Chapter 1


The first night had been amazing. The second night was shaping up to be simply phenomenal. Hayley Komit looked out across the sea of humanity that stretched from stage to the bleachers with barely enough space between the bodies to drop a penny. Over 80,000 fans filled the large arena-sized auditorium, and all were on their feet, screaming, cheering and chanting. It was an incredible sight. Despite having been at the concert game now for nearly five years, she had simply never seen this kind of a turnout on a colony. It made her feel very at home.

The music started again and Hayley began swinging her hips rhythmically. The band, an 18-piece group that was one part rock band and one part big band, had a sound that seemed like a mix of orchestra and rock. Half the band played on synthesizers, while the rest played on contemporary instruments such as drums, rhythm guitar, bass, brass and woodwinds. The sound they generated along with Hayley’s singing was a bombastic mix of the modern with the classical. It was part of why her appeal was so broad. Almost everyone could find something to like about her music. The older folk liked her contemporary takes on classic music, while the younger fans enjoyed the modern sound. She figured most of the young male fans could care less about her music and were perhaps more enamored with her appearance than anything else.

That night she was wearing one of her better-known outfits. It was a strapless black single piece dress with a very short bifurcated skirt with individual leg holes that wore more like shorts. Matching long gloves and thigh high boots. The material the various articles were made of was a type of synthetic that glittered when the light hit it, making it appear as if she were covered in stars. Using a special imaging system, the lighting team could actually make her clothing glimmer more or less, make it appear is if it was twinkling or cause an almost hypnotic vortex effect. A small digital receiver, hidden beneath her dress enabled the lighting system to stay focused on her, regardless of where she stepped or moved. As the music tempo increased, so did Hayley’s movements. Swinging her hips she stepped back and forth, moved her hands over her body and rocked her head from side to side. With each step she took, the stage lit up where her foot touched, causing a luminescent glow to appear around her, one that changed colors and consistency as she moved around the glowing stage.

Goddess on the mountain top...
Burning like a silver flame...
The summit of beauty and love...
And Venus was her name...

The crowd went into an uproar. Many sung along, while others just screamed and cheered. It was an older song she sang, and not one of her own, but perhaps one of her more popular covers. As the words flowed from her lips, her gyrations became more forceful. She leaned her body back and forth, her back curving like a slithering snake.

She’s got it...
Yeah baby, she’s got it...

Spinning on a heel, she turned her back to the crowd, wiggling her butt and swinging her shoulders before turning around and gesturing an arm toward the crowd.

I’m your Venus...
I’m your fire...
At your desire.

The crowd went wild, their noise nearly drowning out the amplified sound of her voice and the band’s instruments.

Yeah I’m your Venus...
I’m your fire...
At your desire.

She sung the last part in a whisper as the band stopped playing for a brief instant. The crowd noise died down during the short pause, but exploded as the band hit the next note, entering into the next verse. Despite being two hours into the show, the crowd was still acting like she’d just started her first song. Their energy only enhanced Hayley’s own. Her movements became more animated, her singing fiercer. It was give and take all night. She was glad that the auditorium was as cool as it was, otherwise she may have been drenched in sweat by now.

When at last the song was over, a holographic fireworks display exploded over the stage, sending billions thousand of twinkling points of light fluttering down toward the stage like glittering snowflakes.

"Thank you New Liberty!! Je t’aime!"

Rushing back stage with the band following shortly after her, she found Max waiting for her near the doors to her dressing room. He gave her a pair of thumbs up and an elated look as she neared. But that wasn’t enough for her. She threw herself into his arms and wrapped him in hers, pressing her lips against his in full view of everyone in eyeshot. She didn’t care. It’d been a great two nights, and Hayley was feeling invigorated. The next two days would be hers to do as she pleased on Vega IV, with her next show on Sirius VII not scheduled for another three days. She intended to use that time to visit the Aegean colony, with or without Max’s approval.

She didn’t speak of it though at that moment, and simply enjoyed the embrace with her lover. Eventually he managed to get her into the dressing room and pull her off of him with some degree of effort.

"You are playing with fire, aren’t you?" Max shook his head as he wandered over to the small refrigeration unit and pulled out a bottle of imported water. "Here," he said, handing the bottle over to the girl. "Douse yourself off."

She flashed a rather coy smirk at him as she took the bottle and popped open the top with her thumb, squeezing the bottle and letting a jet of water fill her mouth. "Wow, you really are a prude, aren’t you?"

"Prude!? Hey come on," Max lowered himself into a sofa chair. "I was the lead guitarist for the Mass Drivers for crying out loud. I was getting action when you were still in grade school learning how to add."

Hayley snickered and stuck her tongue out at her manager. "Cradle robber."

Max sighed and rolled his eyes, drawing his hands back behind his head. "Well, what do you want to do? It’s still pretty early, and I have it on good authority that there’s a nice little bar not far from here."

Taking another mouthful of the cool water, Hayley perched herself on the stool in front of her dressing mirror. "I want to head over to the other continent. Tonight...that way it’s day time over there."

"Not this again," Max groaned, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. "Hayl, we talked about this. The Republic is not a safe place to be...at least for outsiders. They could arrest you the second you step foot in their territory and...’

"Max!" She snapped at him loudly. "I’ve already decided. I’m going, and I already found someone who’ll take me."

The reddish-blonde haired Bostonian jumped to his feet. He opened his mouth to speak, but seeing the look of utter conviction on Hayley’s face, he knew there was no talking her out of it now. She’d made up her mind, and short of him handcuffing her to her bed, there was no way he was going to stop her. Gritting his teeth under tightly pursed lips, and shook his head and threw his arms up in surrender.

"Have it your way. I guess I’m going with you."

"No..."

Max’s eyes widened. He threw a sideways glance at her. "No?"

"Max, if something does happen and I get detained or arrested or something, I’m going to need you out here to help me. If you’re with me and we both get caught, well...that’s it. You’re the only one I trust."

"What about Miranda, your publicist?"

"I’ll need both of you. Miranda is great, but she’s lousy at confrontation. You on the other hand," she snickered and shook her head. "How many arguments have we had on this trip alone? You’re a fighter. And you’re Irish, so confrontation is in your blood."

Max smirked. "You know, you are certifiably insane. You know that, right?"

"Just part of my charm," she gave him a wink. "Listen, I talked to the guy who said he’d transport me to the other continent this morning. He’s a courier pilot under Federation retainer."

"Okay, so?"

"Don’t you see?" Hayley pushed herself off the stool. "Couriers are among the only non-Republic citizens allowed to get in to the Aegean colony. There’s a landing pad not far from the main arcologies where couriers and merchants are allowed to deliver and pick up supplies. So, I hitch a ride with the courier, get dropped off and then walk the rest of the way. He said he’d even come back the next day and pick me up."

Max rubbed his face in deliberation. "Are you sure you can trust this guy?"

"He’s a Federation contractor...come on. What more do you need?"

Max couldn’t believe he was actually going along with any of this. But there was no sense in fighting with the girl. She had that French stubbornness about her. She was right though...it was one of her endearing qualities. She was strong willed, and despite being a singer, she had an adventurer’s spirit inside of her. With reluctance, he finally nodded his head.

"Well...when are you going?"

"The pilot said to meet him at the spaceport at 2200 local time."

"That’s only about a half hour away," Max replied, glancing at his digital wristwatch, currently set to local time and date. "You wanna change first?"

She shook her head. "No, there’s no time. I don’t mind going like this. It’s actually surprisingly warm with the gloves and leggings."

"Well, if it’s alright with you, I’d at least like to accompany you on your flight."

"I was hoping you would," she gave him a small smile as she walked over to him and put his hand into hers. "Come on, I don’t want to keep him waiting."

From the auditorium building, it was a thirty-minute trip by taxi to the spaceport. Like most of the terrestrial vehicles on Vega IV, at least the ones Hayley had encountered, the taxis were repurposed loader vehicles, their original purpose to transport equipment and material to and from mines. They had large all terrain wheels, metal frames and were rather boxy in shape. They did have ample passenger space however. The rear cargo compartments had been covered, upholstered and furnished and could easily fit four. The driver and front passenger section was divided from the rear passenger section, though the driver could slide open a part of the glass divider if he needed to speak with his passenger. The vehicle rumbled down the dirt roads, navigating between the densely packed temporary structures that made up well over three quarters of the colony’s city infrastructure. Many people were out and about that night. Those not driving, walked along the railed walkways, though some did walk along the middle of the road, darting between passing cars, sometimes even walking along side vehicles. It was organized chaos for all intents and purposes. Though there were several major thoroughfares in the city with proper signage, most of the roads in New Liberty were completely unregulated. Pedestrians were just as free to use them as vehicles were. It made travel a somewhat trying if not hazardous affair, but those from New Liberty seemed quite adept at it.

Eventually they came to the spaceport, the taxi dropping the two off just outside the entrance. As per her instructions, Hayley made her way around the spaceport facilities to the cluster of smaller private hangars where her pilot contact said he’d be waiting for her just inside the entry gates. As expected, he was there dressed in a olive green flight suit with black boots and black gloves he had stuffed into his webbing. Meeting eyes with the girl, he gave her a nod before turning his attention to the man with her.

"Who’s this?" he called out as the two neared the chain-linked gates. "This is Max Trainor...my uh..." she peered at him through the corner of her eyes.

"Her boyfriend," Max jumped in, cocking his head at the girl. The pilot twisted his lips and folded his arms as he studied the pair. "Well, I didn’t agree to carry two of ya. That’s gonna up my fee."

"Name your price. I’ll pay it," Hayley’s dark brown eyes narrowed slightly.

"Well, since there’s two of you now...double it."

Without hesitation, Hayley agreed. It wasn’t as if he was charging her a lot to begin with, seeing how there was nothing illegal about him taking passengers. What they did once they were off his vessel was not his problem. So it would be a 5,000-credit trip, plus another 5,000-thousand for the return trip. 10,000 credits for a round the world trip. It was small potatoes considering you probably couldn’t get a commercial ticket for that price.

Opening the gate, he motioned for the two to follow him in. From the gates, they rode a small loader truck a short distance up the holding tarmac to a small vessel parked on its own near a loading bay. The vessel was long and sleek with a hawkish front end that narrowed toward the rear. Its engines were mounted just slightly ahead of the tail within a pair of round thrust-vectoring nacelles. The vessels wings were wide and were on a slight downward angle. The pilot led the two to the rear of the ship where its rear loading ramp was presently deployed. Within the narrow confines of the ship’s holding bay were a number of crates, each marked with a corporate emblem and labeled ‘Medical’. The pilot haphazardly tossed a number of smaller boxes off of a row of seats that had been buried beneath them.

"Take your seats, we’ll be taking off in a few minutes."

Hayley and Max nodded, worming their way between the cargo crates and lowering themselves into the stiff, uncomfortable chairs. As the pilot climbed the ladder to the cockpit, he glanced past his shoulder at his two passengers.

"It’s a four hour trip in atmosphere and there’s a ten hour time difference. It’ll be about high noon by the time we get there, so if you’re going to be sneaking around the colony, I suggest you stick to the shanties."

Hayley nodded and offered the pilot a smile. He nodded in return before disappearing into the cockpit. Max traded glances with his lover, and gave her a pat on the arm, giving her some reassurance. She appreciated the small comfort, and rested her head on his shoulder as the access ramp whined loudly, slowly rising to its closed position. Soon the whine of engines filled the transport interior, with a vibration steadily building up as power was applied. Within minutes, the ship was lifting into clear starlit skies. As it reached the peak of its ascension vector, its engine nacelles slowly reoriented to a rear facing position, and the ship was off.