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Stevan looked down onto the planet.
There seemed to be only a short distance between him and the faintly green-brown orb that hung in front of him, though he knew better. His
uncle Lloyd had told him all about space travelling from when he was a
child, sparking his interest to travel through space. One day he'd learn all there was to know about the
matter and then he'd become the best captain there had ever been. He'd
venture around space, leading a life of danger and women. He'd be tall and
handsome and no woman, not even Liv Taymin would be able to resist
him.
Stevan ran his fingers through his hair, it was becoming rather long for a
space cadet. His hair was black, and very greasy. Stevan blamed puberty.
He had to blame something and he might as well take that. Puberty would be
over in a couple of years and then all his problems would go away. At
least that was what he hoped, he knew it wouldn't happen...
He got up and looked at his legs. Scrawny and pale. He couldn't actually
see the paleness, but he knew it was there. Why else did he wear long
trousers? Ok, it was cold in outer space. But he also had to disguise
every bad aspect about him. Liv would never fall for him if there was
someone like Xander Wellis around. The guy was tall and well built... not
to mention he was tanned... how Stevan envied his looks. His hair was the
light sandy brown that lit up the place and his eyes twinkled. What was
that even about? Why should eyes twinkle? Did his twinkle? He didn't think
so.
Stevan sighed and looked back at the planet. But Liv's face kept flowing
past it. Xander wasn't the only other man aboard. of course there was his
uncle. But Mechs was happily married, not too mention 10 years older. But
Ponte, the traveller they had picked up, was 24. Lucky for him the man was
short and fat with a goatee and a golden nosering. Of course he did make
Liv laugh. Stevan didn't like that.
"Are you coming Stevan?" Ponte asked from behind him, "I
think they're ready to leave."
"Sure Ponte." Stevan said and got up. It would be a week before
they'd see the inside of the ship again. But unlike the ship, where nothing
was secret, the planet was large and private. Stevan didn't even think
about what Xander might do to win Liv over. Alone on a planet, only one
woman. There had been books written about the subject!
Ponte smiled to himself when he saw
the boy walking through the hallway. It must be hard being alone on the
ship. All the others had to work and it was the boy's vacation for crying
out loud. But Ponte would make sure to keep the boy busy.
Ponte came from a long line of gypsies. He knew how to entertain a crowd,
and how to pick their pockets, but he wasn't intending to do that to these
good folk. No, keeping the boy busy was the least he could do to pay for
his trip, he didn't have much else to offer.
Ponte looked at the bridge one last time before he closed the hatch to
the space-ferry. He had the eerie sensation he wouldn't see it again.
Ponte shook of the feeling and smiled. There was his gypsy blood, always
dramatic and fatalistic. Of course he'd see the ship again!
Lantessama
Isle
Cy
DragonStake - Darkling
Dawn
Credits:
Backgrounds compiled with images found on Google