The flight home after that was quiet, the soft hum of the vehicle blending with the sounds of the city fading away. The tall apartment buildings gave way to quiet suburbs, and finally, to the outskirts where the Graves Academy Estate loomed behind high walls and carefully kept gardens.
Jason and Alice both stayed in student housing like most of the cadets here. Their families trusted the academy to prepare them for the future.
Talon's situation was different. His mother insisted on coming along, and in typical Graves fashion, they hadn't settled for something simple. Instead, they'd bought a mansion on this crowded world.
A big, fancy house that felt more like a cage than a home to Talon.
He stared out the window, his mind spinning with the same thoughts over and over. The conversation with Jason and Alice wouldn't leave him alone.
'What if one of them awakened? What if I awakened?'
It wasn't impossible, but it wasn't likely either. They'd all agreed to follow the same path if none of them had a Super gene. It made sense since awakening was so rare.
But if one of them did awaken? That would change everything.
They couldn't stick together, not like they'd planned. The one who awakened would be pushed into a world of fighting, power, and high expectations. The other two would be left behind to figure out a different future.
They'd end up in different worlds.
They would all still serve their 5 years, and all three of them planning on many more after that, but the idea that they would split up after being together for so long did not sit completely right with him.
Talon clenched his fists. He didn't know what scared him more, being the one left behind or the one who had to leave them behind.
The vehicle touched down on the estate's landing pad, the automated gates swinging open as the car flew smoothly into the driveway.
Talon stepped out, the cool evening air washing over him, and he paused for a moment, staring up at the night sky. The twin suns had dipped below the horizon, leaving the stars to glitter against the darkening canvas.
A clear voice sounded through the estate's intercom, artificial yet polite. "Welcome home, Master Talon."
Talon barely acknowledged the greeting, making his way through the front doors and into the house. Inside, the lights adjusted automatically, casting a warm glow over the spacious entry hall.
He lingered for a moment, letting the stillness of the house wash over him before heading up the stairs to his room.
Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling as his thoughts drifted. He glanced at his holopad, the countdown timer towards the awakening ceremony glowing softly against the darkness in the corner of the screen.
Just then, a polite cough from the doorway startled him out of his thoughts. Talon turned to find Cain, the family's butler, standing in the entrance to his room.
The older looking android's face was an approximation of concern, his metallic features softened by the dim light.
"Master Talon, Madam Graves has requested your presence in the dining room. Dinner is ready."
'Can't get one second to myself before I'm already called out of bed.'
Talon blinked, pushing himself off the bed. "Yeah, sure. I'll be right down." He followed Cain out of his room and down the wide hallways of the estate, the polished floors reflecting the fading evening light.
The house felt too big, too empty, as if the space itself was trying to swallow him whole.
'It's way too much, mother did not have to go this grand, just to join me on Acadamus.'
They reached the dining room, a place that always felt oddly formal despite its familiar setting. It was decorated in an old-world style, with dark wooden furniture and a chandelier casting a warm, amber glow.
His mother, Talia Graves, sat at the head of the table where his father usually sat, a gentle smile curving her lips as he entered.
"Good evening, sweetheart. How was your day?" she asked, her tone curious.
Talia Graves was a tall woman, her posture always perfect, giving her an air of graceful authority. She had shiny, wavy black hair that fell past her shoulders and strikingly bright green eyes that held warmth not often seen in the Graves family.
Overall, she looked like a nice, caring, and loving person.
Looks can be deceiving.
"Good evening, sweetheart. How was your day?" she asked, her tone curious.
Talon shrugged, taking a seat across from her. "It was fine. Just a lot of prep for the exams."
She nodded, concern flashing briefly in her eyes. "I know you've been working hard. Just remember, I'm proud of you, no matter what happens."
Talon managed a small smile. "Thanks, Mom." He appreciated her... kindness.
He just wished it was genuine.
Cain began serving dinner, delicately prepared dishes that smelled amazing, though Talon barely tasted any of it as he picked at his food. His thoughts kept drifting back to the future, the looming expectations, and the path that seemed to be narrowing before him.
His mother watched him with a careful gaze. After a moment, she cleared her throat. "Talon, I wanted to talk to you about tomorrow's ceremony. I know the exams are a big part of your focus right now, but... in the small chance you do awaken, I want you to promise me that you'll do so in private, to never press that button and to keep Mira in the room with you."
Talon frowned, glancing up from his plate. "'Sure,' he lied, not wanting to tip off that he planned on leaving if he did awaken.
If he does have a super gene, he was planning on ensuring every potential sponsor would want him, so he wouldn't have to rely on the Graves family resources any longer than necessary.
Talia's expression grew sharper, a flash of the Graves' pride glinting in her eyes as she realises Talon is not fully convinced. "The Graves family will ensure you have all the resources you need. We always have so do not accept any sponsorships. Every single family member who has awakened has a duty to the family, as do you."
'Here we go again,' Talon couldn't help but think as he looked away, feeling a flare of defiance rise in his chest. "Yeah, I get it. I'll awaken privately and further the legacy of our family."
She squeezed his hand briefly, a rare show of affection that made his chest tighten. "That's all I ask. Make us proud."
The rest of dinner passed with lighter conversation. They talked about his friends, old family stories, and Talon's childhood antics. His mother's laugh seemed warm, but beneath it, he could sense the tension that lingered, the weight of what tomorrow might bring.
---
After dinner, Talia excused herself and headed back upstairs, her usual graceful exit leaving the dining room quiet.
Talon, however, remained seated. Dessert was on its way, and there was no way he was missing that.
"mmm...."
Skipping dessert? Unthinkable. Talon had a personal rule: no matter how bad the day was, dessert made it better. It didn't matter if the galaxy was falling apart; if there was pie, cake, or anything sweet, he was staying put.
"Life lesson," he muttered to himself as the plate was set before him, the warm aroma of chocolate wafting up. "Even in the middle of chaos, you take time for dessert."
It wasn't just a habit, it was his sacred ritual.
And anyone who tried to interrupt it was asking for trouble.
Once he was done, he made his way to his room, intending to review his study materials one last time.
He walked up the stairs, taking the usual long walk back to the corner of the mansion he made his room, But as he passed by his father's study, he heard voices, low and urgent. The door was slightly ajar, and he paused, straining to catch the words.
Talia's voice was the first he heard, calm but devoid of warmth. "Marcus, your approach is inefficient. He needs results, not excuses. If he can't meet expectations now, what use is he going to be later?"
His father's voice crackled through the holocall, equally cold and detached. "He's a Graves, Talia. Expectations aren't negotiable. Whether he awakens or not does not matter, he needs to prove himself. If he fails to secure an officer position, he won't just be a disappointment, he'll be a liability."
Talon clenched his fists, anger bubbling up in his chest. 'A liability, huh? When am I not the damn disappointment in this family?'
Talia's tone shifted slightly, though not to anything close to compassion. "He's still a resource, Marcus. If properly directed, even limited assets can be made useful. Forcing him into an officer's career doesn't maximize his potential, it could waste it."
Marcus interrupted, his tone final, cutting through her like a blade. "Spare me the efficiency talk. If he doesn't succeed where it matters, he won't have a place in this family. He should be grateful for everything handed to him. Now, he needs to do his duty like the rest of us."
Talon backed away, his heart pounding in his ears. He'd heard enough. If they wanted a "useful asset," they'd damn well get one. Just not the one they were expecting.
He hurried down the hall, each step echoing louder in his ears, as if trying to drown out his parents words. Back in his room, he collapsed onto his bed, the cool sheets doing little to soothe the storm raging in his mind.
'I'm sick of trying to meet their expectations. I'm sick of how they direct my life like they want!'
He clenched his fists, the familiar vow echoing in his mind, the same one he'd sworn countless times before. 'I don't need them. I don't need to depend on them for anything. The moment I get a chance, I'm slipping away from under their thumb, for good.'
He glanced at his holopad, the countdown to the Awakening Ceremony continuing its march toward zero.
He swallowed hard, his throat tight, a thought slipping through his mind before he could stop it.
'Please let me be a Super.'