The path ahead

“Congratulations! You’ve been accepted into the Academy of Handlers.” Read the message on Oliver’s GoMindfull display.

“I’ve made it,” Oliver uttered.

“What?” Nina asked from the other side of the hoverjet’s cabin.

“Into the academy?” Mike asked raising his eyebrows.

Oliver nodded in a trance.

“No way, Oliver! Congratulations!” Nina exclaimed.

They unbuckled their seatbelts and ran to congratulate Oliver.

“Kids! Get back to your seats,” Ordered the pilot. “We’re about to land!”

“I can’t believe it guys!” Oliver overwhemedly said.

“Now Nina and I are going to the Robotic Design Academy,” Mike excitedly announced. “And you are going to the Handler Academy!”

“Which means that, hopefully, one day you’ll be smashing zkwichs with one of our designs!” Nina said, crossing her fingers.

“Now all my babies are on the way to achieving their dreams,” Quenzie added as a tear rolled down his display.

“Quenzie?!” Mike exclaimed as the robot rolled out of its hiding spot. “I thought we left you at Columbus Station?”

“I was so sad that you disappeared after the winner’s ceremony and didn’t come to say goodbye at the hoverport,” Oliver said, hugging the robot.

“I’m so sorry. I had a meeting with my supervisor to ask for a few days off,” Quenzie apologized. “I wanted it to be a surprise, I’m so curious about visiting the Amelia.”

“We’ll give you a VIP tour,” Nina replied.

The jolt of the hoverjet’s landing knocked them out of their festive feet. The cold floor reminded Oliver’s body that he was still aching. As they sat down, the hoverjet’s ramp opened and a festive chant entered the cabin.

“Athena! Athena! Athena!” They quickly stood up, fixed their uniforms, and got down from the hoverjet to a landing deck packed by the chanting crowd. “Athena! Athena! Athena!”

They raised their hands to salute the Athena’s applauding crew as an assistant robot guided them inside the vessel to the backstage of a scenario mounted in the middle of the main square.

“Everybody! Stand straight to receive Captain Voss!” The master of ceremonies ordered as the public muted and obeyed.

“We align with the contract, My captain!” All the attendees shouted in unison, raising a pen with their right hand.

“You may rest,” Captain Voss announced, standing imponent with his slender but athletic figure framed by the straight edges of his gray uniform contrasting with his deep glowing skin. “As you may know, today we’re rejoicing in the Amelia.”

The attendees shouted in approval.

Voss relaxed his stance and giggled a little before raising his hand to ask for silence. He might appear relaxed at that moment but he was well-known for his authority to command the vessel.

“Yes, we’re incredibly happy today. Because, five days ago, we sent three young crew members to this contest we had never had the chance to win before. These three kids went to Columbus Station and fought against the best of the best of the Grid” Captain Voss ceremoniously announced. “. And today they brought victory to the Amelia. Please give a big acclaim to the winners of the Ninth Annual Robo-contest of the Grid! Michael Gonzalez, Nina Hsu, and Oliver Greenwood!”

The team crossed the backstage curtain and entered the scenario to be received by the warm applause and cheers of the crew. Captain Voss had to call for silence once again.

“Present your honorings,” Ordered the master of ceremonies.

“I Michael Gonzalez…

“I Nina Hsu…

“I Oliver Greenwood…

“present this as a symbol of my commitment to the Athena, hoping it’ll bring honor to the vessel we call home so that its engines can keep growling throughout the endless ocean.” They claimed as each one of them extended their hands to place their golden medal inside a crystal box Captain Voss held.

“You’ve been honored,” Captain Voss and the crew replied as a tiny golden star appeared on Oliver’s GoMindfull display A description announced, “From now on, you’re an honorable member of the Amelia’s crew.”

They waved goodbye and followed Captain Voss as the public’s warm applause tailed them backstage.

“You did a great job, kids,” Captain Voss said. “Don’t let it go to waste.”

He stretched their hands and disappeared in the passageways of the Amelia.

“Oli!” Alin shouted as she ran to hug her brother.

Oliver hugged her back as if he hadn’t seen her in a month. It relieved him to be finally back to keeping his promise.

“You gave a great fight Oliver,” Mr. Hsu complimented as he stretched Oliver’s hand.

The rest of the family members arrived at the room. They stood chatting for a few minutes before everyone parted ways back to their daily chores.

“Who’s ready for a tour?” Nina asked.

“Yay!” Quenzie exclaimed. “Me!”

“And you Toughver,” Mike added as they walked to the exit. “Are going to. First, pay a visit to the doctor. And second, you’re going home to rest. Understood?”

Oliver wanted to disagree but agreed.

…

Once Alin returned from school, Oliver narrated the whole story of the contest’s journey. Alin stopped him now and then to ask for details, to comment about how epic that moment was in the transmission, or to make the most exaggerated reactions. Oliver wanted to skip the details about his beating but he couldn’t hide his bruises, swollen knee, and medicines from his sister.

“I can’t believe you knocked Emil Bushida out in front of the Grid’s screens,” Alin said, shaking her head in disapproval as she tore apart her Emil Bushida poster.

Oliver noticed a tear rolling down Alin’s face as she trashed the poster’s pieces. H quickly changed the topic, “Guess what else happened!”

“What?” Alin asked raising her eyebrows as Aria’s smile mirrored on hers, making Oliver flinch for an instant

“I’ve been accepted into the Handler Academy!” Oliver announced.

“I knew it! I knew it!” Alin claimed as she jumped over the cabin. “They would've made the worst mistake if they rejected you after your superb performance at the contest. I never doubted it for a second!”

“Close your eyes!” Oliver ordered.

“Why? I’m celebrating!” Alin complained.

“Just closed them!” He insisted, rushing to his luggage. “And extend your hands!”

Alin accepted and followed Oliver’s directions. Oliver put the piece of muffin in her hands and said, “You can open them now.”

“What is this?” Alin asked, looking intrigued at the piece of bread. “And why does it smell so good?”

“That’s a chocolate muffin, sis, or at least half of it,” Oliver explained, smirking.

“Chocolate!” Alin exclaimed. “There’s no way! I mean i learned about it at school. But Jessica says that only actionists can afford it! Where did you get it?”

“Quenzie gave it to me and I saved half for you, being honest I don’t know where Quenzie got it from,” Oliver said. “It tastes like the ones mom used to bake for our birthdays”

“But I never spent a birthday with mom…” Alin uttered.

“Well, for my birthdays but she would have baked them for yours too, no doubt about that,” Oliver replied. “Now, don’t think about keeping it, it’ll go bad soon.”

Alin carefully nibbled the muffin once, twice.

“Wow!” She said shaking her head.

Oliver observed how Alin nibbled her muffin for the next thirty minutes. It had been worth taking care of it all the way back home.

After a few minutes, the effects of the muffin started showing as Alin started jumping all over the cabin, so Oliver decided that it would be nice to go out for a walk. A thousand meters later, Alin’s energy stabilized.

"Hey Oli," Alin called.

"Yes, sis," He replied.

“Did mom’s muffins really taste like the one you gave me?” Alin asked, looking at Oliver with a pair of eyes he just couldn’t lie to.

“Just a little,” Oliver said, a pinch gesture with his fingers. Alin laughed, looked away, and rubbed her left eye with her sleeve.

“But I promise you that when I become a professional handler I’ll get the ingredients to bake you ones like mom’s,” Oliver decidedly said.

“And I promise you that when I become a doctor, I’ll help you purchase the ingredients!” Alin added. Both laughed knowing that despite having two of the best-paid jobs on the Grid, affording those ingredients would be hard.

“Hey, Oliver!” Quenzie said as it rolled to meet with the siblings.

“Hey, Quenzie. Enjoying the Amelia?” Oliver asked.

“Oh, yes! It's a lovely vessel,” Quenzie responded. “What’s that?”

“What?” Oliver asked back as he and Alin turned towards the sea to find the mysterious thing but after a while squinting they gave up. There was nothing but the ocean.

“Quenzie?” Oliver's echoing call resonated in the lonely promenade.

“What’s this?” Alin asked as she munched on something. “Mmm, these are so good.”

Oliver looked down to find a box of french fries scattered on the deck.

“Stop eating right now Alin,” Oliver ordered in a low tone.

“Look, Oliver, it’s so pretty,” Oliver looked to find Alin holding a pearl necklace with a pendant.

“Put your hands where I can see them!” A man shouted behind them.

“Obey,” Oliver told Alin.