New Hope (The New Earth Colonies Book 1)

by Nina Silver

  "Let's go then. We'll make it with ten minutes to spare if we rush now." Iolee glanced at her com all seriously and then marched to the door.

  "I will miss your bossiness." I sighed following her. I always teased her about how uptight she was. She was the yin to my yang, the water to my coffee, the fruit in my salad - which is why we got along so well. She helped me get through life. I helped her enjoy life.

  We walked out of the unit and with a last glance behind me I walked away from ten years of my life. We made our way to the internal transport station and boarded the one traveling to the Neptunian Platform. All around us were other graduates, or people that traveled to Neptune. It was easy to discern which people were returning to Neptune as they wore the traditional Neptunian color of navy blue. The new graduates, such as I, still wore our Saturnian white. We would be provided with new uniforms upon our arrival at Neptune, uniforms befitting our new jobs, station, and title.

  I looked around the transport wondering if I would see any familiar faces, but my attention was pulled by a very handsome specimen of the male species.

  Well, helloooo there!

  He was sitting across from me a few seats to the left. Despite sitting I could tell he was tall and fit - muscular in the way all Neptunian soldiers were, and this was definitely a Neptunian member of the Military judging by his crisp navy uniform. His hair a chestnut brown, was the perfect length, closely cropped to the sides and slightly longer at the top, combed neatly. Just looking at him made me hot. Chiseled face with a straight nose, wide luscious lips, and the clearest turquoise eyes I had ever seen. Couldn't have imagined a more perfect man even if I'd tried. Oh stars, maybe everyone in Neptune looked like that – which I wouldn’t mind.

  As if sensing my ogling, he turned, and his eyes met with mine.

  Oh yeah, I wanted him.

  Seeing my opportunity, I winked at him as I licked my lips meaningfully. The man just looked at me for a few seconds, his expression unchanging and grave, and then he looked away... Just looked away.

  Hmmm, well.... I had not expected that.

  Not that I was the most beautiful woman in the galaxy, but men wanted me. Men I wanted always wanted me! I frowned hard trying not to take his rejection too hard, after all, I didn't even know the man. Who knows maybe he was married or something.

  "What are you frowning at?" Iolee asked genuinely curious, and I smiled at her.

  "Oh nothing, just thinking about Neptune."

  "I can't believe you are going to be that far..."

  "I know - promise you'll come visit me?" I wouldn’t be able to take any time off due to the sensitive nature of my work - or so I’d been told when I spoke with my future boss.

  "Of course, I will!"

  The transport started slowing down and gently came to a stop. The Neptunian port building stared at us as we disembarked, the platform behind it already lined with travelers.

  With a heavy heart, I turned to Iolee. Her eyes glistened, and seeing her that way took my breath. She was the logical one, and I was the temperamental one. Right on cue, I felt my eyes watering and then tears leaking out.

  Iolee then broke down and started crying, and we fiercely hugged each other.

  "I will miss you so much... Call me as soon as you get there." She cried, looking up at me with her green eyes.

  "I will. I promise. And you promise not to be so uptight and have fun occasionally." I mumbled as I wiped at my tears.

  She nodded, her crazy curly red hair flying out of the bun she had put it in. "This is not goodbye." Iolee stated matter-of-factly, and I nodded.

  "No, this is a 'see-you-later.'" I added, and we both grinned despite the tears.

  "You better go Xan, I don't want you to get in trouble for being late, or worse, miss your flight."

  "Alright. I love you. Take care of yourself."

  "I love you too. Stay out of trouble."

  Minutes later I was in my seat as our craft was departing for the six-hour journey to Neptune, my eyes devouring the more and more shrinking yellow-orange planet I had called home for the past ten years.

  Look for Nemesis out in mid August!

  Thank you for reading.