Sam's voice rang out from the other end of the call, tense and forceful. "Henry, I think it's time we deploy the A3."
The moment Sam uttered those words, everyone in the room froze. Henry's colleagues, military officers, and top advisors exchanged shocked glances, struggling to process what they'd just heard. Even the soldiers stationed at the door raised their heads, momentarily dropping their stoic expressions. And despite the seriousness of the situation, there was a glimmer of something else in their eyes—excitement. This was more than a rare moment; the very concept of deploying the A3 was a legend among them, a last resort whispered about in hushed tones, something they never thought they'd actually live to see.
But Henry's face remained impassive as he replied, "No." His voice was calm, but the single word landed like a thunderclap. The room fell silent. No one could believe that Henry, of all people, had turned down the option. The A3 was the ultimate weapon—a weapon that could only be used in the gravest of crises. But Henry's decision seemed resolute.
Seeing the disbelief around him, Henry sighed. "The A3 is designed for the utmost emergencies, a safeguard against humanity's greatest threats. We created it for situations that go beyond even this—extinction-level events, alien invasions. We cannot use it lightly." His tone was firm, but his gaze betrayed a flicker of doubt.
BANG!
The loud slam of Sam's hand striking the table echoed over the call, snapping everyone's attention back to the screen. "Damn it, Henry!" Sam's voice was raw, teetering between rage and desperation. "If this isn't an alien invasion, then what is? You've seen the reports. If we don't act now, we could be facing extinction, plain and simple."
Henry adjusted his glasses, his gaze hardening as he processed Sam's words. For a moment, the weight of the decision hung heavily on his shoulders, but he finally straightened and took a deep breath. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice rising with authority, "the time has come to reveal what we've been working on all these years. It's time to show the world what we're truly capable of. And it's time these beasts learn who they're up against."
A chorus of voices rose in excitement and approval. "Yes!" "You're right, Henry!" "It's time for a new era!"
Henry took charge, leading the assembled group out of the conference room. The soldiers, looking more eager than ever, followed closely, and Belinda and the others tagged along, curiosity sparking in their eyes. Henry guided them through the winding corridors of the building, making unexpected turns until they arrived at his office. Confused, the children exchanged glances, not understanding why they'd been brought here. Belinda, too, looked puzzled.
Then, without a word, Henry moved behind his desk and pressed a hidden button beneath it. There was a low rumble, and the wall behind them slowly slid open, revealing a narrow staircase leading down into darkness. Murmurs of surprise filled the room as everyone took in the sight.
With a solemn nod, Henry gestured for them to follow him. They descended in silence, some visibly nervous while others appeared strangely calm. A few, it seemed, already knew what lay at the end of this descent. After several minutes, they reached a massive underground chamber, where rows upon rows of advanced, sleek-looking robots stood motionless.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Henry announced, his voice echoing across the space, "welcome to the future."
The walls hummed softly as lights flared to life, illuminating the chamber in a cold, metallic glow. Belinda, Hayley, and Carter gaped as they realized the magnitude of what they were seeing. The robots in front of them, intimidating and battle-ready, were only the beginning. The chamber was filled with advanced technology that looked like it belonged more to a science fiction novel than reality.
---
Meanwhile, outside the EVA organization's headquarters, Chase was in a very different world. He crouched low, hiding beneath a collapsed structure as beasts screeched and flew past him in chaotic waves. His heart hammered in his chest as he tried to make sense of the pandemonium. "What's going on?" he whispered, struggling to keep his breathing steady. "How did they escape…? Could it have been the nuclear missile?"
Haunted by questions, he limped forward, one leg dragging slightly as he made his way to the graveyard where his parents lay. Despite the chaos, he knelt down by their graves, ignoring the swirling devastation around him.
"Father… Mother," he whispered, his voice heavy with guilt, "I've failed you both. I'm powerless to avenge your deaths." His fingers dug into the earth as he spoke, his voice catching in his throat. "You were right, Father. The aliens… they've invaded, and now they're everywhere. I hope those fools realize their mistake now. But… so many innocent lives will be lost because they didn't believe you."
Images of families, children, and elderly people flashed through his mind, and the horror of what was happening around him suddenly felt unbearably real. He remembered his father's words, spoken so often it had become a mantra in his life: "Wherever you are, son, never turn a blind eye to people's suffering."
With a deep, shuddering breath, Chase clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. He looked down at his father's grave one last time. "I won't do this for Henry," he vowed softly, "or even for the world. But I'll do it for you, Dad. I'm going to make you proud."
Determination surged within him, and as he turned to face the EVA building, something changed in his eyes. The hollow, haunted look was gone, replaced with a fierce, unyielding resolve. He didn't notice that his injured leg no longer ached, or that his limp had mysteriously disappeared. All that mattered was reaching the organization—and confronting whatever awaited him there.
As he made his way down a narrow street, he stopped to catch his breath, glancing over his shoulder. A low, guttural growl sounded from behind him, and his heart skipped a beat. Turning slowly, he saw a creature the size of a large dog, but with two heads and six legs. Each head bore two curved horns, and it watched him with a twisted grin that seemed almost human.
Chase's stomach churned as he noticed a tiny arm—barely more than a baby's—dangling from one of the creature's mouths. Rage flared inside him. "You… you monster!" he shouted, feeling his fury surge beyond control. But instead of charging at the beast head-on, he spun on his heel and sprinted towards a nearby building, the creature hot on his heels.
He darted up a staircase, hearing the creature's snarls growing closer. "Almost… there," he muttered, his mind racing. He could feel the creature's breath on his neck as it leapt, teeth snapping at the empty air just inches from his throat. In a swift, instinctive move, Chase twisted, evading the attack and watching as the beast tumbled down the center of the stairwell.
Peering over the edge, he estimated the fall to be at least seven floors. But even as he caught his breath, he knew the creature wouldn't be defeated so easily. He raced upward, pushing himself to the rooftop, steeling himself for whatever came next.
---
Back at the EVA organization, Kellie and her father had been released and were now being led down the hidden staircase to join Henry and the others. Though Henry had hesitated, he'd been forced to allow Steve, Kellie's father, to access the organization's secrets. In truth, Steve was the brains behind the EVA organization; while Henry had founded and funded it, Steve's knowledge and engineering expertise had made everything possible.
Kellie reunited with Belinda and the others, watching in silence as their parents worked feverishly at a massive console. Suddenly, the room dimmed, and a holographic map of the entire country appeared before them, casting a cold, blue light over their faces.
Lines of data and symbols glowed on the map, highlighting points of alien activity and damage zones, each one marked with pulsing red indicators. The sight of it—the sheer number of danger zones—was overwhelming, a sobering reminder of just how quickly their world had changed.
In the midst of it all, Kellie's gaze drifted to Belinda, who seemed lost in thought, her hands trembling ever so slightly. Kellie reached out, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We're going to get through this," she said quietly, but her own voice wavered.
Belinda nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on the map, a storm of emotions brewing within them.