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The Artemis's recreation room thrummed with post-mission adrenaline - music thumped, drinks flowed, and pilots roared with laughter loud enough to rattle the light fixtures. In the middle of it all, standing barefoot on a card table with both arms raised like she'd just soloed a battlecruiser, was Punchy Bertone.

Petite and wiry in her off-duty tank top and flight pants, she looked like she'd been plucked out of a modelling catalogue and dropped into a warzone - with her well defined features and big eyes - but the illusion ended the moment she opened her mouth.

"Three kills and saved Ahab's ass! That's fucking right, you poor flightless bastards!"

Someone tossed her a half-drunk beer mid-cheer. She caught it one-handed and downed it like a shot before belching loudly and whipping it over her shoulder - nearly clipping a junior tech. Laughter erupted. Her dark hair was pulled into a messy ponytail that had threatened to escape its bindings for the last few hours. Her cheeks were flushed, her smile wide enough to rival a fusion chamber breach. She arced between squad and crew like a live wire - mock-punching one in the ribs, planting a kiss on another's head, flipping off Ahab from across the room when he held up three fingers in mock question: "Only three?"

"I could've gone for four, but I had to escort Ross's slow ass back to base!"

A chorus of "OHHHHHHHH"s. Ross, seated on the couch nearby with a drink in hand, raised his glass mildly.

She wove her way to McKearney, who had been watching the show from the edge of the crowd, arms folded and the edges of her mouth curled in quiet amusement. Punchy bumped into her shoulder - hard - then leaned in close enough to be heard over the noise.

"You buying the next round, Ice Queen? Or do I have to win you over with another  goddamn display in excellence?"

McKearney rolled her eyes, but Punchy caught the subtle twitch of a smile. That was good enough for her. She was already off to the next burst of chaos - a shot-pouring contest, a handstand challenge, a story being exaggerated beyond all physics.

There was no stopping her. She was too bright, too fast, too loud to hold.