Nessie dreams of escaping her sheltered life to become a mechanical engineer with mechas. But wanting and doing are two very different things, and outer confidence hides inner fears—until she meets Joy.

Joy is tough and self-reliant, used to looking out for no one but herself. As her job keeps her always on the move, keeping to herself is the best way to survive. The very last person she expects to break her solitude is the prim and proper Nessie.

Publisher's Note: This short story is 15,000 words in length and contains some explicit content. This novella is part of Less Than Three Press's A Loose Screw collection, which features a series of stories and novels based on a mecha theme.