Seven-and-a-half-year-old (that's fifteen in Earth years) Mars girl, Trish Nupindju is such a hot hoverderby player that even though her intern contract forbids her to skate with the team, her coach has her playing scrimmages. Why's she so damn good? She's got a secret weapon: the indigenous Martian she's hiding in her garage, named Qiqi. Qiqi brought Trish something she'd never seen: roller skates... moreSeven-and-a-half-year-old (that's fifteen in Earth years) Mars girl, Trish Nupindju is such a hot hoverderby player that even though her intern contract forbids her to skate with the team, her coach has her playing scrimmages. Why's she so damn good? She's got a secret weapon: the indigenous Martian she's hiding in her garage, named Qiqi. Qiqi brought Trish something she'd never seen: roller skates. Not just an roller skates, either, but skates that can be used outside, overland, in the harsh Martian landscape, and the cross-training is paying off, big time. But when her hoverderby team's corporate overlords get wind that she's jamming with the team, she loses her contract, taking on a year of extra debt, and things start to go downhill for her family, fast. Qiqi's got one more gift, one that will change everything, but will it come too late? less
