A Not-so-Secret Admirer

[Jayce]

Katya strolled idly through the dark, dungeonesque corridors of Wedel, eyes floating from one grimy door to the next. On such a desolate, disgusting station, the young woman couldn't look more out of place. The steady click-clack of her heels on the deck drew more attention than she'd like from the ne’er-do-wells aboard the installation, and the incessant catcalling was beginning to irritate her.

It was no true concern, of course: the Arbeiter knew full well none of these miscreants would try anything untoward, not with the Verletzer hanging in space just outside the station. Still, though, Katya wished her target had chosen Pacifica or Speyer as a place of residence.

With a swish of her dress, Daschner rounded a corner, coming to the end of the hallway… Alley would be a more apt description, the narrow passages reminding her of the dark sidewalks criss-crossing New Berlin more than anything else.

She came to a halt outside one of the access ports, examining the hastily scrawled message of PISS OFF emblazoned upon it.

“Typical.” Katya mused, shifting the bouquet of Edelweiss blooms from her right arm to her left, the pale blossoms contrasting with the pink, heart-shaped box of chocolates that also occupied the space. Three quick raps at the door followed, the steely noise echoing through the halls, then silence. A few moments passed, before Katya knocked again. “She must be out on patrol.” Daschner sighed, leaning the flowers and chocolate against the base of the door.

The young woman had hoped the Flight Leader would be “home,” though that appeared not to be the case. Never one to be unprepared, however, Katya drew a small Valentine's card from her purse, and laid it next to the floral arrangement. She pondered knocking one last time, before spinning about on the ball of her foot and strolling away. The same click-clack of her heels echoed through the halls once more, growing ever quieter by the moment, before the sound died completely.

A half-hour later, the engines of the Hel-class cruiser outside flared into life, fed by fresh fuel from the station, as the vessel slipped once more into the black.

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