Jim reluctantly nodded, “Go on.” he said. Ty pulled out a newspaper clipping from his pocket and handed it to Jim.
         “Here, check this shit out.” he said, pointing at an add on the clipping.
         “Astrocor is holding a big job fair on the First of Weighmonth in Otranto and they’re takin’ up new recruits to that new space station they put up. I guess they’re planning a massive expansion in the system and - well - they need hands”
         “Hey,” said Jim, “that’s the Monday after grad.”
         “Yeah man. I was thinking we can drive down there in my dad’s old pick-up.”
         “Your old man’s still letting you borrow that thing after what happened?” asked James.
         Ty put his hands up in defense.
         He said, “Hey man, you were the one who stole Ted’s car. I was just along for the ride.”
         “Oh take off!” said Jim, throwing the eraser back at Ty’s face, “You practically told me to!”
         Mr. Hemstock, quick on the draw as usual, piped in, “Mr. Starkey. Mr. Keefer! Do either of you, perhaps, have something to add to this discussion.”
         Jim turned back around to face his teacher.
         “No, sir. We were just discussing our - uh - career options.”
         Mr. Hemstock shook his head, bent his rod, and adjusted his glasses. He said, “That’s a very important thing to discuss, James. But there are better times to do so than in my history class.
         “Tyler! Quick!” he suddenly snapped, pointing his rod at Tyler, “Which Tungarian dictator nearly conquered the whole planet in the Second Globe War.”
         “Grünzwrath. Jesus, I’m not retarded.” said Tyler irreverently.
         Mr. Hemstock turned back to Jim.
         “You see, Jim,” he said. “Your friend can pay attention. Why can’t you?”
         He shook his head, sighed, and continued with his lesson.
         “Anyways, class - where were we? Oh yes - We learned about the Third Globe War, in which many of your grandfathers fought. And about how a global, parliamentary government would be set up to govern the entire planet. Which, of course, brings us to our present political situation...”
         Their teacher safely lost in his lecture, Jim turned back around to resume his conversation with Ty.
         “Well, shit.” he said, scratching his chin, “I’ll have to run this by Suzie.”
         “Well you just talk to your old lady, Jim. But make sure you get back to me before grad. You are going to the party, right?”
         “Of course.” said Jim. “I’ll let you know.”
         “Alright.” said Ty, and they shook hands.

~
         Sometime later, up on Helias 1, Jack Fisher was at the Starlite Room drinking brandy at the bar. For the past two weeks, he spent most of his time at the bar, having nothing much else to do, being more or less stuck on the station while waiting for the call from Bob Fagle. Better here than in the hotel room watching TV, he figured. And as he sat there sipping on his drink, he couldn’t help but notice a woman smiling at him from across the bar. She wasn’t an attractive woman, and she certainly wasn’t young, but at Jack’s age he really didn’t care. He took another drink and got up to walk around the bar to where she was sitting.
         “What’s a beautiful woman like you doing in a dump like this?” he said.
         The woman answered him, speaking in a thick Togarmian accent.
         “I am doing probably exactly vat you are doing. Dreenking my troubles avay.”
         “Well, honey,” said Jack, “I see you’re almost empty. Whatta you say I buy you a drink.”
         The woman looked at her drink, which was, indeed, almost empty and shrugged.
         “What are you drinking?” said Jack, pulling out his wallet.