As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow around 6 pm, Mike bid everyone farewell. The somber atmosphere outside was palpable, weighing heavily on their hearts.
Stefan's eyes were already brimming with tears. "Mike, man..." he said.
Mike wrapped him in a reassuring hug. "Hey, tough guy, no tears! I'm not leaving forever. I'll be back before you know it," he said.
"I'll miss you so much," Stefan replied. "I trust you, man. Go over there and kick their mother's asses!"
Mike chuckled, releasing him. "Trust me, I'll take care of business. Whoever needs their asses kicked will definitely get it kicked." He turned to leave but was pulled back by Rachael and Christina, both holding his hands.
"Mike, wait!"
"I really have to go now, guys," Mike said gently. "Dammit! You're making it look like I'm going forever. I'm definitely coming back! I promise!"
Rachael's tears were spilling over. "Please, make sure you come back to us," she said.
Mike nodded firmly. "I'll return in one piece, I promise."
"Enough of your emotional goodbye!" an unfamiliar voice boomed from the street, shattering the intimate moment.
The group swiveled, their eyes locking onto a tall, young man emerging from his car. He strode toward them with a confident swagger.
Mike's nostrils flared, sensing something familiar. "He smells familiar," he murmured.
"What?! Smells familiar?! What am I? A chicken?" the man grumbled. "You really don't recognize me? I'm hurt."
"Who's this guy?" Stefan said, furrowing.
Djuma's gaze pierced the man's mind.
"Raymond Woods, former soldier, newest NPS agent," he said.
"Wow, you've done your research! I'm impressed," the man, now known as Raymond said. "After knocking me down you still searched to know more about me. This is so frustrating!"
Mike's eyes widened. "Oh! You're...one of the men I knocked down?"
"Yeah, the infamous batboy," Raymond forced a chuckle. "I'm still recovering from that humiliation."
"I apologize for my rudeness that day. I was out of my mind," Mike said and extended a conciliatory hand.
But Raymond smirked, refusing his apology.
"What are you doing here by the way?" Rachael quizzed. "I thought his surveillance was canceled when the first spy left. They sent another one already?"
Raymond glared disdainfully at Mike. He smirked again and lurched toward him but Djuma intercepted, positioning himself protectively between Mike and Raymond.
"Batboy's got a Hawk-y guardian! Impressive," Raymond scoffed.
Djuma's stance remained unwavering, his gaze warning Raymond to maintain a safe distance.
Suddenly, Djuma's eyes glowed, and he swiftly turned away from Raymond, dropping his gaze.
"What's wrong with him?" Raymond said. "Scared of me already?"
"What do you want, you arrogant jerk?" Christina shouted.
"Shut up, bitch! I'm not here for you," Raymond sneered. He pivoted back to Mike. "Show me what you're made of, batboy. Let's see if you can take me down again."
"We're too late, my Jyuran," Djuma whispered urgently. "The colony has arrived. We must leave now."
Mike's eyes lit up in panic. "Oh my goodness! They're one step ahead of us. We can no longer delay!" He turned to face Raymond. "Sorry, but I have no time for this. Urgent matters demand my attention," he said and took off his clothes.
"Are you fucking with me?! You think I'm going to let you… Oh my God!" Raymond's taunt died on his lips. His eyes widened in horror as Mike and Djuma transformed before him.
"Lord have mercy!"
He screamed, stumbling backward. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, paralyzed by fear.
"What in heaven's name are you people?"
But Mike and Djuma stood tall, their transformed bodies radiating an otherworldly power.
"They're mere kilometers away," Djuma said, levitating above the ground. "We can still prevent the impending disaster."
"Please, don't kill me!" Raymond, cowering on the ground, begged for mercy. "I was wrong, I promise I'll never come near you again. Just please… spare my life!"
"I'm no murderer. I've never taken a life, and I won't start now," Mike said, and with a reassuring smile, he levitated and addressed his friends. "Until we meet again, mes amis."
With a final goodbye, he leaped clumsily into the air and soared into the sky, followed by Djuma. The rest of the group watched as their figures dwindled out of sight.
"Something is not right, don't you guys notice?" Stefan observed. "What could have triggered Mike's sudden panic?"
Christina and Rachael thought for a moment before exclaiming simultaneously, "They're here!?"
"Exactly! The diversion plan failed; combat is inevitable," Stefan said. "Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Absolutely!"
"Yes!"
As Rachael dashed into the house, Christina walked toward Raymond, who was still sitting on the ground, apparently struggling to process the chaos that had blessed him with the shock of his life.
"We need your car. Our world is at stake," she said. Her expression brooked no refusal. She would take the car, with or without his consent.
Raymond's eyes drifted to his car, now commandeered by Christina.
"Oh... my car..." he stammered. Still shaken, he nodded feebly and handed over the key. Christina took the key and walked away.
"Are you really staying here?" Stefan addressed the visibly agitated man on the ground. "Real monsters are on their way to our planet."
"We already had two monsters on our planet; what more could be worse than that?" Raymond said.
"What monsters?"
"Where did you see them?"
"The ones we saw earlier of course."
"That's my friend you're calling a monster!" Stefan bristled. "Wouldn't he have killed you if he was?"
Raymond rose, his gaze now on Stefan. "And...where are you guys going?" he inquired.
Rachael emerged from the house, a backpack slung over her shoulder. "To kick their asses, of course! We can't let those merciless aliens destroy our world."
"What's the stuff jingling in your backpack?" Raymond pressed, now appearing more curious than scared.
Stefan opened the car's door and smiled. "Weapons to fight them," he replied and went in.
"Eh!?" Raymond breathed. "Do you guys want to die?"
Stefan winked and waved at him. "Bye!" he said, smiling.
"Dammit! Wait for me!" Raymond shouted as he sprinted toward the car. "I'll drive. I don't think I can stay alone tonight. I'm totally freaked out!"
"Suit yourself," Christina said, tossing the car key to him.
Raymond caught it deftly and opened the door. "You guys are either extremely brave or utterly insane," he said. "How can you consider fighting… that?"
He slid into the driver's seat, his eyes darting nervously between the group. "Whatever! I'll leave immediately after I drop you guys; I can't get involved in your suicidal mission. I'm the only one my mom got, okay?"
"Yes, soldier!" The group chimed in unison. "Now drive!"
Raymond hesitated, "Where to?"
"Just drive!" they insisted.
Perplexed, Raymond glanced at Stefan and Rachael in the backseat, then at Christina beside him. "Seriously?"
"I have an idea!" Christina said. She double-tapped her neck, where her Lav was implanted.
"Mike, do you copy?" she asked, awaiting a response.
After a brief pause, Mike's worried voice came through.
"Yes, I do. Is everything okay?"
"It worked! He replied," Christina announced triumphantly.
Rachael and Stefan sighed in relief. However, Raymond's confusion only grew.
"What are you talking about? Who replied?" he asked.
Christina focused on the conversation, ignoring Raymond's query. "Nothing's wrong, Mike. We're en route. What's your 20?"
Please reconsider, guys. It's not safe, Mike replied. I can't risk endangering any one of you guys.
"We won't take unnecessary risks, Mike. We can't sit idle while you face danger alone, please, please, please," Christina urged. "Please share your location."
Rachael leaned in, anxious. "What did he say? Did he tell you?"
Christina nodded. "Yes, after some reluctance and grumbling for ages. He's near Washington, DC."
"What the hell is going on?" Raymond shouted in frustration as he could no longer bear the silent reception he was receiving. "Who the hell are you talking to without a cell phone?!"
"There's a device in her neck that automatically connects to my brother when activated. It's… complicated," Rachael replied. Her explanation was swift and brief, but she couldn't care less if it did or didn't satisfy the man.
"Oh my God, I think I've entered a sci-fi movie!" Raymond said as he rubbed his eyes.
"I think I know where Mike's heading," Stefan announced, his eyes scanning the map on his phone. "NASA headquarters."
"Go now, soldier!" The group chorused unanimously.
Raymond's hesitation vanished. He ignited the car, and the vehicle sped off into the night, racing toward the location Stefan had mentioned.