PROJECT: CAYRO

Cayro Bracton:

August 26, 2025

21:07 EST

The Autumn

Atlantic Ocean: 26˚32’08” N-74˚44’16” W

“Here you go,” Star said, gesturing to the empty room where I’d be staying. The Captain hadn't wasted any time sending her to find me. While I waited for her, I had wandered around the bridge, trying to process everything the Captain had just dumped on me.

“You should be quite comfortable in this room,” she added, pulling me out of my thoughts. The room was set up with two sets of bunk beds in the far corners along the left and right walls. A desk was positioned between the bunks under the window opposite the door. At the end of each bunk were two wall lockers for crew belongings. A small bathroom was tucked away to the right of the entrance, separated by a roll-out curtain. The entire room was painted in a dull mid-gray, the kind of color that seemed to swallow light, giving the space an almost oppressive atmosphere.

“I get the whole room to myself?” I asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yeah, the Autumn was built for a crew of a hundred and twenty, but there are only eleven of us. So, you make twelve,” she explained with a touch of cheerfulness before turning to leave.

“So, where’s your room?” I asked, stopping her as she moved toward the door.

“Oh, room nine,” she said, pointing to the door next to mine. She tapped the control panel to her door, and I listened to the soft hiss of the pneumatic door opening and closing as she stepped inside and vanished from view.

I looked up at my own door frame, where the number ten was engraved on a metal placard, riveted in place. After stepping into my new room, I pressed the control panel to shut the door. It slid closed with a soft thud, sealing me into the quiet, dim space. I opened one of the wall lockers and found a set of military-style sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. Choosing the bottom bunk on the left side, I methodically made my bed. The mechanical task helped calm my spinning thoughts, if only for a moment. I tossed my bag onto the opposite bed, realizing how few belongings I had brought with me. I didn’t even have my cellphone. I should’ve asked the Captain about it, but Star hadn’t mentioned it either. It was probably somewhere in pieces after all the chaos. Not that it mattered now—I wouldn’t be contacting TSA to report a missing bag.

Once the bed was made, I lay down, staring up at the dull gray ceiling. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. The hangar bay, everything between Star and me, what the Captain had explained, the implants—it all kept swirling around in my head, refusing to settle.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? I can’t go home. Star wants me to stay. The military is after me, and they want me dead. And to top it all off, I’m now officially a fugitive of the United States aboard the very ship I used to dream of seeing.

Zak would never believe this. Hell, I barely believe it, and I’m the one living it. I wish I could talk to him, but he hasn’t replied to any of my texts since he and Aura left on their trip. I hope he’s having a better time than I am. My thoughts drifted back to the Colonel. From the sound of it, he might want to capture me or Star, maybe even use us to revive that old project. Just another thing to add to the ever-growing list of reasons why my life is now a total clusterfuck.

Even if I go through with the augmentation procedure, would I even be able to go home? I’m a fugitive now, like the rest of the crew. Does that make me a member of the crew too? And technically, wasn’t I already an outlaw before they were? Fantastic...

This will look great on my college application. I could picture it now: “Mr. Bracton, please tell us why we should accept your application to our school?” “Oh, I don’t know… The fact that I have experience running a business, I’m also a mechanic for said business. Then there’s the little fact that I’m a bioengineered superhuman created to serve in the military. And… to top it all off, I’m a member of the infamous S.A.F.” Yeah, that’ll definitely get me into any college I apply to. I thought, rolling my eyes and snorting. Thanks, Dad, for ruining my life.

And then there was Star. I couldn’t deny it—I liked her... a lot. The Captain even encouraged me to get to know her better. Maybe, just maybe, she was the silver lining in all of this chaos. As I lay there, I heard the distinct buzz of my tablet vibrating against something metallic in my backpack.

Standing up, I walked over to my bag and pulled out the tablet before flopping back onto the bed. Logging in, I saw a new email waiting for me.

Email: #13

FROM: SZ-0117

TO: CB-5522

SUBJECT: Can’t Sleep

Hey C., I am having a hard time trying to sleep. Would you talk to me for a bit?

S.

Hmm… She can’t sleep either. I quickly typed out a reply.

Email: #14

FROM: CB-5522

TO: SZ-0117

SUBJECT: Can’t Sleep Either

Hey S., I’m willing to talk for a bit. What’s up?

C.

I tapped the send button and lay back, waiting for her response. It didn’t take long.

Email: #15

FROM: SZ-0117

TO: CB-5522

SUBJECT: Hangar Bay

I can’t stop thinking about what happened earlier in the hangar bay. I’ve never had that kind of reaction toward a guy before. Originally, all I wanted to do was show you my scars, but when I touched you, everything changed. Like you, I’ve never dated anyone, so I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel. I was thinking that I should talk to the Captain about it. What do you think?

S.

My cheeks heated up as I read her message. She hasn’t dated either? That shouldn’t surprise me. The Captain did mention she didn’t have any friends her age. But telling him about our... near miss in the hangar bay didn’t seem like a wise idea. Granted, we’re both technically adults, so it’s not like we’d get in serious trouble. Still, I’m pretty sure the Captain wouldn’t appreciate the idea of me getting involved with her like that. Carefully, I typed out a reply.

Email: #16

FROM: CB-5522

TO: SZ-0117

SUBJECT: Hangar Bay

S., I’m not sure telling the Captain that we almost had sex in the hangar bay is a good idea. I don’t think he’d take it well. Like I mentioned before, I don’t have any real experience with dating either. What happened was unexpected, but I understand why you did it. You wanted to show me I wasn’t alone, and I really appreciate that. If it helps, when we touched, I felt like I wasn’t in control anymore. I’m not sure if that’s normal, but it felt... right.

C.

I watched the email shoot off, then rolled onto my side, placing the tablet beside my head. Without even realizing it, I drifted off to sleep, holding the tablet close.