Maggie tapped on the bulkhead beside the open hatch, peering inside. “Master Schnoebelen?” she called out.

“Come in Maggie,” she heard him answer, as she stepped inside. “Close the hatch, please.”

She did as she was asked, turning to face him as he stepped out of the small head, drying his hands. “You wanted to see me?”

“I did indeed,” the older man smiled, as he pointed to a chair opposite him. “Please, have a seat.”

They both sat down, as he gave her a wry look. “I must say, I’m quite pleased with how you're progressing in your apprenticeship,” he told her. “Not only have you met all my expectations, you’ve exceeded them.”

Maggie blushed, bowing her head. “Thank you, Master Schnoebelen,” she said softly. “I had a very good teacher.”

“And you are an excellent student,” he chuckled, as he produced a pair of glasses and a battered flask. Pouring a splash into each one before capping the container once more, he pressed a cup into her hands. “Gān Bēi,” he toasted her, before sipping his drink.

“Sláinte,” she answered, tapping their mugs together, before sipping from hers as well. The harsh alcohol did a number on her tongue and throat...she could only guess what ramshackle still the hooch had come from...but her face betrayed no sign of it. She respected the man deeply but there was more going on here than met the eye, and she desperately wanted to know why he’d summoned her.

“Something has come up,” he said, after taking another sip of his drink. “Something...unique.”

“A mission?” she blurted out, sitting straight up.

“Not just any mission,” he told her, “this one is important….perhaps the most important thing you will ever do...if you agree to it.”

Maggie started to answer, but he held up his hand. “I know what you’re about to say...I was young once myself, you know,” he grinned at her, “but hear me out before you decide..”

“...yes Master...of course,” she nodded, folding her hands in her lap, waiting to hear the rest as she fidgeted in her seat.

“It entails a very long journey...months, at least,” he explained, “and it comes with a certain degree of risk. How much, I cannot say. There are too many unknown variables. It could be dangerous...in fact, your very life could be at risk.” he leaned forward, looking into her eyes. “Knowing that, do you wish to learn more? Or perhaps, you feel this mission is not for you. There is no shame in admitting it if that’s so.”

Maggie felt her cheeks start to burn. “Master, I’m no coward,” she replied. “We risk our lives every day just by breathing.” She returned his gaze, measure for measure. “I want to know more.”

“Somehow, I had a feeling that would be your answer,” he smiled, producing the flask once again and dribbling more hooch into their cups. “It’s a mixed crew...Corsairs, Valkyries, Knights...I even hear the Proteans and Avatars will be represented,” he said to her surprise. All those rival Clans, cooperating? It had to be big. “They need a couple of Tinkers as well,” he continued, “and they've asked me to sign on. But...I’ll need an assistant.”

Her Master graced her with a beatific smile, as her heart pounded with excitement. “I’m not getting any younger, so if you want it...the berth is yours.”

“Yes!” she shouted, leaping to her feet...before blushing furiously in embarrassment and forcing herself to sit back down. “I mean...yes, Master Schnoebelen,” she said, at a much lower volume, “I would be thrilled for the opportunity.”

Her Master laughed, as he raised his glass to her. “I knew you’d jump at the chance,” he smirked, tapping his mug against hers. “Welcome aboard, Maggie.”

She felt giddy, as if the booze had gone to her head. “Thank you, Master,” she gushed, “I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t,” he smiled, taking another sip, before setting his cup aside. “And...I've saved the best for last.” He leaned in, whispering in conspiratorial tones.

“...we’re going to Earth.”

Maggie awoke with a start, blinking in the dim light. Diggs’ face appeared before hers a moment later, his eyes filled with concern.

“It’s okay, kid,” she mumbled, patting his cheek. “Just a dream, is all.” He searched her face for a moment, staring so intently it was as if he was trying to peer into her very soul, before settling back down beside her once more.

“...you’re awake.”

Blye loomed nearby, her head cocked as she regarded her. “The To’uuk finally returned our gear...most of it, at least. We’re inventorying it now.”

“How much you lose?” she asked, pushing her way up to her feet.

“The food seems untouched, thank God,” she sighed in relief. “And it looks like our pharmaceuticals took a hit, just as you predicted. Sedatives and analgesics, mostly.”

“Yeah, always a market for those.” Maggie nodded. “And the rest?”

“Pawed through, some of the more delicate instruments will need repair, a few items are missing...but it could have been a lot worse.” She shook her head as if she were exhausted. “I hate this,” the medic said with sudden vehemence.

“And it never gets any easier,” the Tinker shrugged. “That’s why I don’t keep much stuff...just end up having it stolen from me anyway.” She shot a look over at Diggs, as a disturbing thought crossed her mind. “Don’t suppose they mentioned our destination?”

“Not even a hint.” She looked around the dreary compartment. “How well do you know this region of space?”

“Not well enough to answer what you’re askin’,” Maggie replied. “All we can do is wait, and hope wherever they dump us has oxygen.”

“They wouldn’t drop us where we can’t breathe, would they?” Blye said, aghast, only to have Maggie grace her with a pitying look. “Right...of course they would,” she sighed.

“I get the feeling you ain’t been out much,” she chuckled.

“I was focused on my studies,” the Chevalier explained, “both medical and martial. When I accepted my first assignment, I wanted to be ready.” She thought for a moment and then asked, “You called the To’uuk ‘psychotic assholes’ when you first saw them. What did you mean by that?”

Magie grimaced. “How much of that schoolin’ covered Uplifts?” she asked.

“Some,” Blye admitted. “We don’t know much about Uplifted species, mostly because they see us as far too primitive to ever seek our help. What I do know is mostly theoretical.”

“Yeah, reckon that’s right,” she nodded, watching as Diggs wandered over to where the two orderlies were stacking their equipment. Joona found another Soya bar for him, laughing as he started devouring it.

“The To’uuk got themselves Uplifted eons ago...don’t ask me by who...only it was a hack and slash job,” Maggie explained. “They wanted somethin’ simple, so they got themselves injected with nanotech.”

The young Knight’s eyebrows rose. “But...there are complications with nanotechnology,” she said in confusion. “It’s not a perfect solution. Without some sort of gene therapy…” Her voice trailed off as the Tinker gave her a grim nod.

“Yep...all that and more,” she agreed. “They wanted intelligence, strength...the usual stuff. Back then they were about as bright as a ten-watt bulb, so they took what they could get. And to be fair, the nanotech mostly works. They’re serious players now, which is what they wanted.”

“And the downside?” Blye asked quietly.

“About a three percent failure rate,” Maggie said uncomfortably, “and by failure, I mean they go insane and try to kill everyone. And the best part?” she said, her voice filled with sarcasm. “You never know when they’re gonna blow their gasket. Damn bugs spend half the time cleaning up their mess, chasin’ down the rogues.”

“You mean…any To’uuk on this ship could go crazy at any time, and try to kill us?” she said in horror, her voice growing disturbingly high-pitched. “And they just go along with it?”

“Yep,” she nodded. “Bugs see it as the price of doin’ business.”

“But...that’s insane!” Blye practically shrieked. “There are plenty of other Uplift options…safer options! Why not use them?”

“Bugs ain’t big on change,” she shrugged. “They figure if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

“It is broke! It’s very broke!” Blye was starting to sound a little hysterical...so much so that the other three humans looked in her direction, concern evident on their faces.

“And now you know why I wasn’t thrilled to see the fuckers,” Maggie nodded. “Sooner we get shut of the freaks, happier I’ll be.”

“...it doesn’t make any sense,” she said hoarsely, still in shock. “Why would any species put up with that? All those deaths...it’s ludicrous.”

“Blye...first rule of survival out here is they ain't human,” the Tinker lectured her. “You can’t go around expectin’ them to make sense, or follow our rules. They’re aliens, with a capital ‘A’. Get that in your skull right now....otherwise you’re gonna make a wrong assumption and wind up dead.” She paused for a moment, letting that sink in, before delivering the coup de grâce, “...or worse.”

The Chevalier blinked, staring at her wide-eyed…and then something came over her, as her rational side fought to take back control. She took several long, deep breaths in a row, forcing herself to calm back down. When she finally spoke again, she sounded much like herself again. “You’re right,” she nodded, her body trembling as the adrenaline ran its course, before giving Maggie a curious look. “There’s worse than dead?”

“Oh yeah…much worse,” she shuddered. “Pray you never find out. Just keep your head down, do what you’re told...and when they send you packing, you go. That’s how you survive out here.”

“So what do they have against us?” Blye demanded. “What did we ever do to them?”

“Nothin’,” Maggie shrugged, “at least, nothin’ I know about. One of the side effects of all that tamperin’ is increased aggression...which they don’t see as a problem,” she snorted. “Like I said, they hate everybody...but why we have a special place in their murderin’ little hearts? Not sure anyone knows that, but if I had to guess….they react to us the same way we react to them. We’re just too different. We look at the To’uuk and see a big ugly bug, and when they look at us...well, I don’t know what they see, to be honest. Nothin’ good, that’s for sure.”

“Racial bigotry? That’s it?” the medic said in disbelief.

“Well, plus we’re just easy to hate, I reckon,” Maggie said after a moment’s thought. “Been the popular sport around these parts goin’ on two centuries now. We got nothin’ they want, can’t stand up to ‘em, always in the way cause we got no home of our own...take your pick. We’re like the runt of the litter...everybody takes a turn.”

The normally unflappable Troisième hugged herself, as her mind filled with gruesome possibilities. “...Lord, I hate this,” she whispered.

“Yeah...you, me, and every other Terran still breathin’,” Maggie agreed sourly. “Since Earth got borked we’ve been on the shit end of every stick in the galaxy...and tomorrow ain’t lookin’ any better.” Glaring at the medic, she put her hands on her hips. “So, you got two choices...play the hand you’re dealt, or fold your cards.” Her words were a slap in the face, a direct challenge. “Which is it gonna be?”

There was a flash in her eyes as she glared back at her….but it was there and gone in a blink. They crinkled instead, as she managed to force out a chuckle. “I guess I’ll play these.”

“Good choice,” Maggie smirked, clapping her on the shoulder, as Diggs reappeared at her side, chewing on the last of the Soya bar. He looked back and forth between the two women, before satisfying himself all was well.

“So, what do we do in the meantime?” Blye asked.

“Well, I’ll get to fixin’ the rest of your gear, once the inventory’s done,” she said after a moment, “and as for the rest? Hope the damn bugs don’t pop a cork or get bored.”