JSRI Headquarter, Earth
It was afternoon, and the sun cast the whole city in a golden light. Abdul stood in his office on the top floor of the JSRI headquarters, his hands in his pockets as he gazed out through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The hum of distant traffic and the faint murmurs of the city filled the air, but his mind was elsewhere. It always seemed to drift back to those moments with Shin and Joseph when life felt lighter and simpler.
Suddenly, a soft chime interrupted his thoughts. A holographic display materialized before him, the caller ID flashing briefly before a familiar face appeared. Joseph's broad grin filled the projection, though his eyes carried the weight of years spent in deep space.
"Abdul!!!" Joseph's voice rang out cheerfully. "How have you been, buddy?!"
Abdul smirked, shaking his head as he leaned back against his desk. "And you're still playing the class clown, I see. So, how's the Odyssey treating you?!"
Joseph shrugged dramatically, leaning back in his chair as the holographic image adjusted to show part of the ship's interior. "Oh, you know, same old floating tin can. Zhang's running drills like we're in some military boot camp. She thinks I need more discipline." He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the affection in his voice.
Abdul raised an eyebrow. "She's not wrong, though. Someone has to keep you in line, or God knows what kind of chaos you might end up causing up there!!!"
"Fair point…" Joseph chuckled. "Anyway, what about you? Heard that you have left the Mars research base and joined the research division on Earth JSRI headquarters. Still playing mad scientist down there? Any plans to blow up half the city with one of your experiments?!"
Abdul snorted. "I leave the theatrics to you, Joseph. Someone has actually to work for a living."
Joseph laughed, the sound warm and familiar. "Oh, I've missed this. You always know how to ruin my fun."
They bantered for a while longer, trading updates about their lives and reminiscing about the past. Despite the light-hearted tone, there was an underlying current of camaraderie, a bond forged through years of friendship and shared loss.
After a particularly ridiculous joke from Joseph about the lack of decent food in the Odyssey, Abdul smirked and leaned forward, his expression softening. "Speaking of Zhang, I've been meaning to ask… you two have been up there for, what, six years now?! Maybe it's time you start thinking about a kid."
Joseph blinked, then grinned sheepishly. "Funny you should say that. Zhang and I have actually been talking about it. The Odyssey's got all the facilities we'd need, you know—medical support, the works. It's just…" He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What?!" Abdul pressed; his curiosity piqued.
Joseph hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's a big decision. I mean, raising a kid up here, in the middle of space?! It's not exactly the kind of childhood you dream of giving someone."
Abdul's voice softened. "No childhood is perfect, Joseph. But if anyone can make it work, it's you and Zhang. You're both incredible people; any kid of yours would be lucky to have a father like you!!!"
Joseph smiled, his gratitude evident even through the hologram. "Thanks, Abdul. That means a lot."
A brief silence fell between them, comfortable but heavy at the same time. Joseph's expression shifted, becoming more serious as he leaned closer to the camera. "Speaking of kids… Shin would've been a hell of an uncle, huh?!"
The mention of Shin hung in the air like a weight pressing down on both of them. Abdul's jaw tightened, and he looked away, his gaze falling on the city below. "Yeah. He would've been…"
Joseph sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I think about him all the time, you know? About that day. If I'd just… stopped him or said something, maybe… maybe things would've been different. Maybe he'd still be here with us, joking, laughing…..."
Abdul's voice was steady but tinged with emotion. "Don't do that to yourself, Joseph. Shin made his choice. We both know how stubborn he could be when he sets his mind on something. No one could've stopped him, not even you."
"I know, I know!!!" Joseph said, his voice breaking slightly. "But I was his best friend, Abdul. I should've tried harder. Maybe, if I had just…" He shook his head, unable to finish the sentence...
Abdul turned back to the hologram, his expression resolute. "We all carry that guilt, Joseph—every single one of us. But Shin wouldn't want us to drown in it. He believed in what he was doing, and he believed in us. The best way we can honour him is by living up to that belief."
Joseph nodded, his eyes glistening. "You're right. He'd probably kick my ass if he saw me moping like this."
Abdul chuckled softly. "Exactly. So, stop blaming yourself and start focusing on what's ahead. Shin wouldn't want us to be stuck in the past."
Joseph managed a small smile, though the pain in his eyes lingered. "You know, I miss him. Every damn day..."
"Me too!!!" Abdul admitted quietly. "But he's not really gone, is he? As long as we remember him, he's still with us..."
They both fell silent for a moment, lost in their memories of Shin... Their friendship, the chaotic adventure they had been through, the joy they shared…
Finally, Joseph cleared his throat, forcing a lighter tone back into his voice. "Well, look at us. A couple of grown men are getting all emotional. Shin would've laughed his ass off if he saw this. Wouldn't he?!"
Abdul smirked. "Probably. He'd call us sentimental fools…"
"Damn right he would," Joseph said, grinning. "But you know what? I think he'd also be proud. Of both of us."
Abdul nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah. I think so, too."
As the call ended and the holographic display faded, Abdul stood alone in his office, the weight of their conversation settling over him. He closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh.
"Wherever you are, Shin," he murmured, "I hope you know how much you meant to us, buddy…"
And with that, he turned back to the window, the city lights below reflecting the quiet resolve in his eyes.
The sun was setting on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red, when the unimaginable occurred. Across the globe, massive alien ships began descending from the clouds. Their size was incomprehensible, casting colossal shadows over the cities below…
One of the ships appeared above the city where both Abdul and Maki resided, its sleek, metallic body emitting a faint hum that vibrated through the air. The ship hovered ominously; its surface was covered in intricate patterns of alien technology that glowed faintly in an otherworldly blue hue.
The city was thrown into chaos. People screamed and ran in every direction, cars honked furiously, and news billboards on skyscrapers switched from advertisements to live coverage of the ongoing chaos. The text blared across the screens:
[BREAKING NEWS – EMERGENCY BROADCAST]
"SIX MASSIVE UNIDENTIFIED OBJECTS APPEAR IN EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE!
IMMEDIATE GLOBAL ALERT ISSUED!
Ships over major continents: North America, Europe, Asia, Pacific Ocean, South America, and Australia
. Origin: UNKNOWN
. Technology: UNRECOGNIZED
. Governments worldwide in crisis meetings. Civilian panic escalating.
STAY INDOORS. AWAIT FURTHER UPDATES.
"They came without warning. Their purpose is unclear."
LIVE COVERAGE BEGINS IN 30 SECONDS."
Abdul stood frozen on the top floor of the JSRI building; his eyes locked onto the massive ship hovering ominously in the sky. His heart pounded as he muttered to himself, "Now, what the hell is going on?!"
The ship's underside began glowing, and Abdul's unease grew. The holographic display on his desk flickered, showing feeds from worldwide. It was the same everywhere—six alien ships had appeared, each looming over a major city.
His hand instinctively reached for his communicator. With a trembling voice, he muttered, "Joseph… I need to call Joseph."
Maki was on her way home, the remnants of the day's exhaustion weighing on her shoulders, when the ship appeared. She slammed on the brakes, her car screeching to a halt in the middle of the road.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the gargantuan vessel blocking out the sun. The glowing patterns along its hull pulsated rhythmically…
"What... what is that?!" she whispered, her voice shaking. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as the sounds of panicked screams filled the air.
The car's radio, tuned to a local news station, crackled to life. "Breaking news: Massive alien ships have been sighted in cities across the globe. Authorities are urging citizens to remain calm and stay indoors—"
Maki turned it off, her hands trembling. She stepped out of the car, looking up at the looming ship. Her thoughts raced…
Her voice broke in fear. "What the hell are those huge thing?! What do they want?!"
Suddenly, a low, resonant hum spread through the air, silencing the city. A cold and mechanical voice boomed from the ship. It spoke in an alien language, incomprehensible to the people below, but the tone carried menace and finality.
The language shifted mid-sentence, transitioning into English.
"INHABITANTS OF EARTH. YOU HAVE BEEN DEEMED UNWORTHY. SURRENDER IS FUTILE. YOUR END IS INEVITABLE."
The words echoed across the city, their chilling message reverberating through every street and every building.
Abdul fumbled with his communicator, his fingers trembling as he dialled Joseph. The hologram hadn't even fully formed when Joseph's confused voice came through.
"Abdul? What the hell is going on? Didn't we just talk?!"
Abdul's voice was frantic. "Joseph, listen to me! Something's happening on Earth. Giant alien ships are hovering over major cities. One of them is here, above mine. They just made some announcement… they're planning to destroy everything!!!"
Joseph's expression shifted from confusion to horror. "Wait, what? What the hell are you saying?! Destroy everything?! What do you mean?!"
Abdul turned his phone's camera to show the ship outside, its massive form dominating the skyline. "Look! Look at this thing! And it's not just here—it's happening worldwide!!"
Joseph cursed under his breath. "Shit, Abdul… Zhang! Zhang, wake up!"
From the side, Zhang stirred groggily. "What is it, Joseph? Did you break something again?!"
"Zhang, look at this!!!" Joseph said, shoving the phone toward her. The feed displayed the alien ship hovering over Abdul's city.
Zhang's eyes widened, her exhaustion replaced by cold, sharp focus. "Isn't that… isn't that Earth?! What the hell is that thing?"
Abdul's voice interrupted. "It's one of six. They're everywhere. And they're not friendly. They've already announced their intention to annihilate us completely."
Zhang frowned deeply, her mind racing. "This… this doesn't make sense. How did they get here without anyone noticing? How advanced are they?! Most importantly what the hell even are those ships?!"
Joseph clenched his fists. "Damn it, we're light-years away. Abdul, what can we do? What are you going to do?!"
Abdul shook his head, his voice heavy with despair. "I don't know, Joseph. I don't know. I'm just an engineer. This… this is beyond anything I've ever seen."
Meanwhile, Maki stood rooted to the spot, her eyes locked on the alien ship above. Tears streamed down her face as the announcement replayed in her mind—the finality of those words cut through her like a blade.
Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Shin… if you were here… I need you. I can't do this alone. Please…"
She hugged herself tightly, her knees threatening to buckle. "How did it come to this? What do they want?!"
She looked around, seeing others screaming and running, their faces pale with fear. "It's all falling apart," she muttered. "We're doomed… aren't we?"
Joseph's voice snapped Abdul back to the present. "You have to do something, Abdul. You're on Earth and in the best position to figure this out!!!"
Abdul laughed bitterly, his voice laced with frustration. "Figure what out, Joseph? How to fight an alien force with ships the size of cities? I'm an engineer, not a miracle worker!!"
Zhang's calm but filled with urgency. "Abdul, listen. You're one of the smartest people I know. If anyone can figure out a way to stop this, it's you. But you can't do it alone. You must coordinate with JSRI, the government, and anyone who can help!!!"
The world was in chaos. Fighter jets flew across the skies, their engines roaring as they locked on to the massive alien ships hovering ominously over cities. Tanks and missile launchers lined up on the ground, their barrels aimed upward. The news blared on every screen, capturing the unfolding nightmare: humanity's desperate attempt to fight back against an enemy they couldn't comprehend.
Abdul stood on the top floor of the JSRI headquarters, phone in hand, his knuckles white as he gripped it tightly. Joseph's voice crackled through the line.
"Abdul, what the hell is happening now?! I can hear the jets!!" Joseph's voice was frantic.
"They're deploying everything they have," Abdul muttered, his eyes locked on the alien ship above his city. "Jets. Missiles…."
Joseph cursed loudly. "Damn it!!! Are they doing anything? Is it working?!"
Abdul didn't answer immediately. His voice was hollow when he finally spoke. "No. Not even a scratch…"
Outside, missiles streaked toward the alien ship, their trails lighting up the sky like fireworks. They exploded against the ship's shimmering energy barrier, sending ripples across its surface but leaving the vessel completely unscratched.
"They have a barrier!!!" Abdul muttered, almost to himself. "Nothing is getting through!!!"
TO BE CONTINUED