Aleck ran her hands through her bright red hair as she waited at the old oak door. Aunt Karla's long blond hair swirled about her as she swiftly doubled checked everyone. She made sure they had everything they needed for school

Aleck picked at the chipped nail polish on her fingernails. It had been a month since she was discharged from the mental hospital, and now time at home was up. Most of her life she had been fighting in a war against an invading alien species, but now she was expected to resume a normal life.

She hadn’t been to school since she was eight years old. She had spent her days training and strategizing with other soldiers, leading troops into battle and proving herself to be a formidable leader despite her young age. But now, at sixteen years old, Aleck found herself trembling with fear at the thought of entering the unknown world of high school.

Her aunt Karla had been trying to prepare her for this day for weeks. She had gone shopping for new clothes and supplies with Aleck, making sure she looked presentable and had everything she needed for school. But no amount of preparation could ease Aleck’s anxiety about being thrown into a completely different environment.

Aunt Karla's warm, slender arm wrapped around her niece's tense shoulders as she handed her a steaming cup of Caja. The strong scent filled her nostrils instantly calming her nerves. With each sip, the knots in her stomach loosened and she felt a sense of peace wash over her. Aunt Karla looked at her with kind, emerald green eyes, a reassuring smile on her lips. "You'll do great," she said softly.

Suddenly, the loud voice of her twin sister interrupted from outside. "Come on, we're going to be late!"

The cool autumn breeze caressed Aleck's skin as she stepped out onto the porch. She inhaled deeply, taking in the crisp scent of fallen leaves and ripe apples on the trees. The sun shone brightly, casting a golden glow over the vast countryside that stretched out before her. A faint scent of pine drifted down from the nearby mountain lake.

Aleck's senses were overwhelmed by the beauty and tranquility of her surroundings. Her little cousin Brock, a miniature version of Uncle Donny with his light brown hair and brown eyes, bounced around like an excited rabbit. "Don't worry about school, Aleck," he chirped. "It's so much fun!"

Aiden, another spitting image of his father, carried his bookbag over his broad shoulders ruffled his little brother's hair. "All that knowledge of school from the vast experience of a five-year-old. Don’t worry. You’ll do fine.” he assured her with a toothy grin.

While Aleck appreciated their enthusiasm, she couldn't help but feel nervous about starting school in this new town. But as she took in the peaceful scenery and saw the excitement in her cousins' faces, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. Maybe they were right - maybe school wouldn't be so bad after all.

Her siblings, who shared her fiery red locks and bright green eyes inherited from their aunt, gazed at her with a worried expression. She knew they were all too aware of the consequences if she didn't recover before the cruel General Waller summoned them once again. Meanwhile, her twin sister shot her a disapproving look with heavily lined eyes and a flashy outfit that was supposedly in fashion. She adjusted her garish clothing and tapped her foot impatiently.

The calm induced by the Caja brought a sense of clarity to Aleck's mind. Since Aleck had returned home from war, she found that it was her twin sister who she got along with least. As they had grown older, their views on life seemed to have dramatically diverged, with Aleck seeing her sister as petty, irresponsible, and immature. But then again, how could a soldier who had experienced the horrors of war truly understand the struggles of being a teenage girl?

Aleck herself was no longer a child at fifteen years old; The invasion of the Sharlakar left no room for childishness. Those who didn't mature quickly enough often met their demise - whether it be in the death camps of Sharlakar or at the hands of The General or another cyborg if their recklessness put others in danger.

The narrow dirt road was lined with fiery red and golden orange leaves, creating a vibrant canopy above their heads. The houses along the road varied in style, but most had white picket fences and welcoming wraparound porches. As they reached the main street, they passed a quaint town square with a single charging station for electric cars, a cozy diner, an old-fashioned grocery store, a charming ice cream shop, and a small movie theater that only showed one film at a time.

As they crossed the street and strolled past the City Hall, Aleck couldn't help but admire the beautiful antique clock tower that stood tall above the building. But her peaceful walk was soon interrupted by the blaring sound of a bright yellow jeep speeding towards them. A group of teenagers with loud music and obnoxious clothing leaned out of the windows, honking their horn and shouting for Alexia to join them. “See ya!” Alexia sneered. She jumped in the jeep and sped away towards the school.

Aiden's face twisted into a scowl as he watched Alexia drive off with her obnoxious friends. "She's worse than the twins," he muttered through clenched teeth. Aiden took great pride in his role as the older cousin, but Alexia's behavior always seemed to challenge him. He felt responsible for upholding their family's values and couldn't understand why she acted out so much.

Meanwhile, Aleck stood calmly next to her two younger brothers, Shem and Payten. The twins were notorious troublemakers, but Aleck knew there was more to their behavior than meets the eye. Ever since General Waller used their Borg codes to manipulate them into killing their best friend, they had been distant and withdrawn from everyone on their uncle's farm. Even though they were supposedly safe there, they all knew that at any moment, the general could contact them through their runner and force them to commit another murder.

————————————————————-

Aiden took a deep breath, trying to calm his own nerves. He could sense that Aleck was on edge, her hand shaking slightly at her side. She had been through so much, and he couldn't help but worry about her.

He glanced at her, concern etched on his features. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

Aleck forced a smile and nodded, trying to push aside her anxiety. "I'm fine," she replied, although her voice trembled slightly.

Aiden didn't press the issue with Aleck. He overheard enough of his parents whispered conversation to know his cousin had been to hell and back. But he also knew that she needed a distraction from her thoughts so she did not sink back into the nightmares from her PTSD.

"You know the autumn festival is coming soon," Aiden said, changing the subject. "You'll love it, Aleck. There are tons of food and vendors with different goods."

Aleck's face brightened at the mention of food. "Really? That sounds amazing," she said eagerly.

Aiden nodded, glad that he was able to bring some excitement back into Aleck's eyes. "And you know what else?" he continued. "Mom wins the best dessert contest every year with her cobblers."

Aleck's mouth watered at the thought of her aunt's delicious cobblers. She had always been a talented baker and Aleck couldn't wait to taste them.

"Sounds great, Aiden," she said with a genuine smile. "You have your first football game tonight, right?"

Aiden beamed with pride as he nodded enthusiastically. He had been practicing hard for weeks and was determined to do well in his first high school football game.

"Yeah," he replied confidently. "I'm ready for it."

———————————————————————-

The kids chatted excitedly about their plans for the upcoming autumn festival as they walked towards their school. For a brief time, Aleck forgot about the nightmares of her past.

As they approached the elementary school, Aiden paused to drop Brock off at his kindergarten classroom. Brock took his bag and pulled out a well-worn brown rough teddy bear with a missing eye. He handed it to Aleck hesitant at first, then boldly. “Here, take Vern. Just don’t let the teacher see him.” He said in a conspiratorial whisper. “But when you get nervous about school, you can pull him out and hug him when no one is looking. That’s what I did my first day of school.”

“Thank you, Brock” Aleck took the well-loved bear and made a show of gently and respectfully putting it in her bag. “I’ll take super good care of him. I promise.” She watched her cousin run off and then turned her eyes to the ever-looming building that was her school.

------------------------------------------------------

Odette stood at the entrance of the old high school, taking in the sight of her fellow students arriving.

The students arrived in groups, each representing a different social group. The "cool" kids wore designer clothes and strutted with confidence, while the partiers had messy hair and cans of energy drinks in their hands.

The jocks sported Letterman jackets and walked with a swagger, while the intellects carried stacks of books and had intense looks on their faces. The computer geeks had their noses buried in their laptops.

And then there were three individuals who didn't quite fit into any group - Odette, with her gothic clothing and dark makeup, and Then there was Ben Thomson, who would have usually fit into the intellects and computer geeks' side of things. But Ben had a strict moral code because of his religious beliefs, which caused others to incorrectly label him as a stuck-up, goodie two shoes., and the Rillian kid, who kept to himself with a mysterious aura.

Odette's frown deepened as Mitchel Blank swaggered up to the entrance, his wiry muscles bulging under a tight t-shirt. His girlfriend, Alexia, trailed behind him, laughing loudly with their group of friends. Odette rolled her eyes at their arrogant behavior, wondering why anyone would want to be a part of their clique. To her, they were just bullies in disguise.

Suddenly, a new girl caught her attention. Her bright red braided hair stood out against her sea-green eyes and freckled face. She walked quietly towards the student entrance, dressed in simple jeans and an olive green shirt. Odette couldn't help but wonder which group she would fit into.

As the girl approached, Ben appeared behind her, his dark skin contrasting against her fair complexion. He was tall and lanky, and had an awkward walk of one still adjusting to a recent growth spurt. Odette smiled at her friend's awkwardness as he walked behind the new girl, his long limbs moving in an uncoordinated manner.

Odette waved at Ben, then groaned as Ben tripped and fell into the center of Mitchel’s group of friends. They laughed at him and kicked him. Ben tried to escape, but before he could, one of the girls kicked him hard in the privates. He doubled up on the ground.

Odette's heart raced as she watched Ben being bullied by Mitchel and his friends. She wanted to run over and defend him, but she knew that would only make things worse for him.

Instead, she quickly scanned the area for a teacher or any other adult who could intervene. But it seemed like they were all conveniently absent in this moment of need.

She bit her lip, torn with indecision. On one hand, she didn't want to leave Ben alone with his tormentors. On the other hand, she didn't want to escalate the situation.

.

Odette's heart raced as she watched the fiery-haired girl approach their group, her face twisted in fury. She had a controlled demeanor, but there was an underlying coldness that sent shivers down Odette's spine. The stranger spoke with an accent that hinted at her origins being from one of the outer worlds.

"What do you think you're doing, Alexia?" the girl demanded. As Alexia turned her face turning bright red in anger. "Stay out of this Aleck it's none of your business"

"Oh really." Aleck answered with ice in her voice. Odette couldn't help but notice how similar they looked - same red hair, same sea-green eyes. But while Alexia was dressed extravagantly, this girl's outfit was simple and understated.

As Ben tried to get up from where he had been knocked down by Mitchel, Aleck stepped in. With lightning-fast reflexes, she blocked Mitchel's attempt to kick Ben and gripped his arm tightly, forcing him to release his hold on Ben's hair.

In a language that sounded like Rillian, Aleck spoke coldly to Mitchel: "Alie ta zask ime weviet, ani one bi valie windock zask de man." Her words were filled with scorn.

Odette got a cold feeling in her gut. Something about the girl made her feel a little afraid for Mitchell.

Odette watched in shock as Aleck easily took down Mitchel, who was known for being the school bully. She had never seen anyone move so fast and with such precision.

Mitchel let out a cry of pain as he fell to the ground, his knees making an audible sound, as the slammed against the pavement. Aleck stood over him with a cold expression, her grip still tight on his arm.

"Only cowards are bullies, and I hate cowards." Aleck said with ice in her voice.

Mitchel's eyes widened in fear as he looked up at her.

"You should learn to be kind and treat others with respect," she said sternly before shoving him to the ground held him there.

Odette swallowed her fear of Aleck and was about to go over to help Ben up when to her surprise, the Rillian quickly moved from his standard place against the wall into the conflict.

He spoke in a heavy Rillian accent with an expression that looked like a strange mix of curiosity and shame. “He who would hurt one weaker than himself is a coward, but he who watches the one get hurt and does nothing is the greater coward.” He said in interpretation of the strange phrase the girl called Aleck had uttered earlier. He helped Ben to his feet. “Six against one makes this an unfair fight and an act of cowardice.”

“I’ve watched Ben stand up alone for what he believed was right when anyone else would have backed down. While you and your group can’t even take down the weakest child without having to gang up on them, Mitchel.” Jareth said coldly to the wiry boy on the ground. Jereth turned to Aleck “You can let him up. Mitchel is too cowardly to do anything if he knows he can be beaten.” Aleck let Mitchel go while staring at him with cold hard eyes.

Jareth turned to Ben. “My apologies. I should have stepped in long ago. I’m ashamed that this small, skinny, Vandarian teenage female showed more honor than me.”

Alexia walked up and screamed at Aleck.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"How could you!" Alexia shouted, her face red with anger and humiliation. "How could you humiliate me like that in front of everyone?!"

Aleck stood tall, her expression angry and unapologetic. "How could my own sister be such a... such a..." she hesitated or a moment before Jareth spoke up.

"A beach," he said bluntly, not holding back his disgust towards Alexia's behavior.

Odette couldn't help but correct his pronunciation. "I think you mean 'bitch'," she said quietly, almost afraid to speak up.

"At least I'm not a freak!" Alexia hissed at Aleck, her eyes burning with resentment.

Alexia hissed at Aleck with venom in her voice. "You'll pay for this," she threatened.

Aleck didn't flinch under her sister's threat. She just shook her head in sad frustration.

Jareth let out a sigh of relief and turned to Ben who was still standing there awkwardly trying to process everything that had just happened.

"My apologies," Jareth said sincerely. "I should have stepped in sooner."

Ben shook his head. "It's okay it wasn't really your fight."

The football coach, Mr. Mathews, rounded the corner. His gaze fell upon a group of students, and he thundered over to them demanding to know what was going on. Alexia smirked and looked away, knowing that Mr. Mathews favored his star players like Mitchell.

Odette couldn't help but groan as she saw the sly grin on Alexia's face. She knew exactly how this situation would play out - with Mitchell and his gang being protected and the rest of them facing consequences.

Through false tears, Alexia turned to face Mr. Mathews and explained how Mitchell had been taunted and provoked by Jareth and his friends until it escalated into physical violence.

Mr. Mathews wasted no time in marching them all down to the principal's office for punishment. As they walked, Jareth made a subtle hand gesture of disrespect behind Mr. Mathews' back in defiance.

Principal Boltan's sharp eyes narrowed as she listened to Mr. Matthews explain the fight that had broken out between two students. She could see through his excuse, knowing well enough the dynamics of the school and the people in it. "Are you going to suspend them?" Mr. Matthews demanded.

"Well, the problem is, if I suspend them, then I would also have to suspend Mitchell for the incident earlier this week, which you asked me to go easy on," Principal Boltan replied, a hint of frustration in her voice. Mr. Matthews glared at her and stormed out of her office.

Rubbing her temples, Principal Boltan glanced over at the two groups of students who were involved in the fight. On one hand, she knew that Mitchell was getting what he deserved. But on the other hand, she also knew about the difficult home life that he struggled with every day. His bullying behavior was often a result of his own abuse. However, at the end of the day, rules were rules. They were in place for the safety of all students, and fights could not be tolerated on school grounds. It was a tough decision for Principal Boltan, but she knew she had to enforce the rules despite her sympathy for Mitchell's situation.

“While I do not doubt that Mr. Mitchell started the trouble.” Mitchell started to protest, and she turned and glared at him, silencing him instantly. “Fighting and violence are not allowed on school grounds. So for fighting, you all have a month’s detention in separate areas. Mr. Mitchell's group, you will be cleaning the cafeteria and gym. The rest of you will meet me in the first-year hall after school.”

When the groups left, she looked down at the report on Mitchell's father that she had worked long and hard on that was about to go into an envelope marked police. “Well,” she said to herself. “No, it’s not always about the rules.”

------------------------------------------------------

Aiden moved over in his seat to make room for his new friend, Aleck. It was lunchtime at their school, and since it was a small school, both the high school and junior high students shared the cafeteria. As Aleck sat down, Aiden couldn't help but feel relieved that he had someone to sit with after being alone all morning.

"So, how did this morning go? Did you get lost or anything?" Aiden asked.

"No, Jareth, Ben, and Odette showed me around the school. They're surprisingly nice," Aleck replied with a small smile.

Aiden was relieved. Despite the rough start on the first day of school, it seamed like Ben, Odette and Jareth in spite of being the oddballs of the school had been nothing but welcoming to Aleck. He was glad that she had found some friends in this new place.

"But I have some bad news," Aleck continued. "I can't walk home with you today."

Aiden raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why not?"

"We all have detention," Aleck explained with a sigh.

As Aleck finished telling Aiden about the fight and their detention, Aiden shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe Mitchell would start a fight on your first day. What a jerk," Aiden muttered.

"I'll let my parents know that you'll be late today," Aiden said. "They know Alexia well enough that she'll be in trouble for this mess."

Aiden stabbed at the wilted greens the school claimed was a salad, he looked at his cousin with worry in he eyes. "How are you feeling now? Better than this morning?"

Aleck's shoulders tensed, her fork hovering over her untouched plate of spaghetti. She kept her eyes downcast but he could see the sadness in them. Aiden couldn't blame her though, after all she had been through.

"Jareth, Odette, and Ben have helped a lot," she finally spoke, her voice quiet and distant. "Their conversations help me keep my mind off things."

Aiden shook his head in mild amusement. His cousin surrounded herself with strange friends. But then again, Aleck was different from the rest of their family, she seemed older and wiser beyond her years.

His parents treated her with careful respect, never mentioning what they learned during her time away in the psych ward. Aiden had caught his mom crying over it more than once, while his dad tried to comfort her. It was clear that whatever had happened to Aleck and the twins in the cutoff had changed them in terrible ways.

Aiden couldn't help but compare her to Alexia, her identical twin sister who used to be kinder before she turned cold and mean-spirited. It was hard to believe that they were once inseparable twins, but now there was an unspoken distance between them.

Aiden couldn't help but worry about his cousin, Alexia. While he was glad that Aleck had found friends in Jareth, Odette, and Ben, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Alexia and her poor choice of friends.

He remembered when they were younger, how close they used to be. But as they got older, Alexia's behavior changed and she started hanging out with a different crowd. Aiden knew that Alexia was struggling with the changes in her body and emotions, but he also believed that it was a combination of anger towards life and the friends she chose that contributed to her current state.

One day she would regret her choices and realize that true friendship shouldn't involve bullying and manipulation.

The lunch bell rang all too soon, interrupting Aiden's thoughts. He patted his cousin's back in encouragement as they went off to their respective classes.

---------------------------------------------------

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Students quickly gathered their belongings and rushed out of the classrooms, eager to start their weekend.

Jareth, Odette, Ben, and Aleck stood in the tiled hallway, looking at each other with heavy sighs. They had to stay for detention.

"Ugh, this is going to take forever," Odette groaned as she hoisted a bucket filled with soapy water. "Why can't we just use a mop?"

"Because someone spilled glitter glue all over the floor yesterday," Ben replied with a smirk.

Jareth's eyes kept drifting towards Aleck. He couldn't help but be drawn to her mysterious aura. She seemed to have a quiet strength that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

He remembered her fight with Mitchell. Her movements were precise and calculated, almost like she was trained in some form of martial arts. It intrigued him and he couldn't help but wonder where she learned such skills.

As they started scrubbing the floors, Jareth couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something else about Aleck that was different from anyone he had ever met. Sometimes he could even hear her thoughts, as if they were on the same wavelength. He wondered if she could hear his too.

Jareth's eyes widened in surprise as he heard Aleck respond to his unspoken questions through a telepathic connection. "Yes, I can hear you," Aleck's voice echoed in Jareth's mind. "I don't understand why we can communicate this way."

Aleck continued to explain, his thoughts flowing effortlessly to Jareth. "I was trained in martial arts by a kind Rillian man who took us in after we were rescued from the death camps. He became like a father to us, teaching us everything he knew before the General arrived."

"We were left unsupervised most of the time, and often found solace in a small cave away from the main base. The Rillian realized we were orphaned and took us under his wing. He would come back periodically to spend time with us, but he always had an excuse for being there. He even asked his father for permission to officially adopt us, but it was never granted."

"Then the General came and took control, cutting off all outside help and forbidding foreigners from entering our worlds. We never saw the Rillian again after that."

Jareth watched as she furrowed her brow, her lips pursed in thought. He could sense her emotions shifting, a mix of sadness and longing. "I used to mind-speak with my sister all the time," she finally said, breaking the silence. Jareth could feel her pain as she talked about the Cutoff and how her father had ordered her to break their mind link. She explained that her sister resented her for it, but it was for her own good.

Suddenly, he put up a mental wall, hoping to block his thoughts from her. Terrible things? His mind raced with questions - what kind of terrible things had happened? Were there death camps involved? And who was this Kind Rillian who had taken on the role of a father to her? He would have had to been high enough rank to teach an orphaned Vandarian the High Rillian Guard Martial arts style that Jarath had recognized instantly and no civilian let alone foreigner should know.. Jareth couldn't help but be intrigued by this mysterious girl and decided to test the waters by sending another thought her way: "Could you hear what I was thinking just now?"

Aleck shook her head. “No. but you didn’t want me to.” Jareth smiled; he could have privacy of mind when he wanted it; that was good.

mind when he wanted it; that was good.

Jareth paused his telepathic conversation and observed the two others in detention with him: Odette, a short girl with straight black hair and distinctive double-lidded eyes, and Ben, a tall and thin young man with tightly curled light brown hair and matching eyes. They were not your typical Vandarian teenagers - they seemed more individualistic and independent-minded. Neither of them cared about conforming to societal norms. Jareth thought to himself that there were certainly worse people he could have been stuck serving detention with. He was accustomed to having servants and maids obey his every command, but now he found himself scrubbing floors as punishment. It was a new and unpleasant experience for him. As he reflected on how poorly he had treated those who worked under him in the past, Jareth made a mental note to show more consideration and respect in the future. Cleaning was no easy job, and he regretted not showing appreciation for it before.

As Odette asked her questions, Aleck continued to clean the floor with precision and efficiency. Jareth couldn't help but be impressed by her poise and attention to detail. She seemed to have a natural grace about her, even while scrubbing floors in detention.

"Yes, she's my twin," Aleck answered with a hint of sadness in her voice. "We got separated during the Cutoff." She paused for a moment before continuing, her expression turning solemn. "She wasn't always mean like that. We used to be best friends when we were little. But she changed so much, and not for the good."

Odette's dark eyes glinted with understanding. "I know exactly what you mean," she said, shaking her head. "Ever since Alexia started dating Mitchel and hanging out with his group, she's turned into a completely different person."

Ben nodded in agreement and added, "It's crazy how small towns can change people. We used to all be friends with Alexia, but now she's betrayed us all for a guy and become cruel to everyone."

Ben's was curious about the martial arts moves she had used on Mitchell. Her movements were fluid and precise, a testament to years of training. "What was that form of martial arts you used on Mitchel? I've never seen anything like it," he asked with genuine curiosity.

Aleck's expression turned somber as she remembered her Rillian mentor, who had taught her and her brothers this unique form of self-defense during the war. Her grip tightened on the scrub brush as she replied, "It's something an old friend taught us during the war. He was like a father to us."

Jareth, Odette, and Ben all exchanged puzzled glances. War? What war? Before they could ask for more details, Aleck cut them off with a curt response, "The war we fought in to survive." Her arms continued to scrub vigorously, but her mind was far away, remembering the government's efforts to silence anyone who spoke about the war. However, as a leader in her community, Aleck had learned to read people and knew that Jareth, Odette, and Ben could be trusted. She needed to be able to talk to somebody about it.

She knew these new friends would be smart enough to keep silent.

Aleck took a deep breath, her hands pausing in their scrubbing motion. She closed her eyes for a brief moment before continuing her story. "Invader came in and started putting people in pens like cattle. They actually grab and start eating people on the street.

Jareth's knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, his jaw tightening upon hearing this news. "How did you and your family survive?" he asked in a low, almost growling tone.

Aleck's eyes grew distant as she recounted the painful memories. "Our father hid us in the basement of an abandoned building. He promised to come back for us after retrieving the rest of our family, but he never returned." Her voice trembled with emotion. "The Sharlakar found us and took us to their death camps. But before they could eat us, we were rescued by the resistance."

Aleck's hands stopped scrubbing as she shared the rest of her story. "It was a difficult time for all of us. We were constantly on the run, fighting for our survival and trying to free as many people from the death camps as we could." She looked at her friends with a mix of determination and sorrow in her eyes. "But we never gave up hope, and eventually, we were able to push the Sharlakar off our worlds."

Jareth, Odette, and Ben listened in awe as Aleck recounted tales of bravery and sacrifice from her time in the resistance. They couldn't imagine the horrors she had faced, but they admired her strength and resilience.

"Our victory came at a great cost," Aleck continued solemnly. "The Sharlakar had destroyed much of our planets' resources and infrastructure during the war. Many worlds were uninhabitable due to pollution and destruction."

The few adults left abandoned the outer colony worlds and took refuge on the main worlds once the war was over.”

Odette's heart ached at the thought of innocent lives being lost. "What about the children?" she asked, barely above a whisper.

Aleck's expression grew even graver as she answered, "During the war, my brothers and I were the only children we knew who survived. The Sharlakar and a ruthless General sent by the Vandarian government were responsible for countless deaths." She spoke with anger and sadness evident in her voice. "We were lucky to survive, but only because we excelled at our tasks. The General didn't see any use in killing us."

Ben's eyes widened in horror at the idea of battling these gray-skinned creatures. "Why haven't we been informed about this?" he demanded, his frustration audible.

"It's all part of a cover-up," Aleck replied gravely. "The government doesn't want to expend resources defending smaller outer colony worlds from these creatures. They fear being viewed as incompetent or malicious, so they've ordered complete secrecy on the matter. They do not want anyone to know that these creatures exist."

Aleck's scrubbing came to an abrupt halt. She stared off into the distance, her body swaying back and forth as tears cascaded down her cheeks. Memories from the past flooded her mind as she drifted away into a dream-like state. Jareth watched in horror through their telepathic connection.

Aleck stood frozen, her heart racing as she watched the General order her brothers to murder their best friend. The cyborg codes implanted in their brains controlled their actions, and they had no choice but to obey. She heard their agonized screams and felt helpless until she mustered all of her mental abilities to redirect the General's fury onto herself, sparing her brothers. The force of his blows left bruises and cuts across her body, but she fought through the pain to protect her family.

But the worst was yet to come. The General used the cyborg codes again, this time forcing Aleck to pick up the lifeless body of her brothers' friend. Blood seeped into her clothes as she struggled to drag him outside, tears streaming down her face.

Her body ached and throbbed from the beating she endured, but she could not rest. The cyborg codes continued to control her, forcing her to dump the body on top of a pile of other children's bodies in the trash heap. Her brothers screamed for her, but she couldn't respond.

As Colonel Mires passed by with each of her brothers in his arms, taking them to the safety of the infirmary, Aleck knew that their bond would never be the same. They were now puppets, ready to kill at the General's command without hesitation. And she was just another tool in his twisted game.

Aleck's body jolted awake, her hands trembling. She frantically searched through her bag for her medicine, but her fingers wouldn't cooperate. Jareth had tears in his eyes that, for the first time in his life, were for someone other than himself. Jareth noticed the distress in her eyes and reached for the bag. He carefully rummaged through it until he found the small bottle of pills she needed. With a shaking hand, he opened a can of emergency hot Caja and handed it to her, making sure not to touch her skin. She had left out a lot in the storytelling but made up for it with the violent pictures in her mind.

Jareth sat in shock as he listened to Aleck’s story. How had he never heard about this war? He wasn’t part of the Vandarian government, but he had always prided himself on being well-informed about current events. How could something of this magnitude slip past him?

But then a memory from teen years flashed in his mind, and Jareth froze. He remembered hearing whispers and hushed conversations among the adults when his second eldest brother returned home from a mission on the outer worlds of Vandar. .

Bitterness filled his stomach as he realized that he had brushed off those memories as insignificant or unimportant. He never bothered to investigate or ask questions because as far as he was concerned these were minor problems for Vandar's Government do deal with and had nothing to do with him.

But now, sitting next to Aleck and feeling her pain and fear through their telepathic connection, Jareth understood just how naive and ignorant he had been. The realizations hit him hard, making him feel useless and guilty.

“Why didn’t we do something?” He blurted out without thinking.

Aleck looked at him with sadness in her eyes. “We tried,” she said softly. “We fought back against the General’s control whenever we could, but it was difficult without any outside help.”

Jareth clenched his fists in anger and frustration. How could they have let this happen? He closed his eyes as he remembered to conversation between his brother and his father.

“

Zane stood tall in front of the throne, his hands clasped together in a pleading manner. His eyes were filled with desperation and pain as he begged the king for help.

"Father, please," Zane said, swallowing back the lump in his throat. "I know they are not of Rillia, but the people of that world are dying in mass. Their government is doing nothing to stop it. A small force from Rillia could be a turning point for them."

The king, dressed in regal finery, leaned back on his throne with a dismissive air. "They are Vandar's people. They are Vandar's problem," he stated coldly.

"But Father," Zane persisted, "if we don't intervene, the Sharlakar will gain a foothold there and eventually become our problem."

"It's not our business," the king retorted with a wave of his hand. Jareth rolled his eyes at his brothers drama and stared after Cassia, who just waltzed by him with a smile and a wink. Who cared about some minor skirmishes with worlds that weren’t Rillia’s?

Jareth's mind raced with guilt and remorse as he sat next to Aleck, who was still crying softly. He remembered the look on Zane's face as he walked away from the throne room, defeated and heartbroken. And he thought about his own dismissive attitude towards his brother's pleas for help.

He remembered Cassia's carefree attitude towards the whole situation, brushing it off as not their concern. But now, Jareth saw things differently. He realized that they had all been blind to the suffering of others because they were too consumed with their own lives.

Soon the medicine had calmed. Aleck and Odette started talking about the upcoming fall harvest festival. By silent agreement, the friends avoided all mentions of the cutoff and the war.

Aleck and Odette’s conversation about the fall harvest festival brought some sense of normalcy to the group. They talked about making decorations, planning games, and even discussed what meals they would prepare for the festival. Jareth was glad for the distraction, but couldn’t stop his mind from wandering back to the situation at hand.

He couldn’t believe how blind he had been to the suffering of others just because it didn’t directly affect him or his empire. And now, with everything that had happened, he couldn’t help but feel responsible in some way. He wished he could go back and change things, make different decisions, but he knew it was too late.

.

Jareth lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling with thoughts swirling around in his head. He couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened – ,About the war, Aleck’s breakdown, and most importantly, about his own naivety.

He made a promise to himself that from now on, he would do everything in his power to make things right. He vowed to never turn a blind eye again and to stand up against injustice wherever he saw it. With those thoughts he drifted off to sleep.