The next morning, Zugiy woke at dawn, with the soft sunlight filtering through the curtains into his room. He stretched slowly, his muscles protesting from the accumulated fatigue of recent tests. From the kitchen came the smell of fresh coffee and the rhythmic sound of his mother moving the pans.
Seated at the table, Zugiy slid his finger across the device screen almost absentmindedly. But the notification from the recruitment base made his hand stop mid-air. He reread the message twice, keeping his face neutral.
"Mom, I just received a message. I've been accepted into the Special Forces," he said, placing the device carefully on the table and trying to stay calm as he spoke. "I'm going to start training for off-world missions, Mom."
His mother slowly set down the wooden spoon, as if she needed a second before looking at him.
"Son..." She took a deep breath. "That's amazing. You know I'm your biggest fan." She paused, her eyes scanning his face. "But it's also dangerous. Very dangerous. Are you sure?"
"I am," Zugiy replied without hesitation. "After all, I want to explore space. You don't need to worry."
"But of course I'm going to worry, because you're my son," she said, her voice softer this time.
Zugiy looked at her with something close to tenderness, which, for him, was already a lot.
"You can relax, Mom. I know how to take care of myself."
She remained silent for a moment, her fingers intertwined on the table. Then she sighed, and in that sigh was a lifetime of learning to accept who her son was.
"Alright." She nodded slowly. "Go. But promise me you'll be truly careful—not the kind of careful you think is careful."
Zugiy's lips formed something that was almost a smile. "I promise."
The Special Forces training base was not what Zugiy expected—though he rarely expected anything at all. It was massive, cold in its architecture, yet alive with movement. Structures of metal and glass reflected light at impossible angles, and ships of different sizes waited in the hangars like animals ready to run.
In the auditorium, recruits jostled for space, their voices forming a nervous hum. Zugiy chose a seat in the corner and watched the others come in.
At the front, standing as still as a statue, Commander Morales waited. Black and silver uniform, an expression that invited no questions. When the room finally fell silent, the holographic screen lit up with a single number.
"This number defines the group to which you will be assigned," she said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the air with surgical precision. "Do not expect explanations now. Move."
The recruits began to reorganize, and Zugiy found his group almost by chance: Melissa, a girl with red hair and black eyes; Ling, the tallest, with black hair and dark eyes; Victor, with black hair tipped in red and green eyes; and Ling. Four faces that still meant nothing to him.
"Each group will have an instructor responsible for preparing you for missions," the commander continued, sweeping her gaze across the room. "Pay attention. Be ready. And understand that, from this moment on, there is no time for hesitation."
The ship waiting for them in the hangar was called Astral Hawk, and before Zugiy even stepped aboard, he heard it:
"Hello, everyone! Ready for takeoff? I promise I won't destroy anything today—statistically speaking!"
Lola was a robot, too small for the amount of enthusiasm she carried. Her sensors swayed as she checked panels and pressed buttons with an energy that seemed literal.
Victor looked at her suspiciously. "That thing is going to pilot the ship?"
"That thing has a name, thank you," Lola said cheerfully, without taking her eyes off the controls. "And yes, I will pilot it. I drive better than any human, in case you didn't know," she added, teasing.
Zugiy settled in silently as Instructor Kira took over the internal communicator.
"During the flight, you will receive instructions on safety procedures and space combat. Stay focused." She paused. "And ignore Lola's jokes if you don't like them. Your choice. One more thing: there is a member who was supposed to be here. Her name is Mel, but unfortunately she couldn't attend, as she submitted a request that was accepted. So she will take some time to join us," she said calmly.
"Hey, my jokes are essential for team morale! I've seen that humans use that to improve their mood!" Lola protested, sounding genuinely offended.
The Astral Hawk left the hangar with surprising smoothness, and Earth began to shrink outside. Zugiy stared through the window without saying a word.
"Course set for the Helios Space Station," Lola announced, her voice slightly more serious, as if the surrounding space demanded at least some respect.
The journey began quietly—but silence never lasted long with that group.
Victor was the first to break it, arms crossed and dark eyes scanning the others impatiently.
"Does anyone know more about what we're going to find at the station? Because the commander was way too vague for my liking."
"Relax, Victor." Melissa raised an eyebrow, the red tips of her hair falling over her face. "Arriving there with an ulcer won't help anyone."
"It's not an ulcer, it's critical thinking," he shot back awkwardly.
Ling rested his head against the seat, calm blue eyes showing the kind of composure of someone who had already processed the situation and decided to move forward anyway.
"If they chose us, it's because they believe we can handle the unexpected. So stop complaining."
Zugiy listened from his corner, showing no intention of joining the conversation. Ling noticed his silence and turned toward him.
"And you, friend? What's your name?"
Zugiy briefly raised his eyes, caught slightly off guard by the question, and answered quietly:
"Zugiy."
He returned his gaze to the window. As far as he was concerned, the conversation was over.
Then Melissa asked out loud if there was a food robot nearby. When the instructor took too long to respond, she stood up and went to check for herself.
When she got there, she saw that there were options available, picked whatever she liked, and returned to her seat.
The ship was getting closer and closer to its destination.