I wanted to go to my dorm and rest, but my reason guided me to my laboratory. The emotional pain in my heart spread throughout my body, consuming me with sad feelings.

"I am guilty of all this," I thought all the time.

To try to distract me, I came back with my quantum entanglement communication research. I was so close to a solution and with the last idea I had, everything seemed to fit together, except for one thing...

"Dornnih. No, no, no."

I started to imagine things about him and me that were inadmissible, but...

I started to get confused about my feelings. Drinihian was the love of my life, but I didn't want to hinder his career with that. We've known each other for so long, that I couldn't imagine living without him. I thought it could be eternal, but life was being cruel to me, making him distance himself from me.

I came back with the research, but the tiredness came with strength. I was going to take a stimulant, but before I got up for it, I dropped my head on the table and slept.

☼☼☼

"What a headache," I muttered.

I looked at my system for detecting possible alien messages and noticed something very weird. It was a very weak signal, which seemed to be trying to communicate with the Space Agency. My equipment was calibrated to detect signals other than the standard and low intensity.

Although this signal was very weak, it was…

"Familiar!"

It appeared to be an emergency signal from a space drone. The strangest thing was that it seemed to come from the direction of our star. To find out if we had any missions, close to our star, we would have to access the system, where all the missions in progress are listed, again in an unauthorized way, by hacking. This, for sure, would put me in a situation that probably would have no return, and I would be confined for a long time and suspended from all space research activities.

I thought about letting go, but something was picked up.

... [Yennir] ...

I researched and…

"Impossible! (Major Captain) Yennir. It couldn't be him. He died on the mission Drinihian was on, to bring the old moon spaceships to our planet."

"I started," thinking about the possibility that he was still alive.

To make sure it couldn't be the signal, or traces of signals, from other spaceships on missions near our star, I decided to hack the system and research the ongoing missions.

I checked all the missions. Some caught my attention, but I focused on one possible, close to our star, but I didn't find any results.

I was analyzing the signal to reach a more significant conclusion, but it was very weak. I tried to expand the reception of the antennas, which were already slightly superior to any other, thanks to my modifications, made to assist in my research.

I couldn't get any more clear messages. Perhaps they survived the explosion.

"No!" I said, worried

I tried to track its movement from the signal source.

"I need to tell someone. If he is alive, the damaged drone is heading towards our star, and will not be able to withstand the approach for long."

I tried to contact (Captain Lieutenant Colonel) Hennmi, but he ignored me.

"Why did he do it? He said that what I needed was just to get in touch directly," I thought, confused.

I left the lab carrying this information on a mobile device. I went directly to meet him, but, in the middle of the way, I was stopped by security guards, a group of support, (Sergeants) accompanied by a military officer (First Lieutenant).

"Stop, you're under arrest!" ordered the military officer.

"What did I do?" I asked, confused.

"Follow us now!" he ordered.

"But I'm in the middle of a possible emergency. I need to go!"

"We will not repeat! Follow us, NOW!" ordered the military officer in a threatening tone.

Without alternatives, I followed them. I was nervous because I was almost sure that (Major Captain) Yennir was alive and in serious trouble. I wanted to run. When I was going to get on their transport drone, I took a small second of distraction and ran. It was the most stupid thing I have ever done because it was obvious that I would not be able to escape. I felt something sting my back. Immediately my vision blurred and...

☼☼☼

"NOOO!" I shouted, not knowing where I was, with blurred vision and a headache.

My vision gradually returned. I was lying on a bed in a small, white room, which seemed to have no doors. I got up a little dizzy, went to one of the walls, and went around the small room, trying to find a way out.

I started to get desperate.

"LET ME OUT!

I kept screaming, and soon one of the walls lit up like a monitor. A video call started.

"Here is the security supervisor of the complex, military officer (Captain Lieutenant Colonel) Brommerri, and you were arrested for breaking security levels of sensitive information. You will cease to act in your duties and will be punished with a long period of detention. A sedative chip was implanted and if you commit any disobedience you will be immediately sedated."

"How long has it been since I blacked out?" I asked, confused.

"You were sedated hours ago. I say not to worry about time anymore. You have a long punishment to serve."

"I understand that I acted wrong, but it was for a good cause."

"Your justifications will not free you from what you did. Your invasion of a system for which you did not have access authorization is more than proven. You will have all the conditions of hygiene, food, and clothes, but will remain in this room for a long period. And questions may make your situation even worse."

"(Major Captain) Yennir is…"

Before he could hear me the video call was ended.

"#+@+#@," I swore, revolted.

I sat in the corner crying. When I least expected it, a new video call started.

"How could you do that, after what I did for you?" asked (Captain Lieutenant Colonel) Hennmi, disappointed.

I got up.

"I admit my mistake, but it was an emergency."

"If it was really for an emergency, it would be better to have contacted another superior and requested access."

"But I tried to contact you," I thought, wanting to curse him.

I bowed my head, disappointed in myself. I could have done what he said. I should have tried to get in touch with others. I was daring and didn't think straight.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I cursed myself in thought.

"I apologize for my mistake and will pay for it, but..."

"Your excuses are not valid for what you did. I thought you were smart as you showed," said (Captain Lieutenant Colonel) Hennmi, interrupting me.

"Please! LISTEN to ME!"

"How dare you raise your voice to me?"

With no patient.

"(Major Captain) Yennir is alive and in trouble."

(Captain Lieutenant Colonel) Hennmi looked at me in surprise.

"I will not admit that you disrespect those who are gone! It will be punished harder."

"Please! On the mobile device, which was with me, has the information. They may not have much time."

He remained silent and immediately ended the video call.

"#+@+#@+," I swore again, furious.

With no other options, I sat back in the corner of the room thinking about the worst that could happen, because of the ignorance of those who were only concerned with punishing me.