STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

Lucien ’s mind raced as they neared the meeting point. This is insane. We’re walking straight into the lion’s den. But if this works…

The café was nearly empty. In the farthest corner of the café, Jaris was already waiting.

He was older than Lucien had expected, his uniform crisp, posture rigid — but there was something in his expression. Not defiance. Not loyalty. Something in between.

Corin led the way, his movements relaxed but deliberate as he slid into the chair across from Jaris. “Officer Jaris. Appreciate you meeting with us.”

Jaris barely reacted. His gaze flicked to Lucien, then Lyra, then back to Corin. “You have five minutes. Make them count.”

Lucien pulled a data pad from his bag, fingers steady despite the coiling in his gut. He activated it with a flick, the screen glowing between them. Files appeared—stolen memos, direct from the Celestial Order.

“These are internal documents,” Lucien said. “They outline the recalibration protocols—the ones they don’t tell you about.”

Jaris ’s leaned forward, scanning the data. “And you’re showing me this because…?”

Lyra didn ’t hesitate. “Because you’ve seen it.”

Jaris snapped his attention to her, but she didn ’t flinch.

“You know something’s wrong,” she pressed. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”

His fingers curled around his mug. “Even if I did, what makes you think I’d side with you? Do you have any idea what you ’re asking?”

Lucien studied the man for a moment, then asked, “Do you have any children?”

The steward ’s brow furrowed slightly, as if the question had caught him off guard. “A daughter,” he admitted after a pause.

Lucien nodded, his expression unreadable. “Earlier today, I spoke to a man whose daughter was recalibrated as a child. He never saw her again.” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, a quiet challenge beneath the words. “AstroSYS decided her chart was ‘undesirable’. So they erased her.” He let the weight of that settle before continuing. “Tell me—what happens if one day, they decide your daughter doesn ’t fit their design anymore?”

Lyra leaned in, her voice quiet but unwavering. “We’re asking you to fight for something bigger. You know what AstroSYS and the Celestial Order have done. You ’ve seen it with your own eyes. How many more people must disappear before you say enough?”

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