Sofia sat curled in the chair at Shuttle Pad 483E's control room, processing the most recent orders from various departments at the resort. The chair was a new one that wasn't threatening to fall apart or pitch her to the floor with any wrong move. The requisitions program was new as well, designed by Sofia and built by their own Sergeant Fiero, whose first name she'd learned was Rosemary. No wonder everyone called her Fiero.
"Who's piloting?" Hecky stuck her head around the doorframe, pointing to the shuttle tracking that showed one craft incoming.
Pretending disinterest, Sofia made a show of checking the numbers. "It's Dieter."
"Yaaaay!"
Sofia sputtered on a laugh as Hecky bounced away.
"What has our Heck on springs?" Marta asked as she wandered in and wrapped her arms around Sofia's neck from behind.
"Dieter's coming in. And Heck's always on springs." Sofia turned her head for a soft kiss.
"Are you finishing up?"
"Almost there." Sofia nuzzled at Marta's cheek. "You don't have to wait for me, though."
Marta straightened, but only to comb her fingers through Sofia's hair. "I know. The bubbies are settled, though. And it's quiet here."
"Peopled out?"
"Mmm."
A sharp chin rested on top of Sofia's head as she started to enter the final order. She could finish in the morning or even the next day after they hit the first trail shelter, all now equipped with communications arrays. But she was almost done. Just a few more…
"I love how dedicated you are." Marta's clever fingers had started on a complicated braid.
Sofia let out a tragic sigh. "It that all you love about me?"
"Shameless fishing. You know I love you and how much you care under that prickly outer coating." Marta gave the braid a little tug.
Heavy boots clumping down the corridor delayed Sofia's response. Dieter strode in and flung himself into the room's second chair. Dark shadows ringed his eyes and he let his head fall back with a groan.
"You look terrible." Sofia clamped her lips together before something else stupid leaped out.
"Thank you." He waved a hand at the ceiling. "Rough trip down. We've reached the heart of winter, and the winds are extra fierce today." He flung the waving arm over his eyes in dramatic fashion. "I'm going to need some serious comforting. Possibly cosseting."
"I'm not even sure I know what that word means." Sofia smacked his knee. "They're in the galley by now. I'm sure there's plenty of willing comfort waiting."
"Excellent." Dieter levered himself out of the chair, and the wince as he straightened was genuine. "Thanks, Sof." He started to hobble out, picking up speed as he de-pretzeled. Then he stopped, all teasing gone from his tone. "Seriously. Thank you. For all the things."
"All the things are because your brain devours numbers. If I hadn't gotten data from you, I wouldn't have had anywhere to start."
The pilots had come out of negotiations with better compensation as well. Better working conditions due to more efficient ordering, and fewer rush trips didn't hurt their quality of life one bit. Three months after the formation of YPC Transport, attrition and accidents were down. Sofia had refused the management position they'd offered her. It would have meant leaving the crew. Leaving Marta. She couldn't do it. As long as Marta was working off her sentence, Sofia would stay.
Even after. Some of the personnel on the other crews were opting to stay on once their sentences had run out. Maybe they would, too. Better wages, with more going to the individuals, safer travel, with delivery routes simplified, better living conditions, with the shuttle bases serving as chionisaur crew bases as well, and the trail shelters better supplied? Transport work no longer felt as desperate.
The crew leads had even come up with a plan to allow resort guests to see and photograph the chionisaurs at certain times. From a safe distance, of course, and for a nominal fee to the company, which had paid for the shuttle base and trail-shelter renovations.
"All you." Dieter shook his head. "You're a force of nature."
Sofia snorted. "I'll be a force of nature if you don't let me finish. Go on, get to the galley and look pitiful so people can fuss over you."
"Well, thank you for giving me permission to make it all about me." Dieter exited with an exaggerated swagger, whistling as he strode down the hall.
"That man is certifiable. I see why he fits in so well with the rest of you." Sofia ducked the halfhearted swat Marta aimed at her and caught the swatting hand. "I love you, too, Mart. I hope you know that."
"I do." Marta leaned in to kiss the top of Sofia's ear. "Aren't you done yet? I'm starving."
"This and this…" Sofia routed the last of the requisitions to the proper vendor bidding funnels. "And done."
They walked the corridors at a more leisurely pace, arms around each other's waists, heads close, just…being content together. It was a feeling Sofia couldn't recall ever having before, but one that started as a ball of golden light at her center and spread out to every nerve ending. The thought that even her toes were lit made her snicker.
"What?" Marta nudged her.
"I'll tell you later."
Later, since they'd reached the galley where a full-scale riot, otherwise known as Crew Six making dinner, was in progress. Petey served as the calm center, moving with unhurried grace from one pot to another on the stove, while Lanel tossed rolls into a basket Tre held several feet away. Hecky dodged and ducked between to set the table, Shara had Dieter in a headlock, and Fiero was digging something out of the pantry.
"Perfect timing," Petey called over the ruckus. "Dinner's just about to go on the table."
Fiero had turned with a wine container in her hands. She'd snapped open the top and was giving it a dubious sniff. "Hey, this one's gone bad on us."
"What? No. We just got those in." Sofia hurried over and retrieved the bell-shaped container. Her own sniff confirmed it. "Damn it. That's terrible."
Irritation rising, she stomped over to the comm station at the back of the kitchen.
"What are you doing, Cancino?" Fiero asked. Was there a hint of dread in there?
"Calling customer service at the winery. This is not acceptable."
Dead silence greeted Sofia's announcement. She continued routing the connection until she heard a small stampede behind her. She turned and her eyes went wide when she found everyone in the room rushing at her, yelling, "Sofia, noooo!"
An instant later, she yelped as she went down under a group tackle and dog-pile hug.
"Keep her down until I can disconnect comm!"
"We don't want to end up running a cooperative winery, too!"
"Gods almighty, that was close!"
Somewhere in the middle of the pile, Sofia laughed and laughed. She'd come to Yule Planet to become better connected to humanity, and here she was. No one could've been more connected at that moment. Still laughing, she hugged them back. This was more than a superficial, historically questionable connection. This was chosen family. She was home.
The End