Update: Moreso a prequel to Escape, this was designed/written to be the Christmas special of 2008. The story is about how Commander Samuel LeTania met Valerie Davis, both of which are OCs from this series. There has recently been a change of plans, and I will not be updating the story on the 25th; however, it will run from December 22 to January 1. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Yes, I lied. No, I have not even started on the next Escape chapter. Yes, I am sorry.

But here's a Christmas special for you folks to celebrate the season with! (Even if you're not Christian, it's still a nice story.)

Chapter I

"Sir, that'll be thirty-three credits," the clerk announced too loudly. Sam winced, his ears having already been hurt by the old, chatting senile ladies behind him. Sighing and reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a flat rectangular diskette – some would call these miniature "floppy disks" – and handed it to the attractive woman standing before him. He eyed her surreptitiously, and nodded at her assets: bountiful bosom, slim build, arched back, firm butt. She seemed a nice package indeed.

Deciding to tempt fate, Sam leaned over the countertop and breathed, "So, uh, miss…" Already sweating, he leaned over more to peek at the tag hidden under the collar of the female's work shirt – which surprisingly revealed more than a handful of skin behind – but barely got a glimpse of the tag itself (Or was I even looking for the tag in the first place, Sam argued with himself). "Carry, how are you?"

The blonde gave a halfhearted smile, her canine teeth clawing their way from her luscious lips. Her reply was a mix of a drunken woman and sleigh bells. "Truthfully, I've been better. Checkouts are always hectic around here, with thousands of people coming in and out to buy stuff… It gets boring fast. I'll be glad to get out of this stuffy store; I don't think I can take the heat anymore." As if to prove her point, Carry pulled at the front of her shirt, revealing more of her undergarments – a white bodice laced with pink trimmings. She started unbuttoning the top button of it, and loosened the shirt around her neck.

Samuel LeTania, a fit and healthy man of twenty-four and standing in line in front of seventy other consumers, was imagining how Carry would look without all the unnatural and synthetic clutter most would call clothes. That defined, slender nose paired with gazing hazelnut eyes gave an exotic look to the blonde, entirely eradicating the average stereotype of yellow-colored blondes bearing blue eyes, plump noses, and fat pink lips. It gave an unnatural, yet exotic – No, Sam thought, erotic – look to a dark blonde-woman to also own brown eyes and red lips. It was completely mind-blowing. How Sam wished, right now, that it would blow something else.

"Is that all, sir? Sir?"

Sam snapped out of it, refocused his eyes on Carry and the plastic bag she held, and nodded. "Thanks."

Sam grabbed the bag and was dumbfounded to feel a note tucked into his hand when the girl passed it to him.

"Have a nice night," Carry chirped.

It will be about three or four chapters in length, each approximately a page long (such as this chapter).

I realize it may be borderline T, so please review if you believe I should increase the rating. Thanks!