The halls are brightly lit. There's a hum in the background, that speaks of a cheeriness that I do not have.

But it gives me an idea.

I hum.

Some people turn to look at me.

I ignore them and continue humming. I feel the tunes combine, and turn into a darker melody.

"The Silence, it calls out to me.

Should I give in?

I'm not exactly filled with glee,

But I can't let the dark win."

Memories flood me. Images of a young boy, laden with depression, slumped against a wall. The grimness of the situation. The cruel, dark horror.

"Can I?"

I grasp at straws, reaching out. Searching for any reason I could find to not give up. I don't find any.

"I need to get up.

Else I will die.

But I cannot seem to care less.

Oblivion seems like a good way out of this mess."

But I'm too scared. Scared of the unknown. Afraid to let my existence end that quick. There are things to achieve. I don't want to give up on my ambitions. So-

"No, time to get up and fix things.

I'm a Builder, it's what I do.

Don't need support from a woman with wings.

So tell me, how far will I go?"

I increase my pace, filled with newfound motivation.

I can put myself into a trance at will. Now, it's my sister who taught me how to take good advantage of that.

The memory came back to me unaided.

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

I stared down at the broken remains of my flash gun.

Tears flowed down my cheeks.

It had taken me four days to build. Not to mention the amount of nagging I did to get mom to let me build it.

And now it was gone. Destroyed by that stupid punk. I hated him. I wished he could burn in hell. A thousand times over.

But that won't change anything. He called me a scrawny little weirdo that doesn't have any friends. When I protested, saying that I had Colby, he just laughed and told me Colby doesn't care about me. That he was just my friend out of pity.

I didn't believe him. But it still hurt.

All of them had laughed at me. Even Sheido, the silent boy. I had only heard him speak thrice. Once was when Emily had kicked him in the crotch. Other two times were when someone tickled him.

I picked the broken pieces up. Maybe I could fix it.

I stared at the pieces and assessed the damage.

Missing T-channel bit, a shattered capacitor, halved cooling pipe...

My hands shook. Emotions built up inside me. Some of it was rage, and the rest was... resignation.

I couldn't hurt them. I couldn't make them pay. I couldn't just go up to Reid and punch him in the face.

"John?" I heard my sister's voice, laced with concern.

I look up.

"Oh, h-hey sis. Don't worry, I'm just..."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Is that your flash gun? John, what happened?" She grabs me by the shoulders and looks me in the eye. "Is someone bullying you?"

I want to say that there wasn't-so that she won't have to worry... but I don't want to lie. I don't want to say the truth either.

I looked down.

I felt two hands wrap around me. Surprised, I looked up, only to see my sister smiling at me.

She sighed.

"John, if you don't want me to, I won't interfere. I guess you have to learn how to protect yourself too. But... if I ever see the person who did this to you..."

I shuddered.

She patted me on the head, smiling.

"Now, do you want to go eat some ice cream?"

I shook my head.

She frowned.

"Why?"

"I don't feel like it..."

She blinked. Then her eyes flashed.

"Do you remember when you build, you enter... enter your own world?"

I nodded.

"Now, you are going to do the same thing, but this time, we are going to make a poem. Got it?"

"A poem?"

"That's right."

"...Sure."

"Now, repeat after me, 'I will run! I will fly! I am a glutton! I say...'"

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

I smile at the memory. It's bittersweet.

My steps turn lighter. I glide through the corridors, grinning as if I had just won the lottery.

"Uh... Jesus Christ, what's with your mood swings? You're like a freakin' rollercoaster."

I laugh.

"Oh, I am. You have no idea."

"...What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see. Or not."

"That's a nonanswer."

"Maybe."

"So was that."

I hum.

She screams in my head. I wince and nearly slip. I blocked her again.

I heave a sigh of relief and continue on my way.

"Dan!"

I stop and look around. A moment later, I spot Colby, grinning at me and waving. He shrinks into himself when he realizes that people are staring at him.

I make my way over.

'Hey," I say.

He scratches his head and whispers.

"Can we talk somewhere else?"

I nodded, and gesture at him to follow me. He anxiously does so.

Sometime later, we're at my workshop. I use my tag to open it. I invite Colby in and lock the door.

"So," I begin. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"The uh... the mid-term project."

"Huh?"

"Oh right, you're... an outsider. Sort of... anyway, um, right, so during the mid-term, which is essentially, when um, half the year is up. So... at this time... we have this competition, for-all paths. Now, it isn't necessary to join in, but it's highly recommended. There are prizes to win and recognition. I mean, um... you can get good jobs and stuff..."

I hold up a hand.

"So, you want me to join?"

He nods sheepishly.

"Well, groups are allowed, and so..."

"Again, you want me to join your group, or make one with you?"

He nods.

"Join our group."

I shrug.

"Alright. What are you working on?"

"...We haven't decided yet."

"Okay... well, who are the members?"

"Vi, she's my... uh, girlfriend, Graham, he's the one who likes um... wha- ah yes, he likes... power suits and two other girls that Vi recommended."

"Okay. Is 'Vi' her full name or your nickname for her? Just asking."

"It's her actual name."

"Okay...Hmm, I like ships. So, what do the girls on the team like?"

"Vi likes implants. I haven't met the other two girls."

"Okay. Implants, power suits, ships and... traps. Plus two other random paths. I have an idea but... I'm unsure of its feasibility..."

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

Colby and I discuss the idea for an hour or two before he leaves to inform the team. He asks me to meet them tomorrow, at one of the larger workshops. It belongs to his girlfriend.

All these people having girlfriends is starting to make me doubt my own philosophy.

I chuckle at the thought.

I go into my workshop.

I pull up a hologram and start working.

I start with the framework, using durable and flexible material. I also make sure the frame is light. I then add mechanical components, like motors, magnetic pistons, etc.

I add in the processor, along with sensors. I connect the mechanical parts and sensors to the processor. I keep the processor at the heart of the construct. Next, I add in the weapons. I add in a miniaturized fusion engine, with a compartment for fuel storage. I add in the armor, that conceals the weaponry, but can slide open at a moment's notice. Miscellaneous things I add last.

Once the design is done, I run it through some simulations. Aside from a few errors, which is the norm, it comes up okay. I fix the few errors, and then start working the design into code sequencing acceptable for the Fabricator.

Once the code is done, I flow it through my mind and search for any code that doesn't fit. I repeat the process seven times before I'm satisfied.

I then upload the code to the Fabricator and sit down. I order some meals on the net.

I frown when I realize I have only around sixty credits left. I need to earn more money, and soon.

I get a ping. I check the data and interpret that the food has arrived. I open the door and find a two large metal sphere, with two rectangular cameras. A panel slides open, revealing two plates, and a bottle of frigid water.

I take it and close the door.

I sit on the floor and have my food, as I wait for the process to end. An hour after, it is done.

Half of it is unassembled, requiring special connections that is hard to do with a fabricator. I again make some code sequencing, run it over, and load it into the nano bath. I pour the pieces into the nano bath.

Fifteen later, the project is complete.

At least, the physical part. I sit and start making the coding for the project as well. I only make a skeletal frame.

I then establish a connection to it. But this connection is different. I'm using one of my six nodes.

Nodes allow instant communication, zero interference no matter the distance. They are useless during warp, and can only connect to one another node. As such, nodes are usually reserved. Sentinels use them to connect to their battle suits, pilots to their ships, Builders to their toolset, etc.

I then unblock Grace.

The project flies out of the nano bath. A half foot tall silver and grey creation, with Grace piloting it. It flaps its wings and lands on the ground in front of me. It looks at me and tilts its head.

"You made this, for me?"

I nod.

Mentally, I get a crushing hug. I smile.

"So, you like it?"

"Yes! Oh my god, yes!"

I chuckle.

"Wanna go for a run around the school?"

The bird looks at me, as if frozen, in shock. Then, it chirps and flies around me. Mentally, I can hear her giggling.

I pick up the hoverboard and place it under my feet. I activate the board, and I start to levitate.

I grin.

"Let's do this."