Cally's War

The branch of the access tube leading to the shuttle’s cargo hold, which he was going to have to use instead of anything off of the main cabin, was absolutely frigid. His face and nose were all he’d left bare to feel it, but it was still damn cold. Less worn areas in the gray tube showed it had once been blue. It was probably damn near fifty years old, and reeked of leaking hydrocarbons from outside. Fortunately, he only had to put up with it for a minute or so.

“Diana, I’m going to add you to my case until we get up to the ship. I haven’t been sleeping as well as the medics would like, and I think an uninterrupted nap on the way up would do me a world of good.” He tucked the AID into the case among his uniforms.

“Certainly, James. Anything that will help you get well soon. I’ll see you on board.” She sounded almost like a mother tucking her child in.

“Goodnight, Diana.”

“Goodnight, James.”

He closed the case and tucked it into the cargo bay of his shuttle.