The work bell had just rung.

  Ariv was walking back toward Unit 7 through one of the narrow metal corridors when he suddenly noticed movement ahead.

  Five prisoners stepped into his path.

  They were holding laser swords—thin energy blades used in the weapons manufacturing unit.

  Ariv stopped.

  His eyes quickly analyzed the situation.

  Weapons unit workers, he thought.

  Why are they here?

  Another two prisoners moved behind him, blocking the corridor.

  Ariv’s mind began calculating possibilities.

  Are they here to kill me?

  Then another thought crossed his mind.

  Mira.

  They must be jealous.

  One of the men stepped forward. He was tall and had a scar across his cheek.

  “Hey, new boy,” he said with a mocking smile.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Ariv,” he answered calmly.

  The man tilted his head.

  “So, Ariv… is Mira your relative?”

  “No.”

  “Then why were you being so friendly with her?”

  The men behind him laughed.

  “Yeah,” another said. “Half the colony tries to talk to her and she ignores everyone.”

  The leader took a step closer.

  “But she sits with you on your first day?”

  Ariv quietly studied the corridor.

  Seven opponents.

  Laser weapons.

  No escape path.

  I need a distraction, he thought.

  The leader raised his glowing blade.

  “Maybe you should learn your place here.”

  He lunged forward.

  Ariv quickly stepped sideways. The blade sliced through the air where he had been standing a moment before.

  Another attacker rushed from the side.

  Ariv grabbed a loose metal tool from the floor and blocked the strike. Sparks flew as the laser blade scraped against the metal.

  But Ariv was not a fighter.

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  He dodged one strike.

  Then another.

  But the attackers were stronger and faster.

  One of them slammed into him from behind.

  Ariv hit the ground hard.

  The leader kicked the tool away.

  “Looks like the genius doesn’t know how to fight,” he sneered.

  Another blow struck Ariv’s shoulder.

  Pain shot through his body.

  His vision began to blur.

  Just as the leader raised his blade again—

  A heavy thud echoed through the corridor.

  One of the attackers suddenly flew backward and crashed into the wall.

  Everyone turned.

  A massive man stood at the entrance of the corridor.

  He was easily the largest person Ariv had seen in the colony—broad shoulders, powerful arms, and a calm but dangerous expression.

  He cracked his knuckles slowly.

  “Seven against one,” the man said.

  “Not very impressive.”

  The leader sneered.

  “Stay out of this.”

  The muscular man didn’t respond.

  Instead, he walked forward.

  The next few seconds happened fast.

  One attacker rushed him.

  The large man grabbed his arm, twisted it, and slammed him onto the floor.

  Another swung his laser sword.

  The big man dodged and punched him in the chest so hard the attacker dropped his weapon.

  Two more tried attacking together.

  He knocked their heads together with a single movement.

  Within moments, the corridor was silent.

  All the attackers were on the ground, groaning in pain.

  The leader backed away slowly.

  “This isn’t over,” he muttered before running off.

  The muscular man turned toward Ariv.

  But Ariv’s vision had already faded.

  Everything went black.

  When Ariv slowly opened his eyes again, he was lying on a bench in a quiet corner of the colony.

  His head hurt.

  The muscular man was sitting nearby.

  “You’re awake,” the man said calmly.

  Ariv sat up slowly.

  “You saved me,” he said.

  The man shrugged.

  “Someone had to.”

  Ariv studied him carefully.

  Strong.

  Confident.

  And clearly capable of handling himself.

  Someone useful to know, Ariv thought.

  “Thanks,” Ariv said.

  The man nodded.

  “I’m Rex.”

  Ariv extended his hand.

  “Ariv.”

  As they shook hands, Ariv realized something important.

  If I want to survive in Colony No. 9…

  I’ll need allies.

  And Rex looked like a very good one.

  at evening ariv was discharged from hospital . in canteen everyone was present for dinner

  Ariv was still sitting on the bench when the sound of fast footsteps echoed through the corridor.

  Someone was running.

  A moment later, Mira appeared at the entrance.

  Her eyes quickly scanned the room.

  When she saw Ariv sitting there, she stopped.

  For a second, relief crossed her face.

  Then it turned into anger.

  She walked straight toward him.

  “What happened?” she demanded.

  Ariv shrugged slightly.

  “Small welcoming party.”

  Mira looked at the bruise forming on his face.

  “Those idiots attacked you?”

  Rex leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

  “Seven of them,” he said calmly.

  Mira’s eyes widened slightly.

  “Seven?”

  She looked back at Ariv.

  “And you’re still alive?”

  Ariv nodded toward Rex.

  “Mostly thanks to him.”

  Mira turned toward the large man.

  “You stepped in?”

  Rex shrugged.

  “Didn’t seem fair.”

  Mira studied him for a moment.

  Then she nodded.

  “Good.”

  She turned back to Ariv.

  “Let me guess,” she said. “Weapons unit guys?”

  Ariv nodded.

  “They were upset you talked to me.”

  Mira sighed and rubbed her forehead.

  “I knew this would happen.”

  Ariv looked at her.

  “You seem… popular.”

  Mira gave a short laugh.

  “That’s one way to say it.”

  She lowered her voice slightly.

  “Some people in this colony think if they get close to me, they get status.”

  “And when I ignore them…”

  She gestured toward the corridor.

  “They get angry.”

  Ariv leaned back slightly.

  “So sitting with me in the canteen was a bad idea.”

  Mira crossed her arms.

  “Maybe for you.”

  Then she looked directly at him.

  “But I don’t regret it.”

  Across the hallway, a few prisoners had started watching the conversation.

  Mira noticed them.

  Her expression hardened.

  She raised her voice slightly so others could hear.

  “Anyone else planning to attack him because he talked to me?”

  The corridor went quiet.

  No one answered.

  One prisoner quickly turned away and walked off.

  Mira nodded slowly.

  “Good.”

  Then she looked back at Ariv.

  “You’ll probably still have trouble,” she said.

  “But at least now they know you’re not alone.”

  Ariv glanced at Rex.

  “Looks like I made two friends in one day.”

  Rex smirked slightly.

  “Don’t get used to it.”

  Mira smiled faintly.

  Then she looked at Ariv again.

  “Next time,” she said, “try not to get beaten unconscious on your first day.”

  Ariv sighed.

  “I’ll add that to my schedule.”

  For the first time since arriving at Colony No. 9…

  Ariv almost felt like he belonged somewhere.

  But across the colony, whispers were already spreading.

  The new prisoner, the famous girl, and the giant who knocked out seven men.

  And in a prison like Colony No. 9…

  That kind of attention always led to trouble