chapter 2

At the end of the day, I was feeling quite pleased with myself. When we got back to Nabulas Rise (a fitting name Jay came up with for the base) I made my way to the control centre. I wanted to tell my dad, or one of the others, about my encounter with JJ and how the Jeckelsons go to the same school as us. But I hesitated once I was outside. Was it really a good idea to disturb them with trivial school drama? I took a single, hesitant step inside, and froze…they were all looking at a picture of someone on the 3D holo-screen in the centre. Someone I'd seen before. I slowly stepped back a few paces, staring wide eyed at the screen. Someone asked me if something was wrong but I was too caught up to notice who it was.

"I've…seen that man before." I said, pointing at it. "In a dream."

"A dream?"

I hadn't thought about it in forever but it came back to me now.

I hadn't realised what he was in the dream but now I recognised his species. They were called 'Metoids'. Not an E.T we'd learned much about in school but I knew that they had metal skin but still had some organs inside, like a heart and brain.

"I've made a deal, my dear Isynier."

Isynier…my mother.

I put my hand down and took another step back, downcast. It suddenly occurred to me that I really shouldn't be there. This was a part of my fathers life that wasn't yet ready to be a part of.

"I'm sorry. It can't be…was probably nothing."

My mother was dead. That was what everyone said. And I definitely couldn't mention it with my father in the room. He might get upset. And he was the one that told me I should close my heart to things like this, in case they were used to hurt me.

Self-consciously away that they were all looking at me, I left the room and went to find a tucked away corner to curl up and hide in. A part of me was obviously aware that my father would come find me, even if I wasn't sure if I wanted him too, so I stayed there and waited for him. When he did, it was almost silently. He didn't say anything, just sat next to me, mimicking my position and after a second or two he asked "Do you want to tell me about it."

I shook my head, not looking at him.

"Alright. How about this: I tell you a little something about him; and then afterwards, maybe…"

I looked at him then, almost smiling but not quite.

"His name is Iktheor. We were at the academy together."

"You already knew him?"

He nodded. "He was my biggest rival."

"Why is he here now?"

"I don't know. But people have been saying they've seen him around town. It's something we should at least look into."

I went back to crouching in a ball. How could he have been seen around town when the last I saw him was in a cave? Was the cave nearby, perhaps in the mountains?

Then I realised I was thinking too literal again. It was probably just a dream. But then why did it still bother me so..?

Whatever it was, I felt like if dad was going to look for him, maybe he should know. "He said mother's name. In my dream. Like he was talking to her."

He was silent. I couldn't tell if he was angry or upset or anything.

"I see." He said, simply, before Getty mg back up.

"Does it mean anything?"

He looked back at me before walking away. "He wasn't just my rival in combat."

(Jay's pov)

The top of the base was always my go to when I was in a mood: between the two atic-shaped rooms that people called the ears, higher than anyone else could get and even if they could, it was really allowed. That didn't bother me. It actually made me feel more keen. Every time I went there, I got this sense of rebellion and defiance. Not to mention it was a stunning view on each side. I would often go up there with my stretch book and try to draw it. Drawing had always been one of the few things that could calm me down. Drawing so high up somewhere I was supposed to be just made it better. The cool breeze helped clear my head and pretty soon I'd stopped thinking about that stupid loin. Up here, I had full control.

I did have to be careful though. While no one would ever find me up here, they would notice that I often disappeared for long periods of time. Naober has already started to sus that where I went was somewhere close to the highest balcony. As such, when the sun started to go down, I made sure to finish the bit I was working on, made my way down, carefully checked that no one was around, and slipped back inside. I stretched, casually. Maybe Thia was right about me staying up late last night. I might've made it through school but lack of sleep was starting to catch up with me. I stood by the stairs for a while, debating whether I should head to the cafeteria for a quick snack or go straight to the apartment. I hadn't yet had tea but I wasn't particularly hungry so in the end, the apartment - and my bed - won. No one was in when I got there so after scanning the key card to get in, I went straight through to the room I shared with Sam, collapsed on the bed and went to sleep.

Some time later, I was being shaken awake with the smell of meat and bread. I sat up and saw Sam beside me, holding a package of something.

"Burger?"

I smiled at him, fondly. He was less than a year younger than me but at times he felt so much like a little brother. And as someone who was the youngest brother in a big family (and that included Tiana) that was something I appreciated.

"Edward Milton is on."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Edward Milton was this new sort of soap type show that went through the life of a man who has been adopted as a baby, his adopted mother and her mad twin sister. Sam and Naober both seemed to enjoy it but me and Thia didn't really like soaps. That being said, she would watch it if she wanted to be distracted. If she was watching it now, that could only mean one thing: something was bothering her.

Taking a bite from the burger, I got up and we both headed to the lounge.

When we got there, a young Edward Milton was on the screen complaining to his mother that kids at school were picking on him because he was adopted. I decided I should let the episode play out before talking to Thia.

Edward was struggling; Diana was jealous; and January had to handle them both.

Thankfully I was spared asking flat out what was wrong when she said "So what've you been doing since school ended?"

I looked at her and smiled. "Sleeping."

"Oh, what a surprise." She said, sarcastically, making us all laugh.

"What about you?"

She looked at the floor.

There it was. That hesitation that meant she was troubled.

"Did you see the latest suspect?"

"I glimpsed him, yeah. He looked creepy even for a Metoid. Why, does he frighten you?"

"No it…" she stopped. "It's probably nothing."

I didn't want to press her. She would tell when she was ready. So instead I shrugged. "Game?" She smiled. "Sure."