Defying Mars (Saving Mars Series-2) by Cidney Swanson Page A

talkative as he took Jessamyn around the hull of the Galleon , pointing out minor repairs his crew had completed overnight. “Talked that event-nut of the Secretary’s into the idea that the ship oughta look like something special for folks to come see the evening after the big celebratory shindig.”
    Neither of them had discussed the memorial service or the celebration. Jessamyn understood that the citizens of Mars deserved these planetary holidays to acknowledge the recent losses as well as the mission’s success. She just wished she didn’t have to be a part of it.
    “I know you and the Secretary been talking,” murmured Crusty. “Just so’s you know, there’s nothing standing in the way of you taking this ship back up right now,” said Crusty. “Well, nothin’ I can’t get to in the next two days. Air filter needs a good wash-down. Picked up all kinds of microbes off you and me from our time on Earth. Stuff’s been reproducing like crazy on the trip back here. Thought about callin’ in the interns at Planetary Agriculture to have a peek.”
    “You’re telling me this ship can fly a two-month mission now ?” asked Jessamyn.
    “Sure. Long as you get the Secretary’s say-so,” replied Crusty.
    Jess reached for her oxygenation dial. Abruptly, it felt as if there wasn’t enough air to breathe in her suit.
    “Hey, you okay? I thought this’d be good news. I say something wrong?” asked Crusty.
    Jess pressed her gloved hand against Crusty’s forearm, managing a small squeeze. “It’s great news,” she said. “But you’re keeping quiet about it, right?”
    “I ain’t what you might call the talkative sort,” Crusty said. “In case it escaped your attention.”
    Jess chortled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d found something amusing. “You heard about the … faction that wants to trade with Earth?”
    Crusty snorted in indignation. “ My granny’s elastic knickers —bunch of blamed fools is what they are.”
    Jess nodded. “I know.”
    “Oh, hey,” called Crusty from where he stood examining a rivet on the landing gear. “They boxed up your stuff and your brother’s stuff. You can pick it up over at suit repair.”
    “Crusty?” whispered Jess. “Would there be time to get everything we’d need? Spacesuits, replacement parts for wafers, food and drink …” Her mind boggled at the thought of possible items that could be missing.
    “You let me worry about that part,” said Crusty. “I’ve got folks thinking they’re setting this place up like an Ares-i-fied museum. All the parts’ll be there or they’ll have me to answer to.” He leaned in closer. “And I’m a bona fide planetary hero, by Ares.” He stretched his arms out to the side and then patted his chest vigorously. “A hero , I tell you.”
    The gesture was so uncharacteristic for Crusty that Jess felt sure he’d done it to lighten her gloomy and cautious mood.
    She gave him a tentative smile.
    “I’ll see you around, kid,” said the mechanic. “Some of us got work to do.”

11
    VULNERABLE
    Jess had plenty of time to return to the Secretary’s office on foot for her meeting at 14:00. A simple walk across the plain between the hangars and MCC. Something everyday. Something normal.
    “Yeah,” she muttered to herself, exiting the hangar. “Normal.” She kicked a small rock outside, sending it soaring. “Well the ship loaded with normal sailed, didn’t it?” She no longer knew what was normal. Her time was not her own. She couldn’t borrow a planet-hopper and chase sunsets around the globe. She didn’t know to whom she would apply for a craft—Lobster was gone. Her mother was moody, her father apologetic, her brother tens of millions of kilometers away. Her lips cracked no matter how diligently she drained her wet ration packets. Feeling tears pricking the back of her eyes, Jessamyn crossed her arms and sat upon a large, flattish rock halfway between the hangar and MCC’s offices.
    Staring