DOMINION DAILY"200 suspected rebels apprehended across Ground Sectors — Trials unnecessary, executions carried out within the hour."
THE GREAT DOMINION"The Supreme Commander purifies the society. Chaos has no place under the rule of Order. Those who defy peace will be silenced."
CAPITAL BULLETIN"New decree enforces background verifications for all Ground Citizens. Queue estimates exceed 20,000."
These were the headlines plastered across every floating city's newsstand. Digital boards flickered with bold fonts and thunderous slogans. The Dominion press hailed every crackdown, every disappearance, every summary execution — as justice. The message was simple: fear is peace.
Behind the polished propaganda, beneath the throne room's gold and red banners, the palace stood eerily silent. Commander Navek Vyer stood inside his private chambers; hands clasped behind his back. The room was large, sparsely furnished — the only ornament a massive, aged wall painting above his bed. In the painting, two figures stood side by side. One was clearly him. The other — a woman's face turned slightly away, lost in shadows.
A knock echoed. A guard spoke through the heavy wooden doors.
"Your Highness, the Second Prince requests an audience."
Vyer raised a single hand in response. The doors opened. The Second Prince walked in with perfect posture but a tremble in his eye. He stood at attention, trying not to meet his father's piercing gaze.
"Speak," the Commander ordered.
Silence.
"I said—speak!" Vyer barked.
The prince stiffened, then raised a worn object with a cracked screen and blinking light.
"A satellite phone," he said, placing it on the table. "Found it among those mutts your daughter was fraternizing with."
Vyer stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. The faint red blink on the device's side caught his attention.
"Where did they get this?"
"I don't know," the Second Prince said, eager now, feeding off the reaction. "Our tech division said this hasn't existed since The Great Refracture."
Vyer's jaw clenched.
"Battery's low," the prince continued. "But it's still working. There were calls logged. Names like 'Shivam' and 'Rathod.'"
"Did you catch them?"
The prince grinned.
"Yes, Father. I had ten brought in. Eight... resisted. Died during questioning."
He emphasized the word 'questioning' like it was a badge of honor.
"The remaining two cracked. Said they came from 'the Metro.'"
The word sent a jolt through the Commander. His fingers flexed slightly.
"Bring them to me."
Moments later, two bloodied, broken men were dragged in. They could barely stand, but they still flinched at the sight of the Commander's shadow.
"Who were you talking to?"
A hoarse voice rasped, "A boy… Shivam… and another named Rathod. We were separated. Haven't heard from them in weeks."
The Second Prince added with glee, "And I believe this 'Shivam' is the same one Adhivita was running around with."
Vyer turned slowly, dismissing them all with a wave.
"Leave me."
They obeyed instantly. The Commander stood alone, returning to the balcony. Outside, the floating city slept. But he couldn't. Dark clouds gathered beyond the dome.
He whispered to himself. "Four months ago… it started."
Below the floating utopia, the rebellion bunker was alive. Training echoed through the corridors. Weighted bags flew, knives clashed, and shields sparked with Noctirum resistance. And at the center of it all — Shivam and Adhivita stood facing each other.
Their sparring was graceful chaos. Shivam's aura flared orange-gold, his hands controlling kinetic waves with barely-leashed force. Adhivita dodged with perfect precision, countering with blue arcs that struck like lightning. Steel met energy. Dust spun around their feet.
A final push from Shivam sent a shockwave blasting across the ring. Adhivita flipped back, landed, and grinned.
"You're getting good," she said, breathing hard.
"You're still faster," he replied, equally winded.
From the edge, Agastya Ved Rao clapped slowly.
"That will do. For now."
He walked forward, robes trailing, eyes sharp.
"Shivam, your aura's still growing. You must let it evolve naturally — don't force it. You're not just a fighter. You're becoming a node. A connection to something far older."
Shivam nodded, his breath slowing.
Agastya turned to the gathered leaders and rebels.
"In ten days, we strike the sealed northeast mine. It's time to sever one of the Dominion's oldest arteries."
Commander Vidhart stood and added, "We'll need all units mobilized. This won't be a raid — it's war."
The five friends, Adhivita, Agastya, and all the rebellion chiefs nodded in agreement.
That night, under the artificial starlight that lined the roof of the bunker, Shivam sat beside Adhivita in silence. Neither had spoken since dinner.
"I'm glad we're talking," Adhivita said finally.
"Me too," Shivam said.
"I didn't betray you," she whispered. "It was my brother. I never wanted—"
"You don't need to explain," he interrupted. "I knew. Deep down, I always knew."
They looked at each other. Then looked away.
"Things were… simpler, back then," she said.
"Back then, you weren't a princess," he joked.
"And you weren't glowing."
They laughed. Then silence again. Their hands inched closer. Their eyes met.
Just as they leaned in—
Shivam pulled back.
Adhivita blinked, lips still parted.
"What?"
"There's someone behind the door," he said.
She stood quickly. They crept toward the entrance. Shivam placed his hand on the handle. He nodded. Adhivita raised her palm, aura forming. He threw the door open. Four bodies collapsed inside. Aanchal, Aman, Naina, and Dikshant. All laughing.
"You really were going to kiss her!" Dikshant shouted. Shivam groaned. Adhivita flushed. After the laughter died down, she stood and faced them. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "You're already forgiven," Naina said. "You're one of us," Aman added.
"Family now," Dikshant grinned, whispering to Shivam, "Future sister-in-law."
Shivam chased him around the hallway as the others laughed.
In the same hour, the Commander walked through the palace. Alone. His robes dragged across the polished obsidian floor.
He reached a section sealed by layered locks and handprint scans. The doors opened. Inside: a hidden facility. Walls pulsed with blue circuitry. Giant vats of raw Noctirum glowed in containers. In the center — a massive circular gate. Ten meters tall. Covered in runes. A dozen engineers worked tirelessly. Machines sparked. Drones hovered.
The Commander approached the lead scientist.
"Is it possible," he asked, "that when we activated this four months ago… something — or someone — crossed through it?" The scientist froze. And said nothing.