Chapter Nineteen
June 11th, 2231, UTC Space Fleet Base Troy, Aboard the Argo
Erik chuckled at his plate of grilled chicken. Jia eyed him from across the galley table with a mixture of fear and concern.
“Is your chicken extra funny today?” Jia asked.
“It shouldn’t taste better,” he explained. “But it does.”
“Huh?” Jia wrinkled her brow. “What are you talking about?”
“My food tastes better.” Erik nodded at the half-eaten chicken. “And it’s like it tastes better because I was able to put down some Core flunkies, and I know more are coming soon. I’m back in a good headspace.”
Jia eyed her bowl of rice and the single remaining dumpling. “You’re telling me that knowing the Core is pulling off some nefarious plot using partial alien tech makes your food taste better?”
“Yeah. For now.” Eri
