🌌 STARLOST
Episode 5 — "The Hunter Arrives"
Morning comes again.
But the town does not feel the same.
The air feels heavier.
Like a storm that hasn't arrived yet.
Nova stands on Aira's rooftop, staring at the sky.
He hasn't slept.
Aira walks out holding two cups of tea.
"You've been doing that a lot."
Nova doesn't look away.
"They are preparing."
Aira hands him the cup anyway.
"Well… they can prepare while you drink tea."
Nova looks at the cup carefully.
Then he takes a small sip.
His expression doesn't change.
"Still strange."
Aira laughs.
"You're the alien, remember?"
---
At school, rumors are spreading.
Phones losing signal.
Lights flickering.
Some students say they saw strange people watching the streets.
Aira's friend whispers,
"Something weird is going on in town."
Aira forces a smile.
"Probably just bad internet."
Nova stays quiet.
But his eyes move constantly.
Watching.
Listening.
Calculating.
---
That evening, the sky begins to darken earlier than usual.
Clouds gather over the town.
A strange wind moves through the streets.
Nova suddenly stops walking.
Aira sighs.
"Let me guess again."
Nova's voice is quiet.
"He is here."
Aira's smile disappears.
"Already?"
Nova nods slowly.
"Yes."
---
At the edge of the town park—
Someone stands in the middle of the empty road.
Tall.
Wearing dark armor that almost looks like liquid metal.
His eyes glow faintly.
But unlike the scouts—
This one does not hide.
He simply waits.
Nova steps forward slowly.
Aira stays behind him.
The figure finally speaks.
His voice is deeper.
Colder.
"HUNTER UNIT 7."
"Target confirmed."
Nova clenches his fists.
"You were sent quickly."
The Hunter tilts his head slightly.
"You resisted retrieval."
"Correction protocol activated."
Aira whispers,
"Why do aliens talk like robots…"
Nova doesn't respond.
Because the Hunter suddenly moves.
Faster than anything before.
Nova barely blocks the first strike.
The impact throws him backward across the road.
Concrete cracks.
Aira gasps.
"NOVA!"
The Hunter walks forward calmly.
"Resistance is inefficient."
Nova stands again, breathing hard.
He attacks.
For a moment, time slows around him.
But the Hunter still moves.
Still follows.
Like he can predict Nova's movements.
Their fight shakes the empty street.
Windows vibrate.
Streetlights shatter.
Nova lands a strike that sends the Hunter sliding backward.
For the first time—
The Hunter stops moving.
Analyzing.
"Temporal manipulation confirmed."
"Threat level updated."
Nova's breathing becomes heavier.
His power is unstable again.
Aira notices.
"You're losing control…"
Nova whispers,
"He is designed to counter me."
The Hunter raises his arm.
Energy begins gathering around it.
"Correction will now proceed."
Aira suddenly runs forward.
"HEY!"
Both aliens look at her.
She stands there, scared but stubborn.
"You want him?"
"Then you have to go through me first."
For a moment—
The Hunter simply observes her.
His glowing eyes scanning.
"Human interference detected."
"Insignificant."
But Nova steps in front of her instantly.
"No."
The word echoes louder than expected.
For the first time—
Nova's power explodes outward.
The air around him bends.
Time distorts.
The Hunter slides backward several meters.
The ground cracks beneath Nova's feet.
Aira stares.
She has never seen him like this.
Nova's voice becomes calm.
But stronger.
"I will not leave this planet."
The Hunter slowly stands again.
For the first time—
A small fracture appears on his armor.
He looks at it.
Then back at Nova.
"Interesting."
He turns away.
Not retreating.
Just stepping back into the shadows.
"Battle postponed."
"Further data required."
Within seconds—
He disappears into the darkness.
---
Later that night—
Nova sits on the rooftop again.
Exhausted.
Aira sits beside him.
"You scared me back there."
Nova looks down.
"I scared myself."
Aira nudges his shoulder.
"Well… you still protected me."
Nova looks at her quietly.
"Yes."
They both look at the sky.
But now—
They know something else is up there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Far above Earth—
Inside the alien vessel—
The Hunter stands before a command screen.
A new message appears.
TARGET RESISTANCE ABOVE EXPECTATION.
AUTHORIZATION REQUESTED:
FULL RETRIEVAL FORCE.
And the commander watching from the shadows simply says one word—
"Approved."