His mother and Superintendent Pearl whipped their heads his way.

“Xendo!” Blinda snapped, slapping him on the arm. 

“My dear boy, this is not the time for jokes,” Pearl interjected with a quick laugh to hush him. 

“No, I’m serious,” Xendo replied. “I think it’s our best option.” 

Superintendent Pearl straightened her back and crossed her arms. She lowered her glasses and glared down at Xendo with exceptional sternness. 

“Have you graduated from the Human History Program?” She asked bluntly. 

“No,” Xendo replied. 

“Are you at least thirty years of age?” 

“No, you know I’m not.” 

“Have you ever wielded your own Military Morphstaff?” 

“I wish, can I?” 

“Have either of you ever time-traveled before?” 

“No, of course not.” 

“Then why, on Earth’s honor, would I permit you or your mother to use the time portal?” Pearl finished. 

Xendo looked down at his black shoes, second-guessing his outburst. To outsiders, Superintendent Pearl seemed as cold as frostbite. She was one of the most powerful figures on Earth. A kineoka master and former continuum agent who led multiple historical missions to success. Most people were too afraid to cross her. Her dominance gained the respect of both rowdy students and myopic government officials. However, Xendo knew he was right about this. He looked up from his feet. 

“I mean no disrespect, Superintendent,” Xendo responded politely. 

She looked him up and down. Options, indeed, were slim at this point. She let her crossed arms fall, moved back behind her desk, and sat down. “Explain why your idea would be best.” 

“Like Philo,” Xendo reasoned, “I’m also a fourteen-year-old boy. If a frightening man in a black suit and a scary glowing weapon banged on my door late at night, for whatever reason, I would run for the hilltops!” 

Blinda sat forward in her chair, clutching the armrests. Her eyes kept scanning the expressions of the other two. 

“Or if an intimidating woman I didn’t know,” Xendo proposed, subtly indicating Superintendent Pearl, “tried to explain to me how my parents died and that I belong in the future, well, honestly, I would think she’s bonkers, no offense.” 

“None taken,” replied Superintendent Pearl with a stern smirk. 

“But if a boy my age came to see me and we simply talked about it, I don’t know, I feel like the news would be easier to absorb,” Xendo finished uneasily. 

Superintendent Pearl released a slow, gentle shrug and reasserted, “The fact remains: neither of you have been trained in Continuum policy or procedures. It could be dangerous.” 

Blinda placed her hand on Xendo’s right shoulder. He relaxed into her touch. 

“Nova, we wouldn’t need weapons,” his mother carefully offered. “We don’t need some government-orchestrated plan. We find the boy and bring him back. That’s it.” 

Superintendent Pearl shook her head, “The school would be liable if something were to—” 

“This isn’t a typical mission that spans years. There’s no espionage, no criminals, no timeline to correct. We can do this!” Blinda mustered confidently. 

Superintendent Pearl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Xendo could almost hear the whirlwind of thoughts crashing through her mind. She glanced at the clock on her wall and exhaled stubbornly, “For Ava!”