It took more than an hour for Perfida to shower once she and her family arrived home. However, the smell hadn't gone away, not even a little. She got out of her bathroom with her PJs on and towel-dried her hair.

"Any luck?" Purdy asked.

"Nope, I still smell like a broth," Perfida sighed. "This is so stellar. I might crave anything with tomato in it for the next... depending on how long it takes for this to wear off."

"I'm sorry, Peachy."

"It's fine, but next time let's be careful about who we meet."

"Understood," the ghost girl replied. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Hey, Peachy, you done now?" Holden asked. "Come on, let's eat some cake."

"Okay, I'll be right out," Perfida answered back, then turned to her sister. "At least there's free cake. " After that, she went out the door.

The next morning came, and it was launch day at AGA, or Ares Galactic Agency. However, it hadn't started yet, but the Ruderos arrived about an hour early. Hector, Ophelia, and Holden wore their cadet uniforms with white with black trims high collar fitted, cropped jacket with matching pants, while Perfida was the only one in her civilian clothing.

Anyhow, the young lady had to wait by the main entrance because her family was needed at the meeting room for a debriefing. Purdy was there too, and she got easily bored waiting another hour.

"I'm gonna go explore around," the ghost said.

"Sure, go ahead," Perfida replied.

When her twin's spirit was gone, Perfida decided to go out to get refreshments from the canteen. So, she exited the building and was on her way there, but suddenly an Australian shepherd appeared.

It happened to be chasing a three-foot-tall cosmic citizen who was running away from the dog. They were heading towards Perfida, yet she had her back was turned.

Once the cosmic citizen ran passed her, that was when the dog collided with her so hard that the teenager fell to her knees and her specs came off her face. It was a sunny day, and the exposure to the light rays hurt her eyes.

"Oh, no!" she gasped, then immediately closed her eyes and felt her way to find her protective eyewear. "Where is it? Where is it?"

The dog stopped chasing the cosmic citizen and stayed with her. Although it kept barking, a thin teenage boy with short golden brown hair and green eyes wearing green goggles came. "There you are, Rubik," he said as he rushed to his pet until he saw the trouble it was making. "Oh, Geez. Uhm... Hey, are you alright?"

"Not really," Perfida answered as she kept crawling with her eyes closed.

"What are you doing?"

"Finding my specs."

The guy weirdly looked at her. "Wouldn't it be easier if your eyes were open?"

"Why didn't I think of that?" Perfida responded sarcastically. "Yes, it would, but my eyes are sensitive to light."

"Oh, sorry, I'll look for them for you? What do your specs look like?"

"It's red with round frames."

"Red and round frames. Here, let me help you get up first." The guy gave Perfida a hand to stand up, then searched for her specs. Fortunately, he found it in less than a minute. "Got it."

"Stellar!" The girl beamed, then the dog began sniffing under her skirt, which she didn't seem to mind, even though the lace inner short was already seen.

The owner eventually had to drag his pet by the collar away from her. "Rubik's, no. Bad boy. Sorry about that. My dog isn't usually that... curious."

"Oh, that's your dog. That's okay, that part doesn't bother me. Anyway, just give me my specs, please."

"Keep your eyes closed."

"Alright."

The guy put the specs on Perfida. She fixed it a bit, then slowly opened her eyes and was glad that she could see again without having the burning feeling. Except when she finally saw his not-so-bad-looking face. "Better?" he asked.

"Very... Thanks," the girl choked.

"No problem, and I'm really sorry about my dog."

"That's okay, I'm sure he didn't mean." Perfida glanced at the dog and petted its head, which he seemed to enjoy. 

"Rubiks seems to like you," the guy remarked.

"He's such a sweetheart. His name is Rubik's?"

"Yup, you know like...

"Rubik's cube," they uttered at the same time and laughed about it right after.

"Got it," Perfida giggled.

The dog sniffed under her skirt once more. "Dude... get over here," the young man grunted, then pulled him aside by the collar. "Seriously, I have no idea why Rubiks is acting this way?"

"I think he just likes the smell of tomatoes. Don't ask, but I kinda smell like one now."

The guy's brow was raised. "Tomatoes?" Until a whiff of it got his nose. "You do smell like a tomato? Which... is not a bad thing. I like tomatoes."

Perfida blushed. "Me too."

"By the way, I'm Cade."

"Perfida. I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?"

"Yeah, I'm a transfer from AII South," Cade explained. 

"Really? Why were you transferred here?" Perfida asked.

"The main AGA and AII are the top agency branches compared to the other, and they needed a number one chief researcher like me to give a hand while I continue my studies here."

"Stellar." The dog licked Perfida's hand, and she pet him again. 

"Tomato smell aside, I think Rubik's really likes you."

"Aww... I like him too. Do you usually bring him everywhere you go?"

"I wouldn't say everywhere. By the way, you wouldn't happen to know where the admin office is, do you?" Cade questioned. "I have an interview in about an hour and a half."

"Yeah, I can take you there," Perfida replied. "That's the least I could do for finding my specs."

"Thanks."

The two started walking their way inside the building. "So, are you also here to watch the launch after talking to the admin?" the girl inquired.

"No, I have to get back to AGA South after this," Cade answered. "But I really want to watch it, though. You go to AII too?"

"Yup, 11th division. You?"

"12th."

"You're the same grade as my brother," Perfida mentioned once they started walking. "So are you a space explorer?"

"Yeah, but I'm a communications officer. Still, I get to go on missions," Cade replied.

"Have you been on one?"

"No, not yet."

Later, they got to the building where the admin office was located. They were about to enter, but the security guard blocked their way. "Sorry, no pets allowed," he said.

"Oh, right... Uhm..." Cade stammered.

"I'll keep an eye on him," Perfida offered. 

"You can?"

"Yeah, he and I are fast friends anyway."

"Okay, great." Cade then turned to his dog. "Stay here, Rubiks. My interview won't take long. I'll be back. Be good to our new friend here."

"Good luck," Perfida said to him as he walked inside.

During the dog's owner's meeting with the agency's administration staff, Perfida bought her refreshments with Rubiks and sat on a bench just outside the building.

"I'm gonna tell you a little secret," she whispered to the dog. "Cade is kinda cute. Here, let's take a selfie."

The teenage girl opened her holo-phone and put it in selfie mode. As it was counting down, she wrapped her arms around Rubik's, and when it almost got to zero, a security guard popped up at the back doing the finger heart.

Afterwards, once checked the image to see if it was good. Perfida looked over to the guard. "Had to do it," he said, then returned to his post.

"Great finger heart there, Mr. Jorge." The teenager posted it on a social media platform called Halo.

Later, Cade came out of the building and immediately saw the two sitting around. He went to them and was a little surprised to see his dog warming up too much, Perfida, by resting on her lap.

"There you guys are," he said. "I hope he's not too much of a bother."

"Nope, he's been such a sweetie pie," Perfida assured him.

"Well, thanks for keeping him company."

"Hey, it's nothing. So how was the interview?"

"I think I aced it," Cade claimed, sounding very confident.

"Stellar," Perfida chimed.

"Well, he and I better get going."

"Yeah, me too, before my parents wonder where I went. I guess I'll see you around then." 

Cade took his dog, then glanced at her with a friendly smile. "Yup, it's really nice to meet you."

Perfida watched them leave the agency. Since they had their backs turned as they walked, she grinned from ear to ear, then went to the other building to see if her family was done with their interview.

Out of nowhere, her twin sister appeared at her side. "Who was that?"

"Just some guy," Perfida responded cheekily.

"Your face is turning red."

"Is it? Well, he is kinda cute."

Although Purdy didn't see what her twin sees. "I guess..."

"By the way, did you happen to see if mom and dad came out from the meeting room?" Perfida asked.

"If you mean, mom and stepdad, then nope."

"Alright, let go then."

Debriefing time was over for the assigned marshals. Everyone from the agency was outside to listen to the assigned cadets and leaders, wearing their uniforms proudly, to say a few words before they went to another galaxy.

One of them was Hector, standing front and center on a podium with Ophelia, March's father, along with the other commanders. Meanwhile, Perfida sat by the front with her friends and the families of those marshals. 

As for Purdy, she couldn't wait any longer for her stepfather and stepbrother to leave already, and wished that her mother didn't have to go with them. "I hope Hector and Holden get hit by an asteroid," she said.

Perfida snickered quietly. "You and your jokes."

"Why? What did she say?" March asked, knowing that his best friend was talking with her twin sister.

"Nothing, just some inside jokes she and I have."

"Oh."

"Does anyone else smell tomato?" Leyo questioned all of a sudden.

March nearly burst into laughter, while Perfida frowned, having to remind them what caused it. "Ugh... Don't ask," she grumbled.

"By the way, I just saw your post in Halo. Whose dog is this?" March asked, showing her the image on his holo-phone.

"He came here with this guy I met today."

"I see, is the guy cute?"

"Back off. That guy is mine. Someday. I hope," Perfida warned in a playful tone. "You have your eyes on Vance."

"Alright. Alright. Geez," March sighed.

About an hour later, it was time for some family pictures before departure. At first, Hector, Holden, and Ophelia took their photo with the colossal-sized starship that could fit ten thousand fighter pilots.

After that, Perfida was included, then father and son, father and daughter, mother and son, mother and daughter. Lastly, brother and sister.

Once that was over, it was time to say farewell. "You guys stay safe out there," the teenage girl told them as she hugged them all.

"We will," Hector assured her.

"You be good at your grandfather's," her mother told. "Especially to Bryce."

"Yes, Mom," Perfida said. "But I can't promise about Bryce."

"Peach..."

"Kidding."

"Also, that tomato scent should be gone once we get back," Holden joked.

"Haha, very funny."

They all hugged once again. "We'll call when we can, okay?" her stepfather said.

"Me too. I'll miss you guys."

"We'll miss you too," Ophelia replied as she kissed her daughter's forehead. "Well, we'd better get going. Bye, Perfida."

Perfida tried not to shed a tear as she watched her family walk to the escalator to the starship while they waved goodbye to her. "Bye, guys! Take care."

When every member of the crew entered the space vehicle, the loved ones and the space marshals who remained on Earth watched it launch up to the sky until it disappeared. However, the teenage girl could not help but cry that her family was in there without her.

Purdy appeared beside her and gave her sister a side hug, even though she wouldn't feel her touch. Even her two friends came in for the embrace. 

"It's gonna be okay, I'm here with you," the ghost girl said.

"Thanks, Purdy," Perfida sniffled. "I guess it's time to go to Papuli's place now."

"Yeah, see you guys on Monday," March said as he walked away to be with his mother.

Since the teenage girl couldn't drive herself anywhere, she had to book one using her holo-phone. It didn't take long before she got one coming right in front of AGA.