THREE
“I still can’t believe you talked me into this,” Varn said. Pilgrim lowered into the Wastes, and the viewscreen tinted from the aggressive early-morning sunlight shining through the clear sky. “What’s next? We stopping by my old building and bringing my ex-wife along for the ride too?”
Spending a week with Varn had been a challenge, but a part of me was glad we’d been forced into each other’s company. At least I could be in the same room with him for an hour before I wanted to strangle him. That was a start.
“Jinx is fine,” I said.
“Sure. The guy is so strung out, it’s like talking to a classroom of children on a sugar overdose. Where does he come up with half the crap he’s spouting?” Varn asked as I landed near Bello’s.
“He’s the one who discovered the Velibar ships and how to track them on the radar, so you should be thanking him, not criticizing him.” I brushed past R11.
It was a gorgeous day in the Wastes, and I inhaled deeply as we stepped off the Racer.
“Hawk!” Bon shouted, running on her little legs from the shop. Jess tried to dash after her, but tripped up and fell into the grass. Grid was right behind him, scooping the boy up.
I crouched as Bon wrapped her arms around my neck. “Nice to see you, kiddo. Have you been a good girl?”
She shook her head and giggled. “Never.”
I set her down and wiped my palms on my pants as Grid approached. He appraised Varn with a scowl. “Well, I’ll be a goat in a tin can factory. It’s Hawk and Varn.”
“You can use my call sign, if you’d like.” Varn stuck his hand out, and Grid shook it.
“What’s the name?” Grid asked him.
“Wind.”
I choked out a laugh. “I’ve never heard it before. Is this one of those unfortunate names, where you…”
“It’s because I’m faster than the wind.” Varn glared at me. “Never mind. What are we doing? We’re not taking this big guy on my Racer, are we? Because we might need to widen the doorways.”
Grid set his son on the ground, and Jess tottered over to me, tugging on my leg. “What’s this one saying?”
Bello and Aster were outside, both holding tools. Their coveralls were covered in grease. I waved from across the yard. “No. I’m here for her.”
“Bello? No way. My wife’s not…”
“Not Bello. I wouldn’t do that to your family. It’s Aster I’m after,” I assured him.
“Aster? She’s been talking about working with Barnes at the Belt, but maybe she’d be more interested in heading to Refuge with you.” Grid took another look at Varn. “On the other hand, you might have a conflict of interest.”
“Who? Me? I’m easy to get along with,” Varn said.
“It’s more Aster than you I’d be worried about. She’s interested in conflict.” Grid laughed at his own wordplay and motioned for us to follow him. “Come now. Let’s talk out of the sun.”
Grid went ahead with his two kids.
“What’s the big deal? Can’t we find some normal crew members? I don’t understand why the Lead Chair gave you carte blanche on this decision when it’s my team,” Varn said.
“Jinx will be able to help once we find ourselves face-to-face with an alien culture. He sees things differently than us flyboys. And Aster has more grit than sandpaper.” He didn’t respond as we walked for the shop.
“Two visits in a few months. We’re becoming a popular stop for you, aren’t we, Hawk?” Bello asked. Her smile was infectious, and even Varn was grinning when we entered the open doors.
Varn whistled and pointed to the edge of the room. “Is that a series nine Pod Sprinter?” His voice rose an entire octave.
“Damn skippy it is. Almost have her running too. Want to take a look?” Grid asked, and they were off, chatting about the benefits of a series nine over the later models.
When they were out of earshot, Aster spoke up. “What do you want, Hawk?”
“I don’t know what your issue is with me, but can we move past it? These guys are my friends, and I have a proposition for you,” I said, keeping my composure. She’d always had it out for me.
“So you need something. Do you ever give, or only take?” Aster asked.
“Leave him alone.” Bello wiped a pair of pliers with a rag. “He’s one of us, and you know it.”
“Aster, I don’t want anything from Grid and Bello.”
“You…” she started to say.
“Would you like to join our crew? Varn’s been ditched by his team.” I tried to gauge her reaction, but she remained cold as a stone.
“You want me… to fly with that guy?” She jabbed a thumb toward the pair still excitedly discussing the Sprinter across the room.
“He’s not that bad.”
“I thought you hated him,” Bello said.
“That was before. We’re…” I put on my most sincere expression. “Becoming buddies.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with Hawk?” Bello smiled and tossed a rag to Aster. “Of course she’ll join you, right?”
Aster walked to a fridge near a wash sink. She rinsed off and grabbed a beer from the old white appliance. She took a drink and took four more bottles, opening them all.
“That means she’s coming,” Bello whispered, and turned toward her husband. “If you two are done talking shop, we have something to celebrate!”
We gathered around the table, staying standing, and Aster lifted her bottle. “I’ve spent the last ten years hiding out in the Wastes and living in the shadow of my best friends, Bello and Grid.” The puckered pink scar above her left eye reminded me of the near-death experience she’d had while working in an Orion manufacturing plant.
“You were never in our shadow, hun,” Bello told her.
“Clearly you’ve haven’t stood near Grid before.” We all chuckled at her comment, and she kept talking. “After Orion, I couldn’t work for the Corporations again. You gave me a sanctuary away from them. Somewhere to call home. What if Refuge is the
