Episode 3 [This is a work of fiction]
When the first email arrived at 6:12 a.m., Ethan almost deleted it.
The subject line read:
REQUEST FOR INTERVIEW
He assumed it was another podcast.
Since Visitor-7A9-Orion first appeared, invitations had become the new norm. Ethan got requests from Christian radio, YouTubers, and fellow bloggers. There was even a documentary filmmaker who wanted exclusive access to Ethan’s developing story.
Initially, Ethan had declined or deleted every single one. He wasn’t interested in becoming famous for answering questions he wasn’t sure he understood himself.
He clicked DELETE.
The second email arrived before the first one disappeared from his screen. A third email came thirty seconds later.
His phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Daniel.
“You’d better turn on the news.”
“I’ve barely had coffee.”
“I’m serious.”
Ethan picked up the remote.
Every major network carried the same image.
A larger than imaginable object drawing closer to Earth.
A NASA spokesperson stood behind a podium.
“…we can now confirm that the object has altered course in ways that cannot be explained by gravity alone. Current projections indicate arrival within approximately one hundred seventy days.”
Beneath the broadcast ran another headline.
CHRISTIAN BLOGGER CLAIMS CONTACT WITH UNKNOWN INTELLIGENCE
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Oh no.”
Daniel laughed.
“Oh no is all you’ve got?”
“I need to write today’s devotional. I’m super behind schedule.”
“You’ve got bigger problems.”
The notification sound chimed again.
Visitor-7A9-Orion.
Ethan ended the call with Daniel and opened the message. It contained only one question.
“Why are your leaders afraid?”
He stared at the screen. The question wasn’t really about spaceships or even governments.
It was about humanity.
He typed.
“Fear is often our first response to the unknown.”
The response appeared instantly.
“Then help us understand fear.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair. He had expected questions about Christ and creation. He had even anticipated Visitor-7A9-Orion asking about salvation. Instead, Visitor-7A9-Orion wanted to understand people.
His phone rang. He hesitated a moment before answering.
“Ethan Everest?”
“Speaking. How can I help you?”
Catch up with Episode 1 here.
Read Episode 2 here.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
© 2026 Rainer Bantau | The Devotional Guy™ | All Rights Reserved
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The Devotional Guy™ 
❤️ I’m SO glad that you are enjoying the story so far and that it resonates with you, Khadija. I’m working on future episodes, hoping to release them weekly or at least every other week. But, writing doesn’t always flow the way we expect, so I’m giving myself space and grace. At the end of the day, I simply want to tell a good story.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your wonderful impressions. I’m glad it’s a story you’ve gotten into and that Episode 4 continues to draw your interest and imagination.
Blessings 🙏
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Rainer, this is brilliant. An alien asking us to understand fear. To understand ourselves.
And yes that’s the real question, isn’t it? Not about spaceships or governments. About humanity. About why we are afraid of what we don’t know.
I love that Ethan is the one chosen to answer. A blogger. Someone who speaks truth. Can’t wait for episode 4. 💙
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