"Glad you're happy with your new look," a voice called out, causing everyone in the room to turn toward the door.
A tall man stood there, his posture commanding. A large trench coat hung neatly from his shoulders, and his slightly bushy eyebrows framed a stern but calm face.
"Mr. Whitaker?" Pash blinked, recognizing the man.
"Yes," his mother, Nouri, said softly. "He was the one who brought us to you."
"You're part of the army?" Pash asked, glancing at the man's uniform as questions began flooding his mind.
"Yes, indeed I am," Mr. Whitaker replied. He walked into the room with measured steps and stopped by the window, looking out through it before turning back to face Pash.
"I suppose you have a lot of questions," he said. "Most will be answered in due time. But for now... let's be on our way, shall we?" He gestured for them to follow.
Pash, now dressed in clean and comfortable clothes, followed behind his mother and sister. As they stepped outside, the world around him expanded — they were in a sprawling military base, alive with movement. Soldiers jogged across open yards, officers barked orders, and mechanics worked on rows of vehicles that shimmered under the bright afternoon sun.
They made their way to a section where aircraft were parked in perfect formation. Mr. Whitaker led them to one particular vehicle — sleek and metallic gray, with an emblem on its side: a bold, capital A surrounded by swirling colors that pulsed faintly, like energy contained within glass.
A few other men and women bearing the same emblem stood by the craft. As Mr. Whitaker approached, they immediately straightened and saluted. Pash couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and awe. Everything felt larger than life, as though he had stepped into a different world.
Soon after, they boarded the aircraft. The engines hummed to life, and within minutes, they were soaring through the skies — destination unknown.
---
Aboard the Aurora Transport
The aircraft cut gracefully through the air, steady and fast. Inside, Pash and his mother sat together in a small cabin — modest but comfortable, with smooth metallic walls and a faint hum beneath their feet.
Knock, knock.
The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Mr. Whitaker.
"I see you've all settled nicely," he said, his deep voice filling the quiet cabin.
"What's going on?" Pash asked, finally breaking his silence. His tone was calm but edged with curiosity and unease.
"Where are we headed?" his mother added. Though she and Pash's father had been given some information before, the whole picture still eluded her.
Mr. Whitaker gave a small chuckle. "Don't worry. You'll get your answers in due time. But first things first." He took a seat opposite them, crossing one leg over the other. The way he composed himself made it clear — this conversation would be important.
"Let's start from the beginning," he said. "I belong to the Aurora Faction." He lifted his coat slightly to show the insignia stitched into the fabric — the same glowing emblem they'd seen on the aircraft.
"Wait... you're not with the military?" Pash asked, brows furrowed.
"Well," Whitaker began, smiling faintly, "you could say we're connected to them. A special branch, though not entirely under their command. The Aurora Faction is an ancient organization, formed back during the Victorian era. Unlike other groups that rose and fell with time, we endured. We've stood through every major conflict, quietly working behind the scenes."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing serious.
"It was our faction that first alerted the world's nations about the Scryvians back in the early 2050s. Our warning led to the establishment of the Non-Lethal Weapons Act — a desperate attempt to minimize human casualties before the first invasion."
"Wow... that part's never in the official records," Nouri said softly, stroking the sleeping Nefri's hair.
"For good reason," Whitaker replied with a knowing sigh. "Some truths were buried to protect the masses from panic."
Pash frowned slightly. "But what does any of this have to do with me?"
Whitaker smiled again — a calm, patient smile that somehow made Pash even more uneasy. "Master Pash," he said, "I was sent by the Aurora Faction to watch over you before you awakened."
Pash blinked. "Watch over me?" He turned to his mother, who looked equally shocked. Clearly, she hadn't been told any of this either.
"Wait — what awakening?" Pash asked, completely bewildered.
"I believe you've noticed some... changes in your body," Whitaker said, gesturing toward Pash's new physique.
Pash looked down at himself, remembering the mirror — the height, the eyes, the tattoos that felt etched into his very soul. He had felt something change deep inside him, something powerful yet frighteningly unknown.
"The cube," Pash murmured suddenly. "I remember touching a cube before I blacked out... was that what caused it?"
Whitaker nodded. "What you came into contact with is known as the Origin Source — the very energy of the universe that binds all life together. It is ancient and infinite. That energy triggered your evolution."
"Evolution?" Pash repeated, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Yes," Whitaker continued, "you and five others. You were all chosen by fate — or perhaps by the universe itself."
Just then, the aircraft began to descend. Through the window, a breathtaking sight unfolded below them. A sprawling city lay nestled in a vast, green valley — a mixture of natural beauty and advanced architecture. Metallic towers rose beside crystal-blue rivers. Flying vehicles zipped through invisible lanes in the sky, while below, soldiers and civilians moved about in perfect rhythm.
"Welcome," Whitaker said, smiling proudly, "to Aurora City."
As they landed, a team of uniformed officers was already waiting. The moment they stepped off the aircraft, several men saluted sharply.
"Chief," one of them greeted respectfully.
Whitaker nodded. "Take Mrs. Nouri to her quarters," he instructed, gesturing toward Pash's mother. Then, turning to her, he added, "Pash will accompany me, if that's all right."
Nouri hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It's fine," she said softly before being led away.
---
Aurora City
Pash followed Whitaker through the heart of the city. Every turn filled him with new wonder — enormous hangars lined with sleek fighter crafts, training grounds where soldiers practiced maneuvers, glowing domes that seemed to pulse with life. Yet beneath all the technology, nature still thrived — vines crept along metallic walls, and sunlight filtered through massive glass ceilings, painting golden patterns on the floor.
"I never knew a place like this existed," Pash said, his eyes wide. "Where exactly are we?"
"Aurora City is... unique," Whitaker explained. "It's a sovereign state — a ghost nation that doesn't appear on any map. Officially, there are twenty-six nations left after the first Scryvian attack. This," he gestured proudly around them, "makes the twenty-seventh. Everything beyond these territories? That's the Wild — home to the Kaijus."
"The military fights at the front lines," he continued, "defending what's left of humanity. We, on the other hand, are the ones ensuring humanity can survive."
"Isn't that basically the same thing?" Pash asked, half-smiling.
Whitaker laughed, a rich, hearty sound that echoed through the hall. "There are always two sides to every story, young man. You'll come to understand soon enough."
They walked in silence for a while. Then Pash remembered something that had been bothering him.
"What did you mean when you said you were sent to look after me?" he asked. "How did you know I'd be... one of them?"
Whitaker's pace slowed. "Simple," he said. "You were part of a prophecy — one foretold before the Scryvian invasion. It spoke of six who would rise with the blood of the ancients in their veins. Six who would bridge the gap between man and the cosmic forces. You are one of them."
Pash stopped walking, stunned. "A prophecy...?"
"Yes. And my mission," Whitaker said, turning to face him fully, "was to ensure nothing happened to you before your awakening — before you evolved."
"Evolved?" Pash repeated again, as if trying to make sense of the word.
"Yes," Whitaker said firmly. "You and the others are no longer ordinary humans. You've become something new — the next step in human progression." His gaze softened slightly. "We call your kind Homo Evolutus."
The words hung in the air — heavy, powerful, and almost unreal.
Whitaker stopped before a massive double door marked with the golden insignia of the Aurora Faction. The symbol glowed faintly, as if alive.
"I know you still have many questions," he said, placing his hand on the door handle. "And soon, you'll get your answers. But for now…" he smiled faintly, "it's time you met your new family."
With a slow push, the doors creaked open — light spilling out into the corridor, revealing what lay beyond.
*******