This is the first of what I plan to do as occasional posts, talking about a personal favorite scene from each of my books. It may not be my most favorite scene, since that would probably involve spoilers, but I thought it might be fun.

I’m starting with my latest release REEDE’S MISSION TO THE SECTORS, but then I thought maybe I’d go in order of the release dates. We’ll see.

So a scene I had immense fun with in this book was the one where Fallyn, the heroine, is out looking for a used spaceship to buy. Of course she doesn’t have an unlimited budget so she has to look at what’s available. Her third stop is the used spaceship lot of one Damin Vallington. So a lot of this scene is based on my own experiences car shopping over the years (and wouldn’t I have loved to be buying a spaceship instead of a mere car!) but there’s a little loose inspration here from a famous Southern California used car dealer whose commercials were all over local TV when I first moved out here and he was always pictured with a different exotic pet.

Here’s the beginning of the scene:

She eyed the advertising holos crowding the entrance to the third used spaceship lot without much enthusiasm. Her needs were so specialized and her budget so limited, even considering her entire veterans’ land grant benefit, she’d need an outsized dose of luck to find a ship. There was the decommissioned commuter shuttle she’d seen at the first used ship lot, but it was a clunker without much to recommend it other than an engine and good life support.

Forcing herself to walk through the gate, ignoring the loud holos, many of which featured the dealer holding various alien animals and singsonging his sales slogan. Really? How did any of this silliness lure customers?

A man emerged from the office, sizing her up as he walked over to where she stood.

“Afternoon,” he said with a nod. “Looking for a ship?”

Fallyn bit back her first sarcastic response. It wouldn’t do her any good to take her frustrations out on the salesman. “I cashed out of the military earlier today and yeah, I need some wings.”

“Going to set up as a mercenary? We get a lot of ex-military through here with that intention. Which branch were you?”

“Survey scout,” she said. “I figured the hired gun business was probably my best bet. I’m not ready to settle down and be a colonist farmer on the border.” Although I could see myself on Ushandirr someday, with Reede. A pang ran through her at the wistful thought and she shoved it away. Focus on the business at hand, Fallyn.

He rubbed his chin and she heard his palm scrape over the bristles of his five o’clock shadow.  “We don’t have much inventory in that category right now. If you were buying for a team, I’ve got three bigger ships.”

“Nope, going solo for now, although I’d like to be able to carry a couple of passengers if necessary. No cargo hauling.” Fallyn suppressed a shudder. The dealer at the second lot had been determined to offload an old freighter on her and he’d been unpleasantly persistent.

“Now, I do have one recent trade in on the lot which might interest you,” the salesman in front of her said with a cheery grin. “We just took her in, so other than certifying the basic systems and the engine work, we haven’t done any refurbishment or enhancement. I could give you a good price if you take it as-is.”

Without much hope, Fallyn gestured toward the ships parked in the giant lot stretching behind the small office and garage complex. “Lead on.”

“Hang tight here for a minute and I’ll get the specs and the access code.” He retreated to the office and returned juggling a handheld and a container of cold beverage, which he extended to Fallyn. “I think the afternoon heat has been a bit rough on you—”

“Fallyn Damara,” she said, realizing he wanted her name. It was hard not to mention her former rank, which had been such an integral part of her identity for so long. She took the drink gratefully. “Thanks. Shopping for a ship is thirsty work.”

“I’m Damin Vallington, shoulda come to me first,” he said. “Let’s take my scooter. The ship I want to show you is parked toward the far fences. We keep our bigger stock in orbit but of course you’re not in the market for one of those.”

“Not today.” She liked him, although she was conscious he was a salesman through and through, keeping up an artless stream of conversation as he zigged and zagged through the busy yard, past ships she could never afford. He was obviously trying to find out as much about her as he could so he could sell her the ship he was trying to unload and Fallyn prepared herself for a real disaster.

To her surprise, as the vessel he was headed for came into view, she was a trim, efficient ship, built for speed and battle. The hull was dinged and beat up but the lines were good and Fallyn found herself drawn to the craft. “Roxy,” she said, reading the faded name painted on the bow as Vallington brought the vehicle to a stop.

Depositphotos – made me smile

“Just took her in from a gal—a hot handed mercenary who made a big score, bought herself a brand new ship, traded up quite a few notches. Wouldn’t surprise me if she establishes her own team now she’s getting famous in this quadrant. At any rate, I sell new ships as well so I got both ends of the deal. She had the Roxy customized to her own specifications over the years she owned it, so the appeal is a bit limited.” Damin shook his head as they walked around the exterior, checking out the hull. “I could probably sell it to a generational billionaire’s kid who wanted to play at being badass but anyone that rich would buy a new one. Needs work to strip the customizations if anyone but a mercenary takes her on.”

REEDE’S MISSION TO THE SECTORS: A BADARI WARRIORS SCIFI ROMANCE NOVEL (SECTORS NEW ALLIES SERIES BOOK 15) by Veronica Scott

Reede’s people sent him to the Sectors on a desperate mission to beg for help against overwhelming odds in their battle to destroy the alien scientists who created them centuries ago. He knew the task wasn’t going to be easy but as a Badari Warrior, he vowed to do his best. When he’s arrested by the border patrol and thrown in the brig, things go from bad to worse. He faces difficult choices ahead and unimaginable obstacles to making his case to the authorities for help.

Fallyn is Reede’s human fated mate but also the active duty military scout who guided him to the Sectors from his own planet. Reede’s choices after his arrest put her in a difficult spot and his actions threaten their mate bond. Will she give up her career to help him and the Badari succeed in making a treaty with the Sectors?

The desperate attempt to find new allies takes Reede and Fallyn on a wild set of adventures across the sprawling interstellar Sectors civilization and places them, their friends and their love in harm’s way.

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