Chapter One:

There he was again, all alone in this cruel world. Yet at the same time he wasn't alone at all, not that that would last. For tonight he would leave his family, his friends and only be able to pray that the girl he loved so much would be able to one day forgive him.

 

Tonight he would run far away from this place that no longer felt like home. Every night he felt the stars shining brightly the path that he would have to take. The wind howled his name. Matt. It would say. He wanted to answer the wind's call and follow. Oh how he wanted to be anywhere but here.

 

It was just a short while past midnight and Matt sat at his bedside waiting for the moment when his mind would suddenly tell him that he was ready. Music played softly through the speakers of the stereo. In his hand was the one thing that he could think about. Looking down at the picture he felt his eyes begin to water. Standing next to the girl he loved more than anything. It had been taken just a few weeks ago, on their graduation day. Their smiles told the whole story and so much more. They were happy and nothing could change that; for his entire life they had grown up together. In first grade when he fell off the swings it was her that helped him to his feet. And when she lost her father in a terrible car accident he had been the one who made her smile. Matt remembered how when he first knew that he loved her the world had stopped. Time didn't move and life was perfect. Then he remembered their last conversation they had had earlier that day.

 

 

“I have to tell you something.” Matt said as they continued their walk through the park. She said nothing but rather held his hand waiting for him to continue. “I have to leave this place.” They stopped walking and she turned to look at him. She feared what would come next. “I don't want to leave you. Please come with me, I don't want to be alone.” Matt wanted her to say something but she remained silent. “We can go anywhere, anywhere that is far from here. We could go to.....”

 

“I can't.” She said as her blue eyes melted into a devastating flood of tears.

 

“Beth, don't say that!”

 

“College starts soon Matt. I can't just throw it away and you can't either. Please don't leave.”

 

“But I have to go.” He said.

 

“Why?”

 

“I don't know.” Matt said as he let go of her hand. “I don't belong here. There's something out there calling for me. I don't want to waste away me life in school, I want to make something of myself. I want to do something great.” Then suddenly Beth hugged him and cried harder.

 

“You're never going to come back will you?”

 

“I don't want to lose you Beth.” Matt said as he prayed that she might change her mind and run away with him.

 

“Then don't leave.”

 

He set the picture down and he looked for something that might get his mind off of her. Matt was so sure that she would have said yes and ran way with him. He wished more than ever that he could stay. But that was simply not possible. The time had come for him to get away and see the world.

 

Matt stood up and walked to his window. The stars seemed brighter than ever. The moon was full and once again the wind called for him to begin his journey. Where he would go was still a mystery but Matt knew that what awaited him would be worth it.

 

The sky flashed, night had tuned into day and then back again in an instant. If that had not caught Matt off guard then his house shaking violently did. He fell hard against the floor as the sky flashed a second time. Quickly Matt got up and looked into the sky just in time to see what looked like small rocks burning green flames raining down upon the Earth. And then he saw it; a large ship landing in the field next to his house.

 

The ship was easily two football fields in length and was shaped like a pentagon. There were flashing green lights rotating around the ship that made it hard for Matt to look away.

 

Never had Matt believed in aliens but right now there was simply no denying the fact that they were real. For five minutes he stood there watching and waiting for the ship to open up and something to come out but nothing happened. The rocks of fire had ceased and all was silent with the exception of the music Matt had playing.

 

An idea then came into his mind. He would begin his journey by investigating an alien invasion. Although what possessed him to do it he was unsure. Quickly he ran down stairs and right out of the door. It truly was astonishing just how quiet the ship was considering how big it was.

 

Matt sprinted through the field until he finally was just mere feet away from the colossal ship. Ten large legs held the ship about fifteen feet off the ground and the only thing that looked like a door was a hole in the middle of the ship that had light shining out of it. Of course there was no way to get up to it. Then a circular platform descended from the hole and it had someone on it.

 

Matt was pleased to know that it would be possible to get inside but was more interested in the fact that this alien looked very much human. In fact he never would have second guessed the man if he had seen him walking around on the street. Although he would have found the suit that he was wearing weird.

 

It was a dark blue color and there was a gold badge placed above the alien's heart. Matt also noticed many separate badges that had been placed on his sleeves. Whoever or whatever it was Matt knew that it saw him and neither could take their eyes off of each other. As the platform hit the ground the man stepped off and began walking towards Matt.

 

Stunned by what was happening Matt could not move. Closer and closer the man came until finally Matt saw that the man was smiling. He stopped just feet in front of Matt and held out his hand. Matt looked at the hand and then stared back at the man's eyes wondering what he should do.

 

“Don't worry I'm human, I won't bite you or anything.” The man said as he again extended his hand. Matt was still a bit unsure and didn't exactly believe that this man was human considering the ship he had arrived in. “Don't believe me do you Matt?” The man said as he pulled his arm back to his side.

 

Matt's eyes widened at the shock that this man knew his name. “How the heck do you know my name?” Matt said stepping a few steps back.

 

“There are a lot of things I will need to explain. First we must leave this place before they come.” The man said as he looked up into the sky as if he expected some kind of attack from above. He then turned and headed back towards the platform that had delivered him from the ship just moments earlier. Upon reaching the platform he turned back to Matt who remained still in the same place he had been. “Well are you coming or not?”

 

As if breaking out of a trance Matt blinked twice and ran to catch up with the man. He didn't know who he was or why he had come to get him but for some reason he followed the man and stepped on to the platform. Slowly it lifted off the ground and closer and closer they came to entering a very bright white light. Matt's eyes shifted from the light to the man's face. He had a thick beard and mustache. Short dark brown hair that was gelled back and he had dark green eyes that seemed to be staring into oblivion at that moment. Clearly he had something else on his mind.

 

“What exactly is going on?” Matt hated silence more than anything and now was a very bad time for silence.

 

“I can't tell you a whole lot to be honest.” The man began as he then turned his head to face Matt. “Honestly I don't know why we came to get you except that we were told to bring you with us.” The platform entered the ship and stopped. They were in a small room with all white walls surrounding them. A large metal door in the middle of each wall with a box containing a blue hand print next to the door. “Follow me.” As if Matt had much of a choice at this point.

 

The man walked ahead to the door in front of him and placed his hand on the blue hand print. A flash of light from beneath his hand and the door opened. A long hallway extended forward with numerous doors on each side. They continued down the hall as Matt's eyes darted all around this new place. Each door had a hand scanner next to it and they were all labeled with numbers and letters.

 

“They're all living quarters. Two rooms and a bathroom.” It was as if the man knew what Matt was going to ask.

 

“So what all can you tell me?” Matt could have sworn that the hallway would go on forever.

 

“What's that?” He said as if he hadn't heard the question.

 

“You said you couldn't tell me a whole lot. Well what can you tell me?”

 

“Very little.” Finally they reached the end of the hall and they turned left down a hall that seemed to wrap around the edge of the ship. “What do you want to know?”

 

“A name would be nice.” Matt had to nearly jog just so he wouldn't fall behind.

 

“Travis.” They stopped. The hall continued forward but they had reached a door on their left that Travis would need to open again. The process of scanning his hand only took a few seconds and the door opened. This time however the door opened up to a very large room much like a food court that Matt used to eat at when he went to the mall with his friends. Except there was no one there. The room was completely deserted with the exception of a guard that stood just in front of another metal door twice as wide as the others. “Normally there are people in here. We are a bit preoccupied at the moment however.”

 

“With what?”

 

“You'll see.” Travis walked forward towards the guard and Matt followed just a few steps behind. “Hey Bill how ya doing?” Travis shook the hand of the guard.

 

“Not bad. I see you got the boy.” The guard’s uniform was slightly different from Travis's. It was a much darker blue and he had just one badge above his heart, nothing on his like Travis had.

 

“Yep. I've got to get Matt here to the control center but I'll talk to you later Bill.” Travis walked ahead and used the hand scanner yet again.

 

“Okay then. Nice meeting you Matt.” The guard said as Travis and Matt walked past him and entered yet another hallway. This one however was much different from the others.

 

For starters it extended for only about twenty feet until there was another door. The walls were completely black instead of white and maybe it was only because Matt's feet hurt but even the floor seemed different.

 

“It's just through here.” They walked forward and once again Matt watched as Travis placed his hand on the scanner and the door opened to another large room, this one however had seven other people in it all very silently watching the large screen displaying an image of Earth. As they walked through the door it closed behind them and Travis walked ahead to join the others.

 

Matt then noticed the most amazing thing. The floor he stood on was completely transparent. He looked down and could see the Earth many miles below him. The sight overwhelmed him and he found himself speechless. Travis however stared intently at the image of Earth on the screen just as the others had.

 

“Where are the others?” Travis asked.

 

“We don't know. There's been no sign of them for awhile now.” Another man answered. Travis clearly was not happy to hear this.

 

“Any sign of the enemy yet?” Travis's eyes refused to look anywhere else but the screen.

 

“Not yet sir. I think they may have been bluffing.”

 

“Not possible.”

 

“Well we haven't seen...”

 

“Try to contact the others again!” Travis was growing impatient although Matt was unsure why. He didn't understand what they were talking about. It seemed they were on the run from someone or something but what that was he could not be sure.

 

“We've tried sir! They aren't responding!” Another person said.

 

“Then try again!” Travis yelled. “We are not going to leave them here!” This got the men going. Six of the seven began pressing buttons and talking into their headsets desperately trying to contact whoever it was they were trying to reach. Matt stared at the seventh man who stood next to Travis. He seemed to be good friends with Travis. This was probably why he was doing nothing but staring at the large screen as well.

 

“They're doing their best Travis. Try to be patient I'm sure we will find them.” The man said. He was about the same height as Travis and his hair was a bit shorter but much darker. The lack of facial hair made him look a few years younger than Travis but Matt doubted that age meant much of anything right now.

 

“I know.” Travis continued to study the screen as if there was some great treasure hidden deep within it. “We can't lose them. Not now.”

 

“We won't.” There was a short silence and then the man tried changing subjects. “So did you get the boy?”

 

“Sure did. He's right behind you.” The two turned to face Matt. Matt straightened up.

 

“Hello.” Matt said, unsure if he should have said anything at all.

 

“Matt this here is Ron. He's second in command around here.”

 

“Nice to meet you Matt.” Ron extended his hand forward to Matt.

 

“You too.” Matt shook his hand making sure not to break eye contact.

 

“Sorry if it seems like we are ignoring you but we have an allied ship that has just disappeared so we're a bit preoccupied at the moment.”

 

“It's fine go ahead.” Matt said. “Can I ask what's going on though?”

 

“Travis and I will have to explain later.” Ron said, looking from Travis to Matt. “There's not a lot we can tell you right now anyways so you’re better off being patient either way.”

 

“I suppose.”

 

“It won't be long. Don't worry.” Travis added and then turned to face Ron. “By the way. You got the message about us having to get Matt, got any idea why we need him?” Matt was unsure if he should take offense or not to this. Someone obviously had given orders for him to be brought into space but these two were clueless it seemed to why. Ron shook his head.

 

“They didn't give a reason.” Then one of the others trying to contact the others spoke up.

 

“You guys might want to look at this!” He said in a panicked voice. Immediately Travis and Ron turned to face the screen. Another ship was coming into view. Matt looked down at the transparent floor and saw the same ship. He knew that this had to be the enemy that Travis had mentioned. The ship had to be larger than this one and had more of a triangular shape to it. Although if this was the enemy why were they not attacking this ship? Matt's answer came faster than expected.

 

“You guys have our cloaking on?” Travis asked.

 

“We've had it on for a while now. Want us to keep it on?”

 

“Yes. The last thing we need is to get into a battle with them here. Let's just hope they were bluffing and just pass by.”

 

“Yes sir!” The man turned back and worked alongside the others scanning the area for the ally ship.

 

“Ron we need to find that ship now!” Travis directed his attention on the enemy ship.

 

“I'm fully aware of that Travis.” Sadly there was little that could be done. All they could do was watch and hope to make a connection with the ally ship. Although right now things were not looking very good and Matt, although unsure of what all of this meant, knew that something terrible may happen very soon.

 

All eyes were focused on the ship as it slowly drifted past their own.

 

“I bet this was what the Cuban missile crisis was like huh?” Ron said as he, much like Matt, hated silence.

 

“There's a lot more at stake now.” Travis said maintaining his gaze on the ship.

 

“Very true.” At every moment the enemy was expected to do something. Matt couldn't help but think that he knew what was about to happen but he couldn't stand to even think about it. Travis kept his eyes glued to the screen and Matt could hear him whispering. Come on. Come on. As if he was cheering on a favorite sports team.

 

“We've found them!” The six men who had been searching for the allied ship began to jump up and down celebrating. Travis's eyes widened and he ran up and grabbed a headset.

 

“Hello!?” Travis yelled into his headset desperate for someone to respond.

 

“Travis? That you?” A female voice returned. Matt saw a rush of relief come over Travis's face.

 

“Yes! This Becca?”

 

“Sure is.”

 

“Where's Tom? Can I speak to Tom?”

 

“Yeah hold on.”

 

“Hey Travis.” A man's voice now came through.

 

“Hey Tom. Where have you guys been?”

 

“Sorry 'bout that. Ship had some trouble back there. Might need to get it checked back at base.”

 

“It's okay. Look, be careful they are right under our ship. They don't see us as far as I know but it doesn't mean that they won't do something.”

 

“We've got our cloaking on as well. So...” But before that sentence was ever finished a flash of light exploded from the enemy ship. Matt looked down to see a golden colored laser rip through space and straight through the Earth. Static came over the headsets. The next few seconds could have been years.

 

“Dear God no.” Travis whispered as the laser shot through the other side of the Earth. “Get us out now!”

 

The six all focused on getting the ship as far away as possible. Travis, Matt, and Ron watched in horror as the Earth burst into millions of pieces. Everything Matt had ever known was gone. His family, his friends and Beth.

 

“Beth!” Matt yelled as he tried to fun forward but only fell to his knees as shocked as he had ever been in his entire life. Ron turned towards Matt but he couldn't think of anything to say. Travis couldn't move.

 

“Tom please tell me you got out of there.” He spoke into the head set. Static was all that returned.

 

“Travis?” Matt asked. “Travis?” But he would not answer. “Travis what the heck is going on? Answer me!” Travis turned to face Matt, who had a very horrified look written upon his face. It was hard to tell just how long it took for Travis to say something but it was no doubt an answer no one expected.

 

“We just saved your life. And I'm never going to know why.” Travis walked past Matt and right out the door.