Chapter 1

It felt like everything was a dream at times. My memory of the events that led to the discovery and saving my parents were like the haze of my planet’s various races, the high speed chases, explosions, and flights… Everything seemed surreal.
Saving Cydnus? That was never my plan. I don’t considered myself the savior type.
I’m just a girl who wanted her family back and loathed the thought of someone, Gerrick, causing harm to my planet. And to my family.
So much has been going on since the events but it was time to start getting my life back to normal. But do I even know what normal is?
It’s time to begin pulling the missing pieces of my life back together now that mom and dad are finally home.
I almost can’t believe it. Every time I see their faces I feel like a baby all over again. Is this real? Are they really here? I have to keep reminding myself they are.
Being a hero is not me. But doing the right thing, helping people is.
As it turns out I was best equipped to be the one to stop Gerrick and his deadly weapon. Others were too afraid to stand against him.
But even after all I’ve done, many still envy me. And being really good and being a girl on Cydnus doesn’t help things. They want me to remain silent. But I’m not going to. I refuse to.
I can feel my chance at being normal again fading away like the remnants of a dust storm. But creating something unique, something new has always helped to ease my mind. My designs cannot be ignored by the rest of my world. No matter how hard they try, they can’t ignore my coding ability. Let Gerrick’s incarceration is proof of that.
I glanced at Sochi in my bedroom. Pulsing with a soft amber light plugged into a charging station. It was the only light in my room. I preferred it this way. I could think.
A few other scattered electronics layed around my room, too. Stuff I’d eventually get to working on.
Even the familiar sight of my A.I enhanced airboard seemed out of place in this room. My room.
This was my room, it always had been.
The problem was, the last time I lived in it was when I was a baby. I’d grown up in Guida’s house, in Adamas, the only home I’d ever known. But now that I was home, truly home, I felt out of place. My parent’s house had been vacant during the long years of their imprisonment but Guida had kept it up, empty but pristine, waiting for their return. I hadn’t had a clue the house was still standing.
I shook my head. My home. This isn’t just some house, it’s my home. I had to keep reminding myself.
That scar on my cheek hadn’t healed yet. The only downside of an otherwise perfect face, I think. I kept my mirror and brush next to several computer monitors on my desk.
Always ready to work and always ready to get cute.
It’s been several weeks since I’ve moved back. Aside from the weirdness I felt, I truly was thrilled to be home.
But something inside me refused to be satisfied. I couldn’t except the fact that the adventures were over.
Well, not completely. In a few hours I’d be standing in front of the council with my father, marco, and Kizzy.
We were summoned by the CWC to give a full account of our actions from several weeks ago.
“Everyone knows what happened,” I said to dad when he told me about the Council’s request. “All the Council has to do is watch the news. Or ask anyone on the street.
The other kids at school will barely stop talking about it.” Or staring at me.
“They deserve to hear it from us,” Dad kept insisting. “Straight from the source.” “We want to make sure they have all the facts straight, don’t we?”, he said.
“Fine,” I threw up my arms in mock frustration.
I really did understand why the official report was necessary. I was just eager to put the whole thing behind me and figure out what a normal teenage girl’s life was supposed to be like.
I looked at my reflection and sighed. My face was all over town now. Normal was not something I’d probably ever see again. Not only had I literally saved the world, I’d won the Speed Games, made a name for my school, and put the town of Adamas on the map. I was a star, a local celebrity. Thankfully they let me graduate early, and at the top of my class. There wasn’t anything else for me to learn at school after all I’d been through. But all of this just made “normal” even farther away.
I turned from the mirror next to my desk and powered on the mobile computer that sat on it. Four large screens came to life, washing the room in a cold light that I found more comforting. I connected my wrist navcomm device to the computer and the screens were filled with a jumble of numbers, letters, and test sequences. I then looked at Sochi and smiled. This might not be normal, but it was what I was good at. I plugged the airboard into the computer and looked at the new streams of data that appeared on my screens. I quickly made a handful of adjustments, hit the upload button, then leaned back, wishing…
“Are you stopping there?” dad said from right behind.
I hadn’t even heard him enter the room but there he was, leaning over my shoulder, inspecting the numbers flowing over my screens.
“For now,” I said.
“There’s a lot more you could do.”
“I know. But this will make Sochi even better than she’s been before.”
Aaron nodded as he reached for her keyboard. “Yes, but if you just–“
I slapped his hand away. “I know,” I repeated with a playful smile. “But you know that I don’t like it when you mess with my code, dad.”
He grinned at me. “Have it your way. But how do you know I didn’t see something you haven’t yet? A fresh set of eyes is never a bad thing.”
“Sochi is mine, Dad. I want to keep it that way.”
Dad rested a hand on my shoulder and smiled, looking straight into my eyes. No words were required to communicate what we were feeling.
The moment was interrupted by a soft chime from the computer. When I looked back at the screen, the words “Upload Complete” were flashing in orange letters.
“Done!” I said, disconnecting Sochi from the terminal. “Now I can link in to remote networks and have full access to other systems.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow but his eyes still shone with pride. “That isn’t legal.”
I spun back to my screen and typed a few new lines of code. “Yeah, and neither is what they’re doing.”
“True,” Aaron said. “But remember, you agreed to let the Council see Sochi and the work you’ve done with it.”
“Her,” I said.
“Huh?”
“The work I’ve done with her,” I said. “Sochi isn’t an it.”
Dad chuckled. “My point is, the Council members won’t be happy to see those lines of code.”
I tilted my head back to look straight up at Aaron. “Do you really think they’ll see it? Look again.”
Dad leaned close to the screen, brow furrowed. “Clever,” he said after a few moments of study. “You’ve hidden the new code in the middle of Sochi’s boot process.”
“I’m not just being sneaky, though,” I said, eager for my father to appreciate my brilliance. “It runs best in that spot because this way, Sochi is starting to access external networks right from start up.”
He nodded in appreciation. “Very elegant. Still, the Council isn’t stupid, they’ll–“
“They’re not as smart as us, though!”
Dad laughed, a sound that I had missed hearing for far too much of my life.
“Well, I can’t argue with that.”
I stared into his eyes for a moment longer then reached for the keyboard. A quick sequence of key strokes brought up a new set of data to the displays.
“I downloaded most of your old tests and projections, Dad,”. “It’s all here.”
He nodded. “I was sure you would. We have to find out what Gerik has done with my discoveries. I’m not convinced we’ve seen the end of his schemes.”
“But he’s gone, Dad,”. “They’ve locked him up for good.”
“Let’s hope so.” His long tail twitched, betraying his uncertainty.
#
Messina, my mother gently pressed open the door to my room, peering in at dad and I where we were hunched over a bank of computer screens. Mom couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she watched. This was the life her family was always meant to have.
Then the words of the conversation made their way to her ears and her smile vanished.
“Are you sure we can trust the Council, Dad?”
“Some of them, yes,” he replied.
“But Eros still has power.”
“But I still have friends,” dad said.

Mom pushed the door open, making her presence known and ending the discussion. As far as she was concerned, her family had made their contribution to the safety and future of Cyndus. Now it was time to simply be a family.

I saw my mother and my face lit up with a radiant smile. I stood up from my desk and rushed across the room to give her a hug.
She drank in the sight of me, her beautiful daughter. My orange skin had a faint, healthy glow and my lithe tail was the longest in the family far as I know. I was perfect in every way; tall, strong, intelligent, and determined. I knew she was proud of me.
We met in a long, tight embrace, and I noticed that my father was still gazing at the computer screens. My mother had a similar orange hue to her skin and a long, strong tail like mine. But a old deep scar on her tail. Memories of the day she’d been forced to leave me behind washed over her with fresh intensity.
“I’m so sorry, Zarya,” she said, her voice cracking. “I never wanted to leave you alone in that storm.”
The flash of energy bolts filled her mind and the roar of the storm was so real she was sure she could hear it. A tiny bundle in the center of chaos. Alone. Abandoned. Leaving me there had been the hardest thing my mother had ever done. Even though she was convinced, now more than ever, that she’d done the right thing.
My mother shook the memory off and opened her eyes. My father was still glued to the screens, his brow furrowed, his tail twitching. If he was allowing that much of his concern to show outwardly, he had to be very troubled.
With one last squeeze, my mother let go of me. “What’s that you have there?” she asked, gesturing toward the device attached to my airboard.
“My old work,” my father stared, “it’s all–” he broke off when he realized my mother hadn’t been talking to him.
I giggled and took a step toward the board. “It’s a special charging and data upload station for Sochi. Kizzy made it. It charges Sochi in half the time and makes data uploads go about 40% faster than with…,” I trailed off when my mother laughed. “What’s so funny?”
“Charging station was about all I was really able to get out of that,” my mother said. “You’re so much like your father.”
My father pried himself away from the displays and joined us. “What a wonderful compliment to give her.”
My mother rolled her eyes. “In some ways, of course. When it comes to,” she waved her hand at the room full of glowing electronics, “all of this — I’m not so sure.”
My father and I looked at each other, shrugged, and laughed.
“I still can’t believe the kind of equipment she has access to,” my father said. “It’s so far beyond what I used to work with I can barely keep up.”
“You seem to understand it all just fine, Dad.”
“Only because I have you to teach me,” he said with a smile. “By the way, what is that?”
My mother followed my father’s pointing finger to a metal pad with multi-colored streams of electricity like a rainbow of tiny lightning bolts racing back and forth above its surface.
“It’s a game,” I answered as I moved to the strange device. “Some friends from my school made it. The pad here is hooked up to this battery module, which provides the power. You have to shift these conductor nodes around and get the energy beams lined up in the correct order.”
“That is a game?” my father said, incredulous. “Yes, Dad, haven’t you been listening?”
My mother laughed and eased her way back out of the room. She basked in the sound of our family’s continued mock arguments and laughter.
Yes, this was the life she had always wanted. With a determined sigh, she pushed away the lurking dread that nothing this perfect could last for long. She knew that no matter what challenges came their way, they would face them together as a family. And that was all that mattered.

Chapter 2

“Slow down, Zarya,” Aaron warned, his voice full of concern. “I’ve got this, Dad,” Zarya replied confidently, her eyes fixed on the target. They had arrived at sector 47-E in the bustling center of New Cebrenia City. Without hesitation, Zarya piloted the speeder down and around the cluster of buildings, making a sharp turn and speeding back up into the busy traffic lane. “You should watch your moves, kid. Sentinel bots are everywhere,” Aaron cautioned, his hand still gripping the latch handle.
With the Cydnus World Council headquarters in sight, Zarya pushed the throttle down, and the speeder shot forward at a breakneck pace. “Easy, girl. Remember whose speeder this is,” Aaron reminded her. “I know, Dad. I prefer the newer models,” Zarya replied, an edge of annoyance creeping into her voice. “Don’t worry. Kizzy can take a look at it,” she added, referring to her friend who was a tech expert.
As they approached the underground speedway, a warning beep sounded from the dashboard. “Prepare for incoming remote protocol,” the computer announced. Zarya slowed the speeder down, and suddenly the throttle locked, and the controls were taken over remotely. Four security drones scanned their vehicle with blue light beams. Aaron looked nervous, knowing that they were at the mercy of the council.
“Scan complete,” the dashboard read. The controls unlocked, and an incoming communication instructed them to head to Bay 7 for vehicle inspection. “Looks like we’re going to have to hand over Sochi,” Aaron said, referring to the airboard attached to the speeder. Zarya was unhappy about this, feeling like she was losing a part of herself.
As they stepped out of the speeder, armed security guards in silver and black suits surrounded them. “We need to confiscate the board,” one of them said, eyeing Sochi with suspicion. Aaron snapped back, asserting his authority as a CWC star. “She’s not just some girl. She’s my daughter.” Zarya quickly removed the nav module and replaced it with a tracker, hoping to locate Sochi later. The guards escorted them to the council chambers, where they were to meet with the council members.
“Marco and Kizzy should be waiting,” Zarya said of her friends. The guards left with Sochi, and Zarya was left with a feeling of uncertainty. The fate of Sochi was now in the hands of the council, and Zarya could only hope for the best.
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>
Aaron led Zarya through the grand entrance hall of the Cydnus World Council, a sprawling complex of immense power and influence. The hall was as imposing as the first time Zarya had seen the big city, with countless pieces of sculpture lining the way to the main hall. “These represent all the power elements of our planet,” Aaron explained, gesturing to the sculptures. “Each district on Cydnus is home to some of the most fascinating elements in the universe.”
With a flick of his wrist, Aaron activated a special glass that protected a few more sculptures, which rose up from the ground with a metallic sheen. “They are brought here as a testament of their dedication to science and to the protection of our world,” Aaron added, his voice filled with pride.
Zarya noticed one sculpture that caught her attention – a bird with large metal wings, as if it were trying to take flight. However, a large hand held it down firmly at the base of the sculpture. Zarya felt the bird’s pain and asked her father, “Why won’t they let this bird fly?” Aaron replied with a somber tone, “It represents the conflict of our world. We aren’t perfect, and sometimes we do the wrong thing. It is a reminder of our imperfection.”
Metal plaques with the insignia of all the districts of Cydnus adorned the walls, with the words “Cydnus World Council” written in solid gold with the twin stars of the planet as the stamp. Aaron raised his hands, motioning for the men to pause before opening the council chambers’ large doors.
Turning to face Zarya, he saw the fear in her eyes, but also the strength and resilience that made her a true warrior. Proud of his daughter, Aaron hugged her tightly and then motioned for the men to open the door.
As the doors opened, a deafening round of applause filled the chamber, with the council members recognizing Zarya’s bravery and dedication. Marco smiled with pride, while Kizzy looked around in amazement at her friend’s newfound stardom. The council was finally acknowledging the young girl’s courage, and Zarya was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
<<<<<<<>>>>
As Aaron and Zarya walked into the council chamber, the room erupted in thunderous applause. But as they made their way to their seats, Zarya couldn’t help but feel the eyes of the council members burning with judgment and hostility.
As the applause died down, Chairman Flindar’s booming voice filled the chamber. Zarya and her father stood at attention, flanked by Marco and Kizzy, as the room fell silent.
But not all of the council members were happy to see them. Some sat in disapproval, unable to conceal their hostility towards Zarya and Aaron. They refused to acknowledge her bravery and made their feelings known, shattering Zarya’s earlier smile.
Chairman Flindar addressed Aaron, locking eyes with him in disbelief, and reinstated his titles and rank to full quarter. The room erupted with mixed emotions. Some members were in favor of the decision, while others were vehemently against it.
When Gerick’s fate was revealed, the room exploded in chaos. Some members supported him, hailing him as the true leader, while others cried out in outrage and accused Aaron and the kids of being criminals.
But Zarya couldn’t stay silent any longer. Her young voice rang out across the chamber, accusing the council of sitting idly by as Gerick planned their destruction. Her words stunned the room into silence once more, and for a brief moment, Zarya felt like she had the council’s attention.
But it was short-lived. Vice Chairman Eros threatened Zarya with consequences, and the council accused her of breaking into a secure location and stealing data from their servers. Despite the accusations, Zarya stood her ground and insisted that their artificial technology was not sufficient to solve the problem.
The council was skeptical of her claims, and the tension in the room was palpable. But Zarya refused to back down. She pressed several buttons on her wrist, and a hologram projection of planet Cydnus appeared above her arm.
“We are reaching dangerous levels of oxygen,” she warned, her voice trembling with emotion. “And we are running out of time.”
The council members were stunned into silence as they looked at the projections. Zarya’s words had hit them hard, and for the first time, they seemed to be taking her seriously.
Zarya’s heart was racing, and she could feel her skin turning from orange to a lighter amber in color. But she refused to let her fear show. She was determined to save their planet, no matter the cost.
And as the council members watched her with newfound respect, Zarya knew that she had just taken the first step towards a brighter future for their world.

<<<<<<>>>>>>>>
Eros’s words echoed in the hall, dripping with contempt for Zarya and her companions. Zarya’s stomach twisted into knots as she stared at the vice-chairman, the embodiment of everything wrong with the council. Anger boiled inside of her, but she bit her tongue, knowing any outburst would only feed into their disdain.
Her father, however, had no such restraint. “I will not hear you speak another word about my daughter!” Aaron roared, his voice shaking the room. “She has done far more for our world than you ever could, Eros.”
Eros’s face twisted into a sneer. “We will soon find out how much you had to do with Gerrick’s plans,” Aaron spat back, his fury uncontainable. But the vice-chairman only raised an eyebrow. “Careful how you speak to your superior,” he warned.
The council erupted in a cacophony of shouting and jeering, drowning out the chairman’s attempts to restore order. Zarya’s heart pounded as she looked around the room, wondering if it was all for nothing. But then, a memory surged through her, a reminder of why she had risked everything to get to this moment.
She remembered the old man she had saved with Sochi, and the others who were just as vulnerable. She remembered their stories and struggles, and knew she had to keep fighting, no matter what.

“Silence!” Flindar bellowed, slamming his gavel onto the table. “Order will be restored in this council meeting.” Aaron took a deep breath, looking around at the still-tense members. “I move to strike a vote to remove Vice Chairman Eros from all duties and titles,” he declared, his voice echoing through the hall. Eros sneered, his eyes darting around the room, searching for support. “Fool, how dare you,” he spat back.
Flindar’s voice rose above the murmurs and accusations. “Gentlemen, please!” he implored. “The rules for this council are clear. Only the highest-ranking members of this council may force a vote to remove a council member from duty.” Flindar’s eyes rested on Aaron. “Sir, Aaron. You have achieved the rank of the high council of science for the Cydnus World Council. And therefore, you have the authority to call a vote. Is it your will to call a vote to remove Vice-chairman Eros from duty?”
Eros opened his mouth to object, but Aaron spoke over him. “I hereby call a vote to remove the Vice-chair from all duties and titles,” he announced. “The vote shall be had,” Flindar decreed, his gavel pounding against the table. Suddenly, the ground shook beneath them. “Sir, Chairmen!” a soldier shouted, holding up a data pad. “The central power cell generator has become unstable!”
As the room quaked, Zarya and Aaron sought cover as small cracks spidered across the walls. “I will fix it, sir,” Aaron promised, earning a nod of agreement from Flindar. “Back to order,” Flindar commanded, as the council members ducked under the debris falling from the ceiling.
“Vice Chairman Eros,” Flindar said sternly. “A vote must be called in order to determine if this council holds confidence in you.” The tension in the room was palpable as the councilmen activated their device pads to cast their votes. After a few moments, Flindar spoke again. “The results of this council regarding the vice chairman have come.” He turned to Eros. “Please stand.”
Zarya’s heart was pounding in her chest as she watched Eros rise to his feet. “It is the result of this council that Vice Chairman Eros…shall remain in all duties and titles,” Flindar announced, his voice carrying over the disappointed groans of the council members. “There will be order!” he said firmly. “The council has spoken. Confidence in Vice Chairman Eros remains.”
“This meeting is now adjourned,” he declared, hammering the gavel with a look of sadness etched across his face. “Aaron, come with me,” Flindar ordered, his expression unreadable.

Chapter 3

As Flindar’s aide sealed the door to his office, the sleek, metallic panel on the wall swished shut wi”Slow down, Zarya,” Aaron warned, his voice full of concern. “I’ve got this, Dad,” Zarya replied confidently, her eyes fixed on the target. They had arrived at sector 47-E in the bustling center of New Cebrenia City. Without hesitation, Zarya piloted the speeder down and around the cluster of buildings, making a sharp turn and speeding back up into the busy traffic lane. “You should watch your moves, kid. Sentinel bots are everywhere,” Aaron cautioned, his hand still gripping the latch handle.
With the Cydnus World Council headquarters in sight, Zarya pushed the throttle down, and the speeder shot forward at a breakneck pace. “Easy, girl. Remember whose speeder this is,” Aaron reminded her. “I know, Dad. I prefer the newer models,” Zarya replied, an edge of annoyance creeping into her voice. “Don’t worry. Kizzy can take a look at it,” she added, referring to her friend who was a tech expert.
As they approached the underground speedway, a warning beep sounded from the dashboard. “Prepare for incoming remote protocol,” the computer announced. Zarya slowed the speeder down, and suddenly the throttle locked, and the controls were taken over remotely. Four security drones scanned their vehicle with blue light beams. Aaron looked nervous, knowing that they were at the mercy of the council.
“Scan complete,” the dashboard read. The controls unlocked, and an incoming communication instructed them to head to Bay 7 for vehicle inspection. “Looks like we’re going to have to hand over Sochi,” Aaron said, referring to the airboard attached to the speeder. Zarya was unhappy about this, feeling like she was losing a part of herself.
As they stepped out of the speeder, armed security guards in silver and black suits surrounded them. “We need to confiscate the board,” one of them said, eyeing Sochi with suspicion. Aaron snapped back, asserting his authority as a CWC star. “She’s not just some girl. She’s my daughter.” Zarya quickly removed the nav module and replaced it with a tracker, hoping to locate Sochi later. The guards escorted them to the council chambers, where they were to meet with the council members.
“Marco and Kizzy should be waiting,” Zarya said of her friends. The guards left with Sochi, and Zarya was left with a feeling of uncertainty. The fate of Sochi was now in the hands of the council, and Zarya could only hope for the best.
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>
Aaron led Zarya through the grand entrance hall of the Cydnus World Council, a sprawling complex of immense power and influence. The hall was as imposing as the first time Zarya had seen the big city, with countless pieces of sculpture lining the way to the main hall. “These represent all the power elements of our planet,” Aaron explained, gesturing to the sculptures. “Each district on Cydnus is home to some of the most fascinating elements in the universe.”
With a flick of his wrist, Aaron activated a special glass that protected a few more sculptures, which rose up from the ground with a metallic sheen. “They are brought here as a testament of their dedication to science and to the protection of our world,” Aaron added, his voice filled with pride.
Zarya noticed one sculpture that caught her attention – a bird with large metal wings, as if it were trying to take flight. However, a large hand held it down firmly at the base of the sculpture. Zarya felt the bird’s pain and asked her father, “Why won’t they let this bird fly?” Aaron replied with a somber tone, “It represents the conflict of our world. We aren’t perfect, and sometimes we do the wrong thing. It is a reminder of our imperfection.”
Metal plaques with the insignia of all the districts of Cydnus adorned the walls, with the words “Cydnus World Council” written in solid gold with the twin stars of the planet as the stamp. Aaron raised his hands, motioning for the men to pause before opening the council chambers’ large doors.
Turning to face Zarya, he saw the fear in her eyes, but also the strength and resilience that made her a true warrior. Proud of his daughter, Aaron hugged her tightly and then motioned for the men to open the door.
As the doors opened, a deafening round of applause filled the chamber, with the council members recognizing Zarya’s bravery and dedication. Marco smiled with pride, while Kizzy looked around in amazement at her friend’s newfound stardom. The council was finally acknowledging the young girl’s courage, and Zarya was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
<<<<<<<>>>>
As Aaron and Zarya walked into the council chamber, the room erupted in thunderous applause. But as they made their way to their seats, Zarya couldn’t help but feel the eyes of the council members burning with judgment and hostility.
As the applause died down, Chairman Flindar’s booming voice filled the chamber. Zarya and her father stood at attention, flanked by Marco and Kizzy, as the room fell silent.
But not all of the council members were happy to see them. Some sat in disapproval, unable to conceal their hostility towards Zarya and Aaron. They refused to acknowledge her bravery and made their feelings known, shattering Zarya’s earlier smile.
Chairman Flindar addressed Aaron, locking eyes with him in disbelief, and reinstated his titles and rank to full quarter. The room erupted with mixed emotions. Some members were in favor of the decision, while others were vehemently against it.
When Gerick’s fate was revealed, the room exploded in chaos. Some members supported him, hailing him as the true leader, while others cried out in outrage and accused Aaron and the kids of being criminals.
But Zarya couldn’t stay silent any longer. Her young voice rang out across the chamber, accusing the council of sitting idly by as Gerick planned their destruction. Her words stunned the room into silence once more, and for a brief moment, Zarya felt like she had the council’s attention.
But it was short-lived. Vice Chairman Eros threatened Zarya with consequences, and the council accused her of breaking into a secure location and stealing data from their servers. Despite the accusations, Zarya stood her ground and insisted that their artificial technology was not sufficient to solve the problem.
The council was skeptical of her claims, and the tension in the room was palpable. But Zarya refused to back down. She pressed several buttons on her wrist, and a hologram projection of planet Cydnus appeared above her arm.
“We are reaching dangerous levels of oxygen,” she warned, her voice trembling with emotion. “And we are running out of time.”
The council members were stunned into silence as they looked at the projections. Zarya’s words had hit them hard, and for the first time, they seemed to be taking her seriously.
Zarya’s heart was racing, and she could feel her skin turning from orange to a lighter amber in color. But she refused to let her fear show. She was determined to save their planet, no matter the cost.
And as the council members watched her with newfound respect, Zarya knew that she had just taken the first step towards a brighter future for their world.

th a faint hiss. The door was seamlessly integrated into the surrounding walls, disappearing completely from view. “Aaron, I need to know what’s going on.
Aaron stood beside him, his eyes cast out into the vastness of New Cebrenia. The transport landing platform extended into the open, and glass windows surrounded the workspace from corner to corner. The majestic skyscrapers towered above them, and they were perched on one of the highest places in the sky. The towering buildings glittered like jewels in the setting sun, reflecting a dazzling array of colors from their facades of chrome, glass, and steel. The air hummed with the sounds of transport engines and the whoosh of speeders flying overhead. The scent of exotic blooms filled the air, mingling with the tang of ozone from the energy fields that powered the city. From this vantage point, Aaron could see the entire expanse of the city spread out before him, like a glittering tapestry woven from light and motion. New Cebrenia was magnificent.
As they watched Cydnians go about their daily routines in their transports and speeders, they couldn’t help but think of the dangers lurking in the planets feature. All of this could soon be over if the council couldn’t find a way to work together for the sake of their people.
“I’m not sure who I can trust anymore,” Flindar confessed.
“But I trust you, Aaron.”
Flindar gestured to his computer modules, showing surveillance all over the city, “We have power cell disruption in sectors all over New Cebrenia and various districts all over the planet. I’m not sure how long this can keep up.”
“We never really solved the problem,” Aaron admitted.
“Why, in all the time I was held captive, haven’t we used the solutions I proposed many years ago?” Aaron inquired.
“Many things have changed in the years you were gone. Small alliances within the council make it nearly impossible to come to an agreement on anything. I fear this council has been rendered useless,” Flindar sighed.
“There’s only a matter of time before this council eventually removes me,” Flindar added with a hint of a joke.
“They wouldn’t dare,” Aaron retorted, his voice filled with conviction.
Flindar smiled at Aaron’s naivety.
“Our planet is in dire need of a new power source type. We need to begin harvesting power from Viaka, the largest and closest of our twin star system,” Aaron said.
“We are a long way from doing that,” Flindar replied quickly as he poured a strong drink for the two of them.
“Not as long as you may think, sir. We just need to continue what we started with the star project. It has the power to sustain us for thousands of years,” Aaron said.
“We have the technology, sir,” Aaron pressed. “We need to continue with project Viaka. As many other worlds within our system have already begun. Our ships are just sitting up there orbiting without purpose.”
“The council will not approve this,” Flindar replied.
“But they must, sir. I believe you still hold their confidence,” Aaron pleaded.
Flindar waved his nav wrist over Aaron’s, “Take these access codes. With them, you can begin research with the star project, Viaka. You are the chief scientist, and you need to review all of the data we’ve collected. And, I will not be running this by the council,” Flindar said.
“I fear that I won’t be head of this council for much longer,” Flindar said as he splashed down another drink.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean, sir?” Aaron asked, looking at his boss.
Flinadar did not reply.
“Report back to me within one week with your findings. Take a transport to Cebri station C-5 in orbit. We must first show the council why the Viaka project is vital to Cydnus,” Flindar instructed.
Aaron snapped at attention and said, “Yes Sir”
As Aaron arrived at the speeder transport station to meet Zarya and Kizzy, he had a look of concern etched on his face. “Politics was all that was going on in those chambers,” he said to the two of them.
“What’s that beeping sound?” Aaron asked as Zarya became preoccupied with her wrist nav
The tense look on his face was evident to both of them.
Zarya couldn’t help but notice her father’s agitation as their gazes met.
Marco arrived soon after, seizing the opportunity to embrace his closest friend. As Kizzy congratulated Aaron with a fist bump,
You kicked their asses”, Kizzy said. Aaron sounded the alarm by saying “language.”
“What’s that beeping sound?” Aaron asked, his attention shifting to Zarya’s wrist nav device.
“I’m not sure,” Zarya replied, preoccupied with her device.
“Wait, it looks like I’m being pinged by Sochi. But that would be impossible,” she said under her breath.
After a moment of confusion, Zarya’s device read, “Location detected.”
Aaron’s suspicion grew stronger as a group of security men walked by, all saluting him. “It’s not me, Dad,” Zarya explained.
“Then who is it? And what are you talking about?” Aaron inquired.
Zarya and Kizzy quickly huddled around the device as Zarya spoke, “It appears Sochi is trying to communicate with me.”
“How?” Kizzy asked, confused.
“I added a new line of code this morning, something I’ve been working on. Nothing serious, I just wanted to improve her navigation,” Zarya explained.
“Somehow, Sochi has transferred some of her data right here to my navcomm. But my navcomm is running out of memory. There’s no way all of her data could be stored here,” Zarya said, searching for clues on her device.
As Zarya continued to examine her device, she gasped, “This can’t be. Somehow, Sochi seems to be rewriting some of her code.”
Aaron’s eyes grew wide with fear. “What is going on?” he asked.
“I’m really not sure, Dad. But I need to get to my computer as soon as possible,” Zarya replied. This is urgent.
“Let’s stop at my place. It’s closer. My computers can process the data from your navcomm,” Kizzy suggested.
“Very well,” Aaron said, his concern for Zarya evident.
As Marco powered on his speeder, he suggested, “Zarya, you can ride with us.”
Aaron’s facial expression did not approve of marco’s idea.
Aaron shuddered at the thought of leaving his daughter behind.
“Dad, stop worrying so much. I mean, we’ll be OK,” Zarya reassured him.
And Marco has a speeder license,” Kizzy softly assured Aaron.
“Very well,” but we need to discuss this. Aaron gently cautioned Zarya.

“Dad, stop worrying so much.

As they left the transport station and made their way towards Kizzy’s place, Aaron couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The fate of their planet and the security of their people was on the line and they were running out of time. They needed to act quickly and find out what was going on with Sochi before it was too late.

Chapter 4

The transport shook violently as the dust storm closed in on them.
“Flash Dust storm detected,” Marco’s transponder beeped.
Zarya and Kizzy exchanged worried looks. They had never been in a class C dust storm before.
“We need to move if we’re going to make it to Kizzy’s in time,” Zarya warned.
“We’ll make it,” Marco reassured them, his voice full of determination.
The speeder blasted out of the city walls and into the desert towards Adamas. The storm intensified, and small rocks began to tap the outside of the speeder. The throttle pulled hard left, and Marco caught it to keep it steady from the wind gusts.
“Visibility is near zero,” he said, his voice strained.
“Switch to thermal,” Kizzy replied.
“Switching to Thermal vision now,” Marco announced as he closed the steel shades and covered the windshield with protective metal.
“Activating thermo visor Imaging system,” the computer read.
The terrain imaging system looked like a computer game, but at least they could trust the AI’s thermo visor technology to guide them safely through the storm.
Zarya continued to tinker on her wrist nav, consumed with what was going on with Sochi. Kizzy looked over, worried that Zarya wasn’t paying attention to the dangerous situation they were in.
“Go up above the dust,” Zarya said suddenly, pulling her attention away from her wrist nav.
“Go up!” Kizzy yelled out to Marco in fear for her life.
Sweat dripped down Marco’s brow as he struggled to pull the throttle hard against the stubborn wind to gain some altitude. A wind gust slammed against the transport, and Marco lost control.
Zarya finally snapped out of her trance as she realized they were hurtling towards the ground fast.
“Rebooting,” the computer announced, and all the power on Marco’s speeder went dark.
Zarya and Kizzy held on for their lives and screamed. Seconds later, the speeder power and lights came back on, and Marco smashed several buttons as fast as he could while grabbing the throttle.
Almost… Marco struggled to gain control of the transport.
Just then, a wind gust blew the transport hundreds of yards into the air, and Marco used the opportunity to gain control.
“Up now!” Zarya yelled out, her voice full of urgency.
Marco slammed the throttle downwards and smashed the accelerator drive. The transport engines growled as it flipped itself in a vertical position.
Kizzy, Marco, and Zarya let out more screams at the impossible winds as the transport hit its highest possible speed straight up towards the sky.
Seconds later, the speeder blasted above the dust storm, and the twin stars were so bright that it almost blinded them. Zarya covered her face with her arm from the brilliant light that came at an instant.
Marco punched in a quick combination on the computer and pulled the throttle upwards, stabilizing the speeder just above the dust clouds. Zarya and Kizzy looked at Marco, impressed.
“You saved us,” Kizzy said, still shaking from the experience.
Marco wiped the sweat from his brow. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” he cautioned. “We need to plot a course around the storm.”
He punched in another combination on the dash. “We should be fine,” he said, his voice confident despite the danger still lurking all around them.
The three of them watched as the storm approached Adamas. The city’s towering skyscrapers disappeared beneath the whirling dust. The sandstorm was as vast as the horizon, and the transport was nothing but a speck in comparison. The roaring winds made it impossible to speak, and they were all lost in their thoughts.
Zarya broke the silence. “What do we do now?”
Marco replied, “We can’t land in the storm, so we’ll have to wait it out.”
Kizzy added, “But how long will that take?”
Zarya pulled out her wrist nav device and started typing. “Based on the storm’s speed and trajectory, I’d say we have at least an hour before it clears Adamas.”
Kizzy sighed, “An hour? That’s a long time to wait.”
They sat in silence, watching the storm rage on. Zarya continued typing away on her nav, lost in thought.
After a few moments, she looked up and said, “I have an idea. Marco, can you fly us up to the edge of the storm?”
Marco looked skeptical. “Why would we do that? We’d be flying right into danger.”
Zarya explained, “If we can get to the edge of the storm, I can use my nav to track its movements and predict where it will clear first. We can then fly straight to the Kizzy’s landing pad, avoiding the worst of the storm.”
Kizzy looked impressed. “That’s a great idea. Can we do that, Marco?”
Marco nodded slowly. “It’s risky, but it’s worth a shot. Hold on tight, this is going to be a bumpy ride.”
The transport shot forward, flying directly into the heart of the sandstorm. The winds battered them from all sides, and it was impossible to see more than a few feet in front of them. But Zarya’s plan worked. Using her nav, she was able to predict the storm’s movements and guide Marco to the edge of the storm.
As they emerged from the storm, the landscape came into view. The city of Adamas was in ruins. Buildings had collapsed, and the streets were covered in debris. But they could see the landing pad in the distance, untouched by the storm.
Marco skillfully maneuvered the transport through the debris, and they landed safely on the pad. They stepped out of the transport, shaken but unharmed.
Kizzy turned to Zarya and said, “That was amazing. How did you come up with that plan?”
Zarya smiled. “I learned it from my dad. He always said that the best way to beat a storm is to go straight through it.”
Marco chuckled. “Your dad sounds like a wise man.”
They looked out at the devastation around them, realizing that the storm was just a taste of the chaos to come. But for now, they were safe.

Chapter 5

Zarya bolted from the speeder before Marco could even land at Kizzy’s place. The storm had started to dissipate, providing them with temporary respite. Zarya was visibly bothered by Sochi’s absence, and Kizzy knew it. Following her friend, Kizzy leaped out just as Marco powered down the engines. Adamas was out of immediate danger, but the storm had left the town in disarray. Dust was omnipresent, and visibility remained poor.
Adamas was characterized by small homes, like Guida’s, scattered across the desert landscape. Kizzy’s dwelling fit the mold. Though its exterior gave no indication of its inhabitants, it was evident that they were involved in maintenance and tech. Kizzy and her father utilized their home as a primary workstation for repairing drones and other advanced city equipment. Her father’s official role involved modifying, repairing, testing, and designing drone bots for New Cebrenia’s massive factories. Kizzy had a knack for repurposing spare parts, such as when she constructed her primitive airboard that could barely keep up with Zarya’s Sochi. While she had the hardware aspect down, she lacked the coding expertise of her best friend.
Kizzy’s father had spent her entire life working on drone bots and security robots, even before her mother left for Darcadius with a new husband. Their relationship had been rocky, so Kizzy didn’t care much about her absence. She had picked up a thing or two about fixing transports from the surplus parts her father left in the garage. Preferring to work solo with headphones on, she hated asking for help but always appreciated Zarya’s programming advice and her father’s pride in her testing assistance.
Her father, however, wasn’t thrilled about the attention Kizzy received following the Gerrick incident and the odd device he’d created. He almost wanted her to distance herself from Zarya. Fortunately, he wasn’t home today.
Zarya was eager to understand what was happening with Sochi’s coding. A flood of code entries from Sochi to her main processor had occurred en route to Kizzy’s place. Zarya couldn’t fathom how Sochi, an AI, could be responsible for this, especially since she’d coded it herself. Kizzy knew that if Zarya was perplexed about anything related to coding, it had to be a significant issue. Zarya’s expertise in the most intricate coding languages on their planet was her gift, a fact many refused to acknowledge. Had she been male, her talents would have already made her famous. This injustice fueled her determination to improve and prove herself, a fact recognized by the community despite their reluctance to let her shine.
The new code entries by Sochi were bizarre, almost otherworldly. If an AI like Sochi had started writing its own code, it could mean big trouble, and Zarya would have to decommission it before the council found out. Sadly, Sochi was now in their possession, and there was nothing Zarya could do if the council’s scientists decided to tamper with Sochi’s programming—assuming they were smart enough to hack it, which seemed doubtful.
Although the storm had passed, dust still filled the air and thick brown clouds obscured one of the twin stars illuminating Cydnus. Zarya had visited this place many times with Kizzy, but it was Marco’s first time. After shutting down his transport, Marco hopped out onto the arid ground, following his friends. He noticed four other transports, likely from the city, scattered around Kizzy’s yard. They resembled the new speeders government officials had recently adopted, like the ones that had pursued them after their escapade in the underground facility. However, these transports were clearly inoperable, with diagnostic latches and computer stations connected to two of them. The storm had likely scattered the components. The speeders appeared more like hobby projects than anything serious. Why would Kizzy need a police bot transport anyway?
An open garage, connected to Kizzy’s home, housed an assortment of drones and devices in various states of disrepair. Marco tried to keep pace as Zarya and Kizzy hurried along, eager to understand the mystery surrounding Sochi’s coding. They all knew that unraveling the puzzle was crucial not only for Sochi’s fate but for the safety of their town and, quite possibly, their world. Time was of the essence, and every step they took brought them closer to the truth—or further into danger.
“Who’s been working on these speeders?” Marco inquired, gesturing outside.
“Me, obviously,” Kizzy retorted sharply.
Marco raised his hands in a mock surrender, attempting sarcasm. Kizzy ignored him.
“Let’s connect my navcomm to your processor,” Zarya suggested.
“Yep. Follow me.” Kizzy led them into the garage area.
“Wow!” Marco exclaimed as they entered. The garage was filled with various small aerial vehicles, drones connected to different computers, and even old security lasers and small weapons. Both Zarya and Marco were genuinely impressed.
“This is all you?” Marco asked.
“Yep. Well, me and my dad,” Kizzy replied. “He’s taught me everything. I’m planning to make use of those speeders outside at some point. I can pretty much fix anything if I have the parts.”
“Let me see your wrist nav, Zarya.”
Kizzy attached Zarya’s nav to one of her computers, which was next to old cans of oil and grease. “Mind the work area,” she warned, sliding the cans and other clutter to the floor. Marco jumped aside to avoid the tumbling debris.
“Reading from source,” the computer announced. A jumbled mess of code filled the screen.
“She’s all yours,” Kizzy said, conceding to the perplexing numbers and letters on the display.
“What is all that?” Marco inquired. “It looks like a foreign language.”
Kizzy understood some of it, though it was far beyond her abilities.
“Code entries by Sochi,” Zarya explained. “It’s a very sophisticated coding language, something I’ve never seen before.”
“How is that even possible?” Kizzy asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Zarya replied. She typed in several lines of code.
“Accessing remote terminal drive…” the computer read out, only to respond with “Access denied” in flashing red letters.
“It looks like Sochi has locked me out,” Zarya observed.
“Wait, but how does it know that it’s you?” Marco asked.
“Good question,” Zarya replied. She entered a new line of code, and a message appeared seconds later:
<< Access Granted. Welcome, Zarya. >>
Zarya immediately started typing more code, her fingers flying across the keys at lightning speed. The room fell silent, the only sound being her rapid keystrokes. As she awaited Sochi’s response, it seemed to take several moments, almost as if Sochi were contemplating a reply. Kizzy and Marco looked on, bewildered.
Another jumble of code appeared on the screen, followed by a simple message:
<< Accessing computer terminal… >>
“Wait a minute, what are you doing?” Zarya asked the screen.
<< Unlocking banks 3, 5, and 6, >> the screen read.
The trio watched as more commands from Sochi popped up.
<< Disconnecting secure terminal in wings 3, 5, and 6… >>
“Wait, is she accessing the council’s secure terminal?” Marco asked, alarmed. “If so, we’re in big trouble.”
Zarya attempted to type in another line of code, but Sochi responded faster.
<< Secure terminal unlocked, >> the screen reported.
Then, another message:
<< Thrusters powering up… >>
“Oh my God, she’s powered on,” Zarya said, acknowledging the information on the screen. Marco paced nervously.
“We’re doomed. Again,” he lamented.
“This isn’t good!” Kizzy added.
“I didn’t do this,” Zarya insisted.
“Well, you definitely changed something,” Kizzy countered.
“Trust me, it’s for the good,” Zarya replied.
“Okay, she just activated her onboard navcomm,” Zarya said, noting the code. Seconds later, a large dump of code filled the screen.
The trio stared at the screen, trying to process the events that had just unfolded. Marco’s pacing grew more frantic, and Kizzy’s concern deepened.
“Zarya, what are we going to do?” Kizzy asked, desperation creeping into her voice.
Zarya’s fingers continued to dance across the keyboard, searching for a way to regain control. “I’m working on it. We need to shut down Sochi before things get even worse.”
The minutes ticked by, the tension in the room escalating. Marco and Kizzy exchanged worried glances, while Zarya’s focus remained unwavering.

<<>
Remote log>> <> Remote log>> << Security drones powered down in sections 2, 5, 6, 9>> <> <> <> <> <> The three of them watched, feeling powerless, as Sochi effortlessly disabled the security protocols at the council headquarters. <> Zarya gestured at Kizzy to find the location of those coordinates. She didn’t want to miss a moment from the screen. “Looking…” Kizzy dashed to a computer on the floor next to a damaged speeder. She knelt down to access the keypad connected to something beneath the vehicle with a mess of wires. She quickly entered a few codes. “Uh… That’s right outside,” Kizzy said. “I mean, that’s right here,” she clarified. <> “She’s out of the hangar. She’s out of the building now,” Zarya confirmed, using the navcom. <<“All secure database protocols reinstated”>> “Okay, she’s on the move!” Zarya said, reading from the navcom. The trio waited for several moments. Zarya checked the navcomm on her wrist again. “Oh my god,” Zarya said, eyes fixed on the code. “What now?” Marco asked. “Her speed,” Zarya replied. “She’s up to 200 knots right now! “Wait a minute…” “270 knots!” She’s out of the city,” Zarya confirmed. Zarya disconnected her nav device from the computer and began frantically reading from it. Several moments passed. The data connection between Zarya and Sochi disconnected and reconnected several times as they all watched. “300 knots!” Zarya exclaimed. The three of them slowly made their way outside. Dust filled the air from the recent storm. Visibility was still very low. “She’s at 400 knots and closing,” Zarya said. “She’s right on top of us! “Okay, she’s slowing down…” Kizzy used her wrist nav and copied the coordinates she read on Zarya’s navcomm. She ran to the center of her front yard near the broken-down transports. Kizzy circled herself to make sure she was at the exact location of the coordinates. “100, 75, 50 knots,” Zarya continued to read from her wrist. “I can’t see anything!” Kizzy yelled from the distance as she looked up, seemingly searching for Sochi. “She’s here,” Zarya said. “Here where?” Marco replied, keeping his eyes on the dust-filled sky. The high-pitched whirring of Sochi’s thrusters made Zarya turn around quickly. The moment she looked up, Sochi burst from the dark brown dust cloud and debris above. Kizzy and Marco sprinted towards Zarya. Sochi spun herself 360 degrees to level from vertical and hovered just next to Zarya. The hum of her thrusters was healthy and deep. Better. Zarya could almost feel her. She ran a quick diagnostic as she circled her airboard while Kizzy and Marco rushed toward her. Everything checked out with Sochi. But Zarya would need to run more tests to find out what had just happened. And the last thing she needed was more trouble from the council. “I guess it’s time for a ride,” Zarya said just before jumping on her board. “Zarya! Wait!” Kizzy yelled, but Zarya had already taken off.

Chapter 6

Zarya urged Sochi to hasten their pace, slicing through the dusky, dust-filled sky. The dual stars, which usually illuminated the day, were barely discernible, appearing larger than usual on the horizon.
Sochi responded, providing Zarya with the desired speed and more. She could feel the powerful thrust from Sochi, heavier and more resolute than before. Inputting a few commands on the navcomm, Zarya directed Sochi towards the valley of rocks.
Transports and speeders filled the sky as the storm began to dissipate. “What have you been up to?” Zarya inquired quietly.
“I’ve developed a new program for the transport,” Sochi’s computer informed her.
“The transport?” Zarya questioned.
“You mean for you?” she clarified.
“Yes, for us,” Sochi confirmed.
“Show me.”
“Very well.”
Zarya’s navcomm displayed a glitch, revealing what appeared to be fragments of broken code programming. “Drones 7 and 6 under stealth control,” Sochi declared.
“What do you mean?” Zarya inquired as they approached the valley.
“Look ahead,” Sochi directed, pointing to two swift weather drone bots heading their way.
“Program activated,” Zarya’s navcomm announced. She gestured with her hand, and the bots moved in unison.
“Activating manual override,” Sochi proclaimed. Zarya pressed a few buttons on her navcomm and attached her eye piece. The bots matched Sochi and Zarya’s speed in the valley.
With several commands, Zarya sent the bots soaring into the air, smiling with satisfaction. Another command brought them back, and she sent them speeding through the valley of rocks. The chase had begun.
“Would you like to match the bots’ speed?” Sochi inquired.
“Maintain manual control,” Zarya commanded.
“Manual status,” Sochi confirmed.
Zarya pursued the speed bots, navigating between towering rock walls lining the valley as they accelerated. She demanded greater speed from both the bots and Sochi, craving genuine excitement.
The realization that Sochi could hack other devices crossed her mind, hinting at potential trouble. But the thrill of the chase in the valley proved irresistible. Skillfully maneuvering through rock formations, Zarya delighted in the challenge of controlling two bots and Sochi simultaneously.
Zarya executed intricate tricks, spins, and flips, soaring higher into the valley with Sochi. A voice called out, and she glanced down to see Kizzy, who had followed them on her enhanced airboard. Zarya smiled and welcomed her friend.
Soon, Marco joined them on his speeder, matching their velocity. “Looks like someone’s having a lot of fun!” he shouted from his transport.
“Without us?” Kizzy chimed in as she caught up.
“Drones ahead!” Marco warned.
“Those belong to me,” Zarya revealed, surprising her companions. She tapped her eye piece and input a command on her navcomm, summoning the bots back to them. The drones maintained their altitude and speed as they joined the group in the crimson valley.
Kizzy and Marco were speechless, struggling to keep up with the rapid pace. The valley’s direction shifted, and boulders made the route increasingly treacherous. “How are you doing that?” Kizzy asked, angling her airboard to examine the swift-moving drones.
“Ask Sochi,” Zarya replied.
“These are the new P7-14 weather bots,” Kizzy observed, darting beneath Marco’s speeder to inspect the other drone. “It’s impossible to hack these, especially with the new security protocols installed.”
Kizzy furrowed her brow. “But if someone finds out that we’ve hacked these silly bots, we could be in serious trouble. I’m gonna bet they’ve got tracking devices or something on these things.”
“True,” Zarya said, but the thrill of the moment was too enticing to resist. Zarya, Kizzy, and Marco exchanged glances, the mischief clear. “Here we go again,” Marco said, resigning himself to probably more trouble.
“Not today,” Zarya responded confidently. “You guys up for a little fun?”
“After you,” Marco agreed.
Zarya tapped her eyepiece, and the bots darted ahead, disappearing around a bend in the valley. “I hope you guys can keep up!” she taunted, pursuing the two drones.
The trio navigated the ruddy canyons, with Zarya directing the weather bots to maneuver quickly and unpredictably. “Maybe we should take it a bit slower,” Marco suggested as one bot nearly collided with the wall.
“Disabling remote control,” Sochi announced. The bot’s engine pitch lowered as it powered down. Zarya checked her navcomm, realizing she had lost control. Sochi had implemented a command without her knowledge.
“Security transports inbound,” Marco alerted.
“Time to go!” Zarya declared, leaving the drone bots hovering near the canyon wall. She accelerated, and Marco and Kizzy followed suit.
The last thing they needed was another arrest. They caught a fleeting glimpse of police transports surrounding the weather bots before disappearing from the canyons, evading capture.

Chapter 7

Aaron kept running the test sequences over and over again. Every sequence delivered the same result. Planet Cydnus desperately needed to harvest power from one of the twin stars. What Cydnus needed was simple: more energy to power the oxygen cores. But time was running out.
The star project was halted by the council many years ago. But it was time to restart it if their planet would ever have a chance at survival.
Aaron sat back and thought of his history with the CWD. It seemed like he was trying to solve the same crisis all over again—a crisis never solved. “How could they let so much time pass?” he thought. “Why didn’t they take this seriously and do something during my time in captivity?” Aaron thought of the lonely days and nights in that prison, not knowing if his family was even alive. He became angry at their lack of will with such an urgent matter for the people of Cydnus.
Maybe the science was too complicated. But Aaron knew this was the last real chance for his home planet. What Gerrik did was a dreadful thing that wasted time and resources. His own personal selfish aims could never see the science for what it was. Thankfully, Zarya and her friends finally put a stop to him. And Aaron could finally get back to work.
“Navigate to Viaka Station -3,” Aaron said to his transport computer as he merged with the air traffic.
“Security code required.”
“Inputting security code.”
“Viaka docking station -3 navigation acquired,” the transport computer replied.
The steering controls of Aaron’s transport retracted.
“Automated navigation activated,” the onboard computer said.
Aaron sat back as his transport handled all navigation towards the space station and out of the atmosphere of Cydnus. In only a few moments, he could see the entire red planet, Cydnus, from space. He marveled at such a magnificent home.
His transport continued on to the space station. More time had passed, and Aaron could finally see the large circle-like space station coming into view. He hadn’t seen it in close to 20 years. He’d forgotten how massive it was. Docking stations surrounded the large object, but only a few crew members would still be working on the abandoned station.
“Switch to manual,” Aaron ordered his computer.
The controls erected out in front of him.
“Manual control activated,” the computer responded.
The transport shifted off course just as Aaron grabbed the controls.

He wanted to see more of the station that had been halfway out of commission for countless years. He needed to see if the station he’d helped design was in good enough condition to resume the project.
“Station -3 docking out of range,” his computer alerted.
Aaron hit a switch to end the dreadful beeping noise from his computer.
“I know because we’re headed somewhere else,” he replied.
The mechanical circle was a design Aaron and engineers from the CWC came up with long ago—a world star project long lost and forgotten. The council became far too divided to get anything done, including project Viaka.
As Aaron edged closer to the object, he could observe that the station was still well intact. He took the liberty to fly to the opposite side. As he rotated his transport, he could feel the pressure on his stomach. Down was up, and up was down—it really didn’t matter in space. Moments later, he was looking upwards at the massive circular object.
Incomplete docking stations and half-done landing platforms plagued the metal body. He could see through one of the platforms to the energy core. It appeared to still be intact and ready for more work.
With the energy core still working, Aaron could resume the project without serious delay. Except, he’d be doing this without the CDC’s knowledge. He’d have to leave that trouble up to Flindar. It took several moments for Aaron to get to the opposite side of the station. It was much bigger than even the largest skyscraper in New Cebrenia.
He observed and could tell from a quick flyby that the engineering port would need to be reconditioned and resupplied with newer tech. Much of the station’s modules were not receiving power from the energy core and were far out of date. They’d need to be recalibrated. The work could take several weeks to fix, and Aaron would need a team of engineers to help get it done.
After the core resumes providing stable power throughout the station, he could then reactivate the gravity drives and antimatter modules to begin extracting mass from Viaka, in theory.
But until then, it was time to see what kind of condition the station managers were in.
“Navigate to docking station 3,” he ordered the computer.
“Engaging landing automation,” the computer replied.
Just then, his controls retracted.
Without warning, his transport flipped upside down and sped to the opposite side of the station. Aaron wasn’t sure how much more of these maneuvers he could handle.
“Prepare for docking,” the computer alerted.
His transport did one more rotation. Aaron shrugged off the dizzy feeling, again.
The platform erected outwards as his transport reduced speed.
The thrusters were automated and gave several bursts to perfectly line up with the docking platform.
The clamp attached to the outer hull of his transport, locking it into position.
“Docking complete,” his computer alerted.
The docking system then rotated and retracted his transport to the inside of the station. The airlock sealed with a boom.
“Computer, check the oxygen levels,” Aaron ordered.
“Oxygen levels are within acceptable ranges,” the computer said back.
“Incoming communication,” the computer said.
“Sir, welcome aboard. We have been advised of your arrival,” the voice on the communication line said. “Come to bay 7 for briefing. We are eager to get back to work, sir.”

Final Chapter

In Adamas, the first of the twin stars, Viaka, began to sink below the horizon. Soon, the second star, the last light, would follow. The remnants of the earlier dust storm blanketed the vast desert stretch between the small towns and New Cebrenia. Night would fall long before full visibility would be granted. Weather drones were scattered throughout the sky to ensure the safety of any sky transports. Drones that Kizzy’s father designed for the most part.
It was a cool and dark evening. The sand hills were dispersed and out of their natural order. In the distance, all that could be seen was sand and a faint hint of New Cebrenia. An old security transport with the label CDC blasted out of the ground. Its thrusters quickly blew off the sand that covered it. The opening from the ground closed quickly, sucking in a vortex of sand that quickly diminished any trace there ever was an opening. These old underground stations used to connect secret police to New Cebrenia using underground speedways. They have not been used in many decades. Until today. The use of this underground exit could only indicate something sinister since they were made illegal to use, even by the police.
The transport sped away after quickly dropping off a man with several scars on his face and a brown cloak covering his body. The man coughed up dust and took off his hood. His eyes squinted as if he had been in the dark for a long time. It was Gerrick. The crime of releasing him meant that loyalty to Gerrick had not evaded the council. The last glimmer of light had vanished beneath the horizon just before the rumbling sound of propellers enveloped the area surrounding Gerrick.
Gerrick looked up, unsurprised by the black, sleek vehicle that aggressively approached from the darkness. A design that embodied the essence of a predator. As the propelled air transport descended, the resonant thrum of its engines filled the air. The few men aboard, dressed in black uniforms with visors and pistols at their sides, saluted him with unwavering dedication. Ready to quickly eliminate anyone who dared challenge their mission: to retrieve their leader, Gerrick. The power cell engines of the transport were a marvel in themselves, with an unmistakable, deep rumble that emanated from the propellers. Each rotation of the blades produced a chest-vibrating sound that demonstrated raw power. Gerrick stood before this machine as the darkness of the night coalesced around it. As the transport landed on the sand, the front chamber opened with a hydraulic hiss, stirring up a whirlwind of dust that danced around the magnificent vehicle. Gerrick stood before it, his anger palpable.
With measured steps, Gerrick entered the vehicle, and in an instant, it took off, leaving the area behind.
“To Darcadious,” Gerrick ordered the pilot, his voice cold and determined.