Twenty-two solar cycles earlier...
"... And then a giant air-breathing Manta came out of nowhere and bit off my entire arm..."
"Hmm? That's too bad..." he mumbled in response. A sharp smack to the back of his head brought the person in front of him into focus. "What's your problem, man? What the hell are you hitting me for?"
"Seriously? Bear, I've been talking, with you not listening, for the last twenty minutes. What is your problem? What has you... Oh, man, you are such an idiot. You have got no chance... and I mean No Chance with her."
Blushing slightly in embarrassment, "I don't see why not... All I have to do is walk over there and start up a conversation. Don't think I can do it? I have talked to girls before, you know."
"That's not it, man. I mean you literally have no shot, specifically with her. Don't you know who that is? Where the hell have you been? Under a rock? That's the Kyree Bennett. She's untouchable for the next six months, starting tomorrow morning."
"How do you know her name? And what do you mean "untouchable"? If you already know her, the least you can do is introduce me. Because that girl? She's going to be the love of my life. Quit blocking. I saw her first."
Exasperated, "Of course I know who she is. Everyone knows who she is. You're not listening. She's famous, man. And as of tomorrow, she's not even on the same planet. She won the contest... You know, the one no one can shut up about? If she makes it up in the new colony on the third moon for six months by herself, her family gets to move off planet up there with her before they start the lotteries. No more rebreathers... No more standing in line for hours for food units... They'll be living the dream. And where will you be? Oh yeah, that's right...Here...with the rest of us. Like I said, no chance."
He looked across the mess hall at her and felt his heart pulled closer. Her smile, the brightness in her eyes, the way she carried herself... she was beautiful. "When did you say she leaves, Falco? Tomorrow?" He stood and patted his friend on the back. Plenty of time," he said as he rose and began to cross the room towards her. He heard Falco muttering something about him being a moron, but he didn't let that deter him. When he was halfway there, she looked up and her eyes caught his, questioning. He stopped as the force of that connection nearly knocked him off of his feet. Then he kept going. He made it all of the way up to her table. He started to extend his hand, saying, "Excuse me, my name is Bear. I couldn't help noticing-"
He was cut off by two very large grunts of the Corps moving to stand between them.
"Turn around, sir, and return to your table."
"But I only wanted to talk to-"
"NOW, sir."
You couldn't argue with the Corporation's police force without consequences when they stood their ground like this. So, he held up his hands in a gesture of compliance, and took a step back. "I'm ready to leave now." He felt the smooth velvet of her voice wash over him and imprint itself on his soul. He tried to catch her eyes one more time before she left, and he wondered for a long time after if he'd only imagined the regret he saw there. Imagined or not, he knew the next six months would be the longest of his life. He wasn't giving up. He would wait. When the time was right, and she was back planetside on the obligatory publicity tour, they would meet. He would make sure of it.
