 
### MY FIRST RAIN AND OTHER STORIES

### WRITTEN BY

### C.O. AMAL

Copyright © 2019 C.O. Amal

Published by C.O. Amal on December 2019

This version published by C.O. Amal on June 2020

All rights reserved.

2nd Edition

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For information email to amalco.am@gmail.com

Visit www.coamal.wordpress.com for more information about the author's works.

Facebook page www.facebook.com/COAmalAuthor

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

### Dedication

To my sister

### Table of Contents

When We Began to Age

Cyborgs

When They Came

My First Rain

The Alien Clones

The Book of Life

About the Author

Also by this Author

When We Began To Age

Tony was combing his hair, by standing in front of the mirror.

"Tony, breakfast is on the table." His mom yelled from the dining room.

It was then Tony saw a white hair strand on his head. Tony plucked that strand of hair from his head. The hair strand quickly came out of his head. Tony curiously looked at that white colored strand of hair.

"Am I becoming old?" Tony mumbled.

He was only fifteen years old and it wasn't common whitish hair on kids' head. Tony dumped the hair strand in a nearby waste box. And he exited his room, slowly pacing towards the dining room.

On the dining room, he found his sister and mom eating breakfast. Tony sat next to his sister and he slowly began to eat.

"Tony, your hair is white." His sister curiously stared at his head.

"What?" Tony was confused.

"Oh, my god, Tony," Mom closed her mouth using her hand in horror.

Tony began to panic. He quickly stood up and he ran inside his room, to check his hair. Within seconds he reached in front of the mirror. Then he saw it. There were numerous whitish strands of hair on his head.

"Mom," Tony screamed out loud. Then he saw it. All his dark strands of hair were becoming white.

His mom stood in the doorway, looking at Tony, with complete horror.

* * *

Doctor Raj hurriedly paced through the hospital hallway. Within seconds, he reached at the end of the hallway, and there, he saw a dozens of men and women standing nearby a door. Without paying attention to anyone, Raj opened the door and got inside.

Inside the small cabin sits the female doctor Samantha. In front of Samantha sits a couple and a kid.

"Is this the kid?" Raj immediately asked Samantha.

"Yes, doctor." Samantha replied.

Raj curiously looked at the kid. The kid's head which once hosted millions of black strands of hair now hosts exactly the same amount of whitish hair. Raj looked at the kid's face. His face had wrinkled at both the cheeks and there were too many folds on his forehead.

Raj looked at his parents.

"Did he take any medication recently?" Raj asked the couple.

"No, doctor. Please tell us what is happening to him?" The mother almost cried.

"This is definitely progeria." Raj said. "Does any one in your family have this?"

"No." The mother said whimpering.

"But, doctor," Samantha started. "If it is genetically occurred, how did it become dormant all this time?"

"I don't know." Raj doesn't know what else to say.

Suddenly the cabin's door swung opened and a lady nurse appeared in the doorway.

"Yes?" Samantha asked.

"There are twenty more progeria patients waiting for you." The nurse replied.

"What?" Samantha could not believe what she was hearing. Now, caring the kids was making her mad.

Raj was clearly astonished by the nurse's words. Twenty more. That means this could not be a genetic disorder.

Some kind of plague was on the loose.

* * *

Two Years Later

For the first time, Raj had no idea what to do. This new kind of progeria was killing the entire human race. This sickness had spread through the world within two years, mutating multiple times. And all this time, nobody stopped its growth. Actually there wasn't anybody who could stop this outbreak.

Nearly all the staff in WHO research facilities were got infected by this sickness, and most of them were now dead. And the worst problem was, there weren't any immune, so far. Human race don't stand a chance against this, unless the human race came up with a plan. For some reason, so far, Raj was not infected. But, that doesn't mean he was immune. He was actually careful, all this time. He always wore face masks when dealing with the patients.

It seems that this disease was rapidly spreading through the air. He had to come up with an idea to preserve human race, before he would become an infected. Human race was certainly going for an extinction phase.

* * *

Two Years Later

Nearly all the humans were now extinct. This version of progeria had no distinction between people. It affects everyone. And Raj too got infected. It was last week he showed the symptoms for the first time.

The streets were now empty. Food was scarce. Water was plenty. No electricity. And no government.

The whole system of humans got leveled by this progeria. But now, Raj was a little happy. He first thought all the humans would die out. But, his experiment on gene editing had proved that he could create a genetically engineered version of humans, who were immune to progeria.

He and his friend Samantha built a gigantic laboratory, and they had created the genetically engineered humans. Now the old humans should make way for these advanced humans. Now, they were fully grown in suspension tanks. But, their next generation could be produced by normal reproduction mechanism.

This was it. There was no cure. They wasted so much time looking for a cure. They could have done this, years ago. But now, things were looking good.

Raj had only days left in his life. Samantha died two weeks ago. And now, he was completely alone in this laboratory. Raj was now finalizing his project. He hurriedly typed the instructions on his solar powered computer. He had just finished downloading the human data bank from the US. Defense satellite. And now he had started to upload the information on to the men and woman who were inside the suspension tanks. There were five thousand of them in this facility. They were the future of humanity.

The data upload may take days to complete. But, the upload process was fully automated. Now, he could relax and sit on his laboratory porch, and he could drink a coffee. And he could embrace death. After all, he had nothing to regret. He just hopes that he had done everything perfectly.

God, this is my end...

* * *

Two weeks later

Doctor Raj was now dead, like all the other humans. The humans were now an extinct species. But, Raj's and Samantha's creations were still alive in suspension tanks. Five thousand of them would now break free at any moment.

Inside the vast laboratory, the suspension tanks were neatly arranged in rows. And inside the suspension tanks sleeps fully matured, genetically altered humans. Suddenly, all the suspension tanks flew up as a solar powered electromagnet attracted them. And, as the suspension tanks flew up, the bottom layer of the glass tanks broke apart from the main body, and through the now formed hole, the fully matured humans, along with the suspension solution fell on to the floor.

Water splashed all over the room. The humans slowly opened their eyes. They don't know what they were doing here. But, they knew everything to live a life. They first stood up, and analyzed the room, thoroughly. Then, they searched for clothes as they were naked from head to toe.

A moment later, they found clothes stacked on nearby shelves. Raj in fact took precaution in every way.

Within moments, silently, all the men and women wore their clothes. Then, they exited the laboratory and they walked into the sunlight. The morning sunlight warmed them pretty good. Some of the men and women were actually freezing as they were in cold suspension tank all this time.

The genetically engineered humans slowly walked away from the laboratory, to find out what this apocalyptic world had in store for them.

* * *

Ten Years Later

Humans again reclaimed earth. They were now many. Their healthy progeny become matured adults within years. And, so far, no sign of progeria. World was again a happier place.

The new humans reinvented many things which were necessary for human life. They formed a system of government. They formed a system of order. And finally, these new genetically altered humans learned to live like a normal human.

* * *

Ten Years Later

Tom Samuel stood just outside the delivery room, with a worrisome face. His wife Susan was giving birth to his first child.

A moment later, the door opened from inside and a nurse stood in the doorway, carrying a new born baby. The baby cried loudly.

Tom slowly approached the nurse. Nurse looked up at Tom, and she placed the child in Tom's arms.

"He is a healthy new born." The nurse said. "Look after him well."

Tom was full of joy. He nodded at the nurse. "Susan?" He asked.

"She is fine. She is sleeping. She suffered a lot."

Tom nodded. Tom slowly sat down on a nearby bench and he rocked his baby. The baby was not ready to stop his cry.

Tom said all the soothing words he knew to the baby. But, the boy kept on crying. A few minutes later, the boy fell asleep. Tom took a deep sigh.

* * *

Ten Years Later

"Susan, where is Sam?" Tom yelled from the living room.

"He is in his bedroom." Susan yelled from the kitchen.

Tom slowly walked towards Sam's bedroom. As Tom reached in front of the door, he knocked on the door.

"Sam, come on, we have lot of things to do in the barn."

"I am not coming." Sam yelled from the room.

"What is it, son?"

"I said I am not coming." Sam was very angry.

Tom quickly swung opened the door and he rushed inside. Suddenly he stopped. In front of him, on the bed, sits Sam. What peculiar about Sam was, all his dark hairs were now white.

"Son?"

"Dad," Sam was crying loudly.

Tom slowly approached Sam and he looked at his face. Then Tom saw it. Sam's face had wrinkled and there were too many folds on his forehead. Then realization struck him. His son was infected by progeria – premature aging.

Tom don't know what to do. Only one thing makes sense. The old dormant progeria had awoken, after a few generations. This was it. His son was going to die.

Susan, on hearing the commotion, rushed inside the room. Then she too stood frozen, looking at Sam.

"Sam,"

Like Tom, she also don't know what to do.

* * *

Two Years Later

Tom sat on the green meadow and he stared at the kids who were playing nearby. He was actually mourning for his dead son. Progeria had returned. Last week, fifty kids were dead due to progeria.

Progeria was inert all this time, waiting for the perfect opportunity. It was actually sleeping in the DNA. And when that opportunity came, it rushed outside, killing everyone it saw. Now, once a person was infected by progeria, that person becomes a living bomb, infecting others. Normal progeria wasn't like that. This progeria easily transfers through air since it had undergone numerous mutations.

A moment later, Susan came nearby him, and she sat on the grass. And she leant on to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I think it's time for another kid." Susan said.

"What if that kid too dies on our watch? I can't bear another death, Susan."

"We can't live in fear, Tom."

Tom said nothing.

* * *

Two Years Later

Susan was dead, due to progeria. Tom was grieving. About 99 percent of human race was now infected by progeria. And Tom thinks that he was immune. Last day, a lady died due to progeria, in his arms. Normally, a person in the vicinity of the progeria victim might catch the disease. But he was so far fine.

Tom hurriedly packed his backpack. He needs to get out of here while he still could. The government might have realized that he was immune. Tom knows better what they would do to an immune. They would dissect the immune's body to study.

Human race was going to die. But he could survive this and live his whole life, if he reaches the forest.

He first thought about suicide, after Susan's death. But, no matter how hard he tried, he could not commit suicide, because, he love his life.

Suddenly, the loud siren of the cops' vehicles came from outside. They were here!

Tom opened the back door and he ran out of his house. Then, he started his run. He don't know how much he had to run. But, if he wants to live, he needs to run. The streets were completely empty. The siren of police cars hovered over the silent city.

Far away, he could see the outline of a forest. There would be many immune inside the forest. Now, only the forest could save him.

Suddenly, a police car started to chase him. Tom broke into a sprint through the empty lawns. Within seconds, he rushed inside the forest. And the police car stopped its chase. Tom took a deep sigh. Suddenly, footsteps came from behind him. He looked back. Then he saw it. A dozens of cops were chasing him on foot.

"God,"

* * *

Doctor Andrew hurriedly paced through the corridor. Within seconds, he reached at the end of the corridor. He swung opened a nearby door and he got inside a spacious room. Inside the room, there were a few dozens of experimental tables and on top of the tables rests the bodies of immune.

"Sir, here." A researcher yelled from the far corner.

Andrew quickly walked towards that researcher.

"Tell me what you have found." Andrew said.

The researcher took a deep breath. "As far as I can tell, there is no cure to progeria. But, we could synthesize a barrier liquid from the immune's' blood. This barrier liquid could prohibit the progeria's symptoms for a while."

"You're saying?"

"All I am saying is that, we could extent progeria victims' life for a while by injecting a barrier liquid synthesized from the immune's' blood."

Andrew for a moment fell in thoughts. "Keep this between us, okay?"

"Okay."

"I will contact you if I need you. I need to report this to the government. And produce as much barrier liquid as you can from the immune. Can you do that?"

"Yes, sir."

Andrew smiled at him, and he walked away from the scene.

* * *

Andrew hurriedly got inside the president's chamber. He found the president writing something on a note pad. President on seeing Andrew looked up at Andrew.

"Andrew, my dear. Why are you here?"

Andrew quickly told everything that the researchers had found to the president. President patiently listened to everything.

"So, there is no cure?"

"No, sir."

President for a moment fell in mourning. "Then, produce this barrier liquid as much as they can. And find all the immune. I heard from the technical division that they had invented a device which could detect immune. Go and bring all the immune to our research facility. And keep this killing between us, okay?"

"Understood, sir."

Andrew smiled at the president and he walked away from the scene.

* * *

Tom Samuel hid behind a bush and he forced himself to stop breathing. The cops looked here and there and they slowly walked away from Tom.

"Look there, he can't be gone far." One of the cops said, and they all ran away from the scene.

As the last of the copes went out of sight, Tom took a deep breath. Suddenly, Tom saw someone standing nearby him in the corner of his eyes. Panic surged through him. Tom looked at that person. Then he saw it.

This person was a man, and he wore torn clothes. And he had long hair which was a mess with dirt.

"Come with me, if you want to live." The man walked deeper into the forest, without looking at Tom.

Tom looked here and there for any cops. Then he followed the man.

"Where are you taking me to?" Tom just whispered.

"To a safe place."

* * *

It had been a while since Tom started following the man. They passed a shallow stream, and they moved pretty deep into the forest.

"Hey, where is this safe place?" Tom impatiently asked.

"It's near. Just follow me." The man said. "You're fortunate that only a few cops followed you to this forest."

Tom nodded and he increased his pace. Suddenly, the man stopped moving. Tom went near the man and he saw it. There was a huge cliff in front of them. Then, the man started to climb down the cliff using the vines on the cliff wall.

"Shit..." Tom cursed something and he too began to climb down using vines.

Within seconds, they both reached at the bottom of the cliff. Then, Tom saw five men standing nearby. The man who led Tom here smiled at them and walked away from the scene. Tom for a moment stared at the leaving man, and then he looked at the men who were standing nearby.

"What is your name?" A tall man with white beard asked.

"Tom. Tom Samuel."

"Tom, you can call me Stuart. I guess you're immune, yes?"

"Yes."

"We have to be careful. They invented a new device which could detect the presence of an immune."

"How do you know?"

"We have someone there, watching their progress."

"Why am I here? Is this place safe from them?" Tom asked.

"Yes. This place is a safe haven. Since Justin saved you from the cops, you owe us something. Are you ready to join the rebellion?"

Tom for a moment stared at Stuart. Then he looked down at the ground.

"You know," Stuart started. "We humans had done awful things to our mother nature." Tom looked up at Stuart. "For all that awful things, nature decided to hinder our growth, and thus the new kind of progeria was born."

Stuart continued. "Then, a scientist named Raj created us for preserving the human life. But again, we had done awful things. And now nature is in destructive mode, to reduce the amount of humans. We immune are the next generation of humans. Through us, nature allowed the humans to live again in this planet."

"What is your point?" Tom asked.

"My point is," Stuart said. "We have to save other immune. We are the future of human race. They are catching all the immune to kill them. They had found something."

"What something?"

"Something that could extent their life. And this something is produced from immune's blood. We need to save all the immune from their research facility, before they kill them."

Tom nodded. "I have nothing to lose." Tom said. "I am in, for the rebellion."

* * *

"There," Someone yelled from top of the cliff.

Tom and Stuart looked up. Then they saw it. A dozens of cops were standing atop the cliff, looking at them. Then, one by one, they all began to climb down through the cliff wall using vines.

"Shit," Tom cursed.

"Come this way." Stuart led him to a nearby cabin which was made up of woods.

Within seconds, they all entered inside the cabin. Then Tom saw it. In the living room lies a pile of guns and ammunition.

"Where did you get all this?" Tom asked.

"It was here. Old humans'." Stuart said. Stuart and team grabbed guns from the pile. All guns had two handles on its bottom side. Tom don't know much about guns, but he knew how to shoot, if the need arrives.

Tom grabbed a gun and he looked at its beauty. Suddenly, the cops reached in front of the cabin. And one cop started to thrash open the cabin door.

Stuart stood in front of the door and he trained the gun at the door, and he pulled the trigger. With one pull, numerous bullets sprayed out of the gun's mouth. Tom heard a yelp and a scream. And that was it. All the cops lay dead.

Tom opened the door which was full of holes. He found six cops lying outside. He went near the yard and looked at the top of the cliff. Then he saw it. A cop was saying something on his radio.

"Shit, more will come." Tom worriedly said.

"Don't worry, Tom. Most of them are sick. We will probably be fine."

Suddenly, a series of rumbling came from the distant sky – helicopters.

"Shit, run," Stuart yelled.

All of them ran inside the nearby trees. Tom then saw a few dozens of people – most probably immune – running for their lives. Tom and Stuart followed them. Suddenly, it happened.

A few dozens of cops came from in front of them, training their stun guns. A moment later, Tom heard a series of swooshes of stun rays. He felt a sting. And that was it. He went down, like all the others.

* * *

Tom felt someone lifting him. Then he heard the loud rumbling of helicopter rotors. There had to be a few helicopters nearby. Tom slowly opened his eyes. His hands were bound by plastic tapes. And he could not move his arms, even a little.

Tom then somehow sat up. And he looked around him. He was inside a helicopter and a dozens of immune like him were lying nearby. Then, Tom saw two copes, armed with stun guns, sitting nearby. They were staring at Tom.

The helicopter was huge, and there were two small doors on both sides, with a small glass window in the middle. Tom worriedly peered outside through the glass windows. The helicopter was flying across the gigantic forest. They would arrive at the medical facility soon.

Tom put up his most sincere look and he looked at the two cops. The cops looked at him without any emotions.

A few moments later, the helicopter landed on a helipad, nearby a huge building. By this time, all the other immune were awoke. The copes opened the doors and they pushed the immune outside. A moment later, a dozens of cops arrived at the scene from the facility.

All the cops led Tom and other immune to the building. Tom looked around, looking for a way out. Suddenly, one of the immune broke into a sprint, away from the building. A cop quickly shot down that immune by his stun gun.

Tom began to panic. He knew what they would do to him. They would definitely cut open him. If Stuart was right, they would suck out his blood to make whatever which could extent the progeria victims' life.

Then it happened. Three other helicopters were about to land when all of a sudden, the helicopters crashed one another and they crash landed on the nearby tree land. The cops nearby Tom yelled something in their radio.

Suddenly, sound of gunfire came from the helicopter crash site. Then Tom saw it. Stuart and a few others managed to break free from the plastic restraints and they had hand guns already drawn out from somewhere in their clothes.

The cops nearby Tom quickly ran towards Stuart and team who were coming towards Tom.

Then, Tom heard a series of gun shots. And all the cops dropped dead.

A little hope kindled inside Tom. Suddenly, a series of footsteps came from deep inside the building. Stuart and his team quickly ran towards Tom and his team.

Within moments, Stuart reached near Tom. He quickly cut down the restraints from Tom's hands using a dagger.

"Grab the stun guns," Stuart yelled.

Tom without further thought ran towards a fallen cop. He quickly grabbed the cop's gun. By this time, a few dozens of cops arose from the building's doorway. Cops fired a round of stun rays. But, Stuart and his team were quick. They shot down all the cops. And Stuart and his team ran inside the building, probably to find other immune. Tom followed Stuart.

* * *

Within seconds, Stuart, Tom and others reached inside a vast experimental room. Then they saw it. On the experimental tables lie a few hundreds of immune, all were dead for certain. The researchers inside the room stared at Stuart and his men.

"Kill them all, Break all the equipment." Stuart yelled.

Tom and others quickly began to unleash their anger on the glass instruments. Stuart ran towards the nearby researchers and he put them down for good either by gun or by twisting their neck.

Suddenly, an alarm began to ring all over the building. But, there were no extra cops here. Actually there were not much humans left alive on earth.

"Run this way," Stuart ran out of the building. Tom and others followed him.

One thing was certain to Tom—they are the future of humanity.

The End

###

Cyborgs

A Cold night. Morning was only a few hours away. After the party on the bar, Jenny and Joseph walked towards Joseph's orange truck, holding their hands each other. As soon as they reached near the truck, they got inside and Joseph put the key in ignition. He quickly put the truck in drive and he drove away from near the bar, through a lonely road. Now, all they want to do was curl up in a bed and wait for the morning to break.

Jenny was shivering from head to toe, as a cold wind rushed inside through the side windows. Jenny quickly boarded up the window on her side. Joseph for a moment eyed Jenny, then he took his coat from a side and he threw it towards Jenny.

"Thanks," Jenny quickly wore it over her white shirt.

Suddenly, it happened. Something flaming came from the distant sky and it landed on the road, in front of the truck, throwing tarred stones and dirt high in the air. Joseph pressed his foot on the brake and the truck skidded to a halt. There was a cloud of dust in front of the truck.

"What the hell was that?" Joseph asked.

"I don't know. It might have been a meteor." Jenny said.

Joseph opened the door and got outside. Jenny did the same.

Then they saw it. As the dust settled, a wide crater appeared in front of them. And at the bottom of the crater lies a shining stone.

"Holy, fuck. It's a meteorite." Joseph said.

Suddenly, a series of swooshes came from the sky. Jenny and Joseph curiously looked up at the sky. Then they saw it. A few dozens of meteors were raining from the sky.

Meteors struck the earth here and there on the nearby corn fields, throwing dirt few feet high in the air. A few meteors also fell on the far away road.

Joseph and Jenny for a moment stood frozen.

"Let's get one, might be very costly on the black market." Joseph said.

"I don't know, I think it's a bad idea."

"Come on, Jenny. There might be hundreds of meteorites here. Nobody will know if we took one." Joseph quickly got inside the truck and he came back with a rope. He tied one end of the rope on the front bumper and he put the other end to the bottom of the nearby crater. Then he slowly began to climb down.

Suddenly, the sound of an oncoming helicopter came from far away.

"Just be quick," Jenny said with a worry.

A moment later, Joseph landed at the bottom of the crater. He then touched on the shining rock.

"You're mine," Joseph muttered.

Suddenly it happened. The meteorite all of a sudden got reduced to dust and the dust became a small glowing cloud, which enveloped Joseph.

"Shit," Joseph mumbled.

"No, Joseph," Jenny yelled with panic.

Then she witnessed the wonder. A small part of the meteorite dust cloud entered inside Joseph through his nose and mouth. Joseph began to wriggle violently as the dust entered inside him. And then, Joseph's whole body began to glow in blue color. Suddenly, a swoosh came from nearby. Jenny shifted her panic gaze to the nearby corn field. Then she saw it. From all the nearby craters, a red colored, glowing dust cloud flew up. And it spread through the atmosphere.

Jenny then looked at Joseph. The dust cloud near him evaporated into the air. She looked closely. Then she saw it clearly. As the dust settled down further, Joseph became clearly visible. His eyes were glowing in blue color and there was some sort of glowing metal all over his body. His face was barely recognizable.

Suddenly, Joseph jumped out of the crater, with inhuman strength. Jenny stumbled back. Joseph's face was now covered with some sort of metal layer, like a mask. Then, he emitted an unholy screech, and he rushed towards Jenny. Jenny stood up and began to run away from his vicinity.

Joseph suddenly stopped and he trained his arm at the running form of Jenny. A moment later, a red circle appeared on his palm, and instantly, with a boom, a laser like light bolt rushed out of his palm. The light bolt struck Jenny on her right leg and instantly, that leg got amputated.

"Ahh... Fuck... God..." Jenny tumbled down and she began to scream out loud.

Joseph or what was left of him slowly walked towards the weak form of Jenny.

"Please," Jenny looked up and pleaded for her life. She could not feel her leg; it seems that her leg went numb.

An inhuman, unrecognizable voice suddenly came from Joseph. Then Joseph grabbed Jenny's hand. At that very instant, small dust-like, but glowing, particles came out of his hand and it entered inside Jenny's body. Jenny suddenly stood on one leg. Within seconds, the dust enveloped her and they all somehow merged with her. And all over her body, blue glowing metal parts appeared. Her face completely got covered by a metal layer, like a mask.

And a mechanical leg grew out of her body, exactly where her leg got amputated. Then, Jenny or what was left of her stood straight, looking at the far away town which was clearly visible under the glowing sky. A moment later, they both emitted an unholy screech and they both slowly walked towards the town.

As they both reached near the welcome board of the town, a series of screeches came from deep inside the town. One thing was certain – something inhuman was being created all over the town, over night.

A moment later, the helicopter became visible. It was slowly approaching from the north. Then, all of a sudden, the helicopter crash landed behind a block of building and fire engulfed the crash site.

* * *

Two days later

The invasion started two days ago. Something alien came from deep space in the form of meteorites. The entire meteorites were an alien species. And it landed all over earth. And within a day, the alien life form spread through the atmosphere – for short, it went airborne, infecting whatever life form it saw.

The real problem was, infected didn't stay in their original form. They became the CYBORGS.

There were now, CYBORG HUMANS, CYBORG BIRDS, CYBORG DOGS, CYBORG CATS, and many other versions of CYBORGS.

These Cyborgs were killing the survivors. And within two days humans almost went extinct. Now, they were many, and we were a few.

And they have advanced weaponry inbuilt in their body. This alien life form may have been there in the space for a long time, infesting one planet at a time. Do we stand a chance?

* * *

A Government Research Facility

Sergeant Jasper and team hauled a Cyborg human which they trapped in an electromagnetic net. They made sure to cut off its head when delivering to the facility. The net did the job well, shutting down it.

As they reached inside the facility, a few researchers came with an experimental table. They all somehow lifted it and placed it on the table. The researchers carted the thing away from the scene.

As the researchers disappeared behind a door with that thing, Jasper took a deep breath. They all have done a good job catching that thing. It almost killed his entire team. He lost two of his good soldiers.

Whatever these things were, these researchers should find something good and give it to Jasper and his team, or the entire human race might become extinct.

So far, cutting off their head works. But getting close enough to do that would be the problem. They have advanced weapons, such as laser guns, right inside their hands. The worst of them was the Cyborg animals. Those Cyborg birds were almost indestructible. They were like locusts, eating whatever flesh they see – no, they won't eat, they only kill. Their energy was coming from sunlight.

Jasper always wondered how living things were grown out to become magnificent creatures from just a microscopic level eggs and sperms. And these things, with all those metallic implants, grew from small, tiny, dust particles. Once again, life was proven to be magnificent. But, now, this life would destroy all the life forms in this planet.

Maybe, these things were here as an upgrade to the former living beings, but, so far they kill everything living. So, as far as Jasper would breathe, he would try all he could to eliminate them, for whatever godly purpose they were here to.

After all, human race would prevail this, one way or the other. Because, human race have one thing they don't have – a soul.

* * *

Jasper and his team stood outside the laboratory, watching the autopsy of the human Cyborg. Jasper was mesmerized by the beauty of its internal organs. All organs were upgraded to a level that was beyond human comprehension. They were driven by bio electricity. They could absorb sun's light and produce electricity. These things were certainly an advanced species; no doubt.

A few more minutes later, the autopsy ended. But, nothing good was found.

* * *

Ten days later

Jasper and his team stood on top of a building and they peered at a pack of a six Cyborg humans. These Cyborgs were just standing in the sunlight, waiting for a stimulus to unleash their fury. Jasper looked up at the sky. So far, no Cyborg birds.

Jasper then drew out his binocular and he peered over the Cyborgs below, looking for any weak spots. So far, nothing good to see. Suddenly, a Cyborg bird came out of nowhere and it sat on a nearby wall, staring at Jasper and his team.

Jasper, with panic, stared at the bird. The bird then looked here and there; then it chirped at a high pitch sound. And this chirping resembles of a mechanical sound. The whole bird was covered in metal. Its feathers were long ago mutated into shiny metal feathers.

"Kill it," Jasper said.

One of the soldiers trained his assault rifle at the bird and he pulled the trigger. Suddenly, the bird dodged the bullets and it flew away from the scene.

Jasper took a deep breath. Suddenly, it happened. The Cyborgs standing below jumped to the roof of the building where Jasper and his team were standing. They have definitely come attracted by the gunshots.

Jasper and team, without thinking further, opened fire. But bullets hardly pierced their metal body.

"Shoot at their head," Jasper yelled.

Everyone concentrated their shots on their metallic head. But, those things stood without any injury. Then, all of a sudden, all six of the Cyborgs, trained their hands at Jasper and his twenty men team.

"Shit, run," Jasper yelled and he ran towards the edge of the roof. As soon as he reached the edge, he jumped down. The bush nearby the building broke his fall. Suddenly, a series of blue light bolts – laser bolts – came from the roof, and Jasper's men screamed out loud.

"Shit," Jasper cursed. Then he saw it. All his men's dead bodies fell down here and there on the ground nearby Jasper. Jasper looked up. The Cyborgs came near the edge and they stared at Jasper.

Then, all Cyborgs, trained their arms at Jasper. Jasper broke into a sprint, away from the building, through the tarred road, through the silent neighborhood. He heard the boom of the laser bolts.

Suddenly, pursuing footsteps came from behind him. Jasper quickly armed a grenade and he threw it behind him, and he ran, without looking back.

A moment later, the grenade exploded. Jasper quickly ran behind a house and he entered inside through the back door. Jasper went near a window and looked outside. Then, he saw the Cyborgs running away. As the grenade exploded, they must have lost their vision for a few seconds.

Jasper took a deep breath. His entire team was dead. Now what would he do. He needs to get back to the research facility. Jasper checked his rifle, and he fed it with a fresh magazine. The Cyborgs seemed to have been mutating quickly. Last time when he saw them, they weren't strong like this. And now, they have many additional metal layers on their body.

It seems that, human race don't stand a chance against them. It's really the end of human race's world.

* * *

The day when the world began to end

Ron was reading news paper when he saw a few dozens of military helicopters rushing towards the north direction.

Ron for a moment closed the newspaper and he watched the helicopters. Within seconds, the helicopters vanished from his vision. He placed the newspaper on the chair and he stood up. He marched inside the house.

Ron's parents were outside the house maintaining the garden outside. Ron switched on the television set. Something big might be happening; otherwise the helicopters would never have come.

Within few seconds the television screen came alive. But, the channel was filled with static. Ron flipped through the channels, but all were filled with static.

"What the hell?" Ron muttered.

Suddenly, his parents screamed out loud. Ron quickly opened the door and rushed outside. Then he saw it. Some kind of red colored glowing dust cloud was hovering above the house yard and some of the dust particles were entering inside his father's body. His mom was screaming out loud, as his father began to wriggle violently, unable to do anything.

"Dad," Ron rushed towards his father to help him. If he pushes him away from the dust cloud he might be alright. Suddenly, his mom stopped him.

"Ron, get inside the house." His mom commanded while crying.

Then he saw why she commanded him that. There were this kind of dust clouds all over the neighborhood and dust particles were entering inside a few dozens of people's bodies.

Driven by panic, Ron entered inside the house, and he just stared at his father through the window. Suddenly, some of the dust particles began to enter inside his mother's body.

"Mom," Tony's eyes welled up.

A moment later, the dust cloud evaporated into the air. Then he saw the wonder.

His parents' bodies were begun to glow in blue color and some kind of metal layer began to appear all over their body. Finally, the mutation, or whatever it was, stopped as a metal layer appeared across their face, like a mask.

A moment later, he saw these kinds of mutated men and women all over the streets. Then, a few people, who were inside the house all this time, got outside, curiously looking at the mutated men and women. Suddenly, the mutated creatures – Cyborgs, since they were part metal – rushed towards the normal people. Within seconds, a few Cyborgs reached near the normal people and they killed the people either by twisting their head or by stabbing at their stomach or chest by their metal arms. Blood splashed all over the nearby streets.

People rushed inside their houses, hoping houses would protect them. But the Cyborgs began to thrash open the houses and people began to scream out loud. Within seconds, the neighborhood became silent.

Ron was shocked by the massacre happened in front of him. Suddenly, a Cyborg stared at his direction. Ron quickly covered the window with the curtain. And he walked backward, away from the window. Suddenly, the Cyborg began to thrash on the door.

Ron quickly ran towards the back door. He opened the door and rushed outside, running away from the neighborhood where he lived for the past years.

Now, he had only one destination – his girl friend Sony's house. She was only a couple of blocks away from here. She might be alright.

Within seconds, he reached near Sony's house. Then he saw it. Possibly Sony's parents and her brother were standing outside, in the sunlight. All of them had become the Cyborgs.

Then he saw a movement inside the house, through the window. Then he saw it clearly. Sony was looking at him through the nearby window. She muttered something. Ron actually don't know what to do. If the Cyborgs outside see him, it would be the end of him.

Why were they actually standing in the sunlight? Their energy must be sunlight. They don't even move from where they stood. These things were certainly aliens. That was pretty certain to Ron.

Suddenly, Sony came outside the house, through the back door. And now, she was looking at him, alerted. Ron motioned at her to come towards him through the nearby bushes. She obeyed.

Suddenly, the Cyborgs outside her house saw them. The Cyborgs broke into a sprint towards them. Sony and Ron too broke into a sprint. Suddenly, a series of booms came from behind them. Ron stopped for a moment looked back. Then he saw it.

The Cyborgs had stopped pursuing them and they were now shooting laser bolts at Ron and Sony.

"Run, Sony, run," Ron yelled. Within seconds, they both exited the city. And no danger nearby.

Then, far away, Tony saw a military helicopter landing.

"Come on," Ron led Sony towards the helicopter.

One thing was certain – the world had begun to end.

* * *

Within minutes Ron and Sony reached near the helicopter. They saw a whole bunch of soldiers standing nearby, armed to the teeth.

"Kids, this way," A soldier yelled from behind the copter. Ron and Sony rushed towards that soldier.

Suddenly, a series of screeches came from nearby. Then Ron saw it. Hundreds of Cyborgs were rushing at them from a nearby corn field.

A soldier quickly pushed Ron and Sony to move inside a nearby tank. Ron and Sony climbed inside the tank. And the soldier closed the door from outside.

All of a sudden, a series of gunfire came from nearby. There was no one else inside the tank, and it seems that all soldiers were having a hard time fighting against the Cyborg horde. Ron could clearly hear the metallic screech of the Cyborgs.

A moment later, a series of screams came from outside.

"Ron,"

"Shh..."

"I am afraid."

"Shh... They might hear."

Ron quickly, silently moved towards the periscope and he analyzed the outside view. He turned the periscope several times, looking around. Then he saw it. A few dozens of Cyborgs were standing nearby. They all were standing in the sunlight, possibly waiting for a stimulus.

So, all the soldiers were dead for good.

"Shit," Ron muttered in a low voice.

"What is it?" Sony whispered.

"There are many of them outside."

"What would we do?"

"We have to wait till they move away."

Sony nodded.

They then waited and waited.

* * *

Hours passed. Ron and Sony began to get really hungry. Ron looked around him. Then he saw a few packets of bread and jam.

"Better than nothing." Ron said.

Within seconds they extinguished their hunger. A few moments later, Ron went near the periscope and he looked out again. The Cyborgs were still there.

"They are not moving," Ron complained.

Sony said nothing. She actually don't know what to do. They both were college students and it hadn't been that long since they both joined college. Sony thought about her parents and her brother. They were now gone. These things might be all over the world.

Where were they coming from? There was all the possibility that they were aliens. Whatever alien they were, they infected the normal humans and thus the Cyborgs were born. Nothing else makes sense.

Ron also couldn't believe that his parents were gone for good. He couldn't actually forget the good memories his parents gave him. Government should find a way to bring these Cyborgs back to their human form. But, Ron was afraid that, that might not be possible.

* * *

A week later

The Cyborgs finally moved away. Ron and Sony took a deep sigh of relief. The Cyborgs may have detected a stimulus. It was a fortune that they had food for a week. Ron finally emptied the bottle of orange juice and he stood up. Sony too stood up. Ron slowly opened the door on the roof and he slowly got outside. Then, he helped Sony to get out.

They both for a moment analyzed the view before them. They saw no dead bodies. But, they were certain that all the soldiers were dead for good. Where have they gone to? Then, Ron saw blood marks on the black road. A moment later, they spotted assault rifles. Ron took one and he checked.

"You know how to use it?" Sony asked.

"Video games." Ron said.

"Figures."

But Ron then dropped the rifle.

"You're not taking it?" She asked.

"The soldiers hadn't had a chance against them with these rifles. What good they would do to us against them?"

Sony said nothing. She just nodded.

"Come on, let's get out of here fast." Ron said.

There were many military Humvees and a copter nearby, but Ron and Sony didn't know how to operate any of them.

They slowly walked away from the town – their home – to the far away region which was beyond this road and tree land. A moment later, they increased their speed. The faster they reach a good place, the better.

Suddenly, a series of screeches came from the distant sky. Ron and Sony curiously peered at the sky. Then horror struck them. A pack of Cyborg birds were after them. All birds were flying in a formation, ready to cut down any flesh that stands in their way. The sunlight clearly reflected from their metal feathers.

"Run," Ron without further thought yelled. They both broke into a sprint through the lonely road.

Then far away, they saw a good looking house. Fortunately, the house was made up of brick and concrete instead of wood. So, they might be safe in there for a while from these mad Cyborgs.

Within seconds, they reached at the yard of the house. Then they saw it. A few dozens of human Cyborgs were lying on the yard, here and there, probably dead for good.

Then they saw it. The horde of Cyborg birds indeed reached near them. But, one by one, they all were raining from the sky, probably dead for good.

Something happened to them all. But nothing makes sense.

"What just happened? Did we win the war?" Sony asked with complete joy.

Ron was also full of joy, but he don't know what just happened. He was actually frozen at the scene in front of him.

"We didn't win anything, kids." Came a voice from inside the house.

Ron and Sony turned towards the sound. Then they saw it. An old man with spectacles was standing in the doorway.

"You did this?" Ron asked, curiously.

"Yeah."

"How?" Ron asked.

"It's dead simple. They were running on electricity. I just created an EMP transmitter, which you probably have heard in stories. An EMP wave would knock out electricity for good."

"So we could win." Sony said.

"Come on, get inside, before those things come up with a solution." The old man said.

Ron and Sony followed the man inside the house.

One thing was certain to Ron – a little hope was kindled inside him and inside Sony.

* * *

One Month Later

Don was a scientist. It was a fortune that Ron and Sony ran into him. The Cyborgs were still there in the neighborhood. But none of them tried to come here. Those who came were now dead for good.

Don actually created an EMP transmitter. Like the Cyborgs, EMP transmitter was working using solar energy. It was a small device having the size of a fourteen inch laptop with few inches of thickness.

"Don, how about placing that transmitter on a mobile phone tower. We might be able to smoke a good amount of Cyborgs that way." Ron suggested.

The three of them were watching the outside view through the window, and it was already evening.

Don thought for a moment. "That's a good idea. But, how are we supposed to do that. I am in no shape to climb a tower."

Ron does know that Don was an old man – pretty old for an apocalyptic world.

"Then teach me how." Ron said.

"Ron, it's dangerous. Especially with the presence of those Cyborg birds."

"I am willing to take that risk, Don. Please teach me."

Don again fell in thought. "Alright. I will tech you to fix that transmitter on a nearby tower." Don thought for a moment. "We may have to change the power source for the amplifier." Don muttered.

"Not just that." Ron said. "I also want to learn how you made that transmitter."

* * *

Jasper was alone for a month now. The single storied building, he was currently in, provided him all he wants to survive. But, now, he don't have any more food. Water was plenty since there was a well nearby. But, how long could a man survive just by drinking water?

Jasper one more time checked his gun's magazine. It was full. He could not stay here. Yesterday, a Cyborg dog tried to smash open the door. They might have detected his presence. He needs to be cautious.

His gun was now not very effective against the Cyborgs. But, it was all he got. Of course, he had five grenades in his vest.

Time to go.

Jasper cautiously exited the building. There was a maze of abandoned cars on the nearby road. And it looks like, the world began to die. Jasper could clearly see the withered trees. There weren't any leaves on nearby trees and a huge amount of dust had accumulated everywhere.

Whatever were that meteorites, they must have somehow affected plants, like the animals. Nothing else makes sense.

Jasper slowly navigated through the nearby sidewalk.

There seemed to be no birds in the sky. Maybe all birds might have mutated into Cyborgs. The surrounding was dead silent, but the swoosh of a wind could be heard clearly.

It was still horrific to know that Jasper was alone. Jasper first thought he could see one or two survivors here. But, so far, there wasn't anyone else. Suddenly, footsteps came from behind him. He turned back. Then he saw it. A Cyborg human was locked on to Jasper and at each passing second, the Cyborg was getting closer to Jasper.

"Shit." Jasper raised his rifle, trained at eye level, and then pulled the trigger. The Cyborg slowed down a little. But, the metal layer on its chest and stomach was stopping the bullets from piercing its body.

A moment later, his magazine ran empty. Jasper, with fluent movement, dropped the empty magazine and he fed the gun with a fresh magazine. The Cyborg almost reached near him. Jasper aimed at its head. Finally it stopped approaching, but then, it trained its arm at Jasper.

"Shit." A red circle appeared on its palm.

Jasper pulled the pin of a grenade and he dropped it where he stood, and he jumped across a nearby car.

With a boom, the grenade exploded, engulfing the nearby region in fire. And the laser bolt aimed at Jasper went astray.

The Cyborg must have lost its lock on Jasper. Jasper rolled under a nearby car and he hid there, forcing himself to stop his breathing.

Jasper peered at where the Cyborg was standing. Then he saw it moving away from the scene. These fucking things were getting stronger as days passes by. They might have mutated multiple times now.

Jasper saw no way to stop these fucking things from ending the world. May be it was god's will to end the world he knew.

In the horizon, sun began to set.

As night set around him, Jasper discarded the hiding spot and he started his walk to nowhere in particular.

* * *

As morning came, Ron, Sony and Don set out their journey to the nearby mobile tower. A few hours later, they found the first tower. Ron was hoping that he remember everything Don had taught him. One false move could end his life.

The mobile tower was nearby a small lake. After examining the surroundings for a moment, Don began to climb the tower. Their plan was to boost the EMP signal generated by the transmitter, which Don had created, using the mobile tower's amplifier.

It might work if Ron does exactly what Don had said.

As they saw no danger nearby, Ron began to climb the tower through the metal ladder fixed on the tower. The EMP transmitter was safely inside his backpack.

Within minutes, he reached at the top of the middle class tower. Suddenly, with a screech, a pack of Cyborg birds rushed at Ron. Ron quickly began to connect the transmitter on the tower's amplifier. Now, it would take couple of minutes to start its operation. Ron desperately looked at the solar panel. This single solar panel had to fire up the amplifier and the transmitter. Ron hopes that he connected everything correctly. The birds almost got near him.

"Ron, jump," Don shouted.

The birds almost caught him. And, at that last moment, he jumped into the water. The birds now shifted their attention on Don and Sony. Those things for a moment flew up, and then they came down, in a formation, to cut down anything that stands in their way.

Suddenly, the amplifier began to operate and all the birds fell down like a rain, dead for certain. Don and Sony walked backward with excitement as the birds fell onto the ground in front of them.

Ron quickly came up from the water and he smiled at Don. "Now, let's teach those bastards a lesson." Ron said.

Don and Sony nodded in unison.

* * *

Several days later

It was evening. Ron and Sony examined a nearby building through the scope of a binocular. They were now pretty far from Don's house. Their plan was to fix a solar powered EMP transmitter on the top of the tower which was on top of that building.

There weren't any Cyborgs nearby. And a silence hovered everywhere. They have to do this quickly, before the sun goes down. Those things were very active at night after Don and Ron launched that EMP transmitter nearby Don's house.

These things were certainly intelligent.

One thing Ron hate about EMP transmitter was that, the signal would destroy everything electronic. IC chips were an integral part of the transmitter. But they don't stand a chance against the EMP signal. Now, they have to construct EMP transmitter using basic components, such as resistors, diodes, transistors and solenoids.

Now, constructing the EMP transmitter was a very difficult job. They have to construct it from a region which was far away from the place where they had already placed the transmitters. For short, for constructing EMP transmitters, they need to be out of range from nearby EMP transmitters.

Ron quickly motioned at Sony to follow him. He opened the door and rushed towards the building. The building was a mega story structure. Everything looks safe. Within seconds, they got inside the building and they started climbing the staircase. After half an hour of climb, they reached the roof of the building. Then they saw the signal tower.

Without wasting further time, Ron climbed on top of the tower. As he reached the top, he drew out the transmitter and he connected it with the tower's amplifier. Then he drew out the solar panel from his backpack. He needs to divert the power lines of the amplifier to this solar panel. He quickly connected everything pretty well.

He then climbed down. As he reached the roof of the building, sun began to set in the horizon. Then, the screeches of Cyborgs began to come from various parts of the land. Panic and worry began to course through both of them.

Then they saw it. Hundreds of blue colored things came from the distant sky, like a pack of fireflies – Cyborg birds.

Ron and Sony quickly got inside the building and they closed all the nearby doors and windows.

Since the EMP transmitter had no battery, it was useless in the night. If they were fortunate, those birds won't mess with the transmitter.

Ron sat down on the floor, under a window. Sony also sat next to him. Sony then rested her head on his shoulders. The screeches increased outside as the time passes by.

* * *

Morning finally broke. Sony and Ron exited the room and entered on the roof. What they found was exciting. Hundreds of Cyborg birds were lying on the roof and nearby streets; dead for certain.

One thing was certain. The world had ended, no doubt; but, humans would survive whatever calamity that comes in their way, because, humans have one thing those things don't have – a soul, a soul that could turn a human into a wonder. This was just the beginning of the rise of the humans out of the ashes.

* * *

Jasper finally covered a great deal of distance from the last town. Then he saw it. At first he couldn't believe it. There were hundreds or thousands of Cyborgs lying in front of him – dead for certain. Something happened to them.

Jasper crouched down next to a human Cyborg and he analyzed it. It was certainly a very dangerous Cyborg. It had metal layers all over its body. It might have undergone multiple mutations. But, this thing was dead.

As he reached the end of the street, the sun began to set in the horizon. Then he heard it. The screech of the Cyborgs. So, they all weren't dead.

One thing was certain to Jasper. The fight had only just begun. The dead Cyborgs were a proof that someone had realized how to fight the Cyborgs. The war would rages on, until either humans or they, were dead.

The End

###

When They Came

In the middle of the Sahara desert, Professor Robertson was staring at his computer screen. A sand storm was approaching him from the west, and according to the computer, the storm would hit him tomorrow.

The cloth roof of the small make shift camp wavered in the wind. Robertson unbuttoned his shirt and he sat down on a nearby chair. It was very hot. And even the wind didn't offer any coldness.

Robertson works for Cambridge University and his job here was to study the desert. A few days ago, several people detected very unusual storms in these parts. That was exactly why he was here.

He had two colleagues with him. They took his truck and went to the nearest shop for buying food. They might get back here soon. Robertson took the last bottle of water and he emptied that bottle.

Suddenly, a loud swoosh came from the distant sky. Robertson quickly wore his cap and he got outside. He curiously peered at the sky around him, to find out what was that sound. Then, on his left he saw it. A gigantic ship, probably a space ship, was descending at high velocity.

Robertson hadn't heard about this kind of space ships before. The ship was like an elongated cylinder with a pointed nose. And within seconds, the ship crash landed nearby, throwing sand all over the place. The ground for a moment rumbled with a small tremor.

Robertson don't know what to do. He was actually frozen as well as mesmerized at the scene.

Nearly half of the ship was buried deep in the sand. And the other half was not touching the ground; it just projected into the air.

"Holy, fuck..." Robertson was beyond words.

A moment later, a series of questions pop up inside his head. From where does it come? Whose ship was it? Were aliens inside it? What kind of aliens would it be?

White smoke rose from various parts of the ship. The ship was huge; there might be an entire colony of aliens inside it.

Do he have to call it in, or do he have to wait for others to arrive here? He actually don't know what to do? He was puzzled by the wonder in front of him.

Suddenly, sound of a vehicle came from nearby. Stuart and Danny were here.

"Holy, mother of god," Danny, the tallest man, came out of the truck. "What the hell is that thing?"

"Call it in." Stuart said.

"How about going near it?" Robertson asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea. What if that was an alien vessel and what if they are hostile." Danny asked.

Stuart drew out his phone and he dialed someone.

Suddenly, with a loud boom, Stuart's phone exploded, throwing him to the sand, making him deaf.

"Ahh..." Stuart screamed out loud.

"Shit..." Robertson mumbled. He and Danny rushed towards Stuart. Stuart was screaming out loud, most probably with pain.

Stuart's one side of the head was blackened a little and there was sore spot on his ear.

"Take the first aid kit," Robertson said.

Danny rushes inside the make shift camp and he came back with the first aid kit.

Suddenly, a series of rumbling came from the distant sky – helicopters.

Robertson and Danny shifted their gaze at the sky. Then they saw it. A few dozens of helicopters were rushing towards the crash site. Then it happened. The helicopters did flew over Robertson's make shift camp; but before they reach anywhere near the crash site, all the helicopters crash landed on the nearby sand dunes.

"Holy, shit. What just happened?" Danny asked.

Robertson could see a few of the men trying to get out from the crashed helicopters. Then, Robertson and Danny witnessed the wonder. From the space ship crash site, a kind of green plant growth, similar to grass, propagated through the sand.

Robertson tried to avoid the green growth by walking backward, but the green growth quickly went through the sand under his boot and it expanded throughout the sand. Now, the sandy desert looks like a grass field even though the green growth was not that tall.

Then it happened. Numerous tree-like shoots projected up from the now green land. The men inside the helicopters were now crawling through the green land, looking for a sanctuary from pain.

A moment later, green colored leaf like growth appeared all over the new shoots. Now the desert looks like a forest, full of trees.

Robertson and Danny could not believe what they were witnessing. A moment later, the men who escaped from the helicopter crash site began to scream out loud. Robertson walked towards a nearby man who was screaming. Then he saw it. There was green growth all over the man's body. Something green was growing on their skin.

Then, Stuart also began to scream out loud. Robertson looked at Stuart and he was shocked to find that the green growth was propagating through his face.

"What is happening?" Danny asked.

"Whatever it is, it is spreading through the blood." Robertson said.

A moment later, all the screaming men stopped screaming. Robertson took a deep breath. He thinks that they were dead for good.

Suddenly, all those men stood up; but on four limbs. Then they all screeched. And they all, including Stuart, lunged at Robertson and Danny, with mouths open wide, showing sharp teeth.

"Shit," Robertson muttered.

"Ahh..." Robertson and Danny screamed out loud.

And everything began to end...

* * *

Two days later, somewhere in Europe

Doctor Jenny peered outside the hospital building, through her cabin's window. It hadn't been too long since her shift was over. The hospital building was near a lake and she could see lot of people enjoying the lake.

This place was in fact a common tourist location. Jenny then sat down on her chair and she shifted her concentration on the computer monitor. She quickly typed in the third chapter of her upcoming novel.

This place was inspiring her to keep writing. A few moments later, a staff came inside her cabin and he placed a cup of coffee and a loaf of bread on the table top.

Jenny took a deep breath and she quickly began to sip the coffee. The staff smiled at her, and he left the scene. Even though her shift was over, her working day would end only after five pm.

She was about to finish the bread when all of a sudden, a series of screams came from outside. Jenny stood up and went near the window, peering outside. Then she saw it.

Some kind of green growth, similar to grass, was magically propagating through the land. Within minutes, the nearby tarred road and the lake got completely filled with this green growth. From this distance, Jenny could not say it was grass or not. And people were running in different directions, screaming out loud.

Then it happened. The green growth began to appear on the hospital building's wall. Within seconds, Jenny's cabin got filled with that green growth.

"What the?"

Jenny was beyond words. The green growth was not grass, but it was some sort of plant, that was certain. Jenny, for a moment froze where she stood.

Suddenly, more screams came from within the hospital building. Something was happening. Right now, Jenny had no theory for how or why this green growth propagated through the land.

A moment later, Jenny again witnessed the wonder. Some kind of tree like shoots began to arise from the floor. Within seconds, the shoots grew to become a large tree like plant and at the next moment, green leaves appeared on the new trees. The trees made hole on the ceiling and they grew out of the building. Jenny looked outside through the now worn out window. Then she saw the tree like plants all over the ground. They were present even on top of the lake.

The screams of people increased as time passes on. Suddenly, two nurses opened the door to Jenny's cabin and they entered inside. At the moment they were in, one of the nurses closed and dead bolted the door with panic and worry. Both the nurses were crying.

Jenny actually don't know what was happening, and no words were forming in her mouth.

"What's happening?" Jenny finally asked.

It was then the nurses looking at Jenny.

"We don't know, ma'am." One of the nurses said. "It looks like this green growth mutated several patients. And those patients are killing other normal people."

"What?"

Suddenly, something began to thrash on the door from outside. One nurse looked outside through the peep hole and she stumbled backward with panic. "It's them."

Jenny quickly ran towards her desk which was filled with green growth. She opened the desk drawer and she took her cell phone. Then she saw it. Her cell phone was filled with that green growth, like all the other numerous materials inside the drawer. Jenny wiped the screen using the hem of her coat and she pressed the power button, but the phone remained blank.

"Shit," Jenny cursed.

A moment later, the thrashing stopped. Jenny went near the door and she peered outside. Then, she saw three green creatures, who walk on four limbs, walking away from the nearby corridor.

"What the hell?" Jenny slowly opened the door, but a nurse stopped her.

"Ma'am, don't. They are dangerous."

Jenny closed the door and she took a deep breath.

"We can't stay here forever." Jenny said.

"What can we do? Those things are all over the place. I think all the patients mutated into them."

"I have a car outside." Jenny said. "We could get out of here."

"How?" The nurse was crying.

"I am going to get my car." Jenny opened the door and she began to run through the now green corridor. A moment later, the two nurses followed her.

Jenny exited the corridor, and then she stopped. On the wide front room of the hospital, there were a few dozens of those creatures walking here and there. None had seen Jenny, yet.

Jenny slowly walked backward. The nurses also stopped near Jenny.

There were blood marks all over the floor. Suddenly, one of the once man beings looked at Jenny.

"Shit," Jenny bolted into a run, away from that end of the corridor.

Pursuing footsteps came from their back. Jenny opened the cabin door and she rushed inside. The nurses followed her. As soon as both the nurses were inside, Jenny closed the door.

"I told you. We can't escape from here." One of the nurses wailed.

Suddenly, those things began to thrash on the door from outside.

"Oh, god," One of the nurses said.

Jenny went near the window and she somehow lifted the window pane. Then she looked down. She could see a ladder a little far away. If she could get out, then through the ledge she could get to the ladder.

"Follow me," Jenny said. She quickly got outside the room and she stood on the ledge, calling the two nurses. The thrashing sound increased. The plywood door won't stand much long.

The nurses followed Jenny. Jenny slowly walked towards the ladder by tracing her hand along the now green wall.

Suddenly, the door to Jenny's cabin broke apart and the things rushed inside. Then it happened. One creature jumped out of the cabin, through the window, catching one of the nurses on the way.

"Oh, my god," The other nurse screamed.

Jenny finally reached near the ladder. No time to mourn. That nurse must be dead. Jenny then stood on the ladder and she quickly began to climb down. The other nurse followed Jenny. Fortunately there weren't any creatures nearby. Then far away, Jenny saw the creature which jumped out of her cabin. It was eating the nurse's corpse.

"Come on," Jenny said and they ran towards the nearby parking lot. The parking lot was filled with vehicles. Jenny drew out her key and she pressed the button on the remote. But no sound came from anywhere nearby.

"Shit," Jenny cursed and she went near her black sedan which was now filled with that green growth. There weren't any place or any vehicle without this green growth.

Jenny pulled the door and the door easily budged. She quickly got inside the car. The nurse also got inside the car. Jenny put the key in the keyhole and she turned the key. But the car remained silent.

"What happened?" The nurse asked.

"Car is dead." Jenny said, with a worry.

Suddenly, a few dozens of creatures arose from behind the hospital building. They all, for a moment, watched Jenny and the nurse. Then they growled. Then, they all rushed towards the car, on four limbs. Those things hardly look like humans. Their whole body was filled with that green growth.

"Shit," Jenny said.

"Ahh... God," The nurse screamed.

Then the windshield broke and they rushed inside the car, ending everything...

* * *

Somewhere in Indian Ocean, Ten days later

The fishing boat rocked in the wave. Ram and Soman were very busy laying the nets for catching fish. Suddenly it happened. A green grass like plant appeared everywhere on the ocean surface. A moment later, the boat also got filled with this green growth.

"What the?" Soman and Ram stood frozen. They don't know what just happened. They looked around them, and found this green growth everywhere.

"Let's get out of here. It is creeping me." Soman said.

Ram nodded and he entered inside the small cabin. Then he saw it. There was not a single place which was free from the green growth. Ram was mesmerized at the scene. He quickly put the key in ignition, but the boat remained silent.

"Shit. Soman, boat's dead."

"Ahh..." Then came Soman's scream.

Ram rushed outside. But he didn't saw Soman. Ram worriedly looked around him.

"Soman," Ram almost screamed.

Suddenly, Ram saw it. A big, green colored fin appeared outside the water. It had to be a shark, but do shark have green color

Then he saw it clearly. It was a shark, and it leapt in the air, at Ram. And at the next moment, the shark caught him. And with Ram, it dropped on the water, splashing blood all over the green plant growth.

A moment later, silence consumed the now green boat and the surrounding ocean.

* * *

Ten days later, International Space Station (ISS)

Zach stared at earth through the glass window of the space station. Earth was filled with clouds, and it had been like this for the last twenty days. And over this time, Zach and team haven't seen a single green or blue spots on earth. It seems that, a storm was ravaging the earth.

And, twenty days ago, they lost communication link with earth. Earth was now under radio silence. Zach and team first thought something must have malfunctioned inside the ISS. But that wasn't the problem. Problem was with the earth station. May be that storm must have destroyed all the antennas.

Now, living in ISS was becoming a difficult job. ISS' solar panels need maintenance and most importantly, they need food too. It was two months ago food arrived here for the last time.

If they don't repair the solar panels soon, within thirty days, the ISS would free fall to earth. Zach and team don't want to be in here when that happens.

A moment later, Jessica came near Zach.

"See any difference?" Jessica asked.

"No." Zach said.

Jessica came near the window and she peered outside.

"Hey, what was that?" Jessica pointed at a green spot on earth.

Zach looked there. Then they both saw it. The clouds were clearing away, and greenery reappeared on earth. But something was wrong.

Within seconds, the clouds fully cleared away, and earth was full of greenery, but they saw no blue oceans.

"What happened to the ocean?" Zach asked.

"I don't know." Jessica was beyond words.

A moment later, the five other astronauts came near Zach and Jessica. They all watched the now green earth with wonder.

"So, what's the plan?" Zach asked.

"We have no choice. We have to go to earth." Juan said.

"But, what if they fixed the communication link now that the storm was cleared?" Zach asked.

"We will wait for two more days. Then we will go to earth." Juan said.

Other astronauts nodded. It was the only thing they could do.

"Let's wait then," Zach mumbled and he stared at the green earth, with a load of questions.

* * *

Two days later

The storm on earth was over. Clouds cleared away, and now, the astronauts inside the space station could see earth as a green sphere. But, there was no sign of blue oceans. During the storm, something must have happened to the oceans. Maybe they have changed color. Only one way to find out the truth – they have to go there.

Zach and team finally got inside their ship. Zach and Jessica sat on the pilot's chair. Zach then activated a navigational map. He quickly plotted a course to somewhere in United States.

A few moments later, the ship successfully detached from ISS. Zach maneuvered the ship to earth.

* * *

The ship slowly landed on the ground at the already calculated destination. Zach and team removed their space suit and they wore normal clothing. A moment later, Zach pressed a button near the ramp and suddenly, the ramp opened downward. Thick air with an unusual smell blew inside the ship.

Zach and Jessica first climbed outside, followed by Juan and his team. Then they saw it. There was some kind of green grass like plant all over the place. Far away Zach spotted a building, but that building was also filled with this green plant.

Zach crouched down on the ground and he plucked a plant from the ground and he looked at it, curiously.

"What is this, guys? I haven't seen this plant ever." Zach said.

Juan walked towards a peculiar tree. And he looked at it curiously. "This tree also is peculiar."

"I think I get it." Jessica said. "It must be some kind of giant moss. And this tree must be its spore. Look at that peanut shaped head of that tree."

Zach and others nodded.

"Yeah. It indeed looks like a moss." Juan said.

"That storm must have drenched the entire earth." Zach said. "This allowed this moss to grow here."

"But, I don't think this was done by a storm." Juan said.

"What do you mean by that?" Zach asked.

"Because, these plants are not earthly. We haven't heard about this kind of moss before. And I don't think normal moss could grow to be like this big with any amount of water." Juan said.

"Juan's right. So far we haven't seen a single person other than us. Normally there would be thousands of people when we land." Jessica said.

"Right," Tom said. "Something might have happened to everyone."

"Come on; let's check that building over there. It hasn't been too long since sun broke in the horizon. And there is all the chance that we might find a person inside that building." Juan said.

They all slowly paced towards the building which was still far away.

* * *

A few minutes later, they all reached near the building. So far there was no sign of any human life. And that green moss was all over the place. In fact, they could not see the wall of the building, or the soil on the ground.

The front doorway of the building was crumbled long ago. They all entered inside the building and they began to climb a staircase to the upper level.

When they reached the third level roof of the building, a series of growls came from nearby. Zach went near an edge and he peered around the building. Then they saw it. Some kind of green colored creatures, which were hardly distinguishable from this green environment, came from the nearby tree land.

Zach and team worriedly looked at the creatures. Those things sniffed the air and walked around the building, like a dog. So far those things haven't seen them, yet.

These things were walking on four limbs and their face looked humane.

Suddenly one creature shifted its gaze at the roof of the building. Zach and team quickly stayed away from the edges.

Then, with a sharp howl, those things retreated into the nearby tree land.

"What the fuck was that?" Jessica asked.

Juan said, "My best guess is, Aliens."

* * *

Zach and team checked their cell phones for signal, but they found none. They then searched the building for any human life, but, they again found none. It seems that electricity was out. And all the electronic equipment was dead. The green moss was all over the wall of the building. They were even present on the ceiling. In fact, there was not a single thing which wasn't covered by this green moss.

No matter how hard they think, they were not getting any ideas about what might have happened here. Juan might be right. Those green creatures might be aliens. But, those things' head resembled humane. So, there was all the possibility that those things might have been once humans.

Something big happened here during that storm. But, Zach and team still weren't sure that that cloud system was a storm or not. They guess that that was a storm.

"Guys, we can't stay here forever." Zach said. "We have to search this whole place. There might be other humans somewhere here. And what if those things are harmless?"

"Zach is right." Juan said. "We have to search this whole place. But, if those things tried to kill us, we need something to protect ourselves from them."

"There are a few dozens of Tasers inside our ship." Jessica said.

"Okay," Juan said. "We will gather all the things we need from the ship, and we will search this whole planet if we have to. If fortunes are with us, our people may be safe inside an unknown facility built by our government."

They all nodded. With that settled, they left the building and within minutes, they entered inside their ship. Zach and Jessica went to the ship's storage room. Juan and rest of the team went to the food storage room for food.

A few minutes later, they all gathered inside the bridge. Zach and Jessica came back with a cardboard box full of Tasers. Juan and team came back with a few cardboard boxes of canned food.

They all sat around a table. Zach pressed a switch on the table, and suddenly, a digital map got displayed on the table.

Zach and team spent the next hour analyzing the map. So far, the GPS satellites work. But, now, they have no way to distinguish which place was which since that green moss was all over the place.

After a light meal, they all stood on the boarding ramp of the ship, looking outside. A moment later, they all threw on their back packs. Armed with Tasers and knives, they all slowly exited the ship. And they started their journey to nowhere in particular.

* * *

They passed many now-green buildings. There was an unusual silence all over the place. And nowhere looks safe. Most buildings' front glass doors were shattered long ago. The green moss hadn't taken over all the surface area of the glass windows and glass walls. But, glass structures seemed to have worn out even though it hadn't been too long since this green moss appeared here.

They looked here and there for any sign of life. But there was none. There were of course normal trees here and there. But, all of the trees' bark was filled with that green moss.

They in fact know no way to distinguish places. They climbed a steep hill, and they started descending. Suddenly, Juan motioned at everyone to stop. Everyone stopped and worriedly looked everywhere.

"What?" Zach asked. "I see nothing."

"Look in front of us, Zach." Juan said.

They all looked in front of them. But Zach and others saw nothing unusual apart from the green moss. Juan crouched down and he plucked a green moss. Then Zach and others saw it. There was a large water body in front of them. And the green moss was all over its surface.

Zach and Jessica for a moment lost in thoughts. There were of course those alien trees on the water surface. Zach looked all over the place in front of him. Far away, he could see rise and fall on earth, which might be marking the edges of this water body.

"Now what?" Jessica asked.

"Now, we have to be extremely careful." Juan said. "Come this way. One wrong step could end everything."

Zach and others nodded at Juan and they all followed Juan. Juan masterly walked along the edges of the water body. Zach could clearly see ripples forming on the water surface in the wind.

Before long, they climbed a rise and below, they could see a vast tree land. There, the number of alien trees was low. They all slowly start to descend.

Suddenly, with a growl, something rushed at them from behind them. Juan, Zach and others trained their Tasers and they looked back. Then they saw it. One of the green creatures was rushing at them. Its use of all four limbs made it super fast, like a cheetah. Its mouth was open wide and watery drool splashed sideways from its mouth.

Juan first fired. The Taser struck in its right hand. It immediately tumbled down. It tried to stand up and lurch forward, but Zach and Jessica pulled the trigger, and the Tasers struck on its chest and belly, paralyzing it.

Juan and Zach cautiously walked towards the creature. It was breathing heavily. But it was immobile, for now. Zach took a deep breath.

"What the hell is this thing?" Zach asked.

Juan crouched down and he ran his hand through the creature's body.

"It was definitely once human." Juan said. "Look at its hands and legs. And look at this." Juan pinched some kind of green envelop on the creature's body. "It's its clothe."

Zach stared at the now green clothe with wonder and worry.

"Something mutated him." Juan said. "May be, it might be this moss. Whatever it is, if we aren't careful, we might also catch it."

"What if it was over?" Zach asked.

"What?" Juan asked.

"The mutation, of course. What if the agent of mutation was airborne and what if it died out?" Zach asked.

"I don't think so." Juan said. "This might be alien work. And these mosses and its spores might be some kind of biological medium to facilitate terraforming our earth."

"You mean there are aliens out there, and they want to live here by exterminating us?" Jessica asked.

"Look around us." Juan said. "We are alone. Human race was exterminated. They might be anywhere. So watch everywhere!"

Zach, Jessica and others lost in thought, panic and worry surged through them. They were already afraid that Juan might say that.

It was certain that, they were alone here, in this green planet. Chances for finding a survivor were very slim. Most probably, they might not find any survivors. This planet had already terraformed. Now, they have to be careful. Or whatever hiding behind this camouflaged environment might kill them.

* * *

A Few minutes later, Zach and team climbed a small rise. Then, far away they saw a town in green color. There might be hundreds of buildings there alone. But, all buildings were covered by that green moss. They could see the unaffected, now worn out, glass windows. The glass windows reflected the sunlight at the survivors.

Juan walked in the front line, always alerted, leading others to the maze of crashed, now green vehicles. They passed many vehicles and they pushed forward. But, still, they saw no signs of human life, anywhere. Suddenly, a series of growls came from in front of them.

Juan motioned at others to stop moving. They all quickly stopped moving and they all cautiously looked around them. So far they saw no creatures. But, the growl lingered in the air, often spiking.

Juan cautiously went near the corner of a building, and he peered at the nearby street. Zach also went near Juan and he too peered. Then they saw it. A few dozens of green, mutated creatures were enjoying their time, like kittens. They walked here and there, growling, slapping their kinds' asses with their now paw hand.

Juan and Zach slowly walked backward. That street might be a den. If they weren't careful, those things would certainly end their lives.

Now, they have no way to move forward. The only street that would lead them to the exit of this town was blocked by those things.

"Now what?" Zach asked.

Juan thought for a moment. "We can rest inside one of the buildings. When they move away, we can continue."

They all nodded. They quickly got inside the building. Juan slowly closed the door. Suddenly, it happened. A creature walking nearby saw Juan and his team entering inside the building. And it lurched forward, and started to thrash the door.

"Shit," Juan cursed. "Run,"

They ran through the corridor. Suddenly, the door broke apart, and that creature rushed inside. Then two more creatures rushed inside the building, probably came attracted by the first creature's thrashing. Within seconds, Juan and team started climbing the stairs. Pursuing footsteps came from behind them. They all quickly got inside a nearby room and they closed and dead bolted the door.

Zach could hear those creatures' growls. They were searching for them. But, they haven't seen them getting inside this room.

Zach and team took a deep breath. Juan, without making a sound, went near the window and he peered outside. Zach also went near the window. At first, they saw nothing. Then they saw a few dozens of creatures staring at the building in which Juan, Zach and others were inside, in an odd manner.

"What would we do?" Zach asked.

Juan said nothing. He just stayed there, tuning his ears, for any sound from within the building. A moment later, they heard sound of glass being broken down. Those things might be really angry. Zach and Jessica sat on nearby chairs and they took a deep breath. Zach grabbed Jessica's left hand and he stroked, with a reassuring smile. Jessica smiled back, weakly. They all were afraid.

* * *

Hours passed, and the sound inside the building ceased. Zach and Juan went outside and they quickly, silently searched, looking whether those things left or not. Fortunately they heard or saw nothing dangerous to them.

They slowly started their walk towards the room where rest of the astronauts were in. They climbed down a staircase and saw the room. Suddenly, it happened. Two creatures, rushed inside that room. Zach then heard a series of ear breaking screams from that room.

"Shit," Juan muttered.

Jessica and team might have made some sort of sound; may be that was how those things spotted the room. They were dead. It was certain.

Tears welled up in Zach's eyes. Juan grabbed Zach's hand and he waked him to reality. They both need to run away, or those things would kill them too.

Zach and Juan quickly, silently started climbing the staircase to the roof. Within seconds, they reached on top of the roof. They could see a few dozens of mega story buildings nearby. All the buildings were filled with that green moss. And there were those spore carrying trees on most buildings' roof.

"Now what?" Zach asked.

"I don't know." Juan said, as a matter of fact.

They both were now alone. There might not be any survivors here. Whoever responsible for this might be somewhere nearby.

Zach saw no point in living. Juan also thinks the same. What was the point in living, if they were the only humans left alive in this planet?

Suddenly a rumbling came from all over the place. Zach and Juan looked around them. Then they saw it. The tree like shoots of moss, which carries the spore, was expanding and contracting sideways, continuously, and a blue glow was all over the peanut shaped spore.

"What is happening?" Zach asked. Zach was really worried beyond limits.

Juan thought for a moment. The whole land was now blinking in blue color. Then, it happened. The spores exploded, sending small spores all over the place. There were several spore carrying shoots on top of the roof. And they too exploded.

"Juan," Zach muttered with a worry.

"It seems that, the terraforming is finalizing." Juan said.

Suddenly, the tiny spores propagated through the air. Several tiny spores entered inside Zach's and Juan's body through their nose.

A moment later, both of them fell on their knees, with difficulty in breathing. They both took heavy breaths, but it seems that they were not getting any oxygen. Then, they both fell down, convulsing. And a moment later, both of their movement ceased. The yellow spore dust flew in the incoming wind to all over the nearby places.

* * *

Sahara Desert

The alien vessel was still in its initial position; half buried in the sand and half projecting up in the air. Even though it was a desert, no sand was now visible. The whole desert was filled with that green moss and the spore carrying trees were all over the place, making the desert look like a forest.

A moment later, the tree like shoots began to expand and contract sideways, continuously. Then, with a rumble, all the spores exploded, sending tiny yellow spores all over the place.

The terraforming was now complete.

A moment later, with a loud thud, the alien vessel's side ramp fell on to the greenish sand, creating a doorway on the vessel. Then, through the doorway came the aliens.

They look like humans, but they were not humans. They have two hand and two legs. They have two eyes and two ears, and one nose with two nasal cavities. But, all of their body was filled with large leaf-like scales. The scales were in green color, too.

One by one, all of them slowly climbed out of the vessel, to the green land. There might be thousand of these things inside this vessel.

One thing was certain. The aliens were here to invade earth. And now, the invasion was over. Now, there wasn't anyone standing against them, at least that was what they think. Now, they could live here.

Human race was extinct. No, they weren't extinct – they were mutated. And like them, all the living beings mutated into a cannibalistic version.

Was this the real end? Was this how it all ends?

Aliens certainly won. Their plan worked. They invaded. Now, only time could tell what happens next.

* * *

Its name was LE-12. It was one of the skilled of its kind. It for a moment stared at the alien land, then, it jumped onto the green land, from its ship. The alien grass was spreading and growing at an incredible rate. Within days, the grass would become mature, sucking all the water and nutrients they needed.

And when the grass reach maturity, LE-12's kind only need to stand on the grass. All the nutrients would enter inside their body through the grass. Its energy was obtained from the sun, and it was a photosynthetic being. That is, its green body would make the energy it needed from the sunlight and the nutrients the green grass accumulated.

The spores of the alien plant successfully reached maturity; otherwise its kind wouldn't have come outside their vessel.

It was an alien to this planet. Its home planet was far, far away. And there, the population reached beyond the limit. That was exactly why it and its kind were here.

The land it stands now was a huge desert, once. Now, the plant, alien to this planet, grew all over the place, terraforming the planet, as required. LE-12 walked along the rise, looking at the sun. Sun's heat was tolerable.

Its kind looked all over the universe for a planet to live. And finally they got it right. This planet had all things its kind needs, such as water, minerals, and many other nutrients and materials. It don't know what might have happened to the indigenous population. Most probably, they might be dead as the terraforming finalized.

There were many of its kind, standing here and there, looking at the sun. A group of its kind was doing something using a huge telescope. LE-12 was a young one, and it was only started knowing the incredible secret of life and heavenly bodies.

It was born in its ship, a few years ago, on the way to this alien planet. Its mom said that they were cast away from its home world as the population limit broke. According to its mom, its home planet was a beautiful planet. There were these alien trees all over the place, making the atmosphere completely pure for its kind to breath. But, those trees work well only with a population limit. If the population goes beyond the limit, the carbon dioxide emission would increase. Which would in turn kill the plants.

This planet was huge. It had seen this planet from the ship. This planet had many plants too, in other places. But, its kind could not breathe the planet's original air. That was exactly why they terraformed this planet by unleashing automatic growth mode of the alien plants. These alien plants need to touch only a water or land surface, to grow, and to propagate through the planet.

LE-12 wants to see the indigenous creatures. It was very curious to know anything under the sky. It wants friends, too. It had no friend among its kind. Actually no kids in its kind have friends. And nobody in its kind had friends. They won't talk, usually. Actually, they could not talk. But they communicate by means of telepathy. And once matured, the female population would mate with male population; they actually don't care mating with who.

LE-12 don't know who was its father. Its mom gave birth to twenty others of its kind, all have different fathers. Its kind was intelligent but, when it comes to mating, it was only for giving its kind's legacy to other incoming generations.

Its kind have technology far beyond reasonable. As far as it knows, no other planet's indigenous population had its kind's technology. And all of its kind's technology was driven by bioelectricity, which was also beyond comprehension to living beings of alien planets.

Its mom said that, many were cast away from its home world, to fetch other livable planets. And it hopes that they all might have found a place to live like its kind did.

It slowly walked through the land, enjoying the now cool breeze. Adults were all very busy preparing to establish a colony here. At first sight LE-12 fell in love with this planet. It was an amazing planet. And it was very huge than it had previously thought. Its vessel was actually anchored at this planet's outer orbit for about one year, studying the planet, before beginning the invasion.

It had eavesdropped adults communicating about a highly advanced living being in this planet. But it saw nothing. Adults also communicated about wide variety of species in this planet.

LE-12 was longing for a pet, too. It had red stories about pets. Yeah, its kind could read and write, in a digital slate. It was actually amazed at its kind's organization of knowledge. Its kind had a comprehensive digital library, too, in its vessel. Adults have an eye piece which could be used to access information inside the ship, quickly.

A few minutes later, adults built a huge makeshift camp using metal rods and metal sheets. Actually, the people in its home world gave its kind all the necessary material to colonize alien planets.

Suddenly, a communication link spiked in LE-12's ear. Its mom was calling it to the camp. It for a moment stared at the blue sky and the terraforming plants. Then it slowly walked towards the camp. At the time it reached near the camp, it saw something running, in the corner of its eye. It was something huge. It stopped and looked at the place where it saw the thing.

Then it saw clearly. A thing that walks on four limbs was staring at an adult who was looking at the sky through the scope of a telescope. The thing's face resembled that of LE-12's kind's face. But, there was something green all over its body, which made it adapt for this green environment. It was certain that the adult hadn't seen this creature, yet.

Suddenly, the thing opened its mouth, showing two sets of sharp teeth. LE-12 suddenly felt something wrong. It tried to fetch the adult's communication link, to warn it. But it failed. It actually don't know how to communicate well using telepathy.

Then, all happened in a fast pace. The creature that walks on four limbs jumped on top the adult and it ripped apart it. Green blood splashed all over the ground.

A sudden fearful communication link spiked in its ear. It bolted into a run towards the camp. The other adults were already inside the camp. They were trying to close the gate. And LE-12 got inside just in time when two more creatures arose from nearby, all showing their sharp teeth.

It fearfully stared at the creatures. Its mom came from nearby, and she hugged it. One thing was certain to LE-12. This planet was very hostile. And it would take all its kind's power to live peacefully here.

* * *

LE-12 and all of its kind stared at a monitor fixed on the nearby wall of the camp. They could not believe what they were seeing. There were a few dozens of four legged creatures outside. Some of them tried to thrash open the gate. Some stared at the camp, while some walked here and there, around the camp building.

All sort of warning signals spiked in LE-12's ear. Adults think that those things outside were the indigenous species. This place was once a desert. So, there would not be more of them around this place. And, so far, LE-12's kind didn't saw any intelligent living being. They were certain that an intelligent life form was here. They hope that all of those intelligent life forms were dead for good.

Actually, LE-12's kind was not looking for a fight. They were actually peace lovers. But, all things have demerits. LE-12 feels sorry for the dead indigenous species. But, whatever these four legged creatures were, they eat whatever flesh they could find. Its kind need to be alerted, always, or this planet would be a tomb for them all.

* * *

Sun began to set in the horizon. And still, there were many four legged creatures outside. LE-12's kind was now trapped inside this camp. They of course have weapons, but, all were inside the ship. Adults sat around a table and they all fell in discussion, telepathically.

LE-12 stood up from its mom's lap and it slowly walked towards the gate. As it reached near the gate, it stopped for a moment and looked back at its mom. Mom was staring at it. LE-12 then went near the gate and it peered outside. Now, the last rays of sunlight, of the day, was seeping inside the camp through the gaps on the gate.

It looked for the four legged creatures. Then it found two of them staring at the gate from under an alien tree. Those things have about the same size as that of LE-12's kind. But, they were ferocious. Some kind of drool was oozing down from all of their mouth. It was certain that, these things don't have much intelligence. Some of the kids came near LE-12 and they too peered outside.

LE-12 for a moment smiled at the fellow kids. Then, it ran towards its mother.

* * *

Its name was LE-0. It stared at the makeshift camp its kind had built outside. Its ear was detecting a spike in panic signature from the land below. It slowly walked towards the monitor.

LE-0 was the leader of this group of its kind. It and its group were here on search for a place to live. It thought this place was perfect. But, something down there was inducing panic in its fellow mates.

LE-0 swiped across the monitor. Suddenly, all the ship's cameras began to operate. It slowly analyzed one video after another.

LE-0 was alone in the bridge. All others went to various parts of the planet, in small flying saucers, to analyze the planet thoroughly. So far, it didn't get any messages from the team that went away.

Suddenly, it spotted a movement from near the camp. It dragged that visual on to the center of the screen. It looks like, some kind of four legged humanoids were out there. Then it saw green blood near one of the creatures. It seems that, that thing killed one of LE-0's kind.

This planet was certainly a hostile environment. It thought all the indigenous species died out when the terraforming finalized. In theory, they should have died. But, something happened. Did its scientists' calculation went astray? It had to do something, or its group inside the camp would die due to hunger. Of course they don't have to eat like other species of animals.

Actually, it and its kind don't have mouth; but they have a small cut in the place of the mouth. It only need sunlight and water and nutrients the alien plants absorbed from the land.

But, days inside the camp may kill them. They need to be in the light for at least one hour a day. It quickly stood up from its chair and it ran out of the bridge, towards the defense wing. Within seconds, LE-0 entered inside the defense wing and it took a laser gun from the stack of various types of weapons. It checked its magazine. Then, without wasting time, it ran towards the boarding ramp.

* * *

LE-0 reached near the boarding ramp when sun fully set in the horizon. But it could see in the darkness well. And so could them. It quickly counted the creatures. There seemed to be only five of them were nearby. But it wasn't certain about the number. Anything could happen in this dark. So, it needs to be careful.

LE-0 trained the gun at the nearest humanoid, and it pulled the trigger. The blue laser bolt instantly killed the creature. Suddenly, other creatures become very active. They began to thrash open the gate of the camp. Two of them started jumping in the air hoping they could get inside the boarding ramp of the ship. LE-0 fluently trained the gun and pulled the trigger, several times. Finally all the creatures dropped dead.

Suddenly, a screech came from far away land. It seems that there were more of them out there. But, so far, no more creatures tried to come towards this location. It was certain that, those humanoids learnt a lesson today. If they haven't learnt anything, LE-0 had more in its arsenal. But, its kind was well known to be peace lovers.

A moment later, two of its kind opened the gate and they sent a question link to LE-0. LE-0 quickly sent an all-safe signal, telepathically.

A few hours later, five flying saucers returned. All of them found those humanoids all over the place and LE-0 lost ten of its kind today. It didn't slept that night. It was actually thinking for a way to establish a colony here, without killing those creatures. Its priority was to build a civilization, without harming any indigenous living beings. All the indigenous living being which stayed alive, even after the terraforming process, were said to be potentially adaptable living beings.

LE-0 could not harm such creatures because, they were the legacy of this planet. And that legacy was hard to find in today's universe.

As morning broke in the horizon, it stood up from its bed. It now had a plan. It and its kind need to expand their territory here. And for that, it could kill one or two creatures. Once, this place was a desert. So, there might not be much living beings here. Actually that was exactly why it chose this location in the first place.

It stood near the window and it ran its eyes through the land below. It was time for the next phase – expansion!

* * *

Many years later

Its name was Lala. And it was a humanoid. Its kind was once a four legged creature. And that four legged creature was once known as humans, who could walk on two legs, just like Lala.

It uses its front legs as hands. It was an intelligent being. And its skin was filled with green spots. It doesn't wear anything to cover its shyness. Actually, it doesn't feel any shyness, since it was a thing. Its ancestor, humans, might have been sane, but it wasn't, at least not that much.

Its kind once ate raw human flesh. Now it eats raw alien flesh. Those green things' green flesh and green blood were very tasty. But getting one such thing was difficult, but its kind always managed to get one of them all week.

Those things were actually dumb to its kind. And its kind was lot brainier than those things; at least that was what it thinks.

Its kind now uses stone tipped spears and bow and arrow, to hunt down the aliens. Lala had a stone spear. Lala slowly exited the concrete cave and it looked here and there for anything good to eat. There was lot of its kind here and there on the nearby pavement.

The whole place was covered with greenery and there was not a single place without trees. So far, those aliens never came here looking for a fight. But, when Lala's kind attacks the aliens, those things use some kind of light shooting weapon to kill Lala's kind.

Lala lost so many of its kind. But, those things lost many of them. Those things had expanded their territory to more places where Lala's kind once thrived. Many of Lala's kind came here escaping from those things. Those things were dumb because those things always go outside the protection of their wall. And Lala's kind would hunt them down. But, those things have huge light shooting weapons on top of the wall, always looking for any danger.

And Lala's kind always lose some of its kind. Now, Lala and team were preparing to storm inside the wall. Lala's kind was hungry all day. They were not getting much food to completely satisfy all of its kind.

Lala slowly walked through the dark, leaf covered, pavement, looking for something to eat. It eat fruits too, though, meat was lot tastier and healthy.

There were many animals and birds like its kind, whose body had become entirely covered with green spots. Lala and its kind won't attack those things. But, there were once many wild deer and stags. Those creatures were edible to its kind. Those things' population suddenly decreased since Lala's kind were many. But, those things come to these lands, rarely. And now, Lala's kind won't hurt those normal animals. But, when their population increase, Lala's kind would hunt them.

Before long, Lala exited the colony and it entered inside a grass field. Far away, it could see the huge wall the aliens had built. It was about noon, and this time, Lala could often see those aliens warming up in the sunlight, outside their wall. It was a long walk. So, Lala quickly bolted into a run. Most of its kind must be there, looking for a way to hunt those things.

Within minutes, Lala reached near the gate. It stopped behind a tree. Then it saw it. A few dozens of its kind were lying down on the nearby field, most probably dead for good. It looked up at the wall. It could see those gigantic weapons. And it seems that nobody was on top of the wall. It looked at the field near the gate. Then it saw two green aliens standing nearby. Those things were as guessed, warming up in the sunlight.

It was its chance. Lala slowly walked towards one of the aliens, with one eye on the top of the gate and one eye on the alien. These dump aliens haven't even opened their eyes. These things look small. Might be children.

Suddenly a movement came from top of the wall. But, Lala already caught its victim. Lala dragged that alien with it, towards the tree land. These things weren't even making any sound. Surely, pretty dumb. The nearby alien stared at Lala; it was shivering. The alien Lala had caught was wriggling violently, hoping Lala would show mercy. But Lala won't do that.

Suddenly, a light bolt struck on the ground, nearby Lala. Those things on the wall had seen Lala. Lala hid behind a tree. The alien tried to stand up and run away. But Lala quickly drew its spear from the nearby ground and it stabbed on the alien's back. Abruptly, green blood sprayed out. Lala licked its lips and it quickly dragged the dead alien away from the gate.

* * *

LE-0 was furious at this. Its kind was losing so many of its kind. Those fucking indigenous things were always out there, looking for a fight. LE-0 almost forgot that its kind was peace lovers. But, it could not allow this again. This was clearly beyond the critical line. It should make the move, and kill them for good, or he might lose many of its kind.

Suddenly, an unusually high panic signal spiked in its ear. It slowly followed the intuition, towards the nearby window. From this multi story building, it could see everything in the surrounding. It looked at nearby houses and at the wall.

Shit! The wall! Those things were scaling the wall and a few dozens of them were already on the ground, feeding on its kind. And more of them were pouring in from the other side of the wall. Those things learned to scale, somehow. LE-0 thought they were all dumb. His calculations went astray.

It quickly tried to get a signal on any nearby people of its kind. But it detected none. Shit. This was well beyond the border. It quickly ran out of the room, withdrawing its laser gun from the holster. Within seconds, it was on the ground, shooting down the nasty things.

By this time, other guards came forward and they somehow won over. Happy signals jolted through its ear. Why these people were happy, now? They just lost about a few dozens of citizen, and its fellow mates were happy?

Its kind was really peace lovers. But that time was gone. It was time to make a stand. It was time to teach them a lesson. It was time to prove that this planet truly belongs to its kind.

* * *

A Few Years Later

After the first attempt at breaching the wall, Lala and his team remained in the dark for a few years. First attempt succeeded, but, those things then began to come to the front line, to kill Lala's kind.

Over the last few years, Lala and team were on the run. Those things took over Lala's last colony and those things made it their lair. Now Lala could think clearly, and now, Lala and his team had a new plan. No one could guess what a hungry fellow would do for food. Those aliens should have known that. And Lala would teach them that.

And once again, Lala and his team would breach those things' wall, for good.

Lala thought about the future while sharpening the metal tip of his arrow. There were many of his kind near him. All were very busy doing finishing touches on their weapons. A few minutes later, Lala completed sharpening his last arrow. Lala placed the arrows in a bamboo quiver, and he stood up. He for a moment glanced at the far away alien wall. He could clearly see the alien towers, just outside the wall.

Those things took everything from him. And now, he and his team would take everything from them. One of the nearby Lala's kind suddenly made a panic sound. Lala turned back towards the sound. Then he saw it. A few dozens of green aliens were approaching from behind them. But those things haven't seen them, yet. They were climbing down a hill.

Lala acted fast. He threw on the quiver full of arrows on his back and he armed the bow. And he made a special sound indicating that everyone should hide behind the trees.

Now, those things began to come to fight with them. Lala should teach them a lesson or they would think that Lala's kind was weak. Leading a few dozens of people was very difficult. But, all were loyal to Lala; that was actually a relief to Lala.

Lala and team hid behind the trees and they braced for whatever about to happen. Lala then motioned his hand at few of his team mates to climb the trees. Instantly they obeyed. Lala took aim at the first alien. Those things' weapons were a horrifying scene. Those weapons killed many of his kind; not anymore. Lala released his arrow. And instantly, all of Lala's kind released their arrows.

Shining arrows fell on top of the alien horde, like a rain.

* * *

Two days later

LE-0 walked briskly, to and fro, along the bridge of his vessel.

Two days had passed. And there was still no news from the team that went south. Satellites detected a heavy movement of those creatures in the south. And now, there was no movement anymore.

Something bad might have happened to them. It was time for him to come to the front line. Or, those things would breach the wall again.

Finally, LE-0 made up his mind. It was time to go.

* * *

Lala and team took a deep sigh. They just finished last of the smoked alien meat. It was a hell of a feasting. It was actually a fortune Lala knew how to make fire. But, getting firewood in this place was very difficult. Those gigantic peanut shaped fruit tree was all over the place. That was exactly why the firewood was low here. Even if they found firewood, those dry wood mostly might be filled with a green growth. Lala and team had to remove those green growth from the wood, or the wood won't catch fire.

Lala took his bow and quiver full of arrows from the nearby tree shade. He for a moment stared at the far away wall. He and his team were going that way. More of his kind would join after noon. They have been planning this for years. And now, that time had come.

Lala made a sound and he motioned his right hand, indicating that his kind should gather around him. They all obeyed. Lala looked at the sun. Then he took a stick from the ground and he motioned the stick at his kind. His kind quickly divided into a number of small groups. Then Lala nodded his head, and suddenly, everyone bolted into a run, in different directions, but all towards the wall.

Lala's plan was to breach the wall from different locations. At noon, there won't be anyone on top of the wall. That was Lala's kind's chance. Lala quickly ran behind the last group, towards the wall.

* * *

LE-0 stared at his team of soldiers. There were hundreds of people before him. They all were going to the nearby forest. From there, they would split into small teams and they all would go to different locations. For now, they were only going to the south direction; mainly to find out the whereabouts of his last team.

They would exterminate any creatures that stand in their way. Sun was moving away from its highest position. LE-0 quickly sent a signal to the soldiers that it was time. They all quickly drew out their large laser guns and they all bolted into a run towards the gate.

* * *

Lala and his team reached near the gate. Far away, they could see the alien towers, just outside the wall. This wall was actually gigantic. And it was made by an unknown material.

As guessed, many of Lala's kind joined him from nearby. They all were waiting for him. Lala motioned at a nearby fellow to climb the wall. Quickly, nearby fellows came towards the wall with large vines and metal hooks. They all threw the vine towards the top of the wall. Within seconds, the hooks got attached to the edges of the top wall.

Lala smiled at his fellow mates. It was all looking good.

* * *

LE-0 and his team were pretty far from the gate, deep inside a forest, searching for any creatures. Those things quickly adapted to this environment. He needs to be careful or this planet would be a tomb for them all.

Suddenly, a sharp panic signature struck his ears. Shit! LE-0 and his team stopped moving. The panic signal was originated from their colony.

Those things were inside the gate, killing his kind. LE-0 forgot to place soldiers inside the colony. He was so concentrated on killing those things. Shit, this was getting out of his hand's reach.

LE-0 and team bolted into a run towards the colony. If fortunes were with them, nothing bad might have happened. But, LE-0 knew that, that won't be happening. May be they chose the wrong planet, in the first place. May be!

* * *

At the time LE-0 and team reached inside the gates, a rain of metal tipped arrows fell from the sky. LE-0 masterly dodged the arrows, but many in his team dropped dead.

Shit! LE-0 trained the gun at the nearest native and he pulled the trigger. By this time, others in his team also pulled the trigger, pointing at the native creatures. Many dropped dead, instantly.

Then, LE-0 saw it. In front of the nearby houses lay a few dozens of his kind, all were bleeding uncontrollably, dead for certain. Suddenly, with a loud rumble, his vessel flew up. The gigantic cylindrical vessel quickly flew into the clouds. Shit! Some of his kind might be escaping the planet, by leaving him. He looked around him. A few packs of native birds were already started their feast on the dead bodies.

This planet really was their tomb.

* * *

Lala looked up. A gigantic cylindrical shaped thing just flew up and it flew into the clouds. Within seconds, the vessel disappeared from his vision. Those dumb ass aliens were escaping, that's certain. Escape; that's exactly what they should do.

Suddenly, a few armed green aliens came from outside the gate and they started shooting down Lala's kind. Lala motioned at his nearby people to hide behind the houses. They obeyed. Lala should finish those scum bags. Lala aimed his bow at the nearest armed alien and he released the arrow. That alien instantly dropped dead.

Suddenly, a tall alien started to shoot wildly. And that alien rushed towards Lala. Lala dropped his bow and he drew out his stone knife. The alien dropped its weapon, and it drew out a shiny knife from its waistband belt.

Lala rushed forward, slashing wildly. The alien dodged each slash and it suddenly kicked at Lala in his midsection. Lala stumbled backward and he fell down with his back facing the ground. Lala jumped to his feet, and he rushed forward, breathing steadily.

By this time, the sound of the alien vessel also diminished. And the alien for a moment stopped attacking. It drew up fresh oxygen. And it looked up at the sky. Lala saw a worry in its face. These dumb ass aliens were now alone. Nobody would be coming to help them now. Lala took a deep sigh, and he drew out his stone tipped spear from his back. And he threw the spear at the alien. The alien looked at Lala. Lala swears it could have dodged the spear. But it didn't. It put up a smile, and instantly, the spear pierced its abdomen. And it dropped dead.

And the fight was far from over. A few remaining aliens ran into the nearby forest. Lala smiled. Now, the alien threat was over. Lala looked around him and he smiled at his team. This place was perfect for raising children. Those things took Lala's colony away from him. And now, Lala grabbed those things' colony from them.

And the fight was over.

* * *

Human race was here for a reason. And that reason was not yet revealed. Otherwise, they would never have adapted to this terraformed environment. Even though it took a few generations to reach the right human formula, they reached it; that was the only thing which matters.

This was not the end of human race. Today was the day human race was reborn, for a greater purpose, whatever that was.

The End

###

My First Rain

Her name was Lola. She was named that because she was a good laugher. She was now a young woman, but, she was now alone. She didn't know how old she was. But, she knew that, her mother died of fever when Lola was five years old.

And after her mother's death, Lola hadn't seen a single human being, anywhere.

She was now living on the foothills of a huge snowy mountain. There was still snow, but snow fall had dramatically reduced a long time ago.

And there was a lake nearby her wooden house, which was now a small ditch having a little water. All the water for Lola's needs was obtained from that ditch.

The thing was, there was no rain for many years. In fact, for her entire life time, she hadn't witnessed the thing called rain, ever. She learned about rain when she was a kid, when always hanging on her mother's skirt, shyly.

Even though she was alone for a long time, she doesn't feel anything peculiar about that. But, she does think that she was now a little cracked in her head. In her free time, she talks alone, to no one in particular.

She rarely goes out. Nearby her house, there was a small potato field where she cultivates potatoes for her use.

Everything she now knows was given to her by her mother. But, now, she barely remembers her mother. She doesn't know who her father was. But she knew that her father died long before her mother went to heaven.

The fact was, Lola was a naive young woman, without proper knowledge about the world. Her house and the surrounding were her world. And since there were hungry wild animals outside, she won't wander away far from her house.

Some god may be looking at her all the time; otherwise, her water source would have become dry long ago. And her potato field still had necessary moisture.

The sunlight was always very hot, but, usually a cool wind would cycle through her house twice a day. The land was actually pretty dry. And far away, on the other side of the mountain, there were wastelands. Nothing grows there anymore. There were leafless dead trees all over the wasteland.

The only green growth in nearby land was on her house's perimeter and on the potato field. What was left out of that lake was nurturing the potato field and nearby trees well. There weren't much green trees nearby. But, there were lot of dead trees. And she gets lot of firewood for her use.

Even though it was very hot during the day, the night usually was very cold. And what worse was, she ran out of match sticks. She now uses two stones to light a fire by colliding them together in a special fashion.

And in all this hell, she actually made a small heaven in her house's perimeter.

* * *

Lola woke up hearing a series of bangs. She sat up on the small bed and she looked up. The metal sheets were very old, and in the wind, they were flapping, making bangs. A usual thing.

Lola took a deep sigh. She stood up and went near the window and she peered outside. Outside was still plunged in darkness. And a cold wind blew inside her house, through the door less window.

She wrapped her hands across her chest and she slowly went near the bed. She lay down on the bed and she covered her body with the blanket.

And she slowly closed her eyes.

* * *

As morning sunlight began to seep inside through the window, she removed the blanket and she stood up. Then, she bends her body and took a long yawn. And that marked the beginning of her day.

She went outside with a bucket and a cup, and she walked towards the nearby ditch, where the legacy of the mighty lake remains. She crouched down on the sandy ground and she quickly filled the bucket with water, using the cup.

With the water, she entered inside the house. She placed the bucket full of water on top of the kitchen counter and she went inside the nearby storage room.

Inside the storage room lie a few plastic bags full of potatoes. She took a few potatoes inside a small cookware. And she marched towards the kitchen. Potato was her breakfast.

* * *

After eating the cooked potatoes, she took her kitchen knife and she exited her house.

She stood on the green yard and she peered around her, at the nearby mountain and at the dry valley nearby. It had been a few days after she began to have a hunger for meat. She had eaten lot of meat when her mom was around. After her mom was gone, getting meat was very difficult.

She does remember her mother's instructions on how to get meat. Since it had been too long her mother died, Lola wasn't certain she could find meat here. Most herbivores might have either become meals to carnivores or they might have died out.

Anyway, with a leap of faith, she set out on a small journey to the mountains, to find a little meat. If she was fortune, no carnivores would cross her path.

* * *

At the time she reached near the snowy landscape, a snow fall started. It was very light, just showering. As the cool snow crystals touched her bare skin, she felt really cool. With joy, she looked up at the peak of the mountain.

"Do you love it, Lola?" She asked herself.

"Yeah, I love it." A couple of seconds later she said herself.

She spent a few more minutes enjoying the snow fall.

"Lola, we are not here to see snow fall, but to find meat." She reminded herself.

"Okay, okay."

She quickly examined her surroundings. Far away, on the foothills, she could still see her house. She then walked deeper into the mountain landscape. There were numerous small hills nearby. She looked at the ground for any footprints of any animal. Her goal was to follow a footprint, and kill whatever animal was at the end of the trail and go home with the meat.

But, sadly, she found no footprints, and no sign of life forms anywhere. A few more moments later, she reached a point from where her house was not visible.

"Lola, we weren't here before."

"Yeah. Let's head back."

"But, I want meat."

"Away from home means danger, Lola."

"Okay, let's head back."

She nodded herself.

Suddenly, the whole place began to plunge in darkness, slowly.

"What the?"

All of a sudden, an intense light bolt crawled through the distant sky, like a snake. And the whole place got lightened up. But it lasted only a few seconds. Then, an ear breaking bang came from the sky.

She looked up at the sky and found black clouds gathering.

"What is happening, Lola?" She was completely confused.

"I don't know, Lola." A little fear began to creep through her leg.

The light bolt again came, and again, and again. And after each light bolt disappeared from the air, instantly, an ear breaking bang came.

A few moments later, water drops began to fall from the sky. She looked up.

"Rain!" She couldn't believe it. She thought she would never witness a rain. Then, here it was.

She bolted into a run towards her house.

The whole place got covered in darkness, as the black clouds enveloped the sun. But, everything was faintly visible. As time passed on, the showering rain got stronger and stronger.

By the time she reached inside her house, she got completely drenched in water.

"I love it." She actually couldn't express her joy. It was beyond words.

Water droplets made a series of bang on the metal sheeted roof. She went near the window and peered outside. Within seconds, the nearby ditch, from where she takes water, began to over flow.

She was completely mesmerized by it.

She quickly stripped her shirt and skirt and she dried her body using a towel. Then, she wore a pair of dry jeans and a matching blue shirt. The rain continues to fall.

She went near the window and peered outside. Then, horror struck her. The lake was expanding outside, and the water almost touched her house.

"Shit, god,"

And at the next moment, water seeped inside the house through the doorway.

* * *

Water began to pour inside. She had to get out, or the lake would swallow her.

She quickly ran towards a corner and she grabbed her old back pack. She put several knives in it. And with the back pack, she ran out through the back door.

She didn't stop in her backyard. She ran away from the house, to higher grounds. As she climbed a hill, she stopped for a moment and she looked back.

Then she saw it. The lake had swallowed most of her house, and the water was claiming more space as time passes. She now knows one thing – the lake would swallow everything around here. Her potato field already got under the water.

The worst was the rain. The rain was still very strong. Now, she actually doesn't know what to do. She was actually puzzled. Where would she go? And it looks like the rain won't stop any time soon. First, she was hungry to see a rain. Now, she felt hatred towards rain.

A moment later, the lake fully consumed her house. Now, there was no sign of her house any more.

By this time, she got completely drenched in rain water. The lake was huge. Why on earth did her mother built a house near the lake? She was certain that her mother must have known that one day the lake would reclaim its place.

All around the lake, there were hills. And the lake was on its never-ending journey to over flow.

There was nothing left here for her. Lola finally made up her mind. It was time to go away. Since water would be plenty, she didn't have to worry about becoming thirsty.

She quickly walked towards the mountain.

If she was fortunate, she would find a better place to spend rest of her life.

* * *

After the long trek, Lola reached the other side of the mountain. The area was still in partial darkness as the sun was hidden behind black clouds.

Down below, she saw the wasteland. Hundreds of dead trees were projecting up from the ground, in the wasteland.

Lola slowly started climbing down. Suddenly, a loud swoosh came from the nearby sky. In the sound of rain, she could clearly hear the swoosh. She looked here and there at the sky.

Then, she saw it. A small flying vessel that looks like a convex lens was approaching her from the distant sky.

She finally climbed down the small hill, and she set her foot on the wasteland. Then, curiously, she looked up at the flying vessel which now hovers over her.

She had no clue what it was. She had heard about planes and helicopters, but, never this.

A moment later, a blue light came from under the vessel. And all of a sudden, as the light met Lola, she flew into the vessel.

* * *

Lola was with complete joy. Someone might be transporting her to any nearby population centers. Inside the vessel, she saw no one. And the room in which she was in was completely empty.

She patiently sat down on the white floor and she waited.

* * *

A few hours passed. Finally, she heard the vessel landing somewhere. Suddenly, the floor she was sitting on disappeared, and she fell on to another floor. Pain immediately coursed through her body. She winced and somehow sat up. The vessel quickly flew up and it flew into the distant sky.

It was then she saw the place she was in. She was inside a huge flying vessel. She was certain that because, she was near the clouds. She stood up and walked towards a nearby edge. Then, through the glass wall she saw it. She was certainly on a huge flying vessel. Down below, she could see the wasteland.

And the rain was still falling outside. But, even though the vessel doesn't have a roof, the water didn't fell on top of her. She looked up closely. Then she saw it. Some kind of transparent layer was on top of this vessel, and water was flowing to a side trough the doom shape of the transparent layer.

But, the puzzling thing was, the small flying vessel did fly out through that transparent layer. It was certainly a mesmerizing thing.

Now, where were people? There must be someone here. Then she saw a staircase to the lower levels of the vessel. But, she hesitated. Something was entirely wrong here. Why nobody was coming to lead her to her own room where there might be dry clothes and warm food.

Then the people came; only that, these weren't the regular people. These were some kind of monsters. Their face indeed looks like regular people's. But, they have a pair of horns on their head.

"What the hell?" She was completely puzzled by it. But, she didn't feel any fear. They indeed look calm. This might be a home for her. She thought.

* * *

There were many horn-headed people. And one man grabbed Lola's hand. And it said something. But, Lola didn't know his language "I am sorry, I don't understand."

He looked straight into Lola's eyes. Then he dragged her towards the staircase.

"Hey, let me go. I will follow you." Lola said.

But he was not going to do that. He forced Lola to move. They climbed down the staircase. And he moved her deep into the vessel. Other horn headed men and women followed them behind.

Then, he stopped in front of a door. What peculiar about the door was, it was made up of metal rods. Just like the door of a prison. And through the door, Lola saw a small creature. The creature looks like a human, but it was not. It was not wearing any clothes and its skin was in yellow-green color.

Lola looked up at the horn headed man's face. His face was devoid of emotions. Then, the horn headed man opened the prison door and he pushed her into the prison. As soon as she was in, he closed the door behind her.

"Hey, let me out." Lola screamed out loud, beating on the door with her fists.

This was not supposed to happen. She thought they were friendly. She was their prisoner?

"God,"

She then curiously looked at the creature. It looks very calm, but in one look, she understood one thing about it – it was tired.

She sat down nearby the creature with her back on the solid wall.

"Who are you?" She asked.

No response came.

She nodded at it. It probably doesn't understand her language.

"Why did they put me here?" She asked herself. "Oh, I am hungry, too."

She stood up and went near the door.

"Open this door, bitches. Let me out." She screamed out loud.

"They won't let you go." Suddenly, the creature said.

She looked back at the creature with full of joy in seeing someone who talks her language.

"You know my language?"

"Yeah, and more,"

"Why did they lock me up here?"

"Because, that's what they do to your kind."

"So, they are not humans?"

"No."

"Are you human?"

"No."

"Then, why are you here?"

"Because that's what they do to my kind, too."

Lola nodded and she sat up on the floor.

"God, save me." She said herself.

"I can save you."

"What? How?" She was full of joy.

"I will tell you. But, first, I need some water."

"Will they give water?"

"No."

"Then, how am I supposed to give you water, in this locked room?"

"Your shirt is drenched in rain water. Give me your shirt."

Lola for a moment thought. Then she unbuttoned her shirt and she gave the shirt to the creature. The creature folded the shirt and it squeezed the shirt. And it drank the water that oozed down from the shirt.

After it was done with the shirt, it gave the shirt back to her. Lola smiled and she wore the shirt.

"Now, can we escape?"

"Yes. Now we can escape."

* * *

"Lie down," The creature commanded.

"Why?"

"Just lie down."

"Okay, okay."

Lola lay down on the floor with her face facing the ceiling.

"Now, listen up. I am about to implant a weapon inside you."

"What?"

"No questions."

"Okay."

"This weapon is the reason I am here. They want this so badly. And this weapon is the reason there is rain outside. Those things are targeting water. They dried every water source in this planet. And with this weapon, they will be invincible."

"Okay, I understand."

"What my point is, this weapon will be active only on another species."

"What is a species?"

"That doesn't concern you."

"Okay,"

"The moment I take out this weapon from my body, I will implant it on your body. We can't risk them seeing this. And at the moment I implant you with this, you will go berserk."

"What is berserk?"

"You will go insane. The point is, destroy this vessel and escape to somewhere safe."

"So, when I go berserk, you would be on my shoulders, right?"

"I am not coming with you."

"What? Why?"

"I was here in this planet looking for a human. And I found you. You're unique, Lola. There isn't much of your kind left alive"

"How do you know my name?"

"I know everything in your mind. It's a fortune that I saw you. Remember, the weapon is an elixir to this planet. It will guide you well. Just stay on the path."

"I don't understand."

"Don't worry. Now, close your eyes."

She did. A moment later she felt a surging pain through her chest. And at the next moment, she felt her body heating up, and her world went blank.

* * *

She opened her eyes, but, not as Lola, but as she. Her body was covered in shiny gray metal. And her eyes were glowing in blue color. Everything she sees in front of her was also in blue color. Suddenly, she felt a danger. Her vision detected the metal structure she was standing on. She was allergic to external metal and her vision changed to a red color.

She suddenly trained her hand at the nearest metal wall. She was inside Lola's body, but Lola wasn't in control. Suddenly her hand began to glow in blue color. And at the next moment a blue laser beam escaped from her trained hand, and a huge hole formed on the metal wall.

Suddenly, air flow increased inside the room. She then blew up the door. And she walked along the corridor, towards the staircase, on the way shooting down every metal structure she saw.

Suddenly, a few dozens of horn-headed creatures arose from nearby cabins, armed with a particular gun. They fired a round at her. But her metal suit was impenetrable.

She shot down every last one of the horn headed creatures. She wasn't an enemy of horn headed creatures. But, since they fired at her, they made her an enemy. And that was why she shot them down.

At the next moment, the vessel began to lose its balance, and it accelerated to the ground. She quickly climbed the staircase and she reached the top level of the vessel. The vessel was still accelerating towards the ground. She then shot down a nearby glass wall and she jumped out of the vessel through the hole.

A moment later, she landed on the ground on her feet. The place where she landed became a small crater and within seconds, the crater got filled with water.

The rain fell heavily around her. And not far away from her, the gigantic vessel crash landed. And at the next moment, it exploded into pieces.

Suddenly, she collapsed on the ground, and her world went blank.

* * *

Lola slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on a sandy ground and rain was heavily falling from the sky. She didn't know how she got here. When the last time she was conscious, she was talking to that small creature. And it told her that he was going to implant her with a weapon. After that, she remembers nothing.

She felt really tired. And she collapsed on the ground, and her world went blank.

* * *

Lola felt someone lifting her. She slowly opened her eyes, but nothing was clearly visible as her eyes were tired.

A few minutes later, slowly her vision adjusted. She saw two men carrying her to a small tent made up of cloth. The rain was still falling, heavily. And the land was appeared to be filled with sand. But, rain water was quickly getting absorbed by the sand, and thus, no puddles were formed.

A few minutes later, the men set her down, inside the tent. She sat up and looked at their faces.

"Who are you guys?" She asked.

"I am Bomba and this is Tomba." The tallest man said.

"Okay, what am I doing here?"

"That we don't know. But, we helped you because you destroyed that alien vessel which drained our oceans dry."

Then she remembered the flying vessel she was in. So, they might be the reason why the whole land was dry. But now that changed, after the arrival of that small creature.

Suddenly, a loud swoosh came from outside. She quickly realized what it was. It might be that convex like flying vessel. She ran outside to check it. Then the three of them saw it.

A gigantic flying vessel, which was like a long cylinder, was hovering in the air, nearby the tent.

"Is this one of the bad vessels?" Lola asked.

"No. This one is different."

Then, through a light column, three small creatures, just like the one Lola met at the ship, descended from the vessel.

The three creatures approached Lola.

"Who are you guys?" Lola asked the approaching creatures.

"That is not the important thing, Lola." One of the creatures said. "Now that the threat was over, we are here to take the weapon inside you. It can be dangerous sometimes, especially since you don't have control over it."

"But, if you take this back, the rain will stop."

"You don't want rain all the time, Lola. Besides, we will be watching this planet closely. Now that the lakes and rivers are filled up, you don't have to worry about rain. Soon, all your seasons will return."

"Okay, then take it."

* * *

The creatures took the weapon from Lola. Lola for a few minutes blacked out. When she woke up, the creatures and the flying vessel were gone. But, Bomba and Tomba were there.

She stood up and walked towards Bomba.

"So, they left without a good bye?"

"No. They left you a present." Bomba gave her a cardboard box.

Lola tore open the box. Inside she saw hundreds of packets of seeds. Seeds of all kind, with a label on each packet. Seeds of trees, of vegetables, of grasses, and of many other plants.

"So, we are now supposed to plant them?" She asked.

"If that's what you want. It's yours." Bomba smiled.

She smiled back.

So, the hard work was only just started.

The End...

###

The Alien Clones

It was evening. After the school, Juny walked along the side of the road, to his home. Juny could still see the school behind him. There were still many kids on the school yard, waiting for the school bus.

Juny's home was a little far away. Juny also want to travel by means of school bus. But, his family could not afford that. In fact, they even could not afford four meals a day. There weren't many vehicles on the road. Juny increased his speed a little. He wants to reach home faster.

On the way, Juny day dreamed about his superheroes. He drove his virtual car as he walked, and he shot several virtual thugs using his virtual gun. Then, the thought of today's homework shifted him from his dream world to reality. He had a ton of works, mostly mathematics. He couldn't forget the mathematics teacher's pinch on the ear.

Before long, he exited the main road and he entered into a dirt road which would lead to his village. There wasn't anybody on the fields and birds could be seen all over the nearby trees, chirping loudly.

Juny tried counting the birds, but failed as there were so many of them, with varying colors. The village was still a few kilometers away. The nearby fields were waiting for the next cultivation. It hadn't been too long after the last harvest.

Then, far away, Juny began to see houses. Finally!

He was about to sing a song when something caught in the corner of his eye. He looked at the nearby field. There was someone lying near the edges of the field which marks the entry to the nearby tree land.

Someone working on the field might have blacked out. Juny first hesitated, worrying about what it might be. If it was some sleeping fellow, he might get a load of scold.

Juny finally took the risk and he slowly approached the person who was lying nearby.

As he got closer, he clearly saw it. It was not a man or a woman. It was something else entirely. Juny got closer for a good look. Then he saw it clearly. It was more like an alien from the movie Indiana Johns. Its whole body was in yellow-grayish color and it had long legs and long hands.

Juny crouched near the alien and he tried to touch it. But a series of footsteps from the nearby tree land made him hesitate. Then he saw it. On the alien's belly, there was some sort of wound and red blood was oozing down.

Suddenly, a few dozens of men in white hospital outfit rushed outside from the tree land. With surging fear, Juny walked backward.

"Hold it there, kid." Juny heard a muffled command. All these men were wearing a mask which would cover whole of their face; so, Juny could not see their face.

Panic surged all over his body. And he bolted into a run, away from the scene.

"Code red, catch that little scum," Someone commanded.

* * *

A Secret Government Research Facility

Doctor Sam and Doctor Gray walked along the hallway. A little while later, they both exited the hallway, and they entered inside the briefing room.

Nearly everyone who was called for the meeting was there. Sam and Gray sat around a table with other six men and women.

Then, the tall black fellow, Steven, stood up and he went near the projector. And he switched it on.

"As you have heard," Steven started. "We got one specimen. One alien specimen, gentlemen. Many of those things are still out there. And soon, we might catch every one of them. For now, let's examine it. Any questions?"

"Well," Gray started. "What happened to that kid and his family?"

"For now, we neutralized that problem. We still don't know how many witnessed this. And if it got out, we have to neutralize everyone." Steven said, without any guilt. Gray grimaced. "It's for the national security, Gray."

Gray nodded. But, she could not accept killing a kid and his family for just seeing an alien dead body. It was not how things should work. But Gray remained silent. It was her only opportunity to study an alien – to unveil the secret behind that alien. It could answer a plethora of questions the biologists faced.

"So, where did it come from?" Sam asked.

"We don't know." Steven said.

"Did they have some kind of ships?" Sam asked.

"We don't know?" Steven said.

"You don't know or you won't tell us?" Sam asked patiently, smiling.

"Your job is to study it. Now let's get going." Steven said.

Everybody nodded. Nobody wants to disturb Steven, it could end their lives, like that Juny kid's and his parents'.

* * *

Doctor Gray and Sam slowly cut along the digestive tract of the alien. All organs were similar to that of a human. All of the researchers were in medical suits which covers whole their body.

"It's almost similar to human." Gray said.

"Yeah." Sam said. "It differs from us only in external features"

Gray drew out the DNA mapper from her pocket, and she stabbed on the alien's left hand with the needle tail of the DNA mapper.

"Plotting DNA," Gray said.

"How much time will it take?" Steven asked.

"About fifteen minutes." Gray said.

"Okay, bag and tag this body." Steven said. "It's ready for cloning phase.

* * *

One week later

Doctor Gray and Doctor Sam stood on the balcony and they peered at the vast room below where a few dozens of submersion tanks were neatly placed. Inside the submersion tanks, the alien clones were growing at an alarming rate.

"Everything looks good." Gray said.

"Yeah," Sam nodded.

They both were certain that, soon, the aliens would wake up, and they would be then ready for dissection.

There were many researchers near the submersion tanks, noting down everything displayed on the monitor near each submersion tanks.

"Come on, let's head to the cafeteria." Sam said. "I am hungry as hell."

"Okay." Gray and Sam walked towards the nearby exit door.

* * *

One week later

Gray and Sam patiently stood nearby the first submersion tank. Steven and few others were very busy, trying to open the submersion tank.

Everyone was wearing a white suit that covers all of their whole body.

Finally, the glass door slide away and the submersion liquid poured out. Everyone quickly backed away, to avoid the sprinkling liquid. As all the liquid drained from the submersion tank, Steven slowly approached the alien. The clone was perfectly similar to the original alien, and it was steadily breathing, without any problem.

Steven grabbed the alien's hand and he checked for a pulse.

Suddenly it happened. At the moment the alien opened its eyes, it instantly began to grow again. And its skin got filled with fur. The thick black fur became coated on its skin.

Steven walked backward in fear.

Then they all saw it. The alien had mutated into a giant ape. The ape at first looked at the ceiling, and it stayed in that position for a whole minute. Gray and Sam walked pretty much away from the ape thing.

Then, the ape looked down at the humans before it. It slowly raised its lips, revealing shiny teeth bit by bit.

"Steven, call security." Sam yelled.

Steven slowly pressed the switch on his ear piece. The ape was now looking straight at Steven. All others were behind Steven.

Steven tried to speak into his com, but, all of a sudden, the ape opened its mouth widely, and it lurched forward, growling on the way.

Researchers screamed out loud and they ran in different directions.

The ape thing instantly grabbed Steven using its massive palms and it put him in its mouth, crunching. Blood splashed all over the ape thing's face.

Gray and Sam were the first to reach the balcony.

At the time they exited the balcony and entered inside a nearby room with glass walls, other researchers' scream came from below.

Gray dead bolted the door and he and Sam peered at the room below, through the glass windows.

The ape was still there, it was huge and massive.

Gray and Sam didn't even utter a single word. They were actually shivering from head to toe.

One thing was certain to Gray – the alien clones couldn't stay the same in earth's environment. And thus, as soon as they were exposed to the environment, they mutate.

Gray and Sam sat down on the floor and they looked at each others' face. Both were afraid. Suddenly, sound of glasses shattering came from the room below. Gray stood up and peered outside. Then she saw it. That ape was dismantling everything it sees inside that room.

Then, horror completely struck both of them. The ape thing destroyed the glass layer of all the submersion tanks and all the clones inside the submersion tanks got exposed to the normal air. And they all instantly began to mutate into gigantic apes.

All the apes were now looking for an exit door that fit them entirely. They all then unleashed havoc across the room, beating and breaking glass structures and wooden furniture.

All of a sudden, an ape exploded into millions of black objects. The black objects were alive and they flew across the room, looking for a way out.

Curiously, Gray looked carefully. Then she saw it. The black objects were wasps. All the wasps finally found a way out, through the air holes near the ceiling.

"What the hell just happened?" Sam asked.

Gray said nothing. She was still shivering, without knowing what to do.

Then, they saw another horror. A green moss like growth was expanding through the room. Within moments, the glass wall got filled with that green growth. And now, nothing was visible through the glass wall.

A moment later, the sound of something breaking apart came from the room below.

"What is happening down there?" Sam worriedly asked.

"They are looking for a way out."

"What the hell are those things?"

"I wish I knew. I think Steven forced us to open a Pandora's Box."

* * *

A Chilling night wind blew across the road. And Alvin drove his ford pickup truck through the night wind. Nearby him sits his girlfriend, Sofia. Alvin couldn't concentrate on driving, as Sofia's hands ran through his legs. It had been too long since they both started their journey. And during the journey, Alvin and Sofia didn't have any intimate relationship, and it was making Sofia mad.

"Sofia, please, let me concentrate."

"As you wish," Sofia grimaced and she wrapped her hands across her chest. And she leant on to the door on her side.

Alvin took a deep breath. Far away, he could see the city. The beauty of the city in this night was beyond words.

Suddenly, the light on most buildings began to flicker. Alvin thought what was wrong with those city people. Why were they playing with lights? Then, at the next moment, he got his answer. All the electric light died out.

"What the?" Alvin said. Sofia too looked at the far away city, which was now visible only as a silhouette.

"A power outage?" Sofia asked. "In this spring?"

Alvin floored the accelerator and the truck rushed forward.

A few minutes later, in the truck's head light, they saw the nearby buildings. Then they saw it. There was not a single building with intact glass structures. Some of the buildings' doors were hanging on the door frame. And the footpath was filled with glass shards.

"What happened here?" Sofia asked.

"I don't know," What all Alvin had to say.

Alvin and Sofia were college students and they were away to do some project works. When they left this city, everything was in perfect place. But now, the city looks like dead. It was dead silent too.

Where were the people? A little while ago, this city was clearly visible from far away. And the city had electricity too. Now, within a few minutes, the electricity was gone and all the people were gone with it.

Alvin parked his truck nearby his house's drive way. Then, Sofia and Alvin exited the truck, with a load of questions. In the moon light, not everything was visible.

Alvin switched on the flash light of his cell phone and he walked towards the house. Sofia closely followed him.

Then they saw the crumbled doorway. The nearby windows also were gone. Alvin for a moment examined the door.

Something big happened here. The city that never sleeps was now dead. Had anyone declared war on this country? But, he was certain that he saw no bullet marks.

Across the road, there were many vehicles, but none posed any threat to the traffic.

Something definitely happened here.

Suddenly, an unholy growl came from nearby. Alvin and Sofia froze. Suddenly, the ground began to shake, as something massive passed by.

Driven by fear, both of them entered inside the house and they went near the windows, to see what it was.

A moment passed. Another moment gone. Then they saw it. A huge dinosaur, most probably Tyrannosaurus Rex, was walking across the street, growling on the way.

"What the hell?" Alvin whispered.

* * *

Morgan was watching discovery channel on his television when all of a sudden, the electricity died out.

Morgan was furious. He could not believe that he could not watch his favorite show only because there was no electricity. He picked up his cell phone and he called the power house worker and his friend, John.

"Hay, John, how's things are going, man?"

"Nothing good, Morgan. We just got a call from the north city that, there electricity is down."

"Man, I was wondering what happened to the power in my area."

"We are getting calls from everywhere, Morgan. So many power lines are down."

"But, there is no strong wind or rain or storm for that matter?"

"I don't know what is happening, man. Look, I gotta go. I will contact you if I get an answer. What the..."

"What is it?"

Then came a static. And then, the call got terminated. Morgan tried calling again, but there was no reception.

"What the hell?"

Then, he saw it. Some kind of green growth was expanding through his front doorway to inside the house. He went near the doorway. The door was already filled with this moss like plant. Morgan was with utter shock. His house was now filled with this green growth. He was certain that there wasn't any water on the floor for a plant to grow at this incredible speed.

Something in his head was telling that this was related to the power outage. He slowly opened the door and he stepped outside. Then he saw it. And at first sight he recognized it. Some kind of extinct species of plant was growing all over his yard. This plant was a little big, probably a dozen feet high.

The thing was, he was certain that this kind of plant was not in his yard a little while ago. How could this be true? Was he hallucinating? But he was not addicted to drugs or alcohol to see a hallucination like this.

Since he was a paleontologist, he knew about all kind of extinct plants. This plant was some sort of giant fern.

Suddenly, with a growl, what appeared to be a Permian amphibian, rushed at him.

Morgan rushed inside his house and he dead bolted the door.

Something must have happened. May be, some kind of astrological event might have dumped the planet in the past.

He was dead certain that that was a Permian amphibian. Suddenly, the door began to rattle. That thing was thrashing on the door.

What confusing him was, there wasn't any water body nearby. This thing might have traveled a long way. How could it survive this long under this scorching sun?

Then it hit him. May be this green growth might be the reason why these creatures were here.

With worry, he forgot many things. He really needs to get out of here, before all the Permian creatures were upon him.

Morgan ran towards the back door. He opened the door and stepped outside. The thing had stopped thrashing on the front door. He quickly ran towards the drive way, without looking anything. And he rushed inside his red sedan.

Suddenly, that amphibian rushed at the car.

"Oh, god,"

He turned the key and put the car in reverse. He quickly turned the car and he accelerated towards the nearby city. He didn't even try to look the rear-view mirror. The green growth was all over the road.

Suddenly, a Mesozoic reptile ran across the road, following a poor deer.

Only one thing makes sense – planet earth got trapped in the past.

But, what worrying him was why there was Carboniferous plant here while at the same time there was Mesozoic reptile and Permian amphibian. Creatures of all ages were here. This was more than trapped in the past. It was more like trapped in time between times.

* * *

Two weeks later

Gray and Sam could not believe what they were witnessing. The alien clones were highly susceptible to mutation. And all the mutated creatures were hermaphrodite. All clones mutated into prehistoric creatures, by violating a dozen of biological laws. And from the mutated creatures, hundreds of other species were born. What interesting was, not only animal species were born, but also plants, too.

It was certainly a huge discovery. But, this discovery cost them beyond what money could buy.

They both were now sitting on top of the roof, analyzing the land around them. They could clearly see gigantic prehistoric plants, down below. And there were many plant-eating dinosaurs here and there. Suddenly, with a swoosh, what appeared to be a flying saucer, approached them from the distant sky.

Gray and Sam stood up, with a worry.

One thing was certain. The aliens were here.

The flying saucer hovered over the research facility's roof and through a light column, two aliens, just like the dead alien, descended from the flying saucer.

For some reason, Gray and Sam didn't try to run.

The aliens approached Gray and Sam.

"Where is our brother's body?" One of the aliens asked.

"Are you the one who is causing this?" Sam asked, with complete shock in knowing that these aliens could speak English.

"You didn't answer our question."

"It is inside this building." Gray said.

"That's not an It. It's a Him."

"My apologies. Please, tell us what is happening." Gray said.

"You caused this. You guys alone did this. We were here to visit this planet. And you killed one of us and made great mistakes. Now, if you will stand away, I need to get my brother's body."

Gray and Sam stood away from the aliens' path.

* * *

Within minutes, the aliens grabbed the dead body of the alien from the freezer.

The aliens carried the dead body to the light column of the flying saucer.

"Please, save us, at least." Sam said.

The aliens stopped inside the light column. And one of the aliens came forward a little.

"I am sorry. Consider this as your fate. And if I were you, I would take harbor inside a forest, perhaps some cave."

And just like that, the aliens left the scene. The flying saucer flew into the sky, then, it disappeared from the sky.

Gray and Sam stood there with lot of questions and worry. And now they know one thing. This was really their end.

* * *

One year later

Doctor Gray and Doctor Sam stood outside the rocky cave and they peered around them. It hadn't been too long after the dawn broke.

The rocky cave was actually deep inside a forest. The fact was all-natural forests were untouched by the mutants. But, that was not the case of nearby cities, and other population centers.

So far, Gray and Sam were safe here. They tried to find other people, in the early days, but sadly, they found none. And what horrifying was, several mutants made fellow humans to mutate into horrifying creatures.

The world was certainly dead. But here, Gray and Sam created a small heaven. Both of them were lovers from the start, and in this post-apocalyptic world, their love deepened.

They won't wander away too far. And the prehistoric creatures won't come here, too. Gray and Sam get food all the time. There were fruit bearing trees nearby, and meat was plenty, too.

The aliens were right. Mankind's fate was determined by mankind alone. They made the wrong decision and it cost them beyond what money could buy.

The aliens were friendly. They were here to see the natural beauty of this planet. But, humans made them an enemy. And look where it took them.

Gray and Sam was now thinking about having kids so that their legacy would remain.

But, things would never be the same again.

* * *

Alvin peered outside through the second level window. Sofia was nearby him, watching the streets below. On the road, there were small prehistoric reptiles. The whole place was now filled with prehistoric creatures. There were even prehistoric plants, too.

Alvin and Sofia don't have a clue why this happened. They don't even know what happened to the people of this city.

It had been a year since they were holed up in here. Food was obtained by looting nearby stores, but, looting was a difficult job. Those flesh-eating dinosaurs might be there in the streets most of the time.

In fact, Alvin and Sofia won't go outside the building often.

Now, there was no electricity, no running water and when the night sets around, Alvin and Sofia would go to sleep. They have lot of candles. But, in the night, there were giant mosquitoes and other flies, which would come attracted by the light.

In the early days, in one night, a mosquito almost killed them.

Alvin and Sofia now know one thing – their old world had died, and things would never be the same again.

* * *

Morgan still couldn't believe that the world was dead. Now, all around him roams prehistoric creatures. That was not all. Hundreds of prehistoric, extinct plants were all over the land.

Morgan doesn't know how it happened. He didn't even saw a single fellow human anywhere. What happened to others was a mystery which would never be revealed.

Now, Morgan knows one thing – world would never be the same again.

The End...

###

The Book of Life

Somewhere in Egypt

Trent and Jess were not listening to all the bullshit the tourist guide was saying about the pyramid. Instead, they were looking at each other's face, with lust. They were here for a honeymoon trip and they choose this place for a change.

It hadn't been too long since they both got married. And Jess was thinking about making love with Trent from somewhere deep inside the pyramid. That was what people do in honeymoon trip, right?

The tourist guide continued to brag about the history of the pyramid.

Jess couldn't concentrate a single word the tourist guide was bragging. All her thoughts were about Trent. Trent also wasn't an exception, mainly because he hadn't got a chance for an intimate relationship with Jess.

Finally, the tourist guide stopped her lecture and she led them deeper into the pyramid.

A moment later, the place began to plunge in darkness. The guide pressed a switch on the nearby wall, but the electricity was out.

Suddenly, the ear breaking sound of thunder came from outside. They all peered outside the pyramid. Outside was slowly plunging in darkness and a storm was upon them.

"This is it folks. Return to your vehicles," The guide said, "before the rain starts.

Everyone quickly ran towards the nearby exit door. All of a sudden, a strong rain began to fall from the sky. And lightning and thunder frequently came.

"Shit," The tourist guide cursed something.

Their vehicles were a little far from the pyramid, and there was not a single person outside. Since no one had umbrella, all they could do was watch the rain from the protection of the pyramid.

"What should we do?" Trent asked the guide.

"I don't know. Night is upon us. And my phone doesn't have any reception."

Trent drew out his cell phone. But his phone too had no reception.

Since there were many rain clouds in the sky, everywhere was plunged in darkness. But, everything was faintly visible.

Suddenly, sound of something falling down came from inside the pyramid. They all turned towards the sound. And from deep inside the pyramid, dust was blowing towards the exit doorway.

They all covered their face using kerchiefs and they curiously walked towards the origin of the sound, to see what it was.

The tourist guide was uttering "This is a bad idea," Frequently.

Trent now had a sudden urge to see what it was. They moved in the light of their cell phones. A moment later, they reached a wide room. Far away, Trent could see the exit door. And outside, the rain was trying to devastate the land.

Then they saw it. A huge hole was in the ceiling and through the hole a box fell inside this room.

A man went near the box and he tried to open the box.

"Wait," The guide said. "It must be some cursed object."

"Are you being serious?" The man said. "I am a Christian, and I don't believe in curses. And I hope that none of you are curse believers."

He opened the box. They all looked inside. Then they saw it. It was a book. He took the book, and he closed the box. Then he placed the thick book on top of the box. The tourist guide, curiously, went near the book and she try to read the writing on the cover which was in ancient Egyptian language.

"It's the book of life." The guide said.

The guide flipped the cover and she opened the book. Then it happened. The very instant she opened the book, a sudden blast of light came from the book. And they all had to close their eyes. Trent felt his world spinning around him, and an abnormal heat came from the light. And at the next moment he immediately blacked out, just like everyone else.

* * *

Trent slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor of the pyramid. But, something was strange about this place. He could hear chirping of birds!

He slowly sat up. And he peered around him. That box containing the book of life was gone, and so were all others and the book.

"Hello, is anybody here?"

No response came. "Guys, this is not funny. Please come out from where you're hiding."

Again, no response. The chirping of birds increased. The chirping of birds around the pyramid was not a usual thing. That doesn't mean that there were no birds. But, the amount of birds in desert areas usually was low.

Then he saw it. Through the far away exit door, he could see trees with green leaves.

"What the hell?"

How did trees grow outside in just one night? Or had he slept through an age, waking up in another age?

He actually could not say that miracles won't happen. That book was a miracle. And the light came out of that book too was a miracle.

He slowly walked towards the exit door. And as he got closer to the exit door, he began to feel the cool wind.

And as he exited the pyramid, he saw trees with green leaves all around him. And instead of sand, the ground was covered in hard black soil.

"Jess,"

No response. He doesn't know others' name to call them.

"Guys, where are you?"

Again, no response. He slowly walked deeper into the woods. Many kinds of birds were chirping loudly. And there was not a single tree without birds.

A few minutes later, he exited the wood land, and saw a vast green grass land.

"Is this a dream?"

It might be a dream. That light which came out of the book might be the reason for it.

He was inside a desert yesterday. But, now he ended up in this beautiful place. Only dreams could do this. Then, he needs to wake up fast.

Suddenly, with a swoosh, a flying saucer flew across the sky, over the green grass land. Trent curiously stared at the flying saucer. It was moving towards a nearby hill.

Who would be inside that flying saucer? Trent knows well that flying saucers were related to aliens. So, whatever happened inside the pyramid in yesterday evening might be done by aliens.

Then, only the aliens could answer where Jess was. He had to find their place. Most probably, Jess might be there.

Trent for a moment examined all around him. There was no sign of human life anywhere nearby. His best bet to finding Jess was that hill, provided this was not a dream. He slowly started his walk to the hill.

* * *

Before long, Trent started climbing the hill. So far, he saw no wild animals. As he reached the summit, he saw a river nearby. But, the flying saucer and the aliens were not there. He was certain that the flying saucer landed somewhere nearby this hill.

Suddenly, a growl came from nearby. Then he saw it. Gigantic reptiles, most probably dinosaurs were roaming the land nearby the river.

Then he heard someone screaming his name.

"Jess," He said himself.

He followed the scream. He climbed down the hill and he started climbing another hill. And as he reached the summit, he saw the flying saucer resting nearby. And there was a small wooden cabin nearby. Then he clearly heard Jess' scream.

He slowly approached the wooden cabin. So far, he saw no aliens. He slowly force opened the door and he stepped inside. Then he saw Jess and the tourist guide. They were tied around a stake.

"Trent, thank god."

He rushed towards them and he untied them.

"Are you okay, honey?" Trent asked.

"Yeah, I am okay."

"We have to run," The tourist guide said. Trent nodded. And the three of them slowly, cautiously exited the cabin. Then they bolted into a run towards the wilderness.

Within seconds, they climbed down the hill and they ran inside a tree land.

Finally, they stopped running and they all took heavy breathes.

"Are they aliens?" Trent asked.

"Not even close." The guide said. "They are like us, humans."

"Why did they tie you two to that post?"

"They were going to sacrifice us."

"What? Why?"

"They don't have women in their kind."

"What? I don't understand."

"They are all male. And they are naked, too."

"What?" Trent was in complete shock.

"They worship Ra. And they were going to sacrifice us to Ra, to please him."

"Who is Ra?"

"He is the king of all Egyptian gods. And he is the god of creation."

"So, where are we?" Trent asked. Jess was still in the shock.

"I think we are trapped in the past."

"Can we escape from here?"

"I don't know."

Suddenly, with a swoosh, two flying saucers flew across the sky, over the tree land.

"They might be looking for us." Trent said.

"Let's get out of here." Jess said.

"But, where would we go?"

Suddenly, a series of footsteps came from the nearby hill. Trent went near the edge of the tree land and he peered at the hill. Then he saw it. Armed with some sort of guns, a few dozens of completely naked men were rushing towards the tree land.

"Run," Trent whispered.

And the three of them bolted into a run towards nowhere in particular.

* * *

Trent and team ran through the jungle, looking for a place to hide. Behind them, laser bolts danced in the air. Those naked men were trying to shoot them down.

Trent now knows one thing – this was not a past time. This place was something else, entirely.

A moment later, the fast-flowing river came in front of them. And their pursuers were now just behind them.

"Surrender or jump?" Trent asked.

"Jump, of course." The guide jumped into the river. Trent and Jess followed her.

And the pursuers stopped pursuing them.

* * *

The river was flowing very fast. And the current took them with the river.

Trent tried to swim, but the current was just too strong. Trent gulped a huge amount of water, and the girls weren't an exception.

Finally, a rocky area came in front of them. They all somehow held onto the rocks and they took all their might to push forward to the bank. And after minutes of hard work, the three of them reached the bank.

They lay down on the sandy bank and took heavy breaths. Jess was coughing violently and she was puking water. She must have gulped a huge amount of water.

Trent stood up and he went near Jess, and he massaged her back.

"Are you okay?" Trent asked.

Jess finally took a deep breath and she sat down on the sand.

"Yeah, I am fine."

"I am fine, too." The guide said, grinning.

"You didn't tell me your name." Trent asked the guide.

"For that, you never asked me."

"Okay, what's your name?"

"I am Rona, Rona Agustin." She smiled.

"Well, Rona, it seems that we are not trapped in the past. Where in the history books you learned about laser guns and flying saucers?"

"Well, Egyptians were a mysterious people. They had technology beyond human comprehension." Rona said. "And how they built the pyramid alone give you one answer—that they were a technologically advanced people."

"I don't know about that. But, I have studied physics and I know a little about space travel and black holes. I think, we are in another dimension."

"Maybe, maybe not," Rona said.

Suddenly, Trent felt someone watching him. He stood up and turned back. By this time, Jess and Rona too felt the presence of a third party.

Then they saw it. Nearby a huge tree stood a dozen of black, naked, men and women. They were staring at Trent and his team, curiously.

"Any idea who they are?" Trent asked Rona.

"I don't know. They might be lower castes." Rona said.

Trent slowly approached the black people. Suddenly, they all uttered something in an unknown language and they ran away from the scene.

Trent, Jess and Rona stood with a worry. Suddenly, with a swoosh, two flying saucers rushed towards their position.

Trent and team crouched down and the flying saucers flew across the sky, away from the river.

"What should we do?" Trent asked.

"I have no idea." Rona said.

"Come on, let's follow that black people." Jess said.

"That's a bad idea, Jess." Trent said.

"Then what should we do? Sit here and play?" Jess said angrily.

"I am sorry things have turned out to be like this, Jess." Trent said. "Come on; let's find a place to stay. We won't find a way to get out of here by asking those lower castes. Something tells in my mind that, we are trapped here forever. Did you happen to saw others who were with us?"

"They are dead." Rona said.

"How?" Trent asked in horror.

"Those naked men killed them in front of us."

"So, if we end up in their hands, they would kill us." Trent said.

"Yeah." Rona said.

Jess nodded.

"Then let's find a place to stay." Tent said. Jess and Rona reluctantly nodded.

And the three of them walked along the river bank, to the far away tree land. If fortunes were with them, they would find a way out, eventually.

* * *

Trent and team finally entered inside the tree land. Nearby, the fast-flowing river was in its never-ending journey to meet the ocean. And near the river bank, there were lot of plant eating dinosaurs and other animals.

Then, not far away from them, they saw a pyramid. Then, in front of the pyramid, there was a podium and on top of the podium, there was a book.

"Is that what I am thinking?" Trent asked with a little joy.

"It could be." Rona said.

This could be their way out. They slowly, cautiously approached the podium. Suddenly, from the pyramid's doorway came a few dozens of naked men.

"Shit," Trent said.

Trent and team bolted into a run towards the book. Trent climbed onto the podium and he took the book in his hands. The naked men almost reached near the podium.

Trent stood near Jess and Rona and he opened the book. Suddenly pure light rushed out of the book. Trent heard violent screams in an unknown language. Then, he felt drifting to sleep. And his world went blank.

* * *

Trent slowly opened his eyes. He was appeared to be on a sandy ground. He slowly sat up and examined around him. He was on a desert!

Then he saw Jess and Rona lying nearby, on the sand. And far away, he saw a few naked men.

Trent quickly shook awake Jess and Rona. The three of them stood up and examined around them. Then, far away they saw the pyramid and vehicles.

"We are back." Rona said with joy. The three of them ran towards the vehicles. As they reached near their bus, the driver exited the bus and he faced them.

"Where were you all this time?" The driver asked. "When the storm was over, I searched all over the place for you all. Where are others?"

Rona jumped with excitement, and she all of a sudden kissed the driver in his lips. "We are back!"

The driver stood there with confusion. "Who are they?" He looked behind Trent, Jess and Rona.

They all looked back and they set their eyes on the naked men.

They slowly approached Trent and team, with angry face.

"We don't know them." Rona said. "Looks like poor fellows. Let's get out of here. I want a barbecue. And the three of them rushed inside the bus.

The driver for a moment stood in confusion. Then he entered inside the bus, and he closed the door.

A moment later, the bus started its motion.

Trent for a moment stared at the naked men through the window. Then he shifted his gaze to Jess. He could not wait to get to the hotel.

* * *

The naked men for a moment stared at the leaving elongated cube thing, and then they all ran towards the pyramid.

The End...

###

Thank you for finishing this book. If you like this book, please take a moment to write a short review on wherever you purchased the book. As an indie author, reviews are the only thing which matters to me.

If you want to read more from this author, search for other books by this author at your favorite ebook retailer.

Once again, thank you for finishing this book.

About the Author

C.O. Amal is a crazy writer, who likes to read and write anything that has to do with science fiction. He lives in Kerala with his lovely cows.

He can be reached at amalco.am@gmail.com

Facebook page www.facebook.com/COAmalAuthor

Blog www.coamal.wordpress.com

Postal address:

C.O. Amal, Chakkumkal House, Kottarakkunnu P.O., Vellamunda, Kerala, India, 670 731

Also by this Author

Invasion Chronicles 1 – Reptile Invasion

Invasion Chronicles 2 – Insect Invasion

Invasion Chronicles 3 – Demon Invasion

Invasion Chronicles 4 – Vampire Invasion: Origins

Invasion Chronicles 5 – Vampire Invasion

Invasion Chronicles 6 – Zombie Invasion

Invasion Chronicles 7 – Light Men Invasion- Extinction

Invasion Chronicles 8 – Light Men Invasion- Origins

Invasion Chronicles 9 – Xhilarian Invasion Part 1

Invasion Chronicles 10 – Xhilarian Invasion Part 2

Apocalyptic Flash Fiction 01 – Rise of the Undead

Apocalyptic Flash Fiction 02 – Rise of the Ghosts

Apocalyptic Flash Fiction 3 – After Day Zero

My First Rain and Other Stories
