The Promeri Research Corps' Headquarters,
Orralis,
Planet Proximus, Hexonis System.
The aerial view of the Promeri capital city of Orralis was always amazing with its beautiful landscapes and tall majestic buildings, but this was even better. Kion enjoyed the view in a transport shuttle or a Military Carrier, but never in the air.
He was test-driving the newly invented mechanical wings modified from the prototype captured from the Wospi race in planet ABYLA-WOSPI.
When the news had gone out that the 'JEDAS-03', as it was named, was invented, volunteers had been required to test-drive the machine. When no one showed up one week later, Kion had volunteered to fly the mechanical wings for the first time.
He had been nervous at first, when the wings were strapped onto his shoulders and the harnesses were set, but now, in the air at supersonic speed, the only thing he felt was exhilaration.
"How are you feeling, Kion?" Ser Beros, the Head Fink on the project asked him through the microcom.
"Excited," And he was.
"The systems are holding up well as expected and the progress is excellent. We are ready for the landing sequence whenever you are," The Fink said excited.
"Can I hover around for a while?" He pleaded. He could hear the other Finks in the background deliberating if it was safe or not.
"Okay. But don't fly too long. We don't want to run into a risk of fuel shortage," Beros said.
"My gratitude, Ser Beros," He remarked and inhaled the fresh crisp air of Proximus.
Kicking up his arms, he soared higher into the sky, halting when his gauntlet alerted him of his current altitude. The JEDAS-03 was built for flights between ground level and the mid-Tasusphere which spammed to about fifteen kilometres from sea level. If he flew higher than that, the wings may start to malfunction, unable to resist the gravitational pull at that height. The wings also had brain sensors attached to it, enabling the user to give flight commands directly, without any effects to the nervous system.
At his current altitude of six kilometres, the mega city of Orralis seemed like a cluster of tiny buildings fit for bugs. From his vantage position, he could also sight other neighboring mega-cities and was even tempted to fly to them. The feeling of freedom was fresh and new to him, and while it made him nervous, he yearned for more. He wanted to be in control, free and independent, like now.
All his life, Kion had always longer got independence and a chance to prove that he could be self-reliant. His mother died while birthing him and his father, a trooper, was killed in action on a distant planet when he was just four years of age. He was then placed in the care of his surviving uncle, Ser Meldon Kravas, a Fink. His life then took a drastic turn.
Following his father's footsteps, he had joined the Promeri Military Academy at age twelve, and after five strenuous years, he was to make a choice and join one of the Promeri Forces, after being one of the top students. He longed to join the Promeri Frontier Force, as his father had done.
The Frontier Force was a subdivision of the Promeri Military with primary tasks of fighting off-planet wars and taking part in conflicts the Promeri race felt necessary to intervene, in order to ensure peace in the known worlds. Every trooper who wanted to tour planets and have stories of adventures for the future generations, while doing his or her duty chose the Frontier Force.
Kion, however, saw his plans of joining the prestigious 'Skyraiders', foiled by his uncle who pulled some strings and made him join the Promeri SpaceGuard or the Neomeris instead.
This Force dealt mainly with escorting and protecting military and merchant cargo, important personalities or artifacts when travelling off-planet. They also had the responsibility of guarding the planet and its space borders from threats of invasion or raids. He had gone on two trips and even though both were eventful and brief, the job bored him. He wanted more, something daring and adventurous, with all the thrills of danger. He wanted to join the Frontier Force.
"Kion, I think you should be on your way down, now" Beros told him.
"Affirmative," He replied and began diving at a speed that even transport shuttles would be ashamed of. The technology was modified and created for military purposes, especially espionage and intel-gathering missions, but Kion imagined the boost it would have on transportation if the wings were mass produced for civilians.
He dived past the a transport shuttle and enjoyed the way the passengers were awed at the 'flying youngster' they witnessed. Yes, he was still young as the Promeri and other Hexoni races believed adulthood was attained at the age of twenty-one. He had completed and reached his eighteenth name day a few moons back.
He slowed down the diving speed when the grounds of the Research Corps came into view. Recalling the landing sequence as he was instructed, he landed gracefully with a flourish. The few spectators who were on hand to witness the first use of the gadget clapped enthusiastically. The inventing team of Finks set about to undo the harnesses and began to scan his body for tests, despite his protests.
"Your internal systems and vitals are okay," One of them said after running some tests.
"As I said. I just flew into the skies and said hello to the doofus Grumm." He grinned at the Fink. The only thing that changed in him was his will. The Fink quietly gathered his kits and hurried away, bewildered. He obviously thought that flying high into the Tasusphere at superspeed levels was bound to cause some sort of insanity or illness.
"Kion, I can't thank you enough for your tremendous work in making this a success," Ser Beros approached him, tab in hand.
"Ser Beros, I should be thanking you for making our Hexoni dreams a reality. I'm only happy that I was able to help. What happens next?"
"Well, for now, there'll be more tests and more maintenance run-ins. We are also trying to see if we can get a better power source than Genetium to prevent unnecessary refills during missions and possible leakages that could lead to explosions. After that, we will officially unveil the wings and present them to the Military. You, my lad, will play a special part in that." Beros tapped his shoulder before turning his attention back to the tab.
"Me? How?" He inquired wryly.
"Think about this; the unveiling of a masterpiece that enables flight itself, the Cerebus, his council, the chieftains of the great and lesser houses, all prominent military figureheads and commanders, in fact, the whole Promeri race converging to witness the gadget and the lad who will be flying it. Believe me, Kion, your tale will be spoken of, for decades. Even infants not yet born will grow up to hear the tale of 'Kion, the first Hexoni to fly'" Ser Beros said dramatically, waving his right hand at an invisible letterhead.
The thought didn't really appeal to Kion, exciting as it sounded. Yes, he wanted fame, but not in this manner. He wanted to write his own tale himself, not just featuring in the history of others. Besides, he had met the Cerebus in person during his second trip as a Neomerisi, when his unit escorted the Promeri ruler to planet Mimir.
"When will this be?" He had to ask.
"Oh, as soon as the modifications are finished. Don't worry, lad, no one will steal your spot. Only you will fly the JEDAS-03," Ser Beros assured him, his black long hair drifting in response to the wind.
"Don't be too sure, Ser. If only the Fates allows it." Kion called out to the Fink, who was walking away.
"Yes, if the Fates allows it."
The Promeri and the rest of the Hexoni races were not religious or superstitious. They didn't believe in a god or any mythical being but they believed in Fates and attributed them as higher powers that allowed happenings in the multiverse. When he was younger, Kion had been taught that the Fates were gentle, kind and just, rewarding those who did good with good occurrences and dealt calamities to wrong doers. He had visualised female beings then, but after the terrible events in his life and the lives of innocent people he knew, he thought of them as selfish males who were not interested in the Hexoni race, if they did exist. Now, he didn't care anymore. They were a myth to him.