Light
What time is it? I'm going to be late for work.
Stark wakes from his sleep, murmuring slightly before getting up.
He walks down the stairs.
Stark goes down to the first floor to have breakfast. He turns on the TV, and while eating, the news is reporting the appearance of a massive meteor approaching Earth. Even the Nova Agency does not know what this thing is.
Stark thinks:
"Seven days since this meteor appeared, and the world is in panic. Everyone is afraid."
Outside, the streets are nearly empty. Some people have fled to places they believe are safe. Others have become like rats, hiding underground, convinced nothing will touch them. Some have surrendered to fate, no longer caring about what is coming.
They are simply waiting for destiny.
Suddenly, the sound of a ringing phone pulls Stark from his thoughts. He looks at the caller ID: Mirma Abata.
Stark: What's going on, Mirma?
Mirma: Come quickly to the meeting. They've completely lost their minds!
---
In the meeting room:
There are about 22 people in the room. Twelve are wearing military uniforms, and the rest are scientists, including Mirma and Stark.
Stark thinks to himself:
"Everyone is silent. Anxiety fills their faces. They even started the meeting before the scheduled time. That's strange."
Morden, one of the military officers, stands among them—a dark-skinned, middle-aged man with a pale, lifeless face.
One of them: Alright, let's begin.
Casper, an elderly man trembling with excitement, stands from his chair and speaks loudly:
Casper: Why won't you agree on this? This thing will change humanity! We must not destroy it. We must contain it and study it. We should imprison this thing!
Stark thinks:
"What is he talking about?"
Mirma responds calmly:
Mirma: We're going in circles, Casper. Letting this thing fall and attempting to contain it here will cause massive destruction and risks. Have you thought about the lives that will be crushed?
Casper snaps:
Casper: How dare you talk about lives when you're the one who proposed the "Humanity Dissolution" theory?
Silence fills the room. Mirma looks at Casper coldly, saying nothing, his gaze filled with contempt.
Suddenly, shouting erupts. Everyone has an opinion. Accusations fly across the room. Some accuse others of cowardice; others accuse them of recklessness. The room turns into a battlefield of words.
One of the military officers slams his hand on the table—it is Commander Karf.
Karf: We have reached no conclusion! Everyone says this is the most important moment in human history. This thing looks like a space whale! We told the media it's a meteor, but we still don't know what it is. For the first time in history, we are facing something we cannot explain!
Albedo raises his hand.
Albedo: I have a suggestion. What about voting?
Everyone is shocked.
Someone: A vote? You want to decide humanity's fate with a vote?
Albedo: We've been arguing for a week. We must decide.
They proceed to vote—scientists and commanders alike—to determine humanity's course.
Karf: Raise your hand if you support containing the meteor.
Mirma, Stark, Albedo, two commanders (Karf and Lucas), and four other scientists do not raise their hands.
The result: 13 votes to 9.
They will stop the meteor and contain it.
Mirma: Fine. You got what you wanted. What's your plan to land it without disaster, Casper?
Casper: Don't worry. I've thought of everything. We will use "Petrolyd," a lightweight subterranean gel capable of resisting gravity. When we launch it at the meteor, it will make it float under gravitational balance. We will deploy 100 aircraft to assist in lowering it. If we fail, we will detonate it in the atmosphere, minimizing casualties.
---
On their way out of the meeting:
Stark: What now?
Albedo: They're holding a press conference. We need to do something.
As they walk, a research paper hits Albedo in the face. A crowd of protesters has gathered. They shout about government corruption and demand its downfall.
One protester recognizes Albedo and Stark and approaches them, holding leaked information.
Protester: Albedo! Stark! You're live right now—do you really want to keep that thing?
Chaos erupts. Journalists and protesters shout questions. The crowd turns hostile. Police intervene and escort them away.
Despite knowing the truth, their minority voice carries no weight.
Within days, the government suppresses the protests and silences all information.
Fear rises across the streets. People rush to buy supplies. Shops close. Families pack their belongings—but where can they run? No one knows. Children cry endlessly.
---
The awaited day:
The massive object approaches Earth.
More than 100 aircraft monitor it, waiting with pounding hearts.
In military bases, soldiers whisper prayers. Some write their final wills. Others call their families for what may be the last time. Even high-ranking officers tremble while giving orders.
The object enters the atmosphere. The aircraft surround it.
In the command room, Commander Karf and Morden stand among thousands of soldiers, scientists, and engineers.
Karf: All aircraft, form a circle around the object.
Countdown:
5
4
3
2
1
Now!
The gel is launched, enveloping the meteor. Its speed gradually decreases.
In the command room:
Karf (whispering): The operation succeeded… Now the next phase.
Hooks extend from the aircraft, attaching firmly to the object. The 100 planes slowly begin lowering it.
Cheers erupt in the command room.
They praise Casper: "Your plan worked!"
Casper looks at Mirma with a victorious expression.
Mirma watches silently, his face unreadable.
---
Karf: Until it lands safely, we'll continue preparations. Rosfer?
Silence.
Karf: Rosfer, respond! What's the situation?
Silence.
Finally, Rosfer answers in a trembling voice:
Rosfer: Commander… it's… it's changing.
Karf: What? How?
Suddenly, massive spikes emerge from the object.
Everything freezes in mid-air—the planes, the object, even the birds.
In a single second, all aircraft are destroyed.
Karf (shouting): Initiate Plan C! Prepare to destroy it!
Warplanes launch an all-out attack—but it has no effect. Bullets strike it and vanish as if swallowed by a black hole.
Missiles fill the sky until it turns dark with smoke.
In the command room, a terrifying silence falls.
Karf: It's useless… nothing is working.
The object continues descending.
People watch from rooftops, from underground shelters—everyone witnesses the impossible.
In the meeting room, Mirma speaks calmly:
Mirma: Now I understand…
All eyes turn to him.
Mirma: The space whale… it's a ship.
He laughs coldly.
Mirma: This is what I feared. This is an invasion.
Humanity has been invaded.
Mirma laughs with a mad, sorrowful tone:
"I told you…
If we had destroyed it from the beginning, we wouldn't have reached this point."
Outside, the massive ship lands slowly and peacefully.
The Earth begins to tremble.