North America, 2490

Shylah McKay screamed. A torrent of fire bolts descended from the sky. She dodged one headed straight for her position. "Beau, get out of there!" she cried, racing to reach her friend's side.

The Enemy had knocked out their first lines of defense. Soon, they would be here. On Earth. She swallowed. Her heart danced up into her throat. Tears stung her eyes. She couldn't allow this to happen. Earth would soon be a battlefield. It would become a literal intergalactic war zone. She'd already lost too much. Her parents. Her brother. Her best friend. How much more would she lose in the coming months? They would not fall. They could not

"Gemini Order, fall back," she screamed telepathically. She winced as hot knives slid into her head. Her shields faltered for an instant. And in that instant, an enemy Mind Breaker had penetrated her mind. She fell to her knees. She saw Beau out of the corner of her eye. She put her hand up. He could not come near her in this state. If he did, he would become vulnerable as well.

"Get out of my head, you alien bastard!" Her mental command rushed out, and knocked over several of her own people. Their anguished moans tore at her heart. But she was free! Her attacker had left her. Groaning, she glanced up at the darkening sky. Alien aircraft intercepted Earth aircraft. Her side was losing, the enemy was tearing through their lines quicker than they could reinforce them.

"Gemini Order, we must take to the sky!" Lifting her hands, she levitated a wall of crackling energy around her body. Those members of her Order that could do the same joined her. They could not allow The Enemy to land. If they did, all would be lost.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shylah saw Tessa leave Beau and levitate over to Shylah's side.

"Guess we're fighting partners in this round," Tessa called.

Shylah smiled. Beau had been wounded. He would be no good in the coming battle, which could very well be their last. "The Earth Space Force will be knocked out without our assistance. The Mind Breakers have begun their assault."

"I know. The enemy is winning!"

"I won't listen to that kind of negativity. Get a grip, Tessa. We need to protect Earth." Several other Gemini Order members surrounded Tessa and Shylah, forming a wall.

"What do you think our chances are?" Tessa asked.

Shylah assessed the situation. Their chances were slim. "Our best chance is to fall back!"

"You mean fall back so we can keep fighting? What about the Armed Forces of Earth?"

"We rescue them. We'll save as many lives as possible."

Being a leader wasn't in Shylah's life plans. That was her brother's vocation. Not hers. Yet, here she was, defending her planet.

"The other Earth Colonies have fallen. Now our job is to make sure this world has a future," she said, winking at Tessa.