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Today was a sad day at the Council.

I can’t believe the euthanasia program was approved. Three votes in favor, one against, and one abstention. The Captain didn’t even have to vote.

I feel ashamed of the result.

It has been almost two years since Helios was impacted by the debris field.

Daily routines have changed. Eating has changed. Generation Day has changed.

The celebration is more somber now.

During the remembrance ceremony, we recite the names of the seven people who lost their lives that day.

Sometimes I wake up thinking I can hear the emergency alarms again. I relive the uncertainty and the moment I lost contact with Alex.

We were lucky. Many families were not.

But the impact changed more than the way we live.

It changed us.

Liam Rook is now President of the Council. He easily won the election last year after campaigning on the need for strong leadership.

His message was simple: “We have to make difficult decisions now if we want to survive. We can no longer pretend we have enough resources.”

People listened. People always listen when they are afraid. They always listen when they think they need a savior.

The damage to our water systems was worse than we initially believed.

Water consumption is now rationed. Baths are limited, and nonessential uses require authorization.

Several recreational programs have been reduced or suspended. Food allocations have changed, and things that were once regularly available have become harder to obtain.

The decision that caused the most controversy was the suspension of the Helionese breeding program.

For generations, these dogs provided companionship to families aboard Helios.

After the program ended, no new litters have been allowed, but the dogs already living aboard were supposed to receive care for the rest of their lives. Today that changed too.

I never thought something like this would be approved. Ending the lives of these dogs was a boundary I thought we would never cross, but I was mistaken.

It is always easier to cross a second boundary once you’ve crossed the first one.

I understand why some of these decisions are being made. I have attended enough Council sessions to know how serious our situation has become.

But I wonder what Helios will be like when Alex is my age.

We have spent more than five centuries preserving our lives, but we have also fought to preserve the things that make those lives worth living.

How much more will we have to give up before we reach Ross 128?

How much more will we need to change?

“Incoming call from Alex Soria. Audio only. Accept?” Computer announced.

“Yes, accept.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, Alex. How are you?”

“Good. Are you busy?”

“No, not really. I was just logging something. What’s going on?”

“I’m at the gym training, and I wanted to remind you about the competition this weekend.”

Kyla leaned back in her chair.

“The cane fight?”

“Yes, Mom. The cane fight.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“So you’ll come?”

“You know I don’t like these fights, but your father and I will be there.”

“Come on, Mom. I’ll be sixteen in four weeks. You don’t have anything to worry about. I’ve been training for months.”

“You’re hitting each other with canes.”

“They’re padded. We have protective equipment.”

“That doesn’t make me feel much better.”

Alex laughed.

“Dad broke his arm playing ringvolley, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did, but he wasn’t fighting anyone.”

“Exactly. Every sport has risks.”

“That doesn’t mean every risk is worth taking.”

“Mom, I know what I’m doing.”

Kyla sighed.

“I know, Alex. I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“That’s what people say before an accident.”

Alex laughed again.

“Well, I’m hoping to do better than other people.”

Kyla smiled.

“Of course you do.”

“Okay, I have to get back to training. See you this weekend?”

“We’ll be there.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too, Alex.”

The connection ended.

Kyla sat quietly for a moment, looking at the unfinished entry on her display.

Then she whispered.

“Logminter, save this to my diary.”

LOG ENTRY

Action type: Log archival.

Integrity check: Validated. Data saved by authorized user.

Authorized user: Anwar Cloutier Soria, Kyla. Created at: 2804.021.

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###

“How is Alex?” Kyla asked.

“He’s fine, but he took quite a hit to his forearm,” Julian said.

“I hate this sport.”

“I know, but your son is happy. He just made it to the semifinals.”

The Plaza was crowded. People occupied most of the seats surrounding the arena.

Alyka was sitting next to Kyla. Tom and several of Alex’s classmates were seated beside them.

“I think he can win,” Alyka said.

“Yes, he’s doing really well,” Tom said. “Nobody expected him to get this far.”

Kyla looked toward the arena.

“I just hope he doesn’t get hurt.”

A tone sounded, announcing the next match.

“Carlos Valle versus Adam Kincaid.”

The two boys entered from opposite sides. Adam was taller, with broad shoulders and a calm expression. Carlos bounced lightly on his feet as he approached the center.

“That’s Adam,” Tom said. “He’s the defending champion.”

“I know,” Kyla replied. “He’s Liam’s nephew.”

She looked toward the other side of the Plaza.

Liam sat in the front row beside Nia and their daughter, Maya.

The referee brought the fighters together, reviewed the rules, and stepped back.

“Ready?”

Both boys nodded.

“Begin!”

Carlos attacked first, striking quickly toward Adam’s upper body. Adam blocked and countered, scoring the first point.

Carlos answered with a clean strike of his own.

The match remained close through the first two rounds, but Adam gradually took control.

In the third round, Adam extended his lead. Carlos tried to recover, but the final tone sounded before he could close the gap.

“Winner, Adam Kincaid!”

The crowd applauded. Liam stood and clapped while Nia smiled.

The announcer called the next match.

“Alex Soria versus Tyrone Botha.”

Alex entered the arena. Tyrone followed from the opposite side, taller and noticeably stronger.

Kyla noticed that Alex held his left arm close to his body.

“Why is he doing that?” she asked.

Julian looked toward the arena.

“I think his arm is still hurting.”

The referee checked their protective equipment and instructed them to return to their starting positions.

“Ready?”

Both boys nodded.

“Begin!”

Tyrone attacked immediately, forcing Alex toward the boundary. Alex ducked beneath a strike, stepped aside, and countered against Tyrone’s torso.

A tone sounded.

“Point. Alex.”

Julian jumped from his seat.

“Yes!”

Across the arena, Maya stood and cheered.

Alex glanced toward her before returning to his position.

Tyrone responded with a series of quick attacks. Alex blocked the first, but a hard strike caught his injured forearm as he defended.

Kyla saw his expression change.

Tyrone followed with a clean strike to the torso, tying the score.

The first round ended shortly afterward.

During the second round, Tyrone repeatedly attacked Alex’s left side. Alex struggled to protect his injured arm.

Tyrone scored again.

“Two to one. Alex is losing by a point,” Tom said.

Alex anticipated the next attack, stepped aside, and countered, bringing the score level.

But Tyrone continued pressing him.

Alex raised his cane to block a high strike. The impact landed against his injured forearm.

Alex cried out and lowered his cane.

The referee immediately stopped the match.

“Can you continue?” the referee asked.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

Alex nodded.

Kyla was on her feet.

Julian approached the edge of the arena.

“Alex, are you okay?”

“Dad, I’m fine.”

The referee asked Alex to raise his arm and rotate his wrist.

A medical attendant examined his movement and grip before allowing him to continue.

Julian frowned.

Kyla sat down reluctantly.

“I don’t like this.”

Alyka looked at her.

“He’s still in the fight.”

“That’s not what worries me.”

The match resumed. Tyrone attacked again, catching Alex off balance and scoring another point before the second round ended.

The third round began with Tyrone leading three to two.

Alex changed his stance, keeping his injured arm close to his body and holding the cane with his right hand.

Tyrone advanced, looking for another opportunity to attack his left side.

But Alex stepped away, avoided the strike, and countered.

A tone sounded.

“Point. Alex.”

The audience erupted.

“Three to three!” Tom shouted.

Tyrone returned to his position, visibly frustrated.

For several seconds, neither attempted another strike.

Then Tyrone lunged toward Alex’s injured side.

Alex anticipated the movement. He stepped backward and struck Tyrone’s exposed torso.

A sharp tone sounded.

The referee raised his hand.

“Point. Alex!”

The final tone sounded moments later.

“Winner, Alex!”

Tom jumped into the air.

“He did it!”

Alyka embraced him.

Kyla stood, applauding despite herself.

Across the arena, Maya was on her feet, cheering louder than anyone near her.

Alex looked toward her.

She smiled and raised both arms.

He smiled back.

Julian entered the arena.

“Let me see.”

“Dad, I won!”

“Yes, I saw. Congratulations. Now let me see that arm.”

A dark bruise had begun spreading beneath the edge of the padding.

Kyla approached them.

“How is he?”

“I’m fine, Mom.”

Julian looked at her.

“I’m calling the medical team.”

Alex sighed.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

A few minutes later, a physician from the Vital Arc arrived.

She examined Alex’s forearm, gently pressing along the injured area.

“Tell me when it hurts.”

Alex remained quiet at first.

Then she pressed closer to his wrist.

“Ow! That hurts!”

She examined his grip strength and asked him to rotate his wrist.

Alex tried but stopped halfway.

“That hurts too.”

The doctor lowered his arm.

“There’s enough swelling and tenderness that I can’t rule out a fracture. I can’t allow you to take another hit.”

Alex’s expression changed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re finished competing today.”

“But I made it to the final.”

“I understand.”

“Can’t I just finish one more fight?”

The doctor shook her head.

“No.”

Alex looked at Julian.

“Dad?”

“You heard the doctor.”

He turned toward Kyla.

“Mom?”

“I’m sorry, Alex.”

He lowered his head.

The referee approached.

“Doctor, is he cleared for the championship match?”

“No. He cannot continue.”

The referee returned to the center of the arena.

“Due to a medical withdrawal, Alex Soria is unable to compete in the final match. The championship is awarded to Adam Kincaid by forfeit.”

Adam entered the arena, looking toward Alex.

Liam stood beside Nia as the referee raised Adam’s arm.

After accepting the congratulations, Adam approached Alex.

“You fought well against Tyrone.”

“Thanks.”

“Maybe next time.”

Alex smiled faintly.

“Next time.”

As Adam walked away, Maya approached.

“Hi, Alex.”

“Hi, Maya.”

“That was an amazing fight.”

“Thanks.”

“I thought you were going to lose.”

Alex laughed.

“Thanks for the confidence.”

“No, I mean it. Tyrone was winning, and then you changed the way you were fighting.”

“Yeah. I had to.”

She looked at his arm.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“A little.”

Kyla raised her eyebrows.

“Okay, more than a little.”

Maya smiled.

“Well, I hope you get better soon.”

“Thanks.”

“Anyway, I’ll whisper you.”

“Perfect.”

Kyla looked at her son.

Alex was still watching Maya.

“Alex?”

He turned.

“Yeah?”

“We should get you to the Vital Arc.”

Julian picked up Alex’s bag.

“Let’s go, champion.”

Alex frowned.

“I’m not the champion, Dad.”

Julian placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You fought like a champion.”

Alex looked toward the arena one last time.

Adam was standing with Liam, holding the championship award.

For a moment, Alex said nothing. Then he followed his parents toward the exit.

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Kyla's Diary - Chapter 26: Fighting