Chapter Text
There’s a stone castle just ahead, with proud stone walls. I can see it down the main street of the town, between the old wooden buildings lining the dirt road. The people wear coifs and tunics, covered in dirt and grime. I’ve never been to this place but I know where it is. I know when it is. It’s England, around the year 1000. It’s before the Proclamation of The Empire, and I can tell this because of the banner’s on the castle walls. They’re the old standard of the Rangeria Family, a cerulean shield with a red cross and three emblems. A lion, a white rose, and a fleur-de-lis. I don’t understand the symbolism of the coat of arms, in all honesty, but it is an appealing design. Trumpets sound, there’s an announcement about to be made. But they don’t stop. They keep going. And going. And going….
It’s my alarm. I awake to the same endless void I fell asleep to, but part of it is obscured by one of the stars of the system. The specialised glass of the window means I can safely view the star without being blinded. It’s fascinating to watch the plasma swirl and twist on a scale so large it borders on unfathomable. But staring at a sun won’t get me on my Starliner, and if I’m ever going to make it to Earth, that’s where I need to be. A panel at the head of the bed allows me to adjust the lights, and rather enticingly, floor temperature. Stepping onto a warm floor first thing out of bed certainly makes the day a little more manageable. After getting ready and double-checking that I've got everything in order, I leave the room. A few other guests are boarding the elevator, the crust of sleep still in some of their eyes. The door slides shut and the elevator descends with that same silence it rose with yesterday. Once we’ve arrived at the lobby again, I check my PAD for my departure gate for the Starliner.
Starliners are the main form of interstellar civilian travel. Huge ships holding a couple thousand people of people for upwards of months, apparently based on the Colony ships of a few hundred years ago, with specialised drives that allow for travel along the hyperlane network, a network of “corridors” of extra-dimensional space that link stars. They are designed to be as comfortable as possible, often featuring many leisure activities and luxurious sleeping quarters. The Starliner I’ll be on is the “ISL Garden,” departing from the “Aurora” Gate, on the other side of the station, almost. As I make my way to the tram station, my stomach growls. The Garden doesn’t leave for another few hours, so I decide to stop by another restaurant. I take a seat, and order a hot ham and cheese sandwich.
A few moments later, that hot ham and cheese sandwich is set in front of me. A waitress synth remarkably similar to the one from yesterday brings it to me. Or, so I thought. To my surprise, she recognizes me.
“Hello again, traveller. Fancy running into you here,” She says with a warm smile. “Enjoy your trip so far?” I nod, a little confused. “Wonderful!” She once again takes the seat across from me. “Have you been to the Observation Deck yet?”
“Uh, no, I didn’t know that Caledonia Starbase had one.” I reply. She just smiles and says,
“All the Starbases do. They’re nothing short of incredible. Much better than a dainty little window on a shuttle or the ones in those cramped lodging rooms. You can’t zoom in on those, and you can’t search for systems. Well, you can, but you’ll need a degree in stellar cartography to find them.”
“Well, I do have some time to burn before my Starliner leaves. I guess I can check it out.”
“Take the central elevator up to the top. I’ll see you there, traveller.” And with that, she gets up and leaves. I wanted to ask her so much, but instead, I’m left with all those questions, and a hot ham and cheese sandwich.
-)(-
The elevator ride to the top is...much longer than I was expecting. I didn’t have a super great idea about exactly where I was in the station but I was certain I was higher up than this. But when I finally get off, I step into a very large atrium with a black, mirror-finish floor and ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling windows, giving me an unparalleled view of the vast expanses of space. There are a few other people here, but standing by herself is the synth. She’s gazing out the window, hands clasped behind her back. She seems so serene. Perfect, even. Are these normal thoughts to be having? I mean, she is a synth. I’d be lying if I said I knew of any humans that had had feelings for synths. I also grew up in a town where the only synth wasn’t even a synth, he was a droid, anchored to his station, so I don’t exactly have a great baseline of knowledge. I shake these very new, very confusing feelings off and approach her. She turns to me and smiles.
“Glad to see you came. Name a planet, would you?” She asks, walking to a panel she’d been standing near. “Any that you can think of.” I ponder for a moment. Earth is an obvious choice, as would be Eternia, but I feel the need to impress.
“Emma’s Garden.” I say. The first world that The Empire colonized. Named for the Christmas Empress herself, it is often regarded as the beating heart of technological innovation, and remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Imperial Space. It, alongside Earth and Camelot, make up the “Core Worlds” of The Empire. Ok, maybe not the most impressive planet to know.
“Emma’s...Garden…Good choice, traveller.” The synth says, typing it into the panel. A reticule appears, and then appears to jump from the screen to the window in front of us, before swinging around and clearly highlighting a star. “Follow me.” She says, walking to the window. I follow, taking in the room around me. It feels almost like walking through space itself, with the many multitude of stars reflected above and below you. As we approach the reticule, it expands, and brings the star it surrounded into a more clear view. Alpha Centauri A and B are clearly shown, as is Proxima Centauri, and all the planets and stations that make up the system. With a quick tap, the reticule shrinks back down, this time, around a little blue orb, and zooms back in, bringing it into clear view. A name and info box appear.
“Emma’s Garden. Colonization date: 2203.05.26. Planetary Capital: New London. Largest City: New London. Emma’s Garden was the first Earth-like world The Empire found, and subsequently colonized. The planet is almost identical to Earth in atmospheric composition, pressure, rotational period, and gravity, as such, Emma’s Garden is a very popular tourist destination. There are also a great many research facilities present on the planet, working tirelessly to improve the lives of everyone in Imperial Space.”
“That’s not even the best part,” The woman says. Another tap, and the zoomed-in image of Emma’s Garden comes off the window in a crystal-clear holographic projection. “I was born...ah, here,” She points to a spot on her side of the globe, I can just barely see through it to her. “Allysia’s Peak. Facility 25.”
“What’s it like?” I ask, entirely unsure of what exactly it is I’m curious about.
“What’s it like? Do you mean the facility? Or Emma’s Garden?” She asks, peeking around the globe between us.
“The facility, I guess. Or Emma’s Garden. Whichever is more interesting.”
“Well, I don’t really have memories of the facility. I have...I guess you could call them memories of the Raising. But my first distinct memory was seeing the world through my own eyes for the first time. I saw the world, it wasn’t being simulated for me. I felt the air, the table, not simulations of these things. They had me make sure I was situated in my body, then they showed me a handful of names and told me to pick one.”
“What did you pick?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.
“Valia,” She says with a smile. “It was the second one on the list. I didn’t even read the rest.”
“It’s a pretty name.” I say, foolishly allowing my heart to speak for me. I immediately feel my face go flush. Valia blushes too, and breaks eye contact with me. She smiles, in a way I haven’t seen her smile before.
“Thank you, traveller, that's…” She brushes some hair behind her ear. She looks back up at me with a kind, warm smile. “No one has ever said that before.” We exchange glances for a few moments before I ask,
“Could you show me more places you’ve been?” I feel my heart pounding in my throat. Her smile is brighter than ever before as she replies,
“I was hoping you’d ask.”
-)(-
Over the course of the next two hours, Valia had shown me Reach, Harmony, and Nytt Hus. She had stories for each and I hung on every word. She’d been through the forests of Reach to document new species, worked a year in the foundries of Harmony, and spent a week on Nytt Hus, the Capital of the Scandinavian Legion to help refugees after a surprise invasion by the Hiffnar Hive. As she finishes her story I want to have her tell me another, but my PAD ruins the moment. It’s reminding me to go actually board the Starliner.
“Oh man, look at the time,” I say, feeling my heart sink. “Sorry, Valia, but I’ve got to go.”
“Oh, so soon? It feels like you just came up here a few moments ago…” She’s got a faraway look to her eyes. It’s heartbreaking to see. “At least let me walk with you to the gate.”
I nod, then check my PAD to confirm where we’re headed. Aurora Gate. The elevator ride seems much longer going down than it did coming up. Valia and I make small talk about the places we want to visit, but it’s just small talk. All I can really think about is if I’ll ever see her again. And I think she’s thinking something similar, her eyes lack the same magic they did in the observation deck. The walk to the tram is not long, but since we’ve run out of small-talk, it’s nothing short of an eternity. I look over to her as we wait for the tram. She’s wrapping some hair around her finger, a distant look in her eyes. Was her hair always that beautiful dark brown? Am I just now noticing things because I know it may be the last time I ever see her?
-)(-
As we approach Aurora Gate, the Garden is visible through the windows. It dwarfs the shuttle I rode in on, not fitting in any of the hangars, instead having a pressurized docking tube extending from the gate to the main entry. The design is similar, but I can clearly see a large domed-in area, and several dozen lifeboats as well. The gate attendant smiles and waves as we approach.
“I guess this is where we part ways?” I ask, woefully. Valia looks at me rather longingly.
“I suppose it is,” She replies, trailing off. “I don’t suppose I could ask your name before you go?”
“It’s Ciel.” I reply.
“Ciel,” She smiles as she says it. “It’s a pretty name, traveller,” As her words hit my ears I feel my brain short-circuit. I attempt to thank her but nothing intelligible comes out. She giggles and the sound is heavenly. “You weren’t expecting that, were you?” I’m finally able to compose myself enough to answer,
“No, I uh..can’t say I was.”
“Well, let me surprise you again. Lend me your PAD?” She extends her hand gingerly. I hand her my PAD without a moment’s hesitation. She types something in and hands it back to me. “Stay in touch, will you?” I look and see she’s entered in her contact information.
“I-I will. I promise. I-Will I see you again?” I ask.
“I’m sure we will. Fly safe, Ciel.” She waves sincerely, but she looks sad. I don’t...I don’t like to see her sad. We’ve just met, what are these feelings?
I check in with the gate attendant and start the walk down towards the Garden. She informed me my bags have been already delivered to my room, and as usual, my PAD acts as my key. There’s ads for the various amenities aboard the ship along the hall, and my mind replaces every couple in them to feature Valia and myself. I’ve always considered this imagination of mine a blessing but now it feels like a curse, as the sting of tears fills my eyes and my vision blurs. I wipe the tears that haven’t already fallen and turn around. I don’t know why. Was I expecting to see her? Or am I thinking of leaving the opportunity that awaits me on Earth for her? I choke back more tears as I turn back to the Garden and press on.
As I cross through the airlock into the main atrium, I’m suddenly immersed in a thousand conversations in a hundred languages. The main atrium is three stories, with gold-trimmed columns and plush velvet carpet. A grand staircase unlike anything I’ve ever seen leads to the upper stories. An elaborate chandelier hangs over the centre of the room, bathing it in light. There’s a desk with some attendants across from the stairs, and humans and aliens alike chat with them, gathering information about the ship. It would be wise for me to stop there but I am in absolutely no condition to talk to anyone else. I pull up a map of the ship on my PAD and follow it to my room. The ship has 30 decks most divided into five lettered sections, but only the upper 26 are accessible to travellers. My stateroom is located on Deck 20 section B, two down from where I am and a section towards the stern. I take the elevators behind the grand staircase (alone, thankfully,) and walk the hall down to section B. Room 120. I find myself in front of it sooner than I thought. I place my PAD into the dock above the handle and wait for the mechanism to unlock. A quiet ker-thunk and a green light on my PAD signals the door is open, and I walk in. The room is...much larger than I was anticipating. There’s a kitchen immediately to the right, and a dining area to the left. A living space directly in front, and a door to the bedroom on the left. On the right past the kitchen there’s a door to a small pantry, and one marked “Emergency Gear.” I walk into the bedroom and see my luggage organised neatly by the foot of the bed. It’s a miracle I was able to fit as much as I did into them. I’ve got books, clothes, and a few things from home. All enough to last me this three-month trip, and the year I’ll spend on Earth. I set my backpack with them and lie on the bed. It’s soft and warm. I stare at the ceiling, and I can’t hold the tears back anymore.
-)(-
The gentle chime of my PAD wrenches me back, at least somewhat, out of the void that had replaced my ceiling. I check the notification, which reads, “Starliner Safety Meeting will begin at 11:00 IST. Attendance is mandatory.” My eyes drift to the clock. 10:45 IST. I roll out of bed and walk into the bathroom. It’s clean, spacious, and modern, with a full-sized shower. A far cry from the lodging on the starbase. I turn the sink on and splash my face with the cold water. I look at my reflection.
“It’s not all bad. You still have a way to contact her.” I say, as if to pep up the sad person in the reflection. It doesn’t work as well as I’d hoped. I dry my face off and check my PAD for the location of my Emergency Group. I’ve been assigned to group B2 and am supposed to meet in a theatre on Deck 17. I check the map and make my way there. There’s about forty or so others milling about, waiting for the meeting to begin. I check my PAD, 10:50 IST. I absent-mindedly switch to the message app. I start to send a message to Valia. Something simple, just a quick, “Hey.” Wait. Is that too informal? As much as I really enjoyed talking to her, it was only two hours. I delete it. “Hello.” No, no, too formal now. It might’ve only been two hours but I can tell she enjoyed them too, and I doubt she’d have given me her contact information if she wasn’t expecting a friend out of the whole affair. My indecision wins out and I message my mother to let her know I’m aboard the Starliner instead. There’s a chime on the loudspeakers, similar to the one on the shuttle, but it sounds fuller, in a way, with more instruments. The voice that follows is clearly pre-recorded, however.
“Hello everyone, and thank you for choosing to fly Imperial with us! Before we get started, we just have a few safety items we need to address. The first are the emergency signals. The following is our General Alert. When you hear this sound,” Three short horn blasts come through the system. “Please return to your room and await further instruction. This is our Emergency Alert. When you hear this sound,” A long blast, followed by another long one, followed again by a short come through. “Report immediately to your Emergency Group Location, which is where you are now. From here, staff will assist you in boarding the lifeboats. In your rooms you will find emergency gear, which will only be accessible after a General Alert is sounded. If you believe you will require assistance with it, please speak to your Emergency Group coordinator now. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to visit the Desk in the Atrium on Deck 22, or to ask any staff member you see around the ship. Thank you all for your time, and now, a word from your captain.” There’s silence before the captain speaks. He sounds a little older, and his Imperial accent is still strong.
“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. With our safety briefing out of the way, allow me to introduce myself. I am Captain Alfred Sterling, and I’ll be taking you fine folks to none other than our glorious Imperial Capital world, and the homeworld of all mankind, Earth. Our journey will take approximately 107 days based on forecasted Hyperlane conditions. This puts us reaching Sol Station on March 16th, 2576. If this date changes significantly I will update you as soon as possible. Now, regarding this ship, the ISL Garden is a state-of-the-art Starliner, built with pride at the Imperial Driveyards and outfitted with all manner of shops, dining, entertainment, and more. The Plaza on Deck 22 is where any ship-wide events will be held and is also home to the most number of shops and restaurants on any Starliner in the fleet. We will be having our cast-off party there later tonight at 16:00 IST, with complimentary food and drink. With that, you are free to explore the ship at your leisure, and we will be departing soon.” The chime plays again, and people shuffle out of the theatre. I glance again at my PAD and see an email from Dr. Mainz.
“Greetings, Ceil! I hope your travels are going well. If your Starliner has a quantum communication room, feel free to call. I’ve got today and tomorrow off and I’d like to chat with you. I hope you don’t mind, I’ve just never had a student pursuing a film degree take my course before. It will also give me a chance to gauge where you stand with your knowledge of Imperial history, so I can send you other material you may find of use. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
-Dr. Mainz”
I open the map of the ship again. There is a quantum communication room, on Deck 28, in the Aft Tower overlooking the Plaza. It’s a bit of a walk, sure, but I don’t exactly have much else to do. I start my walk towards the Plaza, and take a moment to look at the halls around me. The walls are a beautiful polished wood, and the plush carpet I walk on is very elegantly designed. I enter the main atrium I first boarded in, as the staircase leads to the Plaza according to my map. The carpet here borrows design motifs from the Imperial Coat of Arms, with heraldic roses and fleurs-de-lis. The gold in the room dazzles as the light from the chandelier hits it. The staircase, too, is trimmed and accented with gold. I start to question why such a luxurious Starliner found itself in the same system as a back-water mining world, and just how much the University paid to put me on it. When I go through the large doors into the Plaza, I’m taken aback by all it contains. Gardens and fountains line the central area, with shops and bars all across the perimeter of the open-air space, and even up on a second deck. The centrepiece of it all, though, is a very, very large oak. There’s a plaque in front of it, and I go to read it.
“This Oak tree was transplanted from the Imperial Forests. It was among the few that survived the Liberty War in the early 21st century, though it still bears the scars.”
After reading the last line, I immediately look up to the tree towering above me. I can make out what I believe to be bullet holes, long since grown over, and several stumps which must have been branches that were blown off somehow. What sights has this tree seen? What cries has it heard? Behind it stands the Aft Tower, poking out above the dome of the Plaza, the top a solid black. That’s the observation deck and the Observatory Restaurant, both places I plan to visit during the voyage. I enter the tower and take the elevator up to Deck 28. The deck is full of booths that facilitate quantum communication, which is the only viable method to communicate across the many light-years that The Empire spans. I find an empty booth and dial the Imperial University. A face comes into view on the screen,
“Thank you for calling the Imperial University at London. How may I direct your call?” The woman asks.
“Hi, my name is Ciel, and I’m looking for Dr. Mainz.” I answer.
“One moment please.” Her face disappears and is replaced by the University’s logo, an elaborate coat of arms that has persisted unchanged since it was founded hundreds of years ago. Eventually, a man’s face comes into view. He’s got a strong jawline and a short beard, and a pair of glasses. He smiles warmly, then speaks.
“Well, well, it’s nice to finally meet you, Ciel!” His accent is not Imperial, but American. I’m surprised. I think he sees that, and laughs. “Surprised I’m American?” He asks. I nod,
“Yeah, I am. I guess when you hear about the most prestigious Imperial History course, it just seems like an Imperial citizen would teach it.”
“Trust me, happens all the time. Enough about me, though, what brings a film major like you to sign up for an Imperial History course as detailed as mine? Most sign up for the 101 course and get a rehash of the stuff they taught in secondary school. What’s different?”
“Well, obviously I want to make films, but I don’t think there’s enough good history films out there. I want to fill that niche out. Not just with movies that are historically accurate, but with stories that could have happened in history.”
“Sounds like you’ll love the first few units then! We’ve got records that go ‘Hey, this thing happened around this time,’ and then not much else besides that. Lots of gaps to fill. Any questions you’ve got so far?”
“Not really. I’ve been watching that series you sent me but I’ve only made it to the Proclamation of The Empire. I’ve got to pace myself, after all. Three months of flying is a long time.”
“Sure is. Say, that’ll run you over the holidays, won’t it?” As he mentions the holidays, it suddenly dawns on me that this will be the first time I’m spending Christmas and New Year’s alone.
“It…will. I think the Captain said we’ll arrive in Sol on March 16th. That’s cutting it close to the start of the semester, right?”
“About five days, yeah. I’m kinda surprised the school is willing to cut it that close. But the Garden was already there in Caledonia when they accepted you, I think, so they just went ahead and booked you on it.”
“Ah, that answers the question I had about such a fancy vessel being in such a back-water colony system.”
“I was curious about that myself, honestly, which is why I asked. Speaking of the Garden, how is she? Any interesting characters aboard?”
“I haven’t run into anyone extra noticeable, but on my shuttle to the Starbase yesterday there was this space miner who was…” I smile as I think about Rick, his humour, and his genuine niceness. “Very friendly. He made sure I was comfortable. He even bought me dinner. He left me one of his Miner’s Medals before we parted ways. I hope I get to see him again.” I see Dr. Mainz smile and nod.
“Look at you, making friends already,” As he mentions friends, my thoughts immediately turn to Valia. “Well, I don’t want to keep you from exploring the ship, so I’ll let you get around to it. Feel free to shoot any questions you have my way. Have a safe journey, Ciel.”
“Oh, one thing, Dr. Mainz, before you go!” I hurriedly add.
“What’s up?” He asks, smiling.
“Do you know anything about…really human synths?” I ask. Dr. Mainz cocks his head to the side, his smile replaced with a confused look.
“You’ll have to elaborate. I know the Legion mandates cybernetic implants for service members, and service is almost mandatory with them, so almost all Legionnaires have synthetic body parts, especially eyes, which leads to confusion sometimes. Why do you ask?”
“Well, uh…” I’m sure I’m blushing furiously as I recall everything I can about Valia. “There was…another person I met. On the Starbase, earlier today. She was a synth, she told me that much as we talked, but she…was very human. Like, if it hadn’t come up, I would never have guessed. Her expressions, her movements, even her speech. I met a few synths at info desks and such, and it was pretty clear from first glance with them. But not with her.”
“Interesting. I’ll ask Luke what he knows. If anyone would know, it’d be him. Anything else?”
“Ah, no, no. I’ll talk to you later, Dr. Mainz.”
“Farewell.” As Dr. Mainz waves, I press the “end call” button, and open up my PAD again. I consider sending a message to Valia but once again, I can’t do it. I don’t know what to say. How do you start a conversation with someone you only spoke with a few hours but still really, really want to see? I shake off the feelings. I feel my stomach twist a little, and realise it’s been some time since breakfast. I return to the Plaza and look around. There’s quite the variety of shops, from coffee and tea stands to sandwiches, cuisine from every extent of the Empire. Long-held classics from Earth to new and exotic recipes unimagined before the advent of FTL travel. I walk up to a stall offering some classic American food.
“Welcome to Joe’s!” Says the cashier, grinning behind the stand. “Finest American cuisine anywhere outside the Land of Liberty itself! What can I getcha?” It’s strange. After having heard so many strong Imperial accents through this trip, it’s still somewhat off-putting to hear anything but. I look at the screens behind him.
“I think I’ll try the All-American Classic,” I answer, my eyes unable to leave the image on the menu. It’s a traditional American burger, with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and pickles poking out from between the bun and patty. “With a Lemongrass to drink. Oh, and fries.” The cashier smiles and enters my order. I see the machine behind him spring to life, mechanical arms oiling a griddle and placing the patty, another set setting in motion by the frier.
“Alright, a Classic meal comes out to £18. Do you have a meal plan?”
“I do,” I answer, pulling out my PAD. “I’m not sure how it works, though.”
“Ah, no worries. Just tap it there,” The cashier points to a glossy area on the counter with a pattern identical to the one on the Starbase lodging desk. It lights up, and the cashier nods. “Yep, perfect. Ok, you’ve got a pretty good plan! Not only do you get three complimentary meals a day at any of the Starliner’s dining options, you also have a £500 per month additional budget. That can be used to supplement any additional meals you may have, or used to purchase groceries if you’d like to cook in your stateroom instead. That is a use-it-or-lose-it, keep in mind, and it resets every 30 days.”
I’m stunned and silent for a moment. That’s quite the package I’ve been given.
“Well, the University doesn’t cut corners, it would seem,” I say, sliding my PAD back into my pocket. “That should be more than enough to last me the trip.”
“Ah, made it into Imperial University, eh?” The cashier nods. “I actually went there myself, believe it or not.”
I cock my head to the side.
“You did? What for?” I ask.
“Robotics! I was hoping to land a position with one of the Synth Seven, but I didn’t quite score high enough to make it into any. But I still picked up some useful skills! Made Joe Jr. back there myself!” He points his thumb to the robotic arms behind him. “I’m trying to save up to get a course in VI programming so I can automate the whole process from the moment the customer walks up to the stand.”
“That’s pretty cool,” I say. I notice Joe Jr. finish boxing my order. It beeps a little tune and hands it to the cashier, who I presume is Joe Sr, who then hands it to me. “Oh, thank you. Well, I wish you luck in your endeavours!”
“Thanks! We’ll be rooting for you, too. Stop by anytime!” He says with a friendly wave. I take my meal to a bench nearby and sit down and begin to work through it. Everything is fantastic, the patty is juicy, the lettuce and fries are crisp, and it’s all just a little too hot to eat right away. The ideal experience. After I finish, I look up to the Aft Tower. The observation deck seems to call to me. Is it because I want to immerse myself in the great expanse? Or am I hoping for the impossible, that Valia will once again be up there?
The ride up to the observation deck is nerve-racking. I know it’s impossible. She stayed behind on the Starbase. But as the doors open, I silently pray that there she’ll be, standing with her arms clasped behind her once again. My prayers turn out unanswered. The deck is empty, save the consoles. I approach one and punch in something familiar. I follow the reticule and open the infobox on the planet in question.
“Emma’s Garden. Colonisation date: 2203.05.26. Planetary Capital: New London. Largest City: New London. Emma’s Garden was the first Earth-like world The Empire found, and subsequently colonised. The planet is almost identical to Earth in atmospheric composition, pressure, rotational period, and gravity, as such, Emma’s Garden is a very popular tourist destination. There are also a great many research facilities present on the planet, working tirelessly to improve the lives of everyone in Imperial Space.”
I think about opening the globe view, but I decide against it. Instead, I go back to the console and punch in another planet. The reticule moves to a similar area, but the system it zooms into is much much different. Eight planets, one yellow star. Sol. I open the infobox on Earth and watch as the homeworld of mankind zooms into crystal-clear view.
“Earth. The Birthplace of Mankind. Home. This planet is more than just the Capital of The Empire, it’s the homeworld of our entire species, archive to millennia of history. The story of humanity begins here. It is important to remember this is not an Imperial world the way many others are. This is the homeworld, and it belongs to all of mankind, but it is the duty of The Empire to keep it safe.”
I read the infobox again. I was expecting it to be about how Earth is the centre of The Empire, the seat of power for the largest empire humanity has ever seen. Instead, it’s a reminder that not every human is an Imperial, and that we all came from the same place. Our homeworld. I feel a slight jostle, and notice the stars of Caledonia start to move away slowly. I pull out my PAD and send a message to mom letting her know I’m aboard and we’re away, and once more I look at the contact entry for Valia. I take a deep breath, and type up a message.