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“ALL HANDS, TO EMERGENCY SHELTERS.  PREPARE FOR HIGH-G MANEUVERS.”

The voice, calm but very insistent, could not be missed; it was in every room, every corridor, every device.

Apollonia’s system was also broadcasting the alert, and she found herself barely aware of her own actions.

She didn’t remember going into the bunker, but she found herself fumbling with the straps on her seat.

She needn’t have bothered; they moved by themselves, slipping from her numb hands and locking about her.

There were a dozen others in the bunker with her, though there were also a lot of empty seats.  She hoped that didn’t mean some people were getting trapped outside.  Or maybe the Craton had a lot more of these than actual crew?  She didn’t know.  Maybe she should know that?

Her heart was beating as the door to the room closed.  A moment later the wall didn’t even look like it had a seam, it was so tightly sealed.

Apple turned, surveying the room again, and found that an older-looking woman was next to her.  She recognized her face as working at one of the restaurants she had gone to a few times.

The woman smiled at her nervously.

Apollonia smiled back, hers feeling weak.

“You’re a Volunteer?” the woman asked.

What was her name?  Apollonia wracked her brain but couldn’t remember.  It might have been Ann.

“Uh, yeah,” she said.  She had put on the jumpsuit, preparing to suit up.  They had said to expect hull breaches.  She started to reach for her tablet again to look at it, but a drone beeped at her.

“No loose objects during high-g maneuvers,” it told her.  It was not the floating kind, but built into the ceiling, almost flush with it.  She reckoned that it was secure enough that they’d all be paste before it busted loose and started flying around.  She wasn’t sure if that thought was consolation or not.

She put her tablet into a drawer that sealed shut, regretting it instantly.  Unlike everyone else, whose system was fully integrated into their bodies and clothes, she was entirely cut off from the augmented reality systems.

“It’s so brave of you,” the woman said, startling Apollonia.

“It is?” she asked, the question just slipping out.

“Oh, yes.  It’s dangerous work – I just wasn’t brave enough,” the woman said.

“BRACE,” the system said.  Apollonia felt the restraint straps tighten, and she tensed in her seat.

She didn’t feel brave.

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< Ep 6 Part 37 | Ep 6 Part 39 >