Overview:

ROBO3000 and CleanBot are well past the halfway point in monitoring the children’s awakening. Michael’s powers erupt during a confrontation with a gang whose leader he previously angered. Meanwhile, Benjamin grows suspicious of his siblings’ strange behavior and soon discovers that Michael has been replaced by a clone.

Topher is the last to awaken when he is forced to defend his dog from a swarm of dark, writhing moths. As his powers surge to life, his lost memories of the cave incident return. Determined to find answers, he makes his way to the Peregrine headquarters, where his cousins and Roanne are being held.

Gathering around the Star of Vis, the children experience their first full transformation as a team. But lurking in the shadows, unseen and waiting, is Echidna—the Mother of Monsters—quietly hatching a scheme of her own.

Below each profile, the labels read AWAKENED for James, Sophie, Allison, and Roanne, while DORMANT was listed under Michael, Topher, and Benjamin.

The large screen displayed seven rectangular profiles at the top, each bearing the picture of one of the children. Their profiles were neatly arranged from left to right in a row of vertical bars: James, Michael, Sophie, Topher, Allison, Roanne, and Benjamin. Aside from the names at the bottom, the profiles were otherwise blank.

Four of the profiles glowed in different colors, while the remaining three were bathed in a single neutral gray. James’ profile shimmered in orange, Sophie’s in yellow, Allison’s in pink, and Roanne’s in seafoam green. Michael, Topher, and Benjamin’s profiles remained dull, their gray tones unchanging.

Below each profile, the labels read AWAKENED for James, Sophie, Allison, and Roanne, while DORMANT was listed under Michael, Topher, and Benjamin.

“I still can’t believe we’re already past the halfway point. We’ve waited three long years for this,” CleanBot, the screen-mounted robot, said, his tone betraying a hint of emotion.

The command center was dim, the only light coming from the soft blue-white glow of the large screen. It illuminated the room, including the waist-high console where ROBO3000 stood silently on the left and CleanBot perched on the right. ROBO3000, a tall humanoid robot, gazed quietly at the screen, his metallic face cast in the screen’s pale light.

THREE YEARS AGO

It was also night, but this time outside the falcon-shaped Peregrine spaceship. The apparition of the Star of Vis appeared before ROBO3000 and CleanBot, casting the same soft blue-white glow over them as they stood atop the ship.

“Heed my words, children. There will come a time when four boys and three girls will awaken as the Seven Acolytes. You two shall bear witness—from the beginning to the end of the Seven’s journey. This is your fate; this is why you were called into this world. This is the meaning of your existence,” the Star spoke in a serene, godlike male voice.

IN THE PRESENT.

“How are you, big guy?” Michael sneered, eyeing his rival from head to toe.

“I’m fine, thank you. Henchmen, come out!” The rival, now revealed as a gang leader, commanded his thugs.

The gang consisted of out-of-school youths in their everyday clothes, wielding improvised clubs as weapons.

“You’re such a coward. It’s clear you can’t take me down by yourself,” Michael taunted, further insulting the bald gang leader.

“We’ll see who’s begging for mercy when you’re beaten to a pulp,” the rival shot back.

“Enough with the talking, let’s fight already. This is getting boring,” Michael cut off the exchange, baring his fists. He was the only one still wearing a school uniform.

“Charge!” the gang leader roared.

The gang rushed at Michael. At first, he held his ground—skillfully throwing punches and kicks, holding off multiple attackers. But the sheer number of opponents began to overwhelm him. One thug managed to strike Michael from behind with a club.

Michael felt a surge of energy course through his right arm, down to his fist. Despite how strange it seemed, he seized the moment and stood up, ready to fight again. This time, his punches were stronger, effortlessly knocking down the thugs.

Why are so many of us being taken down? the gang leader thought, baffled.

ON THE PEREGRINE SPACESHIP.

On the large screen, Michael’s profile glowed scarlet, and the label beneath it changed to AWAKENED.

BACK TO THE GANGFIGHT.

Scarlet energy surged from Michael’s left bicep down to his forearm, and with a single punch, he knocked a thug unconscious.

This is incredible! What kind of power is this?! Michael marveled, as he continued to knock out more thugs with single, devastating blows.

He wiped the blood from his mouth, unfazed, and locked eyes with his rival—the gang leader. With fiery determination, Michael charged forward and delivered a punch to his rival’s large belly, sending him flying several meters away—an inhuman feat.

“How is that even possible?!” one thug screamed. Fear gripped the rest of the gang as they abandoned their leader and fled.

Michael approached his downed rival, grabbing him by the collar. “Who was it that said I’d be the one begging for my life? You can’t even beg—because you’re completely knocked out.”

“Jeez, what a weakling,” Michael muttered, tossing his rival aside as he stood up.

When he turned around, a glowing pentagon-shaped portal stood before him.

“What is that?” Michael wondered aloud, stepping closer.

Without warning, the portal unleashed a powerful suction, pulling at Michael. Instinctively, he punched the ground, shattering it beneath him. Realizing what he had done, he drove his other fist into the earth, gripping the protruding rocks. But even his newfound superhuman strength wasn’t enough to resist the portal’s pull. His grip faltered, and he was sucked into the portal.

The sun stood at its highest point—exactly noon. Michael may have wished he hadn’t skipped class that day, as it led him straight into the unknown.

At the Pangilinan residence.

“For today, you’re in charge of your brothers and sisters, alright?” Martha said, handing the responsibility over to Benjamin.

“Yes, Mother, I’ll keep an eye on them,” Benjamin replied dutifully.

“And that way, your Nanay and I can enjoy our date for our wedding anniversary. Who knows, maybe we’ll have baby number six?” Greg joked as he wrapped his arms around Martha.

“Greg, stop it. We’re in front of our son!” Martha scolded him, trying to contain her laughter.

“Okay, if anything comes up, just give Nanay a call,” Martha reassured Benjamin.

“Our kids can handle themselves. We’ve got teenagers in the house. Now, let’s head out for our date,” Greg said, pulling Martha toward the door.

Martha turned and gave Benjamin a quick wave, which he returned with a nod. Then, his parents were gone, leaving him in charge.

Benjamin passed by Sophie’s room, noticing her hard at work on an assignment.

“Do you need any help, Sophie?” Benjamin asked his youngest sister.

“No, I’m perfectly fine,” Sophie replied confidently, sounding far more assured than her usual shy and sometimes uncertain self.

Is that Math homework? I can’t believe my eyes. She’s acing those equations. Benjamin stood stunned for a moment. Sophie might love art, but numbers had always been her weakness.

Still perplexed, Benjamin turned to leave Sophie’s room. She continued diligently solving problems on the yellow pad at her desk, her focus unwavering.

Benjamin walked into the living room and caught sight of Michael quietly reading the almanac Benjamin had given him for Christmas. Benjamin’s eyes widened as he decided to sit down beside his younger brother on the bench, saying nothing but watching from the corner of his eye.

Michael, absorbed in his reading, eventually noticed Benjamin’s lingering gaze.

Smiling, Michael turned to him and said, “You know, Kuya, Abraham Lincoln is such a fascinating figure from the nineteenth century. He led the United States through the American Civil War, defended the nation as a constitutional union, defeated the Confederacy, and played a major role in abolishing slavery.”

Did I hear that right? Did Michael just turn into a passionate history buff overnight? Benjamin stared ahead in disbelief. I distinctly remember him almost wanting to throw away that book when I first gave it to him. He sat there, dumbfounded.

Benjamin measured cups of rice and water, placing them into the rice cooker before turning it on. As he waited, he grabbed a can opener and opened a can of pork and beans. After setting the table with plates and utensils, he noticed someone approaching.

“Is it time for lunch?” James asked politely.

“Yes, it is… but what are you wearing?” Benjamin asked, eyeing James’ matching pajamas.

“This? I wanted to try a more classic look and be more comfortable,” James explained, shrugging off his brother’s curiosity.

James sat at the table, waiting for the others to join. As the family gathered to eat, Benjamin couldn’t help but observe his siblings closely.

“You know, Kuya, the plants are growing so fast! They’re so full of life—healthy and strong!” Mary exclaimed with her usual enthusiasm for gardening.

Mary’s the only one acting like herself. There’s something off about James, Michael, and Sophie. Were they replaced by androids or something? Benjamin’s thoughts spiraled into the impossible.

Ridiculous, that only happens in science fiction. Get a grip, Benjamin, he silently scolded himself for even considering it.

After lunch, James remained seated quietly in his matching pajamas, Michael kept reading the almanac, and Sophie continued solving math equations on the carpet in the living room. Their behavior seemed too strange to ignore.

As he watched them, Benjamin blurted out, “So, Mary, do you still want to tell me more about the plants?”

“Of course, Kuya! Why wouldn’t I? Let’s go to the balcony and check on them,” Mary said excitedly.

Benjamin stood and guided Mary out of the dining room, leading her to the balcony.

I need to keep Mary away from those three—they’re really acting strange, Benjamin thought, his suspicions growing stronger.

In a wide-open field at a natural park, a group of high school students was on a field trip.

“Can anyone tell the class what they’re looking forward to in the natural park?” the tour guide asked energetically, encouraging participation.

Michael raised his hand confidently.

“Yes, please come forward, young man,” the tour guide said, calling him to the front.

Michael stood up and made his way past his classmates.

In the distance, hidden among the shrubs, Benjamin was secretly observing his younger brother, having followed Michael on this field trip.

“I’ve already researched this place and found a lot of exciting activities—hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rappelling, zip-lining, fishing, and paddle-boating in the lagoon. There’s even an ‘Eco-trail’ and a vivarium, specifically an orchidarium,” Michael listed brightly.

Benjamin, his attention laser-focused on Michael, suddenly noticed a faint cyan aura surrounding his brother. He rubbed his eyes and put his glasses back on, blinking in disbelief. When he looked at Michael again, he was stunned. His vision had changed—he could see inside Michael’s body. There were no organs or bones, but rather a complex contraption that seemed impossibly futuristic.

As Benjamin adjusted his vision further, he could see outside of Michael’s body again. A widget popped up in his field of view, labeling Michael’s skin as Frubber—“flesh rubber.” The text explained: A proprietary nano-tech skin that mimics real human musculature and skin, allowing it to simulate human-like facial features and expressions.

Benjamin stared in horror, his heart racing. His vision had just turned bionic.

AT THE PEREGRINE SPACESHIP.

On the large screen, Benjamin’s rectangular, vertical profile glowed cyan, and the label at the bottom switched to AWAKENED.

The android version of Michael played with the water, his hand dipping into the lake at the natural park. He looked at his reflection, but glitches appeared in his field of vision, distorting the interface that governed his actions.

Suddenly, the clear blue sky darkened as clouds rolled in.

From behind, Benjamin approached, confronting the imposter. “Where is my brother?”

Michael stood up, turning to face him. “I am your brother, it’s Michael. What kind of question is that? You followed me here? Lunch break is almost over, I need to get back to class.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Benjamin said firmly. “You’re just an android clone—just like ‘James’ and ‘Sophie.’ Where are my real brothers and sister?”

The android’s face shifted to a cold, emotionless expression. “I see you’ve figured it out. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to erase your memories, Benjamin. This is protocol.”

In an instant, the android Michael lunged at Benjamin with superhuman speed. But to both their surprise, Benjamin resisted its strength. They locked arms, wrestling against each other, but Benjamin overpowered the android, sending it flying several meters away.

Recovering quickly, the android conjured a large, unusual-looking bracelet from nano-molecules, wrapping it around two-thirds of its forearm.

The android began firing cyan lasers at Benjamin, but Benjamin’s newly enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge the shots effortlessly.

Since when did I become so athletic? Benjamin thought, bewildered by his newfound abilities.

As the android kept up its assault, Benjamin noticed nano-molecules forming a partial futuristic gauntlet on his wrist. In a flash, a cyan, heraldic shield of solid light projected from the bracelet. The android fired another round of lasers, but Benjamin deflected them with the shield, moving swiftly across the field.

Seizing an opening, Benjamin conjured a laser gun from the nano-molecules. With precise aim, he fired a shot, hitting the android square in the chest and leaving a large, gaping hole. The android’s systems short-circuited, sparks flying as it collapsed, its body disintegrating into nano-molecules that quickly vanished into thin air.

Benjamin arrived at the spot where Michael’s android had vanished. His keen eye for detail spotted a microchip amidst the dust. Picking it up, he noticed it fit perfectly into one of the slots on the contraption bracelet wrapped around his wrist.

Curious, Benjamin fiddled with the buttons until a cyan hologram flickered to life from the bracelet. The projection revealed the Peregrine spaceship, complete with a detailed description and blueprints. Coordinates soon followed, pinpointing the exact location of the spacecraft on a map.

The third section was dedicated to the androids. There were three subsections. The first, labeled ELIMINATED, had Michael’s android listed beneath it. The second, ACTIVE, listed James, Sophie, Allison, and Roanne.

“Allison and Roanne were cloned too?” Benjamin thought, alarmed.