Lingering Thoughts!

Nyota drifted weightlessly in the void, a vast, dark expanse that felt endless despite its odd familiarity. Tiny specks of light dotted the blackness like distant stars, each flickering softly as though they pulsed with life.

He floated upright, his arms hanging at his sides, his movements dictated by the gentle rhythm of the space itself. The silence wasn't oppressive—it was serene, almost soothing.

He turned his gaze to the horizon—or what passed for one here. The distant lights stretched endlessly, some brighter than others, shimmering in a way that reminded him of a heartbeat. They felt alive. They felt… hers.

"One would think I'd be used to this by now," he muttered to himself, standing upright—stable—with a hand on his hip and the rapid, impatient tap of a foot. He'd learned by now that waiting was part of the process. Nora always had her timing, and he'd never been able to predict it.

When she finally arrived, she would change everything with a simple gesture—a snap of her fingers, a glance of her eyes. A blackened void could become the warm glow of a memory or a scene plucked from his mind without warning.

He craned his neck, staring at one of the brighter lights overhead. It shimmered with an intensity that made it impossible to ignore. He could swear it burned hotter as his thoughts wandered. "Is this how you do it?" he wondered aloud. "Is it all in the stars?"

Before he could muse further—-like water—he felt a faint ripple in the space around him. The void itself seemed to react, bending as though something—or someone—was shaping it. He knew she was coming.

And just as expected, the faintest sound of fingers snapping broke the silence, and the stars blinked out one by one. The void transformed in an instant, and Nyota found himself seated at a round table in a dimly lit tavern. An empty glass sat in front of him, the scent of oak and spice lingering in the air.

"Miss me?" came her voice from behind, light and teasing, as though they weren't standing at the crossroads of dreams and reality.

Nyota sighed, turning his head to face her. "You always know how to make an entrance."

"And you always ask the same questions," she replied, her tone warm but evasive. "Maybe one day, I might even answer them," Nora joked, coming around the table to take the seat across from him.

"You know, I'm getting a little tired of your theatrics, Mom," Nyota said with a soft exhale, his voice carrying a mix of exasperation and amusement. He leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting to the dimly glowing lantern on the tavern wall—a faint distraction from the weight of the moment. The amber light flickered gently, casting wavering shadows across the polished wooden table between them.

For a brief moment, the air seemed to shift. Nora froze, her expression unreadable. Her usually relaxed demeanor faltered, replaced by a strange stillness. The stars in her eyes—normally so vivid and alive—dimmed slightly as though caught off guard.

"What did you say?" she asked, her voice softer than usual, barely above a whisper.

"What?" Nyota blinked, tilting his head toward her. He straightened in his chair, puzzled by her reaction.

"What did you just call me?" she repeated, the faintest tremor in her voice betraying her composure.

Nyota frowned, looking off to the side in growing confusion. "Mom? Is that… What? Is that a problem—"

"No!" she interrupted, waving her hands in quick, dismissive motions. "No, not at all. It's just…" Her voice trailed off as she clasped her hands together, lowering them to rest on the table. She looked at him then, her expression softening into something gentle, almost vulnerable. "It's the first time I can remember in a long time you called me that, and it felt… authentic."

Her lips curved into a small, genuine smile, her eyes glistening faintly under the warm light. "That's all. I'm glad."

Nyota watched her carefully, his sharp eyes catching the subtle shifts in her expression—the way her shoulders eased, the warmth that softened her usual cool confidence. He hadn't thought much of it when he'd said it, but her reaction made it clear how much his words had meant.

He gave a slight nod, his gaze dropping briefly to the table before returning to her. "I didn't realize…" His voice was quieter now, tinged with understanding. "I guess I didn't think it mattered."

"It does," she replied, her smile widening just enough to reveal the emotion she usually kept hidden. "Anyway, what's new?"

"Well," Nyota began, leaning back in his chair. One arm draped casually over the backrest, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I forgot what I've already mentioned, but the brothers and I are still in New Jericho. We work within the city's precinct now, the same precinct where Noriko spends most of her time.

But it's no ordinary precinct; it's like a neighborhood on its own—many skyscrapers and even more smaller buildings. Forget it being downtown, it's a downtown by itself."

He paused, his gaze drifting upward as though replaying the memory in his mind. "We were talking about our plans one day while eating lunch when this woman came up to us. Of course, we try to be careful about what we talk about in public, but we were sure we were fine. But there she was, and I'm pretty sure she was eavesdropping. She just joined in on our conversation, introducing herself."

Nora raised an eyebrow, her head tilting slightly as she listened. "She sounds… bold."

"Bold is one way to put it," Nyota said, chuckling softly. "Somehow, that conversation turned into not just a new ally, but a new friend. She has amazing Modi, too—Copy and Plasma. Her name's Aurora, and she's a Lieutenant."

Nora leaned forward slightly, her fingers steepled as she studied him with a curious intensity. "How are you sure you can trust her?"

Nyota's smirk faded, his expression growing serious. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "Because her story's the same as mine. She grew up in a town called Alkin. It was the capital of another country, Belteria. Now, that country is no more, enveloped by Lunanova as yet another expansion."

Nora's expression darkened slightly, the mention of Lunanova's relentless conquests stirring a flicker of frustration in her eyes.

"Everything was the same," Nyota continued, his voice lowering. "From arson to memory alterations. Somehow, she was able to bypass it all. And she's been laying low ever since, waiting for the perfect time to resist and strive for revenge. Which led her to us."

"That's great!" Nora said quickly, her voice bright but tinged with an edge of caution. She straightened in her seat, clasping her hands together as she studied him closely. "Really, it is. But you've been through so much, Nyota. Don't you think it's worth being absolutely sure? People with motives like hers… they can be unpredictable. Even dangerous."

Nyota hesitated, her words hitting a nerve. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing to the side as if considering her perspective. "I get that," he admitted. "But I've seen enough to know when someone's genuine. Aurora's not pretending. Her anger, her pain—it's real. And she's channeling all of it into making sure no one else has to go through what we did."

Nora nodded slowly, her expression softening. "If you trust her, I'll trust your judgment," she said, her tone quieter now, almost maternal. "But be careful. Trust can be as much a weakness as a strength."

Nyota met her gaze, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I will. But the updates don't stop there."

"Oh?" Nora tilted her head slightly, her expression intrigued but guarded.

Nyota nodded, leaning forward. "We met somebody else. Her name's Kai. Unlike the rest of us, she's just a student in her final year of high school. She lives on her own; her parents are in another city called Crownsend. I ran into her one day when Kilo and I were tasked with keeping watch around her school. The two of us talked routinely over the next week or so, and I got to know her pretty well."

Nora raised an eyebrow. "A high schooler? And she's mixed up in all this?"

"Not exactly mixed up, at least not at first," Nyota clarified, his voice soft but steady. "She's sharp—probably one of the smartest people I've ever met, up there with Sage. She's been helping us—me, the brothers, and Aurora—effectively plot against Noriko with this data leak project she's been working on for who knows how long. The leaks give us limited access to government files and records without being detected."

Nora's eyes widened slightly. "Wow. That's… impressive. And dangerous."

"I know," Nyota said with a quiet chuckle, the admiration in his tone evident. "And she did it all herself. She's incredible. What's more, the four of us—Aurora, Kilo, Sage, and me—finally decided to give ourselves a name: Zteel."

"Steel?" Nora repeated, her brow furrowing.

Nyota nodded. "With a 'Z.' It's a nod to Aurora's last name. Kilo came up with it since Aurora's the oldest and most experienced of us. He made her our de facto captain. He even came up with a group symbol, too."

Nora smiled faintly, her expression softening as she listened. "That sounds fitting. But what about Kai? Is she part of Zteel?"

"Well…" Nyota hesitated, his smile faltering briefly. "Not at first. Kai was reluctant to join. She shares our sentiments—resentment toward the government—but she's careful, maybe even more than I was when all of this started. She hides her disdain even from those closest to her. I understood her hesitation. If I were in her shoes, I think I'd be even more scared than she's shown."

"I see," Nora said thoughtfully, tapping her fingers lightly against the table. "Well, maybe she'll join eventually. No pressure, of course, but it sounds like she could be a critical piece of the puzzle, so to speak."

Nyota's smile returned. "Oh, she did join."

Nora's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah," Nyota said, his tone brightening. "With the help of her data leaks, she showed us what our first Zteel mission could be. She found an archive of journal articles on the internet that had been taken down by the government. They exposed a mouthwash line manufactured by the government that was harmful—dangerously so. Instead of addressing the problem, Noriko had the reports scrubbed from existence."

Nora's brows furrowed, her expression darkening. "Of course, she did."

"So, we did what any rational heroes would do," Nyota said with a sly grin. "We traveled to the nearest city that had factories producing the stuff and blew them up."

Nora's eyes widened as her mouth fell open. "Nyota, that's… I don't know what to say. I'm both proud and deeply concerned."

"It's okay," Nyota assured her, raising a hand. "We're a bit of time removed from it now, and we seem to be in the clear. No one got hurt, and we reviewed the news afterward to make sure there were no unintended consequences. That mission is also what convinced Kai to join us."

Nora leaned back in her seat, her expression a mixture of pride and apprehension. "It sounds like you're making real progress, but you know how dangerous this is. I hope you've considered the risks, not just for yourselves but for anyone who might get caught in the crossfire."

"I have," Nyota said, his voice firm. "That's why I made it clear to Kai that she could walk away whenever she wanted. No hard feelings. I'd understand if it all became too much for her. Balancing our efforts with everyday life is no small task."

Nora's expression softened again, and a small, wistful smile crossed her lips. "You're thinking like a leader, Nyota. And for what it's worth, I think Kai made the right choice in joining you. You'll need all the help you can get."

Nyota nodded, his resolve evident. "We will. And we'll be careful, I promise."

I was sure to assure her that she was open to walking away whenever, because—again—I'd understand the stress of balancing our efforts with everyday life."

For a moment, the two sat in comfortable silence. Then, almost as if lost in thought, Nyota spoke again, his tone quieter and more introspective. "You know, there's something about her. She's just… so composed all the time. But you can tell it's not easy for her.

She doesn't talk about herself much, but when she does, you can hear the weight she carries. It's like she's always balancing on a tightrope but refuses to let anyone see her falter. And when she smiles—it's not often—but when she does…"

Nora's eyebrow arched, a mischievous smile creeping onto her lips. "When she does… what?"

Nyota blinked, suddenly realizing what he'd been saying. He cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing faintly. "Nothing. I'm just saying she's… impressive, that's all."

Nora teased, leaning forward with a knowing glint in her eye. "You're smitten, aren't you?"

"What? No!" Nyota sat up straight, his voice defensive. "I mean, she's a friend—a good friend—but that's it."

"Uh-huh," Nora said, her grin widening. "You've been talking about her an awful lot, you know. And not just about what she's done but who she is. I know that look, Nyota. You like her."

Nyota groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Mom, seriously. It's not like that."

"Sure, sure," Nora said, waving him off playfully. "Keep telling yourself that. But don't think for a second I can't see what's happening here."

Nyota muttered under his breath, determined to change the subject. But the faint smile on his lips betrayed him.

"Anyway—you know, it sounds like you've been making quite the impression in New Jericho. I'm starting to think I should be worried about how many new friends you're making."

Nyota rolled his eyes, though his smile widened. "Oh, don't start."

Nora chuckled softly, her tone light but warm. "I'm just saying, you seem happier when you talk about them. That's good to see. You've been through so much, Nyota, and I…" Her voice trailed off as she hesitated, an unreadable emotion crossing her face.

Then he tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. "Mom?"

Nora waved a hand dismissively, her smile returning, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's nothing. Really. I'm just proud of you."

"Thanks," he said quietly. For a moment, they sat in silence—the kind that felt both heavy and comforting.

"I have another question, by the way."

"Hm?"

"How are you able to live in my—"

"Nope!" she interrupted, her tone light but firm.

"Why?!"

"I already told you—you'll know later."

"Why not now? What happened to no secrets?!"

"You're not ready yet," Nora said, her gaze steady but gentle. "You know everything you need to know for the time being."

Nyota shook his head, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. "Fine," he muttered.

Finally, he sighed, breaking the silence. "I should probably go. I need to wake up."

Nora's shoulders tensed for a moment, but she nodded, her smile tinged with bittersweetness. "Of course. You have a lot to do, after all. Just… don't forget to take care of yourself too, okay?"

"I won't," Nyota promised. He stood, his form beginning to flicker and fade like a shadow caught in the wind. "Oh—yeah! I forgot to mention Dad, too. With Kai's help, I found some very… interesting information. Still not sure how to feel about it, though. Long story short, he's alive."

Nora's eyes widened slightly. "Really? We've got to talk about it as soon as possible. Come back soon, okay?"

Nyota nodded. "Of course. And Mom?"

"Yes?"

"I know I don't say it enough, but… I'm glad I have you. Even now." His voice softened as his figure became almost fully translucent. "You're still the best part of my life."

Before Nora could respond, he disappeared completely, leaving the space around her eerily still.

She sat in silence, staring at the spot where he'd been. A small smile lingered on her lips, but her eyes betrayed the melancholy that had settled over her.

"Nyota," she murmured, her voice almost a whisper. Her gaze drifted upward as if searching for something beyond the dreamscape. "I just wish… I'd like for you to have everything you ever want. You deserve it more than anyone."

Her words hung in the air, unanswered, as the dreamscape slowly dissolved into a quiet void.