The gas mask smelled like burned rubber and stole three-quarters of his vision. 

While Finn followed the man at a quick pace on their short way to the building, raindrops hit his uncovered right hand and burned through his skin like hydrochloric acid burns through metal. Finn groaned in pain and had thankfully reached cover.

"Don't let the rain touch your skin," warned the man.

"A little late for that," Finn wailed.

Andy finished her exchange with Westlake, and as the rest waited, Finn leaned against the railing to get a better look at the city. 

It appeared abandoned when everyone hid in their shelters. The ground was dusty, despite the rain, and the air was humid from the unbearable heat. There were no businesses or stores, no parks, nor any streets. 

All this town offered were troubled alleys and endless canopies crafted out of metal sheets, broken bricks, and clusters of soaked cardboard. They served as protection, though they failed horribly at it; the acid rain attacked the top of the buildings first, before eating its way through to the bottom. 

The constructions were built together so tightly that the citizens used wooden planks and plates of steel to traverse the city dangerously through all heights. Above it all were more metals and materials, all held together by robes, screws, and even glue, forming a roof-like structure, only to create a weak, but frankly most effective prevention of raindrops destroying the homes. 

The disintegrating roof stretched out above the entire city, leaving no chance to see the sky, besides a couple of holes and gaps where pieces fought to stand together.

Privacy and property were strange terms at this place, no one seemed to have heard of them, for everyone stepped and moved wherever they saw use, enabled by ignoring the presence or preferences of other beings entirely. It was scarce that homes consisted of four walls or doors, let alone locks. 

Everything was upsettingly open, which one could view as inviting, but the people's faces said otherwise. Their personality was translated by their frowns. They didn't look happy, nor did anyone seem very welcoming. 

It was disappointing to see such a widely spread depression, and the looks Finn received were either threatened or threatening, but considering their living conditions, Finn had nothing left for those people but pity and empathy.

The city was dark, if not by light, then by mood. 

Around the corner of an opposing building peeked the head of someone who looked like a spy dressed in black. Finn had only noticed the hooded person due to the light reflecting on their gas mask, but just as quickly as Finn caught the mysterious figure, it had vanished. 

Despite his confusion, Finn's pain slowly stole his focus, his hand grabbed around the other arm's wrist, but didn't succeed in terminating the pain he suffered from.

Christopher shared a room with Finn on the ground, right around the corner of their rocket and Pluviam's demolished KSP building.

"Do you think this will be a scar?" asked Finn when examining his wounded hand.

"Why did you touch the rain?" was his very useless response.

"Well, I didn't mean to!"

Their house had strong stone walls, and unlike the other homes, it was dry and quiet. In spite of everything, it still missed much to call it pleasant. Two folding beds stood on a dirty concrete floor, with sheets that used to be white a long time ago, and despite the bathroom being its own room, it required a door.

Two armed men guarded their front door, and they weren't the only ones carrying heavy guns and protection.

"Dad?" asked Finn shyly.

"Finn?" replied Christopher less serious.

"Why are we shielded by soldiers?" finished Finn his question.

"We are special guests on Pluviam," explained Christopher. "We possess wealth, which is tempting for those who don't. It's those men's duty," he pointed at the door, "to keep us safe and separated from Pluviam's crimes. Nothing will happen to us, for we are not to leave without an escort."

Finn remembered his plan. He needed to search the defected computers at KSP's building for clues about the lost spaceship, but how could he do such misdeed now that he would be watched by a security guard.

"Is it necessary to be escorted?" asked Finn, trying to imply nothing.

"Kepler sends their worst criminals to Pluviam, so yes," he answered, "we are quite dependent on them."

"You're telling me this now?" asked Finn annoyed, "What do you mean—their worst criminals?"

"You've seen the poverty out there," said Christopher, "those people don't live here by choice. They were either sent here or unfortunate enough to be born here. You aced your test, I assume you'd know everything about our planets, at least the colonized ones."

Finn let his body fall onto his stiff bed. "I was taught that criminals were sent away, though they never mentioned where to." He sat up, "what wrong would one have to do in order to end up here?"

"I must go now," announced Christopher as he grabbed his gas mask and tools.

"You didn't answer my question," noticed Finn in a worry, "Besides, why do you have to work now? It's night."

"We want to limit our stay to the bare minimum. I have to repair the rocket's shattered parts so we are prepared to leave the second we are done with our work."

Those were his last words before exiting the room to find his way back to the rocket. Finn had changed into an oversized, thick sweatshirt. It was dark gray, inspired by the hooded person, Finn however forgot to complete the outfit with his gas mask and stepped out without it.

"Where are you going?" interrogated Nathan, before Finn had a chance to lie to the guards. It was Finn's typical bad luck that Nathan had come out of his own house the same second Finn stepped out of his.

"I'm needed at the station," said Finn unsure.

"Most certainly not," said Nathan with the confidence Finn required to sell his lies. "Step back indoors, Finn."

"My dad said I could come." Finn felt like a kid begging for candy past his bedtime.

"I don't like having to repeat myself," warned Nathan with a deeper, rather ominous voice, "Have I made myself clear?"

Finn began to wonder if the world had ever seen this man smile; he was always grim and grave as if he had no joy left in life, and no one left to love. His eyes never sparked, and his lips had never told a joke. 

Trying not to show his thought with facial expressions, Finn questions what harm may happen if Nathan were locked in a room alone with Day and that cheerful personality of his. Would only one leave the room alive? Or could Day possibly come through to Nathan?

"I understand," said Finn with respect, "but my father left one of his tools, and I—" Finn stopped there. He chewed his lip, knowing that the more lies he told, the more obvious they became. "And I thought I could—"

"Walk through the dark, by yourself, on a planet you've never been to?" assumed Nathan correctly. "I don't have time for your childish behavior!" He scolded. "As much as I'd love for you to prove me right, finding your dead body will not be your father's preferred reason to admit that bringing you along was idiotic. So avoid another tragedy, and go back inside!"

Feeling attacked, Finn formed his eyes to two slits.

"Now!" ordered Nathan with a face so stern that even the guard behind Finn tensed and moved his finger closer to the trigger.

Finn had clenched his fist as if tempted to use it, but without another word, he returned to his house while Nathan walked away, as high as a prince. His intimidating attitude could hardly stop Finn from his plans, and so he ran to his window to find out he could easily climb out through there.

The rain had stopped for now, but the wind remained to hiss and howl. Finn left the window open to secure his secret gateway, and then he moved within the shadows until he paused at a lonely alley. 

With caution, he looked around the corner of the wall and discovered a man and a machine gun in his hands. He stood with his back towards the door of a fancy building. White, with Kepler Space Program written on it in large letters.

Finn pulled his head back into the shadows and leaned his shoulders against the wall behind him. His thoughts tried to build a solid plan to enter the building unnoticed. Having come up with nothing, he turned his body once more to discover other possible entrances; nothing but a broken roof out of reach.

Finn looked to his left shoulder and unexpectedly directly into the mirror-like eyes of a gas mask. The hooded creep from before stood right before Finn; motionless like a mannequin, and just as eerie.

Finn was too petrified to flee, nor could he scream, and he already imagined how his corpse would rot in a ditch. Once Finn repossessed his breath he noticed that his threat was much smaller in height than he himself.

"What do you want?" asked Finn when his courage had returned, but he was shushed immediately.

The black hood had been removed and now the gas mask slowly sank. Their eyes met for the first time, and shortly after, the whole face was revealed. In front of Finn now stood a girl, roughly his age, with long, wavy hair and big, dark eyes. She was short, and beneath her fairly outsized hoodie, her skinny legs stood like parallel lines.

"Don't be loud," she muttered with a celestial, warm voice.

"Wha—"

"Shh!" She raised her finger to her mouth in fear. Her eyes checked her surroundings for approaching danger, and when they found none, her posture relaxed.

"Don't let them hear you," she demanded, but let it sound like a friendly proposal. Finn had too many questions to settle with a single one.

"Who is she?" he pondered mute. "What does she want? Where did she come from?"

Finn said nothing and let her eyes scan his body from top to bottom and back.

"You look different," determined the girl.

Finn had noticed the differences in fashion as well. His clothes were by far cleaner and much more modern than those of the Tempestas' citizens.

"I'm from the planet Kepler," he said as an explanation for her observation.

"No, I know that," she said, "I meant your hair—it's white."

Finn's nerves had lasted long enough, he couldn't stand to be questioned about his colorless hair, and so he told her to go away this instant. He glimpsed around the corner for a third time in hopes he could approach the building, but the guard hadn't moved a muscle.

"What are you doing?" asked the curious girl.

"Leave me alone!" insisted Finn in a loud whisper.

"Why are you sneaking around?" asked the girl instead.

Finn turned to her with anger and exasperation, "Why are you sneaking around? That's right, I saw you spying earlier!"

The girl threw her hood back over her head and brought her shoulders up to her ears for discretion.

"Lower your voice!" she begged, "It can't be known that I'm here."

"Why not? Are you a criminal?"

"No." Her nervously surveying eyes irritated Finn. The two were alone, and in this alley it was unlikely that anyone would see them, yet she was as jumpy as a cat.

"Then why can't you be here?" asked Finn confused.

"Only the rich are allowed down here, on the ground. To you it may not look like anyone down here has fortune, but believe me when I tell you that it's far worse the higher you go."

Only now did he notice her accent, and it was quite strong. It was unique, very different from any accent had ever heard before, and he couldn't guess what roots she had.

Finn dared to look up, but the walls faded into the rich darkness and didn't leave much content to review.

"We've had to fix our buildings many times after heavy rainfall," told the girl with a grain of misplaced pride, "would you like to see?"

Finn chuckled because he could not believe that she was serious. "There is no way you could get me up there. That's just suicidal."

"I live there and I'm still alive." A failed attempt to argue his reason. "I can show you around."

"I'm busy!" said Finn and witnessed how the guard left his post.

Finn thought it may be the only chance he got, and he took it.

He sprinted towards the entrance of the building, now standing beneath a bright wall sconce, which added even more risk to his operation. He was fully exposed, and his time was limited. He pulled his father's access card out of his sleeve and pointed it at the screen on the wall. The door unlocked free of problems.

"Why are you sneaking in secret, when you had access all along?" asked the girl that had followed Finn.

"For heaven's sake, go home!" Finn rolled his eyes at her.

"I can't."

"Why not?" asked Finn, not out of concern, but to destroy her motives.

"I don't have a home," she said in misery.

"Two minutes ago you claimed you live up there," unraveled Finn, wondering if his lies were on all occasions as easily detected as hers.

"So? You currently live over there—" how she knew where he lived was a puzzle that Finn didn't desire to solve,"—but it's not your home, now, is it?"

The guard was returning from what could have only been a quick bathroom break, and Finn's only plausible reaction was to push his burden to the side where they both found sanctuary.

"Why are you hiding?"

"What's your name?" was Finn's fairly enraged counter-question. He had no ambition to tell anyone about his intentions, he was especially not sharing any information regarding his plan with an intrusive, immature girl that he had just met in some shady corner.

"Lehienphena," answered the girl with a smile.

"How about I just call you Lena?" he said with a muddled expression, caused by the length and unfamiliar pronunciation of her name.

"Okay," she said agreeably.

"Lena," began Finn tense, and took a deep breath, "please leave me alone!"

"What's your name?" she asked in return.

"It's Finn."

"Finn, why are you filled with anger?"

Finn's head fell forward in defeat. "I'm not angry," denied Finn, "I'm just on edge, because I'm on a mission, and this might be my only shot."

"What's the goal?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

"Fair enough, don't answer. But can I help?"

Finn threw her a revolted look, then shook his head no.

"Please."

"Fine!" Finn struggled to keep his voice down. "Go, distract the guard."

"I can't do that," confessed Lena with her smile long gone.

"You said you wanted to help, there you go. Good luck."

"They'll hurt me."

Finn's rage quit altogether. He faced his little admirer and granted her his attention.

"They will beat me," continued Lena with a shaking voice, "or worse. I've seen it with my own eyes. I didn't lie when I said the poor can't be down here. I came anyway because I thought you could use my help; you are a stranger to the world I grew up in, and I know how to survive it. Let me see your hand, I know you got wounded and I may have something to aid its healing."

She grabbed his hand, which made Finn incredibly uncomfortable. Ever since Nitha's disappearance he hadn't spoken nor touched a girl, and the wrist Lena touched carried the braided bracelet he treasured so protectively.

"Stop!" he jerked his arm back, "I'm sick of everyone treating me like an incapable child! I am quite competent to take care of myself."

"Is that why you left your gas mask at your apartment?" noted Lena while presenting the mask in her hand.

Finn's heart dropped in the realization that he had been breathing toxic air for the past fifteen minutes. He pulled the chest of his sweatshirt up to tuck his mouth and nose, and his lungs lay still like a rock.

"Are you just going to stop breathing?" she asked when Finn's cheeks puffed up. "For crying out loud, you won't die from breathing our air. The rain stopped hours ago, and though the air might not be so fresh as on Kepler, it's very much breathable."

Finn exhaled when his face turned blue. "Then why did you bring your gas mask?"

"It's not mine," disclosed Lena, "I borrowed it to disguise my identity. I don't wear it unless I'm not down here."

"You borrowed it?" asked Finn unconvinced, with one eyebrow raised.

The door of the building opened with a woosh, and although Finn was unable to see anything, he recognized the hateful voice of the person that spoke.

"I examined the computers," said Nathan to the guard.

Finn, driven by agitation and fright, pulled Lena closer, locked her in his arm, and covered her mouth with his hand. The risk of her making noise now was too high for Finn, and he did not allow a chance for her to speak.

"I will get the system to work in no time," informed Nathan. "Tell Dr. Clarkson we'll be gone in three days at the most."

After the door had shut, the armed man steered towards the rocket where Finn's father was working diligently. As the wind remained the only sound far and wide, Finn let go of the girl.

"I'm sorry about that," said Finn, embarrassed. "The guy's name is Nathaniel O'Brien and he does not like me."

"I can't see why," responded Lena in irony.

"I have to be straight forward. Turns out, what had given the impression of being an obstacle in my naive plan has in reality prevented me from getting caught by Nathan."

"You're saying I saved you," she smirked.

"What I'm saying is, if you hadn't distracted me from breaking in, then I would be in immense trouble by now."

Her smirk bloomed patiently until he gave in.

"Fine, okay. Yes, you—" the rest he maffled, "saved me."