12th, August 2083, In Plaht City.

In the future and the real world where everything was no longer polluted, thanks to clean energy, but that didn't replace the sounds of blaring self-driving cars, quiet motors of scooters, and the chattering of the people that were moving about the concrete streets with towering skyscrapers and supermarkets from which people would buy their food and people got around on foot, by bicycle, by car, by bus, or by metro train. Or in this case, hover riding.

That was the case in the city in the desert, which has beautifully high futuristic skyscrapers that shine like

the sunlight that sets at the end of the day. Along with the blistering hot air.

Yes, the way of Altea is truly a thing of fantasy and myth as time gave way to the modern age. However, even as the world continues to modernize and advance...some things in this world never change.

Take a young man for example, who was at the age of 21 who goes by the name Takashi Shirogane or Shiro for short, was riding his hovercraft through the desert city toward his job, the Galaxy Garrison with his hair blowing in the wind.

He parked his hovercraft on the rack, locked the chain and waited in front of the Garrison. While waiting for his friends to show up, he takes out his laptop and uploads his resume.

"Okay. To make sure what I want!" Shiro said as he made the final changes.

After a few more minutes, Shiro packs up his laptop and sees another man park his hovercraft next to his. He races up to his with a smile on his face.

"Adam!" Shiro notices Adam, rushing to him.

"Takashi!" Adam hugs Shiro out of joy.

As Shiro lets Adam go, he takes out a small packet of sunflowers from his bag.

"What kind of culinary treat do you have today?" Shiro asked.

"It's Hopi Black Dye Sunflower, a Native American recipe, covered by salt and pepper. My niece made this for me, because she entered the Galaxy Garrison in a few months" Adam explained.

"That's really sweet of her," said as he took his messenger bag off his back and pats it, letting Adam know that he was big. "I have something special upcoming, after work."

As they exchanged a few laughs later on as they walked to the building and got to kissing each other as they were a couple, and as a couple, the two men looked as different as night and day; with his dark hair styled in an undercut and his taller herculean physique along with piercing dark gray eyes, and Adam, with his light brown hair, half-frame with brown eyes, a somewhat-triangular jaw.

As Adam held him to share a kiss on the lip.

"Thank you," Shiro said, after kissing him.

"No problem, after all, we're Junior officers now," Adam bragging.

He was right after 4 years of experience in the field of work and study about becoming an astro explorer along with breaking records for the highest speed up the top of the food chain of command in Shiro's case.

So much fun, since he could remember. His parents were killed in a car accident as a baby and adopted by his grandfather.

Yes, everything was perfect…until

As Shiro was getting bored of going to work today. He really wanted to leave so he could celebrate the day.

As He looks down, writing his notes, he remembers his family's advice, patience yields focus.

That if he puts his mind to whatever he wants to accomplish, he'll amount to anything. And right now, he wanted to get out of there.

Then suddenly, he found himself in a black world that was covered in stars, it's was where he discovered a man that he didn't recognize, crowded in the darkness along with people that he never met, confronted an unknown force, from somewhere come to the high, clear echo of a drop of water striking the surface of a calm pool.

Some will believe it was a cave, but it wasn't, it never was, a crimson light blossomed from the distance, the flames flickering and twisted, shifted in shape and form.

The conflagration climbed up higher than before, casting long shadows into the gloom and doom-the shadows of men, carrying guns and war machines, marching in rows but ordinary men they were aliens, being that came from outer space, normally you would see them in a sci-fi show or movie, but they leaped and pranced as they run from the fire.

Next to them were war robots or sentries were also part of the lines, the unexpected traits within them were purple fur over most of their skin, seamlessly blending in with the hair on their scalps. They also possess beastly facial features that vary extensively, ranging from mammalian-like humans to reptilian and the shades of purple fur and red markings, or dark spines and scales. They are diverse in their appearance.

They whirled like dervishes, reared, and raked the air with killing intent, it made the group feel like they're in hell and people whipped themselves into an ecstatic fervor but even if they danced and spun around, their attention remained focused on them.

Four hundred yards away from them and their mad and murderous intent beat against them like a hard wind, the leader at the head of the army opened its wide voice in a commanding voice "charge, for Altea".

And soon, everybody on both sides of the world, charge towards each other as Shiro realizes that this is a war zone.

Shiro awoke with a start as he found once again into his office again, this is the fifth time this happened yet again. This fairly odd dream, Shiro turned his gaze around his office, looking around as he looked at the notes of the next endurance, even if he hates the recruitment circuit.

The number of universities he checked off only served to remind him that his application for Kerberos had been stewing for weeks now. But it didn't matter, it was nice to new cadets for the garrison, students he met helped bolster his spirits for a time.

Suddenly, a loud beep rang through the air.

"Takashi Shirogane, report to Admiral Sanda's office, immediately." A woman announced over the PA.

Shiro smiled and immediately made his way to the head office, hoping that this is the day.

He was the second one to make it to the office, two younger cadets rushing up behind him and greeted the reception with what he hoped was a casual nod. He brushed down his coat and touched up his lock of hair as he waited in the reception room.

For a short time, "The Admiral will see you now," the receptionist said, grabbing his attention.

"Thank you," Shiro said as he left the room and entered the head office, Admiral Sanda's office.

She sat reclined behind her desk as he entered, thumbing through some text-heavy document on her tablet.

She set it down on the desk and stood when Shiro approached.

"Shirogane. Thank you for coming on short notice." She said, in a commanding and respectful way.

"Of course, sir." Shiro greeted her with a salute.

"At ease, Shiro. I'm afraid we have something sensitive to discuss." Sanda said.

Shiro's face fell at that, "Sensitive? it's about my physical tests, I passed them all".

"Ah, yes, how someone like you always passed with flying colors, I'll never know." Sanda said, sarcastically.

"Yeah, I'm not bragging about it." Shiro said.

"But you are aware, the Garrison will be in charge of transportation and escort for Dr. Holt and his assistant out into space." Sanda explained.

"Of course if I'm aware, what do I need to do to make another change to my application?" Shiro asked.

While growing up, Dr. Holt was his father's best friend and because of that, he helped him and his grandfather, before he passed away after he turned 14.

Sanda's flat expression swiftly douses his enthusiasm. She informs him, "No, you do not but you are sick and should not be sent out to another mission, especially as far away as Kerberos, so we're deferring you until we can get this sorted out."

His throat constricted. His heart flip-flopped in his chest. A slick, clammy feeling flooded under his collar. His gaze settled on the desk, unable to meet her eyes.

"Admiral, this is a complete shock, actually. I know I am the best qualified for this". Shiro protests, "I know I can, I have been preparing for this my whole life".

"But your doctors had updated you about your condition", Sanda explained. "It's getting worse by the second, there's no excuse for it."

"But it's not relevant. I can do the mission, I will," Shiro snapped.

Sanda chewed the inside of her lip. "A lot is riding on the success of this mission as much as you think, that is why I report it to flight command. You could be out there for a very long time."

"But I…" Shiro said, lost in words as everything began to crash down upon him.

"You are dismissed, I'll let you know what they decide." Sanda said. "Look, I'm sorry this has been such difficult news to take."

Shiro blinked, shaking as he reined in a furious cry. Disappointment churned in his chest, wanting to burst out like an infected boil. He nearly forgot to salute before he spun on his heel and dashed out.

Those upturned eyebrows scrutinize him once more as he holds back the tears through the Garrison halls back to quarters. He didn't care. Since he was 8 year old, he has had a rare disease and has been getting worse over the years so has been limiting his missions ever since.

After that, Shiro continue his work for the rest of the day, things to remain the same, how many times he must be rejected, all he wants to show people what he was capable of, not someone that was so sick that people to think that you were a lost cause, that's all he wanted.

But that was never going to happen. As his time had reached this end, he adjusted the strap of his bag on his shoulder, and got on his hovercraft. The young man was about to start his ride home.

"I may not have another mission again," Shiro thought. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to give up."

Returning to the city on his hovercraft, Shiro made his way to a flower store, to get flowers of Sierra for a certain location, a place that he can once use for comfort and home.

But only that, it was going to be a life-changing event forever.

Chapter Two: Earth

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