The Milk Run Teaser Part 1

Yesterday, I told you about my theoretical wrap-up of the Rome and Rei saga. I had already decided I was moving on with the "next generation" of characters so I wrote this little teaser long before I actually started writing the novel itself. In a way, it kind of painted me into a corner but it was a very large corner. I had a glimmer of an idea about The Milk Run so this generic teaser was not too restrictive. I broke it into two pieces. Here is Part 1:

Year 3476 AD (1395 PR)
(17 years after the end of Rome's Evolution)

     21-year-old Aason Bierak stood with his arms folded across his broad chest, scowling while his parents fussed over his younger sister. He was anxious to get started and to him the prolonged goodbyes seemed interminable.
     “You listen to your brother,” Aason’s mother, Rome said to his sister, Lupe. “He’s in charge. You do what he says.”
     “What about OMCOM?” Lupe asked as if she didn’t know.
     “The livetar we are sending along is just a subset of our OMCOM’s core. He’s there for a system upgrade only,” Lupe’s father, Rei, interjected. “He can advise you but he’s not in charge of you.”
     “What about Planet OMCOM?”
     “Same thing. Aason is in charge. Nobody else.”
     “I get it,” Lupe said. “OK. Goodbye, Mother,” she said and she hugged her mother tightly. At five foot six, she felt like she towered over her mother, having inherited some of her father’s height. But even though she was only sixteen and a half, with her dark hair and glowing eyes, she already looked like a clone of Rome, just taller.
     “I will miss you,” Rome said. “Hurry back.”
     “Sure,” replied Lupe. She stepped to her left and hugged her father. “I love you both,” she said then she turned and skipped away, heading for the cargo ramp leading up to the all-black starship sitting on the landing strip.
     “Aason, you watch over her,” Rome said. “She is still a baby.”
     “Of course, Mom,” Aason said. “There’s nothing to worry about. Dad told me this is a milk run.”
     “What is a milk run?” Rome asked, looking over at her husband.
     “He told me it’s a quick trip just to grab something at the store.”
     “In that case, he is wrong. There is no such thing as a milk run in space,” Rome said, looking back at her son. “You know we would be going with you if we could.”
     “I know, Mom,” Aason said. “But Grandmea needs you more, right now. Grandbeo has to get better.”
     Rome opened her arms and Aason allowed her to hug him tight. “You are so grown up!” she exclaimed. Aason didn’t even bother to blush. He gave his father a manly hug and twirled around toward the starship awaiting him. As Aason reached the top of the ramp, before he entered the cargo section, he turned and looked back at his parents one more time. His father had his long arms draped over his mother, holding her gently.