Time Illusion: New Voyages, #2

By Luna Harlow

Jennifer Li wants her first weeks as spaceship captain to be a success.  Getting along with her new crew might be a harder task than she prepared for. The new ship therapist isn't impressed with Jennifer's untested command style, and in the aftermath of facing a murderer together Jennifer and her new second in command might have an intense bond or only an awkward acquaintance.

 

An emergency call redirects her ship to Rommys to face the double threat of a tear in time-space that threatens its residents, and a mysterious woman that knows more about Jennifer than she's comfortable with. As the time-space anomaly grows, teamwork becomes more important than ever, and if they fail Jennifer could lose more than just the respect of her crew.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luna Harlow
• Release date: Aug 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393751502

Luna Harlow

Luna Harlow is a writer from Melbourne, Australia. By day Luna does confidential (if very boring) admin work, and by night she indulges her passions for writing and the creative arts. Her hobbies include using books as an excuse to not talk to people on the train, and singing along to every song at parties.

Book preview

01

The First Breath of Spring was a thing of beauty, walls shiny and new, its floors still spotless even as Jennifer Li tread over them. What a marvel of a thing, bigger than any ship she'd ever served on before, and all hers.

Commander Solaris followed behind listing off everything they would be required to do before commencing their new mission.

The medical bay must be checked before departure, Solaris said.

Indeed, Dr Pill is already undergoing an inspection of the new facilities, Jennifer replied.

The engines must also be checked.

I'll leave that to the engineer. He is more qualified than I am.

Stores of supplies must be double checked.

Jennifer looked back at Solaris, tall and severe in the hallway behind her. Solaris did loom a little, ever so slightly hunched over as if to hide her stature but somehow only enhancing it.

I think we'll let the first check of that finish before we commence a second check, Mr Solaris. There's something I'd like to look at before that.

Solaris looked up from her check-list. Sir?

Follow me.

They walked without speaking the rest of the way to the elevator. Solaris seemed like she was used to walking a step behind her commanding officer. Jennifer was already calculating how she would train her to stop that.

The ride to their destination was quick. The doors opened on the bridge, still dark but dimly lit from the lights of North Port station outside. It was so big, so bright. Even in the poor light Jennifer could see the patterned floor and white textures of the equipment and walls.

Finally, the lights turned on, so disconcertingly bright that Jennifer had to blink against the adjustment. Solaris, standing by her station, showed no sign of disorientation at all.

Isn't it beautiful, Commander Solaris? Jennifer asked.

It is sufficient to our needs.

Call me Jen. My friends do.

If you don't need me, Captain Li, I will check the science labs.

Jennifer grinned. She knew she would wear Solaris down. Go. Enjoy yourself.

Solaris muttered, I do not check them to enjoy myself, before the sound of the elevator doors closing cut her off.

Jennifer looked back to her captain's chair, pastel and plump in the middle of the room, facing the big screen. She took a moment to sit and wonder at getting there so soon. She only allowed herself a few minutes to breathe in the smell of the room and take it all in.

She stood. Said, Enough indulging yourself, Jen. Then straightened her dark purple uniform tunic and turned back to her responsibilities.

02

Their first stop was Acquatica. Nobody in Jennifer's family had ever visited there, so she relied entirely on Commander Solaris's dry recitation of details and Dr Pill's vague, gloomy statements to give her an idea of what she should be expecting.

Approximately 85% of Acquatica's surface is covered with water, Solaris said.

Interesting. That's less than I would have assumed, Jennifer said.

It might only be 85 but it feels like 95, Dr Pill said. Dreadful place. I was there during the war. It's dark and humid and unbearable, and everyone spent the whole time panicking that the seas would be boiled by the enemy's super weapons. It was only Captain Savage's ingenuity that kept us all from dying.

Jennifer smiled and straightened her uniform tunic, which was riding up again. I imagine things have changed in the twenty years since then, doctor.

We will land our shuttle at the Coral Spot Research Base and meet with Admiral Wang of the Acquatica human forces while we wait for Dr Fortuna, Solaris said.

Jennifer nodded, and fixed the collar of her uniform in the hopes of looking more professional and impressive. She caught her reflection in the shiny doors leading to the shuttle bay and decided she'd done an admirable job of it.

The doors opened, revealing Graham Murray waiting for them, and the shuttle already packed.

You don't need to go down to meet them, Ms Li, Dr Pill said. A space captain can just as easily wait for people to come to her.

Oh, I don't know, Jennifer said. I think this gives new staff the personal touch. Section Leader Murray can take it from here, Dr Pill.

Dr Pill, face wilting, stepped back and let them go.

*

The view of Acquatica when they stepped out on the landing pad was bright and beautiful: the sky a brilliant blue