Graduation Day

This was it.

Six months of grueling training, relentless lessons, and trials that pushed Kai beyond his limits. He had fought, studied, and survived against impossible odds. Combat, Knowledge, and Swimming—three brutal classes, three impossible exams.

He had faced strange events, mysteries that haunted him, and moments of quiet joy. He met people who changed him. He even found love.

These six months had been the hardest, strangest, and most unforgettable days of his life.

And now, he stood at the finish line.

The path to becoming a captain of space exploration had been anything but easy. No, it was the single hardest thing he had ever done.

At this point, he was practically a citizen of this planet—though it was never official. Still, no matter how much he had changed, he would never forget Earth. His home. His birth planet.

All of this—everything—happened because he joined the space exploration program. Because he survived the unthinkable.

He had watched his crewmates die to the unknown. He had controlled the entire ship, Odyssey, alone. A task meant for an entire crew rested on his shoulders alone.

Then, he crash-landed here. A planet eerily similar to Earth. He had been interrogated and implanted with unknown tech.

And yet… he survived.

Six months. Just six months.

It felt like a lifetime.

The grand hall was filled with hundreds of distinguished guests—high-ranking military officers, government officials, and top strategists. The air buzzed with a sense of prestige and anticipation, the weight of history pressing down on every uniformed figure in attendance.

They were all here for one reason—to celebrate Kai's official appointment as Captain.

The room was a sea of crisp uniforms and polished medals, symbols of honor earned through service and sacrifice. The highest-ranking officers in the room wore their achievements like armor, their chests heavy with ribbons that told stories of battles won, missions accomplished, and impossible feats made reality.

At the center of it all, standing tall on the grand podium, was General Hackett. His voice carried through the vast hall, delivering a powerful speech about the future of space exploration and the faith he had in this new generation. His words were a mix of pride and politics, the kind that stirred the hearts of soldiers and reassured the higher-ups.

And there, sitting in front of everyone, was Kai.

Dressed in his newly tailored uniform—a sleek, dark-blue military suit, pressed to perfection. Black leather shoes gleamed under the lights. A beret rested on his head, signifying his rank, his journey, and the trials he had endured.

For the first time, he looked like a true soldier.

But as he sat there, hands resting on his knees, his mind was elsewhere. He wasn't thinking about the speech or the audience.

The real ceremony was yet to begin.

After several minutes of formal speeches, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

"Thus, I bestow upon this young man the rank of Captain."

General Hackett's voice echoed through the hall, his declaration carrying the weight of history. With a firm yet proud expression, he stepped forward and pinned a gleaming medal onto Kai's chest—his first-ever decoration. The cool metal pressed against his uniform, heavier than it looked. It wasn't just a medal; it was a symbol. A reminder of everything he had endured to get here.

But General Hackett wasn't done.

"And now, I also announce that the Space Exploration Program is back! And this young man will be the leader of the operation!"

The entire hall erupted into a mixture of gasps and murmurs. Some of the high-ranking officers already knew, but for most, this was shocking news.

Space exploration had been shut down after 20 failed attempts. Missions that ended in tragedy, crews lost to the unknown. Yet, here was General Hackett, reviving the program once more—and placing Kai at the head of it.

The officers exchanged uncertain glances. Kai? The young man who had bested Coach Armstrong in combat? That was all they really knew about him. To many of them, he was still an outsider. Unproven.

Still, out of decorum, they began clapping. Polite. Reserved.

As the ceremony continued, Kai barely had time to process everything before he was swarmed. High-ranking officers, scientists, journalists—everyone wanted to talk to him.

"Captain, what are your thoughts on leading this mission?"

"Do you think this time will be different?"

"What's your plan for overcoming past failures?"

Voices blurred together, hands reaching out, microphones shoved in his face. He was overwhelmed. He didn't know who to answer first, what to say—

Then, suddenly, a warm hand grabbed his wrist.

Before he could react, he was pulled out of the suffocating crowd. His feet moved instinctively, following the firm but familiar touch leading him away. The noise of the crowd faded as they reached a quieter corner of the hall.

Kai finally turned to see who had rescued him.

It was Natasha.

She stood before him in a stunning black dress that accentuated her curves perfectly. The soft glow of the chandeliers made the fabric shimmer slightly. Paired with red high heels, she looked absolutely breathtaking.

Her lips curled into a teasing smirk. "You looked like you were in trouble, Handsome. Too overwhelmed~?"

She stepped closer, her scent—a mix of vanilla and something floral—filling the air between them.

Her hand rested gently on his chest, right over his newly awarded medal.

"By the way," she whispered, her voice sultry, "you look so dashing in that uniform, my love."

Kai's lips quirked into a small smile as he placed his hands on her slim waist, pulling her slightly closer.

"You look gorgeous too, Nat. You picked the perfect dress... and thank you for helping me."

"You're welcome~!" Natasha's fingers lightly trace over the medal pinned to his chest, her touch soft yet deliberate.

"A captain now, hm? Look at you… so big and strong." Her eyes gleamed with admiration. "You've changed so much over these six months. But to me, you'll always be my Kai."

Before he could respond, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

Then, with a playful tug on his wrist, she led him toward the buffet tables.

Kai wasted no time, stacking his plate with everything in sight, while Natasha carefully selected just a few items.

"That's all you're getting?" he asked, eyeing her plate.

She smirked. "I'm on a diet."

Kai raised an eyebrow but quickly swallowed his curiosity. Never ask a woman about her weight, he reminded himself. That was a death trap.

The evening carried on smoothly. The once-busy hall gradually emptied as high-ranking officers, journalists, and guests departed one by one. The celebration was winding down.

As Kai and Natasha were about to leave, a familiar voice called out.

"Young man."

Kai turned to see General Hackett approaching, his expression serious but not unkind.

"Congratulations on your promotion." The General's gaze was steady. "Before you go, I need to inform you that the operation will begin next week. So, I advise you to prepare thoroughly. Once you step onto that ship, there's no turning back. You'll be leaving this planet… to explore the galaxies. Understand?"

Kai's posture straightened instinctively.

"Yes, sir. I understand."

General Hackett nodded in approval. "Good. Then, I'll see you next week." His gaze flickered to Natasha. "You too, Natasha. Have a good night."

With that, he turned and walked away, his presence still commanding even as he disappeared into the distance.

Kai exhaled, feeling the weight of reality settle in. One more week. Then, his journey into the unknown would begin.

Natasha gently squeezed his hand. "Let's go home, Captain."

And with that, they stepped out into the night.