This is the first chapter of a new story idea I have had. It may take time between uploads and won't be very regular. Please enjoy and let me know any thoughts.
Earth 2394
Life had been one of twists and turns for 14 year old Benjamin Parker, son of Peter and Mary Jane Parker. After his father had created one of the biggest scientific research firms in the world, he'd accumulated a significant amount of money which he wanted to use to help give his family the life he'd never had.
Peter Parker had grown up with his mum and dad, before they had tragically been killed in an aircraft accident. Then he'd gone to live with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, before once again tragedy struck, with the latter getting murdered in a robbery gone wrong. From then on, life had been a struggle, with small jobs here and there, Peter raised enough funds to complete his studies and then with the backing of an old friend, he was able to start Parker Industries. Life then, improved beyond his wildest dreams. Peter married the love of his life and had two amazing children, May and Benjamin. He was even able to provide for Aunt May to live in a comfortable apartment up until her death.
Now, Benjamin found himself abroad, sitting on a chair in the office of a very stern looking man, tuning out the drone of adults talking about arrangements for his education in a British boarding school.
Peter wanted to give his son the best education possible and Benjamin had had some problems with bullies at his previous educational setting. There was also another quite compelling reason to send his son overseas. Superheroes.
There had been a rise in superpowers beings terrorising New York and Peter had found himself allied to some of them, in order to make their equipment and supply them with the necessary resources. This had led to his company being targeted and even his home. (Contrary to popular belief dear reader, Peter Parker on Earth 2394 is not Spider-Man. In fact, this universe has yet to gain its own Spider hero.) What about May you ask? Well she is several years older than her brother and had now left school and was able to make the decisions for herself. She was now working as a private investigator, a partner to the famed Jessica Jones and her agency.
Back in the UK, Benjamin was struggling to stay awake for all of the meeting. They'd only flown in the previous night and he hadn't had much sleep because of the time zone. He let out a large yawn.
"Benji dear, don't yawn so loudly," Mary Jane Parker said, leaning over to her son, patting him on the knee.
"Sorry Mum, I'm just so tired."
"We'll soon work that out of you," the headmaster Dr Hunter stated, with a stern tone.
Benjamin wanted to stand up and say something he'd later regret, but he managed to stick is bottom to the seat and clamp his jaw shut. First impressions counted and this wasn't the time to muck things up.
"Now of course Benjamin will be exposed to the highest degree of British education and will have the opportunity to mix with a diverse set of students from across the world. We have the Sultan of Brunei's son, the son of the President of Zambia and of course Prince Arthur the son of the Prince of Wales, 2nd in line to the throne."
This last name drew an impressed gasp from Mary Jane and an approving nod from Peter. Benjamin on the other hand, wasn't really listening. He was too busy looking out of the window and down at the sports fields. There he could see some of the boys out playing a game which looked an awful lot like 'football' but he knew was actually rugby.
More words were spoken between the adults and soon Benjamin found himself shaking the hand of the headmaster and walking out of the room, accompanied by his parents. The reality of the situation began to slowly hit him and he turned to face them, as soon as the headmaster was out of sight and hearing distance.
"Can't I just stay at home? You must have some tech that would keep us safe at home," he pleaded with his dad.
"It would mean you wouldn't be able to leave the house at all, you'll be penned in. Here there are people who don't really know us and this country has less super-powered 'll make friends quickly, I'm sure."
Now dear reader, Peter Parker has sometimes been a little naive in any universe he's in and having never been to a British school, let alone a private one, he wasn't really clued into the goings on between the boys and those higher up the pupil hierarchy. Benjamin gulped slightly as his pleas fell on deaf ears.
I don't want you to think that because Benjamin was being dumped in a foreign boarding school that his parents didn't love him. Of course they do. This was a massive act of love and one that both of them wished they could have avoided, but it was not to be.
There was a cough behind the Parker family and they turned to see the owner of the noise. It was a small lady, about 5ft 4in in height, a kindly face, long hair tied up in a tight bun, some grey streaks painted in amongst the brunette strands. She wore a long pleated tartan skirt, a white blouse, topped off with a buttoned, green cardigan. A pair of spectacles hung from her neck, attached to a small gold chain.
"Hello there," she said softly. "Am I to have the pleasure of speaking to Benjamin and his parents?"
"That's right," Peter said, moving forward and offering out his hand.
The lady carefully took hold of it and shook it warmly.
"Wonderful, my name is Mrs Briggs and I'm the deputy headmistress her at Thornley Park. Dr Hunter has asked that I show you to Matron so we can get all of Benjamin's things together and up to his dorm room. If you would follow me please."
The group moved off deeper into the school building, on their way to Matron.
Thornley Park Independent School was located to west of London, in the English countryside. It sat in the middle of a 1200 acre site. Some of the buildings were over 200 years old, while others were slightly more modern. At the centre of the campus stood the chapel, with it's spire reaching 60 metres into the air. More modern buildings include the science laboratories and the sports hall, with all its gym facilities.
Around 800 pupils attend the school, right from the ages of 13 to 18 years. Like most independent schools these days, the student body was mixed, boys and girls, each with their own boarding and day houses. It would be one of those which Benjamin would be living in during his time there.
The Parkers and Mrs Briggs walked down a corridor decorated with many portraits, which the deputy headmistress informed them were of previous headmasters over the school's history. They emerged out into then open, beneath a covered walkway, one side with open sections to the grounds, the other side, the stone wall of the building. To Benjamin it felt like walking through an ancient castle.
They arrived outside a large, heavy, painted glossy black, oak door with the words 'MATRON' affixed in gold lettering to the surface. Mrs Briggs knocked and pushed it open, the old hinges squeaking and groaning a little as they moved open. The group stepped inside an office which mixed the modern with the old.
Walls were mainly plastered and painted white, with accents around the windows and doors left in the original stone. The ceiling was vaulted, showing a mixed yellow and red bricked pattern, with a simple chandelier hanging from the central nodule. A large carved wooden desk sat facing the entrance door and was decorated with the usual paperwork, stationery and materials associated with a school. A nice blue iMac sat on the desk, and the screen was currently being stared at by a creased and confused looking face.
"Matron?" Mrs Briggs queried the Matron's attention.
Benjamin could see from a nameplate on the desk, that Matron's name was Mrs A. Darby.
"Ahem," Mrs Briggs coughed lightly to try and attract Matron's attention.
Matron shot to her feet and looked apologetically over to the.
"Sorry about that deputy headmistress. I was just trying to sort my new computer out. It seems I've been having some issues with it," she motioned towards the iMac.
"I can have a look at that for you," Benjamin said walking behind the desk.
"Well thank you young man. How can I help you?" Matron turned back to Mrs Briggs.
"This is Mr and Mrs Parker and their son Benjamin, who will be joining us here. We were wondering if we could get the necessary processes in place to enter him into the dormitories. I believe he's in Rowntree house."
"Ah of course!" Matron cried out, turning to her desk and rifled through the many pieces of paper on there. "I was expecting you a little later, so hadn't got ready. Never mind, we can get things sorted."
"I've sorted the computer for you. It was just needing security settings to be updated and permissions given to the various apps and drivers. Should all be working now. You might want to change your password though, it was a little too easy to guess," Benjamin said, standing up and looking over at the adults.
"Well thank you young man. I know who I need to speak to about tech issues. Truth be told passwords have never been my strong point, but I'll look into it. Right, let's get you all sorted."
Mrs Briggs left them to it and soon Benjamin's arms were laden with a pile of bedding, pyjamas and reading material about the school's traditions. He bid his parents goodbye, as Matron led him off to Rowntree House, one of the boy's boarding houses. He'd be joining the other first year students, though they'd all started several months before.
After clambering up some stairs and trotting along what felt like miles of corridors, the pair arrived at Rowntree House. The building was a later extension to the main school and was accessed through a carved dark oak door, emblazoned in gold lettering with the name of the house on it.
"Right, your house master is Mr Gregory and he'll be there to offer any assistance you might need. I'll come and check in on you later. In you go and Mr Gregory'll be in there waiting. See you later."
Benjamin liked Matron already, she was very happy and bubbly, if a little scatterbrained. She marched off down the corridor, back the way they had come. If Benjamin's understanding about British boarding schools was going to be challenged, then that was a good one. He was always under the impression that Matrons were strict and stern. Not this one it seemed.
He moved forward and managed to turn the doorknob and enter into the foyer of Rowntree House. Sure enough, waiting there behind a small desk, was a man who Benjamin presumed was Mr Gregory.
"You must be Mr Parker," Mr Gregory said, moving forward.
He was a thin, lean man, in about his early forties. He had thinning hair with a few grey streaks running down the sides. Wireframe glasses perched on his face and a neatly pressed tweed suit adorned his body.
"Yes sir," Benjamin replied.
"Ah, an American. That'll be interesting. Come with me, I'll show you up to your room. No one is there currently, the boys are still in class. It'll give you an opportunity to settle in before they get back. Your luggage has been brought up already, you'll need to make your bed and begin to pack your items away in the cupboard provided."
The two of them proceeded up a grand wooden staircase and into another corridor which looked like it came from some medieval time, carpeted in thick red carpet and decorated with portraits and various other castle-like ornaments. Periodically down the corridor, were more big oak doors and finally Mr Gregory stopped outside one. It said 'Room 12' on the door.
"Here we are. You'll be sharing with three other boys, your bed is at the end, by the window. I'll see you later Mr Parker, for our evening house meeting. Welcome to Thornley Park."
Mr Gregory turned and walked away, leaving Benjamin to awkwardly open the door and let himself in. Inside the room, it was a lot more modern. Four beds were arranged around the space, each with a cupboard at the foot and a desk at the head. Each bed was neatly made and a few personalisations had been made around each space, some posters, photos and nick-knacks.
At the far end, Benjamin could see his unmade bed and around the cupboard, were his suitcases. He moved over and dumped the pile down on the mattress. After a moment of staring around, he set to making his bed and unpacking the cases. He managed to squeeze everything into a place and even hide the cases under the bed. Benjamin had just finished, when the dorm door opened.