"Despite the lack of concern from the Galactic Commission, we never gave up hope," Ziak said, his voice filled with a mixture of determination and sorrow. "For four long years, we searched, following every lead, every whisper. As a last resort, we returned to the Kepler system, near where Father's signal vanished. And then, miraculously, we picked up a faint echo – a residual ping from his tracker. We locked onto it immediately and followed it here. But the mystery of your neutrino signature… it's still a puzzle. All the answers, we believe, lie with your mother."
Ethan, his mind reeling from the revelations, could only manage, "That's… a lot to take in. I hope we can find your father. But hearing about those Cellucas… it's terrifying."
As they approached his house, the front door swung open, and Lena's voice, laced with worry, cut through the night air. "Ethan! Where have you been? It's so late!"
Ethan hesitated, then blurted out, "Mom… there are some… aliens here. They said they need to meet you."
Lena froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Aliens?"
Just then, Ziak and Kiaz allowed their cloaking field to dissipate, their violet forms shimmering into view. Lena gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, shock etched across her face.
Understanding dawned in her eyes. She had always known Ethan was different. Now, the pieces began to fall into place. Taking a deep breath, she addressed the two aliens, her voice surprisingly steady. "What do you need? What brings you here?"
Kiaz stepped forward, his luminous eyes filled with a desperate hope. "Did you know our father? He may have come to Earth around four years ago."
Lena's composure wavered. A wave of memories washed over her – the crashed ship, the dying alien, the desperate plea, the strange metal piece she had kept hidden for so long. Her voice trembled as she began to recount the events of that fateful night, the encounter with their father, the mission he spoke of, and the metal he entrusted to her.
As Lena spoke, Ziak and Kiaz listened intently, their expressions shifting from hopeful anticipation to dawning grief. When Lena described their father's final moments, a shared cry of anguish escaped their lips.
Ethan stood by, stunned, piecing together the fragments of his mother's story with the unbelievable reality standing before him. The metal piece, his abnormal growth, the alien visitors… it was all connected. The truth, when it finally settled upon him, was more shocking than anything he could have imagined.