“Traces of Ionite, R’azure, and Malcite. Percents range from 17% to 1.5%.” Mari’an said into the ship’s recorder, jotting down the coordinates in the log book.

Mari’an stretched her graphite arms above her head, her R’azure bangles jangled down towards her elbows. Mari’an took a moment to look around the small geo-ship.  It was a small round hunk of R’azure and Ionite, used for scoping out and mining meteorites. Mari’an moved the automized scope to the next meteorite.

“Traces of Ionite, Malcite, vein of R’azure running through center. Percentages: 9.5%, 7.8%, and 32%.” As she finished up the recording, Mari’an heard the jangle of footsteps. Turning she say Ju’tin, her teacher, a portly, blue gentleman dressed, like her, in a blue robe with R’azure trim, barefoot and bare armed with R’azure bangles on his wrists and ankles.

“Good Scoping, Ju’tin!” Mari’an greeted her teacher. “I’m just finishing up with this sector; we should be able to go home soon.”

“Ah, home! It would be good to see it again.” Ju’tin said, easing himself into the co-pilot seat. “How long has it been?”

“Three years, Ju’tin.”

“That long!”

“Ju’tin, you can’t remember? You must be getting old!” Mari’an teased.

Ju’tin laughed.  “My children will be starting school soon.” He mused. “You’re old enough to marry now aren’t you?”

Mari’an blushed, her cheeks turning silver. “I guess so, I haven’t really thought about it,” she said.

“Your father probably has men lining up at the door for you!” Ju’tin said, mocking.

“It’s late. I’m going to hibernation, see you next cycle.” Mari’an excused herself and rushed from the room.

XXXX

Red lights and the warning siren roused Mari’an from her sleep. She stumbled down the shaking corridor to the bridge.

“Ju’tin!” She screamed, running into the room. Ju’tin was sitting at the controls, steering the ship towards another meteorite.

“Ju’tin! What are you doing?” Mari’an ran forward and grabbed His shoulder. Ju’tin’s eyes were glazed over and unseeing, his hands moved automatically on the controls. Mari’an shoved Ju’tin onto the floor, where he lay unmoving. Grabbing the controls Mari’an heaved the small craft out of harm’s way. After the danger had passed and the R’azure on the hull of the ship had repaired itself, Mari’an took a moment to look around. She had flown into uncharted space, The familiar asteroid Rings of Terra’zule lay far behind her. Ahead Mari’an saw a small moon, Ju’tin by this time had regained motion, and stood next to her. He took hold of Mari’an’s hands on the controls and set a crash course for the small orb. Mari’an screwed her eyes shut as the moon came closer. There was a crash, then nothing.

XXXX

The hissing of pipes, hot metal, everything was collapsing around her. Mari’an shoved at the weight pinning her down. It was Ju’tin, he had shielded her from the impact of the crash. Ju’tin was not so lucky, he had had no shield. His eyes were still glassy, but this time, no one looked out from behind them. Fighting the bile that rose up in her throat, Mari’an pushed her way out of the ship onto a bustling space port. Passers-by stared at the crashed ship and the recently escaped creature standing in front of it. No one looked like Mari’an. Skin color ranged from white to dark brown, also green and blue, but no black. Mari’an immediately felt self-conscious and wrapped her arms around her stomach. She ran to the nearest cover she could see, besides the crumbling ship behind her. It was a jumble of what looked like Ionite and a brown metal she had never seen before. There was no R’azure. Mari’an found an opening in the side and climbed in.

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Characters

Name: Jan'is (Jan)
Gender: Male
Species/looks: Human/blend, Dark Hair, streaked Silver, cut short, light skin, eyes two different colors, one brown, one green. he can pass as human easily and works alongside his dad in trading operations.
Family: Father is human, a galactic trader/smuggler, mother comes from Blue Planet, died when Jan was little.
Social Standing: From nowhere, he has no social standing.

Name: Mari'an
Species/looks: Alien, graphite skin, gold-silver hair, amber eyes
Family: Father is a senator for the government and brother joined the small alien army, no mother

Name: Durg'ana
Gender: Female
Species/looks: Silver skin and reddish gold hair. Has a very bright and happy attitude most of the time, with a cheery smile, but is very good with weapons and is very strong. You can tell by looking at her. Due to her social status(see below) she mostly wears shabby looking clothes isusuall has dirt on her face. But her haii is always clean.
Family: She is the oldest child in her family, with five younger brothers and a asister. Her mother died giving birth to her sidter, and her father is very sick, so she is the leder of the family.
Social status: Very, very poor. She keeps hoping that one day her prince will come sweep her off her feet, but for now, she has to steal to get by.

updated Dec 5 '11 by JSimmons