🌌 STARLOST
Episode 3 — "The First Shadow"
The morning after Nova's warning feels strangely normal.
School bells ring.
Students complain about homework.
The town continues its usual rhythm.
But Nova walks beside Aira with a quiet tension in his eyes.
He keeps looking up at the sky.
Aira notices.
"You've checked the sky like fifteen times."
Nova answers calmly.
"They are searching."
"From space?"
"Yes."
Aira sighs.
"Well… that's not stressful at all."
At school, Nova sits quietly in the classroom.
The noise of students talking fills the room.
But something feels different today.
Nova suddenly freezes.
His eyes narrow.
"Something is wrong."
Aira whispers,
"What do you mean?"
Nova looks toward the window.
"I feel… interference."
At that moment—
Every phone in the classroom glitches.
Screens flicker.
The lights dim for a second.
Then everything returns to normal.
Students laugh it off.
"Probably the network."
But Nova's expression becomes serious.
"They are scanning."
Later that afternoon, Aira and Nova walk home through the park.
The wind is calm.
Birds are quiet.
Too quiet.
Nova suddenly stops.
"Aira."
"What?"
"We are not alone."
Aira looks around.
The park is empty.
Then—
A man appears near the trees.
Just standing there.
He looks completely ordinary.
Dark coat. Calm expression.
But his eyes are cold.
He slowly walks toward them.
Nova steps slightly in front of Aira.
The man speaks in a calm voice.
"Anomaly confirmed."
Aira frowns.
"Excuse me?"
The man's eyes glow faintly for a moment.
Nova whispers,
"Recon unit."
The man tilts his head slightly.
"Return immediately."
Nova doesn't move.
"I will not."
For a moment, the park becomes silent.
Then the man moves.
Not like a human.
Too fast.
Nova pushes Aira aside just in time.
The man's strike cracks the ground where she stood.
Aira stares in shock.
"What— WHAT IS THAT?!"
Nova blocks another attack.
Their movements blur.
But Nova is clearly struggling.
His powers are unstable.
The man's voice remains calm.
"Resistance is unnecessary."
Nova clenches his fists.
"I will not return."
The man raises his hand—
And suddenly Nova freezes in place.
Not time freeze.
Something else.
His body locked.
The recon unit begins walking toward him.
"Retrieval will now begin."
Aira looks around desperately.
Then she grabs a rock from the ground.
And throws it at the man's head.
It hits him.
He turns slowly.
Aira stands there, shaking but determined.
"Hey! Space robot!"
"Leave him alone!"
The distraction is enough.
Nova breaks free from the lock.
He grabs Aira's arm.
"Run!"
They sprint through the park.
The recon unit watches them disappear into the trees.
It does not chase.
Instead, it touches its ear calmly.
"Target confirmed."
"Prepare full retrieval."
Night falls.
Nova and Aira sit on the rooftop again.
Both breathing heavily.
Aira finally speaks.
"Okay… so… that guy was definitely not human."
Nova nods.
"He was only a scout."
Aira's eyes widen.
"ONLY?!"
Nova looks toward the sky again.
"They will send stronger ones."
Aira stays quiet for a moment.
Then she smiles slightly.
"Well… good thing you landed in the most stubborn town on Earth."
Nova looks at her.
"You continue to assist me despite the danger."
Aira shrugs.
"You're my friend."
Nova processes the word again.
Friend.
For the first time since arriving on Earth—
He smiles without confusion.
Far above the planet…
Inside the alien vessel, several lights activate.
A new command appears.
RETRIEVAL PHASE TWO INITIATED.
And Earth is officially marked…
As an active operation zone.