Page 4 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
“I know,” he says simply, though his eyes are still clouded as he watches the little blond girl across the room.
As if sensing his sadness, she turns to him and smiles—a soft, warm smile full of quiet strength. This tiny girl, barely up to his chest, shines with a kind of bright, positive energy that feels out of place in this heavy, joyless house. There’s no doubt the atmosphere here is thick and cold.
She walks over, calm and steady, and gently takes her brother’s hand in hers.
“Don’t worry about us—we’ll be okay,” she says softly. “And you’ll come back and tell me all about your adventures across the stars, won’t you?”
“Of course, sweet girl. You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” he teases, ruffling her hair.
She lets out a bright laugh that seems to cut through the tension in the room, and for a moment, Logan’s shoulders relax.
Three hours later, we’re finally ready to leave this place. The whole encounter has been… strange, to say the least. The father was unpleasant the entire time, constantly bargaining for more compensation in exchange for his son—never once showing the slightest bit of affection for him. He didn’t seem much more attached to his wife or daughter, who stayed quiet and uncomfortable throughout the visit.
One glance at Haruki tells me he’s run out of patience. He’s not even pretending to listen to Albert anymore. The man’s endless complaints have worn us both down.
Without another word, Haruki heads for the exit, Logan at his side. The negotiations dragged on far too long, and it’s clear we’re both eager to escape this oppressive household.
Outside, the air is a little cooler now. A few people watch as we make our way down the main street toward the edge of the village, the mother and daughter walking with us. The father didn’t bother to come—I’d bet anything he’s already back on that sofa.
I keep a close eye on Logan. He’s practically buzzing with excitement about the future ahead of him, and it shows in every step he takes. But there’s something else in his eyes too—a flicker of guilt. He’s hurting at the thought of leaving his mom and sister behind. No matter how ready he is, he knows the hole he’s about to leave in their lives.
I feel a wave of compassion for the two women at his side. His mother looks... relieved, almost like she’s finally breathing after years of holding it in. And the kid—Sam—there’s something about her. This little girl radiates a calm strength way beyond her years. It gives me hope. I really think they’ll be okay. The absence of Logan will sting, sure—but they’re tougher than they look. They’ve had to be.
Haruki waves impatiently at Logan.
“Come on, time to go!”
Logan nods and heads toward theNebula, his small backpack bouncing on his shoulders. He pauses at the base of the ship, eyes wide as he takes in its size. Then he turns back for one last look at his family.
“I’ll be back soon, I promise,” he says, his voice shaking slightly.
His mother, arms folded, gives him a tight-lipped smile. “Take care of yourself, my boy.”
Samantha looks up at him, beaming. “You’re gonna have the most amazing adventures! I can’t wait for you to come back and tell me everything!”
“You got it, kiddo,” he says, ruffling her hair once more.
He gives them one last look, then turns toward the ramp, ready to step into a new life. Watching him, I feel this weird mix of pride and responsibility. He’s starting a whole new chapter—and I’m part of it now. I silently promise myself I’ll have his back, no matter what.
As I follow him up the ramp, I catch one last glance at Sam. She’s staring right at me with those intense eyes, and it’s like she’s handing me the unspoken duty of watching over her brother.
I nod at her, offering the most reassuring smile I can manage. She nods back, small but steady.
Inside the ship, Jason and Xenon are already all over Logan, talking a mile a minute, hyped to meet the new guy.
“Well then,” Haruki says, settling into his seat. “That stop took longer than planned. Time to get moving. Let’s go find some real adventure.”
2-Samantha,the Beauty
I watch my brother disappear into that giant spaceship. It’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen!
My heart and my head are arguing about him leaving.
My head says he’s going to be way happier with those people. The old man—Haruki, I think—seemed patient and kind. I could tell he was annoyed by our dad, but he didn’t raise his voice. Hejust stayed calm and agreed to all those weird demands without making a fuss.
As for Ayden… I don’t know. He made me feel kind of strange. He looked at me in this super intense way, almost like he could see right through me. It was kind of scary. He’s old! Well, older than Logan anyway—from what I overheard. And he’s huge! But he’s going to be Logan’s partner, and that’s what matters. With them, Logan will get to discover new worlds and learn so many cool things. And most of all, he’ll be far away from our dad, who’s always yelling at him. I know how much that gets to him. The air at home is so heavy sometimes... My head knows he’ll be better off far from here.
But my heart? My heart is already breaking.
