“Cmon Biff, I want faster, I want harder, let’s go!” Hagan yelled at Biff.

  A buzzer sounded and lights appeared on the hand eye coordination trainer. Biff, a young nineteen-year-old Yorgan man, punched each cushioned pad as soon they lit up but Biff was growing exhausted. This was now the tenth drill in a row with only ten second breaks in between each drill. Biff’s Father, Biff Ription Sr., also known as just “Senior” had paid for the legendary Galactic Fighting League trainer Hagan to get him ready for the Academy of Contractor Certification and according to him, this was how the pros did it. He was slowing down with each drill but wasn't going to give up because the alternative meant he’d probably get a beating later after Hagan left.

  The buzzer sounded signaling the end of the drill. His contact count dropped by two from the last drill. Biff dropped to a knee to catch his breath when Senior walked in. Hagan immediately walked over to him to give him an update on Biff’s training. Senior was wearing his traditional business suit that was tailored perfectly to show his large physique. Biff couldn't hear what they were saying but his father made eye contact with him as he let out a deep sigh.

  Biff could always tell what kind of mood his father was in based on two metrics, how far his frown stretched down his face, and how deep his sigh was when he received any kind of news or update. Based on the expansion of his chest and his frown not reaching more than half way down its capability it turned out that Senior was only mildly disappointed. Maybe he would skip a beating tonight.

  Senior said something to Hagan that Biff couldn't hear and then exited the training room. Hagan walked over with a proud look which gave Biff more hope that he was actually doing good.

  “Alright Biff. Time for a short break before the next drill. Take a drink, practice your breathing.”

  “Yes Sir.” Biff replied shortly, letting out a very brief exhalation hoping it wouldn't be perceived as a sigh of relief. Senior didn’t like it when he showed any level of exhaustion.

  Biff stood up and walked over to a bench with dark leather cushioning on the top. Biff looked around at the family library turned training room for Biff to get him ready for school. Going to the ACC was a huge deal for most of the populous because after graduation it almost guaranteed employment and fame for the top students. Biff already had those things though since he had been working for Senior for a few years trying to learn the family business of imports and exports with the Leonid Empire. Dealing with the Pride, as they called themselves, meant not just being business smart, but also capable of defending yourself.

  Senior had started out small doing food deliveries back and forth between the Union and the Pride. After a couple of years his small delivery company attained preferred courier status between some big companies on both sides. This allowed him to bid for bigger contracts which led to a significant increase in cash flow. Somewhere along the way Senior’s biggest disappointment was born. Biff.

  Biff could never do anything right in his father’s eyes. When he started doing deliveries for the company, if he didn't arrive exactly on time, he was punished. Senior had started the abuse when Biff turned about six years old and it still happened today. Biff had a glimmer of hope though as he was turning twenty years old in a week and was now eligible to go to contractor school.

  Biff’s Mother, Jan, walked into the library’s second level and called down to Biff. She was the sweetest woman in the galaxy. How her and his father ended up together Biff would never know. It was the universe’s greatest joke that the meanest man in the galaxy landed such an angel.

  “How’s my strong boy?” Jan said.

  Biff looked up with weary eyes. He’d been training for six hours already and still had a few more to go.

  “I’m good Mom.”

  “Good Sweety, your father says Hagan is the best so listen to whatever he says and you’ll be the best in your class.”

  “I will Mom.”

  “Good boy.” Jan said as she left the room.

  Hagan re-entered the library ready to get training started again.

  “Alright Biff, awesome job on that last drill. Most pros fall within plus two to minus four so you're right where you need to be.”

  “How did my father take the news?”

  “News?” Hagan asked, confused.

  “That I wasn't the best you’ve seen.”

  “He didn't really say anything except to just keep pushing you.”

  “Then by all means, push away Sir.” Biff said sarcastically as he stood up ready to start the next drill Hagan had planned.

  ***

  Dee, a twenty-seven year old Firan woman, was walking down the alley back to her shanty house after a long day at the food processing plant for “Ripton Ships.". She was carrying her work bag full of her work uniform, bread, and freshly shucked corn that was thrown away due to it not meeting correct standards. It never got old to her that people turned down bread that had a slightly weird shape, or corn that was a little too white or not yellow enough. It was risky, as she could get fired for stealing the food, but she had made a small racket with the disposal team so she could fill her work bag with food.

  As she walked down the alley, she could see the whites of little children’s eyes follow her as she passed by. Some of them slowly got up from the boxes they slept in and followed after her, some of them were lucky to have tattered clothes to cover them, others did not. Dee felt guilty that she didn’t work in a clothing plant, but she figured bringing home food was better than clothes, so she worked hard at her job so she could feed the kids.

  Dee reached her house where she turned around to see a small flock of kids who had all for some reason or another been abandoned by those who were supposed to love them most. Just like she was. At least she wasn't right rejected like some of these kids. Her parents died when she was around twelve so she was forced to grow up fast that day and the days after.

  “Well well what do we have here? A bunch of beggars I think!” She shouted playfully.

  “No!” The kids adoringly replied.

  “What have you all been up to today then? Causing trouble I hope!”

  “No!” The kids replied again, some of them laughing now.

  “Only bad boys and girls who work hard and steal from some rich pricks get to eat don't you know.” She knelt down to the kids eye level and took a serious tone. “No one is looking out for you. One day I'm going to disappear just like everyone else. You have to know how to survive.”

  “Maybe today I'll help out a little bit, what do you think?”

  The kids cheered as Dee opened her bag to reveal several loaves of bread and numerous ears of uncooked corn.

  “Please Dee, do you have any spare food?” An older boy said with quiet desperation as he held his little sister close to him.

  He was about her age when her parents died and was sent to live with her Uncle. She ran away a few years later when she was finally old enough to legally get a job on most planets. This boy was a few years off from that still, most of these kids were.

  “I have some, more than yesterday actually!” She lied.

  The kids shouted with joy as Dee broke up the loaves of bread and passed them and the corn around until every kid had some of both. The crowd of kids was getting bigger every couple of months. Dee knew there was going to be a point where she wouldn't be able to smuggle enough food out for all them. Dee sat in front of her door watching the kids fill their bellies as she filled her own, wondering how they would survive if she managed to pull off her grand plan.

  Dee walked into her shanty and closed the makeshift door pressing her back to it before sliding down to the floor. She’d lived a hard life so far, one of the hardest. Abandoned, abused in some of the most horrific ways, destitute, somehow caring for the homeless children around her. The Union had a dark side that no one ever really saw or paid attention to. Their laws could only do so much, but planetary governments still had their sovereignty and some chose to exercise that in ways that caused horrible outcomes.

  Dee wanted to change things, but she knew the life of a politician wasn't for her so the best she felt she could do was to save one kid at a time. So that's what she did, she kept some kids alive another day, but she wanted to do more. So she turned to the only place she could in order to get her big shot.

  Her Uncle was a horrid creature of a man. There was a time when he was a contractor though, and that was her window. He was the only person she knew that had a close enough connection to her that would even consider sponsoring her for the academy. Walking into his apartment brought back a flood of emotions. Pure hatred filled her chest as she laid eyes on him for the first time in almost a decade.

  “Look, I'll make this short because I don't want to be here. I’ll make you a deal.” Dee started abruptly. “If I do good enough to get an offer in the draft, I'll give you half. You know that won't be less than hundreds of thousands of credits.”

  “Yea, but you're good for nothing, and you’ve already shown me you’re a traitor, so why would I trust you? You’re gonna have to… show me. Show me you mean it. You know… a little payment up front.” Dee’s Uncle said with a disgustingly foul smile.

  “I won't do anything for you. That should have been clear when I escaped your hell years ago. I could end you here and now. I wouldn't even feel sad either. And honestly, I'd hope they catch me and lock me up cause I'm sure those living standards would be better than you or I both have it now.” Dee said, snarling, getting up, turning to leave.

  “Wait.” Her Uncle said. “Since my leg...”

  Dee looked down at the lower half of her Uncle’s left leg that was missing.

  “I can't get decent work, I'm going to lose this apartment after my disability runs out.”

  “Good, you deserve it.” Dee said.

  “Now listen here! You said it yourself, you need me and I need you. So let's make a deal.”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  "I'm listening."

  “I’ll sponsor you. But I want seventy-five percent of your offer.”

  “Seventy five!” Dee shouted angrily.

  “That’s not all. I also want rent covered, just enough for a place like this. I'm not fancy.”

  “No.”

  “No? Then no sponsorship, that’s my offer.”

  “No, I won't be tied to you for the rest of my life. One hundred percent of my offer. Nothing else after. Even if it’s a hundred thousand, that's more than enough to get you a new leg and back to work. If it’s more, then it's more.”

  Dee’s Uncle thought it over. No matter what, if Dee got an offer at the draft fair he would get paid a few thousand. Enough for a chair that could get him working, let alone a leg. If she succeeded then even better.

  “Deal.” Dee’s Uncle said with a smile, holding out his hand to shake.

  “Let me know when I’m in, the deadline for admissions is the end of the week. If you don't do it, I'll find something else and this will be the last you ever see me.” Dee turned and walked out of the dingy apartment and slammed the door to her Uncle’s house of horrors.

  ***

  Jax, a twenty-one year old Raccoonan man, was tinkering away at a robot in his workshop which doubled as his room when a knock came to the door.

  “Come in!” Jax said without looking to see who it was.

  “There’s my guy, how are you doing Jax?” Jax’s Uncle Hix said.

  Jax turned around surprised to see his Uncle Hix. Technically Hix wasn't a member of the family but Jax’s father and Hix had been friends since childhood. He was also a member of the board of his dad’s company.

  “Uncle Hix, what’re you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, I just didn't know you were coming by today. Isn't there some board retreat you need to be at?” Jax joked before turning around in his desk chair to continue working on his project.

  “Haha, very funny. Well there is actually, but I'm here for you of course, come to see what you’re up to.”

  “Working on my ideas on a better servant bot. I know there are tons on the market but I wanted one that’s smaller without compromising capability.”

  "I'm sure there would be a niche market for that, especially amongst us Raccoonans. Are you going to pitch it to your Dad?”

  “It's not fully baked yet, you know how he is about prototypes. Maybe I'll launch it on my own, who knows.”

  “That’ll surely ruffle your parents' feathers. Are you looking for an investor?” Hix laughed off.

  “C’mon now Uncle, my allowance would be more than enough to seed my own venture.”

  “That it would kid… It must be nice being on the list of the richest children in the galaxy.”

  “Don’t act like Dad hasn't set you up too. And it is nice, I won't lie. I’m literally working on a robot prototype in my personal workshop with a practically unlimited supply.” Jax gestured to his whole room showing off all of his stuff.

  “Hey now, I’m not looking for a fight. I'm actually here in secret.”

  “Secret? My mom doesn't even know you're here? How did you get past the sentry?”

  Hix laughed, knowing exactly how Jax’s Mother was a fierce protector of her children, even the ones that are full adults. “She’s busy with all your younger siblings. The guards didn't give me any trouble since I'm always here anyway.”

  “So why are you here?”

  “Well, the deadline for the ACC is the end of this week. I’m wondering if you changed your mind about going?” Hix asked, flashing a sly smile knowing what he was up to.

  Jax spun around in his desk chair, much more animated than before.

  “Oh no no Uncle. Do you remember the last time you brought this up to them? They freaked out and I got grounded for a week.”

  “Do I remember when my best friends in the galaxy grounded their oldest child, a twenty-one year old adult by the way, for even bringing up doing something outside of what their family has done for generations? I certainly do."

  “Well then you’d also know that I finally decided to go to engineering school. If I can't do anything else, I might as well do something.”

  “I was sad to hear that news.” Uncle Hix frowned.

  “Sad?” Jax asked.

  “Sad kid. Would you be an amazing engineer? Of course. Would you make incredible products that would make you and your family even more filthy rich than they already are? Certainly, look at your desk. One of the finest looking robots and it's not even on the market.”

  Jax swiveled his chair around to examine his two foot tall robot laying before him. It was pretty cool. Every company was pushing bigger and more complex robotics that were so expensive. This little thing would be a back to basics. Openly available parts, simple operating system, small, cheap to manufacture. He could sweep the low to midrange robotics market in a year and a half. Sooner with the right marketing.

  “You’ll see your brilliance across store shelves and selling out on every online retailer for the rest of your life.” Uncle Hix paused with his hands in the air and his back turned to Jax like he was putting on some great presentation.

  “Or…” He continued.

  “We sign you up for the ACC. TODAY. We go together, right now, right this second. You come live in my apartment on the Hub until it's time for school. We can tell your parents you're doing an internship in my division. Hell, we will make it the real deal, I’ll get you an employee ID and everything. But instead of working we will watch arena fights, contractor documentaries and talk about how we can make better gear, keeping the good guys safe and well equipped.”

  “You can just sign me up online, we don't have to go anywhere you know." Jax added.

  “You’re missing the point!” Hix yelled. He caught his breath and collected himself before continuing.

  “You could be the next Iggy Stone, Jax. You would surpass him. They will do documentaries about your genius. About how your solutions will save people, will help people. You always said you didn't want to work for your Dad because you would never see if what you're doing was ever making a difference for someone. Lets go do something where you can.” Hix said with a final plea.

  Jax looked at his Uncle with hope in his eyes. His speech got to him and was fully considering abandoning the easy life for something his dad thought was beneath him. The company motto at Stock Industries was improving life wherever possible. But his Dad never once talked about how people’s lives were changing with the products the company produced. Just the numbers. Units sold, revenue, profit margin, taxes.

  “Ok.”

  “Ok?!” Hix asked with a shout.

  “Ok.” Jax said with a shrug and a big smile.

  “OK!” Hix screamed.

  “Everything alright in there?” Jax’s Mother called from the living room.

  “Yea Mama! Everything’s great.” Jax said, letting the excitement rush through his blood.

  ***

  Lindy, a twenty-eight year old Maran woman, laid on her chaise lounge in her bikini on the patio of her winter beach home on planet Hirondant. Lindy sipped on her fruit smoothie while she read a book and a small Lizzan woman rubbed her feet.

  “Oh Lindy dear. Are you… Oh there you are, I knew I'd find my favorite niece here. Looking as lovely as ever.” A male voice called from within the house.

  “Oh Hi Uncle Harry!” Lindy said with her normal jubilance as she greeted her Uncle. “Come to join the duty shirking club?”

  “When have you ever known Uncle Harry to keep to his public schedule dear?” He said as he took off his linen suit coat and shirt letting his immaculate physique bask in the orange sun of Hirondant.

  “About the same as me I guess. It was fun when I was younger, but now I see it for what it is. Just propaganda for Uncle Henry.”

  Harry gasped sarcastically. “My lady you must address his majesty with more respect!”

  “The would-be ruler you mean? Aunt Hildy gives him too much of a leash." Lindy scoffed.

  Harry snorted and spit out the first sip of a smoothie an attendant just barely handed him.

  “My my, someone is salty today.”

  “Uncle, do you ever think about your contractor days?”

  “Every day my girl."

  “Why did you quit?”

  “You know this child. Sister dearest needed more help at home getting us out of our troubled past. Little did she know that I would probably be more trouble than good.” Harry laughed.

  Lindy laughed too, but then the laughs turned into a frown.

  “You know Uncle, you could be a bit less of a player, it's not very respectful to women, especially since we finally got the whole planet being known for, well…”

  “A pleasurable place for both men and women, yes I know sweet niece. And contrary to popular belief, I really am trying to find the right one to spend the rest of my life with, just as I know you are my dear.”

  “Yea, but I'm good on my own too.”

  “Yes you are, you independent goddess.”

  Lindy smiled. It was easy for Uncle Harry to brighten up her day. They were known as the misfits of the royal family so they bonded over that fact. Lindy used to be the poster child for the royals of Mara before the Queen bioengineered her last couple pregnancies to be girls instead of boys. On Mara the royals choose their successors and for a long time everyone believed Lindy would be next in line for the throne. When the princesses were born and Lindy was left out of public view, it was clear the Queen had made her choice.

  “Uncle, what if I don't want to be a royal anymore?”

  “Emancipation is not unheard of. But you’ll be cutoff, left to your own devices. Won't be able to come back here for sure.”

  The small Lizzan woman finished Lindy’s massage and packed her things up to leave.

  “Incredible work today Cloppa, thank you." Lindy said, holding her link out to pay the masseuse.

  “Thank you Miss Lindy.” Cloppa said with a smile and a polite curtsey.

  “I want to do something, I want to get my hands dirty." Lindy said, turning back to her Uncle.

  “Ah yes I’ve always found some of the maid girls to be some of the most sincere and kind women I've had the pleasure of dating. You could try one of the farm hands, maybe one of the factory workers. Oh I hear the coal miners are a rare breed.”

  “You idiot, no I meant like, work, for myself.”

  “Work dear? We don't work, we come up with the ideas and hire people to do the work.”

  “How can you say that, you were literally a contractor?”

  “I was.”

  “And you loved it, you tell me all the time, including today."

  “I did.”

  “Then why did you quit? For real Uncle.”

  Harry hesitated, not sure how to answer. Harry avoided hard conversations, it's why he never let friendships or relationships last more than a month. He didn't like facing what he was.

  “Because…” He started.

  “Because why!” Lindy interrupted.

  “Because I saw the worst that the galaxy had to offer..”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Have you ever walked the streets here? Have you ever left the billionaire’s compound here? Have you ever seen where Cloppa, your masseuse, lives?”

  Lindy frowned, sinking back into her plush lounge chair. “No.”

  “I have. I’ve toured the family’s plants, I toured our outreach programs and projects. It's awful what people do to each other, what we do to people Lindy.”

  “We?”

  “We, the family. We cause people to starve, to go without, so we can have this.” He said, gesturing to the gorgeous log cabin nestled into a jungle cliff that was one of Lindy’s four personal residences.

  “I don't see you complaining Uncle, what are you doing about it?” Lindy said, trying to shield herself from the shame that was easily cast towards her.

  “I’ll have you know I'm the poorest in the family. But since I was one of the King’s boys, I literally get money thrown at me. It’s written into the law. I’m a paid propagandist. I give it all away. Mostly. I do keep some, enough for life to be interesting, to enjoy some pleasures. A birthright, you may call it, to live carefree.” He said, throwing his hands in the air laying back into the lounge chair.

  “I toured a food plant here today, a joint venture with Ripton. I saw a Firan girl your age walk out with a bag of food, some was tucked into her coat. God she was gorgeous too. Gorgeous women like that should have men worshipping them, men like me. Anyway, it was just bread and corn. She wore a tattered coat in the dead of summer to help hide the food she was carrying. She took it from the waste bin, where we throw food away, perfectly good food but it just doesn't look right for some reason.”

  “That’s sad.” Lindy said softly.

  “That’s mild, girl. Go be a contractor and you’ll see some real messed up shit." Harry said with anger seething through his lips.

  “Maybe I should.”

  “Should what dear?”

  “Be a contractor like you! Go see the worlds, help people.”

  Harry laughed like she told a great joke. His laughter died when he saw the seriousness on her face.

  “C’mon Lindy, I’m the only royal to have ever become a contractor, your parents would never, The Queen would never…”

  "I'm twenty eight, unmarried, not even dating anyone, and no kids. If not now, when. And screw my parents, screw the Queen. They just want me to wear the fashionables of the day, go to ribbon cuttings, use me as a bargaining chip in their political games. No… I'm doing this, and you're going to help me.”