For decades, humanity gazed at the stars and dreamed of reaching them. Step by step, it mastered interplanetary travel. Mars marked the first great milestone, but true expansion began with the construction of launch platforms on the Moon. From there, humans ventured further beyond the familiar boundaries of their solar cradle.
During one deep-space mission, a crew encountered a derelict alien vessel drifting silently through the void. The discovery sent shockwaves across Earth: no one could tell whether it signaled a threat or the promise of peace. Inside, the crew found only lifeless bodies, but the technology was untouched. The ship was recovered and studied. From its systems, scientists extracted a powerful artificial intelligence and blueprints for a star-drive capable of crossing interstellar distances. Yet the required fuel did not exist. The project was shelved, but the AI became humanity's greatest scientific treasure, accelerating progress across every field.
Decades passed. Under the guidance of the alien AI, humanity flourished throughout the Solar System. Cities bloomed on moons and asteroids, and knowledge surged forward. Then, one day, a massive fleet appeared near Earth—dozens of colossal ships and hundreds of smaller ones. They did not attack. Instead, they initiated contact. Negotiations followed, and an alliance was forged. It was this union that gifted humanity the missing fuel.
Together with their new allies, humans refined the ancient engine and achieved what had once seemed impossible: the leap to the stars.
-"???"And that's how we were able to become part of the "Alliance", so is there anyone in this audience who will say what kind of fuel humanity received from the "Alliance"?
The entire audience fell silent as most people were there because of threats of expulsion or as punishment for bad behavior.
-"???" I did not expect any other result from such a rabble as you! And how are you going to benefit humanity and the "Alliance" if you don't even know the basics?
How suddenly of all the V.I.C.E. "Virtual Communication and Extension Interface" "is a small interface in the form of a bracelet that has incredible computing capabilities and built-in AI."
There was an incredibly loud alarm that notified absolutely everyone, even on other planets, that a war had begun with the "Empire of the Red Sun", which controlled almost half of the Milky Way, while the Alliance and United Earth only owned a quarter of the rest of the territory.
Because of this, an incredible commotion was heard in the auditorium and everyone quickly began to collect things, as did our hero who did not want to push in this large number of people, so he opened the window in the auditorium and, wearing a briefcase, he not neatly and a little awkwardly descended from the window of the second floor, first to the window of the first, and then to the ground, after which he said.
-"???" V.I.C.E. connect me with my sister quickly!
"V.I.C.E." I'm already connecting, sir... Establishing connection … establishing connection … connection failed. Try again?
-"???" Where are you being carried at such a time!? And so try again and additionally build the shortest route to her school.
- "V.I.C.E." Yes sir The route is laid… turn right then one hundred meters straight and the same after turning left then 2 kilometers of straight road after turning right. And I have already started to establish connection with your sister…connection established nice talk with sister sir.
-"???" Brother! where are you now
-"???" I'm almost at your school, so get outside as soon as possible so I can find you!
-"???"Okay, I'm already running there and I'm scared of Aaron.
- "Aaron" Don't worry, if it doesn't happen, I'll always be by your side, you hear!
- "V.I.C.E." The Chancellor of the United Earth says today there was an attack on the territory of the "Alliance", therefore the "Alliance" and the United Earth are entering the war with the "Empire of the Red Sun", therefore from today the entire territory is under martial law and Admiral Irving will replace me for the duration of the war, also tomorrow the recruitment centers will be opened to recruit soldiers into our ranks! ... sir, I am continuing your call
-"???" …. Brother, what should we do now!?
-"Aaron" Angie calm down everything will be fine and we are far enough away for them to attack us here.
Aaron was in good physical condition, so he could run and talk to his sister, but it was getting harder and harder for him.
-"Angie" Heh did you find out yourself or V.I.C.E. told you
- "V.I.C.E." Let me tell you, Mr. Aaron has studied this himself and may I add that he hasn't even slept on even the history of United Earth today.
-"Aaron" V.I.C.E. shut up this is no time for jokes!
- "V.I.C.E." I understand, sir, and I apologize for that.
-"Angie" Aaron don't yell at him he just wanted to cheer V.I.C.E. sorry for my angry brother.
- "V.I.C.E." It's okay Ms. Angie, I'm used to this kind of attitude from your brother.
While V.I.C.E. and Angie were talking, Aaron had already reached his sister's school, and then he leaned against the school fence and took a deep breath and breathed out, and wiped the sweat that began to drip from his forehead with his sleeve.
- "Aaron", I'm already at the school gate, so hurry up.
During this conversation, Aaron saw many people exiting the school gates and just as many people leaving in their cars, and he also saw several warships fly over the buildings.
- "V.I.C.E." Sir, your heart rate is too high and according to my sensors it is not because of running, but because of these ships, right?
-"Aaron" Shut up, but you're so right... you're always right, you bastard.
- "V.I.C.E." Heh thank you sir and I knew the moment would come when you would compliment me.
And then Angie runs out, who was quite tall, almost one hundred and seventy-five, but at the same time she was quite shy, and at that moment she simply gave in to her emotions and ran crying to Aaron, who quickly hugged her and tried to calm her down, although he himself does not know what will happen to them, but he does not lose hope for the same peaceful life as it was until this moment.
- "V.I.C.E." May I say?
-"Aaron" What do you want to say at such a moment?
- "V.I.C.E." Just that recruitment has started, although earlier it was said that it will start only tomorrow.
-"Aaron" Well, what of it? This does not fundamentally change anything.
- "V.I.C.E." Sir, there are usually two reasons for this and they are not very good, so I advise you to cover Ms. Angie's ears so as not to upset her even more.
-"Angie" No! I want to hear, so talk!
- "V.I.C.E." The First-Critical situation on the battlefield, the Second-Army of the Empire exceeds ours by tens or hundreds of times…. The conclusion is the inevitable entry of Mr. Aaron, and possibly Ms. Angie, into the army of the earth.
- "V.I.C.E." …. Also, according to my data, joining on a voluntary basis increases the chances of survival and a better attitude.
-"Aaron" Angie don't listen to him after all he is a machine of the government and they may be giving out this information on purpose.
Angie pressed closer to her brother despite the number of people who were still running out of the school and people who passed by them, unable to find the right words, Aaron just started stroking her sister's head. So they stood for a few more minutes, after which they went to the house where no one was waiting for them, since they had lost their parents a long time ago, but unfortunately it was not long enough for Aaron to forget them and what happened to them, but Angie was at the age when she could barely crawl, so she does not remember them and does not even know what happened to them.
-"Aaron" V.I.C.E. turn on the news, and also find information about recruiting on my interface.
I'm listening, sir.- "News" According to the latest information, the Alliance has lost three border systems, nothing is known about the loss... We are interrupting the news broadcast by order of Admiral Irving.
-"Irving" Greetings citizens of the United Earth, you must have all seen the news that the Alliance has suffered losses, these are all lies and attempts by the enemy to suppress the fighting spirit of our defenders, so please do not pay attention to all other news except those where the military correspondents speak, and also we will postpone the recruitment from tomorrow to today, so we invite our brave new recruits to us.
At the same time, information appeared on Aaron's interface about the place where the recruitment of new recruits will take place, as well as the large amount paid to volunteers. Noticing this, Aaron looked around the house, although he tried not to notice it, but they lived only with the money he earned and it was difficult to call the house a house, but Aaron did not give up, he still wanted only the best for his sister and would do anything for her safety.
- "V.I.C.E." Mr. Aaron, I'm sorry, but I think some information has been restricted, so I'm warning you about it just in case.
-"Angie" They blocked several news sites!
Running to her brother, she shouted with her eyes still red from tears, as here outside the windows they heard a crowd with placards that read "No War" and "Alliance War is not Earth's War."
Hearing this noise, they ran to the window and were surprised at the number of people walking down the street with these posters.
- "V.I.C.E." I'm sorry sir, but it seems that they are doing this illegally, so I advise you not to approach them, and I also recommend going to the rec center...
Without waiting for the phrase to end, Aaron threw V.I.C.E. with all his might. into the wall, causing it to shatter into pieces.
- "V.I.C.E." Angie" Mr. Aaron, you can't do that, I feel the same way, so please don't do it again, but I will continue the phrase of your V.I.C.E. I recommend going to the recreation center...
Succumbing to her emotions, Angie repeated her brother's actions, but due to her lower physical strength, the interface only cracked.
- "V.I.C.E." Mrs. Angieiii shhhchommmm did you do that?
Not letting Anja answer the question of the almost broken interface, he kicked the interface with all his might, which caused it to break.
- "Aaron" This car is gone and it should have been done a long time ago, but now we don't get any real news
-"Angie" Brother, what should we do now?
-"Aaron" Don't worry, I'll think of something, but for now it's better to stay away from the windows, and it's better not to leave the house for a few days, I hope we'll have enough food.
Angie sat on the floor next to her brother and pressed her knees to herself and said, barely holding back her tears.
-"Angie" Just tell me honestly, what do you think about what V.I.C.E. said?
Aaron sat down next to her and, crossing his arm over her back, pressed her to him, and not being able to think of the right and necessary words, he simply said.
-"Aaron" I don't think anything yet, but I promise I'll always be there even if I have to destroy the entire Empire!
After that he laughed and ruffled his sister's hair with his hand so that she would cheer up a little, but at the same time he himself was lost in thought because he did not know what to do next and who knows when and how it will all end.
-"Aaron" Hey, how about we go out to eat?
He gently nudged her with his shoulder, but she didn't react to it, so he looked at her sad face and remembered something, so he jumped up and ran to his room, and Angie continued to sit like that, only now she was even sadder. A few minutes later, Aaron returned with a small space blue box, then he crouched down and started poking Angie on the cheek with the box, waiting for her reaction.
-"Angie" Ggrr, why don't you see that I'm scared and sad, and here you are too!
- "Aaron" And you look, I will take my word for it.
As he said this, he crossed his fingers behind his back, but Angie did not see it.
-"Angie" Okay, give me this box!
She took it in her hand, examined it from the outside and opened it, and when she opened it, she was surprised, because there lay one of the parts of a pair of pendants that looked like a four-centimeter spiral with three turns and the inscription "Together" inside. Angie quickly turned her gaze to her brother, who had already received a similar pendant only with the inscription "Forever".
-"Aaron" Just so you know, I worked very hard to buy these things and I'll tell you right away that I didn't steal like last time, but I had enough knocked out teeth and a broken nose.
He straightened his back proudly and smiled goofily, but was still in an almost sitting position.
-"Angie" So that's why you were without teeth for several weeks, and I kept wondering what happened to you.
-"Aaron" Stop, you didn't know what happened to me? i thought V.I.C.E. told you everything about that incident.
-"Angie" No, he didn't say anything, but now we have V.I.C.E. there is no way for him to tell about it.
She smiled slightly and still looked a little sad, but this did not prevent her from hugging her brother and thanking him for such a gift at the same time several thousand people gathered on the road and shouted in unison.
- "Crowd" No war! This is the war of the Alliance, not the earth! We are not enemies of the Empire!
Suddenly, dozens of drones appeared above the crowd, and a voice was heard from them.
-"???" In the name of the law of the United Earth, I order you to stop, otherwise we will start using physical force, and in case of resistance, lethal weapons, so stop and disperse among the houses! We give you ten minutes and the time is already gone.
Angie and Aaron also heard these words because Aaron quickly rushed to the window and closed the window with the curtains so that neither they could see nor be seen.
-"Angie" You don't think they'll actually start shooting at them do you?
She looked at her brother, who looked away and remained silent because he knew they could do it, because he had already seen it with his own eyes as a child.
-"Angie" So say something, don't look away!
-"Aaron" You better not know this answer, so you better go to yourself and cover your ears.
-"Angie" And how do you know that they can do such a thing, you have never seen such a thing and could not see it!
Shouting this, she ran to her room from such Aaron froze in place clutching his pendant in his hand and remembering the first time he saw this pendant.
It was an ordinary evening, parents Aaron and Angie were in the kitchen, and they were playing in the living room, when suddenly there was an explosion and a strange sound, followed by darkness and through it Aaron heard his mother's voice trying to bring him to his senses.
-"???"Aaron! Aaron you hear me! To prevent this from happening, you have to protect your sister, promise me my son.
After that, she put these pendants in Aaron's hand, who was also holding little Angie in his arms, then darkness again and after an unknown amount of time, Aaron regained consciousness and the first thing he saw was the lifeless body of the Mother, which was an incredible shock to him because he began to cry, and another hour later he heard voices and a siren.
-"???"You idiot and how will we explain it to the commander, he will eat us alive if he finds out that because of us the building was destroyed and there are also people killed!
-"???" Haha don't worry the commander will turn a blind eye to it, plus we'll hang it on that idiot we caught.
-"???" Then call the rescuers yourself, if you are such a fearless cop.
-"???" Wait a minute, сough-cough ... Police officer badge number ….9 calls the emergency services! There was an explosion that collapsed an apartment building... that's right.... So we have already caught the culprit, so rush here as soon as possible….
This was the last thing Aaron heard before losing consciousness, and he woke up already in the hospital, where he was met by a doctor who told him the situation and that he had been unconscious for a week and that his father's relatives had promised to pick them up.
And, as he later found out, these two officers later received a promotion for delaying the bomber, who were later executed because of this, since the number of victims exceeded thirty.