Editor Emeritus
Posts: 805
Joined: December 31, 1969, 08:00:00 PM
August 04, 2013, 03:27:41 PM
APHELION FLASH FICTION CONTEST: August '13
The "Science Fiction Pirate" Challenge:
A generous patron who wishes to remain anonymous has again offered $20 U.S.D. for August's Flash Fiction Challenge winner, to be awarded through PayPal or given to their favorite charity.
THE PREMISE: Arr!!! Unpack your tricorn hat and space suit and batten down the hatches. Come on ye swabs! It's time to bring a spring upon her cable and cast off for the nearest nebula to clash with some pirates. There'll be no quarter given this time.
In this challenge we'll get some practice using stock characters effectively. We'll use pirates, but in a science fiction setting. There's plenty of precedent. Whether we're talking about space pirates who seem to show up where there's a poorly armed space freighter orbiting, or steampunk pirates aboard an airship attempting to dominate the Victorian era skies, or alien pirates swashbuckling on the salty seas of some far off world, pirates are a science fiction staple.
But not all science fiction pirates are created equal. Some will look and talk as if they are transplanted from the 17th century Caribbean or the Barbary Coast. But your science fiction pirates certainly don't have to. As long as your characters are pirates in deed, they'll meet our needs. Even if they don't wear tricorn hats and say "Arr." So let's find our sea legs… er space legs…er... let's weigh anchor and have some fun.
SOME EXAMPLES: The science fiction setting and type of pirates you use in this challenge are up to you. If you need some sources of inspiration, below you'll find some examples that may spark your imagination.
"The Pirates of Ersatz" by Murray Leinster tells the story of Bron Hoddan, a brilliant electrical engineer who grew up on the pirate planet of Zan. During the story Hoddan resorts to space piracy himself several times humorously putting together an ersatz pirate crew to outsmart the planetary forces arrayed against him. This story was originally published in the February, March, and April issues of Astounding Science Fiction in 1959. According to Project Gutenberg, it is now in the public domain. So you can read it here if you like: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24035/24035-h/24035-h.htm
The cover art from the February issue is worth a look as it depicts a space pirate climbing a ladder with a slide rule in his mouth instead of the stereotypical dagger.
"Yesterday's Glory" by Aphelion's WebMaven and Production Editor, Robert Wynne, is set in the Mare Inebrium on Bethdish and contains, nestled within its romantic framework, the tale of two young men who outwit space pirates. Check it out here: http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/shorts/mare1rob.htm.
Aphelion Senior Editor, Dan Hollifield, provided a sample story titled "Her Majesty's Gift" for the June 2009 flash fiction challenge. The example is a steampunk story that ends with a battle between the story's protagonists and airship pirates. Check it out here: http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/newforum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1165&start=150#p11249.
Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel Pirates of Venus like ERB's Mars series can be classified as "sword and planet," a subgenre of science fiction where the plot follows a swashbuckling-type adventure that is set on another planet. In this case, the pirates of the title are made up of native Venusians who take up piracy while under the leadership of the novel's protagonist, earthling Carson Napier. These pirates navigate the seas of Amtor, plundering ships with sword and spear even though they have advanced technology and weaponry like r-ray and t-ray guns.
HONING YOUR WRITING SKILL: Since flash fiction is such a short format, we often have to rely on shortcuts to tell a good story. One shortcut would be to make use of stock characters. They are literary stereotypes that have been well established in a given genre. A reader familiar with the genre should have some idea what the stock characters are about without the writer establishing it every time. So in the case of this challenge, you can drop some pirates into your flash story and not waste valuable words explaining their modus operandi. The danger of using stock characters is that they can easily become cliché and, therefore, unconvincing or even silly if they aren't handled carefully.
THE CHALLENGE: So I've tried to leave this one open and give you some examples of possible directions to go. Place some pirates in a science fiction setting of your choosing. Take advantage of these stock characters, but keep them from being cliché. I challenge you to write a science fiction story involving pirates. Good luck, and good writing.
REQUIREMENTS: (1) Your story must be a science fiction or science fiction subgenre story which involves pirates; (2) You must have at least two characters that "talk" to each other in some fashion; (3) 1,000 words or less, not counting title, byline, or "The End"; (4) The characters and story must be fictional and not previously published, even in these challenges; (5) One entry per author; (6) Give your story a title and a byline; and (7) Keep it clean. Rated 'PG-13'. (Basically, think, "Could I see this on CSI?" That allows a lot, really.)
CHARACTERS & SETTING: No copyrighted characters or settings, or references thereto. Famous, non-copyrighted fictional characters like Santa Claus, or religious figures such as the Devil, named angels such as Gabriel, or gods like Thor, etc. as supporting characters at best and at my discretion. The Wicked Witch and Dracula may be in the public domain, but don't expect me to allow them. No person that was ever a "real life" human being may be used as a character, but can be referred to, as in "President Kennedy had declared it would be so." Except as noted above under non-copyrighted fictional persons, character names may not be copied from fiction or real life, even if changed, i.e. Char-less Darween. All non-copyrighted settings are ok. Famous, unique sites like Stonehenge may be used over and again. No fan fiction or sequels, so don't bother putting your story in the Land of Oz or that great place you thought up two challenges ago.
DISQUALIFICATIONS/REFUSALS: If, in my judgment, any requirement or rule is missed, I won't post the story for voting, but authors are free to resubmit with changes until the deadline. Should a story be initially accepted and posted in the challenge, but then later judged by me to be in violation, the story may be disqualified and removed from contention at any time before contest end. Authors who feel a story may be in violation should send me a PM and state their case.
HOW TO ENTER: Stories must be sent by PRIVATE MESSAGE to davidsonhero, and NOT posted into a thread. Just click the 'PM' button at the bottom of this post and paste your story in the message. You are responsible for doing your own formatting, and leave an extra line between paragraphs, just like when you see them in the 'zine. I will allow different colors, but not changed fonts or sizes, artwork, or any other embedded or external links.
DO NOT send a regular email to me.
Stories will be posted "blind"--without the author's name on them. All the story titles are literally tossed into a hat and chosen in random order. When the poll closes after the voting week, I'll post a list of the stories and who wrote them. All entries will then be reposted in the Flash Archive with the author's byline.
Entries from new authors are strongly encouraged. C'mon. Give it a try!
NOTE: ONLY REGISTERED MEMBERS who have posted at least one message may submit a story. Without that one post, the system will not let you send a PM.
DEADLINE: Stories should be in by 9 p.m. Central Standard Time (GMT-6), Sunday, August 18, 2013. The stories will then be posted for voting at approximately 10 p.m. Voting will close on Sunday, August 25th at approximately 9 p.m., GMT-6.
VOTING: Stories are rated on a scale of 0-10 in whole numbers in 6 different categories by filling in scores in a form that is posted by me immediately following the post containing the stories for this challenge. Voters copy and paste the form into a PM and send it to me for tallying. One vote per user (that is, per ip address), and authors may not vote for their own story.
IF YOU WISH TO SCORE A ZERO FOR A STORY, YOU MUST ENTER A ZERO IN THAT POSITION ON THE VOTING FORM. A challenge entrant who does not vote for the other stories will receive a 10% deduction in their own score at the time of contest close, and the other stories will be given marks equalling whatever their story's average is at the time of contest close.
If more than two stories are tied at the end of voting, there will be a succession of one-day runoff votes until a single winner is chosen or the number of winners is reduced to two.
WHAT YOU WIN: Writers get improved short fiction skills, increasing their chances in the marketplace, without the lengthy investment in time a longer story would take. That, as well as bragging rights and pride--there is stiff competition each month amongst some great stories.
LEGAL STUFF: I'll try to do my best lawyer impersonation: By entering this challenge you are technically granting Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy perpetual electronic rights only to post and archive your challenge entry. Aphelion would rather not lay any claim on them at all, but by posting them on a public site, they'd legally count as being published no matter what.
Example story, not eligible for entry:
To Starboard and Eden
by John David Rose
Chad looked up the inner wall of the crater, a vast stone curtain that was the backdrop for his life. Near the rim was a permanent bank of clouds and it was there that he trained his eyes. When a ship came in, it was always at the same trajectory so that it could avoid the yellow spires to the north and safely put down in Sulfur Bay.
"Still nothin'?" Dirck asked half-heartedly. He sat on the ground and lazily pulled clumps of the coarse marsh grass out to throw over the embankment into the water.
Chad didn't answer. He just kept scanning the sky and tried not to second guess what they were about to do. He certainly didn't need Dirck's apathy feeding into his already growing doubts. Then all at once, a big one came in, a Banzi pirate frigate. At first as it dropped into the crater the ship was clothed in a gown of clouds with a trailing train of white vapor. But then its gray jagged edges started to poke through. With excitement, Chad counted the cannon batteries that lined the gun deck. Along its hull from stem to stern were two rows of pulsing blue-flamed retrorockets that fought against gravity and inertia. Finally it set down in the murky water and columns of steam billowed up from its superheated hull. Several supply boats set out from Port Calm toward the frigate in a slow procession.
"Come on, it'll be a long swim, but we should be able to get there right before the sutler's loaders," Chad said. He took off his shirt and wrapped it around his head like a bandanna.
"So ye're surely goin' then?" Dirck asked, lazily getting to his feet. His smirk and persistent squint at once suggested both indolence and flippancy.
"Aye, there's nothin' fer me here anymore: a life in my da's field or workin' in the anorthite mine." He looked across the bay at the only way out of the crater, now floating in her steamy bath. But Port Calm was there in the corner of his right eye. The only city he ever knew. And in the governor's villa, he envisioned Neave, beautiful, spoiled Neave, who was also probably lazing in a steamy bath. It had been her choice. She was sure to be much happier with the vintner's son. Chad spat on the ground.
"Do ye still want to come or not?" he growled at Dirck.
"The glory of the stars's got my head turnin' too. B'sides, I hear them Banzi lasses 'ave four…" Dirck motioned over his chest as he grinned.
***
Pulling themselves onto the gangplank unseen was easy enough. The loaders, older men doing a job but keeping their eyes down so as not to meet the gaze of a Banz, didn't notice the two young men slip into line and march along into the strange cold and stale air of the hold. The first Banz they saw was two heads taller than a man. He had gray leathery skin covered with sinister looking tattoos and a wide mouth with stray teeth protruding. He wore a dark red bandanna that was similar to the style popular in Port Calm. But he also wore a black jumpsuit, adorned with valves and hoses, switches and knobs, that Chad rightly assumed was designed to protect against the rigors of space.
"E's a gruesome one!" Dirck whispered as they walked past. Chad wanted to slug his friend. He knew now it was a mistake bringing Dirck; it had reduced his chances of success. It wasn't until they were sneaking down a corridor leading further into the ship that Chad realized it was his own lack of planning that had actually doomed them. Shortly after, the rough hands of the quartermaster presented them to the captain.
"A woman is cap'ain?" Dirck didn't whisper this time.
"What smells of rotten eggs?" the captain asked. Her voice was lilting and slightly seductive. She lounged on a wide bed propped up by embroidered pillows. Her legs were crossed in a business-like manner. She looked at them with derision.
"Found 'em slinkin' in the engine room Cap'ain," the quartermaster said. He was as big as a bulkhead, the most imposing Banz among imposing Banz.
"You," she said pointing at Dirck who hadn't stopped grinning since they entered the cabin. "What were you looking for? Were you trying to scuttle my ship?"
Chad thought about driving his heel into Dirck's foot before he could speak.
"She does have four," Dirck muttered. Too late.
"Quartermaster, where is shore in relation to the ship?" she asked.
"Off port, Mam," the quartermaster replied.
"Then throw him off starboard."
The quartermaster grabbed Dirck by the shoulders and dragged him down the hall. Chad cringed as Dirck screamed his name in desperation.
"Now, you," the captain said. "What did you hope to find aboard my ship?"
Chad looked down at the floor afraid to raise his eyes. He could feel the fierceness of her gaze penetrating him. His mouth was dry. Now when it came to it, he could hardly speak.
"The… the stars, Mam. There's nothin' for me here."
"I see," she said. She got up from her bed and walked across the cabin. Like the other Banz she was taller than Chad, but not nearly as large as the males of her species.
"Long ago we brought your people here from another planet to maintain this port for us. From time to time we establish new ports as we expand our territory. It just so happens that we have been planning a new port on the third planet in a yellow star system 4.37 light years from here. Do you have a mate, Chad?"
"A… a mate? N… Neave, I love Neave, but she's chosen someone else."
"We're pirates," she said with a reptilian smile. "We take what we want. And I want you, Chad, and Neave to be the first humans to settle Port Eden."
The End
A generous patron who wishes to remain anonymous has again offered $20 U.S.D. for August's Flash Fiction Challenge winner, to be awarded through PayPal or given to their favorite charity.
THE PREMISE: Arr!!! Unpack your tricorn hat and space suit and batten down the hatches. Come on ye swabs! It's time to bring a spring upon her cable and cast off for the nearest nebula to clash with some pirates. There'll be no quarter given this time.
In this challenge we'll get some practice using stock characters effectively. We'll use pirates, but in a science fiction setting. There's plenty of precedent. Whether we're talking about space pirates who seem to show up where there's a poorly armed space freighter orbiting, or steampunk pirates aboard an airship attempting to dominate the Victorian era skies, or alien pirates swashbuckling on the salty seas of some far off world, pirates are a science fiction staple.
But not all science fiction pirates are created equal. Some will look and talk as if they are transplanted from the 17th century Caribbean or the Barbary Coast. But your science fiction pirates certainly don't have to. As long as your characters are pirates in deed, they'll meet our needs. Even if they don't wear tricorn hats and say "Arr." So let's find our sea legs… er space legs…er... let's weigh anchor and have some fun.
SOME EXAMPLES: The science fiction setting and type of pirates you use in this challenge are up to you. If you need some sources of inspiration, below you'll find some examples that may spark your imagination.
"The Pirates of Ersatz" by Murray Leinster tells the story of Bron Hoddan, a brilliant electrical engineer who grew up on the pirate planet of Zan. During the story Hoddan resorts to space piracy himself several times humorously putting together an ersatz pirate crew to outsmart the planetary forces arrayed against him. This story was originally published in the February, March, and April issues of Astounding Science Fiction in 1959. According to Project Gutenberg, it is now in the public domain. So you can read it here if you like: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24035/24035-h/24035-h.htm
The cover art from the February issue is worth a look as it depicts a space pirate climbing a ladder with a slide rule in his mouth instead of the stereotypical dagger.
"Yesterday's Glory" by Aphelion's WebMaven and Production Editor, Robert Wynne, is set in the Mare Inebrium on Bethdish and contains, nestled within its romantic framework, the tale of two young men who outwit space pirates. Check it out here: http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/shorts/mare1rob.htm.
Aphelion Senior Editor, Dan Hollifield, provided a sample story titled "Her Majesty's Gift" for the June 2009 flash fiction challenge. The example is a steampunk story that ends with a battle between the story's protagonists and airship pirates. Check it out here: http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/newforum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1165&start=150#p11249.
Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel Pirates of Venus like ERB's Mars series can be classified as "sword and planet," a subgenre of science fiction where the plot follows a swashbuckling-type adventure that is set on another planet. In this case, the pirates of the title are made up of native Venusians who take up piracy while under the leadership of the novel's protagonist, earthling Carson Napier. These pirates navigate the seas of Amtor, plundering ships with sword and spear even though they have advanced technology and weaponry like r-ray and t-ray guns.
HONING YOUR WRITING SKILL: Since flash fiction is such a short format, we often have to rely on shortcuts to tell a good story. One shortcut would be to make use of stock characters. They are literary stereotypes that have been well established in a given genre. A reader familiar with the genre should have some idea what the stock characters are about without the writer establishing it every time. So in the case of this challenge, you can drop some pirates into your flash story and not waste valuable words explaining their modus operandi. The danger of using stock characters is that they can easily become cliché and, therefore, unconvincing or even silly if they aren't handled carefully.
THE CHALLENGE: So I've tried to leave this one open and give you some examples of possible directions to go. Place some pirates in a science fiction setting of your choosing. Take advantage of these stock characters, but keep them from being cliché. I challenge you to write a science fiction story involving pirates. Good luck, and good writing.
REQUIREMENTS: (1) Your story must be a science fiction or science fiction subgenre story which involves pirates; (2) You must have at least two characters that "talk" to each other in some fashion; (3) 1,000 words or less, not counting title, byline, or "The End"; (4) The characters and story must be fictional and not previously published, even in these challenges; (5) One entry per author; (6) Give your story a title and a byline; and (7) Keep it clean. Rated 'PG-13'. (Basically, think, "Could I see this on CSI?" That allows a lot, really.)
CHARACTERS & SETTING: No copyrighted characters or settings, or references thereto. Famous, non-copyrighted fictional characters like Santa Claus, or religious figures such as the Devil, named angels such as Gabriel, or gods like Thor, etc. as supporting characters at best and at my discretion. The Wicked Witch and Dracula may be in the public domain, but don't expect me to allow them. No person that was ever a "real life" human being may be used as a character, but can be referred to, as in "President Kennedy had declared it would be so." Except as noted above under non-copyrighted fictional persons, character names may not be copied from fiction or real life, even if changed, i.e. Char-less Darween. All non-copyrighted settings are ok. Famous, unique sites like Stonehenge may be used over and again. No fan fiction or sequels, so don't bother putting your story in the Land of Oz or that great place you thought up two challenges ago.
DISQUALIFICATIONS/REFUSALS: If, in my judgment, any requirement or rule is missed, I won't post the story for voting, but authors are free to resubmit with changes until the deadline. Should a story be initially accepted and posted in the challenge, but then later judged by me to be in violation, the story may be disqualified and removed from contention at any time before contest end. Authors who feel a story may be in violation should send me a PM and state their case.
HOW TO ENTER: Stories must be sent by PRIVATE MESSAGE to davidsonhero, and NOT posted into a thread. Just click the 'PM' button at the bottom of this post and paste your story in the message. You are responsible for doing your own formatting, and leave an extra line between paragraphs, just like when you see them in the 'zine. I will allow different colors, but not changed fonts or sizes, artwork, or any other embedded or external links.
DO NOT send a regular email to me.
Stories will be posted "blind"--without the author's name on them. All the story titles are literally tossed into a hat and chosen in random order. When the poll closes after the voting week, I'll post a list of the stories and who wrote them. All entries will then be reposted in the Flash Archive with the author's byline.
Entries from new authors are strongly encouraged. C'mon. Give it a try!
NOTE: ONLY REGISTERED MEMBERS who have posted at least one message may submit a story. Without that one post, the system will not let you send a PM.
DEADLINE: Stories should be in by 9 p.m. Central Standard Time (GMT-6), Sunday, August 18, 2013. The stories will then be posted for voting at approximately 10 p.m. Voting will close on Sunday, August 25th at approximately 9 p.m., GMT-6.
VOTING: Stories are rated on a scale of 0-10 in whole numbers in 6 different categories by filling in scores in a form that is posted by me immediately following the post containing the stories for this challenge. Voters copy and paste the form into a PM and send it to me for tallying. One vote per user (that is, per ip address), and authors may not vote for their own story.
IF YOU WISH TO SCORE A ZERO FOR A STORY, YOU MUST ENTER A ZERO IN THAT POSITION ON THE VOTING FORM. A challenge entrant who does not vote for the other stories will receive a 10% deduction in their own score at the time of contest close, and the other stories will be given marks equalling whatever their story's average is at the time of contest close.
If more than two stories are tied at the end of voting, there will be a succession of one-day runoff votes until a single winner is chosen or the number of winners is reduced to two.
WHAT YOU WIN: Writers get improved short fiction skills, increasing their chances in the marketplace, without the lengthy investment in time a longer story would take. That, as well as bragging rights and pride--there is stiff competition each month amongst some great stories.
LEGAL STUFF: I'll try to do my best lawyer impersonation: By entering this challenge you are technically granting Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy perpetual electronic rights only to post and archive your challenge entry. Aphelion would rather not lay any claim on them at all, but by posting them on a public site, they'd legally count as being published no matter what.
Example story, not eligible for entry:
To Starboard and Eden
by John David Rose
Chad looked up the inner wall of the crater, a vast stone curtain that was the backdrop for his life. Near the rim was a permanent bank of clouds and it was there that he trained his eyes. When a ship came in, it was always at the same trajectory so that it could avoid the yellow spires to the north and safely put down in Sulfur Bay.
"Still nothin'?" Dirck asked half-heartedly. He sat on the ground and lazily pulled clumps of the coarse marsh grass out to throw over the embankment into the water.
Chad didn't answer. He just kept scanning the sky and tried not to second guess what they were about to do. He certainly didn't need Dirck's apathy feeding into his already growing doubts. Then all at once, a big one came in, a Banzi pirate frigate. At first as it dropped into the crater the ship was clothed in a gown of clouds with a trailing train of white vapor. But then its gray jagged edges started to poke through. With excitement, Chad counted the cannon batteries that lined the gun deck. Along its hull from stem to stern were two rows of pulsing blue-flamed retrorockets that fought against gravity and inertia. Finally it set down in the murky water and columns of steam billowed up from its superheated hull. Several supply boats set out from Port Calm toward the frigate in a slow procession.
"Come on, it'll be a long swim, but we should be able to get there right before the sutler's loaders," Chad said. He took off his shirt and wrapped it around his head like a bandanna.
"So ye're surely goin' then?" Dirck asked, lazily getting to his feet. His smirk and persistent squint at once suggested both indolence and flippancy.
"Aye, there's nothin' fer me here anymore: a life in my da's field or workin' in the anorthite mine." He looked across the bay at the only way out of the crater, now floating in her steamy bath. But Port Calm was there in the corner of his right eye. The only city he ever knew. And in the governor's villa, he envisioned Neave, beautiful, spoiled Neave, who was also probably lazing in a steamy bath. It had been her choice. She was sure to be much happier with the vintner's son. Chad spat on the ground.
"Do ye still want to come or not?" he growled at Dirck.
"The glory of the stars's got my head turnin' too. B'sides, I hear them Banzi lasses 'ave four…" Dirck motioned over his chest as he grinned.
***
Pulling themselves onto the gangplank unseen was easy enough. The loaders, older men doing a job but keeping their eyes down so as not to meet the gaze of a Banz, didn't notice the two young men slip into line and march along into the strange cold and stale air of the hold. The first Banz they saw was two heads taller than a man. He had gray leathery skin covered with sinister looking tattoos and a wide mouth with stray teeth protruding. He wore a dark red bandanna that was similar to the style popular in Port Calm. But he also wore a black jumpsuit, adorned with valves and hoses, switches and knobs, that Chad rightly assumed was designed to protect against the rigors of space.
"E's a gruesome one!" Dirck whispered as they walked past. Chad wanted to slug his friend. He knew now it was a mistake bringing Dirck; it had reduced his chances of success. It wasn't until they were sneaking down a corridor leading further into the ship that Chad realized it was his own lack of planning that had actually doomed them. Shortly after, the rough hands of the quartermaster presented them to the captain.
"A woman is cap'ain?" Dirck didn't whisper this time.
"What smells of rotten eggs?" the captain asked. Her voice was lilting and slightly seductive. She lounged on a wide bed propped up by embroidered pillows. Her legs were crossed in a business-like manner. She looked at them with derision.
"Found 'em slinkin' in the engine room Cap'ain," the quartermaster said. He was as big as a bulkhead, the most imposing Banz among imposing Banz.
"You," she said pointing at Dirck who hadn't stopped grinning since they entered the cabin. "What were you looking for? Were you trying to scuttle my ship?"
Chad thought about driving his heel into Dirck's foot before he could speak.
"She does have four," Dirck muttered. Too late.
"Quartermaster, where is shore in relation to the ship?" she asked.
"Off port, Mam," the quartermaster replied.
"Then throw him off starboard."
The quartermaster grabbed Dirck by the shoulders and dragged him down the hall. Chad cringed as Dirck screamed his name in desperation.
"Now, you," the captain said. "What did you hope to find aboard my ship?"
Chad looked down at the floor afraid to raise his eyes. He could feel the fierceness of her gaze penetrating him. His mouth was dry. Now when it came to it, he could hardly speak.
"The… the stars, Mam. There's nothin' for me here."
"I see," she said. She got up from her bed and walked across the cabin. Like the other Banz she was taller than Chad, but not nearly as large as the males of her species.
"Long ago we brought your people here from another planet to maintain this port for us. From time to time we establish new ports as we expand our territory. It just so happens that we have been planning a new port on the third planet in a yellow star system 4.37 light years from here. Do you have a mate, Chad?"
"A… a mate? N… Neave, I love Neave, but she's chosen someone else."
"We're pirates," she said with a reptilian smile. "We take what we want. And I want you, Chad, and Neave to be the first humans to settle Port Eden."
The End
