in concern was worse. "How long was I out?"
She tried to sit up, but Captain Wayk held her down. "You passed out, Officer Berger. Wait until I complete my scans."
"Wayk is also our medical officer while we are checking on the surface. Bear with him." The general was visible behind Wayk's shoulder and he was looking at her with concern.
"Based on the elevation in blood pressure as well as the chemical traces of adrenaline, you had a massive panic attack. Why would you be nervous? Based on your history, you travel frequently in space."
Wayk was looking at her with those serious leaf green eyes and she blurted out the truth. "I have to be the one at the controls. I was kidnapped once for a few days and ever since then, I have been afraid of not being pilot-in-command."
The men blinked at her in surprise.
The general frowned. "That was not in your file."
"I know. It happened while I was on a vacation. My friends came to get me, but it stuck in my mind that if I had been free to take the controls, I could have escaped. Ever since that day, I have always been able to weasel my way into the pilot's chair."
She sat up to find them in orbit around the candidate planet, Pakrik. "I am sorry to have inconvenienced you. Thank you for your assistance."
There was nothing like vulnerability to take the wind out of her irritation.
The men looked at each other and nodded. "Would you like to take us down to the surface? The controls could use a woman's touch."
She fought the sob of relief that formed in her chest. She let Wayk help her to her feet and smiled. "I would be happy to."
Behind the controls, she dashed away the tear that got away and set the course selected by the Oefric command to the colony site. With only a few keystrokes, she had her trajectory and moved them efficiently through the sky of the world that would soon belong to the multi-shifters and those they invited to live among them.
Just a few more years of service and Zora would be able to obtain a home of her own on a distant world. A silent home where she would be able to live her life in the wilderness with no one to matter or miss her. She sighed silently. Better for her peace of mind just to get on with the job.
Chapter Two
"I have to say, Officer Berger, that was one of the best landings I have experienced." Captain Wayk's tone was admiring.
"You may call me Zora. Using titles for a whole week would be tiresome, Captain." She grinned as he blinked in confusion.
Down on the surface, her demeanour changed. The bear in her became a playful cub. It was peculiar, but walking on an actual world made her happy. The dark thoughts and fears of the past faded with the possibilities held by each new world.
Everything here was bright and new. No intelligent being had set foot here before and she was part of the first team to run the landscape.
"Is there a temperature reading?"
Wayk took the reading and frowned. "Below freezing. We have arrived in winter it seems."
"We are also at a high altitude. Your elders wanted a city in the mountains, so that is where we are." She chuckled and released the harness on the seat. Without ceremony, she dug through the boxes and bags they had loaded.
Carser was looking at her with a curious glance. "What are you looking for?"
"Cold-weather gear. I can't shift into something fluffy, so I have to wear thermals." She found her duffel and crowed in triumph.
"Zora, I can't help but notice your demeanour has shifted." Carser was frowning, the divot between his eyes showing his confusion.
"I apologize for my beastly behaviour on the shuttle and the ship. I always feel better with a planet underfoot. I have no idea why. I don't know if it is the gravity, the wind, the energy in the living things, but I do feel better."
Wayk smiled. "Glad to hear it. Do you mind if we accompany you in other forms? You will have to carry our clothing."
She chuckled. "I will be wearing a pack. I can take a few pairs of clothing and boots with
She tried to sit up, but Captain Wayk held her down. "You passed out, Officer Berger. Wait until I complete my scans."
"Wayk is also our medical officer while we are checking on the surface. Bear with him." The general was visible behind Wayk's shoulder and he was looking at her with concern.
"Based on the elevation in blood pressure as well as the chemical traces of adrenaline, you had a massive panic attack. Why would you be nervous? Based on your history, you travel frequently in space."
Wayk was looking at her with those serious leaf green eyes and she blurted out the truth. "I have to be the one at the controls. I was kidnapped once for a few days and ever since then, I have been afraid of not being pilot-in-command."
The men blinked at her in surprise.
The general frowned. "That was not in your file."
"I know. It happened while I was on a vacation. My friends came to get me, but it stuck in my mind that if I had been free to take the controls, I could have escaped. Ever since that day, I have always been able to weasel my way into the pilot's chair."
She sat up to find them in orbit around the candidate planet, Pakrik. "I am sorry to have inconvenienced you. Thank you for your assistance."
There was nothing like vulnerability to take the wind out of her irritation.
The men looked at each other and nodded. "Would you like to take us down to the surface? The controls could use a woman's touch."
She fought the sob of relief that formed in her chest. She let Wayk help her to her feet and smiled. "I would be happy to."
Behind the controls, she dashed away the tear that got away and set the course selected by the Oefric command to the colony site. With only a few keystrokes, she had her trajectory and moved them efficiently through the sky of the world that would soon belong to the multi-shifters and those they invited to live among them.
Just a few more years of service and Zora would be able to obtain a home of her own on a distant world. A silent home where she would be able to live her life in the wilderness with no one to matter or miss her. She sighed silently. Better for her peace of mind just to get on with the job.
Chapter Two
"I have to say, Officer Berger, that was one of the best landings I have experienced." Captain Wayk's tone was admiring.
"You may call me Zora. Using titles for a whole week would be tiresome, Captain." She grinned as he blinked in confusion.
Down on the surface, her demeanour changed. The bear in her became a playful cub. It was peculiar, but walking on an actual world made her happy. The dark thoughts and fears of the past faded with the possibilities held by each new world.
Everything here was bright and new. No intelligent being had set foot here before and she was part of the first team to run the landscape.
"Is there a temperature reading?"
Wayk took the reading and frowned. "Below freezing. We have arrived in winter it seems."
"We are also at a high altitude. Your elders wanted a city in the mountains, so that is where we are." She chuckled and released the harness on the seat. Without ceremony, she dug through the boxes and bags they had loaded.
Carser was looking at her with a curious glance. "What are you looking for?"
"Cold-weather gear. I can't shift into something fluffy, so I have to wear thermals." She found her duffel and crowed in triumph.
"Zora, I can't help but notice your demeanour has shifted." Carser was frowning, the divot between his eyes showing his confusion.
"I apologize for my beastly behaviour on the shuttle and the ship. I always feel better with a planet underfoot. I have no idea why. I don't know if it is the gravity, the wind, the energy in the living things, but I do feel better."
Wayk smiled. "Glad to hear it. Do you mind if we accompany you in other forms? You will have to carry our clothing."
She chuckled. "I will be wearing a pack. I can take a few pairs of clothing and boots with
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