The bus rumbled gently down the winding road through Laurel Creek, its old suspension creaking with each bump. Inside, the air buzzed with the soft murmur of student voices, some excitedly comparing answers from the quiz sheet, others locked in heated debates over which constellation was which. A few had surrendered to the lull of the ride, their heads tilted against cool windows, fast asleep.
Near the back of the bus, Kite sat with his cheek pressed against the glass, watching the world blur past. Not that he really saw it—his eyes were open, but his thoughts were elsewhere, tangled up in the image of that burn mark.
That strange, lingering presence still gnawed at him.
Why there? Why the Planetarium of all places?
Ai, ever present in his thoughts, was quiet now—unusually so. Almost respectful, like it knew Kite needed space to think. The Nexus Stone under his hoodie radiated a soft, steady warmth against his chest, not alarming, more like a hum, a reminder: I'm here.
"Hey," came a nudge to his arm. William. "You spaced out again."
Kite blinked and turned, pulled out of the haze. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Just tired."
William raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You sure? You were gone for a while there. Looked like you were trying to mentally astral-project."
Kite snorted. "I was just... curious how the projection system works."
The lie came too easily, but William didn't push it. He tilted his head, still watching him. "Right. The projection system. Because that's super fascinating all of a sudden."
"Hey, it could be," Kite muttered, leaning further into the window with a faint grin.
"Anyway," William said, letting it go. "Carson said he's gonna remark the test and if someone gets full marks, he's giving them extra credit getting extra credit."
"Yeah, I bet you're thrilled. You basically get one more shot at that perfect score," Kite replied, eyebrow arched.
William grinned proudly. "Nah, he already marked mine, it's still ninety-seven. Missed one on the Andromeda section. Carson literally said—and I quote—'Even geniuses can be humbled by a telescope.'"
Kite let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Bet that hurt your ego."
"Only a little," William said, mock offended.
Just then, a light tap on William's shoulder interrupted the banter. He turned to find Ava standing there, holding onto the seat awkwardly.
"Mind if we swap seats?" she asked, her voice quiet.
William blinked, then glanced over at Kite, his grin returning in full force. "Ohhhh," he whispered theatrically. "You wanna sit next to Kite."
Ava's face flushed instantly. "Not like that. I don't like—" She cut herself off, covering with a very fake cough. "My friend wanted to talk to you," she added quickly, gesturing to Emma, who was suddenly very interested in the pattern on the seat in front of her.
William smirked, clearly enjoying this too much, but stood and shuffled over to Ava's spot. As he started chatting with Emma, Ava settled beside Kite.
She hesitated, then gave him a small wave. "Hey. What's up?"
Kite turned toward her, his sarcasm muted. "Hey. Not much. You and William decided to play musical chairs or something?"
Ava pointed behind them. "He's talking to my friend now."
Kite twisted in his seat just enough to glance over his shoulder. Emma was giggling, leaning slightly toward William, who—surprisingly—was calm. Almost suave.
"Damn…" Kite muttered, half-impressed.
Ava tilted her head. "What?"
"You've been acting weird today," she said, watching him closely.
Kite hesitated, then shook his head. "It's nothing. I'm just… thinking about some stuff."
She nodded slowly, sensing he didn't want to elaborate. Silence settled between them, not exactly uncomfortable, but not exactly easy either. A few minutes passed, and just as Kite leaned back against the window again, he felt Ava's head rest lightly on his shoulder.
He stiffened, caught off guard.
But when she didn't move, he relaxed, chalking it up to her being tired. It was a long day. He'd let it slide.
The bus eventually pulled into the motel parking lot. Students stirred, grabbing backpacks and stretching stiff limbs. Kite stood, slinging his bag over one shoulder, and stepped off the bus alongside William.
The motel was quiet. Cicadas hummed lazily in the trees nearby, and somewhere in the distance, the faint rush of traffic echoed like a whisper.
Mr. Carson clapped his hands together near the front doors. "Alright, people. Get some sleep. Tomorrow we hit the science museum, and if anyone dares confuse Uranus with a comet again, I'm docking points and possibly your dignity."
Groans and laughter followed as students split off toward their rooms.
Kite and William strolled toward theirs, the sun dipping below the horizon and casting golden shadows over the parking lot.
"You okay?" William asked, this time softer, more serious.
Kite nodded slowly. "I think so. Just… got a weird feeling today."
William shrugged. "Can't blame you. Lately it's been nothing but weird. Especially since you started glowing like a starship."
Kite stopped at their door, hand on the knob. He stood there thinking for a while before opening the the door.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Weird sums it up."
They entered the room. The air was cool, stale with leftover motel air conditioning, and the curtains were still drawn from that morning. William headed to the bathroom, and Kite dropped his bag beside the bed. He sat down, staring at the carpet for a long moment.
Then: "Ai?"
"Yes, Kite?"
"…That trace back there. It didn't feel like Keith's Rebellion energy. It felt different."
"You're right," Ai replied calmly. "It was stronger. Not in quantity, but in quality. Controlled. Focused. Someone with a deep connection to Rebellion energy was there—someone experienced."
Kite leaned back on the bed, arms folded behind his head. "Then we've got a problem."
"Yes," Ai replied. "But at least now you're asking the right questions."
The room fell quiet again. Outside, night had fully settled. Stars winked into view above the hills. The hum of the motel's old air conditioner was steady, a mechanical lullaby.
Kite sat cross-legged on his bed, arms draped over his knees. William was lounging against the headboard, phone in hand, scrolling silently.
After a while, Kite broke the silence.
"…There was something off about that back hallway in the Planetarium."
William looked up. "Yeah?"
"I felt something. Like… pressure in the air. I followed it and found a scorch mark—burned wires, warped metal. Like something powerful had just passed through."
William raised a brow. "Think it was someone like you?"
Kite nodded slowly. "Maybe. Ai said it was a trace of something called Rebellion energy. It's the opposite of what I use."
"Opposite," William echoed. "So… evil?"
"Not exactly. More like, unstable. Chaotic. Dangerous. Ai says it counters Tachyon energy, whatever that really means."
William frowned, thinking. "So whoever left that mark… they're dangerous?"
"Yeah. And they were careful. Too careful."
William let out a low whistle. "Great. Just what we needed. But hey—after that cosmic beatdown you gave Legion, I'm pretty sure you could handle a little scorchy hallway."
Kite managed a tired smile. "Thanks, man."
William nodded. "And hey, just saying but, if you ever need to take a break from saving the day in the future, you can count on me! I'm your local comic relief. Grounded, reliable, devastatingly handsome."
Before Kite could respond, a knock echoed through the room.
William stood and checked the peephole. "It's Ava."
Kite sat up a little straighter, fingers quickly smoothing out his hair on instinct.
Ava stepped inside, hoodie loose around her frame and shorts revealing just enough to show she was in full comfort mode. Her hair was pulled back, simple and casual.
"Hey," she said, grinning. "Figured I'd actually talk to you guys. You alive after that museum-grade nap?"
"Barely," William replied, flopping back dramatically.
Kite raised a hand in greeting. "Hey, Ava."
She tossed her bag by the chair and dropped into it with a sigh. "If Carson throws another constellation quiz at us tomorrow, I swear I'm launching myself into orbit."
"Not with that score," William teased.
She shot him a glare. "I spelled Cassiopeia wrong once. You'd think I cursed his ancestors."
Kite chuckled, tension bleeding away. It was good to laugh.
Ava turned toward him. "Hey, what'd you get anyway? Didn't ask on the bus 'cause, you know…"
Kite rubbed the back of his neck. "Seventy-nine."
"Oh…" Ava said quickly, "That's not bad."
"Yeah. Not my best. Not my worst."
They talked a while longer—jokes, gossip, gripes about Carson's quiz. For a little while, the looming questions faded into the background.
Eventually, Ava stood, gathering her things before curfew rolled around. "Alright, I'll let you guys get your beauty sleep," she said with a grin.
"Some of us need it more than others," Kite called after her.
"Love you too," she shot back as she closed the door behind her.
Kite sat back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
————
The darkened back hallway of the Planetarium was empty now, save for the soft whirring of machines and the dying hum of something unnatural.
From a shadow between two service doors, a figure stepped out. A hood covered most of their face, and a thick scarf wrapped around their neck, partially concealing a small device pulsing with faint violet light strapped beneath their jacket.
They paused by the scorched patch Kite had been by hours ago.
The figure crouched and ran gloved fingers over the mark. Still warm.
"Tachyon residue," they muttered. "Fresh. Your plan worked…"
They stood up slowly, eyes narrowing behind tinted lenses. "He was here."
Their voice was low, sharp with frustration. A soft pulse of Rebellion energy flickered from beneath their jacket, responding to the surge of anger. The air around them seemed to tighten, the lights above flickering for just a second—then steadied again.
They turned and walked quietly toward the emergency exit, their footsteps deliberately silent.
A tiny voice crackled through a communicator on their wrist. "So he's finally here, huh? Just as he predicted."
"Indeed," the figure replied, pressing the comm gently. "It's starting. The Nexus bearer's finally getting involved."
"What do you want to do?"
There was a pause. Then: "Observe. For now. He's untrained. Doesn't even understand what he's carrying."
A silence passed between them before the voice on the other end returned. "And the others?"
"They'll come into play soon enough."
The figure pushed the door open and stepped out into the empty Planetarium hallway.
They moved with purpose. Calm on the outside.
But inside?
The Rebellion energy stirred restlessly.