The Return to reality 1.3

Aiden stood in the middle of a vast, open landscape. The sky above him was a deep, swirling violet, and the air buzzed with energy. In the distance, towering structures loomed, their surfaces gleaming with strange, alien symbols. It was unlike anything Aiden had ever seen before.

“This... this isn’t Earth,” he whispered, realizing where he was.

“No, it’s not,” the voice from before answered, its tone now calm and almost soothing. A figure materialized in front of him—tall, graceful, and unmistakably alien. Their skin shimmered with iridescent colors, and their eyes, large and filled with wisdom, glowed softly.

Aiden took a step back, his breath catching in his throat. “Who are you?”

“I am what your kind has come to call the Echoes,” the alien replied, their voice echoing in his mind as much as his ears. “We are the remnants of the ancient ones who once thrived here, long before your corporations set their eyes on Aetheria.”

“The Echoes... You’ve been guiding us?”

“Yes,” the Echo confirmed, their gaze piercing through him. “But not in the way you think. We are the guardians of Aetheria’s power, the keepers of its secrets. And we have been watching your species, waiting for the moment when you would come here.”

Aiden’s mind raced, trying to process the weight of the alien’s words. “Why? Why would you let us come here if you knew we’d just destroy it?”

The Echo’s eyes softened. “Not all of you seek destruction, Aiden. Some of you, like you, seek understanding, unity. And it is those like you who we have chosen to protect. But we had to test you, to see if your kind was truly worthy of the power Aetheria holds.”

Aiden clenched his fists. “And what if we’re not worthy?”

The Echo’s gaze darkened, and for the first time, Aiden felt the weight of their ancient presence. “Then your species will suffer the same fate as those who came before. Aetheria will not allow itself to be controlled by greed and destruction.”

Aiden swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of their situation. “And the corporations? They’re here to take that power.”

“Yes,” the Echo replied, their voice filled with sadness. “They seek to harness what they do not understand, what they cannot control. But they will fail. Just as they always have.”

Aiden stepped closer to the Echo, his voice filled with resolve. “Then help me stop them. Show me how to protect Aetheria.”

The Echo regarded him for a long moment before finally nodding. “Very well. But know this, Aiden—once you begin down this path, there is no turning back.”

“I’m ready,” Aiden said, his voice steady.

The Echo raised their hand, and a surge of energy washed over Aiden. In that moment, he felt everything—the history of Aetheria, the power it held, and the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.

And as the vision began to fade, the Echo’s final words echoed in his mind:

“Protect the light, Aiden. Or watch your world fall to darkness.”

Aiden snapped back to reality, gasping as he tore his hand away from the orb. His heart raced, but this time, he knew what needed to be done.

He turned to the team, his voice filled with newfound purpose. “We have to fight. Not just for Aetheria, but for everyone.”

Ava looked at him, her eyes wide. “What did you see?”

Aiden took a deep breath. “Everything. And we don’t have much time.”

The enemy was closing in, but Aiden wasn’t afraid. The Echo had given him the tools he needed, and now, it was up to him to use them.

The final battle was about to begin.

Aiden wasted no time. With his heart still racing, he barked orders to his team.

“Captain, get everyone armed and ready. Ava, reroute all comms and data back to the central hub. I want our ships in defensive positions. We can’t let them take Aetheria.”

The crew scrambled to execute his commands, their movements a blur of urgency. The once calm control room was now alive with tension, each member of the team aware that their lives hung in the balance.

Ava, her face pale but determined, looked at Aiden. “You think we can stop them? I mean, if they really want Aetheria, they’ll throw everything at us.”

Aiden met her gaze, eyes steely. “They don’t know what they’re dealing with. They think this is just another planet they can strip for resources, but it’s not. Aetheria is alive, in a way they can’t even imagine.”

Ava raised an eyebrow. “Alive? How?”

“The Echoes,” Aiden explained, moving toward the control panel to set up the last defense protocols. “They’re the remnants of an ancient civilization. They’ve been watching us, waiting. And if we don’t act fast, they’ll wipe out anyone who poses a threat—starting with us if we fail.”

The captain approached, his jaw tight. “Aiden, we’re surrounded. The corporations have more ships closing in. What’s the plan?”