The next day, the same military car pulled up in front of the house. Bobby emerged with a backpack and climbed into the car.
"Lad, today is going to be a long day for you. Be prepared," said Captain Jean Carlos, starting the engine. The car lifted off and quickly soared away.
They landed at Ares 776d5, the Main Military headquarters of Delta Belt. Inside a massive hall, thousands of officials dressed in formal military attire had gathered. A well-built, handsome man stepped up to the podium.
Everyone stood up and saluted him. He returned the salute before saying, "At ease, everyone. Please take your seats."
A small ball floated towards him and began scanning his body. "Beep! Beep! Beep!" A green light illuminated the room.
"Identification verified! Captain Jean Carlos, do you wish to activate microphone mode?" A sweet female voice from the AI pod asked.
"Okay, activate!" Jean responded.
"Beep! Beep! Beep! The microphone is ready!" The AI announced.
"Good morning, everyone!" Jean greeted them. "Although I am often credited with colonizing our new home, I couldn't have done it alone. It's a joint effort, and every one of us deserves credit. Today, I am proud to introduce one of our youngest-ever heroes."
"He just turned 17 last month and is a genius in every field of technicality, medicine, and beyond. He's made countless contributions to the military, many of which are classified. Today, he joins our division and will oversee all of our advanced space programs and research. He will be promoted to the rank of assistant chief in Medicine, Tech Support, and other undisclosed positions. Without further ado, I present to you our youngest hero, Bobby Bradford. Bobby, please come up here."
As the crowd applauded, a lanky boy wearing thick glasses walked up to the podium, donning an official full army uniform.
He sloppily saluted Captain Jean as he reached him, who returned the greeting with his own salute. The hall erupted in applause once again.
"Boy, make a simple introduction of yourself. Don't worry, you'll be fine. See all their reactions? They love you," Captain Jean said, patting him lightly on the back.
Bobby almost lost his balance from the force of the pat. Despite this, he clenched his hands tightly and maintained an indifferent expression as he faced the hostile crowd.
"Eh! That boy is a Defect!" someone shouted.
"Yeah, he's a damn Defect," another replied.
"Why is a Defect even here?" a lady asked.
Captain Jean's voice boomed across the hall, "The lad was recruited under special circumstances, as ordered by the higher-ups. Do you have a problem with him being here? Or are you disobeying your superiors? If you're dissatisfied, submit a complaint letter. Bobby, go ahead and introduce yourself," he said aggressively.
The hall fell silent as Bobby walked two steps forward and spoke, "Good morning! My name is Bobby Bradford. I'm a senior researcher at the Oraga'aon Institute of Space Science and Technology on Mother Earth. I'm currently researching Dark Energy and the mysteries of Blackholes. It's a pleasure to meet all of you here. Thank you."
Captain Jean motioned for Bobby to follow him, "Follow me, lad. I'll take you to your new office." Bobby followed closely behind as they made their way toward the exit.
As they reached the door, Captain Jean suddenly stopped, turned around, and shouted, "Y'all stay here until I come back." Then, they walked out of the room.
Captain Jean led Bobby to a peculiar house, unlike any he had ever seen before. Its structures and designs were far more advanced than anything the Humans or Ogarians had ever created. The exterior resembled a mix of marble and glass, but Bobby knew it was something entirely different.
"Lad, this is one of the scientific research facilities of those filthy Birds from before we arrived here. This will be your office from now on. What do you think?" Captain Jean noticed the hesitation in Bobby's eyes and explained further.
"Birds?" Bobby asked, confused.
"I mean the Angelic race," Captain Jean replied. "Come on, let's go in."
He produced a golden key with a human-shaped design and two wings on the back. On the wall of the house, there was a drawing of a female angel, and Captain Jean inserted the key into her private area, causing it to sink in. Soon, a door opened.
Bobby looked at the picture strangely and then at Captain Jean.
"Lad, don't look at me like that. I didn't design this strange house. Let's go in." Captain Jean walked into the house, and Bobby followed closely.
As they entered the house, they saw the back of a tall woman wearing a military uniform. She was cleaning when they arrived.
"Lad, per our contract, I have to ensure your safety first. So, I recruited the best bodyguard for you last night. She'll be your personal bodyguard from now on," Captain Jean explained.
"Lieutenant, come here and introduce yourself to Assistant Chief Bobby Bradford." He shouted.
Bobby looked around the room curiously as the lieutenant approached them. She saluted and announced loudly, "Lieutenant Diana Carver reporting, sirs. From today onward, I will do my best to protect you with my own life."
Bobby and Captain Jean saluted in return.
"Ah, it's you again," Bobby exclaimed. He then turned to Captain Jean and asked, "Sir, can I speak with you outside, please?"
(Re-edited: 26th Feb 2023!)