Chapter 1: Harsh Reality

On the moon of a gas giant in a system far from Earth sat a boy of roughly 8 years gazing at the stars on a dusty rock.

The boy had brown hair and gem-green eyes with a melancholic look on his round face. He wore a grey jacket and tracksuit pants with black boots.

On his chest was a name badge "Jake Avalon" and the outfit looked comparable to a school uniform matching the surroundings of the small moon he inhabited.

For the boy, it felt like it was sheer moments ago as he pondered his home back on Earth. His family lived in their manor on the coast of Devon.

His father was a governor and was part of the GOE, the "Government Of Earth".

His mother oversaw the affairs of the manor as well as all the acquisitions and holdings of their household.

He and his 2 sisters would spend their mornings playing with their mother on the grounds of their estate after which they would be tutored for the remainder of the afternoon.

Inherently, being children of a governor, Jake and his siblings were taught at a young age about their obligations to their household and understood their status in social standings.

His elder sister Aria who was 3 years older than him had taught him everything he knew.

His younger sister Iris who was 2 years younger, would follow him everywhere and be constantly by his side.

As Jake reminisced he was furthermore reminded of his harsh reality.

His father Victor Avalon was charged and convicted of large-scale corruption and embezzlement of funds meant for the military.

Jake nevertheless was sceptical as his father himself taught him the significance and value of honesty, integrity and obligation of a person when serving the government.

Even his mother Elizabeth was stunned at the revelation as their businesses and acquisitions were doing relatively well and there was no need for either money or power.

She could notice no reason nor indication as to why he would do such a thing. A sentiment conveyed by many others in the administration and those who knew Victor personally.

The Military committee directed by Admiral Jean Corvus nonetheless was unconvinced and with corruption being punishable by death in the military, Victor's fate was all but sealed.

Not merely that but the military had furthermore attempted to sentence Elizabeth for abetting her husband in his crimes and had confiscated all property belonging to the Avalon Family.

Despite all the charges both Jake's parents had pleaded not guilty.

However the day before the ruling, his father was given a choice, he and his wife would plead guilty, give up all of their assets and flee Earth.

His father would have to work a mining job for 20 years on a planet somewhere in a distant corner of GOE territory.

Both parents were terrified of the idea of their children being alone and abandoned if they were executed and thus they accepted the military's offer and fled Earth.

"Jake let's go home now" a little girl's voice had woken him from his daze.

He turned to glance at his little sister Iris who was staring at him with her beady blue eyes, short bob-cut blonde hair and a pout on her chubby face.

"It's getting late and mom said that we won't be able to go out and play if we come back late again," she said.

Jake never liked to sit at home and would much prefer to explore his surroundings and look at the ships coming into dock at the spaceport.

His little sister even with the big event that changed their lives forever still tagged along with her brother everywhere and as such the change in their lifestyles had affected her much less than the others in their family.

"Alright, we'll go now. We can still make it back in time before Dad comes home if we run" Jake smiled and said to her.

"No" Iris had said to him dismissively, "Last time we had to run I almost fell and you're faster than me."

"So what should we do?" Jake said turning his head to face her.

Iris raised her arms "Carry me on your back" she grinned and spoke, annoying Jake as he knew they wouldn't make it back in time.

"Fine" Jake would never refuse his little sister and crouched for Iris to hop on his back. "But if we're late you have to tell Mum it's your fault" he spoke when she jumped on his back.

"Okay okay" she gleefully said and smiled as her brother started marching with her on his back.

The two set off from the rock on the rim of the crater which had a view of the numerous colonies sheltered within and around the crater.

Since an artificial atmosphere was present on the moon, it was much easier to colonise towns and settlements that developed rapidly near all the significant mines and factories.

Jake and his family lived in a freestanding 2 bedroom house a little further away from the CBD, unlike the majority who lived in flat-type settlements stacked on each other in the middle of town.

Jake and the cargo on his back made their way down the crater as they made their way through the settlement.

Nightlife was bustling with the mines running 24/7 as one shift ended and another started as Jake and his sister watched as swathes of workers left their homes and made their way to their jobs.

Those who had finished their shifts would make their way to the markets or bazaars to pick up essentials before heading home.

Jake was worried his father would spot them and thus started sprinting as quickly as he could while his sister watched the food stalls with their dazzling lights as they passed by.

"Jake can we get some kebabs, I'm hungry" Iris tapped on his shoulder as Jake slowed down.

"No, we have food at home," Jake said in a neutral voice.