Gaze Read Free Page A

Gaze.”
    “Thank you, Gaze, it is good to hear a friendly voice.”
    She smiled and moved toward her exterior hatch. Her suit was waiting, and she slipped into it with the ease of a lot of practice.
    “Gaze, what are you doing?”
    “I am going outside to hook up the water supply. Their ship and the exterior ports are accessible with a little effort. I won’t have to expose myself, but I should be able to solve one of your issues.”
    “Are you fully able to manage?”
    She laughed. “I would hope so. Seeing what is hidden is my speciality. Now, bear with me while I put the helmet on and get my jets firing.”
    She sent a signal to Blue and the airlock engaged, purged and spit her out with only her tether holding her to her best friend. The Fairy drifted closer to the station and water transport before locking in position using magnetic grapples.
    In the triangle formed by the ships and station, she came out and floated to the station locks. Her gloves made slow going of the panels and she had to get her ship to override the passkeys, but eventually, she was able to see the access hatch for the water supply.
    The ship was a little more complicated, but she worked the serpentine and rigid hose out until it was hovering just outside the station port. “Okay, baby, wake up the station.”
    The station port opened, and the water feed magnetized to the opening. She hauled herself along the pipe and opened the insulated water feed to refill the station stores.
    “I have water coming in. Can you access it yet?”
    Shiver’s voice came through. “It is coming. Thank you.”
    “Not a problem. All part of the service.” She chuckled and waited while the water continued to flow. Her oxygen was ten minutes from over when the water ceased to flow and she could seal the station. The ship’s line retracted automatically, courtesy of the Fairy, and Gaze headed home.
     

Chapter Three
     
     
    That first gasp of air when she took off the helmet was always the sweetest. “Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff.”
    Shiver’s voice was amused. “What are you doing now?”
    “Breathing in my beloved ship’s air, how are you doing?”
    “I am watering as many of them as I can. I would grow a few extra arms but this suit isn’t designed for it.”
    As Gaze slipped out of her suit and she hung it in the testing unit, she asked, “Can you really pick any form you want?”
    “I can.”
    “What shape are you in right now?”
    “A male Kozue. They don’t frequent this area, but they are rather striking.”
    She chuckled. “Do you like for folks to think you are pretty?”
    “Of course, don’t you?”
    “Physical appearance is not one of my primary concerns, no.” For years, she had just hoped that no one mixed up her hangars or lied to her when she shopped at a clothing store.
    Trust had been her primary concern. She had been forced to trust those around her, and it was a very wearing thing. Deciding to go to college and leaving the mapped out, fully counted safety of her home had taken all her nerve. Finding her way to classes each day had burned like acid across her self-control, but she had managed it. Frankly, they were lucky that she didn’t wear her bathrobe to classes.
    Her white cane had made her stand out no matter what she wore. While she had used it, it was the only thing that it seemed people saw when they looked at her. Well, that had been her perception. She couldn’t actually see what the expressions were.
    “Interesting. You will be the first female I have met that has not had looks as their primary focus.”
    She snorted into the com. “I am learning about vanity. My features were touched up a little when they gave me my additions.”
    “Touch ups?”
    She laughed. “I am Guardian Transport. We all have enhancements.”
    “It sounds intriguing. I look forward to meeting you.”
    “I have gotten a ping from the import hub. They are sending medical staff for full containment. Nyal Imperium virulent