The distant stars shimmered coldly in the vacuum of space as the colony of Aurexia spun silently in orbit around its host planet. A thriving, self-sustaining settlement, Aurexia was a beacon of human achievement. Nestled in a cluster of mining colonies, it stood as a testament to humanity's expansion into the depths of space. For Kael Ryn, a young engineer with bright eyes and an unwavering dedication to his work, the colony was home. It was where he grew up, learned, and hoped to build a future.

Kael had never once thought that future would be taken from him in the blink of an eye.

A soft chime interrupted the quiet hum of his workstation in the engineering bay. Kael glanced up from his data pad and frowned. He'd just calibrated the reactor's cooling system and was finishing up a diagnostics check. Yet, the urgency of the notification on his screen cut through the monotony. A distress signal. Not a drill. The date and time were stamped in bold red.

Zorn Attack — Aurexia.

His stomach dropped as his fingers hovered over the console. The Zorn. Those nightmarish creatures. The invasion they had threatened for years had finally come to pass.

A sharp sound—a siren blaring—ripped through the air. The lights in the engineering bay flickered as the station's emergency protocols kicked in. A cold wave of panic washed over Kael, but he forced himself to stay calm. He grabbed his toolkit and began rushing towards the escape pods, his mind racing. His parents. His sister. He had to get them out. They'd need him.

The station shook violently as another explosion rocked Aurexia. Through the narrow windows, he could see the distant flashes of fire and the looming silhouettes of Zorn warships descending from the darkness. The colony's defenses, while impressive, were no match for the overwhelming power of the alien fleet. Panic spread like wildfire as the station's automated systems struggled to maintain control.

Kael's boots thudded against the metal floors as he sprinted through the corridors. Every face he passed was frozen in terror, some were desperately trying to reach the escape pods, others stood frozen, staring out the windows at the horror unfolding outside. The Zorn had arrived.

Rounding a corner, Kael collided with a family—his family. His father, a systems technician, grabbed him by the arm. His mother stood nearby, eyes wide in fear, while his younger sister clung to their mother's leg, silent and pale.

"Kael!" his father shouted, tugging him toward the nearest escape pod. "We need to go now!"

Kael's heart thundered in his chest, but he didn't hesitate. He nodded and pulled his sister into his arms, running with them towards the emergency pod docking bay. He could hear the screams, the chaos, the horrific sounds of the Zorn making their way through the station. Gunfire echoed through the halls, followed by the unmistakable, guttural growls of the alien invaders.

They reached the pod bay just as another explosion rocked the colony. The force sent them tumbling to the floor, and Kael's father was knocked unconscious. Kael barely had time to process the sight of his father crumpled on the floor before a voice crackled over the intercom.

"This is Commander Velas of the Aurexia Defense Fleet. All civilians are ordered to evacuate immediately. Repeat, evacuate!"

Kael gritted his teeth, a surge of adrenaline pushing him to his feet. His father was hurt, but there was no time to waste. He had to get them out. Kael had been trained in engineering—he could fix anything. He could make this work.

He jumped into the pod's control seat, hands shaking as he initiated the launch sequence. Outside, the shrill wail of Zorn fighters grew louder, their ships swooping down, their weapons lighting up the darkness. The pod's engines roared to life.

A tremor ran through the walls of the pod as the engines engaged. They were being launched. They were going to escape. Kael glanced to his left—his sister, clutching her mother, both staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. His heart ached, but there was no time for anything but survival.

Just as the pod began to break free from the station's docking bay, the unmistakable thrum of Zorn weapons echoed through the air. The pod shuddered violently as a beam struck the hull. Sparks flew from the controls, and the emergency lights flickered.

"Kael!" his mother screamed.

He slammed his hand against the emergency shield controls, activating the defensive barriers, but it wasn't enough. The pod was hit again, throwing the family into darkness as alarms blared. Kael's stomach churned as he gripped the control panel, trying to steady the craft, but the damage was done.

The pod spiraled out of control.

In those harrowing moments, as the world around him buckled and tore, Kael heard his sister's voice—faint, but clear through the chaos.

"Kael…"

His last memory before the world went black was the face of his sister, her tiny hand outstretched toward him, a look of confusion and fear in her eyes. And then, the crushing silence of space.

Kael awoke in a cold sweat, his body jerking upright as the crash memories flooded back. His breaths were shallow, ragged. The world around him was dark—deep, empty darkness. A desert planet stretched in all directions. Sand whipped violently across the horizon, a hostile, barren wasteland. He stumbled to his feet, shaking off the disorienting haze of his dream. His chest felt hollow—no family, no colony. Just the remnants of his escape.

This was real. The pain was real.

He ran his hand through his short, disheveled hair, his heart still racing. His body ached, but his mind was sharp. Survive. That was all that mattered now. He was alone.

The harsh wind stung his face as he surveyed the desolate landscape, his mind already shifting into survival mode. Engineering knowledge—he could build shelter, gather resources, and survive. If he could just hold on long enough, someone might come for him.

But first, he needed to get to shelter. He needed to figure out where he was. And he needed to survive the night.

Kael took his first steps across the alien planet, leaving behind the wreckage of his escape pod and the only home he had ever known. The cold, unforgiving night awaited him, but it was nothing compared to what he had just survived. The Zorn were out there, somewhere. And they were still coming.