the central region of Saudi Arabia, known as the city of the great encounter, Ariana and Nora stood gazing at a colossal alien spacecraft. Stretching over 120 kilometers, it occupied a vast tract of land and was even visible from space.
"In 2025, Earth faced its most devastating encounter in human history," Ariana reflected, her eyes scanning the massive structure that towered over fifty thousand feet into the sky.
"This ship, known as the Walking Eclipse, seemed unstoppable then. They said it was shielded by an unbreakable force field, almost impenetrable."
"I can only imagine how it was back then," she continued. "Lord Diana mentioned that the sky turned red during the daytime, and the nights were filled with dust. Humans went into hiding during the invasion era. Most of the head council prefer not to speak of the twenty-four-year war."
Nora nodded, walking beside Ariana toward the immense ship. "You know, probing them about the war might not be the best idea. It wasn't a good time for them; they might have lost loved ones and more. There are many things they probably don't want to revisit. After all, the council units all fought during the war. That's how the Izigan race was born, and maybe why some humans still hold resentment toward us."
Ariana shifted the topic slightly, "Stella told me about what Cole managed in Spain. It's incredible that he was able to accomplish that. She also mentioned that the secret organization calls themselves the Peacemakers according to what Could get from them."
"Peacemakers?" Nora scoffed. "What a terrible name for a group of terrible people. But at least we're gaining some insights, aren't we?"
"So, what did Stella say was the concern here? Is the ship still active?" Nora questioned, glancing down at her tech watch.
She tapped a few buttons and her eyes widened. "Incredible, the ship is emitting over twelve hundred meganuwits of cosmic energy." Nora said in surprise.
That's not the whole story, Nora," Ariana said, her voice tinged with concern. "People here have been suffering from nightmares. Just a week ago, twelve individuals were found asleep near this ship, having sleepwalked from their homes. There's a mystery here, and it's all connected to this behemoth. It's still active. The council will need to reveal what they know about this ship; we can't just ignore it, or it might escalate into something worse."
In Washington D.C.:
The morning sun shone brightly as Dave woke from a deep sleep. He got out of bed and prepared for his day, pausing only to pick up his father's necklace from the dresser—the only memento he had of his father, whose face he could barely remember.
"Mom, I'm heading to school. It's going to be another rough day; I'd better start going. I think I'm going to be late," Dave called out as he hurried down the stairs.
"Not so fast," his mom called from the kitchen. "You haven't had your breakfast yet. Come here and eat. You're going to need your strength for today's activities. Come on, sit down."
Despite knowing he would be late, Dave sat down to eat. His mother's concern won over his urgency. After breakfast, he found himself rushing to school, already thirty minutes late.
Dave was the only Izigan at his entire school. Izigans were a special race with extraordinary powers, known as protectors of Earth, though not everyone saw them that way. He was just fourteen and his Izigan powers hadn't manifested yet—a rare delay, as Izigan powers typically began to show when one was about three years old. Dave was smaller than his peers, but he was sharp and the youngest in his class, traits that unfortunately made him a target for bullies.
At Grayham School:
In the classroom, Miss Edith noticed Dave's absence. Glancing at his empty seat, she remarked, "Oh, it seems little Dave is going to be late again today. If we ask him, he'll probably blame it on his mom's cooking. She must have made a delicious breakfast this time." Miss Edith said giving a cunning smile.
In the classroom, a ripple of laughter erupted as Miss Edith mentioned Dave's usual tardiness. All except Hina, the new transfer student, who sat quietly at the back, observing the dynamics of her new classmates with keen interest.
"Oh, before I forget," Miss Edith continued, her voice cutting through the chuckles, "we have a new student joining us today. Her name is Hina, and you can find her at the back of the room."
All eyes instantly shifted to Hina. The boys, in particular, seemed taken aback by the American-Japanese girl whose quiet beauty hadn't been noticed until now. For a moment, they seemed lost in thought, imagining she had been among them all along, unnoticed.
Just then, Dave walked into the classroom, immediately drawing all attention and triggering another round of laughter. "Look who decided to show up," a student called out. "What did your mom make this time, Dave?"
The laughter grew louder, filling the room, as Dave stumbled over his words. "I, I was going to come, but..."
His explanation faltered under the weight of the mocking laughter. Red-faced and embarrassed, Dave hurried to his seat beside Hina, oblivious to her presence as he focused on regaining his composure.
Derek, the class bully, continued to laugh boisterously, drawing dirty looks from some and smiles from others. Dave tried to ignore him, focusing instead on his notebook, when a soft voice next to him broke through his embarrassment.
"Hi," said the voice, gentle yet clear.
Dave turned slightly, not fully meeting her gaze, responding with a terse, "Hey."
But as he heard her unfamiliar voice again, he looked up, surprised. "Hey," he repeated, this time seeing her face. "You're new, right?"
"My name is Hina," she introduced herself with a warm, inviting smile. "You must be Dave, right? It's nice to meet you."
"Yeah, that's my name. You're new here, right? Haven't seen you before," Dave replied, his initial coldness thawed by her friendly demeanor.
As the class ended, Hina turned to Dave with a friendly suggestion. "I came in today, you know. We should hang out sometime," she said, her voice friendly and inviting.
Dave, who wasn't usually given much attention, especially from girls, lit up with enthusiasm. "That would be great, nice to meet you, Hina," he replied, his voice carrying a rare note of happiness.
As they walked out of the classroom together, Dave felt the stares of his classmates, particularly the boys who had already been planning their own introductions to Hina. Derek, the most imposing among them, watched with a mix of surprise and annoyance as Hina chose to follow Dave instead of mingling with the others.
At that moment, Derek's phone rang, the screen displaying a logo that sent a shiver down his spine—the crest of the Peacemakers. He stepped away to take the call, his expression turning serious.
"Hey, you said there's another Izigan at your school. Don't screw this up again; this is your time to redeem yourself," the caller's voice was stern, brooking no argument. "You have eight days to deliver the kid. Make sure he's unconscious, not dead. I'll send you the location later."
As the call ended, Derek pocketed his phone, a determined smile spreading across his face. "They agreed to my offer, I won't let them down," he muttered to himself, confident and plotting.
Signaling his friends with a nod, Derek led them out of the classroom in a tight cluster, their movements synchronized and purposeful. Meanwhile, unaware of the looming threat, Dave and Hina continued their conversation, stepping into the school corridor filled with the buzz of students eager to enjoy their freedom after a long day of lessons.