NationStates Jolt Archive

In collaboration with the Astro-Docks, the Board of Education announced the start of an international programme for foreign students.

Lagrange 4 is a colony built on a stable point between Terra and Luna, based around several asteroids with facilities mined inside or hugging the surface. The economy focuses on manufacturing goods in micro-gravity.

Our remote location somewhat slows the development of international relations, so it has been decided that action should be taken. The intention of this programme is to familiarise students with L4 society and to teach them theoretical and practical skills about space. In addition to astrophysics lessons, they will perform spacewalks in powered suits and ultimately manned space flights.

Any preliminary applications are now welcome.

Detailed information

The programme is open to all students of 14 to 20 years. There will be four classes in total. Final placement will be determined by aptitude tests and the preferences of the students.
We can accommodate 100 applicants in total. We hope that space agencies and other relevant institutions screen for pupils who are suitable for six months' stay in space. There are no rigorous physical demands, but heart disease and high blood pressure may cause more serious health problems.

Education will focus on the natural sciences and their applications in near space. A considerable amount of time will be reserved for microgravity training. To help students feel at home, there will be an optional course in Social Studies. It will feature lectures on Transhumanism, the primary political ideology of L4.

Student housing is located in the main biospheres of Dawn City, the de facto "capital" of the Colony. The classes will interact daily with the spacers, so language skills are compulsory for the programme applicants. Major languages spoken here are English , French, Japanese, Russian, Chinese and Indian.

L4 is a very liberal environment with lower age limits for most activity than on Earth. Young people from religious or socially conservative environments may feel uncomfortable at first.

OOC: See the Factbook entry for the nation and region for more info

The Federation of Glorious Humanity is interested in sending students to this training programme. Due to recent grants by the President and the people, the Ministry of Space finally has adequate funding and resources to begin moving Glorious Humanity among the stars. The training this programme offers seems to us to be just the thing to help kickstart our fledging space exploration.

Please send more information regarding how many students we are allowed to send, what costs there will be, and what time the training shall start. We can transport our students in our own shuttles, although they are not up to par with the some of the more advanced space-faring nations, they can certainly reach Earth's moon, and thus should have no trouble reaching a point between Earth and Luna.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Gerald Kosson
Minister of Space
Federation of Glorious Humanity

The final group should have 15 to 25 people of different ages. Even if some are not chosen for the programme, they will be given the chance to spend two weeks in L4. Accommodation will be in the Immigrant Dormitories, a section of Dawn City with simulated gravity.

Everyone at the Board send their greetings to the arrivals.

For Immediate Release

It seems we have located a target for the final excursion.

A large, stationary asteroid with exremely low albedo was found near the fifth Lagrange point. We plan on diverting its course so that it will stay there. The mission is relatively simple, the kind usually used to train junior crews. We believe that this would give the class valuable experience in space manoeuvering.
The Astro-Dock would be responsible for the students' safety.

--Evita Asahikawa, Regional Survey

We at The Weegies are intrigued by your program, and wish to send students to participate in this program. We would also wish to know how many students we are allowed to send, if we have to contribute to the program, and for how long the training shall last. The Weegie Space Program, helped by our fellow CACE members has helped us develop rockets. We will probably be able to make it to the Colony

David Yossarian,
Weegie Space Program.

Incoming image feed
(A cartoon-stylised female imp materialises on the vid screen in D. Yossarian's office, in full 3D. She curtseys.)

Hi! Got your query, so here's some info. :wink:

We at The Weegies are intrigued by your program, and wish to send students to participate in this program.

Cool! I put a virtual sticky of that at the Ed. Board block's entrance. :D

We would also wish to know how many students we are allowed to send

Just like GH, send 15-25 here. We'll screen them down to 10, so the rest can have fun here for a coupla weeks! 8)

if we have to contribute to the program

Nope! You just have to pay for shipping them here, the rest is paid by the L4 folks. :)

and for how long the training shall last

Six months! Well, if they want, they can finish school here (takes a coupla years), but that makes it a bit more complicated. :?
I'll ask someone to send you info on longer stays if you want. :idea:

The Weegie Space Program, helped by our fellow CACE members has helped us develop rockets. We will probably be able to make it to the Colony

See you soon! :wink:
Oh, where are my manners... :oops:

Signed,
Cleo, the L4 Education Board Mailer Daemon

Bye! :D

Feed ends

The Federation of Glorious Humanity shall be sending twenty-five members of our astronaut force. They will be travelling on Shuttle GH629, nicknamed Spiff, and should arrive in a week or so.

Gerald Kosson
Minister of Space
Federation of Glorious Humanity

Glorious Humanity shall be sending twenty-five members of our astronaut force.

OOC: Remember, ages 14-20. This is a space high school. :D

We have decided to send 25 of our most eager and smartest students to your program. We hope they will explain and teach us about space travel and other needs we need in our new exploration for a position in space. They will be coming in on the space shuttle Galactica, ETA 1 week.

Bani Terril
Governor
New Golden Falcon

L4 colony.

Thank you for your prompt - if a tad unorthodox - reply. Then again, we've never been a fan of orthodoxy... the leader of the country hasn't worn a suit his entire life.

We'll send the minimum of 15 - our largest rocket wouldn't be able to hold more plus a crew. Expect a small delay in their arrival - we'll have to give them our own preparations on space travel. We wouldn't want someone throwing up on the controls. Say a couple of weeks, at the least?

I hope we can influence you as much as you influence us. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

D. Yossarian.

OOC: In the Federation the age of majority is sixteen, and standard recruitment age for space training is seventeen or eighteen. We understand the value of getting them young too. :D

*************************************************************

The Federation Shuttle Spiff approached Lagrange 4. Technically the shuttle did not have a name, just a number designation. But back on Earth some joker had stenciled Spiff on one side, and the name had stuck.

It was rumored that Jack Golas and Kim Rodgers, the pilots of Spiff, were the jokers responsible. Jack certainly had a flair for jokes, even when the cracks weren't funny. They were currently flying the shuttle, and having an argument.

"I'm telling you this thing can do a barrel roll, and everybody's strapped down. There'd be no human pinball back there," Golas was arguing.

"Fine, do it," Rodgers replied. "You get to clean up the free-floating barf. The people back there are nervous enough already, messing with their heads will not help matters."

Golas was cut off from further talk as a light on his console flashed. "Hello, we're in hailing range." He switched on his comm and adjusted the frequency to one that would reach Lagrange 4. "Morning or whatever time it is there! This is Spaceman Spiff and I got my death ray set to frappe! Where do I land?"

Rodgers flicked on her comm. "Forgive my co-pilot, he thinks he's funnier than he really is. This is Federation Shuttle GH629, bringing Glorious Humanity's load of hopefuls. Where should we land?"

We shall send 12 of our brightest studants, including Emperor Kisar's son, Kyle Starchaser.

Ages of Teens:16 (Kyles 17)

Golas was cut off from further talk as a light on his console flashed. "Hello, we're in hailing range." He switched on his comm and adjusted the frequency to one that would reach Lagrange 4. "Morning or whatever time it is there! This is Spaceman Spiff and I got my death ray set to frappe! Where do I land?"

Rodgers flicked on her comm. "Forgive my co-pilot, he thinks he's funnier than he really is. This is Federation Shuttle GH629, bringing Glorious Humanity's load of hopefuls. Where should we land?"

A male voice with a thick accent (Jamaican?) greets the crew.
"Yeah, we saw your approach there. Your handling is pretty good. Officer Lewis will show you the entrance chute. L4 out."

About 1500 metres from the GH629, on its trajectory, Rodgers notices a familiar sight: police lights. As it exits the shadow of the colonial asteroid, the object's shape becomes visible. It is a bulky, four-legged machine, almost 2.5 metres in length, bristling with control thrusters.
"Morning. The chute is on the 'day' side, so you'll have to follow me for a bit. Stay on my vector."

As the shuttle approached the sunlit side of the bundle of clustered asteroids, the crew see the surface details of their destination. The three city-sized space rocks are criss-crossed by surface installations shaped like hexes and pylons. An opening appears on one of the larger structures, located next to a slowly spinning ring about 1 km in diameter.

"Cut your thrust and hit the brakes for a bit, the magnetic actuators and docking arms will do the rest. Oh, and welcome to L4. Lewis out."

a TSD Sentinal-class shuttle approches Lagrange 4.

the shuttle opens a hailing frequency and Commander Grethar speaks


Commander Grethar:This is the TSD Shuttle TSS-21, we are carrying Soviet Trasa's studants and Kyle Starchaser to the Area where you are taking Studants, please respond

Supervisor Bryan Wolton:

"Welcome, mon. The brass took some extra precautions regarding the young Starchaser. He's got a personal ID tag waiting, plus some cops to look after him. And you're just in time. Another shuttle is docking at the 'day' side. Just follow the guide lights. The entrance chute is illuminated green.
Welcome to L4."

The Trasan national anthem playing in the background fades as the link is closed.

We'll send the minimum of 15 - our largest rocket wouldn't be able to hold more plus a crew. Expect a small delay in their arrival - we'll have to give them our own preparations on space travel. We wouldn't want someone throwing up on the controls. Say a couple of weeks, at the least?


Greetings. I read the sticky Cleo placed at the door. I hope she didn't annoy you too much.
We're aware of the challenges inherent in space travel, so take your time with the preparations. Better safe than sorry. Besides, preliminary training will make adapting here easier, since the practical courses will be quite intense. We look forward to meeting your young talents.

--Mikael Saari, Principal, Dawn City High School

We have decided to send 25 of our most eager and smartest students to your program. We hope they will explain and teach us about space travel and other needs we need in our new exploration for a position in space. They will be coming in on the space shuttle Galactica, ETA 1 week.


They are most welcome here. We'll do our best to turn 10 of them into versatile space-farers in six months' time. It's still too early to discuss specialisation training, but we'll return to that subject after classes start.
The spacers look forward to seeing the NGF applicants next week.

--Mikael Saari, Principal, Dawn City High School

Grether nods

Commander Grether:Affermative, we are starting our approch now, we would prefer to let our studants rest when they first arrive, they have had a long trip and they are tired, therefore please no fancy greetings, just a single representative will do nicly.

the landingcraft follows the lights and docks with the asteroid, the ramp lowers and the studants start to walk down

The landing hangar is shaped like a dodecahedron, where each wall doubles as a floor. A magnetised surface makes for stable footing. The gravity is barely noticeable.
All the walls are a shade of bluish gray, with luminescent strips that light the way.
Several security officers in body armour are waiting.
A tall, slender man approaches, first floating in mid-air, then landing as the magnetic surface pulls him down. He is wearing a dark blue bodysuit with thermal strips. A logo with four orange hexes indicates that he is a civil servant. His skin is pale, almost white, and his orange hair is cut short.
"Greetings. I am Francis, your guide in L4. You must all be very tired, so I'll show you your rooms at the dormitory. The reception will be tomorrow, so you'll have time to call home and rest. Your rooms will have simulated gravity. Please follow me."

The escort leads the GH and Trasan arrivals to a tube that propels them forwards. As they float along it, they see tropical plants in display rooms embedded in its six walls.
After two minutes, the floor becomes magnetised again and a door opens to one of the walls.
It leads to a moving corridor. Upon stepping inside, the arrivals feel gravity for the first time.

"Your rooms are labeled with your names. Rest well."

Francis smiles and waves, then disappears into the lift.

The quarters have inclined walls. Luminescent strips on the ceiling cast a white light inside. Every room has a houseplant, most commonly a micrograv-grown cactus or a potato plant. There are also odd-looking mushrooms.
The wall adjacent to the entrance is entirely transparent, giving a view of an undersea environment. As the quarters are at the rim of the rotating dormitory ring, the waters next to them are at a high pressure, simulating the deep sea at a depth of 1000 metres. There are glass sponges and branching corals in view, with coloured sand and rock.
Brittlestars swim near the windows. An occasional sea spider saunters by, attracted by the light. Glowing fish shine in the distance.

OOC: some animals (http://oceanlink.island.net/oinfo/deepsea/bathy.html)

the Trasian staudants walk inside their quarters


Kyle too walks inside , he finds his quarters acceptable with himself and he lay's down on the bed and close's his eyes and rests


meanwhile the Shuttle request's permission to leave



Pilot Yia:This is shuttle TSS-21 requesting permission to disembark.

Wolton responds:
"Yah, roger that, TSS-21. I'll upload the space weather and some other data that you'll need. Looks like a nice day out there for now. Have a safe flight. L4 out."

he nods and takes off

he turns off the comm unit and consentrates on piloting

Golas went through a final pre-launch supply checklist while Rodgers went through a thorough systems check. Everything was green, and both pilots strapped themselves in, then Golas radioed Lagrange.

"Alright ladies and germs, we've dropped off our party people and are ready to head home. Requesting permission to take off."

*************************************************************

The layout of the living quarters drew several appreciative whistles from the Glorious Humanity students. Many of them wandered around as much as they were allowed, admiring the views and the architecture. Finally, after a couple hours most of them sought their beds.

In his apartment Larry Soros stayed up for another hour, staring in wonder at the undersea world that seemed to exist just outside his bedroom. The world of the ocean had always been a source of fascination for the young man, and he could not take his eyes off the creatures. Finally, he lay down and fell asleep.

Francis Stevenson, now out of uniform, entered the Hydroponics quarter of Dawn City. Although only 500m away from the honeycomb of residential blocks, this was an idyllic rural community, home to the romantics and homesick immigrants of L4. Even here, the newly-installed EyeDee system was everywhere. As it read Francis' tag, the AI reacted.

"Hi Francis. Are you looking for someone?"

He stopped and looked around.
"Yeah... Is Wolton here?"

"Yes, in his quarters. Shall I tell him you're coming?"

With an affirmative nod, Francis headed for the section labeled "Winter Garden". Overhead, a black sky was dominated by the glare of the noon sun, polarised by the thick transparent outer wall. Earth would rise soon, with the crescent moon already up in the west.
The humidity was much higher here. As he passed a copse of willow trees, the sunlight formed visible pillars in the light mist. Butterflies navigated deftly in the air with the lack of a downward pull. Fallen leaves floated here and there, pushed lightly by the breeze.

Wolton had the luxury of owning a small plantation where he grew sweet potatoes, grapes and hemp. Having been alerted of his guest, he was already at the entrance.
The tall Jamaican hadn't worn dreadlocks for years now. The lack of gravity made long hair a bit of a nuisance.
"Look who's here. Come on in, I was making supper."

Francis entered Wolton's minimally furnished quarters. He leaned on one of the hammock-like chairs and remarked on the smell.
"Deep-frying bananas? You'll get fat if you eat like this every day."

"Ah, come on mon. You know I'm getting my exercise. How about an appetiser?"
Wolton offered a joint. Francis accepted it.

"Thanks. Did you get to see the transfer students yet? What do you make of them?"

Wolton bounded to the kitchen and replied, "Just spoke to them via comm-link. Seemed like nice kids. I hope they get along with the others."

Francis paused for a while, blowing the sweet smoke out of the screen window to the sunlit gardens.
"Yes... I actually had an idea. We could set up chat-links to their quarters so that they could to talk to the spacer kids. You know, getting to know our people before they can move around outside the Dormitory."

Wolton entered the room with a bundle of food.
"Not bad. It's easier to make a good first impression when you're not flushed and feeling sick all the time."

"That's my point. I'll get Maintenance on it tomorrow. Now, give me one of those bananas."

The simulated day is 25 hours long in L4. The new arrivals retired to their rooms around 1900 hours. Out of common decency, the Principal wanted to give them two hours for unpacking and eleven hours for rest.
At 0800 the following day, a message window appears on the transparent wall of each room occupied by the student candidates.
It features the L4 flag/logo:
http://www.nationstates.net/images/flags/uploads/lagrange_4.jpg
...and Cleo, the Mailer Daemon.

"Morning all! :D
Hope you had a nice rest. We're all glad to have you here.
We're serving breakfast upstairs from where you are now. You can ask the security guys where the closest lift is at. :wink:
Your rooms have showers, so you can wash all that space shuttle dust if you haven't done so already.
After you've eaten, it's test time! :twisted:
So look sharp, and have a brilliant day! 8) "

after hearing the message the Traisan Studants INCLUDING Kyle quickly wash up and get their Clothes on


about less then 2 minutes later the Trasians make way for upstairs

Security officers in light powered armour accompany the Trasans into the lift. They all have name tags that report their rank.
Junior Officer Dechamps hands out ID markers for everyone.

"EyeDee can tell who you are by these tags. This is a variant we give to visitors. Carry it on your person wherever you go. If you need computer time, she will point you to a free public terminal or just search the data for you. This goes to your left or right ear..."

He hands everyone a miniature headset.

"It doubles as a cell phone."

The lift comes to a halt. Its door opens to reveal a large cafeteria. Just like in the student quarters, one of the walls is a large window to the aquarium. The hall is about 20 metres in height, with seating room for hundreds of people. At the moment, there are a couple of dozen guests having breakfast at the tables. Folk of all ethnicities walk around in dark blue uniforms or in ordinary clothing. Spacers are clearly distinguishable from the recent immigrants.

OOC: The Trasans probably know at least this much by now:
Spacers are humans who have spent most of their lives in microgravity. They grow tall and slender, with nimble bodies and pale skin due to lack of pigmentation and low blood pressure. Their skeletons are mostly hard cartilage instead of bone, which makes their joints flexible. Free from the effect of gravity, fatty tissues don't grow "saggy" or wrinkled. Spacers' feet are almost as delicate as their hands. They are used for grasping and typing more frequently than for supporting any weight.

Benign tumors and moles are routinely removed. Despite extensive shielding, there is considerably more radiation in L4 than on Earth. Even a minor tumor may turn malign.

There are some unexplained phenomena related to life in L4. For some reason, children mature faster and have increased temperature tolerance. Some experience vision problems and require surgery.

Soros took his time getting showered and dressed, and then joined the rest of his group as they trooped to the lift.

He was bemused by everything about him, the place, the people, everything was so strange and at the same time so familiar. He saw lots of Earth touches, but at the same time as they passed a large window, he saw the Earth itself, and knew for sure he wasn't on his home planet.

Many of the kids were obviously nervous, as virtually all of them had never even been off-planet. For Soros however, this was exciting beyond exciting. He was actually out in space, and he was going to learn how to work in space. This was going to be great.

the Trasians sit down at a table and start to talk amoung eachother


Frelar:So Kyle, how does it feel to be out of the TSD HQ in Kieales for once?


Kyle turns to him while sitting down

Kyle:I don't know, i am worried about my sister though.


Frelar:who Rei?

Kyle gives him a playful smack on the side of frelar's head


Kyle:Here's your sign you "Ira Vor Tala" of coarse her you numwit

Frelar:Ohhhh! now we are using THAT insult eh?

they resume talking to their friends

A tall spacer approaches the guests. He is a man in his forties, wearing a suit bearing the L4 logo. His frame is larger than usual, revealing that he was not born in space.

"Morning, everyone. I am Mikael Saari, principal of the school. I came to tell you of the tests that will begin today. I advise you to take it easy and do what feels right. Many of the assignments might seem strange and pointless, but these are all well-tested methods. Remember that even if you're not selected, it doesn't mean that you have no future as an astronaut. This program is only one of many. There are other ways to study to become a space-farer.
Well, enjoy your breakfast. Tests begin in three hours."

OOC: Ten GH citizens and ten Trasians pass the test, forming the first class. The qualification is not based just on intelligence, knowledge, fitness or piloting skill. The structure of an applicant's nervous system is analysed to see how well they could adapt to direct neural link interfaces. This is just something you're born with and can't know beforehand. There may be some unlikely picks in the final class, not just the obvious "elite".

*beep*

This is the space rocket Soren, requesting permission to enter orbit to begin docking proceedure.

*beep*

"Acknowledged, Soren. You're a bit early. The next batch of applicants will be tested a week from now. We do have their quarters ready, at any rate."

Streaks of light appear on Soren's HUD display as the approach vectors are plotted.

"Just cut your thrust and let the dockers attach you."

Several four-legged machines limpet onto the Soren's hull. They fire their thrusters in unison and carefully drag the rocket in the entry hangar.

As the air lock closes, more members of the dock crew swarm inside. Mechanics prepare an entry ramp while a fire crew is treating the hull with some type of gas nozzles. A four-legged tick-like robot painted like a fire engine occupies half of the hangar.
A colony official stands waiting near the rocket's exit hatch, accompanied by three security officers and a doctor.

Inside the rocket:
"Soren? A major particle shower hit you just before your entry. This is standard procedure whenever that occurs. We'll have Dr. Moor check you before showing you the dormitory"

"Okay. Thanks for that, L4. It's a long way home for us crew members, and we don't want anyone affected. The kids'll go down to the surface with you, won't they?"

"Well, this is as close to the surface as it gets on L4. Their quarters are on the other side of the asteroid, just half an hour's train ride from here. And don't worry, they'll sleep in simulated gravity."

[OOC: Are we supposed to make up names for the people who pass and then post it, or are you going to roleplay the tests?]

[OOC: Just write the names. I'm not RPing the tests.]

After the tests (however long they took) Soros and the other nine of the ten finalists from Glorious Humanity were in the cafeteria grabbing a snack.

Soros had passed of course. His enthusiasm and natural aptitude went a long way. His friend Donald Jackson had also made it, as had Jamie Masters, Lily del Lira, Kenneth Young, Adam Kissinger, Laura Weaver, and surprisingly to some so had Kelsey Lireu, Jonathan Fletcher, and Isolda Hilmar. The last three were interesting to Soros because they were empaths, already pegged for Psi Corp training back home. Then again, having people like that in space could probably be a good thing...

Soros shrugged to himself. As usual, the empaths were sitting in their own group a little ways away from the rest. It wasn't that they were disliked or mistrusted by the others, it was just that Isolda Hilmar was a very attractive girl, and none of the normal guys wanted her reading their feelings about her. Soros had to admit he'd entertained his own fantasies about the raven-haired, fair-skinned empath, and sometimes he wondered if she could read them anyway.

As Soros leans across the table for the salt shaker, he retracts his arm. A glass screen rises from the smooth surface, tipping over someone's menu.

Francis' face appears on it.
"Congratulations, everyone! It's great that you made the tests. You've all deserved a break for now. Just a word of warning: Don't have a heavy dinner. I'm giving you all a tour of the city at 1800. Wolton will join us."

The black man waves from the distance, then passes from the camera's view.

"Hi."

Francis smiles.

"So see you at six at the cafeteria. Enjoy your meal."

At six PM sharp the students were all assembled in the cafeteria, waiting for the tour to begin. Some were talking amongst themselves, two were grabbing a snack, and Jonathan Fletcher was sleeping at one bench.

Soros was far too keyed up to sleep or relax much. He walked around, almost hopping with eagerness. He always liked seeing new places, and this was as new as anything could be to him. His eyes travelled everywhere as he wondered what he'd see.

Then his eyes happened to fall on Isolda, and froze there. He stared at her, his eyes drinking in her every feature. She was half turned away from him, talking to Kelsey, and he had ample chance to check her out. Then she stopped, her brow furrowed a moment, and then she turned to look directly at Larry.

Larry was suddenly sure that he must have the deer-in-headlights look on his face, because around him people started snickering. Then Isolda flashed him a brilliant smile, and Larry felt his cheeks flushing. She was just beautiful, that smile was so blindingly perfect... he was being blinded, knew it, and really didn't want to do anything about it.

After what seemed like an eternity, Isolda looked away, releasing Larry from her spell. Larry shook his head several times and sighed.

The day is full of excitement. Francis didn't expect Election Day to be such a huge public event, with all of Dawn City crowding the monorails and causeways. Even with some junior security officers giving a hand, it's nearly impossible to keep the students in one group. After assembling everyone at a hydroponic park, Wolton comes up with an idea. Even though it's a bit early, everyone is given a citizen-issue ID tag. The automap and tracking functions allow everyone to wander around freely. The troopers are dismissed, save for those sent to keep an eye on Kyle.

Wolton gets up from the park bench.
"Just a word of warning here. So far, we've only been in the suburbs where everything is nice and 2D. If you go downtown, keep an eye on your automap. You're not used to cities with 3D layouts, so be careful not to get lost. Bye all."
He and Francis saunter off into a lift.

Downtown Dawn City is indeed baffling. Looking skywards, one can see networks of rails stretching like cobwebs over the cityscapes. There is no "up" or "down". People crowd the magnetised streets to visit Net terminals and various shops. The polyphony of dozens of languages is as confusing to the ears as the sprawling space-city is to the eyes.
If anyone wants to have a bite to eat, the blocks next to the hydroponic gardens are filled with ethnic food joints staffed by immigrants. Moroccan kif houses are located just below street level.

[OOC: Looks like just you and me Lagrange.]

The students dispersed rapidly, splitting off in pairs and small groups to explore this amazing place. Larry's head spun as he looked out at it and tried to figure out what to do first.

"Larry?" the soft feminine voice touched his ears, and he turned to find himself looking into Isolda's eyes. He felt his cheeks flushing again. Uh oh, she must not have liked being stared at. I am in so-

"Would you like to accompany me to find some food?" Isolda's voice cut through his thoughts. "This place is vast, and a girl could get lost easily unescorted." She smiled at him again, her eyes twinkling.

"Uhhh, yeah... sure, I'd love to," Larry managed after a moment. God, she just... oh man...

Smiling, Isolda turned to walk away. Larry fell into step next to her, ignoring the envious glances some of the other guys gave him. As he and Isolda headed into the city, his hand tentatively reached for hers. He was startled and happy when she accepted the offered hand and gave it a squeeze.