at his temples and beard. His leather bomber jacket, worn over his guard captain’s uniform, made him look like every space-faring rogue you’d expect to see on the cover of a science fiction romance novel.


    misfits even among their peers.


    in a semi-circle to listen closer.


    “Something amusing, Uncle?


    and he dropped his arms, stuffing them in his pockets and looking away.


    feathers, except for his head which was pink that transitioned to green along his neck. His white beak had a perpetual goofy smile and his eyes covered in yellow tinted goggles.


    was already perched on the Professor’s shoulder. The Hiver was small even for his race, covered in fluffy marigold fur with brown stripes. The segmented emerald eyes regarded Slate critically. With a buzz of his tiny wings, Random skittered and hid himself in the storage compartment of Queebeax’s jetpack.


    Org complained, “This was my favorite shirt and you just shot holes in it! What the fuck, dude?”


    was trying to make a good impression, but I guess that’s ruined now. How annoying.”


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Neesya, projected Neesya.


    and he shrank back from it, mortified.


    colonists had taken to their new lives with enthusiasm and a surprising amount of competence. Most of them took to building, while others helped in different ways.