Ethereal ☆ STARRISON

introduction;

GEORGE was always fond of space.

He liked the company of the moon whenever he went on walks. He admired the way sunsets always changed and always took his breathe away. When he was a kid, he had those glow in the dark stars that gave off neon green when Louise turned off the lights.

So when he heard the news that aliens were trying to invade Mother Earth, he was crushed. The first mention of extraterrestial lifeforms made him jump and sit up straighter in excitement. Then the word WAR made his stomach churn. Space was beautiful, and absolutely terrifying at the same time.

And so it goes - panic spread all across in different forms, slithering into social media and local news stations. George, and his mates as well, hated the idea of war but when the whole goverment and the whole world are on edge, what could you do?

The neighborhood was on guard and as fierce as the next community was. Everyone capable took turns watching at the outposts stationed miles away, and now was the golden trio's turn.

"Fuck sake," George groaned, throwing his cards out like a scorned child. "You know how bad I am at this game. You two set me up didn't you?"

"No, not at all." Paul grinned, and even though it was quite obvious that both Lennon and McCartney conspired to place the plus two UNO cards for the younger boy, he played innocent.

"You just have the shittiest luck in Europe, G." John eyed Paul up, narrowing his eyes like a gunslinger. "Jus' you and me now, eh Paulie?"

"Cheats!" George knew the two of them would pull every trick known to man. This was certainly the UNO match of death. "I'm going to the rooftop."

"Don't trip on the steps again!"

"I won't!"

It had the best view, but the youngest of the three hated drastic heights and always had the sharp cringe-like tingle whenever his fear of high places arrive unannounced. There is a safety fence, but George couldn't help but think of a hundred scenarios where each ended with him falling at 9.8 meters per second.

The sky was a fiery red with soft pink cuts slashing through the scarlets. The clouds all looked puffed up and stuck together like cotton candy - cumulus clouds, George remembers -which reassured the old school idea that it wasn't going to rain anytime soon.

Four texts from his parents, three from his mum where she says how proud he is for taking this kind of responsibility combined with random emojis. His dad tells him to take care and mentions some alien-related attacks that may or may not have been from Facebook. George hates the fact that social media could put anything on a platform, and even if the idea was ridiculous and plain bullshit, two or more idiots would still believe it.

Eventually the sun tucked itself into bed and the moon clocked in, its pale face rearing its incandescent craters alongside the tiny, twinkling dots of stars and neighboring planets. He maps out the classic constellations, and makes up new ones, like the Paul Should Never Be Trusted one and, the John Secretly Sucks at UNO. Then a certain star catches George's eye, sparkling oh so bright as if it was a jewel instead of a hot ball of gas.

It was big, celestial, and it was coming right this way holy fuck-

The alarms went off in the tower, the A.I. already sensing in a breakneck speed. George rushed downstairs as quick as he can, eyes widening at the capsized table and the colorful cards scattered everywhere like it were petals at a wedding.

"Paul? John?!"

"Over here, kid!" The oldest calls out, trying to hide his panic for Paul was at the gunner and God knows how terrible his aim was. "Okay Paulie, calm down-"

"It's an alien ship, John, how the fuck am I going to calm down?!"

"Easy on the trigger, Jesus Christ!"

"Wait," George's eyes flickered to and fro on the screen, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion. "That's not an offense ship?" It comes out as a question, stressing the older two even more. "That's not an offense ship!"

"Wha- I don't - What do you mean, Geo?" Paul stutters. "John? Should I shoot it?"

"I-I don't know?"

"Fuck," George chews his lip, turning the flesh red due to the severity of pressure. "I-It doesn't have guns..."

"It's alien!"

"Wait!" George and John shouted at the same time, the three of them jumping back a loud crack that seemed to shake the stronghold.

The beam went straight for the vessel, easily sending it crashing down like a comet. Paul let out a frightened squeak, hands shaking as if he couldn't believe he himself did that.

"Oh god," Paul choked out. "Oh god oh god oh god what are we going to do-"

"We?" John threw his hands in the air. "You shot it!"

"I didn't mean to!"

"You still shot it!"

George hesitantly reached for the camera controls, wincing when he saw red smoke emit from the sinking spacecraft. The ship was round, not exactly a fighter vessel. The damn thing didn't even have guns.

"You could've have helped me!"

"So now it's my fault?"

"Will you two shut up?!" George yelled, voice hitting the two louder than the explosions coming from the screen. "We still need to check it out, and even if Brian is going to curb stomp Macs into oblivion, pointing fingers isn't going to help!"

After a mumbled, stammering apology from a red-faced John and a teary hug sponsored by Paul, the trio headed out in protective gear and tazers. George brought a blaster, which was pretty much the most dangerous they brought so far. But it was only for emergencies.

Dead creatures laid limp, some half burnt and the rest of what looked like the royal staff gave no pulse. The metal creaked under their boots, and Paul would've fell to his knees if it weren't for John softly holding his arm. George tried not to look at them too long and went over to the back end of the vessel, jaw dropping when he took in the sight of the one alien that survived.

He was crying - sobbing - pale blue hands splayed on the front of his escape pod. He started gasping, pounding on the glass. George ran, heart doubling its speed as he tried to open it. He didn't know how alien lungs worked, but a human would've died in there if he had been a minute late.

The moment he managed to pry it open was when the boy let out a shaky gasp and started slowly went limp, exhausted. George gasped, the realization and panic hitting him square in the chest like a bus at full speed.

"Shit, okay, alien survivor? Cool, okay, alright. Fuck." He slid his hands under the alien's armpits and tried to gently haul him out.

In his adrenaline, George managed to carry him bridal style, and despite the fact that he never excercised that much he managed to go back to base. He rambled about how they can't waste time during the way and they need to save the alien boy in his arms ASAP.

✨ COMING SOON ✨