driftfleet | Chapter Ten [text]

Who: Richard Castle and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: N/A
When: October 25th. Ta to

anarin for supplying suggestions.

[The following are uploaded to the network at various times during the day. Castle... tried to make them anonymous, but anybody could do the slightest bit of digging and see that RICHARD CASTLE is clearly listed as the author.]

COMING SOON FROM THE PEN OF TUCK CHINGLE

DIAMOND AND BEAU: A LOVE STORY

Have you ever wondered what our mysterious and intrepid hosts get up to OFF the clock? Do their carefully cultivated personas fall apart in the throes of passion, or do they remain the delightful, always upbeat hosts we know and love? Find out in this romantic thriller by Tuck Chingle.

ROBOTS IN LOVE

Dustsucker is from the Compass, and Scrubby is from the Conquer, two ships with two sets of robots caught in an intense rivalry. However, despite their "family"'s longtime differences, the two end up falling in love and must find a way to unite their crews so that they may be together.

SHUFFLED

Is it possible for objects to fall in love? You'll believe it when the One Fish and the Two Fish gain sentience and realize they've always had feelings for each other. However, fate and a rivalry between their crews seems to be conspiring to keep them apart.

MURDER ON THE MARSIVA EXPRESS

Something has been attacking the Drift Fleet's beloved pet foxes when their owners turn their back for a moment. Tensions rise and things escalate further when one of the Fleet members is killed trying to protect the fox. Was it one of their own, or is something more sinister afoot? Intrepid author Buck Trumble struggles to piece together the case and bring justice to the victim and their pet.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, after a while you get tempted to do ridiculous things. I try to stay away from it. Well, except trying to convince Kate that we need to get married in space.

Surely you would have changed your mind after being here for so long.

I still think it'd be fun. Besides, I'm not sure I'm going to remember my time here after I go home, anyway.

You believe you'd forget?

Yeah. I've seen people leave and come back having no memories of this place. Stands to reason the reverse is true, too- if we go home, we don't remember being here at all.

Is that so bad?

I'd say "no", but at the same time... I've made a lot of friendships here I value highly. And I've gotten to see the galaxy, which isn't possible back home. It hasn't been 100% bad.

People value their connections. It's normal, I believe.

Yeah. I wouldn't be where I am without them.

I suppose. I never had anything like that.

Really? I can't even picture that.

I lost my family when I was nine. The Mord'Sith may be family but not in your . . . traditional sense.

[ She murdered her father then too. ]

Gotcha. I won't pry.

I never had a big family myself, but I'm lucky enough to be able to treasure the ones I DO have.

It's not possible for someone like me to have a family.

Why not?

[And then, a moment later:]

He says, after vowing not to pry. Pardon me.

Mord'Sith don't have families for a reason. We're made from breaking families apart.

Jeez. I really am lucky to have the kind of life I do back home, aren't I?

That much is obvious.

You're not the usual caliber of people here.

As in "I'm an ordinary guy with an ordinary job"? Yeah. Makes me wonder why they picked me, but maybe it's because I'm used to being famous. They thought they'd get less resistance from me.