Assignment's End

"Assignment's End" by Roger D. Aycock is a science fiction story set in the future that looks at what it means to be different. It's about Philip Alcorn, who can make people feel peaceful, but he also sees scary visions of a cold, empty place and beings without faces. As he deals with his strange power and tries to figure out why he has these visions, a tough person tries to recruit him. He also meets someone else who is like him which leads him uncovering secrets about where he comes from and a big change that's coming. The story gets intense when his family gets involved, pushing Philip to face his true self and the past he doesn't remember because someone changed his memories. The story mixes Philip's personal struggles with bigger ideas about aliens, making it a thrilling read about how special talents can be both a gift and a heavy load to carry.