In their new hideout underneath the subway tunnel, Alec was watching a news report. The Gaians had been here before—they were scouting Earth to see how well our defenses were.
"Beware of these beings, they are not human," the news reporter said, showing images of the Gaians patrolling, pretending to be human. With their striking appearance, they didn’t seem to be a threat—so polite and kind—but their eyes shimmered with unsettling, predatory hunger.
Alec couldn’t believe they resembled humans so much, with no large heads or big eyes. None of the humans could have seen this coming.
Alec’s jaw clenched as he watched the broadcast, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. The Gaians were not just bloodthirsty; they were manipulators, able to blend in and deceive. Their pretense of normalcy only made them more dangerous.
The survivors had to be careful. There was nothing that made them different from humans, except for their eyes.
Alec tried to contact Captain Carter, who was with the other group, looking for the right moment to escape. "Captain," Alec said with a heavy heart.
"I read you, Alec. Are you sheltered?" he asked.
"Maria and Brady perished," Alec said to Carter. There was a pause on his end.
"We will mourn them later, Alec," Carter said, swallowing, trying to keep himself steady.
"I know... one day, humans will be avenged," Alec said.
Alec and Elena cautiously made their way through the desolate streets, the silence contrasting with the chaos that had erupted earlier. Their footsteps echoed softly in the emptiness as they scanned for any signs of survivors who might need help.
As they turned a corner, Alec’s eyes fell on a woman sitting against a crumbling wall, cradling a small, trembling baby. The child’s wide, frightened eyes and the woman’s disheveled appearance spoke volumes of their ordeal.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Alec called out gently. “My name is Alec, and this is Elena. We want to help you.”
The woman’s eyes, clouded with fear, darted between Alec and Elena. “No, stay back. You’re one of them,” she said, laced with panic.
Alec took a cautious step forward. “No, no, we’re humans. We’re here to help.”
Elena, standing beside Alec, nodded in agreement. “We’re not Gaians. We’re survivors, just like you.”
“I said stay back!” The woman’s voice rose, her grip tightening around the baby, pointing a dagger.
“These beings lie that they want to save you—you’re one of them!” she said, distrustful.
Alec shook his head. "I assure you, we are humans."
He reached into his pocket and produced a small, faintly glowing hologram ID, which hovered in the air, displaying his USA citizenship details. “Here is my ID. Please, trust us. We only want to help you.”
The woman hesitated, her gaze flickering between the ID and Alec’s earnest expression. The baby whimpered, adding to the tension of the moment.
Elena took a step forward. “We understand your fear. We’ve been fighting against those who have caused all this chaos. We’re on your side.”
The woman’s eyes were still wary, but the sight of the ID and the genuine concern in Alec and Elena’s faces began to crack her composure. Slowly, she relaxed her grip on the baby.
"Let us help you," Alec said.
The woman went with them, but in a brief flicker, her eyes turned a shade darker.
The next day, the woman left without alerting them.
When Alec looked for the woman, hoping to hear the sound of her baby, he couldn’t find her. He was worried about her, especially the baby.
The note said, "I can't stay here. I need to go. Stay safe. Trust nobody. "
Alec crumpled the note in his hand, frustration and concern etched on his face. "This is not good. We shouldn’t have helped her," Alec said.
"But..." Elena started.
"Trust your gut," Alec said sharply. "Trust it."
"Hurry," Alec said, his gaze darting nervously around their surroundings. They both looked up, scanning the sky for any sign of Gaians or reinforcements. There was nothing so far, but they kept sprinting.
After securing the entrance, they paused. The warehouse was quiet, sunlight filtering through broken windows, casting long shadows on the floor. Alec scanned the room, his eyes sharp for any signs of danger. Elena’s gaze swept over the layers of dust that covered every surface.
"Looks like we’re alone for now," Alec muttered cautiously.
Without another word, Alec unpacked a pair of automatic machine guns—sleek, black devices that resembled small pillars.
He positioned one near the exit door and the other just outside the room where they planned to sleep. Each machine gun was equipped with sensors that could detect the warmth and movement of alien life forms. The subtle hum of the sensors coming online gave Alec a slight sense of relief.
“If the Gaians try to catch us while we’re sleeping, they won’t get far,” Elena said, nodding in approval.
The silent machines stood as sentinels, ready to unleash a barrage of bullets if the enemy approached. At least now, if the Gaians invaded, Alec and Elena would have the edge—no surprises, no overwhelm, just a fair fight.
Elena led the way to a small storage area at the back of the warehouse. Inside, they found a few stacks of clothing—mostly jackets, coats, and blankets. The cold seeping through them was quickly forgotten as they wrapped themselves in the warm layers they found.
They retreated to a small room, likely once used by the warehouse staff. It was modest but offered some degree of privacy and comfort.
The area had a kitchen and sinks. Elena reached for the knob, and surprisingly, water came out.
"Alec, it looks like we got water," Elena said.
Dishwasher soap and tubs of water were used to wash off the grime and sweat from their ordeal, the warmth of the water a small comfort amid their distress.
With drinking cups, they poured water over them to make it resemble a shower.
Alec rubbed his hands over Elena's back with a makeshift sponge he made from a spare shirt as Elena poured water over herself slowly to give Alec a moment to scrub her back. It was oddly relaxing.
The hot water was excellent. It nipped their cold skin, but they were happy they could pretend they were home in their apartment, where everything was just fine.
After they were clean and warmer, Elena retrieved food from her backpack. They had scavenged supplies from abandoned supermarkets earlier, and now the fruits of their efforts were spread out on a table: canned goods, dried fruit, and some bread.
Elena set up a small makeshift kitchen area and soon had a pot of tea brewing on a portable stove.
Elena and Alec watched the news, nibbling on crisps.
Wrapped in thick blankets, Alec held Elena tight. He still couldn't believe Earth had been invaded.
The silence all over the atmosphere haunted him.
Elena noticed his tense posture and reached out, “Alec, what’s wrong?” she asked cautiously.
He met her eyes, his own filled with worry. “I can’t shake this feeling,” he confessed. “What if the woman with the baby was a Gaian? The baby’s cries... they didn’t seem right. Babies usually quiet down when they’re held by their mothers. I’m afraid we might have given away our location.”
"What if the baby was human, but she was not? Then that means the baby is with that monster right now," Alec said.
“It’s possible," she said slowly. “But we did what we thought was right. We can’t second-guess everything.”
Alec nodded, though his fear was far from eased. “I know, but the stakes are so high. If we’re wrong, it could mean the end for us. I just..." Alec said, and Elena held him around the waist.
"I know..." she said.
“We’ll keep a close watch. If anything changes, we’ll act quickly. For now, let’s stay alert,” Elena said, loading his assault rifle and coming back to claim her comfy spot.
As they sat together, Alec's gaze fell on Elena. Despite the dire circumstances, seeing her face, illuminated by the soft glow of their lantern, brought him a sense of relief and gratitude. He almost cried, not from fear, but from the overwhelming joy of still being alive and sharing this moment with her.
The two of them sat close, their bodies pressed together as they listened to the news playing softly in the background. The news reporters were risking their lives to broadcast updates, their voices filled with urgency and fear. The President appeared on a national livestream.
He was with his bodyguards, hoping that whoever was watching would not give up.
“Stay strong, people of New York,” the President’s voice echoed through the room.
“We must fight back even if we lose. We can’t afford to be at the mercy of this type of evil. Brothers and sisters, and the soldiers who are out there defending our country... God bless you, and we will meet again when the sun shines over a free nation once more.”
Elena lowered her head to Alec's chest, and Alec held her tightly, his heart aching with sadness and fear.
He brushed a tender kiss on her forehead, savoring the peace they had found.
Alec moved cautiously through the abandoned space, his every step carefully placed to avoid making noise. A faint tremble, like a distant, muted earthquake, shook through the building. Alec’s heart raced. His grip tightened on his weapon as he looked down at Elena, still sleeping soundly on the ground, cocooned in the warmth of his coat.
The previous night's silence had been eerily calm, and Alec remained on edge, acutely aware of the dangerous quiet that surrounded them. He glanced over at the flickering news broadcast playing on a makeshift screen. The reports were dire, filled with warnings and desperate pleas from those still holding out against the Gaians.
Alec and Elena had their weapons loaded and strapped across their backs, prepared for any sudden confrontation. They weren’t fooled by the quietness; the Gaians could be lurking nearby, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Alec sat down beside Elena, his digital notepad open on his lap. He typed in his journal, documenting their harrowing experiences and the fleeting moments of peace they managed to find. His gaze often darted to Elena, whose soft, rhythmic breathing was a balm to his frayed nerves.
As he peered through a crack in the wall, Alec’s eyes followed the flickering lights of the Gaians’ search beams as they swept relentlessly outside. The tremors of fear and uncertainty gnawed at him, but he fought to remain calm. His grip on the sleek rocket launcher slung across his back resembled his readiness.
Elena stirred beside him and crawled toward Alec, her face etched with fatigue and worry. Settling beside him, she curled up, instinctively seeking warmth and comfort. Alec’s arm instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her close. The warmth of her body against his was a small but significant solace amid their bleak circumstances.
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Elena’s head rested on Alec’s shoulder, her inhale and exhale slow and steady as she found a moment’s peace in his embrace.
Elena’s eyes fluttered closed as she nestled deeper into Alec’s side, drawing strength from his presence. The cold from the outside world seemed to seep through the walls.
“Are they still out there?” she said over the distant rumble of the scavenger ships.
“Yeah,” Alec replied low and steady. “But we’re safe for now. Just need to stay quiet and keep our heads down.”
Elena closed her eyes, her fingers gripping Alec’s arm as though it were a lifeline.
“I’m glad we have this moment,” she murmured, her words muffled against his chest.
“Even if it’s just for a little while.”
Alec gently stroked her hair, his own fear momentarily eased by the closeness. “Me too,” he said softly.
The safe room, nestled deep within the high-rise building, was a fragile sanctuary amidst the chaos outside. The minimal sunlight cast long shadows across the floor.
The distant echoes of explosions and gunfire vibrated through the walls.
Alec and Elena sat huddled in the corner, the oppressive tension thickening the air around them. Elena clutched a pair of binoculars, her knuckles white with the force of her grip.
Her eyes remained fixed on the small gap in the boarded-up window.
Alec hunched over his gear, lost in thought as he tinkered with wires and circuits, his hands moving with mechanical precision.
It was only when Elena froze that Alec’s attention shifted from his work. The sudden stillness in her posture sent a jolt of unease through him.
“Elena,” Alec whispered, moving closer to her.
Elena didn’t respond, her gaze locked on something outside. Without a word, she handed him the binoculars, her hands trembling. Alec took them and pressed them to his eyes, following her line of sight toward the skyline shrouded in darkness.
Through the lenses, Alec spotted movement—a small group of humans racing toward a starship parked on a distant rooftop. They were desperate, their figures barely visible in the night as they scrambled aboard. Moments later, the starship’s engines ignited, casting a soft, blue glow across the rooftop.
“They’re trying to escape,” Alec murmured, a flicker of hope like a warm sensation in his chest.
But before that hope could take root, Elena’s voice cut through the air, sharp with dread. “Alec… look.”
She pointed toward the sky. Alec adjusted the binoculars.
What he saw next made his blood run cold.
A massive shadow descended from the clouds above—a Gaian warship, intimidating and menacing, its presence overwhelming. It moved with the grace of a predator, zeroing in on the starship that was still struggling to gain altitude. The Gaian ship was enormous, its dark hull glistening against the sky.
“No…” Elena whispered.
The Gaian warship’s underside glowed with a blinding light, charging for a deadly strike. Alec’s eyes widened in terror as the beam shot down, piercing through the starship’s hull with ruthless precision. The starship erupted into a brilliant explosion, the force of the blast shaking the very walls of their shelter.
Elena gasped, her eyes wide with horror as she watched the burning debris rain down on the city. The fiery wreckage plummeted, crashing into buildings and streets, igniting a towering inferno that consumed everything in its path. Smoke and flames billowed into the sky, a dark plume of destruction marking the spot where hope had just been extinguished.
“They… they were burned alive…” Elena’s words were choked with disbelief and sorrow.
The binoculars slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor. Elena backed away from the window, her legs shaking uncontrollably. Her breathing grew ragged as the enormity of what they had just witnessed sank in. Alec quickly moved to her side, his hands gentle as he pulled her away from the gap in the window.
“Don’t look, Elena. Don’t—” Alec said, trying to shield her from the devastation they couldn’t unsee.
Alec moved her away from the onslaught and held her tightly. He could feel her pain, her fear, seeping into him, a shared weight that threatened to crush them both.
“We’re trapped, Alec…” Elena’s voice was muffled against his chest, the despair in her words cutting through the noise of the battle outside. “We’re all trapped…”
Alec closed his eyes, his own hopelessness clawing at him from the inside. He wanted to offer her comfort, to tell her it would be okay, but the truth was a cruel, unyielding force. The image of the exploding starship, of the lives lost in an instant, was burned into his mind.
“We’ll find a way to avenge them, Elena,” Alec said, wavering with doubt. “We have to. We owe it to Maria and Brady… and everyone else.”
Elena nodded weakly, but her tears didn’t stop.
Alec stroked her hair, his mind racing with the grim reality they faced. Escape by starship was no longer an option. The Gaian warships patrolled the skies with brutal efficiency, cutting down anyone who dared to flee.
As Alec held Elena close, he glanced back at the window. The Gaian ship had moved on, its hunt continuing elsewhere in the city. But the devastation it left behind lingered like a specter, haunting their thoughts.
Hopefully, the Gaians think they got the last ones and just fuck off from Earth.
The high-tech automatic machine gun beeped red. It started scanning and began shooting at the door. Groans of pain echoed as the machine kept firing. Sounds came from the other side of the barricade as the bullets found their targets.
"The Gaians, they’re here," Alec said, pushing Elena back.
"Grab your weapon. If you see a shadow, start shooting," Alec said.
"Alec, do you read?" Carter pleaded.
"Yes," Alec said. "We’re fine. And yourself?"
Carter’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, distorted slightly by the interference from the ongoing battle.
"We are safe for now."
“We’ve almost reached the starship. We’re holding position, but you need to hurry. Can you make it within an hour?” Carter’s voice carried an edge of urgency.
Alec could hear the distant rumble of explosions on Carter's side. Alec exchanged a look with Elena before responding.
“No, Carter. You’ll have to go without us. We’ll keep the Gaians busy.” Alec’s demand was nonnegotiable, and the static hissed through the connection.
Carter’s reply was immediately strained with emotion. “No! I can't do that—”
“Hear me!” Alec cut him off sharply, the urgency amplified by the walkie-talkie’s compression. “If we try to leave, the Gaians will either shoot us down or track us straight to you. We can’t risk leading them right to the starship.”
A burst of static filled the air as Carter struggled to respond. “No soldier gets left behind, Alec!”
Alec looked at Elena, who accepted her fate grimly. When he spoke again, he was firm, laced with heavy sadness. “You’re not leaving us behind, Carter. We’re choosing to stay—for humanity. You need to go before it’s too late.”
The line fell silent, the weight of the decision pressing down on both sides. Carter’s breathing was audible through the device, with each inhale a struggle between duty and friendship.
Finally, Carter spoke. “Alec…”
“Go!” Alec’s voice broke through the static, the finality of the word ringing in Carter’s ears. He could hear the faint tremor in Alec’s voice, but there was no time left. “We’ll buy you the time you need.”
Alec blinked away tears as the transmission ended, the connection cutting off with a final, decisive click. On the other side, Carter stood frozen for a moment, the silence of the severed connection echoing in his mind. But there was no turning back. He had to lead the others to safety.
The lights of the Gaian warship shone brightly through the gaps of Cadet's hideout.
Commander Carter had prepared for this moment for what felt like an eternity. The escape plan was the culmination of countless hours of strategy, sacrifice, and hope—a final gamble to slip through the tightening noose of the Gaian forces.
Beneath the ruins of an old industrial complex, hidden deep underground, lay the launch facility that would serve as their lifeline. Concealed beneath layers of rock and debris, it was connected to the surface by a secret shaft, camouflaged to resemble a collapsed building or a natural formation.
The starship, their only means of escape, was ready. The last of the crew moved with a sense of urgency, their actions precise and calculated. Every second counted, and they all knew it. The air was thick with tension, a heavy weight pressing down on everyone in the room.
Carter stood at the command console, his eyes scanning the monitors that displayed the ship’s status. Everything was in place, but one final step remained to ensure their escape.
Carter activated the intercom. "All decoys, launch on my mark. We need to give them something to chase while we slip through."
The decoys—older, less valuable vessels—had been rigged to explode or emit false signals mimicking the energy signatures of a fully operational starship. These decoys were strategically hidden across the city, waiting for the signal to launch.
Carter’s finger hovered over the button for a moment before pressing it.
“Mark.”
The decoys launched in unison, their engines roaring as they ascended into the sky. The night erupted with the sound of thrusters and the glow of exhaust trails. Almost immediately, the Gaian forces detected the launches. Sensors on the monitors flared red as the Gaians responded, launching attacks that lit up the sky with explosions. The decoys were doing their job, leading the Gaians on a wild chase.
With the Gaian forces distracted, Carter turned his attention to the real escape ship. “Prepare to engage the cloaking device,” he ordered.
The ship began to rise from the underground facility. The cloaking device rendered it nearly invisible to both the naked eye and radar detection. As it ascended through the concealed shaft, the ship slipped through the opening at the surface, emerging into the chaos of the night.
Carter hurried to the starship's cockpit, trying to reach out to Alec again.
"Alec, do you read? Please come try to find a way to get over here," Carter said.
As the ship breached the surface, Alec and Elena, stationed as the last line of defense, engaged the approaching Gaian ground troops. The sound of gunfire and explosions echoed through the comms as they fought valiantly to keep the enemy at bay.
Alec kept shooting as more of the Gaians fell, piling up on the ground. Alec and Elena took cover as the Gaians fired back.
His ears perked as a small radio crackled, calling out to him.
"Alec... please respond," Carter desperately said.
"Carter... It's good to hear you're safe now," Alec breathed out.
“Listen, they're getting too close! We’ll hold them off as long as we can,” Alec’s voice crackled through the radio.
Elena’s voice followed, strong and unwavering despite the odds. “We’ve got this, Carter. Just get everyone out of here.”
Carter’s heart clenched as he listened, knowing full well what they were risking. “Alec, Elena, get out of there. That’s an order!”
But there was no response, only the distant sound of battle. The silence that followed was deafening, a void that swallowed the last remnants of hope. Carter closed his eyes, the weight of their sacrifice pressing down on him.
Carter exhaled, but he knew they wouldn’t want him to stall things by mourning them.
On the warship's scanners, the decoys' energy signatures mimicked those of a fully operational starship—strong, pulsing signals that suggested a massive power source. The Gaian ships, detecting these signals, pivoted sharply, their attention yanked from their primary target to the newly active signals.
The decoys ascended rapidly, their engines emitting high-pitched whines, filling the air with a chaotic cacophony. Explosions rippled through the sky as some decoys detonated prematurely, creating additional chaos and confusion.
The Gaian warships responded with a barrage of laser fire and missile launches. The sky above was alive with flashes and trails of destruction as their weapons sought to neutralize the false threats.
From Carter’s vantage point, the monitors displayed a map of the city with the decoys’ trajectories superimposed. Red blips representing Gaian ships swarmed around the decoys like predatory insects, their sensors overloaded by the conflicting signals.
“Decoys are working perfectly,” the technician reported with a note of relief. “The Gaians are fully engaged.”
As the decoys drew more fire, the real starship—cloaked and nearly invisible—began its stealthy ascent from its underground hideout. The decoys’ deception had given them the crucial window they needed to slip past the Gaian forces unnoticed.
As the ship cleared the atmosphere, it entered a zone heavily patrolled by Gaian ships. The pilot’s hands were steady as they navigated the craft, using the cloak and the decoys to their advantage, slipping through gaps in the Gaian formation.
“We’re approaching the outer atmosphere,” the navigator reported, eyes flicking between the controls and the view outside. “Gaian ships are still focused on the decoys. We have a window.”
“Punch it. Full speed ahead,” Carter commanded.
The starship surged forward, its engines roaring as it blasted through the last remnants of Earth’s atmosphere and into the cold expanse of space. The Gaians, still chasing the decoys, were too late to react. The real ship was already speeding away, heading toward the wormhole that could lead them to safety, far beyond the Gaians' reach.
As the starship entered the relative safety of space, the tense atmosphere on the bridge slowly shifted to one of solemn reflection. Carter stared out at the stars, his mind heavy with the loss they had just endured. Alec, Elena, Brady, Maria—so many good people, lost in the fight for survival.
Carter took one last look at the chaotic sky, where the decoys continued to work.
“Commander Carter,” the pilot called softly, breaking the silence. “We’re clear.”
Carter nodded, his expression grim. “Thank you. All hands… We've made it through but at a cost. We lost good people today. Take a moment of silence to remember them. They gave everything so we could make it out. We won’t waste the chance they gave us.”
The crew bowed their heads, the only sound the hum of the ship’s engines as it sped through the void. Carter remained at the window, his thoughts drifting to those they had left behind and the journey that still lay ahead. The stars stretched endlessly before them, a vast unknown filled with both hope and danger. They had survived, but their battle was far from over.
Alec and Elena stood back-to-back, their weapons ready, eyes locked on the doors as they felt the vibrations of the approaching Gaian ships. The low hum of the enemy’s engines grew louder, and more ominous, filling the air around them. Elena glanced at Alec, her heart racing but her grip steady on the rocket launcher. Alec’s hand found hers, squeezing gently in a moment of tender reassurance.
“No matter what happens, we will always be together,” Alec said, feeling more proud and in love than ever before.
Elena nodded, a smile forming on her features despite the dread in her heart. “Always,” she replied.
They aimed at the gaping hole above them. With synchronized precision, they unleashed a storm of rockets and grenades. The projectiles soared through the air, their explosions resonating with a fierce, echoing roar. The Gaian ship shuddered under the onslaught, flames erupting along its hull and momentarily sending it into disarray.
But the victory was short-lived. The Gaians, relentless and furious, surged into the building. Alec and Elena's backs pressed together as they aimed their assault weapons.
The air erupted with the deafening symphony of gunfire, mingled with the cries of the wounded. One by one, the invaders fell under their assault, but the tide was inexorable.
Gaian tracker ships began to descend, encircling the crumbling building. Their ship needed at least 5 seconds to shoot the green beam at them while their weapons reloaded automatically within a second. Still, despite the advantage, they knew it wasn’t enough to make the Gaians leave.
The structure groaned and protested as the relentless barrage took its toll. Alec’s gaze flickered toward Elena, his eyes filled with both love and an aching sense of finality. She returned his look, her expression a mirror of his sorrowful acceptance. Words were unnecessary. They knew this was the end, yet they were facing it together.
In a final, desperate move, Elena’s rocket launcher found its mark. The Gaian warship’s engine erupted in a massive explosion, the vessel going down in a fiery blaze. As the ship plummeted to ruin, the building trembled, echoing its fate.
The edifice gave a final, shuddering groan before beginning to collapse. Alec and Elena continued to fire as the ceiling caved in and debris began to rain down. They squeezed each other’s hands tightly. Amidst the crushing weight of falling rubble and the roar of destruction, they took solace in their shared final moments.
As the ceiling caved in, they squeezed each other’s hands tightly, taking comfort in the fact that they were together.
They kept shooting, and the ground started to crack, spreading further, no longer able to hold their weight. Gravity enveloped them in a sudden free fall. They didn't scream. Alec tried to absorb the blow by holding Elena on top of him, hoping, against all odds, that there was a slight miraculous chance she could survive.
As they fell, the last thing they heard was the bittersweet sound of another Gaian warship being taken down by their weapons before their vision went blank.
