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!)
One more excerpt from my story ‘Star Cruise: Stowaway’ in the PETS IN SPACE anthology, which is still doing GREAT, I’m relieved and happy to say! Thanks for the support 🙂 Edited a bit from the published version. This is from further in the story, after the unconscious woman has been transported to sickbay. She was found to be in chains in the crate and with an explosive collar device locked around her neck.The captain and Jake the chief security officer are in the hold, discussing the situation with Owen, the Cargo Master. (Moby and Midorri, the pets, insisted on following the stowaway to sickbay, if you were wondering.)
Captain Fleming frowned, “So this sentient female could be a kidnap victim, or someone who tried to rip off the wrong people or worse. I want this kept as quiet as possible. I’ll break out of hyperspace long enough to transmit to the authorities, see if the Sectors Criminal Investigation Agency wants to board us to take her and the mystery off our hands, or meet us at the next port.”
“Care to share what you’re thinking, sir?” Jake asked.
“Probably the same as you – this has the hallmarks of a Combine operation. I don’t want the Zephyr mixed up in an organized crime problem, not if we can help it.” Fleming glared at the battered shipping container as if the box offended him, “Unless there’s anything to add, I’ll stop engines and transmit a report to the authorities. Plays hell with the schedule, but I’m going to wait for instructions. If the Combine is involved, we can’t go it alone – I’m not taking on the Amarotu gang with a ship full of passengers to protect.” He turned to Jake, “I want the girl kept under constant guard, assuming she survives.”
(Which he says because her heart had stopped as Owen was extricating her from the shipping crate…)
Here’s the blurb for the anthology, followed by the blurb for my story:
The blurb for Pets In Space:
Even an alien needs a pet…
Join the adventure as nine pet loving sci-fi romance authors take you out of this world and pull you into their action-packed stories filled with suspense, laughter, and romance. The alien pets have an agenda that will capture the hearts of those they touch. Follow along as they work side by side to help stop a genetically-engineered creature from destroying the Earth to finding a lost dragon; life is never the same after their pets decide to get involved. Can the animals win the day or will the stars shine just a little less brightly?
New York Times, USA TODAY, Award Winning, and Best selling authors have eight original, never-released stories and one expanded story giving readers eight amazing new adventures and one expanded story that will capture your imagination and help a worthy charity. Come join us as we take you on nine amazing adventures that will change the way you look at your pet!
10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.
And the blurb for Star Cruise: Stowaway:
Cargo Master Owen Embersson is shocked when the Nebula Zephyr’s ship’s cat and her alien sidekick, Midorri, alert him to the presence of a stowaway. He has no idea of the dangerous complications to come – nor does he anticipate falling hard for the woman whose life he now holds in his hands. Life aboard the Nebula Zephyr has just become more interesting – and deadly.
Buy Links:
Oh, boy–I hope he can keep her safe. Nice snippet!
Not good to have a stowaway when she’s wanted by a dangerous gang. A great snippet! 🙂
Really hope they can get help and keep her safe. Great piece!
definitely an intriguing mystery as to her identity and how she woulnd up there. Good snippet.
Ruh-roh! Well there’s a pinch and a half. I’m betting it’s safe to say she wasn’t a stowaway by choice, but that still leaves the question of who put her their and who were they transporting her TO? Intriguing tale.
Hmmm. Stowed, like cargo! It will be interesting to hear her story when she regains consciousness. Loving this story, Veronica
Good snippet, Veronica. Love the tension–her heart having stopped, the shipping crate ordeal! I think this Pets In Space anthology is such a great idea for a good cause. Even Star Trek writers knew way back when that pets in space had appeal. 🙂
oh my god, they could just blow her head off and the ship with it, maybe better of get out of range, unless that’s what trigger the mechanism. I hope they’ll figure out what’s going on before it happens.
Great snippet! Danger is in the air… and so many questions yet to be answered!
Organized crime in outer space, eh. I can’t say I recall any SFR stories that use this idea. Original and well done, Veronica.
BTW, Effing forgot to link to my WeWriWa (watch out, cat, or you’ll be replaced by Twiggles the dog!) but here it is.
Very intriguing. Great snippet
This situation turned dire rather quickly, both for the ship and for the woman!
Wow, Ms.V. I’m on the edge of my seat after reading she’s in such a dire situation. You’ve done it again, leaving us breathless. Hugs across the miles.
I hope the instructions aren’t too long in coming. Great snippet
Well the stowaway was probably found in time by the pets. It’s an intriguing story and I look forward to finding out more.
Your characters are always so realistic. It’s one of the things I enjoy most about your books.
A ton of problems rising out of the crate!
Oooo the stakes have been raised indeed. Great snippet! 🙂
The stakes just skyrocketed! Organized crime is no joke, especially in outer space. Drawing me into the story deeper and deeper. Great job!
Great snippet, Veronica. Love this story.
I’m hoping they got the collar off!
This could get complicated (and does, I’m guessing!). Great snippet.
Thanks for all the comments today! Yes, the story takes twists and turns all right… And writing this tale opened up some other new ideas for stories set in the Sectors, which is always a good thing, I think.
Wow, that’s quite a cliffhanger you’ve left us with there! So glad the anthology continues to do well. Congrats to you! 🙂
Ooh, space mob. This cannot be good. Great mystery and suspense in this snippet!
Oh boy, that’s quite a find in the cargo hold. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
Dealing with organized crime. Not good.
Interesting development. Hope he can keep her safe and her heart doesn’t give out.
He is doing all the right and prudent things, which means, somehow, that things are about to go terribly awry. I just know it! 🙂
So….I was going to slow down until I read some of the books on my list….uh huh. Sure, Shan. Sci-fi pets….ummm…..
Love the snippet. My cat routinely reminds me that I’ve breathed thrice since the last time I fed her….
Assuming she lives…oh, no! Great snippet! Love this story.
That last line! Excited to read more on Sunday. Great snippet. Always pulling me in.