Chapter 88 - The Target Revealed

The Eastern City University campus, usually a vibrant tapestry of hurried footsteps and chattering voices, was now draped in an unsettling silence. The only sounds were the distant hum of the city and the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. But beneath this veneer of normalcy, a storm was brewing.

A small team of Ulterian soldiers, clad in advanced cloaking armor, moved with practiced efficiency through the deserted corridors of the science building. Their visors, reflecting the dim light, scanned for any sign of their target: Jason George. They communicated through encrypted comms, their voices clipped and devoid of emotion.

"Sector Gamma clear," one hissed, his voice a synthesized whisper.

"Moving to Sector Delta," another responded. "Target's energy signature detected in proximity."

Their mission was simple: capture Jason George. Eliminate any resistance. Retrieve the asset. Their movements were precise, each step calculated, their focus unwavering. They were hunters, and Jason was their prey.

Jason, blissfully unaware of the danger closing in, walked towards his dorm. The crumpled note he'd found tucked into his locker earlier that day weighed heavily on his mind. *They're coming for you. Ulterians. You have powers you don't understand.* He'd dismissed it as a prank, some elaborate college joke, but a nagging feeling of unease persisted. The static cling in the air, a faint tingling on his skin – he'd been experiencing it more frequently lately.

He pulled his jacket tighter around him, trying to ward off the chill in the evening air. The campus felt different tonight, emptier, more ominous. He quickened his pace, eager to reach the familiar safety of his room, to lose himself in the comforting routine of studying and video games. He had an English paper due on Friday, and procrastination was no longer an option.

He glanced around, a prickling sensation at the back of his neck. He couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. *Relax, Jason,* he told himself. *You're just being paranoid.*

But he wasn't paranoid.

The Ulterians, using advanced tracking technology, had pinpointed Jason's location. They moved to intercept him, silently flanking him from both sides, their cloaking devices rendering them virtually invisible. The air around them shimmered subtly as they activated their weapons, revealing fleeting glimpses of their alien forms – tall, gaunt figures with pale skin and piercing, black eyes. Their faces were devoid of expression, masks of cold, calculating efficiency.

They were closing in, their movements coordinated, like a pack of predators cornering their prey. The lead soldier raised his hand, signaling the team to prepare for engagement.

As Jason rounded a corner, he was suddenly confronted by the Ulterian team. They decloaked, their weapons – sleek, alien devices that hummed with contained energy – trained directly on him.

He froze, his mind struggling to comprehend the scene before him. The world seemed to tilt, the familiar surroundings of the campus dissolving into a surreal nightmare. The Ulterians spoke in a harsh, guttural language, their words laced with menace.

"Jason George," the lead soldier rasped, his voice distorted by a vocoder. "Surrender. Resistance is futile."

Jason, terrified and confused, instinctively tried to flee. He turned and sprinted back the way he came, his heart pounding in his chest. But the Ulterians were too fast. They moved with unnatural speed, cutting off his escape routes.

One of the soldiers fired. A bolt of blue energy streaked through the air, striking Jason in the chest. He cried out, the force of the impact sending him crashing to the ground. Pain seared through his body, his muscles spasming uncontrollably. He gasped for breath, his vision blurring.

*This can't be happening,* he thought, his mind reeling. *This has to be a dream.*

Ellis, in his small, sparsely furnished apartment a few blocks from campus, was monitoring the situation. He'd been tracking the Ulterian team since they'd materialized on Earth, his senses stretched thin, his anxiety growing with each passing moment. He'd hoped to avoid direct involvement, to remain hidden in the shadows, but he knew, deep down, that he couldn't stand idly by.

When he sensed the sudden surge of Ulterian energy, the unmistakable signature of their weapons firing, his resolve hardened. He knew they'd made their move, that Jason was in immediate danger.

He acted instantly, unleashing a controlled burst of energy, a subtle wave of disruption designed to interfere with the Ulterians' communications and create a diversion. He couldn't risk revealing the full extent of his powers, but he needed to buy Jason some time.

He raced towards Jason's location, his face grim, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He wouldn't let what happened with Ella Mae happen again. He wouldn't fail to protect someone again.

The Ulterians, momentarily disoriented by Ellis's interference, their comms flickering with static, moved to subdue Jason. Two of them advanced, weapons lowered, intending to restrain him.

But Jason's dormant powers, triggered by the shock and fear, reacted instinctively. A surge of energy pulsed outward from his body, a wave of raw, untamed power. The Ulterians were thrown back, their bodies slamming against the nearby wall. A small explosion erupted, showering the area with sparks and debris.

Jason stared at his hands, his eyes wide with disbelief. He could feel the energy coursing through him, a tingling sensation that both terrified and exhilarated him. He was surprised by his own strength, realizing that he was capable of far more than he ever imagined.

He scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He didn't understand what was happening, but he knew he had to fight back.

Ellis arrived on the scene, his figure a blur of motion. He unleashed a wave of energy, a concussive force that sent the remaining Ulterian soldiers flying. He shielded Jason with his body, deflecting incoming fire, his powers acting as an invisible barrier.

The Ulterians, recognizing Ellis as a formidable opponent, focused their attacks on him, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts. The air crackled with energy, the ground trembling beneath their feet.

Ellis deflected the blasts with ease, his movements fluid and precise. He was a whirlwind of motion, protecting Jason while simultaneously dismantling the Ulterian threat. He moved with a speed that defied human perception, his powers far exceeding their own.

He knew he couldn't hold them off forever. The Ulterians were relentless, their tactics precise and coordinated. He needed to end this quickly, before reinforcements arrived.

With a surge of power, he unleashed a focused blast of energy, targeting the Ulterians' weapons. The devices overloaded, sparking and smoking, rendering them useless. The Ulterians, momentarily stunned, staggered backward.

Seeing their opportunity, the Ulterian soldiers, realizing they were outmatched and their mission compromised, retreated to regroup. They had confirmed that Jason was the target and that Ellis was a significant obstacle. They transmitted a message to their commander, requesting reinforcements. They knew that they would need more firepower to overcome Ellis and capture Jason.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, a tense standoff occurred between Ellis and Jason. The air was thick with the smell of ozone and burnt metal. The silence was broken only by their ragged breathing.

Jason, adrenaline coursing through his veins, his body trembling with fear and exhaustion, demanded answers. "What the hell was that?" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "Who were those guys? What's going on?"

He was angry, confused, and terrified, struggling to process the events that had just transpired. He'd gone from being a normal college student to being the target of a group of heavily armed aliens, all in the span of a few minutes.

He looked at Ellis, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and distrust. He saw undeniable proof that the strange university employee possessed unusual abilities, that he was something more than human. He saw that the threat was real, that his life would never be the same again.

"You," Jason said, pointing a trembling finger at Ellis. "You knew about this, didn't you? You knew they were coming."

Ellis stood his ground, his face grim, his eyes filled with a weariness that belied his age. He knew he could no longer hide the truth, that he had to reveal his true nature and explain the danger that Jason faced.

"I tried to warn you," Ellis said, his voice low and grave. "But you wouldn't listen."

"Warn me?" Jason scoffed. "You gave me some cryptic message about Ulterians and hidden powers. I thought you were crazy."

"I couldn't tell you everything," Ellis said. "It's too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Jason exclaimed. "I just got attacked by a bunch of aliens! How much more dangerous can it get?"

Ellis sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew this wasn't going to be easy.

"Those were Ulterian soldiers," Ellis said. "They're not from this world. And they're after you."

Jason stared at Ellis, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what he was saying. "Ulterians?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. "Aliens? You're serious?"

Ellis nodded, his expression grave. "I'm afraid so."

"But why?" Jason asked. "Why are they after me? What do they want?"

Ellis hesitated, his eyes filled with a mixture of reluctance and resignation. He knew he couldn't hold back any longer.

"It's because of who you are, Jason," Ellis said. "Because of what you are."

The camera focused on their faces, the contrast between Jason's fear and confusion and Ellis's grim determination. The beginning of a forced alliance, forged in the fires of an alien attack. The start of a journey into the unknown, a journey that would test Jason's limits and force him to confront his true identity.