Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
“Shifting Winds: A Red Vixen Adventures Story” by Lauren Rivers (read by Rhubarb)
9th March 2026 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:28:59

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In the far reaches of space, a Stellar Patrol officer answers a distress signal. But all is not as it seems.

Today’s story is “Shifting Winds: A Red Vixen Adventures Story” by Lauren Rivers, author of Blue Moon by Iridescence Studios, and you can find more of her stories on Furaffinity.

Set in the world of the Red Vixen Adventures by Royce Day

Red by Rhubarb, Feathered Starfarer.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/shifting-winds-a-red-vixen-adventures-story-by-lauren-rivers

Transcripts

Speaker:


You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf, your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Shifting

Winds:

Winds:

A

Winds:

Red

Winds:

Vixen

Winds:

Adventures

Winds:

Story”

Winds:

by

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

Rivers,

Winds:

author

Winds:

of

Winds:

Blue

Winds:

Moon

Winds:

by

Winds:

Iridescence

Winds:

Studios, and

Winds:

you

Winds:

can

Winds:

find

Winds:

more

Winds:

of

Winds:

her

Winds:

stories

Winds:

on

Winds:

Furaffinity.
Set

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

world of

Winds:

the

Winds:

Red

Winds:

Vixen

Winds:

Adventures

Winds:

by

Winds:

Royce Day

Read

Winds:

by

Winds:

Rhubarb,

Winds:

Feathered

Winds:

Starfarer.

Please

Winds:

enjoy


“Shifting

Winds:

Winds:

A Red Vixen

Winds:

Adventures

Winds:

Story”

Winds:

by

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

Rivers

Crimson

Winds:

light

Winds:

filled

Winds:

her

Winds:

vision

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

Z’Kra

Winds:

triggered

Winds:

her

Winds:

ship’s

Winds:

distress

Winds:

signal.

Winds:

The

Winds:

computer

Winds:

was

Winds:

repeating

Winds:

a

Winds:

warning,

Winds:

one

Winds:

she

Winds:

could

Winds:

not

Winds:

entirely

Winds:

hear,

Winds:

but

Winds:

she

Winds:

did

Winds:

not

Winds:

need

Winds:

to.

Winds:

She

Winds:

knew

Winds:

what

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

saying.

Winds:

Life

Winds:

support

Winds:

was

Winds:

failing,

Winds:

and

Winds:

if

Winds:

she

Winds:

didn’t

Winds:

get

Winds:

help

Winds:

soon,

Winds:

she

Winds:

would

Winds:

be

Winds:

dead.
She

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

traveling

Winds:

through

Winds:

the

Winds:

space

Winds:

between

Winds:

systems,

Winds:

known

Winds:

colloquially

Winds:

as

Winds:

the ‘midnight

Winds:

run’

Winds:

among

Winds:

her

Winds:

fellow

Winds:

couriers.

Winds:

It

Winds:

was

Winds:

risky,

Winds:

and

Winds:

usually

Winds:

included

Winds:

a

Winds:

fair

Winds:

amount

Winds:

of

Winds:

personal

Winds:

danger

Winds:

as

Winds:

no

Winds:

matter

Winds:

how

Winds:

well

Winds:

the

Winds:

Allied

Winds:

Worlds

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

attempted

Winds:

to

Winds:

police the

Winds:

galaxy

Winds:

there

Winds:

were

Winds:

always

Winds:

a

Winds:

significant

Winds:

amount

Winds:

of

Winds:

places

Winds:

for

Winds:

those

Winds:

with

Winds:

less

Winds:

noble

Winds:

aims

Winds:

to

Winds:

ply

Winds:

their

Winds:

trade.
Ever

Winds:

since

Winds:

her

Winds:

last

Winds:

job

Winds:

had

Winds:

ended,

Winds:

she

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

going

Winds:

from

Winds:

place

Winds:

to

Winds:

place

Winds:

transporting

Winds:

items

Winds:

people

Winds:

would

Winds:

rather

Winds:

not

Winds:

have

Winds:

on

Winds:

a

Winds:

formal

Winds:

cargo

Winds:

manifest.

Winds:

It

Winds:

was

Winds:

profitable,

Winds:

as

Winds:

long

Winds:

as

Winds:

you

Winds:

worked

Winds:

for

Winds:

the

Winds:

right

Winds:

people,

Winds:

and

Winds:

didn’t

Winds:

ask

Winds:

too

Winds:

many

Winds:

questions.

Winds:

At

Winds:

present

Winds:

her

Winds:

cargo

Winds:

was

Winds:

empty,

Winds:

save

Winds:

for

Winds:

a

Winds:

small

Winds:

computer

Winds:

chip

Winds:

she

Winds:

carried

Winds:

in

Winds:

her

Winds:

pocket.

Winds:

It

Winds:

was

Winds:

technically

Winds:

company

Winds:

property,

Winds:

but

Winds:

the

Winds:

company

Winds:

had

Winds:

decided

Winds:

to

Winds:

screw

Winds:

over

Winds:

its

Winds:

inventor,

Winds:

so

Winds:

he

Winds:

liberated

Winds:

it

Winds:

and

Winds:

asked

Winds:

her

Winds:

to

Winds:

deliver

Winds:

it

Winds:

to

Winds:

another

Winds:

company

Winds:

that

Winds:

had

Winds:

made

Winds:

him

Winds:

a

Winds:

better

Winds:

offer.

Winds:

It

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

developed

Winds:

in

Winds:

secret

Winds:

so

Winds:

they

Winds:

couldn’t

Winds:

cry

Winds:

foul

Winds:

without

Winds:

admitting

Winds:

how

Winds:

they

Winds:

knew

Winds:

about

Winds:

the

Winds:

supposed

Winds:

revolutionary

Winds:

new

Winds:

technology

Winds:

within,

Winds:

and

Winds:

without

Winds:

the

Winds:

inventor

Winds:

to

Winds:

make

Winds:

another

Winds:

one

Winds:

they

Winds:

would

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

start

Winds:

from

Winds:

scratch.
No

Winds:

doubt

Winds:

they

Winds:

were

Winds:

feeling

Winds:

vengeful

Winds:

about

Winds:

it.

Winds:

Up

Winds:

until

Winds:

her

Winds:

ship

Winds:

started

Winds:

drifting

Winds:

she

Winds:

was

Winds:

certain

Winds:

they

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

the

Winds:

ones

Winds:

to

Winds:

attack

Winds:

her.

Winds:

All for a

Winds:

computer

Winds:

chip.
She

Winds:

felt

Winds:

it

Winds:

in

Winds:

between

Winds:

her

Winds:

hoof

Winds:

tipped

Winds:

fingers,

Winds:

the

Winds:

chip

Winds:

feeling

Winds:

stiff

Winds:

between

Winds:

her

Winds:

digits.

Winds:

No

Winds:

one

Winds:

had

Winds:

known

Winds:

where

Winds:

she

Winds:

would

Winds:

be,

Winds:

so

Winds:

how

Winds:

could

Winds:

they

Winds:

have

Winds:

found

Winds:

her?

Winds:

And

Winds:

if

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

the

Winds:

original

Winds:

owners,

Winds:

then

Winds:

why

Winds:

hadn’t

Winds:

they

Winds:

finished

Winds:

her

Winds:

off?

Winds:

The

Winds:

last

Winds:

thing

Winds:

she

Winds:

saw

Winds:

before

Winds:

she

Winds:

lost

Winds:

consciousness

Winds:

was

Winds:

the

Winds:

lights

Winds:

of

Winds:

a

Winds:

stellar

Winds:

patrol

Winds:

ship.
Lauren

Winds:

had

Winds:

no

Winds:

idea

Winds:

how

Winds:

much

Winds:

time

Winds:

had

Winds:

passed.

Winds:

She

Winds:

first

Winds:

felt

Winds:

pain,

Winds:

so

Winds:

she

Winds:

knew

Winds:

she

Winds:

wasn’t

Winds:

dead.

Winds:

Her

Winds:

eyes

Winds:

struggled

Winds:

to

Winds:

focus,

Winds:

and

Winds:

after

Winds:

a

Winds:

moment

Winds:

they

Winds:

settled

Winds:

on

Winds:

a

Winds:

handsome

Winds:

young

Winds:

foxen of

Winds:

snowy

Winds:

white

Winds:

fur

Winds:

wearing

Winds:

a

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

uniform.

Winds:

She

Winds:

attempted

Winds:

to

Winds:

sit

Winds:

up,

Winds:

which

Winds:

immediately

Winds:

caught

Winds:

his

Winds:

attention.
“Whoa,

Winds:

there,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

said,

Winds:

holding

Winds:

a

Winds:

paw

Winds:

to

Winds:

stop

Winds:

her. “You

Winds:

just

Winds:

had

Winds:

a

Winds:

pretty

Winds:

serious

Winds:

bump

Winds:

on

Winds:

your

Winds:

head.

Winds:

I

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

know

Winds:

if

Winds:

you

Winds:

should

Winds:

be

Winds:

moving

Winds:

around

Winds:

just

Winds:

yet.”
Lauren

Winds:

rubbed

Winds:

it,

Winds:

forced

Winds:

to

Winds:

momentarily

Winds:

agree. “Since

Winds:

there’s

Winds:

two

Winds:

of

Winds:

you,

Winds:

I am

Winds:

not

Winds:

exactly

Winds:

in

Winds:

a

Winds:

position

Winds:

to

Winds:

argue.”
“Well,

Winds:

your

Winds:

sense of humor’s intact,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

said. “At

Winds:

least,

Winds:

I

Winds:

hope

Winds:

that’s

Winds:

humor.”
“An

Winds:

attempt

Winds:

at

Winds:

it.

Winds:

I

Winds:

suppose

Winds:

thanks

Winds:

are

Winds:

in

Winds:

order,

Winds:

so

Winds:

thank

Winds:

you

Winds:

for

Winds:

picking

Winds:

me

Winds:

up.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

paused. “I

Winds:

mean,

Winds:

rescuing

Winds:

me.”
“It’s

Winds:

my

Winds:

duty

Winds:

as

Winds:

an

Winds:

officer

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

stellar

Winds:

patrol.

Winds:

So,

Winds:

what

Winds:

were

Winds:

you

Winds:

doing

Winds:

so

Winds:

far

Winds:

off

Winds:

the

Winds:

standard

Winds:

space

Winds:

lanes?”

Winds:

he

Winds:

asked,

Winds:

skeptical.
“Trying

Winds:

to

Winds:

stay

Winds:

under

Winds:

the

Winds:

radar,

Winds:

so

Winds:

to

Winds:

speak.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

shrugged.
“You’re a

Winds:

smuggler?”

Winds:

The

Winds:

white furred

Winds:

foxen

Winds:

hesitated.
Lauren

Winds:

stared

Winds:

at

Winds:

him. “No,

Winds:

I’m

Winds:

a

Winds:

courier.

Winds:

I

Winds:

just

Winds:

tend

Winds:

to

Winds:

deal

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

sorts

Winds:

of

Winds:

things

Winds:

people

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

want

Winds:

other

Winds:

people

Winds:

knowing

Winds:

about.

Winds:

Not

Winds:

illegal

Winds:

by

Winds:

any

Winds:

means,

Winds:

but

Winds:

let’s

Winds:

just

Winds:

say

Winds:

in

Winds:

my

Winds:

line

Winds:

of

Winds:

work

Winds:

discretion

Winds:

is

Winds:

key.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

tried

Winds:

again

Winds:

to

Winds:

sit

Winds:

up,

Winds:

swinging

Winds:

her

Winds:

hooves

Winds:

over

Winds:

the

Winds:

edge

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

bed.
“I

Winds:

took

Winds:

the

Winds:

liberty

Winds:

of

Winds:

scanning

Winds:

your

Winds:

ID

Winds:

while

Winds:

you

Winds:

were

Winds:

out. Lauren

Winds:

Rivers,

Winds:

registered courier.

Winds:

Your

Winds:

ship is,

Winds:

or

Winds:

was,

Winds:

called

Winds:

the

Winds:

North

Winds:

Star. I’m

Winds:

sorry

Winds:

to

Winds:

say

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

unsalvageable.

Winds:

Once

Winds:

I

Winds:

pulled

Winds:

you

Winds:

off

Winds:

it

Winds:

lost

Winds:

containment

Winds:

and

Winds:

exploded.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

stood

Winds:

in

Winds:

front

Winds:

of

Winds:

her,

Winds:

his

Winds:

eyes

Winds:

watching

Winds:

carefully. “I

Winds:

apologize

Winds:

but

Winds:

I

Winds:

removed

Winds:

your

Winds:

weapon.

Winds:

You

Winds:

understand.”
“That

Winds:

I

Winds:

do.

Winds:

You

Winds:

got

Winds:

a

Winds:

name,

Winds:

handsome?”

Winds:

she asked.
“Lt.

Winds:

Commander

Winds:

Lu Ciedias

Winds:

Blacksailor,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

responded

Winds:

matter of factly.
“Do

Winds:

you

Winds:

always

Winds:

introduce

Winds:

yourself

Winds:

with

Winds:

your

Winds:

full

Winds:

name?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

smirked. “I bet

Winds:

you’re

Winds:

the

Winds:

kind

Winds:

of

Winds:

dude

Winds:

who’d arrest

Winds:

his

Winds:

own

Winds:

relatives.”
Lu

Winds:

paused,

Winds:

visibly

Winds:

jerking

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

comment,

Winds:

before

Winds:

regaining

Winds:

his

Winds:

composure. “Yes,

Winds:

well.

Winds:

Until

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

get

Winds:

back

Winds:

to

Winds:

a

Winds:

stellar

Winds:

patrol

Winds:

station,

Winds:

I’m

Winds:

afraid

Winds:

you’ll

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

come

Winds:

with

Winds:

me.

Winds:

The

Winds:

accommodations

Winds:

aren’t

Winds:

great,

Winds:

but

Winds:

it

Winds:

will

Winds:

suffice

Winds:

until

Winds:

we

Winds:

reach

Winds:

the

Winds:

closest

Winds:

facility.”
“Were

Winds:

you

Winds:

able

Winds:

to

Winds:

retrieve

Winds:

my

Winds:

ship’s

Winds:

data

Winds:

recorder?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

began

Winds:

touching

Winds:

the

Winds:

controls.
“Hey,

Winds:

that

Winds:

is for

Winds:

stellar

Winds:

patrol

Winds:

personnel

Winds:

only!”

Winds:

He

Winds:

gently

Winds:

moved

Winds:

her

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

way

Winds:

and

Winds:

held

Winds:

up

Winds:

a

Winds:

paw. “To

Winds:

answer

Winds:

your

Winds:

question,

Winds:

unfortunately

Winds:

no.

Winds:

It

Winds:

went

Winds:

before

Winds:

I

Winds:

was

Winds:

able

Winds:

to

Winds:

establish

Winds:

a

Winds:

download.”
“Damn,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

replied. “I

Winds:

wasn’t

Winds:

able

Winds:

to

Winds:

determine

Winds:

who

Winds:

attacked

Winds:

me.

Winds:

I’d

Winds:

hoped

Winds:

the

Winds:

sensors

Winds:

would

Winds:

catch

Winds:

something,

Winds:

but

Winds:

I

Winds:

was

Winds:

too

Winds:

busy

Winds:

being

Winds:

knocked

Winds:

unconscious.

Winds:

Though

Winds:

it

Winds:

seems

Winds:

odd

Winds:

they’d

Winds:

knock

Winds:

me

Winds:

out

Winds:

and

Winds:

not

Winds:

board

Winds:

me.”
Lu

Winds:

touched

Winds:

his

Winds:

paw

Winds:

to

Winds:

his

Winds:

muzzle

Winds:

in

Winds:

thought. “It

Winds:

took

Winds:

me

Winds:

almost

Winds:

twenty

Winds:

minutes

Winds:

to

Winds:

arrive

Winds:

at

Winds:

your

Winds:

coordinates.

Winds:

If

Winds:

they

Winds:

wanted

Winds:

to

Winds:

board

Winds:

you,

Winds:

they

Winds:

had

Winds:

ample

Winds:

opportunity

Winds:

to

Winds:

do

Winds:

so.”
Lauren

Winds:

shrugged

Winds:

as

Winds:

she

Winds:

leaned

Winds:

back

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

copilot’s

Winds:

seat. “Well,

Winds:

they

Winds:

obviously

Winds:

weren’t

Winds:

interested

Winds:

in

Winds:

my

Winds:

cargo,

Winds:

such

Winds:

as

Winds:

it

Winds:

is.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

stretched

Winds:

out

Winds:

her

Winds:

legs

Winds:

under

Winds:

the

Winds:

console,

Winds:

crossing

Winds:

her

Winds:

hooves. “But

Winds:

what

Winds:

else

Winds:

is

Winds:

out

Winds:

here,

Winds:

besides…”

Winds:

She

Winds:

sat

Winds:

up

Winds:

sharply. “We

Winds:

gotta

Winds:

go.

Winds:

Now.”
“I

Winds:

haven’t

Winds:

finished

Winds:

my

Winds:

analysis

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

area,”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

protested.
“Forget

Winds:

the

Winds:

analysis,

Winds:

if

Winds:

we

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

get

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

here

Winds:

right

Winds:

now…”

Winds:

She did

Winds:

not

Winds:

get

Winds:

a

Winds:

chance

Winds:

to

Winds:

finish

Winds:

her

Winds:

sentence.

Winds:

The

Winds:

forward

Winds:

port

Winds:

was

Winds:

suddenly

Winds:

filled

Winds:

with

Winds:

an

Winds:

imposing

Winds:

heavy

Winds:

cruiser,

Winds:

dark

Winds:

grey

Winds:

in

Winds:

color.

Winds:

There

Winds:

were

Winds:

no

Winds:

obvious

Winds:

markings

Winds:

to

Winds:

speak

Winds:

of,

Winds:

but

Winds:

the

Winds:

ship

Winds:

was

Winds:

clearly

Winds:

no

Winds:

pirate

Winds:

vessel.

Winds:

Whatever

Winds:

it

Winds:

was,

Winds:

it

Winds:

meant

Winds:

business.
Lu

Winds:

pressed

Winds:

the

Winds:

console

Winds:

and

Winds:

opened

Winds:

a channel. “This is Lt.

Winds:

Commander

Winds:

Lu Ciedias Blacksailor

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol.

Winds:

Identify

Winds:

yourself

Winds:

and

Winds:

stand

Winds:

down.”
“Seriously?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

asked.
The

Winds:

white

Winds:

furred

Winds:

foxen

Winds:

continued

Winds:

as

Winds:

if

Winds:

she

Winds:

had

Winds:

not

Winds:

spoken. “You

Winds:

are

Winds:

interfering

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

lawful

Winds:

investigation

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

destruction

Winds:

of

Winds:

a

Winds:

civilian

Winds:

vessel.

Winds:

Stand

Winds:

down

Winds:

and

Winds:

break

Winds:

off.”
A

Winds:

female

Winds:

voice

Winds:

came

Winds:

back,

Winds:

Kinis,

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

sound

Winds:

of

Winds:

it. “My

Winds:

good

Winds:

foxen,

Winds:

who

Winds:

do

Winds:

you

Winds:

think

Winds:

destroyed

Winds:

it

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

first

Winds:

place?”
“Is

Winds:

that

Winds:

a

Winds:

confession?”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

leaned

Winds:

forward.
“Sure,

Winds:

whatever.”
“Then

Winds:

I

Winds:

am

Winds:

placing

Winds:

you

Winds:

under

Winds:

arrest.

Winds:

Stand

Winds:

down

Winds:

and

Winds:

prepare

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

boarded.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

got

Winds:

up

Winds:

from

Winds:

the

Winds:

controls.
Lauren

Winds:

glanced

Winds:

between

Winds:

him

Winds:

and

Winds:

the

Winds:

viewport. “You

Winds:

do

Winds:

realize

Winds:

they’re

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

shoot

Winds:

at

Winds:

us,

Winds:

right?”
“That

Winds:

would

Winds:

constitute

Winds:

several

Winds:

additional

Winds:

charges,

Winds:

to

Winds:

say

Winds:

nothing

Winds:

of…”
Exasperated,

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

grabbed

Winds:

the

Winds:

throttle

Winds:

and

Winds:

pushed

Winds:

it

Winds:

to

Winds:

full

Winds:

power.

Winds:

The

Winds:

ship

Winds:

shot

Winds:

ahead,

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

heavy

Winds:

cruiser

Winds:

immediately

Winds:

giving

Winds:

chase.
“What

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

name

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

Mother

Winds:

Goddess

Winds:

are

Winds:

you

Winds:

doing???”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

asked,

Winds:

holding

Winds:

on to

Winds:

the

Winds:

console

Winds:

as

Winds:

he

Winds:

slid

Winds:

back

Winds:

into

Winds:

his

Winds:

seat.
“Keeping

Winds:

us

Winds:

alive

Winds:

for

Winds:

another

Winds:

ten

Winds:

seconds.

Winds:

You’re

Winds:

welcome.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

switched

Winds:

the

Winds:

pickup

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

aft

Winds:

view. “They’re in pursuit.”
Lu’s paws

Winds:

flew

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

controls. “They’re

Winds:

shooting

Winds:

at

Winds:

us!”
“Noticed

Winds:

that,

Winds:

did ya?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

gestured

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

console. “If

Winds:

you

Winds:

let

Winds:

me,

Winds:

I

Winds:

think

Winds:

I

Winds:

can

Winds:

shake

Winds:

em.”
Lu

Winds:

slipped

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

chair. “Do

Winds:

it.”
Lauren

Winds:

took

Winds:

over,

Winds:

pushing

Winds:

the

Winds:

stick

Winds:

forward

Winds:

and

Winds:

diving

Winds:

before

Winds:

sliding

Winds:

into

Winds:

a

Winds:

roll.

Winds:

While

Winds:

she

Winds:

had

Winds:

little

Winds:

experience

Winds:

flying

Winds:

a

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

ship,

Winds:

at

Winds:

its

Winds:

core

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

really

Winds:

very

Winds:

similar

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

commercial

Winds:

Firewing

Winds:

model,

Winds:

just

Winds:

with

Winds:

a

Winds:

few

Winds:

extra

Winds:

enhancements

Winds:

not

Winds:

available

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

general

Winds:

public.

Winds:

Staring

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

readouts,

Winds:

she

Winds:

spun

Winds:

the

Winds:

ship

Winds:

around

Winds:

dodging

Winds:

between

Winds:

the

Winds:

energy

Winds:

blasts.
Lu

Winds:

looked

Winds:

out

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

rapidly

Winds:

spinning

Winds:

stars. “I

Winds:

think

Winds:

I’m

Winds:

gonna

Winds:

be

Winds:

sick.”
“If

Winds:

you

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

barf,

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

do

Winds:

it

Winds:

on

Winds:

me!”

Winds:

She

Winds:

evaded

Winds:

another

Winds:

volley. “That’s

Winds:

why

Winds:

I

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

look

Winds:

out

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

stars.

Winds:

If

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

get

Winds:

to

Winds:

that

Winds:

nearby

Winds:

system,

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

probably

Winds:

lose

Winds:

them

Winds:

behind

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

planets.”

Winds:

Any

Winds:

response

Winds:

he

Winds:

might

Winds:

have

Winds:

given

Winds:

was

Winds:

drowned

Winds:

out

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

sound

Winds:

of

Winds:

intense

Winds:

vomiting

Winds:

from

Winds:

behind

Winds:

the

Winds:

two

Winds:

chairs. “Hang

Winds:

on,

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

almost

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

clear!”
Her

Winds:

announcement

Winds:

was

Winds:

premature

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

next

Winds:

laser

Winds:

blast

Winds:

was

Winds:

followed

Winds:

by

Winds:

an

Winds:

unfortunate

Winds:

boom

Winds:

and

Winds:

the

Winds:

sound

Winds:

of

Winds:

mechanical

Winds:

heaving

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

engines

Winds:

gave

Winds:

out. “That

Winds:

didn’t

Winds:

sound

Winds:

good,”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

said,

Winds:

as

Winds:

he

Winds:

wiped

Winds:

his

Winds:

muzzle

Winds:

clean

Winds:

with

Winds:

his

Winds:

sleeve.
“It

Winds:

wasn’t.

Winds:

They

Winds:

just

Winds:

took

Winds:

out

Winds:

our

Winds:

primary

Winds:

drive

Winds:

system.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

spun

Winds:

around

Winds:

to

Winds:

face

Winds:

him. “They’re

Winds:

pulling

Winds:

us

Winds:

in.”
The

Winds:

pair

Winds:

looked

Winds:

at

Winds:

each

Winds:

other

Winds:

as

Winds:

they

Winds:

felt

Winds:

the

Winds:

larger

Winds:

ship lock

Winds:

onto

Winds:

their crippled

Winds:

ship

Winds:

and

Winds:

draw

Winds:

it

Winds:

into

Winds:

the

Winds:

docking

Winds:

bay.

Winds:

She

Winds:

gestured

Winds:

towards

Winds:

his

Winds:

sidearm. “I

Winds:

hope

Winds:

you’ve

Winds:

got

Winds:

something

Winds:

bigger

Winds:

than

Winds:

that

Winds:

standard

Winds:

issue

Winds:

pop

Winds:

gun.”
“Afraid

Winds:

not,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

replied

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

sparks

Winds:

began

Winds:

to

Winds:

fly

Winds:

around

Winds:

the

Winds:

exterior

Winds:

hatch. “It

Winds:

won’t

Winds:

be

Winds:

long

Winds:

before

Winds:

they

Winds:

get

Winds:

inside.”
Lauren

Winds:

took

Winds:

his

Winds:

weapon

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

his

Winds:

holster

Winds:

and

Winds:

tossed

Winds:

it

Winds:

under

Winds:

the

Winds:

forward

Winds:

console. “Then

Winds:

we’d

Winds:

better

Winds:

look

Winds:

harmless.”
“Hey!”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

moved

Winds:

to

Winds:

retrieve

Winds:

it

Winds:

when

Winds:

she

Winds:

stopped

Winds:

him.
“Look,

Winds:

their

Winds:

ship

Winds:

is

Winds:

bigger

Winds:

than

Winds:

ours

Winds:

and

Winds:

even

Winds:

if

Winds:

we

Winds:

somehow

Winds:

repelled

Winds:

this

Winds:

boarding

Winds:

party,

Winds:

we

Winds:

aren’t

Winds:

flying

Winds:

anywhere

Winds:

in

Winds:

a

Winds:

broken

Winds:

ship.

Winds:

Right

Winds:

now,

Winds:

our

Winds:

best

Winds:

move

Winds:

is

Winds:

to

Winds:

let

Winds:

them

Winds:

take

Winds:

us

Winds:

and

Winds:

hope

Winds:

they

Winds:

stash

Winds:

us

Winds:

together.

Winds:

So,

Winds:

stand

Winds:

there,

Winds:

shut

Winds:

up,

Winds:

and

Winds:

look

Winds:

helpless.

Winds:

You

Winds:

should

Winds:

be

Winds:

able

Winds:

to

Winds:

manage

Winds:

that

Winds:

last

Winds:

part.”
“Hey!”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

repeated,

Winds:

this

Winds:

time

Winds:

in

Winds:

obvious

Winds:

offense.
Their

Winds:

conversation

Winds:

was

Winds:

interrupted

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

clang

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

heavy

Winds:

metal

Winds:

door

Winds:

falling

Winds:

inward

Winds:

followed

Winds:

by

Winds:

a

Winds:

rush

Winds:

of

Winds:

frigid

Winds:

air.

Winds:

Several

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

soldiers

Winds:

stepped

Winds:

inside, with

Winds:

each

Winds:

of

Winds:

them

Winds:

armed

Winds:

with

Winds:

heavy

Winds:

rifles

Winds:

of

Winds:

a

Winds:

type

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

did

Winds:

not

Winds:

recognize,

Winds:

but

Winds:

she

Winds:

knew

Winds:

them

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

lethal.

Winds:

Locking

Winds:

eyes

Winds:

with

Winds:

Lu,

Winds:

she

Winds:

attempted

Winds:

to

Winds:

silently

Winds:

warn

Winds:

him

Winds:

to

Winds:

stay

Winds:

quiet.
“My name is Lt. Cmdr. Lu Ciedias Blacksailor, and

Winds:

I

Winds:

demand

Winds:

to

Winds:

speak

Winds:

with

Winds:

your

Winds:

commander,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

confidently

Winds:

stated,

Winds:

immediately

Winds:

earning

Winds:

a

Winds:

facepalm

Winds:

from Lauren.
The

Winds:

sound

Winds:

of

Winds:

toe

Winds:

claws

Winds:

against

Winds:

metal

Winds:

cut

Winds:

through

Winds:

the

Winds:

awkward

Winds:

silence

Winds:

as

Winds:

a

Winds:

black furred Kinis

Winds:

stepped

Winds:

onto

Winds:

the

Winds:

ship.

Winds:

Dressed

Winds:

in

Winds:

a

Winds:

fine

Winds:

business

Winds:

suit

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

clear

Winds:

she

Winds:

was

Winds:

the

Winds:

leader.

Winds:

Her

Winds:

claws

Winds:

were

Winds:

finely

Winds:

manicured,

Winds:

and

Winds:

her

Winds:

hair

Winds:

was

Winds:

perfect

Winds:

with

Winds:

not

Winds:

a

Winds:

single

Winds:

strand

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

place.

Winds:

She

Winds:

walked past them both before

Winds:

turning

Winds:

to

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

and

Winds:

tapping

Winds:

his

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

badge. “This

Winds:

has

Winds:

no

Winds:

meaning

Winds:

out

Winds:

here.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

tore

Winds:

it

Winds:

from

Winds:

his

Winds:

uniform,

Winds:

earning

Winds:

a

Winds:

protest

Winds:

from

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

before

Winds:

discarding

Winds:

it

Winds:

on

Winds:

the

Winds:

floor. “You

Winds:

have

Winds:

no

Winds:

rights

Winds:

but

Winds:

the

Winds:

ones

Winds:

I

Winds:

give to

Winds:

you.

Winds:

I

Winds:

should

Winds:

charge

Winds:

you

Winds:

for

Winds:

forcing

Winds:

me

Winds:

to

Winds:

use

Winds:

our

Winds:

primary

Winds:

weapons

Winds:

array.”
“What,

Winds:

are

Winds:

you

Winds:

paying

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

laser

Winds:

now?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

asked,

Winds:

earning

Winds:

her

Winds:

a

Winds:

backhand

Winds:

from

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

female. “Worth

Winds:

it.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

said,

Winds:

holding

Winds:

her

Winds:

cheek

Winds:

and

Winds:

pocketing

Winds:

Lu’s badge.
“We’ll

Winds:

see

Winds:

how well

Winds:

that

Winds:

wit

Winds:

of

Winds:

yours

Winds:

holds

Winds:

up

Winds:

in

Winds:

our

Winds:

brig.

Winds:

Take

Winds:

them

Winds:

away.

Winds:

We

Winds:

have

Winds:

what

Winds:

we

Winds:

came

Winds:

for.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

gestured

Winds:

with

Winds:

her

Winds:

paw as

Winds:

the

Winds:

soldiers

Winds:

grabbed

Winds:

both

Winds:

of

Winds:

them

Winds:

and

Winds:

roughly

Winds:

forced

Winds:

them

Winds:

down

Winds:

the

Winds:

hall.

Winds:

Shivering,

Winds:

she

Winds:

attempted

Winds:

to

Winds:

will

Winds:

herself

Winds:

not

Winds:

to

Winds:

feel

Winds:

the

Winds:

chill

Winds:

of

Winds:

what

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

considered

Winds:

a ‘normal’

Winds:

temperature.
Lu

Winds:

attempted

Winds:

to

Winds:

argue

Winds:

various

Winds:

statutes

Winds:

regarding

Winds:

the

Winds:

treatment

Winds:

of

Winds:

prisoners,

Winds:

but

Winds:

they

Winds:

were

Winds:

all

Winds:

ignored

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

guards.

Winds:

He

Winds:

eventually

Winds:

realized

Winds:

the

Winds:

futility

Winds:

of

Winds:

trying

Winds:

to

Winds:

talk

Winds:

his

Winds:

way

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

it

Winds:

just

Winds:

as

Winds:

they

Winds:

were

Winds:

locked

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

cell

Winds:

that

Winds:

would

Winds:

be

Winds:

their

Winds:

temporary

Winds:

prison,

Winds:

at

Winds:

least

Winds:

for

Winds:

a

Winds:

little

Winds:

while.

Winds:

He

Winds:

looked

Winds:

forlornly

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

spot

Winds:

where his

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

badge

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

ripped

Winds:

from

Winds:

his

Winds:

uniform

Winds:

and sighed. “They

Winds:

make

Winds:

you

Winds:

pay

Winds:

for

Winds:

those,

Winds:

you

Winds:

know.”
“Wow,

Winds:

you

Winds:

guys got

Winds:

a

Winds:

lot

Winds:

of

Winds:

problems,

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

you?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

asked

Winds:

rhetorically. “Anyway,

Winds:

we’d

Winds:

better

Winds:

get

Winds:

comfortable,

Winds:

at

Winds:

least

Winds:

for

Winds:

a

Winds:

little

Winds:

while.

Winds:

They

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

like

Winds:

it

Winds:

if

Winds:

you

Winds:

try

Winds:

to

Winds:

escape

Winds:

right

Winds:

away.”
Lu

Winds:

looked

Winds:

at

Winds:

her

Winds:

quizzically. “Excuse

Winds:

me?”
“Never

Winds:

mind.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

looked

Winds:

at

Winds:

him,

Winds:

clearly

Winds:

deciding

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

best

Winds:

not

Winds:

to

Winds:

explain,

Winds:

at

Winds:

least

Winds:

right

Winds:

now.

Winds:

Having

Winds:

served

Winds:

in

Winds:

her

Winds:

fair

Winds:

share

Winds:

of

Winds:

complex

Winds:

professions,

Winds:

she

Winds:

knew

Winds:

how

Winds:

to

Winds:

get

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

just

Winds:

about

Winds:

any

Winds:

cell

Winds:

they could

Winds:

put

Winds:

her

Winds:

in,

Winds:

but

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

all

Winds:

about

Winds:

timing.

Winds:

She

Winds:

needed

Winds:

them

Winds:

to

Winds:

stop

Winds:

looking

Winds:

at

Winds:

them

Winds:

so

Winds:

closely

Winds:

and

Winds:

get

Winds:

distracted

Winds:

by

Winds:

something

Winds:

else.

Winds:

It

Winds:

would

Winds:

make

Winds:

their

Winds:

escape

Winds:

a

Winds:

little

Winds:

bit

Winds:

easier.

Winds:

For

Winds:

now,

Winds:

she

Winds:

decided

Winds:

to

Winds:

follow

Winds:

her

Winds:

own

Winds:

advice

Winds:

and

Winds:

sat

Winds:

down. “Of

Winds:

all

Winds:

the

Winds:

brigs I’ve

Winds:

been

Winds:

in,

Winds:

this

Winds:

one

Winds:

is

Winds:

actually

Winds:

pretty

Winds:

nice.”
The

Winds:

ivory

Winds:

furred

Winds:

foxen

Winds:

opened

Winds:

his

Winds:

muzzle as

Winds:

if

Winds:

to

Winds:

ask

Winds:

a

Winds:

question,

Winds:

but

Winds:

then

Winds:

he

Winds:

seemed

Winds:

unsure

Winds:

which

Winds:

one

Winds:

to

Winds:

ask.

Winds:

He

Winds:

ultimately

Winds:

settled

Winds:

for

Winds:

the

Winds:

simple

Winds:

one. “Been

Winds:

in

Winds:

many?”
“More

Winds:

than

Winds:

I’d

Winds:

like,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

replied. “It

Winds:

comes

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

territory

Winds:

out

Winds:

here.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

shrugged. “You

Winds:

get

Winds:

used

Winds:

to

Winds:

it.

Winds:

Or

Winds:

you

Winds:

get

Winds:

really

Winds:

good

Winds:

at

Winds:

picking

Winds:

locks.”
“Why

Winds:

is

Winds:

it

Winds:

so

Winds:

damned

Winds:

chilly

Winds:

in

Winds:

here?”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

rubbed

Winds:

his

Winds:

arms.
“Never

Winds:

been

Winds:

on

Winds:

a

Winds:

Kinis ship

Winds:

before?

Winds:

They

Winds:

prefer

Winds:

it

Winds:

cold.

Winds:

We

Winds:

could

Winds:

ask

Winds:

them

Winds:

to

Winds:

turn

Winds:

up

Winds:

the

Winds:

temperature,

Winds:

but

Winds:

they

Winds:

charge

Winds:

you

Winds:

for

Winds:

that.”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

gestured

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

slot

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

wall

Winds:

for a

Winds:

credit

Winds:

chip.
“Seriously?”

Winds:

He

Winds:

looked

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

panel

Winds:

as

Winds:

if

Winds:

considering

Winds:

it,

Winds:

shivering

Winds:

miserably.
“Don’t

Winds:

bother.

Winds:

It’s

Winds:

a

Winds:

rip-off, and

Winds:

we

Winds:

aren’t

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

here

Winds:

long

Winds:

enough

Winds:

anyway.”
Lu

Winds:

stared

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

doorway. “I

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

suppose

Winds:

they’d

Winds:

consider

Winds:

letting

Winds:

us

Winds:

contact

Winds:

someone

Winds:

for

Winds:

some

Winds:

sort

Winds:

of

Winds:

parley?”
Lauren

Winds:

gave him

Winds:

a

Winds:

deadpan

Winds:

shake

Winds:

of

Winds:

her

Winds:

head. “No.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

sighed. “If

Winds:

they

Winds:

follow

Winds:

standard

Winds:

procedures,

Winds:

they’ll

Winds:

let

Winds:

us

Winds:

stew

Winds:

in

Winds:

here

Winds:

while

Winds:

they

Winds:

do

Winds:

whatever

Winds:

it

Winds:

is

Winds:

they

Winds:

came

Winds:

here

Winds:

to

Winds:

do,

Winds:

and

Winds:

then

Winds:

probably

Winds:

come

Winds:

to

Winds:

ask

Winds:

us

Winds:

some

Winds:

questions

Winds:

after

Winds:

they

Winds:

have

Winds:

us sign

Winds:

the

Winds:

standard

Winds:

cell

Winds:

rental

Winds:

agreement.”
“You

Winds:

think

Winds:

they’ll

Winds:

interrogate

Winds:

us?”

Winds:

he

Winds:

asked.
“Maybe, or

Winds:

maybe

Winds:

not.

Winds:

There

Winds:

could

Winds:

be

Winds:

torture.

Winds:

In

Winds:

any

Winds:

case,

Winds:

we’d

Winds:

best

Winds:

try

Winds:

to

Winds:

figure

Winds:

out

Winds:

what

Winds:

they

Winds:

want.

Winds:

Maybe

Winds:

if

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

do

Winds:

that,

Winds:

we

Winds:

might

Winds:

have

Winds:

an

Winds:

idea

Winds:

what

Winds:

kind

Winds:

of

Winds:

time frame

Winds:

we

Winds:

have.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

looked

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

panel

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

door.
Lu

Winds:

sat

Winds:

down

Winds:

beside

Winds:

her. “I

Winds:

bet

Winds:

if

Winds:

my

Winds:

sister

Winds:

were

Winds:

here,

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

know

Winds:

what

Winds:

to

Winds:

do.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

reached

Winds:

into

Winds:

his

Winds:

uniform

Winds:

jacket

Winds:

and

Winds:

pulled

Winds:

out

Winds:

a

Winds:

photo.
The

Winds:

Z’Kra

Winds:

paused,

Winds:

doing

Winds:

her

Winds:

best

Winds:

not

Winds:

to

Winds:

let

Winds:

the

Winds:

recognition

Winds:

show.

Winds:

But

Winds:

the

Winds:

image

Winds:

was

Winds:

someone

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

know

Winds:

anywhere,

Winds:

having

Winds:

seen

Winds:

her

Winds:

every

Winds:

day

Winds:

aboard

Winds:

the

Winds:

Scarlet

Winds:

Claw.

Winds:

Alinadar,

Winds:

known

Winds:

to

Winds:

some

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

crew

Winds:

as

Winds:

Ali-Kat.

Winds:

From

Winds:

what

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

heard

Winds:

the

Winds:

Red

Winds:

Vixen

Winds:

had

Winds:

pawned

Winds:

her

Winds:

off

Winds:

on

Winds:

some

Winds:

noble

Winds:

and

Winds:

they

Winds:

ended

Winds:

up

Winds:

falling

Winds:

in

Winds:

love.

Winds:

It

Winds:

sounded

Winds:

like

Winds:

a

Winds:

ridiculous

Winds:

story

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

some

Winds:

trashy

Winds:

romance

Winds:

novel

Winds:

but

Winds:

if

Winds:

Ali

Winds:

had

Winds:

found

Winds:

happiness,

Winds:

then

Winds:

she

Winds:

was

Winds:

all

Winds:

the

Winds:

better

Winds:

for

Winds:

it.

Winds:

Goodness

Winds:

knew

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

earned

Winds:

it.

Winds:

But

Winds:

yet

Winds:

here

Winds:

she

Winds:

found

Winds:

herself

Winds:

locked

Winds:

up

Winds:

with

Winds:

Ali’s

Winds:

brother

Winds:

of

Winds:

all

Winds:

people.

Winds:

And

Winds:

he

Winds:

was

Winds:

probably

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

most

Winds:

helpless

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

officers

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

ever

Winds:

seen.
Oh,

Winds:

he

Winds:

could

Winds:

quote

Winds:

the

Winds:

rule books

Winds:

until

Winds:

the

Winds:

Mother

Winds:

Goddess

Winds:

called

Winds:

him to

Winds:

her

Winds:

den.

Winds:

But

Winds:

he

Winds:

had

Winds:

no

Winds:

experience

Winds:

to

Winds:

speak

Winds:

of.

Winds:

If

Winds:

he

Winds:

was

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

useful,

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

educate

Winds:

him,

Winds:

and

Winds:

fast.
“She

Winds:

a

Winds:

security

Winds:

officer?”

Winds:

she

Winds:

asked,

Winds:

hoping

Winds:

to

Winds:

prod him

Winds:

to

Winds:

conversation.
“Sort

Winds:

of.

Winds:

She’s

Winds:

the

Winds:

head

Winds:

of

Winds:

Lady

Winds:

Darktail’s

Winds:

personal

Winds:

security,

Winds:

and

Winds:

her

Winds:

lover,”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

offered.
Lady

Winds:

Darktail. Now

Winds:

that name

Winds:

struck a chord. She’d

Winds:

heard

Winds:

it

Winds:

a

Winds:

few

Winds:

times

Winds:

in

Winds:

her

Winds:

travels,

Winds:

mostly

Winds:

that

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

found

Winds:

a

Winds:

planet

Winds:

through

Winds:

a

Winds:

bunch

Winds:

of

Winds:

shenanigans

Winds:

resulting

Winds:

in

Winds:

this

Winds:

medium

Winds:

level

Winds:

house

Winds:

becoming

Winds:

the

Winds:

custodian

Winds:

of

Winds:

a

Winds:

colony

Winds:

world

Winds:

they

Winds:

later

Winds:

called

Winds:

Greenholme.

Winds:

According

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

rumors,

Winds:

she’d

Winds:

even

Winds:

been

Winds:

involved

Winds:

in

Winds:

taking

Winds:

down

Winds:

Bloody

Winds:

Margo.
“I

Winds:

bet

Winds:

she

Winds:

knows

Winds:

her

Winds:

stuff,”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

said,

Winds:

realizing

Winds:

she

Winds:

hadn’t

Winds:

said

Winds:

anything

Winds:

for

Winds:

a

Winds:

bit

Winds:

too

Winds:

long.
“She

Winds:

does.

Winds:

She

Winds:

helped

Winds:

rescue

Winds:

Lady

Winds:

Darktail

Winds:

when

Winds:

there

Winds:

was

Winds:

an

Winds:

incident

Winds:

there

Winds:

a

Winds:

while

Winds:

back.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

held

Winds:

the

Winds:

photograph

Winds:

between

Winds:

his

Winds:

paws.
Lauren

Winds:

noted

Winds:

his

Winds:

lack

Winds:

of

Winds:

details

Winds:

but

Winds:

did

Winds:

not

Winds:

press. “Well,

Winds:

since

Winds:

she’s

Winds:

not

Winds:

here,

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

get

Winds:

ourselves

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

this

Winds:

cell.

Winds:

Do

Winds:

they

Winds:

teach

Winds:

you

Winds:

about

Winds:

escaping

Winds:

captivity

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol?”
“I

Winds:

took

Winds:

a

Winds:

course.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

put

Winds:

the

Winds:

photo

Winds:

back

Winds:

in

Winds:

his

Winds:

vest.
“Okay,

Winds:

and

Winds:

what

Winds:

exactly

Winds:

did

Winds:

they

Winds:

teach

Winds:

you

Winds:

in

Winds:

this

Winds:

course?”

Winds:

She

Winds:

folded

Winds:

her

Winds:

arms.
Lu

Winds:

straightened

Winds:

up. “They

Winds:

put

Winds:

us

Winds:

through

Winds:

several

Winds:

escape

Winds:

scenarios

Winds:

in

Winds:

timed

Winds:

exercises

Winds:

with

Winds:

simulated

Winds:

obstacles.”
Lauren

Winds:

stared

Winds:

blankly. “So,

Winds:

you’ve

Winds:

never

Winds:

actually

Winds:

had

Winds:

to

Winds:

escape

Winds:

anything

Winds:

for

Winds:

real.”
“Technically,

Winds:

no.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

said. “But

Winds:

the

Winds:

first

Winds:

step

Winds:

is

Winds:

to

Winds:

examine

Winds:

one’s

Winds:

surroundings

Winds:

and

Winds:

find

Winds:

a

Winds:

point

Winds:

of

Winds:

weakness.”
Leaving

Winds:

him

Winds:

to

Winds:

investigate

Winds:

the

Winds:

cell,

Winds:

she

Winds:

removed

Winds:

his

Winds:

damaged

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

badge

Winds:

and

Winds:

used

Winds:

the

Winds:

pin

Winds:

to

Winds:

pull

Winds:

the

Winds:

door

Winds:

panel

Winds:

from

Winds:

the

Winds:

wall.

Winds:

Using

Winds:

the

Winds:

point,

Winds:

she

Winds:

shorted

Winds:

out

Winds:

the

Winds:

mechanism

Winds:

and

Winds:

the

Winds:

door

Winds:

slid

Winds:

open. “All

Winds:

right,

Winds:

let’s….”

Winds:

Seeing

Winds:

his

Winds:

tail

Winds:

sticking

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

vent,

Winds:

she

Winds:

cleared

Winds:

her

Winds:

throat. “What

Winds:

are

Winds:

you

Winds:

doing?”
“The

Winds:

vent

Winds:

is

Winds:

unsecured,

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

get

Winds:

out

Winds:

through

Winds:

here,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

said.
Lauren

Winds:

sighed. “No

Winds:

one

Winds:

uses

Winds:

the

Winds:

vent.

Winds:

It’s

Winds:

the

Winds:

first

Winds:

thing

Winds:

they

Winds:

expect

Winds:

you

Winds:

to

Winds:

try.

Winds:

Only

Winds:

newbies

Winds:

do

Winds:

that.

Winds:

It’s

Winds:

strictly

Winds:

amateur

Winds:

hour.

Winds:

Now

Winds:

I

Winds:

got

Winds:

the

Winds:

door

Winds:

open,

Winds:

so

Winds:

let’s

Winds:

go.”
Lu

Winds:

looked

Winds:

once

Winds:

more

Winds:

at

Winds:

the vent

Winds:

and

Winds:

then

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

object

Winds:

in

Winds:

her

Winds:

hand. “Did

Winds:

you

Winds:

use

Winds:

my

Winds:

badge

Winds:

to

Winds:

break

Winds:

us

Winds:

out?”
“Yeah,

Winds:

I

Winds:

needed

Winds:

something

Winds:

pointy.”
“I

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

know

Winds:

how

Winds:

I

Winds:

feel

Winds:

about

Winds:

my

Winds:

badge

Winds:

being

Winds:

used

Winds:

to

Winds:

commit

Winds:

what

Winds:

technically

Winds:

could

Winds:

be

Winds:

considered

Winds:

a

Winds:

crime…”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

said. “Although

Winds:

they

Winds:

did

Winds:

illegally

Winds:

detain

Winds:

us.”
Lauren

Winds:

threw

Winds:

it

Winds:

back

Winds:

into

Winds:

his

Winds:

paws. “Do

Winds:

you

Winds:

want

Winds:

to

Winds:

stay

Winds:

here?

Winds:

Because

Winds:

if

Winds:

you

Winds:

want,

Winds:

I

Winds:

could

Winds:

just

Winds:

relock

Winds:

the

Winds:

door.

Winds:

But

Winds:

if

Winds:

we

Winds:

do

Winds:

that,

Winds:

pretty

Winds:

soon

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

start

Winds:

freezing

Winds:

our

Winds:

asses off and…”
“Okay,

Winds:

let’s go.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

held

Winds:

up

Winds:

his

Winds:

paws

Winds:

and

Winds:

gestured

Winds:

for

Winds:

her

Winds:

to

Winds:

take

Winds:

the

Winds:

lead.      
Outside

Winds:

the

Winds:

cell,

Winds:

she

Winds:

perked

Winds:

her

Winds:

ears up

Winds:

to

Winds:

listen.

Winds:

She

Winds:

held

Winds:

up

Winds:

two

Winds:

fingers

Winds:

indicating

Winds:

a

Winds:

pair

Winds:

of

Winds:

guards.

Winds:

Pointing

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

one

Winds:

on

Winds:

the

Winds:

right,

Winds:

she

Winds:

began

Winds:

threading

Winds:

left

Winds:

holding

Winds:

her

Winds:

hand

Winds:

in

Winds:

a

Winds:

gesture

Winds:

for

Winds:

silence.

Winds:

Both

Winds:

guards

Winds:

were

Winds:

currently

Winds:

playing

Winds:

some

Winds:

sort

Winds:

of

Winds:

card

Winds:

game,

Winds:

clearly

Winds:

irritated

Winds:

at

Winds:

having

Winds:

been

Winds:

chosen

Winds:

for

Winds:

such

Winds:

a

Winds:

lowly

Winds:

unprofitable

Winds:

duty.
“When

Winds:

are

Winds:

we

Winds:

going to

Winds:

see

Winds:

the

Winds:

benefits

Winds:

of

Winds:

this

Winds:

job?”

Winds:

the

Winds:

first

Winds:

one

Winds:

said

Winds:

loudly.
“When

Winds:

the

Winds:

boss

Winds:

says

Winds:

we

Winds:

do.

Winds:

Do

Winds:

you

Winds:

know

Winds:

how

Winds:

hard

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

to

Winds:

even

Winds:

get

Winds:

on

Winds:

this

Winds:

crew?

Winds:

Everyone

Winds:

says

Winds:

something

Winds:

big

Winds:

is

Winds:

happening

Winds:

and

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

in

Winds:

on

Winds:

the

Winds:

ground

Winds:

floor,”

Winds:

the

Winds:

black

Winds:

furred

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

responded.
The

Winds:

ginger

Winds:

felinoid

Winds:

hissed. “More

Winds:

like

Winds:

the

Winds:

basement.

Winds:

All

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

doing

Winds:

is

Winds:

babysitting

Winds:

some

Winds:

striped

Winds:

pony

Winds:

and

Winds:

a

Winds:

space

Winds:

cop

Winds:

while

Winds:

they

Winds:

dig

Winds:

around

Winds:

for

Winds:

the

Winds:

real

Winds:

prize.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

tossed

Winds:

down

Winds:

a

Winds:

card. “I

Winds:

doubt

Winds:

we

Winds:

even

Winds:

see

Winds:

action

Winds:

on

Winds:

this

Winds:

mission.”
“Well,

Winds:

goodness

Winds:

knows

Winds:

we….

Winds:

Unh!”

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

fell

Winds:

unconscious

Winds:

as

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

struck

Winds:

him

Winds:

from

Winds:

behind.
Lauren,

Winds:

unprepared

Winds:

as

Winds:

she

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

listening

Winds:

to

Winds:

their

Winds:

conversation,

Winds:

quickly

Winds:

vaulted

Winds:

over

Winds:

the

Winds:

desk,

Winds:

shoving

Winds:

both

Winds:

hooves

Winds:

into

Winds:

the

Winds:

ginger

Winds:

one’s

Winds:

chest.

Winds:

Slugging

Winds:

him

Winds:

a

Winds:

couple

Winds:

of

Winds:

times

Winds:

with

Winds:

her

Winds:

fist,

Winds:

she

Winds:

sighed. “I

Winds:

was

Winds:

hoping

Winds:

to

Winds:

let

Winds:

them

Winds:

talk

Winds:

a

Winds:

little

Winds:

longer.

Winds:

They

Winds:

were

Winds:

letting

Winds:

some

Winds:

good

Winds:

info

Winds:

slip.”
“Oh.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

looked

Winds:

down at the

Winds:

black furred Kinis. “I

Winds:

thought

Winds:

we

Winds:

should

Winds:

move

Winds:

while

Winds:

we

Winds:

had

Winds:

the

Winds:

element

Winds:

of

Winds:

surprise.”
“You

Winds:

did

Winds:

that,

Winds:

for

Winds:

sure.

Winds:

But

Winds:

couldn’t

Winds:

you

Winds:

have

Winds:

waited

Winds:

a

Winds:

couple

Winds:

more

Winds:

seconds?”

Winds:

she

Winds:

asked,

Winds:

her

Winds:

breath

Winds:

visible

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

cold

Winds:

air. “He

Winds:

might’ve

Winds:

told

Winds:

us

Winds:

who

Winds:

that

Winds:

lady

Winds:

was

Winds:

who

Winds:

grabbed

Winds:

us.”
Lu

Winds:

picked

Winds:

up

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

their

Winds:

rifles. “I’m

Winds:

new

Winds:

at

Winds:

this.”
“I’d

Winds:

never

Winds:

have

Winds:

guessed.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

grabbed

Winds:

the

Winds:

other. “The

Winds:

shuttle

Winds:

bay is

Winds:

about

Winds:

five

Winds:

minutes

Winds:

from

Winds:

here.

Winds:

If

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

fight

Winds:

our

Winds:

way

Winds:

to

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

their

Winds:

support

Winds:

craft,

Winds:

we

Winds:

can

Winds:

get

Winds:

off

Winds:

this

Winds:

ship

Winds:

and

Winds:

be

Winds:

gone

Winds:

before

Winds:

they

Winds:

can

Winds:

stop

Winds:

us.

Winds:

But

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

work

Winds:

together.

Winds:

Considering

Winds:

I’ve

Winds:

done

Winds:

this

Winds:

sort

Winds:

of

Winds:

thing

Winds:

before,

Winds:

you’d

Winds:

better

Winds:

follow

Winds:

my

Winds:

lead.

Winds:

Think

Winds:

you

Winds:

can

Winds:

do

Winds:

that?”
Lu

Winds:

checked

Winds:

the

Winds:

weapon. “After

Winds:

you.”
“Good

Winds:

boy,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

said,

Winds:

pressing

Winds:

herself

Winds:

up

Winds:

against

Winds:

the

Winds:

wall

Winds:

and

Winds:

taking

Winds:

a

Winds:

quick

Winds:

peek

Winds:

around

Winds:

the

Winds:

corner.

Winds:

The

Winds:

hallway

Winds:

was

Winds:

clear,

Winds:

but

Winds:

things

Winds:

would

Winds:

get

Winds:

a

Winds:

lot

Winds:

more

Winds:

chaotic

Winds:

once

Winds:

their

Winds:

unconscious

Winds:

friends

Winds:

were

Winds:

found.

Winds:

She

Winds:

stepped

Winds:

out,

Winds:

gesturing

Winds:

for

Winds:

Lu to

Winds:

follow.

Winds:

She

Winds:

watched

Winds:

him,

Winds:

noting

Winds:

he

Winds:

carried

Winds:

the

Winds:

weapon

Winds:

properly

Winds:

and

Winds:

seemed

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

more

Winds:

comfortable

Winds:

with

Winds:

her

Winds:

in

Winds:

charge

Winds:

rather

Winds:

than

Winds:

making

Winds:

his

Winds:

own

Winds:

decisions

Winds:

out

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

field.

Winds:

No

Winds:

doubt

Winds:

he

Winds:

had

Winds:

received

Winds:

the

Winds:

best

Winds:

training

Winds:

the

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

had

Winds:

to

Winds:

offer,

Winds:

but

Winds:

if

Winds:

there

Winds:

was

Winds:

one

Winds:

thing

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

knew

Winds:

for

Winds:

a

Winds:

fact

Winds:

was

Winds:

that

Winds:

no

Winds:

amount

Winds:

of

Winds:

training

Winds:

could

Winds:

ever

Winds:

prepare

Winds:

you

Winds:

for

Winds:

being

Winds:

out

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

field.
Of

Winds:

course

Winds:

it

Winds:

gave

Winds:

you

Winds:

tools,

Winds:

but

Winds:

experience

Winds:

and

Winds:

instinct

Winds:

were

Winds:

only

Winds:

tempered

Winds:

by

Winds:

pressure,

Winds:

and

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

these

Winds:

things

Winds:

that

Winds:

made

Winds:

one

Winds:

better

Winds:

at

Winds:

thinking

Winds:

on

Winds:

your

Winds:

hooves.

Winds:

She

Winds:

led

Winds:

the

Winds:

way

Winds:

down

Winds:

the

Winds:

corridor,

Winds:

coming

Winds:

to

Winds:

a

Winds:

stop

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

next

Winds:

intersection.
Off

Winds:

to

Winds:

one

Winds:

side,

Winds:

a

Winds:

pair

Winds:

of

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

were

Winds:

having

Winds:

a

Winds:

conversation,

Winds:

while

Winds:

just

Winds:

beyond

Winds:

it

Winds:

she

Winds:

could

Winds:

see

Winds:

the

Winds:

lift

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

rest

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

ship.

Winds:

Whatever

Winds:

they

Winds:

were

Winds:

discussing

Winds:

seemed

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

more

Winds:

than

Winds:

enough

Winds:

to

Winds:

hold

Winds:

their

Winds:

attention,

Winds:

provided

Winds:

they

Winds:

moved

Winds:

quickly

Winds:

and

Winds:

quietly.

Winds:

She

Winds:

held up

Winds:

a

Winds:

hoof

Winds:

tipped

Winds:

finger

Winds:

for

Winds:

silence

Winds:

and

Winds:

mimed

Winds:

sneaking

Winds:

past

Winds:

them.

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

waited

Winds:

until

Winds:

their

Winds:

conversation

Winds:

turned

Winds:

them

Winds:

towards

Winds:

the

Winds:

window

Winds:

and

Winds:

skipped

Winds:

across,

Winds:

with

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

close

Winds:

behind.

Winds:

She

Winds:

gave

Winds:

him

Winds:

a

Winds:

thumbs

Winds:

up

Winds:

and

Winds:

casually

Winds:

walked

Winds:

up

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

lift,

Winds:

pressing

Winds:

the

Winds:

button.
“Nice

Winds:

job

Winds:

back

Winds:

there,” she said.
“Thanks,”

Winds:

he

Winds:

replied. “I

Winds:

still

Winds:

can’t

Winds:

believe

Winds:

they

Winds:

didn’t

Winds:

spot

Winds:

us.”
Lauren

Winds:

scowled

Winds:

at

Winds:

him. “Why

Winds:

did

Winds:

you

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

say

Winds:

something

Winds:

like

Winds:

that?

Winds:

Don’t

Winds:

you

Winds:

know

Winds:

not

Winds:

to

Winds:

jinx

Winds:

an

Winds:

escape?”
Lu

Winds:

shook

Winds:

his

Winds:

head

Winds:

in

Winds:

disbelief. “Surely

Winds:

you’re

Winds:

not

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

tell

Winds:

me you’re

Winds:

superstitious?”
“No,

Winds:

but

Winds:

I

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

believe

Winds:

in

Winds:

giving

Winds:

fate

Winds:

a

Winds:

big

Winds:

middle

Winds:

finger,

Winds:

either,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

said.
“Relax,

Winds:

it’s

Winds:

not

Winds:

like

Winds:

that

Winds:

door is

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

open

Winds:

and

Winds:

we’re

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

run

Winds:

into the

Winds:

head

Winds:

Kinis…” Lu

Winds:

was

Winds:

rendered

Winds:

speechless

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

door

Winds:

slid

Winds:

apart,

Winds:

the

Winds:

female

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

staring

Winds:

right

Winds:

into

Winds:

his

Winds:

eyes.
“What

Winds:

the

Winds:

hell?”

Winds:

she

Winds:

asked.
Lauren

Winds:

turned

Winds:

to

Winds:

him. “You

Winds:

KNOW

Winds:

this

Winds:

is

Winds:

your

Winds:

fault.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

grabbed

Winds:

the

Winds:

female

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

and

Winds:

spun

Winds:

her,

Winds:

pulling

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

inside

Winds:

the

Winds:

lift

Winds:

and

Winds:

giving

Winds:

her

Winds:

a

Winds:

big

Winds:

kick

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

butt

Winds:

as

Winds:

her

Winds:

guards

Winds:

ran

Winds:

after

Winds:

her

Winds:

in

Winds:

shock.
“Not

Winds:

me,

Winds:

you

Winds:

idiots,

Winds:

stop

Winds:

them!”

Winds:

she

Winds:

shouted

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

doors

Winds:

slid

Winds:

shut.
“So

Winds:

much

Winds:

for

Winds:

a

Winds:

quiet

Winds:

escape,”

Winds:

the

Winds:

Z’Kra

Winds:

commented.

Winds:

Before

Winds:

they

Winds:

arrived

Winds:

at

Winds:

their

Winds:

destination

Winds:

the

Winds:

alarm

Winds:

klaxons

Winds:

began

Winds:

to

Winds:

wail.

Winds:

Looking

Winds:

down

Winds:

at

Winds:

her

Winds:

borrowed

Winds:

weapon,

Winds:

she

Winds:

checked that

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

fully

Winds:

charged. “You

Winds:

ready?”
“If

Winds:

I

Winds:

said

Winds:

no,

Winds:

would

Winds:

it

Winds:

make

Winds:

a

Winds:

difference?”

Winds:

he

Winds:

asked.
“Not

Winds:

really.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

leveled

Winds:

it

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

door. “I’ll

Winds:

keep

Winds:

you

Winds:

in

Winds:

one

Winds:

piece.

Winds:

Just

Winds:

watch

Winds:

my

Winds:

back.”
Lu

Winds:

pressed

Winds:

himself

Winds:

against

Winds:

the

Winds:

inside

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

elevator,

Winds:

as

Winds:

both

Winds:

watched

Winds:

the

Winds:

door

Winds:

slide

Winds:

apart.

Winds:

The

Winds:

foxen

Winds:

opened

Winds:

fire

Winds:

immediately,

Winds:

forcing

Winds:

the

Winds:

soldiers

Winds:

to

Winds:

scatter.

Winds:

Though

Winds:

he

Winds:

lacked

Winds:

experience

Winds:

in

Winds:

other

Winds:

areas,

Winds:

it

Winds:

was

Winds:

immediately

Winds:

clear

Winds:

to

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

he

Winds:

was

Winds:

at

Winds:

minimum

Winds:

a

Winds:

decent

Winds:

shot.
Laying

Winds:

down

Winds:

additional

Winds:

fire,

Winds:

she

Winds:

shot

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

shoulder

Winds:

before

Winds:

diving

Winds:

behind

Winds:

a

Winds:

cargo

Winds:

container.

Winds:

Glancing

Winds:

around,

Winds:

she

Winds:

could

Winds:

tell

Winds:

that

Winds:

there

Winds:

were

Winds:

several

Winds:

craft

Winds:

that

Winds:

would

Winds:

suit

Winds:

their

Winds:

needs

Winds:

ready

Winds:

for a

Winds:

heroic

Winds:

escape.

Winds:

Provided,

Winds:

of

Winds:

course,

Winds:

that

Winds:

they

Winds:

could

Winds:

reach

Winds:

them

Winds:

intact.

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

glanced

Winds:

at

Winds:

Lu,

Winds:

making

Winds:

certain

Winds:

he

Winds:

was

Winds:

close by.

Winds:

To

Winds:

her

Winds:

surprise,

Winds:

he

Winds:

was

Winds:

right

Winds:

behind

Winds:

her,

Winds:

the

Winds:

perfect

Winds:

backup.
She

Winds:

identified

Winds:

the

Winds:

interceptor

Winds:

as

Winds:

their

Winds:

ideal

Winds:

escape

Winds:

vehicle

Winds:

just

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

female

Winds:

Kinis and her

Winds:

soldiers

Winds:

emerged

Winds:

from

Winds:

the

Winds:

elevator.

Winds:

They

Winds:

had

Winds:

to

Winds:

move

Winds:

quickly

Winds:

or

Winds:

they

Winds:

risked

Winds:

being

Winds:

pinned

Winds:

between

Winds:

them

Winds:

and

Winds:

she

Winds:

was

Winds:

certain

Winds:

that

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

would

Winds:

not

Winds:

be

Winds:

appreciative

Winds:

of

Winds:

their

Winds:

escaping

Winds:

so

Winds:

quickly.

Winds:

The

Winds:

Z’Kra

Winds:

raised

Winds:

her

Winds:

rifle

Winds:

and

Winds:

smiled.

Winds:

Among

Winds:

their

Winds:

cargo

Winds:

was

Winds:

some

Winds:

barrels

Winds:

of

Winds:

fuel

Winds:

that

Winds:

was,

Winds:

among

Winds:

other

Winds:

things,

Winds:

highly

Winds:

explosive.

Winds:

Holding

Winds:

the

Winds:

weapon

Winds:

to

Winds:

her

Winds:

eye

Winds:

level

Winds:

she

Winds:

fired

Winds:

two

Winds:

shots,

Winds:

grabbing

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

by

Winds:

the

Winds:

shoulder

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

pair

Winds:

ran

Winds:

from

Winds:

the

Winds:

growing

Winds:

explosions

Winds:

and

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

profanity

Winds:

all

Winds:

the

Winds:

way

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

interceptor.
She

Winds:

hurried

Winds:

him

Winds:

inside,

Winds:

turning

Winds:

around

Winds:

just

Winds:

in

Winds:

time

Winds:

to

Winds:

see

Winds:

the

Winds:

furious

Winds:

glare

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

female

Winds:

Kinis. “That’s

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

cost

Winds:

me,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

said.

Winds:

Not

Winds:

bothering

Winds:

to

Winds:

hear

Winds:

whatever

Winds:

her

Winds:

retort

Winds:

would

Winds:

be,

Winds:

she

Winds:

closed

Winds:

the

Winds:

hatch

Winds:

and

Winds:

slipped

Winds:

into

Winds:

the

Winds:

copilot’s

Winds:

chair. “Let’s

Winds:

get

Winds:

out

Winds:

of

Winds:

here!”
“Give

Winds:

me

Winds:

a

Winds:

second,

Winds:

I don’t

Winds:

exactly

Winds:

know

Winds:

how

Winds:

to

Winds:

fly Kinis ships,” Lu said, working on the startup sequence.
“Oh, right.” She

Winds:

inserted

Winds:

her

Winds:

credit

Winds:

chip

Winds:

into

Winds:

the

Winds:

con sole

Winds:

and

Winds:

the

Winds:

controls

Winds:

lit

Winds:

up

Winds:

as

Winds:

the

Winds:

engine

Winds:

started. “Paywall,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

explained.

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

opened

Winds:

his

Winds:

muzzle as

Winds:

if

Winds:

to

Winds:

say

Winds:

something,

Winds:

then

Winds:

closed

Winds:

it

Winds:

again. “Whatever.”

Winds:

Pushing

Winds:

the

Winds:

throttle

Winds:

forward,

Winds:

he

Winds:

launched

Winds:

them

Winds:

into

Winds:

space.
Once

Winds:

the

Winds:

ship

Winds:

had

Winds:

gotten

Winds:

far

Winds:

enough

Winds:

away,

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

leaned

Winds:

forward

Winds:

to

Winds:

examine

Winds:

the

Winds:

sensor

Winds:

display. “They’re

Winds:

not

Winds:

pursuing.”
For

Winds:

the

Winds:

first

Winds:

time

Winds:

since

Winds:

this

Winds:

entire

Winds:

adventure

Winds:

had

Winds:

begun,

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

seemed

Winds:

to

Winds:

know

Winds:

more

Winds:

than

Winds:

she did.

Winds:

He

Winds:

spun

Winds:

to

Winds:

face

Winds:

her. “There’s

Winds:

no

Winds:

point.

Winds:

They’ve

Winds:

already

Winds:

got

Winds:

what

Winds:

they

Winds:

came

Winds:

for.”
“Which is?”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

folded

Winds:

her

Winds:

arms

Winds:

and

Winds:

leaned

Winds:

back.
“They

Winds:

were

Winds:

after

Winds:

my

Winds:

ship.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

jerked

Winds:

his

Winds:

thumb

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

direction

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

heavy

Winds:

cruiser.
“What

Winds:

could

Winds:

they

Winds:

possibly

Winds:

want

Winds:

with

Winds:

a

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

ship?”

Winds:

Her

Winds:

confusion

Winds:

was

Winds:

evident.
Lu

Winds:

folded

Winds:

his

Winds:

arms. “The

Winds:

transponder.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

paused,

Winds:

then

Winds:

continued. “Every

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

vessel

Winds:

is

Winds:

equipped

Winds:

with

Winds:

a

Winds:

coded

Winds:

transponder

Winds:

which

Winds:

communicates

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

rest

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

fleet.

Winds:

Whenever

Winds:

it

Winds:

gets

Winds:

within

Winds:

range

Winds:

of

Winds:

a

Winds:

signal

Winds:

booster

Winds:

it

Winds:

updates

Winds:

with

Winds:

new

Winds:

fleet

Winds:

locations.”
“But

Winds:

something

Winds:

like

Winds:

that

Winds:

would

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

encrypted,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

pointed

Winds:

out.
“Yes.

Winds:

But

Winds:

now

Winds:

that

Winds:

they

Winds:

have

Winds:

one,

Winds:

they

Winds:

can

Winds:

attempt

Winds:

to

Winds:

crack

Winds:

it.

Winds:

Our computer

Winds:

security

Winds:

is

Winds:

fairly

Winds:

complicated

Winds:

but

Winds:

given

Winds:

enough

Winds:

time,

Winds:

they’ll

Winds:

be

Winds:

able

Winds:

to

Winds:

access

Winds:

it,

Winds:

and

Winds:

when

Winds:

they

Winds:

do,

Winds:

they’ll

Winds:

know

Winds:

the

Winds:

location

Winds:

and

Winds:

strength

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

entire

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

pushed

Winds:

the

Winds:

engines

Winds:

harder. “We

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

warn

Winds:

my

Winds:

superiors

Winds:

as

Winds:

quickly

Winds:

as

Winds:

possible.”
Lauren

Winds:

looked

Winds:

at

Winds:

the

Winds:

star

Winds:

map. “Even

Winds:

if

Winds:

we

Winds:

push

Winds:

this

Winds:

ship

Winds:

as

Winds:

fast

Winds:

as

Winds:

it’ll

Winds:

go

Winds:

it’ll

Winds:

still

Winds:

take

Winds:

days

Winds:

before

Winds:

we

Winds:

end

Winds:

up

Winds:

anywhere

Winds:

with

Winds:

a

Winds:

decent

Winds:

star port.”
“Then

Winds:

we’d

Winds:

best

Winds:

get

Winds:

moving.” He

Winds:

entered

Winds:

their

Winds:

course into

Winds:

the

Winds:

computer. “The

Winds:

only

Winds:

thing

Winds:

I

Winds:

can’t

Winds:

figure

Winds:

out

Winds:

is

Winds:

what

Winds:

that

Winds:

ship

Winds:

wants

Winds:

with

Winds:

it.”
The

Winds:

Z’Kra

Winds:

leaned

Winds:

back

Winds:

in

Winds:

her

Winds:

chair. “They’re

Winds:

seizing

Winds:

an

Winds:

opportunity.”

Winds:

When

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

did

Winds:

not

Winds:

respond,

Winds:

she

Winds:

finished

Winds:

her

Winds:

thought. “Think

Winds:

about

Winds:

it.

Winds:

For

Winds:

the

Winds:

longest

Winds:

time,

Winds:

piracy

Winds:

has

Winds:

been

Winds:

an

Winds:

issue.

Winds:

Between

Winds:

the

Winds:

Red

Winds:

Vixen,

Winds:

Bloody

Winds:

Margo,

Winds:

and

Winds:

a

Winds:

bunch

Winds:

of

Winds:

little

Winds:

fish,

Winds:

they’ve

Winds:

been

Winds:

harassing

Winds:

the

Winds:

space

Winds:

ways

Winds:

for

Winds:

years.

Winds:

But

Winds:

now

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

Red

Winds:

Vixen

Winds:

retired

Winds:

and

Winds:

Bloody

Winds:

Margo

Winds:

on

Winds:

ice,

Winds:

there’s

Winds:

a

Winds:

power

Winds:

vacuum.”
“And

Winds:

if

Winds:

there’s

Winds:

one

Winds:

thing

Winds:

nature

Winds:

abhors,

Winds:

it’s

Winds:

a

Winds:

vacuum.”

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

steepled

Winds:

his

Winds:

paws

Winds:

in

Winds:

thought.
“Someone

Winds:

among

Winds:

the

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

has

Winds:

realized

Winds:

that

Winds:

if

Winds:

they

Winds:

play

Winds:

their

Winds:

cards

Winds:

right,

Winds:

they

Winds:

can

Winds:

set

Winds:

up

Winds:

an

Winds:

organized

Winds:

crime

Winds:

business

Winds:

out

Winds:

there,

Winds:

and

Winds:

if

Winds:

they

Winds:

succeed

Winds:

things

Winds:

might

Winds:

be

Winds:

a

Winds:

lot

Winds:

more

Winds:

dangerous

Winds:

than

Winds:

they

Winds:

ever

Winds:

were

Winds:

with

Winds:

those

Winds:

pirates.”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

frowned.
Lu

Winds:

exhaled. “I

Winds:

hate

Winds:

to

Winds:

think of

Winds:

what

Winds:

their

Winds:

plans

Winds:

are

Winds:

if

Winds:

they

Winds:

should

Winds:

crack

Winds:

the

Winds:

transponder.”
“Nothing

Winds:

good,

Winds:

you

Winds:

can

Winds:

be

Winds:

sure

Winds:

of

Winds:

that,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

replied.

Winds:

Turning

Winds:

to

Winds:

face

Winds:

him,

Winds:

she

Winds:

tossed

Winds:

her

Winds:

hair

Winds:

and

Winds:

gave

Winds:

him

Winds:

a

Winds:

smile. “You

Winds:

were

Winds:

pretty

Winds:

good

Winds:

back

Winds:

there,

Winds:

once

Winds:

you

Winds:

had

Winds:

a

Winds:

gun

Winds:

in

Winds:

your

Winds:

paws.”
“Thanks.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

blushed. “And

Winds:

thanks

Winds:

for

Winds:

keeping

Winds:

me

Winds:

in

Winds:

one

Winds:

piece.”
“Don’t

Winds:

mention

Winds:

it,”

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

said.

Winds:

With

Winds:

their

Winds:

course

Winds:

laid

Winds:

in,

Winds:

she

Winds:

leaned

Winds:

in

Winds:

close

Winds:

and

Winds:

gave

Winds:

him

Winds:

a

Winds:

kiss

Winds:

on

Winds:

the

Winds:

cheek.
“What was

Winds:

that

Winds:

for?”

Winds:

he

Winds:

asked.
“For

Winds:

my

Winds:

rescue.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

got

Winds:

up

Winds:

and

Winds:

walked

Winds:

towards

Winds:

the

Winds:

rear

Winds:

cabin. “I

Winds:

never

Winds:

properly

Winds:

thanked

Winds:

you

Winds:

for

Winds:

being

Winds:

my

Winds:

white

Winds:

knight.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

stopped

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

doorway,

Winds:

looking

Winds:

over

Winds:

her

Winds:

shoulder. “I’ll

Winds:

leave

Winds:

the

Winds:

door

Winds:

open,

Winds:

if

Winds:

you’re

Winds:

interested.”

Winds:

And

Winds:

with

Winds:

that,

Winds:

she

Winds:

disappeared

Winds:

into

Winds:

the

Winds:

rear

Winds:

compartment.
The

Winds:

journey

Winds:

back

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

closest

Winds:

interstellar

Winds:

hub

Winds:

passed

Winds:

quickly.

Winds:

Their ‘borrowed’

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

interceptor

Winds:

arrived

Winds:

early

Winds:

in

Winds:

the

Winds:

morning

Winds:

on

Winds:

the

Winds:

third

Winds:

day.

Winds:

The

Winds:

ship

Winds:

docked

Winds:

in

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

the

Winds:

general

Winds:

shuttle

Winds:

bays

Winds:

after

Winds:

some

Winds:

explanation

Winds:

as

Winds:

to

Winds:

why

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

was

Winds:

not

Winds:

in

Winds:

a

Winds:

Stellar

Winds:

Patrol

Winds:

craft

Winds:

despite

Winds:

his

Winds:

identifying

Winds:

himself

Winds:

as

Winds:

such.

Winds:

Both

Winds:

of

Winds:

them

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

debriefed,

Winds:

with

Winds:

Lu

Winds:

sharing

Winds:

his

Winds:

insights

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

regional

Winds:

commander,

Winds:

and

Winds:

Lauren

Winds:

adding

Winds:

her

Winds:

comments

Winds:

to

Winds:

what

Winds:

she

Winds:

had

Winds:

observed

Winds:

since

Winds:

her

Winds:

own

Winds:

ship

Winds:

was

Winds:

destroyed.
Once

Winds:

the

Winds:

interview

Winds:

had

Winds:

concluded,

Winds:

Lu’s

Winds:

superiors

Winds:

disappeared

Winds:

into

Winds:

a

Winds:

closed-door

Winds:

meeting,

Winds:

leaving

Winds:

the

Winds:

two

Winds:

of

Winds:

them

Winds:

alone

Winds:

once

Winds:

more. “So,”

Winds:

she

Winds:

said,

Winds:

turning

Winds:

towards

Winds:

him, “what

Winds:

happens

Winds:

now?”
He

Winds:

shrugged,

Winds:

folding

Winds:

his

Winds:

arms. “They’ll

Winds:

begin

Winds:

an

Winds:

investigation,

Winds:

but

Winds:

with

Winds:

the

Winds:

kind

Winds:

of

Winds:

equipment

Winds:

that

Winds:

ship

Winds:

was

Winds:

packing,

Winds:

finding

Winds:

them

Winds:

isn’t

Winds:

going

Winds:

to

Winds:

be

Winds:

easy.

Winds:

With

Winds:

luck

Winds:

they

Winds:

can

Winds:

get

Winds:

a

Winds:

lead

Winds:

on

Winds:

them

Winds:

and

Winds:

recover

Winds:

the

Winds:

transponder

Winds:

before

Winds:

they’re

Winds:

able

Winds:

to

Winds:

crack

Winds:

it.”
Lauren’s

Winds:

tail

Winds:

waved

Winds:

gently

Winds:

behind

Winds:

her. “The

Winds:

Kinis

Winds:

are

Winds:

a

Winds:

lot

Winds:

of

Winds:

things,

Winds:

but

Winds:

stupid

Winds:

isn’t

Winds:

one

Winds:

of

Winds:

them.

Winds:

Odds

Winds:

are

Winds:

we

Winds:

have

Winds:

less

Winds:

time

Winds:

than

Winds:

we

Winds:

think.”
“I

Winds:

tend

Winds:

to

Winds:

agree.”

Winds:

He

Winds:

walked

Winds:

outside

Winds:

into

Winds:

the

Winds:

hall

Winds:

with

Winds:

her. “So

Winds:

what

Winds:

will

Winds:

you

Winds:

do

Winds:

now?”
She

Winds:

brushed

Winds:

her

Winds:

hoof

Winds:

tipped

Winds:

finger

Winds:

through

Winds:

her

Winds:

hair. “Well,

Winds:

for

Winds:

right

Winds:

now

Winds:

I

Winds:

have

Winds:

to

Winds:

finish

Winds:

delivering

Winds:

my

Winds:

cargo.”

Winds:

She

Winds:

held

Winds:

up

Winds:

the

Winds:

tiny

Winds:

computer

Winds:

chip

Winds:

she

Winds:

had

Winds:

been

Winds:

carrying

Winds:

in

Winds:

her

Winds:

jacket

Winds:

pocket. “Once

Winds:

I

Winds:

do

Winds:

that,

Winds:

I

Winds:

plan

Winds:

to

Winds:

submit

Winds:

my

Winds:

claim

Winds:

to

Winds:

the

Winds:

insurance

Winds:

company

Winds:

and

Winds:

see

Winds:

if

Winds:

I

Winds:

can’t

Winds:

recover

Winds:

enough

Winds:

to

Winds:

at

Winds:

least

Winds:

get

Winds:

me

Winds:

back

Winds:

on

Winds:

my

Winds:

hooves.

Winds:

Other

Winds:

than

Winds:

that,

Winds:

I

Winds:

don’t

Winds:

know.”
Lu

Winds:

nodded. “Well, I

Winds:

wish

Winds:

you

Winds:

luck.”
“You

Winds:

as

Winds:

well.

Winds:

What’s

Winds:

next

Winds:

for

Winds:

you?”

Winds:

she

Winds:

asked.
The

Winds:

foxen

Winds:

paused. “I

Winds:

suppose

Winds:

for

Winds:

now,

Winds:

I

Winds:

return to

Winds:

base.

Winds:

Sooner

Winds:

or

Winds:

later

Winds:

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sure

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they’ll

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have

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another

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assignment

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for

Winds:

me.”
“Well,

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if

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it’s

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anywhere

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nearby,

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give

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me

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a

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call.”

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She

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gestured

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towards

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his

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waist. “Give

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me

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your

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palm

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comp.” He

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presented

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to

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after

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which

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entered

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comm

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frequency

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into

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the

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database

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and

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handed

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it

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back. “See you around, Lt. Cmdr. Lu Ciedias Blacksailor.” Planting

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another

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kiss

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on

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cheek,

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hug

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heading

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off

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into

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the

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crowd.




This

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was “Shifting

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A

Winds:

Red

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Vixen

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Adventures

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Story”

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by

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Lauren

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Rivers,

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read

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for you

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by

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Rhubarb,

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Feathered

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Starfarer.

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You

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can

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find

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more

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on

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at

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thevoice.dog,

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Thank

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The

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Voice

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of

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Dog.

Chapters

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