The dumbfounded look on Rory's face was imprinted on his face all afternoon. Vega had come over to chat but found that he was doing all of the chatting.

“What's up with you?” Vega pointed out, aggravation in his voice.

Rory acknowledged him, glimpsing at Vega’s styled hair and junky clothes.

Vega was Silas's son. He had Silas's killer smile and jolly laugh but wasn't afraid to show his mischievous side. He had a so-called girlfriend, and a drink mixing job at the bar near the old conservatory. Vega was not the least bit productive, drank a lot, and smoked weed or pot when he felt shitty.

He cared only about his hair, his skin, Rory (with the occasional hate), his dad, his girlfriend, and Desirae.

Vega was to be considered Rory's only friend. He was spiteful and teasing towards him often, but could be kind if he wanted to of course.

Today he styled his turquoise hair into a K-pop esc way. His skin was smooth and prim. While his clothes remained like the usual: old, rock star clothes and chunky kiss boots theme.

“A lot of weird shit has happened,” Rory said vaguely, as he poked at the ripped seam on the couch.

“Like what? You were full of ecstasy yesterday, and raving about your new school. Let me guess, you got yourself caught up in ‘research’ again…?” Vega scoffed, giving him a knowing look.

“In a sense. Now stop making me sound like some crazy person! Asshole!” Rory hissed, punching his shoulder.

“Hey! Cut it out!” Vega barked, “Look, just tell me the goddamn story!”

Vega held his hands up in surrender, his small green eyes looking at him with plea. Rory stopped but held his glare.

“You remember that boy I told you about right?” Rory began.

“Yeah…”

“Well, it has to do with him…”

Rory summarized his fiasco with trying to “get to know” Corrin, which led to the events of the darknet. And finally, the circulation of information ended with the discovery of Oasis.

“...that's all of it.”

Vega didn't even really have a shocked face. The expression was more confused than anything.

“What the fuck do you get yourself into Rory?! The Corrin kid is probs just a normal kid not like you. He's probably just interested in the Oasis shit, or maybe he's not involved at all!” Vega remarked, his tone demeaning.

“But who knows? He's different! I know it!” Rory protested, trying to pry the idea into Vega's head.

“How do you know? I think this is one of your most ridiculous theories so far…”

“I just have a feeling okay? Just let me do my usual-”

“It involves a person. This is a true sign that you're going through...a change...an evolution… Puberty!” Vega said dramatically, sarcasm riveting through his voice.

“Oh please. You're giving me a headache. To think that I actually thought you'd find interest in this…” Rory muttered, throwing up his arms exaggeratedly.

“Look, I'll admit it is intriguing. But I just think it's funny that Rory the computer fanatic, decides to pursue someone,” Vega snickered.

“God, you're the worst.”

“I know.”

“I'm gonna take a shower. And that means you get out,” Rory urged, glowering at him.

“Relax. I'm not gonna eat anything. I'll just be here listening to my jams, and finishing some forms for work, dummy,” Vega assured, showing off his killer smile.

“What forms? You're a drink mixer.”

“Shut it, Rory. The forms are for my new job. It'll be at some office joint in Base Five. It's gonna be a job aside from my main,” Vega sputtered.

“I hope you're new job isn't half-assed like you.”

“God Rory! Just take your shower!”

Rory stomped up the stairs. He exploded into his room. He grabbed his PJs and went off to the shower.

In the shower, he pondered over Corrin's possible connection to Oasis.

Maybe Vega is right. What if I'm totally over thinking this…

He closed his eyes, just letting the hot water run down his body. He needed to take a break from thinking.

Rory fluffed out his clean hair, as he went down the stairs. He entered the living room, seeing someone on the couch.

“Hi Rory,” Jinko greeted.

“Oh hey…”

Jinko was Rory's older sister. She was adopted when he was just a baby. She knew many things that Rory knew nothing of, including his father.

She was commander of a military regiment and was constantly on the frontlines. She went by Jinko Kang in the military force and Jinko Amari at home.

If there was anyone suspicious, or full of secrets, it was Jinko. Rory knew absolutely nothing about her. They never were close due to the giant age gap, and her in and out appearances at home.

Jinko was considered an Agma. They are half humans or non-humans like creatures. They were all forced by the government at birth to be enlisted in the army. Many got away with hiding their identity and lived as normal beings or shadows.

Jinko had a half shaved head, and a stiff expression at all times. Her eyes were like alien Borg eyes. Her scleras were black, her irises were silver, and her pupil was an illuminating purple. Her hands and feet were black, metal, and full of veins.

Mechon Industries (an Agma lab), discovered that her hands and feet could morph into powerful weapons. They engineered her into a living weapon, leaving mixed feelings on Desirae.

Her arms could transform into massive machine guns, and her feet changed into speed enhancing boots.

Her face and body were covered in scars, piercings, and tattoos. Her skin was a warm cocoa brown, and her body was extremely muscular. She almost always wore her black soldier uniform.

In contrast to her war machine self, she was quiet at home and had dry humor. She couldn't ever sense funny sarcasm and lacked normal communication skills around people other than her colleagues.

“How are you, Rory?” Jinko asked, her tone monotone.

“Fine. What about you?”

“Normal as well. I heard you got into a new school; was your first day good?”

“Yeah...It was good. I think my new school is really nice. But the academics are probably crap.”

“I'm just glad that you're attending a fairly good school.”

The room became coarse with quiet. Jinko said nothing, and Rory said nothing back.

She just drank her beer and averted her eyes. Rory sat on the couch creating notes on his paper.

Rory looked over at her. She was coated in bandages, and her hands and feet were as well. In close inspection, he saw that she was trembling.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. Do not worry.”

“Um... Alright. If you say so…”

Jinko… Could she know anything about Oasis? I don't doubt that she could know something…

“Do you know when Mom is coming home, Rory?” Jinko asked.

“I think in like thirty minutes. I'm not really sure though…”

Their eyes came into contact. The feeling invaded his head. Similar to Corrin's way of staring, but hers set a fire; perspiration ran down his head, creating moisture on his hands.

Rory fled from the living room. The silence taunted him; it's thorns pricking him.

Upstairs, he proceeded with research. In the end, there was nothing. If there was a better way, it would be to investigate Corrin.

Desirae came home an hour later. Jinko and her set up dinner, while Rory played with his ancient video game consoles.

He lied on his stomach, jabbing at buttons as he locked his gaze on the screen. 

It was hard to concentrate though. All he wanted to do was go to school. If Corrin was in close proximity, he'd actually get somewhere with his research.

Video games were a good distraction. They detoxicated his data processor and made him be a good, normal person.

“Rory! Time for dinner!”

“Coming!”

When he reached the kitchen, he found Desirae, Jinko, and Vega there.

“What are you doing back here?” Rory asked menacingly.

“Hey, chill. I'm here to eat, not dawdle with you,” Vega assured not just to Rory but to everyone at the table.

Rory grumbled but sat down anyways. Desirae had made burgers for dinner. It wasn't the most Egyptian meal she had made. There had to be a reason for it.

“Since when did you make burgers Mom? I mean they're really good…” Rory commented, eating his quickly.

“I cook a lot, Rory. Jinko is here so I wanted to make her favorites before she

leaves... for a year,” Desirae said, her expression downcast.

“Oh, that's- Wait, what?!” Rory gasped.

“Rory, I'm leaving Colony Eight for a year to pursue General training. If I complete this I'll be able to become a general of both commanders and their regiments,” Jinko explained.

“Wow. Jinko you're really going out to be a true war hero,” Vega sneered.

“Not really,” Jinko responded back, not even reacting to his clear sarcasm.

“Where are you going then? Why did you suddenly want to do this?” Rory questioned.

“I'm going to Fort Mercy. It's near Colony Seven. I'll be placed in a battle camp. I'm doing this to help our mother, Rory.”

“Jinko… Don't do this for me. I'm fine, really. I don't need money,” Desirae insisted, her eyes watering and full of worry.

The whole conversation went on with more “Sorry Mom”, “I'll be fine Mom”, “Be careful”, and more suspected phrases.

Rory just sat there, wasting time he could've spent on research. He devised a plan to get away; seeing to it that he was extra sneaky.

“Hey, Mom… I gotta fill out some registration forms. May I leave the table?” Rory asked innocently.

She nodded then went back to bickering with Jinko. It was a lot easier for Rory to get away than he thought.

Rory excused himself without the sneaking aspect and headed up to his room.

Once there, he plopped into his chair. He didn't want to do any research on the computer, he just wanted to jot down some of his thoughts. He picked up a random paper on his desk and began to write.

He scribbled several things he learned but didn't branch any ideas out of them. Most of the information was just miscellaneous when paired together.

He stopped after a while, seeing that his outlandish webs and writing, made no sense.

He looked out the window. The street was dark. The sky was smog filled, and the factories in the distant smoked up the sky even more.

Down on the street was Corrin. Rory's attention rose immediately. What made it even more interesting, was that Corrin was standing with someone.

Who's that?

He got closer to the window to see better. He saw a pressed uniform and a thick build on the man.

But the uniform was like nothing he had seen before. The badge on his chest told otherwise that he was obviously part of the army, but beyond that, there were no other clues of his military echelon or title.

Corrin talked a lot from what Rory could make out. It seemed like business banter, but nothing along the lines of friendly or close.

That's when Rory noticed the thirty-thousand pod in the background. Pods were small cars, but were highly efficient, hover cars, and top class.

Holy shit. What kind of people is Corrin dealing with?

Corrin nodded to the man, then proceeded to enter the pod. The silent, hovering car, left faster than Rory's brain could process this.

Rory wanted to tell someone of his finding; that somebody was Vega. He wanted to prove his point, and stab it into Vega's head, that Corrin wasn't some normal kid.

Rory tiptoed down the stairs. He poked his head around the wall at the foot of the stairs, just enough so that Vega could see his head.

Rory got out his com, typing a message into it:

Get your ass into my room

Vega: Why?

I can prove my theory asshole

Vega: K just a sec lol

Rory sat on the steps waiting in anticipation.

“Took you long enough.”

“Oh shut it, Rory. I'm polite and excused myself with sincerity, unlike a certain spoiled brat,” Vega insulted.

Rory ignored his comments and went on up the stairs. Vega followed, rolling his eyes.

Vega cleared a path through the carpet of clothes to get to the bed. He sat there, folding his arms at Rory.

“What did you ‘magically’ find out in the last like ten minutes of being gone from the table?”

“A lot actually. It proves my theory which means I can officially start my research,” Rory said, sticking out his tongue at him.

“God, what is it,” Vega grumbled.

“Well, I saw Corrin out there. And he wasn't alone.”

“So what? He's-”

“Let me finish,” Rory cut in. He pulled up a photo from his com, showing it off to him.

“Look,” he said pointing a finger at the screen, “That's a military uniform. There's the badge, but the catch is what kind of uniform is that? From Jinko's ramblings about the army, and from all of those military outfits she showed me, I've never seen that uniform ever. Also, he got into a thirty-thousand pod! Like who in Base Six would jump into a far more expensive than their lives!”

“Okay. Okay. Maybe you have a slight point. Yeah sure, Corrin could be a part of something like an organization. But that doesn't mean you should be stalking the guy. HE'S A HUMAN BEING FOR GOD'S SAKE!” Vega yelled.

“Look I'd rather do close research than stalking, so I will become his friend, earn his trust, and learn all about this,” Rory explained.

“That's messed up dude.”

“Hey! I can't just hack into a database and get all of the details!”

“But you've done it once, for the sake of ‘research’. I wouldn't be surprised if you did again…”

“Not this time okay,” Rory said, softening his voice, “I want to do this research safely this time. I've never inspected a human before.”

Vega looked at him with raised brows. He saw that Rory looked really desperate, like as if he had to take part in researching the boy.

“I swear to god Rory. Jesus. Don't get me involved got it?” Vega approved reluctantly.

“Yep. Now, will you admit that you were wrong?”

“Christ. I was wrong- BUT...to a point.”

“Fine. That works.”

It had been three weeks into school. Rory had aced his first calculus test and felt pretty dejected because of that. He supposed that this school really wasn't any better. Sure it was a tad bit harder than the last, but not Rory's level.

Not to mention that Rory's research hadn't got anywhere. Corrin was turned off my Rory. He would avoid him and give him odd looks sometimes. Rory felt that his response was natural though. So that didn't affect him “that much”.