Page 3 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
Unbothered, she winks at me and heads off to do as she’s told.
I watch her from across the room. She can’t be more than ten or eleven. Who is she? Logan’s sister? Haruki never mentioned a sister…
“Now, about the, uh… compensation,” Albert says, picking up the conversation.
“Compensation?” Haruki echoes.
“Yeah, I mean, you’re taking a kid—you gotta offer something in return, right? Who’s gonna cover his share of the work once he’s gone? Sam’s not as quick, and she’s got this nasty habit of getting distracted!”
I stare at the man, lounging on his sofa, complaining that his ten-year-old daughter isn’t productive enough. I know Haruki won’t say anything. He despises pointless arguments.
“Of course, you’ll be compensated,” Haruki replies, his voice tired now.
From where I’m sitting, any choice we give Logan is better than what he has here, with this man as a father.
“Do you think I could come too?” the little one whispers suddenly, sneaking up beside me.
“What? No, of course not.”
“But you’re taking my brother... I want to go with him,” she insists.
“You’re a girl!” I blurt out, stunned. “A little girl!”
“I’m eleven! But yeah, you’re right—I’m a girl. Didn’t know that was a problem,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “But promise me you’ll take him with you. I’ll miss him, but he’s better off with you than here.”
“I don’t make that call,” I reply.
“Oh, he’s amazing. You’ll see,” she adds, her voice soft with sadness. “He needs to leave this place.”
“SAM!” her father yells again.
She gives me an apologetic glance, then returns with a steaming pot and a tall mug. She pours tea for Haruki, then quietly comes back to sit beside me.
Over the next few minutes, Albert treats us to a full tirade about fourteen-year-old boys being too much to handle. He peppers in stories to make his case, while also insisting Logan’s contribution is irreplaceable and should be factored into any negotiation.
Thankfully, Logan and his mother return just in time to spare us further misery.
I study the boy carefully. He has the same striking eyes as his sister. There’s a kind of anticipation in his gaze—an eagerness that almost vibrates off him. His mother must’ve explained what’s going on. He’s ready. Every part of him shows it.
“Hey,” he says, walking over to me.
“Hey,” I reply, pulling him aside like Haruki told me. “I’m Ayden. You must be Logan. So... you still want to join the Intergalactic Confederation?”
“Yeah, definitely,” he answers without hesitation. “I’ve been waiting for this for over a year. I was afraid Haruki forgot about me. And you? You’re already part of the program?”
“Yep. Been in it since I was a little kid. You’ll like it. Haruki’s our weapons master and the head of our unit. The training’s tough, but it’s worth it. You learn so much. Honestly, I can’t wait to get back to our daily routine. We’re just finishing up recruiting a few more guys before heading home.”
“I guess... you don’t take little girls?” he asks suddenly.
I blink, surprised. He’s serious?
“Never mind. I figured as much,” he says quickly. “I’m excited to go with you guys, but I hate leaving my little sister behind.”
“She won’t be alone,” I point out gently.
“No, you’re right,” he says, glancing her way with a sad expression. “Do you think I’ll be able to come back and visit her?”
“In principle, yeah. We get regular breaks to come home for a few days. Our base isn’t that far from here. Don’t stress too much. Changing your whole life is scary, but I promise, you’ll fit right in. You won’t regret it.”
