Four Years Ago
July 5, 2071
0800 CDT
Above the Skies of Olympia
Anna Robinson's Point of View
“This is disgraceful. Why are we being sent away to live amongst filth?” I ask.
“You keep talking like this and your new peers will tear you apart, Anna Robinson. We may be royalty, but that doesn’t mean anything down here,” Father explains.
How ancient is this ship? It keeps rumbling! Everything is wretched! This old vessel is the size of a speedboat and contains six seats, Mum and Dad fill up the two in the middle, the pilots are in the front, and my lonely self is dying of depression in the back! How could this happen to someone as blessed as me? I’m going to die on this rubbish heap!
“We’re only in this mess because of you!” I say.
Should I apologise? Scoff! Of course not. There’s no reason for anyone to get disconcerted about the truth.
“You’re right, and I am sorry but it’s just a temporary thing. At least our house will have running water,” Father weakly admits.
“I hate you,” I say. “Promptly discontinue further communications with me until we get to Earth. Better yet, I have ghosted you, so graciously escort yourself from my presence. You are cancelled. Hmph! Your daughter is no longer available for colloquy; however, you may converse with the hand if you wish.”
You liar! This is not temporary, it’s eternal. Fuel is inadequate so this is a one-way descent to hell, with no hope for returning. We’ve been shamed so bad that they wouldn’t even banish us to Mother Gaia. Why Olympus of all kingdoms?! I would have favored the lethal option of getting flushed, rather than exiled. Even Hephaestus would have been preferable, given the fact that they have electricity, but I suppose it wouldn’t have been much of a punishment if they did that.
“Mother, I don’t understand what you saw in Father. He is such an incredible dumbass, and I know my smarts surely don’t come from him,” I say.
“What?!” He spews angrily.
Good. Get enraged.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“Anna, I’m not saying you’re wrong but don’t speak to your father like that,” Mum says. “But Nigel, how could you be so daft? This is the most-.”
Ah. Music through my MP3 player from my headphones. Enormously better. Huh. The white clouds in the distance are slowly turning gray. The indications of a thunderstorm? Oh. My reflection? Ugh! I require an instant makeover! Blue hoodie, pink shirt, and blue jeans are what I currently have on. Blonde hair in a messy side ponytail like mother, blue eyes, and Caucasian skin. Father retains similar features to us, except that he has brown eyes and brown hair. Although our skin is a little pale due to the deficiency of sunlight on the Zodiacs. Luckily, they have tanning booths, but it’s not like I had the chance to use them one more time before we got kicked out. God, how could this happen to me? I have no control over my life, so the only thing I can do is curl up in a ball and silently cry myself to sleep.
*
The Next Day
July 6, 2071
1200 CDT
East Olympia, The Olympian Army’s Training Camp
*
Earth is dreadful! I’ve been getting nothing but stares all day. Squad Eirene is filled with nothing but a bunch of gobby peasants as expected. Squadmates? More like assholes. I’m never going to get along with anyone here. Even the food here is unsightly. Canned beans and vegetables are the only things I’ve achieved to put onto my lunch tray. Even the dining area is repulsive.
Oh. There are hundreds of picnic tables dispersed across the grassy field, and I don’t have anyone to sit with.
“Hey, aren’t you that Royal?” A boy asks from behind.
Lonely or not, I’m still on guard.
“What’s it to you?” I ask.
“I just never met a Royal before. It’s almost unreal seeing one up close,” he discloses in curiosity.
What do you mean by that?! His nametag. Huh, Luke Miller.
“Can I help you?” I ask.
“I would like you to come sit with my friends and me at our table, please,” he asks politely.
What? Are you for real? Hmph! Regardless, I refuse to sit with a peasant even if you are a little handsome. Yeah, I wager this is just a juvenile escapade. As if someone of my status could ever befriend a peasant. Miller and his friends have carelessly assumed that I was born yesterday.
“Now, why on earth would I ever grant such a request?” I ask.
“Your cautiousness is an essential trait to have here. Not all Olympians are friends with each other. My squad leader is an asshat, so I understand where you’re coming from,” Luke replies with a radiant smile.
Ok, so you appear to be smart and cognizant.
“Huh,” Luke says as he looks behind me. “Your squad is avoiding you because of your royalty or smell.”
Such a predictable comment from the immature sex, however, you’ve piqued my interest. Lunch is only a half-hour, I suppose.
“I do not smell bad. My fragrance is elegantly fantastic for your information,” I say.
“Hey, I never said you smelled bad!” he clarifies with a stupid grin. “Space must smell elegantly fantastic if that’s how you describe your scent.”
“Space smells like (wait.)-. Ugh, never mind. Let’s just go sit,” I say.
“Sounds good to me. I’m Luke Miller, by the way,” he says as he offers a handshake.
My hands are engaged silly boy.
“Well, if you must know, I am Anna Robinson, the only child of the remarkably noble and illustrious Robinson family.”
“Sounds fancy,” he says with a chuckle as he finally notices my hands.
Of course, it sounds fancy you dope.