I stood at the top of the stairs frozen, not knowing what to do. On the surface, nothing was wrong or out of place but I had this uneasy feeling in th... pit of my stomach. Something just felt off, I don't know how to verbalize it beyond that feeling. I called out for Mike one more time. There was no answer. I didn't expect an answer but at the same time I hoped to hear his familiar 'yeah' calling out from my room.I knew my mom was still in the house, I knew Mike was still in the house but. Gidding followed his guide up a long trail in a wooded hillside to a modest cottage. It was misleading, of course, to imagine that Iliescu lived in such a small residence on such a huge orbital colony. The man owned not only the cottage but every cubic millimetre of earth, air and water within a light second of it.The figure standing at the oak door to the cottage appeared to be Alexander Iliescu, but Gidding wasn't so easily deceived. Alexander Iliescu didn't extend a hand in greeting and his. Dozens of smaller trails shot out from the ships, explosions filling the sky. The sound of them arrived a moment later. As the lead ship passed overhead, it let out a roar and a massive volley of fire. The train station where they had just been exploded. The teens dropped to the ground, shocked. Smoke and small clumps of dirt and metal rained down on them, their path unexpected due to the rotation of the ground beneath them. Other explosions could be heard and felt all over.Lessa regained her. " It sounds wonderful, Brad. Tell you what – give me about a half-hour to get changed and looking like something that didn't just escape from the zoo and we can go. Do you need a reservation for this place?" she asked."No, not usually. Unless you go on a Friday or Saturday night. Then they can get pretty full. But this is only Tuesday so we should be good." Okay great. I'll see you in a few minutes then," she said. I walked her to her door and waited for her to get inside. Then I went to my.