Name: Troy

Gender: Male how'd you guess?

Age/DOB: currently 40s (good amount in space)

Origin/Species: Earth? Human

Family: well off with engineers and some military backgrounds

Other: He'll make a better dad than he thinks he will

Height/Build: 5'8"; lithe and actually pretty strong

Appearance: light skin, dark brown upswept hair, with beard; squinty dark blue eyes; sharp nose

Genetic Abilities: Imaginative but Horny, good with hands and yes that means with the ship too

Ship Job: Ship Construction and Design, "a whiz with a welding torch"

Personality: Egocentric and lecherous

"When will you stop staring at me like that?" Lisa growled. She was still a bit irked that Troy and she were meant to share a space only before they bonded - while their dragons were going to be growing up however, they would have to be in separate weyrs.

She was pretty sure it irked him more. Obviously, because he was overcompensating by getting in all the lecherous leering and slobbering he could. Come to think of it, he wasn't really acting all that differently than he usually did.

"Aww, come on, Lisa... We're supposed to be having fun."

"We are supposed to be writing up our biographies so that the historians can record them with the other candidates, Troy." Lisa said, flatly. She folded her arms across her chest, and glared at him. "I know you do know how to write. Unless you want me to do it for you."

"If you're takin' dictation," Troy said waggling his hips at her, "I'm all for that!"

Before Lisa slapped him again, he ducked. "Stand still," she yelled, "so I can pummel you!" She chased him around the small room, until he froze and she ran into his back. "Idiot!"

"Shh," he said. "Listen."

Lisa indulged him, becuase she didn't really want to hurt him. She heard something scratching, maybe a little whine. She looked around nervously. "What is that?"

"Maybe it's a little critter... something else to bring back to Caledrus?"

"Maybe it is someone more important," suggested a deep voice. "I'm supposed to ask for your biographies now," he said, through the door, "but I can guess by the yelling that they're not done yet."

Because there was precious little humor in his voice, neither Lisa nor Troy laughed. They were petrified.

"Now I'd like you to pay attention," the mysterious dark-toned voice continued, "you must appear before the leaders of the Weyr, and some of the dragons who've laid their eggs on our sands. If you pass their tests you may stand."

"I th..." Lisa said, and then moved to the door and opened it abruptly. There was a man standing there with a small pet-like draconic animal by his side, staring at the doorway. Both seemed surprised to see the door open. "I was under the impression we were to come, bond and train. We weren't told anything about any testing."

"Yeah, what's that all about?" Troy asked, if Lisa was going to be ballsy so would he.

"It is a recent change in the procedure, I will admit." The man said. "But it is necessary." He glanced at them both, noticing their odd synthetic clothing and Cherry Cream starship logo. "Ah, you are offworlders. That would explain things."

"Well, I still don't understand what's up with this testing. How will it work?" Lisa said, holding the door open. "And come in, if you want."

"Thank you," he said, and instructed his little creature to remain outside. "The testing is brief, but complete. It is meant to illustrate your abilities and your weaknesses."

Before Troy was about to say something, he turned his gaze to the young man and with a narrow eye stopped him from saying something stupid.

"The point of having your biographies ready is to prepare the leadership for their role. If they do not know who is standing upon their sands, how could they trust anyone to bond to the dragons here?"

"It's a good point," Troy said, "but how can we pass these tests?"

"By preparing, Troy," Lisa groaned. "And by asking the right questions. I know there are some things I'd like to learn about dragons - but we're also supposed to know things about how they live, and all that. We'll need to hit the books before being introduced to the leadership, I think."

"I think you are correct, young lady." The man said. "So if you wish, I shall return at a later time, so you may prepare."

"How long, like, a day? A week?" Troy asked, still a bit impatient.

"Perhaps ten days," the man said, "and please try to have your biographies and work finished by then. You will not have the luxury of wasting much time, if you bond to a dragon - here or anywhere."

At that, he bowed and turned, left the room and shut the door behind him.

Troy and Lisa stood silently for a moment, and then both let out their breath in a huff. They sat down together on the bed in the room (a big wide, four-or-five person bed) and hugged.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Lisa said. "Let's get to work, okay?"

"I'll write up my bio, while you start with the book. Okay? Then we can change if you get bored or something." Troy suggested.

"That works for me." Lisa agreed.

Together, they put their words together and got down to work. Troy liked writing about himself, so he had a ball explaining how his education in wiring, metallurgy and electronics helped him get his quality job on board the Cherry Cream. Even though he did not say it specifically, it was obvious that he had a huge ego and would never cease to praise himself.

When it came time to study he put his mind to it, but wandered a bit. His imagination was stronger than the bland texts he read. But he knew that male dragons pursued females just like in any other species. That was enough for him.

Lisa was more or less realistic about her biography. She was born to a certain amount of money, which offered her a good prior education. When she went into systems design and environmental technology, she was welcomed into an advanced tech university. Even though she wanted to see her designs put into action by professionals, she'd already met Troy, and decided that he ought to be the one to build their first ship.

Her study of the books led her to understand that the dragons were highly prized, very intelligent on average, and would require a lot of work physically as well as emotionally.

Soon enough, and with some quick fire questions aimed at each other before hand, Lisa and Troy waited for the man to come back to their little part of the Weyr.

"We'll just have to be honest about everything," Lisa said. "Because the dragons will know us, faults and all."

"I have no faults, woman," Troy assured her. Lisa rolled her eyes.

Would they pass their tests? Would they have to study more? Or leave entirely?

That remains to be seen!

*** Their stay at a now-deprecated location comes to an end ***

"I can't believe this," Troy said, "after all this waiting you want to what - jump back out?"

Lisa paced around. "It's not practical. The others have all probably found their dragon friends by now, and I ... just don't want to wait any longer."

Troy ground his jaw around, "okay. But what then? Where are we going? And how are we going to get there?"

Lisa eyed him, "that's solved. I have a friend with a flitter."

"You have friends?" Troy quipped.

***

"This is very unusual, of course," said Angeoria. "Abri does have two clutches on the sands, though. That makes this decision easier." She folded her fingers over the paperwork that had been sent through the Nexus. "I don't much like taking candidates away from other places, but I can see your dilemma."

Troy gulped and Lisa gave a weak grin. "It's not that ... we don't want to appear disloyal or anything," Lisa said, "but you know. Enough."

Angeoria nodded once more, and said, "well I'll get you listed up on our board as soon as I can. I understand you've learned quite a bit about dragons in your time waiting at that locale?"

"We learned everything," Troy sighed, rolling his eyes. "There was nothing else to do but read, and watch - but even the watching got kind of boring, because-"

"Troy," Lisa hissed. "We did learn. I've got ideas for in-ship denning areas, and Troy can build them for us." She nodded once.

"That's right," Troy said, "we've got models and everything..." He felt kind of glad that he'd left those in his baggage, pulling out a silly little papermache dragon den would be a bit odd right about now.

"Well good." Angeoria said. "Welcome to Abri."

***

The hatching was announced a bit after a few other candidates arrived to Abri. There were some extraordinary people at the hot sands - including a beautiful phoenix person, and a draconic type or two. Lisa and Troy both watched the shells intently for signs of activity, and when the phoenix took flight, it was the first to pair up with the newest hatchling.

While everyone was watching the pair leave, another two eggs had broken. Not one eye had watched them, but it was quickly apparent to both Lisa and Troy that these were dragonets that they had to get a good look at. A blue and a purple, male and female.

The female purple chose first, heading toward Lisa with a proud air.

I am Sanakereth, she said.

The wavey-colored blue walked with a distinct manly swagger up to Troy. He sat down, butted his head on Troy's hip, and then turned to look at his purple clutch mate and Lisa.

She's cute, isn't she, Troy? He asked, and Troy might have wondered who he meant - dragon or human - but that didn't matter in the slightest. His mind was now filled with the hungry wonder of this beautiful blue.

He could say, "She sure is, Darilayth." That was all. Lisa was in the same boat - her dragonet's mind was sharp, quick, and curious. Just as Darilayth's was suave and sly.

This smart pair of dragons held the attention of everyone until the next egg hatched. But they held Lisa and Troy's attention for another handful of months! Indeed, their training at that last place had paid off - they knew how to feed, clean up and keep healthy their young dragonets.

There was nothing like their first flights, though. Lisa had a better grip on Sanakereth's shoulders than troy did with his Darilayth. He nearly plummeted down to the ground, but the blue was faster without the human's weight on his narrow neck.

I will not drop you again, my rider. Never again!

You'd better not - my rider likes him, and you'd be in big trouble if he died!

With that said, of course, Lisa blushed tremendously on landing. Their trainer gave a bit of a chuckle, but also reminded the pair to remain in their separate barracks until the dragons were a tiny bit older.

That wait of another two months felt like forever. But eventually the pairs were allowe to head out where they wished - and it was time for them to go home to Caledrus and the Cherry Cream.

How can we be on a ship? Will there be clouds and sky?

"There will be enough room once we get where we go, the Caledrus is an exploration ship. We'll be able to ride over every planet you can imagine." Troy said.

They headed home, at last.

The Caledrus would be their permanent home, rather than the smaller Cherry Cream, though when they did arrive to it the dragons had an absolute field day with the foam.

Troy glanced at Lisa and said, "well, at least the ol' ship will have a new purpose, foam rave parties?"

It had started to bother both of them that though they were attached, their dragons were siblings and that made both riders a bit squicked. Eventually, should they ever find partners appropriate, their dragons will pair up with anyone-but-each-other, the riders declared.

Dragon

Name: Sanakereth ('snack', sah NACK uh reth)
Gender: Female
Size/Shoulder/Length: medium pernese 10' s (hip, sortabipedal) / 65' l mostly tail / 110' ws (!!)
Colors: Purple, body is faintly waved with lighter pink-violet and darkest at spine in a red-purple, palest at wing arms and tail; wingsails very pale lilac at body to pale purple-pink shiny
Features (both): Abri, sorta pernese but definitely nonstandard; four limbs, semi-bipedal with thumb and 3 claws on hands, 5 digits on feet with one opposed all with very long claws; two leather wings with small attachment but multiple joints supporting, very long 3 fingered, no wrist claw or digit; long head, wavy head 'knobs', short finned crest; neck has long flexible tines (not spikes); body long and noodly, tail very long and very thin, spaded
Powers: Winged Flight
Teleportation, local, long-distance, temporal, Nexus
Telepathy
Telekinesis, strongly keeps rider on shoulders
Carries Firebreath, unassisted given their travels through the Nexus but has never used it after training; note that using 'firestone' will not change her or her descendants' fertility in any way
Parentage: Below
Origin: Abri Clutch 3 by Angeoria
Other Info: Enjoys testing out the flight dome and its new features, but loves to fly in the open air of a real planet, because her wings are quite big!
- Also note, both dragons will throw multicolored and non-pernese colors, metallics, light/darks, and possibly pure whites due to their extensive and unusually colored lineage; they will also tend to bond to unusual people, dragons, nonhumans, and whoever else comes along

Lineage - both dragons

Mates and Descendants

Dragon

Name: Darilayth ('daryl', DARE ih layth; 'derelict' when he's lazy)
Gender: Male
Size/Shoulder/Length: medium, 11' (hip, semi-bipedal) / 80' l / 125' ws
Colors: Blue, a dimly metallic wavy mottling of denim and dusty blue, darkest across shoulders and forebody; wingsails metallic light blue that is quite shiny
Powers: Winged Flight
Teleportation, local, long-distance, temporal, Nexus
Telepathy
Telekinesis, oh don't you wish he'd practice this, Troy?
Carries Firebreath, unpracticed, unassisted and will only throw unassisted breath weapons
Parentage: above
Origin: Abri clutch 3 by Angeoria
Other Info: A touch on the snarky side, but dedicated to his rider and their ship, exploration is his most anticipated activity

Mates and Descendants

Lineage above but here's the whole hatching for posterity

Though Cryspith had flown sooner than anyone had expected, her clutch took its own sweet time in hardening; and as spring wore into almost oppressively hot summer, the attention of the Nidus turned from her clutch to the impending Dream flight, much to Caller's annoyance. Yes, the Dream would be the first frenzy to take place at Abri, yes, all its participants were astoundingly beautiful and rare - but so what? Her lovely green was just as good - and Cryspith's clutch had been there first!

If the riders and folk who speculated in the outcome of the Dream had put the clutches currently on the sands to the back of their minds, those who hoped to bond had not; Caller was slightly molified when, despite the heat, the Novos assembled on the sands shortly after Cryspith's announcement that her clutch would be hatching shortly. Though they would not have missed the hatching, few seemed comfortable; only the Dragonwillow-bred dragons Ycoelinth and Esaitonth were impervious to the painfully hot sands. Green Esaitonth watched the rocking eggs with mild interest; her brown clutchmate hung back in the shadows. After all, he was never going to bond anyway, was he?

The more humanoid Novos also stayed in the shadow cast by the wall that surrounced the hatching grounds, though for a different reason - it was marginally cooler there, a relief especially to the furry Feln, Ezzy, and the boy Rhavik who'd come from icy Trandiok.

Saeryph hovered near them, looking around in slight confusion. Weren't they going out to stand by the eggs? Would they lose their chance at bonding just because of a turn of the weather? The heat didn't bother him - after all, he was a phoenix, born of flames.

He shrugged as well as birds can, and flew out into the sunlight to circle over Cryspith's clutch. One egg shattered explosively just as his shadow fell over it, tumbling a wetly-shining dragonet onto the sand. Startled, Saeryph nearly fell out of the air - and was caught in gentle, still-soft claws. He looked up into eyes that whirled with orange apology. Sorry, Saeryph!

If he'd been capable of such an expression, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the phoenix would have smiled. "That's okay, Kaveriith."

It won't happen again, Kaveriith promised. And I'll make sure that that manticore doesn't hurt you!

Saeryph chuckled. "Maybe when you're older, Kaveriith. I'm not sure you can take on Hediru yet."

A buzz of conversation filled the air as the phoenix left the sands with his brightly colored bond. Kaveriith had been yellow, a color never before hatched at Abri! Caller glanced proudly up at her bond. Cryspith had certainly proved how special she was!

In the excitement following the first bonding, two more dragonets had hatched unnoticed. Now, the purple, slightly larger of the two, moved to Lisa, and announced herself to be Sanakereth. The blue swaggered predictably to Troy, following his chosen's gaze to Sana' and Lisa. She's cute, isn't she, Troy? It was difficult to tell which he referred to, but maybe Troy knew - or just didn't care.

"She sure is, Darilayth."

The fourth hatchling was also blue, but smaller and more delicate that Troy's bond - this one was clearly female. Her hide was rippled with lighter and darker shades, one lone Novo observed - or was that merely the humidity in the air? Hadn't her clutchmates been similarly patterned?

She didn't give the remaining Novos a glance - she knew just who she wanted, and walked straight to the shadows where the brown Ycoelinth stood. Still so sure you'll never bond, Ycoelinth?

Ycoelinth stared at her, hardly believing that she really spoke to him. You're really sure you want me, Emlireith?

Of course, the blue hatchling promised. I'm sorry I couldn't be at your hatching - but will you take me now?

Yes! Ycoelinth laughed, suddenly joyous, and several of those who'd met him previously but not followed the exchange gave him curious glances. If the brown noticed, he didn't care - after all, he had Emlireith now, didn't he?

Esaitonth watched her friend go, smiling; in fact, she was so preoccupied that she didn't notice the approach of another dragonet. Did you dream about me, Kaaylieth? the purple wondered, nuzzling the older green. For I know your dreams are true, Esaitonth...

One egg left, and it shattered quickly, as if its occupant wished to rejoin his clutchmates soon. He pulled himself free and stood a little shakily - a pale, bright blue whose icy hide looked rather out of place in summery Abri. He surveyed the remaining bonders slowly, studying each - he wouldn't be one to make a rash decision, but his indecisiveness drew impatient murmurs from a few. "Hurry up," someone muttered, but this order seemed to have no effect on the young blue.

Am I really too slow? a voice asked softly in one young Novo's mind, and Rhavik answered before he'd even thought - "No, Lyriceyth." He could be patient if the hatchling needed time... And Lyriceyth turned to his chosen, mind made up. So he'd never be a leader - but with Rhavik, he'd be okay.

They all would, Cryspith insisted to Caller, firm but very proud indeed. And Caller couldn't help but smile with her; beautiful hatchlings, a new generation at Abri. The Dream wouldn't be all that would be remembered of that summer's happenings.

Clutching her piece of history, she followed the other guests from the sands to the hatching feast.