The other night...

Here we are standing on a generic office floor, in some generic skyrise, in a city whose name isn't important. Carli and Nilay are next to me. Tommy is near too, but exactly where I'm not quite sure at the moment. We're talking over the latest and not so interesting events of our lives when we hear a broadcast come on the tv that an unusual lightning storm is brewing. We glance over expecting to see whatever sensationalized weather event is happening only to learn from a nervous reporter that this particular storm is simultaneously occurring all over the world. I can barely comprehend the list of places the reporter is rattling off because I'm suddenly aware that the skies are flashing violently right outside our own windows.

Other people in the room start to move towards the windows to see if they can get a glimpse of the situation outside. Carli and I join in the commotion. As we crane our necks to try and make out the side of the building the winds pick up and the light turns dark blue and violet with an almost neon quality to it. It was as if the molecules in the air were being excited by unseen electricity that was being carried along waves of pressure filtering out the sunlight. That's when we saw it. An enormous cluster of bright bolts jetting up and down from the sky to the earth. It reminded me of when you touch one of those novelty Tesla coil plasma balls and the energy becomes concentrated on the point of contact. Only we were inside the ball and the streams of light were much too close for comfort. We look back to the tv in hopes of more details. Others around us start to collect their things and make their way towards the doors.

"I wonder if it'll rain too?" Carli ponders out loud as she walks away from the window towards Nilay. I barely have a second to process her question when my attention is suddenly filled with the image of large shadows moving in front of the lightning stalks. Giant metal machines with domed heads and yellow gleaming lights were marching between the buildings occupying the streets as far as I could see. Upon each figure was an emerald green emblem. All I could do was stare transfixed as they moved with order and purpose into position.

Is this really happening? I'm at a loss when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"We gotta get out of here!" Tommy urges as he pulls me away from the windows. I feel a sudden moment of relief at his appearance only to turn around and see several, now human sized, domed men with alien firearms pointed right at us. Both of us stop dead in our tracks not knowing what our next move should be. I see Carli a few yards away standing next to Nilay, both doe-eyed and in awe of the reality facing us all. I look back at the dark metal obelisk in front of me and that's the last thing I remember.