TICONIC

The heavy metal door creaked open, and from the shadows emerged Teresa—the long-haired girl. She wore a dark military uniform with Earth's flag on her chest. Her eyes were sharp, though there was a flicker of unease behind them.

Kael stood up immediately, alert. "Are you here to interrogate us again?"

Teresa quickly shook her head. She stepped inside and gently closed the door behind her. "No. I'm here to help you get out."

Parker eyed her suspiciously. "Why would you help us?"

Teresa looked at each of them, her voice lowering. "Because you deserve to know the truth… and because I don't agree with what they're doing."

She came closer, speaking in a near whisper. "They're currently invading planet Ticonic—slowly, quietly. It started as an exploration mission. But that was a lie. They want your natural resources—minerals, flora, even the ancient creatures. They'll destroy your home if it benefits them."

Mira covered her mouth in shock. "So this is all… about stealing from us?"

Teresa nodded. "And you, who know the secret paths and hidden routes, are considered a threat."

Teren clenched his fists. "Bastards…"

From her bag, Teresa pulled out four folded military uniforms. "You need to disguise yourselves. A transport ship leaves for Ticonic tomorrow. Come with me. We go back—undercover."

Kael held one of the uniforms. "Can we really trust you?"

Teresa looked him in the eye. "You don't have any other option. This is the only way out—and the only way to stop what's coming."

Parker grabbed one of the outfits and took a deep breath. "Alright. We'll play the part."

Teresa gave a faint smile. "Good. From now on, you're Earth soldiers… at least, on the outside."

The next morning, the sky above the Earth's Antarctic base was covered in a thick, freezing fog. In a narrow chamber filled with metal lockers and harsh white lights, Kael, Parker, Teren, and Mira suited up in the military uniforms given to them by Teresa the night before.

The uniforms were made of strange material—thick, flexible, and embedded with high-tech features. Electronic tags blinked on their chests, and the helmets had built-in communication systems. Even the gloves felt like synthetic skin.

Kael adjusted the straps of his tactical vest, glancing at his reflection in a small mirror. "I barely recognize myself."

Parker tapped a small button on his helmet and heard a quiet click. "We have to look the part. Don't say too much."

Mira groaned softly. "Why is this uniform so heavy..."

Teren just shrugged. "Because Earth people love complicated things."

The automatic door at the end of the room slid open, revealing Teresa standing firmly with a serious expression. "Let's go. The ship leaves in five minutes. Follow me, stay silent, and don't let anyone see your faces too clearly."

They moved through the steel hallway lit by pale blue panels. Their footsteps echoed alongside the hum of engines and the murmur of other soldiers. No one seemed suspicious—yet.

When they reached the main hangar, Kael's eyes widened.

A massive ship stood before them—sleek like a giant metallic spear with wing-like structures and thrusters hissing with white steam. On its side, bold letters read: "EXODUS-07."

"Board through the west ramp," Teresa whispered. "I've registered you as part of the communications reserve squad."

After passing an ID scanner and riding a magnetic lift, they finally stepped into the ship. Inside was like a mini-city: holographic screens, a control chamber, and rows of seats facing consoles.

Teresa motioned them to sit and remain calm.

A voice echoed through the intercom:

> "Final preparations complete. Destination: Central Sector, Ticonic Zone. Estimated travel time: six hours."

As the ship began to vibrate and slowly ascend, Kael looked through a small window—watching the snow-covered world fade beneath them.

Teren lowered his head and muttered, "We're going home... as strangers."

Parker clutched his book tightly. "And our mission begins now."

Six hours later, the large ship finally landed gently on the surface of Ticonic. The humming of engines faded, replaced by a strange silence—an atmosphere unfamiliar, far from the life they once knew.

Kael, Parker, Teren, and Mira followed the backup troops as they disembarked from the ship, stepping onto the frozen soil of Ticonic. Beneath the gray sky, a cold wind blew harshly, carrying the scent of damp earth and snow.

Kael glanced up at the sky, then down at the land—this place he still had to call home, though it now felt distant and changed.

"I'm going to see Rana," Kael said firmly to the others. "And I need to change clothes. I'm not comfortable in this uniform." The military suit felt too heavy, too foreign on his body.

Parker nodded. "We're heading home too. Be careful, Kael. They might be watching us."

"Thanks, Parker. I won't take long," Kael replied, hurrying off toward his house.

When Kael reached his front door, a strange tension crept into his chest. What if someone was already inside? What if danger awaited him?

He opened the door slowly. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.

Standing in the middle of the room was a man—handsome, with dark, neatly styled hair, wearing a black shirt and carrying an air of mystery.

"Who are you?" Kael asked firmly, though uncertainty laced his voice.

The man looked at him calmly, as if he had expected this moment. "I'm your father."

Kael's world seemed to freeze. "What did you say?" he whispered.

"Your father," the man repeated softly. "I'm a scientist from Earth… a researcher who once worked on a project in Ticonic. Your mother… she was the woman I fell in love with."

Kael stepped back, overwhelmed. "No… no way. I've forgotten my father's face. I don't even know your name!"

The man didn't flinch, though his eyes were filled with regret. "I understand, Kael. I had to leave… when I became involved in something dangerous. I couldn't return, not when the Earth government launched their campaign to seize Ticonic."

"So you're one of the invaders?" Kael asked, his voice low and trembling. "You're part of the force trying to take over my home?"

The man sighed deeply. "I'm just a scientist, Kael. I never wanted this war. I loved your mother. But I got caught up in something bigger than me, and I had no way back."

Kael clenched his fists. "Did you ever think about us? About the life you left behind? We didn't ask for any of this!"

The man looked him in the eyes. "I did think about you. Every day. That's why I'm here now. There's so much you don't understand yet. But please believe me when I say—I came not as a soldier, but as your father."

Kael's heart raced. So many questions, so many emotions flooded his mind.

"Why now?" Kael asked, almost whispering. "Why come back after everything?"

The man lowered his head, then raised it again, his voice steady. "Because now is the time. Ticonic is no longer safe. Earth and Ticonic are connected more deeply than you think. We must work together if we want to survive what's coming."

Kael stood silently, staring at the man who claimed to be his father. Was he telling the truth? Or was this just another piece of a much larger plan?

"What do you want from me?" Kael finally asked, voice tight.

The man's voice lowered. "I want to give you a choice, Kael. To decide for yourself—will you stand with Ticonic… or join us to build a future neither of our worlds can face alone?"

Kael felt trapped between duty and curiosity—between loyalty to his home and the father he never knew.

Kael clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anger.

"I thought you were dead—lost at sea... and now you show up out of nowhere asking me to choose a side?" He glared at the man. "What kind of nonsense is this?"

The man—his father—stood silently, as if struggling to find the right words. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"I finally understand why Uncle Elro kept you a secret. Why he lied about you disappearing while fishing. It was a lie… but one that was easier to live with than this truth."

Kael took a step back, chest heaving. "I left the walls. Got captured. Dragged into some foreign land... all because I hoped to find you. And now that I have? This is what I get?"

His father's face showed visible pain. "Kael, I—"

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"Professor Elian!"

A young woman in a white military uniform appeared at the hallway entrance. Her expression was stern, her hair tightly tied back. A silver badge gleamed on her chest. She stood tall, eyes locked on Kael's father.

"Professor, you're needed now. There's an urgent meeting in the observatory. Come with me," she ordered.

Kael's father—Professor Elian—looked at his son, wanting to say more. But Kael turned his face away.

"Save your explanations for someone who still cares," Kael said coldly.

Professor Elian hesitated, then finally followed the officer out of the house.

Kael remained frozen, the room now feeling hollow and unfamiliar. The home that once held warm memories had turned into a stranger's place.

He closed his eyes, swallowing the storm of emotions inside him.

Outside, the cold wind of Ticonic blew once more—as if reminding him that the trials ahead were far from over.