The Stars of Jaxoras Are Beautiful

By Matt Storrs

When the moon of Bixlam is taken over by aliens, it falls to the military of Jaxoras to take back their base and their moon for the glory of the empire! Those brave souls who dare to test their mettle on the battlefield do so to earn glory, and possibly, the hand of the fair Lady Xiva.  
One such warrior is Jared Koenig, a high-schooler from Chicago trying out the new total-immersion virtual reality video game with his best friend, Layla. Jared, however, only has eyes for Layla, who does not seem to return his feelings. Then, an accident in the video game leaves Layla thinking that she is Lady Xiva, and is now only devoted to Jared. As the only thing she recognizes in this new world, Jared is asked to help Layla recover, and come back to her old self. Jared now faces the daunting task of rescuing his best friend from herself, while also having to contend with his own conflicted feelings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398414969

Matt Storrs

Matt Storrs has been writing stories since he was in the eighth grade, though this is his first published work. Encouraged by his family, friends, and teachers, he continued creating drafts until he was finally ready for publication. When not writing, Matt can be found playing board games, video games, reading, and generally engaging in any other available nerdy pursuit. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his dog, Heinz Doggenshmirtz.

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About the Author

Matt Storrs has been writing stories since he was in the eighth grade, though this is his first published work. Encouraged by his family, friends, and teachers, he continued creating drafts until he was finally ready for publication. When not writing, Matt can be found playing board games, video games, reading, and generally engaging in any other available nerdy pursuit. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his dog, Heinz Doggenshmirtz.

Dedication

To my middle school English teachers: Miss Kidd, Mr Beck, and Miss Anderson. Without them, this book probably doesn’t exist.

Copyright Information ©

Matt Storrs 2023

The right of Matt Storrs to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398407893 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398414969 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Publishing a book has been a dream of mine for years, so it is only natural that many individuals have a hand in its eventual publication. First and foremost, I would like to thank my parents, who encouraged me to keep telling stories throughout my life, and raised me to be the man I am today. It is safe to say that I would not be where I am without their guidance.

Second, I would like to thank my editors and design team at Austin Macauley Publishers, for their help with the editing of this work, as well as the production and marketing.

Thanks to all those who looked over early drafts of this book and provided valuable feedback, particularly E.T. Hanson and Tae-eun Leiah Hartley.

A big thank you to Lisa Thresher, Evan ‘Barty’ Sachs, and Julia Redden for listening to me ramble on about this one idea I had, and giving me the encouragement needed to keep moving forward with the idea.

To Bob Huddleston, who helped me find a publisher for this book, my sincerest thanks.

Gary Baum provided invaluable contributions during the contract negotiations, for which I am eternally grateful.

To my various English teachers, many thanks to you. We aren’t born into this world knowing how to write, so it’s safe to say that you had a big hand in this book coming to life.

Last, but not least, thanks to my dog, Heinz Doggenshmirtz, for ensuring I didn’t work too hard by frequently interrupting my writing time with requests to play fetch.

Chapter 1

Jared yawned, opening his eyes at last from his long slumber. Evidently they were very near their destination, for the soldiers around him all had a new look about them. Some merely seemed resigned, others determined. The most nervous ones fiddled with a metal rectangle, methodically sticking their fingers in various holes in the device, muttering incomprehensible words as they did so.

Cracking his neck, Jared turned to look to the fore of the craft. Up front sat two more people, though more finely attired than the rest. While they wore the same skin-tight, ridged, purple jumpsuits of the others around them, both had some sort of finery as well. The girl, on the right, had a thin metal headband gracing her brow, while the boy had thin metal strings going diagonally across his torso, as well as slight upturned ridges on the shoulders of his jumpsuit.

Nevertheless, both still wore expressions akin to everyone else on the transport. The boy looked determined. The girl was trying to put on a brave face, but was clearly nervous beyond all reason.

Looking once again around the transport, Jared found only one exception to these expressions. The girl, sitting across from him, who seemed to be eager more than anything. A wide grin was spread across her face, and unlike most everyone else, who either trimmed their hair short or kept it tied up, she let her long hair down and kept it wild. She caught his eye, and her grin widened. Jared couldn’t help but inadvertently let his own grin widen as well.

A loud ‘BOOM’ and a jolt of the transport was enough to shake the grin off of Jared’s face. Some of the more nervous people had cried out at this sudden disturbance, though Jared was gratified to see that he and the girl had managed to keep their composure, relatively speaking.

Seeing the disturbance among the others, the girl with the headband up front had stood up. Undoing the straps that kept them all in their seats, she now grabbed a handlebar running along the top of the craft for balance. Looking as regal as she could, she addressed the transport:

"Friends, it seems we are nearing Bixlam. The time of battle is nearly upon us. I can see from your visages that some of you are afraid, but this is folly. The stars of Jaxoras are with us. They tell us that our cause is just, and our power mighty. Though some of you may be called to stardust on this day, know that you shall ever remain with us as we gaze at the night, and that you have died so that others may gain the pleasures you yourself have enjoyed these many years.

And know that no matter how dire our situation may seem, never lose hope! May the stars light your path on this day, my friends!

Most everyone in the transport nodded their assent, with those holding the rectangles being particularly fervent in their nodding. Smiling slightly at this, the girl up front resumed her seat, and put her straps back on.

Seeing this as a cue, the boy up front now stood up and addressed the people. Where the girl’s voice had been light and sweet, appropriate for her years, the boy’s voice was gruff and coarse, seeming far older than he looked.

"Yes, may the stars of Jaxoras bless this battle. Now, let me remind you what needs to happen here today. Those ridgenecks took us unawares, which is how they were able to capture our moon base so easily. Rest assured, they won’t be making the same mistake we did. The base was well- fortified to begin with, and you can bet they’ve added modifications since we last had visual contact. We may have the strength in numbers, but that alone does not win a battle. Each of you will need to be constantly vigilant. The terrain is rough, so use it to your advantage. Look for any sort of cover, and never go anywhere unaccompanied. Our goal is the geothermal vent on the southwest side of the base. It won’t be easy to open, but it’s the one place we can be sure those cursed ridgenecks haven’t sealed up yet. You’ll need ample time to cut through the locks in this atmosphere, so again, make sure you have someone to cover your rear. Remember, those vents are superheated. Your suits were designed to withstand heat like this, but you’ll need to set your bubble to full scope in order to keep your face by the end of this. Once you’re in through the vents, make you way to SYS-OPS. From there, you’ll be able to recalibrate the life support systems. Make it habitable for us again, but not them. After that, we regroup in the mess hall, and wait for our next orders.

Any questions?

The girl sitting across from Jared raised her hand. Yes, private?

General Xor, have you ever kissed a ridgeneck?

The whole transport erupted in laughter. Only the girl up front was able to keep any sort of composure, and even she bore a slight grin that betrayed her amusement. General Xor, however, was not amused. Keeping one hand along the handrail, he strode over to the girl and glared down at her.

Need I remind you, private, that our very way of life is at stake? That we’ll be nothing more than the galaxy’s doormat if we can’t prove ourselves on the field of battle today?

No, General, she replied, but I’m just trying to help us all focus. I mean, I know I can’t focus on battle if I’m too busy wondering if my commanding officer is a ridge necker. More laughter from the transport. General Xor’s face, not the friendliest to begin with, morphed into an expression of pure rage.

If we didn’t need every good man and woman to win this war, he said snarling, I would have you thrown off of this transport to join the stars right here and now.

Oh, is that it? she asked.

Is this some dick-measuring contest? Because I’m afraid I don’t have one of those. Maybe you missed that lesson? Too busy necking the ridgenecks?

At this, General Xor took his hand off the handrail. He reached toward the girl, evidently about to throttle her, when the transport landed with a loud ‘CRASH’. General Xor, untethered to anything, fell hard on his back, somehow redoubling the bouts of laughter around him. Trying to retain what little dignity he had left, he stood up and strode back to his seat.

Unstrap yourselves and grab your blasters, he said curtly, I hope you were all paying better attention than your compatriot there would indicate.

He gestured back at the girl, who gave a little finger wave, feigning shyness.

Everyone on the transport began to unstrap themselves. Having done so, each pressed their hand to a panel behind their heads. With a ‘clunk’ restraining bolts undid themselves, allowing each to take a large, rectangular gun out of the wall of the transport. Each made it a point of checking a gauge in the handle, making sure it read ‘fully charged’. Jared followed suit, though he was slowed down somewhat by glancing back at the girl across from him. She was focussed on her work, but even from behind, Jared could tell she had a smug look about her face.

Having checked their guns, everyone pulled out a small plastic bubble-like contraption from under their seats. These they placed with straps about their mouths, so as to be able to breath in the currently toxic atmosphere of the moon.

Everyone looked vaguely strange under the bubbles, but none had lost their determination. Indeed, after the incident between the girl and General Xor earlier, even the nervous ones now seemed ready for battle. General Xor and the girl from the front were walking towards the back of the transport. One by one, metal doors were coming apart, shortening the barrier between the transport and the battle.

As he passed by the girl across from Jared, General Xor couldn’t help but comment.

You won’t last long in this battalion; I can assure you. You’ll be stardust before you know it.

Bet I kill more ridgenecks than you, she retorted.

General Xor looked as though he dearly wanted to respond, but at that moment, the last panel at the back of the transport opened up, sending them all into battle.

Getting his first glimpse of the moonscape, Jared beheld a collection of purple rocks before him. The transport had landed on a large plateau halfway down a mountain, with the surrounding peaks providing good cover from any ranging artillery fire. This was very prudent, as through a gap in the mountains Jared could see what was evidently to be their battlefield.

Though most of the landscape was craggy, this area was entirely flat, and it was easy to see why. Now out of targeting range, a large metal structure at the north end of the field was emitting periodic explosions, which apart from sending up a bit of dust, tended to vaporize anything that would have given the landscape any character, people included. Speaking of whom, small specks running around the plain clearly showed that they were not the only battalion around.

Tau Company must have engaged prematurely, General Xor muttered, more to himself than to anyone around him.

Probably explains our ease of descent. He turned to the company.

Let’s not let their sacrifice go to waste. Move! Move! Move!

As one, the battalion jogged down a zigzag slope to the bottom of the mountain where a large boulder made for good cover.

All right, said General Xor, now we move to the individual phase. From here on out, everyone grabs a partner. We’ll be harder to track if we don’t move as a unit, so everyone makes their own way. You get to the vent, you open it, complete the mission. Now, partner up and go!

Quickly, members of the battalion partnered up, each setting off in their own directions.

Jared looked around, trying to find the girl who had been giving General Xor a hard time. They’d been near each other in line, and sure enough, she stood a few feet away. She had made no move to find a partner, but instead was just looking around, awestruck.

Hey, Jared said, approaching her, seems we both need a partner. What say you and me have fun storming the castle?

This got a chuckle out of the girl, but she shook her head.

C’mon, man, she said, don’t go sabotaging things now. Besides, I bet you want to take your chances of the field of glory over there.

She gestured to the plain where the bulk of the explosions were happening.

Yeah, kinda, Jared replied. The girl shook her head.

Why go for the straightforward approach? You know that never works. Me, I’m going that way.

She pointed northeast, a path littered with boulders and an assortment of metal debris. Without waiting for another word, she grabbed another hapless soldier and dragged him off, volunteering him for her quest.

That’ll take too long! Jared called after her. You’ll never be the hero of Jaxoras that way!

At least I’ll be alive! she retorted, bounding around a rock, her dumbfounded companion still in tow.

Sighing, Jared looked around at his pickings left for a partner. The pickings were slim. Even General Xor had paired off, taking the girl from the front of the transport with him. The pair were clambering over their cover, evidently to better survey the battlefield. Jared really only had one choice left: a twiggy, nervous-looking young man, still fiddling with one of those rectangles.

Come on!

Jared snapped at him as he ran off to find his way to the vent. It was slower going than Jared had hoped to cross the battlefield. Even though his purpose here was