The environment was a study in sterile efficiency: pale gray alloys, dim blue task lighting, and the constant, low hum of machinery compensating for a crisis. There was no panic on the Superior space station, only the methodical execution of protocol.
Giga Wang, his hair and eyes a stark, flawless gold, and his face a flawless, expressionless plane, stood before the holotable occupied by his superior.
"Terra 49," Wang reported
"Resource projection failure. Our dark matter reserves have passed the critical threshold. The entire station is operating on emergency power banks."
Terra 49 (S49), his golden hair cut with impossible precision, didn't look up from the segmented display in his palm.
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"I am aware, Giga. The information is distributed station-wide."
Wang continued, unfazed by the lack of acknowledgement.
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"Due to the depletion, we are temporarily incapable of executing a stable wormhole jump. We have only four viable resource planets within our current one light-hour operational radius."
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S49's head tilted slightly. "The names and the current energy output estimates?"
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"Planet Arcana, Saptune, Zikara, and Sector 40," Wang answered.
"Arcana yields the highest return; the other three are marginal."
S49 finally met Wang's gaze, his eyes the color of polished steel, reflecting a subtle, metallic gold.
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"Arcana is strictly excluded from resource assessment. Target Saptune instead."
Wang, maintaining the Superior protocol of querying all non-optimal decisions, paused fractionally.
"Reason for exclusion, Terra 49? Efficiency dictates that the highest yield must be harvested."
"Efficiency dictates avoiding existential threats,"
Terra 49 stated, his voice dropping to a low, metallic frequency.
"We cannot touch Arcana. There is a single variable there that poses an extinction-level threat to this entire sector fleet."
Wang remained rigid. "You refer to the Stellar, Leo."
"Naturally," S49 replied. "The other Terras, despite protocol, are already wasting energy discussing him.
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Terra 49 continued, his voice taking on a sharper edge.
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"His status officially designated #$@#%%#%, and his lineage is confirmed to be the son of #%@#$%$%&^&."
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For a single microsecond, Giga Wang's flawless golden eyes widened—an infinitesimal breach of the Superior standard.
"Truly, Terra 49!?"
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Terra 49 leaned back, his movement calculated and slow.
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"The fact remains: we cannot touch Arcana. Set an automated course for Saptune. Begin energy sequestration protocol immediately. We will harvest what we can and recalibrate the Leo problem at a later junction."
The conversation, like all Superior interactions, ended with the problem solved, leaving only the terrifying, unnamed status of the Stellar leader hanging in the cold, silent void.
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***
...Lucy and Zen (Leo) talking with each other after a whole day of practice, looking at their two moons
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Throughout this whole day, our Leo has been wearing a facial mask that keeps his identity hidden. This mask is only for special forces corps warriors.
"Too much practice today, right?" Lucy said, resting her chin on her knees. Her voice was thin with fatigue.
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"Yeah, for real," Zen replied.
Lucy nudged him lightly. "Only four hours remaining."
Zen shifted his focus. "For what?"
Lucy turned, her eyes—still wide and bright despite her exhaustion—filled with unexpected happiness.
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"His Birthday, Leo's."
Zen's composed facade flickered. "Leo? That Stellar? Is he special to you?"
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Lucy looked away, suddenly shy. "Promise you won't tell anyone."
Zen felt a strange, cold pressure in his chest. "I promise."
"I love him so much."
Zen's shock was profound. "What the, you love me, I—I mean, you love him?"
"It's a long story," Lucy sighed, smiling weakly.
Zen felt the tension ease slightly. He leaned forward, adopting a casual, almost conspiratorial tone.
"What if I told you that you could be his friend?"
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Lucy's eyes, wide with hope, immediately brightened. "Really? I can?"
"Yeah, because he's my friend too," Zen answered, managing a light laugh
"But how, how is he your friend ?" Lucy asked
"It's a long story," teasing her
"But I can tell you, you can be his friend too," he said very confidently
"Wow, Zen, you're my best friend! Thank you!"
Her genuine happiness was a radiant burst of energy that Zen felt, despite his suppressed emotions.
Zen pushed the final, painful knife twist. "You want to wish him face-to-face?"
"Why not?"
"But, Lucy," Zen said,
his voice flatlining back into the controlled monotone of the Zen persona.
"You know very well he can't love you. He's Immortal. You know it very well."
Lucy's face clouded, the bright hope dimming instantly. "Yeah, I know. Don't remind me."
"My apology!"