Galaxy Asunder: A Sci-fi Adventure Novel by S.M. Ragon

Author:S.M. Ragon [Ragon, S.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Galaxy Asunder
Publisher: RDS Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-04-01T16:00:00+00:00

Brayson reclined on the couch in the lounge, idly swirling his coffee in a bulb. He’d thrown some cheesy space opera up on the vidscreen to distract his mind, but it may as well have been off. His only focus was the tiny vortex forming in his drink, and the image of Reese’s mangled body in a casket.

It really stung. He’d hardly known the woman, and the only mission they’d flown together was the one where she died. He supposed it all boiled down to someone getting hurt you were meant to protect. Brayson was in charge of that mission. The marines trusted him to lead them well. He was mostly sure he did what he could, but that little bit of doubt continued to eat away at him.

He took a swig of his drink when the door slid open. Rana Bilal stepped in, wearing her on-duty CNIS uniform. Her black hair was pulled back into a bun.

“Hey,” she said. “How’re you holding up?”

“Dandy,” Brayson said as he sat up. He raised his bulb. “Just drinking my sorrows away.” He took another drink.

Rana chuckled, pointing at the bulb. “I don’t know what that is, but I know it can’t be alcohol. CNIS regs don’t allow it on an active-duty vessel.”

He set the bulb on the table. “You just came to check up on me?”

“Of course.” She gestured to an open cushion next to him. He nodded, then she sat down. “That was an intense few hours for all of us.” She was clearly trying to get him to talk about his feelings again, so he decided to play hardball. It was a bit frustrating how well she could see through him. Brayson said nothing, instead resting his chin on his fist and looking at her intently.

Rana shifted in her seat. She employed her usual strategy of talking really fast when she got flustered. “Because of you we got out of that FUBAR in one piece instead of a few thousand. We were able to transmit what we found out about the Sektala fleet to Cotte and the Black Hand and—”

He suddenly felt bad for making her uncomfortable. He held up his hand before she passed out. “Look, Rana, I appreciate this and all, but you don’t have to cheer me up. I know I led my team the best I could. I improvised when all their lives were in danger. Reese died by things that weren’t in my control. I know that if I could’ve saved her, I would have.” He looked at his feet. “It still fucking sucks, though.”

She nodded in understanding. “Knowing something’s out of your control doesn’t always make it easier to handle.” She stood awkwardly. “I won’t pry about it anymore. I’ll be in my office if you need to talk, okay?” She started for the door.

“Wait,” Brayson said. She turned around. “Remember when you asked me why I’m doing this?” She nodded. “I think I know the answer now. I’m doing this for my friend.”

Rana sat down on the arm of the couch.

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