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Here we are with the chance at lives out of slavery, able to do what we want, learn what we want, and Roberd is wanting to go back! I can’t understand him. Yeah, life there sucks, and the majority of the people don’t deserve the lives they have been dealt. But if they were in our shoes, they wouldn’t look back.
“So guys, now that we can actually learn something other than looking pretty and strutting our stuff, what do we do?” I ask.
We all look at each other then at Sawyr.
“What?”
“Sawyr, you are the only one of us with any real education. You and Akiyra have to help us know where to start.” I watch him walk to the kitchen area, putting the trash away and our dishes into the washer.
“Tiri, can you pull up a documentary on Zanthia? We can start with learning about where we are going.” He returns to us, cans of fizzles in his hand.
“Yes, Sawyr. Accessing now.” Tiri’s crisp tones come over the speaker. Moments later the large screen flickers to life, the image of a small planet on it.
All five us watch the video in rapt attention as the small planet, the second smallest in this solar system and the fourth to the sun is described in great detail. The planet itself is known for its forests with large draping trees dripping with a feathery plant life that grows in long strands, making it look like the trees have hair.
I shiver as the screen zooms in on a field of evenly spaced trees in rows. The trees appear to be moving as if something is crawling on them. “The Zanthian spider is considered a delicacy by many people...”
“Delicacy my ass,” Jax mutters, while the rest of us snicker.
The program continues, “The larger spiders are often used for riding. A common pastime for those dwelling on the planet is the Zanthian Spider races.”
“Anyone else had enough of spider talk?” Roberd asks with a shudder, making me laugh.
“You and spiders. Here you are able to stomp them and you run scared every time you see them.” I tease him. “I would love to have one as a pet. Make sure to let him into your room at night. Wonder how much of a web he would spin in that time.”
The glare he gives me would rival the strongest lasers. I grin back at him, showing a bit of tooth.
“Hey Tiri, can you rewind that last part?” I ask. I missed what it said, but the bolts of fabric on the screen make me think of Akiyra.
“The side benefit of Zanthian spiders is the webs that they spin. The threads are used to make silk that is sold across the galaxy. The best weavers’ silks sell for thousands of bits, but feel like water flowing over your skin.”
“What I wouldn’t give to buy that for Akiyra!” The fabric on the screen moves like ripples of water.
“With what?” Roberd asks bitterly. “We have nothing. No way to earn money, we don’t even know this new world we are being forced into.”
“Space rocks! Could you be any more down? Our lives are our own for the first time. What more could you ask for?” I glare at him. Of all my brothers he is the one I am most likely to want to punch at any given time. When Zoni created him, he definitely gave him the glass is half empty view on life.
“But what freedom do we have? We don’t understand this universe, have no money, and are living on Akiyra’s charity. What is to keep her from dumping us on some planet? At least with Umbri we new what to expect and had food and a roof over our heads.”