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November 8th, 2037.


Prower Family residence.


7:30AM.


Although it was the last month of spring on Mobius, it was hotter than usual with homes becoming very humid even with air conditioning on.

This particularly put young Enzo Prower in a rather grumpy mood as he sat lazily on the living room couch, wearing no clothes except for a pair of socks and blue briefs.
Beside him his younger brother Stefan was similarly bored but fully clothed, as usual he was mimicking his brother.


Just then their mother, Giovanna entered the room and stood in front of them. �Come on you two, time to get up.� She said with her hands on her hips.
�It�s too hot and I�m not going to school.� Enzo groaned.
�You silly boy!� Giovanna chuckled. �You�re on break remember?�
Enzo simply turned over and lay down on his belly, complaining of the heat again.
She then shifted her gaze to Stefan who remained upright.
�And what about you Stefan? Are you going to get up?� Giovanna inquired.
�Yes mum.� Stefan replied, and got up and walked to his room to get dressed.
She then turned her attention back to Enzo, who simply looked at her with a bored look.


�You do know your father is assigned to an important trip to the US tonight and won�t be back for a few days right?� Giovanna began.
This got Enzo�s attention! �What??� He answered, suddenly sitting up and raising a surprised eyebrow.
�Yes sweetie, he leaves this evening.� Giovanna explained.
�But he never told me�� Enzo replied.
�That�s because it was a last minute request from his boss, so he packed last night and went to sleep late� His mother answered.
�Oh...okay.� The little fox sighed.
�If you get dressed now,� She smiled as she picked Enzo up and held him over her shoulder �He might have time to spend with you once he�s awake and you�re dressed.� She smiled, picking him up and holding him over her shoulder.

This only annoyed Enzo, who saw this as him being treated younger than he actually is.
�Let me down�� He grumbled.
�Aww, what�s the matter with my special little boy?� She teased as Enzo tried to get out of her grip.
�Nothing,� Enzo grunted, �Put me down!�
�You forgot the almighty magic word.� Giovanna replied snarkily.
�...please?� The little fox sighed and he was then released.

Once he was back on his feet, then turned to face his mother.
�Don�t do that!� He said indignantly.
�Mind your temper Enzo, Don�t get worked up over me just toying with you.� His mother answered sternly.
�I�m sorry..� Enzo sighed.
�Don�t worry about it,� Came the reply. �Now off you go and get dressed.�
As she watched him walk away, she said to herself.
�I do too.� Said a voice.

Giovanna turned around in surprise and saw her daughter, Waratah standing behind her, having overheard her mother talking to herself on the way downstairs.
�Dio mio! Please don�t sneak on me like that Waratah.� Giovanna said, regaining her composure.
�Sorry about that, I thought I was the only one up.� Waratah replied.
�That�s alright, You go off and do as you please, just don�t disturb your father as he�s asleep.� Smiled Giovanna as she watched her walk off.
Meanwhile Enzo and Stefan had by this time gotten dressed, Stefan stayed in his room to read when Enzo came in.
�Hey, let�s go wake up dad!� He called.
�But why now?� Stefan asked, looking up from his book.
�Just for fun, I thought you liked fun?� Enzo replied.
�Hmm...okay." Agreed the blue fox who then stood up.
�Come on!� Enzo said excitedly, leaving Stefan to try and catch up.


Jared meanwhile, was sleeping soundly in the bedroom he and Giovanna shared.
Outside the room Enzo was sneaking around and being as cautious as possible not to prematurely wake his father up.
�This isn�t a good idea...� Stefan protested, having second thoughts about his brother�s plan.
�You�re no fun sometimes.� The yellow fox sighed and then backed up for a running start.
�Don�t do it.� Stefan replied. �He�ll be cross with us��
Enzo simply ignored him, ran up to the bed and pounced on Jared who woke up rather startled.
�Huh?! Wha?� He exclaimed in surprise, looking to see what had woken him.
�Hi dad.� Enzo smiled innocently, kneeling on the blanket.

Jared then turned the lamp on and sighed with relief. �Good morning to you too son.�
�Can we play today?� The little fox asked.
�Play? What do you mean by that?� Jared quizzed, still rather sleepy.
�Yeah, like how we always do on weekends.� Enzo replied.
�Sorry lad, but I�ve been called into duty tonight for an important flight, didn�t your mother tell you?� Jared answered, yawning in between the last few words.
Enzo then frowned and his ears drooped. �Yes�� He replied sadly.
�Hold on a tick.� Jared then replied with pity as he reached under the bed and pulled out a skateboard.
�Here, Have a go at this.� He smiled, handing it to his son.
�A skateboard?� The yellow fox asked.
�Yeah, It�s a nice day outside so go get some sunlight.� Jared smiled as Enzo happily took the skateboard and headed outside, passing Giovanna as he went.
�...I probably should have given him safety gear.� Jared chuckled nervously.
�Don�t worry I made sure Waratah gave him some.� Giovanna replied with a smile.
�Who�s to say he won�t have an accident out there though?� The purple fox asked.
�Honey, relax, you�ve got the flight to get ready for, from what Glenn told you it sounded important.� Giovanna reminded.
�So important that he�s only telling me when I get to the office.� Jared rolled his eyes.
�If you say so Captain prower.� The red fennec chuckled as she left the room and shut the door while Jared got into his pilot�s uniform.


Meanwhile outside, Enzo had gotten used to the skateboard in almost no time at all and was soon showing off to Waratah who was watching.
�Hey sis! Watch this!� He boasted as he did a rail grind, using a fence as a substitute.
�Cool.� Waratah replied, trying to sound interested but also not to offend him.
Enzo however, saw through this and felt determined to impress his sister.
�I can do a lot more than that too!� He called, making his way to the driveway which sat on a slight incline.
From the corner of her eye she glanced over and was immediately alarmed as she quickly figured out what her younger brother was going to do.
�Enzo don�t!� She called back. �That�s dangerous!�
�I�ll be fine!� He replied as she ran over. Enzo then pushed off with his right foot and then he and the skateboard were underway.
�Come back here!� Waratah shouted, but she only got a reply of �Catch me if you can!�

It might have been wise if he had listened because as soon as Enzo was finished teasing he looked forward to see that there was a large rock right in his path.
Too inexperienced to know how to stop and too scared to abandon the board, Enzo shut his eyes and braced himself.
Waratah could only watch as the skateboard collided with the rock and sent Enzo into the air, thankfully he landed reasonably safely as the back of his pants had been caught by a tree branch.
�Enzo! Are you okay little brother?!� Waratah asked, having arrived to survey the scene.


Before either of them could say anything, the sound of fabric ripping was soon heard, Enzo looked back at his snagged pants, then exchanged a glance with Waratah as the material failed and he once again fell but this time another tree branch caught him by the shirt.
�Well you certainly won�t be doing THAT again�� His sister muttered, facepalming slightly.
�Can you go get help? Please??� Enzo asked, feeling rather shaken.
�Don�t like being on display in your undies? No worries I I understand!� Waratah quipped slyly.
�It's not funny�� Grumbled the little fox as he folded his arms while Waratah dashed back up the driveway to get help.
Back inside the house Jared and Giovanna were discussing the morning�s news over coffee.
�Can you believe this? They�ve grounded the MAX fleet AGAIN!� Jared exclaimed, pointing out a news story that particularly bothered him.
Giovanna was about to reply when a rather panicked Waratah came running in calling for them.
�What�s up sweetie?� Giovanna asked, surprised at the sudden arrival.
Waratah didn�t reply for a moment, being unsure of how to break the news but she soon found the words. �Enzo�s had an accident with the skateboard.�
Giovanna and Jared exchanged a look of disbelief.
�Is he alright??� asked Giovanna with a bit of anxiety in her voice.
�Yeah he�s okay, just a bit embarrassed, you�ll find out why once you see him.� The lavender fox answered and pointed down the driveway to the trees.
�I�ll go help him out�� Jared said with a sigh and set off for the trees.
He didn�t have far to walk, as sure enough he came across Enzo, still perched in his tree and with an embarrassed grin on his face.
�I can explain dad�� He shrugged as Jared stopped in front of him with a discontent expression.
�No,� Jared began. �I can see what�s happened, honestly I�m amazed that you managed to get into something as absurd as this.�
He then looked up at the remains of the torn pants still hanging from the upper branch and then back down at Enzo.
�You�re lucky those are fixable mate, otherwise your mother would want a word with you.� The purple fox continued as he climbed up to the top branch to get the remains down.
�But you never told me how to stop the skateboard!� Enzo retorted.
�And YOU were never told that you could play on the driveway, this is how accidents like this happen.� Jared replied firmly before adding. �You�re not in trouble but just please be more careful.�
�Yes dad�� Enzo sighed as he was finally freed from the tree and put back on his feet while his father retrieved the remains of his pants.
�Now then, off you go.� Jared said, pointing in the direction of the house.
Enzo blinked and then realised in horror what his father was implying.
�No way!� He protested. �Not like this!�
�Oh settle down.� Jared laughed. �I�m only kidding..�
�I didn�t think it was funny�� Muttered the yellow fox, folding his arms.
�Now then,� Continued his father as he led the way. �Don�t get into more trouble like that for today.�
�No promises.� Enzo replied with a cheeky smile as he followed into the house and went into his room.



Sometime later, Enzo had changed into some overalls and was drawing at the small desk in his room when he overheard a conversation Jared was having on a laptop at the kitchen table.
�So you�re telling me we have to evacuate some of our colleagues from a place that�s slowly becoming a warzone Glenn?� The purple fox asked, sounding like he was in disbelief.
�We have no choice at this point I�m afraid, we�ve got to get them out of there before it's too late, Maintenance has already given you the all clear to use that Boeing 777-9 that just came out of a C check.� The Koala explained.
�What about duty times? That�s a long flight non stop for just me and Lachlan so we�ll need an augment crew with us.� Jared ventured, knowing all too well about the seriousness of the situation.
�I�ve got that covered already, You�ll be going the long way around to the US with stopovers in Learmonth where the augment crew is waiting, then onto Auckland, Tahiti, a tech stop in Honolulu and then finally onto San Antonio.� Glenn replied.
�So that�s why you said it�d be a few days�� Jared said thoughtfully.
�Yes,� The koala continued. �I asked you and Lachlan because you two are my best pilots and are known heroes.�
�Say no more Glenn, I�ll do what I can to get our people to safety. I�ll be over by tonight� Jared replied as he exchanged a farewell with his boss and closed the video call as Giovanna came in with two cups of tea."
She then saw that he was noticeably uneasy and then naturally asked him if something was wrong."
�Riots have broken out in Texas and our staff based in San Antonio are in danger so we have to bring them home.� Jared explained.
�It shouldn�t take a few days then?� Giovanna asked, raising an eyebrow as she often listened to Jared explain the journey length of his previous flights.
�Glenn says we�re going the long way around for safety reasons.� He continued.
�You said the 777-9 fleet is fitted with anti missile systems didn�t you? What�s there to worry about?� The red fennec asked again.
�I suppose I�m too old for danger like this.� Jared admitted jokingly. �But in all seriousness I have no idea what to expect so I�m naturally uneasy.�
�Glenn cares for your safety like unlike most bosses out there, I know this because he promised that to me on your first day.� Giovanna smiled reassuringly to which Jared just replied with a nod and a sigh."
�Have some tea dear, It�ll calm your nerves.� She continued, sitting down next to him.
Meanwhile Enzo had been listening by hiding behind the corner of the kitchen doorway.
Giovanna�s ears then flickered and she looked in the direction of the doorway.
�Enzo, What are you up to? Come out of there now.� She ordered.
Not wanting to get into any more trouble, Enzo did what he was told and emerged from the corner.
�I...just wanted to know what dad�s talking about.� He explained nervously.
�I was just having a chat with my boss over my trip son, there�s nothing to worry about.� Jared replied after taking a drink of his tea.
�Oh, okay.� Enzo replied, as his nervousness subsided.
�It�s going to be a stressful time for me right now, so please DON�T cause anymore mischief with me.� Jared added firmly.
�I won�t dad.� Enzo replied.
�Promise?� His father asked.
�I promise, and that�s the truth.� Nodded Enzo.
�Good boy, And that applies to Stefan too, Waratah knows to stay out of trouble.� Jared finished and went outside for some fresh air.
�Off you go back to what you were doing.� Giovanna smiled as Enzo went back to his room to continue drawing.



A few minutes later Enzo had finished his sketch and he then opened his drawer to get his colored pencils but to his surprise they weren�t there.
Stefan was sitting on the side of the top bunk of the bed that they shared, Enzo looked up at him and asked if he had seen the pencils.
�Why would I know where they are?� Stefan replied, confused.
Maybe you took them? Because I found my toy cars in your drawer!� Enzo answered, rather annoyed.
�I didn�t take them!� Stefan protested, now also rather annoyed himself.
�Hey!� Called Waratah who was walking past the door. �Stop arguing you two.�
�You�re not the boss of me�� Enzo grumbled.
�Your pencils are probably in that bag over there.� Waratah replied and motioned towards a large bag sitting at the foot of Jared and Giovanna�s bed.
She then left to check the mailbox out on the front yard just as Lachlan was pulling up in a Mobian Airlines company car.
Enzo just rolled his eyes at his brother, got up and walked over to the bag to examine it.
Meanwhile Jared had gotten into an argument with a neighbor in the backyard and was furiously walking back instead.
At the same moment, Enzo attempted to pick up the large bag, not knowing that it was actually Jared�s flight bag.
As Enzo tried to pull it across the floor, a rather irritated Jared came into the hallway and spotted what his son was doing.
�ENZO!!� He bellowed as he stopped walking.
Enzo looked up and immediately fell on his bottom, frozen in fright.
�Just what do you think you�re doing?!� Jared bellowed in an angry voice.




To be continued.