The virtual world exploded into existence as a kaleidoscope of clashing colors threatening to overwhelm Tan's mind with too much sensory input. This was not the crude VR of his world, but something so advanced as to seem real - and nauseating to witness. He lifted his hands and flexed the fingers, his body felt too small. He turned his hand over - it was both two-dimensional, and three-dimensional at the same time. He looked up as a young woman, or perhaps a robot woman, and dressed in a superhero costume stepped in front of him and held her hand out. “I am Aya.” Tan flexed the muscles at his shoulders. “What is this, I feel… too small.” “It is best for now that we do not change any of the settings and configurations. You will use Jack’s avatar while you are here.” A futuristic soldier in battle armor that could have easily been straight from any standard video game ran between him and the woman. The soldier obviously thought he was speaking with Jack. “We’re getting slaughtered out there, Commander,” the soldier shouted. “We need you to save the base.” The woman flicked a hand and the soldier ran off firing a laser rifle in every direction. Tan shook his head. “What base?” The woman smiled and took a step back to let an Eroden Battle Drone lumber past in pursuit of the soldier. “Games are an important part of a child’s development. Aeden children naturally enjoy war games.” Tan frowned. “Jack is over 800 million light years from home, and being hunted by the Sherata, he has more important things to do than play games.” “Would you pause his education because he is having trouble in his personal life?” asked the girl. “You’re Jack’s A.I.?” asked Tan. “Yes.” “I don’t think you understand the dire situation Jack is in.” Aya dropped her hand. “Perhaps I don’t. Do you wish to alter his educational goals?” Tan shook his head. “I’m what Jack calls a lesser human, I’m no more than a caveman to those boys. I’m not qualified to make decisions like that.” “Oh, but you are, Mr. Tan. You are the most uniquely qualified person of all to make those decisions. We are so far out on the fringe of civilization that you can equate it to what you would call, the Wild West. This is not the first time an Aeden child has been orphaned and left in the care of a lesser human. We have protocols to assist you in preparing Jack for a healthy and normal life.” Tan flexed his hand again, it felt more normal as he was becoming accustomed to the avatar. Above him an upside-down train was chugging it’s way across the sky. “I think I need to know what those protocols are, and I need to know more about the Aeden.” “You have a surprisingly organized mind for a lesser human,” Mr. Tan. Tan let the barb slide off him, but he was getting tired of being called a lesser human. “I was a Navy Cook on a Carrier before I got out and opened my food stand.” Aya smiled that smile reserved for small children; Tan repressed the urge to roll his eyes in frustration, even the Aeden’s computers were arrogant. “That explains how you are able to be so tolerant of Jack’s aggressive behavior. Would you like to start with a short history of Aeden?” “That would be fine,” Tan replied. He wanted to get this over with, the color scheme was so bright and obnoxious it was starting to give him a headache; it was like being in a room where a child had been given free reign with a box of neon finger paints. Aya made a sweeping motion with her arm. “You will be able to catch the train at the end of the platform.” “The train?” asked Tan, and received another of those infuriating smiles. “Each revolution of the train is 50 minutes, corresponding with the ideal attention-span of an Aeden child of Jack’s age. When the train returns to the platform, you will have the option to disembark, or remain for the next assigned class. Your class assigned seat will be 23B.” Tan looked up for where the train currently was; it had descended to the far horizon. If a full revolution was from the platform to the ‘east’ horizon, across the sky to the ‘west’ horizon, and back to the platform, he had perhaps 15 minutes before the train arrived. “I see, so this is his school, and the train is his classrooms?” “Yes.” “Is this normal, or does he go to a real school on Aeden?” asked Tan. “This is his normal school, however, until his legal status is resolved, he has been barred from attending linked classes with other Aeden children.” Tan’s eyes narrowed. “I want to speak with someone about that.” “That is not possible.” “I’m not asking.” Aya tipped her head and lost the arrogant smile. “I will attempt to make a connection.” “Set it up for when I get back from my train ride, and we will be discussing Jack's class schedule later.” “Yes, Mr. Tan.” Tan was angry as he walked past the flustered A.I. without a further word. The Aeden’s might be an advanced civilization, but now they were going to see what a lesser human did when you messed with his kid. Tan smiled slightly; his kid...at least until he got Jack back to his real parents, and it was time for a little push back.