MARZ (MARS)
There was explosion everywhere, smoke evaporating the atmosphere and the grey looking inhabitat of MARZ - the Martians ran Helter skelter to get to a secure location while their force fought off against another invader.
The invaders wore a more advanced battle suit compared to the Martians as the latter were wearing a simple suit.
In a secure location under the planet under city was a bunker that served as a stronghold for the remaining Martians with little of their army watching and protecting them as the planet intelligence were trying to activate a space travelling teleportation machine - the tele-trans - which looked like a giant double rings. But the device was short in power and the time it was taking to charge up long enough to function might be too long if the intruders found out about them.
"Initializing tele-trans," the automated voice said as the device giant ring began to spin slowly, gradually increasing in speed. But it will take a moment before it could be used since they have to input some important information on the smart computer for a specific location they want the travellers to to be teleported to.
Then there was loud banging at the door, the Martians panicked and terrified they had been found already. The guards approached the door with vigilance and aim at the door, ready to shoot on sight but they stayed down when the person behind the bunker door spoke in Martian's native language and the door was immediately unlocked, ushering in the Martian man and his family; a wife and single female child.
The scientist knowing the teleportation device was still warming up has a devastating expression on.
"If this takes longer, we will perish." The lead scientist said.
"If the invaders approach we will hold them off for as long as we can to get our remaining people out of here," the girl's father responded. The scientist nodded and continued operating on the system.
Momentarily the bunker door began to be attacked from the outside sending panic through the entire room. They shiver in fear when they realize they have been found at last. After some powerful hits, the door was taken down. And the invaders troops started approaching while the Martians soldiers were ready to defend themselves.
The machine was spotted by the invaders' troops, sensing the Martians were trying to escape. They increased their pace and so did the Martians soldiers. The little girl watched as both of her parents were heading towards the enemy. She sobbed and called but they were too busy to turn back now after bidding her farewell.
While the invaders and Martians were in the heat of battle, the device was ready for transportation. The lead scientist ordered everyone to enter and they did as they were told but the lead scientist couldn't follow, someone had to stay behind to prevent the invaders from following.
The machine did as it was programmed, teleporting the people away and in a second the machine was empty but was still running. Without giving any second thought, the scientist destroyed the teleportation device.
"You will never find them!" He said as he watched the machine burn, totally destroyed. He picked up a gun and joined the fight in the bunker.
PRESENT...
"I opened my eyes and met myself here... on Earth. I was alone, lost in a strange world," Susan narrated to Habib who listened attentively to her whole story.
"Tragedy..." He muttered. He sighed and readjust his sitting position. "It must be hard for you. I can't even imagine it," he added. Susan scoffed.
"It wasn't hard at all. Although I was alone, I didn't strive to survive," she said, making Habib curious about what she meant.
"What are you talking about? Did your parents later come back for you? Did they make it out alive?"
"Nah. They didn't come back. My guess was that they died fighting the invaders." She took a bite of her burger and wiped the stain on her lip. "It is just that whenever I'm in need of something, I just impersonate some rich kids I Know and get business done." She revealed. Her response leaves Habib in awe and mouth agape.
"Are you serious?"
"I'm dead serious."
"That's diabolical. What happens if the real kids walk right in when you are executing this your... business," he asked.
"They don't because I locked them up in the closet," she responded with a hint of guilt before mouthing her burger. They were silent for a moment after that, both thinking about what to say.
"Does he know?" Habib asked out of blue. Susan raised her eyebrows at him.
"What do what know now?" She asked for clarification.
"Does your friend know about you, Gabriel? Does he really know who you are?" Susan couldn't answer for a moment. She gulped and tapped her feet on the floor repeatedly.
"It's totally fine if you don't want to answer. I get it," Habib said but Susan cut in.
"No. No you don't." She said, head facing her burger. She probably lost her appetite by now.
"Gabriel didn't know. I haven't revealed my true self to him and I don't think I will," she responded.
"Why? I thought you guys were a thing..."
"No. No. No. I am going to stop you right there professor. Gabriel and I aren't a thing. We are best of best friends." She laughed a little imagining both of them actually being a thing. "The friendship I have with Gabriel is what I will wish for in another life. And I don't think I will ever ruin that by revealing all of this to him," she lifted her fingers up which began turning grey- her Martian colour.
"Wow" he gasped.
"I am afraid he'd reject me if he ever finds out about it." She faces up to look at Habib. "What if he doesn't accept me for who I am? I am sure he won't. I have seen it..." Habib stared intensively. "... In movies and I've read stories ." She concluded.
"So let me put this straight. You conclude the outcome of you coming out to your friend based on just assumption. Hmmm? Have you tried thinking from a different angle? Like what if he accepts you just for who you are not for what you are? Excluding the impersonating rich kids parts though, " they both laugh.
"Sounds easier than done."
"I know, but that's why you have to give it a try. If he is really a good friend. He will accept you."
"I wish. But now don't you think it's too late to do that? He's gone now? "
"Ah, they were abducted. And we are going to find our friends. Whoever was holding our friends hostage we will find them." His phone rang, it was the doctor calling. "And it begins now," he added before picking the call.