**Chapter 1: Introduction to Xander**

The streets of New Eden gleamed like polished onyx, the city's towering skyscrapers piercing the smog-choked sky like shards of glass. The air reeked of desperation and decay, the once-great metropolis now a mere shadow of its former self. Alexander Hayes Astor, known to those closest to him as Xander, stood atop the Astor Tower, gazing out over the sprawling metropolis with a calculating gaze. At 19, he was already a high-ranking officer in the elite guard, feared and respected by his peers. Xander's thoughts were consumed by the briefing he had received earlier that day. Intelligence suggested a growing dissent among the lower districts, and it was his job to quash it. His father, President Astor, had made it clear that any sign of weakness would be met with swift and merciless punishment. Xander had no intention of failing. As he descended into the heart of the tower, Xander's comms device beeped, signaling an incoming message from his father. He answered, his voice crisp and detached. "Astor here," he said. "Xander, I've received reports of a potential threat in the lower districts," President Astor's voice was cold, detached. "I want you to investigate and neutralize it. We can't afford to let dissent spread." Xander nodded, even though his father couldn't see him. "I'm on it, Father." The conversation ended, and Xander made his way to the elite guard's briefing room. His team was already assembled, their faces set with determination. Xander's second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander Pierce, handed him a data pad with the details of their mission. As Xander scanned the information, his eyes narrowed. The potential threat was vague, but his gut told him it was connected to the recent surge in underground activity. He would need to be strategic, calculated, and ruthless. The team set out, their black tactical gear a stark contrast to the drab, worn buildings of the lower districts. Xander led the way, his eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of trouble. The city was a powder keg, and he was about to become the spark that set it off. For now, though, he was just a cog in his father's machine, a machine that kept New Eden in line through fear and oppression. Xander had always been told that this was the only way to maintain order, but as he walked through the crowded streets, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to life than just following orders. Little did he know, his world was about to be turned upside down by a feisty, 17-year-old girl with a secret that would change everything.