Avert by Viola Grace

Chapter One
    Sky Raynard shuddered as her armour took yet another impact. She raised her blaster and held the pressure steady as she fired over and over at the oncoming rush of bodies.
    Her team was down around her, she was the last one standing and she was going to make it count. She struck one after another of her opponents down until there was no one left.
    Standing and looking around at the chaos of the battle, she let out a triumphant whoop. “Station personnel win and the crew of the Exor loses!”
    Sky smiled as her friends and co-workers got to their feet, congratulating each other while the crew of the long-haul ship, Exor, looked around with chagrin.
    “A bet is a bet, Captain. You are buying drinks and dinner for the station staff.”
    The crablike Captain Creeger clicked his mandibles in agreement. “You are correct. The station crew is able to defend itself. I apologize for the comments of my security officer. An evening’s entertainment is on me.”
    The station staff cheered.
    Laughing, Sky removed her helmet only to hear a harsh murmur from the crew of the Exor.
    She frowned, “What? Is there something on my face?”
    Sky knew what the problem was, but she pretended innocence. As the only bi-pedal humanoid on Resku Station, she stood out and some of the incoming crews considered her exotic or a hideous freak. She was good with either one.
    The captain shook his head rapidly and clicked to sweep away his shock. “You are lovely for one of your species, I am sure. It was just such a surprise to be bested by a softie.”
    Sky barked another laugh. “You will be fine, I am sure.”
    She turned to walk to the change room where she was going to resume her normal gear as seamstress for the station.
    When she shucked off the battle armour used in the simulation, she fought the bubbling sense of pride that was welling up in her. As a group, the personnel of Resku Station were a little ungainly, but they fought to the last. She was proud to have been asked to join them when the challenge came down.
    With her armour filed and returned to storage, she left the change room covered in her normal loose trousers and wrap top. The rowdiness of the crew having drinks with the station workers was building to a frenzy and Sky preferred to celebrate alone.
    A nod to the bartender got her a bottle and she tucked it under one arm, returning to her shop.
    Pure mountain spring water was a rarity and the captain was going to wince at the bill, but she had taken on his entire crew when her team was down in the first thirty seconds. She deserved a little gloating and fresh water was the way to do it.
    The Resku Station was silent. All personnel on the small station were enjoying the celebration.
    Inside her silent shop, she pulled a chair up to the counter, fluffed her curls and sipped at the water in the dimness of the dresses and draped manikins that were her sole reason for being on this station in the Nyal Imperium.
    Sky’s only claim to fame was that she literally was not afraid of the unknown, so when she had met her first aliens back on Earth, she had treated them as just another set of strangers. Her lack of fear had captured their attention and she had made it into the final selection of the Volunteers of Terra with little trouble.
    With the shop silent, she caught up on her data processing and filed receipts. Sky was well hydrated and sleepy when she saw the first sign of trouble.
    Oh, crap. Warriors in armour trooped through the station, their weapons held at the ready. This was no security force. Resku Station was being invaded.
    She quickly sounded the alarm and triggered the invasion protocols from her shop. Kneeling behind the counter, she crossed her fingers that their scanners would not pick her up.
    The sudden rush of battle sounds made her wince and she heard voices crying out in pain as the invaders used their weapons with deadly accuracy.
    It was times like now that she wished she had gotten more combat