Natasha Browski looked and felt a lot younger than her actual one-hundred-thirty-seven Earth years, thanks to the rejuv treatment she took in her early thirties. Her psyche, though, was quite another matter. After two failed marriages and a half dozen equally disasterous affairs, she had sworn off men. She didn't hate them; she just kept them at enough distance to ensure no entanglements. Nat lived that way for almost thirty years--and was quite content with it--when she was assigned by the Colonization Bureau to Altair II-E, a barely habitable moon of Altair's second planet, a gas giant. It was there, she met Ken Kumamoto, a fellow pilot of cargo pods. Met? It was more like a mid-air collision! Such was the powerful attraction between the pair. Ken simply blew away all Nat's intentions to stay clear of men. It was stars, bell and whistles, rockets bursting in the sky. Within two days, they had switched from their bachelor quarters to a couple's apartment. She worried that he was just too good to be true, but she soon came to realize that he was everything that he appeared to be. They were soul mates. Nat and Ken were often separated for a few days, due to their duties. Cargo pods flew goods and passengers all over the stony moon. The separations just made their times together that much more sweeter. For two years, they lived together and the relationship just got better and better. They were even seriously considering marriage. Nat was out in the hanger, inspecting her own pod, but her mind was more on Ken's return. Ken was on the other side of the moon at Hardrock, a mining community. He had been there for nearly two weeks--far longer than usual--waiting for some parts for his pod's engines. The pod had very nearly crashed upon landing there. This morning, he called to let her know he finally heading home. Ken should have been back a couple of hours ago, but Nat wasn't concerned. Just impatient at the delay. Any number of things could have delayed his takeoff. It happened all the time. In fact, a late start was more likely than to taking off on time. Nat closed her eyes and smiled, imagining his arms drawing her into a hug. TO BE CONTINUED.... ******************************************************** I had intended to add some flora to the lower right part of the picture, but once again, I have managed to loose the original file. Sigh. Thanks for looking and for any comments. Both are appreciated. Jeremy