A Peculiar Day

A Shift in the Winds

Today, I found myself inadvertently eavesdropping on Father. He was engaged in a heated argument over a comm call, discussing his work with someone on the other end. It appeared that they were eager to move forward with a specific aspect of his project, ready to initiate testing. The dispute escalated, tensions flaring, and then the words "pulled funding" reverberated through the call. Reluctantly, Father seemed to agree, despite his protests and pleas for more time. His frustration was palpable.

With a heavy heart, he stormed out of his office, seemingly unaware of my presence just beyond the door as he exited. That day marked a significant turning point. I found that I was no longer required to visit the lab in the mornings, and, in fact, I wasn't particularly welcome there anymore. Father kept the door locked most of the time, citing the need for some time off while he resolved loose ends. And with Sarah's studies occupying an increasing share of her time, I was largely left to my own devices.

Exploring the Unknown

For me, there was only one logical course of action: exploration. And explore I did. I continued to navigate Gideon's Belt, maneuvering through the asteroid field in search of...well, I wasn't entirely certain what. I moved on to the moons, tracing the winding canyons in pursuit of caves to explore or remnants of old wreckage. It was on the third moon of Virgil 1 that I had my first encounter with UEE navy fighters.

This was my inaugural interaction with military personnel, and I couldn't help but find them imposing. Their orders were clear: I was to return home as the area had been designated a no-fly zone for unauthorized individuals, as decreed by the UEE and its defense. Frustrated, I complied and returned home, where I crossed paths with Sarah, fresh from the university. I recounted my experience to her, and her response was to propose a picnic, an attempt to cast aside the frustrations and worries that clouded our minds.

\While the suggestion didn't entirely assuage my vexation, there was something about her that I couldn't resist. Like a lost puppy, I agreed to her plan. We made a stop at the marketplace to gather provisions before heading to the fields. When we arrived, Sarah appeared somewhat uneasy, as if harboring something she wanted to share but couldn't bring herself to express. Instead, she spoke of a vision—a future where we resided in a skyscraper, basking in the daily spectacle of the sunrise from our window. What I remember most vividly, though, was watching her smile.



However, even as her smile had the power to banish my worries, I couldn't escape the sense that something remained concealed behind her eyes. I walked her to her dorm room and then made my way home. As I passed by the main entrance to the lab facilities, I noticed Father in conversation with a general, two soldiers accompanying them, transporting a sizable, enclosed crate. I could sense that Father had seen me, yet he didn't acknowledge my presence. I continued on my way, pretending to be oblivious to the situation.