SFFS: Snippet #8 From Inoculation (a DIRTY DOZEN story)

Welcome back, everyone, to another week of Science Fiction Fantasy Saturday.

Edits are finally finished with my next Aston West "series" novel, All Good Things. Planning to send it out to beta readers before long.

As mentioned in prior weeks, my new Aston short story collection Dirty Dozen is available over at Amazon, I figured I'd continue on with my snippets from the last several weeks.

First, the blurb:

Join space pirate Aston West in the second collection of short stories from his universe, featuring classic space opera tales by T. M. Hunter. Building on Aston's first collection (Dead or Alive), these stories feature even more wild adventures, unforgettable characters, and exciting plot twists to satisfy your space opera appetite.

So, here's the next snippet, from my short story "Inoculation":

“It would appear that you are suffering from the effects of contaminated air and are not of sufficient mental capacity to captain this vessel.”

I barely had enough brain power to process what she’d just done, as I rushed to zip up the suit. She had just circumvented her obedience programming, and was going to disobey a direct order.

I reached up and snagged the glass-faced helmet from a shelf at the closet’s top, just as pressure valves around the ship let loose. Their rapid hissing pulled air out of the cabin faster than even I thought possible. I started to cough, gasping for air as I thrust the helmet on top of my head, and barely found myself able to seal it shut before I collapsed to my knees. With hands and arms trembling, I lifted my right wrist and saw a green light to accompany a welcome, but dull tone. Air flowed freely from the suit’s tanks and I sucked in all of it that I could.

Jeanie couldn’t be trusted, and there was only one way that I knew to stop her.

I turned and started for the door at the living area’s aft end, barely visible between the emergency lighting and the spotlight atop my helmet. Jeanie’s voice came through the speakers inside. “What are you attempting to do, Aston?”

I really didn’t want to tell her my real plan, because I had no idea what she’d try to do next to stop me, and really didn’t want to find out. “Just wanted to check and make sure the cargo is all still there.”

“Nothing is wrong with the cargo,” she insisted in a serious tone.

Hope you enjoyed it! If so, pick up a copy from the link above.