Mik's hands trembled as they set down the tablet. The President's face had vanished from the screen, but her words still echoed in their ears. Beside them, Cayde sat perfectly still, his human disguise flickering slightly with barely contained excitement.

"We're really doing this," Mik breathed. "We're going to New York."

Cayde nodded, his eyes shimmering with an otherworldly light. "It's a big responsibility. But we're ready."

The reality of the situation suddenly hit Mik. "Oh man, my parents. I need to tell them." They glanced at Cayde. "Do you think they'll let me go?"

Cayde's expression turned thoughtful. "Only one way to find out."

Taking a deep breath, Mik called out, "Mom? Dad? Can you come here for a second? There's something I need to tell you."

As Mik's parents entered the room, curiosity and concern mingling on their faces, Mik began to explain the extraordinary conversation they'd just had with the President.

As Mik finished explaining, their parents exchanged worried glances.

"New York?" their dad echoed, his brow furrowed. "That's... that's a big deal, Mik. And it sounds dangerous."

Their mom nodded, concern etched on her face. "We're proud of you, honey, but we can't just send you off to New York alone."

Mik's heart sank. "Could one of you come with me?" they asked hopefully.

Their parents' faces fell. "Oh, honey," their mom said, "I wish we could. But I can't take time off from teaching right now, not with the end of the semester coming up."

Their dad nodded, his expression apologetic. "And I've got that big project deadline at work. If I leave now, we could lose the contract."

Mik nodded, understanding but still feeling a twinge of disappointment. Suddenly, an idea struck them.

"What about Shae?" they suggested. "She's been involved from the beginning, and she's great in a crisis. She could go with us."

Their parents' expressions lightened. "That... might work," their dad said slowly.

"We'll give her a call right away," their mom added, already reaching for her phone. "If Shae can go, and if she thinks it's safe enough... well, we'll see."

Mik felt a surge of hope. It wasn't a 'yes' yet, but it was a step in the right direction.

The next few days passed in a whirlwind of preparation. Mik's parents oscillated between pride and worry as they helped pack.

"I still can't believe my child is going to work with the President," Mik's mom said, folding a sweater. Her smile was tinged with concern.

"Just promise us you'll be careful," their dad added, his hand resting protectively on Mik's shoulder.

Alex bounced around the room, full of excited energy. "Can you bring me back a souvenir? Maybe an alien artifact?"

Mik laughed, ruffling their little brother's hair. "I don't think that's how it works, squirt."

At school, things were equally surreal. Mik and Cayde stood in the administration office, handing over their excused absence forms. The secretary looked them over, her eyebrows raising slightly.

"A two-week absence for a 'special educational opportunity'?" she asked, her tone skeptical. "That's quite unusual."

Mik nodded, trying to keep their voice steady. "Yes, ma'am. It's a... unique situation. We have all the necessary signatures."

The secretary scrutinized the forms for a moment longer, then stamped them with a sigh. "Well, everything seems to be in order. I hope this 'opportunity' is worth missing so much class time."

As they left the office, Cayde whispered, "I think we just became the subject of some serious faculty room gossip."

Mik couldn't help but grin. If only their teachers knew the truth about where they were really going.

Their amusement was short-lived, however. As they walked down the hallway, Mik's phone buzzed with a news alert. They ducked into an empty classroom, Cayde following close behind.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Look at this," Mik said, pointing to an article on their screen. "Reports of people in Chicago suddenly speaking in unison, reciting something that sounds like a poem or a chant."

Cayde leaned in, his brow furrowed. "Similar to what we saw here, but on a much larger scale. The Fluxians must be escalating their efforts."

Just then, Jasmine poked her head into the room. "There you guys are! What are you looking at?"

Mik and Cayde exchanged glances. "We can't say too much," Mik said carefully, "but yeah, it's bigger than most people realize."

Jasmine's eyes widened with concern. "You really think it's aliens causing all this?"

Mik nodded grimly. "We're not sure of all the details yet, but that's why we're going to New York. To help figure this out."

"Just... be careful, okay?" Jasmine said, her voice low. "And keep an eye on Cayde. I know he's an alien genius and all, but he's still... you know... Cayde."

Cayde rolled his eyes good-naturedly, but Mik could see the tension in his posture. They were both acutely aware of the weight of their upcoming mission.

As the final bell rang, signaling the end of their last day before the trip, Mik hugged Jasmine goodbye. "We will," they promised. "And Jas? Stay sharp. If anything weird happens..."

"I know," Jasmine said. "I'll be careful."

That evening, as Mik finished packing, Cayde sat in their desk chair, watching. "Nervous?" he asked.

Mik nodded. "A little. Okay, a lot. Aren't you?"

Cayde's expression turned thoughtful. "I've had some pretty wild adventures back home. But this? This is bigger than anything I've faced before."

“Wild adventures?" Mik leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of adventures are we talking about?"

Cayde chuckled. "Oh, you know, the usual. Exploring uncharted territories, solving ancient puzzles, occasionally saving the day from rogue AI or misguided scientists. Typical teenage stuff."

Mik laughed, shaking their head. "Right. Typical."

"Plus," Cayde added, his eyes twinkling, "it helps that I have Nova."

"Nova?" Mik asked, curiosity piqued.

As if on cue, a small holographic projection appeared from Cayde's wrist device. It coalesced into the form of a sleek, abstract shape that somehow managed to convey a sense of intelligence and personality.

"Hello, Mik," Nova's voice was melodious and warm. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Cayde has told me so much about you."

Mik's eyes widened in wonder. "Wow! Hi, Nova. I... I didn't know Cayde had an AI assistant."

Nova's form rippled with amusement. "Oh, I'm much more than just an assistant. I'm a friend, a guide, and occasionally, the voice of reason when Cayde's ideas get a little too... adventurous."

Cayde rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Nova's been with me through thick and thin back home. And now, well, we're both embarking on our biggest adventure yet."

Mik nodded, a mix of excitement and nervousness in their voice. "I guess we all are."

As Nova's hologram faded, Mik felt a surge of confidence. With Cayde's experience and Nova's guidance, perhaps they really could face whatever challenges lay ahead in New York.

The next morning, as they prepared to leave, Mik paused at the door, taking one last look at their room. On their desk, the tablet showed another worrying news report: "Unusual Mass Behaviors Reported in Major Cities."

Cayde appeared beside them, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Ready?"

Mik took a deep breath and nodded. Whatever was happening out there, whatever the Fluxians were planning, they were going to face it head-on.

"Ready," Mik said, stepping out into the unknown.

As the scene faded, X9's holographic form pulsed gently. "As you've witnessed, Mik and Cayde's preparation for their journey to New York was a delicate balance of extraordinary circumstances and everyday teenage life."

Zara's hair shifted to a thoughtful blue. "It's strange to think of them worrying about school while also preparing to save the world."

X9 nodded. "Indeed. This juxtaposition of the mundane and the extraordinary is a common thread in many pivotal historical moments."

Lian's adaptive clothing rippled with curiosity. "What about Nova? Was it common for Xyrillians to have AI companions?"

"An excellent question," X9 replied. "Nova's presence adds another layer to Cayde's unique position as a bridge between two worlds."

The AI's expression became more serious. "For our next session, consider this: How do personal relationships and everyday experiences shape the actions of key historical figures? And how might Mik and Cayde's friendship, along with Nova's guidance, influence the challenges ahead?"

As the class ended, Kai's hand unconsciously went to the pendant hidden beneath their shirt. The smooth, cool surface was comforting, a tangible link to parents Kai hadn't seen in years. Their fingers traced the intricate patterns etched into its surface, wondering for the thousandth time what secrets it might hold.

Suddenly, the pendant felt warm against Kai's skin. Kai froze, heart racing. This was new. In all the time since their grandparents had given them the pendant at the start of their first year at New Geneva, it had never done this before.

A strange sensation washed over Kai - a mix of urgency and something else they couldn't quite name. It felt almost like a distant echo, reverberating through their very being.

As if in response to their confusion, a phrase formed in Kai's mind, though they weren't sure where it came from: 'The song of the stars is rising once more. Be ready.'

Kai blinked, startled and confused. What could it mean? And why now, after all this time? The pendant had always been a mystery, a final gift from parents who had embarked on a space mission years ago. But this... this felt like the beginning of something bigger.

As the warmth faded and the pendant cooled against their skin, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. Whatever was happening, whatever this "song of the stars" might be, Kai had a sense that they were somehow meant to play a part in it.

With a mixture of excitement and apprehension, Kai tucked the pendant back under their shirt and hurried to catch up with their classmates, mind whirling with possibilities. Little did they know, this was just the first note in a symphony that would reshape their understanding of the past, the present, and their own place in the cosmos.