Alex’s POV
My name is Alex Rayfield, a United Earth Federation government official. My whole career has been dedicated to being public servant. My dream was someday to live in countryside somewhere with my little family. That dream was finally fulfilled… somewhat.
Being UEF government official actually comes with a lot of benefits. Stable income, provided house, travelling amenities, high quality but free health insurance, and other perks. Though you do have to be prepared to be posted in any important UEF jurisdiction, but basically you will have fairly prosperous life being one. So it had been my dream since high school days to be one.
Though you have to be prepared to be posted anywhere, there is still some channels where you can actually state where you want to be posted, be it for family, health, or even just personal reason. The philosophy was that, if someone like being in a certain place, their productivity will increase.
My life had been fairly ideal, growing up in fairly good household, I went to the best of schools and became one of the best students. In my university days, I met my beloved future wife, Hinata. We married right after we graduate since I was already projected to be working as government official not too long after I graduate.
When finally graduating, I was posted in colony ‘The Little Jupiter’. It was a colony with somewhat countryside atmosphere with a lot of greenery. Living there our first child was born. I had wanted a daughter, while she wanted a son. So, we had made a promise beforehand that if it were a daughter I will name her, while if it were a son she will be the one naming him. Of course I will love them whether they are son or daughter, it’s just because of my upbringing I wanted to have a daughter, that’s all.
In the end our first born child was a son. As promised, it would be her naming him. She gave him the name ‘Sena’. When I asked what’s the meaning, she said, someone like distinguished person. I don’t really believe in God, but I guess name is a kind of prayer, If so I hope he will grow up to be a well-respected distinguished person. Maybe he will even become an official even higher than his father, maybe even a president. Hmm, President of UEF. That might be… interesting.
Finally having family and living stably in refreshing (somewhat) countryside-like colony. My dream of stable life with just right work-and-life balance was fulfilled. Though it was for shorter time than I had hoped. The political situation is getting a little bit tense. The source is the same as it was in history, inequality. Especially the inequality between colonies and homeworld side has been glaringly obvious for quite some time.
Though inequality has always existed within humanity since the dawn of civilization, so it might not be that unusual. It’s just, the situation is getting a little bit hot recently. If it’s only the atmosphere that’s fine. Unfortunately, some irresponsible people are inevitably bound to take advantage of the situation. I just hope nothing worse than political bickering happens.
Well, so I have been getting busier because of various things. Even so, I still manage to keep my work-and-life balance within my tolerance level.
However what worries me next is that my son is quite socially withdrawn. Originally we were quite happy, our son seem to be a genius, he knows many complex words even I don’t quite understand. He even already learnt to read by himself at very young age even we unsure since when.
By 5, his know-how in technology probably already much better than me. He started working with electronics and various complicated components. It’s MECHA design kit, he said. He seems so obsessed with MECHA that he asked me to buy him something I don’t quite understand but seems fairly expensive before. Something called plasma generator.
However, we slowly started to notice that he basically doesn’t play with other kids at all. If he were given the choice between going out to eat ice cream or other sweets with his friends or staying at home, he will always pick staying at home. Wait, are they even friends in the first place?
We brought him to psychologist before. They said that he may have a mild case of savant syndrome, though it apparently doesn’t affect his day to day life, so it might be just a case of giftedness. We just hope that he would be fine and can lead normal life.
After various consideration, we decided to send him to special school catered toward children with special needs. But because all colonial education are basically standard education, we need to move to Earth for it. The problem is I did not get a reassignment in desired place. I tried to get one for a whole year but failed to get one.
In the end because I still have jobs to do here in the colony, my wife and my son will move to Earth first. I will follow later if I can have the right reassignment. I will miss them a lot, so I tried to spend some more quality time before they move away. Maybe giving a little brother or sister as moving gift.
…
… …
… … …
It seem Sena made friends already. It was not even on Earth yet, but he made friends on spaceship due to Earth. Though then I became quite a bit worried when I heard he fell sick right after arriving on Earth surface. But apparently it was just typical sickness for someone who have never visited Earth while rarely move their body as well. Well, he was quite the introverted one, and never really like moving at all.
I also got quite a bit lonely afterwards being left alone in the colony, though fortunately my beloved honey proposed a genius idea: let’s have family teledinner during dinner time. Coincidentally or not, the time in this colony is synchronized to that of Leyford City, the city where my honey and our son are living.
…
… …
… … …
Listening to updates from the dinner time, it seems Sena has not neglected his social life. He even joined a club at his school. Though it was a MECHA club so it might be more about his interest than about making friends. But it’s not bad at all, he was actually entrusted with an important job in the club, so I guess he did make friends after all.
It’s important to make friends in life. Though you don’t really have to be friends with everyone. At least if you can make connection with few, even if only one, future important person, your life will be a hundred times better. The worst you could be is a social inept who always need to depends on someone else to communicate with other people. With this, at least he seems to be no longer in that direction.
…
… …
… … …
Finally, after more than half a year, I can finally have an official travel to Earth. With little tweaks here and there in the plan, there is just about enough time to have little free time. I guess I can invite them both in my next official trip.
So that’s what I did. During dinner time, I told my honey and Sena that I will have official travel to Earth and could bring them along the way. And they agreed almost immediately. Now I just need to prepare for the vaca--ahem—trip.
…
… …
… … …
Hmm, finally arrived on Earth surface. Very good, it seems all is fine, Earth atmosphere feels quite refreshing. Now let’s go to the appointed meeting place first.
…
Ah there she is. I move behind the bench honey is sitting on and…
“Now now, Dear. You are not supposed to startle a pregnant woman.”
“Ah..haha… Sorry.”
From behind the bench, I gently embrace her.
“Miss me?”
“Well, you two left me alone in the colony.”
“I see.” I was caressed over my hair.
“By the way, where is he?”
“Oh, I asked him to buy me a drink. He is over there.” She pointed towards not too far away vending machine. I can see over there a little boy.
“He has already grown that big huh. Even though it’s only a little more than half a year.”
“He looks closer and closer like you, you know.”
“Haha, he will grow as handsome as his father then.”
“How shameless.” *Pinch*
“Wait here for a bit.”
“…?”
I stealthily move behind Sena who is using the vending machine, careful not to allow him to notice me.
After arriving just behind him, I lift him up, surprising him. Heh, I’m pretty good at it.
“Help!! Kidnapper!!!”
Err… I guess I’m too good…
Sena is twisting his body trying to force me to let him go.
“Kidnapper! Kidnapper! Kidnapper!!”
People are starting to crowd around us. This might be bad…
“Wait!! I’m not kidnapper.”
“Kidnaaapeeerr!!!”
Why?!! Don’t you realize your own Dad???
“W-wait. It’s Dad. See...”
Finally, after I said that he started to calm down. Does he finally recognize me now?
“Sir. Do you mind coming with us to our station a bit?”
I heard a dreaded question. I carefully put Sena down and turned around to face the questioner.
“I-it’s misunderstanding. R-really, Sir. This is my son.”
I’m panicking trying to explain the situation.
“Ohh don’t worry. You will have a looott of time telling your story at the station. So please come with us.”
Sigh… It seems thing has became complicated.
We two were brought to the security station.
…
“Sigh, please don’t make ruckus again. We have enough problems as it is.”
“Yes, Sir. We are really sorry. Please excuse us.”
In the end the situation kept getting more complicated until honey arrived in the station.
…
Finally after a long time we later sit together on an empty bench like a proper family.
*Sigh* “Security guys can be so persistent at times…”
“It’s Dad’s fault.”
*Giggle*
"Should we go home now?”
“Well, it’s already getting a bit dark now. I also want to see how the house is like.”
…
Since we finally can have a proper dinner like family again, I want to know the growth progress of my son.
“By the way, Sena. Haven’t you been making friends here already?”
“Un”
“You should introduce them to dad later. Though maybe not tomorrow, since we are going soon. Maybe after we come back here from Japan?”
“Un”
“So are you having fun here?”
“Un”
This kid. He still likes to answer with the minimum words possible.
“By the way, I heard you are taking college courses now. Is it alright?”
Let’s try to lure him to answer with a more complete sentence.
“Hmm?”
“I mean your friends will be grown-ups you know. Don’t you feel out of place?”
“Ah. Unn~” *shake shake* “Actually, Dad. I got to work inside one of the MECHA labs.”
Finally.
“Work?”
“Un”
“Paid?”
“Un”
“Your allowance is not enough? Dad can send you more if it is too little.”
“It’s not like that, Dad. I want to see how the state-of-the-art of MECHA research, that’s all. I might also learn a lot of things too.”
In the end, he only answers properly when it’s about the thing he is interested in.
“Won’t you get too busy?”
“Busy?”
“I mean to do something you want to do, Sena.”
“What are you saying, Dad? This is something I want to do.”
See. There.
“I-I see. I mean, don’t you want to spend time for your friends too. You know. Like that girl. Reo was it?”
“U-un. I also go out with Reo sometimes.”
“Sena is going out with Reo when he is not doing anything else, right?”
Hinata pinched Sena’s cheek.
“I-it’s because she keeps nagging me.”
“Eh~? Sena hates going out with Reo?”
“I-it’s not like that! I don’t hate it at all.” He answered with
Huh? Is she that close to my boy? Hmm… I need to investigate this Reo girl.
…
The next day we went to the airport and board an airplane due to Japan, the destination of the vaca-- business trip.
…
“Sushiiii! Tempuraaa!! Fujiyamaaaaa!!!”
Pfft. I did that the first time I came here. How nostalgic. I wonder if Sena will do it too.
“…”
What’s with that disgusted face?
…
Arriving in the hotel it’s already time for lunch.
*Growl*
“Should we go for lunch?”
“Un”
“Let’s go out to eat. Hotel’s food is not that good. Let’s have the locals’ food instead.”
“Local food?”
“You will see.”
…
We went out of the hotel to the nearby park. On the way I bought foods drinks from some vending machines.
“Why vending machines…?”
“This is what the locals eat you know. It’s pretty delicious.”
Yes, the busy locals buy things from vending machines. Japan is a country of vending machines. You can buy practically anything from vending machines. Anything. Even a house.
“Really..?”
“Try it it first.”
…
“We don’t eat inside?”
“It’s picnic, Sena. Picnic see. Since we have the chance, let’s have a time for enjoying outside scenery.”
Yes. It has been a while since we have picnic like this. Let’s do it like how family do it.
Hmm~! Delicious! It’s good, but still the portion is a bit too little.
“Hmm~ how is it, Sena? Is it delicious?”
“Un. It’s delicious.”
I thought He would be confused on how to eat with chopsticks, but now I see he is properly eating the food. I wonder where did he learn to eat it like that.
Not too far from us are several children playing together.
“Honey, how does it feel returning here?”
“Normal, I guess. It’s not like I particularly like or don’t like here. It’s been too long since I come back. I guess a bit nostalgic?”
“How about visiting your family? Sometime later I mean.”
“It’s fine. They probably won’t like me there anyway.”
My wife, Hinata originally came from Japan. She has a little conflict with her parents and one that actually have little to do with me as well, so I thought of visiting them to repair our relationship. But it seems she still doesn’t want to. Let’s pull her with something else.
“Well, maybe Sena want to see his grandparents.”
“Then you ask him, Dear.”
“Huh? Eh? How about you?”
“I’m fine with anything really. But, maybe to be a bit honest. I prefer for us to spend our own time as family.”
“I see. Well if it’s something like that then.”
I guess I can’t force it now.
“…”
Hmm, somehow Sena is looking at this way. He seems to understand that his mom is a bit gloomy right now. Oh, so it’s like that. I thought he was socially inept and couldn’t understand other people. But it seems he still can read atmosphere after all. Maybe, he really is just not too interested in other people aside of family and close friends.
Looking not far from here are several kids playing together.
“Sena, don’t you want to play together with them?”
“No.”
I guessed so. Let’s invite him to something else.
“How about the swing over there? Don’t you want to feel like flying?”
“Not interested. We flew on airplane on the way here before, Dad.”
Sigh… I guess he just doesn’t like moving at all.
In the end we just played some mini games from our ID together. At least it’s better than nothing. Though he got bored quickly, so we went back to the hotel not too long after.
…
“Phew… finally done for the week.”
I have been busy for the whole week and can’t accompany my family together. Since I don’t want to waste my weekend working as well, I have been trying to finish everything within the weekdays.
Beside, I promised Sena to accompany him to a robot exhibition tomorrow. It’s the first time we go together like father and son. It’s also somewhere he himself pretty interested. So I’m quite hopeful of this one.
…
We arrive at the exhibition finding it was full of people. I guess Japan is not a mecha pioneer for nothing.
“There are many people here, Sena. Be careful so you don’t wander by your own and getting lost okay?”
“Un”
We then tour around the area, finding many robots, from the most common to the strangest. I also find quite many useless robots that don’t seem to do anything or simply is not practical.
*Woof Woof*
Hmm? A dog…No.. a pet robot? Maybe I can gift this to Sena. He would be happy receiving such gift.
“Sena, do you want a pet?”
“No.”
“O-okay…”
Walking quite a bit we arrive in front of booth selling robot that mimic human.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Sena went forward approaching the booth.
“Sorry, Kid. It’s not something for you. Come back when you're older.”
He simply got told off. Hmm? What kind of robot… is it?
“Sena stay here for a bit okay. Dad wants to check something.”
After telling him to not go anywhere, I approach the booth.
“Welcome Welcome, Mister.”
“What are you selling?”
“Hohoho.. we have products just right for any man, Mister. Do you want it small? medium? or big?”
“T-this is…”
…
After a little browsing inside the booth, for market research purpose, I return back to where Sena was.
“Hmm? Sena?”
But I didn’t find him there.
“Huh? Did he wander off somewhere?”
I was about to look up his position with the ID when--
*Wobble Wobble*
"Earthquake…?”
*Rumble Rumble*
The earthshaking is getting stronger. I should check his position first.
*Pii~ Pii~ Pii~*
Huh strange, there is no reception here. Isn’t here still considered a city? Why is there no reception here? Wait, there was signal before. Maybe it’s only temporary system outage?
*Rumble Rumble*
He is a smart kid, so he should have moved to a safe place already. Yes, let’s hope so.
…
As I thought I’m worried, so I’m looking around for him while it’s still shaking.
*Flash*
Suddenly a bright flash enveloped my vision for a fraction of second.
“What was that…? I must be tired, still, let’s keep looking.”
…
It seems the earthquake is finished, no more rumbling or even wobble now.
*Rumble Rumble*
"Guess, I’m wrong.”
*Screeeeeeech*1From previous episode’s cry
“…”
A cry unlike any animals I heard before resound loudly.
“W-what was that…?”
*Rumble Rumble*
I then went outside to check what was that cry.
*Screeeeeeeeeeeeeech*
“…Star..fish..?”
A giant starfish was coming floating from the direction of the sea.
*Screeeeeeech*
*Bzzzzxzzzzztttt*
*Boom*
I shouldn’t daydream here. I need to find Sena, since it seems to be really dangerous now.
…
“Sena! Where are you??”
I was running around while shouting out calling his name.
“Let’s check if it will connect now. Good there is reception now.”
*pii~ pii~ pii~*
“Yes?"
Good it connected.
“Finally connected. Sena, where are you now??”
“In a big mecha.”
“Huh?? What?”
I got startled and after a few seconds of silence later.
“Sorry, I'm busy, Dad. Later.”
“Wait!”
*pii~ pii~ pii~*
Big mecha…?
*Wobble Wobble*
It was shaking a bit so I thought it’s an aftershock. But…
“What’s that big robot…?”
Big robot…?
“Eh…?”
This kid, he is doing something absurd again… I can only facepalm at the thought.
…
I can only watch from afar. The big robot Sena is in was plowing through buildings around it and collided with the giant starfish and now the robot is on top of it. Is Sena alright inside that? I know he has slight motion sickness. Doesn’t it shake too much, Sena?
The big robot then started punching the starfish while pinning it down. I hope it doesn’t shake too much inside.
*Boom Boom Boom*
*Screeeeeeech*
*Schlark Schlark*
The starfish also trying to fight back by hitting the robot’s back with its whips stretching from its two “hands”.
…
It seems, getting tired from being punched nonstop, the starfish started floating higher with the big robot on top of it, probably trying to do something.
However it seems something like a rope came out from the robot’s waist and lodge themselves into the starfish.
*Booom*
The robot then punched the center part of the starfish. The starfish stopped floating higher. Quickly, the starfish turned stiff and its color also turned gray. It then started disintegrating like it’s made from sands.
Soon the big robot on top of the disintegrating starfish fell down.
*Boom*
"Sena!!"
I hope he is alright. I run toward the fallen robot.
…
“Sena!!”
Finally found him. Maybe because I’m a little bit worried I just unconsciously hug him.
“Are you alright? Sena?”
“Ugh… I’m fine, Dad. Anyway, it’s stuffy… Please let me go.”
I guess he never like my hug. I feel a bit sad but oh well as long as he is alright.
“Ah, okay… And this is?”
I see that he was talking to this young man in his 20s.
“Hello, Mr Rayfield. I’m Sasajima Kotaro of West Pacific Security.”
“West Pacific Security?”
A security contractor?
“Well, actually you see… yada-yada-yada”
I was then told how Sena met him while looking at his company’s mecha. About how they ended up inside the big mecha robot.
…
“I’m really sorry for everything, Mr Sasajima.”
“Uh oh, no it’s fine. Actually he was quite helpful to us. Without Sena, we might be still be facing that starfish monster right now, or maybe we already long disabled from its lightning attack.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. He correctly identified the monster’s weak point. He is smart kid, Mr Rayfield.”
“Is that true, Sena?”
“It was just coincidence, Dad. That part was kinda stood out like sore thumb, so I thought that might be the case. So we were really lucky.”
So Sena was being helpful? But it’s still something rash, he could have run toward safe place instead. His sense of danger seems a bit off. I should chide him later about it.
Then I see he seems to be thinking about something again. Sometime he also easily wanders off into his own little world.
Honey must be worried so let’s go back for now. I call out to him.
“Sena?”
“Eh? Yes, Dad?”
“Should we go back now? Mom must be worried.”
“Un”
…
*Rooooooaaaarr*2From previous episode
Suddenly a very loud monser cry was heard.
“What was that??”
“Another one of that monster?”
“Its cry sounds different though.”
“Then a different monster?”
“Where is it coming from???”
…
The commotion is getting too chaotic, people are clearly agitated. Let’s evacuate now before it goes worse.
“Now, we need to evacuate too, Sena.”
“Un”
…
I lost him. I thought I told him to hold tight to my shirt. Where is he wandering off to now? I try to find him using the locator in the ID, but there is no indicator of him in it. Did he turn it off?
I can see it from faraway that the chaos is getting worse. The big robot is fighting against a dinosaur monster similar in size, in the water.
…
It seems the dinosaur monster was defeated, but then more monsters appeared and beating up the robot.
…
In the end there came another robot, this time a fancy transforming one. The robot beat up all the monsters and left.
…
“Sena, where are you really.”
I keep trying to check the locator in the ID Card.
Huh. Found him. I guess it was just a bad reception.
…
“Sena!!”
“…?”
“Finally, where were you?”
“Sorry, Dad. I got lost.”
Lost? I feel like he just straight out lied to me. I wonder why.
“Sigh… please pay more attention next time.”
“Sorry, I was a bit worried with Kotaro and others.”
I see, so he went to watch how the big robots and the monsters fought.
“You should worry more about your own safety.”
“Sorry.”
He really has a bad sense of danger. I really should have a talk with him later.
*Sigh* "Let’s just go back now. Mom must be pretty worried.”
“Un”
…
Arriving in the hotel lobby a man in black suit approached me.
“Mr Rayfield.”
“You are?”
*Whisper Whisper*
“This is…?”
The man just nod.
I see. It seems the situation is really serious. It’s a bit early but I should send them home first.
Sigh… too bad. I thought of deepening our bond in this family vacation but I guess some things just have come first.
(1) From previous episode’s cry
