A whole world on a single page!
The short story morsels of One Page Worlds are flash fiction adventures of all flavors. Every Wednesday will feature a complete story in one page, or the first page of what could be a novel or novelette.
Sharing the fun and geekery is the best part of writing! Please tweet or comment with your guesses on what genre, character, and job is central to each tale. Enjoy touring new universes each week with One Page Worlds!
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“Pilots are required to have twenty-twenty-vision,” Captain Sandon says, dangling a key ring in front of me. “That is the current licensing policy.”
“I’ve had Lasik done,” I say, jabbing a thumb at my eye. “They tested me. No contact in there, see?”
The Captain scratches his moustache, the same oak color as his uniform. “Deglos, Sky Hop Trading is liable for all product losses incurred in accidents, crashes, pirating, and flight errors.” He meets my eye and adds, “My bosses’ product is worth more than your dream.”
I stop slouching and straighten to full height. All nine feet. “Cyclopes make the best anejo tequila. You need pilot, and you need good eye to spot imitations. Bring me to your bridge.”
Captain Sandon peers out the nearest porthole. Stars sizzle in the distance. The closer stars fume hot enough to set oceans boiling on planets close enough to see. His skin sweats at the bare expectation of heat. The Captain points to the nearest world. “Exos is simmering during half its day. The Exens do not have eyes, so they cannot be pilots. Part of a job is learning to accept it when only a portion of your capabilities are of use to your employer. If you bide—”
“Deglos spent years piloting,” I roar. “Crack shot on shooting range. Fighter ace in First Orbital War. Shipping cyclopean tequila is serious business. Do you know how aggressive thieves and imitators get?”
Captain Sandon whips something from a pocket.
I raise a fist and swing at him with the other.
He blocks my blow with the same hand as the one holding out—
A paper and the key ring? “This is Sky Hop Trading’s current pilot’s licensing policy.”
I raise the eyebrow. “Do your bosses know you’re engineering a new policy?”