The Glitch in the World

Aiden woke up to the sound of his alarm buzzing insistently. He groaned and slapped his hand down to silence it. "Why did I think an 8 a.m. class was a good idea?" he muttered to himself. Remembering the promise of learning about bio-code today perked him up a bit. He rolled out of bed and quickly got ready, grabbing a protein bar on his way out.

He met Maya and Leo in the hallway. "Morning, sunshine," Maya greeted, looking far too energetic for the hour.

"How are you so awake?" Aiden asked, stifling a yawn.

"Coffee," she replied, holding up a steaming mug. "Lots of coffee."

Leo chuckled. "You'll adjust. First week is always rough."

They headed to the lecture hall together. Today's class was with Instructor Liang, a specialist in bio-code. The room was abuzz with chatter about the upcoming lesson.

"I heard we're going to learn how to read the code of living organisms," Maya said excitedly.

"Sounds intense," Aiden replied. "But also kinda awesome."

They found seats near the front as Instructor Liang stepped up to the podium. He was a middle-aged man with sharp features and a calm demeanor.

"Good morning, everyone," he began. "Today we'll be diving into the fundamentals of bio-code. This discipline allows us to understand and, to a limited extent, influence the code that governs living things."

He gestured, and a holographic image of a plant appeared, its structure overlaid with shimmering code.

"All living organisms have a unique code signature," Liang explained. "By learning to interpret these signatures, we can gain insights into their health, growth patterns, and even predict certain behaviors."

Aiden leaned forward, fascinated. The idea of reading the very essence of life was both exciting and a little daunting.

"Now," Liang continued, "before anyone gets any ideas, manipulating bio-code is highly restricted and for good reason. Ethical considerations are paramount."

He looked around the room sternly. "Our role is to observe and understand, not to play creator."

Aiden exchanged a glance with Maya, who nodded subtly. It was clear that this was serious territory.

"Let's start with something simple," Liang said, bringing up a detailed image of a leaf. "Pair up and attempt to read the basic code patterns of this plant."

Aiden and Maya activated their consoles. Lines of code scrolled across the screens, representing various aspects of the plant's biology.

"Look at this sequence," Aiden pointed out. "It correlates with the chlorophyll production."

Maya nodded. "And this part here seems linked to the rate of photosynthesis."

They spent the next hour deciphering the code, occasionally consulting with Leo and other classmates. Liang walked around the room, offering guidance and correcting misunderstandings.

"Excellent work," he said when he reached them. "You're picking up on the patterns quickly."

As the class wrapped up, Liang made an announcement. "For those interested, there's an optional lab session this afternoon where we'll explore bio-code sensing techniques in more depth."

"Think you'll go?" Maya asked as they gathered their things.

"Definitely," Aiden said without hesitation. "I want to learn as much as I can."

"Count me in too," Leo added. "This stuff is too interesting to pass up."

They grabbed lunch at the cafeteria, where the conversation inevitably circled back to their lessons.

"I wonder how far bio-code manipulation can actually go," Aiden mused between bites of his sandwich.

"Well, there's rumors," Leo said, lowering his voice. "Some say that advanced coders have healed injuries or even... altered abilities."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like dangerous territory."

"Exactly why it's restricted," Leo agreed. "Tampering with life code could have unpredictable consequences."

Aiden thought back to his encounter with the Nulls and the Paradox Collective. "I guess it's all about balance. Understanding without overstepping."

After lunch, they headed to the lab. It was a smaller group, mostly students who were particularly keen on bio-code. Instructor Liang greeted them and handed out specialized devices resembling sleek wristbands.

"These are bio-scanners," he explained. "They'll help you sense the bio-code around you more directly."

Aiden strapped his on, feeling a slight hum as it activated. The room seemed to shift subtly; he became aware of faint glows around each person, like auras of code.

"Whoa," he whispered.

Liang instructed them to focus on a potted plant in the center of the room. "Extend your senses toward the plant. Try to feel the flow of its life code."

Aiden closed his eyes, concentrating. At first, there was nothing. Then, gradually, he sensed a gentle rhythm, like the pulse of the plant's existence.

"Got it," he murmured.

"Me too," Maya said softly beside him.

"Now, observe without influencing," Liang reminded them. "Respect the integrity of the code."

They spent the next hour practicing. Aiden felt a deep sense of connection—not just with the plant, but with the very fabric of life around him.

As they were wrapping up, Liang approached Aiden. "You have a natural aptitude for this."

"Thanks," Aiden said, feeling a bit proud.

"Have you considered focusing your studies on bio-code?" Liang asked.

"I hadn't really thought about specializing yet," Aiden admitted.

"Something to consider," Liang said with a nod. "We need more coders who approach this discipline with the proper respect."

"I'll definitely think about it," Aiden replied.

Leaving the lab, Aiden felt invigorated. "That was incredible," he said to Maya and Leo.

"Agreed," Maya said. "I felt like I was seeing the world in a whole new way."

Leo stretched his arms above his head. "It's a lot to take in, but worth it."

As they walked back toward the dorms, Aiden's phone buzzed. It was a message from Jake.

> Jake: Hey, man! Guess what? Got invited to help with a special project in the tech division. Some kind of interface upgrade. Pretty cool!

Aiden smiled, glad to see his friend thriving.

"Jake's doing well," he shared with the others. "Seems like he's making a mark in the tech division."

"That's awesome," Maya said. "Maybe we can all hang out sometime."

"Definitely," Aiden agreed.

Back at his room, Aiden decided to take a break and call his mom. He owed her a real conversation.

"Hi, sweetie!" she answered cheerfully. "It's so good to hear from you."

"Hey, Mom. Sorry I've been so busy lately."

"I figured you were deep into your project," she said. "How's it going?"

"It's great, actually," he said honestly. "I'm learning a ton and meeting some really cool people."

"That's wonderful," she said. "Your dad and I are so proud of you."

They chatted for a while about normal things—family updates, funny stories, the latest happenings in Eastbrook. It felt good to connect.

After hanging up, Aiden stretched out on his bed, thinking about how much had changed in such a short time. He was learning amazing things, making new friends, and finding his place in this complex world of code.

But he also knew that challenges lay ahead. The Nulls, the Paradox Collective, the ethical boundaries of code manipulation—it was a lot to navigate.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," he called.

To his surprise, it was Instructor Liang. "Good evening, Aiden. Hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all," Aiden said, sitting up.

Liang stepped inside. "I wanted to give you this." He handed over a slim book titled "The Ethics of Bio-Code."

"I thought you might find it insightful," Liang continued. "It's important to ground our abilities in a strong ethical framework."

"Thank you," Aiden said, genuinely appreciative. "I'll read it."

Liang gave a slight smile. "I see great potential in you. Keep up the good work."

After he left, Aiden flipped through the book. Passages about responsibility, respect for life, and the consequences of overstepping caught his eye.

He realized that the deeper he delved into the code, the more crucial it became to stay grounded.

Setting the book aside, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. He was on a path that was both exciting and demanding, but he was ready to face it.

After all, he thought with a smile, what's life without a little challenge?

As he drifted off to sleep, thoughts of glowing life codes and the gentle hum of the Ether filled his mind, promising more discoveries to come.