Hey guys,

Welcome back if you read this before, and welcome if this is your first time! This was my first big fic project, but it's aged horribly and there's a lot I'm not happy with. So, I've revised it and changed a lot of finer details. New or old reader, though, I hope you enjoy...

Kaltaran City, Kaijex

Fourteen Years Ago

"Your Majesty, I have grave news to report."

King Har'tanal of Kaijex looked up and studied the face of his trusted aide Kalan. The approaching man's footsteps echoed off the marble walls surrounding them; they were the last in the now abandoned throne room. The monarch's wings and tail drooped sadly in defeat knowing all too well the situation engulfing his beloved world was lost. The reports coming in from cities just before they fell, speaking of armies wiped out by relentless attacks. The Kaijexian attempt to defend their homeworld had failed.

"Is it true, my old friend? They're almost here?"

"I am afraid so your highness. The Zygrans have breached the last defenses to the capital. All that can be done has been done." Kalan hesitated. "They came out of the sky so quickly… we never had a chance…"

"We've been at war with the Zygrans for years. We should have realized it would only be a matter of time before they reached the homeworld. The destruction of outer colonies, the repulsion of our fleets… I fear we were complacent, Kalan…"

"I suppose we were all mistaken to think the Zygrans would refrain from assaulting civilian targets. I should have known myself firsthand from the Colony Wars…" Kalan swept at his graying hair idly, exposing a scabbed over scar underneath. "I should have remembered what our old enemy was capable of."

"As I said earlier, we all should have," Har'tanal replied." The two men looked up as the floor beneath them trembled slightly, a muffled boom sounding in the distance.

"They're breaching the palace walls… Sire, we must get you off the planet immediately. You must leave before the Zygrans can get their odious claws on you."

The king nodded. "Very well, Kalan. Summon my wife and my child." He hesitated. "Tell them to meet me in the palace's hanger bay." The aide nodded curtly and hurried towards the hallway for the royal quarters. Har'tanal himself rose from his throne. As he did, the magnificent old palace around him shuddered harder. The Zygrans were besieging the palace itself now, scant feet away. The only hope for his people, the old monarch knew, was if he could reach the bay in time. Har'tanal gave his former domain a final sad look before walking briskly for the door.

To his relief the bay was still intact, as were several of the royal shuttles. However, its intended passengers were nowhere to be seen. This filled the old king with an icy dread; could Kalan have not reached them yet? Were they already captured by the invaders, or worse? No, of course they were fine; if anyone could get them safely to the bay, it was Kalan. It was just the mind of a defeated man playing tricks in his final hour.

"Har'tanal!"

The king whirled around; his beloved Queen Haltona and his small daughter cradled in her arms, followed by Kalan. Both of the adults were coated in dust and blood. The small girl was crying, her dirty face burrowed against her mother's welcoming form.

"Thank the goddesses you found them, my friend," he breathed, hugging his family tight. Kalan simply nodded, his eyes drifting towards one of the shuttles.

"I feel you know what you need to do, Nolar." The king smiled slightly; Kalan only spoke his given name when he was urging him strongly to do what he felt best.

"Very well, Kalan. Accompany me, beloved," he urged, tugging his wife's hand. The small group hurried towards one of the ships.

"Hurry, my liege, they're already in the palace…" the aide pleaded as he activated one of the ships. He frowned as his king hesitated. "Sire? What is it?"

"I… I cannot do this my old friend. I cannot simply leave my people to their fate. Not like this. It would devastate them to know their king was a coward."

"Nor can I," Haltona frowned. Kalan's eyes widened.

"Your highnesses, you cannot simply…"

"My mind is made up, my old friend. I will not do it. If our world falls, it is my duty to stay with her to the last. Besides, it would be suicide to attempt an escape. The Zygrans would destroy the ship before it could leave orbit." The palace shook once more, causing a girder to fall and crush a nearby craft.

"Sire, reconsider! What of your daughter? She is but one cycle!"

"Goddesses, Har'tanal, he's right…we can't let our little Nazz'Tara die…"

"No... we cannot. Kalan, help me disengage an escape pod," the king said, grabbing one end of the craft. Reluctantly the aide helped his friend.

"What are you doing, sire?" The king ignored him.

"Haltona," Har'tanal said, "we must save our daughter."

"I know, beloved," the woman nodded, tears in her eyes. "Where will we send her, Har'tanal?"

"There is a small world some distance from us. I believe the inhabitants call it 'Earth.' She may be safe there." His wife's eyes bulged.

"Are you mad, Nolar?! Do you not remember the report given by the Sciences Ministry about the dominant species? They hate, even destroy what they do not understand! They will kill her!"

"I am quite aware of the humans' violent tendencies, Shola" the king nodded as he opened the pod. "However, Earth is the only planet we know of that has a climate that can support her needs."

"But, there must be another world we can send her to… Biser, Zardaz…"

"We would only drive our enemies to our friends. Earth means nothing to them, Haltona. It is far too primitive a world. She will be safe there."

"But, her appearance…"

"I have seen to that, thanks to the Sciences Ministry. Trust me." The alien sighed as he looked upon his daughter's small body. "Perhaps… someday, somehow, she will return to her people. But that can only happen if we send her now. Everything is in place, beloved. Now, give her to me." The bay began to echo with the sound of battle. The guards were making their last, hopeless stand against the storm.

"Very well," the queen whispered, looking down at her small daughter. "Goodbye, my little Nazz'Tara," she said, giving her a quick hug before thrusting her into the arms of her waiting father. He gently pushed the shawl from his daughter's face, looking down at it longingly. She smiled, seeing her father.

"Nazz'Tara… how I wish I could watch you grow into a fine leader for our people. But, the goddesses have decided otherwise. I hope they guide you well in whatever life you decide to have. Or perhaps back home to drive this darkness away." He gave her a last hug. He quickly placed her in the pod and slammed the door shut. Behind them, the doors to the palace groaned under prolonged assault.

"Hurry, your highness, they're almost here!" Kalan cried. The king quickly punched the launch button and joined his wife's side. The little pod shuddered for a moment before blasting through the crumbling hatchway into the stratosphere. The old couple hugged as it disappeared from sight. Kalan hung his slightly.

"I wish you had reconsidered."

"I know, my old friend. I know. I release you, Kalan. See to your own safety. That is final order from your king… old friend."

"My liege, I am with you to the end." Har'tanal opened his mouth before realizing the futility and nodding. He held his wife close as the doors suddenly gave, and the invaders swarmed towards them. They surrounded the royal couple and their aide, weapons raised. A larger figure strode towards them, smiling in victory.

"Is this the regal gutter trash themselves? A fine prize we have!"

"You shall not prevail," Kalan said in bitter defiance. He was rewarded by incinerating blast from the leader's weapon. The royal couple winced.

"May the goddesses guard you, Kalan," Haltona said simply. She and her husbands were felled from behind, their skulls cracking from the impact as they collapsed.

"Shall we kill them, First Rank Ml'tor?"

"No, not yet…" the Zygran said with a shake of his head. "We must drive the defeat home to the Kaijexian scum. And I believe I know how to do it."

For two long human years, the tiny pod coursed through the cold, empty darkness, its lone occupant in stasis. As she slept, her body was gradually modified to blend into her new home's native population. By the time her transformation was complete the craft had entered a quiet star system, making a slow approach to a small green, blue, and brown world. And it was in the northern hemisphere of this planet that a young couple was enjoying the starry night, unaware of what was to come.

Peach Creek, Minnesota, Earth

1995

Newlywed Susan Romanov, ex Kardos, reclined against her new husband, Peter, gazing up at the diamond-sprinkled abyss above them. A bottle of champagne sat between them, emptying from a series of toasts.

"Profound isn't it, Peter?" she said, sipping some champagne. "I know how cheesy that sounds, but how else can you describe it..."

"Yes, it is," Peter replied in his strongly accented voice. "And it's quite all right, Suzy."

"Oh, well, thanks," the woman said wryly. "I know it still sounds cheesy, but do you think there's anyone out there?" Susan asked, nodding in the general direction of the Big Dipper.

"I don't see why not. My father insists there is. He helped design Sputnik, you know. We would need more than a shiny basketball to find them, though."

"I would assume so." Susan's face scrunched in confusion. "Pete?"

"Yes?"

"What's that?" The man squinted, following Susan's slender finger.

"That... is the constellation Leo."

"No, the bright, fast-moving white th-" Before Susan could finish her sentence, the object was upon them. The two dove for cover as it tore through a tree and skid to a stop in their backyard. Peter quietly muttered at the discovery in his native Russian tongue as his wife coughed. After they looked themselves over for injuries, the couple cautiously stepped out to investigate.

"What the heck was that?" Susan gasped, staring at the smoldering earth.

"It's probably a meteorite, Susan."

"I'm not exactly an astronomer, but something tells me meteorites don't have smooth shapes or an engine on them," Susan mused as she peered over the object. "Should we tell Vladimir?"

"It's far too late in Moscow to call my father," her husband replied. "We may want to step back," he suddenly said, pointing. A hatch opened, and the sound of crying came out. They looked inside to see a small blond girl.

"Oh dear, it's a little girl! What could happen to such a sweet little baby?" Susan asked while scooping the infant up. The infant settled down as Susan rocked her and curled up in her arms, cooing quietly.

"You certainly made her happy," Peter said wryly.

"You're the one who said I was good with kids," Susan smiled. "That's odd, I don't see a name or registry or anything on this thing. Whatever disturbed air show this belongs to, they don't want us to bring it back. I bet the same goes for you, you little angel. We should call the police, Pete."

"They would take her away, though. And what is this?" he continued while pointing at an object still inside. It was a small cube, roughly the size of a Rubik's cube. Its cold metal sides flashed in a binary sequence.

"Oh my..." she murmured as she picked it up. "What is this?"

"Indeed," Peter replied as took the cube from her. "We should hold on to this until we decide what to do with all this," he said as he placed it back in the rocket.

"Agreed. I'll find room somewhere in the attic. Now, what about you..." Susan asked the small traveler. "We should name her something exotic, considering the circumstances…"

"What about that band you keep listening to? The one I don't understand how you could listen to it…"

"Not a bad idea…" Susan said before looking at the small child. "Can we call you 'Nazz,' sweetie? They were a garage rock band…"

The small girl squealed and clapped her hands approvingly, giggling. "Nazz it is, then!" Susan responded, kissing the baby. "Now, let's get you inside, it's far too cold for someone your age to be out here!" the new mother said, taking Nazz towards the house.

And so, the new arrival grew into a spirited young girl, attracting a variety of extravagant friends from around her small neighborhood. The years passed uneventfully until her thirteenth birthday, a day that would be more significant to her, all of her friends, and billions across the galaxy than any could have foreseen...