Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
(If you’re here for the SFR Brigade Presents post, which has my beautiful new trailer for LADY OF THE STAR WIND, go here.)
Moving on to Star Cruise: Outbreak for a few weeks of excerpts….Dr. Shane has been at loose ends since leaving the military and her father’s arranged for her to take a temp job on an interstellar cruise liner. Emily is persuaded to sign on, and now she’s on the ship, escorted by Security Officer Jake Dilon. She’s arrived at sickbay to find no staff and a waiting princess with her entourage.
“I’m Dr. Shane – is the child unwell?”
“The Hereditary Princess Falyn of Tregallovan is quite well, thank you,” answered the woman, frowning as the little girl sneezed with perfect timing.
“Then what brings you to sickbay today? How may I be of assistance?”
“It’s my pet, Doctor, she’s sick.” Brown eyes glinting with unshed tears, the girl left her chair and glided around the bodyguard with steps so smooth she might have been on an antigrav cushion. She pulled a small creature of indeterminate origin from one heavily embroidered, bell-shaped sleeve and cuddled the animal close to her chest. “You must make her well for me.”
“I’m not a veterinarian,” Emily protested. Surprised, she turned to Jake,. “You allow animals on board?”
The story:
She saved countless soldiers in the wars … but does she have the weapons to fight an outbreak?
Dr. Emily Shane, veteran of the Sector Wars, is known as “The Angel of Fantalar” for her bravery under fire as a medic. However, the doctor has her own war wounds–severe PTSD and guilt over those she failed to save.
Persuaded to fill a seemingly frivolous berth as ship’s doctor on the huge and luxurious interstellar cruise liner Nebula Zephyr, she finds the job brings unexpected perks–a luxe beach deck with water imported from Tahumaroa II, and Security Officer Jake Dilon, a fellow veteran who heats her up like a tropical sun.
However, Emily soon learns she and Jake didn’t leave all peril behind in the war. A mysterious ailment aboard the Zephyr begins to claim victim after victim … and they must race against time and space to find the cause and a cure! Trapped on a ship no spaceport will allow to dock, their efforts are complicated by a temperamental princess and a terrorist–one who won’t hesitate to take down any being in the way of his target. If anyone’s left when the disease is through with them…
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Veronica, just a heads up–there’s no link for the trailer. (And I want to see it.)
Oops! TYVM for the heads up aand the link is there now. Here’s the youtube ink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDFiUhkfmSU
I guess the princess gets special treatment (allowing animals on board). The childhood innocence and worry about her pet comes through very clearly,
If the princess wants you to be a vet . . . Just saying. Plus, a sick pet. You can’t ignore that.
Such a cute, sweet scene! If a vet can serve as a people doctor in an emergency, a people doctor can serve as a vet too.
Cute little scene … and I suppose she’s a princess, she’s allowed pets. Nice snippet.
Perfectly reasonable expectation, surely? If you can fix a human what can be so hard about fixing a ‘pet’.
And of course she’s allowed the pet. It probably cost more than the space ship…
Love it, Veronica. Even the voices in my head do 😉
Sounds like this trip is not at all what she expected. Great excerpt!! 🙂
Obviously a princess gets to keep her pet even if they’re no permitted to the plebes!
As always, you make a scene spring to life! Good excerpt, Veronica. 🙂
So cool-having a pet on board. Love the idea. Hugs, dear V
I bet she’s already regretting taking on this job 🙂
I wonder if the pet got smuggled in, in that big sleeve. But if a little princess asks, surely you can’t say no!
How can you resit helping her pet – even if it shouldn’t be onboard? Wonderful imagery as usual.
Enjoyed the video too. 🙂 Just popped on over to check it out.
I wonder how the Hereditary Princess will take the good doctor’s protest about not being a vet.
The little princess gets her pet, she probably gets her pet some medical attention. Nice snippet!
I’m surprised myself they allow pets. Or is this a stowaway? Is this the beginning of the outbreak? Can’t wait to see! I like Emily all ready for being no nonsense. 🙂
Emily’s out of her depth not just with pets but with princesses, I assume! Hope you pick up right from here next week.
Marcia
People can sneeze without being sick, but… Well, I’d be suspicious.
That intro was perfect in every way. Thank you for sharing it! 😀
Well, now, you just might be stepping into the shoes of a veterinarian. Haha.
Poor thing, she just wants her pet to feel better.
Being a vet is harder than being a people doctor. So much for her “cushy” job!
This was very good. I enjoyed it.
I’m surprised that the girl doesn’t have a vet with her. And I’m suspicious as all heck about that sneeze.
I guess if the princess wants a pet on board, the princess gets what she wants. 🙂 Great snippet.
Talk about a spoiled princess if she was allowed a pet on board. This is not going to turn into an easy job I expect. LOL. That sneeze is such a red flag too if you catch it, good foreshadowing and hinting.
Nice snip. I hope Emily is able to help the princess’s little pet. 🙂