Judah Dashiell
Salvage Empire
Saleucami ; Remote rural oasis , Dashiell family farm , 1630 Local Time
Breeze caused the heavy brown stalks of the crops to sway to and fro. Insects chirped in the hot, dry sunshine.Lying outside the borders of the farm, herd livestock bayed, the wind carrying their sounds across the unforgiving Saleucami lands. The sun was beginning to make its slow journey towards the horizon, but it was still hot and there were a handful of daylight hours still left. A farmer did not waste the light given to him.
Alone, out in a field, an old and rusted piece of harvesting equipment sat silent. Bathed in the shade provided by the large piece of equipment, a teenage boy was elbow deep in an access panel. Fluid dripped slowly onto the faded and well-worn boots that adorned the boy. Frown graced his scruffy features as his hand grasped a protruding metal part and yanked it out. A part that shouldn't have merely been removed without tools or ease.
Blue eyes squinted in the bright light as the young man examined the offending part. It was mangled. Ripped to a unrecognizable heap. Frown graced the shaggy features. Another setback. Harvest and production couldn't continue until it was replaced completely. There was no jury-rigging his way out of this one. Tightly gripping the metal in his hand, Judah started the long trek through the fields back to the small ramshackle farmhouse. Sweat rolled down his forehead, matting the thick brown curls down.
Reaching the house, Judah quickly went to the room he shared with his older brother, Cal. He knelt down, pulling out a worn wooden cigara box from under the bed. Opening a flimsy envelope, he pulled out nearly half of his credit supply. Earned from working on the nerf ranch in the neighborhood after his duties were finished. There was no way his Pa could afford the part. Credits were always tight but until the harvest was sold it would be tighter.
Shoving the credits in his pocket, Judah quickly went out of his room, running into the small bushy-haired creature that could be called his much younger sister. Jinny placed her hands on her hips. The young girl was often left in the house by herself during the peak harvest times -- tending to the flock of birds and the home garden. It was all hands on deck.
"You're going somewhere. I want to go to town. I haven't been in ages."
"I'm going to get a part for the harvester. Then coming right back home."
"Pllleeeaseee? How come I gotta tend the house?"
"I don't have time to waste with you on this. Put on your boots, c'mon."
Soon the pre-teen girl was beaming and hurriedly shoving on worn boots. Jinny danced around her brother, nearly skipping in circles as he made his way to the spare beat up and worn out speeder sitting near the main barn. The girl quickly entered as the speeder chugged to life and sped down the drive, the part resting on a rag between them. Having a broken air-con unit in the speeder, Judah made sure the windows were down. Which invited in dust, especially when they left the oasis and entered the desert.
Jinny chattered on about something she was learning at the small community school. History of the Wroonian settlers of old or something. No doubt Judah had learned it at one point or another but he wasn't in the mood to entertain his younger sister. Getting the part and getting back home were priorities.
Soon enough the speeder arrived in the edge-of-the-oasis town, with Judah pulling in near the end of the general store. The town was just a speck on the map. Blink and one would miss it. Roughly ten to fifteen establishments all fit in the little half-kilometer area, with some families scattered in between. 'City folks' some called them.
Jinny darted ahead into the cool shadows of the store with Judah following more slowly behind, holding the rag draped part. His sister went off to another corner as he walked up to the counter. A middle-aged Wroonian man was manning the section.
<<Got another coupling Osa? This one got mangled. >> Judah held up the part to see, making a face. The man gently took it from his hands, studying it.
<<Might have one that will work. Let me check my stocks>>
Nodding, Judah ran a hand through his curls before shoving his hands in his pockets. Eyes traveled over to a notice board, looking at notes or advertisements residents and travelers had pinned onto it. There were the standard lists ; nerf calves for sale, livestock feed, rusty farm equipment. One stood out like a bright beacon. It was glossy and professionally done.
JOIN THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC TODAY! FLY THE SKIES, SEE THE GALAXY, SERVE THE PEOPLE. YOUNG SENTIENTS 17 - 28 WANTED. SEE YOUR TRAVELING RECRUITER FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Judah was curious. The Galactic Republic was recruiting on Saleucami? Out in the nothingness? He surmised they must have just came to town. The grape vine was alive and active in such a small setting. His Ma and Pa hadn't said a thing, nor had Cal. Hand reached up to touch the poster before dismissing foolish thoughts. He was needed here.
Breeze caused the heavy brown stalks of the crops to sway to and fro. Insects chirped in the hot, dry sunshine.Lying outside the borders of the farm, herd livestock bayed, the wind carrying their sounds across the unforgiving Saleucami lands. The sun was beginning to make its slow journey towards the horizon, but it was still hot and there were a handful of daylight hours still left. A farmer did not waste the light given to him.
Alone, out in a field, an old and rusted piece of harvesting equipment sat silent. Bathed in the shade provided by the large piece of equipment, a teenage boy was elbow deep in an access panel. Fluid dripped slowly onto the faded and well-worn boots that adorned the boy. Frown graced his scruffy features as his hand grasped a protruding metal part and yanked it out. A part that shouldn't have merely been removed without tools or ease.
Blue eyes squinted in the bright light as the young man examined the offending part. It was mangled. Ripped to a unrecognizable heap. Frown graced the shaggy features. Another setback. Harvest and production couldn't continue until it was replaced completely. There was no jury-rigging his way out of this one. Tightly gripping the metal in his hand, Judah started the long trek through the fields back to the small ramshackle farmhouse. Sweat rolled down his forehead, matting the thick brown curls down.
Reaching the house, Judah quickly went to the room he shared with his older brother, Cal. He knelt down, pulling out a worn wooden cigara box from under the bed. Opening a flimsy envelope, he pulled out nearly half of his credit supply. Earned from working on the nerf ranch in the neighborhood after his duties were finished. There was no way his Pa could afford the part. Credits were always tight but until the harvest was sold it would be tighter.
Shoving the credits in his pocket, Judah quickly went out of his room, running into the small bushy-haired creature that could be called his much younger sister. Jinny placed her hands on her hips. The young girl was often left in the house by herself during the peak harvest times -- tending to the flock of birds and the home garden. It was all hands on deck.
"You're going somewhere. I want to go to town. I haven't been in ages."
"I'm going to get a part for the harvester. Then coming right back home."
"Pllleeeaseee? How come I gotta tend the house?"
"I don't have time to waste with you on this. Put on your boots, c'mon."
Soon the pre-teen girl was beaming and hurriedly shoving on worn boots. Jinny danced around her brother, nearly skipping in circles as he made his way to the spare beat up and worn out speeder sitting near the main barn. The girl quickly entered as the speeder chugged to life and sped down the drive, the part resting on a rag between them. Having a broken air-con unit in the speeder, Judah made sure the windows were down. Which invited in dust, especially when they left the oasis and entered the desert.
Jinny chattered on about something she was learning at the small community school. History of the Wroonian settlers of old or something. No doubt Judah had learned it at one point or another but he wasn't in the mood to entertain his younger sister. Getting the part and getting back home were priorities.
Soon enough the speeder arrived in the edge-of-the-oasis town, with Judah pulling in near the end of the general store. The town was just a speck on the map. Blink and one would miss it. Roughly ten to fifteen establishments all fit in the little half-kilometer area, with some families scattered in between. 'City folks' some called them.
Jinny darted ahead into the cool shadows of the store with Judah following more slowly behind, holding the rag draped part. His sister went off to another corner as he walked up to the counter. A middle-aged Wroonian man was manning the section.
<<Got another coupling Osa? This one got mangled. >> Judah held up the part to see, making a face. The man gently took it from his hands, studying it.
<<Might have one that will work. Let me check my stocks>>
Nodding, Judah ran a hand through his curls before shoving his hands in his pockets. Eyes traveled over to a notice board, looking at notes or advertisements residents and travelers had pinned onto it. There were the standard lists ; nerf calves for sale, livestock feed, rusty farm equipment. One stood out like a bright beacon. It was glossy and professionally done.
JOIN THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC TODAY! FLY THE SKIES, SEE THE GALAXY, SERVE THE PEOPLE. YOUNG SENTIENTS 17 - 28 WANTED. SEE YOUR TRAVELING RECRUITER FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Judah was curious. The Galactic Republic was recruiting on Saleucami? Out in the nothingness? He surmised they must have just came to town. The grape vine was alive and active in such a small setting. His Ma and Pa hadn't said a thing, nor had Cal. Hand reached up to touch the poster before dismissing foolish thoughts. He was needed here.