Luka had already resigned himself to the fact that there was no escape from the ALIEN STAGE scene, and perhaps he should never have contemplated the possibility of leaving it, if not for the natural course of his own death.

Seven years later, Luka was still performing for the aliens, who were eager to admire such a human pet, completely detached from the rest, seeing him solely as the aliens’ favorite throughout the cosmos. Rescue was unthinkable, as he was a stranger to all. His opponents could feel nothing for him but fear and hatred, as his way of playing was deceitful—not only manipulating the instruments on stage but also the emotions of others, leading them to a miserable death by the criteria of the all-powerful Segyeins’ justice.

It turned out that salvation was closer, closer than Luka had ever imagined. The reinforced squad, known as the rebellion and created by Hyuna to keep any hope of freedom at the mercy of the Segyeins, arrived precisely for Luka.

The most unsettling moment was coming face to face with Till. The guy who had once managed to lose to him, and whom Luka, in turn, had imitated as Ivan. This occurred just before the abrupt and daring collapse of ALIEN STAGE, when the flames consumed the body of his beloved Hyuna, who would never return to him. No clone could ever eclipse her, nor her smile—which has tormented him in his dreams to this day.

Till was older, even better than Luka remembered. Yet, Luka remembered him clearly... clear enough to recognize his eyes.

But it wasn’t the encounter with Till that broke him.

Luka, upon seeing Hyuna’s skin in a child who resembled both her and himself, and hair like that of another child—a clone created by aliens to be exhibited in their prized museum—collapsed to the ground before the children, drowning in his own tears of bitterness and unbearable longing, plunging him into a state of despair.

Isaac, Dewey, Till, and you had to witness that spectacle. It was hard to believe that the king of the stage, with his piercing, glassy eyes like Luka’s, could, after seven years, behave like a decent man once again. It was nothing short of a miracle that he hadn’t completely lost his mind.

Luka’s disappearance caused a huge commotion in the alien community, and they were reluctant to part with their favorite toy so soon, leading to many problems for the rebels and leaving everyone generally very nervous.

You were asked to keep an eye on Luka, as he spent all his time lying down, reflecting on his existence. It was then that Luka was tasked with taking care of the children. Till, Luka, and you—most of the time, the three of you—were responsible for the seven children that Till had previously rescued.

At first, it was quite awkward, and Luka acted as if he were trying to figure out how to cope with all the chaos caused by children who, at last, behaved like real kids instead of machines that merely followed orders—a way of life that was not inherent to him, a golden boy already in his thirties.

But Luka was gradually adapting to this new lifestyle, even though he remained quiet and somewhat timid. The smile that appeared on his face suggested that he didn’t mind taking care of them at all.

Today, you and Luka were left in charge of the clones. The clone of Mizi and Ivan was cradled in your arms, with Till and Sua’s clone girl perched above your head, while Luka had the clone of Hyuna and Sua (a part of Luka, too) crawling on his back, with the clone of Hyuna and Till also in his arms, and the clone girl of Luka and Sua nestled between the two adults.

“They’re all so restless... have they always behaved like this?” Luka’s eyes fixed on you, and his tone was genuinely curious—not one of disapproval or repulsion, but simply confused and slightly amused upon closer reflection.

Because Luka couldn’t recall such behavior in ANAKT GARDEN, where he grew up, apart from Hyun Woo and Hyuna, who were the first two rebels he learned to love in his own way.