The Angel of Launchpad

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The cruiser docked in orbit around Novam Domun, engines still a hot blue from the FTL trip from Earth to Novam Domun. A woman looked out the window at the glassy shores and red fields, at the green sea and the bright dot that was Launchpad. Launchpad was a city of every species in the galaxy, where no matter your race, occupation, or sex, you were welcome.

The woman was named Isabel. A pair of avian wings, white, emerged from her back. She had had them since birth, her parents deciding that they would look good on her. Of course, it was mostly what was in at the time, cherub babies, but Isabel wanted to think that they were given with good intentions. She had with her multiple bags, mostly of clothes and supplies that she would need to set herself up here. Already she had offers of housing and apartments, shown to her on her in flight tablet provided by the airline. Walking to the airdock, she watched as it opened and green arrows appeared on the ground, pointing the way.

At the customs desk, a bright redheaded android chewed gum, bored. She took one look at Isabel, with the literal white skin and black hair, and sighed. "Earthborn I'm guessing?"

Isabel looked surprised. "How could you tell?"

"Girl, you have goddamn bird wings coming out of your back. I mean, are you human?" The android raised an eyebrow. "Unless yet another species found spacetravel."

"No, no, I'm human. With some bird." The android nodded and tapped the pad with the papers, approving them.

"Welcome to Launchpad." She plugged in a controller into an outlet on her arm and started playing a game. Isabel thanked her and walked down the empty ring to the shuttle that would take her to Launchpad. A new life awaited.