The next morning was quiet but tense. A thick mist still blanketed the Ticonic forest as the tribespeople, Kael, and the rest of the group gathered in a hidden clearing. Everyone looked ready—with traditional weapons like bows, spears, and stolen gear from the enemy.
Arek, one of the tribal youths, led the mission briefing. His voice was firm, "Group one: you'll distract the guards at the border. Keep them busy. Group two: hit their outpost. Kill the sentries, free any captives, and take the ship to reach the main base."
Kael, Rana, and Rion were at the front line of the distraction group.
Kael activated his techno-band. Instantly, it transformed into his combat goggles. Red markers appeared in his vision—enemy snipers and guards became visible.
"Snipers on the east ridge, two of them. Four guards at the western gate," Kael called out. He fired an arrow—thwip!—and one sniper dropped silently.
Rion and Rana moved swiftly from the flanks, hurling makeshift weapons and disabling two armed guards. There were a few scattered gunshots, but Kael's group was fast, using the trees and shadows to stay ahead.
Meanwhile, the second group infiltrated the main gate. With silent and brutal efficiency, they took down the sentries and boarded the transport ship. The engine roared to life, and within minutes, they were airborne—heading toward the central stronghold through a secret rift in the massive Antarctic wall. The journey would take six hours—six hours before the security system reactivated.
Back on Ticonic, Kael, Rana, and Rion were preparing to retreat when—
"Don't move."
Dark figures emerged from the mist.
Human soldiers. Clad in black armor, armed with energy rifles. Standing among them… was Teresa.
Kael froze. "Teresa…?"
She didn't answer. Her eyes were full of conflict—relief, anger, confusion. She held her gun, but it wasn't aimed yet.
Behind her, a commander barked, "Take them. Alive."
Kael glanced at Rana and Rion. "Get ready."
In a flash, chaos broke out. Arrows flew, gunfire rang through the trees, and voices shouted orders and cries of pain.
But one thing was clear: this wasn't just about running anymore.
It was time to fight back.
Suddenly, gunfire echoed through the air—one of the officers near Teresa dropped instantly. Her reflexes kicked in. Without hesitation, she rolled to the side, grabbed a fallen soldier's weapon, and fired—tak-tak-tak!—taking down the rest of the enemies one by one.
Kael, Rion, and Rana joined the fight. Kael's arrow flew straight and fast, striking an enemy in the chest. Rion darted forward like a shadow, plunging his blade into another soldier. Rana hurled a heavy metal shard, hitting one of the soldiers square in the head.
The chaos settled into silence.
Then, the hooded man who had been standing in the middle of the battlefield slowly removed his hood. His face emerged—calm, a bit worn by time, but deeply familiar.
Kael stiffened. "You… Elian…"
Rana's eyes widened. "Father?!"
Teresa stared hard at him. "Dad…?" she whispered, her voice uncertain but emotional.
The Terra tribespeople looked around, confused by the moment.
Kael took a deep breath. "This… is hard to explain. But this man—he's our father."
Before anyone could respond, Kael's techno-band gave a soft beep, and a red marker lit up in his vision.
"Everyone! Get behind the rocks, now!" he shouted.
They dove for cover just as a buzzing sound filled the air—a weaponized drone swooped in, hovering low, targeting them.
Without hesitation, Kael fired an arrow at the rotor, and Teresa shot the drone's main camera. CRACK—BOOM! The drone exploded mid-air and crashed into the dirt.
Rion whispered, "That was too close…"
Kael stared at the wreck. "They're sending in recon drones. We have to move. Fast. There's still too much we don't know… but staying here means getting wiped out."
Elian—still calm—nodded. "I'll explain everything. But not here. There's a safe place nearby. There, you'll finally understand the truth… about me, about the invasion, and about you."
The group took off into the woods once again, away from the gunfire, chasing the truth hidden in the shadows.
Elsewhere, aboard the ship heading toward the enemy's base through the Antarctic passage, the Terra group sat in tense silence. The cold winds battered the ship's walls, and icy mist covered the windows.
When they finally arrived at the underground base's entrance, they were met with something that made them all freeze in place.
A massive metal door. No buttons. No levers. Just a glowing blue panel.
One of them, a young man named Lehn from the northern tribe, stepped forward and tried to touch the panel.
ACCESS DENIED – IDENTITY NOT RECOGNIZED
The message flashed in Earth's language.
Mira frowned. "We can't get in... unless we know the human access codes."
Teren moved closer, trying to scan the area, but the system didn't respond. They glanced at each other, tension rising.
"This is human tech," Mira muttered. "They use biometric scans and voice-activated security… something only their kind or someone from inside would know."
Suddenly, from a shadowed corner near the massive door, a quiet voice called out:
"Maybe I can help."
A woman stepped into view—middle-aged, wearing a torn Earth soldier uniform, her eyes weary but focused.
"I'm Lieutenant Arvi. They left me behind. I know every system in this place—including the main access code."
Teren stepped in front, cautious. "Why should we trust you?"
Arvi looked at them one by one. "Because I know what they're hiding down there. And because I no longer fight for them."
She then walked to the panel and placed her hand on it. The screen lit up green.
"Lieutenant Arvi. Access granted."
The heavy door slowly began to open.
Cold mist poured out. Beyond it lay a long corridor leading to the heart of the enemy base: the secret laboratory.
"Go," Arvi said. "But be ready. What you see down there… might change everything."
On the other side, Kael sat on a rock with Elian, while the others stood guard nearby. Morning sunlight pierced through the trees, giving the scene a strange mix of warmth and tension.
Elian glanced at the tech-band on Kael's wrist—now reverted to its high-tech goggle form.
Elian: "How's the tech? Still functioning?"
Kael: (nodding slightly, staring at the band) "So… you're the one who made it?"
Elian: (with a faint smile) "I deliberately left it on the rocks, just outside the city walls. I was hoping someone from Terra would find it. I never imagined… it would end up in the hands of my own son."
Kael looked at him intensely, emotions clashing within him. "If you're really my father… why didn't you come for me sooner? Why like this?"
Elian: "Because I was imprisoned. Because I was being used. If I had revealed myself earlier… you never would've made it this far."
Kael remained silent, his grip tightening slightly.
Elian: "That band isn't just a scouting tool. It holds data—recordings of the experiments, Earth's plans for Terra… and a message. From your mother."
Kael's eyes widened. "A message… from Mom?"
Elian nodded. "Embedded in a tiny chip on the inner side of the band. But to unlock it… you'll need a safe place. And time."
Suddenly, leaves rustled from the eastern side. Teresa and Rana stood alert, weapons ready.
Kael rose. "We have to move. Maybe the ruins at the old observatory—on the hill. It's safe there."
Elian: "Yes. And there… I'll tell you everything."