Ella pedaled her bicycle down the quiet suburban street
The Pleiades star cluster, about 444 light-years away, is roughly 100 million years old—relatively young in cosmic terms. Planets, if they exist there, would likely be in early stages of development, possibly resembling Earth’s Hadean or Archean eons, when life was microbial at best. Intelligent life, as we understand it, took Earth ~4.5 billion years to evolve. Given the Pleiades’ youth, it’s improbable that planets there have had enough time to host complex, intelligent life, though simple life forms could theoretically exist if conditions are right. No confirmed exoplanets have been detected in the Pleiades yet, so this remains speculative.
Ella pedaled her bicycle down the quiet suburban street, the crisp morning air tugging at her dark braid. The sun was just peeking over the rooftops, casting long shadows across the pavement. At fourteen, she’d grown used to the ride to school—two miles of familiar houses, chirping birds, and the occasional bark of a dog. Her backpack thumped rhythmically against her back, stuffed with books and her lunch, a mix of her mom’s aloo paratha and a peanut butter sandwich. Being of Eastern Indian descent in a small American town hadn’t always been easy, but Ella had carved out her own space, her sharp mind and quick wit her best tools.
The hum of an engine interrupted her thoughts. A sleek silver car rolled up beside her, its windows tinted dark. Ella glanced over, expecting a parent late for the carpool lane, but the window slid down to reveal two young women with striking blonde hair and pale, almost luminous skin. They looked like they’d stepped out of a sci-fi movie—too perfect, too symmetrical. The driver leaned out slightly, her voice soft but insistent.
“Ella, we’ve been looking for you.”
Ella’s foot faltered on the pedal, and she slowed, gripping the handlebars tighter. “Uh, do I know you?” she asked, her brown eyes narrowing.
“We’re Pleiadian,” the passenger said, her tone eerily calm. “From the Pleiades star cluster. We’re your family—your true family, from before you were born here. You’re a star seed, Ella.”
Ella blinked, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Okay, weirdos. Nice try.” She pedaled faster, but the car kept pace effortlessly.
“We’re serious,” the driver said, her blue eyes wide with urgency. “You were sent here with a purpose. We’ve come to awaken you.”
Ella rolled her eyes, her mind racing. She’d read enough astronomy books to know better. “The Pleiades is, like, 400 light-years away and way too young a star cluster to have planets with life. Stars there are still babies—hot and chaotic. No way you’re from there. What’s your real deal?”
The passenger tilted her head, unfazed. “Our technology transcends your understanding. We’ve adapted to the cluster’s energies. You’ll remember, in time.”
Ella’s grip tightened. This wasn’t adding up. She thought of that old TV show she’d binged last summer—lizard people hiding under human skin, plotting conspiracies. These two? Too smooth, too polished. “Yeah, right,” she shot back. “I bet you’re just reptilians with fake faces. Peel off that skin and show me some scales!”
The driver frowned, exchanging a glance with her companion. “We’re not reptiles, Ella. We’re your kin. Why won’t you listen?”
“Because you’re creeping me out!” Ella snapped. “I don’t know how you know my name, but I’m not buying your star-family nonsense. Leave me alone, or I’m calling the cops—or better yet, I’ll tell my dad, and he’ll bring his cricket bat!”
The women hesitated, their expressions unreadable. The passenger sighed. “We’ll go, for now. But we’ll be back when you’re ready to hear the truth.”
“Don’t bother!” Ella shouted as the car sped off, its engine purring into the distance. She stopped pedaling, catching her breath, her heart pounding. Weirdos, she thought. Probably some prank. But as she rode on to school, a tiny, nagging doubt lingered—how did they know her name?
Ella’s legs burning as she pedaled the last few blocks to her house, her mind racing faster than her bicycle. The encounter with the two blonde women in the silver car had left her rattled. Pleiadians? Star seeds? Lizard people? It was all too bizarre, and yet their words echoed in her head: “We’re your family—your true family, from before you were born here.” How did they even know her name? By the time she pulled into the driveway of her family’s modest two-story home, the sun had fully risen, painting the sky a soft orange.
She dropped her bike against the garage and burst through the front door, her backpack still bouncing on her shoulders. “Mom! Dad! You won’t believe what just happened!” she called, her voice a mix of excitement and unease.
Her father, Arjun, was in the living room, sipping his morning chai while flipping through a stack of legal briefs. A lawyer with a penchant for the unusual, Arjun had a not-so-secret obsession with alien conspiracies. He’d spent countless evenings regaling Ella with tales of Roswell, Area 51, and ancient astronaut theories, much to her amusement—and her mother’s exasperation. At Ella’s shout, he looked up, his dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. “What’s going on, beta?” he asked, setting his mug down.
Her mother, Priya, emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. A biochemist at the local university, Priya was the family skeptic, grounded in science and evidence. She adjusted her glasses and frowned slightly at Ella’s flushed face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Ella. What happened?”
Ella dropped her backpack on the floor and launched into her story, her words tumbling out in a rush. “I was riding to school, and this silver car pulled up next to me. There were these two blonde women inside, and they looked… weird, like too perfect, you know? They said they were Pleiadians from the Pleiades star cluster and that I’m a star seed—some kind of alien soul or something. They said they’re my family from before I was born!”
Arjun’s eyebrows shot up, and he leaned forward, his lawyerly composure replaced by the giddy excitement of a conspiracy theorist. “Pleiadians, you say? Fascinating! The Pleiades have long been associated with extraterrestrial contact in ancient texts. And a star seed—that aligns with theories about alien souls incarnating on Earth to help humanity evolve! Did they mention anything about a galactic council or a mission?”
Ella blinked at her father’s enthusiasm, then shook her head. “No, Dad, they didn’t say anything about a council. I told them the Pleiades is too young to have planets with life—it’s only, like, 100 million years old, and stars there are still too hot and unstable. I read that in my astronomy book. They just said their technology ‘transcends my understanding’ or something.”
Priya crossed her arms, her expression a mix of amusement and concern. “Ella, sweetheart, I’m glad you’re using your science knowledge, but this sounds like a prank—or worse, some kind of scam. The Pleiades cluster is indeed too young to support life as we understand it. Stars like those in the Pleiades are still in their early stages, surrounded by gas and dust, not stable planetary systems. And even if there were planets, the radiation levels would make life highly unlikely. These women were probably just messing with you.”
Arjun waved a hand dismissively, his excitement undeterred. “Priya, you’re always so quick to dismiss the unknown! What if they’re using advanced cloaking technology to hide their planets? Or maybe they’re not carbon-based lifeforms—silicon-based, perhaps, or pure energy beings! Ella, did they give you any proof? A holographic message, a strange device, anything?”
Ella hesitated, her brow furrowing. “No, they didn’t give me anything. But… I don’t know, they seemed so serious. And then I got this weird vibe, like maybe they weren’t even human. I told them I thought they were lizard people—like in that TV show, Invasion Undercover—you know, with fake human skin? They got all offended and said they’d come back when I was ‘ready to hear the truth.’ Then they drove off.”
Priya sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Lizard people? Ella, that’s a science fiction trope. There’s no evidence of reptilian humanoids living among us. If they were trying to convince you of something, they’d have offered proof, not vague promises. They might be part of some cult or group trying to manipulate impressionable kids. We should report this to the police.”
Arjun, however, was already pulling a worn notebook from the coffee table, flipping through pages of scribbled notes and diagrams. “Hold on, Priya. Lizard people might be a stretch, but the Pleiadian connection is worth exploring. Ella, you said they knew your name—how? That’s a critical detail. It suggests they’ve been watching you, or they have access to information about you. This could be a genuine extraterrestrial encounter! We need to document everything—time, place, their appearance, the car’s license plate if you saw it.”
“I didn’t see the license plate,” Ella admitted, slumping onto the couch. “It all happened so fast. But they were… creepy. Too perfect, like they were wearing masks or something. And their eyes—they were this really bright blue, almost glowing. I don’t know, maybe Mom’s right, and they’re just weirdos. But what if they come back?”
Priya sat beside Ella, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “If they come back, you call us immediately, okay? And don’t engage with them. I’ll talk to the school and see if anyone else has reported strange encounters. For now, let’s focus on facts: you’re safe, and we’ll figure this out together.”
Arjun, still flipping through his notebook, looked up with a determined glint in his eye. “And I’ll do some research on Pleiadian lore. There might be patterns—other sightings, other star seeds. Ella, you might be part of something bigger than we can imagine.”
Ella glanced between her parents—her father’s wild enthusiasm and her mother’s calm skepticism—and felt a strange mix of comfort and uncertainty. She didn’t know what to believe, but one thing was clear: her quiet ride to school had turned into something far more complicated. As she grabbed her backpack to head to school (her dad insisted on driving her this time), she couldn’t shake the feeling that those women would be back—and that her life might never be the same.
Ella tried to put the strange encounter with the alleged Pleiadians behind her, focusing on school and her upcoming science fair project. But the memory of those two blonde women and their cryptic words lingered like a shadow. Her father, Arjun, had thrown himself into researching Pleiadian lore, filling notebooks with theories about star seeds and extraterrestrial councils, while her mother, Priya, had reported the incident to the school and local police, hoping to identify the women. Life seemed to settle back into a semblance of normalcy—until a black SUV with tinted windows pulled into their driveway one crisp Saturday morning.
Ella was in the kitchen, helping Priya chop vegetables for lunch, when the doorbell rang. Arjun answered it, and Ella heard a deep, authoritative voice. “Mr. Sharma? I’m Commander Daniel Hayes with the United States Navy. I’d like to speak with you and your daughter, Ella, about a matter of national security.”
Priya’s knife paused mid-chop, her eyes narrowing as she exchanged a glance with Ella. “National security?” she muttered, wiping her hands on a towel. “This better not be about those women.”
The three of them sat in the living room with Commander Hayes, a tall man in his late forties with a buzz cut and a stern expression. He wore a crisp Navy uniform, a row of medals pinned to his chest. A briefcase sat at his feet, and his piercing blue eyes fixed on Ella as he spoke.
“Ella, we’ve been monitoring reports of unusual activity in this area, and your encounter with the two women claiming to be Pleiadians caught our attention,” Hayes began, his tone measured. “The Navy has a classified program—Project Stargazer—dedicated to researching visitors from other worlds. We believe these women may be part of a larger extraterrestrial presence, and we’d like your help.”
Ella’s heart skipped a beat. “My help? What do you mean?”
Hayes leaned forward, his voice lowering. “We want to use you as… well, as bait, to attract these Pleiadians. They’ve shown an interest in you, calling you a star seed. If they return, we can study them—learn their intentions, their technology, maybe even establish communication. You’d be part of a highly confidential operation, and we’d ensure your safety at all times.”
Arjun’s eyes lit up with excitement, his conspiracy theorist heart practically leaping out of his chest. “This is incredible!” he exclaimed, turning to Ella. “Beta, this could be your chance to uncover the truth about extraterrestrials! Think about it—you’d be part of history, working with the Navy to make first contact. I always knew you were special, and now the government sees it too!”
Priya, however, was far from thrilled. She crossed her arms, her expression a storm of skepticism and maternal protectiveness. “Absolutely not,” she said sharply, her voice cutting through Arjun’s enthusiasm. “Ella is fourteen years old, not a pawn in some military experiment. You want to use my daughter as bait for beings we don’t even understand? What if they’re dangerous? What if they abduct her, or worse? I’m a scientist—I deal in facts, not speculation. You have no evidence these women are even aliens, and I won’t let you put my child in harm’s way.”
Commander Hayes raised a hand, his tone calm but firm. “Mrs. Sharma, I understand your concerns, and I assure you, Ella’s safety is our top priority. She’d be under constant surveillance, with a team of highly trained operatives nearby. We’ve been studying extraterrestrial phenomena for decades, and we have protocols in place to handle these situations. Ella wouldn’t be alone—she’d be a key part of the mission, with full support.”
Ella sat between her parents, her mind spinning. The idea of being part of a secret Navy program was thrilling, like something out of a sci-fi movie. But her mother’s words echoed in her head—what if these Pleiadians were dangerous? She thought back to the women’s glowing blue eyes, their eerie calmness, and her own suspicion that they might be lizard people in disguise. The thought of being bait made her stomach churn.
“I… I don’t know,” Ella said finally, her voice small. “What if they don’t come back? Or what if they do, and they’re mad that I didn’t believe them? I told them to leave me alone.”
Hayes nodded, his expression softening slightly. “That’s a valid concern, Ella. But their interest in you suggests they’ll return. We’d equip you with a discreet tracking device and a communication link to our team. You’d just need to go about your normal routine—ride your bike to school, spend time with friends. If they approach you, we’ll be there to observe and intervene if necessary.”
Arjun placed a hand on Ella’s shoulder, his voice brimming with encouragement. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ella. You could help humanity understand its place in the universe. I’ll be with you every step of the way—I’ll even volunteer to assist the Navy if they’ll let me. We can do this together.”
Priya shot Arjun a withering look. “You’re not helping, Arjun. This isn’t one of your conspiracy theories—this is our daughter’s life.” She turned to Hayes, her tone icy. “Commander, I appreciate your position, but I need time to think about this. I won’t agree to anything until I’m convinced Ella will be safe. And I want to see your protocols, your data—everything you have on this so-called Project Stargazer.”
Hayes nodded, unfazed by Priya’s skepticism. “Of course, Mrs. Sharma. I’ll provide you with a redacted overview of the program—some details are classified, but I’ll share what I can. Take your time to decide. We’ll be in touch.” He stood, handing Arjun a business card with a secure contact number, then gave Ella a small, reassuring smile. “You’re a brave young woman, Ella. Whatever you decide, know that you’re already helping us by coming forward.”
As Hayes left, the room fell into a tense silence. Ella looked between her parents—Arjun’s eager optimism and Priya’s fierce protectiveness—and felt torn. Part of her wanted to uncover the truth about the Pleiadians, to see if they really were her “family” from the stars. But another part of her just wanted to be a normal fourteen-year-old, not a piece of bait in a military operation. Whatever she chose, she knew her life was about to change—again.
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