Lightspeed Severance
sci-fi◐ TeenForget arguing. I had maybe minutes. I told the ship, "Show me the drop pod they're using to dump me." A map lit up: the pod was two decks down, already loading my gear. If I got there first, maybe I could control where I landed. I started running.
I slid into the pod and slammed the hatch. The ship's voice filled the tiny space. "Crewmember Vey, this is not your assigned launch time." "Too bad," I said, and yanked the manual release. The pod dropped away from the ship like a stone into the dark.
What happens next?
1 ways forwardThe pod hit hard and skidded through wet grass. When the dust cleared, I climbed out into warm air that smelled like rain and something sweet. The planet was quiet. Then, on the far hill, lights blinked on one by one, moving toward me. I wasn't alone, and they knew I'd come.