Theron sticks the half eaten cookie into his mouth, holding it between his teeth, and pulls out a datapad. He hands Iñigo the box before clicks a button on the pad. A muted holo springs up showing the crew of the Sol Pernix waving animatedly.
Almost as quickly as he brings it out, he clicks it off and hands the datapad to Doctor Capaldi, who accepts it with a scowl. Theron leans back, snaps up the cookie in his mouth without using his hands and begins to chew.
“Why don’t you keep it safe for her while she’s recovering, Doc?” Theron says, his mouth still full. He slows down his chewing as he realizes everyone is looking at him funny, except for Bellona, who still looks thrilled.
After a beat, recognition flashes through his eyes and he points to the box in Iñigo’s hands. “Sorry, did you guys want some?”
Unbelievable.
He lets another beat pass before he slaps his forehead. “Riiight… no cookies… no actual digestive tract… or taste buds… got it. All good. Means more for me.”
He smiles, takeing several cookies from the box with one hand and using the other one to grab one last cookie that he immediately bites into. “These are really good. You should totally get some. Deck Four. Look for Marcie. She sells ‘em on the low to make a few credits on the side, no big. Totally worth it. Anyway, see ya.”
With that, he walks out without even looking back.
The crew stands in complete silence, again with the exception of Bellona, who is keening at a very high frequency, all the while grinning like an idiot. She flutters on over to Iñigo, looks into the box and claps her hands rapidly before taking it. Immediately, she heads over to my bedside. On the way, she snags the datapad from Doctor Capaldi and hands me both items.
In a daze, I take both things from her and look into the box. There’s still a full row of cookies left. From the look and smell of them, I recognize them immediately. And Bellona clearly had too, since she was there the first time we had both seen this kind of cookie.
It was on my third night on the Sol Pernix. We had finally escaped from Leghrelnis and were going to rendezvous with the Alliance. I had woken up from nightmares and found myself wandering aimlessly belowdecks until I bumped into Theron in the mess hall. I remember crying my eyes out to him before I realized Bellona was there too. I went over to hug her, and she did her best to reciprocate.
Theron leaned over to look me in the eye. He told me that there was nothing like a fresh batch of warm Mairinese Cookies to turn any bad thing into a good thing, and he made me a batch right then and there.
I scowl at the memory, and shake my head at the box. That liar. Marcie from Deck Four, my nanite enhanced ass.
Okay, I do not have the time, or the inclination, to unpack how dysfunctional it is that he can’t just say things he feels out loud and thus has to resort to these vague coded gestures. Nor do I ever wish to validate this kind of behavior. I feel very strongly about that, especially now.
But I do, however, have the time to enjoy a handful of cookies with my crew as I play a message from some dear friends.
Bellona buzzes as I reach for a cookie and I almost end up throwing it at her face instead of taking a bite. It would be a waste of a good cookie, so I opt for the latter.
The girls are safe. With Faldan liberated, this war will turn in the Alliance’s favor. Z is finally free from Conglomerate clutches. My family who are friends, and my friends who are family are all alive to fight another day.
I flick the switch on the datapad and unmute the holo to take in the well wishes from crew of the Pernix.
They go on for a few minutes. Tala jokes about how they should all just try their hand at play-acting for their performance with the Queen. Walsh jokes that they had to keep Dropshot quiet because he could not feign believable distress to save his life. Charles and Summer even managed to get Harlan and Pirsi to share their greetings.
Those two were a sight for sore eyes. Both of them were so excited that their jetpack mods worked wonders and saved such important lives. Which reminds me, I need to talk these two about that search and rescue upgrade idea I had earlier.
I shut the datapad off and take another bite, chewing slowly.
How long has it been since I’d felt this… content? Happy? I don’t know what it is, really. All I know is that I have not felt this way since my first days on the Pernix.
So, why do I feel like there’s something missing? Like there’s a puzzle piece that hasn’t quite clicked into place yet.
I glance at my crew. It's then that I spot Jean Philippe’s ‘facial expression’, which to me was strikingly odd. And that's when it hits me. He smiles at the recognition in my eyes.
Jean Philippe’s bonus target. Octavia’s threat about the children of Leghrelnis. It all flashes before my eyes in a blur of color and heightened emotion.
JP comes close and pulls a datapad out of his pocket, and I audibly gasp.
“Is that what I think it is?” I ask. The cookie in my mouth turns to ash.
“It is.” Jean Philippe says. “But also, it is so much more.”
“Have you scanned these?” I ask. He shakes his head.
“We figured that if you were going to watch this, we should all watch it with you for the first time.” Leon says.
“But you’re sure it’s in there. You found the right files on the Queen’s closed network.” I state.
The look on JP’s face left little to the imagination. He was dead sure. I just wanted... no, needed to hear him say it.
“Oui.” He says simply. “I did ask Bellona to tell you I had a present for you.”
With trembling hands, I reach for the datapad.
The first file is labeled Leghrelnis, Day Zero, Yuki Shirogane.
I skim the rest of the files. They are all labelled Leghrelnis, but they aren’t just about me. They’re about everything she did there. Everyone she’s hurt there.
The children of Leghrelnis.
I steel myself as I open the first file. If I wanted to learn more about who I was, there was no better time than right now. And no better company to have by my side.
Bellona leans into me as I press play.
Here we go.
Transmission
Origin: Rosdthuige Black Site via sub-warp back channel 2X449Z.5
345dpwodnbo.aowfow013943-huntsman.0.protocol.zavus.nandru.activate.execute
Encrypted Counter-response
Origin: Vector 559283
Full.data.shut.down.23043-code7532w...
Rebooting...
Auxiliary.memory.wipe.routines.established...
...
...
Activated...
Awaiting orders . . .
Kindle Exclusive Pre-Launch Poster
Acknowledgments
This first salvo would not have been possible if not for the following people:
My dad, who in so few words basically said I should write and find the time to do it. I love you.
My mom, who from day one said I should really do whatever I wanted in life. Who has not wavered once in supporting me. Thank you for always creating an atmosphere of creativity in my life. Would not have the confidence I have today to create had it not been for you. Vrepit Sa, mother. I love you always.
Nicole Gusto, for being the best copy-editing consultant this side of the known universe. Thank you for helping me keep accountable to the craft and for reading and editing earlier versions of this manuscript. I am eternally grateful for our opportunity to walk together as writers and dreamers of worlds. I will not be able to afford you if this keeps up.
Speaking of people I can't afford:
To Nazri Noor, for being so generous with your time and knowledge. And for always sharing your relevant experience as a writer. I have mentioned how you're like one of the fairy godmothers of this novella. Well, it's here and you're part of the process. Thank you! (Do grab his books if you love urban fantasy - start with the Darkling Mage series!)
To Michellan Sarile-Alagao, fo
r always being open to reading my stuff long before I publish them. (Buy her poetry book! It's called After the Sunstone!)
To Micah Fernandez, who has been my mentor in storytelling. On and off, for years, you have been a source of wisdom and learning about the craft. You were generous with passing on what your mentors taught you, and you still are. Thank you for teaching me and partnering with me.
To my beta readers, thank you for the amazing feedback. This book would not be what it is without you. Special mention goes to New York friends (Steven) and family (Mel) who finished the book first and provided immediate feedback.
To Karen and Kevin Rama. You form some of the very core foundation of my life. I lean heavily on this foundation to function properly in this iteration of my life. I would quite literally be less of everything I am now without you. Love you both. Also, shoutout to Kev for being the tech side of this outfit and whipping that BlueRoom website into shape. Woohoo!
To Alexa Santiago, who forever suffers in the midst of all the unwritten and unfinished work she has been given the full behind-the-scenes tours of... Who lives languishing for the books I have yet to write because I have told her the beginnings, middles, and endings of some of them. Thank you for putting that extra shine and polish on this project. Thank you for believing in my work. You have no idea the amount of confidence you have given me to pursue this 'writer thing'. I love you always.
And finally, to Kahlil Santiago. brother, best friend and favorite artist of all time. Our friendship has grown (amazingly) into something that affords us this space where we can quite literally live the "PIXAR dream" of art inspiring story and story inspiring art. It has been one of my greatest joys bringing worlds to life with you. I am so glad we have both chosen to make this "the main thing" we do. Also, your art book is dope. People should check that out in the deluxe version. And if people do have the deluxe version right now, well... they get a chance to bask in the art that I love so much. Love you.
About The Author
Macky Santiago
A lot of Macky's childhood was spent making up stories and playing them out (with music and theatrics) for his little brother while said brother doodled and drew with the speed and tenacity that would foreshadow his (their?) future work ethic.
Today, that same energy has translated into the launching of BlueRoom Projects, the fulfillment of a life's worth of not-too-serious storytelling turned pretty serious storytelling.
When not holding story meetings with his brother Kahlil, Macky spends time with his lovely wife binge watching anime, reading books, vlogging about them on said wife's BookTube channel and eating lots and lots of food. Sometimes, he even cooks. Somewhere in between all of that is a podcast called FandomBuzzz and a TBR pile that just. won't. go. away.
Yuki Shirogane and The Winter Diamond Chronicles
Loosely based on elements of the Snow White fairy tale, Yuki Shirogane and the Winter Diamond Chronicles is the first offering from the "Fairy Tales in Blue" cycle of novellas from BlueRoom Projects.
Created by Macky and Kahlil Santiago, the Winter Diamond Chronicles follow the exploits of Yuki Shirogane, the only human in the known galaxies with the ability to interface fully with Seven Elite Assault Robots of amazing might and power.
With the robots comprising her crew, she captains the Winter Diamond and functions as team lead for a Triune Alliance Operative team designated Cold Snap, in their battle against the oppressive regime of the Galactic Defense Force Conglomerate.
Cold Snap
In book one of the Winter Diamond Chronicles, Captain Yuki Shirogane and her crew of elite assault robots, are tasked to rescue the princesses of the Planet Faldan. A terrible fate awaits the girls should they fall officially into Conglomerate hands.
For the Triune Alliance, Faldan is the turning point of the war. Losing the girls to the Conglomerate can only mean Faldan's fealty to the Evil Queen Octavia will solidify.
It's a big job for a small crew, but Yuki has a few tricks up her sleeve. Now all they have to do is sneak into a heavily armed space station, rescue the princesses and exit the system before the Conglomerate envoys arrive to take the girls away.
What could possibly go wrong?
Frostbite
Book Two of the Winter Diamond Chronicles
Winter's End
Book Three of the Winter Diamond Chronicles
Cold Snap Page 15