Following the meeting, Jason found his mind clouded with even more questions.
Maybe our solar system is extraordinary. Perhaps in the ancient past, it had served as battlegrounds for interstellar civilizations, or maybe they were just a small corner of a much vaster cosmic war zone.
His unease didn't stem solely from the committee's debate about extraterrestrial threats, but also from a private conversation he had with Lily shortly afterward.
"Was there something you wanted to tell me?" Jason asked. He had just stepped out of the conference room and noticed Lily lingering by the door, looking unusually hesitant.
She was typically a quiet person who rarely spoke unless it was absolutely necessary. The fact that she had sought him out against her usual nature meant it was important.
