Waste of a Life
Lifeless button eyes stared at the young man. He stroked the worn limbs of the poorly sewn doll, its simple dress torn at the hem. Ash smeared the white fabric.
Heavy boots echoed near.
He shoved the toy into his desk drawer before the door swung wide.
“Your father requests you, Lord Quaid.”
Ambitious Plans for Untold Rewards
Ripe dates thudded into the eager boy’s hand. With a sly smile, he pocketed his payment and ran across the stone streets. He took his place at the corner, waving his arms like frail fairy wings to catch the attention of potential buyers.
“Is it wise, sir?” Quaid leaned against the rugged stone of the colosseum.
Jax had to weave through the crowd of people entering and exiting the white palace of commerce. He swiped a couple wallets on his way and snatched an apple from a woman’s shopping bag. Tossing his ill-gotten wages to his lieutenant, he said, “A little marketing fairy gets our job done while we focus on more important matters.”
Profitable Prospects for the Future
Jax looked over the sands of Treble but saw only gold. The feeble inhabitants had no imagination, couldn’t see how lucrative their backwater planet was.
Stepping around the charred remains of the greeting committee, he circled his arm in the air. “Get digging.” Commotion followed behind him, his contingent resetting the Raven Breath and unloading diggers from the ships. Soon the shouts became grinding and whirring, the coarse sand shuddering with the efforts of heavy equipment.
“Commander.”