Clanking of heavy metal footsteps echoed throughout the quiet streets of town. People, frightened for their lives, hid in their dark houses staying under the radar. The last thing they wanted was to be seen and shot on principle. This wasn't the first time these things had arrived and ransacked the town searching for their best kept secret.

Hidden away in the bunker below the streets was a teenage girl curled up into a ball in the corner. Tears rolled down her frail face, staining her rosy cheeks. Wrapped up in a torn blanket, she closed her eyes tightly, praying that they would leave without harming anyone this time. This was their second raid this month on the poor town, and she didn't know how much longer they could withstand them.

Over the intercom system attached to one of the yellow robots, a man's voice called out to them, "I know you have her. If you bring her out then you will all be spared. If you don't..." he paused. "Well, let's just say that this will be your final warning."

In the house above her, Clara could hear her parents arguing like they did weeks ago when Hyperion first showed up. Her father wanted to release her to their custody while her mother was adamant in her decision to keep her hidden. Their arguing never grew above a whisper, but Clara could still understand every word.

"Tick tock. Tick tock. Your time is running out people," he said.

Everything fell silent and the wind blew through like it was a ghost town. Nobody moved a muscle, conflicted on what they should do. They knew that they should sacrifice the girl to protect themselves, but they couldn't bring themselves to do it.

Aphrodite was a peaceful planet whose laws strictly prohibited violence unless absolutely necessary. They weren't the same as their barren, bandit ridden, neighboring planet, Pandora. Violence was the local greeting there and deaths were high. Aphrodite taught love and lived in peace for hundreds of years despite the recent bombardment of Hyperion's army.

"Okay, everyone. Time's up!" sounded from the robot. "Dispose of them for me."

The groups of robots strategically placed themselves around every house, charging up their lasers. Before they fired, Clara's father stepped outside of his house with his hands up in the air. The voice demanded that the robots stop, and their lasers powered down.

"Well, well. If it isn't, Lorin, the creator of the bane of my existence. Fancy meeting you here."

"Look, Jo-," he started.

The loader grabbed him by the collar as the voice on the other end intensified. "Did you not get the memo, Lorin? My name is Jack, Handsome Jack to be precise. You will address me, your boss, as such. Got it?"

Lorin nodded his head profusely. The quiet man that worked in the department next to his was gone. The voice sounded the same, but the feeling behind it was different. It was cold, harsh, and unforgiving like the wastelands of Elpis.

"Good. Now, where is she?" Jack asked as the loader released him.

"She is hidden in the bunker underneath the city."

"You guys have a bunker underneath this pathetic town?" he said laughingly. "But seriously, go bring her to me. That's an order."

"Yes sir." He scrambled back into his house where his wife met him with a glare planted on her face.

"How could you sell out our daughter like that!" she yelled at him as tears escaped her eyes.

"We can't let anyone else die over one child, Lillie. We can always have another," he said as he opened the hatch in the floor leading to the bunker.

"You can't be serious!" She reached over to the table and picked up the vase in the center.

Glass shattered as the vase made contact with the back of Lorin's head. Water and blood trickled down his neck as he turned around to face his wife. Stomping, he closed the gap between them and grabbed her by her neck. Her fingers clawed at the tightening grip of his hand as she looked into his teary eyes.

"Stop it. Listen to me. Do you want everyone to die? This is no time to let your emotions cloud your vision. If Hyperion gets her then they will leave us all alone. It isn't a guarantee that they will kill her either. Just trust me for once."

Watching tears fall down his face, she nodded her head agreeing with him. He released his hold on her neck, and she gasped for air. Lorin returned to the hatch to see his daughter standing there, still covered by the blanket. Her mother rushed over to her and wrapped her arms tightly around her.

"I'm so sorry to do this, Clara!" she wailed as she slipped a small crystal into her daughter's pocket.

"It's okay, Mom. I understand. This is necessary for all of us. I don't want everyone to suffer because of me," Clara sniffled.

Breaking the hug with her mother, she looked up at her father with loving eyes. Part of her wanted to hate him for his decision while the other understand his reasoning. Both of them stood in silence, exchanging words without speaking. Gripping the blanket tighter, fear refused to vacate her body. She wasn't ready to die, but she was certain that it was her fate.

"Goodbye," she called out to them over her shoulder.

Lorin held his wife as they watched their daughter leave their sight. Both of them gripped each other tightly, searching for the other's comfort. They would never see their daughter again. Jack was ruthless in his annihilation of people he wanted gone. Hopefully, he was only after a capture this time and Clara's life would be spared.

"Hello there, Clara," Jack said in a smooth tone. "You've caused me a lot of headache, you know that?"

Clara couldn't stop her shaking body as his words pierced through her, enhancing her fear. She wanted to run, but she knew it was futile. Those things were destructive and knowing Jack, if she did, he would kill the inhabitants of her town. None of them were armed to protect themselves.

"Drop the blanket so I can get a good look at you," Jack ordered.

Clara hesitated until she caught a glimpse down the barrel of a gun in a loader's hands. Swallowing hard, she removed the torn cloth from her head, revealing long, purple hair. As it dropped to the ground exposing her arms, lavender tribal marks glowed underneath the moonlight.

"My sources were right! You are the Siren we have been looking for. Hmm...should I kill you now or take you into custody and make you useful?" he debated.

"How about neither?" A creature emerged from the shadows and stood tall in front of Clara. Its lanky figure covered in armor, shielded her from the loader's vision.

"You! Again?" Jack exclaimed.

"Hello, Jack," it said in its feminine, echoing voice.

"Everytime I make a plan, you always show up to put holes in it. How about I put some holes in you!" Jack yelled out.

Bullets and lasers froze in midair as the creature waved its hand in front of them. With a twist of its wrist, they turned around striking their own shooters. The loaders, taking every shoot returned, exploded sending shrapnel flying in every direction. Glass and flaming, metal body parts scattered along the ground.

Sparks crackled from the loader's eye as the Eridian watcher stepped over to it. Lifting it from the ground, it reminded Jack who he was dealing with before crushing the eye in its hand. The pieces of hardened plastic and wires dropped to the ground on top of the half destroyed loader they belonged to.

Clara, rendered speechless by the display, stared at the alien lifeform that had saved her. It turned and made intense eye contact with her. As its hand brushed against her cheek, her body involuntarily winced.

"Do not be afraid, my child. I am here to help you. I will take you away from here before Hyperion sends reinforcements." Its voice was soothing and held no malice. Clara felt like she could trust it.

"Okay. Where are we going?" she asked, curiously.

"Somewhere safe where Jack will not be able to find you."