The trip back to Section 3 passed in a tired blur.
By the time the Section 1 Cruiser slipped back through the Celestial Warp-Gate and docked at the Imperial City Spaceport, it was well past midnight. His mother recounted her highlights of the festival while his father nodded along, suppressing a yawn.
Robert and Freddie, however, sat in complete silence.
Every time Robert closed his eyes, he saw the black shadow leaving the marble floor. He could still feel the cold on his wrist and hear the awful hiss when it burned against his skin.
When they reached the main transit hub to go their separate ways, Freddie stayed for a moment. He looked paler than usual under the lights of the terminal.
"You going to be okay?" Robert asked quietly, making sure his parents were out of earshot.
Freddie swallowed hard and offered a weak nod. "Yeah. My dad is probably asleep anyway. Or still at the Ranger headquarters. I'll just slip in through the side door." He hesitated, glancing down at Robert's wrist. "Rob… whatever happened tonight… we don't talk about it. To anyone."
"Agreed," Robert said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Fred."
When Robert arrived home, he collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day replayed in his mind.
The exhaustion of the day tugged at him. His eyes became heavy, his body became loose, and before he knew it, he was drifting off to sleep.
The dream came without warning. One moment, he was in his room; the next, he stood in a vast, shadowy space, the air thick with fog. The ground beneath him was cold and unyielding, and the silence pressed against his ears like a weight. "Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing into the void. "Is anyone there?"
No response.
He started walking, his footsteps muffled by the fog. The darkness seemed to stretch on forever, but then—a light. It was faint at first, a flicker in the distance, but it grew brighter as he approached. At its center stood a man, his features obscured by the glow. His calm voice cut through the silence.
"Robert," the man said, "what happened to our people… it wasn't your fault. You carry no shame for the past."
Robert froze, his heart pounding. "Who are you?" he demanded. "What are you talking about?"
"Help him, you will understand when it's right." "Help who? I don't understand."
The man didn't answer. The light grew blinding, and Robert threw up an arm to shield his eyes. Waking up on the floor of his room, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. The dream clung to him like a second skin, its meaning just out of reach. "What was that?" Robert wondered as he tried to catch his breath. "It…. It was all a dream." Robert walked to the restroom, still agitated. He splashed his face with warm water, hoping to calm his nerves.
Staring at himself in the mirror, water dripping from his face, with multiples though filling his head, "Help him?"
The next morning, the academy felt almost too normal.
Students crowded the hallways, talking about the upcoming makeup Placement exam, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Robert stood by his locker, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't slept at all. He'd spent the night thinking about the dream he had.
"Hey," Freddie said, walking up and slumping against the locker next to him. His textbook hovered sluggishly behind him.
"Did you run into your dad?" Robert asked immediately.
"No, I did not," Freddie sighed in relief. "He was already gone by the time I woke up." leaning closer. "Have you figured anything out? About… Last night?"
"No," Robert muttered. "I tried searching the phrase on my personal datapad last night, but nothing popped up."
Freddie's eyes went wide. "Do you think this all might just be a prank?"
"If it is, then it's a very impressive prank," Robert said, slamming his locker shut. "I'll try again when I get home."
"Come on," Freddie said, checking his Nexband. "We're going to be late for our first block."
They merged into the bustling stream of students, navigating the crowded corridors toward the east wing. To get to their class, they had to pass by the advanced computer lab. Usually, the heavy sliding doors to the lab remained sealed until the second block, requiring a senior-level biometric scan to access the deep-archive terminals inside.
But as Robert and Freddie walked past, the motion sensor didn't just stay dark. It flared a sudden, bright green.
With a soft mechanical hiss, the heavy doors slid wide open.
Robert stopped in his tracks, nearly causing another student to bump into him. He looked at the open doorway, then at Freddie. Neither of them had been close enough to trigger the sensor, and nobody else was trying to get in.
"Okay, that's weird," Freddie muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Robert didn't answer. He stepped out of the hallway traffic and peered into the dimly lit lab. The room was mostly dark, save for the soft blue glow of a single holographic terminal in the far back corner.
Someone was sitting there.
Robert and Freddie slowly walked into the lab, the doors sliding shut behind them and cutting off the noise of the hallway. As they approached the back corner, Robert could see the person's fingers flying across the holographic keyboard at a blinding speed. Massive streams of code and restricted architectural schematics reflected in the boy's bright blue eyes.
It was the new kid. The blonde student they had bumped into yesterday.
Robert's boot squeaked against the polished floor.
The typing stopped abruptly. The boy jumped, a sharp gasp escaping his lips as he nearly knocked over his chair in a panic. He frantically swiped his hands through the air, fumbling to close the holographic windows until the screen went entirely blank. He backed up against the desk, clutching his messenger bag to his chest, his bright blue eyes wide with terror like a cornered animal.
Before Robert or Freddie could ask another question, Darian lunged forward. He ducked under Robert's outstretched arm, shoved past Freddie with surprising speed, and sprinted for the exit. The doors hissed open, and Darian bolted into the crowded hallway, vanishing instantly into the sea of students.
Robert and Freddie stood alone in the quiet hum of the computer lab, completely stunned.
"What was that about?" asked Freddie.
"I don't know," Robert muttered, staring at the empty doorway. He shook his head, trying to clear his racing thoughts. "But we're going to be late. Come on."
They hurried out of the tech wing and slipped into their first block, Concord Accord History, just as the final bell chimed. They took their usual seats near the back of the classroom. Up at the front, Professor Vance was already pulling up a glowing holographic map of the Etherion Dominion, droning on about the early days of the Dominion.
Robert rested his chin on his hand, his eyes fixed on the hovering map, but he didn't hear a single word Vance was saying.
His mind was spinning, trying to force the jagged puzzle pieces together. The freezing cold in the Holodome. The red, corrupted training targets. The pitch-black shadow at the festival had burned itself on their skin. The whisper that haunted his dreams*.*
And now, this New boy. A boy who somehow was able to get into the computer lab early, and looked terrified when he saw them
A sharp kick to the back of his chair jolted Robert out of his thoughts.
He blinked, sitting up straight. Freddie leaned forward from the desk behind him.
"You're zoning out, man," Freddie whispered, his eyes darting toward Professor Vance, who was glaring in their direction. "Vance already called your name once."
"Mr. Martinez," Professor Vance said, his voice echoing in the quiet classroom. "Would you care to join us, or is the class not exciting enough for you?"
"Sorry, sir," Robert said quickly, his face burning as a few students—including Julian—snickered. "I'm paying attention."
Vance narrowed his eyes but turned back to the holographic map.
Robert let out a quiet breath, staring down at his blank datapad. He couldn't just sit here pretending everything was fine.
The rest of the school day dragged on at an agonizingly slow pace. By the time the final bell finally exhaled its melodic hum, Robert was the first one out of his seat.
He met Freddie at their lockers, quickly tossing his datapads inside.
"I still think you're overthinking it," Freddie said, leaning against the metal row. "So the new kid is a hacker, as if we half the school hasn't tried that before."
"He looked terrified, Fred," Robert argued, slamming his locker shut. "Yeah, that makes sense. We caught him red-handed; he probably thought we were going to snitch."
"Or maybe he's hiding something else," Robert said. He turned to head for the main exit, Freddie trailing close behind.
They pushed through the grand front doors, stepping out into the warm, late-afternoon sun. The courtyard was packed with students rushing toward the transit platforms or hanging out by the floating fountains.
Robert scanned the crowd, his eyes darting over the familiar uniforms. Then, he stopped.
Walking briskly away from the transit platforms, heading down a side street toward the commercial district, was a shock of bright blonde hair and a familiar messenger bag.
"There he is," Robert said, his heart giving a sudden jolt. He grabbed Freddie's sleeve. "Come on. Let's follow him."
Freddie dug his heels in, pulling his arm back. "Whoa, wait. Follow him? Rob, that is a terrible idea. And honestly, it's pretty creepy. We don't even know the guy!"
"That's exactly why we have to follow him," Robert insisted, keeping his eyes glued to Darian's retreating form so he wouldn't lose him in the crowd.
"Rob, he ran away from us in a total panic. If he catches us stalking him, he's going to freak out again."
"Then we won't let him catch us," Robert said, already taking a step forward. "Look, you don't have to come. But I can't just go home and pretend everything is normal."
Freddie groaned, "Why am I getting dragged into this?" letting his head drop back in defeat. He looked at Robert, then toward the side street where Darian had just turned the corner.
"Fine," Freddie grumbled, adjusting his heavy toolkit on his shoulder. "But if we get arrested for stalking a transfer student, I am absolutely telling my dad this was all your idea."
Robert managed a tight grin. "Deal. Now hurry up before we lose him."
he walked through a series of narrow alleys and deserted streets, his movements quick and deliberate.
"Where is he even going?" Freddie whispered as they trailed behind, keeping a safe distance. "No one lives in this part of the city anymore."
Robert frowned, his eyes never leaving Darian. "I don't know, but he's definitely trying to avoid being seen."
They followed him to a small, rundown building on the outskirts of the city. The refuge was a stark contrast to the gleaming skyscrapers and neon-lit streets of Imperial City. Cracks and weathering marred its walls, and makeshift curtains covered the windows. Robert and Freddie crouched behind a cluster of bushes across the street, their hearts pounding.
"What now?" Freddie whispered.
Robert gestured to the window on the second floor, where a faint light glowed. "We need to get closer. Maybe we can hear what's going on."
Freddie grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Are you crazy? If they see us, we're toast. Let me handle this."
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small, spherical drone—one of his dad's old Ranger gadgets. Freddie activated it with a flick of his wrist, and the drone buzzed to life, its tiny propellers whirring softly. He guided it toward the window.
A cozy, modest living room, with handmade decorations and faded photographs on the walls, was visible on the drone's camera feed. The furniture was simple but well- loved, with a patched-up couch and a small table set for dinner. The room was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold, impersonal halls of the School they attend.
Darian sat on the floor, his school bag discarded in the corner. He was no longer the reserved, somber student Robert and Freddie knew. Instead, he was laughing. His face lit up with a joy they'd never seen before. A little girl—his sister — was giggling uncontrollably as Darian pretended to chase her around the room. She couldn't have been over six or seven, with wild curls that bounced as she ran and a smile that could light up the darkest room.
"You can't catch me!" she squealed, darting behind the couch.
Darian feigned exhaustion, clutching his chest dramatically. "You're too fast for me, Lily! I give up!"
Lily peeked out from behind the couch, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're just slow, Danny!"
Darian lunged playfully, catching her around the waist and lifting her into the air. She shrieked with laughter, kicking her legs as he spun her around. "Gotcha!"
Robert and Freddie exchanged glances, their earlier tension replaced by a mix of surprise and curiosity. "He's… different," Freddie whispered. "Like, a completely different person."
Robert nodded, his eyes glued to the screen. "Keep it steady. Let's see if we can hear what they're saying."
The drone hovered closer to the window, its audio sensors picking up snippets of conversation. A woman entered the room, carrying a tray of food. She was tall and slender, with dark hair streaked with gray and tied back in a loose braid. Her face showed worry, yet her eyes revealed a quiet strength and resilience. She set the tray down on the table and smiled at her children, her voice soft but warm.
"Dinner's ready," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Lily, stop tormenting your brother and come eat." Lily wriggled out of Darian's arms and ran to the table, climbing into her chair with the energy only a child could muster. Darian followed, ruffling her hair as he sat down.
"You're such a troublemaker," he teased.
Their mom, Sadie, sat down at the head of the table, her hands clasped in front of her. "Were you able to find anything?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
Darian hesitated, his smile fading as he poked at his food. "No, I couldn't find anything to get back to Earth," He sighed, setting his fork down.
His mom's expression softened, and she reached across the table, placing a hand on his. "It's alright, sweetheart. Your father's working on it. But for now, we have to make the best of our situation. We're safe here, and that's what matters."
Darian's shoulders slumped, and he stared at his plate, his appetite gone. "It's just… hard, not being able to help, and I almost got caught by two students. "
His mom reached over, tilting his chin up so he'd meet her gaze. "You have always been a resourceful one. I know that either you or your father will figure something out. "
Darian nodded, though his expression remained troubled. He glanced at Lily, who was now happily munching on her food, oblivious to the weight of the conversation. "I'm just don't want us to get caught, that could be very hard on her."
His mom squeezed his hand. "we wont dont worry."
Robert and Freddie exchanged stunned looks. "Did he just say… Earth?" Freddie whispered, his voice barely audible.
Robert's mind raced. No humans were allowed. especially after the Delta Incident. If Darian and his family were humans, how had they gotten here?
Freddie's voice broke the silence. "We need to get out of here. Now."
Robert nodded, his heart pounding. He signaled for Freddie to recall the drone, and they crept back through the bushes, their minds reeling. When they were a safe distance away, Freddie turned to Robert, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"What do we do now?" Freddie asked. "They don't allow humans here." If anyone finds out…"
Robert ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts spinning. "I don't know. But we can't just leave him like this. He's our friend."
"You don't even know him," Freddie said. "OK? I still want to help," Robert said, rolling his eyes.