Jace Strickland POV

  I watched Thriexa as she stood firm against her mother, unwavering in her determination. There was something incredible about her strength—not just in defiance, but in her sheer resolve to fight for peace when every instinct told her to run. She carried the weight of her people’s history, their struggles, and instead of letting it break her, she used it to push forward.

  She wasn’t just a leader. She was hope itself.

  I had seen leaders before—commanders, politicians, men and women who wielded authority like a blade. But Thriexa was different. She fought for something greater than just survival. She fought to break a cycle that had existed long before she was born. And despite everything, she still believed peace was possible.

  I wasn’t sure I believed it. But I believed in her.

  Minutes passed in tense silence, Trenal standing nearby, his eyes closed in deep concentration. I watched him, noting the tension in his posture, the slight crease of his brow. He was reaching out, making contact with the Dephorians. I had no idea how telepathic communication on that level worked, but I knew whatever he was doing took effort.

  Then, finally, Trenal exhaled and opened his eyes. “They’ve agreed to a meeting.”

  A visible wave of relief washed over Thriexa. Her shoulders, tense with anticipation, relaxed slightly. She nodded, determination shining in her violet eyes. “Then we move forward.”

  Without hesitation, she turned to the gathered Eova, her voice ringing out with authority as she began calling out names. One by one, Eova from different nations stepped forward, each one accepting their place in the mission. They would accompany us to the Eova space station, to stand before the Dephorians and attempt what had never been done before—true negotiation.

  As I watched, the reality of my own position sank in. What was I supposed to do? How was I supposed to help?

  The space station wasn’t designed for humans. The Eova had built it for their true forms, the ones they couldn’t show here on Earth. My body wasn’t made to handle its conditions, its gravity, its atmosphere.

  I clenched my jaw, pushing back the frustration creeping in. I had told Thriexa I would stand by her, that I wouldn’t let her face this alone. But how could I keep that promise if my own body was a limitation?

  I needed a solution. And fast.

  Tophae and some other Bopro approached me, their expressions serious. They had an idea—a specialized space suit that could be built to support my human physiology. It wasn’t ready yet, but they assured me they could construct it within the hour. Relief and determination surged through me. If they could make this work, I could be there for Thriexa when it mattered most. Relief and determination surged through me. I could do this. I could be there for her.

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  I stood facing Jace and the Bopro, my thoughts swirling with the weight of everything that had just happened. The Dephorians had agreed to meet, a step toward peace that felt nearly impossible, yet here we were. But as much as I wanted to focus on that victory, I found myself caught in a different battle—the one standing before me now.

  “Jace, you should stay here,” I said, my voice firm but softer than it had been before. “The space station isn’t built for humans. You wouldn’t survive up there.”

  He shook his head, his jaw set in that stubborn way I had come to recognize. “I told you, Thriexa. I’m not letting you go through this alone.”

  I glanced at Tophae, who had been watching silently. “Do you have a solution? How can Jace survive on the station?”

  Tophae hesitated, then nodded. “We can build a suit for him, but it has to be done quickly and correctly. I’ll take a team of Bopro to ensure it functions as needed.”

  Tophae leaves and I turn to face Jace, he met my gaze again, his expression unwavering. I sighed, knowing there was no convincing him otherwise. “Then you’ll be the first non-Eova to step aboard our space station. And… the first to see us in our true forms.”

  His expression flickered with something unreadable. Surprise, maybe? Curiosity?

  A tiny thrill shot through me at the thought. He would see me as I truly was, not as the humanoid form I had adapted to here on Earth. No other species had ever seen my true form. For some reason, the idea of Jace being the first made my pulse quicken.

  Xilta stepped forward, breaking the moment. “Two transports will leave,” she declared. “One now, to prepare the station for the Dephorians’ arrival. The second will follow in two hours, the second group will gather the necessary supplies here.”

  I nodded, understanding the plan. “I will be on the first transport.”

  Jace stiffened slightly but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned to Tocci. “Go with her,” he said, his tone resolute. “Since I can’t be there yet, I need someone I trust to keep her safe.”

  Tocci blinked in surprise but nodded without hesitation. “Of course.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but the certainty in Jace’s voice stopped me. He wasn’t asking—he was making sure I had someone watching my back in his absence. A mix of frustration and warmth swirled within me. I wasn’t used to someone insisting on my protection. But part of me… part of me was relieved.

  I studied Jace for a moment, reading the determination in his stance, the way he refused to waver. He wasn’t just saying he would be there—he was making sure that, in every way possible, he would keep his promise.

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  I exhaled slowly. “Then let’s move. We don’t have time to waste.”

  The path forward was uncertain, but one thing was clear—we would face whatever came next, together.

  Jace Strickland POV

  I walked with Thriexa to the transport, my steps slower than hers as I took in every detail of the moment. Around us, the island was in chaos. Eova rushed through the settlement, their faces tense with fear—something I had never seen in them before. These were beings who had lived through countless evacuations, who had survived the destruction of planets, and yet, for the first time, they looked genuinely afraid.

  Children clung to their parents, voices hushed but urgent as they hurried toward the transports. Supplies were gathered with frantic efficiency, but no amount of speed could hide the sheer panic gripping the air. The knowledge that this might be the last time they stood on this land was written in every hurried movement, every glance exchanged. This wasn’t just another escape. This was desperation.

  My gaze drifted back to Thriexa. She was their leader, their hope. And she carried that burden with a strength that left me breathless. But even now, as she prepared to leave, as she stood tall before her people, I knew she was terrified.

  The way she carried herself, the weight of responsibility pressed onto her shoulders, yet she did not falter. Even after everything she had endured, she remained strong. Determined.

  As she reached the entrance to the transport, she turned back, her violet eyes meeting mine one last time before the doors sealed shut. I felt an ache deep in my chest, an urge to be on that ship with her, to make sure she wasn’t facing this alone. But I had to wait. And I hated that I wasn’t beside her.

  The transport lifted off, disappearing into the sky, leaving me standing there, hands clenched at my sides. The second transport wouldn’t leave for another two hours, and I had time to think. Too much time.

  I pulled out my phone. Seventeen missed calls from Henry and Sam. My stomach twisted as I dialed Henry back, bracing myself for the inevitable interrogation.

  Henry answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you, Jace?”

  “I’ll explain,” I started, but he cut me off.

  “You’re on speaker. The President is here.”

  I exhaled slowly, straightening. “Sir.”

  “Agent Strickland,” the President’s voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. “We want answers. Now.”

  I chose my words carefully. “Another alien race has entered the solar system. The Eova have encountered them before. Thriexa has arranged a meeting between the two species. She’s doing everything she can to ensure not just her people’s safety, but Earth’s as well.”

  Silence stretched over the line before the President spoke again. “We need a human at these discussions. Someone to represent our interests and report back.”

  “I’ll be there,” I assured him. “I’ll be on the space station. I’ll see everything firsthand.”

  “Good,” the President said. “And you’ll keep us updated. Find a way to stay in contact.”

  I nodded to myself. “I’ll talk to the Bopro. They’ll have a solution.”

  “See that they do,” the President replied. “We’re counting on you, Strickland.”

  The call ended, and I let out a slow breath. No turning back now. I wasn’t just going for Thriexa—I was going as the only representative of Earth.

  And I had two hours to prepare.

  Thriexa Aizih POV

  The hum of the transport was a familiar sound, but my heart was heavy as I watched the planet shrink beneath us. The island, chaotic and desperate when we left, was fading from view. My people had been forced to flee too many times before. It wasn’t just another evacuation. This was a moment of reckoning, and I would do everything in my power to ensure we did not have to leave this planet. Not this time. Not just for the safety of my people, but for Earth as well. We had run for long enough. It was time to stand and fight—for peace, for stability, for a future where we were not forever hunted.

  As the ship approached our space station, a part of me tensed. I had never thought of this place as home. Home had always been the planets, the soil beneath my feet, the air that felt alive. But here, in the station’s cold, artificial corridors, was the only place I could truly be myself. Here, I didn’t have to maintain the humanoid form I wore among humans. Here, I could exist as I was meant to.

  The transport docked, and I stepped off with Tocci and the others. As we crossed the threshold, we passed through the transformation portal. A familiar, tingling warmth spread through my body, and for a fleeting moment, I felt weightless. My limbs stretched, my skin prickled as it shifted, realigned, becoming what it was always meant to be. My vision sharpened, senses expanding, the air around me suddenly clearer, purer. I inhaled deeply, feeling truly whole for the first time since arriving on Earth.

  The space station loomed around us, massive and efficient, built for our survival rather than comfort. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. There was no time for hesitation.

  I scanned the gathered Eova, remembering that Tophae had remained on Earth along with the other representatives. They would lead if something happened to us. Instead, I turned to a Bopro technician nearby. “I want all systems up and running immediately. Watch the Dephorians closely. The moment they make any moves, I want to know.”

  The technician nodded, already moving toward the control center at the head of the ship. I turned to the rest of the Eova that had accompanied me. “Prepare a space for the peace talks. The Dephorians will be able to handle our atmosphere, but not for long. Make sure they are accommodated.”

  As the others scattered to fulfill their tasks, I motioned for Tocci and a Bopro scientist to follow me. We navigated the twisting halls toward the station’s laboratory, my mind racing. If we were going to negotiate, we needed leverage. We needed something to offer them.

  I glanced at the Bopro. “Tell me, do we have anything—anything at all—that could help the Dephorians return to their home planet faster? Something that might make them more willing to listen?”

  The Bopro’s eyes flickered with thought. “Perhaps… there are old schematics, early warp enhancements that we never fully developed. If given time, we may be able to modify them.”

  I nodded. “Then get to work. We need every advantage we can get.”

  As they moved to begin calculations, I folded my arms, staring out at the view of the stars beyond. This had to work. Running was no longer an option. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t just preparing for survival.

  I was preparing for war or peace. And I didn’t know which one was coming.

  I turned to Tocci. “Unlock the armory and make sure the weapons are in good shape. It has been generations since we needed to use them, and I hope we won’t need to now, but we should be prepared.”

  Tocci gave a curt nod, her usual lightheartedness absent. “I’ll make sure everything is operational. If we have to fight, we can’t afford malfunctions.”

  I watched her stride away with purpose before turning on my heel. There was one more thing I needed to do. First, I made my way to my quarters. The garments I had worn on Earth had become too tight, constricting against my true form. I discarded them quickly, replacing them with something that truly reflected who I was—an outfit adorned with the symbol of my people, light yet regal, allowing for full movement. Vines twisted around my arms and legs, reconnecting me to nature, grounding me in what it meant to be Eova. If I was going to face the Dephorians, I needed to look like the leader I was meant to be. Only once I had redressed did I feel truly at ease.

  Now prepared, I made my way through the winding corridors toward the onboard library. If we were to negotiate with the Dephorians, I needed to know everything about them. Every historical record, every failed peace attempt, every war they had waged.

  I had spent my entire life running from them. Now, I needed to understand them.