Rain drizzled from the silver grey clouds as Clyde Donovan sprinted through the pitch black streets, his shaggy brown hair tucked under a ratty wool took. The tattered brown shroud he worn disguised his gender quite nicely, he was practically unrecognizable only close friends and family would be able to tell who he was.
He smiled gingerly as he reached the base of the tree beside the cobblestone wall that encircled the area where he lived. It didn't take long for him to hoist himself up into said tree.
With ease he scrambled up as high as he could. Now it was just a short jump down. He landed on his knees over the wall pants soggy with mud and grass stains. In a flash he was running, diving into the base of a shrub. The rusty fence behind him open swaying in the wind. Clyde crawled through not caring of the mud, his mother would never see them.
Scurrying across the front yard he pulled out a pin that he used as a makeshift lock pick and slipped it into the door. It Opened it with ease. He left his soggy sneakers by the door and hung up his coat silently closing the entrance, hurrying in drenched socks towards the staircase. Perhaps it was out of habit to be silent for him, but he didn't want to try his father's attention. Clyde would rather not risk it; the punishment for sneaking out after dark with severe.
Before he went into the living room he stopped by his room to change into more appropriate attire.
When he made his way into the livingroom he wasn't surprised to see their spear projector turned on, his mother would rarely turn this thing off. He nestled himself into their course beige carpet pulling his knees up into his chest, trying to reclaim his breath.
His mom probably didn't want him to join for dinner, but if she did Clyde had an excuse , looking out of breath.
He sighed when the newscast came on " not another recruitment". He knew the war with Lavadel Was important And people have the right to know what was going on, But didn't anybody want to know about what's happing in Yahaka or the Neubury nebula?
Your son will be expertly trained to protect our planet the draken knights told him in a proud voice. Clyde sighs, yet again hugging his knees to his chest.
If only Clyde had been a common child he would have been one of those sent to fight to keep the planet from crumbling. He didn't know if he was happy for his birthright or just saw it as a curse. But even war was better than this false freedom he had now. No amount of skulking in the dark at night could change the fact that Clyde was trapped by his families demands and expectations.
Clyde sat down to dinner and gently peered at Kevin the family servant one of his only friends , a mecha.
" Is dad that not coming for dinner Kevin", clyde asked.
The purple glow in Kevin's eyes dimmed.
" No master Donovan. master Roger is working.
Roger was always working, Not that Clyde cared he liked being Able to eat without being hassled.
" And mom"?, Clyde asked.
" Madam Marsh is sleeping".
His step mom was always sleeping. The woman was a bit dreary, but she was nice a bit stern but kind at the same time. He was against it at first. But the prospect of a new mother meant a step brother.
Though Stan wasn't here tonight. Probably out drinking, or with the Duchess daughter Wendy. He was grateful for Stan, he would stand up for Clyde when he would cry or when the other kights would make fun of him.
" Thanks Kevin you me leave".
"As you wish master Donovan".
He mindlessly forks potatoes into his face. From the window there was a good view of the star ship yard. Clyde spent a lot of time watching the ships take off. The metallic wings, spinning propellers and flashing lights streaking through the night sky. How he wish he could fly a star ship. The freedom, boundless space, no demanding expectations but him and his crew. The possibility of traveling to distant worlds uncharted galaxies and nebules. He dreamed of visiting those worlds, meeting the people, the cultures.
No that was all a fantasy.
Clyde was destined to stay here On Yardale, never to see their home world ,earth. His father expected him to continue the family legacy, marry into nobility. But Clyde didn't want that, the family business was dreadfully boring, to be an adviser, right hand man to the Empire. He craved the freedom of space not the high class life, he wished he could be a commoner.
" Watching those ships again Clyde"?
He jumped at the familiar dry voice spilling gravy all over his red sweater. Turning his head Clyde tried not to be frightened by his father's imposing image, tall, glasses hiding stern eyes. He stood by the doorway.
" Yeah dad spaceships are beautiful, Clyde insisted petulantly sounding a lot younger then his 14 years of age.
" Rusting piles of metal and outdated electronics. Get them out of your head you're destined for greater things".
Clyde didn't argue he knew better than that.
" You need to know something Clyde, Roger declared. You will be accompanying me to the shipyard in the morning. We will be discussing cutting rations and Alexander Stevens would like you to be present".
Just great Clyde thinks, the only reason Alexander wanted him there was to further insist marrying his daughter Bebe. She was a perfectly nice girl, but the only reason his father wanted him to marry her was because she was a Noble Just like him. Keeping the blood rich and pure. There would be no Common blood in his family.
" Very well then, wear your best suit. I want you to look presentable to Alexander, Roger instructed eyeing his sons soiled sweater and tattered Brown jeans. " I will be submitting the marriage contract, but I can only offer it since you're still a minor".
Clyde thanked the gods he was still too young for marriage, he wasn't tied to Bebe Just yet. Then Roger left the room, Back to his office to do more paperwork no doubt.
On the spear another news report Listing more war recruitments. Clyde turned it up to listen.
Another massacre by the Lavadelian Soldiers, Planet Eceo Devastated 10,000 dead At the Medical Research Center.
He felt sick to his stomach How could these things be happening to Eceo Civilians. Planet Eceo was only one star jump away, what was stopping Lavadel From attacking here next. Everyday Clyde Would see Young kids his own age dawning Starfleet uniforms, Ready to fight Lavadel. His father was living in a fantasy world. He had to go, he had to fight. Not stuck in this aristocratic lifestyle.
He turns off the newscast knocking on his stepmother's door. He Nudges his way inside, a Lamp flickers at the bedside table.
" Sharon", Clyde calls out.
" Come here Clyde", She whispers in a soft voice startling him.
Most of the time Sharon was asleep. Just like her son she was usually depressed.
" How are you feeling Clyde?"
" I'm okay I guess. Dad wants to engage me to Bebe again."
" Oh Roger that man's so stubborn. I'm sure there's a girl out there for you, but Bebe Just isn't that girl" She looks longingly at a picture frame on her nightstand, It showed Sharon as a younger woman Stan by her side, and her late husband as well. Curse this war, it's taken someone dear from all of us.
" You treat me so well Clyde even though I'm a bit stern with you. If only Stan was more like you".
" Stan means well I look up to him he truly is the big brother I never had. And I'm so happy to have meet you, you've given me more structure more responsibility. Thank you for that".
As he was about to exit the room. Sharon calls out to him. " Just remember what I said, don't be pressured to marry. You'll find the right woman one day. You're so young you have your whole life ahead of you".
" Thanks m-nom", Clyde wipes back tears and gives his stepmother a kiss on the cheek".
His father was a difficult man, he wasn't used to people talking back to him. Or people thinking on their own. But maybe he would take her advice It couldn't hurt to talk him.
Clyde stays with her until she falls asleep. He silently runs passed his father's office and up to the attic. He loved the attic , up here he could pretend the rest of the house was empty and nothing else existed.
" Hey Kevin", he found the robot making his bed.
" Can I assist you with anything master Donovan?" Kevin asked in that nerdy way he does.
" Just don't tell Dad I'm up here".
Sure Kevin was program to obey his dad over him but Kevin didn't like the man. The Donovans where one of the few aristocratic families that could afford a mecha. And being an artificial life form kevin wasn't treated well by him. He was just another household appliance. But not to Clyde, Kevin still remains one of his best friends.
" Of course master Donovan".
Today was boring so Clyde and Kevin We're playing Ranja a similar form of entertainment to the earth game chess. It was one of the only games his father approved of. He said he had to keep his wits about him and what better way to do that then to think of strategies. A rustling at the window startled him. It was Stan completely drunk and buzzed out of his mind.
" Stan what are you doing, you look terrible bro. Just look at you, your uniforms a mess; How you even get into the Military Academy.
Stan throws his camo jacket and beret on the floor. What would his mother think of him if she saw him in this state. Stan would usually take care of him. But as of lately he's been going out more and more, coming back in this sorry state.
He goes to sit on the bed next to him.
"Clyde You think I'm sexy right"?
" Did Wendy break up with you again".
He doesn't answer and just Passes out. Poor guy his dads death still haunts him. He tucks him in and whispers in his ear. "Everything will be alright bro we got each other now".
Clyde got up striding to his drawer. He packed a duffel bag with several articles of clothing, some money he had saved up, and a disguise he made.
He looked to Kevin "I have to run away I'm sorry Kevin I wish I could take you with me. Clyde ran a hand over the metal casing of Kevin's brain. Kevin wasn't just a machine he was intricate he had more technology than most star ships, ran on the rare mineral Trydem which was the reason mechas were so rare and expensive.
" You won't tell will you Kevin. I can't stay I won't marrie Bebe, I wanna be my own man. I'm going first thing tomorrow, I don't know where I'll go. I'll Stow away on a star ship. Tell Stan I'm sorry, but I have to go".
" Your secret's safe with me Master Donovan."
Clyde went over to Stan getting teary eyed.
" I'll come back for you one day bro, you too Kevin". With that Clyde let his eyes wander to a hand drawn map on his wall. He was only allowed to keep a map because Roger wanted Clyde to know every bit of land Yadash ruled over. Land that shrunk every passing day. Once upon a time their empire had been vast ruling over many galaxies. Back then there had been many countries ruling vast territories. Each with their own royal family With Yadash at it's center , but now their empire Was one of the few that survived.
Clyde was born before all this happened but in his mind he still could remember some kind of monarchy, before things got tough with the food rations and the war. But things have gotten so much worse since his father tried to seize power of their empire, he succeeded. But to little avail Lavadel Would conquer soon and everyone knew it.
Going over to his window he could see the city from behind tall walls. The Sun had set, setting the city ablaze with glow red and green lights. Bringing life To the twisted Metal buildings. He could see starships Shooting across the skys. Clyde could hardly he would be on one of those ships and his true life would begin, away from all this royalty and aristocratic nonsense. Who knows where he would go. Perhaps the colonies, Or the Janda Nebula, Somewhere far away Where his father would never find him.
Clyde knew life was tough outside the inner walls of the city. Out there was hardly any food for the poor people. They gave all they had when the tax collectors came to claim. And when they couldn't produce. Their payment would be their children. First the youngest , then the eldest. Many tried to have as little children as possible to lessen the sorrow, but no that wasn't a possibility, their children provided for them. It wasn't fair Clyde was exempt from all this Just because he was born a Donovan. At least he was able to rescue Stan from that life, that's one of the only things Clyde appreciated about his father. After all he's the one who put these horrible laws into effect. It was pointless taking what little the people had, soon their empire would fall.
Enough was enough he wasn't going to let this happen anymore ,Clyde spoke to himself eyes steely with determination as he looked to the shipyard.
Just as he was about to turn away a ship took flight into the smoldering black sky , puffing violet cloud of exhaust , disappearing at the speed of light to distant Worlds. The ship yard was massive. It had to be to allow the other star ships to take off without them running into each other. Some of the ships were as big Clyde's house which was one of the biggest houses in Yanova. They were practically flying fortresses as big as cities. He noticed one ship it had the flag of Cranda, that would be a ship as good as any, tomorrow he would be on that ship destined for greater things just like his father said.
" Master Donovan I think it's time for bed".
" Okay Kevin".
He didn't want to disturb Stan So he went downstairs to the guest bedroom,Kevin followed.
" Goodnight Kevin", he said waving his hand the lights cutting to darkness.
" Rest well master Donovan", Kevin uttered as he rolled out of the room. Tomorrow will be the beginning of his new life. He wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.