Chapter 16: A Hostile Enemy

Chapter 16: A Hostile EnemyElias stepped outside his apartment, pausing on the stoop to take in his surroundings one last time. The building, though weathered and unremarkable, had been his sanctuary for years. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, then pulled out his phone and began typing as he started down the street.

From his chest, Dot's head popped out, her antennae twitching curiously. "Wh-what are you doing?" she asked, her small voice breaking the silence.

"A few things, really," Elias replied, glancing down at her with a faint smile. "Just because my life's turning upside down doesn't mean I have to neglect everything. I'm letting my mom know I'm heading out for a while, sending a message to my boss, and letting my landlord know what's going on."

"I see," Dot murmured, floating a little higher and watching his phone screen intently. "That's... considerate, I guess."

"Hopefully, whatever's happening doesn't take too long," Elias added, tucking his phone into his pocket. "I'm moving some money around to make sure I don't come back to an eviction notice. My mom's going to stop by and check in on the place every now and then." He glanced at Dot, his tone softening. "It's not much, but it's still home."

Dot didn't respond, but her gaze lingered on him for a moment, thoughtful.

As Elias continued walking, he approached a group of fourteen or so people clustered in a loose circle on the sidewalk. Most were young, with freshly buzzed or shaved heads. Some chatted and laughed, while others looked serious or leaned against their duffle bags with an air of indifference. The group turned slightly as an armored bus rolled up, its polished exterior gleaming faintly in the late-day light. A man in a PCA uniform stepped off, clipboard in hand, barking names as the recruits began to shuffle into line.

Elias kept walking toward the bus when one of the larger men in the group broke off and approached him. Standing at least 6'2", he had a commanding presence, his buzzcut neat and sharp, and his broad shoulders filling out his standard-issue military jacket like it was tailored for him. His face bore faint scars that hinted at a history of rougher work, and his sharp eyes took in Elias with a mix of curiosity and challenge.

"What are you doing here, old man?" the large man asked, crossing his arms. His voice was deep and carried the kind of weight that made people pause.



Elias raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Old man? That's rich coming from you. What are you, twenty-five?"

The man's brow furrowed slightly before the faintest hint of amusement crossed his face. "Twenty-three, actually. And what does that have to do with you?"

"Oh, nothing," Elias replied casually, holding up his ticket for the man to see. "Just here for the bus ride, same as you. Don't pay me too much attention."

The man studied Elias for a moment longer, his arms still crossed. "Strange," he said finally, shaking his head as if dismissing the thought. "You don't exactly look like the type to volunteer for this kind of thing."

"Don't judge a book by its cover," Elias said, his tone light. "I could say the same about you."

The man's grin widened, and he extended a hand. "Marcus. Marcus Devlin."

Elias shook his hand firmly. "Elias Kael."

"What makes you want to sign up for the military at the age of 23, though?" Elias asked, his tone casual as they stood near the bus. "Usually, they recruit younger."

Marcus shrugged, crossing his arms as he leaned back slightly. "Rumor's flying around that another alien attack went down—or is about to. I'm sure you've seen the news about that bright light streaking around the planet a while back." His voice lowered as his eyes briefly scanned the street. "Figured now's as good a time as any to protect my little square of the world and maybe get some benefits along the way."

Elias nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense," he said, adjusting the strap of his bag. "Guess it's kind of the same for you, huh?"

"It's a bit of a longer story," Elias replied, rubbing his shoulder where the memory of the gunshot lingered. "Maybe I'll tell it one day. Just... not today."

Marcus smirked slightly, nodding toward the bus as his name was called. "Right. Well, I'll see you on board."

Elias watched Marcus walk away, his broad frame vanishing into the line as Dot hovered closer to his shoulder. "How old are you again, anyway?" she asked, tilting her head with playful curiosity.

"Twenty-eight," Elias replied quietly. "But that's beside the point. It was just some friendly banter... I think."

Before he could say more, a sharp voice barked from the direction of the clipboard-wielding officer. "Hey, you! What's your name? My roster's full, so show a pass or get lost."

Elias stepped forward, keeping his expression neutral as he handed over the pass. The officer—a broad-shouldered man with the no-nonsense demeanor of a Marine Corps drill instructor—took it with a skeptical look. He inspected the document closely, holding it up to the light as if expecting to catch a forgery.

"This checks out," the officer muttered, his tone grudging but firm. He glanced up at Elias with narrowed eyes, taking a moment to size him up. "When we get to Base Alpha for training, you stay on the bus. We're about four and a half hours out from here. Get some rest if you need it, but no talking and no nonsense. You're like everyone else until you deboard my vehicle. Understood?"

Elias straightened, meeting the officer's eyes with calm respect. "Understood, Officer."

The man's gaze lingered for a moment before he nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now move on."

Elias turned and headed toward the bus, his movements measured and deliberate. Dot whispered from his shoulder as they climbed the steps. "He seemed... intense. You think he's always like that?"

Elias smirked faintly, finding an empty seat near the back of the bus. "Probably. But he's just doing his job. If I were in his shoes, I'd probably be just as intense."

The bus rumbled as its doors closed, and Elias leaned back against the seat, his mind already turning over the events of the day. Dot settled quietly nearby, her small form glowing faintly as the vehicle lurched forward



Elias placed his bag securely between his legs, leaning back against the seat as his head came to rest on the window's frame. The cityscape outside blurred past him—billboards flickering with messages in bold, blocky text:

"Join today to defend and protect during the next invasion!"

One ad showed massive motherships silhouetted against a burning skyline, their jagged shapes looming over a devastated city. Another featured Elara front and center, clad in sleek, form-fitting combat armor, rifle in hand. She stood among other soldiers, their eyes sharp and their postures unyielding.

Above her head, the tagline read: "United under one kind: Humankind."

Elias exhaled heavily, shaking his head before letting his eyelids droop. As the rhythmic hum of the bus filled the space, sleep slowly overtook him.

Dot, hovering nearby, tilted her head, watching him intently. "That's right," she murmured softly, more to herself than anyone else. "You humans really do need sleep." She floated downward, resting herself lightly on his head, curling up as though mimicking his rest.

For a while, everything was still. Then chaos struck.

The bus jolted violently, sending Elias sliding sideways. His hands shot out instinctively, grabbing hold of the metal frame of the seat in front of him. Around him, startled voices broke the silence, punctuated by the screech of brakes and the electric whine of the vehicle coming to a stop.

"What the hell is going on?" Elias shouted, his voice cutting through the commotion.


From the front of the bus, the driver leaned out of his seat, one hand gripping the console for balance as he yelled back. "There's some idiot standing in the middle of the road! If I hadn't had my coffee this morning, I'd have plastered him across the damn windshield! What's he even doing here? This path is restricted for military use only!"