Apocalypse-The Alien War

Chapter 7 Caught off guard...

Ethan's point of view...

Ava hung her head but finally smiled, her eyes shimmering with a blend of tenderness and uncertainty.

"Neither did I," she admitted after a long hesitation period, her voice carrying a hint of awe, I exhaled the warm breath that I had been holding in. I thought that I took advantage of a girl just now but as she smiled, thousands of butterflies fluttered inside me.

"But sometimes, the universe has its plans for us." she continued, I slowly slid my hand toward hers.

Our hands intertwined, our fingers entangled, as we continued our journey through the cosmos, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us, fortified by the power of this new thing that had just been introduced into our lives.

"A...a..." she stuttered fetching words,

"What?" I exclaimed pulling back my hand, but she held it back.

"Not this I just... I wanted to tell you... that...! it's better to keep it within us..." She finally make it, I chuckled at her hesitation then nodded in agreement.

"Let's keep it a secret, but only until we complete this mission," I said, my resolve unwavering. It was a commitment to each other and our shared mission as Zodiac Warriors.

We both knew that our journey as Zodiac Warriors had just taken a thrilling turn, one that would intertwine our personal lives with our duties as protectors of humanity.

With this new sense of purpose and an unspoken agreement to navigate the challenges that lay ahead together, we resumed our positions in the spaceship. The universe stretched out before us, filled with endless possibilities and uncharted territories. My lips still tingled from the shared kiss, a reminder of the unbreakable bond we had discovered. This journey was so exciting.

I witnessed a new planet that I would have only seen in the sky, twinkling somewhere. But I walked on it today. That was one of my achievements but another thing was that I had my first spacecraft ride independently and the most special thing was that I had my first kiss today in this spacecraft.

As the spaceship continued its voyage, Ava and I shared glances at each other. Though we talked it through, it still felt so awkward. The silence filling the space was irritating, except for the humming sound of the spacecraft, there was no other thing to hear.

"How about we talk about something?" I started the conversation to break the silence. She gaped at me puzzled.

"What do you want to talk about?" she asked confusingly.

"Tell me about yourself," I said, actually I wanted to know what kind of life did she live back on earth.

"I was a student in space studies, but after my Dad's death, I stopped my studies and was working as a kindergarten teacher" she revealed, hanging her head down with grief. Wait...!

Did I just wreck her wound?

"I am sorry if I just made you recall something unhappy" I tried making up, she looked at me, "No it's fine, actually felt better talking to you" she expressed, our eyes locked again but seriously guys, I halted myself from doing anything this time.

I shifted my gaze away and she asked about me. I told everything about how I was a hero before the accident and become a zero all of a second. I told her everything that how my life was crippled and how I ended up here. I used to limp to walk, which made me look like a useless man all my life. She listened to my every single word very patiently and a sympathetic look was evident in her eyes.

In fact, I felt better after telling her that. Do I have a girlfriend now?

We didn't confess, nor did we confirm our mutual feeling of love, all we did was... Kissing each other. That's a bit too fast-forward, isn't it?

For the rest of the journey, I just sat calmly focusing on the radar and the path we were on and Ava got busy with her analysis. This journey proved to us that this blooming love had the potential to ignite the stars, inspire courage and resilience within us, and fuel the determination to protect the universe.

The first kiss we shared in this spaceship will become a symbol of that new relationship, an affirmation that love could blossom amidst the chaos of our extraordinary lives. Hand in hand, we charted our course through the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us, fortified by the power of our love and our unwavering commitment to each other and our shared mission as Zodiac Warriors.

As the spaceship touched down on the landing pad inside the base, we took a deep breath and shared exchanged excited glances.

We could hear the buzz of anticipation in the air as our team members might be eagerly awaiting our return. Stepping out of the spacecraft, we were greeted with cheers and applause, the sound echoing through the hangar.

{Task completed}

{Congratulations on completing the task successfully}

The system greeted us and my heart felt a satisfaction that I was not a waste anymore. As we stepped inside the main hall, we heard loud cheers,

"Congratulations, Ethan and Ava!" Almost all of our teammates, exclaimed, clapping their hands. "You two did an incredible job out there!"

I couldn't help but grin, feeling a surge of pride in our accomplishment. "Thank you, guys! It was a team effort, you are the inspiration."

They surrounded us, offering hugs, pats on the back, and words of praise. Their support and enthusiasm were infectious, and it was clear that our successful mission had lifted their spirits as well.

Dylan and Nathan stood off to the side, their expressions still filled with disdain. They had always been skeptical of our abilities, and their lack of enthusiasm was not surprising.

"Looks like someone's floating in the air, just for a kid's play" I heard whispered taunt and I know who whispered, my heart tinged with a hint of disappointment.

Ava sighed, her eyes focused on them.

"Let's give them some time. Maybe they'll come around." I smiled at her, it impressed me that she can read my mind.

We continued to bask in the warmth of our team's celebration, sharing stories and recounting the exhilarating moments of our journey. The camaraderie and support were palpable, reinforcing the strong bond we had built as a team.

They go through the chemicals and samples we brought back. I instructed them to keep it safe as it may contain toxic gases too. Suddenly, Dylan approached, his face still somewhat guarded. "Alright, fine," he grumbled grabbing the samples into his hands.

"I guess this is all you did on your first ride."

Nathan followed suit, albeit with less enthusiasm. "Yeah, you two surprised us. Maybe you're not as hopeless as we thought," he said, disdain still evident in their eyes.

Ava and I exchanged a glance, sensing those mockery tones and their unwavering attitudes.

"Thanks, guys," I retorted, though I may not smack them back, I can't let them insult me, right? "We're all in this together, and I am glad to know that you think I am not hopeless."

Max grinned and nudged Dylan playfully. "Come on, Dylan, let's join the celebration. It's a big day for all of us."

With a look that threw daggers at me, Dylan and Nathan left the group, allowing themselves to be swept out of the joyous atmosphere. The team ignored them and laughed, clinked glasses, and shared stories late into the night, celebrating our successful mission and the unity we had forged. I do wish that the whole team could be here. But no worries, they will join us now or later.

As the celebration wound down, Ava and I found a quiet moment to reflect on the day's events. We leaned against a nearby wall, gazing out at the starry sky visible through the hangar doors.

"This has been quite a journey," Ava said softly, her voice filled with a mix of gratitude and awe. "I'm so proud of what we've accomplished together, Leo."

I turned to her, a smile playing on my lips. "I couldn't have done it alone, Ava. You make every challenge feel conquerable."

Ava's eyes sparkled with warmth. "And you, Ethan, inspire me to push my limits. Together, we're unstoppable, isn't it?."

Our hands found each other, fingers intertwining naturally. At that moment, the weight of our connection was undeniable, transcending the boundaries of our mission and uniting us on a deeper level.

"We make a great team," Ava whispered, her voice filled with tenderness. "And I'm grateful to have you by my side." It was almost a confession but when she lay her head on my shoulder I felt as if I got the power to conquer the world.

I squeezed her hand gently, a surge of affection filling my heart. "I feeling is mutual, Ava. Our journey is just beginning, and I can't wait to see where it takes us."

As the base settled into a peaceful silence, Ava and I stood there, embracing the moment, filled with a renewed sense of purpose and an unspoken agreement to face whatever comes our way. The bond we had forged extended beyond the confines of our roles as Zodiac Warriors, it was a connection rooted in trust, admiration, and love.

{Submit the Samples to the Lab}

An announcement was made and we slid away together to hand it over to the lab.

As Ava and I reconnected with the team, I released Ava's hand which was in mine all this time. The atmosphere took a lighthearted turn.

Something was fishy...!

Laughter and playful banter filled the air, bringing a sense of camaraderie and warmth. Their eyes lingered mischievously. However, as the teasing continued, it became apparent that there was something more to their amusement feeling awkward, we parted ways.

Jack, unable to contain his laughter any longer, blurted out,

"Oh, come on, you two! We saw everything!"

Confusion washed over me.

"Saw everything? What do you mean?" I asked, my face turning slightly red with embarrassment.

It isn't something that they shouldn't right?

Dorci, couldn't hold back his laughter.

"You didn't know?" he moved closer and whispered into my ears, "There were cameras installed all over the spaceship cabin, Captain." My eyes widened as I heard it.

Was that a public kiss...!

Uhh...! Those cameras....!

"We all witnessed your first kiss, Captain!" They all shouted playfully, and we hung our heads in embarrassment.

Ava and I exchanged stunned glances, our faces turning a shade of crimson. The realization sank in, and we felt a mixture of mortification and shyness. The private moment we thought we shared had been captured and observed by our entire team.

Wait...! That means the system might have recorded it as well.

Shit...! It's so embarrassing.

Giggles erupted from the group, and they playfully nudged me. "Oh, Ethan, you've got some moves! Who knew you were such a romantic?"

Trying to recover from the embarrassment, I grinned awkwardly.

"Well, I guess we provided some unexpected entertainment."

Ava joined in, her face flushed but wearing a good-natured smile.

"I suppose we should have been more aware of our surroundings from now on."

The teasing continued as our team light-heartedly recounted their reactions to witnessing our impromptu kiss. Although embarrassed, we soon realized that their laughter was not meant to mock or make us uncomfortable but to celebrate the connection we had formed.

Dorci playfully patted Ava on the shoulder. "You two have set the bar high for romance in space. It's like a scene out of a movie!" he strolled near me, continuing to pull my leg, "But I must admit it was a passionate one...!" he laughed out louder.

I chuckled, feeling more at ease. "Well, we do like to make things interesting, isn't it?."

As the teasing subsided, Selina stepped forward, she had been in a corner all this time, her expression softening. "In all seriousness, you two make a great team. It's clear that your connection goes beyond just being great pilots."

All nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you've shown us what it means to trust each other completely. We should learn from that."

Ava and I exchanged an awkward look, comprehending their genuine words.

"Oh come on, guys," Ava said, her voice filled with irritation. "We're fortunate to have such an amazing and cooperative team, but please let's get back to rest, I am tired to hell."

The atmosphere shifted, transforming into a moment of shared understanding and respect. The initial embarrassment faded away, replaced by a renewed sense of unity and support.

"Yeah, okay enough of these giggles"

As the night came to a close, our teammates gathered around, expressing their pride and admiration for our achievements.

I understood one thing very clearly I must be aware of the cameras and the unexpected hidden things around me from now on to avoid such awkward situations in the future.

As Ava and I bid the team farewell, we carried with us a new level of vulnerability and openness.

Getting out of the hall, hand in hand, Ava and I strolled to the chamber room to rest, whereas all the others got back to complete their tasks given.

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