Aizih Thriexa POV

  The response to our first video had been overwhelming, and now, as Sam and I sat together planning our next steps, I realized just how much power we had in shaping our own story. Sam was scrolling through comments, noting patterns in the reactions. Some people were still skeptical, but many wanted to know more. They wanted connection—something real, something human.

  “I think it’s time we tell them Jace’s story,” I said, breaking the silence.

  Sam looked up from her laptop, raising an eyebrow. “Jace’s story?”

  I nodded. “Yes. From the beginning. From when he interrogated me, to protecting me in Washington, D.C., to going to space, to becoming an Eova. Everything.”

  Sam leaned back in her chair, tapping a pen against the table. “That’s actually a great idea. People love personal stories—it makes things feel real to them. And Jace? He’s proof of everything we’ve been trying to show. That humans and Eova aren’t so different. That they can be one and the same.”

  I turned toward Jace, who had been quietly listening. “What do you think?”

  He exhaled, rubbing his jaw in thought. “I mean… it’s a hell of a story. I don’t mind sharing it if you think it’ll help. But how do we do it?”

  Sam’s fingers were already flying across the keyboard. “We break it into parts—small videos that tell each stage of your journey. First, we show people who you were before all of this—just a human, an FBI agent, someone who had no idea that life beyond Earth existed. Then, we show how you were called to protect your nation, how you became the point of contact between two species. Next, we take them through your time as the protector of an alien leader, then the moment you left Earth entirely—going to space to meet another species. And finally, we show the greatest transformation of all: when you became the alien yourself. And not just that—because of you, the Eova are no longer forced to take on human forms to survive. You made it possible for them to exist as they truly are on this planet.”

  I reached for Jace’s hand, squeezing it gently. “It’s because of you that we are no longer forced to hide. Let them see that. Let them understand.”

  Jace looked between us before finally nodding. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

  Over the next several days, Sam and I worked tirelessly to craft Jace’s story into a compelling series of videos. We filmed in different locations—sometimes in the quiet of our quarters, sometimes out among the Eova settlement, showcasing Jace not just as a figure of transformation, but as someone who bridged two worlds.

  Jace himself was reluctant at times, shifting uncomfortably when we asked him to recount his early days as an FBI agent. “I was just a man doing his job,” he admitted on camera, rubbing the back of his neck. “I interrogated criminals. I dealt with threats. I had no idea that life beyond Earth existed. Then, suddenly, I was thrown into a world where I was expected to protect my country from something I didn’t even understand.”

  He let out a slow breath. “At first, I saw the Eova as an unknown variable—something to be monitored, contained if necessary. My orders were clear. But when I started actually talking to them, when I met Thriexa… that’s when I realized they weren’t a threat. They were just people, trying to survive.”

  He paused, glancing toward the camera with something unreadable in his expression. “And now? Now I’m one of them.”

  Sam made sure to edit each video carefully, ensuring that every moment built a narrative—Jace’s skepticism, his duty, his evolution into an ally, and ultimately, his transformation into an Eova.

  Once we posted the first part of the series, the response was immediate.

  The comment sections flooded with reactions—some in awe, others skeptical, but all engaged.

  “This is insane. An FBI agent turned into an alien? Feels like a movie.”

  “He CHOSE to become one of them?? That says more than anything else.”

  “I wasn’t sure about the Eova before, but this guy was literally human and chose their side? That’s gotta mean something.”

  As the next few videos dropped, we saw something shift. More people began to defend Jace and the Eova, using his story as proof that coexistence wasn’t just possible—it was already happening. But the opposition was just as loud.

  “Brainwashed.”

  “He’s not human anymore. He abandoned his own kind.”

  “They took one of ours and made him one of them. This is war.”

  I felt my chest tighten reading those words, but Jace was calm. “This was always going to happen,” he said, squeezing my hand. “But look at the ones who support us. They’re growing. We’re making them see the truth.”

  And he was right. The world was watching, and the truth was spreading.

  Aizih Thriexa POV

  The sun was high, casting a golden glow over the settlement as I stood near the southern edge, watching Jace work. His focus was unwavering, his hands pressed against the framework of the safety structure, molding and reinforcing it with the power that had become a part of him. Sweat traced a slow path down his temple, catching the light, but he didn’t seem to notice. His entire being was concentrated on his task, on protecting the people who had come to rely on him in ways none of us had expected.

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  I had always admired Jace—for his strength, his determination, his ability to adapt—but standing here, watching him now, that admiration deepened. It wasn’t just in what he was doing, but in everything that he was. The way his muscles tensed as he worked, the careful precision in his movements, the unshakable resolve in his eyes. He had given so much for the Eova, and he never once asked for recognition. He simply did what he believed was right.

  “You’ve done so much for us,” I finally said, my voice quieter than I intended. “For the Eova.”

  Jace paused, glancing at me, one eyebrow raised. “You’ve done a little bit yourself, you know.”

  I shook my head. “Not like this. You changed everything. You gave us something we never thought possible—the ability to live freely as ourselves.”

  He let out a slow breath, turning his gaze back to the structure he was working on. “I just did what needed to be done.”

  I stepped closer, feeling the warmth of his presence settle over me. “What do you want, Jace? For yourself. For the future.”

  His hands stilled against the structure, and for the first time, he hesitated. He turned to me fully, his expression thoughtful, searching. “I just want you.”

  Something in my chest tightened, warmth spreading through me like a slow burn. I reached up, threading my fingers through his hair, pulling him into a kiss. It was soft at first, unhurried, but as his hands slid to my waist, grounding me, the moment deepened. When we parted, his forehead rested lightly against mine, his breath warm against my skin.

  I smiled, brushing my fingers along his jaw. “And here? Among the Eova? How do you want to fit in?”

  He exhaled, his hands still steady on my hips. “I just want to do what’s needed. Help where I can. Protect what matters.”

  I studied him, taking in the quiet certainty in his voice, the way he spoke without hesitation. It was so him, and yet I knew he deserved more than just existing in the background. He had shaped our future. The Eova saw him as something more. And whether or not he realized it, he had already stepped into a role greater than the one he thought he was playing.

  I wouldn’t tell him now. But at the next representative meeting, I would bring it up. Jace deserved to be recognized. He deserved a place among us, not just as someone who helped, but as someone who led. He was Elaron, and it was time the Eova officially acknowledged him as such.

  The representatives gathered in the main hall, seated around the long stone table, their expressions expectant. Xilta sat at my side, her gaze steady but unreadable. Vorak Algoks, Vorak Sculki, Tophae, Trenal, and the other nation representatives murmured amongst themselves, discussing the latest updates to the settlement.

  I cleared my throat, drawing their attention. “I have something to propose.”

  The room quieted as I stood, my hands resting on the table before me. “Jace has done more for the Eova than any of us could have imagined. He has not only protected me but has shaped our very future. Because of him, we no longer have to hide in human forms. Because of him, we have found a way to belong on this planet as we truly are.”

  I let my gaze move across the room, meeting the eyes of each representative. “The Elaron Nation was lost long ago. Jace is the only one of his kind now. But that does not mean he should stand alone. I believe we should formally recognize him as a representative of the Elaron Nation.”

  Murmurs filled the room, thoughtful nods exchanged between the leaders. Xilta was the first to speak. “He has proven himself time and time again. He deserves a place among us.”

  Vorak Algoks folded his arms. “I agree. He has led without demanding leadership. That is the mark of a true representative.”

  One by one, the others voiced their approval. When the final vote was cast, it was unanimous.

  I nodded, satisfaction settling in my chest. “Then it’s decided.”

  I turned to Trenal, who had been listening quietly. “Summon Jace to the meeting room.”

  Trenal smirked, rising from his seat. “He’s going to love this.”

  Minutes later, Jace entered the hall, his brow furrowed slightly as he glanced around the room. “What’s going on?”

  I stepped forward, my heart hammering lightly in my chest. “Jace Strickland, the representatives of the Eova have voted. We ask you to become the representative of the Elaron Nation. Will you accept?”

  Jace Strickland POV

  The moment Trenal’s voice echoed through my mind, I knew something was up.

  Jace, you’re needed at the main hall.

  I exhaled, wiping my hands on my pants. What’s this about?

  Trenal’s amusement was clear even through the telepathic link. Not for me to say. Thriexa will explain.

  That only made me more suspicious. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?

  Very much.

  Minutes later, I entered the hall, my brow furrowed slightly as I glanced around the room. “What’s going on?”

  Thriexa stepped forward, her expression composed but warm. “Jace Strickland, the representatives of the Eova have voted. We ask you to become the representative of the Elaron Nation. Will you accept?”

  I blinked. “What?”

  Vorak Algoks gave a short nod. “You have done more for the Eova than any other outsider in history. And you are no longer an outsider. You are Elaron. It is only right that you have a voice at the table of Representatives.”

  I shook my head, stepping back slightly. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t think you need me. I’ve only been Eova for about a month. How can I represent a nation that no longer exists?”

  Thriexa’s eyes softened. “Because you are the first of its rebirth. Jace, you have done more than simply exist among us. You’ve changed our future. The Eova trust you, they look to you, even if you refuse to see it.”

  I looked around the room, searching for some kind of hesitation from the others, but I saw none. Every representative was watching me, their expressions firm.

  Xilta finally spoke. “Your actions speak for themselves. You have led in ways that no one asked you to. We are only recognizing what is already true.”

  I swallowed hard, glancing at Thriexa, who met my gaze with quiet certainty. She had believed in me from the beginning. And now, all of them did too.

  Slowly, I let out a breath. “Alright. If this is what you all want, then I accept.”

  With that, the meeting came to an end. Trenal took it upon himself to spread the news to the rest of the Eova, ensuring that Jace’s appointment as the representative of the Elaron Nation would be formally recognized across the settlement.

  As the others began to file out of the chamber, Thriexa reached for my hand, her fingers lacing through mine with quiet certainty. She didn’t speak as she led me away from the hall, through the winding paths of the settlement, until we arrived at her quarters.

  She turned to me, her violet eyes filled with something deeper than just gratitude. “They meant every word, Jace. And so do I. I cannot imagine what my life—what the Eova—would be without you. I’m thankful every day that it was you who came to interrogate me.”

  I felt a slow smile spread across my lips. “I’d say the same thing, but I think we both know I wasn’t exactly the most welcoming interrogator.”

  She laughed softly, shaking her head. “No, you weren’t. But you listened. And that made all the difference.”

  I reached for her then, pulling her gently into my arms. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

  She leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my lips, one that spoke of everything we had been through and everything still to come. And for that moment, nothing else mattered.