Anik guided the spacecraft through the void of space, the last remnants of the chaotic battle now behind them. As the craft breached the exosphere, the silence of space enveloped them, and he exhaled deeply, the tension leaving his body. His hands slipped off the controls, trembling slightly as he switched the system to autopilot.
He glanced to the side and saw Rina curled up in the co-pilot seat, her chest rising and falling softly as she slept. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax. The weight of the last few hours pressed heavily on his shoulders, and his mind wandered back to everything he'd lost.
"How did everything change so quickly? My family, my home, my mission... all of it, gone."
Anik leaned back, resting his head against the seat, and closed his eyes. Regret clawed at his heart, but exhaustion soon overtook him.
The spacecraft glided silently through space, unknowingly passing Venus. Inside, the cabin began to grow warmer. Rina stirred in her seat, her face damp with sweat. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Why is it so hot?" she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.
The temperature continued to rise, and she unfastened her seatbelt, her eyes widening as she turned to look outside. Her breath caught in her throat as the massive, glowing surface of the Sun filled the viewport.
"Anik!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fear.
Anik stirred, his mind foggy from sleep. "What's wrong?"
"Look outside!" Rina cried, pointing frantically.
Anik's eyes snapped open, and he turned to the viewport. His heart stopped for a moment as the fiery surface of the Sun loomed impossibly large. Its sheer magnitude was incomprehensible, its intense light filling the cockpit with a blinding glow.
"This… this is the end," Anik whispered, his voice hollow. "Everything I've fought for, all my dreams… will it all end here?"
He turned to Rina, his eyes softening. She was trembling, her small hands clutching the edge of her seat. Without thinking, Anik pulled her into a tight embrace.
"It's okay," he murmured, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "We'll face it together."
The Sun's gravity began to pull the spacecraft closer, its fiery tendrils reaching out like hands ready to consume them. The heat was unbearable, and alarms blared throughout the cabin.
Anik held Rina tighter, closing his eyes as the light grew blinding. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
But just as they braced for the end, a sudden surge of energy filled the cabin. A portal, shimmering with ethereal light, materialized before them, swallowing the spacecraft whole.
Moments Later
Anik stirred, his eyelids heavy as he regained consciousness. The suffocating heat was gone, replaced by a cool, refreshing breeze that seemed to seep into his very soul. He sat up slowly, glancing around.
The spacecraft was hovering, suspended in the atmosphere of an unknown planet. Below, lush greenery stretched out in every direction, the landscape dotted with crystal-clear lakes and rolling hills.
"Rina?" Anik croaked, his voice weak.
"I'm here," she replied softly, sitting up beside him. Her eyes were wide, taking in the view outside. "Where are we?"
Before Anik could respond, the spacecraft's systems sputtered and died, the intense heat from the Sun having damaged its core. The ship began to descend rapidly, its controls unresponsive.
"Hold on!" Anik shouted, gripping the console.
The spacecraft plummeted through the atmosphere, the wind roaring around them. The ground rushed up to meet them, and both Anik and Rina screamed as the craft crashed into the surface with a deafening impact.
On the Ground, Near the Crash Site
Under a massive, ancient tree, two children sat in the shade, enjoying the warm, gentle breeze. The leaves fluttered softly, and the melodic chirping of birds created a serene symphony.
"Arpan, come on, play with me!" Luna called, tugging at her friend's arm. "It's such a beautiful day, and it's your birthday too! Why are you just lying there?"
Arpan lay on his back, gazing up at the sky. His sharp, curious eyes seemed to pierce through the clouds. "I'm not just lying here. I'm imagining what's beyond the sky. One day, I'll be the strongest person in the universe. You'll see."
Luna rolled her eyes, sitting down beside him. "At this age, you can't even pass the physical exams without coming last," she teased, sticking her tongue out.
Arpan ignored her, his gaze unwavering. Suddenly, his eyes caught something unusual—a fiery streak in the sky, cutting through the clouds.
"Look! A shooting star!" he exclaimed, pointing excitedly.
Luna squinted, frowning. "I don't think that's a shooting star. It's falling way too fast… like a meteor."
Without hesitation, Arpan jumped to his feet. "We have to check it out! Come on!"
"Wait for me!" Luna called, scrambling after him.
The two raced through the fields, their hearts pounding with excitement and curiosity. As they drew closer, the scent of burnt metal and smoke filled the air.
"It's not a shooting star…" Luna said, her voice trembling with awe. "It's a crashed spacecraft!"
Arpan's eyes widened. "Really? That means someone could be inside! We have to help!"
The two approached cautiously, their steps slowing as they neared the wreckage. The spacecraft was partially buried in the ground, its metal hull scorched and dented. Steam hissed from its vents, and faint sparks flickered along its edges.
"Do you think anyone's alive in there?" Luna whispered, clutching Arpan's arm.
Arpan stepped closer, his heart racing. "Only one way to find out."
Inside the wreckage, Anik and Rina lay unconscious, their bodies battered but alive. The faint sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears, stirring them from the darkness.
The fiery wreckage of the spacecraft loomed before them, smoke curling into the sky. Arpan and Luna stood a few feet away, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and apprehension. The metallic scent of burnt machinery filled the air, and the faint crackle of cooling metal broke the silence.
"Arpan, are you really going near that thing?" Luna asked nervously, clutching the hem of her dress. Her voice wavered with fear. "It could be dangerous!"
Arpan took a deep breath, his expression resolute. "Don't worry about me. If someone's in there, they might need our help. I can't just stand here and do nothing."
Luna hesitated, biting her lip. "You always do this… charging ahead like nothing can hurt you."
Ignoring her protest, Arpan moved closer to the spacecraft, the heat radiating from its surface making him wince. He shielded his face with his arm, cautiously stepping down into the shallow crater it had created.
"This thing is really burned," he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of wonder and concern. His fingers traced the charred hull, feeling the uneven, scalding surface. "Whoever was inside… they're lucky to still be alive."
Luna called out from a safe distance, her voice sharp with worry. "What's happening? Did you find anything?"
"Not yet," Arpan replied, his eyes scanning the spacecraft's exterior. His fingers found a small, blinking panel near what appeared to be the exit gate. Without hesitation, he pressed the button.
The sudden hiss of hydraulics made him jump back, his heart pounding in his chest. The exit gate slowly creaked open, releasing a gust of hot air.
"What was that?" Luna shouted, taking a few cautious steps closer. "Did you find something?"
Arpan peered inside, his breath catching as he spotted two figures lying unconscious in the cockpit. The faint rise and fall of their chests told him they were still alive.
"Luna!" he called, his voice urgent. "Come here! I found them!"
Luna hesitated, her fear etched clearly on her face. But seeing the determination in Arpan's eyes, she steeled herself and hurried down into the crater. Together, they climbed into the damaged cockpit.
The heat inside was stifling, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of burning metal. Arpan carefully approached the first figure, a young man with disheveled hair and a faint scar on his forehead.
"This boy…" Arpan murmured, his voice soft with curiosity. "He looks like he's been through a lot."
Luna knelt beside the other figure—a young girl with delicate features and a streak of ash on her cheek. Her small frame looked fragile, like she could break at any moment. "This girl… she's so small," Luna whispered, her voice trembling. "Do you think they'll be okay?"
"They're alive," Arpan said firmly, his eyes flicking to Luna. "But we need to get them out of here."
With careful movements, the two worked together to lift the unconscious passengers. Arpan hoisted the young man onto his back, his legs trembling slightly under the weight.
"I'll carry him," he said, adjusting his grip. "You take the girl. We'll bring them to the shade of that tree."
Luna nodded, gently lifting the girl into her arms. The weight surprised her, but she gritted her teeth and followed Arpan.
As they climbed out of the crater, the heat of the spacecraft began to fade, replaced by the cool breeze under the tree's canopy. They laid the two strangers down on the soft grass, the sunlight filtering through the leaves casting dappled patterns on their faces.
Arpan knelt beside the young man, his gaze filled with curiosity and concern. "Who are you?" he murmured, brushing a lock of hair from the stranger's face. "And where did you come from?"
Luna sat beside the girl, gently wiping the ash from her cheek. "They must have been through something terrible," she said softly, glancing at Arpan. "But they're safe now… right?"
Arpan nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Yeah. We'll make sure they're okay. No matter what it takes."
As they waited for the strangers to stir, a sense of quiet resolve settled over the two children. They had no idea who these people were or why they had come to their world, but one thing was certain: this encounter would change their lives forever.
Arpan and Luna sat quietly under the vast tree, the cool shade a stark contrast to the chaos near the crash site. The faint rustling of leaves filled the silence, but their eyes never left the two strangers lying before them. Arpan clenched his fists, a mixture of worry and curiosity etched across his young face.
"What do you think happened to them?" Luna finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She was carefully watching the girl's chest rise and fall, reassured by the steady rhythm of her breathing.
Arpan shook his head, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it wasn't good. Look at their clothes—they're scorched, like they've been through a fire. And that spacecraft…" His voice trailed off as he glanced back toward the smoldering wreckage in the distance.
"Do you think they'll wake up soon?" Luna asked, her tone laced with both hope and anxiety.
Arpan didn't respond immediately. Instead, he leaned closer to the young man, noticing the faint scar across his forehead and the way his fists were clenched even in unconsciousness. It was as if he was fighting something in his dreams.
"I hope so," Arpan said at last. "We need answers. Who they are, why they came here… and if they're dangerous."
Luna frowned, holding the girl's delicate hand in hers. "They don't look dangerous. They look like they've been hurt, like they need help."
Arpan's gaze softened as he glanced at the girl. Her face was peaceful now, though streaked with soot and framed by hair that shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight. "Maybe you're right," he admitted. "But we still need to be careful. We don't know what brought them here—or what might be following them."
As if in response, the young man stirred. His eyelids fluttered, and a low groan escaped his lips. Arpan immediately leaned in, his heart pounding.
"Hey, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice urgent but gentle. "You're safe now. We pulled you out of the wreckage."
The child eyes slowly opened, revealing a piercing blue gaze that seemed to glow faintly. He looked disoriented, his brows furrowing as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
"Where…?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. Then his eyes widened in alarm. "Rina!"
"She's here," Luna said quickly, gesturing to the girl beside her. "She's okay. She's just unconscious."
The man's body relaxed slightly, though his breathing was still ragged. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely audible. His gaze shifted to Arpan, and something in his eyes seemed to spark recognition. "Who… are you?"
"I'm Arpan," the boy replied, his voice steady. "This is Luna. We found you and your… friend after your spacecraft crashed."
The man tried to sit up, but winced and clutched his side. Arpan placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Don't push yourself. You're injured. You need to rest."
"I can't," the man said, shaking his head weakly. "We're in danger… she's in danger…"
"Who's after you?" Arpan pressed, his curiosity tinged with concern.
Before the man could answer, the girl—Rina—let out a soft whimper, her eyelids fluttering open. Luna immediately leaned closer, offering her a reassuring smile.
"Hey," Luna said gently. "You're okay. You're safe now."
Rina's eyes darted around in confusion before settling on the man beside her. "Anik," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," the man—Anik—replied, his voice filled with relief. He reached out to take her hand, his grip firm despite his exhaustion. "We made it… somehow."
Arpan and Luna exchanged a glance, the weight of the moment sinking in. Whoever these two were, they had clearly been through something extraordinary. And whatever danger they had escaped… it might not be far behind.
"We should get them to the village," Luna said softly. "They need help, and we need answers."
Arpan nodded, his jaw set with determination. "You're right. But we have to be careful. If they're being chased, we can't lead that danger back to our people."
Anik's gaze hardened as he looked at Arpan. "You're wise for your age," he said, his voice low but steady. "But you're right. If they find us… everyone here will be at risk."
"Then we'll make sure they don't," Arpan replied, his tone unwavering.
As the four of them sat beneath the tree, the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on their shoulders.
For Arpan and Luna, this was the beginning of an adventure they could never have imagined. And for Anik and Rina, it was a fragile moment of respite in a journey that was far from over.