Pastfinders

With a little bit of luck…

Mercury Chancer came to the planet Tellus as a member of an archaeological team investigating ancient alien ruins. The archaeologists have to work fast because a terraforming flood will soon put the ruins under water, but Mercury isn’t worried. She has a psychic gift that changes the laws of probability, bringing her accidental luck which should help the team.

Boerdelim “Haze” Tel-Hazon works for the Office of Planetary Protection. An official visit to the dig site leads him to Mercury—and a strange, shapeshifting alien animal. Haze is shaken when a long-forgotten trauma from his past comes alive. With Mercury’s luck and the help from a sympathetic alien animal, he just might survive!

Just when Haze didn’t think things could get any worse, the archaeologists make a stupendous discovery—and greedy enemies take notice. When the archaeologists prove they are not the defenseless scientists they pretend to be, Haze has to wonder—will flood, foes, and the resurgent past defeat them, or will luck and love win the day?

Originally published in the Pets in Space 5 Anthology.