Page 2 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
“Logan and his parents live above this place,” he tells me. “Let’s go.”
The access door dematerializes as we approach, and we step into a brightly lit room. It’s much cooler inside. The walls facing the street are partially unshaded, letting in soft light.
A blonde woman in her forties sits behind the counter.
“Hello. How can I help you?” she asks politely.
“Good afternoon, ma’am. I spoke with Albert some time ago. We discussed the possible future of young Logan.”
“Oh!” she gasps softly.
Her face flickers with a mix of hope and sorrow. Her hand trembles slightly as she brushes a strand of hair from her face, then composes herself.
“I’ll take you to him. Let me just close up the shop first.”
A few moments later, we step into what looks like the family’s main living space. A man sits on a sofa, watching a film projected on the opposite wall. When he sees his wife enter, his attention shifts quickly to Haruki.
“I know you!” he blurts, standing up abruptly. “You’re the guy who was recruiting boys for the Confed last cycle, right?”
“That’s right,” Haruki replies calmly. “If I’ve done the math right, your son should be about fourteen polar years old now. Apologies—I’ve lost track of the conversion between our polar years and your local cycles here on Gekkaria. Either way, I’m back to find out if he’s still interested.”
“Oh, he’s going with you,” the man declares without hesitation. “And yes, he’s fourteen polar years, exactly. Some people here still use local cycles, but most of us in the colony stick with Confederation time—it’s close enough anyway. Olivia, where’s that little girl gone off to now?” he asks, turning to his wife.
“She’s still downstairs, tidying up.”
“Well, send her to go fetch her brother!”
“But Albert, it’s the heat peak, and the plantation is way too far. Besides, Sam’s too young to pilot the aeropod!”
“Then what are you waiting for? Go get him yourself!” he barks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Haruki tense ever so slightly.
“If the boy’s too far, perhaps we could go ourselves,” Haruki offers.
“No, no! Sit down, we’ll chat while my wife goes and gets him. Can I get you something to drink? We’ve got something real strong around here! I dug up an old date distillation recipe. Made it myself. Hits like a plasma burst! You gotta try it…”
“Thanks, but water or tea will do fine if you insist,” my mentor answers, unfazed.
“Tea? Uh... sure. SAM!” he roars down the hallway. “Get up here right now—we need you!”
Haruki takes a seat in the chair Albert points to. I sit down next to him, uninvited. The man eyes me warily before turning back to Haruki.
“So... still collecting young boys, huh?” he asks, tone thick with suspicion.
“Yes,” Haruki replies evenly. “But certainly not in the way you’re suggesting. Ayden here is fifteen polar years old—barely older than your son. He’s already part of the unit I lead. If Logan still wants to join the Intergalactic Confederation, we’ll be leaving in a few hours. If not, we won’t waste your time.”
“Oh, Logan’s going,” Albert says with a wave of his hand. “Teenagers are always pushing back, testing limits—two alpha males under the same roof? It’s a mess. And let’s face it, at this age, they eat more than they contribute.”
“I see,” Haruki says flatly. “And where is he exactly?”
“Out at the plantation, of course. He likes harvesting fruit when it’s ripe. Says it makes him feel free. Like you can even talk about freedom on a world this dry and isolated.”
Suddenly, a little girl bursts into the room. My eyes lock on hers—stunning, deep blue with a dark indigo ring that makes them almost glow. Her pale blonde curls, slightly upturned nose, and playful smile give her a radiant, almost unreal quality. The tiny thing stops in front of me, staring curiously.
“Hi, I’m Samantha! But you can call me Sam. What’s your name?” she asks.
“Sam, I didn’t call you up here to chit-chat! Make tea for this gentleman and quit bothering us!” her father snaps.
