The Pleiades star cluster, about 444 light-years away, is roughly 100 million years oldârelatively young in cosmic terms. Planets, if they exist there, would likely be in early stages of development, possibly resembling Earthâs 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 Pleiadesâ youth, itâs 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, sheâd grown used to the ride to schoolâtwo 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 momâs aloo paratha and a peanut butter sandwich. Being of Eastern Indian descent in a small American town hadnât 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 theyâd stepped out of a sci-fi movieâtoo perfect, too symmetrical. The driver leaned out slightly, her voice soft but insistent.
âElla, weâve been looking for you.â
Ellaâs foot faltered on the pedal, and she slowed, gripping the handlebars tighter. âUh, do I know you?â she asked, her brown eyes narrowing.
âWeâre Pleiadian,â the passenger said, her tone eerily calm. âFrom the Pleiades star cluster. Weâre your familyâyour true family, from before you were born here. Youâre a star seed, Ella.â
Ella blinked, then let out a short, incredulous laugh. âOkay, weirdos. Nice try.â She pedaled faster, but the car kept pace effortlessly.
âWeâre serious,â the driver said, her blue eyes wide with urgency. âYou were sent here with a purpose. Weâve come to awaken you.â
Ella rolled her eyes, her mind racing. Sheâd read enough astronomy books to know better. âThe Pleiades is, like, 400 light-years away and way too young a star cluster to have planets with life. Stars there are still babiesâhot and chaotic. No way youâre from there. Whatâs your real deal?â
The passenger tilted her head, unfazed. âOur technology transcends your understanding. Weâve adapted to the clusterâs energies. Youâll remember, in time.â
Ellaâs grip tightened. This wasnât adding up. She thought of that old TV show sheâd binged last summerâlizard people hiding under human skin, plotting conspiracies. These two? Too smooth, too polished. âYeah, right,â she shot back. âI bet youâre just reptilians with fake faces. Peel off that skin and show me some scales!â
The driver frowned, exchanging a glance with her companion. âWeâre not reptiles, Ella. Weâre your kin. Why wonât you listen?â
âBecause youâre creeping me out!â Ella snapped. âI donât know how you know my name, but Iâm not buying your star-family nonsense. Leave me alone, or Iâm calling the copsâor better yet, Iâll tell my dad, and heâll bring his cricket bat!â
The women hesitated, their expressions unreadable. The passenger sighed. âWeâll go, for now. But weâll be back when youâre ready to hear the truth.â
âDonât bother!â 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 lingeredâhow did they know her name?
Ellaâs 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: âWeâre your familyâyour true family, from before you were born here.â How did they even know her name? By the time she pulled into the driveway of her familyâs 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. âMom! Dad! You wonât believe what just happened!â 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. Heâd spent countless evenings regaling Ella with tales of Roswell, Area 51, and ancient astronaut theories, much to her amusementâand her motherâs exasperation. At Ellaâs shout, he looked up, his dark eyes gleaming with curiosity. âWhatâs going on, beta?â 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 Ellaâs flushed face. âYou look like youâve seen a ghost, Ella. What happened?â
Ella dropped her backpack on the floor and launched into her story, her words tumbling out in a rush. âI 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 Iâm a star seedâsome kind of alien soul or something. They said theyâre my family from before I was born!â
Arjunâs eyebrows shot up, and he leaned forward, his lawyerly composure replaced by the giddy excitement of a conspiracy theorist. âPleiadians, you say? Fascinating! The Pleiades have long been associated with extraterrestrial contact in ancient texts. And a star seedâthat aligns with theories about alien souls incarnating on Earth to help humanity evolve! Did they mention anything about a galactic council or a mission?â
Ella blinked at her fatherâs enthusiasm, then shook her head. âNo, Dad, they didnât say anything about a council. I told them the Pleiades is too young to have planets with lifeâitâs 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 âtranscends my understandingâ or something.â
Priya crossed her arms, her expression a mix of amusement and concern. âElla, sweetheart, Iâm glad youâre using your science knowledge, but this sounds like a prankâor 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.â
Arjun waved a hand dismissively, his excitement undeterred. âPriya, youâre always so quick to dismiss the unknown! What if theyâre using advanced cloaking technology to hide their planets? Or maybe theyâre not carbon-based lifeformsâsilicon-based, perhaps, or pure energy beings! Ella, did they give you any proof? A holographic message, a strange device, anything?â
Ella hesitated, her brow furrowing. âNo, they didnât give me anything. But⊠I donât know, they seemed so serious. And then I got this weird vibe, like maybe they werenât even human. I told them I thought they were lizard peopleâlike in that TV show, Invasion Undercoverâyou know, with fake human skin? They got all offended and said theyâd come back when I was âready to hear the truth.â Then they drove off.â
Priya sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. âLizard people? Ella, thatâs a science fiction trope. Thereâs no evidence of reptilian humanoids living among us. If they were trying to convince you of something, theyâd 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.â
Arjun, however, was already pulling a worn notebook from the coffee table, flipping through pages of scribbled notes and diagrams. âHold on, Priya. Lizard people might be a stretch, but the Pleiadian connection is worth exploring. Ella, you said they knew your nameâhow? Thatâs a critical detail. It suggests theyâve been watching you, or they have access to information about you. This could be a genuine extraterrestrial encounter! We need to document everythingâtime, place, their appearance, the carâs license plate if you saw it.â
âI didnât see the license plate,â Ella admitted, slumping onto the couch. âIt all happened so fast. But they were⊠creepy. Too perfect, like they were wearing masks or something. And their eyesâthey were this really bright blue, almost glowing. I donât know, maybe Momâs right, and theyâre just weirdos. But what if they come back?â
Priya sat beside Ella, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. âIf they come back, you call us immediately, okay? And donât engage with them. Iâll talk to the school and see if anyone else has reported strange encounters. For now, letâs focus on facts: youâre safe, and weâll figure this out together.â
Arjun, still flipping through his notebook, looked up with a determined glint in his eye. âAnd Iâll do some research on Pleiadian lore. There might be patternsâother sightings, other star seeds. Ella, you might be part of something bigger than we can imagine.â
Ella glanced between her parentsâher fatherâs wild enthusiasm and her motherâs calm skepticismâand felt a strange mix of comfort and uncertainty. She didnât 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 couldnât shake the feeling that those women would be backâand 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 normalcyâuntil 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. âMr. Sharma? Iâm Commander Daniel Hayes with the United States Navy. Iâd like to speak with you and your daughter, Ella, about a matter of national security.â
Priyaâs knife paused mid-chop, her eyes narrowing as she exchanged a glance with Ella. âNational security?â she muttered, wiping her hands on a towel. âThis better not be about those women.â
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.
âElla, weâve been monitoring reports of unusual activity in this area, and your encounter with the two women claiming to be Pleiadians caught our attention,â Hayes began, his tone measured. âThe Navy has a classified programâProject Stargazerâdedicated to researching visitors from other worlds. We believe these women may be part of a larger extraterrestrial presence, and weâd like your help.â
Ellaâs heart skipped a beat. âMy help? What do you mean?â
Hayes leaned forward, his voice lowering. âWe want to use you as⊠well, as bait, to attract these Pleiadians. Theyâve shown an interest in you, calling you a star seed. If they return, we can study themâlearn their intentions, their technology, maybe even establish communication. Youâd be part of a highly confidential operation, and weâd ensure your safety at all times.â
Arjunâs eyes lit up with excitement, his conspiracy theorist heart practically leaping out of his chest. âThis is incredible!â he exclaimed, turning to Ella. âBeta, this could be your chance to uncover the truth about extraterrestrials! Think about itâyouâd 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!â
Priya, however, was far from thrilled. She crossed her arms, her expression a storm of skepticism and maternal protectiveness. âAbsolutely not,â she said sharply, her voice cutting through Arjunâs enthusiasm. âElla is fourteen years old, not a pawn in some military experiment. You want to use my daughter as bait for beings we donât even understand? What if theyâre dangerous? What if they abduct her, or worse? Iâm a scientistâI deal in facts, not speculation. You have no evidence these women are even aliens, and I wonât let you put my child in harmâs way.â
Commander Hayes raised a hand, his tone calm but firm. âMrs. Sharma, I understand your concerns, and I assure you, Ellaâs safety is our top priority. Sheâd be under constant surveillance, with a team of highly trained operatives nearby. Weâve been studying extraterrestrial phenomena for decades, and we have protocols in place to handle these situations. Ella wouldnât be aloneâsheâd be a key part of the mission, with full support.â
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 motherâs words echoed in her headâwhat if these Pleiadians were dangerous? She thought back to the womenâs 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.
âI⊠I donât know,â Ella said finally, her voice small. âWhat if they donât come back? Or what if they do, and theyâre mad that I didnât believe them? I told them to leave me alone.â
Hayes nodded, his expression softening slightly. âThatâs a valid concern, Ella. But their interest in you suggests theyâll return. Weâd equip you with a discreet tracking device and a communication link to our team. Youâd just need to go about your normal routineâride your bike to school, spend time with friends. If they approach you, weâll be there to observe and intervene if necessary.â
Arjun placed a hand on Ellaâs shoulder, his voice brimming with encouragement. âThis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ella. You could help humanity understand its place in the universe. Iâll be with you every step of the wayâIâll even volunteer to assist the Navy if theyâll let me. We can do this together.â
Priya shot Arjun a withering look. âYouâre not helping, Arjun. This isnât one of your conspiracy theoriesâthis is our daughterâs life.â She turned to Hayes, her tone icy. âCommander, I appreciate your position, but I need time to think about this. I wonât agree to anything until Iâm convinced Ella will be safe. And I want to see your protocols, your dataâeverything you have on this so-called Project Stargazer.â
Hayes nodded, unfazed by Priyaâs skepticism. âOf course, Mrs. Sharma. Iâll provide you with a redacted overview of the programâsome details are classified, but Iâll share what I can. Take your time to decide. Weâll be in touch.â He stood, handing Arjun a business card with a secure contact number, then gave Ella a small, reassuring smile. âYouâre a brave young woman, Ella. Whatever you decide, know that youâre already helping us by coming forward.â
As Hayes left, the room fell into a tense silence. Ella looked between her parentsâArjunâs eager optimism and Priyaâs fierce protectivenessâand felt torn. Part of her wanted to uncover the truth about the Pleiadians, to see if they really were her âfamilyâ 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 changeâagain.
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