I'd spent the entire morning holed up in the mess hall. No specific reason, just a desire to dodge any lingering parental figures sniffing around my office or quarters before departure. It was already 2 AM- exhaustion clung to me, and the dim mess-hall lights offered very little comfort. In just thirty minutes, I'm off to Titan's Second Base Gemini and from there, catch an Arc back to Earth...

Where our deadly mission awaits.

Still, I was as prepared as I could be. Most of the night had been spent poring over debriefs and getting Helix's insights on potential dangers. From organizing to commanding, all my pre-departure work was done. Now, all that remained was waiting... And that was the hardest part.

I leaned my head against my fingertips, elbows propped on the table. Soldiers occasionally drifting in for coffee, mostly leaving me alone with well wishes and luck for the mission. And to be honest? We needed it as I rubbed my eyes and stood, clutching my duffle bag firmly. 'Time to get to the Vagabond-' I thought, heading for the mess hall entrance just as Helix materialized in my vision with the coordinates to the western gates.

Thats when I saw a small message blink into existence on the right side of my HUD. A request to speak with me huh? I open the channel, it was from my second. 'Number 2...?' I thought, curiously awaiting his response. 'Where are you?' he asked, making me raise a brow. I briefly looked around, 'Mess hall - heading to the Vegabond now,' I replied.

Oddly enough, he fell silent- though the private channel was still active, 'Okay?' I wondered and just as I was about to push through the glass doors and out into the courtyard- Grey appeared as if from thin air, making me jump slightly. I looked at him in disbelief when he waved me towards him as I took a deep breath and breached the doors, stepping into the fresh dome air.

"You were looking for me?" I asked, studying him curiously. Though he only offered a small grin, the bags under his eyes and the sense of urgency he carried telling me he hadn't slept as he gestured to follow, "Come on-" he stated, leading us away from our intended destination.

'This way...' The urgency in Grey's voice crackled through the private channel, pulling us off the beaten path and away from the western walls when suddenly, his hand clamped around my wrist sending a jolt of surprise through my mind. 'Number 2?!' I questioned again my irritation growing amidst the silence as my brows now furrowed, feeling him tug me along. It was then his pace quickening when we neared a towering corporate building beside the train station and with practiced ease, he slipped through a side door- taking advantage of a distracted scientist's exit, dragging me close behind.

'What's happening, Number 2?' I thought, my patience wearing thin as silence met my query yet again; his focus absolute, akin to our training growing up which was equally frustrating. Though I knew better than to argue. "Grey-" I started, my voice barely above a whisper, the weight of the duffle bag digging into my shoulder as I readjusted my grip on the bulk. "Trust me-" he breathed, his gaze fixed on the shadowy staircase when we slipped into an empty hall.

I couldn't suppress the sigh, a sound swallowed by the oppressive quiet in the building. 'Ridiculous...' I thought, annoyance crossing my features when Grey offered a nonchalant shrug and began his ascent and with another resigned sigh, I hoisted the bag higher on my shoulder and followed, our footsteps echoing through the staircase when, with a sense of urgency I couldn't quite comprehend- he gestured towards a ventilation duct.

I raised my brow, 'Seriously...' I thought. I was in disbelief as I dropped my duffle bag at the entrance. 'Trust me...' he urged, nodding his head towards the metal hole. I took a deep breath, trusting my comrade as he boosted me up first, and I reluctantly squeezed into the cramped metal space with the cold metal pressing against my skin.

We crawled through the tight confines- every creak and groan of the vent echoing in this lucrative silence when finally, we reached a hidden room, an access hatch for this facility. And with a final push, I tumbled into the room, landing with a muffled thump.

Grey emerged moments later, moving with his usual silent grace as I got to my feet, brushing dust from my clothes. I turned to see him already patting himself down with a mischievous glint in his eyes. 'Okay, Grey, spill it... What are we doing?! We're gonna be late!' I exclaimed over the private channel, when I see him press a finger to his lips then point towards the metal door framed by a particle vent.

I averted my attention to the door and instantly heard muffled voices filter through as I leaned closer... 'Is that my mother?' I asked, seeing Grey nod in confirmation. We strained to eavesdrop on her conversation with his father and two of X's highest-ranking council members, my blood boiling by each second.

"The Artificial Intelligence Helix will, forevermore, be the greatest advancement in human technology. Just look at their statistical data..." My mother announced, presenting a keynote on the holo-television before them. "Extraordinary, Even their DNA has changed." She exclaimed, as both Grey and I peeked through the vent and saw our own bodies displayed on the holo TV before them- in live time.

It showed our BMI, our organs, our cell regeneration speeds, our neural counts... It made me want to puke as she continued uttering horrible things about the future for Grey and me, the unthinkable. "If only humanity could reproduce with these statistics naturally. We could induce the specimens, spend time studying them when they return. Their DNA will prove valuable in our Project... Do you think-"

The general cut her off. His discontent apparent as he scoffed, "No, not yet. There's still time. Let us see what happens going forward with Helix integrated. This may be easier than we think..." and checked his watch. "Alright- I have to get to Gemini. Monitor them," he exclaimed before taking his leave.

That's when Grey tugged my arm. 'Let's go...' He urged mentally, following him back through the maze of ventilation shafts, out of the corporate building, and into the open air by the train station as I clutched the handles of my duffle bag before dropping it to the ground with a thud. My irritation ignited into a full-blown inferno. "What was that?" I demanded, removing our private channel before gripping his arm tightly enough to stop him in his tracks.

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"We don't have time, Number 1- we'll talk along the way." He tried to pull me, but I stood my ground. My irritation building with each passing second. What were out parents thinking this time? What secrets were HGMP and X keeping from us? As if they hadn't done enough already. And what about Grey? How long had he known about this?

I was shaking with rage and confusion but felt Grey's hand grip my upper arm. His touch was surprisingly unsteady and snapped me out of my thoughts as I looked up to see concern clouding his eyes. Concern for us. Enough to hide his thoughts from me even when our private channel was connected.

He leaned down and grabbed my duffle, chucking it over his shoulder. "We don't have time..." he said urgently, one last time, before sliding his hand down to my wrist and pulling me towards the western gates. I cave after we rushed through the city, our speed surpassing any train while using the rooftops to minimize human traffic.

But I couldn't stop thinking about the hidden room as my heart raced. 'Helix, what were they discussing?' I asked, but the AI remained silent. Only the sound of our hurried footsteps filling the air. 'Helix...?' I thought, following Grey closely as we neared our destination in haste. 'I'm sorry, Atlas. That information is highly classified-' it finally responded.

Anger simmered within me. They had programmed Helix to withhold information. What did they mean by monitoring us? This only told me that AI integration is even more significant than we imagined. In the end, I thanked myself for the downloads of HELIX files- feeling the holo-orb heavy in my pocket as we reached the Vagabond and snuck past military personnel to avoid being spotted as late arrivals.

Thats when we carefully maneuvered into the six-wheeled transport vessel with ease. "You're late..." the driver announced. Both grey and I looked at each other as we filed in, closing the doors behind when the vehicle started. The hull pressurize in a loud hiss, "Pit stop-" I explained, seeing Grays bag in the front seat as I glanced at him with a raised brow, watching him cock his head slightly with a grin before buckling in.

And when the Vagabond reached optimal oxygen levels a small chime ensued and released the emergency locks on the breaks. The driver begin to pull forward and navigate through the base- towards the dome's exit and into Titanian territory. Straight to our forward base where the arc awaits...

In Gemini.

-

Arriving in Gemini always held a special allure. It was a domed military city like any other, but its subterranean nature held an irresistible mystique. As the pressurized doors hissed open, ushering us into the city. The Vegabond first underwent a rigorous decontamination process. A series of golden lasers sweeping the vehicle thoroughly to remove Titan's toxic air, laden with chemicals and debris that posed a constant threat to all of our dome's sensitive ventilation systems- a challenge that X seemed perpetually locked in battle with.

Now, normally upon visiting Gemini, you'd proceed directly into the city after the cleansing and pressure adjustment. But when you're engaged in the clandestine activities like Grey and I were, the path led elsewhere - to the underground facility. As the platform beneath us began its descent, carrying us further and further into the moon's depths. I noticed how the constructed metal around us gradually giving way to the raw, lunar crust the deeper we plunged.

It was a mesmerizing transformation when the cavernous space around us began to glow with an ethereal purple luminescence. Shimmering crystals, emanating an otherworldly magic unseen on any planet as a smile involuntarily graced my lips, gazing upon the sparkling gems embedded in Titan's very core. A guilty pleasure, I've come to find... when I felt the elevator jolt to a halt and with a metallic groan, the gate creaked open- releasing the Vagabond to lurch forward.

I peered through the windshield of the beloved base: Gemini. A underground haven and home to Arcs X, Y, Z humanities cradles. The very vessels that had carried humanity across the stars all those years ago. This was the launching ground, veiled beneath an unsuspecting city. Hence the name- Gemini as my heart hammered in my chest. This was it, the moment I would embark on a journey into the vast expanse of space... to leave Titan behind when a maelstrom of emotions churned within me: happiness, excitement, nervousness, and fear.

Not the most ideal emotional state for someone in my position, but I'd be damned if I let it show as I glanced at Grey, our eyes locked when the Vegabond finally halted and the driver's voice broke the spell, "Alright, you two - good luck and bring us home..." He said with a warm voice that belied the gravity of our mission. We nodded and gave a quick salute before grabbing our duffle bags and stepping onto the boarding platform.

Thats when we saw it. Humanity's newest marvel. Arc Z1, standing brilliantly in one of the docking areas. A military masterpiece and the first ship to seamlessly integrate AI into its very being. It carried the most advanced technology discovered here on this moon as our little secret, was slowly being unveiled.

Now, all of our command will have access to Helix via external comms, streamlining the chain of command for Grey and I. Relief washed over me when we spotted Team Alpha and the 50 soldiers, all clad in comfortable attire for the long journey ahead. After all, we would be in space for two years, thanks to the relentless march of time dilation.

A grueling journey, but one filled with purpose. At least we had a month to acclimate to the ship and our crew, charting the stars as I'd always dreamed, before we were put into deep sleep and carried by Helix to La Luna, Earth's moon.

Grey and I strode towards our command. "Alpha! At attention!" I commanded, my subordinates snapping into formation. I dropped my duffle bag as Grey mirroring my action. We were in charge now when I looked at my counterpart with a grin. I folded my arms and turned back to my troops. "I want to make this very clear," I began, my voice unusually stern to its usual softness as I walked down the line, my gaze sweeping over each face with a raised brow. "We are home bound. But not for leisure."

Grey's voice took over, resolute and unwavering, "We will chart dark space for 1 year and 80 days and when we arrive at La Luna, the base for humanity's scientific exploration, we will embark on a mission no human has gone before." I stopped and looked at Grey, then back at our lieutenants.

"This is not a game." I couldn't stress this enough. Many of these men and women had yet to be debriefed on our adversaries. The chaos that awaited them would test even the bravest souls. "Our mission is dangerous - deadly. We must be vigilant. But for now-" I walked back to Grey, my resolve unwavering. "We will discover a new universe of possibilities... It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a celebration of dreams that dared to take flight - to reclaim our home."

I turned back to my troops, placing my hands behind my back. "For now, we have claimed a legacy, a promise that humanity made to our planet long ago and we are the one shot to take it back. So stay mindful and protect one another, because we are the single line of defense against humanity's hope... Let's not fuck it up-"

"YES, SIR!" Our troops roared in unison as I took my place by Grey standing side-by-side, hands clasped behind our backs. Our men remained at attention, Number 3, 4, and 5 mirroring our stance in the front when I see Nova grinned, Emmett offered a warm smile, and Gorm's face remaining stoic and confident... boosting my resolve. "Alright..." I declared, waving my hand towards our Arc.

"Let's fly."