The space transport "The Starkeeper" was orbiting Earth as it waited to get its new load of passengers and cargo for the voyage to Alpha Orion IV. Thetransport would be taking new colonists and their families, some visitorsand tourists, businessmen and government officials on business. CaptainFuller watched as the shuttles from Earth brought up loads of passengers and cargo to the transport that was over 1000 feet long and had 30 decks.
The Captain noted that his passenger list for this trip included 1,155 persons and a crew of 400 for a total of over 1500 people. Captain Fuller was very proud of his ship, even though it wasn't the largest or the fastest in the space fleet. Yet, to him, it was the best ship and had the best crew.
The shuttles emptied their passengers into the huge transport for the two-month trip to Alpha Orion IV. As Captain Fuller watched the last of the arrivals, he was feeling sorry to have missed a stop at Earth, but he knew he would be coming back. On the other hand, most of the passengers would never see Earth again as they had decided to move permanently to a new home in space.
There were fourteen boys, ages ten to fifteen, who were travelers on a new adventure into space at Alpha Orion IV. Some resented being forced to leave Earth, some were overjoyed at this new opportunity to start life anew, and most hoped to find other boys their age and develop new friendships.
One of the first to board the space ship was Douglas, fourteen and 5'3 with brown hair and eyes. Although he was with his parents, he had a sad look about him. He didn't want to leave Earth and all his many friends. He couldn't understand why his parents wanted to go to some planet that was just getting started as a colony when they had everything on Earth. He scowled and looked very disconsolate as he followed a crewman and his parents to their cabin.
As he walked down the corridor he saw a boy his size go the other way. Douglas said "Hi" and looked at him, thinking he not only looked cute but that he might become a friend. As Douglas continued walking, he started thinking of how he could make friends with the boy.
Meanwhile, Travis, thirteen, with dirty blond hair, noticed the boy carrying his bags and going in the other direction. He noticed that the boy looked upset and wondered if it was because he was leaving Earth. But, he liked the appearance and friendliness of the boy, and hoped he might develop a friendship with him on the trip. Travis just knew he was going to hate being on what he called a "dumb planet", and wondered if there were other boys on the trip with whom he might develop friendships.
Sitting in a cabin on a middle deck was a short, blond-haired boy named Scott. He was thirteen, with a short haircut, and he was traveling with his father. His father was in the engineering section and had helped install a new part in the warp drive. It should help take a whole week off the trip to Alpha Orion IV. Since his father had invented the part, he was going on the round trip to make sure it worked properly. Because he didn't want to be separated from his son for four months, he arranged to have Scott come with him. Scott was really excited to be on his first space trip and happy to be with his dad.
As the next shuttle docked, Stevie, thirteen, and his brother Alex, fourteen, got their bags and boarded the space ship. They not only were brothers but best friends as well and were joining their stepdad and mom on Alpha Orion IV. Since they were traveling alone, an attendant met them and explained that she was the person who would be kind of in charge of them for the trip. She added that she understood they were both good kids and that they would enjoy the trip to meet their parents.
Fifteen-year-old Mike followed the brothers off the shuttle. He had been watching Alex the whole trip up from Earth and thinking that he was a really cute and hot looking guy. His little brother wasn't bad either. Mike waited for his brother Brad, who was twelve years older, and who was going to Alpha Orion IV to start a new job and a new life. Mike didn't have any reason to stay on Earth and was ready to follow Brad wherever he went. It looked like it was to a new planet.
Warren boarded the space ship feeling sick and miserable. He felt this way often, but this time it was worse. Why did he have to leave his estate, his mansion, his home for some undeveloped planet? His dad claimed he needed new challenges. But, who needed challenges, Warren thought. His dad had the best life in the world. Then, too, Ian and Todd, Warren's brothers, were being left behind until the family's new home was built. His dad took Warren because he thought roughing it on a new planet would help him to become tougher and stronger. As he moped around his cabin, the 5' fourteen-year-old coughed and looked for his medicine. He had already decided he wasn't going to leave his cabin for the whole two months. There wasn't anybody worth meeting anyway. He was sure if there were other boys on board they would only tease him like he had been teased back on Earth.
Ryan, a short, skinny fourteen-year-old with blond hair, was next off the shuttle. He was quiet and shy, and appeared to be younger than his real age. He was not excited to go on this trip, didn't really like his parents, and was traveling alone. He had been living with friends and would have been happy to keep it that way. Besides, there was nothing for him on a strange planet with no friends, no relatives, nothing. He was all alone. He knew he'd have a roommate who would not like him, and especially when he found out what Ryan was really like.
Ryan noticed a tall boy on the shuttle. This was Jeremy, a twelve-year-old and an obvious athlete who was both outgoing and daring. He loved showing himself off any way he could. His parents had gone to Alpha Orion a year ago, but were unable to afford to take him at the time. With their farm doing pretty well, they now could afford to send him the money for the trip. He was excited that he'd have new places to conquer, new things to learn, new people to meet and new friends to make. He could hardly wait until he met his new roommate. He wondered if the cute blond riding the shuttle with him could be his roommate. He was alone, so maybe he could.
Robert Charles, fourteen and 6'0 tall, was a heavy and muscular young lad with a little fat on his body. His dad was going to be the new Governor of Alpha Orion IV representing the Earth government. Robert Charles was used to moving and meeting new people. He liked being in charge and finding out quickly who he could trust, who he could use, and who he could bully.
While he knew that some people on this trip wouldn't fit in these categories, he was eager to leave his cabin and check out the observation deck. He knew the "Starkeeper" would be leaving orbit soon, and Robert Charles wanted to see what boys showed up and see who looked vulnerable.
Jordan, who was twelve, was in a cabin in the crew area where his father was Chief Engineer. Since his Mother had passed away, he lived on his father's ship when his dad traveled. He met lots of new boys each trip and he knew this trip would be no different. He had seen the passenger list and noticed there would be several boys in his age group. Jordan knew the ship inside and out, better than a lot of the crew. He also was used to getting his way with crew members, except for Captain Fuller. Jordan was both a bright and cute boy with reddish blond hair. But, he was terribly spoiled. He had a hard time getting along with boys his age because he was so used to dealing with the crew.
The "Starkeeper" was loaded. Captain Fuller gave the order to leave orbit. Passengers headed for the observation areas to get a last look at Earth. Dispersed among the 1,155 passengers on the space ship were eleven boys, ages twelve to fifteen. None of them, except for Alex and Stevie, had ever met.
But, before long, their lives, plus those of three younger boys and a boy who had yet to board the ship, were going to come together in a way they had never dreamed.