Southern Cross by Windstar

"Sit down, I'll get us something to drink. I think I have some wine if you want?"
"Water if you have it, I'm still on duty for another hour."
The red-haired Guardian made a face at Marine but got them both drinks. Still grinning, she took
her seat behind the desk and saluted the ex-sniper with her glass.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were on your way to Mars Base?"
Shrugging, God, better known as Katya, took a sip of the cold water.
"Got into a fight with Winston. He wanted me to resign and come live at the palace. I told him to
shove it and well, things went downhill from there."
"You are a very strange woman, you do know that right? Most people would jump on a chance
like that."
Katya snorted, making a very unlady like gesture.
"Please, I haven't seen him at all since when we met with you at Longbow. He's always off
running around the world fixing problems. I told him I'd resign my commission if I could go
with him. He hemmed and hawed about that not being a good idea. So I walked out and put in a
transfer. They had an opening for me here, so I grabbed my guys and took it."
"Your guys?"
"Hell yes, my sword is already onboard, they shipped up with me. The others will be arriving
over the rest of the day."
Pale eyes narrowed thoughtfully as Katya studied the Guardian.
"You really didn't know I was onboard did you? Shouldn't you have sensed my drop ships
docking with Southern Cross?"
It was Julie's turn to look a bit uncomfortable at that. She should have, that was true. She'd just
been busy.
Thinking about Emily and trying to com her. Damn it!
"Yeah, well, I was trying to get in touch with Emie. She's avoiding me."
"Oh because of the whole Bak'ra engineered thing?"
Julie spluttered wine in surprise at that, and stared wide-eyed at the laughing Katya.
"Oh please, I'm not completely out of the loop you know."