Jackson’s eyes didn’t waver. “So… what was it really like? The world, back in the Stone Age?”Jack leaned back into the couch, rubbing his thumb along the rim of his coffee mug as if arranging his thoughts. “Different in ways that are hard to picture. No cities, no roads, no ships like this one. Most of the planet was wilderness—forests, plains, deserts, ice. The air was cleaner, skies darker at night. You could see the Milky Way stretching clear across the heavens.”“That actually sounds… amazing,” Lena murmured from her perch on the armrest.“It was beautiful,” Jack said, “but it was dangerous. Predators everywhere, weather that could kill you in hours, and no medicine beyond herbs and skill passed down through generations.”Sarah’s voice drifted in from the doorway. She stepped inside, hair pulled back, still in her warm ship-robe. “So what did people do all day?”Jack smiled faintly. “Survive. Hunt, gather food, make tools, repair shelters, care for children. Social life revolved

Jackson leaned forward again, ignoring the groans from Ryan and Lena.“So… about dragons,” he began, “you told me the Chinese see them as water symbols. But what about other countries in Asia? Do they have their own dragon stories?”Jack’s mouth curved into the faintest smile. “Yes. And each is different. China is still my favorite, though—because that’s where the symbol truly took root. The earliest dragon myths we know, some carved into jade thousands of years ago, come from there. But dragons ripple across the entire region—Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia… even the Philippines.”Matilda tilted her head. “Do their dragons look the same?”Jack shook his head. “Not exactly. In Japan, the ryū is also tied to water, but they often have three claws instead of five. Vietnam’s dragons—called rồng—are tied to the rain that feeds rice fields. Thai and Lao dragons, called nāga, are more like giant serpents that guard rivers and temples.”Sarah rested her chin on her hand, watching hi

The soft, rhythmic pop-pop of the ball echoed through the DragonJet’s rec room, bouncing sharp and clean off the polished table tennis surface. Jackson darted to his left, swiping his paddle at the ball with dramatic flair.“And… match point!” he announced, sending the ball whizzing toward Jack’s side.Jack barely moved. With a flick of his wrist, the ball curved back in a perfect arc and smacked Jackson’s corner.Jackson froze. “No way. That was impossible.”Jack’s grin was small but merciless. “Physics disagrees.”“You’ve been practicing,” Jackson accused.“I invented half the stabilizer system for this table,” Jack replied, walking around to retrieve the ball. “I understand its bounce better than anyone alive.”Jackson groaned. “You’re basically cheating.”Jack tossed him the ball. “I’m teaching. Big difference.”Meanwhile, in the ship’s kitchen module, Lena and Matilda were elbow-deep in food prep, while Sarah and Emily worked near the induction cooktops. The warm scent of sizzlin

Jack finally set the basketball aside, wiping a sheen of sweat from his forehead.“Dinner before the food turns to ice,” he said, clapping Jackson on the shoulder.Jackson grinned but didn’t protest. “Fine. But only because I’m starving.”They walked out of the court together, Lena and Matilda falling in behind them, still giggling about the “baby giraffe” comment. The faint, savory aroma in the air grew stronger with each step. By the time they reached the dining room, the table was already laid out in a glorious spread — steaming pizza with bubbling cheese, glazed barbecue ribs, bowls of golden fried chicken, trays of roasted pork drizzled with sauce, and a large dish of creamy vanilla pudding at the center.Emily set down a final basket of warm bread. “Perfect timing. It’s still hot.”Jack’s eyes softened at the sight. “Looks like you two outdid yourselves again.”“Sunday dinner,” Sarah said, taking her seat. “Just because Earth is far behind us doesn’t mean we can’t keep tradition