Chapter 1: Joshua life

Joshua sat alone at a small table in a bustling restaurant, the dim light from his phone casting a faint glow across his face. He took a sip of his drink, his attention absorbed in the screen. The phone rang, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Hello, Mom?" Joshua answered, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, I'll be coming home soon. Yes, yes... I'll go straight home," he added with a smile, his voice warm.

After hanging up, he stood to leave. The waiter approached with a polite nod. "Thank you for coming, sir."

"Thanks," Joshua replied, stepping out into the lively streets. He glanced up at the sky, noting the thick clouds overhead. "Quite a good day today," he murmured to himself, before heading home.

---

Joshua opened the front door of his house, greeted by the familiar warmth and the scent of dinner.

"Hello, sweetie!" his mother called out, her smile welcoming.

"Morning, Mom," Joshua replied, embracing her with a light hug. "Where's Dad?"

"In the basement, tinkering with his 'toys,'" she said with a teasing tone.

Joshua chuckled, shaking his head. "Those aren't toys, Mom," he said, his voice calm but affectionate.

He walked down the hallway, stopping midway to open the door on his right. Inside, his father was hunched over a workbench, focused on a mechanical arm.

"Morning, Dad," Joshua greeted, his tone relaxed, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Hello, handsome!" his father replied with a hearty laugh. "What do you think of this?" He held up the arm, clearly proud of his work.

"What's it supposed to do?" Joshua asked, curiosity piqued as he observed the intricate device.

"It's meant to protect your arm, like those gadgets in movies," his father explained, his excitement palpable. "Watch this!" He pressed a button near the elbow, and a blade shot out from the arm, gleaming in the light.

"So... it's like a Batman arm?" Joshua asked, amused.

"Exactly!" his father laughed, pleased with the comparison.

Their conversation was interrupted by Joshua's mother, who peeked into the room. "Dinner time, you two! Stop playing with your toys," she chided playfully.

"It's not a toy, it's science!" his father shot back with a grin.

"Gosh, both of you!" she laughed, shaking her head as she left the room.

---

Later that afternoon, Joshua was lounging on the couch, flipping through TV channels when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, recognizing the number as unfamiliar.

"Hello? Who's this?" Joshua asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"It's me, Julian!" The voice on the other end was slightly distorted, accompanied by background noise. "Are you free tomorrow? Wanna hang out? I found a great bar here in town—it's famous. You up for it?"

"Julian? My old military partner?" Joshua thought, surprised. They hadn't spoken in years since their service ended. "Julian! It's been a while! How'd you get my number?"

"A-ah, well, I ran into your mom a few days ago and asked her for it," Julian replied, his tone a bit rushed.

Joshua glanced over at his mother, who was tidying up nearby. "Ah... I see. Yeah, it's been a while. Sure, let's meet up. What time?"

"How about 5 PM? Is that okay?" Julian asked, a note of hesitation in his voice.

"Yeah, 5 PM works for me," Joshua agreed, nodding to himself.

"Great! See you then, bro!" Julian said, sounding relieved. The call ended with a quick beep.

"Who was that? A friend of yours?" his mother asked, noticing his puzzled expression.

"An old friend from the military," Joshua replied, still processing the call. "He said you gave him my number a few days ago?"

"A few days ago? I don't recall meeting anyone recently," she said, pausing in her cleaning. "I've been home most of the time."

Joshua frowned, confused. "Really? He said he met you."

His mother shrugged. "Maybe I did and just forgot. I've been so forgetful lately."

"I see... strange," Joshua murmured, his mind lingering on the oddity of it all. After a moment, his mother's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"You should probably get some rest, sweetie," she suggested gently.

"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit tired," Joshua agreed, stretching as he headed upstairs to his room.

---

**May 3, 2023, 4:56 PM**

Joshua was adjusting his clothes in the living room, ready to head out. "Mom, Dad, I'm going to hang out with Julian for a bit," he called out.

"Alright! Be careful and call us if there's any trouble," his mother replied from the kitchen.

"Okay," Joshua said, grabbing his keys.

He arrived at the bar, stepping out of his car. The place wasn't large, about the size of a regular house, but the fancy decor stood out. He entered, spotting Julian at a table, waving him over.

Joshua approached, a smile spreading across his face. "Yooo! Been a while," he greeted Julian, who responded with a wide grin.

They settled into a conversation, catching up on life since the military. Stories of past experiences flowed easily between them.

"Oh, by the way," Joshua said, leaning back in his chair. "My mom said she doesn't remember meeting you."