The Genius Asylum: Sic Transit Terra Book 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

shuttles or interhub liners; they were government transport vessels, stripped down to the essentials and equipped with a combination of atmospheric and deep space propulsion systems — no, that was too flattering. Long-hoppers were basically reinforced metal buckets hitching rides on fuel tanks with engines attached to them. They violated several Fleet Control safety protocols and were consequently banned from docking at any of the orbiting transfer stations. That suited Earth Council just fine. Long-hoppers launched directly from the planetary surface, carrying classified cargo, diplomatic couriers, agents on covert missions, and the occasional councilor whose transportation allowance had run dry. So, there might be an announcement to buckle up or there might not be, depending on the mood of the pilot.
    Suddenly, Drew realized what it was he’d been smelling ever since boarding the ship — antiseptic cleaning solvent. No-frills space travel wasn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Quickly he threw all the loose items around him into his briefcase and stowed it in the locker at his feet. Then he reached overhead, found the restraining harness and snapped it around his seat, noting with satisfaction that the wildcat had already done the same. Good. She might be angry, but she wasn’t stupid.
    And until the ship had escaped Earth’s gravity field, she wouldn’t be dangerous either. Recalling the instructions on his briefing ’pad, Drew forced himself to take long, deep breaths and did his best to ignore the strange, almost orgasmic sensation of blood rushing away from the front half of his body.
    Several long minutes later, the long-hopper had broken free and they were on their way out of the solar system. The invisible rockslide that had pinned Drew to his seat was gone, up and down were back where they belonged, more or less, and the restraining harnesses had returned to manual control. A hardier and more experienced traveler than himself might unlatch at this point and try floating around the cabin like a fish; Drew felt his gorge rise and searched for the location of the washroom, and the spot on the bulkhead from which he would have to push off to launch himself toward it.
    As he sat waiting for his stomach to settle, he watched the wildcat warily, half-expecting her to turn green and fill the cabin with globules of partly-digested dinner. Instead, her face crumpled into a portrait of frustration.
    “Damn!” she muttered tearfully. “Damn, damn, damn you, Harry Mintz! I hope you rot in hell!”
    Drew swallowed experimentally. It was probably safe to speak now. “You had a ticket for some other destination?”
    She started at the sound of his voice. In an instant, her features recomposed themselves. Teri straightened her shoulders and tugged her jacket lapels square, but she was bobbing helplessly back and forth between her seat and the restraint, and must have realized her dignity was beyond recovery at this point. “Tell me you’re not from one of the tabs,” she pleaded.
    Afraid of being misconstrued, Drew suppressed his smile. “I’m Drew Townsend, the new station manager of Daisy Hub.”
    Her face fell even further. Of course. There was only one thing worse than having your life splashed across the tabs, and that was to have a knockdown battle with Security in front of your brand-new boss. “Terrific,” she moaned.
    According to his briefings, this was going to be an interval-long spaceflight, through three Gates, with no amenities. He’d better at least try to put her at ease. “Well, I know what I did to earn this assignment. What’s your story, Ms. Mintz?”
    “Teri. One ‘r’, ends in ‘i’,” she added wearily. “My stage name is Teri Martin — used to be, anyway, before I married that slimeball, Harry, seven years ago. When I divorced him last year, I decided to try kick-starting my career with a comeback gig on one of the resort hubs. I told Arnie — that’s my agent — I told him I’d