As the days passed, Cayde found more and more excuses to be online to chat with Mik. Their conversations became a highlight of Cayde's day, a secret joy that made even the most mundane tasks exciting.

  One evening, as Cayde was tinkering with Nova, their personal AI assistant, an idea struck them. "Nova," Cayde whispered, glancing around to ensure they were alone, "can you connect to the Earth internet through the QEN?"

  Nova's surface rippled with blue light. "Accessing QEN. Connection established. What would you like me to do, Cayde?"

  Cayde's hearts raced with excitement. "Can you monitor the Cosmic Connections forum and alert me when StarGazer101 posts or sends a message?"

  "Certainly, Cayde. Shall I notify you discretely when in public?"

  "Yes, please," Cayde replied, grinning. "This is our secret, Nova."

  From that day on, Cayde never missed a message from Mik. Whether in class, at the dinner table, or even during their nightly meditation, a subtle vibration from Nova would send Cayde rushing to find a private moment to chat.

  Their conversations flowed more freely now, ranging from deep discussions about the nature of the universe to silly jokes about Earth culture that Cayde pretended to only half understand.

  One afternoon, as Cayde was helping in Dr. Lyra's lab, Nova gave the now-familiar alert. Cayde quickly excused themselves, finding a quiet corner to check their message.

  StarGazer101: Hey CO! Guess what? I got the highest score in our class on the astronomy test!

  CelestialObserver: That's fantastic, Star! I knew all that stargazing would pay off. Maybe you'll be discovering new planets someday.

  StarGazer101: Thanks! You know, sometimes I feel like I understand the stars better than I understand myself or the people around me. Is that weird?

  Cayde paused, considering their response carefully.

  CelestialObserver: Not at all. The universe is vast and complex, but so are we. It's okay to feel more connected to the cosmos sometimes. It doesn't make you weird, it makes you wonderful.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  StarGazer101: :) You always know what to say. I'm so glad I met you here.

  As Cayde tucked Nova away and returned to the lab, they couldn't help but smile. In Mik, they had found not just a friend, but a kindred spirit — someone who, despite being worlds apart, understood the wonder and mystery of the universe in a way that felt uniquely familiar.

  The next day, Cayde rushed home from school, eager to chat with Mik. As they logged onto the forum, they noticed Mik's latest message:

  StarGazer101: Hey, sorry I wasn't online yesterday. My little brother Alex had to go to the hospital again.

  Cayde's hearts sank. They'd learned about Mik's brother and his heart condition over the past few weeks.

  CelestialObserver: Is he okay? Did they schedule his surgery?

  StarGazer101: No, we still can't afford it. The doctors say he needs it soon, but even with my parents working extra jobs, we're nowhere close to having enough money.

  Cayde stared at the screen, shocked. They'd learned about Earth's healthcare system in school, but hearing about it from Mik made it feel so much more real and unfair.

  CelestialObserver: I'm so sorry, Mik. I wish there was something I could do to help.

  StarGazer101: Thanks. Sometimes I wish aliens would visit Earth and fix all our problems. Is that silly?

  Cayde's skin flickered with a mix of emotions. If only Mik knew...

  Later that evening, during dinner with Dr. Lyra, Cayde couldn't stop thinking about Mik and Alex.

  "You're quiet tonight," Dr. Lyra observed, their skin patterns showing concern. "Is everything alright?"

  Cayde hesitated, then asked, "Why don't we help Earth more? With all our advanced technology, we could solve so many of their problems."

  Dr. Lyra's expression turned serious. "It's complicated, Cayde. The Galactic Union has strict rules about interfering with developing civilizations."

  "But people are suffering!" Cayde protested. "There are kids who can't get life-saving medical treatment because their families can't afford it."

  Dr. Lyra looked surprised at Cayde's specific example but continued, "I understand your frustration. But we have to be careful. Sudden interference could destabilize their entire society. That's why we monitor their Harmony Index."

  "Harmony Index?" Cayde asked, curious despite their frustration.

  "It's a measure of a planet's overall well-being – environmental health, social progress, technological advancement, and more," Dr. Lyra explained. "Earth's index has been concerning for a while now, which is why there's been talk of intervention. But it's a delicate situation."

  Cayde's mind raced. They wanted to tell Dr. Lyra about Mik, about the real people behind those Harmony Index numbers. But they knew they'd be in trouble for using the Earth internet without permission.

  That night, as Cayde lay in bed, they made a decision. They had to find a way to help Mik and Earth. Even if it meant bending some rules.

  Little did Cayde know, their actions were about to set in motion events that would change both their worlds forever.