Page 25 of Galactic Sentinels, Vol. 1 (Chronicles of Pherebos #1)
Pherebos.
I stretch out for a moment, letting myself enjoy the quiet.
My gaze drifts to Ileana, still fast asleep beside me.
She looks breathtaking like this—her features soft, peaceful, a faint smile resting at the corner of her lips.
My Faksaya, my breath of life, as we say on Asgarne.
She doesn’t know what that word truly means yet… but I’ll have to tell her soon.
Before the first light of dawn, Wingo’s voice cuts through the silence.
“Pherebos! Pherebos!”
“ I’m coming,” I mutter, already sitting up.
I slip into a pair of simple pants, not wanting to keep him waiting. Judging by the cheerful tone in his voice, it’s clearly not an emergency.
“It’s Akifumi!” he announces as I meet him in the hallway.
A smile spreads across my face. “Then let’s go welcome him!”
Wingo practically bounces with excitement. His trust isn’t easily earned, but Akifumi is one of the rare few who has it. Every time we cross paths with the Polarian, Wingo lights up like a kid on festival day.
And honestly? I feel the same.
Outside, on the landing platform, a sleek single-seater bearing the Confederation insignia touches down with quiet precision.
A few minutes later, the hatch opens, and my mentor—my friend—steps out, grinning from ear to ear. We meet halfway and pull each other into a strong hug. It’s rare that we get to see each other in person, and we both know how much that matters.
Akifumi has the classic Polarian look—humanoid, with straight black hair, a warm copper tint to his skin, and long, thoughtful eyes.
There’s an old theory that a few Polarians ended up on Earth millennia ago and intermingled with the local population.
I’ve met a few Earthlings from the Asian regions who bear a striking resemblance.
Even in the dim morning light, I can see the calm confidence in his face. He’s in his fifties now, but he carries himself with the same quiet strength he always has.
“ Gnuffgnuff!”Wingo chirps, bouncing with excitement.
“Hey, Wingo! How’ve you been?” Akifumi replies warmly.
“Welcome to MyFaS,” I say, smiling.
“I’m counting on you to show me all the big changes in this terraforming project,” he says with a wink. “That’s the official reason I’m here, remember? ”
“Of course,” I reply with a knowing smile. “We’ll get you set up with everything you need to make your visit to this forgotten world look official. But let’s wait for the sun to rise. How about a hot drink while we wait?”
I lead Akifumi through the complex, pointing out a few updates as we go. He settles in at the composite counter while I heat some water. I reach for a jar of dried biloa herbs to steep.
“Forget the lavash,” he interrupts, grinning as he pulls out an opaque container. “I’ve got coffee. The real stuff.”
I burst out laughing. Of course he does. Akifumi’s obsession with coffee beans is legendary—no matter the planet. The berry exists in various forms across different worlds, but since it has no nutritional value, it’s not widely cultivated. Still, if you know where to look, you can find it.
I can’t judge him for his little addiction to the dark brew. I’m just as hooked on cocoa beans. Now that Ileana’s discovered the joys of chocolate, I’ll definitely need to keep my supply stocked.
“What about the girl?” Akifumi asks, his tone casual but curious.
“She’s still asleep,” I reply.
I don’t feel like explaining to my mentor that Ileana’s still asleep because I kept her up part of the night. Some things are better left unsaid.
“Wingo,” I say as I start prepping the coffee Akifumi brought, “show him to the guest room so he can drop off his things. ”
A few minutes later, the rich aroma of coffee fills the room. I pour two cups and head toward the left wing of the complex. Akifumi’s already made himself at home—his bag’s resting on the console in his room—and he lights up when he sees the mugs in my hands.
“I added a little sweet syrup from one of the local plants,” I say, handing him a cup. “Figured you’d want it sweet.”
He takes a sip and nods in approval. “It’s perfect.”
The back wall of the room opens onto a view of the lake, still wrapped in the soft light of early morning. It’s peaceful—one of the best spots in the complex.
“Let’s sit out here,” I suggest. “We can talk in private without waking Ileana.”
I lead Akifumi outside just as the first light of dawn begins to wash away the last shadows of night. The air is crisp, and the sky is painted in soft hues of violet and gold. I let out a deep breath, taking it all in.
“I love MyFaS,” I say quietly. “It just… feels safe.”
We walk a few steps toward the lake, the surface still and glassy in the morning calm. Wingo’s already disappeared—probably off to enjoy the new day in his own way.
“I’ve got a fake ID bracelet for the girl,” Akifumi says, pulling a small device from his coat. “It’s valid across the entire Confederation. Her new name is Elena, and the ID number is clean. No one will ever connect her to the murder charges. From now on, she’s free. ”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the bracelet carefully. “But I’m not planning to tell her just yet. I’d rather keep her here with me for now.”
Akifumi gives me a look. “You haven’t told her about our work, have you?”
“No. Don’t worry. She doesn’t know anything. I’ve been careful—really careful—not to say anything that could compromise us.”
I pause, then add, “And like I told you before, the governor wasn’t trying to expose us. She was framed. The guy who killed her sister and the guard did it right in front of her, then pinned it all on her. I believe her. Every word.”
Akifumi nods slowly, his expression unreadable. But I know him well enough to see the gears turning.
I'm the only known Asgarnian, and the Coalition never dared put me on the auction list. They knew better. I would’ve made an example out of anyone who tried.
But Ileana? She’s young, beautiful, and vulnerable.
Just thinking about what those twisted bastards might do to her if they ever got the chance makes my skin crawl.
Still, leaving her here—alone, with no way out of MyFaS—isn’t exactly a great alternative. What if something happens while I’m gone? What if I’m late getting back? I could leave her food, sure, but what if she runs out?
She could get sick. Hurt. Drown …
This instinct to protect her—it’s strong. I’m trying to think through every possible scenario, weighing what’s safest for her.
“Why don’t you take her with you on this mission?”I suggest.
“What do you mean?”
“Take her to a terraformed world. Say she’s your assistant. That way, you can keep an eye on her while I handle the Coalition and flush out our traitor.”
Akifumi gives me a long, thoughtful look, rubbing his chin.
“You're forgetting I’m not stationed on a terraformed world. I live on a space base."He pauses."And I don’t need an assistant. Besides, I doubt Ileana has the right qualifications.”
‘ “She’s smart. Driven. She’s been studying medicine for years. If she’d had the chance to practice, she could’ve earned her certification by now. She told me herself—she wants to help people. She wants to matter.”
He frowns, clearly struggling to understand.
“You’re asking me to bring a young woman with no credentials and pass her off as a doctor? I don’t get your angle here.”
Crap. I realize what I’m asking doesn’t make any sense.
It’s not logical—I just need to know she’s safe with you while I’m out there dealing with our mission. I want to be ready for anything. She won’t get in your way, and she’s easy to live with .
Akifumi finishes his drink and stares at me, like he’s trying to read every thought I haven’t said out loud. He pauses for a moment, then speaks.
“Pherebos, we’ve known each other a long time. I’ve never seen you this... emotionally involved with a woman. Is it because she was in distress when you found her? Are you playing the knight in shining armor?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at.”
“Humans have talked about this in their old stories. When someone saves another person’s life, they feel responsible for them—like they have to protect them forever. They call it white knight syndrome. And don’t you have a special bond with Wingo too?”
That hits a nerve. I feel my jaw tighten.
It always gets under my skin when people reduce my connection to Wingo—or to Ileana—to some kind of savior complex.
Like it’s just about the circumstances of their rescue.
But before I let that frustration boil over, I take a breath and glance at Wingo, who’s rolling around in the tall grass, completely at ease.
“My relationship with Wingo is way more than that.”
“See over there?” I say, pointing at Wingo.
“That ball of fur and love? He’s about three feet tall at the shoulder.
He’s got a high IQ and a super-empathic personality that honestly puts most people I know to shame.
He’s got a wicked sense of humor, always goofing off—even if it can get a little annoying sometimes.
And loyalty? Unshakable. When Wingo came into my life, he turned everything upside down.
He showed up with that carefree energy, and little by little, he tore down the wall I’d built around myself to keep the pain out.
So no, Wingo’s not some tool in our mission to sniff out traitors.
Wingo is my best friend. That’s just the truth. ”
Akifumi looks at me with a mix of understanding and pride. He knows I mean every word.
Back on Asgarne, my best friends were Taranis and his sister Silmarwen. We weren’t just close—we were like family. Like siblings.
One morning, they went out paddling in the lagoon to talk. Silmarwen was thinking about her future. She wanted more than the life her father had already mapped out for her. And I got it. I really did.