Serenity filled the ward. Sunlight filtered through shaded blinds, casting its soft warmth, while a cool breeze followed in. Malkorn lay back against the headboard of his hospital bed, flipping through the pages of a newspaper in his hands. His expression shifted in a mixture of emotions as he continued across the sentences—confusion, disbelief, and quiet shock—but never once did he cease to read.
Year 2163, June 17, 20:12
India has been leveled. Contact with government officials is impossible, and satellite imagery is useless. Researchers suspect an asteroid, several kilometers in size, impacted the country's central region. Reports describe mountains and verdant landscapes reduced to a vast, charred wasteland. The force of the impact—estimated to be equivalent to thousands of nuclear weapons—has caused casualties in the billions.
Nearby countries, including China and parts of the Middle East, experienced 9+ magnitude earthquakes. Tsunamis as tall as two kilometers devastated Australia and East Africa. Even North and South America were not spared; massive earthquakes have caused trillions of dollars in damage. Emergency services worldwide are overwhelmed, though the technology developed by the Ether Project has proved invaluable to recovery efforts.
Year 2163, June 21, 08:42
The dust kicked up from the impact that has been blotting out the sun has dropped global temperatures by an average of 3 degrees, with further declines expected. In India, activists found the land on the outskirts seared and blackened, covered in what appeared to be gray snow—later identified as ash. An expedition was sent to the country's interior, and their return is awaited. Elsewhere, massive hailstones—some over 16 centimeters in diameter—are falling worldwide, paralyzing complete operations. With countless casualties, humanity teeters on the brink of chaos.
Year 2163, July 27, 21:42
A United Nations spokesperson has announced that the world shall be changed forever, following the latest findings from an expedition into India. The team, which ventured into the region devastated by the recent asteroid impact, has not returned. However, fragments of data and disturbing footage have been recovered, revealing sights beyond anything humanity has ever encountered.
The recovered footage shows wraith-like beings hovering above a massive dark monument, circular in shape and spanning over a thousand kilometers. Its edges were too distant to capture fully, while towering spires—some with a radius of over 100 meters—pierced through the very skies and disappeared into the clouds. Researchers are baffled by the structure’s origin, with some comparing it to an uprooted, upside-down ant’s nest.
The terrain surrounding the monument is scorched black, with strange white pools dotting the landscape. As the video progressed, humanoid figures—clad in clothes but behaving primitively—began approaching the camera. Their eerie, unfamiliar movements were cut short as the footage abruptly ended.
The UN council has deemed this phenomenon to be an existential threat to humanity and is awaiting further guidance from the director of Project Ether. Experts warn that humanity may be on the brink of an apocalypse. .
Not wanting to continue reading any further, Malkorn exhaled slowly and set the paper aside. He pursed his lips and brought his eyes to the door at the edge of the ward. Just outside, a man stood dressed in a suit, with slightly graying hair and a weary face. Malkorn’s eyes flickered with recognition, but the skin on his face was drawn taut with tension.
“Grant… old friend,” Malkorn said, though there was a slight hesitation in his voice. “I see that you’ve been waiting a while. Why don’t you come inside?”
Grant, seemingly startled by the invitation, almost stumbled before quickly regaining his composure. He straightened his tie and entered, taking only a few steps before pausing.
“Director,” Grant said softly, a faint flash of sorrow in his eyes. “I’m glad to see you awake.”
Malkorn didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he glanced out the window at the bright blue sky, and allowed the silence to stretch for a lingering moment before finally turning back to the man.
“Isn’t the weather beautiful?” Malkorn remarked. “Hard to believe that the entire globe is falling apart when all you can see is this.”
He paused, then fixed his gaze on Grant. “I just have one question before we continue. Is the footage from the expedition real?”
Grant was taken aback from the sudden questioning, but he soon nodded slowly. “Yes. It’s been confirmed. The team… they never came back, they’re presumed dead.”
A crease appeared within Malkorn’s forehead while he processed the information. He had doubts regarding the situation and was hoping that there was a mistake, but with Grant’s confirmation, it was undeniable that the threat they faced was far greater than he initially thought.
“I see,” Malkorn muttered. “Then if it is true… I assume that you are here on behalf of the military.”
Despite his frail appearance, Malkorn’s voice rippled with authority. Grant shuffled awkwardly, but brought himself forward next to the bed.
“Y-yeah,” Grant stammered, releasing a shaky laugh. “I’ve been sent to ask for your cooperation, whether you’re ready or not. I’ve been waiting every day since you were admitted, and after two months, I was starting to worry you wouldn’t wake up.”
“Two months, huh?” Malkorn murmured. Although, he wasn’t surprised. The newspaper had already revealed the date, but the surreal feeling after a coma just couldn’t be escaped. He sighed deeply, then revealed a faint smile.
“Grant, we’ve been at odds since the start of this whole thing. I’ll give you an answer soon, but first, how have you been? Since we went our separate ways of course.”
Grant hesitated, remaining silent while he glanced down at his hands. The shadow casted upon his face by the sun wavered before he finally raised his gaze.
“It’s been… alright. We’re both brilliant in our fields, but you… you’ve always been the best. Developing weapons for the military,” Grant sighed. “It pays well, but it isn’t what I wanted. With Ether, there was potential for so, so much more, but because of you, well…” he paused, waiting for a reaction, but Malkorn showed none. “We’ve been bottlenecked for years.”
A tense second passed before the bedridden director released a soft chuckle.
“I must have been a real thorn in your side then.”
Grant shrugged. “I can’t lie to you.”
Appraising the man from top to bottom, Malkorn allowed a smile to come across his face. Just how much did Grant change ever since they last met? It was even harder to remember the days when they were but complete strangers.
“Well,” Malkorn laughed. “It’s a shame that you won’t feel that way any longer.”
Grant blinked, momentarily stunned. But after staring at the man, he immediately understood the spoken words.
“Wait… does that mean you’re going to cooperate with the military?”
“Yes, that is my answer,” came the reply.
Grant frowned, and he promptly buried his face within his hands. It seemed that he didn’t expect the negotiations to be this simple.
“Alright,” Grant muttered. “I’ll report back and we’ll finish preparations.”
He bowed, and turned to leave, but Malkorn’s voice stopped him before he could move any further.
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“Hang on for a minute, Grant. Why don’t you seem pleased with my answer?” Malkorn asked. “Aren’t you happy?”
Grant scratched the back of his neck. “It’s not that… I’m just confused. Why the sudden change in heart? You’ve always been so against this for as long as I could remember.”
“Ah, that’s understandable,” Malkorn pondered with a nod. “But do you remember the original goal of the Ether Project?”
“Of course,” Grant snorted. “It was meant to usher in a new age for humanity.”
“And hasn’t that been achieved? We’ve revolutionized food production and the allocation of energy through artificial means. Living standards as a whole have never been greater.”
“Still, I don’t disagree that what you’ve done is impressive, but couldn’t we have done so much more?” Grant argued. “With Ether, it isn’t out of the question to say that we could’ve conquered space. Humanity could’ve been much greater than it is right now.”
Malkorn sighed heavily. “Humans have their flaws. You’re speaking as if we’re perfect, but we’re not. We’re driven by greed, and power. We as a species are unpredictable, I’m sorry Grant… the risks were just too high.”
Grant fell silent, and his gaze drifted out the window.
“Although, you wondered why I agreed so readily, and that’s because of the Ether Project’s second goal,” Malkorn continued. “The preservation of mankind. Now that we have a purpose, it is our duty to protect the world from these invaders. War is inevitable.”
Grant clenched his fists. “I still can’t believe that it’s come to this. Do we really have no other option?”
“I’m afraid not,” Malkorn said solemnly. “If the expedition team has yet to return, then communication is off the table. This is our reality now.”
Grant stood silently for a moment, shaking his head slightly. “Still, an invasion, it just… it sounds insane.”
“I know it does,” Malkorn said bitterly. “Maybe if I hadn’t been so against the development of weapons we wouldn’t even be in this situation.”
Grant exhaled sharply and looked the director in the eye. “Well, no one could have predicted this happening. And if anything, you’re the only one who can make sense of this all.”
Malkorn raised his head to the ceiling and closed his eyes. “We’ll do our best, but this is something far bigger than anyone could have ever imagined. We can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
Grant shifted uneasily before finally nodding. “I’ll head back to the military with your answer. We’ll begin preparations immediately.”
The man turned to leave with brisk steps as he walked to the door, but just before exiting he glanced back one final time.
“Oh, and one more thing. Your wife and kids are just down the hall. Your daughters have grown up beautifully, and they’ve been by Eve’s side everyday. Man… you’ve really got a wonderful family, Malkorn.”
Malkorn smiled and met the man’s eye. “Thank you, Grant. Take care old friend.”
“You as well,” Grant replied sincerely. “Recover soon.”
As the door clicked shut, Grant’s footsteps receding into the silence, Malkorn released a long and weary sigh. He knew that diplomacy with the alien race could not be possible due to the casualties already suffered, but going to war…
Malkorn rubbed the bridge of his nose. It would only be a couple years until he could retire, and his life was just starting to settle down. But this—he sighed, humanity had to take charge, either with him at the helm, or without.
As he continued to wander, lost in his thoughts, Malkorn barely noticed a nurse passing by, who then quickly doubled back due to seeing his waking figure.
“Director! You’re awake!” the nurse exclaimed, barging into the room. Her face lit up with excitement and a series of questions fired rapidly from her mouth. “Are you feeling alright? Do you need anything? Water? Food?”
A twinge of annoyance surfaced in Malkorn’s image and he shrank into his bed, waving a hand to calm her down. “I’m fine, just… please, calm down. I’d like to see my family.”
The nurse nodded brightly, still smiling. “Of course, but we need to check your vitals first. It’s just protocol.”
Malkorn frowned, but he couldn’t do anything to stop the nurse when she grabbed a nearby tablet and tapped a few buttons. Immediately, a mechanism shifted over from above his head, and a robotic voice sounded out.
{Initiating Scan… 3… 2… 1…}
The soft humming of the whirring machine filled the room followed by a deep buzzing, and the scan was completed.
“Everything looks good, Director,” the nurse said cheerfully, but her expression darkened. “But… there’s something odd.”
Malkorn furrowed his brow. “What is it?”
“It says your arm is severely injured,” she replied, glancing down at his arm which, to her, appeared perfectly fine. “It’s just that… you don’t really seem to be in much pain. Are you sure you’re okay, Director?”
Malkorn’s gaze slowly fell down to his shoulder and a cold emptiness swirled in his heart. His eyes widened slightly, and a hand pressed against the joint. The sensation of touch returned, but the pain was entirely missing. His lips parted, but the shock was too much to bear. How could it be that he had recovered this quickly…?
“It… feels fine?” he muttered.
“Well it certainly appears so, if it was nerve damage then the scan would’ve said something,” The nurse frowned. “Maybe it’s just a glitch in the system.”
Malkorn wasn’t so sure about the nurse’s suggestion. He inspected the rest of his body, turning his arm around as he recalled the burns that he had suffered. But his skin was flawless, rather… it was in the best condition they could have ever been. Stricken by silence, Malkorn searched for answers, racking his brain for any sort of scientific phenomenon, but even he could not find any.
“Director,” The nurse said, concerning seeping into her voice. “If you don’t feel well, why don’t you rest some longer. I can bring you anything you need.”
Malkorn stared at the tablet blankly before finally waving his hand. “It’s alright, I’m fine. Just… take me to my family.”
“As long as you’re okay.”
The nurse assisted Malkorn out of his bed and led him out of the room. He was surprised to see that his body felt youthful and energetic when it should’ve been weak and frail after the coma. Yet there were more than enough things that were confusing enough.
Their steps clicked against the cold hospital floor and the man wasn’t able to quench the rising anxiety in his throat. They passed wards filled with people, families crowding around the dying and he forced his gaze away. Until finally, they arrived before ward 727.
“Your wife,” The nurse started, but soon shook her head thereafter. “I’m afraid that she’s also in a coma. Since you’ve woken up today, I pray that it isn’t too long that she awakes as well.”
Peering into the window, Malkorn’s breath caught in his chest. It had been two months since the incident, yet to Malkorn, it was but only hours. There, he saw Eve, peacefully laying in bed. Her face was bathed in the basking sunlight glow, while his daughters sat by her side like doves.
Malkorn paused, taking in the sight of his family. His heart ached with love and relief, but also with a crushing sadness. Not everyone was as lucky as him.
“You have a beautiful family, Director,” the nurse said softly.
The eldest of the daughters, Alice, had long silver hair, a trait that stood out and captured the attention of many. She had an ethereal elegance with her flawless, and smooth porcelain skin. Her lips glowed with a natural vibrancy that highlighted her high cheekbones and swan-like neck.
Her eyes were a soft shade of gray but carried a cold and distant intelligence. A strange type of peacefulness. Many would say that she was the embodiment of beauty.
In contrast, Cecilia had pitch black hair, a strikingly deep shade that matched their mother’s. It flowed down her back in glossy waves creating a dissonance within the sisters. Her overall features, though delicate and pleasant, did not possess the same striking elegance as Alice. As for her eyes, they were like the oceans. A vivid and mesmerizing azureness. Usually they would sparkle with curiosity, but today, they only held sadness.
“Thank you,” Malkorn mumbled. “I am one of the fortunate ones.”
The nurse gave him a gentle nod. “I’ll leave you to it then. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Bidding the nurse farewell, Malkorn watched as she walked away, then turned back to the door. With a deep breath, he straightened himself, and knocked lightly. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing his youngest’s tear-streaked face.
“Dad!” Cecillia cried, throwing herself into his arms. Malkorn held her close, his hand gently stroking her hair while she sobbed uncontrollably into his chest.
“My Cecillia…” he whispered. “How have you been?”
The girl’s grip tightened, and she buried her face deeper into his shirt. “I was so scared… I thought you were gone forever.”
Her words were barely audible between her sobs, and her hands clutched desperately at his shirt.
“I’m here now,” Malkorn pulled her tighter and kissed the top of her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
His strong arms wrapped around her, enveloping the trembling girl in a protective embrace. Soon enough, the choking sobs that rang around the room started to grow faint, and Malkorn finally raised his head.
When his gaze finally lifted, they floated onto Eve and his heart sank. Her sleeping figure, it was unbearable to even see. Then, his eyes met Alice’s. But instead of the warmth he expected, a sudden pressure bore down upon him, and his knees threatened to buckle.
The girl’s eyes were brimming with fury, and the intensity of her gaze caught him off guard. They were almost alight with the fire of a destructive storm, and it seemed to burn a hole through his head, making him feel as if he were an insignificant rabbit.
“Alice…” he began cautiously, but the girl’s expression never softened.
“I’m glad you’re alive, Father,” she said. Though her voice was cold and distant, the words by themselves, clipped. “But Mom is still in a coma. You’re here, but she wasn’t so lucky.”
“I see…” Malkorn muttered. “Then what about you guys? Have you been okay without us?”
Alice frowned, and a flicker of a fire ignited in her eyes when she looked at Cecillia. Although, it quickly died down before it was noticed.
“We’re fine.”
Malkorn didn’t doubt her words. Alice was far more mature than her age, but there was something strange going on that he couldn’t quite place a finger on.
“I’m glad. Thanks for taking care of Ceci,” Malkorn said softly.
Alice nodded curtly before her gaze flew to the window and a gentle breeze blew in, the curtains rustling. The wind brushed away a strand of hair from Eve’s face, and a direct ray of light illuminated her sleeping features.
“Dad…” Cecillia asked quietly. “Will mom really be okay?”
Malkorn glanced down at the frail girl. Her azure eyes were dimmed with worry, and they way that she looked at him tore at his heart. He knelt down, cupping her cheek with his hand and wiped away a tear from just beneath her eyes.
“She’s okay, sweetheart,” he said gently. “I’ll make sure of it.”