Prison
By: Jessica & Mikki

Prologue



Planet Austrasia. Part of the Andromeda Galaxy. It's the only Earth-like planet in the whole solar system that the Space Colonies have settled around that can sustain human life.

There's just one problem with this planet.

It is a living nightmare to think about settling on.

During the day, it is around ninety degrees Fahrenheit. At night, it drastically drops to negative-thirty degrees Fahrenheit. The planet only has one large land mass that wraps around the entire planet. The very north and the very south of the planet is nothing but ocean, while the large land mass is covered with lakes and rivers.

The land mass of the planet is overrun with plant life. But almost all of this vegetation is carnivorous and even cannibalistic. Fruit-bearing plants are high in nutrition however as soon as the fruit is picked, the plant sends out a spray of poison that will kill you almost instantly, and then it's roots will drag the dead body down underground to feast on and get it's sustenance to survive. Trees that are not harmful actually contain a living sap that will die in a matter of minutes if exposed outside of the tree and the one extracting the sap is not careful, and will not kill you due to how long it lives -- but it will still do some damage when it touches. There are several other types of plants that are dangerous. Grass blades that are very sharp and durable like a blade, however if harvested too soon, their poisoned covered blades will slice into the skin and paralyze the one the poison enters through the cut, which then leads to the person falling into the grass and skewering them.

Because of the harsh heat index, the ozone layer of the planet is actually quite thin. This means that the UV index of the planet is way higher than it was on Earth. So too long exposure to the sun's harmful rays will lead to death for a human. The plants, however, can thrive in it. Even in the sub-arctic temperatures, the plants manage to stay alive. Fruit-bearing plants will grow new fruits every day once the frigid nights are over within a matter of two hours of the sun being in the sky.

These harsh conditions of the planet make it very hard for human life to survive. As a result, almost none of the humans populate themselves here...well, except for criminals who have committed some kind of crime on the Space Colonies surrounding the solar system of which Austrasia is apart of. Due to it's harsh conditions, the leaders of the Space Colonies -- such as the Prime Minister on Space Colony Capital, Terra, or any of the Mayors on the other Space Colonies -- have decided that it is better use to have such a planet be a prison for criminals, rather than having a Space Colony that would hold said criminals.

The Space Colonies all consist of either scientists who work on trying to find a way to use terra-forming to transform another planet within the solar system Austrasia is apart of to be able to sustain human life, plant life, and animal life in the same manner that Earth does. That way, the human race can finally get out of the starry blackness that surrounds them and finally have a home where they do not fear having no oxygen to breathe. There is also a military force which guards and protects the people of each colony, known as the Militia. Depending on what gender you are born under, and what your corresponding parent's work status is, will depend on what work you will ultimately have to do. If you are a female and your mother is a scientist, then you are to become a scientist to help with the terra-forming project. If you are a female and your mother is apart of the Militia, then you are to become a soldier to defend the citizens of the Space Colony you live on. This same sequence is also used for males. Born male, father is a scientist, male child becomes scientist. Born male, father is apart of Militia, male child becomes a soldier of the Militia. That's how it works.

In the Space Colonies, you are either a scientist, or you are apart of the Militia. The Mayors of each Colony -- as well as the Prime Minister on Capital Terra -- are both scientist and Militia. For they must be able to defend themselves, and also find their own solutions for the terra-forming projects.

On Austrasia, for the criminals that exist on such a planet, they have their own colonies. Separated by distance and by skin color. There are five colonies on Austrasia, compared to the hundreds of Space Colonies just beyond their line of sight up in the sky in -- of course -- outer space. Four out of five of these colonies rarely get along with one another whenever they are in another colony's territory. The fifth colony -- the Harmona Colony, because of the four skin colors living together in harmony in this colony -- is the only colony that has permanent diplomatic friendships with the other four colonies. The rest will form a diplomatic friendship occasionally for a certain reason, but only lasts for so long, and in exchange for the said diplomatic friendship they're wanting with one of the other four, they must give the other colony extra food as payment. Because of this temporary truce, the two colonies with the diplomatic friendship are allowed to come into the other's territory to be able to collect food and be able to converse with the said other colony, and this lasts until the friendship ends.

The criminals live in caves which help keep them out of the harmful sun's rays, and they have built metal doors to seal the cave entrances at night so that way they do not freeze to death. If they do venture out at night, they wear heavy clothes and have a heavy cloak to protect them from the frigid temperatures. During the day, they wear light clothing to keep themselves cool and wear a thin cloak that covers their skin to protect them from the sun's rays.

When a criminal is sent to this desolate planet, they are escorted by armed guards to the prison pod which sends them to Austrasia. Upon the escort, the guards take the criminal to an armory just outside the entrance to the prison pod for them to choose one weapon that they will take with them for a chance of survival. They are also allowed a small pack for a change of warmer clothes and two cloaks so that way they have a better chance of survival during the day and night. Once the criminal has chosen a weapon, one of the guards handles the weapon and fastens it into the pod so that the criminal cannot use it until they reach Austrasia. The criminal is also strapped in so that way they cannot move to try to get the said weapon to try to escape from the pod. Upon departure, a screen appears in front of them to tell them about the prison planet that will be arriving to. Everyone on the Space Colonies knows that they go to Austrasia if they commit a crim and that it's dangerous. But they do not realize just how dangerous it is until they read this information that is given to them on their journey. Upon arrival at the planet, the straps holding the criminal in place are timed to release the prisoner automatically and their weapon of choice is timed to be accessible once they arrive. From there, it's survival of the fittest against themselves and the plants, as well as the other colonies until they find a colony to belong in.

Either in the Harmona Colony, or in a colony that corresponds with their skin tone. Sol Colony if they are bronze skinned or tan, Spectre Colony if they are paper white pale, Caucus Colony if they are "pink" skinned (aka Caucasian), And Ebon Colony if they are "black" skinned (aka African American). Once you are apart of a colony, there are two factions, depending on your gender. There is a leader -- an Alpha -- for each faction and there is a second-in-command -- a Beta -- who keeps everyone in line when the Alpha is away. Trials are held to attempt to become new Alphas or Betas for the colony, otherwise the title of Alpha or Beta will fall to the child corresponding to gender of that faction.

The women's faction of each colony on this prison planet are held in high regard. Whatever they say overpowers any order a male gives, and is law. This is due to the fact that women are able to bare children, and therefore are treasured among the males. The women are the ones who choose who they will have a child with, and because there are so few women for each colony, they often times will pick different males to bare children with for each year the Month of Mating comes around. Some of them committing themselves to one man, while others will do no such commitments. Because of this, the men work hard to impress the women so that way the woman they are trying to impress will choose them to be their partner for the Month of Mating. The men also go through lengths to protect the females from the males in other colonies. Not allowing the men in another colony to have a chance to impress a woman from their own colony.

There are questions in everyone's minds. Why come to such a desolate solar system? Why not just return to Earth? What even happened to Earth? Does Earth still exist?

These are questions everyone on Austrasia and within the Space Colonies asks themselves every single day. No one knows the answer to what happened to Earth. No one knows the answer of why the humans exist by and even within such a solar system within the Andromeda Galaxy. There's only one clue. One clue that everyone has overlooked.

That clue, is of which the humans choose to call their segment of dating. Much like how back on Earth, the humans called their dates "BC" and "AD". The humans on the Space Colonies, and even on Austrasia, call their segment of dating...

AE.

Within the Sands
By: Jessica & Mikki

Prologue Part 1



Layla stood there in front of a burning house that was crumbling from the heat of the fires that consumed it. Her ice blue eyes wide with both confusion and fright as she watched the scene unfold before her. Her dark red hair dancing in the breeze. Her copper skin flawless...inhumanly flawless. Such beauty was a danger to one's self, but it was something Layla had. However, this moment, Layla was not in any danger from anyone. No one was in sight on the street she now stood on as she watched the house burn. The explosion that had consumed the house in flames caused all of the people who were on that street to run away from the danger.

She was confused as she continued to watch the flames destroy the house and melt the grains of sand. She had no idea why she was standing there. She did not understand how she had even come to this place. She had no memory of anything. All she knew was her name, that today was her birthday, and that she was thirteen. Nothing else was in her mind. No memory before this point was existing in her thoughts.

Slowly, Layla stumbled back until she tripped over her own two feet and fell onto her butt on the sandy streets of Egypt. Her eyes watching the flames consume the house that she was standing in front of. With no reason of why she was standing there.

"Wh-where am I?" Layla demanded as she watched the house finish burning. "What's going on?"

She continued to sit there in the street. Still bewildered as to why she was there, having watched the house burn until there was nothing left for the flames to feed on to keep them lit. Slowly, a sand mound began to rise from behind her. The sound of the sand falling as the mound rose caused Layla to look behind her before she gasped and quickly scooted away from the mound. Looking at the mound with fright as the sands slowly fell to reveal the Goddess of Scorpions, Selket, from within the sands. The Goddess's long black hair coming to the back of her knees. Her black linen dress hugging her figure, with a slit that went down the length of her skirt from the center of her thigh down to the hem.

Selket looked at what was left of the house that Layla had been standing in front of. Seeing the natural-made glass that the flames had turned the sands of the house into. The two chard bodies of people encased within the glass. Unable to do anything more for the two Egyptians who had lost their lives to the flames that had consumed their home, Selket waved her hand towards the house. Covering the natural-made glass with sand so that way no one would see the bodies. Layla had already seen the bodies for long enough. There was no need for her to see them, any longer. That image, alone, would scar any child. A sight no one needed to see.

Selket then turned her gaze to Layla. Staring down at the small girl who no longer held any memory of her past. Selket could see this within Layla's eyes. Her beauty may rival that of the gods, but it was no reason to punish her for it. These sorts of things happened all the time. Freaks of nature would always exist, no matter where anyone was. Did Isis really think that her "children" were any different than this one? Asim and Sanura were abominations in their own way, as well. She may see them as perfect humans, but that didn't mean that the rest of the human race would. In time, even Asim and Sanura would get rejected by the people of Egypt. It was only a matter of time. But this was an act that Selket couldn't allow to have go any farther than what already happened.

Selket knelt down in front of the small girl and smiled as friendly as she could. "Do not worry, my child," Selket told her as she looked into Layla's ice blue eyes. "You are safe. No harm will befall you."

"W-who are you?" Layla asked as she looked at Selket with confusion. The fear within her eyes slowly disappearing.

"I am the Goddess of Scorpions, Selket," the goddess answered as she looked at the small child. "I am here because something bad has happened to you, and I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen, again." Selket lifted her hand up to the space between them and seven small scorpions rose from the stands to stand in front of Layla. "These little ones shall be your protectors, my child. To make sure no harm will come to you, ever again. Whenever you are in danger, they will sense it, and come to your aid to rescue you from it."

Layla looked at the scorpions for a moment before she looked back to Selket. "But they're so small..." she trailed off.

"The smaller a scorpion is, the more potent their venom is, my child," Selket informed her. "The more potent the venom, the better protected you shall be. These seven will not remain by your side, forever. There will come a time when these seven scorpions will leave, but a new seven shall take their place when that time comes. And also..." Selket reached her hand up and placed it over Layla's heart. Layla could feel that something within her had changed, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. After a few minutes, Selket removed her hand from Layla's chest.

"I gave you another ability, as well," she continued. "If you ever find someone who you hold close to your heart...if you ever find someone who will love you, as much as you will come to love them, they will feel a sting of pain whenever you are in danger, and will come to your aid wherever you may be. As if they had been stung by an invisible scorpion that will not kill the person who feels it.

"From this point on, Layla, you are under my protection," Selket informed her as she rose to her feet. "You are my Daughter of Scorpions."

A Thousand Islands
Sequel to Within the Sands
By: Jessica & Mikki

Prologue Pt. 1



Today was an important day. Today was Atemu's little sister's birthday. She was turning twelve. It only happened once, and he wasn't going to miss it, for the world.

It was still a shock to him that she was twelve. It seemed like just yesterday she had been born. Still very small and still very fresh to the world around her. Back then, Atemu had been worried about whether his parents were going to stop loving him now that his sister had been born, but after his father had reassured him that they weren't going to stop loving him just because Keket was born, he had come to care about his sister, very dearly.

Atemu was six years older than his little sister. And he was the one who had chosen her name. He wanted to be the one to name her, once he had actually discovered that she was a girl. Neither of his parents objected to the name. In fact, they had loved it, and were even proud that he had come up with the name.

Atemu's messy black hair had white streaks in it. A natural thing that he was born with. A bit strange, until people saw his animal form and then they'd connect the dots. But after they'd see it, they'd think that he was some kind of demon and run away in fear. Something Atemu didn't exactly like, but there really wasn't much he could do about it. Being born from gods tended to do that to a person.

Keket was a little bit more normal...if you were able to ignore the fact that she had one green eye and one yellow eye. At least her hair was a solid black color. And when she'd shift into her animal, she was the one solid color. But her eyes, one of the most beautiful features about the small girl, freaked everyone out the most. Believing that she had a spirit who was possessing her due to the two different colors of eyes. It was sad how the mortals treated them, but it was life. The only life they knew, and the only life they would ever know.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KEKET!" Everyone shouted as they looked at Keket with a smile. Atemu sitting beside his sister while their parents sat at the other side of her. Sanura and her lover beside Asim and Layla.

Keket giggled as she sat there at the table. She was excited for her birthday. All of the demon dogs that were there surrounding them all. Mut and Akil had mated and bore several litters. Out of their first litter, the pup Shada had chosen Keket to be his companion. Seti and Thiti had also mated, and bore several litters, as well. And out of their first, their pup Kizara had chosen Atemu to be her companion. Each of the hounds sitting by their connected human.

Keket began to open her presents that she had received from everyone. Sanura and Amenhotep had given her a set of small throwing knives since she was starting to advance enough in her combat training to be able to start learning how to wield weapons. Their father, Asim, gave Keket the crystal amulet that had been used to bring Sanura and Asim to Egypt. Layla had given her daughter a golden hair pin to pull her hair up. Atemu's gift had been saved for last. Mostly because Atemu had waited for everyone else to give Keket their presents before he would give her his.

Atemu handed the gift in his hands to Keket as she smiled at her older brother. "This is from me, Keket," he told her softly as he handed her the present.

Keket took the gift from Atemu and unwrapped it. Examining the leather-bound book that was in her hands. "...What's this for, big brother?" she asked as she looked up at Atemu with confusion.

"It's to write down everything that happens in your life while I'm away," Atemu explained as he looked at her. "While I'm off on my journey through Greece, if anything happens in your life that you want me to know about that I wasn't there for, you can write it down in this and then when I come back, I can read about them in this journal."

Keket's face fell as she looked at her brother. "Oh... That's right... You're going away, tomorrow."

"But I'll come back, Keket," Atemu assured her as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm not going to leave you. You are my sister. I'll be back before you know it."

Keket looked down at the floor. Trying to hold back her tears that were welling up in her eyes. Threatening to spill over. "Okay..."

Atemu ruffled the top of her head and he succeeded in making his little sister laugh. "Hey~! Cut that out!"

Atemu smiled as he looked at his sister. It was going to be hard to leave his sister behind while he ventured off to another land. But Atemu needed to do this. He needed to go to Greece. He had to journey to his fatherland to see what things were like there. How the culture was and what the landscape was like there. Things that couldn't be answered by his parents telling him. The Gods were one thing. The actual fatherland was a different story.

Little did he realize, more was going to happen than just simply him exploring Greece to discover more about himself. Much more...