She accepted the seat without hesitation.
Of course she did.
Most wouldn't understand the restraint required.
Most Guards wouldn't even try.
But we were trained differently.
I've followed her since she was a toddler.
Watched her grow.
Protected her.
At nine, when I became leader—
She made one thing clear:
Her safety came first.
Not because she was weak.
Because she was… different.
Most females are raised in protected environments.
Fortified worlds.
Personalized strongholds.
Everything provided.
Everything controlled.
They leave only for one purpose:
To choose.
A match.
Or many.
Insurance against loss.
It's instinct.
Every female.
Every species.
…Except her.
She never followed those rules.
While I trained openly—
She trained in secret.
Watching.
Mimicking.
Learning.
The way she moved…
Even as a child—
It was like she expected something to go wrong.
Too many hiding places.
Too many escape routes.
Too aware.
Too prepared.
Like she was waiting for something.
(Kyrniz… I will always protect you.)
Even if I'm not the one you choose—
I'll make sure the one you do… is worthy.
As she settled, I felt it again.
That distortion.
The "Buzz."
It didn't belong to her.
Not completely.
Her body was exhausted.
Pushed too far.
I placed a hand against her forehead.
Not to comfort—
To measure.
Frequency.
Instability.
She leaned into me as I adjusted the harness.
Carefully supporting her weight.
Then—
She went still.
Asleep.
I took the weight fully, stabilizing her position.
Then glanced around.
The younger ones were watching.
Curious.
Nervous.
They looked away the moment I met their eyes.
Good.
Closing my eyes—
I synced.
The Buzz expanded.
And the world changed.
Everything emits something.
A field.
A frequency.
When tuned correctly—
It becomes… sound.
Noise.
Harmony.
Distortion.
We were trained to hear it.
First through tools.
Then—
On our own.
At first, it feels like your body is breaking.
Cells vibrating.
Tearing.
Reforming.
Over and over.
Until—
It stabilizes.
Until you become part of it.
I learned the hard way.
The first time she lost control—
I ignored her warning.
Got too close.
The Buzz hit me.
Hard.
When I woke—
Everything was different.
And now—
I could hear it.
Voices drifted through the noise.
Soft.
Careful not to wake her.
"So how'd you know what to do?"
"I was trained as a hacker first," one of the younger ones said.
"I can alter systems… hide inside them."
He lifted his arm.
A faint glow.
Structured.
Precise.
"A built-in interface?"
He grinned.
"Something like that. It can scramble signals, replace my image on cameras… a few other things."
"…That's not normal."
"Neither are we."
A beat.
Then—
A sharp whack.
"Tattoo," another corrected. "That's what it's called."
A paper rustled.
"See this mark? Means I scored high."
"…Then why do I have one?"
Silence.
Tension crept in.
"I failed on purpose…"
"…Same."
"…So did I."
The realization spread.
Something wasn't right.
I opened my eyes.
Slowly.
"Show me."
They did.
Every paper.
Same mark.
Top corner.
…Selection.
I looked at the hacker.
"How confident are you in your failsafes?"
Silence.
"…I…"
That was enough.
"Something's wrong," I said calmly.
"We're already inside it."
The hacker activated his interface.
A map appeared.
"…We're heading toward a star."
"Details."
"…Red giant. Stable… according to readings."
Carlos grinned.
Too easily.
The others felt it too.
Even if they couldn't explain it.
Something was off.
"HEY!" one of them suddenly shouted.
Everyone turned.
He struck a dramatic pose.
"The bullets pierce faster than the blade! The enemy trembles before our might!"
…
I closed my eyes.
Idiot.
But—
Laughter broke out.
Tension eased.
Just enough.
Good.
They'll need that.
One by one—
They settled.
Systems locked.
Failsafes active.
And slowly—
They slept.
But I didn't.
Not fully.
Something was approaching.
And it wasn't small.
Mist surrounded me.
Warm.
Heavy.
I was sinking.
Into a vast, clear lake.
Green fields above.
Light fading.
The deeper I fell—
The quieter everything became.
Until—
Stillness.
Something moved.
Behind me.
Massive.
Ancient.
I couldn't see it.
But I felt it.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
A voice.
"You need to wake up."
"…Why?"
No pain here.
No weight.
"…I'm not broken here."
A pause.
"…Do you want your friends to be?"
"…Friends…?"
My thoughts slipped.
Fading.
"…You're too tired."
Something pulsed.
Slow.
Massive.
"Rest."
"…When you wake… you'll need to act."
"…Something is coming."
"…Something that will not stop."
"…Unless you do."
I laughed weakly.
"…What can I do…?"
A quiet response—
"You were never taught."
"…Then learn."
"…Breathe."
"…Take in the energy."
"…And release it."
"…Or they all die."
Darkness closed in.
"…Okay…"
Far beyond the shuttle—
A massive red star burned.
Stable—
On the surface.
But deep within—
Its core shifted.
Collapsing.
Changing.
Something older than the star itself—
Drew near.
And the shuttle flew straight toward it.