(If you’re here for the SFR Brigade Presents post and the reveal of the exciting book trailer for Hostage to the Stars, go HERE.)
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!)
Taking excerpts from 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. Jake has repeated his invitation to Emily to attend a crew party on the beach deck of the Nebula Zephyr, in honor of Red and Meg becoming engaged (They were the lead characters in STAR CRUISE: MAROONED.Edited slightly from published version.) Emily goes to the party with him and a volleyball game started up. This excerpt picks up after Emily plays a second game and then bows out of the next one.
Emily watched the play resume for a moment and then made her way off the beach deck, heading to the gravlift. The party had been fun for the most part—more fun than she’d had in a long time—but becoming a part of the group made her wary. She preferred the safety of her self-imposed solitude. And she didn’t want people assuming she and Jake were an item. She’d seen the glances from more than one of the women at the gathering, assessing the way he hovered around her. Besides, after the horrors of Fantalar and the friends she’d lost there, Emily didn’t form attachments if she could help it. All things considered, attending the party had made for a congenial evening, but there was no need to prolong the experience.
Later, lounging on the bed in her cabin, she debated whether to watch entertainment trideos or shut off the lights and strive for sleep. Deciding her nerves were too keyed up for full relaxation, she had Maeve show her the available list of diversions.
Debating between a wildly unrealistic space adventure and a retro drama set on somebody’s inventive version of Old Terra, Emily sat straighter as she had a better idea, “Ship, can I access the medical records from here?”
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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Ah, a preference for the safety of self-imposed solitude… sounds familiar. 🙂
I wonder who’s she planning on looking up.
Actually, since she just became the ship’s doctor, she wants to become familiar with the typical cruise caseload. Emily is VERY ethical.
I thought she might’ve been concerned about someone, like the sneezing princess with the sick pet. Guess it’s not that far in yet.
Oh, I see! Sorry, I thought maybe the snippet left the inference she was snooping and I didn’t want people to think badly of my character’s motives! But I like your plot idea as well…she probably should have checked on that, re the princess! Good point 🙂
Great insight into Emily! Interesting that she chooses work over a relaxing trideo. 🙂
Those other diversions sound like fun, though I don’t blame her for being curious about the medical records. When I was coding medical information in a few of my temp jobs, I always found it really fun to learn about these strangers’ medical histories and issues.
I also wondered if she was being an over-conscientious doc rather than enjoying herself with entertainment or snooping on someone out of curiousity. Good descriptions.
Poor Emily. She had no idea what’s in store — that these are the good times.
Wonderful snippet. Just enough to keep the good doctor super busy. I want this book. Hugs to you, my friend. And the title is. . .
Love the details of your world building and the insight into Emily’s character. “trideos” also caught my attention. Does this mean they’re 3D? 🙂
I was waiting for Jake to come knocking on her door, ostensibly to make sure she hadn’t left because she was ill 😉
Marcia
So much potential for drama-no wonder she chose solitude. Though I have a feeling she’s about to discover the real drama!
She really is dedicated, but I suspect that is going to be a very good thing very shortly. I’m loving this story so far.
I’m afraid I jumped to the suspicion that she was going snoop on the people she just met, especially Jake, but that’s my devious writer mind at work. Emily is more ethical than any of my characters would be!
Hmmm…I get the feeling she’s not intent on regular duties. Something caught her attention that she wants to follow up on…
Sensible Emily, leaving while she’s still enjoying it. And what’s she about to discover in the medical records, I wonder?
The party did her some good after all, but the thoughts of the past are still weighing her down. Looking forward to seeing the story progress.
I love learning more about the character here and her motivations. Really nicely written, Veronica! 🙂
I can see why she’d build a wall around herself — easier than opening herself up to being hurt again.
You can really get into her head in this snippet. Well done.
Work makes her feels safe. She can hide there and not get hurt. Great snippet.
Oh poor girl… I think I relate to Emily in more ways than one in shutting herself off from everyone. I can’t blame her after a tragedy like that. It’s hard to open up and risk being hurt again. The second time could shatter people worse than the first. Great snippet. I wonder what she’s up to with the records.
She’s a terror for work!
Can’t sleep? Work instead. That’ll help…
Poor girl. She had such a hard time after the fighting on the beach.
She’s a bit of a workaholic, it would seem.
Tridios, 3D, interesting. She is an overachiever!
I’m with Ed. Yep, workaholic and reluctant to form relationships. Great snippet.
Lol
Not my idea of a little light reading.
I wonder if she’ll find anything strange or interesting in her research. Great snippet, Veronica!
Interesting to find out a little about her. nice snippet.
She doesn’t seem like the party time, going back to work straight away after is always a good way to freshen up.
Enjoying this character the more I get to know her. Great Snippet.