"There's a Colonization effort about to take place, but its top secret, highly confidential." Arii looks over at her father as if for the first time. He has a satisfied grin plastered squarely across his face. It's serene as he gazes at the massive floating station. Images flash through her mind, not his thoughts, but something deeper. He is a dreamer, with the firm conviction he is doing good for humanity and he takes his job seriously. He believes in the space program and the intelligence community which protects Earth. He is happy, and she never even realized it or took time to care. The planet below is blotted out by the station and the sun dims when they tuck under one of the circular outter wheels and head for the center stack. In here she sees it's a massive city with two spires jutting out in opposite directions from the center ball. A small door opens to receive them and she can she thousands of windows where people live and work. A brief mental calculation tells her there may be a million souls up here, then, at the last minute, something takes her breath away.

Slowly turning into view with the rotation of the station is a space ship unlike any she has ever seen. The sleek lines and fat body flow in elegant lines, with silver hematite shining off glancing rays of the sun. At the stern is a massive drive pod with no exhaust or outlet, just a flat plate with swirling colors and power lines flowing deep inside.

"That's my ship, beautiful, isn't it?"

She nods her head in wonder, her gut tightening at the implications of where she is going. "Uhh," is all she can manage, and then they plunge into darkness and come to a landing inside a docking station.

Armed men with dog's march smartly to their ship and form a circle as her dad grabs his bag and says, "Come on." She jumps free, and hits the ground running, noticing the slight difference in gravity. It's more of an instinctual thing which she files away for future reference. Is she space born after all or do all people feel like this, she wonders? There is an X on the floor and she stands next to her father while the dogs sniff around her heels, up her back side, then to the bag. A twinge of guilt grips her stomach again. They're witch hounds, and the black one seems to be looking right through her. He comes back for another sniff, and sits at her side. Oh crap, she thinks, but then the guard motions them towards two massive doors where more guards are waiting. There's a table with advanced electronic devices. She's given a wrist band and a fine mesh carbon vest. They walk through a scanner then proceed down the hall where several more dogs wait obediently at their handler's side.

Please remember to vote!

Comments are welcome!