The sun had barely risen over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the orphanage. The sound of birds chirping and children laughing filled the air, creating a sense of normalcy in the midst of chaos. David, a young boy with dark skin and hazel-colored eyes, lay in bed, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. He had been woken up early by the sound of Jack and Alice's whispers outside his room.
"David, how much time are you going to waste?" Jack asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Me and Alice want to go to Old Man Wong's place."
David groggily sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. "Jack, Alice, how many times do you have to go there?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.
Jack, a young boy with light skin and red hair, grinned mischievously. "You don't understand, David. Old Man Wong used to be a Mech pilot, a freaking Mech pilot! Do you understand that?"
David raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "So what if he was a Mech pilot?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Jack added, "And Old Man Wong has some spare parts of Mechs and he even said that he will tell us some stories about his days as a Mech pilot."
David stretched, yawning. "That means you can tell me when you come back, so why will I need to stress myself? Bye-bye, I'm going back to sleep."
Alice and Jack exchanged a knowing look, then shook their heads and left through the window.
"David, David, remember that both I and your mother loves you and try your best to survive."
David's eyes clouded over, and he felt a pang of sadness. It wasn't just a dream; it was the last time he saw his parents.
David got out of bed and headed to the cafeteria to grab a late breakfast. As he entered the kitchen, he saw some children playing and others eating. He tried to go unnoticed and serve himself, hoping to avoid drawing attention to himself.
The cafeteria was filled with the smell of freshly cooked food, and David's stomach growled in anticipation. He quickly served himself a plate of food and sat down at an empty table.
Just as he was about to take a bite of his food, his wrist comm beeped, notifying him of the recent news about the war against the Star Beast. David's eyes widened as he read the news, his mind racing with thoughts and concerns.
The present planet they were on was not Earth, but Nougat, a planet colonized by humans. Two centuries ago, ancient humans had decided to explore the universe, seeking new resources and opportunities. However, they soon discovered that they were insignificant in the universe, and their existence was threatened by the Star Beast.
David's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of children laughing and playing. He looked around, feeling a sense of disconnection from the world around him.
As he finished his food, David couldn't help but think about the war against the Star Beast. He wondered what it would be like to pilot a Mech, to fight against the enemy and protect humanity.
With a sigh, David pushed the thoughts aside and headed to his dorm to prepare for church. Even after many years, some humans still believed in a higher power, and David's parents had been part of that group. Before their death, they had taken David to church and named him after one of the greatest kings in the Bible, King David.
David wasn't a believer, but he found comfort in the rituals and traditions. It made him feel closer to his parents, even if they were no longer with him.