I finally took the time to reread and rework this.  Here it is again...
after so long...

----------

				 *******
			      Blue Lightning
				 *******
				Volume IV

			 (c) 1995 By Damon Casale


       The year is 2008.  Overcrowding, a totalitarian government, and
vicious, constantly infighting intelligence agencies plague the world.
It's not a nice place to live.

       I had a plan.  There was a way out, away from all of the worst
humanity has to offer.  It was only a matter of time...


* Vacation


       On the viewscreen, a bluish gray planet circled slowly.

       "Not exactly my idea of a vacation planet", John grumbled.
       "You two had your honeymoon already."  I smiled.

       "Chris?"
       She puzzled over the ops screen.  "Low level lifeform readings.
Marginally breathable atmosphere.  40 percent water.  Major cloud
coverage."
       She frowned.  "Very chaotic EM readings.  It's got an ionosphere
that would put a sun to shame."

       Jeremy absorbed that, and looked at me.  "I would suggest we don't
go exploring this time.  Communications would be a major problem."
       "Doesn't look too inviting, anyway."

       Steve knew me better.  "Damon..."

       "All right.  Chris, find out where we are."
       "That's it, people."  I shrugged, and headed for the ladder.

**********

	On a distant, barely habitable planet, filled with priceless ore
and minerals, a war was taking place.

       "Bidding one hundred for the lab", Eric said.
       Ben shuffled through his cards.  "One oh four."
       I passed.
       "One oh nine", Jeremy said.
       John passed.
       It was back to Eric again.  "One ten."
       "I pass."
       "One fifteen."
       Eric sighed.  "You can have it."

       Jeremy took the `Laboratory' card, smiling.  "New chemicals 
factories!"

       "All right.  Bidding sixty on the microbiotics lab."


       We relaxed.  Playing `Outpost' was fun, but I still lost.  I always 
do.


       "So how does it feel to be married?"  Ben folded up the board, and 
closed the box.
       "I'm not sure yet.  Give me a year or so."
       "Chris seems to have mellowed a bit.  So've you, I think."

       John looked at me, deadpan.  "Don't bet on it."

       Jeremy chuckled.  "You two make a great couple."
       He tried to hide a smirk.

       "Don't know `bout you guys, but I'm hungry."  Eric stood up to 
leave.
       "We could order pizza."
       He stuck his head back through the door.  "Yeah, but it wouldn't 
get here in thirty minutes or less."

**********

       I flopped onto my bed, and smiled.

       John's married.  Nick has a baby.  Hmmm.  I wonder if Steve...naah.

       Guess it's too bad I've got to wait.

       What a surprise, I thought as the door slid open.
       "It was either here or the park."  Steve sat down.
       "What's on your mind?"
       "I was going to ask you that."  He gave me a knowing look.

       "Not much.  Just thinking.  Chris, married.  Andrea, married.  You 
know."
       He grinned.  "I don't think so, D."

       "Why not?  It's not like you're God's gift to women or anything."
       "Heh.  Maybe not, but I like being unattached."
       "Maybe Beth'll change your mind someday."

       He looked away.  "I know how you feel.  I wish she were here, too."
       "Someday."

       Now that's an interesting thought.  "Wish we had a roller rink.  I 
haven't been skating in a while."
       "What brings this up?"
       "Kerin and I used to skate a lot.  She was never the gossipy,
stay-at-home type."  I smiled.  "Course, her job didn't allow for that."
       "Guess not."

       I stood up.  "C'mon."
       "Where're we going?"
       "I don't know.  Gotta do something."
       "Chess?"
       I shook my head.  "Nah.  You'd probably beat me."

**********

       John gazed at the viewscreen.  "Any ideas yet?"
       "Still in the Milky Way, I think.  Exactly where, I don't know 
yet."  Chris's fingers danced over the controls.

       "I don't know about you, but I hope we're out here for a while.  
Earth is nice, but--"
       "I've had my fill already.  I don't care if we never get back."

       He started playing doctor again.  "Well, I've still got a few 
friends I'd like to see again."
       "Not me."
       "Seriously?  No one at all?"
       She stopped, looking up at him.  "The only one I care about is 
right here."

       He smiled.  And stopped playing doctor, getting a little more 
personal.

       The console beeped.

       They separated.  She frowned back at ops, then stared.  "What the 
hell?"
       "What is it?"
       "For just a moment, a coherent signal, coming from the planet."

       He chewed on that for a moment.  "Where?"
       Chris replayed the log, while he headed for the communications 
console.  "Let's see..."
       "Damon, you there?"
       "Wrong room", Eric said.
       "Sorry."
       He tried another button.  "Damon?"

       "John?  What are you calling me on the communicator for?"
       "I think you should get up here."
       "Problem?"
       "No...not really."

       "I'll be up in a minute."

       Chris motioned him over.  "Something else.  Take a look."
       She pointed at the screen.
       "What is it?"
       "Some sort of structure.  Can't be too sure.  This planet's not 
cooperating very well."
       "Hmmm...lifeforms?"

       "I'm not reading any, but that's not saying much."

       I climbed off of the ladder.  "All right, what do you have?"
       "See for yourself."

       I stared at the screen.
       Then I looked back at John.  "Think we should take a look?"
       "No, but that never stopped you before."


Damon Casale, dc56+@andrew.cmu.edu

* Maison Ikkoku * Kyoko Otonashi * Video Girl Ai * Amano Ai *
               * Blue Lightning * Kerin Gray *
                   Blue Lightning forever!!