The alarm began before the portal fully opened. For several seconds, nobody in the monitoring facility understood what they were seeing. Then the instruments started screaming. Red lights appeared across the control room. Technicians moved from one station to another, pulling up readings and checking the same measurements again and again.
The portal was activating. Again. A scientist stared at the dimensional readings.
-It's the same structure.
Another technician shook his head.
-No.
He enlarged the graph.
-The structure is similar. The radiation isn't.
David entered the room almost immediately.
-Report.
The scientist turned toward him.
-The portal is reactivating.
David stopped.
-How long?
-We don't know.
-How much radiation?
The scientist hesitated.
-Rising.
David looked toward the massive observation window. Beyond the reinforced glass, the enormous gateway remained dark.
For now.
-How fast?
-Faster than last time.
David's expression hardened.
-Activate emergency protocol.
The order travelled through the facility. Within seconds, OPESTM personnel began moving. There was no confusion this time.
No shouting. No one asked what they were supposed to do. They had already lived through the first encounter. They knew what the portal could bring. And that knowledge made the room quieter. A technician suddenly looked up.
-Sir.
David turned.
-The radiation just dropped.
David frowned.
-Dropped?
-Yes.
The scientist checked the readings again. Then his expression changed.
-It isn't disappearing.
David stepped closer.
-Then what is it doing?
The scientist pointed toward the screen.
-It's stabilizing.
David stared at the graph. The radiation climbed again. Then stopped. For a moment, the readings remained almost perfectly steady. David felt something cold settle in his stomach.
-Can you determine the destination?
-No.
-Can you determine whether it's the same location as before?
The scientist shook his head.
-We don't know where the previous connection went either.
David remained silent. Then another alarm sounded. The portal had begun to glow.
Not brightly. Just enough for the darkness inside the structure to become visible. David turned toward the communication officer.
-Notify Veronica.
-She's already on her way.
David nodded. Then he noticed someone entering the control room behind him.
De Nemo.
He was wearing a simple black jacket over his clothes. His movements were slower than they used to be, but there was still something unmistakably familiar in the way he walked. A medical officer followed him.
-You shouldn't be here.
De Nemo ignored him. David looked at him.
-You were told to stay at the medical facility.
-I was.
-Then why are you here?
-I heard the alarm.
The medical officer stepped forward.
-He was specifically instructed not to leave.
De Nemo looked at David.
-You can send me back after this.
David stared at him.
-This isn't a training exercise.
-I know.
-You don't need to prove anything.
De Nemo gave him a tired look.
-I'm not trying to prove anything.
He looked toward the portal.
-I'm just tired of sitting in a room waiting for my body to decide what happens next.
David didn't answer. The medical officer sighed.
-If his condition worsens, I am holding you responsible.
David looked at De Nemo.
-Can you stand?
De Nemo almost smiled.
-I've done worse.
-That's not what I asked.
De Nemo straightened himself.
-Yes.
David nodded.
-Fine. Stay behind the command line.
De Nemo walked past him.
-You know, for someone who gives orders, you're surprisingly reasonable.
David watched him go.
-Don't make me change my mind.
De Nemo raised one hand without looking back. The portal suddenly brightened. Everyone stopped. The entire room seemed to hold its breath.
Across the facility, Paul was already moving toward the main command center. He had barely reached the corridor when Veronica appeared from the opposite direction. They stopped when they saw each other.
For a second, neither spoke. Only a few hours had passed since they had sat together and talked about a life that felt very far away. Now they were soldiers again. Veronica looked at him.
-It's happening again.
Paul nodded.
-I know.
-Any information?
-Nothing useful yet.
She looked toward the corridor leading to the portal chamber.
-Then we're back to guessing.
Paul gave a faint smile.
-We were never very good at guessing.
She looked at him for another moment.
-You ready?
Paul's expression became serious.
-I never stopped being ready.
Veronica nodded.
-Good.
She walked past him. Paul followed. Neither of them looked back.
The international council was notified minutes later. The reaction was immediate. Some representatives demanded military readiness. Others demanded communication with the MJC.
Several governments asked whether the portal could be shut down. The answer remained the same.
Nobody knew.
The world had spent days arguing about whether Earth should resist or submit. Now the argument had become much simpler.
Something was coming.
And nobody knew which side it belonged to. David listened to the emergency communication through the command channel.
-Several governments are requesting that we avoid any hostile action.
He looked at the portal.
-Against what?
The officer paused.
-Anything that comes through.
David turned toward him.
-We don't know who's coming.
-That's their concern.
David looked back at the portal.
-Then tell them we're not attacking anyone.
He paused.
-But we're not lowering our weapons either.
The officer nodded. The message was transmitted. The portal continued changing. The scientists watched every fluctuation. One of them suddenly leaned toward his monitor.
-Wait.
David turned.
-What?
The scientist enlarged the dimensional scan.
-There's something inside the connection.
Everyone moved closer. The screen showed a distorted mass of energy. Then another signal appeared. The scientist frowned.
-I thought there were multiple signatures.
David's eyes narrowed.
-How many?
The scientist didn't answer immediately. He adjusted the equipment. The additional signals disappeared.
Only one remained. David stepped closer.
-How many?
The scientist looked at him.
-One.
Silence filled the room. David stared at the screen.
-One what?
The scientist swallowed.
-One life-sign.
De Nemo looked toward the portal.
-One person?
-We believe so.
David looked at the other scientists.
-You believe?
The scientist shook his head.
-The radiation is interfering with the biological readings. But whatever is inside that connection...
He looked at the screen.
-It's alive.
Paul arrived at the command center at that moment.
-What do we have?
David turned.
-One life-sign.
Paul looked toward the portal.
-Just one?
David nodded. Paul remained silent. After everything they had witnessed, the idea of one person coming through the portal was almost more unsettling than an army. Because the last time the portal had opened, five beings had arrived. They had walked through it like they owned the world. They had barely needed to fight.
Now only one was coming. And something was wrong. The readings began fluctuating violently. The scientist shouted.
-The connection is destabilizing!
David moved forward.
-How long?
-I don't know!
The portal suddenly released a wave of energy. The lights flickered. Several technicians stepped back. Paul remained where he was. Veronica entered the chamber and immediately looked toward the gateway.
-What's happening?
David answered without looking away.
-Something's coming through.
The portal became brighter. The darkness inside it twisted. For a moment, nothing could be seen. Then a shape appeared.
Human.
Or close enough to one. It stumbled forward. One foot crossed the threshold. Then the other. The figure fell to one knee.
Several soldiers raised their weapons. Paul lifted one hand.
-Don't fire.
Nobody moved.
The stranger remained on the ground. His clothes were damaged. Parts of his equipment hung loosely from his body. There was blood across one side of him. He tried to stand.
Failed.
His hand caught the ground. His breathing was heavy. The soldiers watched in silence. Veronica lowered her weapon slightly. David stared at the stranger.
This wasn't the arrival of an army. This wasn't the entrance of another Five Leaves. This looked like someone who had barely survived whatever had been waiting on the other side.
The stranger slowly raised his head. His eyes moved across the soldiers. Across the weapons. Across the enormous facility surrounding him. He seemed confused.
Exhausted. Almost relieved. His voice was barely audible.
-Is this Earth?
Nobody answered immediately. The stranger tried to stand again. This time, he managed it. Only for a second. Then his body gave way. Paul stepped forward.
-Catch him.
Two soldiers rushed forward and caught the stranger before he hit the ground. The stranger struggled weakly.
-Wait...
Paul crouched beside him.
-Who are you?
The stranger looked at him. For a moment, his expression changed. Not fear. Recognition. As if the face in front of him meant something. But he was too exhausted to explain.
-I need...
He coughed. His breathing became weaker.
-I need to speak...
His eyes began closing. Paul caught him before he collapsed completely.
-To who?
The stranger forced the words out.
-Whoever...
He swallowed.
-Runs this world.
Then his eyes closed. The room fell silent. David looked toward the portal. It was already beginning to shut. The light faded. The radiation dropped.
And the gateway returned to darkness. For several seconds, nobody moved. Then David spoke quietly.
-Get him to medical.
The soldiers carried the stranger away. Paul remained where he was. Looking at the portal. Something had crossed through it. Something that had chosen Earth. And for the first time since the portal had appeared, humanity wasn't waiting for an enemy.
It was waiting for an explanation.
To be continued...