Episode 3: The First Step humanity took

Allen was racing against the clock, the last available shuttle to Terra Prima leaves at 1pm. He had his duffle bag hung from his shoulder and wore some comfortable clothes for the trip, pair of joggers, a long cotton sleeve and a grey hooded cotton sweater. He wore his favorite sport shoes just in case he had to get right into the trial.

He had reached the entrance to the Shuttle Port, east of the Central Ward. He had to run a good 30 minutes just to get there.

"Thank the celestials that Ossy chose a convenient place," he said, out of breath. Before he took a step in though, he realized that he is about to leave behind all the memories he had with this planet. Throughout all his time with Ossy, he had seen so many things and experienced a lot. He had done so much he felt like this place was his home. Again, he hesitated.

"You just need to take that step," he repeated Ol Man Ossy's words to him and entered the port making reservations for his flight. However, he ran into a bit of trouble.

"I'm sorry, sir," the agent said. "We cannot give you a ticket because we are not sure whether our current passengers will be arriving. You will need to be on stand-by."

"That's unfortunate," Allen's shoulders slumped. "How long do I have to wait?"

"Maybe another 30 minutes," the agent answered. "It really is uncertain whether the seats are open. I apologize for the inconvenience." The agent then directed Allen to the benches on the side, "You can wait here until we call on you for any updates to any available seat."

"Thank you," Allen said in a dejected tone. He had his doubts but he took the seat anyway. His legs were already tired from sprinting non-stop.

He slouched over and folded his hands over his face. "Why did I even bother trying...." he mouthed quietly to himself.

He already knew that this was a long shot from the start. He wished he had thought it through more. As he sat there, he heard footsteps approaching. The footsteps stopped and the individual sat next to him. He paid no mind. It must have been another person on standby.

"If we keep on trying," the familiar voice said, "things will eventually work out."

"You say that like it's a definite," Allen replied.

"I say that with faith," John said back in an uplifting tone. "Look at where you're at. I at least tried to bring you out-"

"Bothered more like," Allen retorted.

John chuckled before continuing, "And look to where we're at."

"Sitting on a bench waiting for somebody to take away the last seat," Allen gestured at the man rushing towards the counter.

"I'm here," he yelled towards the agent, dragging his suitcase along with him.

Allen sighed and got up from his seat, "Well, I guess this is goodbye brother."

"What do you mean?" John still had a smirk on his face.

"That was the last seat on that flight, I won't be able to join you this time around," he took his duffle bag from the floor and stretched his arm out for a hug.

John with a solemn face embraced his little brother who was as tall as his chest. "You know I love you, right?" John said in the moment.

"Yeah," Allen finally felt a weight in his chest loosening, "I lo-"

"Excuse me," the agent interrupted, "Boarding will begin soon, Mr. Etruem. Is this your guest for this flight?"

"Guest?" Allen was confused. He did not know that John was travelling with another....

It then clicked. "You planned this out, didn't you?"

"I was so close," John snapped his fingers with a disappointed face.

Allen pushed John away and punched him straight in the arm.

"Ow," John laughed heartily. "That hurt."

"Liar," Allen roughly adjusted his bag as he followed the attendant to the departure gate.

"Oof," John followed, "Now, that hurts."

As they walked on the bridge connecting the shuttle to the port, John had a lengthy conversation with a stewardess next to him. Allen gave the two space and decided to look out the window. He could see the runway from the bridge connecting the port to the gate.

The runway was huge enough to fit a few shuttles at the same time, one for government officials/personnel, one for private companies, and a handful for commercial use. You could see shuttles coming in and out of orbit, landing in sync with one another's flight path. You can see trails from the shuttles that had gone through the upper atmosphere and a twinkle of what could be seen as they go further away into the infinite.

The sun was still high in the clear blue sky. The mountains look beautiful as Allen always recalled. He remembered taking a hike to Vanilla head. The climb was so steep that if you missed one step, you could break a couple bones. Though reaching the top was worth the trip for the view of the landscape when the day hits golden hour was a sight to see. It made everything seem like it was made of gold.

"C'mon Al," John had finished talking to the flight attendant and was making his way to the bridge connecting to the shuttle. "We don't want to keep 'em waiting."

Allen looked back at the scenery, shuffled his bag to the left and walked towards the gate.

They shuttle they rode was private, courtesy of the IGG. They like giving gifts to their favored members. John would have taken his own ship but he had his crew to go ahead and save him a seat at the Rookie Fest.

It was not as big as commercial shuttles, holding a handful of passengers. Despite its size, it held a lot more power. The design was flat with its wings pointed downwards and wide to make up for the low roof. It was painted with IGG colors, white with orange and neon green streaks.

It was roomier than Allen had expected. It had comfortable seats and retractable treys. There were three rows that separated the cabin, the middle having at least three to four seats. The seats that lined the wall were in two or three. Each seat had enough room for comfort.

The were no compartments above the seats but it had screens for passengers to use as entertainment. One passenger was already using the screen to stream one of his shows from his Holowatch. Another was working on some paperwork that he had not finished yet.

"As expected of a catered ship," Allen marveled at the interior layout.

"Yeah," John said unenthusiastically, "you kinda get tired of it after a couple of times."

Nonchalantly, he walked down the aisle and slid his luggage beneath his seat. Allen followed him to the row. "I reserved you the window seat," John gestured for Allen to head in first.

Allen imitated John, sliding his duffle bag to the lower compartment. After taking his seat, he buckled himself in with the four straps and nuzzled himself into the seat. This would be the first time Allen had seen shuttles take flight since his first time to leave orbit was inside a cargo room. He was a little nervous.

"Ready," John asked, taking his seat.

"Not my first rodeo," Allen replied gripping the arm rest.

"I guess so," John noticed. "What do you think will happen in the RookieFest," he tried distracting Allen.

"I don't know," Allen looked out the window, seeing the shuttles leaving the port at an angle. Their thrusters lifting them into and out of orbit. "Something new I guess."

"I was hoping for 'I'm excited,'" John joked, "but that works."

"I never thought about leaving," Allen still gazed out into the sky. "I never thought I'd take the chance, take...."

"The first step," John finished. Allen nodded in silent agreement still staring out the window. "In human history," John continued, "we have never known about our first steps. Heck, old lore states that all, if not, most of our discoveries were unknown variables until we took that first step, from the oceans to new land and from home world to the moon."

"Good afternoon passengers," the flight attendant began her in flight announcements. It was the regular safety flight procedures. "Please fasten your buckles tightly and refrain from any misconduct on the shuttle. Tampering with devices-"

"It'll definitely be an experience, Al," John puts on his sleeping mask, "I promise you that," then falls asleep immediately.

Allen kept staring into the distant shuttles exiting the atmosphere, like shooting stars. The shuttles that are about to take off are lifted by hydraulic ramps, angled at a degree that makes use of the planet's gravity as a sling before breaching. Though the friction of ions causes the shuttles to burn, new metals allowed it to slip through without sustaining damage when piloted correctly. Allen always watched them leave from the roof of Ossy's apartment complex and sees them on their trips.

"Please be sure to brace yourselves and don't forget the procedures I have stated. Please have a safe trip and enjoy yourselves."

"Brace yourselves?"

Allen had not noticed the ramp lifting the shuttle to the angle and the sub-engines had engaged.

"Attention all passengers, thank you for flying with IGG's orbital shuttle. We have turned on the buckle sign and ask that you prepare yourself for lift off."

Allen can hear the thrusters come to life and a slight pull from the shuttle's pull.

"We will be launching in 5," Allen rushed his buckle, tightening the straps and gripped the arm rest harder.

"4,"

Allen thoughts rushed as he realizes that this was it.

"3,"

He was about to do something he hadn't thought he'd be doing, ever since he had gotten on the planet.

The shuttle's thrusters went full throttle and the pull was no longer slight.

"2,"

He thanked the stars for allowing him the opportunity to have lived his life the way he did.

"1,"

The lock releases the shuttle from the ramp and Allen sunk into the chair.

Within the few seconds of leaving orbit, the shuttle shook roughly. The sight of land from Allen's peripheral view went away so quick, he hadn't had time to even glance. The shuttle rushed pass the clouds separating them in its path leaving a trail. Then, the windows light up from the shuttle catching fire but soon after than it cooled and they entered orbit.

There wasn't a pull anymore. Allen felt weightless.

He released his grip from the armrest and let his hands float in the air. His black locks began to dance about and the sweater was wiggling like waves on the ocean.

"Welcome to space passengers, hope you enjoy the trip so far. We will be engaging the artificial gravity soon so please stay seated."

Allen wanted to unlock his seatbelt and roam about but the last time he did that, he went unconscious for the rest of the trip to Lydia, the planet he had left.

The artificial gravity engaged and they were planted back to their seats.

"We will soon dock the IGG Decker Cruiser, you are free to go about the cabin as you please," the pilot turns the buckle sign off and people roamed about, some needed to use the restroom.

"Oii," one fellow who sat in the column next to them said, "Move out the way, I need to take a piss in the Jacks, please." He rushed to the front of the cabin and entered the front lavatory.

Some of the other passengers were still on their devices, watching some streams or playing some in-flight games.

"Really?" One spoke out, "Using a shotty indoors? You're so good...." He said sarcastically.

"Mom," a child said from the back, "mom! Moooom!"

"Yes babeh," she replied, seemingly tired from late night preparations.

"I need to use the restroom too."

"Aite, hold on." She unbuckles her child and brings him to the rear lavatory.

"Will we be seeing daddy," the child asked.

"Yeah, we will," she replied, "he'll be in the trials."

"Yay!"

The trials seem like it will be a tough obstacle to climb. Whatever it may be, Allen didn't feel like he'd be up for it.

"Aaaaaaah," the fellow announced his use of the lavatory as he exits. "Holdin' that in for a while," he takes his seat and fiddled with the object on his table. It looked like a glove but wired and tubes protruded from it.

Allen was slightly curious how he fitted those in with a regular glove.

"Curious," the man asked, startling Allen.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No worries, mate. I get it all the time!" His face went from proud to humble in seconds. "Not really, but I hope I do someday."

Allen listened attentively as he stared at the glove.

"See here," the fellow lifted the glove up, "I used a flat wiring network made of wee bits woven together."

"it makes it more flexible like cloth," Allen added.

"Aye!" The fellow's green eyes lit up in excitement.

"Wouldn't the current flow out of the glove though," Allen asked unbuckling his belt and walked over John's legs.

"Is why I add these thin rubber compartments that separates each weave."

"Interesting, does it work?"

"Haven't a bloody notion, but I hope it does!"

Allen was fond of trinkets and new finds. He would watch documentaries of things being made to help him sleep, so he picked up a few things. It kept his mind of things.

"The names Cillian McGobhann," the fellow extended a hand, "People call me Cili."

"Allen," he returned the gesture. "Nice to meet you, Silly?"

"Anyway!" He averted the joke, "Ye going to the trial?"

"Yeah," Allen sighed, standing upright folding his arms.

"That was deep, how do ya feel about it?"

"I'm not sure if I'm excited or worried," Allen noticed a person getting up, probably going to use the lavatory. Allen returned to his seat.

"No worries, mate," Mcdonald leaned forward to speak. "As long as you got a leefs amount of faith, ya can do anything."

"Been told that a lot."

"Well, fíor duit féin."

"What does that mean?"

"True to oneself." Cilllian was then blocked by a tall figure passing.

"Out of the way," he interrupted. "Ya should leave when ye g't the chance."

"What does that mean," Mcdonald stood behind the figure, who made the redheaded fellow look short, despite being the same height as Allen.

He turned around slowly, revealing his features. He had sharp eyes with yellow pupils. He was also built lean and stood with intensity. His skin was dark green with jet black hair tied up in a short but puffed out ponytail. His bangs lined the sides of his face. His nose was wavy with an extended bridge and sleek eyebrows.

The defining features were his tusks, sharp-extended ears, and a number of scars, one being on his face diagonally across from under one sharp eye over the other.

"A half-ork," Allen noticed his blunt tusks, which was traditionally supposed to be sharpened in their culture.

He looked down at Cillian and Allen saying, "only people on this Cruiser are the late-comers and early birds up for the challenge. Lookin' at you two, I can tell ye ain't ready for what's to come."

"I can always make it up on spot," Mcdonald defiantly stated.

"I really do wonder if after," he half-ork combed his beard with his fingers. "What was that saying, 'you'll be wired to the moon.'"

Allen stood in between them to intervene but they kept pushing at each other, the half-ork dominating. "Stop, Cilli." He knew this was a fight they can't win and can't have at the moment.

"Alright," a voice came from behind Allen, "we are about to board the cruiser so I suggest you go on your business and take your seats before you get," John paused to stand up, "a 'minor' injury before the trial."

The ork's demeanor changed from intimidating to humbled and went on his way, recognizing that this was a fight he could not win.

The rest returned to their seat; Cillian nodded to Allen as they did.

After a while, the half-ork returned from the lavatory and snorted at the two before he took his seat. Cillian returning a snort with a little snot popping out. He quickly wiped it up and glanced at Allen who was giggling.

"Ye saw nothin," he said.

"Nope," Allen relaxed back, "nothing at all."

The pilot turned the buckle light on and began his announcement, "Alrighty passengers, we'll be arriving the cruiser in a few so I suggest you take your seats and get ready for boarding."

The shuttle's engines began to die down as they neared the carrier.

"As you can see, the IGG Decker is on our right," Allen saw the ginormous cruiser. It looked like it could be a space station. "This is one of the Ark Cruisers piloted than none other than Captain Decker, a veteran on the field."

The pilot continued to talk about its importance as the shuttle was being pulled by a magnetic force attaching itself to the side of the ship. Some pixies in magical fields guided the ship to the right position, illuminated the area for the pilot to see.

It was made to carry passengers all over the cosmos as a conventional rescue cruiser. It took many trips around the cosmos to enter through fallen lines to save civilians from harm. It had a thick front and a thin center where shuttles would attach themselves to it, allowing them to pass through the channel, the general form of travel convenient for immediate transportation.

The captains and their AIs would navigate the channels but since AIs had been obsolete due to defects in their programming, they had to rely on human intuition. The most of the few who had the right intuition were guild leaders or their co-captains.

IGG Decker seemed to have all the necessities the crew needs, as stated by a mandate of productivity. A green room for vegetation, a cockpit, quarters, and the things you would expect on a vessel of interspace travel.

The shuttle successfully docked the inner side of IGG Decker and locked itself in place.

"Now that we have successfully docked, I will pass on the comms to our esteemed captain, Drew Bollums."

The intercom sputtered as another voice spoke through, "In Terra Prime time, Goooooood morning fellow passengers and welcome to the IGG Decker. As we began to enter the Channel through Space, we ask that you remain on your seats and enjoy the show."

"This is the best part though," John said.

"You sure you won't sleep through it?"

"I barely sleep through anything," John stated confidently.

"Sure, you do," Allen chuckled.

"But seriously," John pointed out the window, "you'll definitely see something cool."

Allen looked out the window and watched as the ship began to rotate. A ship requires full rotation before entering a channel through a gate so that it's easier to slip through space, like a drill making a tunnel.

"Going into a channel is like going in blind," John began, "you won't know what's up, what's down or what's left or right. Even the most advanced tech doesn't really understand how it works at the moment."

"Why are you telling me this now?"

"Luckily we took this trip 'cause the Decker is one of the well-known traversers of the channel."

The cabin went dark and anxiety filled Allen's body. His body didn't know whether to brace or to faint, but then the cabin became a full view of what was outside. The stars circled the Allen's surroundings as if they were shooting across from him.

"At least, technology is advanced enough to show this," John smirked.

As the cruiser began to move, it shot out a blast of light that exploded in front of it, blinding Allen. When he adjusted, he could see more rotating stars tracing a tunnel in front. The cruiser leered closer to the tunnel and with a sudden pull, the stars rotated behind him and spirals of light surrounded the cabin.

"Wow," Allen could only say in wonder.

For a while, Allen watched as the lights whirled pass by. All in different colors and for a brief moment, he saw a shape within those lights seemingly dancing as the cruiser passes.

"Exiting the channel in 3,"

The cruiser began to shutter.

"2,"

Allen reminded himself that this was actually a dangerous process and braced himself.

"1."

It was a sudden stop in place before the ship's rotation began to slow and the stars reverted back to their stationary state.

"Hello passengers," despite coming out of rapid rotation, Allen didn't feel nauseous but Cillian needed a bag. John was more adjusted to it.

Allen got a full view of the planet that had four moons in its orbit. It was had a body full of ocean so deep in blue. It had continents on those waters, green and brown dictated by its climate. It also had white caps at both poles. At the center of this planet was a connection of lights circling both the continent and the ocean. It was a planet that all humans recognized as Home.

"And welcome to Terra Prime!"