Elias sighed, setting the knife down on the counter. He wiped his hands on a dish towel and grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair. The cool weight of the fabric felt familiar as he slid it on, his hand brushing past his keys on the counter. With a glance around the quiet apartment, he stepped outside, letting the door lock behind him.
The streets were calm, the fading light casting long shadows across the buildings. The air carried a faint chill, and Elias tucked his hands into his jacket pockets as he walked. Repair scaffolding lined parts of the road, steel beams gleaming under faint fluorescent lights.
A billboard flickered to life overhead, the massive screen showing another replay of recruitment ads.
He didn't pause this time, didn't even look up as Elara's image flashed by, her blade slicing clean through the snarling alien beast. The words "Be a Hero. Protect Prime Planet" burned against the sky, but Elias kept walking.
The grocery store wasn't far, just a few blocks away. He passed by shuttered storefronts and a few scattered pedestrians hurrying along the sidewalks. As he turned the corner onto a quieter street, the sound of raised voices cut through the relative calm.
"I told you, I don't have anything! Please, just let me go!" a woman's voice pleaded, high-pitched and panicked.
"Don't lie to us," another voice snapped, sharp and commanding. A figure loomed closer to the woman, his shadow stretching across the cracked pavement. "Empty your bag. Now."
Elias slowed, his heart thudding in his chest as he glanced toward the commotion. Two men stood in the dim light of a nearby alley, both dressed in dark jackets. One of them grabbed the woman's bag, his movements rough and impatient, while the other stood a step back, scanning the street.
For a moment, Elias considered walking on. This wasn't his business. He wasn't a soldier, wasn't a hero. What could he even do? His fingers curled inside his jacket pockets, and he felt the weight of his father's gaze still lingering in his mind.
He stepped closer. The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
"Hey. What's going on over here?"
The man holding the bag froze, turning toward Elias. The other one's gaze locked on him immediately, a flicker of irritation crossing his face.
Members of the council sat around a long, gleaming table, their faces drawn tight with concentration. At the head of the room, the aged Chairwoman sat with a stack of files, her weathered hands calmly resting on top.
The tension in the room was quiet as a woman dressed in a sleek military uniform strode in with purpose, her polished boots clicking against the tiled floor. She stopped just short of the table and gave a crisp salute.
"You wanted to see me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the atmosphere.
The Chairwoman nodded, gesturing for her to step closer. "Yes, Elara. You and your division are being selected for a mission off-planet. It's going to require six months of training with the top military instructors. I want to ensure you're prepared, and that nothing is holding back any of your members."
Elara's brow furrowed slightly. "Ma—I mean, Chairwoman, what do you mean off-planet? I'm best positioned here to defend against another invasion. We still don't know when another wave might come, and we have no idea where they retreated to."
The Chairwoman's gaze was firm but not unkind. "That is true. Up until a few years ago, we couldn't have fathomed the initial attack. We lost so many during those first waves, but thanks to the national defense system, we were able to fight back."
She paused, her tone growing heavier. "During the second attack, you and your team proved invaluable. Your leadership minimized casualties, and the world has rallied under the cause of defending this planet. But we cannot rely solely on defense. In order to be prepared for their next invasion—or worse—we need you and your division to head to Cradle Planet for an extraction."
The words hung in the air, sharp and cold. Elara's breath caught for a moment. "Cr... Cradle Planet? Didn't it self-implode during a civil war?"
The Chairwoman's expression hardened. "Not entirely. What happened there was something far worse. You'll be fully briefed later. For now, I need to know: can you and your division handle this mission, Commander?"
Elara's jaw tightened, but she nodded, her voice steady despite the tension in her posture. "Yes, Chairwoman. We'll handle it. I just... I'd like time to say goodbye to—"
Before she could finish, a deep rumble shook the room. The floor beneath them seemed to shift for a moment, the walls trembling faintly.
Around the table, council members gripped their chairs, murmuring anxiously to one another. The overhead lights flickered briefly before stabilizing.
"What was that?" one of the council members asked, his voice sharp with alarm.
The council chamber shuddered again, but this time the vibrations didn't subside. Beneath their feet, the deep hum grew louder, resonating through the walls.
All eyes turned toward the reinforced window overlooking the containment facility.
Outside, the ground seemed to ripple, cracks spidering outward from the central structure as if something massive stirred beneath the surface.
"What the hell is happening?" the Chairwoman demanded, rising from her seat as dust rained from the ceiling. The council members exchanged nervous glances, but no one had an answer.
Suddenly, the ground split open with a deafening crack, and the cube—dormant for over a decade—rose from the earth. Its once dark, matte surface now gleamed with crystalline brilliance, refracting the surrounding light into dazzling shards that danced across the room. It hovered above the fractured ground, spinning slowly, its glow intensifying with each rotation.