The House of Aeris - 1. Coming Home

January 10, 2200: The elevator ride took a bit longer than usual. It seemed that several of the building’s inhabitants had decided to come home at the same time. Aeris stood pressed up against the back right corner, watching the other riders as they got on, and off at their various stops. It was a rare occasion for him. Decked out in his dress uniform, a black suit-style complete with a white shirt and black tie, he waited patiently for his floor. A small boy, about seven years old, stared openly at the ribbons and medals on his left breast, the only color there was to the outfit, and then smiled when Aeris shot him a grin.

“What rank are you, sir?” the child asked him.

“John, don’t bother the man. I’m sorry he bothered you, sir,” the child’s mother admonished.

“It’s no trouble, ma’am,” Aeris says, before turning to John. Kneeling down to his level, Aeris points at the rank insignia, “My rank is Commander, in the Federation Navy.”

“OH! My dad is in the Navy too! He works on one of those large spaceships… um… do you work with my dad?” John asks a kind of hopefully. “I haven’t seen him in months.”

Smiling at John, Aeris shakes his head no, before replying, “Sorry I don’t work with your dad. I’m in the Special Operations division, and just got back from deployment.”

With his eyes sparkling, John looks Aeris over. Seeing his name badge only reads ‘Codename: Aeris’, and the Unit Patch of a stylize Eagle clutching a ‘G’ and an ‘F’, he squeals with a happy laugh, “You’re Guardian Force! Dad’s told me about you. Mom, he’s Guardian Force! Dad said they helped him on that planet!”

John’s mom is not sharing her son’s jubilance, at the realization of a Guardian Force officer standing before them. With a nervous smile on her face, “Alright John, you’ve pestered the man enough now. I’m sure he has business to attend too.”

Catching the subtle hint in the Mother’s voice, Aeris stood up, still smiling and addressing both of them, “It’s fine, really. I live in this building, and just going home.” With that, he reaches into his pocket pulling out his Identity Card case. With quick precision, he frees a coin and turns back to the kid. “Now, these are rare outside of Guardian Force, John. I want you to have it.”

He holds the coin out for the child, who gleefully takes it into both hands. John examines it with childlike wonder, uttering a low voice, “wow!”

“Now John, tell the nice Commander ‘thank you’.”

“Thank you, Commander Aeris. I promise to keep this safe!”

Aeris smiles as the elevator door opens for another couple to exit, and steps out behind them. Going right at the intersection, he makes his way to the stairs and goes back down the two flights to his apartment level.

~*~

July 1, 2203: Over the past three years, Aeris has run into John several times around the buildings different amenities. He’s also gotten to know John’s mom and dad, Miriam and Saul, and considers the family to be good friends. Aeris sits on the balcony of his apartment watching the Sunday lunchtime traffic of the city below, sipping on a hot cup of green tea, after sleeping in late. “This is Aeris,” he says into his comlink, as it chirps he has a voice call.

“Aeris, it’s Miriam. Could I trouble you for a favor today?” she asks.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Well, we’re having John’s Birthday celebration today in the clubhouse. But only two other kids have shown up. John’s a little sad right now, and with Saul on deployment, I was hoping you could come down and cheer him up.”

“Of course I can,” Aeris replies with a smile in his voice. “Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll be right there.”

“Thank you! I really appreciate this.”

Striding to his bedroom, he quickly showers, dresses into one of his uniforms and heads to the first-floor clubhouse.

The clubhouse is decorated in a spaceman birthday motif. Paper rocket ships, planets, stars, and streamers adorn the walls, tables, and hang from the ceiling. Holographic images of Spacers walking in EVA gear move through an empty room. Apart from Miriam, John’s two friends from school are here, along with several of John’s other relatives are here as well. “AERIS!!!” John yells from where he and the other two boys were sitting.

All eyes turn as Aeris, in his Guardian Force uniform, walks in, and make his way towards the kids, “Hey buddy. Just got orders that I was to attend a Birthday party here…. Do you know whose it is?”

“It’s mine Aeris,” John smiles gleefully. “I’ve been telling my friends about the coin you gave me.”

“You’re keeping it safe, right?” Aeris asks and smiles at the enthusiastic nod from him. “Good. Well, I got some news for you. I’ve talked it over with your mom and dad, and they have agreed to let you train with me. Including going to firing range as well.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Happy birthday, buddy.”

John hops up and jumps to where Aeris catches him, giving Aeris a huge hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

"You’re welcome buddy,” he says setting John down. “We’ll start tomorrow, after your school time, and while I’m home. When I’m on a mission, I’ll leave stuff for you to do.”

“Got it, Commander,” John says with a quick kid salute.

Aeris spends the next few hours at the party talking with the kids, telling them of missions he’s been on, and some of the training it takes to be in the GF. At least the non-classified missions, which he can talk about. He finally steals some time to speak with Marian, before he heads out.

~*~

August 12, 2208: The funeral ceremony was winding down, with all the traditional salutes for a fallen Naval Officer. Most of Saul’s shipmates and the Captain of the starship he severed on were in attendance. As the Honor Guard presented the folded flag to Miriam, it proved to be too much for fifteen-year-old John, who stood up and quickly walked out of the chapel. Miriam went to go after him, but Aeris stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll check on him.”

“Thank you,” she says tearfully.

As Miriam’s family goes to her, Aeris slips out following his young friend. Ten minutes later, Aeris finds John sitting on a bench out in the Chapel’s Rose Garden. He notices that John is silently sobbing, and sits down in silence beside the youth. Aeris makes no move towards him, allowing the youth his space and time, but John leans into him for an embrace. Aeris hugs onto John, letting him cry into his chest, “It’s alright buddy…. Let it out…. I’m here for you.”

They were still sitting there, twenty minutes later, with Aeris consoling John when Miriam walks upon them. “I’m sorry mom, I ran out of there.”

“It’s fine son. I’m just glad you’re safe. Thanks Aeris for being here.”

“You’re both my family,” he says, giving John a backrub, and looking up to her with a smile. “Come on. Let’s get you two back home for the wake.”

They walk the short distance together to the Auto-Taxi stop and wait for a self-driving car to pick them up. Not long after, they are on the road headed back to the apartment tower.

“You don’t talk about your Family Aeris. I don’t think I’ve heard you mention them before,” Miriam says to break the silence.

“Not much to tell. My parents are still living, but as an active Guardian Force member, I can’t have any contact with them. No brothers, nor sisters, the only child.”

“Is that why you can’t tell you your real name, because of the Guardian Force?”

“Sadly, yes. It’s what we all agreed too upon joining the SpecOp program. With some of the sensitive missions we carry out, Naval Brass doesn’t want our families used as leverage against us.”

“But… you said we’re your family too…” John says looking up in puzzlement. “Do you have to leave us?”

“No,” Aeris replies with confidence. “It’s some complicated, and convoluted policies, but while not on Mission, nor undercover, we’re supposed to socialize. Have you ever noticed that pics and vids that were taken with me in them, have never come out properly? That’s also part of SpecOps ‘package’.”

“I never thought about that,” Miriam stated.

Aeris smiles to them both, “Over the years, you’ve become my family. I still remember the wide-eyed boy in that elevator, and his cautious mother.” They all shared a laugh, as the car approached the building.

The clubhouse was dressed for a somber occasion. Drinks were flowing for adults, some of Saul’s closest shipmates toasted him. Conversations and stories about Saul were told, over and over again. After the wake had come to a close, and the food taken to Miriam and John’s apartment, Aeris met with her just outside their door. “If you need anything let me know.”

“I will Aeris. I’m just happy John has you for a mentor.”

Aeris reaches into his jacket's inner pocket, and pulls out an envelope, and hands it to Miriam. “You’ll find a couple of CredCards in here. An old Spacer tradition, a collection was taken up from Saul’s co-workers. Use the credits for whatever you, and John, need.”

It was Miriam’s turn for Aeris to hold while she cried. He didn’t mind and felt powerless that he couldn’t help the two people he loved most in his life in their grief.

 ~*~

May 5, 2213: “Our next speaker for today’s graduating ceremony is Lt. Commander J.G. John Chandler, your class’ valedictorian.” The Audience broke out in applause, with a few catcalls from John’s friends as he walks up to the podium. Dressed in his Class A Uniform for the Sol Federation Stellar Navy Academy, he stands at attention and looks around at the gathered class, family, and friends.

“Today my fellow officers of the Federation Stellar Navy is our graduation day. After we leave here, we’ll each be headed to duty assignments across the Sol Federation. We each have many people to thank that prepared us for our collective journey, and for me, there are two distinct people. My departed Father, Specialist Saul Chandler of the Stellar Navy, and my other Father, though not officially, Commander Aeris of the Guardian Force. Both were instrumental in my decision to join….” John continues his speech celebrating the class’ triumphs, struggles, and praising individual professors and students. It was a good speech.

Aeris sat watching John, with Miriam, feeling proud how John turned out. He thought back to the many times he helped his adopted family over the years, including when John and Miriam moved in with him when faced with eviction. How he gave Miriam away to her new Husband, and John’s stepdad. How he was proud of John when he was accepted for the Accelerated Officer Program at the Naval Academy. Seems to have a Guardian Force soldier as a mentor, opened a few doors for John, but he had to do double work to prove himself to his instructors and superiors. His remembrance was interrupted when his cybernetic uplink displayed a priority message from Fleet Admiral Toews. Reading it, he turned to look over at Miriam, “Let John know I won’t be able to meet him tonight if you would please. Just got a change of orders, and have got to leave immediately.”

“I will Aeris. Stay safe.”

“I’ll do my best, but I will come home.”

With that, Aeris leaves stealthily out the side door, and to his new assignment.