On Friday 09 May 2003 22:34, Eris Reddoch wrote:
> Ilane turns over when her alarm goes off. Momentarily, she wonders why she
> is waking up so early, then remember, that she and her new cousin are
> flying out to an asteroid today. When yesterday started she was just Ilane,
> former dancer, looking for a job, and today, she's Ilane, land owner, and
> partner in a *1000* ton starship. As she sits up in the bed she considers
> what a share in a ship like that might be worth...it must be *millions*!

With a big smile on her face, Ilane springs out of bed, ready to embark on the 
day's adventure.  It'll be *so* much fun to fly again!  After a going through 
an abbreviated version of her morning exercise routine, she puts a pot of 
coffee on and hops into the shower.

A new life.  What a wonderful thing!  As she washes off the yesterday's grime, 
Ilane daydreams about what it'll be like to be back in space, where she can 
turn off the gravity whenever she *wants* to, and have a *proper* morning 
workout like she used to do in her dancing days.   She also thinks about some 
of the special beauty of space, like sunrises and sunsets from orbit...or the 
complex interplay of light and razor-sharp shadows against an asteroid 
tumbling slowly in the sun...or best of *all* the stars, like countless 
grains of shining, multicolor jewels against the pure velvet dark...

Her nose is filled with the exquisite scent of fresh brewed coffee as she 
steps out of the bathroom.  Before she's even dressed, she pours herself a 
cup and takes that first, delectable sip of the day.  She picks up the comm 
and calls April, apparently unperturbed about talking in the nude.  Her voice 
is happy and excited.  "Hello, April!  So, are you ready to embark on our 
little adventure this morning?"

-- 
Bob K. (aka Ilane Lanik)