The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.

---- Aija and Zuri join Kuna on a Harvest Stopping Mission. They go to the hospital. Aija, at the hospital, stumbles upon Luka's satchel and goes after it, instead. She finds a kitten that has escaped from the hospital. When she is out of the hospital, releasing all the collected souls from Luka's satchel, Thieron comes.

---- Thieron kidnaps Aija. She finds out that Nala works for Thieron. Ze, who was following her to rescue her, gets captured along with her. Thieron binds Aija to himself.

---- Zuri is worried about Aija and Ze, who were taken by Thieron. Etrie kisses Zuri; she slaps him. Ahi and Zuri patch up and agree to remain friends.

---- Zuri is asked to go to the Secure Headquarters for questioning. She goes to Innermost for it.

---- Zuri is questioned by Secure Ivan who presumes that Ze and Aijs ran from home together. She meets the Oshiros and Iyler. Kuna tells her that Iyler is actually from the Gale. 

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****21.1 - Goldstar****

The music from the guitar and the sound of the rain outside filled the room with a harmonious rhythm.

Goldstar put aside his DigiBook, having studied the whole night. He stretched as he stood and sniffled. He wore a light sweater and left his room and found Avery playing the guitar in the main room.

"Is it cold enough to wear a sweater?" Avery asked on seeing him, still playing the guitar.

"It is." Goldstar hugged himself as he sat on the couch opposite Avery.

"Cute." Avery laughed.

Goldstar frowned.

"Done studying?" he asked, switching to a more lively tune.

"Kind of..." Goldstar said, rubbing his eyes.

His Scroll beeped, and he removed it from his pocket. It was a mail from the University. It was regarding the leaves he had taken recently and a review of how many were left. He had ten days of leave remaining for the rest of the year. It wasn't much, considering he might have to visit Pristine One several times more.

It was becoming increasingly exhausting to handle both studies and Gale work. This year he had already traveled several times to Pristine One and the South. He deliberated on if he should just give up his studies and devote himself entirely to the Gale. Like Iyler. Maybe then, even she would feel confident in him. Perhaps she would be willing to be open about their relationship. Sometimes, he also wondered if he could just drag it a bit more like he had done till then, finish his studies, get a job at Pristine One and then devote more and more time to the Gale.

But, it meant leaving behind his parents and siblings. He hated the thought of it. But, he also knew it would eventually happen, since he didn't want to give up on the Gale's work. He had been so reluctant to join the Gale, now leaving it seemed so wrong.

He ran his fingers through his hair, pulling at it.

"All okay?" Avery asked.

Goldstar just looked at him, thoughts broken.

"You're staring at the Scroll like you are going to break it into two."

Goldstar placed it on the table. "It's nothing. I have a few leaves left."

Avery stopped playing the guitar. "Is everything alright, man?"

"Yes, Ave... Did you...?"

He was about to ask him if he had had breakfast when his Scroll beeped again. Avery raised his brows in question.

Goldstar opened the mail. It was from Premier Red. It read:

'Goldstar,

We have received information on a new kidnapping/disappearance case. It is different from the other cases – which is why I was hoping you could handle it.

We have enough information from R'ies to point to the fact that the missing kids are alive, and it wasn't a Harvest. One of them is from a high profile family.

The names of the kids are - Ze Roan and Aija Niyarah Rao-Oshiro.'

Goldstar stood, his heart beating fast. The Oshiros...

Inform me if you can come help search for the kids.

Premier Red.

May the Earth be strong and proud.'

"Veer?"

"Huh...?"

It sounded like Avery had called him a few times.

"Veer? What's going on?"

Goldstar tried to stay level-headed. He read the mail again and again. 'It wasn't a Harvest.' 'Alive.' The words kept repeating in his mind.

What were the Ytai up to now?

The kids were alive, which meant there was still a sliver of a chance to find them. His heart pounded. What was H'eon doing? They never took humans alive. He deleted the mail.

"Veer!" Avery shouted, standing across him.

"It's nothing..." Goldstar tried to brush it off.

"It's not 'nothing' something is going on with you. And I need to know what's going on. Maybe I can help."

"I think I might have to go home again."

"What's wrong?" I'm not letting you go until I know what's going on with you!"

"Avery," Goldstar said, looking at his roommate.

"Yes,"

"There are some things I can't tell you right now."

"Are you in trouble? Who's troubling you? Tell me. My family can help." Avery was genuinely worried.

"I don't need help." Goldstar smiled. "Thanks, Avery."

"You can't just leave again, Veer. If they have mailed you about your leaves, then you have about ten left. I'm correct, aren't I? It's a mail now. If your leaves go below this, you'll be asked to meet the Director."

Goldstar ran his fingers through his hair again.

"Please, Veer. What is going on?"

"I told you, Avery. I can't tell you right now."

Avery looked disappointed in him. "I thought we were friends."

"We are," Goldstar replied. "It's why I can't tell you anything right now. You won't be safe if I tell you."

"Just what sort of trouble are you in?"

Goldstar looked at his roommate and friend. He had met Avery four years ago when he had arrived at Pristine Four to study. He had met him first as a roommate, and he had found it weird since roommates weren't allowed at Pristine One when he was Volunteering.

But, soon, he had gotten accustomed to his cheerfulness and carefreeness. Avery was a sweet person. He hated that he was worrying him so much, but there was absolutely no way he could tell him about his work with the Gale.

"The kind that could get you killed, Avery. And I don't want to have you involved in it as well." Goldstar tried to scare him off. Avery looked horrified. Before he could say anything, Goldstar said, "I need to make a call," and left.

He went to a secluded cabin in one of the Study Rooms and locked it.

"Voice call Red," he commanded his Scroll.

Premier Red answered on the second ring. Goldstar spoke to him for a long time, asking about the current situation making sure the two kids were still alive. Premier Red told him that even R'ies member Etrie Ay'tir believed they were alive else they would have found them dead already.

Apparently, Aija Rao-Oshiro had been working with Etrie. So, she was the human who had been working with him. How had she met him? How had she gotten into this mess with Ytai? Being taken by Thieron was no ignorable problem. It was terribly huge – the H'eon Ytai hated humans. Why had they taken two alive? Was Ah'n interested? Was Alton Ivar interested in the kids?

Then he remembered a report he had read a while back. Kuna had been seen frequenting the School Housing. Aija Oshiro and the boy volunteered at the School. And, the girl had been working with Etrie for quite some time now. Was it all connected? Connected beyond his capability of understanding?

There were too many unanswered questions, and it agitated him.

He explained to Premier Red about his situation regarding his leaves. The Premier suggested he not come and risk his studies. He had sent Iyler to handle the situation and would continue to, till Goldstar was needed since even R'ies was actively looking at getting back the kids. Etrie Ay'tir was personally searching for them, which made Goldstar more tensed than relieved. If Etrie was personally so involved, the situation was even worse than they made it seem.

There was a knock on the door; Goldstar saw Avery through the glass cabin. He ended the call and commanded the door open. Avery stepped in, and the door slid closed behind him. It beeped once as it auto-locked.

"I want the truth." he insisted, his voice crisp. "I'm willing to risk anything to help you."

Goldstar smiled. "Thanks, Ave. But I can't knowingly put you in trouble. I will be fine; I can take care of this."

"Veer..."

"Avery. You can't convince me to tell you anything. Come, let's have breakfast."

****

Goldstar couldn't eat because of his worry, and it angered Avery. Goldstar terribly wanted to go to Pristine One. He was feeling half-hearted about letting Iyler handle it. It bothered him. A lot...

He called his parents and siblings. It didn't put him at ease. He spent the rest of the day in his room, frequently asking Himari and Leigh for updates.

He fell asleep at his table, dreaming of the first time he had met a Ytai; the time when he had only been Veer, not Goldstar. He had been all set to leave for Pristine Four for the very first time to attend school. He had met a few friends that night and had been going back to the Housing with Trey, his best friend since childhood.

It was late at night, and they were on their hovercycles when three men blocked their path unexpectedly. He remembered pressing the brakes real hard as he fell. Trey hadn't been able to stop the hovercycle in time, and Goldstar had been terrified he would crash into the three men.

Instead, the three men moved aside swiftly at the last minute, so fast, Goldstar wasn't sure it was really possible. Trey lost his balance and fell to the ground ahead of Goldstar.

Goldstar stood slowly, having bruised his legs. One of the men went to Trey and held him down. Goldstar had the distinct feeling something wasn't right, but he had taken too long to react. The man had chanted words in a strange language and put a blade to Trey's heart.

Goldstar had frozen with fear as he saw a glowing ball of light, leave Trey's body, and settle into a glass jar. He had been speechless and petrified, rooted to the ground.

The two other men made a move towards him. Goldstar tried to run, he really did. But his legs wouldn't move either because he was terrified or because he didn't want to leave Trey. Or maybe it was both. One of the men was so close to him, Goldstar closed his eyes, tears stinging them, awaiting the same fate as Trey.

Then he heard a grunt, and a few shouts later in a language he didn't understand, he finally heard CommLang. He opened his eyes to find the two men dead. The man who had killed Trey ran, followed by someone else.

A woman a few years older than him approached him and asked if he was alright. She introduced herself as Iyler and took him aside. Iyler had explained what had happened to Trey, all about Ytai, Harvest, and the Àvo.

She had asked him for his name, but that night he had refused to speak. He had been too shocked about what had happened; he had known Trey since he was six. Iyler had dropped him to his Housing and left. He had cried through the night. The toughest part had been lying to Trey's parents about what had really happened. He had had to lie that Trey had left for home, and so had he; that he hadn't known what had happened to him. And the next day, he had to leave for Pristine Four as if he hadn't just lost his childhood friend who had wanted to be in Law.

Nearly a month later, he was met by Premier Red, who had the audacity to declare he'd had him followed all the way to Pristine Four because Iyler had told the Premier that Goldstar would make an excellent member. The Premier hadn't found any personal information about him, which was common when one belonged to high-class families. Often records of their children weren't made accessible to people and created false identities to keep their children safe from hackers.

The Premier had left his contact information in case he changed his mind since Goldstar had outright refused his offer to join the Gale. Goldstar had mulled over it for a month before saying 'Yes' to the Premier. And, his life had radically changed after that.

In the last four years, Goldstar had saved so many people from the Leadership he had lost count. He had made sure they had better lives in the South, all that he couldn't do for Trey and his family he did for others.

He had taken up the name Goldstar – from the star-shaped gold earrings he wore as he wasn't comfortable sharing his real name with anyone in the Gale, and it wasn't like they could access his personal information. Premier was the only one who knew him as Veer and not his full name. No one, including Iyler, knew his name; knew who he really was. Not even as Veer.

About a year after joining the Gale, Iyler had told him that he wasn't supposed to have been with Trey that night. They had left the party late, and the Ytai had started early. If things had gone according to plan, Goldstar wouldn't ever have known what really had happened to Trey, and he wouldn't have been a part of the Gale.

He woke to a nudge on his shoulder.

"We are late for class," Avery said and left after he was sure Goldstar was awake.

He looked at the time - it was nine a.m. He had already missed a class. And Avery had missed it too to stay with him. His neck hurt as he rose from the chair. He had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable posture. He quickly got dressed and went to the main room to find breakfast ready.

"I probably shouldn't waste time on this," he told Avery.

"You probably should since we are late anyway."

"Thanks for waiting for me. You shouldn't have missed class for me, though."

"I don't know if you remember, Veer, but you waited for me like this one day in our first year."

Goldstar remembered. Avery had been going through a tough time because of his brother's illness and eventual death. Avery's brother had fallen seriously sick one day, and nothing had helped him. Avery hadn't slept for several months and had finally slept one night and woken up late in the morning. Goldstar had skipped class and made sure Avery would be alright once he woke up. They had missed two classes and finally gone to school.

"I remember," he said.

Avery smiled. "Then, you will not complain about a returned favor."

The two of them headed to class. Mr. Singh shot them an angry look as they entered his class an hour late, but he refrained from admonishing them.

Goldstar searched for his Scroll as he sat, hoping to find updates from Himari or Leigh. His Scroll wasn't on him. He searched frantically as Avery and other students looked at him; Avery and some of them concerned at his apparent panic, others finding it bothersome. He had left his device in the Apartment in his hurry to get to class.

"What?" Avery asked.

"I left my Scroll," Goldstar whispered.

The rest of the day went by rather slowly, and Goldstar was getting jittery by the minute. He wanted to know if there had been any progress regarding the missing boy and girl. What he really wanted was to go to Pristine One.

He knew Avery was keeping an eye on him. He even offered him his Scroll in case he needed to call someone. Goldstar called his parents; they were worried about his uneasiness. He told them he wanted to visit them. He informed them about his leaves situation and asked them to speak to the Director about having him home for a few days with few leaves. They tensed, hearing the urgency in his voice.

His father said he would speak directly with the Director and make sure he was home for a few days. Goldstar prayed to the stars and non-existent gods that it would work. He wanted to go to Core at Pristine One and also visit his family.

After class, he hurried back to the Apartment to contact Himari and Leigh. Or even Tailyn. Avery stayed back at the library.

Goldstar unlocked the door and went in, heading to his room. He wanted to see if there was any mail, but he froze as he stepped into his room. He dropped the DigiBook that was in his hand. It fell to the floor with a loud thud as his heart skipped a beat.

Goldstar tried to comprehend the reason as to what this person was doing in his room.

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