Shu's POV 

'Woah.'

That was all I could say as Ashtem led me into the underground chamber. I've been with Snake Pit for over a month now to know that there was something big going on. I hadn't been allowed to see it personally, but I knew what it was for. After driving Valt and co. out of Snake Pit, Ashtem finally agreed to show me.

A dozen people wearing black overalls right to and fro, all busy with a job. Bright lights shone overhead from the metal ceiling, illuminating the whole room. The cold, cement floor smelt oddly of petrol and sweat, as if somebody had mixed both of them together and dunked them all over the floor. Six aircrafts lined the walls, all looking extremely expensive and unique. But even that wasn't the biggest attraction. 

My mouth flung agape at the mother aircraft in the center. It was jet black and looked like a huge, unreal private jet with glowing purple light. The only unique thing was instead of a point at the front. it curved inwards like two pincers. And it seemed like the pincers were holding a huge orb, constantly swirling with iridescent purples, pinks and blues.

Gold Eye and Silver Eye stood inside the jet, just visible in the HQ by the tinted windows. But boy, was this massive. Even the small wheels on the bottom were bigger than me. It's must've taken ages to build this. It didn't even seem like something capable of a human's work. 

'Welcome to the Oculi Aircraft,' Ashtem smugly smirked, patting a wheel. 'I see you're impressed.'

'Who wouldn't be?' I replied as my eyes continued to take in magnificent piece of technology. 'How long did it take to build this?"

'About a year, Master Red Eye.'

My head swiveled around to where the voice came from. An old man with wrinkles etched in his face stood a few feet apart from us, decked out in a professional lab coat with a crisp badge that read "Dr. Tarver". His hair was an electric grey with a streak of scarlet on the side that reminded me sickeningly of blood.

However, that seemed like the only "off" thing about this man. His golden eyes looked as young as ever, full with charm and wonder. Throughout my time at Snake Pit, I had learnt that even though we seemed hostile, harsh and cruel on the outside, it was all to ward off the other greedy companies and people who would want to get their hands on this information, project and technology.

Even if it meant acting like that towards your friends. You couldn't risk anything. 

'Ah, I see that have heard about our new recruit,' said Ashtem with a hint of amusement as he walked towards Dr. Tarver. He patted the old man's shoulder before turning to me. 'Red Eye, this is Dr. Tarver. He the scientist that came up with this groundbreaking technology, including that sphere you saw on the ship. Assisting the building of the Oculi, he is an essential part of our team and will be aiding us to Earth. He is also Gold Eye's grandfather. I suggest you and Dr. Tarver get closer, as you are both crucial members.'

'I agree with you completely.' Even though Dr. Tarver was talking to Ashtem, his eyes stayed on me, giving me a sense of uneasiness.

'Well, I must be going to check on the dorm arrangements,' Ashtem clasped his hands together firmly. 'You know we are leaving in less than a week, next Friday, in six days. Red Eye, feel free to look around the aircraft and explore. Dr. Tarver, please check on the engine rooms. I have worries about the creaking sounds constantly being heard from there. Once you have finished, please show Red Eye around and explain everything.'

'Will do,' Dr. Tarver promised. I nodded my head in agreement. 

'Very well.' 

Ashtem promptly spun on his heel and left, going out into the hall again. That left me alone with Gold Eye's grandfather. His eyes sparkled.

'The entrance is this way.'

--------------------

Dr. Tarver was a little odd. 

There was no denying it. I knew that he was loyal to Snake Pit and not at all evil, but he was going a bit...senile. It makes sense. According to Ashtem, he's already using a metal leg. He showed me around the aircraft, showing the dorms I would be staying in. Everything was prepared. Dr. Tarver mentioned that onboard the sphere would keep us on the floor, gravity working in the aircraft perfectly fine. 

'What is the sphere for?' I asked Dr. Tarver curiously as we approached the headquarters of the aircraft, the Summitatem Space. 

'The Novus Sphere is an extremely complicated piece of technology,' Dr. Tarver responded, placing his hand on the scanner. The metal doors immediately slid sideways, revealing a semi-circle room filled with complicated buttons, switches and scanners. Gold Eye and Silver Eye stood with another scientist, huddled over an iPad.

'Even though I came up with the idea, it took the longest to build, even longer than this aircraft. To make the sphere, it required several chemicals and rare items. Did you hear about that Russian astronaut that went missing a while back? His blood was required in order to make this sphere. Don't worry, he is alive. In fact, he is in this aircraft in a room with our top therapist, Dr. Wilks, who is currently trying to extract information about Earth. But the astronaut, has gone a little, ah, cuckoo.

'Anyways, this sphere will navigate us the way to Earth. In order to go to Earth, we have to go through a constellation called the Basuto, a newly discovered one. The sphere is required along with the constellation to pass through to another realm. That's why the sphere needs the blood of two realms, so it can travel between both of them. The sphere will also provide us gravity and safety.'

'Right.'

I walked up to the front, where the Novus Sphere was visible. It was quite big, swirling with unrealistic iridescent colours and nightly stars and constellations. Once in a while, it would resemble our planet, or the Earth. I could only imagine how complex it worked. It seemed almost like...magic. I pinched myself, wondering if I was dreaming.

Over the past weeks, I did a lot. I was still in shock how Earth was real, and how (y/n) and IREL was real. That meant the whole storyline was real. Everyone on board watched IREL, closing picking up any clues about humans. Nobody complained how girly it was, which was nice for a change. Which reminded me...I needed to watch the latest episode. I've only seen so far up until to the beginning of Ashley's party. 

'Hello, Red Eye,' greeted Gold Eye, walking up to us. He patted Dr. Tarver's shoulders. 'Grandfather, take care. I don't want you getting injured.'

'I'll be fine,' he assured, removing Gold Eye's hand. 'I promise.'

'Good,' sighed Gold Eye. His eyes then directed themselves to me, and I was struck at how different his eyes were from his grandfather's. They were the same golden shade, but Gold Eye's eyes were hard, cold and determined, where his grandfather's eyes suggested warmth, quirkiness and child-likeness. 'Red Eye. I have orders to take you to the training room. You have several things to master before we can leave.'

----------------------

After three days of training, I had finally mastered all of the skills necessary. Information about Earth, isolation training, preparing for micro-gravity, leaning how to starve and store energy, medical skills and plenty more.  In just two more days, we would be heading all the way to Earth. 

I picked my way through the aircraft maze of rooms and headed towards my dorm. I wasn't sharing it with anyone, thank goodness. All of the Snake Pit people could get on my skin sometimes. My room was a little small, but it was comfortable. A bed was pushed neatly against a wall, the duvet white and crisp. On the window ledge perched my launcher and Legend Spryzen, as well as some succulents. On the opposite side of the room, a door leading to the bathrooms was place, as well as a wardrobe. I sighed tiredly and sat down, still shocked from all of this. 

Just two more days. 

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

(y/n)'s POV 

I browsed through my wardrobe absent-mindedly. My eyes scampered through the hundreds of clothes, each one neatly placed, wondering what I should wear to the social in two days. Nothing revealing, of course. I had burned all of those dresses anyways. I closed my eyes painfully, thinking about the night of Ashley's party. It had been extremely painful, but I had realized something. 

Trust nobody in this world. After all, even your own shadow abandons you in the dark. 

You made me realize that, Blair, Chanel and Layla, I though. It's your fault.

But deep down inside, I wished that I was still friends with all of them. That none of this had happened. However, I had been stabbed in the back too many times. And it hurt knowing that they were some of my closest people. A lonely tear trickled out of my eyelid, beautifully staining my cheek. And now here I was, going to the social with my sister's ex-boyfriend. But it was only out of pity. This plan was simply to get Jordan and Blair back together again and repair my life. If only it was that simple. I opened my eyes again and began to scout through my wardrobe again. 

I just wanted something simple and pretty. My eyes landed on a satin yellow dress, that falls just to above my knees. It was perfect. A ding emitted from my phone, and I immediately abandoned my wardrobe for my phone. 

Happiness filled my chest as I realized a new chapter of a Shu Kurenai fanfiction had been released. I cheerfully laid down on my bed to read it, all thoughts about the social gone. 

Just two more days. 

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I've finished the whole series so there might be a spam.

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Word count: 1695