ReaderPaul

An unusual but very enjoyable story. Questions are quickly raised in the story, and the answers are fascinating. I do hope more chapters arrive in the future.

I certainly agree with @drsawzall that some tech should not be shared -- yet. And evidently the android bodies have the ability to project images into the air, whether two-dimensional (2D), or holographic three-dimensional (3D). In addition, I think Joel need to consider that some of the military types of Ark III might have been those who sabotaged the pods of the non-military types on Ark III. @R. Eric - are any of the ORIGINAL persons who took off from Earth still alive on Elysia? And I agree with Hank and Joel, that getting the outside atmosphere human-friendly should be a priority.

I think Joel and Hank should post FTL (Faster Than Light) sentries for Elysia as they have for Gaia. I don't remember if they have several in the Elysia system or just one or two for communication purposes. They also need to warn those of Elysia about the possibility of disease-carrying probes from Earth.

Good chapter. Progress is being made. Looking forward to the next chapter.

I am wondering what Marc will do with the data he has discovered.

I sometimes have trouble messaging on my phone. Much easier on laptop or desktop computer. Perhaps some GA person who does most GA stuff on a phone may have suggestions?

I also regard Heinlein as one of the greats, but some of his books struck me as "blah." Most I thought quite good. I regard Anne McCaffrey as one of my authors considered great, but there was one of her books I did not read large sections of. Later I read it again, and was at a point in my life where I could appreciate it. Where in our life, and what else is requiring our time in our life, affect how we feel about reading something.

Are you attempting to message on a mobile phone, or a desktop or laptop computer?

You know, @Geron Kees, in thinking about the beginning of this first chapter, Rick has been able to follow Charlie's second presence since about the beginning. In the story where Charlie and company first met Ricky's cousin Annie (Every Boy Should Face His Demons, Charlie Boone!), Rick was able to follow Charlie even to another dimension to guide him back to Annie's house, when Kippy and Adrian and Horace were unable to sense him. So quite possibly Rick assisted Charlie in helping Adrian, Kip, and Max to be able to follow Charlie's second presence. (Almost certainly Ragal could also have done that, as well, with his powers of adaptation.) In addition we know that Robin Hood can "latch on" to a teleport OR to Charlie's second presence and follow it. Possibly Robin might have had input, as well. So when is Charlie going to learn that his second presence can go forward in time, or backward in time, and visit more alternate earths and future events?

An unexpected addition to the relationship of Orion and Quinn, but seems to be going well. Looking forward to more chapters.

Science fiction and fantasy author Andre Norton started writing when she was a children's librarian in Cleveland, Ohio. She legally changed her name from Alice Mary Norton to Andre Alice Norton when she started writing science fiction and fantasy, because the primary market was for boys at that time. Her publishers normally referred to her as "Andre Norton" or Norton when referring to her books, so sales would not drop off if her female gender were revealed. She also wrote under pen names Andrew North and Allen Weston. I usually finish books that I start. But once in a while I do not. If I have too many interruptions when trying to get a good ways into a book, I sometimes lose interest for days, weeks, or even years. I will prioritize favorite online authors over a physical book at times, because it is easier to read short chapters (under twenty-five thousand words) at times than to plow through a physical or Kindle or Nook book.

Fascinating. Is/are Orion and/or Quinn and/or Tanner distant ancestor(s) of Marc Alexander? Glad Orion is recovering so well.

Sometimes it is a good thing to end up where one is not intending. And sometimes, it is best that you are doing your job in a different location than normal. Several sets of circumstances combine to cause some people to meet that might not have met otherwise. This happens more than one in this story, and ultimately, it works out for the best. An entertaining story, well worth reading.

Why are Marc's parents against him using Shuttle Corporation as much as he is? Are they a rival company?

So you have decided to write a story about Peter's mother as well? Great! Very good start to this.

@Biff Spork, good story. Thanks for writing it. Sometimes friendship can develop into more.

Sasha seems to be having some adjustment trouble. I am wondering if boyfriends and/or girlfriends have dumped him before because of the thickness of his male organ, mentioned in a previous chapter as the thickest Marc had ever received. On the other hand, there have been improvements noted by several. Marc's ships and mining expansions seem to be going quite well. So far he had good instincts and is getting good advice from other members of the family.

I am wondering if Seeri Deeping (from The Case of the Short, Short Prince) could be a far future distant descendant of Mister Mikulsa, as a result of the following passage: The bearded man scowled briefly, but then shook his head. "I just hope I know what I'm doing." That brought a mix of reactions from all quarters. "You feel a worry about this?" Jem asked. "I thought you'd come to trust Bzup?" Mikulsa's face clearly demonstrated the war within. "Jem, I'm going against a lifetime of experience here, that is clearly telling me we don't know enough yet to simply walk inside an alien spacecraft!" "And yet, Bzup clearly made the decision to come directly into our midst," Nita pointed out carefully. "He felt that getting to know us was more important than anything else. It seems to me he wants our peoples to be friends, not enemies." Mikulsa nodded at her. "You think I don't feel that, too? But it's a gut feeling, a...a...whim. We have a lot of assumptions, and a lot of observations, and a lot of opinions. But very few actual facts!" "It's the leap of faith we talked about earlier," Mister Sharples reminded. "Sometimes, feelings are all you have to go on." Mikulsa made an annoyed sound at that, and turned to Jem. "Do you think this is the right course of action?" Jem didn't hesitate at all. "Yes. I trust Bzup." Til sighed at that. "I have to say, that even if they did us in the moment we got inside, we are simply seven human beings out of nearly three-hundred thousand here on Benteen. It would hardly change anything, in my book." Seeri kept saying -- "I just hope I know what I'm doing, starting in chapter 27 of "Short, Short Prince." Both are excellent stories, @Geron Kees.

@chris191070 is right. Wonderful stories by excellent authors, including some of my author favorites, such as @Geron Kees, @P. E. Knapp, @astone2292, @Myr, @drsawzall, @quokka, @Bill W, and many other very talented authors.

Certainly I agree with that. I have read a lot of flash fiction (normally 1,000 words or less) that are excellent. Some, however, can't be chopped or edited without losing much of the story.

Well, @wildone -- are there limits on how long a prompt story can be? I would rather a good 20,000 word prompt story than one which is so chopped and/or choppy it is a challenge to read.

Wow, what a chapter! Good thing they had Mike to help out as Assistant manager. Quinn is showing how much he cares. Will be interested to learn more about Grandma.

Marc helped transform Janek, the twins, Rory, and Uroda, and now helping Sasha and Zoe -- I look forward to the next one to transform. Meanwhile, I am greatly enjoying this story.

"Sometimes with reality, life has a way of surprising you in a way you never surmised it playing out." ~ @D.K. Daniels in the opening line to his story, "Sometimes With Reality (Revised)".

This is one of the best short stories I have ever read. George is a caring father with a sense of humor and a son who seems to be acting differently than usual. The reasons for this become clear later in the story. Well done, @D.K. Daniels.