Ethan stood in the front yard of their suburban home, enjoying the rare moment of calm. Birds chirped in the distance, and the warm afternoon sun cast long shadows across the neatly trimmed lawn. The peaceful quiet was a far cry from the battles he had faced in space, and for a moment, it almost felt normal.
But nothing stayed peaceful for long in Ethan's world.
"Captain!" Tazra's voice called from behind him, breaking his thoughts. "You've got to see this."
Ethan turned to see Tazra leaning against the doorframe, holding up a holo-tablet. Her face was serious, and he could already tell something was off. He walked over to her, wiping his hands on his pants after working on the yard. "What is it?"
Tazra handed him the tablet, and when he looked down, his stomach tightened. A local news report was playing, the headline flashing in bright letters:
"GALACTIC HERO ETHAN WARREN SPOTTED ON EARTH!"
