Maggie stood beside Sarah, her tone patient but firm as she guided her through the intimidating console interface. The control station in front of them looked like something out of a sci-fi film: the desk and chair formed a semi-enclosed, crescent-shaped unit, wrapping around the user like a protective shell. Sleek and seamless, it was designed for efficiency—every panel and control placed precisely for intuitive access.
Massive curved holographic displays arced in a 180-degree sweep around the desk. The translucent interface shimmered with data—flashing maps, global coordinates, and vibrant overlays. A digital world unfolded before them in real time. Red and purple tracking lines branched across the continents like arteries, intersected with blinking markers and blue circular zones.
"These dots..." Sarah leaned in, her finger hovering near one glowing cluster. "Are those... Mogadorian bases?"
Maggie gave a quick nod, her expression tightening.
"Yeah," she replied flatly. "We destroyed quite a few already. But with the government backing them in secret, they just keep popping up somewhere else."
Sarah frowned, the weight of it all beginning to settle. The betrayal of the government—working with the enemy—was something none of them had truly gotten used to.
Then Maggie's eyes lit up with sudden excitement.
"Hey—wanna see something cool?" she said, already tapping at one of the curved side panels. "My brother taught me this trick."
Sarah blinked, confused. "Your brother?"
Maggie smiled faintly. She still wasn't sure what to call Alexander—he wasn't her blood relative, but he'd become something more than just a teacher. He'd guided her through learning how to control her abilities, and now he was showing her how to navigate the digital battlefield as well.
"He's like a brother to me," she said. "Taught me all kinds of things. Including… this."
With a quick motion, Maggie brought up a secondary holographic panel. A string of dense code scrolled across the screen—green characters on a black background, sharp and fast.
"This is the X-axis bi-numeric algorithm. It's a type of super virus. Once deployed, it gives root access to any infected digital server."
Sarah's eyes widened. "Isn't that… kind of illegal?"
Maggie laughed, already focusing on a node pulsing in the upper left of the map. She tapped, bringing up a secure connection. "We won't get caught. E.V.E. masks everything. She's the best AI we've got—military-grade, adaptive, untraceable."
The system blinked, then opened. Maggie had just breached a top-level FBI server.
What they saw next made both of them freeze.
Video footage rolled in distorted frames—chaotic, violent. Mogadorian soldiers shouting in an alien tongue. Snow. Claws. Something massive.
A hulking creature thrashed inside a cage, covered in fur, roaring as it was stunned by electric prods.
Sarah leaned closer, shocked. "Is that... a Yeti?"
Maggie's voice was low. "I think it is. And it looks like the Mogadorians didn't kill it. They captured it."
The screen flickered again—new data loading. Coordinates. Dates. Another creature, another cage.
Sarah looked at Maggie, her voice trembling. "How many more are there?"
Maggie didn't answer. She was already searching.
They watched in silence as the second video loaded.
This time, it was a jungle—thick vines, torrential rain, and infrared overlays flickering as the footage adjusted. A monstrous silhouette moved between the trees—its shape part reptile, part insect. Mogadorians swarmed it, using net guns and plasma bolts, but the creature roared and took down three of them before it was finally subdued.
A third video began to play automatically.
A deep-sea environment. The camera bobbed as if attached to a drone. Lights cut through the murk, revealing a massive, bioluminescent serpent weaving between underwater ruins. The Mogadorians had it cornered with sonic emitters and were preparing a containment shell.
Sarah exhaled sharply. "This is bigger than just one Yeti..."
Maggie leaned back, eyes wide but steady. Her fingers clenched the armrest."I have to tell my brother. And the others. Right now."
Sarah nodded without hesitation. "Let's go."
Maggie closed the console with a swipe and activated the lockout sequence. The holograms blinked out, the desk powering down in a hum of fading light.
Without another word, the two girls turned and ran—racing through the halls of the underground base. Their footsteps echoed off the steel walls, urgency in every stride.
Everyone had gathered in the central command room—Cepans, Garde, and close allies alike. The air was thick with tension as the holographic display replayed the three videos Maggie and Sarah had uncovered. Creatures once thought to be legends now stood documented: hunted, captured… real.
Alexander's eyes narrowed as he studied the footage.
"They definitely aren't alien," he said, voice firm. "These things originate from Earth."
Malcolm adjusted his glasses, muttering under his breath."Mythical creatures... I didn't think they actually existed."
Jim Hart, standing beside his siblings Luke and Isabella, looked stunned."Yeah… none of us did."
But Alexander wasn't done. He took a step back from the console, his voice thoughtful.
"I want more answers."
Then, before anyone could respond, his eyes turned completely white, glowing with a faint energy. The room fell silent. A few gasps rippled through the crowd as everyone stared.
John—Four—turned to Henri, his voice low.
"What is he doing?"
Henri shrugged, keeping his tone neutral.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
Six, standing slightly apart but clearly noticing the concern, sighed.
"It's his ability," she explained calmly. "Chrono Vision. He can look into the past, the present, and even potential futures. He's searching for the origins of these creatures—and what caused them to appear."
Murmurs of amazement spread through the Garde and Cepans. An ability like that was rare… and dangerous.
A few moments later, the glow faded from Alexander's eyes. He exhaled, the weight of what he saw pressing on his expression.
"Well," he muttered, "things are getting more and more interesting."
Six stepped forward. "What did you find?"
Alexander paused before answering, then began.
"We always believed that gathering all the Phoenix Stones and bringing them to the Sanctuary in Calakmul would help jump-start Lorien's ecosystem—and Earth's. That part was true."
Everyone nodded. They all remembered the stories. They'd all opened their chests, trusted the mission, and accepted the responsibility.
"But…" Alexander continued, his tone now heavy, "the Phoenix Stones of each Garde being so close together for so long has had another effect. It's slowly awakening the mythological beasts of Earth. The same way the Chimera awakened on Lorien."
The room went completely still. No one had expected that.
Six blinked. "So we have to save them, right? We can't let the Mogadorians use or destroy them."
Alexander gave a firm nod."Exactly. This time, I'm taking Hannu, Seven, and Nine with us. They need more combat experience."
Nine smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"Finally. My time to shine."
Hannu grinned as well, energy practically vibrating off him. He was ready.
John opened his mouth, clearly wanting to volunteer, but Henri placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Not now," Henri said gently but firmly. "They need the experience. You got yours in Paradise. And let's not forget… you're still grounded after that stunt you pulled."
John winced. "Yeah… fair."
Everyone chuckled lightly, the brief humor a welcome release from the intensity.
But beneath it all, they all knew one thing clearly:
The war was evolving. And the Earth's forgotten myths were no longer just stories.