Book 01, Chapter 01
————————————–
“I’m going to work now.”
Pip-is rubbed his eyes and rolled over to face the source of the voice.
“’Kay Mom,” he responded quietly.
The two stared at each other for a while.
“What’re you going to be doing today?” inquired his mother.
Pip-is rolled back to face away. “I donno… nothin’ pro’ly,” he answered.
There was quiet for a while. “Maybe you should try and sell some of your latest game designs…” suggested Ms. Lyr.
Pip-is turned quickly about. “Fine, ‘kay?! I’ll go in’a town an’ ask tha’ damn agent ‘gain,” grumbled Pip-is as he sat up in bed.
As Ms. Lyr left, Pip-is shouted “Sorry Ma. I love you.”
His mother shouted back that she loved him too.
Pip-is Lyr was a cursed individual, though the curse could be undone by his own effort. He was blessed with incredible computer talent, but cursed with crippling laziness. When applied, he could create marvels with any standard of computer technology. He never pushed himself though, and did less than his best when asked.
Even his speech reflected this as he couldn’t even work the energy up to not mash his words together. A curse that ran too deep. He needed to either break his own curse or have another push him to his best.
Pip-is Lyr sat up in his bed for a while and then fell back into bed and to sleep.
————————————–
Reed and Sizna ran up alongside Nuta.
“Did you see the ship fly overhead this morning?” asked Sizna.
“Nah, I was in my advisor’s office,” answered Nuta.
“Changing your major again?” inquired Reed.
“Not sure. Maybe fourth time is the charm,” Nuta replied trying to return to the original subject. “What kind of ship was it?”
“I think it may have been an Anlov Scholar ship.” Sizna responded.
Nuta stopped, and so did his classmates.
“A Scholar ship? Wonder what brings them out here. Nothing here that would make going out of the way worthwhile…” mused Nuta aloud.
Reed started walking again. “I don’t know about you guys, but it got me wanting to do some more pilot sims.”
The other two continued as well.
“I’ve been studying too much,” Sizna complained. “I need some simulators and games to unwind.”
Nuta added, “Yeah that sounds good. I haven’t practiced in two days so you might stomp me this time.”
Nuta Odeylum so rarely found comfort in his location. It was because he was never confident in his path. He would find an avenue for his life, but he would soon grow bored or disillusioned. He would then find a new direction for a limited time, and his flight would continue. He needed a path that he couldn’t find reason to step away from.
————————————–
“Your friend already came through,” called the customs officer to Kazochi. “He already filled out all the paper work.”
Kazochi strode over to the customs desk. The officer quickly sat up and straightened his wrinkled clothing as the uniformed visitor approached.
“Yes he’s in quite the hurry. Did he say where he was headed?” she inquired.
“He asked where the Citizenry Office was, so I pointed him to this address,” he stated while writing down the address on a section of paper.
“So what brings Scholars out to Essimiu? I was going to ask your friend, but it slipped my mind,” asked the officer while handing the paper over. “That and he was gone before I remembered.”
“Recruitment,” answered Kazochi. With no further discussion, she left.
The customs officer slouched back into his seat. He had never dealt with Scholars before. He wondered if they were all so impersonal.
————————————–
Pip-is closed the door with a sigh. There was a line at the game company’s agent’s office and he didn’t feel like waiting. The wait would’ve been short, but he simply couldn’t work up the interest to stick around. He plopped down at his desk and started up his computer. He leaned back, removed his glasses, and rubbed his forehead. As he started up his programming software, a loud banging came from the front door.
“Now wha’ the hell is’it?!” he fumed as he hurried to the door, forgetting his glasses on the desk.
He opened the door to reveal a blurry figure.
“Yeah?” Pip-is sighed.
“You’re Pip-is Lyr?” the form asked in a shaky voice.
“Yeah. Wha’ is’it?” sighed Pip-is again.
Pip-is wasn’t too sure what happened next. The person was holding him tightly in an embrace and up into the air. Panic started in as Pip-is began to struggle against the binding hold.
“Pip-is my good friend, it’s been too long!” the grappler shouted.
“Who th’ hell a’ you?!” demanded Pip-is as he continued to struggle.
“Oh sorry sorry. It’s me, Geib. Get your glasses, you blind turd. No wonder you didn’t recognize me,” he answered as he set Pip-is down.
Pip-is backpedaled into his room facing the stranger the whole way. He didn’t stop his quick retreat even as items littering the ground were knocked away or caught under his backward moving feet. There was the occasional stumble, but Pip-is never broke his line of sight on the blurry figure. As he put his glasses on, his old friend came into focus. Of course they were both older but both recognized each other instantly.
“Geib! Why y’ here?! ‘F I’d known you’d be here…I mean, I would’ve,” stammered Pip-is.
“How’d you have known? But there’s much to discuss and much to catch up on.” responded Geib as he shut the front door behind him.
————————————–
Nuta was just finishing the touches on a paper. He made room on his desk, folded his arms on the surface and laid his head upon them. He breathed in slowly while looking at the drab white wall. He was glad to have the recent distractions of simulators and games with friends, but now the familiar walls surrounded him. Even between the many posters and decorations, the white walls of the dorm room burned into his vision. How quickly he could be reminded that he felt like a prisoner.
A banging on the door snapped Nuta from his self-pity.
He figured it must’ve been his roommate returning for something he forgot. He opened the door, but could’ve opened it through time as two aged childhood friends stood before him.
“What the hell are you guys doing here?!” blurted Nuta after a long silence. Nuta grabbed both of the visitors in a tight embrace. Despite being twenty years since, he still saw them as he had departed them as. Not many could claim to be able to recognize an aged version of a friend from their early youth, but all three of them could.
“Well, about that,” Geib replied as he broke free of the vice-like grip. “I’ve some explaining to do.”
“Come in then,” Nuta cheered as he pulled Geib and Pip-is inside.
“Wow, I haven’t seen either of you since… it seems a lifetime ago,” Nuta continued as he cleared some seats for his guests.
“You two haven’t kept in touch?” Geib asked as he sat down.
“After you left, Pip-is and I just drifted apart,” Nuta explained.
“We didn’t have a fight or anything, right Pip-is?” he called over to his friend, who was examining Nuta’s game and simulation systems.
Pip-is absent-mindedly nodded.
“Anyway, long story short, I joined the Anlov Scholar Program and have recently graduated. I’ve been assigned my own ship and I’m seeking recruits to serve on it,” explained Geib. “I need a pilot and you were always into that since we were kids.” He gestured to the flight sim that Pip-is was still inspecting. “I see you still are. That and I looked you up and found you have had plenty of schooling and a few licenses for small craft.”
“I never would’ve guessed you were piloting that ship I heard about,” responded Nuta. “Probably because you didn’t crash it.”
His expression changed to a more serious one. “But I’m still in school. I can’t just up and leave. Not while I’m paying for all this. Besides I just changed my major again.”
He took a deep breath and laughed nervously. “You sure are laying a lot on me here.”
Here he had just been moping about the routine his life went in, and with no warning, he was being asked to make a long term commitment to a project he really didn’t know too much about.
“We can cover that. The Scholar Program I mean. We can continue your education on board,” explained Geib. “Besides, this is a pretty rare prestige. Normally you have to be a Graduate from the Scholar Program to even be considered to crew aboard a Scholar ship. But I’m leading a special mission, and I get to select my crew.”
Nuta looked over at Pip-is still messing with his simulator. “And what about you Pip-is? You going with?”
Pip-is turned back. “I’m na’ sure. I might. There’s’na much for me here.”
“Maybe,” Nuta sighed. “Wish you could’ve visited without springing something so heavy on me.”
“I know it isn’t the greatest situation to have out of nowhere, but I do think it’d be a suitable place for you,” replied Geib. “Time is of the essence so I’ll have to leave you with this,” he added as he handed over a small notebook with several cash bills clipped to it.
“In this you’ll find the location of where we’re docked and all proper paperwork to get you through. The money is to pay for any costs you require to get there. We’ll be leaving tomorrow evening. Also there is a list of what you’ll need to bring,” he explained.
Geib placed a hand on Nuta’s shoulder. “If you decide not to come, I’ve left all my contact information. I hope to still be able to catch up with you.”
Geib stood up to bid farewell. While Nuta went through the motions, he felt worlds away. In one swoop, a friend from the past offered a whole new path. Nuta was so lost in his thoughts that he hardly realized when Geib and Pip-is left his room.
He stared at the packet in his hands, and back up to the white walls peaking at him through the edges of the posters.
————————————–
Ms. Lyr had just stepped through the front door when she was assaulted by her son’s excitement.
“Mom! Mom! You won’ believe who’s’ere!” greeted Pip-is enthusiastically.
“Pip-is, I just got home… Who?” responded Ms. Lyr.
“Remember Geib? From when we were kids?” he continued.
Ms. Lyr stopped.
“Of course. But he’s all the way on Anlov Home,” she answered.
Geib stepped out. “Hello again Ms. Lyr.” He moved up to her and took some of the bags of groceries out of her full hands.
“What brings you all the way back here?” she asked while taking a seat at the main room table.
“I came to see one of my best friends and offer him some work,” Geib responded.
“Work?” she responded excitedly.
Pip-is hung his head lower.
“What kind?” she added.
“You know what the Anlov Scholar Program is?” Geib asked.
“No, I don’t keep up to date on Anlov Home. I’ve so much to occupy me here. It sounds special though,” she said with a glowing light in her eyes.
The Anlov Scholar Program had its roots at the beginning of Anlov’s expansion. This expansion came soon after the mass migration of the Anlov from their home planet, Anlov Cradle, to the massive orbital structure named Anlov Home. As explorers went out across the multiple galaxies and universes, they charted potential settlement sites and existing civilizations. Since contact with civilizations that had no established contact was forbidden, they were intentionally ignored and avoided.
However, there were cases when observations of the cosmos showed strange new technology or bizarre occurrences. A general ethical doctrine was established where such technological, scientific, and/or physical anomalies could be stealthily observed, recorded, obtained, or captured. Anlov Home placed a bounty on these findings so that explorers could bring such findings back to gather a quick financial gain so long as the few rules were followed. The few rules being that no life could be harmed and that no civilizations would become unsuitably aware of the visitation.
The Mabun Embarassment proved to be a darker time for Anlov, which was reflected in their system of observation and exploration. Mabun, in a hurry to establish quick technological and military prowess, disregarded all ethics and rules. Lives were taken and worlds plundered with complete disregard. Civilizations became uprooted by these new visitors who weren’t keen on subtlety, and even less on civility. Bounties were hosted for findings under the guise they were doing so under Anlov supervision. In reality, these finds went right into the corrupt hands of Mabun. Anlov had been unaware of the Mabun’s secret wars and atrocities, which came as a great shock when these actions were brought to light. After the destruction of Mabun, stricter rules were placed on exploration. The old system of lightly regulated exploration died alongside Mabun.
This marked the birth of the Anlov Scholar Program. It was a system of organized schools and regulations to insure the ethical search of wonders across the universes. If perspective students could pass the grueling schooling, they could be placed on Anlov sanctioned crews to explore and observe possible findings. Scholars were universally respected for their contributions to science and exploration.
Ms. Lyr looked at her son. She reached over and ran her hand along his cheeks.
“My friends always look down at us. They see what little he has done, how much he comes short. They look at me, that it’s my fault,” she explained. “And perhaps it is. I should have pushed him more. But I wanted him to be happy and not an miserable mess. My friends and their excelling children are all miserable, but they have so much success.”
“Though I know he could be more… Maybe it is that pressure from them. Maybe I want to say my son is doing great things. But I want my son to aspire higher.”
“I know he has great talent, what with computers and all. This place isn’t right for him, so I think your program is just what he needs,” she mused while turning to her son again. “Pip-is, I think you should go. You can take your skills to where they can be used. I want to push you finally, to see where your capable feet can take you.”
Pip-is wiped away stray tears and held his mother in embrace.
“But always know you have a home and a mother who loves you.”
————————————–
“You’re sure about these two? They aren’t being invited just because they’re your friends?” inquired Kazochi
“Both are very talented in the respective fields. The fact they’re my childhood friends is just a bonus,” Geib reassured her.
Pip-is strode up with a cart of his personal effects. “Who’s this?” he asked in a whisper, as though he thought he was subtle, nodding towards the woman standing next to Geib.
“This is another member of our future crew, Kazochi Edesium,”Geib answered. “Kazochi, this is Pip-is Lyr. He’s, without a doubt, the best with computers and programming that I know of.”
Pip-is nervously shied away at this praise.
“So how do you know Geib?” Kazochi asked of Pip-is.
The three immediately began to delve into a long discussion. While they blathered on about their childhoods, Kazochi joined in when she had any common ground. Even though that was rare, and the exchange routinely became between only Geib and Pip-is, she enjoyed watching how animated these two got while talking. Kazochi told how she and Geib were classmates in their Scholar class and had been assigned to the same mission. As Pip-is inquired more about the details on this mission, Geib reminded him that they would discuss that later. In the meantime, there was plenty of past to occupy the discussions. They barely even noticed that several hours later, not long until their scheduled departure, Nuta arrived.
“I’m so glad you arrived. I hope you didn’t feel too coerced into this,” Geib stated.
Nuta shifted slightly. “I talked with my family and they were hesitant but agreed. I also figured this will give me the time to sort through some things. Personal things.”
“Everyone, this is Kazochi Edesium. She graduated from the Scholar Program too and will also be a crew member aboard the ship. She’s a gifted cultural studies specialist, and an expert on anthropology and myth formation. Kazochi, this is Nuta Odeylum, the best pilot I know of.”
Geib Patriz stood around 183 centimeters but was slightly stocky, so he appeared shorter. He wore an Anlov Officer’s field uniform with insignia marking him as a Graduate of the Anlov Scholar Program. His hair was short, but still showed the slight wave it naturally had. It was light brown and fairly well groomed except one point that was a defining physical feature. No matter what, there was always a stray hair spike or fray on the right side of his jaw, in front of his ear. He never knew why this happened, but it was a guaranteed phenomenon. Even drying it while combing straight down would have a section later spike out or fray outward.
Kazochi Edesium was short at 157 centimeters, but still barely within the average height for an Anlov woman of her age. She also wore an Anlov Officer’s field uniform with Anlov Scholar insignia. Her uniform was supplemented with artifacts from various cultures, such as a jeweled pendant from the Crystalyne Duchy and a cloth arm-cuff of Klelk design. Her hair was dark brown and medium length, bound in the back with a small bow.
Nuta Odeylum was taller than the others at 190 centimeters. He was dressed in as formal wear as you would expect from a student. He was wearing his flight jacket from when he earned his lower level flight license. He was thin, both in body and in face. His eyes had a sleepy look to them, but he was no less awake. His hair was lighter than Geib’s and cut very close to the skin.
Pip-is Lyr was a bit shorter at 172 centimeters. He was dressed informally in shorts and a short sleeved shirt. He had a slight paunch, but had naturally well-defined muscular frame. His round face had some slight cuts from shaving, and his wiry reddish hair shot out and up from his head. He had thick standalone glasses fastened to his face. While his appearance was a bit rough, his talent wasn’t something that could be worn to be seen.
The four were the beginning of a new crew; the pieces to a greater whole. They walked together into the hangar. There the new crew laid eyes on an Anlov Scholar ship. It was average by regular standards but miniscule compared to Anlov Scholar and military designs.
It was a modular construction of five main segments; the pieces to a greater whole.
From the far starboard side, a large dish was fixed to the main superstructure. The main super structure was the longest section of the ship and was rectangular in shape. Its front-most section tapered to a horizontal ridge. In the middle of the ship was the tallest section. It was wedged between the main body and the next component to its port side. It had most of its size straddled atop its two neighboring segments. This section was the reactor, shielding generator, and engine. The ship segment to the port and under the reactor section was a large block shape. It had a large angled shutter panel, leading into the ship’s own hangar and maintenance bay. Finally, on the far port side was another long rectangular section almost as long as its main body. It was much narrower though and had several hinges near its front end. This was the high powered directed material launcher. It wasn’t as menacing as it sounded. It was mostly used for launching probes, sensors, and beacons.
The entire ship was at its highest point 45 meters tall, longest point 147.5 meters long, and widest point 160 meters wide. As said, it was small by Anlov standards. It was also a relatively old design. Modular construction ships had come a long way since this relic.
“This is my ship. No, our ship now,” Geib declared with arms outstretched.
He pointed towards the image painted on the hull depicting stick figures in a cube. The emblem intentionally looked like the drawing of a child with warped scale, uneven lines, and distorted perspective.
“Say hello to the Cardboard Box.”
Anlov Record 