new rotation of willing candidates were assigned to live at the lunar camp, nick-named Camp Cheesehead, for a year’s time to test our ability of living in Space utilizing only the resources at hand. The underground base was built in lava tubes. The carved out caves were formed by the moon’s ancient volcanic activity. The occupants performed exciting experiments, such as finding new ways to guard against radiation, and my favorite, studies on quantum entanglement. Quantum entanglement was one of the most fascinating and strangest phenomena of particle physics. A pair of particles acts as one, despite being millions of miles apart. If something happens to one particle, the other responds instantly in an identical manner. Although the trips to the moon were successful, they proved to be not only challenging, but costly. I could only imagine the technological breakthroughs we would need to invent to compete in this arena. It saddened me to acknowledge how far we had to go. It felt like a millennium away. I knew I wouldn’t be wrong in saying that seeing a place like this was exactly what the rest of the people on Earth needed. I think our society would be much more motivated to find a way to join this intergalactic community if they were made aware of its existence.
Gaelan waited silently beside me, allowing me a little more time to gaze as I stood captivated by the natural phenomena filling the center of the post. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the sight and was completely caught off guard when an unfamiliar female voice came up from behind us and addressed Gaelan.
“Would you look who graces us with his presence,” she said with a bit of a swagger in her voice.
Gaelan and I quickly turned around to find an attractive human woman standing before us. She was thin, short, had chin-length sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and was obviously a Katarian.
“Cami,” Gaelan replied, as the woman swiftly rushed past me and threw her arms around his neck, all but pushing me out of the way.
“Gaelan Liitanen, I knew you couldn’t stay away for long,” Cami said in a deeper voice, still clinging to his body while she flipped her hair back to look him in the face.
Gaelan reached behind his neck and undid her grip. “Cami, it’s nice to see you.” Gaelan pulled me to his side and used me as a physical barrier to distance himself from the woman. “I’d like you to meet Samantha Bennett, my companion,” he said proudly.
“Hello,” I said.
She did not answer. Instead, she gave me an unkind glare before taking a moment to gawk at me up and down. “Well, Gaelan, I must say, I never thought I’d see the day. What makes her so special?” Cami said, as if I were invisible.
“She’s not you,” Gaelan shot back.
“Well, you know I couldn’t wait for you forever. Actually, I’ve met someone even more talented than you,” she said in a snippy tone, while her eyes appeared to ooze with rage. “Anyway, why are you here? Are you in the market for goods?”
Gaelan smiled, putting on the charm. “I am looking for a Dreon ship. You know everyone who stops in here. Have any passed through? Maybe bought some supplies at your station?
“No, no Dreons,” she said casually.
“Have you heard of any discussion about Dreons? Rumors?” he prodded deeper.
“Not a thing. Why are you so eager to find them?”
“They took something of ours.”
“It sounds like you need a scout.”
Gaelan rubbed his jaw. “Perhaps a scout could help. Do you know of any available for hire?”
“Only amateurs. I would feel guilty for referring you. You need someone with an extensive knowledge of the galaxy. You need someone like Loic Veenhoven.”
“Is he still around?”
“Yes, of course,” she said in a seductive tone while she reached up and brushed a wave of his hair off his forehead. “Last I heard he was mining on Dalinova. He might still be there if you hurry.”
She was obviously trying to make it clear to me that they
Gaelan waited silently beside me, allowing me a little more time to gaze as I stood captivated by the natural phenomena filling the center of the post. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the sight and was completely caught off guard when an unfamiliar female voice came up from behind us and addressed Gaelan.
“Would you look who graces us with his presence,” she said with a bit of a swagger in her voice.
Gaelan and I quickly turned around to find an attractive human woman standing before us. She was thin, short, had chin-length sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and was obviously a Katarian.
“Cami,” Gaelan replied, as the woman swiftly rushed past me and threw her arms around his neck, all but pushing me out of the way.
“Gaelan Liitanen, I knew you couldn’t stay away for long,” Cami said in a deeper voice, still clinging to his body while she flipped her hair back to look him in the face.
Gaelan reached behind his neck and undid her grip. “Cami, it’s nice to see you.” Gaelan pulled me to his side and used me as a physical barrier to distance himself from the woman. “I’d like you to meet Samantha Bennett, my companion,” he said proudly.
“Hello,” I said.
She did not answer. Instead, she gave me an unkind glare before taking a moment to gawk at me up and down. “Well, Gaelan, I must say, I never thought I’d see the day. What makes her so special?” Cami said, as if I were invisible.
“She’s not you,” Gaelan shot back.
“Well, you know I couldn’t wait for you forever. Actually, I’ve met someone even more talented than you,” she said in a snippy tone, while her eyes appeared to ooze with rage. “Anyway, why are you here? Are you in the market for goods?”
Gaelan smiled, putting on the charm. “I am looking for a Dreon ship. You know everyone who stops in here. Have any passed through? Maybe bought some supplies at your station?
“No, no Dreons,” she said casually.
“Have you heard of any discussion about Dreons? Rumors?” he prodded deeper.
“Not a thing. Why are you so eager to find them?”
“They took something of ours.”
“It sounds like you need a scout.”
Gaelan rubbed his jaw. “Perhaps a scout could help. Do you know of any available for hire?”
“Only amateurs. I would feel guilty for referring you. You need someone with an extensive knowledge of the galaxy. You need someone like Loic Veenhoven.”
“Is he still around?”
“Yes, of course,” she said in a seductive tone while she reached up and brushed a wave of his hair off his forehead. “Last I heard he was mining on Dalinova. He might still be there if you hurry.”
She was obviously trying to make it clear to me that they
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