Jace Strickland POV

  I walk into the interrogation room again, steeling myself for what’s about to unfold. The bomber sits across the metal table, his posture rigid, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as I approach. I let my expression reflect the disdain I’ve practiced, sitting across from him with deliberate reluctance.

  “So, you’ve decided to come back,” he sneers. “Maybe you’re finally starting to see clearly.”

  I scoff and lean back casually, folding my arms. “Let’s say I’m having second thoughts. Your little speech got me thinking.”

  His eyes narrow. “Is that so?”

  “Yeah.” I meet his gaze firmly, forcing contempt into my tone. “I mean, look at them. The Eova come here acting peaceful, pretending they just want to help. But who knows what they’re really after, right?”

  A slow, satisfied smile creeps across his face. “Exactly. They’re not like us. Never will be. And pretending otherwise? It’s dangerous.”

  I press harder. “So tell me about this group you’re part of. If they’re as prepared as you say, maybe it’s time I know more.”

  He hesitates, suspicious again. “Why should I trust you now?”

  I hold his gaze steadily, letting my voice drop to a conspiratorial tone. “Because I have never trusted the Eova—in fact, they disgust me. The things they can do—it’s not natural. That Thriexa… she’s cold, calculating. I don’t trust her.”

  I feel a pang in my chest as the words leave my mouth. I know Thriexa is watching, hearing every harsh word. Even though I understand this is necessary, it doesn’t make it any easier. Every cruel thing I say about her and her people feels like a betrayal, especially considering the memories still fresh from our shared moments. We might never be able to be together, but hurting her like this—even if it’s just an act—is agonizing.

  The bomber studies me closely for a long moment, suspicion still glinting in his eyes. Finally, he nods slowly, relenting. “Alright. Our organization is called the Human Purity Movement. Our goal is simple: protect humanity from alien influence. We have people in every level—government, military, even law enforcement. And we won’t stop until humanity is free again.”

  I nod, careful to keep my expression neutral despite the chill running down my spine. “How big are we talking?”

  He hesitates again but finally gives in. “Larger than you can imagine. And growing. If you’re really ready to join us, meet at the old warehouse by the docks tomorrow night. Come alone.”

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  Tocci, Henry, and I are watching Jace interrogate the bomber again. Jace didn’t want me to come today—he was worried that hearing him lie again would upset me. But I needed to be here. The man had targeted me and countless others simply because we were different. Listening to Jace speak so harshly about the Eova, about me, sends a sharp pang through my chest, even though I understand his intentions.

  When Jace mentions my name, saying he is disgusted by me, I flinch slightly despite myself. My throat tightens, but I remind myself that this is just an act—a necessary deception. Still, each word feels heavy, like a blow I wasn’t prepared for. Tocci reaches out, gently placing her hand on my arm in silent comfort, sensing my distress.

  I close my eyes briefly, taking a deep breath to steady myself. When I open them, Henry is watching me carefully. I give him a small nod, reassuring him—and myself—that I know Jace doesn’t truly feel this way. Even so, the words linger, echoing painfully in my mind.

  …

  The interrogation behind us, Henry gathers the team, laying out the first threads of the investigation. The President had authorized the FBI to use all resources to dismantle the Human Purity Movement. The urgency and seriousness of the threat hang heavily over the team.

  Just as we’re about to finish, Henry pauses, his expression turning serious. “The President has another request. He’d like the Eova to accept a human ambassador—someone who can live at Saliscana Island and join your representative meetings.”

  I glance at Tocci before responding. “We agree. Who does the President have in mind?”

  Henry smiles faintly. “He asked me.”

  I nod, genuinely pleased. “Then we welcome you, Ambassador Meyer. It will be an honor to have you with us.”

  Henry bows his head respectfully. “The honor is mine, Aizih.”

  A wave of relief settles over me. This feels right—another bridge built between our peoples. One step closer to understanding and unity. “I’ll inform my mother that you’ll be arriving soon,” I tell Henry with a warm smile.

  Jace asks, “What about Robin and Jessica?”

  Henry chuckles lightly. “After your drunken telepathic stunt, I talked to Jessica. It turns out that Robin is a big fan of the Eova and is excited about moving to the island. You see, she has been fascinated by outer space and was thrilled to learn that aliens are real.”

  Jace claps Henry warmly on the back. “I’m glad things are finally looking up for you.”

  Henry smiles, visibly relieved. “Me too.”

  The idea of Henry’s daughter staring up at the stars, dreaming about the existence of alien life, brings a sense of warmth to my chest. I can understand that wonder. “Henry, before you leave for Saliscana Island, I would like to meet Robin.”

  Henry looks at me with surprise before nodding. “Of course, Aizih. I think she’d love that.”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  A small smile tugs at my lips. “Then I will make sure we arrange a meeting before you depart.”

  Jace asks who will be leading the investigation into the Human Purity Movement. Before Henry can answer, Commander Philip Hail approaches us, accompanied by another agent. Hail offers a polite nod to me, Tocci, and Jace.

  “I’ll be handling it,” Hail announces firmly. “I’ve been officially transferred to DC to oversee any investigations involving the Eova. My goal is to ensure this investigation proceeds quickly and effectively, keeping everyone involved safe.”

  Jace appears momentarily surprised, but quickly masks his reaction. “Glad to have you here, Commander.”

  Hail gives a curt nod. “Appreciate that, Agent Strickland. We have a lot of work to do.”

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  The halls of the Bopro research facility hum with quiet efficiency as we walk through them, the combination of Eova and human scientists working side by side in a way that, only weeks ago, would have been unimaginable. Screens flicker with streams of data, intricate models of sustainable energy sources, and projections of potential advancements in environmental technology. There is an energy to the place—a sense of purpose, of discovery.

  I glance at the others accompanying me—Jace, Sam, Trenal, and Tocci. Each of them is taking in the scene in their own way. Sam, ever the analyst, watches the scientists with a calculating eye, as if already categorizing their findings. Tocci, on the other hand, is attuned to the emotions around us, no doubt feeling the undercurrent of excitement and curiosity radiating from the researchers. Jace, silent but observant, keeps his focus on the technology spread throughout the room, his brows furrowed as he processes the scope of what he’s seeing.

  Tophae, the lead engineer of the Bopro, steps forward to greet us. Dressed in the signature deep green of his nation, he exudes an air of quiet intelligence. “Aizih Thriexa, Agent Strickland, and esteemed guests,” he says, offering a respectful nod. “We have much to show you. The collaboration between Eova and human minds has already begun yielding fascinating results.”

  I gesture for him to continue. “Then let’s see what you’ve been working on.”

  Tophae leads us through the facility, pausing at different workstations where Bopro engineers and human scientists demonstrate their projects. At one station, a scientist explains a new energy-harvesting method that converts excess heat into usable power, improving efficiency in both human and Eova infrastructure. At another, a team showcases a water purification system that operates without the use of harsh chemicals, instead relying on a bioengineered filtration process inspired by naturally occurring microorganisms from one of our past planetary settlements.

  Jace crosses his arms, his skepticism slipping just slightly into intrigue. “How much of this could be applied in real-world scenarios?”

  “Much of it is in testing phases now,” Tophae admits, “but we are already seeing viable applications. The thermal energy conversion system, for instance, has the potential to reduce energy waste on a massive scale. Cities could power themselves more efficiently using their own excess heat output. And the water purification technology could be deployed in regions suffering from water scarcity.”

  Sam raises a brow. “And what about human infrastructure? Can it support these advancements?”

  Tophae doesn’t miss a beat. “That is why we are working alongside human engineers. We do not wish to force solutions where they do not fit; rather, we aim to adapt and enhance what already exists.”

  Trenal, who had been mostly quiet, finally speaks up. “So what you’re saying is that humans might soon have access to technology that makes their world not just more advanced, but more sustainable?”

  “Precisely,” Tophae confirms. “The key to long-term survival is balance, and that is what we hope to help establish here.”

  Jace nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. “What about energy storage? If you’re creating more efficient energy systems, are you also developing ways to store excess power safely?”

  Tophae taps a few commands into a monitor, bringing up a display of sleek, crystalline energy cells. “This is one of our newest developments—a scalable, non-toxic energy storage system inspired by the way certain minerals from our homeworld retain energy naturally. Unlike conventional batteries, these cells do not degrade over time, making them significantly more sustainable.”

  Sam leans in, her arms crossed. “And security risks? A more efficient energy grid could be vulnerable to cyber threats.”

  Tophae nods. “Which is why we are implementing multiple layers of fail-safes. No system is perfect, but with cooperation, we can ensure it is as secure as possible.”

  I step forward, resting my hands on the console. “This is all promising, but where do we go from here? What is the next step?”

  Tophae’s expression turns serious. “The President has proposed a formal partnership between human scientists and the Bopro nation. The idea is to create a research initiative that allows for structured cooperation—both sides bringing their best minds together. But it will need your approval, Aizih.”

  I glance at Jace, then Sam, then Tocci. Each of them is considering the implications of this in their own way. I let the weight of the decision settle before nodding. “Then let’s make it happen.”

  Tophae inclines his head. “Then we have much to prepare.”

  As we move on to the next phase of the tour, I glance at Jace. His expression is still thoughtful, but there’s something else there—something like hope. Perhaps, despite everything, there is a path forward after all.

  Jace Strickland POV

  I follow along as the tour continues, my mind working to process everything I’ve seen so far. This place is nothing like the laboratories on the rest of the planet. The way the Eova approach science is so fundamentally different—less about competition, more about collaboration. There’s no secrecy, no hesitation in sharing ideas between species. It’s both impressive and, honestly, a little overwhelming.

  I glance at one of the displays showing projections of how Eova technology could revolutionize sustainable energy use. Cities running off excess heat, water purified without chemical waste, energy stored in near-indestructible crystalline cells that never degrade—it’s the kind of innovation that could change everything. And yet, a part of me still wonders how humanity will react to it.

  “You’re quiet,” Thriexa notes beside me, her voice curious but not pressing.

  I shrug. “Just thinking. If even half of what they’re working on here becomes reality, it’ll change the world. But that kind of change makes people nervous.”

  Tophae glances over, hearing my comment. “That is why collaboration is key, Agent Strickland. We do not impose our advancements upon your world. We offer them—slowly, responsibly, with human oversight.”

  I nod, trying to imagine what that process would look like. “What about public reaction? A lot of people won’t trust this. They’ll think it’s some kind of manipulation.”

  Trenal grins. “So? Let them think that at first. What matters is results. You show people clean energy, limitless storage, sustainable infrastructure—eventually, they’ll come around. It’s human nature, isn’t it?”

  Sam hums in agreement. “It’s not that simple, but he’s not wrong. People fear what they don’t understand. But once they see the benefits… well, even the skeptics will start listening.”

  Tocci, ever the empath, studies me for a moment before smiling. “You’re worried about control. About what happens when humans realize they might not be the most advanced species in the room anymore.”

  I don’t answer right away, because she’s not wrong.

  Tophae steps forward, gesturing toward another section of the facility. “Perhaps seeing what we’re working on next will help ease those concerns. Come, I believe you’ll find this next project particularly relevant to human sustainability.”

  I exchange a glance with Thriexa, then follow. Whatever reservations I have, one thing is clear—this isn’t just about science. It’s about trust. And that might be the hardest thing of all to build.