Let Me In

"Hungry," the young man said softly, his voice sounding tired. He clutched his stomach, looking weak and miserable, his earlier energy completely drained.

"I want to eat," he added, glancing at Hal with pleading eyes.

Only then did Charlie realize his mistake. When he controlled virtual characters like Hal, food and rest were never issues. The characters didn't need to eat or drink, and they could fight endlessly without tiring—at least as long as Charlie had the energy to keep them going. But with a real, living person at his side, things were different. Food was now a real concern.

Charlie looked around their ship, knowing it was pointless. The ship itself was just a construct of his imagination, powered by the Green Lantern ring. Nothing inside was real. He realized he'd never even considered food, assuming everything his character needed could be created on the fly. Technically, the Green Lantern ring could make almost anything, even something permanent. But doing that required a lot of skill, focus, and strong willpower. Hal, in his current form, was a rookie, far from being able to handle such complex tasks.

"Lantern ring, scan for planets with life nearby," Charlie said, hoping to find somewhere with food.

With a soft, green glow, his vision shifted, and the darkness of space transformed. Suddenly, planets appeared on the ring's scan, highlighted in green, marking places where life might exist.

Where there's life, there's food, Charlie thought, relieved. Even if there wasn't a civilization, Hal could find some alien creature to hunt and cook. It was a plan, at least.

The spaceship changed direction and shot toward the closest life-filled planet, speeding through the stars. As they entered the atmosphere, Charlie reformed the ship's structure, turning it into a small, bubble-like shield around them. This way, they could move quietly and avoid attracting attention when they landed.

The planet below looked like a town from a distant, strange future. Buildings of all shapes and sizes were clustered together, making up a lively community. Colors and textures varied wildly, from shimmering metallic towers to low, stone buildings with unusual curves and designs. Thanks to the Green Lantern ring's translation abilities, signs and symbols on the buildings were clear to Charlie, and he spotted one that seemed to be a restaurant.

Inside, the restaurant buzzed with sounds and unfamiliar smells, creating a lively atmosphere. At least five types of aliens filled the tables, each one looking wildly different. Some had extra limbs or strange skin colors, while others looked more human but with odd features like glowing eyes or scales. The town seemed peaceful and welcoming, with no clear division by race. Instead, it felt like an alien version of a diverse city on Earth, with a blend of cultures and languages.

As Hal and the young man found a table and sat down, a large, cube-shaped alien peeked out from behind the counter. Its body looked heavy and clunky, but it didn't seem to need limbs. Instead, it used telekinesis—moving objects with its mind—to float trays to each table. When a tray reached their table, Hal waved it away, and it flew back, leaving only the young man's food behind.

Charlie watched as the boy eagerly opened his meal. Inside the container was a strange, murky stew, with a thick, bubbling surface that looked half-solid and half-liquid. Black bubbles rose and popped, releasing little wisps of steam. The dish looked unsettling, like something pulled out of a swamp.

But the young man's eyes lit up as he took his first bite, completely unfazed by its appearance. He seemed to be enjoying it thoroughly, savoring each bite like it was the best meal he'd ever had.

While the boy ate, Charlie took the opportunity to glance around the room, using the Green Lantern ring to scan the other diners. When he activated the green light, two figures near the back of the room suddenly appeared highlighted in yellow. The ring had flagged them as possible enemies. 

Curious, Charlie focused on them. The two aliens were dressed simply, blending in with the crowd, but their eyes kept darting toward Hal and his young companion. When they noticed Hal looking in their direction, they quickly looked away, trying to act casual.

The two aliens exchanged whispers, then stood up and left the restaurant. Not wanting to leave the young man unprotected, Charlie didn't have Hal follow them, but he kept a close watch on their movements through the ring.

Outside, the two aliens hurried down the street, speaking in hushed, excited voices.

"Are you sure it's him?" one alien asked, his voice tense.

The other alien nodded eagerly. "Absolutely. That kid has to be from Stardust Land. I'd bet my life on it."

"Stardust Land… The boss has been searching for years," the first one muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who would've thought we'd find him here?"

The other alien grinned, but there was a nervous edge to it. "Let's not celebrate too soon. The guy with him doesn't look easy to deal with. We'll need backup."

Just then, a cough interrupted them. The two aliens turned, startled, to see a figure leaning against the wall. The newcomer was dressed in red with two swords strapped across his back, and he was watching them with a sly grin.

"You two seem to be having an interesting conversation," he said, his voice calm but laced with curiosity. "Mind letting me in on it?"