Orbital by bill zhao copyright 2017 Bill Zhao Table of Contents act one (earth)

The Knights of the Cove wore the same armour as the High Elites, only
theirs was painted light grey with dark gold details. They boarded the
ship first, and as the other guards made their way in, Derek took one
last opportunity to examine the executive ship. It looked like a two tier
fighter craft, only with weapons and engines tuned to the max and the
same paint scheme as the executive guards. “I know my ship is bloody
beautiful, but I assure you, it’s just as beautiful on the inside as it is on
the outside. Now come on in.” Derek took one final glance before
stepping inside. Cold and hard on the outside, warm, soft and awfully
expensive looking on the inside. “Well go on, sit down, enjoy yourself
while it lasts!” exclaimed Martin. “I don’t want to break anything. It
all looks so valuable” said Derek, breaking his silent streak. “The man
speaks! Don’t go all bloody quiet on me for so long. It gives Wyatt here
the creeps” Martin laughed. “Here we go then.” Martin held up a glass
of wine. “To the Icarus!”
20
Halcyon
Lullaby, Solar System
The ship started to take off. Derek barely even noticed. Never before
had he ever seen a fighter craft lift off with such grace, and as he
peered out the window to look down, Martin commented with a new
calmness “not used it are you, the sudden slight shift in verticality at
such negligible effect to the hosts. You could’ve had it all. You still can.
But afterwards. After we see.” Derek turned back to face him. He
didn’t need to watch the emptiness outside to know that they had exited
the station. Martin continued “this really is all new to you, isn’t it?
Wherever you look there’s beauty, purity, perfection, whether it be the
inside of my humble vessel or the infinite wonders and star littered