When a supposed flapjack destroys Jekkh's planet, she relocates to a whole new system to start a new life. But after discovering her planet's long-lost artifact, Jekkh must step into a role she feels unfit for and unite her scattered people across t...
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ESSANTO CITY IN ORBIT OF PERSYTH, SYTHANOR SYSTEM
Camrun sat at the table, tapping his fingers on the dark faded surface. His back was like a rod against the chair as he watched the electric clock blink on and off on the wall.
One more minute.
His fingers drummed a steady rhythm as he practically bounced in his chair, electricity searing through his blood. The mail always came at the 6th Hour of the rotation in the Wastes of the Caretto District. The connection on the outer rim of the floating cities of Persyth never was reliable enough for it to be up and available all day.*
Camrun eyes flickered over to the tablet that was set charging in the center of the table. He let out a shaky breath, clenching his fingers. He had always thought of himself as patient, but this moment was testing him beyond his limits.
Ding! Camrun's head snapped towards the tablet, the purple notification glowing on the screen. The 6th Hour had begun, giving him sixty minutes to access the datanet, though he only had fifteen minutes before he had to get to work.
Pulling the device to himself, Camrun's fingers slowly punched in the passcode in an attempt to exercise restraint. His results could still be processing so his anxiety could be for nothing. He looked through the notifications, deleting a few news updates on his mother and sister's favorite drama series, and saw an update from his brother being transferred from his pilot training. Then he saw the message from the Sentry. He clicked on the message app, though it was stuck on the loading screen since everyone in the Caretto District was probably jumping onto the net to get their sixty minutes of freedom.
Finally, it opened and Camrun clicked the message from the Persythian military office, reading the contents over and over. Reality hit him like a shuttle crash.
Not accepted, it read. His heart deflated in his chest as the tablet slipped from his shaky fingers with a loud clunk against the metal surface. Camrun leaned back into his chair, running his hand through the mop of blond hair on his head, speechless at the two taunting words. Not accepted. He heard those words in the voices of all the boys who had laughed at him for even applying. All the hard work, the sweat, the tears, the sleepless nights, the training, all gone to waste. Camrun deep down knew all along that Cahl would get in but he wouldn't. All he was trying to do was follow in the footsteps of every respectable Persythian male, but he apparently, as the message put it, didn't meet the physical qualifications desired for the position. He couldn't apply for another two years and Cassehl might not have that much time. The message even said that it was just as honorable to work in the factories in the Leels District, or work at the docks of Caretto since that was where the need was. If he wanted to pursue the agricultural sciences in Rulls, he would have to go to a secondary school, even if his primary schooling grade was at full marks. And he hated science like that. None of those options would help his sister.
