Earth has become a dangerous place to live. The infectious disease agency has decided the best way to slow the spread is by taking the firstborn from each family. Dannon and Alayna Higgins and Judah and Bekah Greenberg are expecting the first, and have already joined the Space and Science Experiment Agency to help settle another planet. Their commander's time transporter broke several hundred years in the past, and another takes his place. It is believed by most that the planet is unpopulated. They were wrong. War breaks out. Only the friendship between the Higgins, Greenbergs, and the planet's native races and a return of the commander will stop annihilation of both sides.

Invaders on Akron

The quiet buzzing sound emitted from a luggage droid. Alayna folded tiny jumpsuits, baby shampoo, powder in a pink container, tiny blankets, and tiny diapers. She laid them in plastic bags, shrank the bags, and tucked them into the droids. Dannon powered off the droids. 


“I have people praying that our baby will survive the trip,” Dannon admitted. 


“I do too,” Alayna said. “The women from my Bible study that are staying here, and the ones that are coming too.” 


A slowing clunking sound in the distance cut into the conversation. They retracted the curtain and peered through. The clunking faded as a van pod landed. 


“Why is a van pod making that awful noise?” Alayna whispered. 


The black pod had the words CARSON INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL painted boldly on the side. Two men sprang into action. One had salt and pepper hair and leathery olive skin. The other had skin the color of coffee. That was, if the coffee had a light amount of creamer. 


“Is this the house?” The younger man asked. 


“Should be,” the older one said. “They just brought their firstborn home yesterday.” 


The two men beat on the door. A smaller pod was parked in the driveway. 


The older man beat a bar against the door until it caved in. 


“We’re here for your baby,” the younger man replied. “It’s necessary to slow the spread.” 


A few seconds passed, and the younger man held a screaming newborn as they dashed toward the van. The parents chased after them. Tears streamed down the mother’s face. 


“Please!” She begged. “Take me instead.” 


“Sorry, ma’am,” the older man said, his voice drained of emotion. “The guidelines are the guidelines.” 


The young man shoved a data card into the father’s hand. 


“It’s proof,” he said. “If you ever have another kid, they can’t take a second-born.” 


They sped into the distance, leaving a stunned father holding a sobbing mother in the yard. 


Alayna’s throat stung and her body felt numb. 


“I can’t imagine,” she muttered. 


“We’re almost out of it,” Dannon reminded her.


Chapter 3: Monday Evening