Don't Get Cocky Boy!

One year.

Surviving one year on Mitte.

All alone for one year.

This realization hit Jax suddenly. Since rescue hadn't come yet in these past two weeks, no one was likely coming.

One year without modern comfort. Without good food, and in fear of death every day.

"Hold on," Jax thought, "I'm not alone though am I?"

He looked over to his new companions.

An old man... and an AI modeled after a little girl.

...

Jax almost wished he was alone instead.

The old man saw a grimace on Jax's face and began speaking with a frown himself.

"Now come boy, one year is still a fairly short amount of time to escape this planet. I mean, after all, you would have most likely lived out the rest of your life on Mitte, were I not here."

Jax saw the truth in the man's words and quickly wiped the grimace from his face. Speaking respectfully, Jax responded to the man.

"You are right sir. I apologize for being so rude after you're offering to save my life."

"Forget about that John, you seem like a nice enough kid so I don't mind helping the younger generation," the old man said.

Jax instantly retracted his apology in his mind. The old man could at least remember his name correctly! Jax could feel his annoyance returning but made sure not to reveal it on his face.

"Anyways, I have a few questions myself boy. You see I was sealed for quite some time here, and I'm uncertain of what's going on in the wider world." The old man said, rubbing his chin with his hand.

The man sat down cross-legged on the floor, motioning for Jax to do the same. Soon he began asking various questions. Some were mundane, such as the year and which teams won the most recent season of various sports. However, some were much more interesting.

"Boy, who's in control of the Four Ruling Civilizations now?" the old man asked, suddenly growing serious.

The Four Ruling Civilizations. They were the main authorities in the observable universe, ruling over the cosmos with vast military might. These civilizations stood at the top of the galactic food chain. Jax quickly told Ivo he wasn't knowledgeable about such powerhouses.

"I see..." the old man trailed off, seemingly deep in thought before asking "What about 'Inner Mind Master' Lukara, or 'Star Splitter' Absko?"

Just by their titles alone, Jax could tell that they were powerful people.

Clearing his throat, Jax said "I'm sorry sir, but I also don't know who those people are. Are they friends of yours?"

"Friends? Hmm, something of the sort, yes." the old man said before continuing, "but never mind them..."

The old man fell back into thought, closing his eyes as if meditating. There was a long silence, with Jax looking at the old man deep in thought. Finally, Jax worked up the courage to ask questions of his own.

"Sir, I realize I still haven't asked your name."

Opening his eyes to look at Jax, the old man finally gave his own self-introduction.

"Where are my manners! It has been so long since I spoke with a regular civilian. My name is nothing of importance now boy, but you may call me Ivo. And drop that 'sir' nonsense, it makes me feel old."

"But you are old," Jax thought, making sure not to drop the smile on his face.

Jax knew now that the old man, Ivo, was polite and seemed casual enough. Perhaps he could ask some other questions of him.

"Yes si- I mean Ivo, it's a pleasure to meet you," Jax said. Ivo had raised an eyebrow when Jax began calling him sir again.

"Ivo can I ask, is it really possible for you to get us off this planet in a year?"

Ivo stared at Jax, looking deep into his eyes as if searching for something. Finally, he spoke again after another long silence.

"Huh? Say again? You really need to not mumble boy, I could hardly hear a word you said."

Jax wanted to beat this old man to a pulp then and there. Ivo clearly heard what he had said, and was simply acting like a senile old man on purpose.

"I said can you really get us off this planet!" Jax said louder.

"Now don't raise your voice at me, I'm still your elder by many years." Ivo reprimanded.

Jax wouldn't be able to stand living a whole year with this annoying old man.

"Hmph, young folk like you should really be taught better manners! You know when I was your age I made sure to bow every time I spoke to my elders. Even when I was reprimanded, I still made sure to thank my superiors for their guidance. You can't even do that, can you boy? No, I should actually call you moron!" Ivo said sneering at Jax.

Unable to control his frustration, Jax's inner thoughts began to spill out without filter.

"Oh Shut the hell up, you damn geezer! God! You're just doing this stupid bit to annoy me. Well guess what, it's working!" Jax roared out.

Ivo's face instantly darkened.

"Do you know who freed you? Me! I should have left you in that ice box, seeing how ungrateful you are! I doubt you can even get us off this rock! Just another worthless old man spouting off nonsense! Well guess what geezer? UP YOURS!" Jax spewed out while showing a provocative hand sign involving a certain finger.

After a few unsteady breaths, the rage began to subside as Jax looked at Ivo. There was no longer a frail old man, but rather a beast that sent shivers down his spine. Every hair on his arm stood upright, and the air around Ivo seemed to shimmer. The very air Jax breathed felt heavy, and the tension made him feel as though a weight had been placed on his shoulders.

"I see now boy," Ivo said, eyes closed in rage. "It looks like I haven't been clear enough about the difference in our standing."

Ivo stood up suddenly, with speed that was unfitting for an old man. Jax scrambled back, trying to stand on his legs, only to find they felt like jelly.

"Worthless old man? Up yours?" Ivo muttered.

"I-I-Ivo s-s-sir, I'm sor-" Jax attempted to say.

"QUIET. I see now that the current generation doesn't remember 'old men' like me. Think you're all that huh? Well guess what, I just have one thing to say to you." Ivo said.

He took step after step, slowly approaching Jax, who now nervously stood watching the old man. Jax cursed his stupidity of making such a monster his enemy. Ivo came within a foot of Jax, looking down at the young man before opening his mouth again.

"DON'T GET COCKY BOY!" Ivo roared before throwing a slap.

The hand rushed towards Jax at astounding speed, slamming into his face before he even had time to react. The force of the slap felt as though Jax had just been hit by a moving train, and his grasp on consciousness began to weaken. Sent flying through the air, Jax slammed into the wall on the opposite side of the room, creating a large dent where he landed.

Feeling as though he were about to pass out from the pain, Jax managed to take one final look at the old man. Ivo approached him quickly, before kneeling down with a slight frown on his face.

"I'm sure that I held back enough, but wow, he is much weaker than I thought," Ivo said.

Jax only had one last thought before falling into unconsciousness.

Screw this lousy geezer.