Tanis Richards_Shore Leave _A Hard, Military, Science Fiction Adventure (Aeon 14_Origins of Destiny)

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Tanis Richards_Shore Leave _A Hard, Military, Science Fiction Adventure (Aeon 14_Origins of Destiny) Page 18

by M. D. Cooper


  Opening the case, the first thing that Tanis saw—because she couldn’t help it—was a neon green dress with black and yellow panels.

  “It’s like a bumblebee got the plague,” Tanis said as she set the dress aside.

  Darla chuckled.

  “Stars, Darla, if you weren’t an AI, I’d think you were hot for me,” Tanis said with a laugh as she pulled another lightwand out of the case.

 

  “Hey!” Tanis exclaimed, flipping the lightwand over—and pointedly ignoring Darla’s comment. “This is my lightwand!”

 

  “At least ‘til he wakes up,” Tanis qualified with a laugh.

  The case also contained another rifle, a flechette pistol, another set of the light armor, a few Infil Kits, and a small box labeled ‘X19-FCK’.

  Darla said as Tanis checked over the weapons, sorting their charge packs and magazines.

  “Oh yeah?” Tanis asked, not sure she wanted to hear why.

 

  “Gah…I hate the idea of crashing that,” Tanis grimaced.

 

  “No…I also hate the thought of the whole crew being caught up in this mess. I wonder what they must think of me.”

  Darla assured her.

  Not in a day, at least, I hope… Tanis thought as she lifted the dress once more.

 

  “Then we have to go shopping for a matching purse,” Tanis said. “Because I’m taking this suit with me…just in case.”

  Darla asked.

  Tanis sighed and picked up the box with ‘X19-FCK’ stamped on it. “Not looking forward to this part.”

  She opened up the box and saw only an injector.

  “Huh. Well, this is odd.”

 

  “Subdermal? As in this is going to alter my bone structure?”

 

  With a protracted sigh, Tanis picked up the injector, which had the words ‘Apply to Cheek’ stenciled on the side. “Here goes nothing.”

  She pushed the button, and felt a large volume of nano flow into her face, making her skin and cheekbone begin to ache immediately. The ache spread across her entire face, and Tanis groaned.

  she said over the Link rather than attempting to open her mouth—not that she thought it would even be possible at the moment.

  The pain dropped Tanis to her knees, and she squeezed her eyes shut, tears leaking from the corners. The agony only intensified, and she sucked in a shuddering breath before toppling over and passing out.

  * * * * *

  A strident voice came into her mind.

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