***

It was already nightfall by the time we reached the city.

"Hey kid"
"Yeah?"

We had traveled but a few hours and already I was growing fond of the kid. It takes a while for someone new to open up, but if you're skilled... well you get the picture. From what I could tell Aaron was originally from the desert. He had some sort of master, who died... he was the one who made the twin blades. I can only imagine that if he lived in the desert he got caught up in the uprising earlier this year. It's too bad, he could have had a quiet life.

"What do you say we leave this planet?"
He looked at me. "Leave? Where would we go?"

I paused. I didn't really have a place in mind. "I don't know. I'm just kind of sick of this place. Where would you want to go?"

He thought a minute and gazed back over the landscape behind us.
"Can we go to the Capital?"

Yep, he must have been involved with the uprising if he wants to go to the Capital. I don't care, as long as he doesn't get himself... or me... killed.
"Sure, let's go."

As we entered the city the dark buildings loomed ever closer. I wasn't much for buildings. I wasn't much for... well anything man made. It always had an impact you didn't want. This planet was rather new to the empire. It was designed as a mining colony. The imperial soldiers made some sort of deal with the former king of this land. But, as these things do, things went rather south from there. The king fled, or was killed... that part is uncertain, and the BC, bureau of colonization, took over the governing of this world. Once they started their thing, this world became just like any other colony world, and we who had sought refuge in this quiet corner of the universe went on the run again. So we were off. To the capital. Great.

"Tickets please."

I looked up. I hadn't realized we were already at the gateway. The ticketmaster just stared at me.

"Tickets please."

I glanced around. Well here's for nothing. I inserted a yellow card into the slot provided at the window. The window went dark for a moment then the ticketmaster reappeared.

"Which flight?"

This one would be harder. I hadn't hitchhiked to the Capital before. I doubt security would be as lax as elsewhere. I tapped the space on the glass that singled the capital with my gloved hand.

"Have a nice flight."

Wow. That was easy.

I took out an extra pair of gloves.
"Hey kid, do me a favor and from this point forward wear these. I don't really want to be followed and I assume you're of like mind."

He nodded and took the gloves. Well at least that's a start. The gloves were form fitting and allowed heat to pass through them. They allowed you to use things like that ticketmaster without leaving a fingerprint. A staple.

"Ok, no use waiting around. Let's get on."

The ship was a passenger flight. Nothing special, but at least it wasn't an official colonial vessel. We got on, past the simple entrance and through to the main entry way. This wasn't the longest flight in the system but it would probably take a couple of weeks. We got to our cabin and he sat down on one of the beds. At least the cabin was nice.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, it's just the first time I'll be off this planet."

So he was born here. Good to know.
"Well, it's a start of an adventure. Yes?

"Yep." He smiled. At least he was happy.