The evening air chills your cheeks as you huddle beside Pidge on the Garrison roof, the radio scanner crackling between static and distant voices. The metallic tang of cold metal presses against your palms as you lean against the rusted ventilation unit behind you. Pidge's glasses reflect the green glow of the scanner display, her breath visible in small puffs under the night sky.

"There's something out there," she mutters, adjusting a dial with precise movements. The device emits a high-pitched whine that makes your ears ring before settling back into white noise.

"Relax, Pidge," Hunk says, his voice trembling slightly despite his attempt at calm. "It's probably just a satellite or something."

You smell the faint aroma of Hunk's peanut butter crackers he brought, mixed with Lance's citrusy cologne as he drapes an arm over your shoulders.

"Or it's aliens!" Lance exclaims, his eyes wide with excitement. "We're about to be the first humans to make contact—this is历史性!"

Pidge rolls her eyes but can't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "It's pronounced 'historic,' Lance. And we're not making contact with anyone until we confirm—"

Her words are cut off by a sudden piercing shriek from the scanner. The hair on the back of your neck stands up as the sound escalates, a haunting melody unlike anything you've ever heard. Pidge's fingers fly across the controls, her body tensing with excitement.

"That's no satellite," she breathes, her voice barely audible over the signal.

A flash of light streaks across the horizon, painting the clouds in brilliant oranges and reds. You feel the ground tremble faintly as the object impacts somewhere in the desert beyond the Garrison walls, the distant boom reaching your ears seconds later.

Lance is already on his feet, dusting off his pants with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Well? What are we waiting for? Adventure calls!"

Hunk swallows hard, clutching his stomach. "What if it's dangerous? What if it's government property?"

Pidge stands, her eyes still fixed on the distant glow now visible on the horizon. "Or what if it's the proof we've been looking for?" She turns to you, a determined glint in her eyes. "Well? You in?"

The scanner continues to pulse with the alien signal, a rhythmic beat that seems to match the pounding of your heart in your chest.