FIRE TIGER

CHAPTER 5 : FIRE TIGER

The DAS accompanying Ethan through the dark steel hallways of the Northern Space Port walked as if they were on a mission. Fidgeting their weapons nervously, they pushed the boy up a pair of stairs then stood guarding the door. Within minutes shouting could heard beyond the door, but Ethan could not distinguish the voice. Suddenly a second person was pushed through the door, their back turned to him. The door shut close with a loud bang but his companion flew towards it. Screaming they tried to push it open, in vain.

Frustration evident in the shoulders, the person turned and Ethan's mouth fell open as he recognised those raging blue eyes, flashing with anger! Those eyes had been the first thing he'd seen of her all those years ago. Wild and uncontrollable, she reminded him of the Outer Planet's most admired but feared wild animal: a Fire Tiger. ..Fire Tiger! Fiercely protective of its family, Fire Tigers had the reputation of exploding into a rage at the slightest provocation. 

Trembling with anger, Dawn screamed all her frustration at the door, then kicked it a couple of times, without any result. She took a few quick breaths trying to concentrate; there must be another way out of here. A window, another door, a crawl hole. She turned to check, only then noticing the boy. For a second she was taken aback by his presence but then the rage exploded again:

"What happened?" She spat. "Why did the Selection Committee pick you?"

"I don't know. "Ethan shook his head feverishly. "My brother was supposed to go. Not me! There must be a flaw in the selection program. My father will rectify this situation soon and then we'll be on our way home."

His poor attempt at calming her down, did not help, Ethan could still see the fire in her eyes. And standing close, those eyes of hers had a hypnotizing effect on him. He could not tear them away from her.

Then Dawn noticed his red cheek and his shoulders set in worry. She frowned, frustrated at herself. Her hot-headed attitude would make him feel more uncomfortable, but she couldn't help it. Nobody ever had been able to control her. Irritation peaking again, she threw all her frustration at her poor roommate.

"Why are you standing there? Your father is the ambassador of this planet, correct? He represents the Central Planet and all its power, no? He is a person of influence, as far as I remember? Then demand them to tell you what this is about!"  Hardly had the words left her mouth or she got angry at herself. Why was she taking it out on him? He looked more lost then she did.

"I... I..." The defeaning noise of engines firing up, echoed and a violent shock threw them onto the floor. Only then did they realise this was not a waiting area, rather the hull of a small Planet Hopper, and it was taking off.  Within seconds, turbulence hit the ship severely;  The girl was forced onto the floor, the pressure was too great to get up. She could hardly lift her arms and the weight on her lungs made it difficult to breathe. Then as sudden as it had started, the Planet Hopper smoothed out it flight. 

Astonished Ethan found the view out of the side window had turned black. He leaned forward and witnessed the Outer Planet rapidly disappearing. Right then, the speakers made the announcement.

"Your journey to the Central Planet will take two days. An escort will then take you to your final destination."

Ethan felt more than noticed her reaction. The girl straightened her back, and sneered towards him:

"My friends believed you might be responsible for this. They said you could have manipulated the results to play a bad joke on your brother. I told them no. However …you are the brains in your family. Tell me, was I wrong in defending you? Are you behind all this?" Instantly his brown eyes stared in shock at her suggestion. The answer was evident. He was innocent of any meddling.