A/N: I’m not sure when I wrote the original draft of this one, but it was mainly just dialogue. Even still, reading it felt like a small glimpse into the lives of (most of) my main cast in novel two - which will be all about that found family trope! So I really enjoyed working on this and actually filling it out a bit. Also, I included my sketches of the exterior and interior of OC Anna Marie’s ship at the end but fair warning: I am not an artist.
Additional A/N: Emryn (aged twelve) was named after my sister, Emily. She was pretty young when I left home to join the Navy, but we only grew closer over the six years that I served. She means the absolute world to me, and I cannot express how much our relationship means to me. I wanted to mention this because while the character of Emryn has long-since been cemented in my head as that of a genuinely good and kind, albeit snarky, genius mechanic of a kid - I could never settle on the right name for him. Until a few months ago when I was sitting at home one day and looked at my sister. And I knew ‘Emryn’ was just perfect.
Novel 2, Excerpt 1
“Hey, Em-” Anna poked her head into the engineering compartment. From the doorway, she could see tools scattered across the floor; pipes were dismantled; a crudely written sign had been stuck to one of the machines warning against touching it. Anna wasn’t even sure what that particular machine did, but the sight before her still put a frown on her face. “Emryn?”
Still no answer. She made her way deeper into the compartment, checking the lower level and all the small crevices she knew the boy liked to hide in. She’d often found him asleep, curled up in between low-humming components. He had admitted to finding comfort in the heat they provided. Anna understood all too well; the cool caress of space, of the planets they most often visited – they were painfully contrary to the desert planet she’d spent nine years of her life on. Axion had been the closest thing to a home-
‘Closest thing until now,’ she reminded herself, a small surge of contentment rising within her.
After checking every crevice, Anna moved through the empty cargo hold and up the stairs of the small ship. In the living area, there at the table surrounded by small parts, sat Emryn. He had his back to the kitchen, but paid her no attention as she took the seat diagonal to him. They were surrounded only by the sounds of the ship: the twin motors hummed below them; Jax could be heard occasionally flipping switches in the nearby cockpit; Emryn slipped and the gears shook loose in his hands. But no noise from the docks penetrated the starship.
Anna continued to watch the boy tinker. His focus was unwavering, but the mess below decks was disconcerting now that she had finally acquired the details of their next job. She desperately hoped Emryn’s work was only preventative.
“Hey, Emryn,” she finally spoke, picking up one of the various parts from the table. “I love that you’re just this genius kid mechanic and like, the only person in the Cloud to fully understand my ship – but could you not tear it apart before a job?”
Emryn paused his tinkering to look up at Anna. “First, I’m not a kid-”
“Yes, you are.” Liam had appeared from his cabin, moving to search the kitchen cabinets. His hair was untidy and deep circles still encompassed his eyes; he quietly cursed himself for struggling to adjust to the local time.
“-and second,” Emryn continued. “I’ve good reason to tear the ship apart.”
Anna kept her curses internal, instead replacing the part she had been inspecting. “For your own sake, you better.”
“I thought one of the main coolant pumps was leaking – and it is – but the fluid I found isn’t from the pump.”
“Do you know what it is from?”
“Not yet. I’ve got five more ideas, though.”
Liam took the seat beside Anna, a bowl of the previous nights leftovers in his hands. Despite his exhaustion, the topic of discussion had brought a clarity to his mind as he questioned the boy. “Coolant pumps are only connected to the engines, drive motors, and water regenerators. How could you have five ideas?”
“On Ax ships, the pumps are connected to much more – not just the engines, the motors and regenerators, but also the environmental controls, fire controls, even collision avoidance. Ax ships run hot, and the pumps are connected to everything.” Emryn had begun gesturing with the screwdriver in his hand and pointed it accusingly at Liam. “What did they teach you at Guardian-mechanic-school?”
Liam scowled, but quietly turned to pick at his leftovers.
“Can we get back to the part where you justify tearing apart my ship?” Anna said. “What does the leak mean?”
Emryn shrugged. “Dunno. Gotta find it first.”
“And the pump? You said that was leaking, too?”
“Yeah, but that was only a matter of tightening some fittings – already taken care of.”
Anna nodded but she, too, turned quiet as the boy returned to his tinkering. Mechanics was far from her area of expertise; she didn’t dare attempt to make sense of the issue or offer any aide. Instead, she turned her attention to the man beside her. She was comforted by the sight of him eating – she was well aware of Liam’s struggle to adjust his internal clock. They had been sent to numerous corners of the Cloud in their attempt to secure this job and the constant runs had left him tired and unsettled. And although he did not say it aloud, Anna knew what little sleep he was getting was once again fraught with nightmares. As he ate, she gently reached to tidy his hair.
Masterlist
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