Sunday Snippet: Personal Involvement

Ugh. A long week again. At least it was more about recovery than ongoing crises. Had a flurry of work projects come in and I'm glad to have some new stuff to dive into.

Had a short week of television viewing. I started with The Brokenwood Mysteries and quite enjoyed the episode, which featured sharks and spiders and I'm not a huge fans of either so there's that.

Finished up an episode of Blue Heelers and started another one. I'm kind of amazed how themes from almost twenty years ago are even more prevalent today. The episode focuses on colonization and theft of indigenous artifacts. Very interesting.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. I remembered bits of this one but not all of it. Should finish up the second part this week.

Caught the second to last arc of season 18 of Classic Who. The Master has returned and I'm pretty sure he'll be then end of Four. Sometimes I like not remembering how and when the regenerations occur.

Finished up UFO Witness and enjoyed the series overall. I'll be starting a new series this week but haven't decided what it'll be yet.

Watched two more episodes of The Muppet Show. Helen Reddy and Harry Belefonte were the guest stars. I really enjoyed Harry's episode.

Started a rewatch of Prime Suspect. I'd forgotten how thoroughly asshattish the men were toward Jane in the early seasons. I wanted to kick all of them in the balls.

Finished out the week with Peak Practice. Can't say I'm a big fan of Will's lady friend but I can't quite put a finger on why I'm not fond of her. Overall a good episode.

That's pretty much it for this week. Tonight's post is from Personal Involvement, a novella with family drama and a hot romance in spite of it.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Tarin Glade gets caught up in a nightmare when she's brought before a disciplinary council for her personal involvement with a student who failed basic flight. When Ellis Spector, the brother of the complainant, speaks on Tarin's behalf, it rocks the foundation of his family—especially since the commandant who brings the charges is Ellis's father.

And a sneaky peek…

Tarin Glade carefully counted down the minutes before she'd call her class to order. She loved teaching basic flight—even if she gave some of the old-timers heart palpitations with her unorthodox teaching methods. Someone needs to bring the curriculum into this century.

Her lips twitched. "Bet the fab four are even now going over my course material to see if they can find fault." The group of flight instructors used to be five men, but one of the old buzzards finally had to retire.

Fresh from the new instructor program, Tarin entered the school and set the fab four on their asses with an accelerated class schedule that put the students in simulators by the second week. The old guard battled back and beginning with her third class—the one she'd start in two minutes—she had to wait until week three to put her cadets in the cockpit.

Flipping open the roster, she started to run down the names of her newest recruits. Commotion at the door drew her attention and her mouth dropped open when her current flame, Eddie Spector, strolled into the room.

She snagged the file, jumped up, and cut him off before he cleared the back row of desks. "What are you doing here?" Her voice hissed between her lips.

Eddie smirked. "Hey, babe. I'm reporting to class."

She grabbed his arm and dragged him into the hall outside the classroom. "You're not in my class. And don't call me babe anywhere on campus. Ever." She hated the endearment and absolutely wouldn't tolerate anything resembling that kind of familiarity while Eddie went through training.

Eddie waved a piece of paper. "I'm definitely in your class." He nodded toward the folder tucked under her arm. "Check your roster, ba—er, Lieutenant. I'm there."

Sure enough, when she reviewed the names, Eddie's took up the bottom space on the page. Her heart sank. She couldn't have her significant other in her class—even if she regularly thumbed her nose at propriety.

Folding her arms over her chest, she shook her head. "This can't happen, Eddie. You're going to have to switch instructors." How in the world did he think this could work?

Eddie's lips formed a pout. "I can't switch now. I specifically requested you."

Her face flamed with anger. "Are you insane? Why would you think it was a good idea to request the person you're dating as your instructor?"

Eddie's mouth twisted into a grin. "Because I can earn all kinds of extra credit when I'm not in class."

The anger bloomed into red-alert status. "Geez, Eddie. No. No. Get your ass out of this building and think about what you just said. There's no way I'm going to let you into my classroom." She'd be stupid if she did.

"Is there a problem here?"

Her head angled around and she met the questioning gaze of Eddie's brother, Ellis.

Can this day get any worse?

I love writing family dynamics and Ellis is going to jump head-first into a hot mess between Tarin and his brother and the outcome might not be pretty.

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Perfect Conversation

Wow, another rough week on the home front. My middle kiddo is really struggling right now and I hate not being able to help him even though he's an adult. He's really tired of landing in the emergency department but we might be getting closer to figuring out what's going on with him. A few specialist appointments in September might help even more.

Didn't get as much television viewed but had a decent amount nonetheless. Started out with The Brokenwood Mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I really like seeing previous characters in their recurring roles.

Finished up Silent Witness's second episode and don't remember watching it during my first viewing. Glad I got to see it.

Watched an arc of Classic Who and should be finished up with season eighteen soon. I think it might be the last one for Four.

Got another episode of UFO Witness viewed and rather enjoyed this one. Still feels staged but I liked the deep dive into whether there's a secret underground base of operations for aliens.

Caught two episodes of The Muppet Show with Raquel Welch and James Coco as the guest stars. About halfway through season three and looking forward to more.

Finished out McCartney 3, 2, 1 and would love to see more. So many great moments and songs in this brief look into Paul McCartney's journey as a musician.

Watched another episode of Peak Practice and ended up liking it a lot. Will can be such a prat sometimes but I like that about his character.

Enjoyed another lesson on Master Class. LeVar Burton focused on reading to children and interacting with them about the source material. Very interesting!

Started Inside the Episodes: The Witcher and loved going back to revisit the first episode. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Caught another episode of New Rugrats and loved it. I really enjoy the updated version of this show.

Finishing out the week with Chicago Med and it's a heat wave episode. I'm totally feeling that this week. It got hot again.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Perfect Conversation, a novella that has the main characters reuniting under less than ideal circumstances.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Gigi Morse ran away from Scott Alamead because she didn't want to risk losing him. But when she returns, a very different Scott greets her and Gigi realizes she's right back on the hot seat.

And a sneaky peek…

Gigi had a point and Scott hated it. "Yeah, I jumped the gun with wanting to execute the prisoner." Riva Dinari.

He couldn't even say her name out loud. Way too close to the situation, he made himself step back and recognize his reckless decision for what it meant. A knee-jerk reaction because he left the man he loved like a father before knowing if he made it or not.

He shook his head. "The minister of defense needs intel and if we can get it from her, well…" They should make every effort to do so.

Having the artifact helped. But, damn, not even that proof would sway his uncle's second in command. Bart Lambert had total control right now and wouldn't give the power up without a compelling reason. Learning why Riva wanted the old man dead could get their foot in the door.

"Then again, what the hell do I know? I'm way out of his element." Scott questioned every decision he'd made in the last two weeks.

He didn't regret following the MoD. Better to leave with her than take out the 2IC for incompetence. And he would have … the man declared martial law for fuck's sake. A power trip gone mad and not a damn thing Scott could do about it.

He took another step back and examined his interaction with Gigi. "I can't believe I kissed her." After everything…

But he'd been so damn relieved to have her back, had missed her so much, he didn't even think about it. Just hauled her forward and planted one on her. And she responded … which surprised the hell out of him. Especially considering how they'd left things.

Gigi didn't like being called on her bullshit.

Her response made him want to drag her off and see what else might happen. But he wouldn't. He'd promised to be a friend and nothing more.

Geez, he needed to get a grip. "Being all over the map doesn't work for me." Like losing his shit after catching sight of the prisoner.

His blood boiled and the first trickle of rage bit in and held fast with gnawing teeth. He had her shoved back against the wall, his hands around her throat, before anyone thought to stop him. The violence felt good—squeezing off her air supply until she gasped for breath. But … having it take three men—and Gigi getting in his face—to slice through the urge to kill and make him let go? So not him.

He usually had infamous control on his impulses. The MoD, displeased and cranky over his actions, said nothing about his major over step. Scott appreciated the tolerance and leeway. "But I'd better toe the line going forward or prepare to spend time in the brig beside the prisoner." He'd learned enough about Maureen Regis to realize his luck wouldn't hold out if he didn't get a grip on himself.

Another thing he'd learned? When Gigi left, he lost his balance. She evened things out for him with her wild ideas and sometimes questionable logic. Owning that admission cost him nothing but a little pride.

"But I'll keep it myself for now." Why give Gigi ammunition, right?

This story is meandering all over the place because the scenes aren't coming to me in chronological order, which is making things interesting when trying to figure out the timeline.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Passing Ships in the Night

Ugh. Had a rough week in general. My work project is coming along nicely but we had storms blow through and lost power a couple of times, which kind of harshed my vibe in a big way.

I got less television viewed but I did get to finish out the second season of the Passionflix original Driven. Man … what an ending. I'm truly excited for season three next year.

I did catch another episode of New Rugrats. I'm thoroughly enjoying this show and I'll state for the record that I hope there will be another season. So much fun.

Watched a full episode of Chicago Med and started another one. I'm not sure about the new head of Rhodes's department but their interactions are very interesting.

Got another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries out of the way and one of my favorite things about this show is how we see some familiar faces from other episodes pop up. I really like that, especially since they were suspects before in a different case. Very cool.

Started a new two-part Silent Witness. Interesting concept on this one and I vaguely remember bits and pieces from the episodes but can't remember how things got resolved. I'll look forward to seeing the second part.

Enjoyed another arc of Classic Who. Interesting concept and the resolution ended up being something I didn't expect. Hope to start a new arc this week.

Caught another episode of UFO Witness and rather enjoyed it. This one had a regression so an abductee could maybe remember what happened to him. Ended up being pretty interesting to watch.

Watched two episodes of The Muppet Show with Liberace and Marisa Berenson as the guest stars. Enjoyed both.

Still loving McCartney 3, 2, 1. I always end up being blown away by something every episode. It's also a lot of fun to watch Paul pick up an instrument and play or see him sing along at the mixing board. Love this show.

Enjoyed another Master Class with LeVar Burton. This lesson focused on the imagination being our superpower. I love listening to LeVar talk about storytelling.

Started an episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and … well … I didn't finish it. I really enjoy most of the characters, especially Hilda and Ambrose, Doctor Cee, Theo, Harvey, and Roz. I like Nick a lot. Even the weird sisters are often entertaining. But it really bugs me how Sabrina started out being decent at communication and now she massively sucks at it. The whole asking for advice then doing the exact opposite—without a really good reason other than it's what she wants to do—is starting to annoy me enough to stop watching for now. I might come back to the show eventually but there are other things on Netflix I'd like to get to so Sabrina can wait for bit.

Watched another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Man. I'm starting to really love this show. There's a lot of nuance, which I enjoy and I like trying to figure out if Lorca is an asshole or a genius … or both. Michael intrigues me to no end. I love mix of Vulcan logic with human foibles. She's such a cool character.

That's pretty much it for the weekly viewing update. Tonight's post is from Passing Ships in the Night, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Renny Spur and Chad Raxton have something of an understanding—they meet at the Moonstar shipyard whenever they're in the Milky Way galaxy. When Chad's late for a connection, Renny gets angry and makes a bad choice—one Chad has to decide if he can overlook.

And a sneaky peek…

Chad stood outside Renny's quarters while she ducked in to stow her gear. "Can't believe my luck." A stunning dinner partner falling into his lap … not what he expected on the short visit to Moonstar.

And his brother more or less handed her over on a silver platter. Good thing he's currently hot for the armory sergeant. Mac didn't care about gender. When his interest got piqued, he pursued his heart's desire.

Chad braced his shoulders on the wall. "Why can't I do that?" His luck with dating bordered on laughable.

He went out and hooked up frequently, but as of yet, no one sparked a yearning for more. Between recruiting and his other military duties, he didn't exactly have a lot of time to dedicate to a relationship. But … he'd like to find someone to share things with.

The door slid open and Renny stepped out. Something about her drew him in. She looked fantastic, even in a standard-issue uniform. Am I being fanciful? Maybe, but she intrigued him.

He pushed away from the wall and grinned. "All set?" When she nodded, he jerked his head toward the causeway. "Food options are on level six. We can take the lift or we can use the autostairs. Any preference?" He hoped she'd opt for the steps … they'd see more of the base that way.

Renny shook her head. "No. Apparently, I'm here until the 1350 flight to the Ulysses tomorrow. I didn't think I'd get my assignment until the morning watch." She fell into step beside him. "Since this'll be the main hub I ship out from, let's take the autostairs." She paused a moment. "Unless you're starving?" Her head tilted to one side.

I'm starving for time with you.

Chad lifted a shoulder. "I'm hungry but I like taking the scenic route." He made a left and headed for the first set of rolling steps. "They have a good selection of eateries here. Pretty much anything you're in the mood for." He placed his foot on the first stair and held on to the side rail. "That's definitely not always the case with the star stations."

Renny followed quickly behind him then moved up to stand beside him. "How many have you been to?"

He snorted. "All but one. It's on my roster for next month." Out of twelve total … not bad for two years in his new post.

Her eyes widened. "You're not in one place very long, are you?"

His lips twitched. "It depends. I'm in recruiting and inspecting for flight squadrons. Sometimes I have a long jaunt at a star station or aboard a ship, but two weeks tends to be the standard." He wouldn't bore her with the mundane details. "Is the Ulysses your first star cruiser posting?" They stepped off the stairs on the third level and made their way to the next set.

Her head bobbed up and down. "It is. I've been stationed planetside for eighteen months. But my flying skill coupled with a degree in mechanical engineering put me on a fast track for deep space missions." She got on first this time.

His eyes went wide. "A degree and you fly? Damn, that's a heady mix." He chuckled. "You'll be in demand when you assume your post. Do you plan to go career in the military?" Reaching level six, he eased off the steps and quickly moved to the side.

She shrugged and glided off the stairs. "I'm not sure yet. I wanted practical experience and didn't want to wait for it. The firms I interviewed with had long probationary periods." She slid him a sideways glance. "I'm not known for having patience."

He laughed. "Good to know. How about we do a quick walk around up here so I can give you the rundown on the great food and not-so-great places." He swept an arm out. "Then you can choose where we eat."

She gave him a wide smile. "Sounds perfect."

He couldn't wait to hear more about her plans for the future.

I think I know where this one is going but it hasn't completely gelled yet, which I kind of enjoy. Chad and Renny definitely won't have a traditional or typical relationship.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Outcasts

Whew. It's been a week. Had another trip to the emergency department with a family member and, thankfully, things seem to be okay and we're getting closer to having some answers.

Had an okay week of television viewing, mainly because my brain was kind of scattered all over the place. Started out with watching the behind the scenes and episode breakdowns for Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. Thoroughly enjoyed both.

Caught both episodes of a Silent Witness two-parter. This is one I kind of remembered and I ended up liking it a lot. Some cool intrigue mixed with the science.

Enjoyed two more arcs of Classic Who. I believe there will be a new companion joining the crew but I'm not sure how soon that happens.

Watched two more episodes of UFO Witness. This one isn't nearly as entertaining as the lost evidence series but I'll finish it out.

Caught four episodes of The Muppet Show. Pearl Bailey, Jean Stapleton, Loretta Lynn and Alice Cooper were the guest stars. I'd forgotten about the Alice episode and really enjoyed watching it again.

Enjoyed two more episodes of McCartney 3, 2, 1. It's so cool to watch the breakdown of how many happy accidents shaped the sound of Paul's career.

Watched two more Master Class lessons with LeVar Burton. The first was a case study of Roots and how that story impacted so many. The second was about the importance of the oral storytelling tradition. I'm so glad I gave this series of lessons a try.

Got two more episodes of Peak Practice viewed. I didn't finish the second episode, mainly because one of the characters annoyed me so much I couldn't watch it. I'll pick back up with the next one and see if I missed anything important.

Caught another full episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and I'm almost finished with another one. I'm sort of on the fence with this show right now. I literally hate Blackwood with a passion and I'm close to saying I'm done because I can't stand him.

Enjoyed another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. I gotta say I'm impressed with the narrative so far. There's some serious intrigue I'm enjoying along with a mix of new concepts that I'm fascinated with. Lorca is compelling to watch.

Watched another episode of Chicago Med. I'm enjoying the second season a lot and I might have to go look up the crossover episodes again.

Caught another episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I really love this show. I switched to a different streaming provider and should be able to continue the second season without a delay.

I'll probably finish out the week with another episode of New Rugrats and another Chicago Med. I'll discuss those next week.

That's it for television recaps. Tonight's post is from Outcasts, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Frannie Boyd and Thorn O'Reilly are stuck in a bad situation with no way out. But when the people they love are threatened, they'll play hardball to protect what's theirs, even if they have to go up against an admiral to do it.

And a sneaky peek…

Thorn O'Reilly finished his after action report and flipped the folder closed. He'd left out a lot, things he didn't want put on the official record. "Definitely can't include anything about the Gaspra." Or how everything since the arrival of the ship had gone pear-shaped.

The Gaspra's commanding officer ruled by fear and intimidation. Admiral Naught read every single report and she'd already clearly stated opinions should be left at the door. She wanted facts and nothing else. None of her officers questioned her decisions.

Thorn leaned back in his seat. "I wonder what would happen if anyone tried?" Probably nothing good.

He wanted to find out why Naught's crew thought they'd come out to rescue the Deimos. "Better yet … why is she letting them believe it?" The admiral had an insidious way of twisting the facts to suit her own purposes.

Sets my teeth on edge.

The Deimos had been off the grid for months, running a stealth mission to get intel on the Gamma base. The crew had been cut off from sending the data back—thanks to the Gamites destroying the communications buoy. And the CO had strict orders not to break radio silence.

Thorn shook his head. "The Gamites don't even realize what they hit." A damned good thing, too.

The cloaked beacon showed up as space debris on sensors. An ingenious concept that kept the enemy from knowing the Deimos hovered on the perimeter of Gamite space. Not a bad thing, except for the fact it left his ship effectively stranded.

Thorn snorted. "And we've got orders not to leave the area unless the Gamma base did."

So … they played a dangerous game of cat and mouse, staying out of range and hidden from the enemy. His CO had the info needed to destroy the base, but not enough fire power. At least not the right kind.

"It's gonna take radiological weapons to blow the station disguised as an asteroid."

And the sum total Deimos had? Zero. To do it right, a second warship should also fire at the same time.

So they'd been stuck. Doing useless recon runs to gather intel that went nowhere but could come in handy if they found another way to decimate the base, which they didn't think would happen.

Until the Gaspra showed up, rolling in like a savior for the rescue.

Thurgood O'Reilly, Thorn's grandfather, announced a big celebration after the Gaspra arrived. Too bad the party got nipped in the planning stages. Naught wouldn't authorize it. Why?

Thorn rolled his eyes. "Because according to the admiral, the Deimos crew has nothing to celebrate." Their failure at protecting the communication buoy that cut them off didn’t warrant it.

Hello? Stealth mission. If they'd tried to protect the beacon, the enemy would know of their presence. Which strict orders stated they had to avoid at all costs.

Thorn didn't understand her logic.

Yet … apparently, the esteemed admiral figured they should've taken on the Gamites—even though they were astronomically outnumbered and would violate their orders not to reveal themselves—and protected the buoy.

Right. Zero sense. Which made Thorn ask questions. Ones the admiral didn't like.

So … his report to command wouldn't be much. He'd discuss his reservations with his commanding officer off log. Sometimes being related came in handy that way.

Gathering up the report, he added the flight roster and tucked them into a large envelope. Rising from his desk, he crossed over to the hatch and pushed it open. Flipping the lights off, he decided to personally deliver the files. If he got lucky, he'd have a chance to sit down and have that conversation when he did.

His grandfather couldn't be on board with Naught's bullshit. No way.

This story is coming together bit by bit. It's slow going but I think it's starting to take shape and I know where everything is headed.

 

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

ML Skye

Sunday Snippet: Out of the Box, Into the Burn

August 1, 2021 

So … I can't believe it's already August. I'm kind of not ready for the summer to be waning down and fall to gear up. Because once fall hits, the holidays are around the corner and I'm not quite ready for that yet. LOL

Had a decent week of watching television again. I finished up the last two episodes of Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries. They were set around the holidays but the Christmas one only hinted about the season. The finale took place on New Year's Eve and I loved it. LOVED IT!! Even Percy the Putz didn't annoy me overmuch. And Peregrine and James are kind of back on track and that makes me very happy. I'm very much looking forward to a third series and crossing my fingers that it happens.

Caught both episodes of Silent Witness's season twelve opener. I should have remembered these but I didn't. Enjoyed the cases and look forward to more. Twelve is a little longer than usual so there's that, too.

Finished up season seventeen of Classic Who and started season eighteen. I'd forgotten Four got a different scarf but rediscovered that fact in the first arc of eighteen. I like the first one the best.

Watched two more episodes of UFO Witness. These episodes feel a little staged but they're interesting. I'll finish out and see where it ends up.

Started season three of The Muppet Show and got four episodes watched. The guest stars were Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson, Leo Sayer, Roy Clark, and Gilda Radner. I like the small changes to the opening and the show set-up. Looking forward to more.

Began a new documentary series with McCartney 3, 2, 1. I watched two episodes and loved both of them. I'm excited to see the rest because it's not focused only on the Beatles. It looks like we'll see a full scope of McCartney's music.

Caught two more Peak Practice episodes. So far, season four is pretty solid. I'll look forward to seeing the rest of the season.

Was able to catch two more Master Class lessons with LeVar Burton. He spoke about authentic storytelling and connecting with your audience. I got some good information from both lessons. I also enjoy listening to him speak; he's very eloquent without being stuffy.

Ended up watching two episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I thoroughly loved the Doctor Cerebus episode and I'm going to keep all the scenarios in mind for later seasons. I have a feeling several easter eggs were dropped in that one. Not as much of a fan of the dark wedding episode. I absolutely loathe Blackwood and I'm hoping it's not going to become a case where my dislike of him ruins the show like it did with Hiram and Riverdale. I literally can't watch any scene he's in without hating it.

Watched two episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries. Finished up the first season and started the second. Nice to see and learn a little more about Breen. This show is just quirky enough to really hold my interest. I got annoyed with one of the detectives in the finale, but I'll reserve judgment because I love her otherwise.

Caught the second episode of Star Trek: Discovery. It went in a direction I totally didn't expect but I'm down for being surprised. So far, I'm enjoying the show and look forward to a redemption arc for Michael.

Finished up season one of Chicago Med and truly enjoyed the finale. Colin Donnell continues to be amazing to watch. I loved him in Arrow and really enjoy him in Med. The opening episode of season two is very entertaining.

Loved Passionflix's season two episode of Driven. I'm thrilled there are two more eps to watch and another season to follow.

Last but not least, I got another episode of New Rugrats watched and I have to admit I love the new version. Definitely not the same as the classic version but the updates are spot on and fun to watch.

That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Out of the Box, Into the Burn, a novella that got a start with a writing community prompt.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Parry Thrum, a superior pilot, is sidetracked with an injury and relegated to planning a mission on an enemy outpost instead of flying in to save the day. When one of her superiors rejects every parameter she comes up with, Blake Bradley, another excellent pilot, steps in and backs her up—the out of the box, into the burn approach is just the thing to take their opponent by surprise, and a very Parry plan.

And a sneaky peek…

Parry Thrum shot a quick look in Blake Bradley's direction, the only warning she'd give for what would happen next. "All due respect, but you're wrong. Sir." She addressed Colonel Ernst Carbine, also known as the idiot giving the latest briefing.

Blake's shoulders slumped and he shook his head. He'd warned her to back off and not give the colonel any trouble. The man didn't appreciate when she interrupted him.

Colonel Carbine stopped talking and gave her a nasty glare. "No one asked for your opinion, Thrum. You got a problem you can speak when it's time to ask questions." He huffed out an angry breath.

Parry rolled her eyes. "Right. But only if you call on me … which you won't." He never did because she asked about stuff he didn't have answers for.

Carbine jabbed a finger toward the exit. "Get out. Now. Your buddy, Bradley, can inform you about this operation."

Parry sighed and got up. "He won't have to. Your parameters are straight out of our outdated protocols and we're going to get hammered out there." She shook her head and started for the hatch.

Carbine came around the podium and stalked after her. "Hold up there, Thrum. Who the hell do you think you are?" He grabbed her arm and gave her a shake.

Temper flaring, she jerked away and stumbled backward butting up against the row of seats and losing her balance. She went down hard, getting her leg stuck between the back of the fold down seat and the arm.

White hot pain shot through her knee and she winced, trying to wrench free. "Holy crap. That hurts."

Gasps sounded around her and everyone turned, climbing up to check on her. Blake's head popped up over the rest and he grimaced then shot Carbine a quelling glare.

He nudged one of the pilots on the end of the row. "Better call the medics. She's not walking out of here."

Filled with panic, Parry sat up then grabbed the back of the seat in front of her with one hand and the cushion of the seat behind her with the other. "No, don't. I'm fine." She pushed up, sucking in a pained breath before her vision started swimming.

Blake's hand clasped her shoulder. "You're so not fine. Stay down before you do more damage to your leg." He crouched down. "Not exactly the exit you were hoping for, yeah?"

She bit down on a snarky comeback and shrugged. "Maybe not, but someone had to say something. We've lost half a squadron." Because they kept using the same three maneuvers against enemy combatants that they trained, for fuck's sake.

Blake gave a brief nod then backed out of the way when two medics came rolling in with a gurney and their med bags. Parry tried to quell the nervous tension building in her shoulders but she didn't have to look at their faces when they rolled her pant leg up to assess her injury. She'd definitely sprained her knee, maybe worse. A loud buzzing filled her head when they immobilized her leg and got her loaded on the cot. She glanced up and met Blake's gaze then closed her eyes in defeat. She'd be a scratch for this mission and she could only hope they didn't lose any more pilots before someone finally came to their senses and tried something new.

I'm completely sure where this one is going but the scenes are clear when they pop into my head. Looking forward to diving a little deeper on this one and see where it ends up.

 

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

ML Skye