Captain Peri Solomon and Her Traveling Troupe of Wonderment!

"Step right up and prepare to be amazed! Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys of every corner of the cosmos...open your eyes and your hearts, for the moment has arrived! Sit back, hold your breath, and behold the incomparable Captain Peri Solomon and her Traveling Troupe of Wonderment!"

Shenequia, the sixth planet from its massive sun, the enormous ship, Wonderment settled on the quiet shores of the great sea of Menedoray. Facing the port-side of the ship, sat hundreds of Shenequans, waiting in anticipation for the show to start.

Out beyond the grassy and sandy shore were dozens of watercrafts; its passengers either lounging in chairs or lined up to the craft's railing to catch a glimpse of the famous show.

Suddenly, the port side of the ship began to shift, its panels gliding apart with a smooth grace. The audience gasped with excitement as the lower section descended before extending outward, unfolding into a magnificent stage that hovered just above the shore's surface. The top half of the hull pulled upwards to reveal ropes, trapeze lines, and highwires that stretched the full length of the spaceship.

Several lights danced across the stage and outward onto the audience leaving a dazzling array of spectacular brilliance. The Shenequans' astonishment carried across the crowd in high-pitched shrills. Many have seen the show before, but their excitement could not be contained.

As the lights faded, silence settled over the audience. Not a whisper, not a breath; only the gentle lapping of water against the shore. A soft breeze blew; the air felt enchanted, expectant. It was the perfect setting.

A figure appeared standing on the top of the ship, her arms outstretched wide in welcome! A glowing aura surrounded her illuminating every feature. She wore a glistening one-piece black jump suit that hugged every detail of her feminine physique. Her long brown hair fell in cascades down to the middle of her back. Her green eyes bright with excitement.

The woman in black smiled.

Then she jumped...

A gasp erupted from the crowd, as the woman plummeted toward the ground; arms outstretched as if she was welcoming her impending doom. Children screamed in fight covering their eyes terrified at the probable outcome of such a stunt.

But just as the woman was mere feet from striking the ground, her descent stopped. Suspended in the air, she tilted her head and flashed a playful wink to the audience.

For a heartbeat, she hovered there, weightless and utterly unbothered, before the faintest smirk tugged at her lips.

The crowd shouted and shrilled in unison; horns blared from the sea vessels as the woman remained floating above the shore's surface. With a click of her fingers, her stocking feet disappeared replaced with a set of tight black boots and water skis.

In a rainbow burst of shimmering lights surrounding the woman, she slowly righted herself before jetting over the crowd and landing gracefully on the water behind them.

The audience turned to follow the performer gliding on the water, swerving past the massive vessels whose occupants scattered to the edge of their ships to get a better glimpse of the magical woman.

With expert ease, she maneuvered herself past the last ship and twirled up in the air in a sparkling rainbow of shooting colors. Every horn blared in her honor; every occupant shrilled with glee.

The female performer offered a grateful smile before gliding expertly across the water back toward shore. As she finally reached the shallows, she gathered speed, lifted off the water's surface sailing cleanly over the seated crowd. Gasps rippled through the audience as she arced above them. Then with one final twirl, landed with feather‑light precision on the stage.

She didn't perform for glory nor accolades but for the sheer thrill and excitement she brought to her audiences.

With a smile on her face, she bowed. Then snapping her fingers once more, she became surrounded in a whir-wind of sparkling colors that twirled around her as if they were partners on the dance floor.

Suddenly, the riot of colors froze in place before collapsing inward, vanishing in a single breath. When the last shimmer faded, the woman stood no longer wearing the one-piece suit but dressed in more formal professional attire.

She wore a black tuxedo with long tails, with a pressed white shirt, matching black vest and black bowtie. On her feet she wore black boots, and a on top her head sat a black satin top hat.

With her arms out wide once more, she slowly lifted off the stage and hovered over the floor. The audience shrilled at the sight before them and once again the horns on the water ships continued to trumpet.

Suddenly, with an amplified voice the woman spoke to the crowd that gathered that beautiful evening.

"Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages! Thank you for welcoming us once again! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Peri Solomon, and it is my honor to present to you… my Traveling Troupe of Wonderment!"

As if summoned by her very words, the stage burst to life. Performers stepped forward one by one; acrobats, illusionists, dancers, and dreamers, filling the platform with color, motion, and the electric promise of spectacle.

Peri Solomon motioned with her left hand. "To my left from the Brodaline Deserts of Demerikal, I present to you Soolakanoi the master of knives and swords stratagem!"

The spotlight fell upon a tall, rust‑colored humanoid, his slender frame casting a silhouette across the stage. Knives glinted in both hands, their polished edges catching every shimmer of the ship’s glow. His long, graceful fingers danced, twirling each blade with effortless mastery before sending them spinning skyward. The knives arced crossing each other as he caught them behind his back without so much as a glance. The crowd's breath held tight in collective awe.

With a sweeping bow and a sly, knowing smile, he straightened and sauntered toward the far left of the stage.

"To my right is Zebbron from the planet Robliniscus. He is on record as being the strongest man in the galaxy! Undefeated in the battle of Roll, Zebbron brought freedom to many worlds during a time of suffering! Let's give a big shout-out to Zebbron the Strong!"

A short, stocky alien with red eyes stepped into the light, his pale gray skin gleaming. His broad shoulders squared with quiet confidence. He wore a translucent tank top and fitted shorts; the fabric reinforced with a protective layer that shimmered faintly as he moved. Planting his feet, he lifted his thick arms outward, forming a living platform.

One by one, four acrobats sprinted toward him from behind, flipping in perfect sequence. Each landed lightly upon his outstretched arms; their movements so synchronized it looked like a single flowing motion. The crowd watched in breathless awe as the sturdy performer held them with effortless strength, a pillar of balance beneath their airborne grace.

As the crowd roared, each gymnast performed fluid acts of practiced balance while the man kept his arms extended without any hint of movement. In unison, each acrobat, ended with a forward flip landing as one on the stage floor carefully placed on either side of the strongest man in the galaxy.

One by one Captain Peri Solomon introduced the members of her troupe, each dazzling the audience with their skill set.

The illusionist Mojuave from Lemsonai, producing beautiful, winged creatures from thin air each set free only to burst into a ball of beautiful purple light. The identical twin trapeze artists of Kenoy known for their daring tricks above the stage.

Each performer receiving thunderous applause while taking their bows.

As the Captain was about to announce the first act, a beautiful tall blonde woman appeared from behind the curtains. She was dressed in a pink leotard that hugged her curvaceous body. Her long legs were shapely and covered in glimmering stockings. She wore silver heels which enhanced the length of her legs.

Smiling, the woman sauntered over toward Captain Solomon as the crowd gasped in awe at the stunning woman.

Taking her place beside the captain, the blonde; hands on her hips, cleared her throat before once again flashing a brilliant smile.

Peri Solomon continued to introduce the next act.

"Ahem..." the blond repeated much louder.

Some members of the audience chuckled.

Captain Solomon forced a smile considering she had been interrupted. "Yes?" she spoke through gritted teeth while keeping her eyes on the audience.

"Um... You forgot about me," the blonde whispered.

"What was that?" Peri Solomon replied still trying to keep her composer.

With her hands still on her hips, the blonde spoke louder. "You forgot about me."

"Speak up, I can't hear you." Captain Solomon shrugged.

Moving closer toward the captain, the blonde took in a deep breath. "You forgot about me!" she shouted.

Captain Solomon flinched while covering her right ear. "Geeze you don't have to shout! I heard you the first time!" and she winked at the audience.

Laughter sounded throughout the crowd.

The blonde cleared her throat once more. "Like I said, you forgot to introduce me, Captain."

Peri Solomon continued to stare ahead at the audience before her. “Did I?”

The blonde stammered slightly. "Well... Yes... Yes, you did."

"How is that so?"

"Well, you introduced all the members of the Troupe and were about to introduce the first act... but forgot to mention me!”

The captain sighed. "Quit whining."

"I'm not whining!" It wasn’t quite a whine but more of a factual comment.

More laughter came from the audience.

Keeping in character, Captain Solomon turned her head slightly to the right to peer over toward the woman who continued to pose with her hands on her hips while smiling brightly.

"What are you doing?" the captain asked the blonde.

"I’m waiting for my big introduction," the blonde replied keeping the perfect pose.

The audience couldn’t contain their laughter.

Acting as if embarrassed, Captain Solomon covered her eyes and shook her head. "I was saving you for later."

The blonde quit posing and her smile faded. “Saving me for later!!” the woman shouted and looked to the audience. "Can you believe it? I can't believe it! She was saving me for later!" she shouted and proceeded to stomp down the stage jumping off the edge before taking a seat among a group of children.

Each child laughed with glee as the blonde performer crossed her arms over her chest.

She pouted.

The captain removed her top hat and bushed imaginary lint from off the brim. With a flip, the hat landed back on her head. The audience clapped at the simple hat trick performed.

As the applause quieted down, Peri Solomon stood with her hands on her hips. "Come on, get back up here," she spoke to the woman.

The blonde was preoccupied as she helped herself to a snack offered by one of the children. They whispered to each other and giggled.

Yup! She completely ignored her Captain.

"Okay! You've had your fun! Come back..."

"Ohhh I like the blue ones!" The blonde interrupted as she spoke to another child.

The audience laughed at the antics between the two women.

Captain Solomon took off her hat again and ran her hands through her brown hair.

Holding the hat in her hands, she let out a big sigh. "I'm sorry..."

"What's that? I didn't hear you!" The blonde replied.

Placing her top hat back on her head, Captain Solomon looked back toward the blonde who continued to gobble down the children's snacks.

Peri Solomon rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry. Could you please get back on stage?

The blonde gazed at each child who surrounded her. "Do you want me to get back on stage?" she asked them.

A young girl raised her hand. "Only if Captain Solomon introduces you!" she requested, her pink eyes wide with anticipation.

The blonde smiled and gave the child a hug.

Looking back toward the stage she spoke. "You heard her! How can I refuse such a beautiful young woman?"

Peri picked an invisible thread off her tuxedo jacket. "I suppose you have no choice," she replied before gazing up toward the blonde and smirking.

"I guess not!" Then like lightning given form, the blonde moved. In a single fluid motion, she sprang from the ground, her body a streak of silver and pink as she sprinted toward center stage. With a breathtaking leap she soared upward, weightless, almost luminous, arcing through the air toward her Captain.

Peri Solomon lifted her arms high, palms open to the sky. The blonde performer descended toward her, landing perfectly in the captain’s waiting hands. With effortless strength, Captain Solomon raised her upward, the woman rising as lightly as a breath. For an instant, it looked as though she were a shooting star caught mid‑flight; captured, cradled.

The audience gasped as the moment suspended in a hush so deep and connected. The blonde balancing on her hands held only by the skill displayed by the great Captain Peri Solomon.

With a gentle push, the blonde was propelled. flipping several times in the air, landing right next to her Captain. Grasping hands, they held their arms up high with purpose.

As the crowd shrilled, the horns of the water ships trumpeted with praise and adulation. It was a spectacular sight to see!

Peri Solomon shouted above the crowd's applause. "Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, allow me to introduce you to my one and only cousin, Lita Solomon!"

And together while still holding hands high, the cousins took a long low bow.

***Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of "Captain Peri Solomon and her Traveling Troupe of Wonderment!"

Peace, S. Ramm