Ed Mercer vs the Invaders: The Giant Awakening

Chapter One: The Beginning of Something Strange

In the vast reaches of outer space, a distant planet shimmered with a beautiful, serene glow—just moments before it met its violent end. With an earth-shattering explosion, the planet tore apart, sending debris hurtling into the infinite blackness. Among the fragments, a single asteroid, glowing with a strange green energy, sped away from the wreckage, bound on a collision course with Earth.

Far below, in Modesto, California, life continued on as usual.

Ed Mercer stood in front of a full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of his suit jacket for the hundredth time. The reflection staring back at him wasn't that of the captain of the U.S.S. Orville but of a man about to embark on an entirely different mission: marriage. Today was his wedding day, and in just a few short hours, he'd be walking down the aisle to say "I do." It was a lot to take in.

Behind him, Darulio, his soon-to-be spouse, strolled in, grinning with that trademark charm that could put anyone at ease—or completely throw them off-balance, depending on how you looked at it.

"Ed, come on, you've been fussing with that thing for ages," Darulio said, crossing the room with fluid grace, his blue skin catching the sunlight streaming through the windows. "You look great. You always do. Relax."

Ed gave a half-hearted chuckle, turning to face Darulio, who looked as calm and collected as ever. "Yeah, well, I guess it's not every day a guy like me gets to marry someone like you."

Darulio winked. "You've got that right. So, have you decided yet? Paris or Fresno?"

Ed rolled his eyes, but there was a playful glint behind them. "Seriously? You're still pushing for Fresno? I mean, come on, we could go to Paris, the city of lights, romance, wine. And you want Fresno?"

"Hey, Fresno's got its charm," Darulio shot back, a smirk spreading across his face. "I've heard the sunsets are killer."

"Yeah, and so's the boredom," Ed quipped. "We'll see. Maybe a compromise."

Ed walked over to the window, staring out at the bustling streets of Modesto. People were going about their daily routines, oblivious to the cosmic forces set in motion just hours before. There was a small part of him that felt oddly unsettled, as if something far bigger than wedding jitters was brewing just beyond the horizon. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it gnawed at the back of his mind, lingering in the silence.

Darulio came up behind him, wrapping his arms around Ed's waist. "You're overthinking again, aren't you?"

"Maybe," Ed admitted, leaning into the embrace. "I just... I don't know, I've got this weird feeling, like something's about to happen. Something big."

Darulio laughed softly. "Well, marrying me is pretty big. So yeah, you're right."

Ed chuckled, but the strange feeling didn't leave him. He shook it off, telling himself it was just pre-wedding nerves. What could possibly go wrong?

Outside, far beyond the peaceful clouds and blue sky, the asteroid continued its silent journey toward Earth, picking up speed, pulsing with that strange, otherworldly energy.

Ed had no idea that by the end of the day, his life—and his very existence—would be changed forever.