“Instructor?” Laura’s mouth hung open, resembling a tunnel. “What are you—where did—how much blood did I lose?”

Manning’s eyes grew as they focused on her cheek. “Oh my, what in the galaxy happened?”

“Not to worry, I have something for that.” Frost ducked behind her desk. Her desk rumbled, presumably as she searched through it. She emerged with a green tube and held it out to Laura. “I trust you’re familiar with vita-gel. One dab should fix that wound. Do you need a napkin for the excess blood?”

Laura took the tube with a shaking hand. All color drained from her face as she ogled President Frost. Laura was the daughter of the wealthiest (and meanest) people in New Selene; two galactic space suit distributors. With a status like that, I’d assumed she was used to meeting important people. I had assumed incorrectly.

“So, Ma’am, you’re not mad that I brought her?” I motioned to my wide-eyed statue of a friend. “The robots didn’t object, but I want human permission. And why is our high school instructor here?”

“Theodore is here for…something I’ll explain later.” Frost took a seat behind her desk. Everyone really wanted me to feel like I was back in school. She laced her fingers and met my gaze. I immediately turned away. “You played host to a very aggressive visitor after the exam. Tell me about that.”

“Gladly! This freak in a suit built like a cruiser attacked me and Laura while spouting nonsense about being an AI agent. He was ‘sent’ to capture me. He knew us. Way too well. Do you know who I’m talking about?”

Frost sighed. “I don’t, but I know all about his mission. Wander, I mentioned your grandfather earlier, but you never asked what my relationship with him was.”

I grimaced. “Yeah, when he’s mentioned, I typically want that conversation to end as quickly as possible. Why? What does he have to do with this?”

Frost tapped her desk’s surface. The purple ring beneath us grew brighter. I staggered away as it shimmered between all sorts of colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, and so on. Light burst out before solidifying into images. Floating pictures molded out of color. This thing was an advanced hologram projector. I skimmed the images, but one in particular called out to me.

“Everything,” Frost finally answered.

A holographic man looked down on me. His chocolate-colored hair was the same as mine, but longer and shaggier. His blue eyes reminded me of Beth’s, which were nothing like my hazel. His face was decorated with scars, but a confident smile made light of them. I knew this man. He looked just like he did in my photo of him.

“Whoa, Wander, is this your gramps?” Laura waved through the hologram as if trying to make it disappear. “Was he this tall in person?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never met the guy!” I backed away from the ’gram. Even though I knew it was fake, I couldn’t stand to look at it. So much of my life had been governed by being this guy’s grandson. Was he involved in this? Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

“What did he do?”

“What didn’t he do?” Frost had a fanatical gleam in her eye like she was about to gush. Most people said that in a negative manner. Frost wasn’t one of them. “Michelangelo Locke led Humanity’s Oath to victory time and time again during his time in the war. The destruction of countless AI and the success of many missions are owed to his excellent leadership.”

Humanity’s Oath was the name of my grandfather’s team: thus named because they represented everyone’s desire to win the war or something overly heroic like that. I hated it but the success of their merchandise told me I was the only one.

“Where is this going?” I folded my arms.

“The AI agent is after you because the AI know you’re the grandson of their greatest enemy. Why that involved capturing you instead of just killing you, I have no idea. However, I fear that you can no longer live a safe life on the Moon.”

Her suspicions were exactly the same as mine. That would explain why the AI killed my family too. The monsters were absolutely after me, but, when they couldn’t find me…I didn’t want to finish that thought. The guilt flooding me was dreadful enough. This was all my fault.

“Can’t you protect him somehow?” Laura asked. “You have all the power in the galaxy, so use it to keep my friend safe!”

I held out my arm, silencing Laura. I wouldn’t let this break out into an argument about whether or not it was Frost’s responsibility to give me bodyguards. I didn’t want them. They’d just be more unnecessary sacrifices if—when the AI came back.

Frost shook her head. “I can’t do that, but I can use my ‘status’ for something else. You left the EEC disappointed that you weren’t an explorer. I can’t change their mind, but I can bypass them entirely. It won’t be an easy feat, though, and it’s more of a trade.” She leaned forward, eyes trained on me. Couldn’t she look somewhere else for once?! “Wander, the AI will keep coming after you over and over again. Each attempt will be smarter than the last, meaning one day you’ll be backed into a corner. Unless you can retrieve my shield generator from the Oppressed hiding on New Earth.”

What? Which part of that last statement was supposed to make sense? Why was she talking about me retrieving anything when I wasn’t even an explorer? She’d also mentioned the Oppressed. I thought they were a myth. Wait, did she say she could bypass the EEC?

My holographic grandfather fizzled out and was replaced by a metal cube the size of my head. The top pulsated with blue light. A shield generator? The things in battle ships? If so, then she could pluck one from all her battle ships in the parking bay. This must have been different if she was asking for help retrieving it.

“This device is the key to protecting our citizens from the AI.” Manning walked up beside me, eying the device. “I’ve spoken with her engineers and even helped push a few numbers into place during its development. I can vouch for its genius. Upon activation, this will project a shield over an entire city. It can keep out any and all AI while still allowing safe passage for citizens. With this, every First Division planet would be protected. Including the Moon. If they ever return, your home will be safe.”

I’d almost forgotten Manning was there. I liked his suggestion, though. If I ever caught heat from the AI while exploring, I could just lay low on the Moon for a while. New Selene would be safe again. What happened to me wouldn’t happen to anyone else.

“So humans will pass through, but AI won’t? How is that possible?” Laura asked.

Manning paused. “It’s not. Not yet. This is merely a prototype. If it’s activated, all it can do is form a solid barrier. Nothing can pass through. It’s unclear what the Oppressed plan to do with such a device, but we must reclaim it at all costs.”

“Can we elaborate on this ‘Oppressed’ thing?” I asked. “We’re talking about the rebels, right? The ones who want to bring down the government? The schoolyard myth? ‘Don’t get written up or the Oppressed will steal your parents!’ How did a bunch of bogeymen steal something from the First Ship? This Goliath is always guarded by those weird drones, isn’t it?”

Again, the hologram shifted. It showed a huge red orb. Patches of green and blue broke up the red, but the latter color was still prevalent. New Earth. Easy to recognize because I was used to seeing it this way. I’d never been there.

Frost motioned to it. “They somehow snuck past my Asteroid Belt Formation on the way in, but they weren’t so lucky on the way out. Their ship was extensively damaged, but they warped away before they could be detained. That’s what I get for showing mercy, I suppose. The First Ship’s database tracked their warp toward this planet specifically. To their rumored hideout in Red City. This encounter confirmed it. The fools.”

“Red City!” Laura gasped. “I love that place! The city’s so pretty, especially at night! If you get a good enough view, it’s like someone paused a fireworks show.”

“Red City…” Manning said, sounding a million miles away.

So, because my war hero of a grandfather had upset the AI, I was doomed to be captured by them sooner or later. The only way to save myself was to get back a shield generator from a bunch of criminals on a planet I’d never been too.

First chance I got, I’d be changing my last name.

“This whole thing sounds like the plot of a ridiculous action movie, but…I’ll do anything to be an explorer.” I imagined my sister waiting for me in whatever prison the AI had concocted. “I’ll head to Red City as soon as I pack.”

“Not alone.” Laura stepped up to Frost, who looked at her like she was a rock beneath her feet. “I’m not the granddaughter of a war hero, but I am Wander's best friend. He needs me around, even if he’s too dum—I mean, even if he doesn’t see it.”

I did see it! Having Laura around was better than letting her attend institution. I just couldn’t look at her cheek gash without feeling guilty. If she recklessly defended me again, she’d be gambling with her life. Too bad I couldn’t stop her.

Frost covered her mouth as she chuckled. “You were right, Theodore. She’s fiercely loyal. An invaluable trait. Of course you may accompany him, young lady. It’d be foolish to let you walk around with such classified information anyway.”

She pumped her fist. “Yes! Thank you, Ma’am. I swear we’ll get your generator bac—wait a second! How the heck are we getting to Red City? Wander doesn’t own an exploration ship.”

There went the hope that she’d buy it for me. I guess putting a purchase that large on her parents’ bill wouldn’t end well.

“Do not worry,” Frost said. “I won’t allow you to embark on such a quest unprepared. I’ll prepare supplies and send a delivery later. That concludes this meeting. You’ve accepted your objective. Your third teammate will explain any additional details.”

Frost settled behind her desk as if that were a normal thing to say. Third teammate? The only other person in the room was…

“Manning?!” I felt disgusted at his smug, wrinkled face. It made me suspect that he had impure intentions for coming along. “You’re coming with? Seriously?”

“Did you think you were pursuing dangerous criminals alone?” Manning stroked his beard as he continued. “I assure you my knowledge will be an asset. As long as you don’t expect me to assist in a physical confrontation, our cooperation will go smoothly. We should discuss this further back in New Selene. Madam President is being kind, but she truly wants us to leave.”

He tapped the hand scanner, and our exit slid open for us. Some of Frost’s arctic air flowed out. Manning stood by the door as Laura waltzed out. Now I’d have to deal with Teacher and Teacher’s pet? I wasn’t ready to go back to school. Frost waved us goodbye while staring directly at me. I waved back but only because it felt like my only option.

Ever wondered what teachers did outside of school? What their houses were like? If they even had houses? I never had to because Laura had been to Manning’s house before. But I’d personally never been, not until that day.

Manning’s living room shone with cleanliness. This was where filth came to die. His carpet looked like he’d just bought it, his TV measured a modest ninety inches, and—it was shining? He didn’t have a wallscreen like most people, but he was on a teacher’s salary. He had a fireplace, and even that was clean! The couch was the only thing that looked broken in. Two of its cushions were sunken and worn. Not that it mattered since it was also spotless. I’d have believed him if he’d said he’d just moved in.

“Tidy place you got here.” I plopped onto the couch, my arms folded. “Lovely home to have a conversation in.”

Laura poked at the bricks above the fireplace. “It’s just as clean as it was last time. It’s like you don’t even live here, Instructor!”

“I enjoy keeping myself busy. The best way is a bit of spring cleaning here and there.” Manning set an old chair across from the couch. He lowered himself into it and leisurely crossed one leg over the other. How could he be so relaxed? “So, I’m prepared to address any concerns about the ‘mission.’ Fire away.”

“Okay, what do you usually have for lunch?” Laura asked as she rubbed her stomach. “I’m starving, and so is Wander, but he’s too dumb to admit it.”

“I’m like the smartest person in this roo—never mind.” I glared daggers at Manning, who was almost cheerful as he met my gaze. I groaned and looked away. Even when I was angry, I couldn’t do eye contact. “I want to know what you have to do with all of that. I don’t want stalling or half-truths. Not after what we just went through.”

Laura shot me a look as mean as the one I’d given Manning. I got it, I was being rude, but I was also confused. Nothing made sense anymore. I’d been thrown into something way bigger than me hours after nearly being captured by AI. How was I supposed to act?

Manning breathed slowly as he gazed up in thought. “My life was complicated before I became an instructor. I would say a series of those complications led me to become associated with Madam President. And I have been, all this time. In case that was one of your questions. Now, as for the missi—”

“You were a soldier.” I paused to watch his eyes grow in shock. “What? Was it meant to be a secret? You hate teaching about the AI, you’ve described war scenarios like you’ve lived through them, and you’re always on alert. We always had substitute instructors on fire alarm days. I can only imagine what those screeching alarms do to you. If you were trying to hide it, you should have tried harder.”

“Wander, that’s enough,” Laura said. There was a steely edge to her voice that warned me to back down. Of course, I would. I’d already said what I wanted to. “I’ve spent countless afternoons being tutored here. I think I’d know if Instructor Manning was a war veteran.” She turned to him. “Right?”

He returned her gaze with a sad one. The answer was written all over his face. It was in every gray hair and between each wrinkle, the truth behind his battered appearance and wise demeanor. Laura’s expression crumbled as she read it all. It was no big deal if he was a veteran. Hiding a secret of that magnitude was the crime. Especially since he hadn’t voluntarily come out with it.

Manning sighed. “Well done, Mr. Locke. As long as secrets are being uncovered, I’ll reveal one of Madam President’s. While the Oppressed were on the First Ship, they conversed amongst themselves. Apparently, their plan goes live on Saturday. We have until the end of the week to recover the generator. When it’s over, they’ll likely retreat to their true headquarters, the location of which is unknown.”

“What?!” I jumped up. “Why didn’t she say something? Why would she send me to accomplish a mission this important in under a week? I’m only one stressed out teenager!”

Manning stood up much slower than I did. “She intends for this to be a test. Completing such a task in such a short amount of time would certainly impress her.”

“Yeah, it would impress me too ‘cause it isn’t happening! I can’t even win a fist fight; how am I supposed to get anything from a bunch of criminals in a matter of days? What even is their plan? What’s going to happen on Saturday?!” The gravity of my situation finally hit me. It’d always been there, suspended over my head. All Manning had done was cut the rope. “What did I get myself into? All because I didn’t want to wait to become an explorer! A few months would have been nothing compared to thi—”

“Wander!” Laura seized my shoulders. Her expression was firm, even determined. “Everything is going to be fine. As long as the Sun comes up tomorrow, there’s always hope! I used to tell myself that when it seemed like…there was no hope for me.” She rubbed her arm as she said that. On her suit, right above the scars. “The Oppressed aren’t unstoppable. If the three of us work together, we can do anything.”

Seeing as Laura was less qualified than me, a pep talk from her wasn’t ideal. Her loyalty was the only thing that relieved me. As it always did. I felt slightly less doomed.

“Ms. Genki has a point,” Manning said. “No one can accomplish this alone. Nor are they expected to. Madam President chose me for this, but I had a choice. It is my decision to be here. Remember that.”

“Your choice huh?” I rounded on him. “So what do you get out of this? Surely you’re not here just because Frost demanded it.”

“I get the satisfaction of knowing that humanity is one step closer to defeating the AI. I told you I had concerns about this war, and it may finally be ending. If every city in the First Division is shielded, the AI will have nothing left to attack. Delightful, isn’t it?” He said that way too quickly. Like he was reading off a mental script. “Anywho, I should get to work on food. I know neither of you has a home you wish to return to, so you may stay here for as long as you wish.”

He strolled around the corner, leaving me and Laura. If life still made sense, we’d be watching the newest episode of Stakes & Fangs at my house. Now I didn’t even have one.

“Did you notice how he changed the subject when we started talking about his past?” I picked at a scrape on my suit. My fidgeting was usually harmless, but my suit hated me for this one. “He’s still hiding things. Should we leave him alone?”

“You must know what I’m going to say,” Laura said. “Instructor Manning has never let me down before, and a few secrets aren’t going to change that. Everyone has stuff they don’t want to share. Who cares? I’m more concerned about you. How are you feeling after almost getting kidnapped?”

“I’m feeling…hungry. For once.”

She laughed and socked my arm. “You’re always hungry, you usually just ignore it. I’m gonna help with food. You’re missing a year’s worth of food and I’m making sure you get it. Just sit on this couch and breathe, okay?”

Laura followed Manning’s lead by disappearing around the corner. I was lousy at food creation, so I followed her orders and fell onto the couch. This wouldn’t be easy, but if it got me my sister back…I’d do it one hundred times over.

All right, Oppressed dirtbags! Bring it on!