| Episode: | Season 1, Episode 1 – Chaos! At The Gala |
| Location: | Convention Center Gala Hall |
| Written By: | Howard Morgan Serena Morgan Addison Morgan Elizabeth Grayson |
| Date: | 08/18/2026 |
| Word Count: | 1,385 |
Addison took a deep breath as she stared at the carpet in front of her, the eleven-year-old was rather nervous about this. There were Ascension Global officials and journalists all over the place, perhaps she should have insisted on hanging out with Riley, though she knew what Riley was busy doing today.
Addison wondered how that was going, she looked at her parents for a moment as they stepped right alongside her. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.” She mumbled under her breath.
Howard placed a hand on his young daughter’s shoulder, “You’ll do great,” He insisted. “You don’t have to answer any questions. Besides, I doubt anyone will ask you anything.” Howard tried his best to reassure his daughter who stood between him and Serena. “Isn’t that right Serena?”
Serena nodded, “Yep.” She answered. The young woman knew her husband was probably wrong in his assumptions. But, if it comforted their daughter, Serena wouldn’t hesitate to help with that. Though she’d protested bringing Addison to this event at all. These things were always so filled with fluff, in fact even Serena had thought about not going.
She continued to look at her husband, then at her daughter. She eventually decided to kneel down next to the young girl, “Just try your best. Besides, there will be others here at about the same age as you, maybe you’ll make some new friends?”
“Right,” Addison answered and swallowed.
Howard took the girl by the hand and it was their turn to start walking toward the entrance to the gala. There was an order of operations for this thing, the corporate officials always entered the gala hall first, every time this event happened. There were rows of recorders and a variety of journalists. Some worked for Ascension Global, others worked for smaller media outlets, and some were even independent.
Elizabeth Grayson had already watched her husband walking by, and she’d gotten pulled into that interview. After the interviewing was over she would enter the gala hall and sit with her husband, but for now she had a job to do. Her work would be published, most likely by Ascension since they always paid her the most.
She saw the Morgan’s coming closer and looked at her assignment, it was to interview Howard about future plans and all of that. As they got into range she flagged them down, there was a system after all. The journalists knew their assignments, but the person or people being interviewed didn’t necessarily know who would ask questions.
Howard stopped, he recognized Elizabeth though he’d never really spoken to her. Or, to her husband for that matter. He tended to avoid any dealings with Ascension Global since the two corporations had their own interests.
Addison tugged at her father, but not to keep moving, it was because he’d stopped so suddenly the eleven-year-old’s reaction was a bit slower. She looked up at the young woman who was about to start asking questions. Please don’t ask me questions, please don’t as me questions. She repeatedly thought in the back of her head.
“Well hello there Howard and Serena Morgan.” Elizabeth began then she bent at the waist to the left a little bit, her hair falling to the side. “And little Miss Morgan,” She said to young Addison. Then Elizabeth stood up all the way. “Have a moment?”
Serena looked at her husband, then she looked at Elizabeth who seemed more interested in asking Howard questions. Serena breathed a sigh of relief, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all? Maybe she was wrong, and the interviewers were going to let the younger children be?
Howard nodded, “Yep, of course… Of course.” He answered Elizabeth.
“Excellent,” Elizabeth said softly. She really only had one question for each of them, and she wanted to start with Howard first. Elizabeth didn’t like putting children on the spot, mostly because she was a mother herself, but sometimes she had to do things she wasn’t entirely fond of. Thankfully, Elizabeth knew how to get around that.
She would start with Addison, mostly because it got it out of the way. Elizabeth could tell the young girl was rather nervous standing there. “So I only have one question for each of you,” She pointed out. “And, I’ll start with the youngest of the Morgan family trio.”
Serena hesitated, okay maybe she was wrong? She looked at the woman’s face and tried to think, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. She looked at her daughter remembering that she’d at least warned Addison that she didn’t have to answer questions.
“O-okay,” Addison said. She tried to relax, though there was a surge of discomfort at the reality that her father had been so wrong. That didn’t show much on her face, as she tried to come to terms with the fact that this woman had started with her. It was only one question. She reminded herself gently.
Elizabeth had gone this route because she could tell there were some nerves for the child, “Are you proud of your Dad? Running Zeno Mining can’t be the easiest thing ever.” Elizabeth said softly, gently allowing her motherly voice to come forth.
Addison almost breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother had mentioned that sometimes there would be simple questions at this event. Luckily for her that was exactly the question. “Yeah of course I’m proud of Daddy. He works hard, Mommy works hard too.” She said with a sudden twinkle in her eye and a soft grin playing on her face.
Serena relaxed almost immediately, the woman seemingly understood. The question wasn’t difficult for her daughter to answer. Maybe the little bit of coaching she’d done had made a bit of a difference. Though she was really concerned earlier that Howard had tried to console their daughter by saying she wouldn’t get asked anything.
Elizabeth nodded, “I would be too,” She said. Then her expression softened a little bit as she turned to ask her question that was directed at Serena. “Serena Morgan,” Elizabeth started as a means to say okay it’s your turn now. “As a mother myself I understand how fine of a line it is to balance work life with time for my children. How do you manage that?”
Serena was right, her prediction about this young woman she’d barely known was a mother. It was sort of obvious with not only the question, but the tone. That’s why Elizabeth had asked such an easy question. She felt herself bursting a little bit as the relaxation settled in. “I balance it by listening to my daughter and her spoken, and unspoken, needs.” Serena answered. “If I feel like I’ve not given her time then I take a break from work to do so.”
Elizabeth nodded, “I understand that completely.” She said then she looked at Howard ready to ask him her question. “All right Mister Morgan,” She began. “In the next four years or so what direction do you anticipate Zeno Mining Corporation taking?”
Howard had been hopeful that his daughter wouldn’t get asked anything, but even if he was wrong he’d swelled with pride with his daughter’s answer. Elizabeth really seemed to know what she was doing after all. The question had been anticipated, and it wasn’t like this woman was trying to trap any of them in some sort of controversy.
Howard knew that happened on the station from time to time. It was part of the job, and the political nature of these things. Maybe it was because his daughter was standing right there and this woman was a mother? He didn’t think too much on that question, and focused on what he’d been asked.
“We’re looking at the possibility of expansion on the surface of the third planet. We’ve also been conducting research on how to mine the surface of the second planet.” Howard answered her confidently.
Elizabeth heard his answers and happily accepted each of them. “Thank you all for your time,” She said as she switched off the recorder behind her. She’d analyze and write the article later like she always did. “Enjoy the gala,” She told them and waved as they walked away. That was her interview, now she could find her husband, and that was what she went off to do.