A high-pitched squeal broke through the trees as Lys tried to escape her brother's grasp.
Max had bounded into her room at daybreak to drag her into the garden for some "weight loss exercise", complaining she ate too much at dinner last night.
Well, she did take a second (and third) helping of that milk pudding that Aunt Meng had made.
"Daddy!" Dodging the giant monkey trying to catch, she dove into her father's arms. "Brother is bullying me!"
"Oh, did he?"
"He called me fat too! And wanted me to exercise!" She nodded emphatically, trying to escape from morning exercises.
Playing along, he pinched her nose. "And who was the one who ate all the dessert last night?"
"I didn't." She shook out of the pinch, her nose turning red at the tip. "It was really yummy."
Straightening his legs, he held her hand and gestured to his son. "Time for breakfast, I'll tell Aunt Meng to prepare some for dinner tonight."
Choosing some blackcurrant jam to spread on her toast, Lys listened to the discussion at the table.
There was some new biotech that her brother Mat had found that would show great promise for developing new communities on devastated planets.
Her parents had hired a tutor for her to make sure she could communicate without the translator chip.
Max's boss would be stationed off-planet for a while and so, he may not be home some nights for the time being.
Her father would be leading the parade for the Emperor's birthday next week.
Her tutor would be coming this afternoon to start on the language lessons.
There was some cultural event her mother was invited to and many well-known celebrities were in attendance. She could collect some autographs if Lys wanted any.
Her father's workplace had a family day event after the parade next week, she was invited to visit and see if she could meet some new friends
Her parents were planning a small party to celebrate her recovery. It would be a small affair, with about a hundred people or so.
Her brothers were debating on the effectiveness of the design of the latest gliders from Moontech.
"Wait... Over a hundred people at a party and it's called small?" She choked on her syrup-drenched pancakes. "And a tutor for language? Today?"
"You okay honey?" Mummy Ng stood up and pet her back. "You should chew your food properly to prevent choking." She took her utensils and cut the pancakes to small, bite-sized pieces.
"The party is only for our close friends and their children. You used to play with them all the time. They watched you grow up and visited you when you were hospitalised. They heard you've woken up and wanted to see how you were doing."
"As the main star of the party, everyone would want to speak with you. And since not everyone uses the translator chip, you'd have trouble communicating with them." Mat pointed out.
"I'll practice with you, whenever I can escape from the office that is," Max grumbled. "That devil wouldn't give me more time off to spend with you..."
"With her or with that new girlfriend of yours?"
"..."
"Stella? Or Stacy? Bianca the trainee? Oh, I forgot there are also the twins Jessica and Joanne" Mat counted off his fingers.
"... Did you have to expose me in front of our sister?"
Mummy Ng sighed and handed her daughter a glass of milk.
"When you are done, we'll set you up for the tutor?"
Lys nodded, drinking the milk.
It was going to be a long day.
The tutor was a smartly dressed young man majoring in the Nibilian Language at the Royal Institute of Learning. Recommended by one of Mummy Ng's business associates, the somewhat pompous young man introduced himself and his qualifications, then started an hour-long lecture on the history of the language and the Empire.
Somewhat put off by his attitude, she fiddled with her tablet while staring out of the window whilst listening to his droning on and on.
It wasn't that the lecture was boring, Lys liked learning new languages and finding out more about this time period that she found herself stuck in. It was just his attitude that made her want to escape down the stairs and try the snacks that Aunt Meng was making.
"Time for some snacks and tea," Aunt Meng, the saviour of boring lectures knocked on the door. "The Madam thought you could use teatime when helping her to learn the language."
"Thank you," the tutor nodded, then turned his attention back to his student, continuing his lecture.
By the time he concluded his lecture, Lys had almost finished the tea and figured out half the language. As a genius polyglot back on earth, she had always been quick picking up new languages.
All of the conversations she has had since the chip had been installed had led to her being conversant in Nibilian. All the lecture did was just making it easier to identify and string the Nibilian words together.
What she needed to do now was just learn how to read and write the language and she could escape this boring tutor for good. Anything else she didn't understand, she could easily search on the net through her comms.
If she could do it fast, she could escape this boring guy for good and play in the garden. She has spotted a dog-like creature earlier during her skirmish with Max. It could be her new partner in crime!
She turned back to her tutor.
"I want to learn how to read and write."
###
"The list of invited guests has been confirmed."
He lifted his eyes from his tablet and focused on the briefing taking place.
"The event will be held in a week. Several of our guys have infiltrated the catering team. We should have no issues in delivering your 'gift'."
"Good, let me know if there's anything new. Dismissed." He returned his attention to the screen, smiling at the sight of the slumbering figure.
"I'd really have to thank your brother for all these extra cameras... It makes it so much easier, to keep my eyes on you..."