The endless stretch of stars known as outer space was spread out before Elias like an old, but familiar canvas. One that he had come to know all too well in many and eventful years of life.
Although the Star Rider wasn't the most glorious ship in the world, its spacious, fast, and unadorned frame was perfect for the private travels of the Thorton family. And even though the ship had seen more than its fair share of journeys while being passed down from aunt to nephew, it was just as reliable as any other ship that could be found soaring beyond the skies above Earth's gravity. And it was because of this ship that, for the first time in years, Elias would be able to explore the wonders of space alongside those he loved.
'Man...I'm actually looking forward to this.' The green-eyed man thought with a slight smile on his face. 'How long has it been since I've done something like this?'
For the first time in quite a while, Elias wasn't the feared, battle-hardened captain of CSS Victory. A man whose reputation was known throughout all of both Earth and space. Right now, he was simply just a husband and father guiding his family through the stars as they embarked on a quiet adventure across the cosmos. And that alone was enough to make all of this worth it, in his opinion.
The Thorton family's journey had begun a few hours ago after they departed from the main spaceport of Trafalgar. And Elias was more than happy to cut loose and check out a few places that he still had yet to see with his own eyes. Although he had spent over nineteen years in the Navy, twenty-two if you count his time as a midshipman, most of that time was spent in and around military installations that didn't allow him to do much sightseeing. This trip was an opportunity for him just as much as it was for his son. A bonding experience that the man was certainly looking forward to.
Marida, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the ship, smiled warmly as she watched their son play away on his tablet. She, too, had been looking forward to this trip. After all, it had been a long while since their family had had time for just the three of them. And she was determined to make the most of this opportunity since chances like this would become increasingly rare once her husband finally received his promotion.
"You think he'll be able to find what he's looking for?" Marida asked Elias in a soft tone to avoid Remy being able to hear them through his headphones.
Elias didn't turn to face her immediately. He was too busy looking out the viewport at the star-studded void of space. The same stars he had spent his entire life staring at and admiring as long as he could remember. As a young man, Elias had been obsessed with the unknown, the vastness of space. But life had a way of drawing you in with its practicalities. Things like duty, responsibility, and sometimes even survival, often made the man forget what his journey was really all about.
"I hope so." The man then laughed as he turned to face his wife. "I don't know what to expect, honestly. But he's still got time to figure it all out."
"Good point." Marida's lips curled into a small smile. "I mean, not all of us can know what we want to do from the moment we turn twelve, right? Hell, it took me until I was in my twenties to actually figure out what I wanted to do."
"And I'm sure that your students at the university are all the more grateful for it."
"I do think this was a great idea, though." The woman then said with sincerity. "Letting him get a feel for what he wants to do by getting to see it with his own eyes. My father tried something similar with us when my brothers and I were growing up. But his version was more tailored to entering one of the companies that he runs. Not exactly the most diverse array of options if we're being totally honest."
"Hey, at least your parents didn't try to nudge you into doing administrative work at the Governor's office for the rest of your life." The man countered.
"True." The blue-eyed woman smiled. "But either way, this was still a pretty good plan. I actually hope that we find something that he's genuinely interested in. You know, seeing what makes Remy tick."
Elias nodded but said nothing. That's what this journey was all about, wasn't it? Showing Remy the wonders of the world, and maybe rekindling the same fire that Elias once felt as a young man along the way.
As the hours passed, the Star Rider slipped deeper and deeper into space, leaving the borders of Trafalgar behind and venturing further into the endless void. And as the family of three got comfortable and settled in, they couldn't help but notice how absolutely breathtaking the view of the outside was. The swirling of distant nebulae, the flickering of the stars, and the endless void that seemed to hold an infinite number of secrets just waiting to be unraveled. Along with the faint glow of the sun in the distance, they all came together to paint one hell of a picture. The kind of picture that one might see in a fancy museum on display for all the world to see. It was exactly what Elias had longed for in his youth, but this time, there was a new sense of purpose attached to it.
Remy suddenly pulled off his headphones and leaned forward, almost pressing his face against the reinforced glass of the nearby viewport. The boy's eyes became wide as he suddenly took notice of a particular object of note in the distance. "Dad, look at that! That's... It's Earth, right?"
The green-eyed boy then pointed to the distant blue marble that was directly in front of them. Even from here, one could make out all of the different continents that were surrounded by swirling clouds and beautiful blue oceans. To the people who grew up in space their entire lives, such a place seemed more like a fantasy realm as opposed to the home of humanity. So, Remy's reaction upon seeing it with his own eyes for the first time made perfect sense.
Elias couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face after seeing this. It was the first time he had seen his son so genuinely interested in something that wasn't one of his video games or those weird shows he watches before bed. For a brief moment, Elias was quiet as he leaned back in his chair and let the ghost of an old dream stir within him.
"It sure is." Elias then said in a soft tone. "I've been there a few times myself, actually. Mostly when I was still a young midshipman, ferrying cargo back and forth between the colonies on the Dauntless. Honestly, it's one of the most beautiful places in the entire solar system. I still remember my first time experiencing what actual gravity felt like. It almost made me want to throw up."
"Gross!" Remy cringed despite his eyes still being full of curiosity. "Have you ever thought about going back?"
Elias thought about the question for a moment. More specifically, the answer. It had been quite some time since he even thought about visiting Earth. If he had to guess, the last time he had given the idea any sort of serious consideration was right around the time he and Marida got married. Things like that, among others, had been put on the back burner a long time ago. Something that he only thought about just now.
In his younger years, Elias had been driven by a desire to prove himself and to be part of something greater. This motivation was so ingrained into his mind that it got to the point where everything else seemed to fade over time. But as he got further and further into his career, the thought of going on small adventures, like one to Earth, had basically become nonexistent outside of a few fleeting moments here and there.
"I have...." The man nodded. "But I haven't had the chance since I was always so busy with my career. Hopefully, we'll get to chance to explore it together in the future. There are some pretty cool things down there that I think you'd love to see with your own eyes. Especially the ocean and all of the weird animals that you can find in it."
"Cool!" The boy replied.
Marida couldn't help but laugh. "My family owns a few resorts down on Earth. We even have one that's right outside the Amazon rainforest. I'm sure that we'd be able to have a good time if we ever make it down there."
For a long moment, the family of three sat in companionable silence with the hum of the ship filling the space between them. Elias could see the beginning of a change in his son, a slow transformation from unsure indifference to curiosity about the world around him. From youthful skepticism to the beginnings of wonder. Remy was beginning to understand, in his own way, the beauty of the stars. And Elias, in turn, was beginning to feel that spark that set him on his journey once again.
As they drifted deeper into the unknown, Elias couldn't help but feel a profound sense of peace. His normal life, full of expectations and duty, felt like a distant memory to him. The accolades, the awards, and the constant pressure to be more than a simple man were all beginning to fade. Replaced by something more enduring. Family. Legacy. Exploration. Or whatever the hell it was that made him feel so relaxed at the moment.
Remy then shifted back into his seat, a sigh escaping his lips as he leaned back and continued to gaze out of the viewport into the vast emptiness of space. For a moment, it seemed that the boy was contemplating the words his father had spoken. Or at least, that's what the boy's parents assumed he was doing, judging by the look on his face.
"This is kind of nice." Remy said, his tone a little softer than before.
Elias arched an eyebrow at his son. "Nice enough to consider the stars as a place to be?"
Remy shrugged, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "Maybe. But only if there's something worth seeing."
Elias chuckled, his heart light. "Trust me. There's always something worth seeing."
As the family ship flew toward the first colony in their journey, Elias found himself lost in the beauty of the moment. He had lived a life full of battles, sacrifices, and triumphs. But here, with his wife and son, he felt a kind of peace he hadn't known in years. It was moments like these that truly mattered to him. Not the fame, not the glory, not the medals or the rank. The memories he created with his family and the legacy he would leave in Remy's heart were the true treasures of his life.
Elias turned back to the controls with a contented smile on his face. The stars ahead were still endless, full of possibilities-and now, with his son beside him, Elias was ready to explore them all again.
With a final glance at Marida, Elias adjusted their course and began steering the ship toward the next colony in their sector. The future was uncertain, but it was full of potential. And for the first time in a long while, he felt as though he was exactly where he was meant to be.