Catch 22000 (Clean)

Story by Milo Foxie

Uhm first off, this is not an erotic story, it's something i wrote a while back that i've been spreading like the plague and never getting any reviews for, so please, be harsh and tell me how i can improve!

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Catch 22000

There was a slight hum as a pale blue light lit up the passenger deck of the Transport Cruiser. Faint outlines of chairs faded into sight as their occupants shifted uncomfortably. The blast shields had recently closed.

A voice crackled across the intercom "Good morning passengers this is the co-pilot speaking the blast shields have been closed for your protection as we hit At-mo. We will be landing at Taranda space port at 0935 local time please enjoy your stay and adhere to the rules."

The ship began to rumble and, as the cabin began to heat up, a slight red glow began to replace the blue. Then, as suddenly as it began, the rumbling stopped and the red glow faded. Slowly the blast shields ground open and brilliant light flooded in, temporarily blinding all the passengers. The co-pilot's voice broke the awed silence "If you look to your left you will see the magnificent sight of Taranda's double suns rising."

The lizard man was the last onto the landing bay, silently taking in the cold metal scenery as the light steadily disappeared with the closing roof.

Globelights flickered on revealing two queues under two signs, "Human" and "Xeno."

Anger welled up in the Lizard Man "How dare they put such an insult on entry" he muttered under his breath.

He joined the line of nonhumans, his long tail lashing from side to side. As he reached the counter a plump human official in a black and red uniform looked him up and down

"Purpose of visit?"

"Work" replied the lizard tersely.

The official looked amused, "Really. Name?"

"In your tongue I have only one name. Zeth." he answered bluntly.

The official nodded. "Have you read and understood the laws?"

"They're the same everywhere in the Galaxy, right?" Zeth's reply was less than enthusiastic.

The man handed him a small pamphlet, "Read and enjoy." he smirked, "Now move along."

Zeth followed a steadily rising walkway toward the nearest exit and glanced at the plain pamphlet he had been given. He had reached the top of the walkway as he read the local laws of the planet. He was glad he'd stopped walking.

Any being entering this planet is granted immediate citizenship and is subject to the laws of this planet.

No Cruiser may leave planetside without proper authorisation.

All Off world communication will be monitored

No Being may leave Taranda without first finding work.

Any Xenos performing an act of insult or violence toward a Human will immediately have their citizenship revoked and be labelled an outlaw.

Outlaws will be punished to the full extent of the laws of the Governing Council.

No Xenos may work.

A figure leaning against the wall looked up. Spotting Zeth he pushed himself off the wall, smiling.

"Nice to see another Chameleon."

The two regarded each other curiously. They both had long tails; extended feet encased in specialised boots and elongated heads forming short, mobile snouts. Zeth noted that the other chameleon favoured a stable light yellow pattern on his skin whereas his own preference was to shift.

"My name's Chris … and yours?" he looked at Zeth expectantly.

"Zeth… my name is Zeth. What do you want?"

Chris's smile broadened "Welcoming Committee!"

Zeth wasn't amused; he needed to get somewhere quiet to digest the revelation at the end of the pamphlet.

"Well it was nice meeting you but I've got to find someplace to stay" Zeth stepped past Chris and through the door.

The sight that greeted him was not what he expected. The entire city was underground. Globelights ran up and down the streets as well as across the huge cavern roof. Immediately in front of him, ramshackle buildings stood in a sea of refuse. He paused, shocked by the squalor of what he saw.

"Welcome to the Xeno section"

Zeth jumped as Chris walked up behind him "Lovely isn't it?"

Zeth turned to face Chris "So what's the deal with no work? I came here with the promise of fast money."

Chris shrugged, "We were all lured here by the gold rush, but got the bum's rush instead. It's part of the human's galactic xeno cleansing. We're all forced to live here until we die of starvation or disease." He handed him a slip of paper, "Meet me here in an hour, I'll explain."

Zeth nodded and set off down the street.

The address on the paper was a café. Not a pretty café or a particularly fancy café, just a café with a weak holographic sign flickering "Terries."

Zeth strode up to the door which quickly hissed open. Stepping inside he looked around the dingy place. The lighting was dark and smoky steam wafted above his head. Very few of the stalls were occupied.

A female looked up from the counter and beamed "Welcome to Terries! I'm Terrie. How can I

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