At the summit of the Solaris Tower, President Caius stood poised before a circular conference table. A massive holographic screen shimmered in the air, casting pale light across the darkened room. Project Codename: AIKO flashed at its center, alongside complex neural and biological signal charts. The image of Aelina, known to the Edenians as Aiko, glowed quietly on the screen, her profile illuminated like a ghost caught between worlds.
Across from Caius, Dr. Elarion Vex, Edena's foremost scientist, stood with the composure of a man whose vision was finally at the edge of realization. With a simple gesture, a schematic emerged in the air: the intricate lattice of the long-prepared remote neural interface.
"Your Excellency," Elarion said with calm certainty, "the final phase of Project AIKO is ready. The remote control system is fully integrated. All we need is your authorization to activate it."
Caius's eyes remained fixed on Aelina's face, his voice a low tremor of command. "And you're certain it will work?"
"There is no doubt," Elarion replied. "Her primary neural protocols remain intact. Once activated, Aiko will be entirely under our command."
In the corner, Valtheris, the President's advisor, crossed his arms, skepticism etched across his face. "It still feels too dangerous, Your Excellency. If she resists, or if Earth detects the system, we risk losing everything."
Caius waved him off impatiently. "We have no time for hesitation. Aiko is the keystone. If this succeeds, we reclaim control over the terraformation systems on Kaelion, and secure our people's future."
His gaze returned to Elarion, unwavering. "Activate it. Now."
Elarion nodded and swiftly interacted with the holographic panel before him.
"Initiating neural link... Activating remote protocol."
A bold word surged into focus on the main display:
"CONNECTING..."
On Earth…
In a quiet wooden home in Ravara, Aelina sat with Kirana and Zephyr at a modest dining table. The soft flicker of candlelight danced on the walls, casting warmth over the evening. Laughter, light and sincere, spilled from Aelina's lips, her joy unfiltered, her world momentarily simple.
"So, how was your hunt today, Dad?" she asked eagerly, eyes bright as she nibbled a piece of bread.
Zephyr smiled, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Not much, sweetheart. But I did track down a few deer in the southern woods."
Kirana chuckled, pouring tea. "That's because the animals know Aelina's getting too good. They're probably scared of that bow she built."
Aelina blushed but grinned with pride. What her parents didn't notice was the small device hidden beneath her dark hair, latched quietly to her ear, the one she'd found again not long ago.
As they spoke, a flicker bloomed before her eyes, a sudden hologram, silent and intrusive:
"CONNECTING..."
Aelina blinked. "What is this?" she murmured.
But before she could process it, a searing white light engulfed her vision. Pain lanced through her skull, a foreign force clawing its way into her mind.
"Aelina?" Kirana's voice was sharp with worry. "What's wrong?"
Aelina clutched her head, her breath ragged. Within seconds, the pain ebbed. The display changed:
"CONNECTED."
She swallowed hard. "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little dizzy."
Kirana frowned. "You look pale. Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I think I just spent too much time in the woods."
Though not convinced, Kirana let it go. "Tell us if anything feels wrong."
That night, Aelina lay in bed, but sleep refused to come. Instead, she fell into a dream, a violent, vivid storm of memory or premonition.
Flames consumed the sky. Screams, human and not, rose like a terrible symphony. She saw warriors in futuristic armor atop crumbling ruins, brandishing glowing weapons.
Aelina woke in a gasp, cold sweat trailing down her neck. She sat up, head spinning.
"What was that…?"
She stepped out into the main room, finding Zephyr awake at the fireplace.
"Aelina? What's wrong?"
She sat beside him, trembling. "I had a nightmare."
Zephyr turned to her gently. "Tell me."
She recounted it all, the fire, the battle, the alien cries. The soldiers she'd never seen, yet somehow knew.
Zephyr listened, concern deepening. But his voice stayed calm. "It's just a dream, Aelina. Sometimes our minds echo things we don't understand."
"But it felt real, Dad. Why did I see that war? What does it mean?"
Zephyr paused. "I don't know, love. But you're not alone. We're here. Always."
She nodded, heart still unsettled, but comforted by his presence.
The next morning, Aelina set off with Draven to the nearby village. Meat had become harder to hunt in the Arbora woods, and supplies were running low.
"Aelina, go with Draven. Don't take too long, and stay sharp," Zephyr instructed.
"Got it, Dad," she said, pulling her cloak tight.
Once they'd gone, Zephyr called Kirana and Lyra into the main room. He told them of Aelina's nightmare, and the chilling details she'd shared.
"That dream wasn't random," Zephyr said. "It was too specific. Too real."
Kirana furrowed her brow. "You think it's connected to her origins?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure. But something's shifting. And this might just be the beginning."
Lyra, her tone solemn, nodded. "We need to keep a closer eye on her. If the Edenians are behind this… we need to be ready."
A quiet dread settled over them, but one truth echoed loud beneath it:
They would protect Aelina, no matter what came.
-------------------
Several hours later, the morning sun still bathed the small village of Ravara in warm light, casting shimmering reflections across the blue-glowing leaves that adorned the surrounding forest. Kirana's home, though modest, was always filled with warmth. In the kitchen, Kirana and Lyra were busy preparing breakfast.
Kirana stirred a large pot of herbal soup, while Lyra chopped fruits from their small garden. Occasional laughter echoed from outside, where Zephyr and Draven were constructing the frame of a new home for Lyra and Draven.
Aelina, freshly dressed in a simple cream-colored outfit, stepped into the kitchen with a bright smile. "Mom! I'm going to the forest. Okay?" she asked excitedly, bouncing slightly as she hugged Kirana from behind.
Kirana turned with a smile, returning her daughter's hug. "Okay, sweetie. But don't go too far, alright? Be back before noon."
"Yes, Mom! Thank you!" Aelina chirped, grabbing a piece of bread from the table. With light steps, she darted out of the house. In the yard, she waved at Zephyr. "Dad! I'm going to the forest!"
Zephyr, hammering a large wooden plank, turned and smiled. "Be careful, Aelina! Don't go too far, and don't forget your bow."
"Got it, Dad!" Aelina replied, slinging a small bow over her back and running eagerly toward the forest. Beneath her long black hair, the mysterious device she always wore was snug against her ear.
The Arbora Forest was a place of wonders, and Aelina never tired of exploring it. Towering trees with glowing blue roots pulsed gently like the heartbeat of life itself. Their leaves glimmered softly when brushed by the wind, creating a magical scene.
As Aelina ventured deeper, a holographic display appeared in front of her eyes, presenting detailed data about the environment. Names of trees, their age, and information about the forest soil scrolled across the small screen.
She encountered several unique creatures along the way. A MechaniRabbit hopped ahead of her, its body glowing with blue streaks that ran from its back to its tail. Her device scanned it:
MechaniRabbit
Age: 2 years
Status: Harmless
Aelina smiled as she watched the rabbit hop away gracefully. Not far from there, she saw a Luminox Buffalo standing by a small stream. The massive creature had an organic body with glowing blue crystal-like horns.
She also spotted a Silver Argenta Deer, a slender animal with metallic-looking legs and glowing blue eyes. The hologram noted that this species was a result of terraforming and only found in Arbora.
"Wow, this place always surprises me," Aelina whispered, walking further into the woods. She felt like a true explorer mapping out a new world.
But as she ventured deeper, the forest's atmosphere changed. The trees grew larger, their canopies denser, allowing only slivers of sunlight to pass through. The usual chorus of nature faded, replaced by an eerie silence.
Her steps took her into unfamiliar territory. The trees here were massive, their glowing blue roots crawling across the forest floor in living patterns. The breeze rustled the leaves with a hushed, whispering sound.
As she descended a small hill, Aelina suddenly froze. Her instincts screamed, something was watching her. She slowly turned and gasped.
A tiger stood several meters away, its body entirely made of dark silver metal that reflected faint light from glowing blue lines etched across its frame.
The tiger stood still, its glowing blue eyes fixed on Aelina. A low hum vibrated from its core, like a machine awakening. Aelina swallowed hard and reached for the small bow slung across her back.
"Stay calm, Aelina," she whispered to herself. "You can do this."
She took a deep breath, nocked an arrow, and aimed for the tiger's chest.
She released it with a sharp twang. The arrow zipped through the air,
CLANG!
A sharp metallic ping startled her. The arrow had bounced harmlessly off the tiger's armored body.
Its glowing blue eyes flared red.
The tiger growled, a deep, mechanical rumble. In an instant, it lunged forward with terrifying speed. Aelina leapt aside just in time.
"No! My bow isn't strong enough!" she cried, stashing it and sprinting away.
She ran as fast as she could, dodging the beast's relentless pursuit. Her breath came in short gasps as she vaulted over glowing roots.
The tiger moved with horrifying precision, cutting off her path and driving her deeper into the forest.
As she pushed through a thick patch of underbrush, its claws nearly grazed her back. She tripped over a root but scrambled up and kept running.
"I have to get out of here!" she thought in panic.
But her escape came to a halt as she reached a rocky outcrop that blocked her path. She spun around to face the tiger, which now approached with heavy, earth-shaking steps.
Aelina drew a small dagger from her waist and held it with both hands. "If I have to fight, then I will," she whispered, steeling herself as her hands trembled.
Just as the tiger was mere meters away, a blinding white light flared from the device on her finger.
Her vision blurred, her head rang like a struck bell. She screamed softly, dropping her dagger and clutching her head.
"What's happening...?"
A holographic message flashed before her eyes:
"ACTIVATING SELF-DEFENSE PROTOCOL..."
The light on her device shifted from blue to bright red. Something inside her changed. Her trembling hands steadied.
Her weary body filled with renewed strength. She grabbed her fallen dagger and stood tall, her eyes glowing with intensity.
The tiger pounced, claws stretched wide. But Aelina moved with uncanny reflexes, dodging the strike and rolling to the side.
She countered with a strike of her own, stabbing at its side, but the dagger barely scratched its metallic hide.
The tiger spun and slashed. Aelina leapt back, barely avoiding it.
"I can't hit it randomly... there has to be a weak point," she thought.
Her device scanned the tiger, displaying a diagram that highlighted weaker areas around its joints and neck. She studied it, then made her move.
With incredible speed, she dove under the tiger, plunging her dagger into one of its front leg joints. The beast roared, staggered, but remained standing.
The battle raged on. The tiger leapt and clawed while Aelina dodged, striking when she could. Each motion was a deadly dance, one misstep would mean her end.
Finally, with a burst of agility, she leapt onto the tiger's back. Clinging tightly, she avoided its thrashing claws. With all her strength, she drove her dagger into the glowing spot on its neck, sparks flying.
The tiger let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing violently, then collapsed to the ground with a resounding crash.
Aelina staggered off its motionless form, panting, her body drenched in sweat, but her eyes still burned with fire.