Chapter 1 #2
They talked a little longer before Han left. There was a little time before meeting the girls for drinks, and she needed a skin patch. Her cousin worked on the station and he always had everything!
It didn’t take long for her to find him half buried inside a kiosk that normally dispensed food packs. Judging by the mess on the ground around the kiosk, the machine had overheated and exploded cooling gel out one side.
Jacks was one of the most popular kiosk repair techs on the station. He never lacked for work considering there were over a thousand kiosks in constant use.
She nudged his leg with a toe. “Hey, Jacks.”
He emerged from the machine, his hair sticky with cooling gel and smudges of something else on his face.
“Hannah!” he said, getting to his feet and giving her a hug.
“Han,” she reminded him for the billionth time. She’d be more upset if it wasn’t for the fact that Jacks wasn’t trying to be malicious. When he got excited, he forgot. Unlike Aunt Gilla who hated the shortening of any name.
“Sorry,” he said, face going red as he drew away.
“No worries,” she said. “You can make it up to me with a skin patch.”
His eyes got wide, and he dropped to a crouch and started going through the various bags around him. “I’ve got some here, I know I do.”
After some searching, he pulled out a packet of skin patches and thrust them at her. She opened the packet and pulled one out. “Thanks, Jacks.”
When she pulled up her pant leg, Jacks hissed out a breath. “You’re going to need two or three skin patches.”
It was worse than she thought. Now that she was looking at the wound, it started to hurt much more.
“Yeah, I didn’t think it was that bad,” she admitted.
“You should see a med tech,” Jacks said.
Han shook her head. “It’ll be fine.”
Jacks made a little distressed sound and started digging through another bag. “Let me at least put some salve on it.”
“Yeah, that's a good idea. Thanks, Jacks.” Han sat down on the floor next to him and rolled her pant leg up to her knee.
Jacks swiped a disinfecting pad over the wound, cleaning off all the blood. It was about four inches long and half an inch wide. She should’ve jabbed Hoomak with the jolter a few more times!
“Stupid Hamlershin,” she grumbled then grimaced as Jacks finished cleaning the spot. When the salve went on, the pain vanished.
“So much better,” she said, relaxing a little. “Thanks, Jacks.”
He grumbled something then grabbed the patches and started to apply them. He ended up using the entire packet because half the patches were expired and wouldn’t stick to her skin.
He sat back with a shake of his head. “We should redo the whole thing with new patches.”
“I’m sure these will hold,” Han said, unwilling to go through that again.
“But you might scar,” Jacks said. “They’re old enough that they might not last the entire healing process.”
Han snorted. “It wouldn’t be my first scar and probably won’t be my last.”
Jacks gave her a concerned look. “How much longer until you retire?”
“Maybe soon,” she said with a big smile. “My next bounty is a big one!”
“Next bounty?” Jacks gave her a reproachful look. “Han, the holiday celebration starts in about two weeks. You’ll be home by then, right?”
Han nodded and tried to give Jacks an assuring smile. “Of course! This guy should be quick and easy. I’ll be home in plenty of time.”
“Just make sure you’re there for Christmas," Jacks said. “You’ve missed the last two Christmases. Some of the younger cousins are growing up, and you're missing it!”
Guilt made Han wince. “I’ll be there.”
The information square sitting on the floor next to them dinged. Jacks looked over, read something, then sighed. “I’ve got to get back to work. There’s a kiosk overheating in one of the hotels. I tell them not to use the cheap reservoir pump and radiator, but they never listen to me.”
“Cheap components means job security,” she reminded him, standing up and kicking down her trouser leg. She was about to invite him to drinks with Tulma and the girls when the small information square in her bag pinged.
She pulled it out to read the brief message from Gilmo.
Contract# 237791 was reported on Filsin Station. Don’t get kidnapped. If you end up in the Talin Empire, we might not be able to get you back.
Filsin Station was only one quick flight from here.
It was so close there was a dedicated fling between Filsin and this station, Thisher.
A fling was a slingshot system that sent a ship back and forth between stations or planets.
Filsin and Thisher had one that flew several times a day.
If she hurried, she’d catch the next fling going there.
She still had her travel bag on her shoulder, so she didn’t even need to run back to the small room she rented on the station.
Ignoring Gilmo’s warning, Han sent some credits to the tavern to cover several rounds of drinks and sent an apology to her friends. With that taken care of, she needed to run or she’d have to wait almost an entire day for the next fling.
“I’ll see you later!” she said to Jacks before sprinting off.
“Be home for Christmas!" he shouted back.
“With bells on my wrists and presents all wrapped up!” Han yelled with a laugh. After this bounty, she might never have to leave again!