One ackward ride

Exelirus sat down silently on a seat inside a H.O.P.E jets next to the commander who was busy manning the controls, a few moments later, with roaring boom of the jet's engine, it took off, flying straight out of the hanger doors. Exelirus took a glance through the window as they left the small flowing island, any other child in his place would be gasping out of shock and wonder at such a sight but the blue hair boy was unfazed by the sight and remained emotionless.

The commander picked up on Exelirus's emotionless and somewhat stiff expression and then sighed under his breath, knowing the reason the blue haired boy seemed so detached and uncaring was because of the horror he must have gone through during the final moments of his home world but knowing that did not make having to watch the same blank expression of the boy's face any less uncomfortable. The commander sighed once more knowing that was going to be long uncomfortable.

It didn't take them long to finally reach Hilltop, the very city Exelirus crashed into when arrived on Earth. Exelirus looked down at the city and so the level of carnage and destruction he caused when he first arrived at the city. Damaged roars and builds could be seen all over the city all caused by Exelirus's dashing about aimless at supersonic speeds. The commander then caught a glance of Exelirus as he looked at the state of the city below and for the first time since they got on the jet together, his expressed some kind of emotion. He watched as his hardened stiff face softened as he looked at the city below, he looked sad and remorseful almost as though he blamed himself for the state of the city.

"It's not entirely your fault you know?" the commander spoke.

Exelirus gave no response to the commander; remaining silent with his gaze still fixed on the people below.

"You're just a little kid alone in a new world after managing to survive the complete annihilation of your home. Rough stuff and you acting out of fear and confusion is completely normal" the commander continued.

Exelirus remained silent with his gaze still on the city below. He then spotted something, a group of vehicle with the H.O.P.E logo on it and matching out of them were H.O.P.E agents who were busy fixing the city damages.

"Yeah, that's H.O.P.E's cleaning crew, they are really good at cleaning up messes, be it from a monster let loose on the city, a Demihuman who decided to go on a citywide rampage or…" the commander was stopped midsentence by Exelirus finally opening his mouth to say, "An alien".

The commander was taken aback a bit by Exelirus's, think he might have miss understood his words.

"I didn't mean…" the commander was once again cut off by Exelirus saying coldly, "I know what you meant".

Exelirus's managed to shut the commander's mouth as he could not think of a response to give to the blue hair boy.

Exelirus's gaze still fixed at the city below, said, "You're right be cautious you know".

"Not everything out there is friendly," Exelirus spoke with an image of Sabraxians and how they came to his world and reduced it to ruin in a matter of days.

The commander upon hearing Exelirus's voice recognized they were words from experience, recognizing the weight and pain behind his voice as he spoke, making him truly wonder what unearth he might have faced in his home world before arriving on Earth.

"Can I ask you a question kid", the commander asked.

Exelirus gave no response to the commander and remained silent. The commander simply sighed before deciding to ask the question anyway.

"This is something that I originally wanted to ask you from the beginning but considering the fact that it might be somewhat of a sensitive issue I chose not. But since you're going to be staying on my planet it's a matter I can't ignore", said the commander.

Exelirus once again gave no response to the commander. The commander then took in a deep breath not entirely sure how to begin or how the blue haired kid may react once he heard what he had to say.

"What exactly happened to Kinerix?" the commander asked bluntly.

Exelirus's eyes widened with shock upon hearing what the commander just asked before proceeding to shift his gaze away from the window and to the commander, and asked in a shocked and confused tone, "How do you know the name of my world?"

"I told you before, you aren't the first 'visitor' we've hosted on this blue rock and when you've had a lot of interactions with as many 'visitors' as we have you tend to make a lot of connections" said the commander.

Exelirus simply sighed at the commander just said, before saying, "I don't want to talk about it", not wanting to have to relive the horrors he faced during Kinex's final days more than he had too, it was bad enough that those horrors were permanently arched in his mind, he doubted he could muster the strength needed to actually talk about them.

The commander upon hearing Exelirus said just sighed, understanding the reason being his response, knowing the pain of loss all too well.

"That's okay, it doesn't really matter what happened to your world; it's gone, reduce to gigantic hips of space rock floating aimlessly in the out reaches of space", said the commander causing Exelirus to bow down his head as his words only served as a reminder to the painful fact that he home, world, people, and family were all gone.

The commander saying the look of sadness on Exelirus face just sighed before saying, "Hey kid, your world may be gone, there is no sugar coating that bitter truth but you're still here. Bowing your head and sulking about in a pool of your own misery won't change that fact. In all my years in this life if there is one thing I certain of, it's that life goes on, it has to otherwise there in point in it".

Exelirus simply turned his face away from the commander, simply uninterested in the piece of wisdom he was giving to him, returning his gaze back to the window to which the commander just responded with as deep sigh before continuing to speak, "You're lucky kid, I know it may not seem like it right now but you are. You did something entire races struggled to do, you survived but surviving isn't the same thing as living. Life itself, it's a gift we all tend to take for granted, and only truly appreciate it when we're knocking at heaven's door. I know what you've lost most very painful but you have to learn to move pass the pain. You have an opportunity not many on this blue rock have, a chance to live good a life; don't waste wallowing in your own misery".

After the commander was done speaking Exelirus, like the previous times gave no response to him and simply pretended as though his words had no effect on him but deep down the blue haired boy couldn't stop himself from pondering on his words, wondering if it was truly possible to get rid of the pain that tormented his heart. Looking down at the city below as they flew past a park, Exelirus spot children about his age playing with smiles on their faces, and upon seeing that Exelirus could help but wonder if some day he would be able to smile that like used to before. Exelirus simply took a deep breath and let it out as they continued flying through the city.

They eventually reached the city's edge, a large patch of land cover with green of trees and open fields as far as the eye could see. Only one building could be spotted there, a single house mounted at the top of a hill and that seemed to be their destination.

The jet landed on the open filled next to the hill, and then Exelirus and the commander then made their way up the hill to the house. Exelirus internally pondered to himself on who would be living in such a secluded place, far from the other residents of the city in the middle of the forest, noting to himself that the person, whoever he or she maybe must really like their privacy. Although part of Exelirus's mind was filled with intrigue and wonder on who the person H.O.P.E assigned to be his guardian may be, a greater part of him was wary and cautious, not fully trusting H.O.P.E and was internally readying himself to dash straight out of there in blue flash of blinding speeds if the second he sensed danger.

They soon reach the top of the hill. The commander then proceeded to knock at the door with his mechanical arms.

"Coming" a familiar voice yelled out from within the house. Then sounds of footsteps darting across the house could be heard before the house doors finally opened, revealing the person living inside the house much to Exelirus's shock.

"You?" Exelirus spoke, shocked and confused upon seeing the scarlet eyes woman that stood on the other side of the door.

"Here Bluey" Daniela spoke with a warm smile on her face before ruffling up Exelirus's hair a bit much to his annoyance. She wasn't wearing the black and red super suit but rather simple red to along with a pair of jeans.

"Stop that, and my name's not Bluey," Exelirus snapped.

"Calm down little guy it was just a joke," Daniela spoke with an amused smiled on her face earning a growl of annoyance from Exelirus.

Daniela, seeing the annoyed look on Exelirus face, decided to stop teasing the little blue haired boy for the time being before shifting her attention to the commander.

"Commander" Daniela greeted the commander with slightly more serious expression on her face although she still had a playful grin on her face something that made the commander smile slightly.

Daniela then invited both of them in to her home with Exelirus taking a finally look at the house, wondering if that was really was going to be living throughout his stay on Earth, before taking in a deep breath and stepping in.