Astronics

A word whispered only in the highest echelons of government and among those whose lives revolve around secrecy and survival. It is the study of the irreversible changes wrought upon the Earth and its inhabitants by the catastrophic detonation of 2100. That event, known in hushed tones as the Cataclysm, fractured the world in ways beyond human comprehension.

When the nuclear winter descended, it shattered continents, twisted climates, and scarred the very fabric of the planet. The fallout, laden with radioactive atoms, bonded with the atmosphere, transforming Earth into an uninhabitable crucible for normal humanity. Yet, amidst the devastation, something extraordinary emerged.

The surviving 5% of humans underwent a transformation. Their bodies adapted, developing the ability to circulate, regulate, and harness the radioactive energy that had fused with the environment. The key to this miracle? A seemingly dormant organ: the appendix.

Some called it divine intervention, the grace of a higher power. Others credited evolution—a ruthless adaptation to ensure survival. But the truth was far stranger. The cosmos itself had refused to let humanity falter. It had chosen to intervene, offering the species a second chance through its covenant of champions.

They were not mere myths. They were real—forces of nature who embodied the duality of creation and destruction. Each bore the name of a zodiac sign, though they transcended astrology's mundane interpretations.

Aries: The emotional visionary, whose fiery passion could ignite revolutions or burn worlds to ash.

Aquarius: The tranquil surfer, riding the tides of change with an unshakable calm.

Cancer: The mourner of lost worlds, carrying the weight of history in their soul.

Capricorn: The selfless inventor, whose creations could heal or destroy.

Gemini: The observant neighbor, seeing what others could not.

Leo: The prideful monarch, ruling with both benevolence and tyranny.

Libra: The seeker of balance, walking the fine line between order and chaos.

Pisces: The empathetic nurturer, whose compassion could mend even the deepest wounds.

Sagittarius: The chaos-bringer, whose arrows never missed their mark.

Scorpio: The vengeful shadow, striking from the darkness with deadly precision.

Taurus: The insatiable opportunist, always seeking more.

Virgo: The immutable equilibrium, maintaining the cosmic balance at all costs.

Together, they formed the cosmic covenant—a balance of power tasked with reviving humanity from its brink. But the same power that could save also had the capacity to obliterate.

A covenant this profound required rules. Binding laws that dictated its purpose.

It was fated that whenever humanity teetered on the edge of annihilation, seven chosen souls would rise. Their purpose: to decide the fate of the world. Would humanity continue, or would it perish under their judgment?

This knowledge was a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few. Yet, the power—the dormant energy coursing through humanity—resided in everyone. Astrons, they called these gifts, shaped by the bearer's will and their understanding of the covenant's true nature.

For most, the power would remain a mystery, locked away forever. But for those who dared to seek it, the journey to unlocking their Astronic potential was a revelation of the self and the universe's hidden truths.

"Hahaha! No way. You're tripping, Eve." Arthur leaned back in the passenger seat, laughing as the evening sun cast warm hues over the highway. "This makes no sense. I think I'd know if I had the power of the cosmos or whatever. Who told you this BS?"

Eve rolled her eyes, her hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. "Arthur, you've seen my powers. You've seen what I can do. You think I'm just making this up? I wish you could see the hundreds of unique gifts I've witnessed." Her fiery orange eyes glinted with conviction, but Arthur simply shook his head.

"Right," he said, chuckling. "So where are all these so-called gifts, huh? Why haven't I seen anyone flying around or shooting fire out of their fingers?"

Eve sighed, the weight of her knowledge evident in her voice. "Because the detonation made us realize something. It made us see how fragile we really are. The United Confederation decided humanity wasn't ready for that kind of power. They keep it under wraps. 100 years ago, the pursuit of knowledge and power destroyed us. That's why only government and military officials know about Astrons and Astronics. Well—besides the Monarchy."

Arthur smirked, unconvinced. "A global conspiracy to keep me from flying? Sure. That sounds legit."

Without warning, Eve slammed her foot on the brake, sending the car jolting to a sudden stop. "Whoa, what the hell?" Arthur gripped his seatbelt tightly, his eyes wide with surprise.

Eve opened the door without a word, stepping out onto the dusty road. The heat of the afternoon sun beat down on the barren landscape, but Eve didn't flinch. Her fiery orange eyes locked onto the sky, her body still and poised.

Arthur followed, half-expecting her to be losing her mind. "Eve, what are you doing? We don't have time for this—"

But Eve held up a hand, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Watch," she said softly, her voice taking on a tone of quiet confidence.

Before Arthur could respond, Eve's body began to glow faintly, her energy seemingly radiating outward. The temperature around her spiked, distorting the air above the road like a heatwave. Arthur blinked, feeling the air grow noticeably warmer, his skin prickling with a sudden, intense heat.

Eve's eyes glowed brighter, the orange shifting toward a deep, fiery red as she raised her hand toward a metal signpost on the side of the road.

The metal seemed to react instantly, its surface shimmering, and with a soft hum, the sign began to warp and bend. A visible wave of heat rose from Eve's hand, a glowing red beam that struck the metal signpost. The metal started to glow white-hot as the temperature soared, distorting the sign and causing it to melt in seconds. Arthur's mouth dropped open, his disbelief clear.

"What the hell...?" he muttered.

Eve looked over at him, her lips curling into a smirk. "Heat is a tricky thing," she said, taking a step back. "It can be an ally, a weapon, or even a source of energy. Watch this."

She closed her eyes, and the air around her shimmered once again. The temperature seemed to drop momentarily, and a pulse of energy radiated out from her like a surge of power. The sunlight above her intensified as the heat in the surrounding environment shifted toward her, drawing in waves of energy from the ground and the air itself.

Arthur felt the air cool slightly, the oppressive heat turning into a more comfortable warmth, like a gentle breeze replacing the stifling air. He stepped back, instinctively, as Eve's body absorbed the heat around her, her skin glowing with vitality.

Eve's eyes flashed open, brighter than before. Her face was serene, as though she were drawing strength from the very world around her. She took a deep breath, and when she exhaled, her body exuded an aura of shimmering heat, like the faint glow of embers.

Then, with a swift motion, she lifted her arm, and from her hand shot a beam of pure, intense heat—a narrow, concentrated stream of energy that cut through the air with the force of a laser. The beam struck the side of a distant rock formation, vaporizing a chunk of stone on contact, leaving a smoking crater in its wake.

Arthur was speechless, his mouth hanging open as he stared at the destroyed rock. "Holy... shit. Did you just—?"

Eve let the power subside, her breathing steady as the heat around her dissipated. She turned to face him, her expression calm, though there was a flicker of intensity behind her eyes. "I can do more than just shoot power up solar car batteries, Arthur. Heat is everywhere, and I can control it. I can use it to power solar tech, like your solar-powered gadgets, or even absorb it to recharge my own energy."

Arthur couldn't take his eyes off her, the reality of her abilities settling in. "That's... that's insane. You could melt anything with that kind of power. You could—"

Eve cut him off with a shrug. "I don't use it lightly. But when necessary, it's the perfect weapon. And just think of the things we could do if we had control of the energy networks—the tech we could power, the ways we could better society."

Arthur let out a low whistle. "You really are dangerous, you know that?"

Eve smirked, her eyes flickering with something darker. "I'm not dangerous yet, Arthur. I'm just getting started."

Arthur stood there, his mind racing, his previous doubts slipping into the background as the full scope of Eve's abilities began to sink in. He had no idea what they were getting into, but one thing was clear: nothing about their mission was going to be easy. And with Eve's power at her disposal, they would have a fighting chance—if they could just learn how to control it.

Arthur hesitated, then continued, "Let's say I believe you. Just for argument's sake. How do I get this 'gift'? I mean, I'll need it if I'm going to help you stop Avery and the CLF."

Eve's smirk faltered. "Honestly? I don't know."

"You don't know?" Arthur's voice shot up, a mix of frustration and disbelief. "You drag me into this mess, and you don't even know how it works?"

"That's why we're going to the Academy," Eve said, her voice softening. A small smile tugged at her lips. "One of my professors there can help us."

"The Academy?" Arthur stared at her incredulously. "You mean the same place you ditched in the middle of the semester? That Academy?"

Eve nodded, her grin widening.

"And how exactly are we getting in?"

Her grin turned mischievous.

Arthur groaned. "When did you even think of this plan?"

"Look, stop overthinking for once," Eve teased. "Just trust me, Arty. All this talking is unnecessary. You'll follow me anyway. You always do." She winked, her tone playful. "It's me. And you love me!"

Arthur froze, her words hitting harder than she likely intended. His gaze dropped to the floor, his mind racing. If Eve had looked at him instead of the road, she would've seen the resignation in his expression. She would've seen how painfully right she was.

The drive turned to silence, the kind of quiet that felt heavy, like the air before a storm. Eve was lost in her thoughts, daydreaming of victory, imagining herself standing triumphantly over the CLF as crowds chanted her name. Arthur, on the other hand, watched the road with a troubled look, his thoughts far less grandiose.

"How am I supposed to keep her safe?" he wondered, his chest tightening with worry. From the CLF, from Avery… from her reckless driving.

As Eve's grin spread wider, Arthur sighed and muttered under his breath, "What in the hell is this girl getting me into now? And hopefully she'll stop at a gas station? I really need a smoke."

Arthur's nerves were shot. He hadn't had a proper smoke in hours, and the weight of everything pressing down on him—Eve's wild plans, her powers, the looming threat of the CLF—had him at his breaking point.

"I need to pee," he muttered to Eve, his voice coming out quieter than he intended.

Eve glanced at him, one eyebrow arched. She didn't respond right away, just kept her eyes on the road, hands gripping the wheel with that almost unnerving intensity she had when she drove. After a long beat, she finally said, "You better not be getting anything else."

Arthur winced at her tone. "No promises," he said, only half-joking.

"I'm serious, Arthur. We don't have time for you to be slacking off."

The weight of everything was bearing down on him. He needed something to calm his nerves.

Before she could say anything else, Arthur quickly slipped out of the car, closing the door a little too loudly. He knew Eve wouldn't approve if she found out he smoked, but honestly? Right now, he didn't care. He needed something to take the edge off.

The hot air outside felt like a furnace as he made his way to the gas station, a small, dilapidated building on the side of the road. The door chimed softly as he entered, and he took in a deep breath of the cool, artificial air inside.

"Morning," the cashier, a middle-aged man with a grizzled face, greeted him without looking up from the magazine in his hand.

Arthur gave a half-hearted wave. "Hey."

He immediately made his way to the back of the store, slipping into the aisle that held the cigarettes. He eyed the packs, until he saw his prize.

"A pack of Salem Reds, yes please," he sung happily to himself, taking the box off the shelf and heading toward the counter, trying to act casual.

But just as he was about to step forward, he heard Eve's voice outside, followed by the unmistakable sound of the car door opening.

Shit.

Arthur's heart raced. He didn't have much time.

In a panic, he grabbed the first pack of gum he could find—a bright pink pack of "Bubble Blast Extreme"—shoving the cigarettes into his jacket pocket and the gum into his hands. He quickly turned to the cashier.

"Uh, just this," he said, trying to act normal as he tossed the pack of gum onto the counter.

The cashier raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. He scanned the gum and bagged it. "That all, buddy?"

"Yeah," Arthur muttered, his palms sweating. "Just the gum."

His heart pounded as he turned to leave, but then, the door opened, and Eve stepped inside. She glanced around the store, eyes scanning quickly. Arthur froze.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Arthur swallowed. "I—uh, just peed but I got a little sidetracked," he said, his voice a little too high-pitched.

Eve narrowed her eyes at him, clearly skeptical, but then her gaze shifted to the cashier, who was still standing behind the counter, giving Arthur a curious look.

"I told you not to take too long," she said, sounding a little more irritated. "We don't have time for—"

The sound of a crackling announcement from the store's old TV interrupted her. A news broadcast, specifically from the United Confederation, began playing.

"—on behalf of the Verdance Dynasty, Queen Noveno, the newly crowned ruler of the United Confederation, would like to address her citizens," a smooth, robotic voice announced.

Arthur's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the new queen. He quickly glanced at Eve, who was now paying full attention to the screen. The momentary distraction was enough to shift the focus away from him for just a second.

Eve's expression changed as the screen flickered to life, displaying a young, regal-looking girl—Queen Noveno, only 15 years old—sitting atop a throne adorned with intricate golden patterns. Despite her youth, she carried herself with an air of calm authority.

The words that followed were sharp and commanding, a reflection of the control the monarchy still held over the Confederation.

"People of the Confederation," Queen Noveno began, her voice measured yet full of undeniable power. "It has come to my attention that the recent terrorist act carried out has shocked us all. I want to make it clear that this is not a matter we will take lightly. We will bring the perpetrators to justice for the innocent lives that were lost in his senseless attack. The Confederation will not bow to those who seek to destroy the peace we have fought so hard to build."

Arthur's eyes darted to Eve, noticing the subtle tightening of her jaw, the flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. She knows Avery was behind this, the killing of innocents. The weight of the situation hung heavily in the air between them.

Queen Noveno's voice continued, unwavering. "We will hunt down those responsible for this violence and ensure that they are held accountable. The safety of the Confederation is paramount, and we will not allow anyone to undermine that stability."

Arthur couldn't help but notice the severity in her tone, as if the very idea of people against the state was unforgivable. Eve, however, seemed lost in thought, her eyes distant.

"I know my brother," Eve muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper. "He would never do this for no reason. There has to be more to this."

Arthur watched her, confusion settling in. He didn't understand her brother's actions, but he knew Eve wasn't the type to blindly defend him. Her words carried the weight of her conviction, and for a moment, Arthur almost forgot about the pack of cigarettes burning a hole in his jacket pocket. Almost.

"Yeah, but this… this is big," Arthur said, unsure how to comfort her. He shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of the crinkling sound the cigarette pack made every time he moved. "What's he doing, Eve? Terrorism? Killing innocent people? That's not exactly a 'misunderstood genius' move."

Eve's expression darkened. "I don't know," she whispered, shaking her head. "I can't believe he'd do that. But I also know Avery. He doesn't act without a reason. If he's doing this… it's because he thinks it's necessary."

Arthur's mind spun as he tried to process everything Eve was saying. Avery Meadows—Eve's brother—the leader of a terror organization, and the monarchy was gunning for him. The stakes were higher than ever, and Eve was caught in the middle of a storm she hadn't asked for.

But then, as the broadcast ended and the screen faded to black, Arthur's mind snapped back to his own actions. He pulled his jacket tighter around him, the pack of cigarettes pressing against his chest like a ticking time bomb. He glanced at Eve, who was still staring at the now-blank screen, her brow furrowed in thought.

Okay, Arthur, stay cool. She didn't see you. She was too busy brooding over her brother's descent into supervillainy. Just keep it together.

He casually adjusted his jacket, trying to muffle the crinkling sound. Unfortunately, the movement only made it worse.

Crinkle. Crinkle. Crinkle.

Eve's head snapped toward him, her fiery orange eyes narrowing. "What was that?"

Arthur froze, his hand halfway to his chest. "What was what?"

"That sound. It's like you're carrying a bag of chips in your jacket."

Arthur forced a laugh, though it came out more like a strangled cough. "Oh, that? Uh, probably just my… gum. Yeah, my gum. They're really crinkly. You know how the Bubble Blast Extremes are."

Eve raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Bubble Blast Extremes don't crinkle, Arthur."

"Well, these are a special pack," he said, his voice rising an octave. "Very… crinkly. Very juicy. Cutting-edge. You wouldn't understand."

Eve stared at him for a long moment, her gaze piercing. Arthur felt sweat forming on his forehead, though he wasn't sure if it was from the heat or the sheer terror of being caught.

Finally, she sighed and turned away. "Whatever. Just don't let it slow us down."

Arthur exhaled quietly, his shoulders relaxing. Thank the stars. She bought it. Or at least she's too distracted to care.

"Let's go," Eve said, her tone cool but heavy with the conflict she was feeling. "We've got more important things to focus on."

Arthur nodded quickly, his heart still pounding. He followed Eve out of the store, the weight of the broadcast lingering in the air. As they stepped outside, the heat hit him like a wall, and he instinctively reached for his jacket pocket.

Wait. No. Bad idea.

He jerked his hand away, but not fast enough. Eve's eyes flicked toward him, catching the movement.

"What are you hiding, Arthur?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"Nothing!" he said, his voice cracking. "Just… adjusting my jacket. It's hot. You know how it is."

Eve crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "You're acting weird. Weirder than usual."

Arthur forced a grin, though it felt more like a grimace. "Weird? Me? Never. I'm the picture of normalcy. A beacon of sanity in this crazy world."

Eve didn't laugh. Instead, she took a step closer, her eyes locked on his jacket. "If you're hiding something—"

"I'm not!" Arthur interrupted, his voice rising. He took a step back, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Look, I'm just stressed, okay? Between your brother's sudden career change into 'world's most wanted' and your whole 'I can melt metal with my mind' thing, I think I'm allowed to be a little on edge."

Eve studied him for a moment, then shook her head. "Fine. But if I find out you're lying to me, you're dead."

Arthur chuckled nervously. "Noted. No lying. Got it."

As they walked back to the car, Arthur couldn't help but feel a small surge of triumph. He'd pulled it off. The cigarettes were still safely tucked away, and Eve was none the wiser.

Take that, world. Arthur Lugar: master of deception.

But as he climbed into the passenger seat, he couldn't shake the feeling that Eve was still watching him. Her gaze lingered a little too long, her expression a little too suspicious.

Okay, maybe not a master. But definitely an apprentice.

The car started with a low hum, and Eve pulled back onto the road. Arthur leaned back in his seat, trying to look casual as he discreetly patted his jacket pocket.

Still there. Good.

Eve glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "You good over there?"

"Never better," Arthur said, his voice a little too cheerful. "Just… enjoying the ride."

Eve rolled her eyes but didn't press further. Arthur let out a quiet sigh of relief, though he knew the real challenge would come later.

Now I just have to figure out how to smoke these without her noticing.

As the car sped down the highway, Arthur couldn't help but smile. Despite the chaos, the danger, and the looming threat of the CLF and mystical powers, he'd managed to pull off one small victory.

And sometimes, that was enough.