The next morning they ate in the breakfast room on the west side of the house, and watched the sun rise through patchy clouds in a blazing display of every imaginable shade of pink and fire orange.
Despite the wonders of his new house, the scenery, and Anny, Keelic felt homesick and ate very little. His father got up from the table and returned with a light-duty environmental suit, a belt with various attachments, and a small pack.
"This is the equipment of an explorer."
Keelic bolted upright in his chair.
"This is a tracking transmitter," his father said, pointing to a box on the belt. "This proximity stunner is linked to this scanner. Here is a communicator, a far-scanner, a magnetic compass, and a knife. The pack has a water filter, space for food, three collecting containers, an aid kit, and a world map. This is a Class III environmental suit, same as mine. It will keep you dry and comfortable, and has a six-hour air supply if we want to explore a pond. You must take very good care of this equipment. It is high quality, and not cheap. This compass is from Earth, and was my great-great-great-grandfather’s."
Keelic grabbed the belt and pack, put them on, and started fiddling with the belt systems.
"Now, Keelic, listen. Listen."
He returned his attention to his father.
"The stunner is omnidirectional, and can discriminate between organic body structures. The scanner’s range is one hundred meters on open ground. Stun range of twenty. Less in the forest. It is programmed not to stun Alliance member life forms, but I want you to leave it off and never turn it on when you are near people, understand?"
Keelic nodded.
"You will not need it when we are out together, because I will have my collecting stunner, but if we are ever separated, you must turn it on. Now, I want you to read the instructions for every piece, and when I think you are fit, we will go for a hike."
Even though most of the equipment was fully automatic, it took all day for Keelic to learn how to operate all of it well enough to satisfy his father. His father decided to wait, against Keelic’s wishes, until the next day for their hike.