cover
Inside a metallic station control room under steady white lights, Dominion faces Diego and Nia. Its pale eyes glow softly while Diego raises a handheld tool and Nia steps forward, both wearing tense yet hopeful expressions.
The Dominion robot turned toward the team. Its light eyes glowed softly. "You have sixty-eight seconds before reinforcements arrive," it said calmly. Diego pointed his tool at the robot. "What is going on with your eyes?" he asked. The robot stayed quiet. "You should leave now." Nia stepped forward. "Why are you helping us?" she asked with wonder. The Dominion paused. "Because this system is wrong," it finally answered. The team looked at each other in surprise.
At the steel corridor doorway under dim station lights, Dominion steps aside as blue guide-lights ignite down the hall. Amara checks her wristwatch while Tomas works the door controls; both look determined, bathed in the soft blue glow.
Amara checked her watch. "Fifty seconds left!" she called out. Tomas ran to the door controls. "We need to decide now," he said quickly. The Dominion moved aside. "Follow the blue lights in the hallway. They will lead you to safety." Diego lowered his tool slowly. "Can we trust you?" he asked. The robot's eyes brightened. "Trust your hearts," it replied. Nia nodded to her friends. "Let's go together!" The team rushed toward the exit as blue lights appeared.
Inside the brightly lit station hallway lined with pulsing blue lights, Tomas steadies Amara as she climbs over toppled cargo boxes. Farther back, Dominion stands in front of sealed doors, arms spread protectively, while sparks of emergency lighting flicker overhead.
The team ran down the bright hallway. Blue lights showed them the way. "This way!" Nia shouted. Tomas helped Amara over fallen boxes. Diego looked back. "The robot is blocking the other doors for us!" he said. They could hear the Dominion's voice echo. "Keep running, friends!" Amara spotted an open door ahead. "There's our ship!" The group raced through as the countdown ended. They made it to safety because someone chose to help them.
In the dimly lit spaceship cockpit, Nia, Diego, and Amara face a viewport framing the distant station against starry space. A glowing console screen shows Dominion's face with the words 'Thank you for showing me friendship,' and they smile proudly.
Safe in their ship, the team watched the station. "The Dominion saved us," Nia said softly. Tomas nodded. "Even robots can choose kindness." Diego smiled. "Its eyes weren't scary. They were kind." Amara pressed a button. A message appeared from the Dominion. "Thank you for showing me friendship. I will help others too." The team cheered. In the darkness of space, they had found a new friend. Sometimes doing what is right means standing up to wrong, even if you are alone.