Chapter 1: Kuusco

A cold morning mist was lifted, and the sun reflected off of the roofs. The world turned to face the new day.
The automatic window shades open letting the sunshine in. The window was placed facing the sunset so direct sun didn't leak in, but the bright walls and roofs of the buildings were enough to stir the lump in the bed. He rolled facing away from the window and let out a groan.

The clock buzzed its song of alert, only to be pounded by a gray furred paw. He growled and his paw flopped to the ground as he went back to sleep.

After a few moments of stillness, a small door opened from the wall and a screen worked its way out. It flickered on as a reptilian face filled the screen.
“FLINT!!!!”
The covers flew up and with it a gray fox, wielding messy black hair.
He swayed from being tired, “What....What?”
The reptile had a face of disappointment, “Flint! Get up man! You got school in twenty minutes!”
“Its the last day of school.....What are they gonna do? Expel me?”
Flint rubbed his eyes and mumbled, “Uptight snake.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”

Flint grabbed a remote and turned the screen off. It retracted back into its door. Flint combed his hair over with his fingers, but to no purpose. He yawned and shook his head as he blankly looked around, as though he was in a new place.

His furred stood from surprise as the doorbell buzzed.
“I'm coming!” he called out.
He leaned over his bed in search for something. He looked left and right and left again, but couldn't find it.
Meanwhile the door continued to buzz rapidly.
“I'M COMING!!! Sheesh!”

Before long, he gave up his search out of sheer annoyance and he threw the blankets off of him. He jumped up on his only leg, and hopped over to the door, while in his boxers. Three hops and he was across his room to the door. He propped himself up on the wall and pushed a button on the keypad near the door that read, “peek”

The door slid open slightly. Flint looked out and back staring at him was the same reptilian face.
“Uptight snake? That's just low.”

Flint rolled his eyes, pushed the open button, and the door slid opened. A snake entered his room. It had mechanical arms and legs that were attached to its spine. The limbs mad little noise as they moved the snake inside. He looked at flint up and down and replied, “Good morning sunshine.”
Flint shut the door, “Morning Jakar.”
The reptile smirked his the mechanical arm pointed at Flints missing leg, “Your awake, but not in one piece, huh?”
Flint scoffed, “Ha ha. Now who's dealing low blows?”
Flint hopped back over to the bed, “ I can't seem to find it.”
Jakar rolled his eyes, “Did you try under the bed?”

Flint made faces at Jakar as he reached under his bed. Jakar started to look around the place. He walked over to the window. “Last day. Can't wait to get over with this.”
Flint pulled out a mechanical leg from under the bed, “Why must we be there?”
Jakar glanced back to flint, “Because...”
“Because why?”

Flint slid the leg's pegs into a metal ring embedded into what remained of his real leg. Right at the thigh.
Jakar sighed, “Because my mom would've loved to see me at the ceremony.”
Flint stood up and groaned as he mouthed the words Jakar spoke, “If only she could be here. I miss her so much.”
Flint turned around and walked to Jakar, “You saw your mom last week, and the week before. In fact you live five blocks from her.”
Jakar turned around with a tear in his eye, “I am so homesick.”
Jakar started crying and his mechanical arms hugged Flint.
A pause then Flint spoke, “I need to get dressed.”
Jakar nodded and sulking as he walked out the door.

Flint put on a brown short sleeve trench coat over his long sleeve gray shirt, and black pants that covered most of his prosthetic. The city was built on a hill next to a coast and it descended like a wedding cake. The buildings looked old fashioned and poor as they cluttered the “layers” they were placed on. From Flints building he was high enough to see the coast at the end of the downhill city. He wasn't located on the top, but three layers down. It was the best view of the city. The mildly wealthy or students lived here. The lower the layer the poorer the district.

An occasional flying vehicle would pass overhead and Flint counted every one he saw. They walked to the school and the city live with inhabitants. Younger kids played or ran from their parents as they were getting into trouble.

One kid stopped and stood in awe At Jakar's arms and legs. Jakar smiled and the kid started to drool.

When they arrived the school gym was empty. Except for two teachers and Jakar's mother.
Flint looked around, “Are we late?”
Jakar shook his head, “Nope! Only losers don't show up on the last day ceremony.”
Flint glared at Jakar as the snake walked over to his mother. And she kissed his cheek. Flint slowly walked down to the court. The teachers watch him as Jakar sits with his mom. Flint felt spotlighted, and shuffled in the row right behind everyone.

The ceremony was short and Flint was thrilled about no more school. Jakar walked his mother home and Flint followed.
“My Jaky! Graduated! I so long for the day you would!” said his mother.
“It was tough but I did it!” Jakar replied.
Jakar's mother looked back at Flint, “...and you honey. Where are your parents?”
Flint rubbed his neck and smiled nervously, “Heh....they couldn't come.”
He thought back on that day.

Jakar nudged Flint back to consciousness, “Hey! Day dreamer! We're here.”
They arrived at Jakar's parents house. His father had just landed in the drive. He slithered out of the vehicle and wrapped his body around his wife. He looked at Jakar, “So you done?”
Jakar nodded. His father continued, “Good! Let's celebrate. Your friend can come too.”
Flint shook his head, “Sorry! I got plans. Thanks though.”

Jakar's father nodded and led his wife inside. Meanwhile Jakar walked to Flint, “What have you got planned? You have nothing to do.”
Flinted nodded, “That's my point. I need to find something. A job.”
“Already? You've been out of school less then an hour and you want a job? Thats not like you.”
Flint shrugged, “What can I do? My house was provided by the school, they're not letting me stay.”
Jakar paused, “You can't go to the army with that leg. That's about the only real job you're gonna get here.”

Flint shook his head, “I am gonna go to the shore. Maybe a fish marketer could use an apprentice.”
Flint turned and walked away. He headed toward the shore. Jakar ponders a bit as he watches his friend leave. Then he hurries to catch up to him, “Flint! Come on! Lets see what we can get you.”

The Shore had many interest beings. Selling, buying, and wandering. Flint was disgusted with all. Jakar was simply trying to keep the filth from grubbing his limbs.
“Are you sure this is right for you? I mean....you did go to school.”
Flint looked around and his eyes became attracted to the ships. The docking bay had fifty sea-bearing ships and twenty-three space crafts. Some larger then others, but most were outdated military ships.
The two passed by a huge monster with the title, “Gerna” painted on it. It was the biggest ship in the dock. Flint and Jakar stood in awe.
“Beauty ain't she?”
A voice from behind them startled them. They turn quickly to see a mid-aged female. She had large ears like a bat and a tail like a fox. Her fur was a light brown and her underbelly was an a whitish tone.
She wore a grungy short coat and messy green gloves. A white blouse and dark pants.
The kids nodded and glanced back at the Gerna.
“I saw that one in action.” Said the female, “For a giant she sure is quiet.”
Flint turned and faced her, “Do you fly?”
The female nodded. She stuck her hand out, “Captain Kuusco!”
Flint took her hand, but Jakar was still in awe of the Gerna.
“You and your friend aren't from around here?”
“Actually we live in the upper section.”
“Hmm. What brings you here?”
“Job hunting.”
“Oh! What kind of job?”
Flint shrugged, “Whatever I could find.”
Kuusco smiled and handed him a card, “Meet here at 7 a.m. Sharp. You and your snaky friend will have yourself a job.”
Flint read the card. “Flight Deck 17: The Ant.”
His eyes widened as he thought, thats a ship!.
“What kinda jobs?” Flint started to ask, but she was gone. Flinted tapped Jakar on the shoulder.
“What?” Said a still mesmerized snake.
“We got jobs.”
Jakar turned around, “What?!”

That evening was very restless for Flint. He kept trying to wrap his mind around what he was going to do next. finally giving up on the mindless tasks in his room, he tried to sleep, only to spent the rest of the night simply staring at the ceiling, thinking.

He remembered arguing with his father loud enough to wake the dead on more then one occasions. He winced at the memories of once, in his fathers rage,
being struck by him. He knew full well his own flesh and blood didn't mean him harm, in fact he even begin to cry soon after hitting his own child.
He wouldn't put himself through that anymore, and one night flint simply left. No warning, no note. He simply pried open his window and left.

It played over and over in his mind that night. The only blessing was when the alarm went off at 5:30.

Jakar was waiting at Flint's door when he got outside. Flint didn't have anything to pack, so they were out quickly. They arrived at 6:47 near the docks. It was emptied and cold. The two didn't bother looking for flight deck seventeen, since any movement probably would lead them to it.

They didn't wait long. Gunshots were heard from a short distance. Flint and Jakar stood up and stared where the shots came from. Soon after a figure ran out of the alleys. They froze when it approached them. It became obvious now that that was Kuusco. She had a bag over her should and she was running hard. When she saw the fox and the snake she shouted, “On time! Lets go!”
Not stopping for a second she passed them. Flint looked at Jakar and Jakar at Flint. Sirens blasted the sky as the flashing lights of a police aircraft shined overhead.
“I can't go to jail!” Jakar said scared.
Flint bolted and was followed by Jakar. They met up with Kuusco as they found Flight Deck 17.
The ship was fairly small compared to the larger warships, but it was an outdated military cruiser.
She lowered the boarding ramp and threw the bag in, “No time for formal. Get in or get left behind.”
Kuusco ran in and Jakar looked at Flint with a worried expression.
“This or fish.” Flint said as he ran inside.
Jakar groaned but followed.

The ramp went up and the engines boomed shaking the ground. The Ant flew up and sped off to space, leaving the small police craft to turn back.


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