Westlake City provided a wide selection of public transportation, such as a modern bus network, and the fast air trains that could move you comfortably to almost anywhere in the city. But with it came the curfew that restricted citizens under the age of eighteen to be out on the streets past 10 P.M. 

Blake couldn't have cared less. Due to the light pollution, he had repeatedly snuck out to view the stars with his friends. Even after sundown, the city was bright as day, which made the spotting of stars an impossible task. 

Behind the lake, however, Finn and Blake had discovered the abandoned cabin when they had been only eight years old, and used it ever since as their private hang-out point. 

It was not always just the two of them, but unforeseeable events have left this place haunted by the memories of what once was inseparable love. Lately, Finn had been going to the cliffside by himself, and he had limited his trips to night times only.

During the day, he was most likely catching up on sleep or searching the internet for information about the lost spaceship.

Not long after the short phone conversation had ended, Blake managed to soundlessly creep out through his back door. On his way downstairs he had thrown over one of his hoodies from hockey, advertising the team's name on the front, and its sponsors on the back. Between the black shorts, he always wore to sleep, and the soft white tennis socks, only his knees were exposed to the cool air. It was spring, and the nights were still chilly enough to leave the grass damp in the mornings.

Blake's bike was leaning against the side of his house, right beneath his sisters' bedroom window. He grabbed it carefully and lifted it off the wall as quietly as possible. To his convenience, his family owned a modern house in the suburbs, far enough from the center of Westlake City to bike away unnoticed.

If he had lived in one of the skyscrapers he would have had to cross half the city before entering the road that could lead him to the forest. The quickest glimpse at his bike would get him caught. The inside of its front wheel had a hoop of LED's shining in bright turquoise. It was unlikely not to be noticed when riding on it. But as luck would have it, Blake only had to pass a couple of houses before leaving the city, and at this time of the day, he could count on his neighbors being fast asleep. 

Two minutes in fresh air and Blake felt wide awake, nonetheless, he was seeking the warmth and comfort of his bed the second he stepped on his bike.

Finn, energized and full of vitality, continued trying to find out where the signal was coming from and who might have sent it. The only information he was able to gather told him that it was an SOS call coming from a rescue cell floating in space. Those signals automatically reach out to the nearest space station in order to alarm them about an emergency. 

It became very clear to Finn that something horrible must have happened very recently, that separated the cells from its ship. Or, and this would be even worse, the nearest space station never responded to the signal, which would imply that the incidence occurred much further in the past. 

But why wouldn't they be able to receive the signal, when Finn was? It didn't make sense that the cell had been out there for any longer than a day unless the space station ignored the signal on purpose. 

And with that thought, a million other questions jostled in Finn's head. A cell was meant to be a human's last escape from a nonfunctional and endangering ship. It would only send a signal if someone was locked inside of the cells, which were built to provide narrowly enough space to move one's hands, and left scarcely room for air circulation. 

The food supply could have lasted three days at the most, so why would they have left someone in that situation for any longer than the unalterable? Before Finn could finish his thoughts, a voice startled him from behind. It was carefree but familiar.

"Hey man,"

Finn flinched and quickly turned around, to expose his friend with the light of his phone. It was Blake, who was trying to climb up to the roof by stepping on the saddle of his bike as if it was a step stool because his height did not allow him to pull himself up as Finn would. 

"Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"My bad. Thought you heard me coming."

But Finn hadn't heard him coming, which was very unusual considering that Blake had a habit of being incredibly clumsy and loud.

"So," continued Blake with a smile covering his face, "tell me everything! Did you really find Nitha?"

"I'm not sure if it's her. The signal is an SOS call from a ship, close to the route that she was supposed to be on."

Blake's face looked like he'd seen a meteor heading straight at him. His eyes were wide, and his smile even more so.

"That—" he swallowed half his words, "that's huge! KSP will be agitated!"

"KSP won't find out about this," Finn emphasized in earnest.

"Why? Name one fair reason why we shouldn't contact them right now. Your father works as one of the highest positions and I bet my money that it wouldn't be a bother to find out who sent the signal."

"Think about this. Not even a week after the ship disappeared, all the media ceased deliberation, as if it never happened! A black hole intersected the route! Nothing alike has ever occurred, do you truly believe that the press would just stop feeding on it? I'm telling you, the government wants everyone to forget it ever happened. Why else would they refuse to answer any slightly related questions? They are hiding something, I'm sure of it."

"Did you get enough sleep?" said the look on Blake's face.

"Blake!"

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. You have to admit, it does sound rather far-fetched. Even if you were on to something, what would they be hiding?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be breaking my head over this. All I know is we can't trust anyone with this information. If KSP finds out that one of their escape cells sent out a signal, the press would tell the public—"

"And the government would make it disappear again. I see where you're coming from."

Blake, as thunderstruck as Finn, looked at the machine's message; "signal found". Two words that left Finn feeling optimistic and pessimistic at the same time. And when positive and the negative grow larger, lightning strikes. 

A storm of emotions unfolded within Finn's mind. It was as if a million thoughts were born at once, knowing that not one of them will ever be finished. The electricity rushed through his bones, unbendable and forceful with only one desire. 

The energy felt like an endless chase between the wish to leave Finn's body, and the modifying truth that it couldn't. Finn was struck; overwhelmed and numb.

"Then what's your plan?" asked Blake, open-minded. "Will you reach out to the signal's source? Can you reach the sender?"

"That's just the thing. This," pointing at the KTD, "can only receive signals. It is incapable of sending them."

"What is the use for this thing if you spot a call, then leave it unanswered? How would KSP react in a moment carrying the risk of death?"

"They would supposedly contact the nearest space station and send their troops for the rescue."

"That's unfortunate."

"Very."

A short moment of silence passed until Finn set his forehead down on his knees. His arms were wrapped around his legs, pulling them closer to his body. Blake placed his hand compassionately on Finn's shoulder.

"Is there no way to get in contact with the sender?"

"Only a member of KSP would be able to," Finn replied.

"Your father—"

"I'm not telling my father."

"No, but he is a member at KSP."

"How does that help me?"

"Are you actually kidding?" Blake paused for no more than two seconds. "Finn, don't you see? Your father is your golden ticket. If you can't trust KSP members, then you'll have to do it yourself. As your father's son you have permission to visit his office, and once he leaves the room you access his computer to get in touch with the sender. Piece of cake."

Finn sighed and let his body fall back to rest against the wooden shingles of the roof. His legs remained at a ninety-degree angle, and his eyes hid behind the folds of his sleeves. He understood Blake's idea, but contrary to him, Finn also considered the unavoidable risks that came with it.

Finn's knees were touching each other and he could feel that his skin was cold. Despite his body proving that the arriving morning was chill, his hands and head were hot. He could feel pressure by the heavy beating of his heart. Finn removed his arms from his face and planted his hands with locked fingers on top of his chest.

"Doubt rules my mind. All these negative thoughts are overbearing. If I get caught—" Once again, his eyes were imprisoned by the stars. He tried but just couldn't look away. He couldn't turn his back on them. He couldn't run from destiny. "I won't get caught. I can't get caught! If I attract the slightest bit of attention I'll never know if it's her, waiting for the hero that will finally save her. And worse, if I get caught I'll lose her, forever. Blake, I can't lose her again. It's far too painful, I wouldn't bear it this time."

Silence.

"Blake?" Finn turned to his friend, his sleeping friend. Turns out, Blake, too, had found comfort on the roof, and not long after he had laid down and shut his eyes, they remained shut. "Blake!" Finn punched Blake's arm to wake him up. His body shot up like a rocket.

"What in the world!"

"Did you hear what I said?" complained Finn.

"Oh don't be sulky. Yes, I heard," Then he mumbled something that sounded much like "half of it."

"I will make my way to KSP. Tomorrow I'm going to get my father's permission to come along to his work. Like you said; piece of cake."