Bubble Boy

The HQ conference table aboard the Hyperion Ascendant hummed softly, lighting up as each member took their seat. Around it sat Starman at the head, flanked by Seaman and Gladiator. Jace leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Blaze sat stiffly, arms folded. The Orphan slouched, clearly uncomfortable under the bright lights. Zoe rested her chin on the table's edge, gaze flicking between them all.

The air was tense.

"We need to talk," Starman said, his voice low but firm.

Silence.

Jace broke it first. "I'll say it. Blaze being a Xyphorite, this is a problem."

Blaze's eyes flashed. "Excuse me?"

"Xyphorites burned half of Mars," Gladiator growled. "They slaughtered Mars outposts in cold blood and took Martian's as slaves."

"And she's one of them," Jace said, pointing.

"I was born after that war!" Blaze snapped, fists clenching.

"Doesn't mean you aren't dangerous," the Orphan muttered.

Blaze stood halfway from her seat. "You want to say that louder?"

"I said what I said."

"I don't care what war your people fought," Zoe said sharply. "Blaze is my friend."

"Zoe..." Jace started.

"No! Everyone stop!" Zoe pushed to her feet. "You want to talk bloodlines? Fine. I'm quarter Xyphorite. And my father is half. And guess what?"

She pointed at Starman. "He's full."

All eyes turned to Starman.

Starman exhaled slowly. "She's right."

Even Gladiator looked stunned.

"I'm a Xyphorite," Starman said. "Half of you didn't know because it never mattered. Until now, apparently."

"Zoe..." Jace said, his voice softer now. "You didn't have to drop it like that."

"It was the only way to get through your thick skulls," she muttered.

Blaze looked down, a little surprised but trying to hide her relief.

The Orphan raised a hand. "Okay, for the record? I still don't trust anyone. But... I don't not trust her anymore."

Construct (who had joined quietly via a hologram feed) chimed in with a thumbs-up. "She hits like a freight train. That earns her a spot."

"Yeah," Bolt's voice added from somewhere offscreen. "The way she uses her heat vision would put even Xyphorites like Brakar to shame."

Everyone chuckled, except Blaze, who looked away, fighting the smallest smile.

"Speaking of Brakar," Seaman said, glancing at the Orphan, "You saved a lot of lives back there. That's why you're sitting at this table."

The Orphan just shrugged. "Wasn't for them. I just hate Brakar more."

"Well, intentions or not," Gladiator said with a nod, "you fought with honor. You're no hero yet, but... you're not the enemy."

The room quieted again. Then everyone slowly turned their eyes toward Zoe.

Starman sighed and leaned forward, voice grave but warm.

"Zoe… I'm happy you're here. But you are in so much trouble."

Zoe's smile faltered.

"Your parents, Troy and Annie, they're going to kill me when they find out you snuck onto this ship. You're grounded. From space."

Zoe winced. "They're gonna think you let me."

"I didn't let you!" Starman said.

"Doesn't matter," Jace grinned. "They will."

Everyone laughed again. Even Gladiator cracked a smile. Starman just groaned and buried his face in his hand.

Above them, the stars stretched endlessly.

Their real mission hadn't even begun.

But for the first time, they were no longer divided.

They were together.

They were family.

Meanwhile… Earth. Day Two Without Zoe.

Thunder crackled above the Miller's home. A storm brewed where none had been forecasted.

The air shimmered around Troy as he stood in the center of the courtyard, his fists glowing faintly blue, heat rippling around him.

Across from him, Eidolon stood in the rain, soaked to the bone but calm. He looked identical to Troy, same eyes, same jaw, but older somehow. Weathered. Sharper around the edges.

"She's been gone for two days, and you're still acting like punching me will solve it," Eidolon said.

Troy didn't answer. His chest rose and fell too fast.

"You know time works differently out there. A few hours for her, a few days here."

"She's ten," Troy finally said. "She's not ready."

"She's stronger than you give her credit for."

"I don't care how strong she is!" Troy roared. The air cracked with a pulse of energy, sending gravel skittering across the wet stone. "She's my daughter!"

Eidolon didn't flinch. "She's also Annie's daughter. And she wouldn't want you acting like this."

Troy's head jerked toward the house.

Inside, Annie stood by the window, arms folded, her face unreadable. Her hair hung damp around her shoulders, and she looked… tired.

He stormed past Eidolon without a word and stepped inside, slamming the door behind him.

"Annie..."

"Don't," she said, not looking at him. "You're burning holes into everything."

He glanced down. His footprints smoked slightly on the tile.

"I'm worried," he muttered.

"I know," she said. "But worry isn't the same as rage."

"I can't lose her."

"You won't."

Troy turned away, unable to look her in the eye. His fists trembled again.

The house's central holo-feed pinged suddenly.

INCOMING TRANSMISSION – STARMAN. CODE LEVEL: FAMILY.

Troy wiped his face once, composing himself, and accepted the call.

Starman's projection flickered into the room, arms crossed. Calm. Serious.

"She's safe."

Troy's breath caught. "Where?!!"

"She snuck onto the Hyperion. Used some kind of stealth patch. Got through two different security layers and masked her signature with bubble energy."

Troy stared at him, fury building. "And you didn't notice?!!"

"I noticed a few hours ago. I was going to call you after..."

"You should've called me the moment you knew!"

"She was already on a moving vessel. Too far gone to turn back immediately. I made a judgment call."

Troy's voice was cold now. "That was not yours to make."

Starman's face was steel. "It was, and she is safe that's all that matters."

Troy turned his back to the holo, raking a hand through his hair.

"She could've died out there," he muttered. "I wouldn't have known."

"But she didn't. She's safe. And we're about to turn back now."

There was silence. Then Troy slowly exhaled. The red in his eyes faded.

"I'm going to ground her so hard she'll forget what freedom tastes like."

Starman's lip quirked. "You sound like your mother."

Behind the wall, a figure crept closer, quiet as breath.

Zoe pressed her back to the panel, just out of view, listening with her heart pounding.

Troy's voice dropped to something raw and unsure. "I didn't even notice she was gone at first. I just thought she was out in the garden. Doing some dumb experiment. She was here, and then she wasn't."

"I know," Starman said softly.

"It scared me," Troy admitted.

"She'll be home soon."

"Good."

The feed ended.

There was a pause.

Then Starman, still seated aboard the Hyperion, looked toward the corridor behind him and said evenly, "I know you there. You can come in now, Zoe."

She stepped out, her arms crossed tightly. Her face was red, but her eyes were fierce.

"I heard everything," she said.

He nodded. "I figured."

Zoe bit her lip. "He yelled at you."

"He's scared."

"It's not okay to yell at you."

"He's your father," Starman said. "And he's hurting."

Zoe stood there, shaking her head slowly. "He was... different. Like there was something boiling under his skin."

"There is," Starman said gently. "It's the same thing you felt when Troy attacked me. That fire, it's part of who we are. Part of what makes us strong. But it's also what can make us dangerous."

Zoe was quiet for a moment.

"He scared Mom," she said.

"I know."

"I'm not ready to go back."

"I know that, too."

She finally looked up at him. "Will he be mad if I stay just a little longer?"

Starman looked at her, and something in his expression softened even more.

"Yeah," he said with a smirk. "He'll be furious."

Zoe smiled weakly.

Then her face grew serious again.

"But not scared?"

"No," he said. "Because he knows where you are."

She nodded, stepped closer, and sat beside him.

Together, they stared out the window of the ship and lookout seeing deep space.