Chapter 7

Jace had just settled into his new quarters when a flash of pink, blue, and white exploded into the room. As soon as the ball of motion burst into the room, words started spouting out of its mouth. "Are you ok? I'm so sorry about what happened, I wanted to come sooner and apologize but she wouldn't let me leave my station! Can you believe it?! You're not hurt, are you? I know it was a big jolt, but I didn't think I'd hurt anyone, but then I started thinking what if a giant stack of boxes fell on someone? Or maybe they tripped and fell on their face? But you look fine. I don't see any injuries. Wow, you're skinny, aren't you? We need to get some meat on those bones of yours! Also really quiet! Sam says you haven't said more than five words since you boarded! But that's ok, I like quiet people, they listen so well! Or else they're ignoring me, are you ignoring me? Anyway, are you ok? What's your name"

Jace finally realized what it was that was at the center of all the chatter. It was a younger girl, maybe a year younger than him, maybe the same age. She had bright pink hair, which wasn't too unusual, though he hadn't seen it since leaving Pontilar. She was about a head shorter than him, which was saying something since he hadn't hit his growth spurt yet. He sat there, stunned at the overwhelming amount of out-of-context, jumbled information. All he could do was sit there dumbly and say:

"huh?"

The girl put her hand to her mouth and a concerned look came into her eyes. "Oh no, you did hit your head! I'll have to go grab a medic." She spun around, and before Jace could stop her, slammed straight into Sam's lean, immovable form. Sam was grinning ear to ear, on the verge of laughter. He grabbed the girl's shoulders and pried her off of him. He looked down at her. "Hold on chatterbox, let's take a moment and breathe, he didn't hit his head, you just tend to have that effect on people when they meet you at first.

She immediately blushed but turned back to Jace. Sam gestured at her. "Meet Charlie. She is our navigator. She was responsible for you're rougher than usual docking. That's what she was asking you about. She tends to get a bit jumbled when she's worried or stressed." The older boy gestured to Jace. "This is Jace."

Charlie nodded curtly, then leaned her face into Jace's inquisitively. "So, are you ok?" She asked, her bright, curious eyes meeting his in expectation.

Sam sighed and shook his head. "She also has absolutely no concept of personal space". He quickly straightened and resumed his captain persona. "Charlie, please retrieve Sara from her chambers and bring her to Madam Sheev, you will be briefed at a later time."

Charlie's eyes immediately firmed from bright and inquisitive to cold and professional, though not malicious. She turned to Sam and went rigid, saluting to the higher officer. "Yes, sir." She strode out of the room without looking back. Sam turned to Jace then. "You've been summoned, I'll have to give you the tour afterward." Then he turned and began walking down the hall.

It took Jace a moment to realize he was supposed to be following the other boy. He scrambled to his feet and stumbled to catch up with the acting captain. Sam led him through the brightly lit hallways until it led to a non-descript door with several numbers next to it. It slid open and led to a plain room with a rotating chair fastened to the middle of the room facing away from him. Surrounding the chair were holographic screens and panels filled with charts, tables, and other indicators. As soon as he entered the room, Jace immediately recognized the atmosphere as one that matched the older lady he'd met on the tugship, Madam Sheev he supposed.

His thoughts were verified when the chair spun to face him and her metal grey eyes met his dispassionately. Sam saluted, "Madam Sheev, I have brought him as ordered."

"Thank you, captain. Resume your standard duties. I will call on you when we are finished here." She intoned.

Sam saluted then turned and walked out of the room. The older woman returned her eyes to Jace's, and he suddenly felt his anxiety increase as Sam's lack of presence was felt. Madam Sheev looked at him silently, as if weighing him. Jace straightened slightly, feeling awkward not knowing how to behave toward her.

Before either of them said anything, the door slid open once more, and Charlie walked into the room, followed by Sara. Jace's eye's quickly and instinctively flit up and down her figure before realizing what he was doing. She wore the same outfit as him, but somehow, she looked different, like she was completely confident in herself, which amplified her beauty tenfold. She came and stood beside Jace, her presence putting him at ease.

He turned back to Madam Sheev as she gave Charlie the same instructions she'd given Sam. Once the pink-haired girl had left she turned back to the two of them. She looked at them silently for a while, until Jace wondered if she was going to speak at all. Then she opened her mouth to speak.

"Alright, Sara, you first. Or should I say, Sarantani Mortonesse?" She said, a slight hint of amusement in her eyes.

Sara didn't move, but Jace jumped, then felt an immediate spike in the tension in the room when he realized if there'd been any doubt, he had banished it in his reaction. Sara looked at him, then sighed.

"How did you know?" She asked the woman in the chair.

Madam Sheev smiled slightly, "Did you really think you could hide your identity in this day and age with a simple lie? Especially someone of your status."

Jace turned and looked at her, stunned. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵? Then he realized from the way she carried herself, of course she wouldn't have the same background as him. He wondered who exactly she was. Her confidence now had a hint of hesitancy to it. Jace was uncertain why she was hiding if she was as well off as she'd seemed. In her shoes, he'd be eager to go back. She probably had delicious food every day and a nice bed to sleep in. That was all Jace's slums-wired brain could think about. But he shrugged it off. That was her problem and none of his business.

Sara sighed again, then said, "Alright, I apologize for trying to hide my identity from you. I am indeed Sarantani Mortonesse, second daughter of the Mortonesse family." She made a slight bow in greeting.

Then Jace remembered that he did in fact, know the name Mortonesse. It was a household name, and Jace had never really considered that the Mortonesses were more than whisps of distant reality and not real people.

The Mortonesse family was one of the biggest, arguably 𝘵𝘩𝘦 biggest, companies in the galaxy, their size and influence rivaling many planet governments. One of the biggest shocks was that the whole thing had been built all in one generation. It had all been done during the late childhood and young adulthood of one man, Earnest Mortonesse, who Jace supposed was Sara's grandfather, as it had been over 50 years since they had made their initial appearance in the galactic scene.

Jace stared at Sara in shock. He had no clue what to even think, or how to act. He was completely floored. He was jolted from his daze when he heard Madam Sheev speak. "It's not polite to stare, boy." She said, her slight smile still on her face.

Jace realized that Sara was uncomfortable with his staring and immediately looked away.

Madam Sheev spoke up again. "Don't worry, Sarantani, I will inform your father immediately that you have been found and you will be returned to your family shortly."

"Madam Sheev, may I ask that you don't?"

Jace turned quickly and looked back at Sara. She had regained control of herself and was looking at the Cadet Academy officer firmly.

Madam Sheev raised her eyebrow. "And why is that, may I ask?" Then she turned to Jace and said, "leave us, boy, this doesn't concern you. Wait outside until I summon you."

Jace willingly turned to leave, this was way outside his world, he had no right to be there among these powerful people.

"Please let him stay, I would have him hear this."

Again, Jace turned to Sara in surprise. Madam Sheev also turned to her; her eyebrow once again arched. But she nodded to Jace and he hesitantly resumed his place by her side.

When he was next to her, Sara resumed speaking, her eyes resolutely meeting the older woman's. "ma'am, you know of my grandfather, Earnest. He started our company from scratch, worked hard, took risks, built relationships, and even went on adventures to build what we have today. Then he passed on his company and much of his wealth to his son, my father. Now, as my elder sister approaches adulthood, my father has started the process of passing the company on to her. That means that I will receive enough wealth to last me the rest of my days, and if I so desire, a prominent position in the company."

Madam Sheev put her chin in her hand in thought. "I see nothing wrong with that. It seems like quite the desirable position."

Sara shook her head. "That is the problem though. There is no challenge, no growth, no risks, and no adventure." Then her eyes flashed with determination as she spoke her next words.

"I wish to follow in my grandfather's footsteps and start my own company. One that will rival his."