Valtor walked back toward the boys' room, his fingers brushing the silver-plated card his father had given him. "Steel Mechatronics", he read again under his breath, the stylized 'S' etched into his memory. Sliding it back into his pocket, he exhaled, Orea's words echoing in his mind-
Lynx said you were with them- the people who abducted us… you were on their side.
A bitter thought crossed his lips. I guess they're not completely wrong.
He stopped outside the door. When he pushed it open, every head inside turned toward him, faces drawn tight with worry.
"Valtor!" Orea was already on her feet. "Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere."
Kymani rose with her. "We even checked with the superintendent, but he wasn't around."
Silent eyes followed as Valtor crossed the room and sank onto his bed, his expression unreadable.
"What happened?" Zara asked softly.
His gaze shifted to her, then dropped. "I was on the rooftop," he murmured then paused. He drew in a slow, heavy breath. "Talking with my dad."
The room froze.
Orea's lips parted to speak but Kymani was faster, his voice cracking. "Wait… what!?"
"You found your dad?" Rowynn blurted. "Here? How?"
"Who was he?" Zara pressed, leaning forward before he could answer.
Valtor's eyes flickered to Orea. Unspoken understanding passing between them, her faint nod confirmed what she already suspected.
"The Professor," he said at last, his voice low but carrying.
Lynx's hazel eyes snapped to him, a sharp frown cutting across his face.
"The scientist from Nexis?" Zara gasped. "He's your dad? How did you even find that out?"
Valtor's gaze hardened. "He told me. And for the first time, I remembered a vital part of my past…" His voice faltered, then steadied. "I remembered my dad's face."
The words hung in the silence that followed, heavy and undeniable.
But isn't that good news?" Rowynn finally broke the silence. "Finding your dad? You should be happy, right?" She searched Valtor's face, but his unshaken, empty expression gave her nothing.
A sudden chuckle cracked through the air. All eyes turned to Lynx, who leaned forward from his corner, his smile humorless.
"The Professor," he repeated, voice low, dripping with disdain. His gaze locked on Valtor. "Of course it's him."
He rose to his feet, pacing. "The Nexist scientist who supplied the Vatican government with their precious weapons, their gadgets… the very tools they used to control us." He stopped, glancing at Valtor who hung his head in silence,..
"Correct me if I'm wrong".
Valtor said nothing. His head remained bowed, shoulders rigid.
"My visions were right," Lynx pressed, voice rising. "He was with them. Valtor was with them. He was there when they took us. He was there when they erased our memories. He stood there and watched!"
"Alright, hold on, Lynx." Zara raised a hand, her voice steady but urgent. "You don't realize the weight of what you're saying. Just because his father's the scientist doesn't mean Valtor was part of it. If he was, why would he be here with us now?"
"Why don't you ask him?" Lynx shot back, pointing at Valtor's still figure. "He's sitting right there."
A heavy pause filled the room. The crew turned as one, waiting for Valtor's answer, but his head stayed lowered, lips pressed tight.
"Whatever reason he's here doesn't matter to me," Lynx continued, voice darkening. "His father's in league with them, that must mean something. And the symbol—" He froze mid-sentence, his expression shifting, eyes widened.
"What is it?" Kymani asked quickly while Orea leaned forward, her gaze narrowing.
"The symbol in my visions" Lynx whispered, his tone almost reverent. "The same mark burned into every gadget at that hologram. The 'S'."
Rowynn frowned. "So? What about it?"
Lynx's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Steel". Valtor Steel. His eyes locked on Valtor. The company logo of the " Steel family." He let out a low, humorless laugh. "It all makes sense now."
"Lynx…" Rowynn's voice trembled as unease settled over her. "You can't be certain."
"Then let him deny it." Lynx's voice cut sharp as glass.
The others turned to Valtor, waiting. Silence stretched.
Finally, he lifted his head. His eyes burned as they met Lynx's, but his lips never parted.
Zara watched him in awe. Valtor, please say this is a misunderstanding. Tell me he's wrong! Her voice wavered with uncertainty.
Valtor gave no reply, his gaze fixed on Lynx, who returned it with equal fire.
Rowynn shook her head. "Were you sent to spy on us? Is that why you're here?"
"I can't believe this," Kymani muttered, folding his arms across his chest. "It explains everything—how you got that rusty portal running, how you turned an impenetrable wall into an escape route. You knew the way out the whole time and just played along, didn't you?"
"That's enough!" Orea shot to her feet. "Enough with the assumptions, Kymani. I get that we're all furious about what's happening, but we can't dump it all on Valtor just because his father's a part of the council." She glanced around the room. "Zara, back me up here."
The wavy-haired girl hesitated, eyes flicking to Valtor before turning back to her. "I'm sorry, Orea… but I don't know what to believe."
Valtor suddenly stood and moved toward the door.
"Valtor, wait!" Orea grabbed his arm, pulling him back. She stared into his blue eyes, her voice softening. "Forget what they said. You can explain it to me- I'll understand."
His face was unreadable. "I'm sorry,..I can't" he whispered, slipping free of her hold before walking out.