Author Note: Listen, I am feeling pretty sick about now, so I am just going to upload this chapter and next chapter is going to be review responses. This one is 5k and there is more of a focus on Norea. I wonder if I already made a chapter that has a focus on Norea. Remember to follow, favorite, review. It doesn't seem like much, but it does help more than you know in me pumping out chapters.

Best Regards,

The Author

Chapter 45 - Newtype Dreams

Norea

Even now, the demons of the night hounded Norea. The pills made it easier to sleep, and she needed to after that event, after that encounter. It didn't make sense… she had to be going schizo, but the pills, though they put her to sleep, failed to stop the dreams.

Norea was back on Earth for a moment. Her eyes snapped wide and alert as she gazed at the foreign surroundings in all directions. Long oak trees touched the skies, casting shadows like hands as dead leaves crunched beneath her feet.

She was on the ground, her black hair falling in front of her eyes… and then it hit her, they shouldn't have been on Earth. But the voice came louder.

"Keep up with me!" It was an old, gruff voice.

She could hear whizzing sounds cutting through the trees, like mini rockets blasting off. She could see three figures leaping, hitting the trees, and kicking off from them.

Norea's first instinct was to run, but they must have seen her by now. She could see blue flames coming from machines attached to their waists. "Lil Jack… Aiden, last one there has to clean up the latrine!" And the older voice now had an added laugh to it.

"Alright, now you're on, Jackie!" shouted Aiden.

In a couple of moments, they were rapidly descending. Norea paused and took a step backward, her eyes wide as the older man landed in a neat run. The others behind him didn't have such a graceful landing.

"Oh hell…," the taller of the boys careened and was thrown into a roll, while the other landed but needed to run to balance himself.

They were both very young… the darker-skinned one had glasses perched on the bridge of his nose with a strap to keep them from falling off. His hands were raised, and a smile of victory spread across his face. The other had a more tanned complexion and deep blue eyes that were now narrowed in embarrassment and anger.

"You cheated, Cooper! He pushed me… Cooper, he pushed me!" he childishly rambled on. Norea shot her gaze between the darker-skinned boy and the man. They were both named Jack?

The man only chuckled loudly. "Now, this is why I didn't have any kids," he muttered under his breath, clicking off his helmet. His face emerged, framed by a thick beard streaked with grey through his black hair. His eyes were tired and worn, but there was a kindness in them that Norea could see.

Norea turned and realized with widened eyes that while this place looked like Earth, they were probably thousands of miles off. They were perched on a cliff's edge, overlooking a thick forest blanketed under a red setting sun. But past the sun, two moons of differing colors hung on the horizon.

Amongst the Earth-like oaks, she saw strange flowers blooming. She snapped her head upwards, her eyes widening further as she saw faint alien organisms flying above them. "What is this?" she muttered to herself, her fingers connecting to her skin as she squeezed. She felt the pain but knew she had to be dreaming.

Her gaze was drawn to the young boy dusting the dirt off himself, annoyed, and glaring at the darker-skinned boy as he walked to his side.

"Well, at least we're back at camp," Cooper stated.

Their camp was perched at the edge of the mountain. Three tents and three chairs surrounded a dead fire, with a radio next to them. But there was a stirring on the side...

"Cooper," a mechanized voice spoke. Norea watched as a titan slowly arose.

"BT, we're fine," Jack stated loudly, clicking his helmet to his belt. He sighed as he rested himself in one of the chairs near the fire. "You mind sparking up a flame for us?"

"Acknowledged," the machine blurted out.

BT rose, moving slowly and raising its right hand. A torrent of flame shot out for a second, reigniting the ashes. A small but steady flame appeared.

Cooper started rummaging through a box near him, raising baggies. "We've got quite the selection here, students," he started to ramble.

Jack and Aiden both took their seats, and Norea noted the relaxed manner in which they did so. Her eyes drew towards the ingrained tent poles, the cleared away brush, the stacks of logs to refill the fire, and the pots just around. They must have been here for a while.

"I've got dibs on the meatball!" Aiden cried out.

Cooper tossed it quickly, and Aiden jumped up to catch it.

Norea stood there, watching the scene unfold. The warmth of the fire, the camaraderie among the group, and the strange but familiar surroundings tugged at something deep within her. She felt an inexplicable connection to this place and these people, even though it made no sense.

As the flames danced and the group settled into their evening routine, Norea couldn't shake the feeling that this dream, this impossible reality, held a truth she needed to uncover.

Jack's eyes widened. "Come on, Cooper, you didn't even give me a…"

Cooper waved his hand dismissively. "Hush, Jack. Those give everyone the shits… you can have," he paused, digging into the MRE box again. "You haven't had chicken parm yet." He tossed Jack the bag.

Norea knelt down, watching the exchange unfold. Was this how that young man must've felt watching her? Her mind flashed to that time in the shuttle. He was there… they talked, and then he was gone. Almost like she could've imagined the whole thing. Yet, she couldn't be going crazy.

"Something new…" he had called her, but she shook her head at the thought as...

As they prepared their food, Norea heard sounds from above them. She instinctively tilted her head upwards, failing to notice how Cooper's grip on his assault rifle tightened.

A light transport carrier burned red fuel, painted in utilitarian whites and greys as it rustled the great oaks. Birds and other alien creatures scuttled away from the sounds and disturbances.

"Cooper, are we…," Aiden began, but Cooper waited a moment.

He watched as the transport descended further into the valley, and then he sighed. "BT, you think we've got anything to worry about? You were the one that recommended this spot."

The robot paused. "The trees and the mountains create natural cover. Even with the fire, I doubt that is anything more than just a transport vessel dropping off supplies."

Cooper sighed, facepalming. Norea, close enough, observed the wrinkles around his features. He was probably in his late twenties or early thirties, but the anxiety and the wrinkles made him look fifty.

Aiden's teeth ground against each other. "Hate those damned bastards," he muttered, emptying the contents of his MRE into a pot, filling it with water, and placing it on the coals. He took in the warmth and the heat. "Cooper, when are we going to go down there with BT and kill them all?"

Jack nodded slowly, his glasses refracting the firelight as he stared into it. "The Militia gave BT the Legion upgrade. When do we move it to mess with them?" Jack had a smile on his lips as he spoke.

Cooper rubbed his hand over his face. "In due time," he began. "But I am waiting for orders."

The fire crackled as a tense silence settled over the group. The flames cast long shadows, dancing on the faces of the young soldiers and their seasoned leader. Norea could see the determination etched into their expressions, the hardened resolve that only came from years of conflict and loss.

Cooper leaned back, his eyes reflecting the firelight. "Patience, boys," he said quietly. "We'll get our chance. We just have to be ready when it comes."

Norea watched them, feeling an odd mix of fear and fascination. She didn't fully understand their mission or their motivations, but she sensed the gravity of their situation. These were warriors, each bearing the scars of battles fought and lost, united by a common purpose that went beyond mere survival.

As the night deepened, the stars began to emerge, twinkling above the alien landscape. Norea's thoughts drifted back to the young man in the shuttle, to the words he had spoken and the strange connection she felt. She couldn't shake the feeling that her presence here, in this place and with these people, was not a mere coincidence.

Jack and Aiden exchanged confused glances, even Norea was taken aback. Despite herself, she smirked; killing Spacien's was usually something to celebrate.

Aiden raised his hands in frustration. "Cooper, we've been waiting and training here for three months…we're ready," he began.

Cooper shook his head. "I went through basic, and that took nearly a full year. Then I fought in a couple of battles against the IMC, and eventually, I was forced into my mentor's Titan," he said, nodding towards BT. "You and Jack are talented, no doubt, but you're still kids under my care and…"

Jack sneered. "We're not just children. We survived the nail process and…"

Cooper's curt scoff echoed through the forest. "You mean those medieval surgeries? Screwing nails into a bunch of teenage boys' heads to increase their affinity with mechs… that's barbaric. I won't lie, you and Aiden are both talented. But I'll tell you when you're ready."

Norea was astonished. She was beginning to understand who they were... and this boy with the hatred in his eyes. The blue eyes, where had she seen eyes so blue, hair like that? He was already so tall, unlike others his age.

"Something new…" she muttered under her breath. Aiden, this young man who had visited her, she...

"Harmony stock," Marty had said. And then she knew. She put two and two together. Whatever was happening to her, this Aiden Winters, this young man had visited her and now she was visiting him. But he wasn't a child, rather a young man in his late teens or early twenties.

Time and space, reality and the past, future and present… it had all bent to bring her to this place, and Aiden had done the same to see her. Why? What force was bringing them together to experience this?

The thought alone caused Norea to bite her lip. Why was she witnessing some Spacien? Of all the people she could've connected with, it had to be some Spacien boy.

She watched as Aiden held his tongue, but then… faint tears started to fall from his eyes. Jack was shocked, his mouth slightly agape as he struggled to speak, but he too cast his eyes down to the fire.

Cooper scratched the back of his head. It was almost humorous how awkward this man was in dealing with crying children… or rather a crying child soldier. All the stories of the militia had been bad; the things they did to these kids were horrible. But Cooper opposed it. He seemed disgusted that his organization had even gone through with it!

Norea's heart ached as she watched Aiden's silent tears. The hatred she had felt for Spaciens wavered in the face of this raw, human emotion. Aiden was no longer just an enemy; he was a boy who had been through unspeakable horrors, just like she had.

"Aiden, what's wrong?" Cooper asked gently. "I'm not going to tell you that crying makes you weak or anything, but please, tell me what's happening."

"You're unlike them," Aiden stated, his voice choked with emotion.

Cooper scratched his neck again, a nervous tick Norea noted.

Cooper sighed. "I—I don't understand..."

Jack interrupted. "The trainers would hit a kid if they were crying for anything…"

Cooper's expression darkened. "So what?" he snapped. "Kids cry. If they didn't want kids crying during training, then they should've never recruited children in the first place."

Jack continued, trying to keep his voice steady. "Cooper, I get what you mean, but the militia is down on numbers and we need to…"

Cooper scoffed. "Jack, I hear what you're saying, but it's all bullshit, and you're smarter than that."

The reprimand silenced both boys. Aiden had ceased crying, wiping the tears away with the back of his hand. Cooper's face was now a mask of rage. "When we lose this war, we're going to go down in history as monsters," he said, his voice low and fierce.

Jack was about to interrupt again, probably to argue that desperate times call for desperate measures, but Cooper raised his hand, silencing him. "We've lost untold millions of men to this war. We were holding our own against the IMC, especially when Earth was on our side. But now they've pulled out, and we're doing this. Honor before death? I'd never force a child to make that choice. You lot didn't even have a choice. Jack, your brother and father died... Aiden's dad is dead. Enough is enough."

Jack sneered. "My father and brother died with honor."

"They're dead," Cooper said loudly and firmly, making Jack wince at his tone. "And you're thirteen years old, carrying a gun bigger than your arm. We fight because the militia orders us to, and maybe we'll live long enough to see home again. Or you two will."

Aiden's eyes flashed with anger. "I hate them, Cooper."

Cooper's eyes filled with untold sorrow. "I know, kid, I know," he sighed. "But you and Jack fail to understand that this war is horrible, but this isn't your whole life. I know you hate the IMC and the Benett Group, and I hate them too, but the militia fails to realize that enough is enough. There are things far worse in the galaxy to lose and…"

Cooper's voice trailed off, his eyes distant as if seeing a future too painful to articulate. The fire crackled in the silence, casting flickering shadows over the weary faces around it.

"What is that, Cooper?" Jack asked, his tone laced with annoyance.

Cooper shot him a stern look. "Yourself," he stated flatly, leaving Jack momentarily speechless. "We're so down on numbers that you're the heir to Harmony, or so I hear the big wigs saying. No wonder they've got you training under me. And you and Aiden want to storm off and do guerrilla attacks on…"

"It's better than waiting here for months!" Aiden's voice echoed through the forest, sharp and desperate. His breaths came heavy and fast, his eyes glaring at Cooper. "My dad is dead, and my mom… she's waiting for me on Harmony, Cooper," he was shaking now, and Norea felt a strange ache in her stomach. "The quicker the IMC are all dead, the quicker those fools in the Benrett Group are all dead, the quicker I can see my mom again. That's all I want." His last words came out in a plaintive plea.

Norea was struck by the raw emotion, unsure of what to feel. Observing Jack and Aiden, she could see the bond they shared—a mix of competitiveness and deep friendship, almost like brothers. It reminded her of her own bond with Sophie, the closeness they had.

She sneered at herself for even comparing her situation to a Spacien's. Aiden had the luxury of being born in space, far removed from Earth's struggles. His family had left Earth generations ago, and now they were facing the consequences of their independence. She shouldn't feel bad for him, but deep down, there was a gnawing pit that said otherwise.

"I don't just hate them," Aiden continued, his gaze fixed on Cooper. "Those Earthians too, they're nothing but dogs chained to a dead planet. They're in the same boat. I hate them." He pointed at the fire with a fierce determination. "When we're done with the IMC, we've got to do something about those cowards who gave up halfway through the war."

Norea's guilt vanished instantly. She scoffed, almost as if speaking directly to the three boys. "Damned Spaciens, always the same…" She winced at her own weakness, the guilt that had briefly formed.

"Then… you hate yourself as well," Cooper's words fell heavily between the two boys, suffocating the space around them. The only sound was the mechanical hum of BT, standing sentinel over the group.

Cooper continued, his voice a steady, calming presence in the forest. "If you hate them, remember, we're all from Earth. It doesn't matter if you're from the moon, Mercury, or Harmony… we all descend from Earth. That blue world is humanity's birthplace, and Aiden, Jack, you must not give in to your hatred."

Jack sneered, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Why not? The drill sergeants said it gives us strength… like a weapon you can focus it into."

Cooper interrupted him, his tone firm. "…Yeah, and when this war is done, are you going to use your hate as an excuse?"

Jack's eyes widened in realization. "Of course not, I…," But he paused, his gaze dropping back to the fire, shame reflecting in the flickering flames.

Cooper turned his attention back to Aiden. "Aiden, I get what you're feeling. There was a time when I was younger and more eager, and I hated the IMC. But now I realize that behind every gun, there's a son, a brother, a father." Cooper sighed heavily, leaning into his camping chair. "The Earthians had their reasons for pulling out of the war. I can't blame them for wanting to focus on their home front. We're farther away from the Benrett Group's influence, but I know the group wages their own wars on their soil."

Norea's gaze shot to Cooper, a realization dawning. That was true...

Cooper continued. "Aiden, Jack, after this war is over… then what?" Both boys looked at each other, confusion etched on their faces. Cooper scoffed and chuckled darkly. "See, you don't even have an idea of how vast and great a single human life is, what someone can become. I'm not saying don't hate the IMC, but I've been fighting for many years alongside BT, and one day you'll fight without me. But I hope that when this war ends, you two will find peace and figure out what you want to do with your lives."

Aiden and Jack exchanged a glance, uncertainty clouding their young faces.

"I-I… haven't really thought about it," Jack admitted honestly.

Aiden nodded in agreement. "The training, being taken from home, just trying to survive," Aiden sighed deeply. "It's not even just dealing with the IMC, but the mental toll of it all, Cooper… I really, really miss my mom."

"Of course you do," Cooper said with a small smile. "You're too young for this, and you shouldn't have ever been here. But the world isn't perfect. I don't want you to come out of this war with so much hate and damage that you're consumed by it. You are not defined by your traumas. The worst thing, as your mentor, would be to see you use the skills I taught you to do more harm than good."

Norea watched, her heart aching as the boys absorbed Cooper's words. She could see the struggle in their eyes, the conflict between their anger and the yearning for something better. She felt a strange connection to them, understanding their pain and confusion.

Norea's gasp was heavy, and she didn't know how to feel… this was familiar, or rather something that she herself needed to hear. Yet, she gazed around at the two boys who were eagerly soaking up this information. Did Aiden Winters grow up with Jack Cooper's advice in his mind and become a better man?

"The war will one day end, and Aiden, you speak of wanting to hurt the Earthians, but that is merely a cycle of violence," Cooper lectured, his voice a steady anchor in the swirling storm of emotions. "We fought because the IMC denied us independence, the Earthians fought because they were denied their own independence. What good would more fighting do in this type of galaxy?"

She hated the Spaciens for what they did to her planet. She hated the group for stripping it of natural resources and leaving to live in space while they suffered. And she hated Harmony as well for the sole fact that they themselves were… Spacien. She didn't care that they helped Earth in the past, but now, she was slowly starting to realize, even reluctantly, just how childish that way of thinking was.

Cooper took a heavy breath, a sigh echoing through the forest as he spoke. "Force answers force, war breeds war, and death only brings death. To break this vicious circle, one must do more than just act without any thought or doubt… peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by human understanding."

Norea felt everything shift and contort around her. The forest, the camp, the boys—they all blurred and swirled like a painting caught in a whirlwind. She closed her eyes, feeling the words resonate deep within her soul.

"And through that human understanding, a universe without war, once a dream, will become a reality."

Norea woke up with a start, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears streamed down her cheeks, dampening her pillow. The dim, sterile lights of the shuttle's bunk illuminated her face. She felt a pair of hands gripping her shoulders, shaking her gently but firmly.

"Norea, wake up! Are you okay?" Sophie's voice was tinged with panic, her eyes wide with concern as she peered down at her.

Norea blinked, the remnants of her dream still clinging to her mind like cobwebs. She saw Sophie perched over her, her expression shifting from worry to something softer, more tender.

"You were thrashing around and mumbling in your sleep," Sophie continued, her voice steadying. "I've been shaking you for a minute. Are you—" She paused, her gaze settling on the tears glistening on Norea's cheeks. Her expression softened further. "Oh, Norea..."

Without warning, Norea lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Sophie. The embrace was fierce, desperate, as if she feared letting go would mean losing everything she had just come to realize.

"I'm so sorry," Norea choked out, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry for being mean lately, for everything. Does our promise still hold up?"

Sophie sighed, the sound filled with relief and understanding. She returned the embrace just as tightly, resting her chin on Norea's shoulder. "Of course it does," she whispered, her voice warm and reassuring. "I would never leave you. We're sisters forever."

Norea clung to her, the tears flowing freely now, but they were tears of release, of a burden lifted. They stayed like that for a long moment, finding solace in each other's presence.

Outside the small window of their space shuttle, the stars twinkled like tiny beacons of hope against the endless void of space. The universe, vast and mysterious, seemed a little less daunting with the promise of friendship and the bond of sisterhood lighting their way.

Aiden

"…only by human understanding," Aiden muttered sleepily to himself.

"Aidy," Suletta's voice, soft and melodic, pierced through the haze of his dreams. She started to shake him gently at first, then more insistently. "Aidy…" she repeated, this time with a hint of frustration as she shook him more aggressively.

His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned inwardly as he stretched out on the couch. Disoriented, he blinked up at the bright yellow ceiling lights of Earth House, trying to remember where he was. His hand went to his forehead, brushing away the wild tendrils of hair. "When did I forget that lesson?" Aiden mumbled to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What are you talking about?" Suletta asked, her voice tinged with curiosity. She stood above him in her grey academy uniform, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked down at him.

Aiden paused for a moment, shaking off the remnants of sleep. "Nothing," he replied flatly.

"Nothing?" Suletta echoed with a cocky smile. "Y-you were just going off and rambling while you slept."

Aiden chuckled. "Maybe I was dreaming about you, Suletta."

Suletta's cheeks flushed a deep crimson. "Not here, Aiden," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Ah, you'd prefer it in my room…funny, in my dream we were there. But you had a bunny suit on, and there was baby oil involved and—" Suletta's face turned even redder, and she quickly clamped her hands over Aiden's lips, forming an X across his face. She could feel the vibrations of his chuckles against her palms.

"A-Aiden, that's enough…" she stated loudly, leaning forward. Suddenly, she felt a weird sensation on her hands.

She winced, pulling her hands back as if burned. "YOU'RE SO GROSS!" she shouted, her voice echoing throughout Earth House as Aiden's laughter filled the room. "I can't believe you licked my hand."

Aiden rose from the couch, his smirk broadening as he heard the others starting to return to the house.

"What's going on here?" Chu Chu's voice, sharp with annoyance, cut through the commotion as she walked in, only to halt abruptly. Her narrowed eyes shifted from Suletta, who was frantically wiping her hands on her pants, to Aiden, whose smug, self-satisfied grin hadn't faded.

"Enjoy your nap?" Chu Chu asked sarcastically, her tone dripping with disdain.

Aiden shot her a look but waved it off. "Yeah, you guys have a pretty decent couch," he said, then glanced at Suletta, noting the other Earth House members entering the room. "So, how did the promo video turn out?"

Nuno and Ojelo, who had just walked in, exchanged glances. The interaction wasn't lost on Aiden. "What's up?" he asked, sensing something was off.

The two boys shared another look before Nuno spoke up. "The video is done, and Suletta even worked out the company logo."

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Well, let's see it then," he said, pushing aside the lingering awkwardness of the previous moment.

"Ah, that's sweet," Aiden remarked, trying to maintain a straight face. Lilique approached him with a well-placed smile, and Aiden had to stifle a snort and chuckle.

"W-what?" Suletta quickly interjected. "Why are you laughing?"

"I'm not laughing, baby," Aiden said, hiding his smile behind his palm. "It's just… we've got a lot of money that Miorine is pulling in, maybe we should get the sign professionally done and…"

"I'm not too worried about the sign," Till interrupted. "You were asleep while we were viewing and…"

He paused, glancing around the room. "How about we show you the video, Winters?"

Aiden took one last look at the sign before laying it next to the couch. He shot Suletta a look, noting her red face and frown. He slung an arm around her and drew her close, eliciting a small smile from her.

"Let's see it then," Aiden said.

They watched the video on a phone, and Aiden couldn't suppress his laughter even before the first minute. "S-stop laughing!" Suletta shouted, but it did nothing to cease Aiden's torrent of amusement.

"What's wrong with it?" Suletta nearly shouted, her frustration evident, but her words only made Aiden laugh harder.

"Oh my god, it's like some Vtuber type shit with the Aerial and—oh my god…" He chuckled aloud, clutching his chest. Suletta couldn't help but notice the others from Earth House starting to snicker and chuckle as well. "Relax, Suletta. It's not your fault, but you shouldn't be ad-libbing for our first promo video."

"Then what do you think we should do?" Aliya asked.

They all gathered near the couch area as Aiden handed back the phone, leaning back with his arms crossed. "So, we're going to be talking about how my hand can function like any other hand?" he questioned.

There were shrugs and nods around the room. He then tossed his gaze to Chu Chu. "Oscar told me that you can pilot, right? A demi trainer?"

Chu Chu smirked, crossing her arms confidently. "Yeah, what about it?"

"I'm just saying, how about a practice match between us?" He paused, looking at Suletta and flashing a smirk. Her face blushed, and he chuckled softly. It was almost too easy at this point. "I say me and you… mock fight, and we'll get it on camera and see how it turns out."

Chu Chu smirked, pounding her fist into her hand. "You're on," she declared.

The room buzzed with excitement and anticipation as they prepared for what promised to be an entertaining and challenging match, the earlier tension forgotten as they focused on the task ahead.