Fight or Flight by Vanessa North

found on her person. She stole the transport.”
    “Please, answer the question, Mr. Guszak.”
    “No, I did not.”
    The red-faced police officer who left the courtroom that day was not the same arrogant man who’d entered.
    *
    In the end, the panel deliberated only twenty minutes.
    Admiral Scott read a carefully prepared statement before commanding Tirzah to rise.
    At that moment, fear and adrenaline coursed through her, and her hands shook as she stood at attention. Josiah put a bracing hand behind her back as he stood to one side of her. On the other side, Zeke seemed detached, staring straight ahead, only the barest smile gracing his lips as her acquittal was announced.
    Tirzah grinned as the admiral ordered the tracking cuff removed and reinstated her flight status. With the silver wings returned to her dress uniform, she was one step closer to the fighter fleet.
    Josiah led her through the throng of reporters out of the tribunal, away through white-walled hallways, back to her quarters.
    Once there, she waited long hours for Zeke to come, to call her ’com, to do something, say something. It was very late before she finally accepted he wouldn’t be coming to see her.
    He was gone; his job was done.

Chapter 15
    Five months later…
    “Captain Simonian?” Tirzah stood at the window in her office when she heard the voice behind her. So formal, Josiah?
    “Come on in, Becky.”
    He stood beside her, looking out at Solomon Nebula. Stars and gasses and debris painted a magnificent yet treacherous space scape. Its very beauty was deceptive, capturing the awe of the colony ship’s passengers, lined along every window in the common spaces to catch a glimpse of the prismatic lights shifting around them.
    Tirzah had only weeks to guide her ungainly craft safely through the nebula, settle her passengers in their new home in one of the colonies outside Solomon City, and head back to Earth for the fight command test. Faster-than-light travel had opened this side of the nebula to humankind, and they’d be damned if they weren’t going to grab every bit of it. She’d been astounded to discover upon gaining her freedom that the territory boasted new settlements all around Solomon City, every return flight she made adding to their ranks. This colony ship was older, not really equipped for the passage through the nebula, and she’d had to recruit Claudia along for the ride to help prepare it for the voyage.
    She also needed these last flight hours to qualify to take the recertification test.
    “Analyzing the competition?” Josiah asked.
    She turned her head to look at him, a slight smile curving her lips.
    “Something like that,” she admitted. “I’ve never piloted one of these through here.”
    “You know the territory, Tirz. If anyone can do it, you can.” He nodded thoughtfully. “How long until we’re ready to make the passage?”
    “I’m waiting for a report from Claudia.”
    “She’s practically sleeping in the engine room she’s spending so much time there.” He sighed. “I worry about her.”
    “She’s a damn good mechanic and an even better engineer. Plain and simple, we’re not getting through this nebula unless she can get me more power and maneuverability.” Tirzah put a hand on his arm. “She’ll be fine.”
    “Are you on bridge tonight?” he asked.
    “No, actually. My first officer, John Campbell, is on tonight. I have the night off. Would you like to have dinner with me in the mess?” she asked. Josiah was only onboard because it was her last crossing with Claudia, one of the last chances for the three of them to be together before she returned to Earth to recertify. Once she joined a fight squadron … well, there was no telling where she’d end up, alone.
    “I’m sorry, Tirz. I have plans.” Regret, and something else—a blush?—crossed his face.
    “You have a date,” she crowed. “Not one of the crew, I’d know. One of the passengers?”
    “Tirz, don’t pry,” he