Re:Tenno

by Egotistical_Writer

Summary:

What happens when a space child shakes hands with a devil? What happens when that child returns back to his home? And what happens when a certain witch takes an interest in said child?

A Warframe x Re:Zero crossover

Chapters 1 and 2 were updated

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

“God... damn... it!"

 

How long had I been running away from those monsters? Hours? Days? Weeks? It all blurred together at this point; the relentless pursuit of those creatures had twisted my perception of time.

 

"Ghk!?"

 

My foot caught itself in a crack in the ground, forcing me to fall face-first onto the grassy terrain. The pebbles and stones pierced my wounds, spilling more of my blood.

 

Get up... Get up!

 

I tried to stand up and keep moving, but my legs were unresponsive. My arms shook at my attempt to push myself forward, only to give up and again fall onto the ground.

 

The pain caught up with my body as I felt a scorching and throbbing ache all over. The lacerations in my limbs burned as blades of grass brushed over them. My stomach twisted and churned, gnawing at my insides to gather any nutrients it could. Every breath I took seared my throat as if sandpaper were passing through it.

 

I turned my head to the side and finally took notice of my surroundings. Ginormous oak trees towered over me, their leaves shielding me from the sun's rays. A pungent, irritating odor that resembled the smell of rotten eggs assaulted my nostrils. Crumbled buildings, now overrun with moss, were the only sign that humans had once inhabited this land. 

 

A stark contrast to where I crash-landed, I guess I can rest for—

 

An eerie and haunting sound reverberated throughout the jungle. It was alien, not a sound any living creature could produce. As it echoed through the trees, it sent chills down my spine. That sound meant only one thing…

 

They were nearby.

 

Mustering all the strength I had, I pushed my beaten legs and arms upwards. Getting on my feet, I staggered forward, my body threatening to fall at any moment should I not concentrate on staying upright.

 

I had two options: hide from them or run faster than they could catch me. The latter seemed impossible; my legs would give out before I could get far. But hiding would only buy me some time, they knew I was here. They would tear apart every tree in this forest to find and kill me.

 

The sound grew closer and closer, causing my body to tense. I hid behind a tree, squeezing my elbows into my sides, trying to make myself as small as possible. My heartbeat was racing to the point where pain erupted in my chest, but I couldn't care about that right now. Pressing onto the tree and shutting my eyes, I begged any deity out there that those things would pass by me. That they wouldn't catch and subjugate me to the same fate the others experienced.

 

It felt like hours went by hiding behind the tree when it had only been a minute at most. I realized the noise disappeared as abruptly as it appeared. Opening my eyes and releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding, I looked around to check if I was clear. Seeing nothing in front of me, I turn to peek behind the tree.

 

A decision that cost me dearly.

 

A humanoid entity floated in front of me. Its surface was covered in an otherworldly blue hue. Thin, tendril-like appendages protruded from its body, and an eye was in the center of its frame. Said eye had no iris, sclera, or pupil, it only glowed an eerie blue light as it stared down at me.

 

I stood there in silence. My mind screamed for me to run away, but my body rejected the idea, too tense to make any movements. I felt that any small actions would result in my death.

 

The entity then let out a slowed, high-pitched shriek, causing me to fall onto the ground. It continued its cry for ten seconds before disappearing into the sky. I stayed motionless on the ground, trying to process what had happened.

 

That... was an Oculyst! 

 

Sparing no time, I got up from the ground and bolted forward. My legs ached and felt like collapsing but I kept sprinting. My lungs burned and threatened to burst but I kept running. My heartbeat was present in my ears and my chest felt like it was going to explode, but I didn't stop.

 

I couldn't stop, for death was right behind me.

 

Another alien-like cry echoed through the trees, followed by another, and another.

 

Shit, shit, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT! I screamed in my head. It was bad enough to deal with one of them in my current condition, dealing with three was going to take a miracle.

 

Projectiles shot past me and hit the trees in front of me, causing them to explode. I quickly brought my arms to my face, shielding my eyes from the incoming wooden chunks. That brief obstruction of sight gave the creatures an opening, as one of them came from the left. Its appendage extended towards me, intending to slice me in half. Without a second to spare, I threw my torso forward, bending low enough to feel the rush of wind as the appendage narrowly missed me by an inch.

 

"Ghk!" 

 

The sudden maneuver proved too much for my injured legs. They buckled under the strain, sending me sprawling into the dirt.

 

Looking up at the creature, I noticed the differences from the first one. Unlike the blue hue the Oculyst had, this one exhibited no energy around its body. Bone-like appendages protruded from its frame, but they were more suited for combat. Its extremities were longer and sharper, like blades from a longsword.

 

The creature again let out its cry as it readied its appendage for another attack, raising it into the air. Before it could strike me, I rolled to the side and unholstered the pistol on my waist. What was once a beautiful and sleek weapon was now battered and ragged. Its white and golden frame was now marred with scratches and rust.

 

Aiming at the Sentient's looming body, I emptied all eight rounds from the pistol's magazine. The creature recoiled and staggered backward, momentarily stunned by the firepower. Seizing the opportunity, I scrambled to my feet, intending to put as much distance between us as possible. But before I could get far, three projectiles rushed toward the trees before me. Exploding on impact and bringing down the trees, the path ahead became obstructed.

 

The sentient I had stunned regained its bearings and charged towards me, accompanied by a barrage of projectiles. Making a sharp right turn, I avoided the blockade and Sentient onslaught. However, my relief was short-lived as another Sentient emerged from the trees. Its right side took the shape of a shield and its left took the form of a long-range rifle. Aiming said rifle-like appendage toward me, I swiftly veered to the left, narrowly avoiding the incoming laser.

 

So we've got one Sentient specializing in long-range attacks, another in close combat, and one capable of both... fucking fantastic, I thought, reloading the pistol while continuing to evade the oncoming attacks. It was a good combination; the close-combat Sentient would engage the opponent directly, while the long-range Sentient provided covering fire. If the long-range Sentient came under attack, the close-quarters combat Sentient would step in to defend. Meanwhile, the Sentient capable of both attack patterns could fill in for either of its counterparts if otherwise occupied.

 

Having replaced the empty magazine, I spun around to face the pursuing close-quarters Sentient. Aiming at its blade-like extremities, I squeezed the trigger, once again unloading the entire magazine, expecting its appendage to fall off.

 

"Huh?!" To my horror, not only had the limb remained intact, but the Sentient appeared completely unscathed by the barrage of bullets.

 

Don't tell me it's already— 

 

A monstrous force smashed into my left side, sending me hurtling through the air and colliding with a nearby tree. The impact cracked the trunk, causing the tree to topple. By some stroke of luck, the tree fell towards the Sentient, forcing it to sidestep, and giving me a chance to escape.

 

But my luck seemed to have run out. Before I could get up, a barrage of projectiles landed and exploded in front of me, sending me tumbling to the ground again.

 

The adrenaline fueling my body finally ran dry, resulting in a searing sensation all over. It spread through me like wildfire, engulfing every cell in my body with agony. The consequences of the intense movements, the loss of blood, and the impact of the explosions crashed over me at once. I felt as though I would collapse at any moment, every movement sending waves of scorching pain rippling through me.

 

"Tenno," a voice cut through the greenery. It was feminine and soft, carrying a hypnotic quality. "You have nowhere left to run," she continued, her speech slow and ethereal, each word drawing you in. "Your time has come to an end."

 

I felt my chest tighten and my breaths accelerate. My stomach churned at realizing who that voice belonged to. It was a voice I had known for quite some time, a voice of someone I once looked up to.

 

Ignoring the scorching sensations, I turned my body to face her. To face it. That thing. That monstrosity.

 

To think it once looked human would baffle anyone.

 

In contrast to the sleek navy garb she once wore, she was now encased in a large, burly black armor. It enveloped her form, providing her with an additional set of limbs as she sat within. Gone was the lotus-shaped crown that once adorned her head, replaced instead by a centipede-shaped crown that stretched upward. Curling inward, the crown revealed a single black eye that seemed to pierce into the very soul of anyone who dared to meet its gaze.

 

"You... AGHH!" A shriek escaped my throat as one of her extremities pierced my leg.

 

"There is no point in resisting, you are too weak to attempt an escape. Even if you could, where would you go? Destroyed are your frames of war, your comrades dead, and your home laid to waste." She removed her appendage, only to stab into my other leg, soliciting another cry from me. "You have nowhere to turn to."

 

"..." She was right, I was in no condition to fight. Even if I was able to, the enemy forces were too great. And if by some miracle I was to flee from here, then what? The Empire collapsed, brought to ruins in a matter of days. There was no place to go to, no haven to stay in. I had no place to return to or call home.

 

This was the end. My end.

 

Yet, I had something I wanted to ask her, something I needed to know.

 

"...Why?" I croaked, tears flowing down my face. Why did she do this? Why did she betray us? Why did she murder my comrades? The woman who raised us as her own children. The woman who taught us to live, who rescued us from hell.

 

"Why, you ask?" She gazed down at me, her pale face unmoving, her expression as blank as ever. "Because there is no need for you to exist. Your service is no longer required, Tenno."

 

Her words struck me like a physical blow, the weight of their meaning crashing onto me. It couldn't be true, I refused to believe it. We couldn't have been nothing more than tools to her, to be discarded when no longer needed.

 

"We... loved you," pushing past the painful sensation in my throat, I spoke from the depths of my heart. "We... cherished you. You were... a mother to us. You cared... for each one... of us." Each word ignited a fire in my throat, making the next one harder to say. But I continued, hoping to reach her. "You said... you... loved us. You... called us... your children."

 

"That..." Her eyes closed, her expression shifting to one of contemplation. I thought I had reached her, only for that hope to come crashing down. "That was nothing more than a lie, a fabrication to enchant you void devils to do my bidding."

 

If words had the power to shatter a heart, mine would be in a million pieces. The pain from her words overpowered the physical agony of my wounds. I could no longer contain my emotions. Everything I had been holding in since my time in the Lua laboratories broke through like a dam bursting.

 

I wailed and shrieked, my cries raw and anguished, my entire body trembling uncontrollably. Every ounce of pain, anger, and betrayal I had buried now gushed out of me like a tsunami.

 

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? I couldn't comprehend why this was happening. Where had everything gone wrong? Why was the world so cruel? Why was it happening to me?

 

"Conculyst," she called out, unfazed by my breakdown. "Kill him."

 

The Sentient, with its sword-like appendages, moved toward me, sharpening the deadly extremities by grinding them against each other.

 

As it loomed over me, I realized my fate was sealed. Death was on me; I was certain. My heart pulsed the last of its seconds and my lungs burned the last of its air. I was too weak to run, just as I had been too weak to protect my loved ones. I had failed those around me, leaving them to die while I fled. I was nothing but a coward.

 

Like an executioner preparing to deliver the fatal blow, the Sentient raised its appendage high into the air, aiming to sever my head from my body. Death was so close I could taste it. But instead of lamenting the end of my life, I found myself welcoming it. Death would bring an end to all my pain and suffering. No longer would I be condemned to this hell called life.

 

With a sense of resignation, I closed my eyes, accepting the inevitable end.

 

---

⧫⧫⧫ Years Ago

 

A vast expanse of darkness with no visible ending, specks of white scattered all over the pitch-black space. Giant, colorful celestial bodies traversed the limitless unknown with smaller bodies of mass orbiting around them. This scenery was something I’d seen for the past two years, and yet, I never grew bored of gazing upon it.

 

Like children, I would connect the stars to make various shapes and animals. Whenever a planet comes into view, I’d admire the beauty of its colors and design. And when I stared into the unknown darkness, I’d lose myself imagining what could be out there. The planets our technology can’t see, wildlife that has yet to be discovered, and whether other intelligent beings exist.

 

*Knock Knock Knock*

 

The sound of knocking snapped me out of my trance, jolting me back to reality. My limbs felt heavy, like I had just woken up, and my awareness gradually returned. Glancing around, I realized the color grey surrounded me. Sitting in a chair, I faced a view of outer space, with three identical chairs behind me. The cramped space could barely fit five people.

 

*Knock Knock Knock Knock Knock*

 

The sound came from the left wall and was much louder than before. Pressing a button in front of me, I watched as the left wall pulled upward, revealing a fair-skinned woman on the opposite side. Long, wavy, fiery-colored hair framed her oval-shaped face. Her eyes resemble miniature orbs of Neptune; looking into them was like staring out into the sea. But unlike the icy and treacherous waters, her eyes were warm and welcoming.

 

“Finally, I was starting to think I’d become old before you stopped stargazing. How intriguing must the cosmos be if it’s got you staring for three hours.” She teased, her honey-laced voice oozing with sarcasm.

 

“It’s better than rotting away in bed like you do,” I retorted, stepping out of the spacecraft. 

 

The stench of scorched metal assaulted my nostrils as I was greeted by a massive, cavernous space. Jet-like shuttles scattered all over the area, like stars in a starry night, their once sleek forms now marred by damage. A translucent barrier stretched across the opening in place of a metal wall, safeguarding the interior from the harsh vacuum of space.

 

I felt a light impact on my shin. I turned around to see her pouting at me. “At least movies are funny and engaging. You stare at the same scenery all the time,” she grumbled. “What could be fun looking at nothing?”

 

Honestly, she had a point. Staring into space wasn’t exactly the most engaging thing to do, so I can understand why she’d view it as boring. Still, I found joy in looking at it. The sheer magnitude of the universe brings so many life questions, questions we don’t even know to ask yet. But she wouldn’t care about such things, so I deflected the question, “Anyway, what’d you need me for?”

 

“Your mom sent me to drag you to dinner. She knows you’d lose track of time,” she smirked, gesturing towards the stars. “Or were you planning to hitch a ride on the spacecraft to fetch your dinner from some distant planet?” She exclaimed with a wide grin.

 

“Hilarious Claire,” I deadpanned, rolling my eyes. “Let's get going.”   

 

Exiting the repair wing, we found ourselves in an expansive hallway that stretched endlessly, as if mimicking the vastness of space itself. Intricate gold plating and accents adorned the pristine white walls, giving the space a luxurious aura. Three-meter golden human statues gazed down upon any passerby with regal indifference as if staring from a celestial plane beyond mortal reach. Above, elegant banners of white, blue, and yellow, adorned a depiction of a crescent moon.

 

Walking together, I asked, “What were you doing that Mom asked you to get me?” 

 

“We finished our exams a while ago so we don’t have to study. I decided to help set up tomorrow's cultural festival in the Chrysalith!” She proclaimed, holding her head high as if it were a grand achievement. 

 

Hearing what Mom was doing, I barely stopped myself from clicking my tongue. It seemed she was at it again. 

 

“Meaning you watched everyone else do the work,” I raised my eyebrows, burying my true emotions. “The Claire I know wouldn’t do heavy labor.”

 

She gasped as she heard me and stopped walking, “How low do you think of me?! I did plenty!”

 

“Passing around drinks doesn’t count as work,” I remarked, dismissively waving my hand and not bothering to look at her.

 

“Yes it does! They’re too tired to get water themselves, so I’m lightening their load.” 

 

It was my turn to stop dead in my tracks, dumbfounded by her words. I turn my slack-jawed head to meet her gaze. “On what planet does carrying water count as work?” I asked, furrowing my brows. “In the two years I’ve known you, I’ve seen you actually help around about five times."

 

“You’re exaggerating, I’ve done—”

 

“Did you help during the first cultural festival?”

 

“It was the first event, and I was too nervous to talk to anyone,” she said quickly, her tone defensive 

 

“What about when all the kids came together to create a play for the adults?”

 

“I, umm, had a cough and didn’t want to risk spreading it” She stammered, breaking eye contact with me.

 

Seeing her hesitate, I smirked and continued my barrage of quips. “How about when the class planned a surprise birthday party for a classmate?”

 

“I… had other obligations,” she mumbled, fidgeting with her hands. 

 

“And what of when we celebrated the first childbirth on the ship?”

 

“That’s diff—”

 

“Don’t forget the time when—”

 

“Ughhh okay okay, you made your point!” She yelled, her cheeks burning red as she stormed off. This was payback for her teasing back at the repair wing. Feeling victorious and with a grin, I ran to catch up with her.

 

As we reached the end of the hallway and passed through an automatic door, we entered a spacious elevator with colors reminiscent of the hall. With a press of the button labeled 'residence space', the elevator doors closed, and we began our ascent. After a brief twenty seconds, a soft chime indicated our arrival at our destination. Stepping out of the elevator, we found ourselves in another hall, this one lined with doors.

 

Entering the second-to-last door on the left, the color beige filled our eyes. Compared to the lustrous halls, the room felt lifeless and bland. The walls lacked individuality and flair, and the shelves were deserted; it was like stepping from the glowing radiance of a star into the barren deserts of Mars. The only decorations present that gave some semblance of life included two portraits of a blue-skinned man wearing a navy-blue robe with golden highlights and bracelets around his arms, situated on the cabinets nested into the wall, along with the beds, and a lone table with three chairs orbiting around it in the middle.

 

“It feels like a prison. We were given decorations to make living here more bearable, why don’t you make your room more appealing?” Claire said, making her way to the table.

 

“Hey, I have a painting of Albrecht Entrati and a model of the Zariman 10-0 near my bed! ” I remarked.

 

“A painting of an old, blue man and a model of the spacecraft we’re on… Yeah, that doesn’t really add anything to the room.” 

 

“It’s thanks to that ‘old, blue man’ that we’re able to travel into space. Even this craft was built because of what he learned from analyzing the Void!” I huffed with a bit of heat. Albrecht Entrati was one of the people I looked up to. It’s because of him that interstellar travel became a reality. His research on the Void paved the way for the creation of new technology. Hell, even the ship we’re on is only functional thanks to him!

 

“Hehe, payback for slandering my name, but I suppose you’re right. Without Entrati, we’d never be here.” She said, sitting down on one of the chairs.

 

The Zariman 10-0, a crescent-shaped colony ship tasked with expanding human civilization beyond the Origin System. The craft was equipped with the best amenities and technology currently available. Entertainment was provided in the form of parks and theaters. Multiple personnel were stationed to uphold order and keep the craft functioning. All told, the Zariman was the equivalent of a full-fledged city, able to meet all the needs of its residents.

 

“It is because of this ship that you two met and became friends,” a melodious voice called from the doorway. Standing there was a woman with wavy, chestnut hair that fell to her shoulders. Her features delicate and glowing like the soft light of distant stars, making her seem no older than thirty. Her eyes were the color of the Wreath Nebula, a shimmering green that captivated all who gazed. “Claire, thou hath my gratitude for ensuring Oliver’s arrival for supper.”

 

“No problem Mrs. Amos. He was doing the usual so it was easy to find him,” she said, abruptly standing up, and giving a small bow. 

 

“Pray, call me Amara. How long hast thou known me? How many words have we exchanged, yet thou dost persist in addressing me by my surname?” A small smile visible on her face.

 

I could only roll my eyes at the scene that was about to begin before me.

 

“If thou insists, it shall be done.” Claire went along with my mom’s way of speech without missing a beat, her back still lowered in a bow. “As I noted, thy son was gazing upon the starry atmosphere, lost in thought, before I brought him before thee.” 

 

“Thou are much like thy father,” she said tenderly as she closed her eyes. “He too would make time to gaze upon the night sky before retiring for the evening. Ye did the same back home, but since our arrival aboard the Zariman, it seems that has become your sole pursuit.”

 

“You’re making it sound like I’m a hermit or something… People have different hobbies, stargazing just happens to be mine,” I countered immediately, turning away from them. “How are the preparations for the cultural festival going?” I asked Mom, not wanting to stay on the current topic 

 

“Exhausting,” she sighed, plopping onto her bed face-first. “At the last moment, the masses decided to incorporate musical performances. Mineself made a swift tour of everyone’s rooms to gather volunteers, then retrieved the instruments from the storage units.”

 

I stood still for a moment, my brows furrowed deeply as I watched her collapse onto the bed. Again, she’d done more than she should have and worked herself to the bone. I bit the inside of my cheeks, frustration bubbling inside me. I knew better than to voice my disdain, doing so would only sour the mood. 

 

I took a slow breath, swallowing the complaint that rose in my throat.

 

“And how did our ever-diligent redhead help—” 

 

“Shouldn’t you eat your dinner before it gets cold? Nobody likes eating cold food, so you should definitely eat right now!” Claire frantically interrupted me, abandoning my mom’s speech, before I could finish teasing her. 

 

“Dinner hath been prepared and placed in the oven. Should it not be to thy desired temperature, feel free to reheat it at thy convenience.” My mother muttered, head still faced down.

 

…Wouldn’t it be much easier to just say it’s in the oven? All those convoluted words just to convey a simple message.

 

Happy to escape the headache that was my mother, I left the living area and entered the kitchen. It was much smaller than the bedroom, roughly half the size. I opened the oven, expecting a plate of steak with vegetables. But to my surprise, all that was there were yellow, red, and beige cubes. Maybe she meant the fridge instead . Thinking she jumbled her words, I opened the refrigerator with a flicker of hope, only to be met with a disturbing sight.

 

There was nothing.

 

“Mom, what happened to all the food we had? There’s only nasty nutritional cubes here.” I asked as I made my way back to the bedroom.

 

“…I have placed all the food in the freezer,” she said, her speech pattern slightly faltering. “We must ensure that our surplus does not deplete.”

 

I stared at her as if she’d grown a second head. “How would we run out when the agri-biomes constantly provide food?” 

 

“What do you mean? Didn’t you hear the announcement about the incident?” Claire jumped in, evidently shocked that I didn’t know what was happening.

 

“Well, I was busy for about three hours.” I defended lamely, earning eye rolls from both of them. “But seriously, what happened?” 

 

“The agri-biomes have been sabotaged,” my mother revealed, her expression darkening. “The exterior vents were unlocked, our crops exposed to the cold abyss of space.”

 

”Huh?” I felt my stomach churn. I thought I misheard her, but her grim expression dispelled any doubt. “Someone had destroyed our source of food? Who the hell would do that?”

 

“Most likely the newly formed resistance group,” Claire interjected bitterly. “Ever since the Zariman began prepping to make the big jump to Tau, people started to feel anxious. Small protests have already happened demanding that the jump not be attempted.”

 

“It’s a pretty big leap from organizing protests. To sabotage our food source…are these people crazy?”

 

“They likely believed that destroying our food supply would force the Council to order the Zariman’s return to the capital. The destruction of our food supply is not a reality they can disregard,” Mom added. 

 

“This is the Orokin we’re talking about…” I murmured, returning to the kitchen to grab food for all three of us. “Well, Claire’s joke about taking one of the spacecrafts to get food from another planet sounds like a good idea now.” I joked, attempting to change the depressing topic. 

 

“Heh, obviously it’s a good idea, I’m a genius! You should bow down before me as an expression of your gratitude!” Clare exclaimed, puffing her chest out.

 

“Who was the one that failed their physics quiz two days—OWWW!” As I was sitting down, she kicked the chair away from me, causing me to fall to the floor and spill the nutritional cubes. “Hey! We’re supposed to be saving food, not wasting it!”

 

Claire simply stuck her tongue out and flashed a mischievous grin. My mother, too, couldn’t help but crack a small smile. 

 

What a cheeky brat. Claire truly drives me mad, but I can’t say that I don’t enjoy her antics. Despite being taller and older than her, she treats me like a younger brother.

 

After cleaning the cubes from the floor and stopping her from kicking my chair again, I settled back onto the table with my mom joining us. Dinner went by as we conversed while eating, telling each other jokes, and talking about our day. Mom seemed grateful for Claire's "help" today as she praised her for it, prompting Claire to gloat about her "usefulness."

 

What a bothersome woman.

 

With dinner ending, Claire returned to her dormizone, leaving Mom and me alone.

 

"What a marvelous girl she is. It makes one question how such a Neanderthal as thyself became friends with her, seeing as thou struggles to hold conversations."

 

"... First a hermit and now a Neanderthal. Are you calling me socially inept?!” I exclaimed, rising from my chair. “And you can drop the eloquent speech since she's gone."

 

"Nonsense, mineself shall continue speaking in this manner, whether surrounded by the masses or in my own chambers."

 

I sighed at her comment as I sat back down. Ever since she started watching a show about royalty, she spoke formally. I’ll admit that it was funny at first, but it quickly lost its humorousness once I ran out of synonyms. I’d need a thesaurus to keep up with her way of speaking and I wasn’t about to carry one with me all the time. 

 

I thought she’d return to her normal way of speaking after a few weeks, but it's been three years since she started watching that show, and her elevated speech was still running strong. 

 

"You know, even if you speak like a noble, you have to act like one to sell it. Nobles are all about grace and elegance.”

 

“And what, pray tell, dost thou mean by that?”

 

“For starters, a noble doesn’t participate in something as crude as manual labor,” I retorted. “To stoop down to the level of commoners and dirty ‘oneself’ in setting up a festival reflects poorly on your status.”

 

I expected to break her facade a bit, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward. “One of noble blood is free to do as they please. The common folk should be grateful for my assistance; after all, it is not every day that they receive such high-caliber support.”

 

Says the one who’s always helping out others . Not a day goes by when mom isn’t helping someone on this ship. Whether babysitting or helping harvest our crops, she always went out of her way to help.

 

“But a noble is all about appearances and acting elegant. Where was your elegance when you plopped onto the bed in front of Claire?”

 

“Oh, my dear child,” she shook her head, her expression turning solemn as she fixed me with a steady gaze. “True nobility isn’t about outward appearances or a well-practiced curtsy. It lies in thou’s actions towards society. A noble's worth is measured by one’s ability to lead by example, to show kindness even when it’s difficult, and to use thou influence not for personal gain, but to uplift and support those around them. That, my dear, is the mark of a true noble. Elegance and grace are important, but thou must be underpinned by genuine virtue.”

 

I stared at her, unable to say anything at first. “...You’ve watched that show for far too long. Sooner or later I’ll be hearing speeches like that regularly.” 

 

She chuckled, a smile forming on her lips. “Don’t worry dear, that’s still far from happening. It took all my brainpower to find the right words”

 

“That show has done irreparable damage to you,” I teased, shaking my head. “But at least you stopped all that royal talk.”

 

She laughed softly, “Hehe, you make it seem like I have a disease or something. Honestly, it’s a pretty good show. It has over-dramatic and cringe moments but I think it’s worth the watch.”

 

“Yeah yeah, still not watching it though,” I said, waving her off. “You know, you’d fit the whole noble get-up if we could actually wear clothing and not these…black latex bodysuits.”

 

I tugged at the cuff of my sleeve with gloved fingers, the material stretching slightly before snapping back into place.

 

Mom shook her head as she shut her eyes. “Please don’t call it a latex bodysuit, it brings a very…disturbing image to my mind.”

 

“Well, what else am I supposed to call it? It even comes with a hood that covers our faces—”

 

“Ughhh, please stop it…” she groaned, covering her ears as her face twisted in exaggerated horror. 

 

I couldn’t help but grin at her reaction. “What, am I wrong?”

 

“Yes! And also no!” she shot back, though her lips twitched into a faint smile.

 

Yes, this is the mom I knew—the mom I wanted to come back. Joking around and having pointless banter. Not the weary, overworked woman who comes home late and instantly jumps to bed. Just thinking of that made me clench my fists, something Mom noticed.

 

“Oli, what’s wrong?”

 

“No, it’s…” I was tongue-tied, struggling to find the right words. Bringing up what bothered me would only ruin the pleasant atmosphere we had, but Mom wasn’t the type to just let discomfort slide. “Don’t you think you should tone it down with your work?”

 

The small smile vanished from her face, replaced with a neutral expression. “Not this again Oli…”

 

“Mom, I’m being serious. You can’t go on like this forever, you need to rest.”

 

“I do get rest—” 

 

“Coming back at midnight and heading straight to bed, only to wake up two hours before anyone else doesn’t count as rest.” I deadpanned. “You’re barely getting enough sleep. You’re always helping with every task you can, not giving yourself a moment to breathe.”

 

This wasn’t something new, but something she had done since boarding the Zariman. No matter what, Mom always found something to help with, someone who needed something done. And if nobody needed anything, she’d pace around the halls waiting for something. 

 

“You worry too much, I’m fine Oli…” Her hand reached out toward mine, but I pulled back. 

 

Like always, she insisted I made it out to be bigger than it seemed. She brushed off the dark circles under her eyes, the lack of energy in her voice, and the cuts and bruises she’d get when gathering food or carrying equipment. And yet, she plastered on a smile and worked harder the next day. 

 

It felt like I was watching my mother slowly kill herself. 

 

“Please mom, just take a break. Why do you do this to yourself?”

 

Emerald-colored eyes stared directly into my own. To anyone else, they would appear beautiful, as bright as a star. Yet I knew better. The light that once shone in her eyes had dimmed with time, a shadow now cast over it, replaced by an overwhelming tiredness. 

 

“Oliver,” Her voice came out hollow and faint, as if drained dry. Her hands twisted, fingers knitted together as she inhaled a shaky breath. “I…”

 

My foot bounced uncontrollably, a nervous energy flowing through me. This was it. She was finally going to open up. Finally tell me what was really weighing on her. Why did she push herself so hard, even when it seemed she was going to break?

 

But all that hope came crashing down as she repeated the same hollow lie, the same fake smile plastered on her face.

 

“I’m fine.”

 

---

 

It was the same scenery as always—nothingness, a never-ending void that expanded far beyond what my eyes could see. No, saying my eyes saw “nothing” wouldn't be right. They were closed shut. 

 

Even if I opened them, nothingness would remain indiscernible. Some might say that blackness equates to nothingness, that the absence of light and color is the same as the absence of everything. They would claim what we “see” when we close our eyes—blackness—is a form of nothingness.

 

But I disagree. How can the two be the same when nobody has truly witnessed nothingness? Blackness, even in its deepest absence, is still something. It’s the lack of light and color, the void of visual stimuli, not the void of all existence. True nothingness cannot be perceived in any form.

 

If nothingness can’t be seen, then how could I possibly be sure that what’s in front of me is nothingness? I can’t. I call it nothingness because I lack the tools to describe it. Perhaps I might never be able to name or understand it.

 

And perhaps that's the point. Nothingness isn't an absence of sight or sound or feeling—it's a lack of definition, of being, of existence. I can't even fathom it. I don’t know how anyone could.

 

And yet, from that nothingness came something: the universe. At least, that’s what the Big Bang theory states. Even with all the Orokin technology and scholars, we had no way to prove such a theory.

 

Just like the theory, the nothingness around me morphed into something. Colors and shapes began to overlap, stacking upon each other until something tangible could be seen. Blue and white collided to form the space we call the sky. Green and brown mushed together to create enormous trees that appeared to touch the clouds. Splotches of white and black soared in the air as they transformed into majestic hawks, their wings stretched wide as they glided beneath the clouds.

 

Just like the void of space, this place was familiar to me. My nose, which shouldn’t have worked, caught the scent of pine, wildflowers, and damp soil. My ears were pressed against my pillow, yet I could hear the rustling of leaves and the distant chirp of birds. A bitter taste stung my tongue as my mouth chewed on something. 

 

“ Where did you get that from mister? You shouldn’t put anything you find on the ground in your mouth. ”

 

The voice came from my left, up above, yet my head refused to turn. The voice seemed so distant, as though it came from a far away. Yet, I knew they were right beside me.

 

A hand grasped my chin, its fingers soft and gentle as they guided my face to meet them. But when I looked at their face, there was nothing—like a blank canvas. No eyes, no mouth, no nose, no ears, no hair. Just smooth, featureless skin. Yet, despite the absence of such features, I knew they wore a warm smile.

 

With tender care, they removed the flower from my mouth. It was no longer the beautiful bloom it once was. It was wet and sticky, crumpled and torn. The stem was uneven and jagged, and the white petals were now bitten in half. 

 

Any adult would be angry or enraged if their child put something unknown in their mouth. Yet, I knew this person held no such emotions.

 

Even without eyes on their face, I could feel their gaze—soft and loving. 

 

“ Oliver ,” the person called out, their voice muffled. “ It’s beautiful isn’t it… ”

 

I didn’t know if they were talking about the environment or the flowers, but at that moment, I thought of them as beautiful. They had no mouth, no eyes, no ears, no nose, no hair. However, they radiated a warmth that drew me in and made me feel safe. The kind of warmth a child would feel in their parent's arms, the kind of hug you never want to let go of.

 

“ Oliver ,” they called out once again. “ My beautiful boy…how big you’ve grown .”

 

They called me big, yet they towered over me like the trees around us. I was like a flower to them, so small that the wind could blow me away. Yet, I knew they would protect me from any danger.

 

“ I love you, Oliver, ” their voice grew closer, as if directly whispering into my ear. “ My sweet baby boy. I love you so much… I would do anything and everything for you. ”

 

I wanted to say it back, to confess that I loved them too, but my mouth would not open, as if it were sutured shut. 

 

“ Oliver… ”

 

I loved how they said my name, each syllable warped in with love and affection. How such a thing was possible, I didn’t know.

 

“Please wake up. ”

 

If I could tilt my head to my confusion, I would. Wake up? Why would I do such a thing? I want to stay here forever, with you.

 

“ You can’t…your mother… ”

 

It was as if they could read my mind, offering a reason why I had to leave. Yet that left me even more confused. What about my mother?

 

“ Your mother… ”

 

Suddenly, the world around me began to tremble. The towering trees were cut into specks of green and brown, their sturdy forms unraveling into oblivion. The sky fractured, its blue and white hues split apart. And the hawks let out mournful cries as their wings became splotches of white and black. What was once a vibrant, living world full of color was now disintegrated into darkness. 

 

“ Oliver… ” The voice lingered, even as the world crumbled into darkness. “ Protect your mother…support your mother…love your mother. ”

 

Even without a body, I felt a sharp pain where my head should have been. Instinctively, I tried to grasp the source of pain, but I had no hands to do so.

 

“ Oliver… ” A single word, spoken with a soothing resonance, swept the pain away. Desperate to find its source, I “turned” and “searched,” though there was nothing but endless darkness around me.

 

“ Oliver…your mother… !” The voice, no longer muffled or distant, rang clear and urgent, carrying an unmistakable plea that pierced through the emptiness.

 

The darkness folded inwards, a crushing weight that seemed to press against every part of me. Even though I had no body, the sensation of being swamped was unmistakable. It was suffocating, it hurt every part of my being. I tried to escape, but there was nowhere to run to, nowhere to go.

 

Then, just as the pain became unbearable, my eyes snapped open, and my body jolted upright. I gasped for air as I clung to my chest, the final moments of my dream still lingering.

 

“What the fuck was that…” I muttered. My chest heaved and my heart raced as if I’d run a marathon.

 

It was a dream—a figment of imagination. Like water is wet and the sky is blue, a dream is a dream, it only exists in my mind. It isn’t real.

 

I knew that, but my body didn’t agree. My heart pounded against my chest and my throat tightened. Every muscle and nerve were lit aflame.

 

How could a fantasy leave such a mark on reality?

 

“Ughh,” I groaned, tugging at the fabric clinging to my neck to let the cool air reach my skin. The figure-hugging space suit clung tighter than usual, the damp bedsheet sticking to my legs. “How the hell did I sweat so much?”

 

I freed myself from the blanket around my legs and shifted to the edge of the bed, my bare feet meeting the cool ground.

 

What a dream… The enormous trees and clear blue skies, such a scene is something you can rarely see now with the planet being contaminated. Makes me more grateful for him taking me there before it became off-limits .

 

The pounding of my heart faded, but something wasn’t right. Shallow and rough breaths could be heard. Nails scraping metal grated my ears, a shudder running down my spine. 

 

It made no sense, my breathing stabilized and my fingers rested on my bed. I couldn’t have made those noises. If it wasn’t me, then who did?

 

‘ Oliver…your mother…! ’

 

Once again those words rang through my mind. My mother… Yes, that’s what that person mentioned. Their voice carried a sense of urgency. But why? What was wrong with her—    

 

Suddenly, it clicked, and my eyes darted around. A lone table in the middle, desolate shelves, bland-colored walls—a room devoid of any liveliness. This was my dormizone, the one I shared with my mother. If I wasn’t making these noises, then that meant…

 

I rushed to her bed—at the far corner—but no figure laid there. Ripped bed sheets and covers spread throughout the floor. Pillows shredded and their stuffing dyed red. Shards of glass littered the ground like mines.

 

“What…?” I mumbled, my eyes widening. “Is that blood?”

 

I sniffed the air. Fortunately, I couldn’t smell the scent of copper, but that did little to ease the twisting in my stomach. This was Mom’s bed, yet it looked like some feral beast’s den.

 

“Ha…hhhh…ha…” The ragged breaths persisted, but I could pinpoint where they were coming from. 

 

Slowly stepping towards the noise, my mind raced with thoughts. Was it Mom making those noises? If so, why? What could have possibly made her have such a reaction? But what if it wasn’t her? What if some random stranger made our dormizone their new home? If that was the case, then what happened to Mom? Was she killed—?

 

No, no no. I shook my head vigorously. I couldn’t be thinking like that. There was no way such a thing happened. Yet, I couldn’t shake the thought completely; it stuck to the forefront of my mind like glue. 

 

A shard of glass grazed my bare foot as I walked. It was large enough to hold in my hand, its blunt and board base formed a natural grip that tapered into a sharp, blade-like tip. 

 

This is just a precaution in case it’s not her. I grabbed the glass weapon, it fit snugly in my shaking right hand. 

 

The automatic doors opened as I approached the room. I entered the unlit kitchen and immediately brought my left hand to my face. The stench of copper permeated the room and assaulted my nostrils. Pans, cups, and trays were scattered around the floor. A table, similar to the one in the main room, was knocked over along with its stools.

 

“Hhh-hhh! Huuh! Huh! Hhh—hh!” The short, uneven gasps grew louder. Each breath hitched as if their lungs refused to fill. I turned my face to the source of the noise, only to slightly step back.

 

A figure was hunched over the electric stove, their shoulders were rounded and head tilted forward. The short, labored breaths made their chest rise and fall rapidly as their hair obscured their face. The person’s back arched so deeply it resembled an old person's.

 

“Mom?” I muttered. Even without the lights, I could make out her chestnut hair.

 

“Hh—huh! Hh—huh!” No response came from her except for more ragged breaths. She either didn’t hear me or didn’t care. 

 

I made my way to her side, but two steps in and I froze. My feet stepped on something wet—most likely a puddle—but there was something strange about it. The liquid was sticky and slightly thick, not the normal consistency of water.

 

Blood? My stomach churned at the thought, but I couldn’t be certain. It could be something she made and spilled or my imagination. 

 

I banished the thought and continued to where Mom was, stopping when I was right beside her. 

 

“Ha—Huhh! Hhh—Hhhh!” I could see her clearer now. Her body trembled as if she were freezing. Tiny, delicate fingers repeatedly clawed at the stove. The arm of her space suit was riddled with holes, exposing crimson blotches.

 

Shit, did she claw at herself? Panic alarms sirened throughout my brain at the sight of blood. Just what happened to her for—

 

Crack!!

 

A sudden crashing noise startled me, followed by the faint, metallic clinks of fragments reverberating. Small, sharp shards pricked my feet, causing me to look down. Judging by the emptiness in my hand, I knew what made the noise.

 

I guess I dropped the glass from shock… It wasn’t visible due to the darkness, but shards of glass now littered the ground. Great, I gotta worry about—

 

As I lifted my gaze, Mom’s face loomed mere inches from mine. I staggered back, stepping on a few shards, and tumbled toward the floor. My arm shot out to the side, trying to grab something to steady myself, but my hand only grazed the light switch for the exhaust hood above the stove.

 

The impact made me wince as shards impaled my hands and lower body, but I quickly shook it off. The light flicked on, shining upon Mom’s face, which had been hidden moments ago.

 

Sweat clung to her flushed face and the veins on her forehead swelled. Her mouth hung open as shaky, erratic breaths escaped. Her entire suit was torn, rips and tears exposing more of her ivory skin. Her left arm stretched towards me as if to push me away, while her right hand fumbled blindly at the stove, reaching for anything it could grasp.

 

And her eyes... Her eyes bulged grotesquely, the whites swallowing the irises. Her pupils were wide, unblinking, and fixed onto me with a chilling, unyielding stare that sent shivers down my spine.

 

SCREECH!

 

The harsh sound of metal scraping against metal coaxed my gaze to her right arm. It dropped from the stove, now pressing against her body. Blood-stained fingers grasped the handle of a long, sharp blade. 

 

My heart hammered in my chest and my blood ran cold. Her unnerving stare kept my shaking legs rooted to the ground; I was paralyzed like a deer in headlights. I had never seen Mom like this—no, could I even call her my mother? She resembled a prey cornered by a predator more than a human.

 

“Mom? It’s me…Oliver. Let’s um…” My voice trembled, every word a struggle to mutter as my throat felt unusually parched. “Let’s put that down, okay?”

 

“Hhhk…hhh…” Her response was the same raspy breaths as before. Her outstretched left hand pulled back, clutching the right hand tightly around the knife’s handle. She turned the blade forward, the tip pointed directly at me. 

 

Her fierce and intense gaze pinned me in place. I wanted to look away, to escape the weight of it, but something stopped me—like a sixth sense warning me that breaking eye contact would be a mistake. 

 

My arms began trembling violently and my breaths became erratic like hers. I wanted to run away, to get as far as possible from her. But my legs betrayed my instinct to run away and my mind spiraled out of control. Was she going to attack me? Her own son? Her last family member? Did she not realize who I was? Was she so far gone that she didn’t recognize me? Was I—

 

“Huh?” A lowly gasp was the only noise I could make as I looked at my mother.

 

“Please…please…” She croaked, the knife trembling in her hands. Then, as if a dam broke, her posture crumbled. Tears streamed down her face and her shoulders caved in further. Her facial features downturned as she began mumbling. “It’s too much, it’s not fair…”

 

“…” My mouth hung wide open. I couldn’t comprehend any of it, how she descended into hysteria and then suddenly displayed sadness. One minute it looked like she was going to kill me and the next herself. The change in emotions was too rapid for me. My mind stirred in confusion when a familiar voice echoed:

 

‘ Save your mother ’

 

I took a deep breath, calming the tremors from my hands. Yes, now wasn’t the time to comprehend her actions. 

 

And so, I pushed my feet against the floor. More shards pierced my skin but I disregarded the pain and forced my legs upright. I dragged my feet forward, pushing my fear-stricken body to Mom. 

 

“Mom,” I called out, trying to sound confident, but a feeble whisper came out instead. I stretched my hand to grab her shoulder, hoping to grab her attention.

 

She lifted her gaze, her widened eyes locking onto mine, and pushed the knife forward, its tip grazing my stomach. Every instinct screamed at me to back away, to run. But I stayed rooted. Mom needed me now more than ever, I couldn't abandon her.

 

“Mom, I’m here with you, you’re not alone,” I said, clasping her trembling hands with mine.

 

It seemed to have some effect as her shaking subdued slightly. “Let’s not think about what’s going on right now. Close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Inhale, and then exhale.” 

 

She followed my instructions, taking deep breaths in and out. With each breath, the rapid heaving of her chest gradually subsided. Her facial expressions softened, and the tremors along her body and hands lessened.

 

After a few minutes, her composure improved as the trembling subsided. “Mom?” I asked gently, still holding her hands, slightly wary in case she hadn’t fully calmed down.

 

Her eyelids opened, revealing a pair of green eyes devoid of the terror that gripped them. Instead, they held a hint of confusion. “Oli?”

 

Relief flooded through me, and I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding in. “Are you okay?” 

 

“I…my head heads, and I’m exhausted,” she murmured, lowering her gaze. “Why do I have a knife in my… Oh Void, Oli, did I—!”

 

“It’s okay, I’m alright Mom. You did nothing.” I said, removing the blade from her grasp. I put it on the stove as I guided her to the small couch in the corner. “I’ll get you a glass of water, so just stay here, okay?”

 

She opened her mouth slightly—likely to ask questions—but swallowed them, and replied with a meek okay.

 

I grabbed one of the cups scattered on the floor and rinsed it in the sink, my mind stuck replaying the past five minutes. Her disheveled bed had led me to the kitchen, where she shifted from manic chaos to a depressive state in moments. It wasn’t just the change that unsettled me—it was the intensity of her emotions. They were too extreme, too unnatural.

 

“Was it stress ? ” I muttered, filling the cup with water. Mom had been volunteering for various tasks since boarding the Zariman. And with the upcoming Cultural Festival, she’d been busier than usual. Perhaps the agri-biome sabotage was her breaking point. 

 

But even then… her reactions were too extreme. A trembling body, manic gaze, and blade-in-hand certainty weren’t typical stress responses. If it wasn’t stress, then what triggered her meltdown?

 

Returning to her side, I gave her the cup of water and stared at her. I was torn between my desire for answers and the fear of provoking another breakdown. I didn’t want to risk that happening again, but the need to understand what exactly happened gnawed at me.

 

Despite my apprehension, I moved forward with my question. “Mom, what exactly caused your… reaction in the kitchen?” 

 

She remained silent, her gaze falling onto the cup in her hand. Thinking she was having a hard time putting it in words, I added, “If it was because of our food problem–”

 

“I don’t know,” she interrupted, her tone laden with confusion. “I mean, I am worried about our current situation, but it’s strange. I don’t even remember going to the kitchen.” 

 

“What’s the last thing you remember then?”

 

She took a small sip of water before answering, her voice hesitant and uneven. “I… I headed to bed after dinner, that’s it. Next thing I know you’re in front of me and I have a knife in hand. All these cuts on my suit and the blood in my hands… I don’t know…” Her voice cracked as her eyebrows furrowed deeply, and her hands started to tremble again.

 

“Okay, let’s think about that later. What matters is that you’re okay and nothing too bad happened.” I interrupted her before she could spiral further. The last thing we needed was for her to go down that rabbit hole of emotions again. 

 

“Oliver, I had a knife aimed at your stomach,” she muttered, her voice strained as she pressed her hands into her face. “I can’t just brush over that. I could have—”

 

“But you didn’t, so there’s no need to dwell on what-if. I’m alive, and so are you—that’s all we need to know.” I crouched down to her eye level and gently pried her hands away, revealing her tightly shut eyes. “How about this? Take a shower, get some rest, and clear your head. You said it yourself, you’re exhausted and dirty. This isn’t the time to figure things out.”

 

Judging by the parting of her lips, she wanted to complain, but quickly shut her mouth.“You’re too good at using my own words against me.” She murmured, her lips twitching upward.

 

“I learned from the best,” I joked, the corners of my mouth curving upward. I stood up from my crouching position, pulling her up with me. My hands still clutched her own as if terrified I’d lose her. “Let me help you to the bathroom, the floor is dirty and glass shards are scattered all over.”

 

“Oli, I can walk—” I squeezed her hands tightly at her words, making her stop. “Okay, lead the way.”

 

I went around the toppled table, making sure to avoid the glass shards and blood on the floor. Entering the main room, we passed her thrashed bed and stopped at the door at the opposite side. I punched the code into the electric lock, opening the door to the bathroom.

 

“Let me know if you need anything,” I said, to which she replied with a small nod before entering and closing the door behind her.

 

Turning around, I stepped toward my bed, collapsing face-first into the damp mattress. A shuddering breath escaped my lips as my hands began trembling once more.

 

What the fuck just happened?  

 

It all seemed surreal, like a scene from a horror movie. The thought that this was a dream crossed my mind, but the blood dripping from my feet and the throbbing of my heart said otherwise.

 

“Then again… that was a dream,” I muttered, turning my head to the side. “How long has it been since then, eleven years?”

 

I vividly remember the day he took me to Earth; it was the first time he took me with him to work. Of course, Mom wasn’t fond of sending me to that polluted wasteland, but he somehow convinced her to let me tag along and his work. How he got the clearance for that will always be a mystery.

 

But I’m glad he did. Where else would I see such greenery in the Origin System? 

 

I could feel the corner of my lips curve upward and my heart grow heavier as I delved deeper into my memories. The time he took me to the gigantic dunes of Mars. The day when we played until nightfall in Neptune’s glacial snow. The night we laid upon Jupiter’s moon and stared at the stars. Precious memories flooded my mind as I was consumed by the memory of that man. 

 

“I wish you were still here…” I whispered, my voice cracking. I felt my eyes grow hot, but I quickly rubbed them. I didn’t want Mom to see me like this.

 

As if on cue, the bathroom door opened and Mom walked out. She wore grey, baggy sweatpants and an oversized blue t-shirt. Her wet, chestnut hair was wrapped in a towel and bandages covered the cuts along her arms. 

 

The smile I had quickly contorted into a frown as I saw just how many bandages littered her arms. I could only imagine how the rest of her body looked like.

 

Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared down at me. “Oli—”

 

“Quite the outfit your highness,” I teased, pushing myself up from the bed. My voice slightly cracked, but I continued as to not give her a chance to question me. “Is such clothing befitting for a noble as yourself?” 

 

She paused for a second, aurora-colored eyes peering into me, before playing along, “Hmph. Everything in this world was made for mineself. No matter the item, all I touch shall become gold.”

 

“Is that so? Then this mattress shall turn into the greatest mattress once you lay on it.” I said, gesturing to my bed.

 

“Huh? No, Oliver, I can’t—”

 

I held up my hand, cutting her off. “I know what you’re about to say, but no. I’m not having you sleep on that bird's nest in the corner. You’re taking my bed, and that’s final.” 

 

“We should at least clean up the room. And where are you going to sleep?”

 

“Leave cleaning for tomorrow, you and I are both exhausted to be doing anything right now. And I’ll sleep on the floor or something.”

 

Mom looked apprehensive about my proposal, but seeing as I didn’t back down from her stare, she ultimately relented and laid on my bed. “Oli, thank you.”

 

“It’s nothing, Mom,” I said with a smile. “You’d do the same for me.” 

 

Seeing her nestle into my bed, I made my way to the bathroom, steam covering the mirrors and sliding glass door of the shower. Taking off the space suit, I sat on the toilet, carefully plucking out the shards of glass from my feet before stepping into the standing shower and turning the water on.

 

What a day this has been, I thought to myself, as hot water cascaded down my body. Hearing the sabotage of the agri-biomes was shocking enough, but Mom’s panic episode added another layer to the chaos. 

 

“Is that even the right word for it?” I questioned, grabbing the bar of soap from the wall mounted holder. “A panic episode would imply that it’s happened more than once, but to my knowledge, this was the first time.” 

 

I lathered the soap across my body, scrubbing at my sweaty back. “Unless she’s been having them without me knowing… I hate to admit it, but if not for that dream, I wouldn’t have seen her reacting like that.”

 

The pain from that dream jolted me awake, and because of that, I was able to stop Mom from hurting herself any more. If I hadn’t woken up… who knows what she would have done. 

 

“But that begs the question: why did she react so forcefully?” 

 

No matter what I thought of, I couldn’t come up with an answer. I couldn’t chalk it up to stress, it wasn’t a strong enough emotion to make her panic like that, even if she worked herself to the bone. The agri-biomes being sabotaged could have played a part in it, but to make her cut herself was something else entirely. 

 

“It’s too extreme, too unlike her. It’s as if her emotions were amplified—”

 

The bar of soap slipped from my hand. My train of thought came to a halt as a possibility dawned on me. 

 

I’m an idiot, how could I not think about that? If it was because of that , then mom’s behavior could be explained. 

 

“But how?” I murmured. If that was involved, we would’ve had to have jumped to another planet for it to occur, but it’s been months since we’ve done so. Unless…

 

“No,” I shook my head, stopping myself from spiraling down a rabbit hole. “I can’t get ahead of myself right now.” 

 

Picking up the soap, I quickly finished cleaning myself. Stepping out of the shower, I grabbed a towel from the rack on the wall and dried myself, before going through the closet in the bathroom for clothing. 

 

Putting on a black t-shirt and shorts, I stepped out of the bathroom. I glanced at my bed, where Mom was resting soundly. Seeing her asleep filled me with a comforting sense of relief, knowing that I wouldn't have to see her succumb to such intense emotions. 

 

“If only you could always have such an expression…” I whispered, brushing away the strands of hair that covered her face. Her lips parted, as she uttered a single word:

 

“Vasilios.”

 

It was a name, a man’s name. Yet that word cut through my heart like a knife. A cold weight crushed my lungs as my eyes once again grew hot. 

 

I jerked my hand away from her face, stumbling away from my bed and into the kitchen. Glass shards pricked at my soles, but I welcomed the pain they brought. I’d take a thousand of those shards if it could remove that name from my head. 

 

Collapsing onto the couch in the corner, I tilted my head up at the ceiling, trying to stop tears from spilling. More memories than before arose to the surface of my mind. 

 

The New Year’s parade on Lua, when he hoisted me onto his shoulders so I could see the fireworks. Afternoons in our backyard, kicking a football and chasing each other. The nights he read me bedtime stories, his arms wrapped around me until I drifted off. And the endless hours we spend beneath the stars, drawing shapes and animals until the sun rose.

 

I pressed my palms into my eyes, in an effort to not cry, but the tears came anyway. Weak sobs escaped from my throat, breaking the silence that engulfed the room. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t banish those memories. 

 

“Dad,” I choked out hoarsely, my voice trembling as I uttered that word. “I miss you…so much.”

 

Grief welled up in my heart, threatening to swallow me whole. I wrapped my arms around myself, as if trying to imitate his actions, yet all I felt was the cold air brush against my skin. 

 

I felt the usual fatigue that accompanied the night cling onto me. Drowsiness pulled on my consciousness, but it brought me no comfort, for I knew what my dreams would entail. But before sleep could claim me, the day's events played through my head once more, and a disturbing thought emerged. 

 

The idea that everything would spiral downhill from here settled deep in my chest. That the society we cultivated in the last two years would crumble, fractured by chaos and despair. The residents would succumb to the terror of the Void jump, becoming hysterical and distraught. And Mom… her breakdown, the intense emotions that gripped her; it wouldn’t end with her. There would be more incidents like hers throughout the ship. 

 

I couldn’t shake the nagging thought that this was the beginning of the end.

Chapter 2: Whispers from the Void

“You think there’s a leakage in the Reliquary Drive?” a honey-laced voice asked.

 

“It’s the only explanation I can think of,” I replied. “We know void energy interacts with emotions and thoughts, negative ones specifically. Fear, anxiety, and hatred are all strengthened by the void and can overwhelm us if left unchecked. That’s why we’re taught emotional regulation techniques, to take control of our emotions—”

 

“Before they evolve and personify,” Claire interjected, her back lying against the wall. “I get that, but your theory doesn’t add up. If there is a void leakage, everyone on the ship should be affected.”

 

“And they have. Look at the protests, how have people suddenly started to revolt against the jump? We’ve been on this ship for two years and people now want to start fighting against the Orokin.”

 

“Oliver, nobody thought like you did. People came in assuming the Orokin had a method to reach Tau that didn’t involve a miracle. You can’t expect people to remain calm when they’re essentially told the Orokin are gambling with their lives.”

 

I couldn’t refute her words. All residents received a letter prior to boarding the Zariman stating we’d embark on a “top-priority colonization assignment.” It boasted our “qualifications” and called us the best candidates to “pioneer the future of the Orokin Empire.” For all the fancy wording, no mention of how such a colossal voyage would occur was written. Even when we boarded, we were told nothing about the method of travel.

 

The Tau system was four light years away from the Origin system; it would take tens of thousands of years to reach it without a jump. A voyage of such length could never be completed without running out of fuel before even making it a thousandth of the way. Therefore, the only explanation was we would arrive there by a void jump. Not a controlled sequence of small jumps we performed, but a single, dangerous, and unstable jump. 

 

It wasn’t until the Council brusquely mentioned the preparations for a giant void jump were nearing completion that people realized something was wrong.

 

But even if the people knew beforehand, the privilege to decline was never ours.

 

A soft chime rang through the space, followed by a deep masculine voice saying, “Welcome to Oro Works. Unauthorized persons are not permitted near the Reliquary.”

 

Stepping out of the elevator, Claire continued, "The protests can be explained as people getting scared at the possibility of death, and so they raised their voices in concern.”

 

“And the agri-biome sabotage?” I asked, following behind her.

 

“People got scared of the impending doom and took matters into their own hands.” She shrugged, her expression neutral. “It’s a drastic reaction, but it makes sense given our situation.”

 

“You know, you sound really calm knowing that we’re low on food and are jumping towards our death.” 

 

Claire let out a soft chuckle. “Well, I’m glad I seem okay to you. My mom is freaking out over the agri-biome incident, so the last thing she needs is me joining her.” Her voice dipped, barely audible, as she stared down at her hands, twiddled with her fingers.  

 

Before I could respond, she cleared her throat abruptly, her voice snapping back to its usual tone. “Anyways, now that I’ve crushed your argument, why are we even down here? You heard the announcement, we’re not supposed to be here.”

 

White and gold, colors synonymous with the Orokin, encompassed our vision as we entered the spacious cross-shaped room. A three-meter aureate vertical slab stood in the middle, the sun engraved on its lustrous surface. The light that reflected off the decoration blinded one’s eyes, as if directly staring at the star that lit our system.

 

“I’m going to warn the engineers about a possible void leakage,” I said, not bothering to look back at her.

 

“Umm, did you not hear me deconstruct your argument, there can’t be a void leakage.”

 

“You just stated another possibility, void energy could still be leaking,” I remarked, making my way to the right-hand side.

 

“Even if what you say is true, it’s not like they’ll take you seriously. You’ll just be a child who’s spouting whatever he can to not have the jump start. How are you so certain that there’s a void leak?”

 

Her hand gripped my shoulder tightly, stopping me in my tracks. I glanced back, my gaze locking onto her Neptune-colored eyes, swirling with concern. She was right. No matter what I said, I wouldn’t be taken seriously by any of the engineers. With tensions high due to the agri-biome incident and Void jump, I’d be lucky to get away with a warning. 

 

For a moment, I pondered whether it’d be a good idea to tell her about last night. Although Claire was a chatterbox, she wasn’t the type to spread people’s business. But I quickly dismissed the thought. 

 

As for her question… 

---

1 hour ago

The word beautiful could not capture the essence of what laid in front of me. Enormous diamond-shaped rocks floated above the clouds. A curtain of blue light stretched across the sky, shimmering like ribbons in the wind. The sun's rays shone brightly, illuminating the sky, yet the stars shined just as dazzlingly. The sound of insects and flowing water rang in my ears even though no bugs or bodies of water were present.

 

An alarm rang through the area as the scenery in front of me disappeared and returned to the large black screen it originally was. It seemed my time using the public Vista Suite was over. 

 

I would usually enjoy using the vista-graph and audioscape; like star gazing, it brought a sense of peace to my mind. Yet, the only thoughts occupying my head were the events from last night. My mother’s terrified expression remained etched in my mind, recalling her frantic behavior sent a shudder through my body.

 

“Could it be because of a void leakage?” I pondered, leaving the area and entering a hallway. 

 

After boarding the Zariman, our professor drilled all available information about the void and its properties into our heads. The lessons barely stretched over two short classes, much shorter than I anticipated. But it made sense why. Once regarded as insignificant and unworthy of exploration, the Void only gained traction when Albrecht Entrati unlocked its potential, paving the way for interstellar travel.

 

Our instructor instilled in us the dangers of void energy, and how prolonged exposure could exacerbate negative emotions and bring them to life. To prevent this, our dormizones included a built-in meditation room equipped with vista-graphs and audioscapes. The two contraptions created the holographic illusions of nature and ambient music and sounds, mitigating the prolonged effects of interstellar travel.

 

In addition to the personal Vista Suite, recalling joyful memories and focusing on the present–the now–prevents our emotions from becoming erratic and stopping conceptual embodiment. 

 

“And Mom did calm down when she focused on her surroundings…” I muttered, walking toward my dormizone. My theory held some weight, but I had no conclusive evidence that a void leakage was responsible. I could argue that the protests and food sabotage were a result of void exposure, but they could easily be associated with the people panicking about the jump.

 

Augh, it’s too hard to determine whether her emotions were amplified by the void. I pressed a hand to the side of my head. Coming up with a feasible explanation is turning my brain into mush, but I’d rather focus on that than my own thoughts.  

 

Like the previous night, memories of my father surged like a flood to the forefront of my mind. Whether it was because I wasn’t as exhausted or because my tear glands had run dry, the memories didn’t bring as much pain as before. 

 

Even so, I’d rather bury those times—lock them away so I can’t reach them.

 

I took a deep breath, focusing on the sensation of my abdominal muscles contracting as cool air filled my lungs. Slowly, the ache in my heart began to fade, and his name was pushed back to the corners of my subconscious.     

 

The past is already written. The ink is dry. 

 

If I remembered correctly, it was a line from Mom’s show during its later seasons. One of the characters was going through time-travel shenanigans or something, but that wasn’t important right now. What mattered was the meaning behind those words.

 

The past is the past. Regardless of whatever time theory the Archimedeans come up with, history cannot be rewritten. The ink dries and the page closes. Therefore, there is no reason to focus on it. Sure, you can look back at it and learn from it, but to cling onto what once? Such an action only brings pain and suffering. 

 

Time moves forward, regardless of our wishes, and so must we. Something Mom—

 

“Psst, dude wait up.” 

 

A voice snapped me from my thoughts, and I turned to see someone sneaking towards me. The standard black space suit all residents wore clung tightly to him, its color blending seamlessly with his skin tone. His braided locs, dark as the vacuum of space, fell to his eyebrows, leaving his striking eyes, glimmering with Saturn’s celestial hue, in full view.

 

“Khalil? Why are you whispering? And what are you doing out this early? There’s no one—” His hand clamped over my mouth, silencing my next words.

 

“Shh keep it down dude, I don’t want security knowing I’m out of my dormizone,” he whispered, turning his head back to where he’d come from.

 

What kind of trouble has this idiot got himself into this time? Doesn’t this make it the fourth time in two weeks that security has been on him. He talked during the morning pledge and pulled a prank on a random passerby, what the hell has he done now?

 

Removing his hand from my face, Khalil narrowed his eyes at me. “Don’t just assume the worst of me when it’s our first time seeing each other in days.”

 

“I didn’t even say anything…” I said, but Khalil stared at me with a look that clearly said ‘You definitely thought it,’ making me crack a smile. “It’s hard to think of something positive when security is involved with you.”

 

“C’monnnnn, don’t you have a little bit of faith in me?”

 

“Nope, not at all.” I retorted immediately. “It’s insane how someone like you got selected to be on the Zariman.”

 

“Dude, you make it sound like I’m some kind of delinquent or something,” his eyes, the color of Saturn’s rings, slightly tightening.

 

“If we hadn’t gotten on the Zariman and I saw you out on land acting like that… I wouldn’t even approach you,” 

 

At my words, his eyes suddenly went wide and his face stiffened. His shoulders dropped as he squatted down to the ground and buried his face in his hands, making himself smaller. “And you call yourself my friend… what type of friend would say such a thing?” Although his voice was muffled, the “hurt” in his voice was evident.

 

“Oh, I’m sooo sorry. How rude of me to say such a thing to you.” Playing along with his act, I squat down to his level and put my hand on his shoulder… only to push him backward, sending him sprawling onto the floor.

 

“ACKKK, what the fuck!?” Khalil shouted, getting up as quickly as he fell. “I could have hit my head and gone into a coma!?”

 

I chuckled at his exaggerated claim. “Bit of an overreaction don’t you think? And what happened to being quiet so security doesn’t notice you?” I quipped, extending my hand to help him up.

 

“Oh shit! I mean… fuck,” grabbing my hand and getting on his feet, he quickly darted his head around the hallway. Seeing nobody nearby, he let out a sigh. 

 

“If you actually didn’t do anything, why is security watching your dormizone?”

 

“I’m not supposed to say anything, but since there aren't any officers nearby I can tell you, not here though.” Pulling my arm, Khalil took me out of the hallway and back into the Vista Suite. 

 

He turned on the vista-graph and audioscape, playing the same visuals I had seen before. “Alright, nobody should be able to hear us if we talk a bit loud.” 

 

“Pretty sure the room is soundproof, so you have nothing to worry about,” I said, sitting down on the floor. “If security comes in, I’ll just snitch on you and say you forced me in here.”

 

“Alright good, I—wait you’re gonna rat me out?!” He shouted, disbelief written all over his face.

 

I grinned at his reaction. “Hey, I’m not getting in trouble for your shenanigans. I was going my own way when you snuck up on me and brought me here.” 

 

“Ughh, when you put it like that…” He sighed, scratching the back of his head. Sitting down in front of me, he continued, “Anyway, you know my distant aunt and uncle right, the ones that live two floors below us?”

 

“Olrud and Klort’s parents right? The old couple that are up in each other’s faces all the time right?”

 

“If late forties is old to you then yeah.”

 

“Pretty much is when we’re just sixteen.” I shrugged. “There’s a thirty-year gap between them and us”

 

“I would’ve agreed if my mom and dad didn’t blab about how recent technology increased our life spans. Apparently, fifty is gonna be the new young.”

 

I arched my eyebrow and let out a scoff. “Now that’s crazy. If fifty is young, what are they going to label as old? Three hundred?”

 

“I mean,” He pressed his lips together as he tilted his head up.“I don’t think that’s too far-fetched. My dad’s been going on and on about this new medication that apparently stops your cells from growing and reprograms them—”

 

“No no no no no. That’s ridiculous.” I wagged my index fingers and shook my head, refusing to believe what he just said.” How could we possibly have the technology to do that? We only recently created interstellar travel, how did we jump from that to eternal life?”

 

“Well—” 

 

“And even if we did, three centuries, three hundred years!? Three. Hundred. Years! That’s a third of a millennium! You realize how long that is?!?”

 

“Okay okay, I get it now. No need to shove it in my ear holes,” he grumbled, covering his ears with his hands. “But isn’t that like a good thing if it's true?”

 

“I… guess?” 

 

I didn’t know how to respond to that. More time to live sounds nice, but adding a century or two of time seems like overkill. Maybe it’s heaven for those who have so many things they want to do, but I didn’t have something like that. A few things, but nothing that requires an extra hundred years. “Anyways, you were saying something about your aunt and uncle.”

 

“Oh yeah. Crazy how easily we got sidetracked.” He shook his head sideways as if to clear his mind, before continuing. “Apparently, they had an argument four days ago and it turned violent. Olrud and Klort were in classes, so I heard it from the neighbors. I can’t say it's 100% true, but my aunt attacked my uncle pretty badly. I’m talking cuts to his face, hands, and chest. And not some shallow cuts, but like deep ones, deep enough that you could see the bone.”

 

“What the…?” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. Khalil’s aunt and uncle were like the perfect couple. Whenever we visited their dormizone, they never argued or got angry with each other. We often joked that they were incapable of expressing such emotions as we only saw them being lovey-dovey with one another. But Khalil was telling me that this blissful couple did a 180 and attacked each other. It just didn’t make sense.

 

“Security came after a bit, but my aunt didn’t stop attacking my uncle.” Khalil continued, his expression grim. “Apparently, she was screaming that he ‘had to be purged’ because he was ‘replaced’ or something. When the officers pulled her off him, she started slashing them with a knife but was knocked out before she hurt them.”

 

“Dude, what the fuck.” I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Even if he told me it was a different couple, the whole thing still felt made up. “What happened to Olrud and Klort?”

 

“They’re staying with me and my family. Security’s been staying near our dormizone, keeping an eye on us for some reason.” His face contorted into a pinched expression. “I have to tell them everywhere I’m going when I leave the dorm, even if it’s just across the hall!”

 

“Wait, what about your uncle? Is he alright?”

 

“That’s the weird thing, security won’t say anything about him. My dad tried asking but security pushed back saying they were `looking into it’ or `investigating further,’ which is bullshit.”

 

“What‘s there to investigate when they can just check if he’s okay?” 

 

“That’s what I’m saying! But they won't budge no matter how much I ask them,” he said, plopping back-first onto the floor. “What makes this worse is that this was the seventh domestic violence call they’d gotten in two days,” 

 

“Seventh? There’s been that many cases?!” 

 

“Supposedly. I heard two officers talking about it outside my dorm. They were saying how they’ve upped security efforts and are on overtime because of them. All the cases became just as violent, if not more than the previous ones.”

 

“...” If my jaw could hit the floor, it would have dug a hole into it. I could possibly understand if there were seven cases in the span of a year, but all of them occurred within forty-eight hours? And each one was just as violent as the last? “Do you know who they were talking about?” 

 

“No clue,” he shrugged. “The only other thing they said was that all cases involved families, the parents specifically, that had never shown previous signs of aggression. They called it 'abnormal’ since this never happened.”

 

“Abnormal doesn’t cut it. We’ve had family alterations here and there, but never to the point where it got violent.”

 

“Yeah, it’s like some ghost possessed them or something. I can’t imagine my aunt ever harming my uncle like that.”

 

Possessed… My eyes widened as I repeated the word in my head. Possession sounded stupid, but surprisingly made sense, just not in the way one normally thinks of it. 

 

“But there’s still the issue of how it could have happened,” I muttered. The Zariman hadn’t performed a jump in three months, a void leak via a jump was impossible. 

 

“Well we won’t be able to figure it out ourselves dude,” Khalil said, mistaking my whispers as conversation. “Anyways, we just gotta keep our heads down and not do anything stupid, or else security is gonna go crazy.”

 

I raised my eyebrows. “Me? It’s you who has to be careful. You’re the one who’s constantly being sent to their sector for misbehaving.”

 

“Yeah yeah, I know,” Khalil stood up, dismissively waving me off. He then turned off the vista graph and audioscape before stopping. “Oh, I forgot to ask, how you doing?”

 

“Huh? Where’d that… Oh,” I was confused as to what he was talking about, but it quickly dawned on me. “I guess I’m okay, I don’t think the situation has hit me yet, it kind of feels surreal.”

 

Khalil turned around to meet my eyes. “Yeah, I get that. It's crazy how someone could doom the entire ship with a single act. Are you and your mom stocked up on food?”

 

I ran my hands through my hair, sighing as I lay on the ground. “We’ll be fine if we ration carefully, it’s just—”

 

“The stress of it all. Yeah, I get that. How’s your mom handling it?”

 

“She’s…” I winced at recalling my mother’s behavior last night, turning away from Khalil’s gaze.  “She’s doing okay. She’s just really worried about what comes next. We’ve still got to hear back from Tuvul, Void knows what extreme punishment he’ll enforce on us.”

 

He didn’t respond to me, the sound of flowing water being the only noise in the room. I heard footsteps approaching me, until they stopped right next to my head. Eyes that radiated Saturn’s golden-brown hue staring directly into my eyes.. “Hey, you think we’re making it out of this?”

 

That’s the question of the century…  

 

It was a question I asked myself when first boarding the Zariman, but never delved into it too deeply. Who would want to constantly question whether today would be their last? It was an agonizing way to live, so I simply hoped that the jump to Tau was possible, that the Orokin had a safe method to reach the new star system. Yet the announcement last week made everything clear: 

 

We were the Orokin’s guinea pigs in their latest experiment. 

 

It was no secret that resources across the Origin System were rapidly depleting. With the increase in technological advancement, it was only natural. And if what Khalil said about the increase in life expectancy, that would only exacerbate the problem. It makes sense that the Orokin would attempt to reach a new star system. But to gamble with the lives of their people was just atrocious, yet it wasn’t out of the ordinary for the self-serving Orokin.

 

As I was about to answer his question, he interrupted, “I think we’ll be okay. I have an idea of what the Orokin will do now that our food is gone.” 

 

I chuckled at his words. “Heh, an idea from you isn’t worth much you know.”

 

“Heyyy… ” he pouted, giving me a soft glare. “Keep talking like that and I won’t share my food with you.”

 

“You shouldn’t. Mom and I have enough stored for at least three to four weeks. Keep all of it for you and your family.” I said, standing up from the floor.

 

“I got an abundance of food too, so I’ll give some out to those you don’t have any.”

 

For some reason, what he said made me pause and my stomach squirmed, but I quickly spoke up, “…Yeah, we should do that.”

 

“Anyway, I don’t wanna keep you here for too long. You seemed like you were going somewhere before I roped you in here.”

 

“So you do admit to taking me here against my will?” I teased.

 

“Mmmm…” He crossed his arms together and cocked his head to the side. “Let’s just say it was a mutual kidnapping.”

 

“Pftt, how does that make sense man?” 

 

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he closed his eyes. “Ughhh, I don’t know, it was the first thing that came to mind.” After a pause, he looked up, his face more serious. “But be careful dude, we can’t be getting on security’s bad side right now. The last thing we need right now is for them to go after us.”

 

“Sir yes sir. ”I said, giving him a salute. “I’m off then, try your best not to do anything stupid.”

 

Chuckling at my teasing, Khalil gave a small goodbye as he shooed me from the room. 

 

Stepping out of the Vista Suite, I began walking towards my dormizone and pondered on what to do. 

 

Going by the Orokin’s rules and what Khalil said, the right thing would be to do nothing. Security would be on high alert. The smallest thing would set them so, so doing nothing would be the safest choice. 

 

“But I can’t do that,” I said. If a void leak was actually happening, its effects would exacerbate with time. What if mom becomes like that again, all hysterical and terrified? What if she does more than just cut herself? Would she grab a knife and start butchering her hands? Or would she start with her legs, slowly carving up until she reached her upper body, the metal blade coated in enough crimson to dye the entire room? 

 

I slapped my hands onto my cheek, breaking me from that loop of negativity. The last thing I needed was to create a plethora of worse-case scenarios that exacerbated my fears. 

 

“One step at a time Oliver.” I muttered to myself, stopping in front of a door. “One step at a time.” 

 

Entering my dormizone, the first thing I noticed was the cleanliness of the main room. The ripped bedsheets and glass shards no longer littered the floor. New bed covers replaced the shredded ones from last night, and the pillow stuffing dyed red was nowhere to be found. 

 

But the one thing I was looking for wasn’t there. Maybe she’s in the kitchen.

 

To my dismay, she wasn’t there, and neither was the mess from last night. The previous stench of metal was replaced with that of bleach, and the knocked over table and cups were put in their proper places. A slight red hue shined from the floor, the only indicator of what occurred last night. 

 

“Where the hell did she go?”

 

I clicked my tongue as I turned back to the living quarters. The thought that she might be in the bathroom came to mind, but the door was wide open, revealing no person in it.

 

“You can’t be serious Mom…” I groaned, sitting down on my bed. If she wasn’t anywhere in the dormizone, then I could only assume she’s gone out to do some stupid task or give some finishing touches to the festival. “Plus, it’s seven in the morning, why isn’t she still in bed?”

 

Any normal person would have stayed in bed after what happened last night—heck, even a deranged one! Yet, it seemed like the word rest didn’t exist in her dictionary.

 

“Ugh, would it kill her to take a break for one fucking day?!” I exclaimed, leaning back onto my mattress. “Well, there goes my first plan.”

 

I was hoping to talk to her about last night now that she got some rest, but that plan has gone up in smoke. While I could go look for her, that’d take a long time to do. If she wasn’t at the Chrysalith, then she could be anywhere on the ship. And even if I found her, there was no guarantee that she’d remember anything about last night. 

 

“Heck, knowing her, she’d brush it off by saying it was the stress that got to her or some other bullshit excuse like always.” 

 

I dragged my hands down my face as my blood boiled. I just couldn’t understand her. How could she ignore her health while being the first to fret about others? No one was forcing her to push herself so hard, to work like she had something to prove. Yet she did. Day in and day out, she worked like there was no tomorrow.

 

Machines can’t run forever, at some point they’ll break down from wear and tear. What makes her think she can do what a machine can’t? 

 

“Haaaa,” I let out a sigh, pushing myself off the bed. “Whatever, there’s no point in thinking about this.” No matter what I say, she’ll ignore me and keep on working as she does—it was like arguing with a wall.”

 

I exited the dormizone and began walking towards the elevator. If I couldn’t get information from Mom, then I’d have to do what Khalil said not to.

 

“Let’s just try telling the engineers my theory. There has to be at least one person who would hear me out.”

 

With that thought in mind, I made my way to the Oro Works, the sector in the middle of the Zariman, and home to the Reliquary Drive that powers this ship. 

---

 

“Anyway, how are you so certain that there’s a void leak?”

 

I glanced back at Claire, pondering if I should tell her what Khalil said. Having spent the past two years with her, I knew she could keep a secret, but was it the right choice? I had no evidence to back my theory, only assumptions. Just like she said, I'd sound like a child spouting nonsense. She wouldn't ridicule me for my ideas, but I didn't want to make her panic if it turned out to be false.

 

“I’m not, but there isn’t any harm in asking them to check it out. They’ll most likely tell me to piss off, but at least it’ll linger in their minds and they might end up checking the Reliquary Drive.” 

 

Claire parted her lips to reply, but a firm, broad voice rang out, startling me and making me step away.

 

“Oi, what are y'all doing here?" 

 

A man stepped through the automatic door, his eyes cold and narrowed. His military haircut complimented the hard, stoic expression on his face. He wore a metal vest on top of the standard black void suit, golden accents tracing the edges of his armor. A metallic shoulder belt wrapped around him, holding a plethora of knives, along with mini ones in his arms.

 

"I asked you two a question, what are y'all doing down here?" Repeating his question, but with an elevated volume, the man stepped closer to us. 

 

Startled by him, I stumbled over my words. "Uhh, I-I came here to warn someone about a possible problem—" 

 

"Two kids think they know more about the ship than the people who built it?" Before I could finish speaking, the man interrupted me. His sharp and demeaning eyes pierced my own as he continued. "Listen, there ain't no problem. Now get out of here." 

 

"Hey! Can't you at least hear him out? He could be saving you from a future problem?!" Claire retorted, her voice rising. “He—”

 

I stepped in, cutting her off before things escalated. "Please forgive my friend for her outburst, she can get quite combative, but she means well." 

 

The man's spotless gear and decorated armor suggested he wasn’t an engineer or manual worker, but a high-ranking officer. Claire shouting at him wasn’t doing us any favors.

 

"We just wanted to let an engineer know of a problem—" 

 

But the man wasn't interested, or perhaps Claire's response had aggravated him. "I'm going to say this one more time, so listen with those ears of yours. There. Ain't. No. Problem. No one except authorized personnel should be down here. Now, get out of here before I write you both up!" 

 

"Just listen for a sec—oww!" I quickly kicked her shin, stopping her from saying any more. Khalil’s words repeated in my mind, security was on high alert, and us butting heads with a high-ranking officer would only harm us. 

 

"Tch, fine we'll leave."

 

Understanding my message, Claire begrudgingly turned around to head for the elevator. I also went to take my leave, giving a small apology for her behavior. But before we could go far…

 

"Cavalero, is there a problem out here?" 

 

A woman stepped out the same door as Cavalero. She had short auburn hair, adorned with intricate golden headgear, lending her a regal appearance. She wore a dark, form-fitting dress with golden armor-like details on the shoulders and torso.

 

My eyes widened in recognition, my mouth slacked-jawed. I knew this person, everyone on the ship knew who she was. 

 

When we first boarded, each dormizone was outfitted with two sets of paintings. One was of Albrecht Entrati, the highly renowned Orokin scientist who gained access to the Void. The other one was the scientist on board with us, tasked with making the calculations for the jump…

 

"Archimedean Yonta," I muttered.

 

"Hmm, why yes that’s me," she said, her voice gentle and soft, the opposite of the man beside her. Staring at Claire and I, she spoke, "Why are you two here? You must have heard the elevator's announcement that no civilians are allowed down here.”

 

"Ah yes.Well—"

 

"Tch, they're here to make a ruckus out of nothing," once more, Cavalero’s sharp tone cut through my words. "They're babbling about nonsense and wasting my time."

 

"What is your problem?! We haven't been able to say anything without you interrupting us." Coming to my defense, Claire shouted back. "My friend here is trying to let you know something he thinks is happening!"

 

“Claire…” I was grateful that she backed me, but two high-ranking officials were in front of us, this wasn’t the time to get defensive and lash out.

 

"Ah yes, a child thinks he's smarter than the people working on it. Why don't we have you work on—"

 

"Cavalero, that's enough." Archimedean Yonta interrupted, her voice firm and assertive. She turned to face me and said gently, "Now, what is it you wanted to tell us."

 

Cavalero seemed annoyed at her interference but complied nonetheless. Taking a deep breath and then exhaling, I calmed my nerves and readied my words. "I believe there to be a leakage in the Reliquary Drive."

 

Silence followed my declaration; neither Cavalero nor Archimedean Yonta uttered a word. I assumed she would brush off my assumption like Cavalero, although much more nicely, but instead, her expression hardened. The warmth in her face vanished, replaced with a neutral look. Even Cavalero seemed to have dropped his irritated expression, turning to face me without any visible signs of displeasure.

 

"...And what are your reasons for making such a claim?" Her voice, too, lacked the warmth it had shown earlier, now replaced by a wooden tone.

 

"Um well, I have two reasons. The first is the recent protests regarding people's concern about the jump to Tau—”

 

“Child, you fail to comprehend the unpredictability of human emotions,” the archimedean quickly interjected, not allowing me to finish my sentence. “An individual may initially feel secure, but that sense of security can crumble at any moment. Given the present circumstances, it is only natural for individuals to feel apprehensive about the Void Jump. I am sure you are aware of the announcement I made a week ago regarding the Reliquary Drive's calculations. It's possible that my statement about the calculation's completion ignited people's anxieties. However, there's no need to dwell on the Zariman’s safety. My team and I are diligently revisiting our calculations to ensure the jump proceeds as planned. We plan to alleviate the resident's worries and return the Zariman to its peaceful atmosphere."

 

As expected of an Archimedean, her words were precise and detailed, as if she were delivering a presentation to the Council, debunking my explanation without effort. 

 

However, that didn't mean I was backing down without putting up a fight. I already knew that point would be easily countered thanks to Claire.

 

"Then how can you explain the agri-biome incident? To sabotage our food source and threaten the lives of everyone aboard is too extreme to be a simple change in emotions."

 

Her eyes widened slightly, seemingly shocked. She likely thought I would back down after hearing her eloquent and elongated rebuttal. But as expected, she quickly recovered and continued our argument.

 

"What you say is correct, sabotaging the agri-biome is a drastic action. However, it still falls under the unpredictable nature of human emotions."

 

"But wouldn't such an action be caused by the Void?” I challenged. “We know negative emotions and the Void don't mix well together, so it's probable that the void could have caused it."

 

The click of a tongue broke between our dispute. Even without looking to see who it was, I already knew it was that stupid egghead who thought he knew everything. 

 

I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from saying something idiotic, now wasn’t the time to lose my cool.

 

Archimedean Yonta paused, her eyes narrowed, before continuing. "Indeed, it is one possibility. But we cannot confirm nor deny that the Void played a role in said incident, therefore, we cannot say anything about it." 

 

'Tch, she deflected my argument by agreeing and disagreeing with my point.' I pressed my lips as hard as I could. It was aggravating having my points brushed off, is this what she felt when disputing other Archimedeans? I knew arguing with a scholar would be tough, but I hoped to at least get a small win. 

 

"You claimed to have two reasons for your speculation, what is your second?" 

 

"I...uh…" My throat constricted, no coherent sentence spilling out. Technically, I do have two reasons, but I faced a moral dilemma: to say it or not. 

 

Revealing it could give me the edge in this argument, but it came at the cost of throwing Khalil under the bus. Still, when else would I get this opportunity? Once we leave, they’ll bar anyone from stepping into the Oro Works. But was it worth my friends—

 

“Hah, got nothing to say huh?

 

Those irritating and provoking words came from that boar of a man. I turned around to see him smirking at me as if he had achieved a major victory. 

 

That fucking…  

 

I dug my fingers so hard into my palms that they could draw blood. If this idiot thought it was his win, he was sorely mistaken. 

 

As if I would allow this fucking piece of shit to walk away with that pompous look.

 

Turning back to the scholar, I crossed my arms, feeling a blaze ignite in my chest. “If there is no void leak, then how can you explain the seven domestic violence cases that have happened in the past two days?”

 

Archimedean Yonta’s gaze tightened, her eyes boring into mine. “What are you talking about?”

 

I realized how much I hated her stare. It felt condescending, as if she were dealing with an insect. Her gaze fanned the flames that burned my insides, boiling the blood that coursed through me.

 

Don’t fucking look at me like I’m a lesser, an ant that you can step on, you fucking pig.

 

“Security was talking about some recent dormizone incidents, all of which ended in violence. In one case, someone claimed their partner was ‘replaced’ and therefore needed to die. If it were just arguments between couples, then sure, I could chalk it up to anxiety. But seven different cases, all with disturbingly similar scenarios? That goes far beyond simple anxiety!” 

 

The archimedean remained silent, her expression unreadable. She brought her hand up to her chin, as if contemplating on what to say.

 

Ahhh, I love that look on her face.

 

A shiver spread through my body, a quiver that threatened to buckle my knees. I caught her without any defense. I made her pause, made her think about the situation. That know-it-all attitude she had, I fucking destroyed it.

 

Ahhh fuck, this feels good.

 

I felt my lips stretch wide. I wanted to turn, to catch that idiot’s reaction, but it was too soon. Rendering her speechless wasn’t enough. I needed a decisive blow, something that couldn’t be dismissed, something undeniable, something unquestionable, something indisputable, something irrefutable, something incontestable.

 

Only then would I turn to see that imbecile’s face twisted into an expression of pure disbelief.

 

FUCKKK I feel great, like—

 

But like a broken record, that simpleminded, unintelligent, vacuous, brainless, mindless, moronic, idiotic, half-wit cretin barged in.

 

“I’ve had enough of this shit! Now you’re just spewing nonsense to fit your narrative!” The swine’s aggravating voice echoed through the area, his face morphing into pure agitation. “Seven cases that all turned violent and happened in the past two days?! Gimme a break brat, you’re just making that shit up!”

 

“You piece of—!” I bit back the rest, but my mind burned and churned with hatred.

 

Shut the fuck up you pig, you fucking disgusting piece of shit.

 

His constant interruptions stoked a fire in me, like a bomb ticking away in my chest. There was a small voice of reason in my head, telling me to back down, but—

 

Fucking burn him, make him yell, make him scream, make him cry, make him bleed!

 

Another voice brushed against my ear, whispering vulgar words that I agreed with. Was this my subconscious? That question made its way to my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. It didn’t matter if it was or wasn’t. 

 

An animalistic urge swelled within me, one that I couldn’t brush off. Their ranks meant nothing to me, their titles were just made-up words to make themselves seem like big shots, and their decorative armor was just to make themselves feel important—feel special—like they fucking matter.

 

“I know what I heard so you better listen to me! Something is going on in this ship and you need to fix it before my mother goes insane! All I’m asking is for the engineers to check the Reliquary Drive for any problems, how hard is it to do that!!”

 

“There ain’t no problems moron!” The pig shouted back, his face morphing into a hideous scowl.

 

I fucking hate you!

 

“All you’re doing is spewing gibberish and fanning the flames in an already fragile situation!” The boar got right up in my face, his veins and eyes bulging as his voice grew louder. 

 

Get the fuck away from me you arrogant fucking pig!

 

“Get your asses out of here before I take you into custody!” He spat out, veins bulging on his forehead.

 

I FUCKING HATE YOU SO FUCKING MUCH!!

 

My body burned with a heat that left me trembling, my eyes glaring intensely at him. How I wanted his flesh to cling onto the snow-white walls as his muscles were shredded into pieces and scattered across the hall. I yearned to smear his disgusting blood onto the pale marble floor, to batter his repulsive excuse of a face with my fists until my knuckles were permanently stained red. Like I did that—

 

“Huh?”

 

A strange sensation crept into my mind, like a thick fog descending and smothering the flames coursing through my veins. 

 

“Ah……” 

 

A sharp tingling spread through my skull, like the prick of a needle piercing deep. My thoughts unraveled, tangling into a chaotic mess as the haze thickened. No matter how hard I tried to push it away, the fog clung stubbornly, refusing to dissipate.

 

What’s going on?

 

“It’s a simple thing to do, why are you so against it you idiot!” A feminine voice burst through the haze, sharp and venomous. Her face flushed the same fiery shade as her hair. “Just check the goddamn Reliquary Drive. Are you so stupid that you can’t do something so simple!” She yelled, jabbing her right index finger into the man’s chest like she wanted to drill a hole straight through.

 

Claire? What’s she doing here? And the Reliquary Drive? What’s wrong with it?  

 

I couldn’t make sense of what she was saying. Who was the guy she was fighting with? Why was she so defensive? Were we in trouble?

 

I wanted to interject, to ask what was going on, but my words jumbled in my throat.

 

“You fucking bitch…!” The man’s voice erupted, his hand shooting out to grab Claire’s wrist. He yanked her arm, pulling her face to his, mere inches apart. 

 

“Aghh, let go of me you fuck!” Claire shoved her left hand against his chest, but no amount of force caused him to bulge. 

 

Instead, he twisted her right arm around, making her fall onto her knees as he placed her into an arm lock. “I’m detaining your ass and sticking you in the shittest room I can find—no, that isn’t enough. I’m ejecting your ass out of this fucking ship and sending your parents with you!” 

 

The fog in my head burned away, replaced by a scorching heat that surged through my blood like an erupting volcano. Information flooded back into my brain, filling the gaps the fog had left. Cavalero, that was his name. Why was I here…that was still muddled, but it didn’t matter. The scene in front of me ignited a fuse I didn’t know existed.

 

And suddenly— 

 

!!!UOY LLIK GNIKCUF OT GNIOG M‘I

 

—A primal instinct coursed through my body, like a predator locking onto its prey.

 

“YOU FUCKING—!!!” I roared, my throat burning from the intensity of my voice. My arm moved towards the piece of shit, fists clenched so tightly that blood seeped from my palms. I’d never thrown a punch before, but that didn’t matter. I wanted to bash my hands into his face, smear his fancy and unblemished armor with blood, tear his body into pieces, and feed them to whatever starving child I could find on this ship!

 

I’ll KILL YOU! I’LL RIP YOU INTO PIECES! I’LL FUCKING MURDER YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS YOU FUCKING—!!!

 

“Enough!!!” Catching my arm before it could collide with the man’s face, a tall, ivory woman stood between us whilst removing Claire from his grasp. “Must you all act like toddlers throwing a tantrum? To lower yourself to the standards of primitives, have you no shame Cavalero? And you two, to attack a superior officer is considered a high offense.”

 

Archimedean Yonta…yes, that was her name. The woman who denied any issues with the Zariman. The one responsible for the ship’s calculations—the judge, jury, and executioner condemning all of us to death.

 

GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME YOU FILTHY BITCH!!

 

“Don’t give me that shit!” Shoving her hand off me, I glared at the Archimedean with such intensity that my eyes burned. “My mother’s going to end up dead because of you two! Something’s going on and you two can check it out, why aren’t you listening!”

 

“There are no issues with the Reliquary Drive,” she replied, her voice clipped and dismissive.

 

YOU LYING PIECE OF SHIT! YOU’RE ALL THE SAME!

 

“Are you fucking reta—”

 

“Are you questioning the will of the Council?”

 

Her tone was like the glaciers of Neptune, devoid of any warmth. But it wasn’t that which paralyzed me, that which froze the words in my throat.

 

“I will ask once more, are you questioning the orders of the Seven? The Executors that granted you the task of being the first citizens to set afoot in a new system, an honor much greater than you deserve. Do you dare question their will?”

 

“……” It was as if cold water had been poured on me, snuffing out the heat in my body. I turned towards Claire, who was still on her knees, and noticed the shift in her complexion. Her face had turned the same color as the walls, and I couldn’t blame her.

 

“I… I…” Yet a part of me was still resisting. A part of me that didn’t wish to bend so easily to her threat. But as I glanced back at Claire, fear ever present in her dull, sky-blue eyes, my defiance slipped away.

 

My shoulders slumped. “No…no, I wouldn’t dare question the Seven,” I murmured, the embers in my body completely extinguished.

 

“And you?” She glanced at Claire, who trembled at being directed at. Her only response was a meek no, to which the Archimedean said, “Then you have no business in this sector. Leave immediately.”

 

Like zombies, we both turned around and walked slowly towards the elevator. Not a word was spoken between us; the weight of Archimedean Yonta’s accusation hung over us like a cloud. To question the will of the Orokin was the highest offense a citizen could commit–a crime punishable by death, not just for us, but for our families as well. We didn’t dare speak, too afraid that even a whisper would be enough to condemn us.

 

Once inside the elevator, and the door closed behind us, my legs gave out. I crumpled onto the floor, the full weight of my actions crashing down on me like a train. My chest heaved as the chaos replayed in my mind, each memory like a punch to the gut.

 

I had shouted at two high-ranking officials, curses spilling from my mouth without thought. I had almost assaulted one, my fist inches away from his face. And Khalil… My friend who had trusted me with a secret that couldn’t be shared. I betrayed him, throwing him into the crossfire without a second thought, likely putting him in danger.

 

WHY? WHY? WHY?  

 

Why couldn’t I control myself? Why did I lose my composure so quickly, letting my emotions dictate my actions? Why did I lash out like some wild animal? Why didn’t I just stay calm?

 

My throat tightened, and my vision blurred as tears pooled in my eyes. 

 

How had it all gone so wrong?

 

I pressed my face into my knees, the fabric of my space suit rubbing my tears away. All I could do now was pray—pray that no punishment would fall on Claire, Khalil, my mother, or me. Pray that my actions wouldn’t exacerbate the already delicate situation.

 

But a small, gnawing voice, like a worm burrowing into my mind, whispered in my ear:

 

Kill them all.

---

 

Watching the two leave felt like seeing a scolded puppy, heads low and crestfallen. I brought a hand to my face, exhaling a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

 

“The brats tired you out that much?” Cavalero said, a sneer plastered on his face.

 

I glared sharply at him. “As if a brute such as yourself has any right to speak. Were you not the one who started this problem?” 

 

“Hey, I’m just following orders, yours specifically. Were you~ not the one who asked me to keep anyone without clearance outside? " He said, mocking me for my manner of speech.

 

“And you failed, miserably. Allowing two residents to come down here–children at that–and then agitating them to get physical. Are you incapable of resolving an issue without violence?” 

 

“Tch, it worked at the end of the day.” He turned away, clicking his tongue at the hit to his pride. “So all’s well that ends well right?” 

 

“Only a barbarian would see this as a victory…” I shook my head, did this imbecile not understand the repercussions should those children speak of what was discussed?

 

“Haaa… You Archimedean's worry too much. They won’t speak to anyone about this after you threaten them. A bit overkill to say they’ll be charged with treason dontcha think?”

 

My stomach lurched at that last part and I averted my eyes. The faces the two made when I implied what pressing on would entail flashed in my mind. The way the fire in his eyes extinguished and how her body became stiff showed the exact emotion both were feeling at that moment: fear. 

 

To say I didn’t regret it would be a lie. They were children, the future of our kingdom, and I was ready to subject them to the cruelest sentence one could be condemned to. I couldn’t call myself a human being if I didn’t feel guilty.

 

But what’s done is done.

 

That was all I could tell myself. Perhaps there was a different way to prevent the child from pressing on, but that was behind me now.

 

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and began walking away from Cavalero. “It does not matter now. Do your job properly or there shall be consequences.”

 

“Hold up!” I barely made it a foot past the door before he yelled at me.

 

Must this hothead keep me more occupied than he’s supposed to ? Turning back to face him, I said, “What is it—” 

 

“Did they have a point?” 

 

His question made me pause. I hadn’t expected him to ask that. “Were you not the one who called it ‘gibberish’?”

 

“Well, I’ll admit that it seems outlandish, but I can’t deny that the brat made some interesting points.” He said, crossing his arms. “All seven incidents did happen close to each other, but not every one of them became violent. He probably heard the worst from someone just trying to spread fear. I’ll have security track down that person and deal with them."

 

He paused for a few moments, his expression turning serious. "The most recent one was grim though. The husband died from severe blood loss after being slashed across his chest and limbs. The wife claimed she did it ‘cause she believed her husband had been 'replaced' and needed to die."

 

If my stomach could drop any lower, it would be on the floor. My hands were already starting to sweat. I wanted to cover my ears to block out what he was saying, but doing that would mean admitting something I couldn’t—no, something I wouldn’t believe.

 

“If the void is influencing people, then that’s something that I need to tell my men. We’re weaponless since our mighty Golden overlords only gave us confetti cannons and sticks, so any info is useful.” 

 

Since he asked his question, his eyes never left mine—like a predator staring at its prey. I smoothed my hands over my uniform, forcing my voice to remain steady, void of any hesitation. “While it is intriguing to speculate how they arrived at such a theory, it is ultimately inaccurate. A void leak would affect everyone, specifically those near the drive, like you and I.” 

 

My mouth went dry, but I didn’t dare swallow, not with him staring at me. I felt like a mouse being stalked by a hawk; any opening I showed would be enough to tell I was hiding something. 

 

“Hmm…” He narrowed his eyes. “Well, you’re the scholar so you gotta be right. I feel normal, although somewhat moodier, but that’s ‘cause of them kids.” 

 

Whether by sheer luck or by trickery, he didn’t notice anything. I quickly turn around and head back to the Reliquary Drive, not caring to bid him farewell. 

 

Once I passed the doorway and turned the corner, I slumped against the wall and blew a shaky breath. My body trembled and my stomach had yet to recover. 

 

I was not expecting such issues this early in the morning.

 

Inhaling and exhaling, I attempted to calm my mind and body, but my thoughts would be brought back to the boy. His tall stature made him seem older, but he was likely between fourteen and seventeen.

 

“Still, for a mere child to debate with me.” Although not at the level of the Orokin, the rank of an Archimedean was not to be taken lightly. He knew who I was, his reaction when I first entered had made that clear, yet he still chose to test his luck and argue.

 

His theory was rudimentary, and two of his reasons were easily dismissed, but the courage to challenge an archimedean was commendable. His strength to pursue a battle, even against a veteran opponent, was phenomenal.

 

It only made it more disappointing when he succumbed to his emotions.

 

Of course, I noticed the anger building up in him as our argument continued. The subtle fist clenching and narrowed gazes directed at me. Yet, he never exploded when speaking with me, only when his friend became physical did he lash out. Had he and the girl kept themselves steady, the situation would not have ended as it did.

 

“But it’s strange…” He didn’t look like the type to use violence. The child even appeared to have a moment of clarity when Cavalero yelled at him. The fire in him ceased, and he glanced at both Cavalero and his friend, his eyes questioning the situation. Yet that musclehead reignited that flame when he snatched the girl by the wrist. 

 

One could argue that his friend was in danger, which is why he jumped in, but he must have known it would only worsen the situation. He knew who I was, anyone wouldn’t act so carelessly in front of an Archimedean unless they desired punishment. 

 

So why did he act like that?

 

I thought of a possibility, but quickly shook my head vigorously. There was no need to entertain such a childish idea. It couldn’t be true.

 

“What a joke,” I muttered to myself, getting up from the wall and walking down the corridor. “This is nothing but a joke, a story he made up to return home.” Yes, that is what it had to be. He was afraid of the jump and compiled incidents that could have been related to each other to give his theory more credit. It was nothing more than—

 

‘ If it were just arguments between couples, then sure, I could chalk it up to anxiety. But seven different cases, all with disturbingly similar scenarios? That goes far beyond simple anxiety! ’

 

‘ All seven cases did happen close to each other, each one being more violent than the last. ’ 

 

‘ The most recent case ended in the husband's death, he lost too much blood from the cuts to his chest and limbs. ’

 

‘ The wife claimed she did it ‘cause her husband was ‘replaced’ and needed to die. ’

 

“Ughhh.” A sudden chill ran across my body and my stomach gnawed on my insides, causing me to grab my stomach. I wanted to stop thinking about it, but my mind kept returning to the argument. It was as if my subconscious could not bear the weight of the truth.

 

No, it is not the truth.

 

A voice buzzed in my mind as if echoing against my skull. 

 

 It is just speculation from a child who knows nothing. 

 

I couldn’t remember how long ago it had first appeared. Perhaps months ago? The voice—as low as a whisper—sounded like my own, so I never questioned it. In fact, I attributed it to my lack of sleep, as I’d been staying up quite frequently.

 

A dumb and naive child.

 

Yes, he was only a teenager, yet he was spewing claims as if he had all the knowledge in the world. How could a mere child speak of the Reliquary Drive being damaged when I was in charge of its supervision? I, an archimedean, missed something so simple as a leak? 

 

“Preposterous,” I muttered.

 

Straightening up, I walked through another doorway, and I found myself back in a familiar room. Blinding lights flooded my vision. Barriers safeguarded computers and advanced technology, while a structure stood at the edge of the platform. Three pipes jutted upward from a cylindrical base, supporting a finger that appeared wrinkled and pale, similar to a human’s, but its enormous size made that impossible.

 

Ugh… It’s as repulsive as ever. If only Entrati found a way to channel the Void without this thing.

 

Looking at the finger made me shudder as I recalled why I left the room in the first place. Executor Tuvul had been demanding the jump commence immediately, leading my team and I to work longer hours. He’d been breathing down our neck—asking for daily updates and disparaging us for not producing satisfactory results.

 

“Haaaa. I left to get some fresh air, only to be roped into another issue,” I sighed, stepping away from the finger. “Must problems constantly come my way?” 

 

I brought my nails to my mouth, intending to chew on them, but they were already too short. Jagged and bitten down to the point where it hurt to press on it. I opted to chew on my bottom lip to relieve myself of some of the stress.

 

“It’ll work, the jump will work…” I muttered, stopping at the computers. The crew and I spent two years calculating the probability of the jump. We’ve been reexamining our formulas, but they all point to the same conclusion: the jump was possible…in theory. 

 

Possible in theory. I chuckled bitterly. If the residents heard that word, they would go for my head. On paper, success is probable, but that assumes all other variables are held equal. Nothing in reality occurs like it does on paper.

 

“No no no… don’t think like that,” I muttered, shaking my head to rid myself of the doubt. The jump is dangerous, the risks are enormous, but so are the rewards. The overpopulation and resource crisis would be resolved, and living conditions for countless citizens would improve.

 

And you’d be acknowledged for it.  

 

Once again, the voice echoed in my mind. Yes, the glory for making it possible would go to me. I’d finally have an achievement on par with the other Archimedean's, like Entrati and Suda. No longer would I be scorned for my inexperience, nor would I be treated as a child. My fellow scholars would have no choice but to look at me with awe for achieving a monumental task.

 

‘Something is going on and you two can check it out, why aren’t you listening!’

 

I chuckled, remembering the child's warning. How could I have even considered his words? He knew nothing.The jump would be successful, and everything would be fine. I was certain.

 

Just as I was certain there wasn’t another version of me standing in the corner of the room, watching. Eyes black as coal, lips twisted into a vicious grin. It lingered in the shadows as if waiting. No, it couldn’t be real—it had to be my imagination, a trick of exhaustion. Just sleep deprivation…but I didn’t dare look again.

 

“Void, I hate this room.”

---

 

Absolute darkness.

 

It enveloped every corner of my consciousness. I was floating—or maybe I was standing—in an utter reflectionless black. I couldn’t really tell. In a place where left is right and up is down, it’s hard to put a label on something. 

 

Regardless of the conundrum, I was at peace. Even though I couldn’t remember what I was, this infinite sea of shadow felt familiar—as if meeting a long-lost friend. No, not a friend…home. I felt at home.

 

In this space, I was everything and nothing at once. Everything because only I inhabited this void, and nothing because its sheer magnitude swallowed me whole. I was alive, that much I knew, but the reflectionless black was so vast that my life seemed meaningless. 

 

I was but a drop of water in an endless sea, a grain of sand in an infinite desert, a speck of dust in…in…

 

………………

 

The words hovered at the edge of my mind, just out of reach. I could sense them, barely, at the tip of my…tongue.

 

A tongue? 

 

Yes, a tongue. I have a tongue. Smooth, pink, and perfectly proportioned. And if I have a tongue, then I must have teeth. Teeth that rest behind two lips, plump and soft, sitting upon a face. That face was part of a head—complete with two ears, two nostrils, and two eyes. 

 

But I wasn’t just a floating head. No, my head anchored itself to a vessel of bone and flesh. From this vessel, four long appendages branched outward, like that of a tree. Their ends tapered into feet that kept me rooted and hands that stretched toward the stars.

 

A head with features, arms with hands, and legs with feet. There was no doubt in my mind. I am human.

 

As if reacting to my revelation, the space rippled violently. Fissures spread across the black veil, cracks tearing through the void. Through these openings, tiny luminous lights shined through. It started with one— then two, three, then. Before long, there were fifty, one hundred, five hundred, two thousand. A bottomless ocean of light poured into the pitch-black void, illuminating the area.

Suddenly, a cold wetness flowed through my toes—which had suddenly materialized given the sensation I was feeling. If I had to guess, the space below me had become an actual ocean. But I refused to look away from the lights and confirm my suspicions. They enraptured me, evoked a fire within me that warmed every one of my cells. It was as if the lights were embracing me.

 

I see… That’s why this felt familiar to me. 

 

“It reminds one of the cosmos .”

 

A voice spoke from afar. It was androgynous and muffled, making it difficult to understand who they were and what they were saying. But that didn’t matter in this silent void—even a drop of water would be heard.

 

“ When one looks up at the stars, they can’t help but be astonished. You could spend all night counting the lights in the sky and you wouldn’t reach a thousandth of their true number. ” 

 

I chuckled at their words, remembering a night where I tried that very thing. I could barely count till seventy before giving up. Even if you spent all your life counting, it would be in vain.

 

“ And it’s for that same reason that people are terrified of them .” 

 

I cocked my head to the side, their words making me pause. Where were they going with this?

 

“ Imagine yourself as one of those lights. You could be bigger than those around you, shine brighter, or live longer. But in the end, you are just one in ten billion. It doesn’t matter if you’re better than your neighbors, what about those you haven’t met? The children who have yet to grow? Descendents who haven’t been born? Can you be certain that you are better than everyone then? ”

 

Their words came into focus, as if they were walking towards me, confusing me. Water was beneath me. If the person moved, I should have heard it splashing, yet no noise was made. It was as if they were floating towards me.

 

But what confused me even more was their speech. The ambiguous voice was replaced with a raspy and heavy one, their words resonated clearly and their tone grew firm. This… was a man's voice. 

 

Strangely, that epiphany stirred something within me.

 

“ Humans are comparative creatures by nature. We analyze those around us to see where we stand in the food chain. We pride ourselves for having more than the peasants, yet are dissatisfied when nobility flaunts their excess. In the end, comparison is both the thief and origin of joy. ”

 

I finally looked away from the stars and stared below. A black body suit covered everything but my feet, which were submerged. The stars illuminated the pitch-black ocean, allowing my reflection to be seen. 

 

Staring at myself—alone in this immeasurable ocean—my body began to quiver. I could feel blood rushing through each vein and my hairs standing on end. 

 

“Stop it.”

 

“ And so, when we gaze upon the stars, ready to say we shine just as bright, all we can see is our murky reflection—the cold truth of this universe. We are but tiny specks of dust. ”

 

“Please, j-just stop talking,” I whispered, tremors emanating from my voice. My chest tightened with every word. The air felt heavy, as if pressing against my lungs. Both my knees buckled, trembling under the weight of his words.

 

“ Once they realize this truth, they cower under their roofs. They come to the conclusion that because the universe is expanding everlastingly, life has no meaning. All their accomplishments, the imprints they leave, the deeds they commit…all of it is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. Their mountain of achievements cannot surmount the vast expanse of the universe. ” 

 

“S-stop…J-just st-stop,” I stuttered. My hands covered my ears, but his raspy voice was clear as ever. “I- I don’t want to hear your voice!”

 

It wasn’t his words that rattled me so strongly, for I had once questioned my own existence. No, what bothered me was the memories flowing into my mind—memories that I had buried to live in peace. 

 

Memories of a dead man.

 

“ And so, they crawl underneath their blankets. Their newfound knowledge frightening them so much that they view life as meaningless. They hole themselves up and await death to take them. After all, humans would rather die than face that which they cannot comprehend. ”

 

“Stop! Stop! Stop! Just stop talking!!” 

 

Yelling as hard as my vocal cords would allow, I turned to escape from that man. I hadn’t once glanced his way, but from the direction of his voice, I knew he was to my right. 

 

And so I bolted to the left, my submerged feet propelling against the water. My legs protested, threatening to sink into the ocean, but I never stopped. I didn’t want to hear his voice. I didn’t want to remember what I lost.

 

I screamed to drown out his words, irritating my throat. My eyes squeezed tightly to obstruct my surroundings. I rammed my hands harder into my ears, tucking my elbows inwards, all in the effort to make myself as small as possible.

 

I want nothing to do with him. His voice, his words, the memories of him—I want none of it! Erase him from my mind. Make it so he was never a part of my life, that he never existed in this world!   

 

“ We would rather live in ignorance than accept the truth, for the truth eradicates all comfort. It’s a shame, really. Just because there is something greater, they hinder their own potential and wallow in misery. ”

 

But with every step I took, an uneasy feeling crept up my spine. The stars above me stayed fixed in place, the water beneath me never changed in depth, and the horizon separating the two refused to shift. His voice, which should have faded into the distance, sharpened and grew more distinct, as though he were right beside me.

 

No, it was as if I hadn't moved.   

 

But that’s impossible. The air grazed my skin as my toes pistoned against the water. Beads of sweat dripped from my face, a rhythmic pulse throbbed in my ears, and my lungs choked for air with uneven, hoarse gasps. How could I not be moving if my body was reacting so violently?

 

“ Tell me Oliver, when you gaze upon the endless stream of black and white, when you realize how insignificant your life is, do you cower in fear? ”

 

His voice brushed against my covered ear—as if he was right beside me—startling me. I tripped on my feet and fell onto the ocean’s surface. The water seeped into my suit, adhering to me like a second skin. Only my head remained dry, shielded by the propping of my elbows. 

 

As I stared at my own reflection in the water, I saw something approaching. Their face was a blank canvas—devoid of any features. I could make out that they were male—judging by the lack of chest area—and that they wore the same black suit as me. Other than that, there was no way to determine who they were, but my soul knew their identity.

 

“Dad…”

 

Just saying that word cut through my heart. A numbness spread across my body as my stomach sank—I felt like I was drowning. I wanted to curl up and hide in the farthest corner, but I could see no end to this space. My only salvation was that I knew this was a dream. Just like the sun always rises, a dream will come to an end. I just had to wait for my body to wake.

 

And so I laid in the water, wrapped in its coldness. A second, then two, followed by a third. One minute became two, and then three. 

 

Time passed, but in an imaginative world, did it really? I thought I was running away before, but I hadn’t even moved. So, it wasn’t crazy to say that my perception of time was wrong. Maybe it had been hours or days. Or just a few seconds. If that were the case, waiting for me to wake up would take too long. 

 

Then perhaps…

 

“N-No, I-I don’t co-cower in f-f-fear.” 

 

I stuttered horrendously. Perhaps it was because of the cold water, my fear, or both.

 

“I-I v-value m-my life” 

 

“Why do you continue moving forward when you realize you are a speck of dust?”

 

“B-Because I—”

 

“What can you accomplish that others haven’t? What grand effect would you have on the universe by living?”

 

“No, th-that’s–”

 

“Regardless of how you live, your actions will have no effect on the universe.”

 

“That’s n-not—”

 

“So why do you bother living?

 

“You’re—”

 

“Why do you live when your life has no meaning? No value?”

 

His barrage of questions left me dazed, the weight of all his questions sinking deeper than the cold water surrounding me. For a moment, everything felt too real—too pressing. But then it hit me: this was a dream. The water which wrapped around my body and the shining stars above me—none of it was real. Especially the man beside me. 

 

He was long dead. Buried in a cemetery that Mom and I never visited. It was too painful to remember him, too painful to remember the good times. Any memory of him would end in me bawling my eyes out for he was nothing but kind to me. No, the word kind didn’t do him justice. In my eyes, he was a saint.

 

Just like the funeral, I buried all memories regarding him. There was no hatred in my actions, I simply wanted to live without heartache. To be able to move forward without yearning for what was lost. 

 

And so, the man beside me wasn’t my father, for the real one was six feet under. He was simply a combination of memories, thoughts, and my own issues—an illusion. 

 

Therefore, my next words could not classify as an argument between father and son.

 

“Our achievements amount to nothing in comparison to the universe? Our lives have no value because we’re specks of dust?” I whispered. “None of that matters in the end.”

 

I pressed my arms and knees into the dark surface of the ocean, water slid off my body as I rose.

 

“You’re right,” I continued, my voice growing firm. “Life has no grand meaning. We aren’t born with a genetically coded purpose. No higher being has bestowed us with some grand mission. In fact, life has nothing like that.” 

 

Turning to the right, I saw him standing about six feet away. He had no eyes to lock onto, but I could feel his gaze boring into me. I wanted to avert my gaze, to let my eyes drop to the bottomless ocean or lift them toward the abyss above, but I couldn’t, it felt wrong to do so. So, I steeled myself, forcing my gaze to meet his.

 

“Yes, in the grand scheme of things, we are insignificant. We are drops of water in an endless ocean, grains of sands in an infinite desert. And because we are equally small, comparison becomes meaningless. Our worth isn’t measured by what we achieve, but by the simple fact that we exist. We are here—alive—in this vast universe. No matter how small we are, no matter how fleeting our lives may be, we exist. And that…that means something.”

 

There will always be someone who achieves something grander than us, making any achievements we have lose value and eventually end up forgotten. But so what? What we do or don’t accomplish in life doesn’t determine our worth. 

 

But that wasn’t the core problem with his claim.

 

“Assigning value on someone’s life is dehumanizing. It’s a disgusting act that converts them into a commodity—something that can be traded with or tossed aside when no longer useful. You essentially strip them of their individuality and turn them into mere numbers.”

 

It was no different to what the Orokin did. To them, we citizens were nothing more than statistics on a chart. We are tools they could use to reach greater heights for their own agenda. 

 

I clasped my trembling hands as I finished speaking. Even if he only shared his voice, it still felt like I was arguing with my dad. I don’t think I ever really fought with my dad before, so in a way, this was a first for me.

 

“......”

 

Once again, time had passed, and that uneasy feeling crept up my spine. I could undoubtedly feel the water trickling down my body and around my feet. My eyes focused on the stars above, whose lights blinded me. Even with my eyes burning, I could distinctly see the illusion of my dad standing still. 

 

This made no sense to me. Everything was still too real. 

 

But why? I assumed that going along with this dream would have ended, but my surroundings remained the same. If anything, it’s as if I could perceive things more clearly.

 

“How absurd. You spout such flowery words and ideals when you yourself do not practice them.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Tell me? Would you have gone down to the Oro Works had Amara not suffered?”

 

“What—”

 

He stepped forward, each stride sending torrents of water flying, making me back away. 

 

“No, you wouldn’t have. You would have stayed cooped up in a starship gazing at the stars had she not had a panic attack. In the end, it took your mother for you to get involved and do something. From your words, assigning value to a life is disgusting, yet your actions contradict your words.”

 

His voice had grown sharper, and even without eyes, I could feel the anger in his gaze. He wasn’t my father, yet I felt like I was being scolded for something I did wrong, making me stumble on my words.

 

“Had you truly believed what you spouted, you would have approached the Archimedean when the protests became rampant, not just when Amara was in danger.”

 

“Huh? What does that have to do with dehumanizing people? And how would I have known when the protests became more violent when I never attended them?!” My own voice rose in volume in response to his. 

 

“Precisely. In your mind, you knew being seen nearby when they occurred would put your mothers life in danger? You had already assigned value to those people and deemed them lesser than her.”  

 

“I did no such thing!” My mouth grew dry and uncomfortable.

 

 “Then, if it came down to her or a stranger—”

 

“I’d save them both,” I felt queasy at my own words.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Of course I would!” The lump in my throat grew larger, making each word hard to say.

 

“Heh…heh…AHAHAHA!”

 

He chuckled softly at first, before bursting into laughter. He had no mouth, yet shrill shrieks came from his direction. His hands gripped his stomach as he arched back, head facing the night sky.

 

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

 

His laughter became deafening, a sharp, ear-piercing sound that made me instinctively cover my ears. Yet, even that couldn’t block out his howling. With each passing moment, it grew louder and louder, until it drowned out everything—even the sound of my own breathing.

 

He abruptly stopped, straightening his posture before brushing his fingers where his eye sockets should have been—as if he were wiping tears.

 

“ Then why did you yearn for that man’s death? ”

 

The sudden change left me momentarily stunned, but he continued before I could even question what he said.

 

“ You wished for him dead. You craved to claw his flesh with your nails, to sink your teeth into his veins and drain his blood .”

 

“No… Wait, I—” 

 

“Do you not remember? The primal urge to kill another, the pleasure from imagining his mangled corpse.”

 

As if I were reliving the moment, those emotions circulated across my body. I remembered the wildfire that started in my chest before spreading through my veins. Then the hatred I felt towards that man, how I yearned to plummet my fists into his skull and stain the marble floor with his blood.

 

“Not just plummeting your fists kiddo, you wanted your knuckles to be stained red, his muscles shredded, bones crushed into dust, flesh skinned. You wanted him mutilated.”

 

“I—I…” My hands pressed harder into my ears and my head hung low. I couldn’t refute his words or scream at him for lying, for I felt those very emotions pulsing through my cells. I wanted Cavalero…

 

Yes, you wanted him dead. And not by someone else’s hands, but your own!

 

His voice became distorted, dropping in octaves as he suddenly rushed toward me. I couldn’t react in time, and he thrusted me into the ocean. 

 

“—!!”

 

My entire body was submerged in the ocean’s depth. He straddled my chest and wrapped his hands around my throat, squeezing with all his force. I gasped reflexively, but the cold water rushed into my mouth.

 

You value every life equally? YOU?! What bullshit! Whether you know it or not, you spout the ideologies of a corpse when your actions and thoughts contradict them. You are not your father, you will never be him!

 

His low and raspy voice, which should have been drowned out by the water, roared in my ears. The words he spewed seemed to vomit out of his mouth as they grew in volume. I tried to push him away and thrust my legs into his back, but they didn’t move. It was as if the ocean was pressing against me.

 

Even you couldn’t buy into those words you so proudly spat at me. Your voice cracked and your hands trembled. Your heart beat with guilt and shame knowing damn well not a single word you said resonated with you.

 

“GHK—GLUB!!!”

 

Gurgling sounds were the only noises that escaped my mouth, accelerating the amount of water crashing down my burning lungs. 

 

You went to the Oro Works because your mother broke down. You yelled at the Archimedean to check the Reliquary drive to stop your mother from experiencing another breakdown. With the threat of a void leak, you haven’t thought about anyone but your mother.

 

Why can’t I move?? Why can’t I move?? Why can’t I move?!?!

 

You’re a hypocrite, accept it kiddo. You’re INCAPABLE of valuing each life equally. You put your mother’s life on a pedestal that nobody can ever reach. You say such decorative words to make yourself look better in front of others. 

 

Why can’t I wake up?!!? Let me out of this dream!! I’ve had enough of this shit!!!!

 

Isn’t that why you agreed with Khalil when he said to share food with others? To not look so selfish in front of him?

 

And what—

 

To you, her life is the most IMPORTANT thing in the world. You NEVER want to lose her, to die. Isn’t that why you grow so angry with her when she helps others at her own expense? 

 

And what the fuck is wrong with that?!! I want her to live as long as possible!! She deserves it!!

 

Yes!Yes!Yes!Yes! Recognize it. Accept it. Own it. You VALUE her life over others. And there is NOTHING wrong with that! 

 

I do! I want her to care for herself, but she doesn’t listen!!! She’s killing herself in front of me and I can’t do anything!!

 

She doesn’t understand you! She refuses too! You have to let her know Oliver! SHoW HeR, shOW hER hOw MucH YOu LoVe hEr!!

 

The icy water crushed my chest, my lungs burning with every gasp. His hands clamped around my throat, tightening, squeezing. My head pounded and my heart thundered against my ribs. My muscles strained in vain against the weight pinning me down.

 

I was drowning—but not because of the water.

 

Feel every sensation, Oliver. Accept it. 

 

Emotions bubbled inside me—like a volcano ready to explode. I’ve never reached Mom, she always put me at arm’s length when it came to her wellbeing. Always giving herself up to others who would never give back. It was always a one-sided deal and she just smiled at it. 

 

The ANGER and lOVe towards your mom!!

 

WHY? WHY CAN’T SHE VALUE HER LIFE??!?

 

WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO HELP OUT OTHERS?!?!

 

WAS IT SOMETHING I DID?!? 

 

DID I CAUSE HER TO WORK HERSELF TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION?!!

 

The HATRED for anyone who threatens her life!!

 

THAT STUPID ARCHIMEDEAN KNOWS NOTHING! 

 

JUST CAUSE SHE’S CLOSE TO BEING OROKIN SHE THINKS SHE’S HOT SHIT!?

 

The urge to MUTILATE that man!!

 

FUCK HIM!!

 

I FUCKING HATE THAT BASTARD!!

 

I SHOULD HAVE KILLED HIM ON THE SPOT!!!

 

All of those emotions are you!!!

 

My eyes, submerged in the black water, suddenly sharpened, making the blurry figure above me distinguishable. But something was different. What was once a blank canvas for a face was no longer empty—it now bore features.

 

Disheveled, medium-length, thick black hair jutted out of his head like branches. His ivory skin was blemished with red around his face. He had thin lips that excessively stretched so far up it could reach his ears. And dazzling green eyes that resembled the Northern Lights gazed down at me, its pupils were dilated and the white part of the eye overpowered the iris. 

 

The person removed one of his hands from my throat, bringing it up in the air and balling it into a fist, the corners of his mouth rising further up his face.

 

Ah… this person…

 

You ARE a monster.

 

The voice was urgent and loud, but something was different. It carried a lightness to it, smooth and clear without the weight of a rasp, like that of an adolescent.

 

Yes, there was no doubt in my mind. This person…

 

This boy was me. 

 

It was never my father, but me.

 

On cue, he brought down his fist with a speed that defied the laws of physics. Instinctively, I tried to raise my arms to block the blow, but they still refused to move, locked in place by the ocean. But even if they had moved, blocking wouldn’t have been possible. 

 

An animal draped in human flesh. 

 

As it was an inch away from my face, my eyes snapped open, a gasp tearing from my throat as I bolted upright. My chest heaved as my heart pounded, my skin and suit clammy with sweat as if I were actually in that ocean.

 

A powerful wave of nausea hit me and my stomach twisted violently. I flung the bed cover aside and stumbled to the bathroom. Reaching the sink in time, I leaned over, my head hung low as a putrid, orange liquid erupted from my mouth. My abdomen relentlessly heaved, each contraction wrenching out every drop of bile. My throat brutally burned as stomach acid followed through, leaving behind a bitter taste.

 

After a couple of seconds, my stomach calmed and my breathing relaxed. I turned the sink’s handle, and water poured down from the faucet, clearing the muck that stained the sink. 

 

I raised my head, and staring back at me was myself. My hair was disheveled and orange drops clung to my face. My lips were contorted into a frown and my eyes looked lifeless.

 

Looking at my reflection, I began to recall my dream. It started like usual, with an endless expanse of darkness, before it suddenly transformed into a black sea and night sky, where I began a discussion with “my father.” Then it spiraled into him trying to drown me before he transformed into me, and that’s when I tried to punch myself.

 

The expression from my dream came to mind. My hair was disheveled like now, spiking out like branches. My face was smeared with blood and my smile was that of a maniac. 

 

Is that what I looked like back then…

 

A sickening thought bubbled to the surface. Did I have that crazy gleam in my eyes back then? Did I wear that same expression when I wanted to punch Cavalero? 

 

No. Punching him wouldn’t have been enough. A single punch wasn’t what I had in mind back then. I wanted to do so much more. To hurt him. To end him in the most horrendous way possible. With my own hands.

 

Dream me was right. A monster. An animal draped in flesh. Yes, that was me.  

 

“I’m disgusting.”

 

I muttered those words, but I couldn’t tell if I was talking about dream me or the current me.

 

 

The room was built like a sphere, with a dome-like ceiling that extended far up, giving a view of the shining stars. Small trees and bushes were placed around the area, giving the illusion that we were with nature. 

 

“Marvel in its beauty, dear child, for I so graciously aided in the creation of this event. Therefore, it can be nothing but perfection!” A melodic and regal voice shouted from beside me. Her hands were on her hips as she puffed her chest.

 

Like a marketplace, vibrant stands lined the area, each adorned with different displays and goods. Small brightly-colored pennant banners fluttered overhead, placed across the middle pillars that kept the ceiling up. Adults conversed with one another whilst children ran around, bouncing from stall to stall. The sound of a piano could barely be heard over the sound of chattering.

 

My eyes glossed over the surroundings before staring back at the floor. There was nothing special about it, I simply would rather stare at it than the radiance in front of me.

 

At my silence, Mom cleared her throat and pointed forward. “…Gaze upon yonder, where the musician serenades for the masses. And look over east, where jesters perform.”

 

I dragged my eyes to where she pointed and saw a man playing a piano for a few people. A pleasant and rich melody could faintly be heard over the sound of chattering. Looking to the right of the piano, a small wooden stage was erected near a few trees. People in costumes—who I assume Mom was referring to—could be seen in spades. Their faces were bright and laughter could be heard coming from their direction. 

 

Their public display of joy only deepened the void that formed in my heart, making me avert my eyes to the ground again.

 

I could feel Mom’s eyes boring into me, she was obviously worried about me. The area was lively, children and adults alike were having fun, yet our conversation was the opposite. She was trying her hardest to get a reaction from me, but I didn’t react. 

 

I don’t even know why I came down here…

 

After that…weird dream, I changed out of my sweat-drenched clothing and ate a bit of breakfast. With the agri-biomes being destroyed, we need to keep track of how much we eat so as to not deplete our food so quickly. So I reheated a few nutritional cubes and called it a meal before coming down here. 

 

Honestly, those things can’t even count as food. They don’t even fill you up if you have fifteen.

 

My body grew hot and my hands clenched tightly. I hated the person who sabotaged the agri-biomes for making me eat such bland food. What people say is true: you never realize how good you have it until you lose something. 

 

“Dear child, what—”

 

“Quit talking like that, it’s annoying,” I snapped, whipping my head around to glare at her. Mom’s face morphed into one of disbelief, and the weight of my words hit me like a wave. 

 

My eyes widened. Shame clawed at my chest, dragging my head back down until my chin pressed against my neck. I stared at the ground once again, unable to meet her gaze, as guilt gnawed at my insides.

 

Dream me was right… I’m fucking disgusting.

 

My body trembled as I recalled what happened this morning in the Oro Works. Anger had consumed me, every cell in my body fueled with a hunger to triumph over Archimedean Yonta and Cavalero. I reacted to his instigating, stooped to his level, and insulted him, and almost assaulted him if not for the Archimedean’s interference.

 

And my thoughts… Those disgusting and revolting thoughts that clawed their way to the surface. I could vaguely recall the sheer malice in each one. The anger I felt toward those two, the hatred I held for him…

 

The desire to murder, to mutilate, to destroy that man.

 

I hung my head, my teeth sinking into my lips. How could I ever let such thoughts take root? To even consider taking a life was beyond my comprehension. Murder could never be an answer. Yet, the memory of those feelings lingered.

 

I had wanted it—yearned for it—like a starving beast desperate for its next meal. The thought of his death consumed me. Like a parched creature in a desert, I thirsted for his blood. In that moment, nothing else mattered to me—not my mother or the Reliquary Drive. 

 

All I wanted was to see him broken, his demise delivered by my own hands.

 

Had I always possessed such emotions deep within me…? That was the first question that came to mind after the entire incident. 

 

I held contempt and hatred for the Orokin, for the Executors who reigned above and looked down upon us mortals. But I admired the Archimedeans for their intellect and discoveries. If not for those like Entrati, civilization would be long gone. 

 

I knew it was a contradiction; to despise the higher-ups yet not their underlings.  But in my eyes, the Archimedeans had done no wrong. Curiosity drove them to investigate phenomenons, not self-interest like the Orokin. 

 

I was capable of hating them—Cavalero was a perfect example—yet deep down I knew the Orokin held a majority of the blame. It was their greed that would condemn us to hell, not their subordinates.

 

I know that, yet I still wanted him to die…  

 

It terrified me to my core that I considered such a thing. Even if my theory of a void leak proved true, it didn’t mean my emotions were completely fabricated. I held enough hatred within me to desire someone’s death. 

 

And even if the Void exacerbated my emotions, it didn’t excuse the fact that I acted on those impulses and attacked a superior. It just meant that I agreed with such a barbaric idea, making me no better than an animal. 

 

And if no void leak occurred, then what I felt…

 

Two shoes entered my line of sight. “Oliver, look at me. Not at the floor or my feet, but me.” My mother said, her voice delicate and gentle.

 

“No, I…” I muttered, my voice cracking. How could I stare into your eyes, so bright and compassionate, when I submerged myself in darkness and savagery. 

 

Her feet remained planted, but her arms extended to wrap around me, bringing me into her embrace. 

 

“You really have grown, Oliver. You used to barely reach my stomach, now you’re a head taller than me. It feels like I’m hugging a tree.”

 

“……” 

 

I turned my head to the side, unable to look at her. I didn’t want my gaze to poison her with the murkiness lingering inside me.

 

“You drove me crazy back then, always running around and causing messes in our house. When you broke my vase, the one my mother made and gifted to me, by kicking a football at it…oh, I wanted nothing more than to hit you until your skin turned a permanent shade of red.”

 

I felt her head shift upward. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting her radiant eyes to be tainted by the blackness in my own.

 

“Oliver, I won’t pretend to understand what you’re feeling right now. Humans experience things differently, even if we experience the same emotions.” 

 

Her words weren’t meant for me. How could they be? Dream me was right, I was no more than a beast cloaked in human flesh. I desired someone’s death, craved to see their blood pooling on the floor, their bones shattered. That wasn’t anger. No, it was far worse—an urge, raw and primal. The desire of an untamed creature—

 

“No matter what you are feeling, remember that I will always love you.”

 

“—!” 

 

Her words pierced my self-loathing, making my trembling intensify, causing her to hug me tighter.

 

“I love you, Oliver, not because it’s my duty as a mother, but because you are my world. I will always be here for you, no matter what happens. Nothing will ever stop me from loving you Oliver.”

 

The affection and warmth in her voice was too much for me. The tears I had desperately held back gushed like waterfalls. I dropped my head to her shoulder, her hand rising to gently caress me. 

 

“The entire world can hate and I would still love you. You could hate yourself and I would still love you. Never forget it Oliver, I will always love you. Even after I die.”

 

I didn’t care that we were in public, I let out all of my tears. The disgust I felt towards myself, the shame that had been eating away at me, felt as if it were being washed away. 

 

But even as the weight lifted, I couldn’t escape the self-loathing that clung to me. I still detested myself for those repulsive thoughts. I despised myself for my actions. Yet, my chest felt lighter—like the air grew a bit easier to breathe. It was a momentary relief, but it was a start. 

 

I got up from her embrace, rubbing away any tears left in my eyes, before giving her a small smile. “Thank you, Mom.” 

 

“Of course, Oliver…” She smiled back, before clearing her throat again. “It is the duty of a ruler to uplift the spirits of their citizens. Now, let us cast aside this sorrow, for we are gathered here to partake in joy, are we not?”

 

“Of course, your highness” I gave a small bow toward the ‘ruler.’ She was right, there was no need to focus on what occurred earlier. The culture festival was made to reignite the peoples hope and cheer. There was no room for depressive discussions.

 

But my mouth reacted quicker than my brain did. “Though, it’s weird people are giving out food with the agri-biomes being destroyed.”

 

Her hand moved to smack the back of my head, making me stagger forward.

 

“Did mineself not just order you to cast aside such sorrow?” She said, her eyes narrowing sharply. “Why dost thou tarnish this moment of joy with a subject so foul?”

 

“Because that’s not something we can just brush aside. If we eat at the same rate as before we’re going to end up starv—”

 

Two small pale hands wrapped around my mouth, startling me. My mother was right in front of me so it couldn’t be her…

 

“Ughhhh… Do you have to be all doom and gloom at a festival? Live a little and have fun right now.” A honey-laced voice said from right behind me. “Eww, why are your cheeks so wet, did you finish crying or something?” 

 

“Yeah dude, forget all about that right now and just enjoy the next few hours.” Another voice came from behind, this one being much more masculine than the last.

 

Removing Claire’s hands, I turned to face both of them. “How could both of you not be worrying about this? They’re wasting food when we should be saving.”

 

“Dude, you really think the voyage is still gonna go on?” Khalil said. 

 

“Huh?” 

 

“Think about it, we don’t have enough food to survive in another star system, so the Orokin have no choice but to call the Zariman back. And the nearest planet is like a day or two away, so we can eat plenty!”

 

“Well, they’re bound to punish all of us for the sabotage even though we did nothing,” Claire said, a wry smile on her face. “But I say that’s better than dying from starvation.”

 

I opened my mouth to disagree, but stopped when I processed their words. With the agri-biomes destroyed, we had no food or seeds to plant. Even if a planet had edible food, we wouldn't know if it was poisonous or safe. In short, surviving in the Tau System without the agri-biomes would be impossible.

 

“Ha! You’re speechless once again. Are we sure you’re the smart one out of the three of us?” Claire said smugly.

 

“Don’t push it, you’re the one who failed–”

 

“Failed the temporal axon quiz, yeah yeah yeah. Is that the only insult you can come up with?” She suddenly pointed her finger at me, her voice full of bluster. “Listen up, there’s more to intelligence than grades! Street smarts, emotional knowledge, adaptability, and perception are all factors that make up intelligence. Just because I failed one quiz doesn’t mean I’m stupid!”

 

Nodding his head, Khalil said to Claire, “Mhmm, spoken like a true idiot with no viable future.”

 

“And it wasn’t just one quiz. I don’t think I’ve seen you get above a 60 on anything.” I chimed in, smirking.

 

“And you don’t have any of those factors that you stated,” Khalil added. 

 

“Geh, as if you have any right to speak Khalil, you’re worse than me!” Claire shot back, rolling her eyes.

 

Shrugging his shoulders, he says, “Yeah, but I acknowledge I’m dumb. You’ve deluded yourself into thinking you’re smart.”

 

“You little…” She tried to kick him in the leg, but he moved out of the way. “Get back here, lemme hit you!” She kept going after his leg, but he consistently dodged effortlessly.

 

Seeing the two of them fool around helped ease my nerves a little. Claire seemed to have brushed off what happened earlier, but I couldn’t look at Khalil without feeling guilty. I told him I wouldn’t tell anyone what he said, yet I ended up telling it to two high-ranking officials. Who knows what consequences would befall him should they find out he told me that? 

 

A clicking sound came from behind me, startling me. “Dear child, thou should be like them.” Turning around, I saw my mother holding a folding fan to her face, covering her mouth. “Go forth and frolic with the other children.”

 

“…Mom, not even a noble would say the word frolic.” I’m not even going to question where she got the fan.

 

Her eyebrows twitched at my remark. She shoved me towards them before whispering, “Go have fun already, you rascal.”

 

I smiled at her actions. I felt a little nervous leaving her alone, but she would continue to push me to go with Khalil and Claire. Plus, what they said about the Zariman returning to land alleviated most of my stress about the situation. We should be changing course back to the capital, so there was nothing to worry about. Perhaps that was the theory Khalil was telling me about earlier.

 

Though I can’t lie and say I’m not slightly bummed out. The prospect of being the first humans to enter a new star system and the different things we would discover was very appealing. There was also the honor and rewards we’d get for successfully creating a colony in Tau. Nobody would say no to more wealth.

 

But then again…  

 

Around me, children no older than 10 ran around, laughing and playing tag, while adults chatted with stall owners, their faces lit up with joy. No longer were their faces pale, or their bodies trembling, or whispering to themselves that everything was going to be okay. The people looked elated, free from the constant cloud of negativity. 

 

Not starving or being torn apart by a void jump gone bad is also appealing.

 

“But seriously, where the hell did those two go?” I took my eyes off them for a few seconds, yet they managed to escape my eyesight. 

 

“Ha! Now it’s 2-1. Looks like I’ll be getting it!” A honey-laced voice loudly proclaimed. 

 

“Dammit! Imma win these next two rounds and win that thing!!” 

 

Going towards those voices brings me to a surprising sight. A stall was covered with multiple dormizone decorations, ranging from posters to furniture. A small crowd encircled the stall, with two familiar-looking people making a scene in the middle.

 

“What are you guys—”

 

“”Rock, Paper, Scissors, say, shoot!!””

 

As if I didn’t exist, they cut me off and excessively shook their wrists before creating hand shapes.

 

“Aughhhhh!”

 

“HAAA! 2-2 BABY!”

 

Khalil jumped as if he’d heard the greatest news in the world, while Claire pressed her rock-shaped hand into her mouth, barely muting her yell. 

 

“Oh yeahhhh, this poster is gonna be– OH dude, when did you get here?” Only just noticing I was here, Khalil walked up to me, his steps having a little kick on them. “You’re just in time to see me win!” His easygoing smile sank my stomach as my guilt resurfaced once more.

 

“No no no!” Getting back up, Claire narrowed her eyes at Khalil. “That decoration is mine!!”

 

I turned to look at the owner of the stand. Wearing the standard black voidshell suit we all had, and a helmet the shape of a mushroom, the woman simply stared at the two, grinning. 

 

“So, what’re they fighting over now, Hombask?” I ask, making my way towards her.

 

“Ah, Oliver! Haven’t seen you in a while!” Hombask turned towards me, her brown eyes meeting mine. “Did you come to see the commotion these two were making?”

 

“Something like that… But what’s with all the decorations? I know you help out with the dormizones, but I don’t think anyone’s going to be wanting these right now.”

 

“Huh? Oh, I’m not giving these out or anything. People are giving me the decorations they don’t want or the ones with some damages,” she said. Taking a closer look at them, some of the portraits and posters had tears or broken frames. But that confused me even more. 

 

“Then why are those two fighting over one?”

 

“Beats me,” she said, shrugging her shoulders before breaking a smile. “It’s pretty fun to watch their antics, so I’m not stopping them. But what’s up with you?”

 

“Haaa… Am I that easy to read today?” I sighed, looking back at the two hooligans.

 

“You tensed up when Khalil got close to you, and you couldn’t look him in the eyes either. It doesn’t look like he has a problem with you, so what’s the issue?”

 

“Ughh, why are you so good at picking up the small things?” First, it was Mom, then those two, and now Hombask. 

 

“Heh, it comes with growing up. You tend to notice the small things in life as you age.” She said, crossing her arms as she looked at me. “So, spill it out. What’s got you so down?”

 

I turned my eyes towards Khalil and Claire. Since Claire had an expression that could only be described as pure bliss, I assumed she won the last round. “I might have gotten him in trouble with security without him knowing.”

 

“He and security are inseparable at this point, it’s like once a week that he has some problem with them,” she joked. “Did you mean to get him in trouble?”

 

“Of course not, it’s just…” I bit my lip to stop my next words. I couldn’t exactly tell her it happened when I was trying to warn the engineers about a leak and ended up arguing with an archimedean.

 

“Then I think you’re worrying too much. Sure, it’ll be a pain for him to deal with security, but you didn’t do it from a place of malice. It was probably a slip of the tongue.” She said, turning to look back at the two. “Besides, I doubt it’s something that’ll get him in a huge amount of trouble. It’ll probably be his usual punishment of detention.”

 

I was grateful she wasn’t looking at me, unable to see the guilt written across my face. My actions couldn’t be excused as “a slip of the tongue,” there was intent behind them. I wanted to win against Cavalero and Archimedean Yonta, so I used what Khalil had confided in me to achieve that goal. A complete break of his trust. 

 

And it wouldn’t end in detention. They’d try to silence him and prevent him from telling anyone else what he told me. He’d be punished for my actions. 

 

“If you had good intentions, then I think the end justifies the means. At least, that’s what I want to believe…” She trailed off, her voice barely a whisper.

 

“The end justifies the means…” I muttered to myself. “Would I—”

 

As I gazed upon the crowd, my eyes drifted to a particular woman. It wasn’t her looks that caught my attention, but the anger that blazed in her eyes. I first thought Khalil did something stupid again, but looking closely, her gaze was directed more at the stall and Hombask.

 

Weird, I thought nobody was capable of glaring at her.  

 

Everyone on the ship liked Hombask, from the colonists to the stingy higher-ups. Whenever we had any problems with our living space or wanted more furniture, she was the one we went to. She got along with everyone easily. Her extroverted nature only added to her likability.

 

Hombask didn’t seem to notice the woman's glare, and if she did, she didn’t show it. I was about to bring it up…

 

SCREECH!! 

 

A high-pitched noise echoed through the area. Such a sound would usually startle one, but to us residents, it was a sound we all have grown accustomed to.

 

A chime bell rang through the speakers, followed by the same male robotic voice from the elevator, “Pardon the interruption. Executor Tuvul, one of the Seven, shall make an announcement.”

 

Everyone around visibly tensed up. We knew the Executor would give us a few words following the agri-biome incident, but a response in less than twenty-four hours was quicker than anticipated. Then again, the agri-biome sabotage would elicit such a rapid response.

 

We waited to hear the Executor’s voice, to hear what punishment would be forced upon us for such an act. 

 

Yet, as thirty seconds went by, no words were spoken.

 

“Maybe we’re getting away with it…” Khalil whispered, but it might as well have been a shout in this silence. Yet, nobody dared to be as bold as him, people only looked at him with wide eyes. Even if Executor Tuvul wasn’t physically present, we knew better than to speak during his announcements. Even something as trivial as that could lead to repercussions. 

 

Claire smacked him on the shoulder, quickly covering his mouth to stop him from making any more noise. After another thirty seconds of silence, a hologram flickered above us. It took the shape of a human figure, glowing orange, with no distinguishable facial features. Only its upper body was visible, draped in a simple robe. Its left arm stretched upward, holding a glowing orb.

 

“Colonists. ” A low, detached, yet imposing voice came from the hologram, specifically the sphere which pulsed and vibrated. “ We stretched forth our Great Hands, molded by the very essence of our generosity, and we gave without reservation. Such abundance we offered! In our name, in our honor, and through our unwavering will, you were chosen—the selected few entrusted with the monumental task of settling a new system.”

 

Utter bullshit. His words were nothing more than bald-faced lies. Generosity? Abundance? It was all a facade; this so-called project they ‘selected’ us for was nothing more than an experiment for them.

 

“Yet, I see among you those who cannot hold their tongues, those who allow whispers of doubt to spread like a contagion, infecting the hearts of your fellow citizens with shameful misgivings. How dare you fear? What do you believe you stand to lose?”

 

The crowd remained silent, but their bodies spoke volumes. The adults stood rigid, eyes hardened and fists clenched, their faces flushed with barely contained fury. Even the children, too young to understand the Executor’s words, instinctively huddled closer to their parents.

 

“Remember this: you are born to confront the inevitability of death. You citizens are born to die. Such is your lot! But even the deaths of lesser beings can hold profound meaning, if they serve a greater purpose—if they serve Us. Yet here you stand, defying your destinies, resisting the very reasons for your existence.”

 

In a normal kingdom, if someone in power spoke to their citizens like this, shock and disbelief would be written on their faces. But for us, raised under the rule of the Orokin, it was a harsh but undeniable truth. The Orokin could never acknowledge us. To them, we were nothing more than animals —cattle that needed to be herded to survive. Just as a mammal cannot communicate with an insect, how could we ever connect with those who saw themselves as gods?

 

“Since you citizens cannot be brave, since you refuse to stifle your infantile urges, howling and whining like ungrateful children, you shall be punished.”

 

Loud footsteps echoed through the festival as security officers in vests marched in, blocking anyone from leaving. I counted at least sixty, each armed with a baton and a sleek, elegant pistol at their side.

 

Surely they aren’t going to fight us. 

 

It was a stupid thought. For every officer, there were six to eight of us residents. If things turned violent, we could easily outnumber them. Yet, despite my rationalization, my chest tightened, and my stomach churned, as if my body was bracing for the worst. 

 

I scanned the crowd for my mother, wanting to ensure she was holding up amidst the chaos, but she was nowhere to be found. Panic flickered in the back of my mind.

 

“Microscopic creatures live upon your skin, and yet you are oblivious to their existence. So it shall be with the Seven and yourselves. The Zariman project is no more.”

 

My movements froze, eyes widening at his words. Confusion rippled through the crowd; people trying to grasp the weight of what he said. I wasn’t even sure if I heard right. 

 

“Oh god… what have I done…” Hombask’s voice trembled, and I turned to her, wanting to ask what she meant. But my question died in my throat when I faced her. A look of pure terror, like that of a cornered animal. It wasn’t just her; many adults wore similar expressions, having grasped Tuvul’s previous proclamation.

 

  Please, dear Void, please, please, please!!!

 

I prayed, I begged with every fiber of my being. My chest grew heavier and my hands began trembling. Let this not be true, let it be a mistake. Let this all be one big misunderstanding, and let everything be fine.

 

“Your bestial defiance has cast you into the pit. We wash our hands of you. Come to those hands again, and you will find them closed to you.”

 

As if directly spitting on my hope, Executor Tuvul delivered a terrifying declaration. 

 

There was no denying it anymore. The idea that the Council would order the Zariman’s return was dismissed. Like a snake and her egg, Executor Tuvul had announced we were to fend for ourselves from now on, essentially announcing our death sentence. 

 

“Ah…” A lowly gasp was the only noise that came from my throat. I felt my stomach fall to the ground, and my knees wobbled. Perhaps I didn’t collapse onto my floor because I knew such a possibility existed.

 

Thud!!!

 

“No… it can’t be…”

 

“Stop, this isn’t happening…”

 

“A dream… a nightmare…that’s what this is…”

 

“We’re dead…we’re going to die!”

 

Wails and shouts of panic spread across the area. Some adults fell to the ground, but those who were able to stand upright weren’t faring any better. Some grasped the sides of their heads, others held onto their shoulders to stop themselves from quivering, while others were simply motionless. The children, seeing their parents despair, began crying, feeding into the chaos.

 

All this unfolded in front of me, yet my body didn’t move. I was paralyzed, I kept repeating in my head the same thing.

 

I couldn’t move. My body froze, as though every joint had locked in place. My breaths became erratic and shallow, drowning the frantic screams around me. My heart thrashed in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears as my vision blurred. A single thought consumed my mind: 

 

I’m gonna die.

 

I knew such a possibility existed, a failed jump had always been the most probable cause of death. But to hear it announced so casually—

 

“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!!” 

 

A guttural roar ripped through the area, making me jump. The woman who had been glaring in my direction stormed towards Hombask, grabbing her by the collar, as she continued to scream. “BECAUSE OF YOU, WE’RE ALL DEAD!!! BECAUSE OF YOU, CHERA… MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR ACTIONS!!!!”

 

“Axia, I… I didn’t want this… I didn’t know this would—” 

 

“YOU DIDN’T KNOW?!?! WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU SABOTAGE THE AGRI-BIOMES?!!” Axia’s voice shook with rage as she shoved Hombask against the stall, sending decorations falling to the ground. Her face twisted with a blend of anguish and fury; her eyes seethed with rage as tears threatened to spill, her teeth bared in a snarl. “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT HOMBASK!!! I FUCKING HATE YOU!!”

 

Grabbing a jagged edge of a broken painting frame, Axia swung her arm at Hombask’s face. Hombask dropped to the ground in an attempt to avoid the slash, but Axia was relentless. Without missing a beat, she raised her leg and kneed her in the ribs. Hombask crumpled backward, gasping for air, but Axia wasn’t finished.

 

“Axia, wait—UGHHH!” Her pleas were cut short as Axia’s boot came crashing down onto her chest.

 

“I don’t care anymore… We’re all dead anyway.” Axia’s voice was low and hollow, the words spilling out like the last remnants of a broken soul. “If I’m going to die, I want to take the one responsible for all of this with me…”

 

As Axia loomed over Hombask, I remained frozen. My body, rooted to the ground, refused to move—whether it was fear or shock, I couldn’t tell. My legs trembled, betraying the instinct to help, to stop this madness. But all I could do was watch, paralyzed by the horror unfolding before me.

 

“Goodbye Hombask… I hope you rot in hell for what you’ve done.” 

 

Axia raised the jagged frame above her head, ready to bring it down with all her fury. But just as the weapon was about to strike Hombask’s face, a figure appeared from the side. A baton slammed into Axia’s skull with a sickening thud, and she staggered back, dazed. Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.

 

“Are you okay?” The man asked, his voice gentle as he looked at Hombask. She responded with nothing more than a small nod, her eyes fixed on Axia’s unconscious form. “Don’t worry, she’s out cold. She can’t hurt you anymore.” The man extended his hand, helping Hombask to her feet. “I’m a security officer. Please, come with me so I can get you medical attention.” Hombask nodded again, but her gaze never left Axia, her expression distant and unmoving.

 

My mind was still racing when a sudden jolt yanked me from the chaos. “Oliver!!” A hand gripped my shoulder, shaking me violently. I turned to see Claire and Khalil's faces inches from mine.

 

“Shit! This is fucking insane dude!” His eyes seemed as if they were about to bulge out of its socket, his complexion pale. “Did you see what happened to Hombask!? And then Tuvul’s announcement?! Holy fuck man…dude…are we actually gonna—”

 

“Don’t finish that sentence!! DON’T!!” Claire smacked his head once more, her eyes blazing with fury. Her bottom lip quivered violently, and her hand squeezed his arm so tightly I thought it might leave marks. “We can’t think about that right now!! We need to get our parents and get out of here!!!”

 

Parents… The word hit me like a jolt of electricity, snapping me out of my daze. Without wasting a second, I bolted to where I last saw her. 

 

“Oliver, wait!!” Claire shouted, but I didn’t stop. I pushed through the frantic crowd, my eyes scanning every face, searching for her. People were shoving each other out the way, desperately trying to get out of the area. They didn’t care if they trampled on others or if they got injured; all that seemed to be in their heads was the instinct of running away. 

 

I dodged those running in my direction, and when I couldn’t, I braced myself to stay upright. My heart was pounding, I just needed to get to her. Even if she claimed she was alright, with the bombshell Tuvul dropped, there was no way she would take it well.

 

Reaching the stalls near the entrance, people continued to trample each other, trying to escape. Yet they were blocked by a group of officers.

 

“Hey, what the hell are you doing!”

 

“Let us go!!”

 

“You can’t keep us here!”

 

The officers blocked the entrance, batons gripped in one hand and their other hovering over their holsters. Despite being outnumbered, they stood upright and met every gaze without a hint of fear.

 

But that didn’t make sense. Preventing people from fleeing would only increase tension, escalating things to violence. We should be trying to stay united now that the Orokin abandoned us, not split ourselves apart even more.

 

“Oliver!!” A blur of chestnut hair filled my vision as a figure rushed towards me.

 

“Mom!” I hurried to meet her halfway, a weight lifted from my heart. 

 

She grabbed my arms with trembling hands “Thank the heavens you’re alright.” Her hands moved to cup my face as her eyes scanned me. “Are you hurt anywhere? Did you get hurt in the crowd?!”

 

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” I said, as I grabbed her hands. “I should be asking if you’re okay.”

 

“I’m fine… just a bit out of breath. I was with Claire’s parents when that announcement came on…” She paused. “Oliver…”   She opened her mouth, but quickly bit her lip as if stopping herself from saying the wrong thing. It was obvious what she wanted to speak about, it was the only thing on anyone’s mind.

 

“We’ll talk about it later,” I said, squeezing her hands. It wasn’t the time to be thinking about it, with everyone panicking and pushing each other. “You said you were with Claire’s parents, did they–”

 

“As soon as the announcement was over, they ran to find her, Khalil’s parents too.”

 

“Good, they should be okay then.” Claire’s hair stood out, so it should be easy to find her, and Khalil was with her so he’d meet up with his parents.

 

“QUIET DOWN!”

 

A loud and brash voice came from the entrance. The guards stepped aside, making way for a man I had recently met and already hated.

 

“Running around and stomping on each other ain’t going to solve anything, so let’s act rational,” he said. Unlike the other security guards, he held no baton or pistol on his waist, a testimony to his confidence in handling the situation. 

 

“Rational!?! How do you expect anyone to act rationally right now!?!!” A man with slick black hair, who looked to be in his late forties, seemingly had enough and got up in front of Cavalero. “The Orokin abandoned us, we have no place to return to!!”

 

“Mr. Dohan…?” He lived in the dormizone across from us—a good husband to Rella and a father of three. They were the first and only couple to have a child born in the Zariman, Clarra. “What is he doing?” I muttered. I understood why he was yelling, but he had so much to lose if he didn’t behave in front of security. 

 

“Listen, I need you to calm down.” Not flinching at the man’s closeness, Cavalero stared directly at him. “Getting physical ain’t gonna make anything better for you, so back off.”

 

“CALM DOWN?!? We’re going to die and you’re telling us to calm down!?” Mr. Dohan’s hands tightened into fists, his arms shaking as he stood inches from Cavalero. “Let me out of here or I swear to God I’m beating you up!!”

 

At the threat of violence, the guards moved to encircle the man, but Cavalero raised his right hand, signaling them to stop. 

 

“Look… I’m not saying your anger ain’t valid, but there’s no point in fighting it out here.” Remaining calm, the head of security replied without raising his voice. “We’re just here to ensure our situation doesn’t worsen. So let’s tone it down alright, no need to get violent.” 

 

It was shocking to see him acting so civil. I couldn’t help but notice the difference in treatment. Where was this attitude when I came down to the Oro Works? And I wasn’t even violent with him until the end! How the hell did I get treated worse than someone who’s about to snap???

 

Taking a few steps back, Mr. Dohan seemed to consider Cavalero’s words, and it looked like nothing major would happen. Even the other residents around the man seemed to calm down…

 

“Fuck off you piece of shit!!” He suddenly lunged forward, fists raised to strike Cavalero’s face.

 

“Haaa…” Sighing, Cavalero stepped to the side and grabbed the man's wrist, twisted his arm, forcing him to the ground. He pressed his knee onto the man’s back, pinning him in place. “Don’t blame me for what comes next.”

 

“YOU FUCKER! GET OFF OF ME YOU—!!” Mr. Dohan’s voice cracked with raw fury as he thrashed widely on the floor. His fists slammed backwards against Cavalero’s arms, but no matter how much he fought, or how violently he twisted, the hold never loosened. “I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!! YOU HEAR ME, I SAID I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!” 

 

“Ah…” His words sent a shock to my head, making me stumble back. Those were the same words I had thought when confronting Cavalero.

 

The other residents seemed ready to help out the man, even Mom started stepping closer to the crowd, but someone else appeared behind Cavalero, stopping them. A dark-skinned man with signs of aging on his forehead stepped into the light. He had short, close-cropped dark hair with a matching beard and wore a similar black space suit to Cavalero, with gold accents.

 

Brown eyes gazed upon the man on the ground, still attempting to escape. “LET ME GO YOU FUCKERS!! LET! ME! GO!!”

 

“...Are you this determined to go against us?” The dark-skinned man asked, his voice steady and low. 

 

“FUCK OFF! I HATE EVERY ONE OF YOU!!! FUCKING DIE!!” Mr. Dohan continued to howl at Cavalero, saliva oozing from his mouth with each word he spat. Veins swelled up all over his arms and head, his breaths His eyes were bulging and seething with rage; he looked more like an animal than a human.

 

An animal draped in human flesh

 

That was what dream me called me, and how I saw myself when reflecting on my actions— a ravenous beast who yearned for food, a creature driven by primal urges. Unlike me, where I simply had murderous thoughts, Mr. Dohan seemed to embody them fully, acting them out. 

 

Gone was the softhearted and warm father of three, a loving husband to a beautiful wife, and a cherished neighbor who would always lend a hand when needed. In his place stood a ravenous monster, his features contorted by fury, eyes devoured in madness. A creature that hungered for destruction.

 

“I see…” Raising his gaze, he looked at the crowd of residents. “Dohan Marcellus, for treason against the Orokin, you shall be glassed.”

 

“————”

 

A heavy silence settled over the small section of the Chrysalith. Even with the background noise of other people panicking, his words hung in the air, unmistakable and absolute. One by one, the residents who had moments ago reached out to help Mr. Dohan stopped in their tracks. 

 

All except one…

 

"Wait—!" I pressed my right hand over my mom’s mouth as she tried to say something. My left arm coiled around her shoulders, restraining her as she attempted to step forward. Her small hands tried to shove my arm away, but I tightened my hold on her, bringing my arm closer to her neck. This man would likely condemn anyone who attempted to help Mr. Dohan as a traitor, branding them as enemies of the Orokin as well. 

 

“WAIT WAIT I'M SORRY! PLEASE NOT THAT! PLEASE!” His thrashing ended, and all anger evaporated from his body. The carnivorous beast, who once hungered for blood, transformed into a helpless lamb.

 

Tears welled up in his eyes, and the loud, intense shouts he had became hoarse, desperate pleas. “I'M SORRY!! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!! PLEASE DON'T DO THAT!!”

 

His voice cracked, and his body shook as he gasped for breath. The fierce energy that had once driven him now dissolved into raw panic.

 

“—!” My mother writhed in my grasp as Mr. Dohan cried for mercy. I couldn’t see her face, but I could feel her lips quiver and her facial muscles tense. He was a father of three and we knew him since boarding the Zariman, of course she’d feel pity and want to help him…

 

But I don’t care for such a thing.

 

It didn’t matter how long I’d known him for or what he meant to me, his life meant nothing compared to my mother’s. Someone I’d known for two years could never take precedence over the woman who raised me. 

 

“Isn’t this…heh, I see,” I chuckled. 

 

I was committing the same act I called disgusting in my dream: assigning value to a life. I stripped Mr. Dohan of his dignity, turning him into a utilitarian measure—a number to compare. The same thing the Orokin did to us.

 

I truly am a hypocrite.

 

I should have felt abhorred that I could so easily do such a thing. I called it a revolting action in my dream, so I should be revolted that I was doing it now. But strangely, I wasn’t. Disgust nor joy coursed through my body. 

 

Does that make me like the Orokin?

 

No, I did this to protect my mother, to protect my family. The Orokin only cared for themselves, I could never be them. 

 

Perhaps my actions held some similarities to theirs, but it came from a different source. I wanted to protect someone, the Orokin wanted to protect their interests.

 

Cavalero averted his gaze, clearly unsettled by Mr. Dohan’s change in attitude. “... Quinn, your orders…”

 

“You two, take him away,” the man, Quinn, ordered the guards next to him, causing them to straighten up. “Cavalero, anyone else who acts like him is to be charged the same. Violence is authorized to subdue them. Am I clear?” His tone was cold as ice, stripped of any hesitation. 

 

“...Understood, Liaison of the Expeditionary Command…” Cavalero removed his leg from the man's back and handed him to the guards.

 

“Leh mm goh!” My mother yelled into my hand, her words muffled and barely coherent. Tears fell onto my hand as she continued to struggle out of my hold. 

 

“I’m sorry, but I won’t.” I muttered. No matter what someone did, no amount of resistance would overturn that man’s ruling—Mr. Dohan’s death was set in stone. My mother refused to accept such a fact, and so she recklessly wanted to help him.

 

It would be a lie to say I felt nothing towards Mr. Dohan’s fate, but I wouldn’t let my mother die. She could scream at me for all of eternity later, I wouldn’t care. 

 

All that mattered to me was her life.

 

“WAIT WAIT WAIT!!! IM SORRY PLEASE I–” Quinn punched Mr. Dohan in the nose, knocking him out. His face held no remorse for his action as his gaze remained unflinching. He then stepped towards the crowd, causing me and everyone else to step back. 

 

Quinn’s gaze was calm and steady as he looked at everyone before passing a tablet to Cavalero. “Round up the residents in this list. All are to be executed for organizing the previous protests via glassing.” He declared, his tone disturbingly casual, as if ordering a routine task.

 

“There shall be order on the Zariman. Any violent outbursts or coordinated protests shall not be tolerated and will result in execution.” His voice was firm, with no hint of doubt or remorse present. “The jump to Tau will proceed as scheduled. Delay it, and you share the same fate as the man before you.”

 

The weight of his command settled over the crowd like a shroud, smothering any trace of rebellion. Even if our days were numbered, who among them would volunteer to die like that—stripped of dignity, sentenced to a grotesque end?

 

As the two guards began dragging Mr. Dohan’s limp body towards where Quinn had come from, a sharp pain shot through my hand.

 

“UGH—!” Teeth bit down hard, hard enough to draw blood. Then, something solid drove into my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs. The sudden blow left me momentarily dazed and clutching my abdomen.

 

Did she just elbow me?

 

My mother tore herself free from my grasp, sprinting toward the front of the crowd. She shoved aside anyone in her way. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she was about to do.

 

“Fuck,” I forced myself upright and bolted after her.

 

“LET HIM—ACK!!?” Her shout was cut short as I grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her back. Without hesitation, I snaked my arm around her throat, locking her in a chokehold to silence her. 

 

Her body thrashed against mine, gurgles and wheezing sounds spilling from her lips as her fingers clawed frantically at my arm.

 

I gritted my teeth and tightened my hold. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I couldn’t let her scream again. She didn’t understand what she was risking. One word, one outburst, and she’d be dragged away like Dohan. If I had to hurt her now to save her, so be it.

 

I’d lock her in my dormizone and chain her to the walls if I had to.

 

“Oliver, what the fuck are you doing!” 

 

The voice snapped my focus, its tone sharp and furious. My head turned toward the sound just in time for a fist to slam into my face.

 

Pain exploded through my skull, and my grip loosened. My mother collapsed onto the floor, gasping and coughing as she clutched her throat. I staggered back, bringing a hand to my throbbing cheek, and looked up to see Khalil glaring at me, his fist still clenched and ready to throw another strike.

 

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” He snarled, stepping between me and my mother.

 

“She was about to get herself killed, you idiot!” I snapped back, straightening my posture. “I fucking saved her!”

 

“Saved her?! You had your arm around her throat, choking her!!” 

 

From the corner of my eye, I saw Claire rush to my mother’s side. She dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as she gently helped my mother stand up.

 

“Mrs. Amos, are you okay!” She asked, her voice frantic. My mother weakly nodded, her face twisted in pain as she clutched her neck.

 

“And what the hell would you have me do?” My voice hardened. “Let her scream and get herself killed? Watch them drag her to her death like Dohan!”

 

Claire shot me a look, blue eyes blazing with anger. “And choking her was the solution?! You almost killed her if not for Khalil!”

 

“Shut the fuck up! As if I could kill my mother!” I yelled. Did these idiots not understand anything? Every action I took, every ounce of force I used, all of this was to protect her, to let her live another day. How the fuck could they say I wanted to kill my mother?! “I was knocking her out, not killing her, you fuck!”

 

“Knocking her out? You’re fucking insane…” Khalil muttered, his expression a mix of disgust and disbelief. “You’ve completely lost it. In what world does choking your mother save her?”

 

No, I did the right thing.

 

That’s right—I did do the right thing. Khalil and Claire could never understand my actions. They had everything, a mother whose smile brightened their mornings and a father they could lean on when their burdens grew too heavy. They’d never felt the gaping void of losing someone so important, the crushing loneliness it left behind. How could they ever understand my actions?

 

But it doesn’t matter, their opinions don’t matter. 

 

Yes, none of them matter, not even my mother’s complaints. She was actively trying to kill herself over and over again. First by exhaustion, now by going against the higher ups. Mother didn’t know how to care for herself, so it fell to me to help her.

 

I will admit that my actions were cruel, but I had no choice. I would do it all over again if I had to. If it meant she lives another day, I would do whatever. The ends justify the means.

 

‘ You ARE a monster. ’

 

The words from my dream echoed in my mind. Perhaps dream me was right in his analysis. Maybe I was right to call myself a monster. Maybe I’ve crossed a line I can never come back from. 

 

But if being that monster is what it takes to keep her safe…

 

I will gladly wear that label.

 

Notes:

Well... better late than never? Sorry for the two-month wait, I didn't realize how difficult it'd be to write this chapter. I had a quarter of it written when I posted the first chapter, but I ended up scrapping it cause I didn't like it. Then midterms started approaching, and my jobs became busier, then life events happened, and then new shows came out that I wanted to watch... Basically, I left the story for last. I did write a little every other day, like 300-500 words, but it took so long cause I kept wanting to make the first draft so perfect that I couldn't move forward.

Fast forward to November 7th and I'm halfway done with the first draft, but then I get a notification that tenebri123456 left two comments on my story, and that just ignited a fire in me. I finished the first draft that day, the second draft on the 10th, and the final draft today. So, thank you tenebri123456 for commenting on my story, you gave me that push I needed to finish writing.

I want to say that what I said last chapter is still true, I will continue this story and it will not be dropped by me. I would love to say I have a set schedule for posting chapters but that simply isn't happening. However, I will post another chapter before the end of this month, that I can assure you.

With that out of the way, let me move on to the other topic.

Regarding Warframe's lore, I'm not the most knowledgeable of it so I apologize if some things are out of place. For Tuvul's speech, I essentially stitched up what he said in the logs from the game. I'm going to change some things, nothing too major that completely changes the course of the story (for now), so do expect to see some small differences from the game. However, if I do end up changing something that dramatically changes the lore please let me know! I'm trying to stay as close as possible.

Until next time!

Chapter 3: Fractured Convictions

Notes:

WOW! NEW CHAPTER AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF NOTHING!! I'm trying something new so I apologize for any mix-ups.

Two hours after Tuvul’s announcement

 

“PLEASE DON’T DO IT!! I HAVE THREE CHILDREN!! PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! PLEA—AHHHHH!!!!”

 

CLINKK!! 

 

A sharp and vibrant sound permeated through the room. The wails of the man in front of me ceased, yet his mouth remained open in a silent scream. His bulging eyes froze over as crystals sprouted from his face like flowers blooming in spring. The flesh hardened and broke into multiple crown facets that resembled a translucent gemstone.

 

One could mistake the thing in front of me for a sculpture, the work of a veteran carver who dedicated his life to constructing such a piece, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

 

It was the final moments of someone’s life frozen in time—a corpse. 

 

To say I stared at the horrifying sight with indifference would be a lie. I wasn’t heartless like those Orokin bastards, but years of military service hardened the heart. Death was a common occurrence in my line of work.

 

Still, my mind wandered. Had I handled the situation differently, this man could have enjoyed dinner with his wife. He’d have played with his three children, tucked ‘em to sleep, and lay in bed with his wife.

 

Yet such a sight would never bless Dohan Marcellus’ eyes again. His last moments were spent in agony and dread, crying out for mercy he would not receive. 

 

Two security guards, outfitted with specialized gloves, carefully grabbed the corpse off the pedestal in the middle of the room, attentive to not damage it when descending. 

 

“Next,” a wooden voice stated.

 

Two different guards entered the dimly lit room, dragging a man by his arms as his knees scraped against the floor. Cuts and dried blood marred his face, and his nose sat bruised and swollen. The guards brought him up to the pedestal, dropping the limp man like a fish on a cutting board, before rapidly leaving the room. 

 

“Malik Cadwell, for treason against the Orokin, you are sentenced to glassing.” The same wooden voice spoke to the lifeless Malik as they swiped their finger across a tablet. 

 

A bright light shone from above, illuminating the room and revealing a needle-like machine in the ceiling. It gyrated rapidly, producing a whirring sound that deafened the ears, before firing a small laser. 

 

CLINKK!! 

 

The same sharp and vibrant sound permeated through the room as Malik’s body crystallized, losing its color and becoming translucent.

 

“Next,” without the slightest pause, the dark-skinned man ordered for more.

 

“That’s all of ‘em, Quinn,” I growled, my fists clenching at his nonchalance. Even if death were common in my field, the death of civilians left a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

Quinn looked up from his tablet, briefly scanning the room. “Is that so… That was quicker than expected.” He turned to leave, but I quickly grabbed his shoulder, holding him in place. “Is there a reason for this, Head of Security?”

 

“Why go so far, Liaison of the Expeditionary Command?”

 

He smacked my hand off his shoulder. “Do you not understand, Cavalero? I would have expected your profession to grasp why this is necessary.”

 

“Necessary? How is killing twenty-four colonists necessary for the Zariman?” I growled. “You had options to discipline ‘em. Lock 'em up in solitary confinement or starve ‘em until they beg for mercy—any of those methods would have sufficed.”

 

Quinn craned his head just enough for his left eye to meet mine. “Only the symptoms would be treated, the tumor would still fester, digging deeper into their minds and further corrupting them. An example was needed to make them understand their positions.”

 

“And twenty-four people had to die for that!? I could accept six or ten, but twenty-four?”

 

His detached and apathetic tone, his uncaring attitude toward the people he was responsible for, and the fact that he didn’t even bother to turn around fully—all of it irritated me to my core.

 

Even if he wasn’t Orokin, he sure as hell was close to being one.

 

“Malik Cadwell expressed his disdain of the jump with the residents of floors C and D, garnering members for his cause. Kian Sterling was in charge of organizing all seven protests. Layla Ashford delivered a speech at one of them, instilling her fears in others. Maya Elsher disrupted classrooms and workstations to try to garner sympathy. All of them played a pivotal part in diminishing the Orokin’s authority.”

 

His voice was dry and flat, like he was speaking of something that didn’t interest him. As if the lives he ended meant nothing.

 

“The people had a taste of independence and decided to disobey the Orokin. They believed themselves untouchable—safe from any punishment the Orokin could bestow them. Simply arresting those who participated would do nothing to quell their uprising. An example needed to be made, and who better than the ringleaders of the protests?”

 

“And what about Dohan?” I snarled. “What part did he play in the protests?”

 

Quinn finally turned around, his dull, uncaring dark brown eyes in full view. “None, but he attacked a high-ranking officer. That alone is enough to execute him under Orokin law.”

 

“Under Orokin law? If you haven’t noticed, we ain’t under the Orokin anymore. They’ve cast us aside, thrown us out like garbage!”

 

“Does that mean we should resort to barbarity? Allow chaos to envelop the Zariman and her residents?” His voice took on an edge and his eyes narrowed. “I will have order on this ship, Cavalero. And I will do anything to prove we are worthy of their grace.”

 

“Put it through your brain, you pious bastard.” I raised my voice in response to his and gestured at my head with my fingers.“Those golden bastards you revere so much don’t care about you or anyone on this ship. This is all one giant experiment for ‘em. We’re lab rats that they can throw away at any time—and they have! There is nothing you can do to—” 

 

“ENOUGH!!” Quinn snapped, grabbing the collar of my vest, our faces a breath away, and roared. Dark brown eyes glared at me, eyebrows drawing together sharply like twin blades. “The jump to Tau will continue as scheduled! We shall reach the Tau system and establish results!”

 

I wrenched his hands from my clothing. “Is that all you care about, results? Are you so devoted to those shitheads that you’d cast aside your humanity if it meant they’d glance at you?”

 

“A mercenary speaking about humanity? Hah, could it get any more hypocritical than this...” Quinn mocked. “Those in your profession do anything for a few extra credits to their name, even if it means throwing away their pride. Are you sure you aren’t the same?”

 

“I have morals, you bastard. That’s why I turned down that greedy Corpus’ offer.” I clicked my tongue and scoffed at him. “Perhaps I should have taken his job as an enforcer instead of this shitty one.”

 

“Parvos Granum?” His eyes widened, surprise lacing his voice. “I see. You two would have hit it off well, seeing as you’re in it for profit.”

 

My entire body revolted at his words. “Don’t compare me to the likes of that bastard—it’s disgusting. As if I could ever stoop to his and his cult’s level of greed.”

 

Quinn stroked his thick beard as he turned his gaze at the machine above. “I see. Perhaps I went too far with my comparison. However, your ruthlessness would fit in well with him.”

 

“Why thank you for the praise, your highness.” I spat back, making my way to the door. I spent too much time here with him when I had a mountain of—

 

“If you think displaying violence against two children is praiseworthy, then you should have taken his offer.”

 

I snapped my head back. Quinn shouldn’t have known about that incident, unless…

 

“Yonta spoke nothing of what happened in the Oro Works if that’s what you’re thinking.” 

 

He said that, his eyes now fixed on me, but the smile on his lips did little to calm my racing heart. “Then how?”

 

“Did your fit of anger make you forget about the surveillance cameras installed in the area?” He mockingly titled his head to the side, his grin growing bigger.

 

“I see…” was all I could say in response. It had slipped my mind that cameras littered the area, even after I had checked prior to going down there. 

 

Wait, if the cameras caught that, then—

 

“Don’t worry,” he raised his hand in the air. “The security guard on watch swore to me that he wouldn’t tell a soul, I made sure of it.” 

 

I let out a sigh. At the very least, I didn’t have to worry about my actions spreading across my subordinates.

 

“But I must say, it was quite the show you put on.” His boots thudded against the floor as he slowly strut toward me. “I knew you had an explosive fuse, but to lose it because of a child is something else.”

 

I clenched my hands tightly as I glared daggers at him. It angered me that I couldn’t find anything to say back. Any insult thrown at him would only further prove his point.

 

But more than that, I held anger for my own actions, for I had no viable explanation as to why I provoked that kid so much.

 

Yonta had come to my station the day before and asked me to send a guard or two to bar any residents from entering the Reliquary Drive’s chamber. With the recent protests, I saw no reason to deny her request, but I decided to do it myself. My men were already stretched thin with the riled-up residents, so I saw it fit to go there myself.

 

I expected nothing to happen, but that was thrown out the window right away.

 

The moment I stepped into that area, an eerie aura enveloped my body. My senses dialed up to eleven—I could feel the cold air brush over my face, see the unnatural white hue from the light, smell the metallic and pungent odor that lingered, and hear how uncanny silent the room was.

 

With every step I took, I felt like I was walking into dangerous territory. My gut churned with intensity as if warning me of impending danger, but no matter how much I looked over my shoulder, there was nothing around me except the ghostly pale walls.

 

Until those two walked in.

 

I was behind the door, so I couldn’t see ‘em, but their voices sliced through the silence, making me aware of their presence.

 

It was a simple task—tell ‘em they shouldn’t be down here and leave. Even the lowly Grineer could have done it.

 

But as their footsteps grew louder, my gut bellowed at me—the instinct I honed over the years warning me of impending danger.

 

I remember scoffing in disbelief. I killed people with my bare hands, saw charred bodies, and mutilated corpses beyond recognition with my weapons. Yet, two children were making me wary?

 

But before I could make sense of it, my legs crossed the door on their own, and my mouth opened to confront ‘em for being there. 

 

“It was quite the spectacle to watch. Whenever the two tried to speak, you’d interrupt them and tell them they were ‘babbling about nonsense.’ Even when Yonta came to diffuse the situation, you had it out for those two—especially the boy. Had it not been for her, you would have struck the two, am I right?”

 

A smile was plastered on Quinn’s face—which was a mere two feet away—but it didn’t reach his eyes, which were glaring directly at mine. Under his scrutinizing gaze, and standing in front of the crystallized corpse, it felt like Quinn could discern any lies I told.

 

Even so…

 

“It was true that I taunted the two—especially the brat. I know I grabbed the girl with a bit of force, but actually hitting ‘em… Nah, I wouldn’t have done so.”

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

The smile was wiped from Quinn’s face. Though his expression remained neutral, there was a sharpness in his gaze that expressed his skepticism at my words.

 

In hindsight, I was an idiot for my actions. I shouldn’t have escalated things to the level I did, but it’s easy to say that when you look back on something, and your mind and body aren’t fogged by emotions. 

 

At that moment, for whatever reason, every fiber of my being told me to be cautious, that these two—especially the boy—were dangerous.

 

I didn’t understand it, but I obeyed that instinct. And so, I tried to rile him up, to break his composure and force him to act on his impulses so I could restrain him.

 

Yet, he didn’t break. He kept his composure and argued with the Archimedean, and unexpectedly, I found myself being consumed by anger.

 

It left me stunned—it was so out of place that I couldn’t begin to make sense of it. It felt like something forcefully lodged inside me.

 

That, coupled with my instinct, made me explode. I yelled at the kid, got up in his face, and threatened to lock him up. I became physical with the girl just because she jabbed her finger on my chest, and I was ready for the brat to hit me. I made it seem like she had my full attention, but I was looking out the corner of my eye, waiting for him to strike.

 

And had he connected that fist… 

 

Quinn closed his eyes briefly, letting out a sigh before opening ‘em. “…I will look over this situation as we need all hands on deck. Punishing you would only put more strain on the crew.”

 

“Heh, so you’re keeping me around to do your dirty work?” I joked, feeling the tension disappear from my body.

 

“Would you prefer to be locked up with the Grineer while you reflect on your actions?”

 

I raised my hands up to my face. “I ain’t said all that.”

 

“Good. However, the child’s actions must elicit a response from us. They attempted to assault a high-ranking officer, that is something that cannot be taken lightly.”

 

My eyes widened at his words. He couldn’t be thinking of…

 

“Perhaps I should—”

 

“No!” I interrupted him before he could utter his next words. “I’ll handle their punishment. Not you.”

 

“You?” He raised his eyebrow. “The one who almost attacked them?”

 

I hated that he had a point, but I wasn’t going to budge on this. Yes, from his perspective, sending me was a horrible idea, but it was better than letting his bastard do it.

 

He wasn’t Orokin, but he had their ruthlessness. 

 

“I’ll get it done, you worry about the other things. This ship ain’t gonna last another day if we don’t have you preaching order and obedience.”

 

“So you do agree that the voyage must continue.” 

 

“We either starve to death, void jump to our deaths, or make it to Tau and by some miracle survive. Laying it out like that makes the choice simple.” I shrugged.

 

“Good,” Quinn said, nodding in approval. “Unity is needed more than ever to traverse through these dark times. Without it, we are no different than ravenous beasts who prey on each other.”

 

The sound of the door opening snapped my attention. A security guard stepped inside, and upon noticing who I was with, his posture stiffened.

 

“H-Head of Security!” The guard, whose face resembled a teenager more than an adult, stuttered loudly as he quickly stepped toward me. “I-I found the information you were searching for and placed it in this tablet!”

 

He pushed the device into my hands—his stiff arms trembling as he did—before rushing out of the room with a speed that rivaled a bullet. 

 

I smirked as he disappeared. Any quicker and he would have slipped. 

 

“Another child to bother?” Quinn said tauntingly.

 

I wiped the smirk off my face and gripped the tablet tightly at his words. “Nah, just an old case I’m trying to close up on. My men have been at it for more than a week, but haven’t gotten anywhere, so I’m taking charge.” 

 

Not waiting for his response, I made my way to the exit, but stopped right before the door as Quinn spoke. “Cavalero, make sure a repeat of the Reliquary Drive does not occur. Although we may not see eye to eye, it would be a shame to lose someone of your caliber.” 

 

I glanced back at Quinn. “…Are you threatening to use the Crystal Index on me?”

 

He went silent, donning a pensive expression.“‘Crystal Index’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? When I was first put in charge of it, my immediate thought was a database for different types of minerals. It didn’t sound like something dangerous or brutal, yet the faces people made when telling me said otherwise” 

 

He turned to Malik, whose corpse had not moved an inch from the floor, and chuckled. “Only when I performed my first glassing did their expressions make sense.”

 

Quinn placed his hand on Malik’s face, grasping its side as his fingers ran across the smooth facet. Small flakes of glass began to form on the surface of his hand, erratically climbing up, yet Quinn didn’t pull away, seemingly enraptured by the corpse in front.

 

“It didn’t even feel like I was killing them, just putting them in a deep sleep. And when you look at the result, your mind can’t help but reinforce that thought.”

 

He slowly withdrew his hand from Malik’s lifeless face, shaking off most of the glass flakes. A few remained embedded deep enough in his fingers to draw blood, but Quinn did nothing to remove ‘em, opting to stare at his wounded hand. 

 

“But reality is much darker. Their souls are harvested as their bodies are violated. Skin and blood is transmuted into glass shards, impaling their organs and severing bodily functions—their final seconds of life are spent in unimaginable agony.”

 

Quinn clenched his crimson-dyed hand, the shards sinking deeper into his skin as more blood pooled, yet his expression didn’t change. Releasing his fist, he waved his hand to the right, resembling the motion he made on his tablet.

 

“With a swipe of the screen, I ended their lives in a flash. It leaves a weird taste in the mouth to see someone die by such a small gesture… I liken it to a gun—it’s more of a mechanical act, making it less personal. Even now, when I touch this corpse, it hasn’t fully hit me. After all, their souls—”

 

“They’re dead Quinn,” I said matter-of-factly. “No matter what pretenses you put on or however you try to spin it, the person is dead. That thing isn’t ‘em, no matter how much it sounds or acts like ‘em.” 

 

I spat those last words with venom. Death via the Crystal Index was excruciating to look at—never mind the actual experience. In my eyes, it was grotesque and degrading to have your final moments eternalized for all to bear witness.

 

And the Orokin, in their “eternal and benevolent glory,” found a way to make a mockery of death.

 

“I don’t know what you’re getting at with your monologue—and I could honestly care less—but don’t you dare delude yourself. YOU desecrated their bodies with a swipe, YOU condemned ‘em to servitude, and YOU murdered those residents. Their blood is on your hands.”

 

Just as much as it is on mine, for dragging ‘em here…

 

Not waiting for his response, I stormed out of the dimly lit room and into the corridor. The change in brightness slightly stabbed my eyes, but I pushed forward, intent on putting as much distance between me and that room. 

 

As I headed toward the elevator at the end, I flicked on the tablet and scrolled through the files my subordinate had pulled.

 

“Tales of Duviri by Euleria Entrati,” I muttered. “It’s a children’s book, but it’s the best thing I got right now.”

 

My mind drifted back to last week. I’d gone over the incident in the Reliquary Drive again and again, and no matter how I looked at it, my behavior was unnatural. I’ll admit that I have a bit of a temper, but to lose my shit because of two kids? No, something else was at play, and I could only think of one thing. 

 

Yonta insisted there was nothing wrong with the drive, but she seemed to have been hiding something, seeing as she squirmed under my questioning. I tried to access some files on the void drive, but they were locked, requiring Archimedeans' access code. 

 

I doubt she’d give ‘em to me, and her co-workers would tell her if I asked one of ‘em, so trying to get ‘em was impossible.

 

That left me with this children’s book to learn more about the Void. I knew a bit about the energy from what I was told before boarding, yet the book could provide something insightful. But seeing how each page was mostly pictures and very few words…

 

“At least the author seems promising,” I said, leaning against the wall of the escalating elevator I entered. If I recall correctly, she was Albrecht Entrati’s daughter that followed in his research, so she may have added something insightful about the Void to the book. “Well even if it turns out useless, I have another avenue I can pursue.”

 

I closed the book’s file and opened the second. The still shot of a raven-colored hair teenager with ivory skin filled the screen, along with all the information on him and his family. The same kid from a week ago who made me wary and almost lose it.

 

“Now, what to do with you, Oliver Amos.” 

---

---

The irritating screech of chairs being pushed back grated my ears. Numerous lifeless bodies sluggishly rose up from their seats, their dull gazes directed at the Zariman’s logo on the screen in front. 

 

“Now, now everyone, get ready for pledges~!” A feminine voice chirped from the front of the room.

 

I brushed the red strands of hair in my eyes aside and dragged myself up in time for the sound of a chime bell ringing through the room. “By the glory and wisdom of the Seven, I give my life,” the male announcer said, the same voice from the elevators.

 

We raised our right hand in unison, chanting the same slogan we always did. “By the glory and wisdom of the Seven, I give my life. I give my life, to uphold the sanctity of our thousand legems evermore.”

 

Monotone voices repeated the self-deprecating mantra. The dullness was expected—it was exhausting to repeat the same phrase over and over. But now, a hollowness was woven into our voices, as if saying the words drained our life.

 

“To carry the sacred light of our dominion into the deepest dark. In this, we are one.”

 

How ironic to be saying these words after what happened, I thought, slumping back down in my chair.

 

It had been a week after Tuvul’s announcement, a week after the Orokin left us to rot in space. Since the show of force from Quinn and Cavalero, everyone has been living with their heads down. The lively and energetic residents had been replaced with zombies who aimlessly wandered the halls. 

 

The sound of a stomach rumbling followed the brief silence, reminding everyone of our dire circumstances. Like a domino effect, more grumbling sounds could be heard. The usual embarrassment that came with such a sound was gone, replaced with grim expressions and snuffles.

 

Most had barely enough food to last two weeks, forcing them to ration their meals heavily. Three meals a day became one—water or sleep becoming their substitutes.

 

“Hey, you got any snacks?” 

 

“S-Sorry, I-I don’t have any…”

 

“Fuck…Mathon, you got anything? I feel like my insides are clawing at each other.”

 

“…………”

 

“Tch, so much for being friends you shits…”

 

“Save all that chatter for Tau.” The feminine voice squealed. “We’ll be getting into the lesson right away!” 

 

The unity we once held disappeared, now becoming a “everyone fend for themselves” mentality. No matter how close people were, nobody willingly shared food.

 

“Grgrrrhhh!!”

 

The sound of my stomach begging for food made me click my tongue. Unlike the rest, my family and I had enough food for three weeks. We still severely restricted our food intake, but we didn’t have to worry about starvation anytime soon.

 

“Doesn’t make me feel any better though,” I grumbled, twirling my red hair with my fingers. It had only been a week, yet my hair thinned and clumps started falling out when I showered. Sooner or later, I’d end up with barely any hair, or worse, bald! 

 

“Well, I shouldn’t really be complaining about my situation.” I had food, something the majority of the ship couldn’t say. The adults could do with missing meals—they’d have a bit of pain, but they’d live.

 

It was the children who suffered the most.

 

I could vividly recall the cries of dozens of children throughout the week. Parents went around to each dormizone, begging on their knees for food to feed their children—even if it was just a scrap. 

 

And when a mother came to my dormizone, pleading for food for her two children, going as far as to put her head on the ground, I felt like a thousand knives stabbed my heart. She wailed as she wrapped her trembling hands around my legs, snot and tears dripping from her face as she looked up at me as if I were her salvation. 

 

Who could ever say no in such a situation?

 

“Well, I know one person…” I muttered, glaring at the person to my left.

 

His black, messy hair fell over his eyes, thick strands partially obscuring his radiant green eyes. The dark space suit, identical to everyone else’s, clung to his body like a second skin. His expression was blank—a stark contrast to the discomfort etched into everyone else’s.

 

I pursued my lips to stop myself from saying something stupid. We hadn’t spoken since the cultural festival, and I didn’t intend to start now. 

 

Instead, I turned my gaze to the window beside him. A massive orange-brown sphere dominated the view. Hazel-colored clouds swirled along its backside as white rings encircled the planet like guardians protecting their lord. 

 

How does he look at this for hours?

 

I could admire Saturn's beauty—or any other planet’s—but to be spellbound like Oliver, gazing at it for hours, was impossible for me. A couple seconds at best. Any longer and I’d die of boredom. 

 

“Students, eyes on your screen! It’s quiz time~!” 

 

Our teacher's words jolted me from my thoughts. I knew she couldn’t exactly see me, but it felt like her remark was aimed at me.

 

“Ugh, what’s the point of this anyway?”

 

“When are we ever gonna use any of this?”

 

“Didn’t we just have an exam like a week ago?”

 

The collective groans of my fellow classmates layered over one another, all of them dejected at the idea of a quiz. Even with our impending doom, we still had to attend classes for some bizarre reason. 

 

“By my precepts, I’ve never~ had such an enthusiastic group of students!” Her voice, metallic and high-pitched, scraped against my ears. “I hope you all remember what we just went over about temporal axioms!”

 

Ugh, I missed what she said. I sighed, dropping my face onto my palms. Did I blank out for so long that she covered an entire chapter? “Who the hell decided we had to have quizzes and tests during a time like this?” I muttered. It just makes you hungrier! 

 

“She only covered the basics of some time theories…you’ll be good. It’s all in the names really,” Oliver whispered, staring down at his tablet.

 

I scrunched my face at his indifferent tone, jerking my head toward my tablet to begin the quiz.

 

“Question one: What is the principal failing of Presentism?” A female voice spoke from our tablets. Unlike our teacher’s sharp, high-pitched tone, this voice was smoother—softer on the ears, yet carrying a slight huskiness. “A. It considers the Present to be the only reality. B. It has never been endorsed by an Archimedean of unblemished standing. C. It lacks elegance. D. It is not true.”

 

The answer was…pretty easy to discern. Our teacher either thought us stupid or just threw us a bone. Either way, I wasn’t complaining. I clicked choice A, a grin creeping onto my face, and waited for everyone else to finish up. 

 

After a few seconds, the voice spoke up. “ Choice A is correct. As the name implies, Presentism considers only the present to be real.”

 

Yes! I mentally jumped up from my seat. If all the questions are like this, then—

 

“Question two: Lintana’s parents have been captured, but she has a choice. The button that opens her mother’s cell door will flood her father’s cell with deadly radiation, and vice versa. She presses one of the buttons. Under Eternalism, which of the following statements is universally true.”

 

“Oh fuck me…” I mumbled. I just had to jinx it.

 

“A: Only one of her parents will survive. B: Only one of her parents will die. C: Her parents will survive. D: Her parents will die. E: Her parents will survive and die.”

 

“??” I scrunched my hair, staring dumbfounded at each choice. “Aren’t they basically the same thing?”

 

I shot a glance toward Oliver. As much as I wanted to ignore him, now wasn’t the time for that. I needed a good score on his quiz or my grade would plummet.

 

But to my horror, his right hand covered his tablet. 

 

I tried signalling him—stretching my foot toward his desk and tapping the edge of mine—but his eyes were laser-focused on the front screen. 

 

This bastard!

 

I snapped my head back toward my tablet, curling my hand inward and resting my chin on its backside. Drawing a deep breath, I pushed aside the obscene curses I had for Oliver and locked my eyes onto the five choices.

 

If choice A was the answer to the previous question, then it wouldn’t be A again. I am tempted to go with C—it’s the first initial of my name, after all—but when has that panned out for me? B and A are too similar, so I can cross them off. And E is just wrong. How could they be both alive and—

 

“Choice E is correct. Versions of reality now exist in which each parent dies. Lintana is assigned to one of them, but the other is no less real and is theoretically accessible.” 

 

OH C’MON! I mentally yelled as I threw my hands in the air. I didn’t even get to choose…

 

Not caring for my complaints, the voice continued. “Question three: How does Eternalism address the nature of the future? A. The future is yet to occur. B. The future exists alongside the present and past. C. The future is insignificant and only the present matters.”

 

I furrowed my eyebrows. The answer to question one was A, and the last option was the answer to question two. So the answer for question three should be…

 

“Choice B is correct. Eternalism dictates that all points in time exist simultaneously. Tomorrow is today's equal, and so is the past.” 

 

“Yes!” I whispered loudly, clenching my hands. Two correct out of three wasn’t bad, now I just needed to get the next few questions right and I’d be fine.

 

“Question-ION fo-FO-four: Do-DOES E-E-E-TERNAL-LI-lISM—!” 

 

The woman’s voice stuttered violently, sharply increasing in volume, before a loud buzzing sound reverberated from the front, making everyone look up. 

 

The purple U on the screen began flickering in and out of frame. Embedded within the top of each vertical stem, its “eyes” began to melt—white pixels cascading down the screen. The “mouth,” which once sat in a familiar curve at the base, elongated grotesque, stretching into a thin, jagged slit that bled beyond the frame. 

 

“O-ooh-HH MM-yy, it APPEARS that we-we-e-e are hav-HAVing techNIcal diFFIcuLTies!!” Our teacher’s voice shifted between octaves, fluctuating between ear piercing and soft spoken. Static noise hissed in the background, distorting her words further. 

 

“Ah shit, Melica is glitching out again.”

 

“So who’s gonna report it this time?”

 

“Not me, I got yelled at last time cause they thought we lied!”

 

“And I’m not trying to finish this quiz!”

 

“We were supposed to do Physics, not Temporal Axioms…”

 

“Does this mean the quiz is cancelled?”

 

My classmates' whispers drowned the room in sound. I let out a sigh, relieved that the quiz was momentarily paused, yet annoyed at the voices of my classmates. 

 

Can we please just shut up? My head is already about to explode from the quiz!

 

I rested my head on the desk, my face turned toward the window. My eyes darted to Oliver, whose gaze remained glued to the front screen, his head propped up by his hand. Again, I clenched my jaw, forcing my mouth shut to keep curse words from slipping out. 

 

Not like he doesn’t deserve it for what he did.

 

Although I met Oliver two years ago, I was formally introduced to Mrs. Amos last year when he invited me to his dormizone for dinner. The way he phrased it had me worried, but he assured me he “absolutely” held no romantic feelings toward me—allowing me to breathe properly. Though, the way he emphasized “absolutely” definitely felt like a jab to my face.  

 

That irritation, however, quickly faded the moment I met her. 

 

Rich brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders in waves, framing her delicate yet sharp face. Sweat clung to her ivory skin, catching the glow of the surrounding lights. The dull, standard-issue space suit flattered no one, yet somehow, it highlighted her figure effortlessly.

 

But it was her eyes—twin emeralds shimmering like the stars—that held me in place, leaving me so mesmerized that I nearly forgot to breathe. Oliver had to practically drag me to the kitchen table. 

 

When she introduced herself, my eyes widened. I had heard her name from the other residents. From the higher ups like Hombask, to children who were barely eight years old. Everyone sang her praises, commenting on her invaluable presence on the ship.

 

She helped set up new dormizone, cultivated the agri-biomes when they were working, took part in every event we had, and even babysat when mothers needed a break. Like Oliver put it plainly: she did it all. 

 

That night, as the hours passed, I found myself growing fond of her. Her voice was pleasant to the ears—harmonious and soft—and her elegant speech enamored me. But beyond all of that was her humility. 

 

Unlike our corrupt leaders, who flaunted their meager good deeds to appear righteous, Mrs. Amos didn’t seek recognition. She helped others not to be rewarded, but for the simple joy of doing good—for the blessing of it, as she put it.

 

My admiration grew in folds. Someone like her was rare in our society. In a world of egotistical, self-serving hyenas, she was like a saint that fell from the heavens. The embodiment of compassion and benevolence—you couldn’t help but admire her for helping others so tirelessly. 

 

And this idiot had the gall to hurt her.

 

My face scrunched into a scowl. I wish I was the one who punched him, but I probably wouldn’t have stopped at one, and with dozens of security officers around us that time, they likely would have punished me. Maybe it was for the best that Khalil punched him. 

 

But even deeper than my anger toward him…

 

“Let’s just not say anything about Melica malfunctioning?”

 

“Are we not going to get in trouble?”

 

“Well, it’s not our fault that she’s glitching.”

 

“Ughh, who even decided we still had to attend classes with everything that’s going on?”

 

“I don’t know. I’m too hungry to think right now…”

 

“Don't mention that! You’re going to make me hungrier!”

 

“My body hurts…”

 

“I’d take anything right now, even those disgusting cubes.”

 

Aughh, why did you all have to start talking about food? 

 

I rolled my head, pressing my face against the desk as my arms sprawled out, my hands dangling over the edge. Being reminded of my hunger only increased the gnawing sensation in my stomach. My classmates' unending conversations were like a hammer striking my head, and the loud static only worsened that pain. Was it too much to ask for quietness?!   

 

“—!”

  

As if listening to my prayers, the glitching noises and conversations came to a halt, leaving only silence.

 

Finally, I have peace! 

 

I slumped even further into my desk, relishing in the quietness. If we could have this peace last just for a minute, I’d be the happiest—

 

“Greetings students. Cephalon Melica is currently experiencing technical difficulties. It will take approximately twelve hours for her to be fixed.” 

 

The hum of the screen turning on was first heard, followed by a voice emanating from it. Masculine yet serene, it reminded me of when Dad used to read me bedtime stories.

 

“And so, I’ll be your teacher for the rest of the day. I hope to not disappoint~!” 

 

I clutched the ends of my desk tightly as my heart dropped. Like Melica, he was upbeat and jovial, as if nothing in the world was wrong. Perhaps according to his configuration, everything was fine. 

 

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself! My memory isn’t what it used to be.” 

 

A hollow chuckle escaped my lips. His––no, its last sentence was the only truth preserved of the man it was once. 

 

I had met him before, back at the celebration party of his newborn girl. He was Oliver and Mrs. Amos’ neighbor—the father of three children. The man who feared for his family’s safety, who lashed out at security a week ago. 

 

“I am Cephalon Doma. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

 

Dohan Marcellus. That was its name when it was a human. Now, all that remained was “Do” from Dohan and “Ma” from Marcellus—hollow, broken fragments.

 

The “Do” from Dohan and “Ma” from Marcellus being the only remnants of the man he once was.

 

My stomach fluttered fiercely—like a trapped bird trashing its wings—threatening to shove bile up my throat with each contraction. I jolted upright, covering my mouth with both hands in an attempt to hold it back, but I knew it was futile. I shut my eyes tightly, bracing myself for the inevitable— 

 

“......”

 

—But nothing came. One second became two, then three. My insides continued to churn, but nothing made its way up my system. 

 

“Hurk—hurgg—!”

 

The sound of someone vomiting made me whip my head around. To my left, Oliver hunched forward, arms clutching his abdomen tightly as he spewed a yellow-greenish sludge across his desk. His face twisted in disgust, chest jerking forward with each violent heave. He clamped his hands over his mouth, but bile oozed through his fingers, leaking onto his already ruined, vomit-covered suit.

 

“Oh my!” 

 

I spin my head back to the front, where a glowing green “D” lay on its side. Linear lines crisscrossed inside the letter, mimicking rows of teeth, and two hovering green dots above it stared like empty, unblinking eyes, forming what looked like a cheerful face.

 

A stark contrast to his final moments—pinned to the ground, his face twisted in terror as they dragged him to his death.

 

“It seems someone had too much to eat for breakfast!” Chirped the Cephalon, blissfully unaware of the irony dripping from its words.

---

After puking his guts out for two minutes straight, Celphalon Doma deemed Oliver unable to continue classes and ordered him to rest for the day. Of course, Oliver had trouble standing, so our new professor decided that I should walk him to his dormizone. Khalil volunteered to do it instead, but the Cephalon argued that given Khalil’s track record, he’d probably ditch class after dropping him off.

 

Even a brand new Cephalon was aware of Khalil’s previous antics.

 

And so here I was, dragging a corpse through the hallway. 

 

Great… Just my luck.

 

His left arm slung across my shoulder as I gripped his vomit-covered hand with my left. My right hand slid under his armpit to help him stand, unfortunately pressing against the vomit-soaked fabric of his suit. Because of our proximity, my nostrils were assaulted by his sour stench with every breath, making me gag.

 

Not to mention he weighs like a ton. What the hell has he been eating!! 

 

“—!” Oliver suddenly stopped, his right hand speeding to cover his mouth.

 

“Uck, if you're gonna throw up, do it in your room and far away from me.” I spat, spinning my head away from him. “I don’t need you smelling worse than you already do.”

 

“I can’t really help it right now. I feel like a geyser right now… Fuck, how am I even vomiting this much when I didn’t even eat today?” He muttered, his voice raspier than before. 

 

His words piqued my interest. “Do you have enough food to get through this week?”

 

“Should be enough to last this week. After that, well…” His voice grew quieter with each word before stopping, but he didn’t need to finish his sentence for me to understand. 

 

“I see…” I murmured. “Well, if you’re able to move, let’s keep walking.”

 

Giving me a small nod, we continued toward his dormizone in silence. Normally, it would be a three minute walk, but at our current pace, it would take twice as long.

 

But that's not the main issue right now…

 

Honestly, I would rather spend more time out of the classroom than in it. An extra minute outside meant one less minute dealing with that quiz, and Void knows I need every second I can get. 

 

What really bothered me was the painful silence between us. Our footsteps and his ragged breathing were the only noises in the endless white corridor.

 

Usually, we’d be able to talk about anything. Now, I don’t really know what to say.

 

I think I’m justified in my anger. Afterall, anyone would be upset if a friend did something unethical, and choking your mother definitely fits that criteria.

 

But he’s been my friend for two years…

 

Oliver was the first person I befriended on this ship. For two years, we spent multiple hours each day doing stupid things, talking from midnight until dawn under the stars, watch as Khalil got himself in trouble again and again. And because of my friendship with him, I got to meet Mrs. Amos—the woman I look up to as a role model. 

 

All those memories we made… was I really willing to throw all that away without even giving him a chance to explain himself?  

 

But is he the Oliver you know?

 

I clicked my tongue. Please, not now. It was not the time for this shit.

 

“I know it sucks carrying me to my dormizone,” Oliver rasped. “But—”

 

“Shut up.”

 

I impulsively snapped at him, cutting off his next words. 

 

Shit, I didn’t mean to do that.

 

I turned my head toward Oliver to apologize for my outburst, but upon seeing him with his head hung low—

 

Who was he to look like that when he choked his own mother?

 

What right did he have to look so pathetic?

 

So sickly?

 

—One after another, like the beating of my heart, negative emotions flooded my consciousness, threatening to drown me. I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth together to try and stay afloat, to not let these thoughts run rampant. 

 

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.  

 

It all began with a dream. Usually, I could never make sense or remember my dreams—they were fleeting, too blurry to leave an imprint. But that all changed after the cultural festival.

 

In the dream, I was presented with my dormizone in detail. Paintings obscured the bland walls, decorations from Hombask littered the shelves, and small house plants were placed in each table and corner of the room. It was my attempt at creating a lively ambience—to make our time in the Zariman less depressing.

 

I blinked, and suddenly, I was sitting at our kitchen table. Mom swung her hand across the table, knocking over three trays of food. Dad’s face contorted in anger as he began screaming at her, slamming his hands down and then jabbing his finger into her chest. Tears escaped Mom’s puffy red eyes, her mascara mixing with them to create messy black trails.

 

I simply sighed and looked around the kitchen. They’d been arguing long before boarding the Zariman. This was nothing new to me. 

 

What intrigued me was the detail of the room. Why was it that I could clearly see the cabinet handles or plants on the shelves when I usually couldn’t see anything in my dreams? 

 

I blinked, and again, my surroundings changed. I found myself in a different dormizone, one devoid of any ornaments or plants. Two people sat around a table, their faces smiling brightly as laughter echoed through the room. Their green eyes gleamed as they focused on the cards in their hands, playing what looked like blackjack. 

 

Despite the lack of life in their room, Oliver and Mrs. Amos looked happy. Watching them laugh surged my heart with emotions. Heat rose to my face as the corners of my lips tugged and my vision became blurry. 

 

Cephalon Melica once said that seeing others happy would make you happy, that it would lift your spirits and brighten your day. By her logic, how could I not be moved by seeing these two smile?

 

 

- Then why does your heart twist and ache?

 

 

A voice reverberated in the space, only known to me.

 

 

- Why do you frown when you’re supposedly happy for them?

 

 

It was a female’s voice, given how soft it was.

 

 

- Why do you glare daggers and spill tears?

 

 

It was laced with honey, each word dripping with warmth, masking the coldest truths.

 

 

- You’re not happy for them. No no no. Your mind can lie but your heart doesn’t. What is it really telling you?

 

 

It was my own voice.

 

 

- Let me spell it out for you. It’s jealousy. You. Are. Jealous~!

 

 

Spilling the darkest secrets of my heart.

 

 

- Oliver has only one parent, yet he’s happier than you, who has both. How sad is that!

 

 

I covered my ears and turned away from the illusion of the two, but the room rippled, and I was transported to the third seat around the table, having a closer view of their happiness.

 

My heart began burning.

 

 

- Every day is the same thing. Your mother blames your father for their predicament: stuck upon a floating suicide ship dressed up as a great honor. And your father calls her an ‘uneducated bitch’ who can’t keep a job for longer than a month, so how could she know what’s good or bad?

 

 

I bit my lip with enough force to draw blood. But perhaps because it was a dream, no blood dripped down, and no pain erupted. There was nothing I could do to take my attention away from the two people who seemed to be having the time of their lives.

 

 

- It’s weird how nobody has reported anything about it. Maybe the rooms are sound proof? But then how can you hear when Dad smashes a bottle in the kitchen? Or when Mom screams as a slap echoes? Mysteries! Mysteries! Mysteries~!

 

 

The voice’s relentless teasing, and the fake Oliver and Mrs. Amos laughing so hard that they were slamming their hands on the tables, overwhelmed me. I yanked at my hair as I screamed at the top of my lungs, a vain attempt to drown out the voices. 

 

 

- You try so hard to make them stop fighting with each other. Helping Mom treat her cuts, trying to stand up for her when Dad has his fits.

 

 

But it didn’t matter how hard I crushed my ears or how deafening my screams were.

 

 

- And what do you get in return? A beating from your mother, blaming you for her hell of a life. Screaming from your father that you were a mistake and shouldn’t have been born. 

 

 

The voice—my voice—was heard loud and clearly.

 

 

- No matter what you do… You. Can’t. Make. It. Stop~!  

 

 

Being forced to see my parents and Oliver with his mother was too much. Why couldn’t I make my parents stop fighting? Was I not good enough for them? What did I need to give them to stop screaming every night? To love each? To stop fighting? To make all of us a lovely family?

 

What did I need to do to have the relationship Oliver and Mrs. Amos had? 

 

 

- But have no fear! They’re bond is already broken. Don’t you remember?

 

 

The table and dormizone disappeared, the space transforming into the Chrysalith, a crowd of people right in front of me. 

 

And within that mob were Oliver and Mrs. Amos. His arm snaked around her neck, pressing hard enough for his arm muscles to flex against the space suit. She trashed her arms and legs, trying everything possible to free herself, but Oliver pulled his left hand with his right, tightening his hold.

 

 

- It was quite the sight. Son chokes his mother until she turns blue, eyes roll back, and starts frothing in her mouth. 

 

 

My heart began to burn once more. 

 

 

- How could he do that to such a compassionate and loving woman? Did he have no soul? No love in his bones?

 

 

A fire blazed in my chest, burning so fiercely and spreading through each nerve of my body. From the tips of my toes all the way up to my hair, as if dyeing it a deeper shade of red.

 

 

- He doesn’t deserve her.

 

 

Something wrapped around my back as words were whispered directly into my ear. This wasn’t jealousy like before. This was something far more intense, something darker that consumed every inch of me. 

 

I stared at the Oliver in front of me. His eyes, usually bright and warm, were cold and unblinking. They glared at Mrs. Amos, who clawed and kicked at him, gleaming ever so slightly with twisted emotions. And his lips were pulled back into a cruel smile that seemed to stretch far beyond human capacity, growing even more as she turned a shade lighter.

 

This fucker was smiling as he choked his mother. A saint—an angel who committed no sin—was being killed by her ungrateful, moronic son.

 

He had everything I wanted, everything I desired, everything I begged for, cried for every night.

 

And he spit it in my face by throwing it away like garbage.

 

It burned me to my core. Oliver didn’t deserve her. He shouldn’t be her son. Her child. 

 

That person…that monster…

 

—DESERVES DEATH!!

 

The voice shrieked so loudly that I fell forward in surprise, but instead of hitting the floor, my body shot upright, and my surroundings changed. Paintings and decorations were hung around the room, small pots with plants littered each corner, and I was sitting on a mattress, rapidly heaving. I opened my mouth and a thick liquid went in, flooding my tongue with a metallic taste.

 

I was finally awake, away from that horrid dream.

 

Or so I thought…

 

Since that day, I’ve had the same nightmare every night, with each one becoming increasingly darker. My parents became physical, Oliver and Mrs. Amos no longer laughed in their dormizone. And in the Chyrsalith, Oliver’s action became more severe—bloody. He wasn’t satisfied with choking her. He clawed at her body, broke her legs to stop her, jabbed her throat to quiet her.

 

He resembled an animal more than a human.

 

Anytime I recalled what happened in each of those dreams, a whirlwind of emotions emerged from my chest. I kept telling myself they were dreams— exaggerated figments of my imagination—yet it wouldn’t calm me. My heart refused to believe those dreams as anything but the truth, and that voice reinforced those thoughts.

 

Well, it’d be weird if I didn’t have any problems considering our situation. Starvation, abandonment by the Orokin, and a suicidal jump. Who wouldn’t be emotionally wrecked?

 

After six long minutes, we finally reached his dormizone. Entering through the kitchen’s backdoor, I sat Oliver down on the couch in the corner.

 

Taking a quick glance, I didn’t see Mrs. Amos in the kitchen or main room. I had hoped to see her, but I guess luck wasn’t on my side. 

 

I turned to leave, not sparing him any words, but I didn’t make it far before his hand grasped the hem of my sleeve. I turned back to face him, staring down at his hunched form, “What?”

 

“Stay and eat with me. You have to be hungry as well,” he muttered, half-closed eyes staring at me.

 

I wanted to sharply decline his invitation, but my stomach had decided to speak for me, growling loudly as if it were an animal. 

 

“Fine,” I said, my face flushing as I turned away from his gaze. “But you need to shower and change clothes. I’m not eating with you covered in vomit. It’s disgusting.”

 

Oliver chuckled, extending his hand up. “You gotta walk me there you know.”

 

I pursued my lips, biting back the remark in my tongue, and yanked him up. He tumbled forward, but was able to catch himself before falling. 

 

After leaving him in the bathroom, I glanced around the main room. Like always, it was lifeless and bland, with the messy bed sheets being the only indicator that someone lived in here. My eyes drifted to the center of the room, landing on the table surrounded by three chairs. 

 

The same one from my dreams.

 

I quickly averted my eyes and beelined for the kitchen. Again, I let my eyes wander—from the small table where I shared dinner with him and Mrs. Amos, to the shelves he and I knocked over when I pushed him, and finally to the fridge he once tried to squeeze into, only for it to break.

 

Staring at it reminded me of what he said about having enough food for this week only. I hadn’t questioned it back then, but thinking back, it seemed bizarre. If memory served me right, they should have had more than that as the two always stockpiled on food. Despite her delicate appearance, Mrs. Amos could finish a meal for three and still stay slim. And Oliver…well, he ate for a family of six.

 

I walked up to it, opening both the fridge and freezer, only to find it nearly empty. A few cuts of synthetic meat and vegetables lay in the corner of the freezer, while about three dozen nutritional cubes filled the fridge. 

 

What the… They should have a lot more than this! Mrs. Amos said she put all the food in the freezer to preserve it, but this can’t be all of it.

 

“Quite the sight huh?” A voice murmured directly in my ear.

 

“Void almighty!” I yelled, spinning around to see Oliver mere inches away from me. “What the hell was that for? And why didn’t you shower?” 

 

“Uhh, I did.” He pointed to his dripping black hair. “Not everyone needs twenty minutes to scrub their body with soap,” he said, slowly making his way to the fridge. “Anyway, sit down while I prepare lunch, it shouldn’t take long.”

 

“Oliver, I think I’m fine, you don’t need to give me anything,” I said. I couldn’t possibly eat if they had had so little food. Him and Mrs. Amos…

 

“No way I’m sending you back without eating something. You probably haven’t eaten anything since yesterday.” His voice was shaky, as were his steps. “Plus, she would kill me if I let you go like you are…”

 

Oliver muttered the last part, but I could hear the irritation in his voice. It was obvious who he was referring to, but I kept my mouth shut and accepted his good grace. 

 

He pushed me to sit down, my face facing the stove. I watched as he pulled out a few cubes, his hands trembling as if they weighed more than they should. He placed them in the nutritional cube warmer. He set the timer for two minutes before bracing himself against the countertop, head hung low as he took deep breaths.

 

Fuck, I feel horrible…

 

Oliver looked terrible. I knew vomiting made you feel awful, but he looked like he would collapse at any second. I would’ve offered to help, but there was nothing to do except wait for the cubes to warm up.

 

The warmer beeped, signaling the food was ready. I started to stand, but Olier held out his hand, telling me to stay put. He grabbed a small tray from the cabinet above, plated the eight cubes, and set them in the middle of the table.

 

“Here you go,” he said, plopping down in the seat in front of me.

 

“Thanks…You’d think with our situation I’d learn not to be picky, but…” I said, a wry smile creeping onto my face.

 

“I get what you mean. I hate eating these things too,” he muttered, jabbing his fork into one of the tiny cubes. “But we don’t have the luxury of options right now.”

 

I grabbed a fork and followed his lead, placing a cube in my mouth. My entire body shuddered, rejecting the thing invading my mouth. It had a jiggly, gel-like consistency, making it uncomfortable to chew on it, but I wasn’t about to swallow it whole.

 

It was funny when Khalil choked on it, but I might actually throw up if it goes down the wrong pipe.

 

Setting aside my disgust, I bit the cube in half. The smooth yet bouncy texture rolled between my teeth, little pieces sticking onto them. It had no flavor or aftertaste—nothing to make the experience enjoyable. The heat of my mouth mushed the cube into something slimy, making it feel like one was swallowing a bland jelly.

 

“Blehh!” I stuck my tongue out, waving a hand in front like it would somehow erase the sensation. “Who on earth decided these should be made?”  

 

“A psychopath who hates others. There’s no way a sane person would approve of this,” he mumbled, grimacing through his own bite.

 

“That’s for sure…”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“……”

 

“……”

 

We both stared at the plate, twiddling our forks before going for another bite. I hated eating these disgusting cubes, but it was better than having air for lunch, and it gave an excuse to not speak. So I had no choice but to keep eating them, the sound of our lips smacking being the only noise in the room.

 

Three minutes later, the tray was empty, and silence settled over us again. It was so quiet that the buzzing of the lights was deafening.

 

Oliver rested his head on his palm and closed his eyes, seemingly unbothered by the quiet. 

 

Well, if I had spewed my guts out, I too wouldn’t care about anything too.

 

His chest rose and sank slowly with every breath. The usual indifference on his face had faded, replaced with a softer expression. 

 

It was different from the Oliver in my dreams—more like the one I knew.

 

No, he’s different. He's abusive and aggressive. He hurt Mrs. Amos like it was nothing and is likely doing it still.

 

But the voice in my head disagreed. It twisted Oliver into a heartless demon—the devil himself. 

 

It was irrational, based on nothing but that day. And yet, my entire body tensed the longer I stared at him, as if preparing to fight back.

 

This is just too much at this point. I need to clear the air between us.

 

It was simple, I just needed to get his perspective about that day and I could clear these thoughts—a child could do it. 

 

“——”

 

Yet, when I opened my mouth, the questions died in my throat. A dull ache spread throughout my head, forcing my mind to go blank.

 

You already know his stance. He made it very~ clear when he choked her. He’s an animal…a wild beast!

 

The voice crept to the front of my mind. Its sweet, soft tone a deceptive contrast to the poison laced within. 

 

No, I won’t know until I ask him.

 

But you can’t! Look at yourself! Trembling like you’re in front of a rabid animal. You already know he’s not the same Oliver as before.

 

I stared at Oliver, who looked to be fast asleep. The voice was wrong… Oliver was… He…

 

Look at you, you can’t even say it in your head! C'mooon! Just admit it already~!

 

A strange weight pressed against my shoulders, as if someone embraced me from behind. Yet it held none of the warmth accompanied by such a gesture. It was intrusive—like a stranger violating my personal space. Please shut up. Just stop talking…

 

Oliver’s changed. He’s probably been fighting with Mrs. Amos ever since that day, and it’s not just verbal…

 

The voice was whispering directly into my ear, yet in this silence, it might as well have been screaming. Each syllable echoed, striking the walls of my skull like a hammer. 

 

I plunged my head into my palms, grasping my strands of hair as I chomped on my bottom lip hard enough for blood to trickle down. 

 

Just shut up! He’s not—

 

He’s probably rammed her to the floor with all his weight and crushed her neck with enough force to leave a bruise… Oh gosh, maybe she has bruises all over her body!

 

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! 

 

I frantically swept my hands to my ears, trying to drown out the voice in my head, but it was useless. My mind forcibly fabricated that image, picturing Oliver’s knee pinning Mrs. Amos, whose ivory skin was blotted purple, to the ground. Bloodshot eyes pleaded for mercy as her nostrils and mouth flared open, struggling in vain for a breath of air. Her tiny hands pushed against the leg on her throat, but like a tree deeply rooted in the ground, it did not bulge. 

 

Can you imagine it, Mrs. Amos floundering like a fish above the water as this beast of a human claws at her skin, scarring her beauty?! Can you imagine her cries as she lies there helpless?! Maybe one of those screams you heard before was actually her!!

 

Again, my brain conjured the image—Oliver, towering over Mrs. Amos, pounding his bloody fists against her body with a ferocity rivaling a kubrows. Her chest convulsed with each impact and blood sprayed from her mouth, dyeing her face red. She wailed, pleaded to her son to stop, but Oliver, with a sadistic grin on his face, continued his bombardment.

 

“Stop it…” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut to block my rampant imagination. “Please just stop…”

 

Imagine her screaming at the top of her lungs—shrieking like your mother does.

 

But the voice didn’t listen to my pleas.

 

Being beaten with a tray, pan, bottle, cup—anything they could find in the kitchen.

 

It flooded my mind with venomous words. 

 

The gashes that spill her blood and the bruises that swell on her skin—all of them hidden by the suit. 

 

Drowning my sanity and the world around me.

 

The sharp, throbbing pain from the slightest movement of her fractured and broken bones.

 

My imagination went wild, spurred on by those words and fabricating every malicious scenario in such detail that it rivaled reality. 

 

Her constant smile is a shield against his rage.

 

And with each word that echoed, a sharp, unbearable ache gripped my head.

 

Her laughter is a mask to hide the fear that gnawed at her insides.

 

But it wasn’t just the words. 

 

The light in her eyes shines bright, defiant against the sorrow that pools beneath.

 

The persistent hum of the lights, the thunderous pounding of my heart, and the burning pressure of my tightly squeezed eyes. 

 

“Please…”

 

Doesn’t all~ of this sound familiar to you…

 

Ragged breaths tore through my throat as I dug my nails into my skin, desperate to ground myself.

 

“Please…please,” I muttered hoarsely.

 

Your mother and Mrs. Amos. Don’t both of them have so much in common?

 

The invading weight on my shoulders and the twisting of my heart. The blood roaring in my ears and my stomach growling fiercely. 

 

“Please, please, please,” I cried, tears welling in the corners of my eyes. 

 

If your mother is being abused, doesn’t that mean she is too?

 

It was an endless barrage.

 

And doesn’t that make him like your father~?

 

All these relentless sounds and sensations screeched harshly through my mind, suffocating my consciousness. 

 

An abusive manipulator who gets off on hurting her!

 

And the loudest of them all—the most obnoxious, deafening, nauseating, foul, sickly, and repulsive—

 

A monster!! A rabid animal who ravages those who love him!! A demon that can’t be reasoned with!!

 

—Was my own voice.

 

That is who your father is!!!

 

Taunting, mocking, and belittling my life as it all crumbles down.

 

Who Oliver is!!!

 

“Claire…” a voice in front of me rasped. “Are you—”

 

BANG!!!

 

“FUCKING SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!! SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!”

 

I slammed my right hand onto the table, hitting something metallic and hard, sending it clattering to the floor as a harsh howl exploded from my throat, silencing the voice in my head. My eyes cracked open, squinting as the searing light stung them, momentarily blinding me.

 

As my vision cleared, I could clearly see the figure in front of me. Their black curtain bangs parted to reveal their wide, drooping green eyes. Their pale face rested on their palms, and slow, ragged breaths dragged from their mouth. 

 

“…Ah…”

 

Oliver, who looked to be on death’s door, was staring at me, his eyes questioning what he just saw.

 

Uh Oh! Now he’s going to think you’re crazy~!

 

I took a deep breath, biting back the retort I had. I didn’t need him to think I was actually insane.

 

“Uh…sorry about that… I…I just overwhelmed myself in my head…” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “You know…with everything happening…” 

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Silence filled the room as Oliver’s only response was to stare at me, his eyes unblinking, making me shift in my seat. Averting my gaze to the left, I saw the tray I knocked over, and reached out to pick it up when something caught my eye.

 

Just under the stove, several small reddish-brown splotches stained the floor, mixed with tiny, red-tinted glass shards.

 

My hand froze as my eyes were glued to the mess below. It was blood—I was certain of it. I’d seen enough blood to know what it looks like. But why was it down there?

 

 

- The gashes that spill her blood and the bruises that swell on her skin—all of them hidden by the suit. 

 

 

A shudder rippled through as those words echoed in my mind, but I pushed them aside and picked up the tray. 

 

He slashed her with glass!

 

He spilled her blood and tried to hide it.

 

That’s why she’s not here. She’s at the medical wing getting treated for her wound.

 

Yet the voice in my head pressed on, barraging me with speculation. What if it was true? What if Oliver really did that? The thoughts twisted in my head, gnawing at my consciousness, but I grit my teeth and sat upright.

 

Maybe it was true. Maybe Oliver did do that. Or maybe all of this was fabricated. Either way, whether it was fact or fiction, I needed to confront him about all of this.

 

Swallowing my discomfort under his unwavering gaze, I said, “Oliver…um, I need to talk to you about something.”

 

“……”

 

“After Tuvul…said what he said, Khalil and I went looking for you once we met up with our parents. They weren’t keen on letting us go but we both insisted on finding you, so they allowed it. We rushed back to where we first found you, but could only see security guards blocking a crowd of people from leaving. We were about to go search somewhere else before we heard Mr. Dohan…”

 

I paused to take a deep breath, letting the air soothe my throbbing heart. I vividly remember his howls and pleas for mercy, and the terror in his face as an officer sentenced him to glassing.  

 

“After Quinn, or whatever his name was, punched Mr. Dohan and ordered him to be taken away, I heard your mother scream to let him go. Khalil and I rushed into the crowd and that’s when we saw you…ch-choking your mother…”

 

“……” 

 

Once again, I was met with silence. Oliver stared at me for a few seconds before his eyes drifted to the shelves on my left.  

 

HA! He doesn’t even care about what you’re saying!

 

My arms trembled as my body began to heat up. Was he really ignoring me right now? Did he find my words so boring that he’d rather stare at shelves?!

 

“She’s your mother! How could you do that to her?!” I raised my voice, hoping he’d at least acknowledged what I was saying, but he said nothing, which only fanned the flame inside me. “You were hurting her! If it wasn’t for Khalil, you…you…you would have…”

 

I bit my lips, not wanting to finish that sentence. It was an unthinkable scenario to me. A woman like her didn’t deserve to be treated like that. She deserved to be showered in praises and love—that was the minimum. 

 

Yet this idiot does the exact opposite. He dared to lay a hand on her beautiful skin, likely bruising her neck, and walk away scot-free? 

 

“You don’t give a fuck, do you? You’re not even listening to me, are you?! Of course you aren’t, why would you? You rationalized the entire situation in your head as ‘saving her.’ So you get to excuse yourself, right?! 

 

His gaze lingered on the shelves as if they were something so mesmerizing. Yet when I looked at them, they were just plain and boring.

 

Heat rushed through my body. I stood up, knocking my chair backwards, and pulled his chin—forcing him to face me—but he shut his eyes the moment he saw me.

 

Wow, look at that! He finds you so repulsive that he can’t stand the sight of you for even a second!!

 

“Look at me when I’m speaking to you Oliver! FUCKING LOOK AT ME!!” Irked by the voice's words, I roared in his face, my spit spraying on his cheeks. 

 

His eyelids fluttered open, and pearls of green met my gaze. “It doesn’t matter what I say, you won’t listen. I gave my reason for what I did and you just can’t accept it,” he rasped. 

 

“…That’s not my point Oliver. Even I understand why…”

 

I averted my gaze down at the table, ashamed that I understood his logic. While Quinn didn’t exactly say we’d die trying to help Mr. Doahn, his words heavily implied it. Still…

 

“You choked her Oliver! She flailed her arms and her face was turning blue! I get you trying to stop her from attracting Quinn’s or a security guard's attention, but you went too far!”

 

“Haaaaa,” he sighed. HE FUCKING SIGHED. “You and I both know she wouldn’t have listened if I tried talking her out of it. She shouldn’t have tried to save him in the first place.”

 

“So she’s supposed to be okay with him getting killed!?!” I tightened my grip on his chin, not caring if it hurt him. “For fucks sake, he has three children—one of them being a baby—how do you expect her to not try to help him!?!”

 

“By being quiet, not moving a muscle, and letting him die.”

 

His words hit me like the punch Khalil threw at him. I jerked my hand away from his chin, feeling revolted at what he said, and backed away from the table. 

 

“If his punishment bothered you so much, why didn’t you try to help him? Why didn’t you try to drag him away from Cavalero?”

 

The anger that once burned through me was frozen by his cold, impassive gaze. I opened my mouth, but no words came. I knew the answer, but admitting it out loud felt like swallowing glass. When it comes to helping others at the cost of my life, I…

 

Oliver slouched back onto his chair, crossing his arms. “You knew, and so did the others present, that he was dead the moment he attacked Cavalero. No amount of screaming or fighting would have saved him. Even if you somehow managed to drag him away and hide him, you’d be forfeiting your life. Was that something you were willing to give up?” 

 

My only response was to lower my eyes. Shame wrapped tightly around my heart, pressing down on me with a weight too heavy—a truth I couldn’t deny. Deep down I knew if it came to choosing between a random person or family, I knew who I’d save. In that sense, I could not fault him for what he did.

 

But that wasn’t the only thing that gnawed at me. 

 

“My mother was stupid for trying to save him. She’s so far gone trying to achieve a dead man’s ideologies that she couldn’t see how pointless her actions were. He was dead, and she shouldn’t have tried anything.”

 

The complete lack of empathy in his eyes. The detached, frigid tone in his words. And how he just spoke of his mother. 

 

All of it was wrong.

 

I raised my eyes to look back at him. “Oliver…” I muttered. “Do you feel nothing for Mr. Dohan?” 

 

He was silent for a few seconds, his lifeless eyes flickering before shifting to the shelves. “He was my neighbor,” Oliver whispered. “We shared meals, and I got to meet his wife and children… They were beautiful—especially the newborn. To have their father and husband taken away from them is horrible…”

 

His voice grew quieter with each word. He bit his lip as if trying to stop something from erupting within. Relief swept through me, lifting the weight on my heart. This was my confirmation. He was still Oliver. Still—

 

“But all that doesn’t matter.” His voice hardened, regaining its ruthlessness. “My mother’s life cannot be compared to his.” He turned back to face me, his green eyes devoid of any remorse. “If I had to repeat that day, I’d do the exact same thing…no, I’d stop her sooner—prevent her from yelling.”

 

My heart sank as those cruel words spilled from his mouth. 

 

“O-Oliver, you...” 

 

“Quinn said Mr. Dohan would be glassed, so I should have expected it, yet it still caught me off-guard. But today made me realize that I made the right choice.”

 

“The…right…choice?” 

 

Gone . 

 

“If I had let Mom try and save him, she would have become a Cephalon too—her soul trapped and digitized to serve the Orokin. A slave for all eternity.” 

 

He tightly clenched his trembling hands together as a shaky breath escaped his lips.

 

“I did the right thing by stopping her.” 

 

I was stunned. I understood he wanted to stop her from dying, from leaving this world. But the way he spoke—so cold, so painfully logical…

 

“Oliver, I get it. I get why you did it. In a way, I even agree with you. If you hadn’t stopped her, she’d be dead.”

 

“...”

 

Your friend is gone~!

 

“But do you even hear yourself? The right choice? Mr. Dohan’s life means little? You sound so cold, so detached to everything around you.”

 

“...”

 

Green eyes stared at me, but they were distant, like he was looking past me. Once again, he refused to speak. 

 

This isn’t Oliver anymore.

 

And once again, intrusive thoughts swamped my mind. My voice, soft and sweet, repeatedly hammered the same negative message: my friend was gone—replaced by someone else. 

 

I’m going crazy.

 

I chuckle at that thought. With my voice rampaging in my head, and my emotions and senses dialed to eleven, threatening to collapse my body, what else could I call myself? 

 

Oliver doesn’t care about you.

 

You mean nothing to him.

 

Your life is pathetic in his eyes.

 

I clutched at my chest, attempting to soothe my aching heart. I couldn’t help but feel inclined to believe those words. After all, Oliver said that Mr. Dohan’s life held little value to him, so what was to say he didn’t feel that way about me? 

 

No, he was willing to risk punishment down in the Oro Works.

 

He was about to hit Cavalero for pinning me if not for Archimedean Yonta. If Oliver truly didn’t value me, he wouldn’t have done that. He would have just left me alone. But he didn’t. He risked his life for me. So of course I meant something to him. We’ve been friends for two years. That had to mean something to him. Yes, he definitely cares. He’s still the Oliver I know. The Oliver I’m friends with. Oliver is still—

 

Then ask him: if you were in Mr. Dohan’s position, would he save you?

 

As if struck by lightning, all my thoughts came to a stop. 

 

If you’re so~ confident that he cares for you, ask him.

 

“I…” My throat tightened, jamming the words in my throat.

 

C’moooon! It’s just a few words. You can spit them out!

 

No… It’s a stupid question, why would I— 

 

Because deep down, you already know the truth. You just refuse to accept it. You’d rather pretend he hasn’t when it's right in front of you.

 

No . That wasn’t true. I would prove it!

 

Swallowing hard, I forced the words out of my throat. 

 

“O-O-Oliver,” I mustered out, my voice barely a whisper. “If…if I was in Mr. Dohan’s p-position, w-would you have…” I paused, letting out a shaky breath. “Would you have gone up to help me?”

 

His shoulders tensed and he shifted his head back to the shelves, hiding the right half of his face. 

 

Time crawled, each second stretched endlessly that it became suffocating, like a weight pressed against my entire body. 

 

“Oli…” 

 

“...”

 

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at me. 

 

Oliver just sat there, his body so rigid and motionless that he resembled a statue.  

 

“Oliver,” My voice cracked.

 

Still, he said nothing. 

 

A chill ran down my spine. Why wasn’t he saying anything? He saved me from Cavalero, so surely he would if I were in Mr. Dohan’s position?

 

“You would…” I muttered, my heart slamming against my chest. “You would, right?”

 

His jaw tensed, and something flickered across his face—too quick for me to catch. His nails dug into his fingers as he turned back to face me. For a second, I thought he would answer.

 

“——”

 

But he didn’t.

 

He exhaled sharply, rose from his seat, and walked away. 

 

No words. No explanation. Oliver turned his back, entered the main room, and closed the door—leaving me alone in the kitchen.

 

There it is.

 

My legs remained still—frozen by the ice in his gaze. No words were said, but his eyes spoke the truth I vehemently denied. 

 

You mean nothing to him.

 

There was no inflection or mockery in the voice—just the cold, piercing truth, making its impact harder.

 

A familiar prickling sensation stung my eyes. The kitchen blurred together as my body trembled violently—my insides twisting into metal. 

 

With all the strength I could muster, I bolted out of the dormizone. Tears gushed down my face in torrents as an unbearable pressure fell on my chest. I wanted to scream—to rip this feeling out of me—but all that escaped were choked sobs. 

 

Absolutely nothing.

 

At those words, I put my strength in my legs, trying to escape the voice. But I knew it was pointless. It was all in my head. Even if I cut my ears off, I would still hear it.

 

I made it back to the classroom, nearly colliding with the automatic back door. Dozens of gazes locked onto me, but I didn’t care. My legs dragged me to my seat, and I dropped onto my desk, curling my trembling arms around my head as I tightly shut my eyes. 

 

“Oh dear! Claire, is everything alright? Did something happen?” Cephalon Doma's voice was laced with concern, but it made my blood run cold.

 

Oliver would let me become that thing. He would let my soul be wrenched from my body, converted into a tool to be used. 

 

“Ah, students! I understand we are curious, but please do not stare at Claire. We should give her some space and privacy. Something terrible may be going on in her life.”

 

“Nnnnh…”

 

I wanted to laugh, but a whimper was all that came out of my trembling mouth. All of us have been abandoned—left to starve on this stupid ship because of the Orokin—and my parents and oldest friend didn’t care for me. How could life be anything but terrible right now? It’d be a miracle if I could still smile.

 

A soft chime rang through the classroom. “Pardon the interruption. This is Zariman actual. All decks, all stations, stand by for Reliquary field drill.”

 

“Students, please direct your attention to the windows, you may find this instructive.” Like washing his hands clean, the Cephalon shifted his attention from me to the window.

 

For some reason, that made my heart twist.

 

“In ten…nine…eight…seven…”

 

A low whirring sound spread throughout the room. I kept my eyes shut, but I could hear the sound of chairs scraping against the floor as footsteps ran toward the left side.

 

“Dude, don't push me!”

 

“Then don’t hog up the space.”

 

“You calling me fat?”

 

“That’d be a compliment in this situation…”

 

I wanted to lift my head and look outside, but I didn’t want the others to see my tear-streaked face. So I sank deeper into my arms, swallowing the storm inside me. 

 

“Ahh…my head,” I mumbled.

 

Whenever the Zariman jumped, I’d be struck with an intense nausea that would have me sick for the entire day. Couple that with my body’s current state and I might actually be out for an entire week.

 

And so, I tightened the hold around my head and tensed my abdomen in anticipation so much that it seemed like the entire room was shaking.

 

“…six…five…four…”

 

But something was wrong. The sound of metal crunching and glass cracking overpowered the low hum. My desk, which shook slightly, was now trembling violently.

 

“Shit…”

 

“It hurts…it really hurts.”

 

“Fuck fuck fuck…”

 

My classmates' groans were barely audible as a static noise joined the fray of sounds, gradually increasing in intensity.

 

Startled by their moans, I unfastened my arms and shot my head up, only to stare wide-eyed at my surroundings. 

 

“…thr…tw…”

 

A thin layer of smoke clouded the classroom, its bitter scent stinging my nose. Desks and chairs lay toppled, and every student clutched their heads as wails tore from their throat.

 

Through the window, an eerie turquoise hue engulfed the Zariman. Jagged waves of blue energy crackled and pulsed, seemingly latching onto the ship's wall that separated us from the outside.

 

“What the—”

 

Before I could finish, a piercing white light flooded my vision. It was blinding—searing my eyes completely white. The silhouettes of my classmates were swallowed whole as the room around me disappeared into the overwhelming radiance.

 

I tried to raise my arms to shield myself, but the light burned all my strength, numbing every nerve in my body. My eyelids grew heavy, and the sensation of falling barely registered before everything blurred together.

 

But through the blazing light and distant screams of my classmates, a voice—soft and tender—whispered in my ear.

 

Let me in.

 

And then everything went black.

---

Fifteen minutes before the Zariman field test

 

“Given your record of skipping class, it isn’t wise for me to send you with Oliver. Although you have gone a week without any incidents—quite the record for you if I may add—I don’t wish for you to relapse. A bud must be nurtured well for it to blossom to its full extent!”

 

The sound of muffled chuckles could be heard around me. My face flushed red as I shrunk into my seat, hoping a hole would open up and swallow me. How the hell did it even know all that?

 

“Claire, seeing as you are sitting next to him, and have no record of discipline, please escort the young man to his room! The rest of you students, please remain seated while I call a custodian.” 

 

I turned my head back to the left corner of the room, where Claire and Oliver sat. Given her furrowed eyebrows and scooting of her desk, she didn’t seem thrilled to take him, prompting me to speak up.

 

“I think it’s best that I carry Oliver back to his dormizone. I’m sure Claire isn’t comfortable with getting vomit on her suit. And—”

 

“Khalil, while your dedication to abandon class can be viewed as a sense of diligence, please use that same diligence to stay and do well in class. According to the midterm results, you are well below the mean and median for each topic. We must change that immediately! It’s as they say, an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest!”

 

The students burst into laughter at the Cephalon’s cheeky remarks, making me smile wryly. 

 

I stared at the Cepahlon’s “smiling face” on the screen, a mix of emotions flooding my body. Most of the kids here wouldn’t know who it once was—let alone what a Cephalon really was. Claire, Oliver, and I only knew because we overheard security guards gossiping about the worst sentence they’d seen criminals be given.  

 

“Thanks for offering Khalil, but it’s fine,” Claire said, getting up from her chair and hovering above Oliver’s. “C’mon now, let’s get you—UCK.”

 

As she pulled his arm over her shoulder, their faces ended up inches apart—giving Claire a front-row seat to the bile dripping from his mouth.

 

She gagged violently.

 

“If you start throwing up, I’m going to throw up again,” Oliver rasped.

 

“Don’t you fucking dare,” she muttered with a grimace. “I’m dropping you the moment I see a bit of vomit escape your mouth.”

 

Claire dragged the corpse-like Oliver out of the classroom through the back door as the other students began conversing amongst themselves. Seeing their banter put me at ease—that nothing would go wrong.

 

Well, there’s no reason for Oliver to choke her anyway.

 

It was surreal to recall—almost like it had been a dream. I never imagined he’d put his mother in a chokehold.

 

But I understood why he did it. If Mrs. Amos tried to help Mr. Dohan, then she would have been glassed too. Judging by her screaming and frantic running, he must have been someone close to her, which forced Oliver to restrain her the way he did.

 

My only issue was his reaction.

 

He showed no remorse for hurting her, not even bothering to check on her when she was on the ground. He instead double-downed on his actions, claiming he was knocking her unconscious, and in turn saving her, when in reality her face and lips were turning blue, gasping for air as she thrashed in place. 

 

“By my precepts, this has become quite the day for you students, hasn’t it?” The Cephalon chirped.

 

Could be said about the entire week…

 

From the agri-biomes sabotage, to the cultural festival, to now—the week has been nothing short of mayhem. The effects of every event could be felt every second. Even if people were talking, they did it to distract themselves from their ever growing hunger and distract their minds from our grim fate.

 

It wasn’t a stretch to say most of the people knew what awaited us. If they didn’t understand Tuvul’s announcement, then they heard it from their parents. And if they didn’t hear it from their parents, their friends told them in class. One way or another, it was impossible to not know.

 

But even if we did know, no one dared say it exactly as it was. People danced around the wording, saying “the Orokin abandoned us,” “we’re going to run out of food,” or “the Zariman’s doing a massive jump to Tau.” Nobody dared to utter the words “we’re going to die.”

 

With a sigh, I folded my arms on the table and dropped my head onto them. Well, it’s obvious why. Just thinking it makes my heart leap out of my chest. If people started saying it out loud to anyone, we’d have another cultural festival situation in our hands.

 

“Now now, let’s save some chatter for Tau everyone~! It’s as they say: silence is golden.”

 

Seems like they kept that part of him intact . I barely knew him, but from the time we ate dinner together at Oliver’s dormizone, Mr. Dohan did say a lot of idioms. And he did smile a lot, but something told me that wasn’t why they gave him that image. 

 

The front door to the classroom opened, I could hear boots clack against the floor, but the students didn’t stop talking. It was probably the custodian—

 

“Oh my~! Students, we have an unexpected guest here today. Please give our Head of Security your undivided attention!”

 

The words “Head of Security” brought all conversations to a stop, only the sound of people straightening their desks could be heard. The casual atmosphere we had quickly became tense and uncomfortable.

 

I too immediately sat upright and looked toward the unwanted guest. He stood in front of the screen, its light reflecting off his metal vest and shoulder belt. His expression was impassive and his eyes were sharp as a blade as they scanned the room.

 

Why the hell is he here?  

 

None of us had done anything stupid, and there was no way he came down here to clean up vomit, so what reason did he have to come here?

 

His piercing gaze fell on me. He walked toward me until he was towering above my desk. “Khalil Yves.” 

 

He only said my name, yet it made me tense. I tried to respond, but my throat went dry, leaving me with nothing but a stiff nod.

 

“Come with me,” he stated, turning around and exiting the room.

 

“My my. This day is just full of surprises! Although I shouldn’t feel like this, even I am curious to know what you did. But it’s best not to keep Mr. Cavalero waiting, you don’t want there to be consequences~!.”

 

Cephalon Doma’s words had the same cheerful tone as Melica’s, yet it brought no warmth or comfort.

 

With a quiet curse escaping my mouth, I stood up from my desk and headed toward the front door. I could feel everyone’s stares and hear them mutter amongst themselves.

 

“Head of Security?”

 

“He must’ve fucked up big time.”

 

“What is it this time though?”

 

“Hell if I know. Just keep me out of it…”

 

I ground my teeth at their whispers. You fucks, just how low is your perception of me? 

 

I could already hear Claire and Oliver’s cheeky remarks on how it’s my fault I’m seen as a delinquent. With how often I get in trouble, I…can’t really blame them.

 

Stepping into the white hallway, I began walking left, where Cavalero was posted up against the wall with his arms crossed. Seeing me approach him, he signaled with his hand to follow him.

 

As we walked, my palms grew sweaty, and my mind raced for answers. I hadn’t done anything in the past week—certainly not something that would warrant him personally fetching me. Yet here I was.

 

Was this cause I hit Oli?

 

I did punch him in the cheek during the festival, but would they really pull me out of class for that? Plus, if I was getting pulled, didn’t that mean Oliver was too for choking his mom?

 

Wait, is that why he was scanning the room? Was he looking for Oliver?

 

I cupped my chin. It all clicked in my head, like the pieces of a puzzle falling into place. 

 

He wanted Oliver first, likely for what he did to his mom, but when he didn’t see him, he went after me. Is he trying to get information out of me? Or maybe—

 

“Before you get your balls twisted, it’s got nothing to do with what happened last week in the festival, so don’t squeeze your brain dry trying to come up with a reason. Well, I don’t think you can squeeze it, given your grades…”

 

His back was facing me, but I could picture the smirk on his face as he leisurely spoke that last sentence. “First the Cephalon, and now you. Is my record plastered on a board for everyone to see or something?” I muttered.

 

 “Why don’t you try studying for once and maybe, just maybe, people won’t think you’re an idiot.”

 

“Why would I willingly learn something as boring as Eternalism or Presentism? What purpose does it serve me to know if the future and past are happening at the same time or something like that?”

 

Cavalero snickered. “I’ll give you that one. The Orokin sure got a way to shove unimportant shit down your throat. And you got pious bastards who’ll gobble up all of it as if it’s some divine revelation.”

 

“Pious?” I tilted my head. There’s no way anyone reveres the Orokin. With how they treat us and what Tuvul said last week, I’d be shocked if anyone didn’t despise them.

 

“You don’t know what pious means? Well, given your grades it’s a given… It’s a fancy word for—”

 

“I know what pious is!” I shot back. Seriously, this was getting way too out of hand. At this point, people are gonna think I’m incapable of speech or something. “I’m just shocked that anyone would be a fanatic for the Orokin.”

 

“A lot of weird people out there, so anything is possible. But it’s my own speculation that they’ve deluded ‘emselves into thinking of those golden bastards as esteemed rulers. Who would voluntarily worship those who threaten to take away our oxygen for being scared?”

 

I arched my eyebrow at his words. “Should the Head of Security be saying that? My head would be cut before I could finish that sentence.”

 

Cavalero stopped walking, turned to face me, and closed the distance between us. “Those dyed freaks aren’t my parents or anything, so there’s no reason for me to lick their boots. Just cause they’re paying me to do a job doesn’t mean I like or respect ‘em. Anyone who isn’t blind, deaf, or stupid can see those fucks for who they really are.”

 

My eyes went wide at his words. “…Wow. I’m honestly surprised. You’re a lot different than I heard.” 

 

His eyes narrowed at my remark.

 

“Ah, w-well,” I stuttered, not sure of my next words. “My friend mentioned you had quite the temper and weren’t the…friendliest person.”

 

Claire’s exact words were a “piece of shit human being who was dropped as a child“ and “a brute who can only use his fists,” but there’s no need to tell him all that.

 

“…I see,” he said, turning back and continuing to walk. 

 

The rest of our journey went in silence. We entered the elevator at the end of the hallway and went down to the security station. After a few sets of turns, we made it into a room I was unfortunately familiar with. 

 

A dim yellow light shone from above, highlighting two small tables that sat in the middle of the room, with another table the size of both in the right corner. A window next to the door was the sign of life—if you could even count it as one—in the monotonous beige room, showing the equally dull hallway.

 

Once I stepped into the room, the door clicked behind, and the window slowly tinted black, until the outside couldn’t be seen. Cavalero, who had entered the room first, made his way to the left-most table, and sat down with his back facing the wall.

 

“You look like Sythel right now.” He commented.

 

“What?” 

 

“Sythel, that character from the children’s book you grubbers had to read. Y’know, the scared and anxious looking one who was so terrified that she locked herself up or something.”

 

“…Well, anyone would be on edge if the door locks and the window suddenly goes dark.”

 

“Ah, I just did that so nobody could come in or see me talking to you,” Cavalero waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t just stand there like a plant, sit down.”

 

“Do you not hear how ominous that sounds…” I muttered, sitting down in front of him. “So are you finally gonna tell me why I’m here?”

 

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached into his vest and tossed a thin bar wrapped in parchment paper toward me. 

 

He took out a tablet from his vest and began tapping on it with his right hand. “How’s the grubbers in your care, Olrud and Klort.”

 

“Huh? They’re okay… They miss their mom and dad, but they’re doing as well as one can right now,” I replied, slightly startled by the question. 

 

He glanced his eyes upward toward me. “Nothing out of the ordinary with them? No strange behaviors or sudden outbursts?”

 

“No, not that I’ve seen. Is this about their parents? We still haven’t heard anything about them even though it’s been more than a week.”

 

He looked back down at the tablet when I finished speaking. “Nah, I just wanted to check in. My guys are spread thin right now so I didn’t have anyone check your dormizone. Don’t worry about your uncle and aunt right now, everything is under control.”

 

His last words irked me. “The security guards said the exact same thing when we asked about them, what the hell does that even mean?!” I pressed, leaning forward slightly. “Is my uncle alright? Why did my aunt attack him? What the hell happened that—” 

 

“Easy easy easy,” Cavalero’s right hand shot for his ear, but his eyes remained glued to the tablet. “They’re okay and that’s all you need to know, so don’t go throwing questions left and right when I’m interrogating you.”

 

I pressed my lips tightly and tilted back. It was just like last time, we’d ask for answers yet they would only say both of them were alright and they were working on it. “Can you at least tell me when we’ll hear back? Klort is asking about them and he’s no longer taking ‘they’re ok’ for an answer.”

 

He didn’t respond right away, opting to place the tablet face down and stare right in my eyes for a couple seconds before speaking. “It’s pretty obvious, but security’s been on high alert since a week ago. I don’t think I need to explain why that is right?”

 

I nodded in response. “It’d be weird if they weren’t.”

 

“But even before that whole fiasco, security has had their hands full with some other things. A couple dormizone visits, a few nonsensical arguments, some detention sitting here and there—you’re quite familiar with that, aren’t you? After all, this is the detention room.” 

 

“Yeah, I am…” I said as I furrowed my eyebrows. Where was he going with this?  

 

“Khalil Yves, sixteen years old. A bit of a history causing trouble in the classroom, but nothing criminal. Both parents are alive and kicking, and you’re one of the few families to have extended family here.”

 

Sharp hazelnut eyes bore into me. What he said was superficial information, but it was enough to make my hair stand.

 

“Your mother was a medical officer in Lua before boarding the Zariman, and until recently, helped with priming the agri-cultural biomes out of her own accord. She expressed the desire to help in the medical wing but was denied due to being fired from her job four months prior to boarding, as well as there already being lorists and medical drones. In her spare time after work or during break, she’d use the plants from the biomes to make herbal concoctions for the skin and gut, and distribute ‘em to the other residents.” 

 

“…”

 

“Your father has some military experience, having trained as a low guardian for a few years in his twenties, but was medically discharged for issues with his spinal cord and nerves. Afterward, he became a consultant who specialized in implementing software and machinery for Orokin buildings. Our records document him having recent deals with Corpus officials to enhance their capital city, Corposium, but were halted as he was selected for the Zariman Project.”

 

I swallowed the saliva that had pooled in my mouth, falling into the whirlpool that was my stomach. Why was he suddenly bringing up my parents? In much more detail than me? 

 

But what the hell was he talking about Mom being fired?

 

She never said anything about being fired, and I didn’t notice her at home more during that period. She was out her usual hours and came back in time for dinner. And what was this about Dad doing deals with the Corpus? He was the one who always told me to never trust any Corpus member. They were scumbags who’d betray you for their own benefit. There was no way he’d be in business with them. 

 

Wait, did Cavalero call me down here to talk about my parents? I crossed my arms around my chest. That has to be the case. Why else would he bring them up out of nowhere? But what does he want to ask me? What’s he hoping to get out of me? Did they do something—

 

“Stop squeezing that brain of yours with nonsensical thoughts,” Cavalero huffed, narrowing his eyes. “I just need you to tell me what y’know about your friend, Oliver.”

 

“Huh?” 

 

“Your friend, the black haired kid. Green eyes and tall for his age. Much taller than you—”

 

“I know who you’re talking about!” I said, rubbing my head. “It’s just…why are you asking about him? Can’t you find everything you need from a database, like you did with my parents?”

 

“I could,” he shrugged. “But I want you to tell me about him.”

 

“Haaa,” I could only sigh at all of this. He brought me all the way down here, locked the door and window, spoke about me and my parents, only to ask about who Oliver was? 

 

“Oliver is…uhh, Oliver?”

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

“Why don’t you try again and not waste my time saying such a stupid thing.” Cavalero deadpanned.

 

“Well I don’t know what you want me to tell you! And that’s the best way to describe him in my eyes.”

 

Cavalero sighed deeply, smacking one of his hands on his forehead. “You idiot, just tell me what he does and what he’s like.” 

 

“Oh. Well, he looks into outer space most days of the week for like an hour or so, sometimes even going for as long as two or three. Besides that…” I scratched my head trying to think of something else. “We hang out whenever he’s not stargazing, and we usually just go to the common area and play around, or just go into one of our dormizones and watch a movie or something.”

 

“...”

 

“...”

 

“That’s it? That’s all he does?” 

 

“Umm yeah. He’s doing one of the two, or just staying in his dormizone doing whatever.” 

 

He sighed, again, as he sank into his chair. “And what about his personality? Is he aggressive, abusive, egocentric, conniving, hostile?”

 

I paused for a few seconds at the adjectives he said. His actions and words that day could be called hostile or abusive, but as a whole… “I think introverted is the word you’re looking for. Claire and I are his only real friends that he talks to outside the classroom, and it’s kind of a drag to get him to come out of the dormizone sometimes.”

 

Cavalero narrowed his eyes as he placed both hands on the table. “So he’s harmless is what you’re saying? He’s never laid his hands on someone?”

 

I bit my lip and fiddled with my fingers. I could be honest and say that Oliver choked his mother, but I hesitated. 

 

Yes, what he did was bad, and he didn’t seem remorseful for it, but if I reported it to Cavalero, the Head of Security, Oliver would be punished. And in a time like this, when our stability was hanging by a thread, anyone labeled as a threat would be removed. 

 

If they glassed Mr. Dohan, what’s stopping them from glassing anyone who goes against their rules?

 

But what if Cavalero already knows?

 

What if this was a test—to see if I’d cover for Oliver? We were by the main entrance, right under two security cameras. Cavalero could easily have pulled the footage from that day and scoured through it. 

 

If I lied and he knew, would I be next?

 

The thought lodged itself in my head. My insides twisted as I squeezed my hands together. I barely held Cavalero’s gaze, resisting the urge to look away from his piercing gaze. 

 

No. I can’t rat him out.

 

Sure, what Oliver did was morally wrong, but I knew he wasn’t a bad person. If he couldn’t stomach the sight of Cephalon Doma, then he wasn’t some heartless monster.

 

Clearing my throat, I firmly said, “Yes officer, he’s harmless as a baby.”

 

Cavalero’s eyes sharpened. “…You took quite the time to answer that. You sure you aren’t covering for him?”

 

“Well, we’ve been friends for quite a while, I’m tryna make sure I’m not missing anything for you.” I shrugged and gave him a small, shaky grin. “We’ve had a few petty arguments here and there, but nothing too crazy.”

 

“I see,” Cavalero reached for the tablet on the table. “Then, what d’you have to say about—”

 

A soft chime rang through the speaker in the corner. “Pardon the interruption. This is Zariman actual. All decks, all stations, stand by for Reliquary field drill.”

 

He cocked his hand back and scrunched his eyebrows. “A field drill? Now?”

 

“Damn it, I want to see it happen from the class,” I muttered dejectedly. I wasn’t a fanatic like Oliver, but seeing the space around us warp and colors mush together is pretty cool.

 

“In ten…nine…eight…seven…”

 

A humming sound could be heard as the room slightly vibrated, starting from my feet and spreading throughout my body. My gut tightened as I braced myself for the dizzy sensation that would soon wash over me. I enjoyed the scenery, but the nausea from void jumps immediately ruined your day.

 

“...?”

 

But something was off. The humming noise, which shouldn’t have been louder than the announcer, overpowered his countdown. The vibrations grew stronger, causing the chairs and tables to shake violently and forcing both of us to stand up before we fell.

 

I first thought it might have been because we were deeper into the ship, as the security station was lower than the dormizones—

 

“Oh fuck.”

 

—But Cavalero’s words shut that thought down. 

 

“…six…five…four…”

 

The lights began to flicker. Dust rained from the trembling ceiling, blinding my eyes and choking my breaths. The floor pulsed beneath me, rumbling so fiercely that it was a struggle to stay upright.

 

“Shit! Stop standing over there and come over here!”

 

Cavalero clutched my forearm, dragged me to the corner of the room, and shoved me under the table. He ran to grab the other desks, falling over in the process, and stuck them around the table I was under.

 

“…thr…tw…”

 

“Und…no fuc… circ…ces…d…yo…come ou…!!”

 

Cavalero ducked under the desks and roared in my face, but all I could hear was a deafening static sound. The walls began to crack, filling the air with more dust and making it harder to breathe. I fell from my crouched position onto my hands and knees as the floor shook so powerfully that I couldn’t stay grounded.

 

Suddenly, a chunk of the ceiling fell onto the floor, smashing into smaller fragments that flew in different directions. Cavalero quickly moved in front of me, taking the bulk of the fragments that scattered our way. But a stray happened to skim past his body, hitting me directly in the head, sending me falling back. 

 

There was no pain—only the sudden impact that whipped my head back and made me fall onto the floor. The room still quaked, yet it felt strangely good, like an intense massage on the body. The fear I felt before was being washed away as the world became darker. 

 

Cavalero’s large frame towered over me. Judging by his tense neck and jaw, he was screaming at me, but I couldn’t hear him. In fact, the world around me was becoming quieter. 

 

My eyelids were growing extremely heavy and my entire body felt like it had gone through a marathon. I tried to focus my vision, but the world was just a blur. 

 

I can’t…stay…awake…

 

The last thing I saw was Cavalero covering my body with his own as something above us collapsed onto us, and then the world turned to darkness.

Notes:

Well, it's been a while since a new chapter. This one's been sitting on my laptop for a while, but I kept changing things here and there. Even now, I don't think it's as good as it can be, but I had to put it out or else I'd be on this chapter forever.

Life has been crazy as of late. College, work, volunteering, life situations, health, etc. I don't wanna bore you with all the nitty gritty, but I've had very little time to write. However, I WILL CONTINUE. This story will not stop until I finish it...even if it takes my entire life. I've gotten so many ideas of where I wanna go with this, and I'm excited to write them!

As for this chapter, I wanted to try writing in different pov's, so I apologize for any mix-ups. I was thinking of putting the name of the character before the section starts so you know who's pov is it, but I didn't like how it looked in the first part so I just never did it ;p. 've toyed with the idea of writing in 3rd person pov, but I'm not sure yet. It sure would make writing much easier and allow me to explore multiple characters' thoughts better, but I like writing in 1st person, even if it ain't that good.

Anyway, I'll be working on chapter four, and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, release it soon. Fingers crossed that my schedule doesn't go crazy.

Until next time!

Notes:

HELLO!!!

First, thank you for reading my very first work of fiction. Writing ain't my best subject but I do hope I did a well enough job to convey my story properly. I've had this crossover idea for a long time and this chapter has been rotting away on my laptop. Warframe's lore has always been fascinating to me and with 1999 coming soon, my love for Warframe is at an all time high. A few things about this fan fiction I wanna mention:

(1) Although this is a Warframe x Re:Zero fanfic, the first few chapters will take place in the warframe universe. I wanna flesh out all the important characters correctly and I wanna dive more into the old war lore. I apologize if you were expecting me to jump into the Re:Zero world right away but I think this will be better in the long run.

(2) I don't have a specific schedule to post chapters. I'm juggling college, a part time job, an internship, and extracurriculars so posting will most likely be slow. However, I can say with full confidence I do want to continue writing this story so do not worry about it being dropped.

(3) In regards to relationships for this story, I haven't really thought much about it. I wanna ship my OC with someone but at the same time I don't. Romance writing ain't my strong suit (writing as a whole isn't). If you guys have suggestions for potential romance partners just let me know.

If you guys have any ideas you wanna see added or corrections regarding lore, please let me know and I'll try to see if I can add them, specifically the lore of Warframe!!