The sun was just peeking over the horizon, shining it’s light over the vast land spread around a sprawling farmhouse situated in a narrow valley. Framed by snowcapped mountains to the east and west; the behemoths towered over their surroundings casting shadows kilometres long, as if denying the sun purchase for fleeting moments before it rose ever higher into the azure sky.
The last twinkling light from the far-flung stars were dying out like the embers of a nearly extinguished fire. Yet despite the suns attempt to claim prime position in the sky it was accompanied by the many different celestial bodies that dotted the heavens. A multitude of different planets were spread across the sky in every colour imaginable, mottled browns to royal blues, lush forest greens and blazing oranges; it was a sight that delighted the senses.
It was this view that a young man was waking up to, Mason opened his eyes a crack and tried to blink away the sleep as they got use to the light that was growing brighter the longer he lay there. Looking up he peered through the sky light that spread over his ceiling capturing the cloud covered sky, its fluffy occupants darting across being herded by a gusty breeze.
This tableau never ceased to amaze and though it had been nearly 2 years that he had been here, he couldn’t get enough of. It was clear why his grandparents had settled down on this planet towards the outer edge of the middle disk. They had run a very successful trading business, building it up from scratch and persevering through the bureaucratic hurdles that prevented all but the most persistent individuals.
They swiftly demonstrated why they were well suited to run said business as within a year they had secured a deal with an up-and-coming sunstone refinery in the outer limit. The level of work they put into this endeavour demonstrated their abilities, and they proceeded to exceed the initial terms of the deals made. Their effort put in was recognised quickly and this was spread all over, opening doors that had previously been closed to them being new players in the game.
Once his grandparents had built the business up to a remarkable level, they ceased their expansion and focused on diversifying the products they had available. Ensuring they had a piece of the pie in nearly every capital system in the Eluna Republic, meant that they could cater to the varying needs of its citizens. Just trying to picture how far their reach is tended to be a struggle, you could hear the different statistics and number of facilities and fleets and even that would be impressive.
But to try to make sense of it you need to think about the fact that the universe has been mapped, through a combined effort of the 4 factions. They spent countless centuries spreading out and colonising the differing systems and galaxies while also using their various explorational departments to discover new civilisations, mapping resource nodes and expanding their known celestial pathways (CP’s).
That’s the name for the routes they use to travel between 2 different points; but when they first started travelling through the stars it took them nearly 1000 times as long to go between systems before they found the pathways. Not everything is on a connection though and for those circumstances the various scientific divisions have spent a significant amount of time developing a drive to transport the various probes, comm relays and ships to the isolated systems.
It does make you think though, as all those isolated locations have never been too far removed from a pathway. They are always in a position that allows us to get there relatively quickly, granted it’s not as fast as the CP’s but it’s also not a huge inconvenience. Almost like it was planned that way, or you know it’s just a huge coincidence. Regardless, the fact that collectively we have mapped the universe has meant that we have been in an unending age of expansion. There are always new systems to discover and even now we are finding even more isolated points of interest.
This means that we have the outline of the universe and its size, with the paths leading through it connecting us in a massive web, whose size cannot be measured in a normal method. The millions of galaxies and vast nebula give us nodes to measure off and travelling around we use those very nodes as a point of reference. Instead of lightyears that we once used, we work off the Universal Nodal Reference (UNR) or Nodes. This allows the ship captains to plot a course to any known node across the universe.
The best captains will be able to plot courses that cover upwards of 20 Nodes, on top of having various routes they have personally mapped between popular locations that take a fraction of the time public known routes take. This shows just how much work my grandparents put in to establish their business, and more importantly grow it to the level it is at today. Eventually when they grew older and wanted to have a family, they ensured that there were various systems in place that enabled them to reduce the load and spread the responsibilities among the many managers already in place.
My grandparents never wanted to have a family that was focused on their status and where they sat in the Republic. They wanted to ensure that any children they had embodied their values of family first, though it wasn’t that hard for them to put into place as they were never ones that enjoyed displaying their wealth. My grandparents always preferred items that would last them a lifetime and were reliable. They viewed having a child that was happy and healthy a clear display of their success, regardless the size of their bank account.
My father never wanted for anything and they never spoilt him, the three of them always had just what they needed to live in comfort. Driving around you would never have known they were one of the richest amongst the republic and they liked it that way. As my pop would always say “you only know the measure of a person from the way they treat those that have less”.
Though he never ceased to use those very circumstances whenever suited him, and he had to deal with a particularly difficult supplier or competitor. He loved showing up in a very casual outfit that was at odds to his position, depending on the way he was treated by whoever he was meeting it would determine how he approached them. This earnt him a fearsome reputation which he used to great effect.
Looking around my room I saw the little odds and ends that I had added to make the room my own, nothing major had been changed since I moved in. The items taking up most of the space were gifts and cool little odds and ends my parents had picked up on their travels. Primarily I wasn’t a material person, I liked having few things and all those pieces I did have had meaning behind them. Speaking to my grandparents my father was the same, wanting everything in its place and being very particular about what he had on display.
My father grew up in this very house, and as far as I knew the room I live in. He didn’t always have both parents at home, as with them being in charge of a universal level business there was always someone needing to be away from home working on various projects and deals. Though they always made sure that they were present for the important occasions. Hearing them talk about it showed just how much love they had for their family.
As my father grew older, they taught him about the business and what it encompassed, he completed his schooling and completed further study in ‘Corporate Management and Ethical Business Practice’. Not wanting to study beyond his advanced level of education, he chose to forego the opportunity to complete his masters and started working with his parents.
Then rest is history, over the course of his time working there he met my mother and they started going out. Eventually marrying and having a son (that is me by the way). They have been the best possible team, working just as well as my grandparents and helping to grow the company. Showing that the work ethic my grandparents possessed and displayed had carried through the generations. No pressure on me at all…. But seriously I relish the idea of meeting their expectations and exceeding them. Showing just what I can do after all I am one of the most advanced pupils in my classes and have been put in the advanced placement for most of the courses.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Speaking of my education, I live with my grandparents due to the nature of the work my parents take part in. They are travelling constantly, not content with operating the business from the safety of an office. The desire to be in the thick of it, dealing with the high-status clients personally. They tell me that it is a responsibility of theirs as it is important that they manage the various client relationships personally, especially the higher profile ones. Yet I get an inkling that there is something else in play there, with how family focused my grandparents are and especially how they have advocated for my parents to be the same
It would be idiotic of me to assume that everything is fine and that there is no competition. After all that is the nature of business, to be better than your competitors and win the deals. Yet it is unsettling when they come back from a particularly longer trip. I can see the exhaustion and fatigue no matter how much they try to hide it. After being around them so much growing up, it would be hard not to.
It had only been when I was needing to start my schooling that they decided I would be staying with my grandparents. ‘A travelling lifestyle wouldn’t do for someone needing to focus on their studies’ or so they said. Though I had already shown that I could study effectively even while travelling around yet they were adamant about me living with my grandparents to finish my studies. Which was another indicator that something was happening, at the time it didn’t register, but now that I look back it’s all starting to come together.
Every two to three weeks they come back so it’s not like they are gone for a significant duration, and they always manage to stay home just as long as they have been away. I believe they call it the work life balance. I would love for them to be home a bit more, or even having the same set up as my grandparents had with my father. But with how they have grown the business since taking over, and with how involved they are, it doesn’t seem like much of a chance of that happening.
After rubbing the sleep from my eyes and coming to terms with the early morning despite how much I wanted to sleep, I rolled out of bed and freshened up in the bathroom.
Wiping the steam from the mirror I stared back at myself; I was 16 today. Standing tall at nearly 2 meters in height and broad-shouldered my family had always been quite impressive physically. The musculature of a man older than myself was peering back, afterall working on the farm in my off time helped to ensure that I had enough opportunity to build said muscles. The typical Powell hair topped my frame predominantly black with hints of burgundy in a messy side part. That part I am particularly proud of, after all I managed to get the striking colour from my father's side of the family, and the easy-to-care-for hair from my mothers.
I can’t say that I have ever seen her with a hair out of place. Being fairly tall for a female she had towered over me through my childhood, but most recently on their last trip home I was finally taller. Granted it was only by a centimetre or so, but hey, it counts. Running a few fingers through the messy locks saw them fall into place, looking like I was just done at the barber. Getting dressed into a casual outfit as today was an off day for my studies, I could use it as I saw fit, apart from my normal chores around the farm that is. I only had to do some work in the immediate area surrounding the farm itself, as the total area my grandparent’s property encompassed was extensive.
Another reason they chose this planet was the vast unclaimed area in which they now resided. To put it into perspective the planet has a diameter of roughly 12000km, so a pretty standard garden world, and they own about a fifth of it. Don’t get me wrong they don’t hoard the land and if anything, the people residing on their property are some of the best off in the republic. My grandparents charge minimal rent and provide a multitude of resources, they do come with stipulations in that they must help look after the land. But you show me someone who doesn’t want to look after the land they live on for subsidized rent, medical, and transportation and I’ll show you a liar.
This just means that they do not have to look after the majority of the land they own, and it’s just the immediate vicinity that they manage themselves. Today is also the day my parents are coming home from their most recent trip, they had managed to land themselves a lucrative contract with a senator from the inner core. Ideally, when these deals come across their desks, they like to complete the first delivery themselves, they have made it a bit of a tradition and feel that it brings them luck. This is also on top of it being an order from the first sunstone refinery my grandparents started their business with. Our status is pretty up there whenever we deal with this refinery, as we have had a long and fruitful relationship with them.
After completing my morning routine and feeling my stomach rumble I made my way down the long hall connecting my side of the house with the common areas. Staring out at the rolling hills and fields of wheat with its golden bounty surrounding the house. They were overshadowed by the mountains that straddled the valley and cast their shadows over the horizon. It was early still and there was a faint fog that shifted through the fields, weaving through the upright stalks and pooling around the foot of the hills. It would soon be chased away by the rising sun but for the moment it made a mesmerizing sight and I couldn’t help to pause and take it all in.
Coming back to the present I regretfully turned my face away from the windows and made my way to the kitchen my stomach now loudly protesting my delay. It certainly didn’t appreciate the pause while taking in the view. It was not helped as the closer I got I could smell bacon wafting down the hallway causing even louder rumbles through my body.
“Get your ass in here Mason, I can hear your stomach from a mile away”, the warm jovial sound of my granddad’s voice met me as I emerged from the hallway. Glaring over at him perched on top of a stool at the kitchen island, “Ha ha ha, get your laughs now old man, we both know you’re due for your nap anytime now,” smirking in response.
“Oi I’ll have you know I can still run circles around you boy, don’t get a full head just because you’re a year older.” Faux anger crossed his features before they relaxed into a grin and standing up, he made his way over to pull me into a hug, “Happy Birthday young man, excited for the big day? Have you organised anything with your friends?” His well wishes were echoed by my grandmother on the other side of the island.
“Nah not a huge amount, was going to head over to the simulators with Theo, I’ve heard they got the new line of fighter sims in. I want to give them a go before they got swamped by too many people. He said the combat feedback is second to none and it feels like you're right in the thick of it. I’ve even heard that they have some prototype fighters in the roster that haven’t come out of development yet. Theo said you need to get a certain number of achievements first then you can unlock the customisation options to….” Pulled up short by the raised hand of my grandfather.
“I’m gonna stop you there” he was looking overwhelmed at the information overload, “I don’t need all the details, just wanted to know who you were seeing today. Just remember to be back this afternoon, your parents are due to get in this evening and I don’t want to have to chase you down.” Sending a glare my way.
“Don’t forget that you also have your chores as well, though seeing as it’s your birthday I might be generous and help you out, being the upstanding gentleman I am” seeming very pleased with himself. “Especially when you get hooked into those simulators, bloody hard to get you out of one.” Shifting on the spot at the reminder of the last time I nearly missed my parents arrival.
“I ever so appreciate your magnanimous offer your greatness” bowing deeply at his words, “how can I ever repay you….. oh hey how about I set an alarm, that’ll get me back on time.” Grinning back at him,
“Alright no need to get snarky young man, off with yourself.” His words sent me running out the door sparing a backward look at him and seeing the smile spread across his face.
“God, he reminds me so much of Sean when he gets all excited about something like that.” A soft voice came from the lady of the household. “Not to mention when you have a dig at each other,” a smile crossing her face.
Looking affronted at the comment he retorted, “I’ll have you know that it’s a part of every healthy relationship” looking shocked at the very suggestion.
“Oh, and where is all that in ‘our’ relationship may I ask?” putting it right back at the older man.
“Ah well, of course you’re always right so there is absolutely no need for that…… well better be off, plenty to do, see you in a bit Hun”. Exiting the room before he could put his foot any further into his mouth than it already was.
Chuckling to herself and watching the rapid retreat of her husband of nearly 55 years she glanced back towards the front door her grandson had run through, ‘he looks so much like his father every year. Hopefully that business dies down soon and they can spend more time back here, he doesn’t show it but I know he misses them when they are gone.’
