The End...Or Is It?

It took a second for Ishar to calm his frozen nerves. He ignored the alien's words for now, and focused on the main problem. Saving the world. He glanced at his watch, the trishul still humming softly in his hand.

3 minutes.

Just 3 minutes to save the world. He could still hear the other aliens banging on the door, the metal contraption creaking ominously.

He looked solemnly at his trishul, and smiled. He was going to miss that thing. With one final longing glance, Ishar stepped backwards, a bit away from the energy stars. Then, he raised his hands, the trident lighting up the dark room, and threw it with all his might. 

Then, he ran.

Ishar burst through the door, not caring to look whether aliens were following him or not. A second later, a loud noise cracked through the spaceship, as the stars burst, demolishing everything in their path.

He could see the wires ripping, the walls melting, but oddly, nothing seemed to affect him at all. He turned into the familiar corridor, and leapt down in the dark tunnel. At this point, all he cared about was getting on the jet, off this hellhole, and seeing his mother again.

Telling her that he kept his promise. 

The floor below was ripped out from Ishar's feet, as he gave one last leap, and landed on the jet with a thud. Pain burst through every fiber of his cell, but he was too relieved to notice. Tears of joy streamed down his face, as he closed his eyes, feeling the soft velvet of the jet's seat.

He took his earpiece out and threw it away. He propped himself up with one hand, and looked up into the grinning face of Naren, piloting the aircraft. Beside him, was General Aarush Verma, with a heart-warming, prideful look on his face.

He didn't talk.

His smile said it all.

Ishar smiled and looked outside the window. In the distance, Pralay-1 had disappeared into a cloud of fire and flames, smoke engulfing it as the spaceship collapsed on itself. In all of his wildest dreams, he had never once imagined this scenario. He had to pinch himself thrice, to make sure that what was thought to be previously inevitable had actually been avoided! In a very valiant manner, may I add.

He looked towards the pink sunrise, casting a glimmering show on the shallow beach waters.

How could the sun appear so normally, so mindlessly as if it had no idea what had happened here? Yet, he knew, somewhere in his heart, that people out there had witnessed pure courage, determined teamwork, across the globe.

Tomorrow, the media, politicians, global leaders, all would cluster around them, forcing every single detail from their mind. 

Ishar leaned back against the seat of the heat and softly sighed, resting his exhausted body. He mentally promised himself to never, ever, even say the word 'alien' again.

He had enough experience to last a lifetime.

Unknown to him outside, hidden by the bright glimmer of the sun, a faint blue light appeared, growing ominously brighter than ever.

Appeared by one another.

Then one more.