Eryx is part of a team of scientists charged with monitoring and protecting relocated animals on a privately owned planet. When sensors indicate poachers, Eryx leaves base to confront them, only to lose his way in a sudden snow. After trudging to a nearby observation station for shelter, he comes across an unexpected intruder.<br><br>Smuggler Leander flies an old, sometimes unreliable ship. When the engine starts to fail, he attempts to set down on the nearest planet where he’s stashed supplies, but his descent turns into a crash, and he’s forced to take shelter wherever he can.<br><br>The two can’t possibly trust each other, but storm projections show they’ll be stuck together for days. Worse, the poachers aren’t letting a little inclement weather stop them, and they’re armed and ready to kill. Can Leander and Eryx put aside their differences and save the animals -- and themselves -- before something disastrous happens?

Under Snow and Stars

Eryx plopped down and dug in. He’d eaten enough shitty instant food to know you definitely didn’t want to let it get cold. “Thinking you should’ve stayed back on your ship with the cup noodles? It’s expired cream sauce with rehydrated mushrooms and peas.”


“I always figured people like you ate better than this.” Leander forked a few noodles into his mouth.


“People like me?” asked Eryx, annoyed.


He didn’t elaborate. As at-ease as he could be, Leander still didn’t seem completely issue-free. Somehow that, too, was a relief to Eryx. Getting stuck in Base Four with someone insufferable would have been more than he could handle.


“Why are you smiling? ‘Scientist’ isn’t a real job?”


“Oh, it’s real all right. Real trying, sometimes.”


“Yeah, what isn’t?” muttered Leander. “This tastes like ass.”


Chapter 14