A few hours later

  Aboard the shuttlecraft- electronics/gear room

  Nyraxi unfurls herself and slinks out of the corner. She shakes her body, as if experiencing a violent shiver, to bring circulation back to all of her limbs. The youthful runaway glances in the direction of the metal ladder, which leads to the main luggage compartment above.

  Was it just her imagination? Or did the flight commander appear to actually see her? He did spend an awfully long time staring in her direction. If so, why hadn't he reported her to either the Captain or the other crewmen? Perhaps, the commander hadn't seen her after all.

  Nyraxi's suppositions come to an end as the hatch above is pulled open. Lt. Commander Shin's head appears in the opening. He beckons to Nyraxi with one large hand.

  "Come here, young lady. Hurry. I've prepared a room for you on the next deck. Hurry, please."

  Nyraxi approaches the ladder at a slow gait, her head lowered in shame. Commander Shin withdraws back into the above compartment. With a heavy sigh, Nyraxi ascends the ladder. Once the centaur stowaway finally exits the hatch, Commander Shin closes it. He secures the lock with a gold key on his keyring.

  "Now," Commander Shin says in a low voice. "Where are your things? Did you bring nothing with you?"

  Nyraxi simply shakes her head, too ashamed to speak. The centaur commander places a hand under Nyraxi's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

  "Who are you?" Shin asks, his other hand going to his hip. "And why have you stowed away on my ship?"

  "I'm...I'm Nyraxi," the centaur youth murmurs, attempting to look away from the commander. "I...There were problems at home. The centaur I love...I've been forbidden to see him. I ran away because..."

  Nyraxi begins to cry. Reaching into the breast pocket of his flight uniform, Commander Shin offers the female centaur his handkerchief. Nyraxi takes the offered handkerchief and blows her nose. Commander Shin's brow arches and he shakes his head with a wry smile.

  "Uh...You can...Uh...Keep that," Shin calmly says. "But, I really must be getting you to your room. I have to be getting back to the flight deck. I will bring you a few things to wear and something to eat. Don't worry. I won't turn you in, and I won't demand that you be returned to your home. But you must agree to stay where I tell you to stay. When I tell you to stay there. While you are aboard this ship...You will earn your keep. A few little tasks here and there. Nothing major. I was once in your shoes, young one. I understand what you must be feeling. Life often doesn't seem fair to our youthful minds. It gets even more unfair as you grow older. You will soon see. Come along, now. Your room is this way."

  -

  -

  Three years later

  Nuvian Prime- Space Port

  Nyraxi climbs to her feet as the most recent ships to arrive at port are announced over the loudspeaker. Several ships still hover above the dock, waiting for clearance. One ship in particular draws Nyraxi's undivided attention. The Mercantile; Captain Shin's ship.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Nyraxi prances happily toward the arrival gate. Excitement causes her heart to race, at the idea of meeting up with her old friend. It was Shin, then only a ship's commander, who had given Nyraxi a second chance at life. Without the kind centaur commander, she might still be a lowly servant in Prince Gilden's royal house. But, never his bride. Actually getting out, and seeing the world, had taught the young centaur that what her father said was true. Others who knew of the young prince's exploits had warned her about him as well.

  "Prince Gilden is bad business," she'd been told on one occasion.

  "He's a heartbreaker," another weary traveler had said. "Best to steer clear of that one."

  At first, the comments had hurt Nyraxi deeply. After all, she did so love the Prince. However, the more the comments rolled in, the more each statement made sense. Yes, Vivilda Hoten was indeed known for her bad temper. And her rudeness, and her habit of spitting seeds at those she greatly despises. But, which of the ten kingdoms' royals hasn't blown their stack a time or two? Prince Gilden once sent a servant to the dungeon for wiping the floor with the wrong color of rag. And his mother, is even worse. During a particularly heavy rainstorm, Queen Chocho had demanded a servant use his coats as an umbrella to cover her Majesty's royal head. By the time they'd reached the interior of the palace, the Queen's hair and clothes were thoroughly soaked. In her wrath, Queen Chocho had beaten the poor servant nearly senseless with her damaged paper fan. Hardly, one to lecture Vivilda about manners.

  Yep. The more Nyraxi thinks about it. The more she realizes she may have dodged an extremely uncomfortable situation. Surely, the prince and Princess Vivilda will be married by now. Which means, no more worries. With the return of Captain Shin, it'll be possible for her to go home again. The Captain would never refuse her a place on his ship.

  Nyraxi waits impatiently for Captain Shin to enter the arrival section. In the meantime, she taps her feet and glances around at the meandering people within the port. An elegantly dressed Cthulhu cousin passes by Nyraxi on her right. She offers the odd creature, with his writhing tentacles, a polite head nod. He returns the gesture and continues forward.

  At the arrival gate, the Cthulhu cousin stops to speak with a pretty human female. The woman is dressed in the manner of an old Earth pirate, a pirate's hat smartly tilted on her mane of flowing hair. The human and the Cthulhu cousin appear to be very close. He grabs both of her hands in his and offers her a kind nod, his eyes partially shutting.

  "Hmmm," Nyraxi mutters to herself. "Star-crossed lovers. And without a ritual of blood? How interesting."

  Nyraxi is so absorbed watching Captain Hilyard and Mr. Yoth's interesting conversation that she doesn't realize when Captain Shin approaches her. The Captain clears his throat.

  "Hello, Nyraxi," Shin says. "Haha. Am I interrupting something?"

  "Oh my...Goodness, no. Captain Shin! I'm so glad to see you!" Nyraxi gushes, opening her arms wide for a hug.

  The two friends share a brief hug before Captain Shin draws away. He ruffles the hair at the top of Nyraxi's head. The playful move brings tears to the young centaur's eyes. How she misses her father.

  "Stop that!" Nyraxi exclaims, straightening her hair. "You know I hate it when you do that."

  "That's why I make sure to do it!" Captain Shin retorts, a sly smile on his lips. "Because I know it will make you laugh. And your laughter makes me happy. If I were not so much of a traveler...I might have a daughter myself. You're as close to one as I will ever get."

  "That's not true, Shin!" Nyraxi adamantly protests. "You still have plenty of time. Centaurus Maximus was almost three centuries old before he died. His father was rumored to be much older than that. You just need to settle down a bit."

  "And therein...Lies the problem," Captain Shin says with a snort. "What about you, Nyraxi? How is life treating you on Nuvian Prime? Have you found your great lover yet?"

  "Afraid not. And...I've been missing my family terribly lately. In fact, I was hoping you might be able to take me home. Just for a visit. I could join your crew. I really miss my mom and dad. I want to tell them I'm sorry. Sending a message is expensive. I can barely afford room and board on my salary. Speak nothing of a teleburst message. I just thought...If I became a member of your crew...I could earn my keep. Like I did before. Please, Captain Shin. I won't be any trouble."

  Captain Shin's brow creases and he runs one hand over his chin in thought.

  "Being any trouble...Isn't the problem, Nyraxi. I'm here on official business. I could be here for a rather long time. Now...There is a ship that will be passing by Centaurus Nimbus Eight very soon. The Nebulus. She's just finished a refit and is preparing for her test flight. The captain of the Nebulus is right over there. Captain Aurelia Hilyard. Maybe...You should speak with her about joining her crew?"

  Nyraxi glances where Captain Shin is pointing, and smiles.