Drop into Hell (l)

They say the smaller the ship, the worse the drop…

Zoe despised that saying.

Tracing the scars and ink that lined her body was the only way she could keep her sanity and breakfast.  Plummeting way too fast, way too far, in a shit show planet jumper.  Every scratch and scrape has a story with it, every line, shape, shade speaks to her as she runs her fingers over her fore arms.  Her skin the medium for a tale filled with hardship and pain, struggles and successes.  There weren’t a lot of reminders for that last one. The ship rattle and the pilot bellowed something about passing through another layer of Mortuus’s atmosphere.  Zoe didn’t pay much heed to him.  He was a large man, dark skin and shaved head.  Respectful enough, as least as far Zoe’s usual company go.  More rattling. Leaning her head back and closing her eyes, Zoe tried to recall what she has heard Mortuu’s, the biggest and baddest of the Three Brothers.  It was a hot miserable hole for the most part.  The major cities were all right, as long as you stayed off the ground and kept your nose clean.  Home to the largest mining and manufacturing operations in the system.  All that mining has lead to innumerable archaeological finds, which then are dug up, knocked down and generally ruined much to the dismay of the collegiates on Viridis.  The locals weren’t too thrilled about it either.  This led to obvious conflict of interests.  Also led to a lot of job opportunities for people like Zoe.

“Were going to hit some turbulence!”

“Turbulence?  What the hell have we been falling through?” Zoe yelled over the ruckus of the ship.

As soon as the words left Zoe’s lips, the ship shook, uncontrollably and spastically.  Items that weren’t tied or bolted down went flying in all directions.  Zoe was tossed against her harnessed.  Something hard and metallic crashed in her temple, causing Zoe to gasp out in pain. She was woozy for a moment, but it passed just as the shaking concluded.  The ship settled into a smooth decent.

“Smoothed saying from here! Touchdown in 5!” The pilot called back a little joyously for Zoe’s taste.

Reaching up to the fresh cut on her forehead, winces as she pulls away, her fingers dabbled in blood. “Great”