At NASA headquarters, John Livingstone sat motionless in his office, lost in thought. The weight of responsibility etched on his face, his eyes vacant.
Lara, the newest data analyst, knocked repeatedly, but John remained unresponsive. Concerned, she entered the office to find him staring blankly.
"Mr. Livingstone?" Lara called softly.
John's gaze didn't waver.
"Mr. John!" Lara's voice rose, jerking him out of his reverie.
John blinked, regaining composure. "What can I do for you, Miss Lara?" he asked, his tone measured.
He dabbed the sweat and tears from his face with a handkerchief, his eyes red-rimmed.
Lara's expression reflected her concern. "We've received intel from our space team. The aliens that attacked Mr. Mark's spacecraft have returned."
John's eyes widened in alarm. "They're back again?!"
Lara nodded grimly. "Yes, sir. They're lurking in space."
John's face was set in determination. "We must prepare to att—"
A knock at the door interrupted him. "Come in."
The transparent door slid open, admitting a woman in her late 40s with short black hair. Her piercing gaze swept the room, assessing the mood.
"Mrs. Mary, what brings you here?" John asked, his eyes locked onto hers, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Director," Mrs. Mary began, her voice measured, "we've received a message from the Head Scientist's office. Dr. Idris has requested an emergency meeting, scheduled to join us in twenty minutes."
John nodded curtly. "Lara, please inform Carla to prepare for the briefing."
Lara nodded and swiftly exited the office.
Mrs. Mary's expression softened. "I'm so sorry for your loss, sir. Mr. Mark was an exceptional individual."
John's eyes welled up, tears streaming down his face. "He was more than that. He was a friend, a colleague... It shouldn't have been him."
Mrs. Mary's hand rested on John's shoulder, offering comfort. Her left middle finger, scarred and shorter than the others, stood out – a testament to a long-healed wound.
The moment of vulnerability passed, and John composed himself.
Twenty minutes later, the conference room filled with NASA administrators and scientists. Dr. Idris arrived, his presence commanding attention.
The room rose as one, greeting him with respectful murmurs.
"Please, take your seats," Dr. Idris said, his voice authoritative. "Apologies for the delay. Let's begin the briefing."
The room settled, all eyes fixed on Dr. Idris.
Carla stepped forward, commanding the room's attention. With a click of the remote, the projector sprang to life, casting a stark image on the screen.
"Two days ago, our spacecraft transmitted crucial data revealing an extraterrestrial entity approaching our planet," Carla began, her voice steady. "Regrettably, the footage is unclear due to the attack on one of our ships in space."
The screen displayed the ravaged remains of the spaceship, eliciting murmurs and gasps from the room.
"This...this is the aftermath of the alien encounter," Carla continued, her expression somber. "Our vessel, once a marvel of human ingenuity, now lies in ruins."
A director's voice rose in disbelief, "Oh my goodness! Is this real?!" He adjusted his eyeglasses, leaning forward to scrutinize the image.
Carla nodded gravely. "Afraid so. As you can see..." She advanced the slides, revealing devastating photos of the destroyed ship.
"The attack resulted in zero survivors. All computer systems and communication devices were annihilated," Carla reported, her tone measured.
She paused, then added, "However, we managed to recover the CCTV footage."
With a click, the room plunged into silence as the footage played. Grainy images revealed the chaos: debris floating, alarms blaring, and the haunting screams of the crew.
The room froze in horror as the damaged video played, the screams and cries of agony from the dying NASA employees echoing through the speakers. The audio, eerily clear, contrasted with the distorted visuals.
Some administrators covered their eyes, unable to bear the haunting scenes. Others signaled Carla to stop the video, flipping their hands downward in distress.
Carla paused the footage, her expression somber. "About an hour ago, we received intel from our new space team indicating the aliens are still lurking, seemingly... waiting."
"Waiting for night to arrive," Dr. Idris broke his silence, his voice low and deliberate.
The room plummeted into silence.
"They're sensitive to light," Dr. Idris explained, his eyes scanning the room. "In the footage, they destroyed the light sources before attacking."
A director's skepticism rose. "Why do you think so? They seem bent on destruction."
Dr. Idris leaned forward, intensity etched on his face. "Their tactics suggest strategy, not mere destruction. They're seeking something specific."
Carla added, "And their continued presence near our planet suggests they haven't found it yet."
The room remained silent, weighing the implications.
One director asked, "What could they possibly want?"
Dr. Idris's gaze turned inward. "That's what we need to determine,I think they're looking for something…or someone?"
"Someone!? Are you certain about what you're saying, Dr. Idris?" one of the administrators inquired.
"I've spent thirteen years honing my expertise in this field," Dr. Idris replied, his voice steady and confident. "My instincts have never failed me. I have a strong suspicion about who the aliens might be searching for, but I need more time to confirm."
A director scoffed, disdain etched on his face. "This is an unmitigated disaster! Do you seriously think instincts are enough to guide us?"
Another director chimed in, his tone laced with urgency. "This is preposterous! Dr. Idris, we can't rely on hunches. Civilians' lives hang in the balance. If we fail, resignation won't be an option. Our careers, our reputations—everything will be at stake."
Dr. Idris met their skepticism with calm determination. "I understand the gravity of the situation. I'm not asking for blind faith, but I need your trust. If things go awry, I'll take full responsibility."
He paused, surveying the room before concluding, "This meeting has reached its end. We must prepare for the unknown."
Turning to John, Dr. Idris issued a crisp instruction. "Prepare for our visitors. It's going to be a long, trying night."
John nodded swiftly. "Yes, sir!" He hurried out of the room, leaving the administrators to process the looming threat.