Page 3 of Trove’s Purpose

“You’re so pessimistic, Chee,” Hyde chuckled at her good-naturedly.

“That’s just what optimists call realists.”

“That’s just what pessimists lie to themselves about being,” he countered. “Have you considered at all, Lady Realist, the possibility of this working?”

“The odds are absolutely abysmal.”

“Not when you know all the things that I do.”

“I don’t know all the things that you do.”

“Exactly, so have some faith. Trust me, Chee, I’ve been planning and plotting this for years. This will work, I assure you.”

She made another sound in her throat, much more non-committal, but still portraying just how little she believed in this venture.

The computer beeped, and a robotic, feminine voice told her to take her seat, that the ship would soon be entering the atmosphere. Chee knew the entry wouldn’t be as bad as portrayed in movies. Unlike human spaceships, aliens and the Coalition had the technology for controlled, comfortable reentry back into a planet’s pull. It was going to be smooth and safe and fast.

But her stomach immediately dropped with nerves.

Unrolling from her ball, she reached out with her foot and pushed against the ceiling, sending herself floating towards the only place to sit. She took hold of it and swung herself around, hovering her butt over the seat as she buckled herself in.

“Now, go over your instructions again,” Hyde ordered calmly.

Chee looked through the windows of the starship at the golden, lifeless planet taking up the entirety of her view. Her heart pounded with nerves and anticipation.

“I’m landing outside the entrance of an abandoned recycling facility. Use the override tool you gave me to gain entrance. Once inside, make contact with the Humble Delivery crew. Make them your deal. Get them to accept it. And once they have your stuff, bring it and them back to you.”

“Very good. Maybe with a bit more enthusiasm though, hm?”

“Woo,” she waved her finger in the air.

Hyde laughed. “You’ll thank me one day, Chee, I assure you. Keep in contact with me. I won’t be able to offer you a lot of help yet, but if this goes well, I will. And good luck, my dear. You’ve no idea how much this means to me.”

With that, the line cut and Chee was left alone, hurtling towards the unknown. She grabbed the helmet of her suit and gathered her hair, pulling it up so she could slip the thing on and seal it in place.

“This stupid thing you want better be damn impressive,” she mumbled as it sealed in place to the rest of her suit. The air below, she was assured, was breathable, but it wasn’t recommended that anyone do so for long periods. Once inside the recycling facility, it was a different story, as all that air was clean and scrubbed. But she wasn’t taking the chance.

She knew a little about the crew she was going to meet. The Humble Delivery Service was a crew of slightly reformed ne’er-do-wells that had made new identities for themselves so that they could escape what was apparently the shittiest hole in existence. They took on delivery jobs no one else was willing to do – those that were dangerous, delicate, or downright stupid. They could charge practically anything they wanted, since their clientele had no one else to work with, but they were fair and honorable in their dealings. By all records and accounts, they were normal, hardworking males with sparse pasts that just wanted to live peaceful lives.

Except they were murderers, thieves, butchers, brutes, and criminals. The crimes associated with the names they’d killed to make their current lives sent chills down her spine to read. Chee considered herself rather open-minded, understanding even, but all of that was a bit much even for her.

They had been blown out of the sky – quite literally – and were now stranded on Yenfir-5. How they survived a literal explosion, she didn't know. If they were even going to be open to taking the deal she brought, she also didn’t know. They might even shoot her on sight, she couldn’t guarantee one way or the other.

She was putting a lot at risk here. If they decided to kill her, absolutely no one could stop them. Help was too far away to lend a hand, and now that the line with Hyde was cut, she didn’t even have a way to try to ask for it. She was completely at their mercy.

She knew that going into this though. She had agreed to it.

But that didn't make her feel any better about what she was potentially walking into.

Gravity slowly grabbed back ahold of her as she came into the embrace of the planet’s pull. Her butt connected back to the seat as she grabbed onto the arms, clenching them tight, biting her lips as she tried to think of what she would say. How she was going to make this work.

She hoped she didn't die. Her parents would be miserable if she died.

But if she succeeded…

The reward was worth it.

She gathered her courage, steeled her nerve, and took a deep, calming breath. Then another. She was going to do this. Hell or high water, she was going to do this.