Sunday Snippet: Dodging Reality

Gotta say, the whole limiting of physical distance and having my youngest's senior year pretty much cancelled is both easier and harder than I thought it would be. I have three people in the house who are pretty much deemed essential workers. One is in food production and the other two are grocery workers. If the reins get tighter on limiting movement, I'm pretty sure they won't get a break.

For me, as someone who's worked from home for the past decade or so, it's business as usual for the most part. I have more interruptions than usual but otherwise, my routine hasn't changed overmuch. There's something comforting in that.

Had a semi-decent week of watching television. I finished up the Heart Guy from last week and I'll give it a go. I have a feeling this one is going to have messy relationships and I always like train-wreck shows.

Also caught another arc of Classic Who. It's always fun to see the effects from the late sixties and early seventies. Doctor Who isn't any better or worse for shows of its time.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and enjoyed it. I'm finally starting to get into the relationships and getting to know the villagers. I love the scenery in the show.

Caught the livestream of the Dropkick Murphys concert on St. Patrick's Day. Terrific show and highly entertaining. I hope to catch some of the Broadway shows that are available for streaming also.

Watched the rest of season one of Danger Man. I'll be starting season two in the upcoming week.

Started episode three of Strike Back. Nice to have a familiar face back in the fold. Also, Chetri is really growing on me. She's got quite a personality and interacting more as an equal with the rest of the team. I love that.

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

Here's the mini-blurb:

Take a reality show set on the front lines in space, add a brash reporter who wants the down and dirty secrets of the crew—and will stop at nothing to get them—and mix it up with a couple fighting their attraction while protecting their pilots from the ratings hound. Stir in a little backstabbing from the camera man and the outcome is Dodging Reality.

And a sneaky peek…

"I can't do it. I can't find the trap."

Captain Caro Williams watched her normally excellent pilot bring her bird down with a horrible crunch—so much for talking Lorraine "Jazz" Jazinski through the landing. Caro held back the string of expletives that rolled through her mind when the bent craft lowered down from the landing bay to the hangar deck.

She'd save the ass kicking for later. Maybe a good verbal lashing would snap Lorraine out of the funk she'd been in. Whatever the case, Jazz had some major explaining to do … if she hadn't been injured in that total crap landing.

Caro dashed out of the LSO's station and took off at a run. A film crew followed, hot on her heels.

Not an embedded crew who knew to stay out of the way when the ship came under fire. The ones who usually made award-winning documentaries about life in the military. Nope. The team her people got stuck with loved nothing more than asking lame-ass questions at inappropriate times—only to spin the answers into something unrecognizable. Led by a harpy of a woman reporter, Monique Presley, they seemed to be on it twenty-four seven.

Whoever thought making a reality show during a time of war a good idea oughtta be shot. Not that any of the top brass would ever own the decision. Caro figured they should all face a firing squad for the complete act of stupidity. Better yet, they could come out to the front lines and fly the damn missions with a camera shoved in their face. See how they liked it.

The cameraman almost caught up to Caro.

She snarled under her breath. "Catch me if you can, moron." Her face twisted in a grimace.

Caro started down the stairs to the flight deck and braced her hands on the side rails, sliding the rest of the way down, bypassing the last ten steps. She hit the ground running and figured she'd at least have a little bit of a head start before the camera crew caught back up.

Jazinski's canopy opened and the pilot slowly got up and removed her helmet. She had a scrape above her brow line but otherwise didn't appear to be too banged up. 

Caro let loose. "God damn, Jazz. What the flaming hell was that?" She signaled the waiting medics so they could treat her pilot.

Lorraine threw her helmet on the seat and glared down. "That. Was a shit landing. Where the hell was the trap?" Her gloves came off and she tossed them over the edge of her bird.

Caro growled. "Right where it always is. You missed it, Jazz."

Lorraine swayed slightly when she reached up to remove her collar. Caro narrowed her eyes. Something's off. Jazinski had a vacant look in her gaze. She's wired on something. The realization hit the same moment Lorraine bounded over the side of her ship and launched herself down the ladder.

She came flying toward Caro. "It wasn't there. The trap was not there!"

Jazz took a wild swing and Caro ducked, sending the pilot spinning around in a wild circle. The CAG, Vic Albright, caught Jazz from behind, restraining her arms, and Jazinski went crazy. She kicked out, catching Caro with a solid blow to her shoulder before she could grab both legs to keep Lorraine still.

Caro met Vic's gaze, ready for the question.

"What the hell happened out there?" Vic struggled to keep the pilot under control. She bucked and twisted, trying to break free. "Jazz never misses. Why now?"

"Because it wasn't there. I'm telling you. It wasn't there!" Jazz shouted and fought against her superior officers.

Caro yelled at the medical team. "Get over here. We gotta get her to sickbay now." The camera crew had caught up and the last thing anyone needed would be to have Lorraine's total meltdown on film.

The medics wheeled the cot up close and Vic heaved Jazz's upper body up onto the surface. Caro followed, holding her legs until they got her torso strapped to the mattress.

She nodded to Vic. "Check her pocket. Whatever this is, it's not natural."

He flipped up the scratchy opening and fished out a bottle. "Stims. God damn stims."

Caro sighed and worked her way around the cot to block the view of the camera crew. "This is not good."

Vic glanced over at the team filming everything and lowered his voice. "No. It's not. From the looks of this bottle, she's been taking these for a while." He groaned and Caro looked up to see Monique sauntering towards them, a huge smile on her face.

"Well, well, well. A little mishap on the landing from what I hear. Care to comment?"

Caro spun around and marched toward the reporter. "No. Get your crew out of here. We've got an injured pilot and she doesn't need this."

Monique craned her neck, trying to see past Caro. "Looks like she's okay, except for that nasty scrape." She made a move to get closer, wanting to ask questions.

Caro blocked her. "I said get back."

Monique huffed out an angry breath. "We're allowed on the hangar deck. You can't stop me." The medics secured the cot and started to move away.

Caro seethed. "I can if it's gonna negatively impact my pilot." The lead camera guy tried to move in for a close up reaction shot while they wheeled Jazz to sickbay. "Get that god damned camera out of my face." She balled up her fist and drew her arm back, ready to punch the guy in the gut.

Vic interceded. "Ms. Presley. They're taking Lieutenant Jazinski to sickbay. There's nothing more for you here." He gave Caro a look and she lowered her arm.

Presley jerked her head, indicating the crew should follow the med team. "Major Albright, I will interview your lieutenant. You can't stop me."

Tired of hearing that phrase, Caro let loose. "Listen, you raving bitch—" She grabbed the other woman's arm ready to forcefully haul her out.

"Caro!" Vic's voice cut through the rage. "Captain Williams. That's enough." He jerked her away from Monique. "Ms. Presley, you're welcome to see if Doctor Lohan will allow an interview." He nudged Caro toward the bent bird. "Go. Get started on the after action report."

Caro sneered in the other woman's direction but followed the order.

Monique gave Vic a rueful smile. "She's a bit hot-headed."

Caro grabbed some deck gear and pulled out a clipboard, keeping her gaze on Vic.

He flicked his eyes toward her but shrugged. "She thinks you're a menace." His gaze slid back to Monique. "And she's concerned about her pilot."

Monique inclined her head, acknowledging his point. "And you?" She trailed her manicured fingertips down his arm. "What do you think I am?"

Vic's face went flat. "Too smart to make more out of this than you should." He turned away from her. "Have a nice day, Ms. Presley."    

Caro bit back a grin. Way to go, Vic. The skill he had to shut people down with little more than a dozen words never failed to amaze her.

And the sour scowl Miss Hell in Heels sent toward Vic's retreating back made Caro's entire day.

Score one for the good guys.

This one is getting close to being finished. I have a few more scenes to nail down and get down on paper. I'm having a lot of fun with this couple.

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

ML Skye