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DarkStar
dark_star000@hotmail.com
Induction
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        Hola fellow readers and writers and any combination of the pair.
Good to be writing again, even if this isn't my main story.  But for
any reading this and wondering about that, I should have the next
chapter of ATTR up and out within a week or so.  Until then I hope
this and the beginning of Roving Soul will keep you happy.  If not
please direct any suggestions to me where it shall be sorted by one of
my personalities.
        *groan* The formalities.  This is where you start screaming "No
NO!!!!!  Don't torture us with formalities!!!" but alas we must.
*sigh*  Nephlyte, Zoicite, Jedite, Malicite, Darien and... ok, we all
know the list.  They all belong to Good old NT but all the others are
copyrighted to yours trully.
        As for authors notes, this story is based thirteen years before
the destruction of Moon Kingdom by Queen Beryl on Earth.  Nephlyte's
human name is Nephrone Kings, Zoicite's is Zarina Albakor, Jedite is
Jedden Meldor, and Malicite is Malcom Stimy.  Other then that, is for
you to discover so enjoy.
        Lastly I'd like to dedicate this to the woman I love, Veronica
Glustien, Moonshadow.  A suggested author for romance fans.
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Chapter 01:
-Inner city rumblings

        It was a dirty place.  By no means primitive, but still quite
dirty.  After all, with all the opportunities for more reasonable
jobs, the local sanitation was found to be quite lacking in compare to
the more outlying villages and towns.  It was one of the paradox's of
the massive city Quandry.  A growing technological base but lacked any
marginal population growth.  Not for lack of child birth, but the
human desire to explore brought a wanderlust to many, bringing them to
depart for new boundaries.
        But looking out the window of the shuddering carriage at the
mulling crowds, Nephrone could hardly have been able to tell, that is
if he was old enough to understand the concept of population growth.
As it was, he was just having trouble pushing himself up enough off
the seat to see out that window.
        Whenever he could catch a glimpse out he would stare in wonder
at the citizens of all their myriad colors, and clothes, all their
wares, all their accessories.  Here was an old woman of pale skin tone
selling pottery, their a dark skinned man carrying a spear on the back
of a suit of light armor, in the corner a tanned man in ragged dark
clothes carefully eyeing all those passing him.
        Some were walking by, some purpose intent in their eyes.  Others
merely strolled in some direction, totally oblivious to any intent
except to walk.  Still more would simply sit, or lean somewhere to
watch, just as Nephrone was watching.  So much variety, no two alike.
This was what he always found amazing.  Ever since he was three he had
looked for the most odd and different subjects he could.
        "Nephrone, sit down and stop doing that, you'll hurt your neck."
the youngish looking woman across from him intoned.
        "But..."
        "No buts.  Now sit down."
        "Yes mom." he replied, dropping heavily into the plush seat, or
at least as heavily as a seven year old could.  Being denied to stare
out the window, Nephrone started picking at the knee of his purple
trousers.  "Purple is ugly." he thought, "When I'm older I'll be able
to pick my own clothes, and I'll get something that looks better.
Maybe something blue and yellow."
        The coach lurched to a stop, shaking him back from his thought.
His mother was looking out the window and opening the door.  "We're
here." she called back once she had stepped down.  Perring out the
open entrance he was delighted to once again be watching the people.
Such interesting people, not as interesting as the stars he watched
each night, but also much more active.
        He was entranced, staring in awe at the diversity all around him
and cruious as to what new variations he would find today.  Drawing
his attention away from the milling pedestrians he followed his mother
along a winding path through the crowds to a small shop she
frequented.
        Stepping through the bead covered entrance, his senses were
bombarded by the over powering aroma of age, dirt, and mold.  With his
mother's taste in these freshly located antiques it was a scent he
knew well.  Along one wall was lined several levels of shelves,
covered in a large part with bowls, vases, jewel boxes, clockes, and
picture frames.  The floor was similarly laid out, covered by things
ranging from large banquet tables to midsize desks, down to small foot
stools.  On the back wall hung many an undated painting, most of
general quality but some trully exceptional.  And along the nearest
wall, seated behind a bar style counter was the old proprietor.
        "Hello, mrs Glyph." his mother called warmly, as if to a long
time friend.  "How are you?"
        Quite well, young lassy." the old woman replied back, giving
them both a wide toothy grin.  "Husbands got himself a cold, but
nothing a day sleeping won't fix."
        "Thats good to hear." he mother answered smiling.  "So I was
wondering if you had anything new?"
        Mrs Glyph chuckled lightly, "I might but I doubt it.  A new
antique is a rare thing."
        "That is quite true." his mother was also laughing happily.
        "Anyway, I'm afraid we haven't gotten in anything new since that
table you bought.  I'm also afraid that I don't know when we will be
getting any more, it seems they're all being bought down south before
I can get my hands on anything."  Mrs Glyph's face was just as
downcast as her words sounded.  "If business doesn't pick up or I get
in some fresh merchandise, I might have to close."
        "Mrs Glph, you know that if you ever need any money or anything
like that, you are welcome to ask me."  A rattling and Nephrone had
turned away from the conversation between the two ladies.  Instead he
was watching the other woman who had just entered.  She looked old,
almost as old as Mrs Glyph, with very gray hair, parched wrinkled
skin, and rather bony fingers clutched tightly around a broom.  A
broom she immediatly took to using on the dirty floor, slapping the
dirt out the door with only a soft scratching noise.
        "Bless you, child." Mrs Glyph's voice said over the brushing.
"And if I get any 'new' antiques in I'll let you know."
        "Thats all right, I really enjoy browsing around and looking at
everything anyway." his mother answered.  "Uum... may I ask who that
is?"  Nephrone was surprised his mother had also noticed the tightly
bundled cleaning woman.
        "Oh her.  Thats poor Myria.  A sad story I'm afraid, she came
into town a few years ago but hasn't been able to get any decent jobs.
Poor lass, shes only forty, see."
        "Only forty?" his mother asked surprised.  "But she looks twice
that."
        "I know." Mrs Glyph replied in hushed tones.  "The past four
years have been tough on her, she is sick a lot, and is always cold.
But she still works.  Got a young boy, few years shy of your little
one, to take care of."
        "Thats awful."
        Yes, it is.  I hired the poor dear a few days ago but if I don't
sell something soon and have to close then I'm not sure what she'll
do."  A sadness had crept into her voice as she spoke, a depression
for the sweeping woman.
        "Ok, I guess that means that I should buy something his mother
answered sarcastically.
        "What?  No No!  That isn't what I meant."  Nephrone briefly
wondered if her face was as sorry as her voice.  Then the thought
vanished and he no longer cared.
        A laugh, hi mother's, also distracted him for a moment and he
was turning to see when his eyes passed over the bead entrance.
Through it he saw a very odd man walking, or attempting to walk by.
Nephrone couldn't figure out why but he seemed out of place.  "I know,
I'm just kidding." his mother's voice interuptted him.  "Well, come
on, lets see what you have."
        Glancing up at his mother, Nephrone saw her walking away from
him to the shelves covering the far wall with mrs Glyph right beside
her, neither paying any attention.
        Looking back at the door he could still see the strange man but
not for long.  Glancing back at his mother he knew she would be
upsetif he walked off without telling her, but watching the traveller
he knew he had seen something certainly not ordinary and he might not
see it again.  But to walk away from mother?
        Finally the curiousity inherint in all children got the better
of him and he quietly slipped through the door with out looking back.
        On the street his attention focused solely on the wayfarer,
paying little notice to where he was.  The man was dressed like most
would be, in a quite normal fashion, he looked like just the average
man off the street but there was just something different about him.
If he had been a little older he might have noticed the uncomfortable
stance, the look of being crushed under some unseen weight, or maybe
the small crescent moon symbol on the side of his neck.
        As it was though, his inexperience hid the knowledge from him,
but still he watched, hoping maybe for something unusual and
interesting to happen with the fellow.  Still nothing and after a
minute of watching he was starting to get bored.
        He heard someone shouting at him a moment before he heard the
coud clacking of wood behind him.  Spinning arund he wasn't sure what
to expect but certainly he had never guessed it to be what his eyes
fell upon.  A large wheel, wood rimmed with steel, rolling towards him
at high speed.  No chance of it stopping and the horrifying
realization of its lethal nature froze him in his tracks.
        More shouting, cries he recognized as his mother's but he
couldn't understand what she was saying.  His entire body and everyone
of his senses was numb as the carriage rolled toward him.  So numb
that he didn't feel the two hands grabbinb and yanking him away.  The
carriage with all of its massive wheels were out of sight before he
realized what was happening.
        His mother was squeezing him tightly and crying into his shirt,
trying in some way to both love and scold him at the same time.
Looking up and around him, he found almost a dozen people staring at
him in relief.  He easily found Mrs Glyph at the front of the group,
the cleaning girl, Myria, behind her.
        "Nephrone, don't you ever do that again." his mother whimpered
at him.  "Sometimes you worry me so, please don't just walk off like
that.  I don't know what I would have done if you had been hit."
        Nephrone felt tears welling up in his eyes and he quickly
reassured her that he wouldn't do it again.  A small smile appeared on
his mother's face, "Thank you."  Then looking behind him she said
again "Thank you."
        Curious as to who she was thanking he hurridly turned around,
only to once again be surprisedat what his eyes found.  A young boy of
what looked like four standing with his arms behind his back, one foot
digging into the dirt, and a bashful face.  His clothes looked little
more then rags, his skin dirty, and his brown hair uncut and unkept.
His eyes were set on Nephrone and he smiled slightly.
        "Thank you." he heard himself say.
        "He won't answer, I'm afraid." a small, downcast voice
whispered.  Looking up he found the speaker to be none other then
Myria.  "He almost never does, and he never has to strangers."
        The boy looked up at her with a look of mild childlike surprise.
"Do, mama."  Then turned back to Nephrone, "Thank do." a wide self
pleased smile on his face.
        The look on the boy's mother's face however was one of complete
surprise.  "He's never done that before."
        Mrs Glyph stepped up beside the shocked cleaner.  "Well I doubt
he has ever saved someone from a carriage wheel before either.  Maybe
hes just feeling adventureous today."
        There was a small rustle as Nephrone heard his mother stand up,
but he just kept watching the smiling child.  "Myria, this is your son
then?"
        "Yes, he is."
        His mother reached out, taking the other woman's hand.  "Then I
am greatly in your debt."
        Myria seemed to look even more surprised now, and more then a
little uncomfortable.  "My debt?"
        "Yes for raising such a fine son who saved my son." his mother
replied happily.  "Is there anything I can do for you?"
        "Well...  ummm... I don't..." Myria stuttered.
        His mother glanced down at the happy little hero in his ragged
clothes then back at Myria in her bundles of draped cloaks and shawls,
all rickety and filled with holes.  "Helen, would you mind if I
borrowed your employee for a couple hours?"
        Mrs Glyph looked from Myria to the small boy, curious at first
then realizing what his mother was thinking, and a smile appeared once
more on her pleasent old face.  "Not at all, as a matter of fact, I
insist."
        His mother adopted a matching smile.  One hand reached up
grabbing Myria's wrist.  "Good, now come along Myria."  She dragged
the girl about one hundred feet before she pulled to a stop.
        Now Myria looked like someone was about to cut her arms off.  A
fear filled her eyes like she had never seen.  "Where?  Where are we
going?" she asked, her voice all a quiver.
        Looking at her face, his mother couldn't help but laugh.  "No
no, you don't have anything to worry about.  I am taking you
shopping." his mother told Myria with great delight.
        "Shopping?"
        "Yes, we're going to go get you some new clothes, some food in
your bellies, and whatever else you need."
        Myria looked even more surprised and terrified now.  "But..."
        "No buts, come on, this is the least I can do for you.  And I'm
sure that you need it."  She briefly glanced back over her shoulder at
Nephrone, but he didn't notice, still looking at the boy walking
beside him.  "Nephie, don't daddle, hurry up and don't get lost."
        Looking up he nodded "Yes Mom."  He turned back to the boy.  At
the moment, watching him, the child wasn't bothering to watch him or
either of the mothers, his head was swivelling around like a top with
his eyes bulging out at everything in sight.  Nephrone almost laughed
realizing that it was probably just how he himself looked at times.
"What are you looking at?" he asked with a typical child accent.
        The younger child's head rotated quickly toward him, a wide
smile on his face "Eve'ythin."  Instantly the child went back to
looking at every tiny little thing around him. "Look at the funny
man." the youth yelled at him, pointing at a shade hidden in an alley
way.  Glancing at him, getting only a brief look at the person's face,
Nephrone realized it was the same person he had followed out into the
road.  And then he was gone.
        "Funny man." for only another moment was the thought of the guy
in his mind, then child like curiousity drew his attention to a
teenage girl sitting at a corner playing with a group of puppies.

                *               *               *               *
*

        Ducking behind the corner, Derik cursed himself for being so
careless.  "How could I let that kid see me twice?  Got to be more
careful."  Relaxing a bit from the surprise.  "Well, no harm done."
        Reaching into the cloak of his disguise he slipped a hand under
the loose shirt to a pocket in his uniform beneath the fabrics.
Pulling it out he quickly read through the list and the instructions
bellow it.  "Lets see: Kings, no not ready yet, Meldar, Stimy,
Amblakor, to reactionary, Tzu.  Hmmm..... probably the best place to
start is with the Chibas."
        With a heavy sigh he slipped the list back into its pocket
beneath the inconspicuous attire.  "Moons, I wanted a change of pace
but I'm not trained for this."  Reaching to a second pocket in his
belt he pulled out a small flat gray rectangle with a round top.
Clicking a switch the device activated.  "Daily log, date zero-nine-
one-two-five mark one-four-seven-three-six.  Security code: two four
five one six seven seven.  Have located Kings family, identified as
Tirnia and Nephrone.  Am commencing with examination.  Current
recommendation: Kings appear unprepared for contact."
        From the small device chirped a tiny beep followed by a small
voice, "Acknowledged, two four five one six seven seven.  Authorized
to continue."  Then in a lighter tone the voice added, "Keep in touch,
good buddy."
        "Roger, talk to you tomorrow, Ike."  Clicking off the button he
slipped the tiny device under his clothes into the slot on his belt.
"I can't wait to finish this assignment."  Glancing around the corner,
being careful not to be seen this time, Derik scanned out into the
street, catching sight of the quartet not far down the road.  Glancing
both ways, he slipped quickly into the stream of passerbyers, keeping
his distance while keeping an eye on the two woman and two children.
        Several blocks down he couldn't help but glance around at the
crowds surronding him.  A sense of selfconciousness his head swung
around quickly, one hand reaching up to his neck, covering the small
mark at his neck before continuing.

                *               *               *               *
*

        Ahead, glancing over her shoulder Tirni Kings, mother to
Nehprone, smiled as her son and the tiny hero as the started oogling a
group of puppies at the corner.  She instantly broke into a wide
smile.  "It is so wonderful to see him with a friend."
        Lifting her eyes to Myria she7 smiled, "I hear that you've been
in the city for a couple years now."
        The old appearing woman nodded and replied in a timid voice
"Yes, M'lady.  Three years and seven months to be exact.  I'm afraid I
had very little choice in the matter."
        "What do you mean?" Tirni quieried, glancing over her shoulder
again at the young children, finding them hopping their way along
through holes in the mud.
        "I... I was supposed to be... somewhere else.  But circumstances
left me here and I've never been able to leave, not since that debt
was forced upon me by the one who saved me." Myria muttered with
regret filling her voice.
        "Where were you supposed to be going?"
        Myria glanced at her for a moment with an old pain in her eyes
then glanced down, her voice coming broken, "I don't know."
        "You don't know?"
        "I don't know." Myria mumbled.  "I'm sorry, but I just don't
know."
        "You don't need to be sorry, Myria, I was just asking." Tirni
assured, resting an hand upon Myria's shoulder.  "I hope you don't
mind me taking you away from your work."
        Myria looked at her surprised and started shaking her head
vehemently "NO no, I don't mind at all, just a little shcoked.  Why
would I mind?"
        Tirni shrugged, "Well Mrs Glyph told me a little about you and I
couldn't be sure whether you would mind considering how much she said
you worked."
        Myria looked at her for a moment with an expression completely
indescribable except for whimsy.  After several long moments she
turned back to stare at her young child playing with Tirni's own
Nephrone.  "No, I don't mind at all, this is for my little one, so I'm
happy for that."
        Tirni smiled to her, "It is admirable how much you care for
him."
        "Its the least I can do for him, I've failed him so many other
ways."  Before Tirni could ask the young, oldish appearing mother
lifted a hand to her mouth to stop her.  "No, please don't ask.  I'm
just glad if I can do something, anything to make him happy."
        Tirni nodded, not understanding but feeling the need to respect
Myria's privacy.  "By the way, what is his name?"
        Tirni smiled weakly at her, "Cameron, Cameron Draconis."

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        And welcome to the wonder of Earth culture.  At least part of
it.  Sorta picture dirt covered asphalt roads with permacrete
buildings and several tall metal skyscrapers.  Of course that doesn't
get shown till next chapter.  Well, now you've met some people, and I
hope you've found all the new tricks and treats.  Enjoy.