In front of the high boundary wall behind the palace, Liana stood with a serious expression. That morning, she recalled what she had seen a few hours earlier.
"I saw Teresa being taken by some Bumi soldiers in their aircraft," Liana said quietly, yet filled with concern. "They were heading north, toward their main base."
Kael stared at her, his emotions mixed. Though he had lost much of his memory, the responsibility for his friends still lingered. "We have to go now. We can't let them get too far."
Parker nodded in agreement. "We're out of time. We need to move fast."
Moments later, the sound of footsteps approached. Terren and Darren appeared from behind the trees, their expressions serious. They waved their hands, signaling that everything was ready.
"The ship is ready," Darren said, patting Terren on the shoulder. "We have to leave before they realize we're sneaking into their base."
Terren grinned widely. "No time to waste. Let's go!"
They all hurried toward the ship, which was hidden in their secret spot. Once aboard, they sat in their designated places. Kael sat in the front, near the window, his eyes focused on the terrain outside.
Liana sat beside him, watching Kael, who seemed slightly uneasy. "We'll succeed. Together, we can save Teresa," she said with confidence.
Kael nodded, though there was a sense of something missing in his heart. Memories of Teresa, their past together, felt hazy and distant, but his determination to protect and save her only grew stronger.
As the ship took off, they left the palace behind and headed north, toward a place full of danger. Every second counted, and they knew the longer they waited, the greater the chance they would lose Teresa.
"Our journey is just beginning," Parker said, his eyes filled with determination. "Hold on, Teresa. We're coming to save you."
On the other side, Teresa slowly opened her eyes. Her head felt heavy, and her body was weak. As she looked around, she realized she was already wearing a white military suit, the same uniform she used to wear when she was both a soldier and a scientist. Her heart raced, and fear began to creep in. She remembered being kidnapped and taken by plane, but there was nothing she could do at that time.
Teresa tried to get up, her body feeling sluggish as she tried to recall what happened. Soon, the door to the room opened, and a soldier entered.
"It's time to meet them," the soldier said as they escorted Teresa out of the room.
She was led into a laboratory, a place she had often visited before. On a large table, various scientific equipment was scattered around. A female scientist stood near the table, holding a small glass containing blood. Teresa felt a chill run down her spine as she stared at the red liquid.
"This is Kael's blood," the scientist explained with no emotion. "He's the most valuable subject of them all. This research, Teresa, could change everything."
Teresa's heart sank as she heard those words. She knew Kael's blood was of immense value, and she understood just how dangerous this situation was. Kael—her long-time friend—might not even realize the extent of what his blood meant to the enemy.
"Kael's blood," the scientist continued, "contains rare genetic material. With his blood, we could create a new army, one that is stronger and faster. Kael is the key to conquering the Terra planet and controlling the technology here."
Teresa felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she remembered Kael as a close friend, someone who had fought beside her through many battles. On the other hand, she knew just how dangerous it would be if this technology fell into the wrong hands.
"What are you going to do with him?" Teresa asked firmly, though she knew there wasn't much she could do in this situation.
"Kael will be processed further. We will use him to ensure our victory," the scientist replied, eyeing the small glass of blood with deep fascination.
Teresa felt a surge of determination. She knew that if they succeeded in using Kael's blood to create a new army, the battle to liberate Terra would become much harder. Everything they had fought for would be in vain if the enemy managed to harness this power.
With resolve, Teresa decided she had to escape, no matter the risks. She had to warn Kael and the others about what was happening before it was too late.
That evening, as night approached, Teresa was alone in her room, lost in thought, her mind swirling with many worries. She was desperately trying to find a way out of the complicated situation she was in. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Ben Crouist—an old ally from Earth—entered cautiously.
"Ben, what are you doing here?" Teresa asked, slightly startled to see him.
Ben shook his head and sat next to her. "I just wanted to talk," he said softly. "About your family… I know they're in the hands of the enemy, and I want to help. I can't stand seeing you suffer."
Teresa stared at him, wary. "Ben, we both know how complicated this is. I have to find a way to get out of here, to free them."
Ben looked at her deeply, as if he was about to say something more personal. "Teresa, there's something I need to tell you. I... I like you. I've liked you for a long time. I can't hold it in anymore."
Teresa was silent. Ben's words made her heart race, but she wasn't sure how to respond. She valued Ben as a friend, maybe even more, but their relationship had always been limited by duty and responsibility.
Before Teresa could reply, Ben moved closer, and in an instant, his lips were on hers. The kiss was deep, filled with emotion, and it caught Teresa off guard. She was momentarily lost in the kiss, even though her heart was torn between confusion and guilt.
But just as suddenly, the door burst open again, and Kael stood in the doorway. His eyes widened, shocked at what he was seeing. Ben and Teresa were still unaware, lost in the moment, while Kael stood frozen, his emotions swirling.
Kael didn't say anything, but in a split second, he pulled out his tech gun and fired a tranquilizer dart at Ben. Ben, startled, collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Teresa was left standing there, stunned, not knowing how to process what had just happened. Kael stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Teresa, we need to talk," he said flatly, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice.
Teresa stood still, speechless, her mind racing. She never intended to hurt Kael, but in the midst of such a complicated situation, her feelings had taken over.
Kael took a deep breath. "I know this is hard, but we need to focus on our mission. We don't have time for this."
Teresa felt crushed, but she knew Kael was right. They were all caught in a much larger battle, one that was bigger than their personal feelings.
With a final look of uncertainty, Kael turned his gaze to Ben, now unconscious on the floor, before pulling Teresa out of the room. An unspoken understanding passed between them, but they both knew that now was not the time to let personal emotions distract from their mission.
That night, they rejoined the others, while Ben, lying unconscious on the floor, became a bitter memory that would continue to haunt them.