Introduction; Danial Arnof

The room was dark as was the mood.

Mr. Danial Arnof stood in the middle of it all. The middle was the highest point of the room. All around him in circles sat people deeply immersed with the computers in front of them. Everyone was chattering. This chatter was either directed towards a specific person or was over a phone. The reason for all the commotion occupied the large panoramic screen on the curved circular wall. It was the town of Norshen Michigan. Or what was left of it.

The state of the town was similar to a town after a hurricane had hit. The ground was swamped and only the bare bases of the former homes were visible. And the odd part was that some of the damage had been caused by explosions.

Danial Arnof steadily walked down the steps towards the panoramic view-screen. His leather shoes clapped the carpet as he walked. Everything about this man, including his aura and incredible build radiated power. The green suit he had on was specially trimmed for a person of his figure. His African and Russian ancestors gave him an impressively authoritative and thunderous voice.

“Do we know what caused this?” he asked, his voice more prominent than all the chattering voices and clacking keys of keyboards. Arnof motioned to the screen with his large hand. “It would appear a tsunami, but that does not happen on the coast of Michigan.”

One of the many people at the computers was able to bring up a new image to the screen. “We found this from a camera on an ATM.”

At the sight of the thing, everyone's heart skipped a beat. Except for Arnof. He barely looked fazed by what he saw on the view-screen. What the person- no, it was not a person. Whatever it was, was nothing of the known world. The thing was nearly seven feet tall, and had thick, light brown and scaly skin. It looked very reptilian. Metal armor covered the thing's body from head to toe, except for its head. The head was bizarre- like a cross between a dinosaur and a human being. It was showing its teeth, all of which were short and sharp much like those of a carnivorous beast. The thing had tiny squat ears and a flat head. It's nose was very prominent and it had two eyes placed like those of a human.

“When was this taken?” Arnof asked. Every aspect of his behavior showed that he was unfazed by the whole ordeal.

“About an hour, when they first attacked Norshen.” The man's voice was small.

Arnof tapped the screen and the horrid image went away. It was replaced by a live aerial view from a UAV drone. The water was beginning to recede and the destroyed buildings were all still there. He then turned back to the crowd, his gaze judgmental of the crowd. “You were all hired as the very best in the fine country of America,” he began. “You were selected to deal with problems like this.”

He then turned to the screen. “These things destroyed one of our cities. When they come back- I guarantee it, you will not stare dumbly as you do now. We will put our resources together, and we will show them what it means to come here and kill our people.”

Someone began to clap, but Danial's glare dared them to continue.

“What should we tell the President?” asked someone in the back of the room.

“The truth, obviously,” Arnof stated. “However, he is not to inform the public.” Arnof was also academically well built. “Tell the President to tell the public that an asteroid that we had not picked up on previously found its way through the atmosphere and caused a tsunami.” He rubbed his forehead stress-fully. “I cannot stress this enough, but do not, under any circumstances, tell anybody the truth.”

A few people stood up to go about their business. Arnof turned and tapped the screen to bring up the image of the reptilian being. “Two,” he breathed to himself. “Two alien species in this world.” No one else heard him.

Only Danial Arnof and a handful of other people knew the truth. After all, Arnof was the most powerful man in all of America.

2: Chapter One: Jack Korsu

Chapter One; Jack Korsu ...A few days ago

The summer sun was high in the sky and the waves lapped the sandy coast. It was a great day to be outside in Norshen Michigan. I stood atop the sandy bluff with my hands in the pockets of my khaki shorts. The glare of the high sun on the bright lake water was enough to make me squint. It was still beautiful to stare at with the waves glistening as they rolled inland.

Behind me was Coastal Avenue. It ran parallel with the coast and was heavily used by tourists from other states because of the amazing view. Many of the houses in Norshen were like those of any other small town.

“If it isn't my favorite Japanese-American.”

I turned and saw my friend Alonso Ferguson with a coy grin on his face. For some reason, he always made a point to greet me every few days while referring to my ethnical background. “I got the cube,” I told him.

He knit his eyebrows, frustrated. “What is this 'cube' thing anyways?” Alonso (despite his name) was entirely Scottish and German all the way back his ancestry. Although he had what many would consider a healthy build, he did not play sports.

The cube was nearly impossible to explain to anyone. They had to experience it themselves. I turned and dug through the tall grass to find it. The cube was nearly six inches wide, so it was too big to fit comfortably in my baggy shorts. Anyways, the odd thing was that it was perfectly white. No smudges, no slight discoloration, nothing. It was apparently a family heirloom for uncountable generations back. Finally, I found it and held it out to Alonso.

He stared at it like infected bread. “That's it?” asked Alonso with a raised eyebrow.

I shook my head. “Touch any three vertices of it and see what happens.”

Alonso must not have known what to think based off of my expression. I was feeling a mixture of excitement, fear and even more excitement.

He put his hand forward, then stopped. “What's a vertice?”

It honestly amazed me how stupid he was sometimes when it came to mathematics and geometry. “The angles,” I said irritably.

“Oh,” he said as if discovering a big secret. Alonso did as told and his muscles tightened up. He was a uncanny sight. All his muscles had locked up while not moving the width of a hair and his eyes and whole expression had looked as if his soul had left his body. In a way, it did.

What he was experiencing was something that I had too earlier that day. When I had touched the three vertices, I felt like my soul and been transported elsewhere to a blank and empty place. There was nothing. No feeling, no ground, no sight. Then I had been hit with nearly instance in my life. And it wasn't just sights and smells, it was literally like I was experiencing these moments all over in vivid detail at once. Even the moments I no longer remembered.

Then a few minutes later, Alonso's motor functions returned. He was breathing rapidly and he was sweating despite the coastal Michigan weather.

“Well?” I asked him. I had a sympathetic smile because I had known what he was feeling.

“I think,” he said shakily, his eyes wide, “I have been violated.”

I nearly fell down the sandy bluff laughing. That was not what I was expecting Alonso to say that. Then again, it was Alonso. I never knew what he was going to say most of the time I was around him.

“Seriously!” he exclaimed. He was frustrated that I was still chuckling. “Where did you get this thing from anyways?”

“I'm sorry,” I said, and took the cube from him, careful not to touch the vertices. “You know how my parents like to travel to Wisconsin for their yearly anniversary? Well they left a few days ago and I needed to find a computer cable. So I called them and Dad said it was in his closet- which I'm not allowed to go into but he said I could anyways. As I get the cable, I see the cube. And naturally, my curiosity kicked in and I 'borrowed' it.” I looked down at the bizarre little cube. “You have to admit, it is pretty cool.”

Alonso seemed wary. “I guess,” he muttered. Then he noticed something behind me and his expression brightened. “Caren! Hello!” he yelled.

Caren Morinski, another friend of mine, was across the street. She darted across when it was clear. “Hi,” she said to the both of us. There was something about how pale and slim she was that always made her look like she was cold.

“What are you doing 'round here?” Alonso asked bluntly.

She stared at him with an amused grin. “I live in the area.”

Another stupid Alonso moment in the books, I thought to myself.

Caren twirled her short light hair then pointed to the cube in my hands. “What's in the box, Jack?”

I looked down dumbly, not entirely sure how to answer her question. “Um-”

Alonso leaned on my shoulder and motioned to the cube. “Nothing physical,” he began mysteriously, pretending to be an overly dramatic presenter. “But it contains a way into your mind! It's as if it takes your soul from your body and transports it to another world. It makes you experience every aspect of your life! Even the little stuff that you thought you forgot!”

Still leaning on my shoulder, Alonso grabbed it out my hands and held it to Caren. “Try it.”

“Oh-kay,” she said, unsure of what to do.

Just when I was about to shove Alonso off my shoulder, he stood up. “Put a finger on each angle,” he instructed.

Caren did as instructed, but nothing happened. Both I and Alonso stood staring apprehensively at her and the cube. Nothing changed. Her soul did not leave her body. She did not stiffen up. Caren looked like it was doing nothing.

Then she sighed and tossed the cube to me. “Hilarious,” she muttered. Caren was used to Alonso playing stupid tricks and pranks and she must have assumed this was one of them.

“Maybe you're doing it wrong?” I suggested.

Without even asking, Caren swiftly took the cube and held it in front of me. Her index, middle and ring finger were all in contact with one vertex of the cube. “Am I holding this wrong or something? This is how Alonso told me to do it.” She was not mad, she was just annoyed by Alonso's antics.

“It is possible that we used up its power source or something,” I said sympathetically.

Alonso snapped his fingers. “Maybe it doesn't work on females!”

Caren looked like she wanted to give Alonso a swift kick. But she had more self control than that. Caren tossed the cube to me which I clumsily caught.

Not wanting to make it look like we were playing a joke on her, I asked Alonso, “You want to demonstrate how this thing works, buddy?”

“No way man!” He stepped back a good three feet. “Why can't you?”

To be honest, he had a point. It felt too weird to use the cube in public. “On second thought, maybe not. I don't like using it in the open like this.”

“How about you guys come over to my house and you can demonstrate there?” Caren asked. “After all, we are in the area.”

Alonso and I looked at one another with wary uncertainty. I had already used the cube twice before coming over to show Alonso and he obviously did not like it very much. Neither of us did. At the same time, I did not want Caren to think this was a joke.

“Let's go then,” I said with a nod.

3: Chapter Two: Caren Morinski

Chapter Two; Caren Morinski

As I sat on the couch in front of the coffee table, I studied the expression of my friend Jack. He sat on one of the two arm chairs with a stern expression on his face. To my available memory, the only time I could remember him with that type of face was the final exam from last grade. That showed that he was not making anything up about the cube that sat in the middle of the coffee table.

“Well go ahead and demonstrate!” exclaimed Alonso loudly from the armchair to my right.

Jack and I stared at him. “Don't pressure me,” Jack said, his hand hovering above the cube.

Even though Alonso was acting like a bit of a jerk, his behavior was somewhat humorous. There was something about his constant coy expression that implied he did not intentionally want to hurt anyone's feelings. Then he turned to me. “Caren, what are you staring at?”

I quickly looked away from him and to Jack. I had not realized how long I had been looking in his direction like that. Had he noticed? I certainly hoped not.

“Here goes nothing,” muttered Jack. He brought his hand down to the three sides of the cube.

Prior to seeing this, I had thought Alonso was making stuff up or at least exaggerating it. It seemed impossible to physically see someone's soul leave there body, but Alonso was right. When Jack touched the cube, he sharply inhaled and held his breath. His muscles tensed and his eyes seemed to lose all signs that he was alive. It truly looked like his soul had left his body.

“That's amazing,” Alonso said in an awestruck tone.

“Yeah,” I breathed, still studying Jack. “Amazingly creepy- is he even aware of what's going on around him?”

Alonso shook his head. “I wasn't when I used it, so I don't think he is.”

“How long does it last?” I looked down at where the cube came in contact with his skin.

“A few moments,” Alonso answered. “I'm no expert so don't ask complex questions.”

It looked like it hurt. I remember when I was really young, I had taken a flashlight and held it up to my nails so that the other side of my finger was glowing. That- the glowing, was how his three fingers looked. Oddly, the glow-skin color was also on the three vertices of the cube that he was touching. “It looks painful,” I noted.

“Not really,” Alonso stated. “He's just reliving various memories of his all in a few moments.” He must have read my mind as to what I was thinking, for he said, “He literally cannot experience anything here. All of his senses are focused on reliving every detail of every moment of his life.”

I had trouble believing what he was saying. “So how can he experience his entire life in only the matter of a few minutes?”

“I think it has something to do with the fact that our brain- or mind, moves at a different speed in time- or something, than the rest of your body- or I think so. For example- try to think and talk the same thing at the same time. I did that and the brain is faster- or so I think.”

“I get the picture.” Honestly, the majority of his rambling made no sense to me.

Then Jack's 'soul' or whatever returned to his body. He looked very shaken and he was breathing rapidly. Whatever it was that had happened to him- or wherever he went, it looked as if part of his mentally was still there.

“Third time,” he said shakily, holding up four fingers. When he noticed his gesture was wrong, he retracted his pinky finger. “Third time I did that and I'm still shaken by the experience.” Then Jack turned to me as his breathing began to return to normal. “Caren, do you believe us now?”

I nodded, rather shaken and stirred by watching him. “Maybe it will work for me now.” Despite what I had just seen, I still wanted to experience the odd feeling of reliving my entire life. My three fingers touched the same exact vertices that Jack used.

Nothing happened.

Jack sighed disdainfully. “I'm sorry Caren- I don't understand why it doesn't work for you.”

“It's alright Jack,” I said. “It's okay, really.” Even though I was disappointed that it was not working for me, Jack looked even more upset. His disappointment only elevated mine.

Then I heard the unmistakable footfalls of Uncle Lenny. Oh God save me.

“What's going in here?” came his husky voice. “A secret cult meeting or something?” he suggested humorously.

Then walking in through the arched doorway that led to the hall was Uncle Lenny. As always, he wore his oversized paint-stained boots that he had owned for the last decade. His gut was as prominent as ever and his bushy beard had still not been trimmed. His usual tweed flat-cap covered his balding white hair.

“How're things going my man Lenny?” Alonso greeted.

“Please kill me now,” I muttered. It was bad enough Lenny decided to randomly drop by when my friends were around, but now Alonso was greeting him like one of his 'cool' friends.

“H- hello Mr. Morinski,” Jack said, still fazed by his recent experience with the cube.

Uncle Lenny firmly shook Jack's hand. “Call me Lenny,” he said for what was the billionth time- or so it felt. Then his eyes lit up when he saw the cube. “Ooh, what's this little thing here?” he asked excitedly.

I just knew Uncle Lenny was going to go right into how it was probably alien technology and all that conspiracy stuff. That would be typical Uncle Lenny and that would also be why I was so embarrassed around him. It was always about how mosquitoes were apparently an endangered alien species or something along those lines.

Jack grabbed the cube protectively. “Um, it's actually personal, Lenny.”

“I see.” He sat down comfortably next to me. “So what are you kiddies up to?”

“Stuff,” Alonso said as always when people asked him what he was up to.

“'Stuff,'” snorted Uncle Lenny. “You kiddies are always up to 'stuff.' Anyways- I made this fascinating discovery a few days ago. I was out for a walk in the woods to the east of my property when I came across a scorched clearing. And it was aliens! I could guarantee it! You see, I was there the day before. There was a tree and green grass. Then the next day- poof! Gone. It was literally gone and the ground was scorched and the clearing was a perfect circle!”

Alonso seemed to be really getting into it. “Intriguing,” he said. “Tell us more.” Whether he was serious about it or not was yet to be discovered.

And cue the unending ramble. Before I had lost my sanity, I said, “This sounds amazing Uncle Lenny, but I really need to talk to Mom about school,” I lied lamely and stood up.

“Alright,” he responded, completely oblivious to the fact that I did not care about his stories about aliens.

As I walked down the hallway towards the stairs, I could not help but feel sorry for what I did. The aliens and stuff meant a lot to Lenny, but I did not care about them. Also, I was too nice to tell that to him so I always had to come up with some lame excuse to get away. A few moments later, I walked into the dining room where I always left my computer set up.

I opened it, but I let the log in screen be. I had nothing I needed or wanted to do. I had no school projects because it was summer and I was not into social media. Even if I was, my updates would be pretty boring. In school time, it be how I got bullied and how lonely I was except for Jack and Alonso.

Alonso. Now I found myself thinking about the one thing I could never have. I had always been attracted to Alonso. It all started back when I was nine when the crush started. It was really obvious from Mom's point of view, but I always denied it.

Then finally I realized why I it would never work between us. Mom had told me about Dad, and why it was just her and I. She was young and caring. He was young too, and careless. Soon after that, she had me and he left. The thing was that I was exactly like Mom and Alonso just like Dad. I did not want to end up alone with a child.

Down the hall, I heard Alonso laugh loudly at something Uncle Lenny had said. Why did Alonso need to be so darn attractive? I sighed, and leaned back in my chair. “Just another aspect of my messed up life.”

4: Chapter Three: Jack Korsu

Chapter Three; Jack Korsu

It was official. The cube had taken over my life. I had shown it too Alonso and Caren yesterday, and already my life had practically become derailed. My plan to reorganize all my discs of movies had happened at all. The idea to completely trim the lawn and sidewalk had never materialized. The plan to at least attempt to make the ultimate lunch sandwich had never happened either. As I always did when something was eating away at me, I went for a nice long walk around town.

Despite all I did, the thoughts kept returning. I walked through Raid Park, the large trees looming over me. The high sun cast bizarre shadowy shapes as the rays crept through the leafy tall trees. A paved sidewalk cut through the hilly park. Far off to my right played a group of little kids on the playground equipment.

“Hey- I need those to see!”

I turned around to see an all too familiar sight. A group of three guys a year older than me were picking on another guy. The tallest and brawniest held a set of glasses high above his head with a smirk on his face. This was Dylan Dyke, part of the local field and track team. He was a regular jerk, but put he knew how to act around authoritative people. The nerdy kid was Norman Shacks. Norman was a nice guy, but he did not have a lot of self confidence which made easy pickings for bullies.

Turn around and go, I told myself. No need to get involved in something that's none of my business. The sight of the taller stronger guys always beating up on the nerdy and geeky guys was common and bothered me greatly. After all, I had gotten detention three times lat semester because I was sticking up for the victims. It was not fair.

“You- you're going to get in a lot of trouble for this!” said the nerdy looking fellow weakly.

“This ain't school twit!” snarled one of the taller guys, and shoved Norman to the ground.

Wait a minute, I thought to myself. He's right; this is not school. There were no principals, no teachers, no stupid rules about defending the innocent.

“Flash- go long!” shouted Dylan Dyke. The shorter of the three jocks named Flash ran off in my direction. “Catch the glasses buddy!”

Then Norman shrieked, “What are you doing?”

Without thinking twice, I ran off in the direction that the Flash was going. He stopped suddenly, right where it was going to land. “I don't see it,” he said mockingly. I did not hesitate to do what I did next. I slammed my entire body into his chest- which he was not expecting, and I prepared to grab the the glasses.

Flash fell to the ground gasping for breath and I caught the glasses safely in my two hands.

“Wha-” Flash wheezed. “What was that man?”

I did not even spare the bully a glance as I walked towards Norman to give him his glasses he so dearly required. Dylan and his other buddy stood staring at me, but I did not bother them a glance either. “Here you go Norm,” I said, and handed the glasses to him.

Norman put his glasses on and looked up at me whilst breathing a sigh of relief. “My God, thank you-”

“Jack,” I said. “Jack Korsu.” The only reason I knew him and not him me, was because I always saw him getting bullied by guys like Dylan and Flash.

“Jack- Jack Korsu?” Dylan said with a grin. He pulled the upper part of his eyelids back and said in the most terrible Japanese accent I had ever heard, “Korsu- is that Chinese or something?”

As much as his imitation was offensive, it was also old. Every bully who knew my last named had pulled that one already. “Cute,” I said with crossed arms. A billion and one phrases came to mind that I wanted to yell at him, but I kept my cool. “Tell me- do you know how it feels to be treated like dirt?”

Dylan laughed. “Well I'm no geek,” he responded. “If you wanna know what it feels like- ask Norman-”

Before he could finish whatever he was going to say, I grabbed his shoulders with my hands and pushed myself up. The unexpected force pummeled Dylan to the ground. He stepped forward, trying to keep from falling over. My 150 pound self was more than enough for him. He toppled and fell face first into the dirt and I landed on my feet.

The bully groaned, and slowly began to pull himself to his feet. Meanwhile, Flash jogged over clutching his chest where I had slammed him. “What the heck is problem Korsu?” Flash asked innocently.

His tone just about made me lose my cool. “What are you talking about?” I exploded at him. “You're the ones beating up on poor Norman! You deserve this!” Then I turned to the last of the three bullies. He was scared about of his skin. “You want some too, hog?”

The remaining guy shook his head fearfully and took a few steps away. “I- I have to go now.”

“It would be best for you two to go too,” I said to Dylan and Flash, then cracked my knuckles. They both got the message and darted off out of the park. “That's what I thought.” When I turned to Norman, he was mortified. “What's wrong?”

It took him a moment to find his voice. “You- Jack, you're no better than them.” Not waiting to see how I would respond, he cowered. “Don't hurt me!” And then ran when I saw I wasn't going to do or say anything.

I was somewhat discouraged by his behavior. Not having anyone to talk to, I turned and continued on my stroll through the park. “Not sure what he was scared of,” I muttered to myself. “Dylan and Flash got what they deserved, right?”

In my own mind, it certainly seemed like it was right. To heck with those principals and teachers who thought what I did was wrong. People like Dylan and Flash deserve only what they inflict upon others. If no one else was going to give out 'proper justice,' then I was going to.

That was only my mind. However, judgment from my parents found its way into my mind. Apparently, doing something like I just did was wrong because it meant “I was as low as them.” I never said I agreed with them. My resolve was firm, I could not help but feel doubtful about myself and that my parents were right.

But there was one good thing about the recent escapade. “At least I've forgotten about the cube,” I chuckled to myself.

5: Chapter Four: Jack Korsu

Chapter Four; Jack Korsu

Taking a walk did not work. Just after I had dealt with the bullies, the cube entered my mind yet again. So I decided to head back to my house and try to figure out what the darn thing actually was.

There I sat by myself in the center of my carpeted living room. I sat with my legs folded over each other and the white cube an arm's length from me. I had the lighting set to low and all the blinds were drawn so it was dark. To my right was a pad a paper which I wrote all my observations on. To my left was a dry sandwich I had made for myself. The bread was thick, the ham had been smoked and the cheese was very sharp. Just how I liked it. I scooped it up and took a bite while staring quizzically at the cube. I had used it three times since I had gotten home. Although I was more used to what it was capable of, more mysteries began to surface.

I put the sandwich down and chewed on the top of the pen I had in my right hand. “How best to describe the other thing?” I asked myself. The other thing was this weird tugging feeling that I had experienced when I was using the cube. While I had been experiencing my memories each time, I tried to block out the experience. Ever so faintly did I feel something else in there. It was not a hidden memory of mine, because I experienced everything in my life. It was a presence of sort, but that was not accurate. It was not accurate because it was all occurring in my mind and using all my senses. But there was something in there that did not belong to me.

Taking a deep breath, I activated the cube yet again. The tingling sensation first began in my left hand's fingers than it spread to my whole body. Then it went from a physical feeling to all over my body. My vision was tingly, my taste was tingly, I heard tingly sounds then it began. It began with my birth. My sight was blurry, I was cold and wet, and I was afraid more than ever in my life. But it was just a memory I was experiencing.

Having already done this, I pushed the experience aside. Then I felt the presence. Again, it was in my mind, so it was difficult to explain. I moved towards it (if “move” was even the right word) and something happened. The tingling returned everywhere again. A secondary tingling was usually the sign of returning to the normal world, but I did not.

Instead I opened my eyes to space. That is right- space. A piece of glass or something kept the cold from killing me. The sky was black and was dotted with sparkling white lights- all of which were either stars or planets. Somehow they all seemed more prominent than when I looked up at the sky back home. It was probably because there was no atmosphere up here to alter their appearance. In short, the stars were more beautiful than I had ever thought they could be.

“Marsek, let's get a move on.” Or at least that's what I understood what the other being said. I turned to my left- involuntarily I might add. It was not up until that point I got a good look at myself and the other being. The being that spoke was humanoid enough with two legs, two arms and a head. However, it's space suit and space helmet obscured the rest of his features. Other than the odd symbol on the figures chest and the fact that its gloved hand had a secondary thumb in place of its pinky it looked human. The space suits themselves were similar to the ones I had seen on Earth except not as bulky. The other difference was that instead of being white, they were mainly dark gray with tinted visors.

I took that all in within a moment. Another thing I noticed was that I had no control over myself. That meant this was a memory of some sort. Whoever- or whatever I was tapped a button on the chest of the space suit which I was wearing. I heard a hiss followed by a clank. The being I was looked down at his feet. The boots of the suit latched onto a satellite or some space probe that I had not noticed before.

“I love this job,” said I involuntarily. Actually, I did not say exactly that. The being's memory that I was experiencing had said something else, but it was alien and gibberish when I heard it. However, in my own mind I somehow interpreted it as, “I love this job.” Then the being continued. “I mean, we get to repair satellites-” The being that I was reached over his shoulder and produced a solar panel looking thing that must have been strapped to the suit for transport. “I mean, it's for the greater good of the Khutaian Empire and it's exciting.”

Okay, so that cleared up a few things. The being I was experiencing this as was part of a repair group for satellites. But what in the world was the Khutaian Empire?

Holding the panel with both hands, I (or the being I was experiencing) held it in place. My friend activated the lock thing like I did and his feet locked to the satellite. He leaned forward and began to use what looked like a futuristic hydraulic wrench to bolt the panel to the side of the satellite.

“I agree with you Marsek,” my buddy said, and paused for a moment to look to his right. I looked to the left and I mentally gasped. Floating in space was a blue orb. No, it was not Earth. It looked the same in the fact that it had vast oceans and swirling white clouds. However, I recognized none of the continents. “I am amazed by how lucky we got. I mean really- two planets with life in the same solar system? What are the odds?” chuckled my buddy over the radio system with delight.

Then I listed the two planets he was referring to. However, what I interpreted them as was hair raising. “Earth and Mars.” But if that was true, and I did not know the continents below, that would mean we were above Mars! I was mentally about to faint, but the being did not thus I did not.

My friend finished bolting the panel and stood up. “The computer hardware is so advanced now we don't need to bother with setting up the wiring. The computer will do that itself.” This was all so overwhelming. Two aliens who were affiliated with an empire and fixed satellites above a Mars that appeared to be able to support life and computers that could rewire itself. It was all so amazing and scary at the same time.

Then the weirdest thing of all happened. We felt a brief tug of gravity, but only for a moment. “What was that?” asked my friend.

“That's usually a by product of a ship opening the interstellar highway,” I interpreted my being say as he turned. “But I follow all the timetables for the transport ships. There should not be a ship arriving for another two days.”

The ship itself was large. About as long as two football fields and it was shaped like a cone. The pointy part was pointed more towards us and Mars, but we still had a good view of its side. It looked like a patchwork of various other pieces of ships like it had been damaged in battle and repaired hastily and haphazardly.

“What in the name of the Khutaian Empire is that?” I breathed in terror.

Somehow, I could sense the fear of the the being I was and his friend. “It's most definitely not Khutaian. The Humans of Earth haven't even discovered ocean travel. Who's ship is that?” I personally was terrified and awestruck at the same time. I also figured this probably took place thousands of years ago because of what the friend said about Humans and ocean travel.

Then white lines along the sides of the cone-craft began to glow to signal it was powering up. What was that thing doing? All points of the glowing white stuff converged on the tip of the cone and began to glow insanely bright. In all the horror of all things known to me, I figured out what it was doing. The beam was launched from the craft. It was so bright, I could not see anything for a few moments. The white light dissipated to leave a horrible sight.

The clouds, the atmosphere, it all was gone. All the air that had been surrounding Mars was gone. Now I found myself hoping it had not been inhabited. However, the eery calm from me and my friend told me otherwise. “What was that?” I asked.

“I think, it burned off the atmosphere-”

“I know what it did!” screamed the being that I was. It was so sudden and so full of rage it even scared me. “My family! My kids!” The being I was stared at the ship menacingly. “Whatever they are- they will pay!”

“Look out!” alerted my companion. Two rockets flew out of the side of the ship towards the satellite we were on. However, I was too overcome with anger and grief to act. My friend slammed his hand into the button on my suit and the boots detached from the satellite. The friend shoved me away, but it was too late for him. The impact killed him instantly and forced me and debris flying away at a rocketing pace. A large piece of metal hit my helmet and I was out cold.

6: Chapter Five: Caren Morinski

Chapter Five; Caren Morinski

I found Jack all alone down on the beach. He was not on the usual public beach, but rather far south where the dense trees grew along the coast. It was a perfect getaway place. I walked around a small rock formation towards my dark haired friend. He seemed to have a distant look on his face. Without his shoes or socks he sat with his legs forward making tiny sand mountains around where he sat with his hands.

As I approached him, he released sand slowly from the palm of his hand onto the ground creating one of the tiny mountains.

I cleared my throat. “Jack?” I asked softly. Something was off about him, and I was guessing it had to do with the weird cube thing that was next to him.

Out of surprise, he accidentally knocked over one of the miniature mountains. “Oh Caren- you scared me. What are you doing down this way?”

I shrugged. “I tried to call you this morning, again at noon and an hour ago. I called Alonso and he told me you hadn't been by his house at all. And with how you've been acting from when I saw you and Alonso with the cube two days ago, I wasn't sure if you were alright.”

Jack nodded, he looked somewhat relieved by my explanation. He flattened out a lumpy part of sand next to where he sat. “Take a seat, Caren.” I took the offer and carefully positioned myself as not to get any sand on my new white blouse. “I was kind of hoping someone would come along.”

Unsure of what to think, I stared on the nearly motionless lake. “Is it the cube?”

He thought for a moment, then nodded. Jack carefully picked the cube up and held it up for me to see. “This thing- whatever it is, can get into my head,” he explained. “Or so I thought. Yesterday, when I was using it, I stumbled across something odd. It was another memory- not mine and most certainly not human. It's like this thing can get in my mind and I can get in it's mind.” Then Jack looked up at me hopelessly. “I'm not making much sense- am I?”

It was hard to make out exactly what his point was, but he was troubled and I was his friend so I had to be helpful. “No- it makes perfect sense,” I said.

Eased that I understood what Jack was saying, he continued. “It had a memory stored in it that I could access. It's not mine. It was an alien's.” To make sure I was still following him, he looked at me. As ridiculous as it sounded, I was going to be supportive so I put on my best concerned face. “Anyways, the memory took place long ago- before we humans could travel oceans. There were these two aliens. They were affiliated with an empire of some sort that had colonized some planets- including Mars.”

Oh sweet Mother of God, has he been talking with Uncle Lenny? I asked myself.

“But it was not like the Mars we know, Caren. It actually had air! It had atmosphere and oceans! And this empire had colonized it and one of the two aliens had family there. These two aliens that I was watching were a repair team fixing a satellite when a ship they didn't recognize showed up. It shot something at Mars and it vaporized the atmosphere- making it look like it does now and killing the inhabitants.”

I stared at the ground for a lengthy moment. I did not know what to say. He sounded like my crazy uncle and I wanted to slap him, but he was my friend and needed help. “So what are you doing down here?” I asked him.

“To reflect!” he said as if it were obvious. “When you witness the death of a planet it a vivid memory it's not an easy thing to forget!”

Oops, I had touched a nerve there. But I nearly had enough about aliens. “Jack, are you okay? Are you sure you weren't hallucinating for some reason?”

Then he abruptly stood up, very peeved by my questioning. “Caren, I don't expect you to understand what I've been through lately,” he said looking down at me. “A few days ago, I find a cube that my father has kept from me my entire life. It's not human. Then I experience the death of a planet. As far as I know, I might be an alien!”

Jack was hysteric. I stood up and grasped both of his hands trying to sooth him. “You're not an alien!” I laughed. “You're one of the most humanest humans I know! And-” I stopped. Out of the corner of my eye on the horizon, I saw something odd.

“What?” Jack asked, feeling uneasy about my sudden silence.

It was like a wall. But it was not any wall. It just appeared along the horizon and spanned its entire distance where the lake met it. There was only one thing it could be. “Tidal wave!” I shrieked loudly.

Jack flinched at my high pitch scream and turned around. “Caren, what are you-” Then he saw what I saw. It was getting closer and closer. The water near our feet was beginning to recede. All signs of a tidal wave. “How is that possible,” he muttered with a mixture of fear and curiosity in his voice.

I tugged his arm. “I have no idea, but we have to get out here- quick.”

My friend was paralyzed with fear. “But that's physically impossible.” he stammered. “This is lake Michigan- this does not happen here.”

He had a point, but we had to act. I glanced into the dense forest. This area seemed somewhat familiar. I remembered back to a time when I was in first grade and my only friend was imaginary. Mom had taken me on a walk and me and my friend explored this area. We had stumbled across a form of a cave or hole in the ground. It was facing inland thus it could offer Jack and I protection. “Thank you Mr. Snuggles,” I whispered quietly to my old imaginary friend.

I rushed back over to where Jack stood. “Jack! I have an idea!”

When I tugged his harm, he snapped back in control from his previously dazed state. “The cube!” he exclaimed, and grabbed it.

I darted off into the dense forest with Jack behind me.

“What's the plan?” he yelled to me.

“A cave I found years ago!” I yelled back and kept moving. My white Sketchers splashed through the muddy forest floor and branches kept getting caught in my shirt and hair. The cave had to be around here somewhere. I stopped in a clearing and looked around. The territory was familiar, with the rock formation on the beach and a half dead tree to my right.

“Caren, are you sure about this?” Jack asked skeptically.

“Positive,” I said firmly. Then the memory clicked after a moment that was longer than necessary. “This way!” We moved farther inland where the trees and forest growth was really dense. I shoved a branch out of the way to reveal the cave entrance. A smile spread across my slightly muddy face. “Found it,” I breathed, and led Jack around. It had a stoney and uneven floor.

As Jack followed me in, he pulled out his cell phone. “I've gotta warn Alonso.” Then he glanced down at the glowing screen and frowned. “I don't get a single bar. “ He waved it around. “Nothing.”

In the distance, I could hear the rumbling. “Too late- it's almost here.” I grabbed his arm and pulled him down next to me as far back as we could go in the tiny cave. The ground began to rumble as the tidal wave approached. It was so weird and I felt like I was going to freak out. To reassure myself, I grabbed Jack's hand and squeezed it tight.

He seemed to get it and squeezed back. “Even though you probably think I belong in a mental institution, thank you for finding and talking to me.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the roar of the tidal wave was beyond thunderous. The ground was literally vibrating and the sky began to darken. In a moment, the wall of water enveloped our cave and blocked out all light.

7: Chapter Six: Caren Morinski

The water had thundered all around the cave and had probably obliterated everything outside. I even saw a tree trunk go sailing inland in the rising water! We had been saved from the initial impact of the tidal wave, but the next problem presented itself in dramatic fashion. Murky and sandy water flowed quickly into the mouth of the cave as it began to fill.

Jack and I glanced at each other fearfully thinking the same thing. “This was not the best idea,” I said putting our thoughts into words. We stood up as the water was already up to our knees and the muddy ground was getting beyond soggy. The cave was filling half a foot per second. We looked outside. The water brought in by the wave was actually on top of us- it was just taking it a while to fill the cave through the entrance! “All that water,” I said with disbelief. “Where did it come from?”

It was now up to our waists and rising quickly. We could literally feel the pressure build up from all around us. “This thing can't hold air forever- we have to swim out of here,” Jack declared and waded over to the mouth despite the fact that the water was pushing him back.

But I was frozen. Just now I was beginning to understand how dire the situation was. Dark murky water was flowing in, blocking out light and I could not tell how far the surface of this was. Jack could practically hold his breath forever, but I could barely hold it for half a minute. “Jack- I can't,” I said, my tone panicky.

He looked up nervously as the water was around our chests. “Hold onto my shirt. I'll lead the way.” But Jack could see the fear in my eyes. “Caren, you have to trust me.”

I looked at my friend. We had to stand on our toes or else we would fall under the water. I did not have much of a choice. I trudged forward and gripped the back part of his shirt like a terrified child. “You promise we'll make it?”

Jack's expression was grim. “the surface can't be that far up.”

It was not quite what I wanted to here, but we dove forward. I snapped my eyes and mouth tight shut as not to let the muddy water in. The liquid felt more like watery mud than muddy water. I felt my body move upwards as Jack's arms propelled us upwards.

Then something happened. I felt myself stop suddenly and Jack was ripped away! I uncannily grabbed out with my left hand to try and get him, but I felt him nowhere! Frantically, I tried to swim upward but something tight around my right foot kept me down! My heart rate flew faster than I thought possible and I began to jerk around trying to get away!

Jack! I wanted to scream. But if I did that, I would lose air! The thought of that set off another panic attack. I leaned over to try and pull my leg loose of whatever had it trapped, but it just got tighter!The water was too muddy to see anything- I was blind too!

My lungs were beginning to burn and my diaphragm was moving like it was trying to pull in air. As great as a part of my mind was telling me it would to open my mouth, I clamped my hands over my mouth and nose as not to let any precious air out.

Just when I was about to give in and let my lungs flood with water and mud, two warm hands touched my face and pulled me forward an inch. At first I thought it was God or and Angel or possibly the Devil come to take me away until I felt a set of warm lips press against mine. I could not resist and my mouth opened. Instead of filling with water, hot glorious air flooded through my lungs.

It's okay, Caren, something said to me.

The being pulled away and the connection was broken. I snapped my mouth shut to preserve the air. A second later, I felt a set of hands working around my right foot trying to get me unstuck. Then it came free and the being helped me rocket to the surface, its body very warm.

Then we broke the surface together. Air, glorious air. I inhaled, savoring the oxygen. Although it was the same normal air as always, it felt ten times better. Then I noticed Jack tugging me along. I was still so disorientated that I had not realized he was there. He felt warm- very warm and his skin looked so red, almost like he had a fever. Before I could ask him, I turned and looked towards the coast where we were swimming.

Luckily, Norshen and the surrounding area was on a bluff so the majority of the water had receded up there. However, the water of the tidal wave was still as high as the bluff (about thirty feet) which was pretty darn big. We landed near a patch of trees.

I rolled over on my back the second we made landfall. Still short of breath, I was breathed rapidly. Jack got down next to me. We looked at each other. “Are you okay?” he asked, not even short of breath. However, he was red and hot like he had a fever.

Awestruck by this, I said, “Do you have a fever?”

For some reason, Jack laughed. He tried to brush the water out of his dark hair. “No, I just get like this when I hold my breath for a long time. I don't know how or why- I just do.” He gently grabbed my hand trying to sooth me. “Are you alright? I know you can't hold your breath for very long.”

I was shaken by the experience. “I- I'll be fine,” I lied to him. The main thing that was bothering me was how a tidal wave could have formed in Lake Michigan. “How did this happened?” I asked rhetorically.

“Asteroid?” Jack suggested despite the fact that it was not really a question.

“Sure- Uncle Lenny,” I said sarcastically. “I bet it's a phase of some alien invasion.” I looked at Jack with a mischievous grin. However, he was not joining in the fun. He had a very stern look on his face. “Jack?”

My friend bolted upright. “How bad was it?” he asked, and turned to the foliage. We both knew the line of dense trees next to us enveloped us from the town of Norshen. We just had to move it aside tp see what happened. “Did it even hit the town?”

Together, we stood up and shoved a leafy branch out of the way to reveal the view that took our breath away. Houses were obliterated, those that were still standing had broken windows and missing parts. Vehicles were overturned, car alarms were going off everywhere. Trees had been uprooted and debris was all over.

“In the name of our maker,” I breathed silently. It was eerily quiet except for the water that was slowly receding. Large puddles existed everywhere making for a depressing and terrible look of the town. “We have to see if there are any survivors.”

Just when I was about to dart across the road, I stopped. Across the street was something so terrifying my heart briefly stopped. The thing was nearly seven feet tall, I could not be sure because it was so far away. It looked very reptilian with scales of some sort for skin. Metal armor covered the thing's body from head to toe- except for the head. The head was bizarre and terrifying- like a cross between a lizard and a human being. Although its mouth was closed, I could see two sharp teeth protruding from its lower jaw. The thing had tiny squat ears and a flat head. It's nose was very prominent and it had two eyes placed like those of a human.

Before the thing saw us, Jack and I got down quickly as possible. “What was that?” I whispered, my voice high and beyond fear.

“It's alien,” Jack muttered, doing his best to control his fear. Although the temperature was comfortable, I could see he was shaking. “It's probably connected to the tidal wave in some odd way,” deduced my friend.

Just when I was about to ask what we should do, I noticed something orange glowing in the side of his soaked shorts. “Jack, something in your pants is glowing.”

He looked at me funny. Before he could ask what I was possibly talking about, he looked down and saw it too. Jack seemed somewhat scared of it, but reached into his pocket. When he pulled his clenched hand out, it was revealed that it was the cube that was glowing!

8: Chapter Seven: Jack Korsu

I stared dumbly at the cube that was now glowing orange. Stuff kept getting weirder and weirder. First, I found the weird cube a few days ago. Then I experienced an eery memory that was not even mine of Mars dying. A tidal wave practically destroyed Norshen then across the street Caren and I saw an alien. It was all too much.

“Activate it,” Caren whispered.

She was talking about the cube. “It doesn't seem like the best time,” I said in a stressful tone. “People could be dead, an alien is across the street and a tidal just destroyed Norshen-”

“Maybe it will answer some questions,” suggested Caren.

Answered questions. I liked that idea, considering how much was going on that I did not know or understand. Uneasily, I touched the cube with three of my fingers on the edges. I braced for the tingly feeling, but nothing happened. Before I could question why it was not doing what it usually did, the cube began to shift shape as if it were liquid.

I tried to let go of it, but I was paralyzed by fear when the thing crept around my hand and up my arm. It encased my forearm and fist then solidified. Awed by the transformation, I tapped the material with my free left hand. It was solid like a rock. Then on the other end, what was formerly the cube was morphing into a cylinder that protruded from my hand area.

It looked like a futuristic gun of some sort. “Great Scott,” was all I could manage.

“Jack,” Caren began uneasily, “is that a gun?”

To respond, I began to speak, but then I stopped. Something else strange was happening. My heart rate was still high, I was jumpy as heck, but I felt more in control. I felt confident. Fear and paranoia had left me. I looked down at the circular center part that encased my hand. It was still glowing orange, and somehow it was consciously reassuring me- somehow. And somehow, it was improving my hand-eye coordination. When I pointed the cylinder part somewhere, I was consciously aware of the fact that it would shoot something in that exact area.

“Yeah, it's a gun,” I told her. “It's a gun that talks to me.”

Caren looked shocked. “Talks?”

I stood back up above the tree branches that we were hiding behind. The armored being across the street was holding a long shaft that looked like a weapon of some sort. He- or at least I think it was a male, was surveying the damaged and nudging bits of debris out of the way. Caren got up and looked at it too. We both were so awed by the being that it noticed us noticing it before we picked up on the fact that it saw us.

The alien brought its shaft around and held it like a rifle. “Caren get down!” I shrieked, and squeezed what felt like a ball inside the projectile weapon strapped onto my arm. The force of the shot was so great it felt like my arm was going to be torn off. A bolt of bright energy shot across the street and landed right next to the alien. It was enough to distort him.

“Jack!” yelled Caren out of surprise.

If it had not been for the fact that the cube was some how influencing my body, I would have kept standing. Instead, I leaped over the foliage and took aim once again. This time, with steady footing on the sidewalk, I shot off another blast of energy. This time, it collided with the alien and the being made a weird sound before falling over. The entire front section of the alien was charred like it had been burnt alive.

I stared at the weapon in awe and terror. Should I really be carrying around something this powerful? I asked myself.

“Is it safe?” I heard Caren ask from behind the foliage.

I looked around. The dead alien was lying charred on the ground. The ground was soaked like a monsoon made landfall. Houses were destroyed and those that were still standing had busted out windows and doors. There were explosions and screams coming from the downtown area and cries from help all over. “Yes,” I said shakily. I could feel whatever the cube had done to me was wearing off. Could it also somehow determine if I was in danger?

Caren walked over, trying to wring the water out of her short hair. I studied her expression as she surveyed the damage. I could tell by her expression that the sight was depressing her and she was about get worked up. “My mom and Alonso are somewhere in here,” she choked

I knew my parents were out of town, thus probably safe, but the idea of Alonso getting the blunt end of the tidal wave was sickening. The weapon was still a weapon and was still coiled tightly around my hand and arm. “We'll find them.”

A rumbling from downtown direction signaled something was coming. Before I could react, it was boring down on us through the street. The thing was something out of a fantasy. No, a nightmare was more accurate.

It was like a giant centipede- almost as long as a town block with an uncountable number of legs. Although centipede in shape, it was entirely mechanical. Mechanical and poorly made- with mismatching metals. Almost like the cone-like ship from the vision thing, I thought to myself.

“Go!” I shouted, and grabbed Caren by the arm. We took off down the street. I glanced behind only to see that as the centipede thing ran, it tore up the paved road and left a giant trail of dust. It was faster than a car on the highway and it was gaining!

“No!” Caren screamed fearfully.

It truly was like something out a nightmare with a weapon strapped to my arm and the ground rumbling with a giant mechanical centipede threatening to stomp me and my friend into a million pieces.

When Caren and I looked ahead, we saw a van barreling our way. I had a hard time believing it, but it was actually the same van that Alonso's dad drove. “Is that-” I began. Then it blew right past both of us towards the centipede. Just when it was a moment away from ramming head on, I saw a figure dive out the driver's side door and land hard on the ground.

The van careened head-on into the front of the centipede. Surprisingly, the force of the impact was enough to get the alien centipede to tilt on its side as the van blew up in a spectacular explosion of fire and metal.

Stupidly, Caren and I decided to stop running. “What was that?” Caren asked.

“Mr. Ferguson's truck,” I said in a breathless matter-of-fact tone. I looked down to make sure the cube was still a weapon- I head a feeling I would be needing it very soon. The figure that dived out of the truck was limping towards us holding his shoulder with his left hand and clutching a long rod with his right.

“Alonso,” gasped Caren. She was right, it was Alonso. Caren rushed forward and hugged him tightly. “Oh my God! I thought you were dead!”

He shook his head and tried to awkwardly get her off. “Caren- you're heavier than you look. Off- please.”

“Sorry,” she apologized, her cheeks burning.

Despite having a green sort of liquid spattered across his shirt, being wet and looking like he wrestled a crocodile, Alonso looked fine and even had his usual stupid grin. “Good to see you guys to! It takes a lot more than three reptile-men and a tidal wave to kill this fella.”

So Alonso had fought three of these alien things. And he did not seem to have a cube that could transform into a gun. “You fought three of those things?” I asked him. Then I jabbed my gun at the green liquid. “What's that stuff?”

“Reptile blood,” he smirked. “What's that thing on your hand?”

“The cube,” I said heavily. “It transformed into this weapon. Are you parents okay?”

Alonso nodded at me. His expression was now deathly serious. “They got away- I think they think I might be dead. We survived the initial tidal wave, but-”

“Guys!” Caren shrieked.

“What?” Alonso and I asked in unison.

Dozens of the savage looking reptile-men had climbed out of the centipede through openings on its surface. Half of them were pulling at cables trying to get the centipede up again while others were preparing to kill us. They all had the same long rod-like weapons like the one that I first met.

I turned and braced my right arm with my left so the weapon would not dislocate my shoulder as I feared it might. I began to fire rapidly, but the group of aliens quickly dispersed and quickly ran at us.

Alonso who must have been using one of the alien weapons was firing off bolts of energy from the rod he had while Caren stood cowering between us. “They got ranged weapons but they prefer hand-to-hand combat!” he yelled over the discharge of weapons.

For a moment, the odds appeared to be in our favor. Eight were charging at us, but Alonso and I each quickly took down two leaving four. But by then, they were too close to use our ranged weapons. Alonso quickly tried to fend off his two attackers while the other two were trying to flank me. Why they were doing so I had no idea. All I have is a projectile weapon- right?

One of my attackers swung his rod at me, and I cowardly held up my right arm to defend myself. Expecting to here a terrible crack, the reptile-man's rod hit my arm. Instead of cracking, I heard a sharp clang and my arm was knocked aside. Reacting quickly, I saw the barrel part had become a long sword-like weapon! I smiled victoriously and deflected the next blows of my attacker.

However, I lost track of my other attacker's position until it was too late. A terribly sharp pain shot from my back spine and I was soon face down on the pavement! “Alonso!” I shouted desperately. To my right he was fighting desperately with one alien. The other forced a sobbing Caren to her knees. “Caren!” I shouted.

It looked like we were all about to die.