Kaylub was with his father as the two were reading a book together, his blue eyes grazed over the page as his focus was on his father's voice as he read the book. The two normally did this as the small four year old leaned back into his father's chest listening to the soft thumping of his heart and the rumbling of his voice in his chest.

"The end," his father said. His dark blue eyes glanced down at the mop of wavy black hair that rested on top of his son's head and smiled. He gently lifted up his sons sleeping body and carried him toward his room and laid him down under the starry blanket he had bought for him. "I love you."

"Love you too daddy," he responded sleepily.

The two had a routine that revolved around Kaylub never leaving the house. He never knew why, but he just listened to his father.

It started with waking up and getting dressed. The two would eat breakfast together before going to read a book together. Then Kaylub would work on some school work his father had for him as his father left to go do things before returning and the two would have lunch. After lunch was another story time before Kaylub got to play. By dinner time Kaylub was tired and then they would read another book as Kaylub fell asleep in his father's arms.

It was during the spring that it happened. They broke down the door as his father screamed at them to stop. Kaylub looked up from the puzzle he was assembling as he was roughly grabbed by a man wearing a white officer uniform.

"You know the law Harvey, all children at two are supposed to be delivered to the school."

"He's all I have please."

"You hid him from us, you're lucky we don't arrest you."

"Please," his voice cracked as there were tears in his eyes. He was being held back by two other officers as he lost the strength to struggle anymore.

"It's the law." The man turned dragging Kaylub with him.

"Daddy, Daddy!" Kaylub cried out as he kept turning and reaching for his father who just gave him a small smile and spoke in a reassuring voice.

"It's okay, I promise it'll all be okay," he said as he focused on calming his son.

It wasn't until Kaylub couldn't hear him that he cried and was released by the officers who left the broken man.

"You'll be living with the other four year olds and will be attending classes form now on, do you understand Kaylub?" The officer in the white uniform asked the small boy who was shaking from his sobbing. He sighed and shook his head. This is why we take them at two, they get too attached otherwise. He thought as he kept an eye on the small boy.

Once they arrived at the school, Kaylub was lead to the dormitory and to his own room. That's when he was left alone informed with a sheet of paper called the itinerary. He crawled up into his bed and curled up into a ball covering himself with the blanket and started to cry again feeling all alone.

After he woke up, from crying himself to sleep, he checked out the paper that was left on his table.

Weekdays

6:00-Wake up call

6:15-Meet outside door for room check

6:30-Breakfast

7:00-First class

8:30-Travel to next class

8:35-Second class

10:10-Head to lunch

10:15-Lunch

10:45-Clean up lunch

10:50-Head to the training area

11:00-Training time

1:00-Break time

1:50-Return to class

2:00-Third class

3:45-Travel back to common areas

4:00-Free time

5:50-Travel to cafeteria for dinner

6:00-Dinner

6:30-Clean up dinner

6:35-Free time

8:00-Prepare for bed

9:00-Lights out

Weekends

8:00-Wake up call

8:15-Head to breakfast

8:30-Breakfast

9:00-Free time

11:50-Head to Lunch

12:00-Lunch

12:30-Clean up

12:45-Training time

4:00-Free time

5:50-Head to dinner

6:00-Dinner

6:30-Clean up

6:45-Free time

8:00-Prepare for bed

10:00-Lights out

Kaylub read, and reread the itinerary. He sniffled a bit as he recalled his father which only caused tears to blur his vision. He didn't want to be here, he wanted to go home back to his father and their books. He placed the paper back down and curled back up onto the bed and cried yet again his sobs just a bit softer this time.

When Kaylub awoke this time, he felt a pang in his stomach. He looked at the clock that hung above his desk and noticed that it was well past dinner time. He curled back up and found, as he cried, he lacked any more tears to cry. Daddy, I wanna come home.

A week has passed since the separation and Kaylub never left his room. He drinks the water from his sink and hides in the hardest places to reach whenever the officers would do the room checks.

"Sir, I believe he will not make it much longer like this. Even within our energy based society, without nutrients he will die," a young, new, officer of the force said to the principle as he was pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You don't think I know that, officer Palet?" His grey eyes striking to kill the young man. The young officer meekly looks down his brown eyes finding the floor far more interesting. "This child was hidden from the system for four years allowing the father to tamper the child into such a condition of attachment that it seems irrevocable. I called you in here, Officer Palet, because I want you to coax him out." The young officer looks up at the principle in shock.

"Me?! What can I do? Other officers have tried, but as soon as you enter the room he's nowhere to be seen, and if you do find him there's absolutely no way you can actually reach him." The brown eyed Palet soon falls off into a rant about how difficult it would be and how he was in no way equipped for this.

The principle just sighed. "You're young, new, fresh to the force, you haven't been deployed yet, and haven't truly gone through the stricter training required for the IPF as you are just going to be an officer of the school. I believe this child is brighter than many his age as he has found those cracks and managed to avoid everyone, including myself. I believe he reads people's characters, just from how they talk to the way they hold themselves. It's with this belief that I summoned you here to be the one to retrieve him, show him around, and adjust him to his new life."

Officer Palet was at a lack of words as he knew how revered the man before him was and for him to put so much faith in him was meant to be a huge honor, but to do so because of a troublesome kid kinda lessened the awe-factor down a bit.

"I'll do it," he said as the principle gave a nod sending the young man off with a salute.

A knock on the door stirred Kaylub from his bed, his blue eyes blotchy and red from crying. He sniffled a bit as he listened to the door. He didn't understand who would be at his door knocking. The other kids would just go by and the officers would just enter. There was another knock as Kaylub rose from his bed and went to the door. He gently cracked the door and noticed the Blue uniform of the school officers. He then looked up to see the brown eyes, slightly stubble chin, and messy, short, light brown hair. A smile lights up the tan skin as the man starts to speak.

"Ah, so you actually answered, can I come in?" The young man asked as Kaylub just stood there with the door cracked.

"Name?"

"What?"

"Your name, I need to know your name."

"Oh, I'm Officer Palet, can I enter now?" Kaylub steps out of the way opening the door as he enters and looks around the very neat and clean room. The only mess seemed to be a small part of the bed where the blanket was scrunched up.

"I'm not leaving the room, unless you're taking me back to my dad," Kaylub said as he closed the door and stood close to it. He was guarded and stiff. He was close to a crack to slip in in case things went south.

"Why don't you give this place a try?" Kaylub blinks and gives Palet a confused look. "I know you want to go home, but there are laws that we all must follow, your father broke a very sacred rule...do you even know the laws?" A shake of the head was enough for the young officer to pull out a handbook filled with the laws. "Sit down it's time you learned the laws, maybe this'll help you understand." He opened his book watching out of the corner of his eye as Kaylub walked over and sat near him.

The Laws of Ceri

All officers must remain in uniform at all given time outside of own quarters.

Golden cloaked officers must never inform outsiders of secretive data.

If found out will be imprisoned and revoked of status.

Blue cloaked officers are to protect and educate the next generation of officers.

White cloaked officers are to attain all children on record at the age of 2.

Those who do no comply should be arrested on sight.

Black cloaked officers will remain on stations outside of planets until called onto the planet by a threat.

Those who reveal themselves to the worlds must ensure that those who see them must not remember meeting them.

Those who do remember will be dealt with.

All children at the age of 2 will be transferred by the white cloaked officers to the academy.

Those who do not comply shall be arrested.

Officer Palet looked to his left to see that Kaylub was actually reading along with him as he read the laws.

"Now do you understand why those officers separated you from your father?" He was rewarded with a nod. "You feeling better?" He got a shake as misty blue eyes met widened brown eyes.

"I-I still miss my daddy," Kaylub said as tears fell down his cheek. Officer Palet gave a nod.

"What did you two do together?"

"We would normally read together in his big arm chair."

"Well we do have a very well packed library, why not, during break time tomorrow, after you attend classes we go and see it?" He asked as he watched the tears slowly come to a stop.

"I-I," he stopped and just nodded.

"Good, I'll come get you in the morning." Officer Palet stood to leave only to feel a slight pull on the cuff of his left sleeve of his uniform. He turns to look at Kaylub who had his eyes towards the bed.

"Can I keep the handbook?"

"Well it mostly has information for blue cloaked officers, but I see no harm in you taking a look, but I want it back when I come pick you up in the morning." He says as he tosses the book to the four year old who manages to catch it with a bit of a stumble as Officer Palet exits the room hearing the book open behind him.

The next morning Kaylub was already up and dressed in the uniform that all students had to wear, A simple gray top with tan cargo pants and a pair of heavy boots, he was sitting on his bed going over the itinerary making sure he had it memorised.

Then came the knock on his door at precisely 6:00 and he stood up walking towards the door and opening it to see Officer Palet standing there with a soft smile on his face.

"Good to see you're already up and ready." He noticed how the clothes were a bit baggy on the frail boy, but he contributed that to the lack of energy the young boy had been missing during his week locking himself away. He watched as Kaylub then handed him his handbook back and Palet's smile grew. "Thanks, now shall we head down. I'd figured it would be best to show you around to ensure you don't get lost, before classes even begin." A nod was all he received as he stepped aside allowing Kaylub to walk outside of his room for the first time since he had arrived at the academy.

Officer Palet led the young boy through the school showing him the classrooms that the young child would be attending. He also showed him the training area. The last stop on the mini tour was the cafeteria as breakfast was just beginning.

"Now, just get through the first half of the day and I'll show you where the library is during break." Kaylub gives him a nod as he enters the loud and occupied area of the cafeteria. He already didn't like it and wanted to run back up into his room and hide under his bed, but the prospect of getting to go to the library had him pushing through with a cautious mind and a stiff walk.

He managed to get through breakfast with ease as most other students already had friends and didn't see a point in socializing with the cautious four year old.

Class was a different story as the blue cloaked officer decided to make the day all about him and focuses the class on educating him and him alone, but Kaylub shocked the officer by already being caught up by his father's lessons. So by the end of class the officer decided that next class was going to be back on the correct track.

Second class was quite different from first class as the blue cloaked officer didn't even seem to realize she had another student in the class and just carried on like he was just another student. Kaylub was quite grateful for this as he purely got to focus on his task instead of being the focus of others attention.

This time, as Kaylub entered the cafeteria for lunch, he found that finding a spot and avoiding people was much easier since he learned that the other students didn't seem to care for him.

Then came training. He was lead to the changing room and given a pair of grey shorts and a grey top to change into. He exited the changing room to see the blue uniformed teach that was teaching four year olds and walks over to were the other kids were. Since they were all still too young to actually start training, they would be focusing on stamina and coordination in the forms of running, going through a obstacle course, dodge ball, and even some yoga. By the end of it, Kaylub was tired and wanted to crash, but the thought of being able to go to the library allowed him to persevere and get changed with the rest of the kids and waited outside of the changing room.

"How did you like it?" Officer Palet asks Kaylub who just stood there and rubbed his sore muscles.

"Can we go to the library now?" Kaylub asked focused on books more then the fact that he was sure he wasn't going to want to get up in the morning with how sore he felt.

"Always focused, let's go." He led Kaylub down a hallway and opened two large wooden doors to reveal the most magical place Kaylub has ever seen.

There were books everywhere from the ceiling to the floor and far beyond. He walked in admiring the place sparkles in his blue eyes as a chuckle was heard and he turned his attention to a young man dressed in a blue uniform, but his glasses and lack of a rank provides that he's not a teacher or a officer.

"It's good to see another lover of the written word, and what's your name young man."

"I'm four and my name is Kaylub, you must be the librarian," Kaylub said as the man chuckles yet again.

"And quite bright you are young Kaylub. Would you be interested to learn about our policy here?" He was rewarded with a nod as his soft smile graced his eyes. "Well, we usually don't allow younger children to check out books because they tend to lose them, but you seem like the responsible kind, so I guess we can bend the rule a bit, but you must return the books the next morning prior to breakfast. The three rules we have here is silence in the library, whispering is allowed, but know that those around you don't want to hear your conversations, no foods or drinks allowed here, and if you do plan to check out books you can not check out more then ten at a time. Did you get all that?"

Kaylub gives him another nod as the librarian gives of a soft chuckle and then hurries Kaylub along to whatever book his heart desires.

Kaylub find himself deep in the kids section picking up familiar titles that his father read to him including his favorite, Starlight, it was a picture book about a lonely star that couldn't shine as bright as the others, who soon finds a place where their light is the brightest around and all those who see them love their light.

By the end of break, Kaylub had picked out ten books he wanted to read tonight. Most of them were picture books that his father read to him, but others were children's chapter books that he wanted to read.

The librarian chuckles seeing the small boy carrying the books over to his desk to be checked out.

"Would you like a bag?" He asked as eager eyes pleaded a yes. He chuckles again as he hands over a carrier bag designed to hold books. After checking out the books and placing them in the bag he wished the boy well as he watched Kaylub exit the library knowing the boy would be back soon enough.

The third class went differently as no Kaylub had books with him and the officer seemed to find a four year old wanting to read rather interesting as most of the class played after working on the assignment, Kaylub was aided by his teacher on reading through the chapter books as he didn't really want to play.

Once back at the common place, Kaylub swiftly went to his room and focused on his books. He did first do his school work and then curled up on his bed reading his picture books imagining his father there with him reading aloud to him once more.

Dinner came around and Kaylub sat in the same spot really not surprised as no one came to sit with him. His focus was on finishing his dinner and returning back to his room to read his books.

Which is what he did.

When preparing for bed, Kaylub had already finished reading and rereading his picture books. He had some difficulty with a few words within the chapter books but that's to be expected, but he understood the plot and the story line fairly well despite not knowing a few words.

He curled up into his usual spot holding Starlight close to his chest as all his other books were back in his carrier. He soon fell into a cry less sleep as he found comfort in the only thing he had with his father that was still with him.

Seasons pass by as Kaylub grows accustomed to his new home. He studies, reads, and watches people. He sits alone in the cafeteria and just watches the others go about their meals. He finds himself watching the other kids in his class when he finishes with his work early and even notices the others who are in the library.

By the time the children are 13 their training steps up a bit taking them from basic physicality to actually fighting.

"I can't," Kaylub said as the others were ready to learn.

"And why not bookworm?" A red head girl asked as she crossed her arms looking at the shorter male.

"Because I'm a pacifist."

"A pacifier?"

"No, a pacifist, I don't believe in fighting." He was met with odd looks but the officer in charge of their training seemed to understand.

"You can at least learn defense." Kaylub gave a nod and soon the class was on their way.

Kaylub was quick to catch onto blocking attacks as he could read the opponent well and predict their attack. Though he personally believed he could easily convince the other not to fight, but since that wasn't an option, blocking and dodging were the best he could do at the moment.

"He shows real promise, despite being a pacifist."

"I actually believe that's his best quality."

"I disagree, his best quality is obviously his intelligence that boy is brilliant."

"He's quick on his feet as well and rather intuitive."

All four Cloaked Chief Officers stood behind a screen as they observed Kaylub dodging and blocking the attacks of the other student. It was mentor assignment day, those who aren't picked by the Chief of one of the four branches were sent home to continue life as a civilian.

"Now children, remember, even if your not picked doesn't mean you aren't worthy, you're just not meant for the force and that is completely acceptable." The blue cloaked assistant chief said as she stood by with the fourteen year old group who mostly were all buzzing in hopes of being picked. Kaylub wasn't excited like the rest as he would rather be in the library cracking open that psychology book he had his eyes on for the past few days.

The curtains opened as the principle walked out dressed in a fancy suit donning all his ranks. He was followed by the Golden Cloaked Chief Officer who wore all her ranks, next was the Blue Cloaked Chief Officer who wore all his ranks, followed by the White Cloaked Chief Officer who wore all her ranks, and rounding it all up, the one all the kids were waiting for, the Black Cloaked Chief Officer wearing all of his ranks. Behind the chiefs stood the mentors from each cloaked branches.

It was quiet for a time before the principle stepped up to the mic.

"I am proud to have been able to see all of you grow up now it is time for fate to decide where you go. Each branch Chief will tell you what their looking for in an officer before I begin calling forth the names of the student-mentor pairs for each branch. Now as you know, those who aren't picked are returned to civilian life and may live out their lives as they please. Now I welcome, Chief of the Golden Cloaked branch, Chief Dana." The woman dressed in a golden uniform stepped up to the mic giving the principle a soft thank you for the introduction.

"As you all very well know, the Golden Cloaked are the ones who govern this world and keep tabs on the other branches. What we value is intelligence and a drive for the improvement of our society." She then released her place back to principle.

"Thank you Chief Dana, next we will have Chief of the Blue Cloaked branch, Chief Aarif." He stepped away as a male dressed in a blue uniform. The two males give each other a nod as Chief Aarif steps to the mic.

"The Blue Cloaked are the ones who not only protect this school, but they also teach you and aid in your growth. We in the Blue Cloaked branch look for those who are sympathetic and have a drive to see others thrive and succeed." He gives a smile to the students as he steps back allowing the principle back up to the mic.

"Thank you Chief Aarif, we will hear words from Chief of the White Cloaked branch, Chief Amparo." The female wearing a white cloaked uniform walks up to the mic giving a soft nod to the principle.

"The White Cloaked are the ones who retrieve the young children and are the ones who medically care for all other branches. With in our branch we look for those with quick initiative, and a passion for healing." She gives a nod to the principle as she walks back.

"Thank you Chief Amparo, now for our final chief, Chief of the Black Cloaked branch, Chief Grand." The principle stepped away as a man dressed in the Black Cloaked uniform with scars across his skin steps forward.

"I'll inform you all of this, many of you will not make the cut to be within Black Cloaked branch, but those who do will deal with many challenges and have little reward. We are the ones who guard the other worlds so those who are apart must not be those of weak stomachs." He steps back as principal returns to the mic.

"I will start with those who will be joining Golden Cloaked," he calls of ten names as the students get up and stand by their mentors. "Next will be Blue Cloaked," ten children were called up. "Third is White Cloaked," there were only seven who were called. "Finally we have Black Cloaked," only two were called.

Kaylub stood by a tall male dressed in his black cloaked uniform, telling by his rank he's a detective. Kaylub swiftly looked away as blood red eyes glanced down at him.

"Now student's who have mentors may leave with them, all others follow your teacher and have a great day." The students were released as Kaylub followed his mentor to where he knew the library was.

"Let's set some rules, first we will address each other by mentor and student no need for names, second you will do as I say, third your focus will be on school no need to be attached to people, am I clear?"

"Yes sensei," Kaylub answered as the two sat at a table in the library. His bright blue eyes looked up it deep red eyes. He noticed the tiredness in them, the way the detective held himself was more tired, his clothes were neatly presses showing the care he takes in his job, but that was all the detective seemed to care for. "I have my own rules. First, I'm a pacifist, so I will not be fighting, and secondly I already focus on my school work but you need to get more than two hours of sleep at night if you intend on training me." The detective blinks in shock as Kaylub stood up and walked over to a rather advanced section and pulled out the psychology book he had planned on grabbing.

This will surely be interesting.