)

They were far enough away from each other that they would have had to yell. Fortunately, Cygnus was more than powerful enough to hold a mental conversation link between them, even when they were both focused on separate, intricate, tasks.

(I'm always down here because I would really rather not be noticed by anyone important,) Andra told him dryly, and heard him snort from the other side of the ship. (Besides you, anyway. Why do you think I haven't told anyone I saw your vision?)

(I assumed it spooked you,) Cygnus said, not exactly hesitant, but aware of her discomfort about the matter. They hadn't discussed the vision at all. (High-level precognition is rare, and mine can be... overwhelming, even when the subject isn't as distressing as this was. Also, I need the crank back unless you want me to risk ripping this panel off entirely.)

His telekinesis was as powerful as his other gifts, but that much power often had control limitations.

He could probably crack a moon in half, if he was willing to burn himself out to do it. But lift a teacup, or screw in a bolt? Completely beyond his abilities.

Not for the first time, Andra was glad that her own telekinesis was so minor. She might not be able to do the big stuff, but the little stuff was usually more useful.

She wrenched three more bolts into place and floated the crank back to him with a thought. He caught it easily and began unscrewing the panel with quick pulls. (I'll need you here in a moment. This is more complicated than I can learn and do at the same time.)

(One minute.)

Andra finished with her bolts and slid out from under the ship. Her coveralls were spattered with oil and space dust, and she wiped off her hands before she joined Cygnus at the panel. A large orb of woven wires, insulation, papers, and buts of plastic dominated most of the interior "Crap. That looks like a chimma nest."

It was jarring to go from mental speech to verbal, but the connection still buzzed between them, carrying images and concepts that made the words come easier.

"Chimmas?" He kept his hands well away from the woven next of wires and insulation even as Andra eyed it, mind flavored heavily with irritation at the previous owner of the ship. "What are chimmas?"

"Little, annoying," Andra summed up, grumbling even as she dug in her tool chest for the tough syn-leather gloves she kept handy. "Can bite through just about anything. They'd be cute, if they didn't destroy wiring so fast."

She grabbed a bucket and set it under the nest. Slime poured out as she began scraping the nest out of the wiring cavity. Tiny glowing rodents scattered in every direction and she caught as many as she could before they could escape.

Cygnus was appalled, and a little disgusted as slime and wiring drizzled off her gloves and into the bucket. "This thing is a death trap. How is this the ship your Edge Leader chose to get here?"

"I'm one of the best pilots we have," Andra said, and cursed when one of the chimmas decided to go on the attack. She batted it into the bucket with more force than was strictly necessary, and it chittered at her furiously with the rest of its' kind. "And my ship might be beat up, but it's mine, free and clear."