The night sky was calm, dotted with countless stars. It was the kind of night people would forget by morning.
Somewhere, a child tugged on her mother's sleeve.
"Mom, look! A comet!"
A streak of light cut across the sky. For a moment, it was beautiful.
Then it cracked.
The comet shattered midair, and from within it spilled something dark—black, viscous fragments that twisted unnaturally. They scattered across the clouds, streaking toward the earth like falling stars of ink before crashing down across the world.
Beep. Beep.
"Ugh… what's wrong with my head today? I feel like it's going to burst…"
The boy groaned, pressing a hand against his forehead.
"Mom! Why am I still home? Why didn't you wake me up for school?!"
From downstairs, a gentle voice replied,
"Honey, you had a severe fever. Your dad and I thought it was better if you stayed home today."
The boy's name was Nova. He lived in California with his parents.
After resting for a while, the creak of his door pulled him from his thoughts. His dad stepped inside and placed a small box on his desk.
"A present. I know you've wanted this computer chip for a long time."
Nova's eyes lit up, his sickness forgotten.
"Thanks, Dad! I love you so much!"
Unlike most kids his age, Nova wasn't into football or hanging out outside. He preferred logic, code, machines—things that made sense. While others played, he debugged.
He turned on his PC, placed the chip on his desk, and leaned back.
"I should check the news first…"
Politics. Arguments. Boring.
Just as he was about to switch it off—
"Nova! Breakfast!"
Pancakes and maple syrup. His favorites.
He rushed downstairs, forgetting to turn off his computer.
On the TV, the news anchor continued:
"Reports are coming in that teenagers aged thirteen to nineteen are developing unknown abilities—"
But Nova never heard it. The autoplay switched to another video while he ate.
Later, he returned to his room, full and satisfied, and sat at his desk.
He didn't notice the chip.
A thin black tentacle slowly extended from it, creeping across the surface—
and reaching toward him.