The scent of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee filled the kitchen as Miura’s father stood by the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. The morning sun filtered through the windows, casting soft golden light across the countertops. Outside, the air was crisp, the faint chirp of birds blending with the distant rustling of trees.

From down the hall, small footsteps shuffled forward. Sona appeared, still dressed in her oversized T-shirt from the night before, rubbing her eyes as she let out a sleepy yawn.

Her feet padded against the cool kitchen floor as she approached the counter, blinking up at the sight of Miura’s father cooking.

“Mornin’, sunshine,” he greeted with a chuckle, glancing over his shoulder. “Sleep alright?”

Sona yawned again, nodding sleepily before hoisting herself onto one of the bar stools at the counter. “Mhm… smells good.”

Her response made him grin. “That’s ‘cause it is good,” he said, flipping the last pancake onto a plate. “Y’like syrup?”

She nodded, still waking up.

“Good answer,” he mused, sliding a plate in front of her and pouring a generous drizzle of syrup over the stack.

Sona took her fork, her drowsiness fading as she eagerly took her first bite. Her eyes widened slightly at the taste, and she let out a small, satisfied hum.

Miura eventually wandered in, stretching as she pulled a chair over. “Already makin’ yourself at home, huh?”

Sona nodded happily, still munching on her pancakes.

Her father slid a cup of coffee in front of Miura and smirked. “Figured I’d get breakfast goin’ before headin’ out to the garage. You two got any plans today?”

Miura shook her head, taking a sip of coffee. “Not really. You?”

“Gettin’ the car fired up, finally,” he said with a stretch. “Just gotta run some diagnostics first, make sure everything’s workin’ right.”

Miura quirked an eyebrow. “You callin’ Tuck?”

“Already did. He’ll be by in a bit,” her father replied.

Just then, the sound of tires crunching over gravel outside signaled a visitor. A moment later, Tuck stepped in, flicking a cigarette to the ground before crushing it under his boot.

“Well, well,” he drawled, hands in his pockets. “Didn’t think I’d be seein’ you today, Miura.” His eyes shifted to Sona, who peeked out from behind Miura’s leg, eyeing him with open curiosity. “An’ you must be the surprise I’ve been hearin’ about.”

Miura’s father chuckled. “Tuck, this here’s Sona. Sona, meet Tuck—he’s a wizard when it comes to tech.”

Tuck gave a small nod. “Nice to meet ya, kid.”

Sona tilted her head. “You don’t look like a wizard.”

Tuck smirked. “That’s what makes me good at it.”

“Well, damn,” he muttered, running a hand over the engine bay. “Looks clean.”

Miura’s father smirked. “Wouldn’t be sittin’ here if it wasn’t.”

Tuck exhaled a slow stream of smoke before tossing his cigarette outside the garage door. “Alright, let’s see if she talks.”

He pulled out a tablet, plugging it into the car’s OBD port just under the dashboard. The screen flickered to life, a string of diagnostics already running.

“Alright,” Tuck muttered, eyes scanning the data. “Fire it up.”

Miura’s father slid into the driver’s seat, pressing the ignition into accessory mode mode. Tuck watched the readings closely, checking each sensor’s response. After a few moments, he nodded in approval. “Everything’s readin’ proper so far—, no sensor faults… looks like we’re all good to start.”

He unplugged the tablet and smirked, glancing at Sona, who had been watching wide-eyed the entire time.

“You wanna start it up, kid?”

Sona gasped, pointing at herself. “Me?”

“Yeah,” Miura’s father said, pressing the brake pedal. “Go on, push this button.”

With a moment of hesitation, Sona leaned in reached out with both hands and pressed the ignition button behind the steering wheel.

The car rumbled to life, the deep growl shaking the garage. Sona let out a tiny squeal, her eyes lighting up.

“It’s so loud!” she giggled.

Miura’s father laughed. “That’s a proper engine, sweetheart.”

Sona clapped her hands together, bouncing slightly in excitement.

Miura smirked. “Well, I think we just created a car enthusiast.”

Her father chuckled, shifting the gear into neutral before revving the engine lightly. “You wanna go for a ride?”

Sona gasped. “Really?”

“Really,” he confirmed. “Hop in.”

Miura helped Sona buckle into the passenger seat while her father turned to her. “Need anything while I’m out?”

“Nah,” Miura said, leaning against the workbench. “Just don’t let her fly out the window.”

Her father snorted. “Ain’t plannin’ on it.”

Sona grinned as the car rolled out of the garage, heading toward the main road.

As the car disappeared past the trees, Miura leaned against the workbench, crossing her arms while watching the dust settle in the driveway.

Tuck lit another cigarette, the orange ember glowing as he took a slow drag. “So, how’s it feel, bein’ back home?”

Miura exhaled through her nose, shifting her weight. “Weird… but good. Feels smaller than I remember.”

Tuck smirked. “That’s how it always is. You leave, do somethin’ big, then come back, and everything’s still where you left it—just a little quieter.”

Miura hummed in response, glancing toward the rolling hills beyond the property.

Tuck flicked some ash to the side, his gaze shifting slightly. “Guess you heard about Iris Corporation’s launch today?”

Miura frowned, shaking her head. “Not really. Been busy with… other things.”

Tuck raised an eyebrow, tapping at his tablet. “They’re sendin’ up what they’re callin’ the most advanced space telescope ever built—fully powered by AI.” He gave a small chuckle. “Supposed to be able to scan deep space better than any human-controlled system. A ‘digital astronaut,’ or somethin’ like that.”

Miura scoffed lightly. “Figures. They’re always pushin’ the next big thing.”

Tuck nodded. “Yeah, this one’s got people buzzin’—scientists, investors, even just folks curious about what’s out there.” He leaned against the workbench, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. “It’s supposed to operate completely on its own—makes its own calculations, adjusts its orbit, analyzes anomalies, the whole nine yards. Ain’t even got a control team back home.”

Miura arched an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like somethin’ that could backfire at all.”

Tuck chuckled. “Yeah, well, that’s what everyone said when self-driving cars hit the market, too. Now look where we are.”

Miura crossed her arms. “And people are just fine with letting an AI float around out there, making decisions without anyone watchin’ over it?”

Tuck smirked. “More than fine. People love this kinda stuff. Iris Corp’s got damn near a cult following at this point—y’know, the whole ‘revolutionizing the future’ thing.” He gestured vaguely. “They’re sayin’ this telescope’s gonna redefine space exploration. Could find planets we ain’t ever seen before, track cosmic events in real time. Some even think it’ll be the first to detect alien life.”

Miura scoffed again, shaking her head. “People really buy into that?”

Tuck shrugged. “Who knows? But it’s a big deal. You can’t go anywhere without hearin’ someone talk about it. Whole world’s gonna be watchin’ when that rocket goes up.” He took another slow drag before adding, “Might be worth watchin’ ourselves.”

Miura was silent for a moment, then muttered, “Guess I’ll see what the fuss is about.”

Tuck grinned. “Didn’t think you’d sit quiet on somethin’ this big.”

Miura shot him a look, but he just chuckled, flicking the last of his cigarette to the ground and stomping it out.

By late afternoon, everyone had gathered in the living room, the television broadcasting Iris Corp’s rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. The sleek rocket stood tall on the launchpad, steam venting from its sides as final checks were completed.

Sona sat on the floor, hugging her stuffed animal as she stared at the screen. “That thing’s really goin’ to space?”

Miura’s father nodded. “Ain’t just any rocket. That thing’s haulin’ the most advanced telescope ever built.”

Tuck leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And it’s AI-controlled—no humans tellin’ it where to look. Just out there on its own, makin’ discoveries.”

Sona frowned. “That sounds kinda… weird.”

Miura smirked, ruffling her hair. “Welcome to the future.”

T-10 seconds.

The broadcast counted down as the engines roared, fire and smoke engulfing the base. The ground camera zoomed in, capturing Iris Corp’s logo flashing past as the rocket shot skyward.

The room fell silent, eyes locked on the screen. The rocket pierced through the clouds, leaving a trail of white against the deepening blue sky.

Sona’s mouth hung open. “Whoa.”

Tuck exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Say what you will about Iris Corp, but they sure know how to put on a show.”

The screen shifted to a cockpit view, showing the rocket’s ascent into the blackness of space. Moments later, the telescope separated, drifting silently into the void.

Miura’s father leaned back. “Think that thing’ll see somethin’ we’ve never seen before?”

Miura didn’t answer right away, her gaze lingering on the screen. The satellite, now alone in the vast darkness, rotated slowly, its panels catching the sunlight as it prepared to begin its mission.

She let out a slow breath.

“Guess we’ll find out.”