Log 1 Matter | Antimatter Read Online Free PDF Page A

would ruin his first mission so made two backup plans
anyway. His comms beeped and when he checked, Major Karr had
already approved the volunteer hours so by the time he went for
something to eat, he was told to stop by logistics to pick up
special ident tabs that would allow him access to cargo holds and
medic labs. Through the hatch was a store room, with a white front
bench. Jamie stood at the counter and a cheery face popped up from
below the other side and then hands that held a parcel. As the lean
male stood, he also placed a tablet next to the parcel.
    “Here you go, sir. Four tabs but you need to
watch the restrictions. They have some times and locations that you
can’t enter.”
    “Thank you, Private.”
    “This package”—he tapped a finger on a
parcel— “contains the overalls you need to wear in cargo, they slip
right over your uniform, and the lab suit. You need to strip and
dress, go through the decontamination chamber, and follow the usual
protocols. Someone will take you on a tour of the labs with the dos
and don’ts.” He glanced through his list on the tablet. “That’s it,
sign here.” He twisted the EBrain so Jamie could have a quick
check.
    “I’ll just inspect the parcel.”
    “Very good, sir.” With an efficient movement,
the private opened the parcel; Jamie ran a quick inventory then
pressed his finger to the screen to give an SNA sample. The private
rewrapped the parcel and pushed it towards him. Jamie dropped it
back to the Ritz before heading to the mess.
    Minutes later, Jamie lined up in the mess
hall for food and listened to those who chatted and laughed in
line, and to those already seated. Few were out of their black
overall uniform and those who were had some other uniform with
insignias. He chose his food, most of which had been placed behind
special transparent sliding doors, and turned to view his options.
When a dark-haired and eyed, attractive male smiled and waved him
over, he checked to ensure that the wave was intended for him. The
male’s grin and nod encouraged Jamie to join him, so he strode over
and sat with him.
    “Hi, I’m Marc.”
    “Jamie.” He sat and forgot that his bench
style chair was bolted to the flooring. Silently moaning
embarrassment, he also hated that he’d sat with his back to the
open space. Marc’s back was to the closest wall where he’d have a
better view and protection.
    Marc resumed after a grin and ate his
mountain of food, while he eyed off the sparse selection on Jamie’s
tray. Jamie ignored him and picked up his fork to try the stir-fry
he’d opted for. Marc’s face was pale like his neck and hands,
angular and broad.
    “Food’s pretty good on the Repco. Captain
doesn’t like complaints about the necessities in life, and that
includes tasty food. Just so you know”—the black eyes twinkled— “we
all know you’ve been assigned a DEP.”
    “The Ritz.”
    “Well, expect comments.”
    Jamie just nodded and ate. After a few
moments of companionable silence, his initial hunger passed. He
didn’t want to put on any weight so didn’t finish his plateful.
“What do you do on board?”
    “Lab rat. Are you going to eat that?”
    Jamie shoved his plate across. “I volunteered
some hours in the lab.”
    “Keen. Good thing you’re already deemed a cut
above us cruds as volunteering makes you look like an arse
crawler.”
    “I don’t care what it makes me look
like.”
    Marc grinned again. “No, I don’t suppose you
do. The benefit of not being stuck on this tub for five years.”
    Jamie grimaced. To date he’d been moved
around enough to hold his interest. Five years on board the
Repco?
    “Yeah, that’s how I feel about it, too.”
    Jamie met the dark eyes with some
amusement.
    “We’ve got a good sporting bay here. I’ll
show you around if you’d like?”
    Jamie knew he wouldn’t get any sleep anyway
and nodded. A good workout would burn off the calories he just ate.
He started on his salad and ate his bread roll