A simple quest for freedom

[Erremnart]

Buying more time 2

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Why are junkies not liked by the others - because they are unreliable when they need their fix, right? Especially when their addition is a severe as Cardamine one when their life is at stake.

Exactly these thoughts were racing through Virginia's mind when she was squeezing through older and loud maintenance shafts aboard Barrier station. She was almost regretting her decisions now, and not just because half of her muscles were fatigued and stiff while the other half was in painful spasms as she was squeezing through ducts and vents on her way to dead Outcast's hangar and now on her way out. She even felt her patched up ribs despite her medical officer reassuring her that she will not feel anything. But the same medical officer also said that she would have to rest for few days.

No, it is because she felt so unprofessional even for her own rather low standards. Virginia was starship, no - capital ship, commanding officer. And now she is sneaking through space stations ducts and tunnels like a small-time thief she was before on Houston's streets during her rowdy teens. At least she has not forgotten a thing from those less glamorous years. But she does not have courage to face Cardamine's withdrawal not to admit to her peers that she is an addict. Compared to those options - this was not as bad.

Virginia leaned over the hot steam pipe, turned herself to the left, bent her body fifty degrees up and pushed herself through rusty metal duct leading to the decks above. She quietly hissed in pain as her right thigh touched hot metal surface of steam pipe for few long seconds and climbed quickly up.

Her life could be easier, yes - could, but it was not. Mainly because she had a great idea to show her face on Liberty-wide broadcast and now her face was well known for at least two to four weeks before almost everyone will forget about her. Virginia was not exactly a shy person, but this really complicated her matters. Not only that it makes any attempts of acquiring her drug on black market anonymously more difficult, but she also had to use these maintenance shafts to get to that damned freighter in the place. And because all of that - she was able to acquire only three small vials of drug because anything bigger would hinder her way out.

Much less than she open for, but better than nothing. Few more weeks at best instead of previously estimated months.