Fountain of Youth

Fountain of Youth is #9 in the Star Sails series

Captain Jack Stone and his team have come out of neuroliptical training, relatively unscathed. In fact, they've come out alive. Their new ship is the SS Asterias and their first mission is to the Epsilon Eridani solar system.

The planet Phrikes is the closest of three planets to its red giant sun. The place is hot, between 40 and 50 Celsius, and spacesuits are mandatory.

This planet is Earth's first attempt at locating intelligent life. It's a planet like none other, an uninhabited Shangri-La. The crew feel buoyant, vigorous and excited to be making first contact.

But something is actually making them relive their youth. And it's not all fun when things go awry and crew start dropping dead.

Length: 9,800 words