STARLIGHT CHAPTER ONE - BEGINNINGS Lydia J 14

Starlight

Book One

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Lydia Jenkins

October 2014

   Chapter One

BEGINNINGS

3034 AD

Vea woke hours later. Or has it only been mere minutes since I died? She

pondered. Vea lay prone on the Torken shore. Scratched and bruised. Well, she

told herself, it could have been worse. Be thankful you didn't break anything!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Vea brought her elbows in, placing her hands firmly

against the muddy ground, braced. She pushed her tired body up with a heave.

Sitting back on her knees, waterlogged, Vea observed her surroundings. Mud. Red

grass, orange trees. Wait, what? Red grass? Was that even a thing? Hmm. She'd

have to bring samples back to the compound for Jasper to look at. Oh... Jasper is

dead. She let out a sob.

Vea wept bitterly, biting her lip. Tears rolled down her round cheeks. She

was completely soaked. Stands of matted clumps of unidentifiable origin, dangled

from Vea scalp. Yuck. She commented wryly, talking about bad hair day! She

giggled flatly, exhausted. Vea squeaked hiccup. She sighed heavily. Jasper! Her

heart cried. Jasper, Jasper...Jasper. Her tears were renewing in the corner of each

eye. Okay. Let's Do something productive. She told herself fiercely Can't mope

about all day! Vea chided. She slowly pushed herself up. Her legs buckled. Vea

caught herself, stiffened her joints.

Another drawn sigh. She grunted and began climbing up the slight incline

of the hill. Reaching the crest, her skin was bathed in red twilight. The sun slowly

sank beyond the horizon. Her smile matched it's brightness as Vea's breath caught

with joy at the sight. Now that made her day! At least, the end of it. She chuckled.

Vea, you're so silly! She heard in her brother's tone. A memory. You can't laugh at

your own jokes! Why not? It's not educate. He told her primly. She'd laughed him

out of the room. She smirked even now. Fredrick was the silly one!

Looking down, she saw many building surrounding the compound. One the

outskirts, a private clinic- the doctor's residence, for emergency patients. She

began hiking down the hill, watching her step. Vea reached a group of children

playing by the river.

The River of Passing dominated the known world, stretching from one end

of the continent to the other. It would be used for passage and trade, hence the

title.

Vea yawned as she approach the group. It consisted of three girls and two

boys, young enough to be good playmates. “Who are you!” sounded a young girl's

voice. She looked to be about nine years old. The children seemed to be around

the same age, to Vea's expert eye. “Me?” she asked, bringing a hand to her chest in

faint mock. “Why, I'm the sugar plum fairy!” The girl looked to her friends for

support. “No you're not!” came another squeak. This must be the girl's best friend.

“Why do you doubt?” Vea asked, hiding a smile. “Only the Tooth Trader lives on

Mars!” piped in one of the boys. “Yeah!” agreed the third girl. The last one stayed

silent. “Hmm. Would you believe I'm his daughter?” she asked. Heads shook No.

“Would you believe... I'm his assistant?” Negative. “Oh well, I suppose I'm

caught. You got me red-handed!” The children giggled. “Speaking of red,” Vea

began when the kids had quieted. “What's with the grass?”

“You don't know?” piped the first one.

“No.”

“It's Mars. The grass has always been like that!”

“Oh really? Why?” lifted shoulders passed through the small group as they

shrugged. The quiet one spoke for the first time. “It reflects.” he stated.

“How?” she asked, intrigued. The little boy continued. He can't be a day

over eight! she thought.“The plant life indigenous to Mars reflects. On Earth, light

is absorbed.” his little voice said maturely. “The human eye sees the one color that

isn't there. It's the reverse on this planet. Bushes, trees and flowers reflect what

ever color is nearest to the object.” he finished with a nod. The others looked at

him with awe.

The little girl had a frown on her face. “Where did you hear that, Lukas?”

she asked.

“I read it. In a book, Fiona!”

“That thick old volume Dr. Anthony is writing?” asked another.

“That's right, Liberty.” Lukas told his sister. They were twins.

“That book is huge!” commented the other boy.

“My brother is a good reader, Timothy!” declared Liberty proudly.

“Yes, he's really quick!” agreed the other girl.

“Right you are, Sammy!” Liberty said in return.

“Fiona, Lukas, Liberty,Timothy, and Sammy-” Vea said, counting off the

names that the children had unconsciously revealed. Ten eyes swiveled to the

stranger.

“My name is Veronica, but I generally go by Vea,” she told them, having

caught their attention. “Vee?” came the first voice, followed by everyone trying to

pronounce her nickname. “Vv?” “Vie?” “Vvei?” “Veeh?” Their accent was wrong.

“No,” Vea corrected gently, “Vea- it sound like Tea, a tasty hot beverage for cold

rainy days.” she explained.

A collective, Ohhh! Came from hushed voices.

“That's weird!” declared Fiona.

“Fiona!” exclaimed the boys.

“What?” she asked, encouraged by supporting nod from her best friend,

Liberty. Sammy shook her own head, saying, “You shouldn't be so blunt, Fiona!”

“Wait till I tell your mom that you called a Traveler weird!” taunted Lukas.

“You wouldn't dare!” his twin exclaimed.

“Would too” he shot back, making Liberty scowl, “Just watch me!” Lukas

stuck out his tongue, and scampered off. Liberty chased after him, her friends

close in pursuit.

Vea was left behind with Timothy at her side. He looked up at the Traveler.

She met his gaze.

“Well, kid,” Vea told him, “I guess it's just you and me.” “It's...Vea, right?”

“Yep.” she reached over to ruffle Timothy's hair, “And you would be Mr.

Timothy?” “Yes.” he responded, pushing his glasses further up. Glasses! Damn!

She looked glumly at the River, eyes narrowed in accusation.

“Now how am I suppose to see anything!” She cried out, stomping a foot.

The ground was still wet. Her foot came down with a squelch Timothy broke into

her irritated mumbling. “Are you farsighted,” he asked in a serious voice, “or

nearsighted?” She looked over at he assumed eight year old.

“How old are you, kid?” Vea asked the boy.

“Nearly nine.” he said proudly. Eight then. She was good!

“Alright, Mr. Nearly Nine-”

“Timothy.” he corrected her.

“Timothy- who is in charge around here?”

“Oh,” he pushed his glasses up again. Did he need a new pair?

“That would be Mrs. Anthony and Mr. Emerson. He's the Master

Librarian!” Timothy said, chest swelled. Mrs. Anthony! That's me!

“Does Mrs. Anthony have a first name also,” she said slowly. Timothy

nodded. “ Sophia.” he stated promptly. Hmm. She had been gone for about

six...seven months. Vea couldn't think of any cousins with that name, but the

Colony was open to the public. This woman was either a total stranger or a very

distant relative. Perhaps a new marriage during Vea's absence. She had been

occupied. Okay. Move on. “Alright,” Vea said briskly, “ Thank you, Timothy.” he

bobbed his head. “Where might I find either Mrs. Anthony or Mr. Emerson? 
I think I should talk to both.” she finished absently, thinking aloud.

She looked down at her clothes, taking in her ragged appearance for the

second time that day.

Her once best had stiffened, streaked with mud. A delicate sniff revealed an

odd odor that smelled like poultry feces. Nothing to be done about it. Vea told

herself with a sigh.

Timothy's words suddenly registered in her ears. He was saying, “...the

Doc, and then Mrs. Tailor- she makes really nice clothes for Travelers.” the boy

informed her, pointing a directly observing Vea's clothes shamelessly, which were

filthy and stained.

“Ah.” Thankful at the revelation. New clothes- perfect! She didn't have any

money, but Vea could do something to pay the Seamstress back. Vea hadn't

planned on escaping alive. It had been a suicidal mission borne of desperation.

Curse her melancholy She should have at least tried to grab some gold! But it had

all happened so quickly. Images flashed in her mind's eye, blinding Vea to the real

world. She shook her head, banishing the horrible memories.

“Would you take me to the Seamstress? Please?” she added politely.

“No.” he said, “You have to go see Doc first- weren't you listening before?”

“No. Why?” she asked, curious.

“Standard health and wellness exam for Travelers.” the boy lifted a

shoulder, shrugging at the necessity of processing new arrivals.

“I don't have any money.” she told him point-blank.

“That's fine,” Timothy assured her, “A Traveler's first SHWE is free.

Everything else can be payed for with wages from the job you'll have during your

stay with us.” He said that as if she was leaving. Mars was Mars- there couldn't be

too many Colonies out there. Jasper! Her breath caught. She blinked away quick

tears, wiping her eyes with a side finger.

“You're quite informed, Timothy.” her throat managed. “Well, I don't get

politics, but 'economics are the foundation of civilization-'.” he informed her,

quoting Mr. Emerson. Large words coming out of an eight year old's mouth. He

sounded silly, but so cute! Vea grinned, making the little boy think back to Fiona's

earlier remarks. The Traveler was weird if she thought working was fun!

“Take me to Doc.” Vea said abruptly. “Okay.” he said ambulate. The two

started down, reaching the small town quickly. They had not been far out. As

Timothy walked through buildings not present when Vea had last been here, she

marveled at the size and shapes. Such variety! But...so much had changed.