Central Park, Manhattan, USA, Present Day (Seek Confirmation), Present Time (Seek Confirmation).

Pilgrim Hill, Terrace Dr. &, East Dr.

Eva, with her eyes closed, sat on the bench, breathing in the fresh air to calm her nerves. The large tree overhead provided shade as the sun began to dip on the horizon as their pink leaves flown into the air. Bart, a few feet away, scooped up a patch of dirt and inserted it into his materialized Gizmo to analyse the sample and determine the Earth's time period.

"I miss the world I used to know, but somehow I'm glad to have found such a colourful place," Eva said softly. She opened her eyes and looked at her seatmate beside her. "Isn't that right, Schrödinger?"

A small white cat with long ears and a crown of horns peered up at her. "Yes, it is indeed a colourful world," the cat replied softly, jumping onto Eva's lap. She petted him as he snuggled for warmth against the approaching cold wind. Eva smiled blissfully, turning her attention to Bart, who called out from across the expanse, announcing his findings.

About 0.2 miles away, Alice hummed a song as she strolled along a quiet, tranquil path in lush forages. The park had become a sanctuary where all the animals roamed freely, lounging peacefully. Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores coexisted safely, unperturbed by her presence. Alice even petted, played, and cuddled with the cubs. This serene environment starkly contrasted with the chaos and destruction of the city beyond, as if the habitat provided a shield of protection.

Bart, with a focused expression, examined the readings on Gizmo. The device emitted a soft, rhythmic hum as it processed the data from the soil sample. Eva’s smile faded, replaced by curiosity and concern as she awaited his announcement.

"Eva, you'll want to hear this," Bart called out, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. He stood up and walked over to her, holding Gizmo carefully.

Eva looked up, her hand gently stroking Schrödinger’s soft fur. "What did you find?"

Bart glanced at Gizmo’s display, then back at Eva. "The soil sample shows isotopic ratios consistent with Earth’s timeline, but there’s an anomaly. The decay rates suggest we’re about two hundred years before our time."

Eva's eyes widened. "Two hundred years? That means Remy and Ramona are right about the time. This is their Earth, not ours." She began to feel downcast.

Schrödinger tilted his head, his horns catching the last rays of sunlight. Peering up at Eva, he uncurl his body to stand on his hind legs and lightly touched her face with one of his paws, an affectionate gesture meant to lift her spirits. Eva chuckled softly.

Bart nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. The gravitational discrepancies we’ve been experiencing might be due to changes in Earth’s structure and mass over time. Gizmo’s readings show that the gravitational field here is both slightly weaker and slightly stronger, which could explain the time dilation effect we’ve noticed."

Eva nodded in agreement. "We need to gather more data. Gizmo can help us understand the changes that have occurred, but we must also be cautious about how we use that knowledge. I don’t fully trust Remy and Ramona, even though they found and helped me."

Bart frowned, confused by her sudden distrust. "Instinct, I guess. I have this unpleasant feeling that I can’t quite place," Eva shivered.

Bart took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their discovery and Eva’s unsettling demeanour. "Alright, let’s proceed carefully. We need to explore more and figure out what happened to our world and if there's a way to use this knowledge to our advantage."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the colourful landscape created by cherry blossoms of this hillside, Eva turned to Bart. “Hey Bart, can I ask you something?”

“Shoot,” Bart replied, relaxing on the bench beside her.

“Alice—who is she? What does she do? She seems to know more about what’s happening to our world,” Eva asked.

Bart tensed up. “In all my time as a Stargazer recruit and NIX Administrator of Intelligence, I’ve never encountered her before in New York. Even searching her first name in the NIX Archives yielded no results. It’s as if that name doesn’t exist.”

Eva explained her reason for asking the question calmly. Bart was conflicted, but he eventually responded. Schrödinger looked at him somnolent expectantly.

“She does exist, though not within the system's recognition but through individual recognition. To put it simply, she was in maximum-security prison, which is why you haven’t heard of her,” Bart explained.

Eva’s eyes widened. “What has she done?”

“Well, she’s done something considered illegal. She’s the founder of the H.E.X.A.G.O.N., and the anomalies that wrought our worlds, is her speciality” Bart explained while chuckles good naturedly.

At this revelation, Eva's eyes widened further, and memories began to flood back.

***

Nexuscape Integration eXpansion (NIX) Polytechnic, Central Park, Manhattan, USA. October 18 2203, 5:06 P.M.

After their lessons ended at NIX Symposium, Felix walked out with Eva, who tried to steer clear of him, but he followed her like a lost puppy. Eva released a deep sigh and turned to face Felix. “Leave me alone! Fixing your document yesterday doesn’t mean I’m friendly with you, so don’t count on it!” Her vibe was giving off a clear ‘don’t bother me.’ She paused to add, “Or do you want to get shoulder-thrown by me again?” she coldly threatened.

“Ahhh… No,” Felix answered hesitantly.

“Then get lost!” Eva monotonously threatened him, implying that she she will not be held responsible for what happens next. She turned to leave, expecting Felix to get the message.

“WAIT! I want to know what you know about Starling! You said you heard that name before, a long time ago, please!” Felix shouted down the hallway as he ran after her. Eva stopped walking when she heard the word Starling.

“She is just a ghost,” Eva quietly said, barely audible. “Why do you want to find Starling?” she asked.

“She saved my life seven years ago, in the middle of a frozen winter night. I had no home, I was hungry and lonely, sleeping in a cardboard house, wishing that eating the snow in front of me would fill my belly. But I barely had the strength to move or keep my body warm. That’s when Starling entered my life. For the first time in my childhood, the world felt warm. I made a promise to her. She told me that when I was ready, when my heart was open, I would find her. That’s why I need to find her. So please, help me out,” Felix confessed, pleading for Eva’s assistance in his search.

He was met with the sound of sniffles coming from Eva, who stood in front of him, her shoulders shaking. “Um, are you okay? Is there something wrong?” he approached her slowly.

Eva quickly spun to face him. She was crying, but within her gloomy persona, there were smiles of joy and hope. “Nothing is wrong. Based on what you said, that sounds like something Starling would have done. She was a hopeless romantic,” Eva smiled brightly yet solemnly.

“Was? You mean she is…” Felix didn’t want to finish the sentence, but Eva looked away, unable to meet his eyes. She finished the sentence for him.

“Dead.”

***

Nexuscape Integration eXpansion (NIX) Polytechnic, Central Park, Manhattan, USA. October 23 2203, 2:43 P.M.

Felix curled up into a foetal position as he looked down into the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Fish danced in the water, curiously looking up at the person sitting in the middle of their reservoir. Another person walked along the edge of the reservoir, pressed a badge on their chest, and then walked on the water towards Felix. The newcomer sat beside Felix, mirroring his posture.

“I’m very sorry for your loss. Eva told me what happened,” said Tetsuo.

“That’s okay, you didn’t know,” Felix replied cheerfully, trying to hide his pain and not wanting his friend to worry.

“Are you really okay? Be honest,” Tetsuo asked bluntly.

“No, who would ever be? I didn’t know Starling is Eva’s older sister. Did you know that? I also heard you’re Eva’s childhood friend.” Felix’s voice grew quieter, and he curled up more tightly.

Tetsuo placed his hand on Felix’s back, patting him gently. “I’ve never seen Starling in person to know what she looks like. I only know about her from what Eva has told me. She always accompanied Eva whenever they went out, but not without their adopted father. Eva and Starling weren’t related by blood, but Starling was adopted before Eva’s parents were killed by an unknown Void that manifested in their home. Eva was just four years old. Being a Weiss heir, she was adopted by an Elite Stargazer until she was old enough to claim her inheritance. Starling raised her, even though she was just a year older. No one knows if Starling disappeared or died, but her life sign in the BioMetric is gone, so that proves it.”

Tetsuo looked at Felix, who remained unresponsive. Sighing, Tetsuo said, “I’m not good with words, and sometimes I upset people. But I’m going to say something to you... Pull yourself together, Felix! Who am I going to turn to if I don’t have my pizza disposal partner in crime to eat with?”

Felix chuckled at Tetsuo’s statement. “You’re right! You’d go fat if you didn’t have me around.”

Tetsuo narrowed his eyes. “Fat? Never in a million years! But Eva might!”

They both laughed, knowing how much Eva loved to eat. Suddenly, they felt a thunderous presence behind them. Turning around, they saw Eva standing there, fuming. She had been listening to their conversation the entire time.

In a blur, Eva’s M.J.O.L.N.I.R. sliced their badges into a million pieces, and they scream as they plunged into the freezing water. Felix kept himself afloat, but Tetsuo, a bad swimmer, clung to Felix like a lifeline.

“Come to Belvedere Castle at 1500 hours. Don’t be late!” Eva commanded before walking away and phase-shifting from her location.

Felix quickly swam to shore, faster than an Olympic athlete, dragging Tetsuo with him to avoid becoming human popsicles.

***

Felix and Tetsuo had dried and warmed themselves after plunging into the cold reservoir. They managed to change their clothes in the NIX Polytechnic Dormitory en route to Belvedere Castle. Running at record speed, they arrived at the castle with a minute to spare, catching their breaths. Despite numerous refurbishments, the castle retained its old-world charm, integrated with advanced technology. Many Stargazer recruits found the castle haunting. It was owned by an unknown entity until the ownership passed to the current lady, Evangeline Weiss.

Felix knocked on the large wooden door, which swung open automatically. Felix and Tetsuo invited themselves in, and the door closed behind them. "EVA! We’ve come as you requested! Tetsuo also brought a lot of pizzas!" Felix shouted, looking around but not seeing anyone. He glanced at Tetsuo, who just shrugged in response, so they wandered around the castle. They checked the kitchen and pantry first, finding the appliances covered by artificial drapes. Tetsuo placed the pizzas on the clean, organized counter, whistling at the extravagant design, while Felix opened the fridge, seeing only bottles of water.

"It’s rude to look in other people’s fridges, Felix," Eva said, breaking their reverie as she entered the kitchen.

"You do realize we don’t cook anymore; everything is cooked by machines and served instantly. So why do you have a kitchen?" Felix asked, bewildered.

"I don’t cook, but Starling did. I considered her the best chef there is. Everything she made was delicious because she poured her heart into it. The kitchen is just for show now. I think you might get why," Eva replied. Felix remembered the night at the diner where Starling had treated him. Eva turned to leave after saying, "Follow me. There’s something I want to show you."

They entered a large room at the corner of the castle on the upper floor near the tower. The spacious ceiling was decorated with a realistic depiction of outer space. Tables were stacked with boxes of different sizes and titles. The walls were adorned with rows of shelves and bookcases filled with actual books, not Holo-Pads used for learning. Felix and Tetsuo browsed through them, scanning the topics ranging from education and non-fiction to fiction and comics.

“Woah!” Felix exclaimed in wonder. “How did you get all these, Eva?” Tetsuo asked, sharing Felix’s enthusiasm.

“I didn’t. It was all here when I became the lady of this castle,” Eva explained, picking up a duster and dusting off the books.

“Do you know who made you the lady of this castle?” Tetsuo asked, picking up a comic from the shelves.

“No,” Eva answered casually.

“So, what did you call us here for? I’m pretty sure it’s more than showing us everything in this castle, which is considered taboo by the NIX Elites. You’re not going to frame us, are you?” Felix crossed his arms, waiting for her explanation.

Eva looked away and mumbled something. “Huh?” Felix and Tetsuo said in unison, moving a little closer to her.

Eva turned to face them, speaking in a stern yet quiet voice. “I need you both to help me clean and organize all this stuff.”

Felix sneezed, and Eva responded with, “Bless you.”

“Right, this place needs cleaning,” Tetsuo agreed, noticing some areas were very dusty while others were recently cleaned. “But first, I need you guys to join the H.E.X.A.G.O.N. Frisbee!” Eva called out.

“H.E.X.A.G.O.N.?” Felix and Tetsuo echoed in confusion. Something small whipped past them, nearly hitting them. They dodged and stumbled, collapsing face-first after losing their balance. Hovering above their heads was a robot.

“HELLO! My name is Frisbee. My job is to help you participants integrate into the Hub of Enlightened Xtraordinaries, an Analytical Guild for Oddities in Nexuscape, H.E.X.A.G.O.N. for short! At H.E.X.A.G.O.N., your job is to find objects or things considered taboo by the NIX system but rare for us as individuals. Collect them, maintain them, and enjoy them! Think of yourselves as treasure hunters and collectors in a museum made of nerds! Be warned: you cannot share this with everyone, only people you trust. This organization must be kept with utmost secrecy! Also, as a member of the H.E.X.A.G.O.N., your membership is permanent. You cannot withdraw even if you want to! I will terminate you without hesitation and bury you within this castle’s catacombs! So, join in!” Frisbee chimed brightly.

"Way to go, asking for employees to work for you," Felix and Tetsuo thought, unimpressed as they stood back up.

“I can pay you both $100 per hour, with more benefits if you help me clean up the stuff here,” Eva offered.

Felix brightened at the offer and signed the contract that Frisbee displayed. Tetsuo contemplated, “I have a full-time job at NIX Bistro, so I won’t have enough time to help you guys out. But can I join as a member? You don’t have to pay me. It’s just because I love the stuff here. I don’t understand why the NIX banned things like this; it’s really good.”

“You are welcome to join! We love people like you, who want to keep dreams and imagination alive, even if they are about to be forever lost. That’s the purpose of the H.E.X.A.G.O.N.!” Frisbee swirled around, and Tetsuo delightedly signed the contract.

As a speedster, Tetsuo managed to clean and organize a third of the unorganized piles. However, it was time for his night shift, starting late in the evening. The manager had asked for his help after the night-shift employees fell sick, which Tetsuo had accepted. He showed himself out. Behind him, Felix exclaimed excitedly, “This is a video game! It’s called Galactic Evil!” Eva stood beside him, curiously looking at it.

Walking down the hallway, Tetsuo noticed a picture on a desk. It featured a man whose — face was obscured by the faded photo, while the two young girls were intact. He recognized the smaller girl as Eva and deduced the taller girl to be Starling. Before he could ponder further, his Gizmo alarmed him that it was nearly time for work, so he dashed out, completely forgetting to ask about the picture.

***

Central Park, Manhattan, USA, Present Day (Seek Confirmation), Present Time (Seek Confirmation).

Pilgrim Hill, Terrace Dr. &, East Dr.

“I see,” Eva smiled, taking comfort in the facts she had been given.

“Um… do you find Alice untrustworthy?” Bart inquired.

“Everyone is untrustworthy, including you. But it's not about that. It's about how you are worthy enough for someone to trust you not to hurt them, for you to be relied on by them when they are hurt, and to be reassured that you will always be by their side without them knowing—as their guardian angels. That is all,” Eva explained, hoping it wouldn’t hurt Bart’s feelings. To her surprise, he smiled proudly at her.

“You have grown to be the strongest and most caring person I have ever met. You learned the meaning of trust. I am proud of you,” Bart said with a smile.

Eva shrugged at the compliment. “I made friends.” She petted Schrödinger, who played with her, enjoying the attention.

“Bart, have you found something interesting?” Alice asked nonchalantly, suddenly appearing beside them. They were startled, and Schrödinger jumped, but they quickly recovered.

“Yes, there are gravitational discrepancies. This Earth is 2023, unfortunately, and I found something you requested me to investigate. Alice, how did you know there are ley lines all over Central Park?!” Bart enthusiastically relayed his findings to Alice, who tilted her head curiously and smiled in fascination.

Eva was left out of the conversation until Alice invited her in. “Ley lines… Straight alignments drawn between various historic structures, prehistoric sites, and prominent landmarks. However, not just any prominent ones—they are one of the many mysteries on Earth that have never been solved. Well, maybe some of them. Central Park is also one of them, just as Central Park has its own mysteries. Importantly, each of the mysteries in Central Park is, in fact, a pillar to maintain reality from breaking by the Interstice, as you can see,” Alice gestured around her.

“So, that means the ley lines in Earth 2203 are broken?” Eva tried to understand the concept.

“Ley lines cannot be broken, but they can be overloaded. The ley lines are shut down consequently, like electricity is cut off when the fuses are tripped. Unless we find and rewire the said fuses, then that solves our conundrum,” Alice explained matter-of-factly.

“I take it you know all this as the founder of H.E.X.A.G.O.N.?” Eva questioned.

“Yes, there are plenty of books about ley lines as a topic of focus. Have you been able to sift through them as a member of H.E.X.A.G.O.N.?” Alice countered.

“Oh, Felix drooled on them on the fifth page, and I was sneezing while sorting the piles of books. I didn’t have time to read, yet I managed with some of the comics,” Eva replied, embarrassed, while Bart chuckled.

Alice’s anger slowly pent up at the thought of one of the books being drooled on. “Youth these days—do they ever respect hard copies?” she rolled her eyes.

There was a rustle of leaves as Remy and Ramona hesitantly approached their location. Alice turned to face them, her eyes cold and calculating. For a moment, the memory of Elizabeth's desperate, bloodied face flashed in Remy's mind. He shook it off, trying to focus on the present.

“Ah, Remy and Ramona, glad you could join us,” Alice said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“What’s going on, Alice?” Remy asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

“We have a situation that needs resolving. I trust you two will be coming along for the ride,” Alice replied, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Ramona couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as they walked closer. She glanced at Eva and Bart, who seemed just as oblivious.

Alice stepped forward, her smile widening in a way that made Ramona’s blood run cold. “You see, I have a little job for you both. Consider it a continuation of your previous assignment.”

Remy and Ramona exchanged worried glances. “What do you mean?” Remy asked, his voice betraying his apprehension.

Alice’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous light but changed to a frown of confusion. “Please tell me you both checked the news on your social media.”

Ramona’s heart pounded in her chest. “Ah… yeah… we did… here,” she stuttered, showing the emergency announcement to Alice, Bart, and Eva.

Alice’s smile returned, more sinister than before. “Excellent. Now, here’s what we all have to do...”

As Alice began to outline their new assignments along with Bart and Eva, Ramona couldn’t shake the feeling that they were stepping deeper into a web from which there would be no escape.