Rising Up

CHAPTER ONE: First Encounter

POV: RANAN TETHYS

Most of my days start the same. I wake up, grab something to take a few bites out of, and open the shutters for business. While my shop is open for its regular hours, I'll be in the back working on something special. Something that will change how my world works forever. All eight days of the week, this is my life.

But today is of a special kind, which only occurs once a year.

"Happy birthday!" I exclaim to myself in the mirror. My teeth are less white than last year.

In the corner of my desk lies a photograph of my family. It's been ten years since I last saw or spoke to them. And I know that while today is special, it won't be one of miracles. It doesn't matter that I'm twenty now; they wouldn't care if I was one hundred.

With some clothes on and final checks made, the shutters are now open. I lay a gloved hand over my special project, beautiful as always. In the metal reflection, I see the handsomest young man living in Xenoview...for now, anyway. One day I'll be living it big down south in the Colustian Empire.

Across the streets, others do the same as me. I see Lazarus open first as always, forever seeking the most coins of any of us on this block for his so-called "magic fruits". Karth and Cena open almost immediately after I do, showing off their book collection yet again. It's thanks to them that I know so much about our world of Varuna, but I do wish they'd dust the place more often.

Further down, Ogel and I exchange glances with each other. I wish his motley crew would move to another sector and stop interfering with my business. So what if I'm the only solo engineer in Xenoview? It makes me special, like today is.

"Yo, squirt. Ain't it about time you pack up and move on?"

To my left, Gordon is already looming over me from the edge of my shop. He's one of Ogel's boys, though he acts as if he's the one in charge. That slimy green hair running down his face puts my stomach in a twister. No fighting rules are strict here after all that's happened, and I've already been warned by the local authorities. Still, I can't help flicking a bent screw in his direction.

"Ouch! You're killing me!" Gordon feigns injury, hobbling around on one foot like a jabbit. "Ogel will never take you back now, punk!"

"It's Ranan," I groan. "And if Ogel can't keep you where he can see you, why would I join back up? He clearly has his hands full already."

For as tough as he looks, Gordon can't take it well. "Oh yeah? Well I oughta take some of that burden off of him. Square up, squirt!"

My eyes narrow in annoyance, and a part of me considers finding a means to teach Gordon a good lesson. But then my eyes veneer towards something more important: a "no fighting" sign.

I put that there for myself to help avoid future...problems with the authorities. But it isn't just for me, as tapping it makes the dark brute lower his fist.

Now, he tries a different approach. Turning his vested back towards me, he laughs over his shoulder. His ash gray skin makes him blend in with the cloudy day we're having. "Hah...I don't have to do anything to you. Everyone on this block knows your cash is drier than the Fexel Desert."

"Did anyone ask?"

Gordon sneers but walks away, frustrated that his favourite playmate is uninterested. He and I started off as friends before Ogel cast me out on my own for failing to fall in line with his leadership. Ever since then, Gordon's taken a lot of pleasure in egging me on, though he's not very creative in his methods. He's thankfully never stolen anything.

Ogel gives Gordon a hard smack over his back as he leads him back into their shop. It rises twice as high as mine does, and I know they have an underground living section too. Five people can't all live in one shop without it smelling like a Fexellian musk cat.