Genre:
Science Fiction
Themes:
Adventure / Survival
Against All Odds
Aliens
Danger / In Peril / On the Run
Found Family
Married or Established Couple
Mature Lead 40+
Mythology
Wounded / Illness
Heat Level:
Sweet (kissing, holding hands, etc., but no other on-the-page physical intimacy)
Archetypes:
Adventurer / Explorer / World Traveler
Alien / Extraterrestrial
Astronaut / Space Explorer
Blue Collar Worker
Immigrant / Refugee
Mechanic
Pilot / Ship Captain
Geographic Location:
Space / Other Planet or Universe
Setting:
Spaceship / Space Station
Sexual / Gender Identity:
Asexual / Demisexual
Lesbian
Protagonist Identity:
Asian
Black / African American
Latinx / Hispanic
Trigger/Content Warning:
Graphic Violence
Insiders
By Shannon Knight
A sentient plant and diverse crew must overcome their personal demons and lend their individual strengths to save the universe.
In a universe of long-haul truckers, parasite-bearing megalomaniacs, asteroid rustlers, and homicidal peace keepers, some people just want to stay alive.
Deep within Kerberos Station, pipe crawler Sachi Inside is dying of the planet-killing Hibravian virus. In a state of delirium, the agoraphobic girl agrees that in exchange for life, she will not only leave her pipes, but even the station. A parasitic plant wraps around her, guides her to an exiting ship, and adheres to the hull.
Captain Karasi Kwei is not pleased to discover a stowaway, but the crew thinks there’s money to be made on the plant, and the fact that both the Eastern Star Corporation and the Elysium Empire are tracking it confirms its value. However, none of that matters when the entire crew falls sick with the incurable Hibravian.
But Sachi’s plant is more than it seems. All they have to do is fight the mercenaries, survive the virus, evade the Elysium Empire, and navigate a fluctuating microwave wall, and they just might save the universe.