The Phenomena of Fireflies and Star... - Chapter 39: Chapter 39
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Ground Omega
8:10 PM
She'd always come back here—here at Ground Omega—whenever her schedule allowed it. The folks at City Government still didn't know what to do with the large red structure of The Mastermind's avatar. They were even less insightful about the strange flora that occupied the Ground.
On the other hand, Division had been taking flora specimens from the place to see how and where they could use whatever they could extract from the alien-looking garden.
'This used to be the Hall of Heroes,' Eliza reminded herself, her eyes taking in every detail of the place before her. 'The damn Hall of Heroes.'
Ever since she had taken over as CEO of Wang Industries, her schedule had been unkind. She was close to living in her office, really. There had, indeed, been times that she'd stayed there for week-long intervals, making do with the space of her large office for her to sleep and eat. Whenever she could, however, she made it a point to take a ride or a drive out and stop by Ground Omega.
Today, her chrome red BeaTRIX-1000 sport bike was her travel buddy, parked right behind her.
Her phone's alarm intruded her contemplation.
She turned it off immediately.
'Time to go.'
Ground Zero
8:40 PM
Meeting at the remains of the Diameter with Math wasn't good news. She'd already met him a few times before, all of which had been successful missions together. Other communications had been phone calls of the shortest lengths and the most ambiguous choices of words. Math was really killing it in the mysterious partner business.
Eliza stepped over the jagged stumps that remained of the once perfect dome. Clean worker, that bestie of hers.
According to Math, Division had found a new purpose for the place. She was about to see what it was. That wasn't ominous at all.
She made it to the very center of the circumference, still not knowing what was to find here.
"Nice to see you again," a voice drifted in from behind her, jolting her to an about face. She swiftly pulled out the Canary X-40 from the concealed holster in her red biker jacket, aiming it at the source.
"Son of a bitch, man," Eliza complained, exhaling harshly as she lowered her gun. If she hadn't recognized the dark figure before her, she just might have pulled the trigger. She had a license to carry, and she wasn't afraid to show why someone like her needed it. "You really need to tone down the enigma crap sometimes."
"I apologize," Math replied, stepping into the circumference of the dome's remains. He looked really sharp in his all-black look: black double-breasted suit jacket with matching trousers, black undershirt, black fedora, and translucent tactical eye shield. His white hair stood out from the whole look. "It's methodical, you see. I try to behave differently when I'm not the Division Director."
"Believe me, Lazaro," Eliza replied, scoffing as she holstered her gun again. "When it comes to Ames, it's even harder for me. I miss the guy."
"The Omega Phenomenon is now in a secure location," Math said. "But we still have a big problem. I hope you're ready."
"Come on...," Eliza said, putting a hand in the pocket of her flexible black jeans. "At this point, what really is big?"
"Yeah, it's big," Eliza commented, her eyes going from one special containment cell to another. On the floor of the first-level observation room was a secret door. That secret door used to be underneath a platform where the supervising researcher would work. It led to what had once been a massive space for supplies storage connected to an underground transportation tunnel. The space had evidently been repurposed into a prison for no other than the remaining members of the Severance Seven. The place was dimly lit, and the same was true for each containment cell. When Math turned the rest of the lights on, a sickening splash of white and violet LED lights took over the prison. The violet lighting was contrasted only by the white glow from inside the cells. The containment cells, which hung on the walls of the place, were connected by large tubes to the central platform with a podium-like control station. A circular pathway allowed for easy movement over the tubes, connecting to the central platform, as well. There used to be a lift here somewhere that would go up into the now erased cylinder via a concealed access hatch.
Eliza's gaze drifted from left to right, absorbing every detail as she walked forward.
'They're all here,' she thought in curiosity. 'Emerald, Enzyme, Horsepower, Kid Saturn, and Alonsawa. Contained individually and very knocked out.'
She noticed one more thing.
'They're terribly emaciated,' she noted, also noticing the wires attached to their heads and the fuchsia gas emissions that fogged the bottoms of their containment cells from the inside. 'Looks like they deserved it. Then again, there's no clear black and white here in this Division-Anti-Division drama. Or anywhere.'
"At that point, I'd be begging for death," she commented loudly, stepping onto the central platform. She noticed an oddly familiar device at the center of the control station. It was shaped like The Mastermind's avatar but magenta in color, and it was surrounded by other buttons.
It finally dawned on her.
'So this was where my forced research went...,' she realized in growing displeasure as she approached the control station. 'Instead.'
Math stepped onto the central platform and made his way to Eliza's side, proceeding to put his hand down on a conveniently red button on the upper left-hand corner of the control station.
Following a weird hum of energy, the lights in the containment cells changed color from white to everything else prettier and more unnatural.
Eliza watched in subdued horror as the super-terrorists started convulsing into consciousness, their muffled screams of pain rising up at once. It was like hearing people being butchered, and Eliza had to fight the urge to try and stop what was happening.
'They're the Severance,' she reminded herself on repeat as she witnessed their painful reawakening. She could see their bodies returning to their former peak conditions. She sincerely hoped the cells would hold them. 'They're locked in here for a reason.'
When Math lifted his hand from the button, the madness in the cells slowly simmered down, replaced by confusion and anger in the faces of the imprisoned super-terrorists directed toward them. Eliza pulled out her Canary, keeping it at the ready.
"What have you done?!" Horsepower bellowed from the middle cell. "Where are we?!"
"Where's Malign?!" Kid Saturn followed.
"Malign is dead," Math responded, his voice thundering. "Current is dead."
The terrified reactions in the super-terrorists' faces surfaced instantly. Eliza understood that they needed Malign. He used to be their most powerful member and their leader, and now they're alone. No vision of their own, most likely. Left in a state not beyond mere self-preservation mode.
"Defeated," Math continued, stepping down from the platform and proceeding to make a round in the place, his eyes on the super-terrorists above him. "Killed by the combined forces of the Alpha and the Omega Phenomena."
"The Omega Phenomenon...," Enzyme's alarmed words.
"Who are you?" Horsepower demanded.
Math stopped just below the super-terrorist's cell and removed his eye shield for a while, revealing his face and leaving the imprisoned superhumans in a state of disbelief. He then put his eye shield back on.
"Are you kidding me?" Kid Saturn blurted out after a few seconds. "Lazaro? Are you screwing with us?!"
"What the hell is going on here?!" Horsepower shouted, eyeing his teammates unsurely.
"We're restoring balance, Horsepower," Math answered. "There is a powerful threat coming. Division will not be enough. The New Age Initiative will not be enough. You will do even worse on your own."
"You've got us hanging here in embarrassment, buddy," Alonsawa complained. "Stop the mockery and get to the point."
"Bullshit," Emerald spoke up. "You have the Creaton. Why would you even need our help?"
"Ah, yes...," Math said, chuckling sarcastically as he continued the rest of his round. "The Creaton."
"Why not just turn everybody into superhumans?!" Emerald continued. "The only thing that makes you and I different is that the government is playing buddy-buddy with you. For now, that is. Or is it you playing besties with the government? I won't be surprised if things begin to sour again."
Math stepped onto the platform again.
Eliza had a feeling that Math knew something she'd find hard to believe. There was a knowing glint in his slightly obscured eyes that made Eliza feel a bit uneasy as she followed him with her gaze.
"There have always been superhumans," Math declared, grabbing the attention of the baffled super-terrorists.
'Eh?' Eliza thought, squinting at her companion, who had never looked more sure about anything in all of their meetings.
"What are you saying?" she demanded, her perplexity creeping up.
Math gave her a mere glance before looking back at the others.
"There have always been superhumans," Math repeated. "More powerful than even all of us combined. They were here before we even had a name for them. They made the Creaton to advance humanity, to evolve it, and make it like them as the future draws near."
"That's fucked up," Alonsawa remarked. "In a way."
"I'm afraid it's worse, Alonsawa," Math replied, taking out something from his suit pocket. A black disk, Eliza noted. She watched in heightened attention as the old man threw the disk forward. It exploded into a holographic orb, surprising Eliza and prompting her to cover her face with her arm. She cussed in her head at Math's unpredictable theatrics. She was eventually overwhelmed by her curiosity, and she lowered her arm, finding herself looking at a familiar face in the holographic orb. She'd seen her before. Met her before, to be exact. Through Ames. Doctor Anita Masuda. Chilling and uncomfortable tingles traveled down Eliza's spine as she stared at the regal visage of the woman. "It's her. It's fate."
The ominous silence that followed after took over the prison. Eliza was especially speechless. She knew the woman. Not very well, but she knew about the woman's accomplishments.
Now, not so much.
"Doctor Anita Masuda," Math said. "The first Alpha Phenomenon."
Eliza couldn't stop looking at Dr. Anita's face. Deep inside the motherly image of her facial expression, there was something darker lurking. Eliza couldn't say that it was the bad variety, but it was dark, and that alone was dangerous.
"What about the first Omega?" Eliza inquired, turning toward her companion. Much to her curiosity, Math suddenly wasn't so talkative. She didn't like that, and she couldn't help but stare at him even harder. The old man, however, remained quiet.
Much to Eliza's alarm, the familiar sound of the prison's secret door opening puffed from her right. She turned toward it, training her Canary to the corridor where whoever had gotten in would eventually walk through. A tall silhouette appeared in it, slightly standing out from the shadows.
It continued to move forward, obscured by the dimness of the corridor where it walked.
Eliza kept her aim at the ready.
"We can't do this without keeping eyes on the new Alpha Phenomenon and the Omega Phenomenon," Math said calmly to her. "So I asked for help from someone just as talented and connected as you."
"What do you mean?" Eliza asked, her eyes not leaving the approaching shadow just yet.
"Breaker," Math said just as the shadow moved into the illumination of the prison, revealing its appearance. The biker fashion style was familiar enough, but it was the face that left her dumbfounded. It was a face she knew very well, and the jump of her heartbeat was accompanied by a suppressed gasp of surprise. She lowered her gun slowly. "Meet Malakh."
It was Tyler Andrade. Ames's brother.
"All the key players are here," Math remarked.
Tyler joined them on the platform, nodding at Eliza in acknowledgment.
'Is he...,' Eliza didn't like it when even her thoughts were stammering. 'Why is he here, too?'
'And how?'
'What is all this about?'
Not knowing where to start with processing the things going on in her head, Eliza returned her gaze toward the hologram before them as the image in it began to change. She knew she wouldn't like what she could see next, but if she were to make sure that they had a chance, she'd have to keep watching.
'So much for a proper break,' she thought, preparing herself for whatever else was coming.
"Everybody," Math called out, giving each of the super-terrorists an authoritative gaze before putting his hand on the central Mastermind-like device. A surge of energy hummed all over the place, echoing ominously, almost pulsating through them. A new image formed in the holographic orb. "Welcome to Phase Two."
8:10 PM
She'd always come back here—here at Ground Omega—whenever her schedule allowed it. The folks at City Government still didn't know what to do with the large red structure of The Mastermind's avatar. They were even less insightful about the strange flora that occupied the Ground.
On the other hand, Division had been taking flora specimens from the place to see how and where they could use whatever they could extract from the alien-looking garden.
'This used to be the Hall of Heroes,' Eliza reminded herself, her eyes taking in every detail of the place before her. 'The damn Hall of Heroes.'
Ever since she had taken over as CEO of Wang Industries, her schedule had been unkind. She was close to living in her office, really. There had, indeed, been times that she'd stayed there for week-long intervals, making do with the space of her large office for her to sleep and eat. Whenever she could, however, she made it a point to take a ride or a drive out and stop by Ground Omega.
Today, her chrome red BeaTRIX-1000 sport bike was her travel buddy, parked right behind her.
Her phone's alarm intruded her contemplation.
She turned it off immediately.
'Time to go.'
Ground Zero
8:40 PM
Meeting at the remains of the Diameter with Math wasn't good news. She'd already met him a few times before, all of which had been successful missions together. Other communications had been phone calls of the shortest lengths and the most ambiguous choices of words. Math was really killing it in the mysterious partner business.
Eliza stepped over the jagged stumps that remained of the once perfect dome. Clean worker, that bestie of hers.
According to Math, Division had found a new purpose for the place. She was about to see what it was. That wasn't ominous at all.
She made it to the very center of the circumference, still not knowing what was to find here.
"Nice to see you again," a voice drifted in from behind her, jolting her to an about face. She swiftly pulled out the Canary X-40 from the concealed holster in her red biker jacket, aiming it at the source.
"Son of a bitch, man," Eliza complained, exhaling harshly as she lowered her gun. If she hadn't recognized the dark figure before her, she just might have pulled the trigger. She had a license to carry, and she wasn't afraid to show why someone like her needed it. "You really need to tone down the enigma crap sometimes."
"I apologize," Math replied, stepping into the circumference of the dome's remains. He looked really sharp in his all-black look: black double-breasted suit jacket with matching trousers, black undershirt, black fedora, and translucent tactical eye shield. His white hair stood out from the whole look. "It's methodical, you see. I try to behave differently when I'm not the Division Director."
"Believe me, Lazaro," Eliza replied, scoffing as she holstered her gun again. "When it comes to Ames, it's even harder for me. I miss the guy."
"The Omega Phenomenon is now in a secure location," Math said. "But we still have a big problem. I hope you're ready."
"Come on...," Eliza said, putting a hand in the pocket of her flexible black jeans. "At this point, what really is big?"
"Yeah, it's big," Eliza commented, her eyes going from one special containment cell to another. On the floor of the first-level observation room was a secret door. That secret door used to be underneath a platform where the supervising researcher would work. It led to what had once been a massive space for supplies storage connected to an underground transportation tunnel. The space had evidently been repurposed into a prison for no other than the remaining members of the Severance Seven. The place was dimly lit, and the same was true for each containment cell. When Math turned the rest of the lights on, a sickening splash of white and violet LED lights took over the prison. The violet lighting was contrasted only by the white glow from inside the cells. The containment cells, which hung on the walls of the place, were connected by large tubes to the central platform with a podium-like control station. A circular pathway allowed for easy movement over the tubes, connecting to the central platform, as well. There used to be a lift here somewhere that would go up into the now erased cylinder via a concealed access hatch.
Eliza's gaze drifted from left to right, absorbing every detail as she walked forward.
'They're all here,' she thought in curiosity. 'Emerald, Enzyme, Horsepower, Kid Saturn, and Alonsawa. Contained individually and very knocked out.'
She noticed one more thing.
'They're terribly emaciated,' she noted, also noticing the wires attached to their heads and the fuchsia gas emissions that fogged the bottoms of their containment cells from the inside. 'Looks like they deserved it. Then again, there's no clear black and white here in this Division-Anti-Division drama. Or anywhere.'
"At that point, I'd be begging for death," she commented loudly, stepping onto the central platform. She noticed an oddly familiar device at the center of the control station. It was shaped like The Mastermind's avatar but magenta in color, and it was surrounded by other buttons.
It finally dawned on her.
'So this was where my forced research went...,' she realized in growing displeasure as she approached the control station. 'Instead.'
Math stepped onto the central platform and made his way to Eliza's side, proceeding to put his hand down on a conveniently red button on the upper left-hand corner of the control station.
Following a weird hum of energy, the lights in the containment cells changed color from white to everything else prettier and more unnatural.
Eliza watched in subdued horror as the super-terrorists started convulsing into consciousness, their muffled screams of pain rising up at once. It was like hearing people being butchered, and Eliza had to fight the urge to try and stop what was happening.
'They're the Severance,' she reminded herself on repeat as she witnessed their painful reawakening. She could see their bodies returning to their former peak conditions. She sincerely hoped the cells would hold them. 'They're locked in here for a reason.'
When Math lifted his hand from the button, the madness in the cells slowly simmered down, replaced by confusion and anger in the faces of the imprisoned super-terrorists directed toward them. Eliza pulled out her Canary, keeping it at the ready.
"What have you done?!" Horsepower bellowed from the middle cell. "Where are we?!"
"Where's Malign?!" Kid Saturn followed.
"Malign is dead," Math responded, his voice thundering. "Current is dead."
The terrified reactions in the super-terrorists' faces surfaced instantly. Eliza understood that they needed Malign. He used to be their most powerful member and their leader, and now they're alone. No vision of their own, most likely. Left in a state not beyond mere self-preservation mode.
"Defeated," Math continued, stepping down from the platform and proceeding to make a round in the place, his eyes on the super-terrorists above him. "Killed by the combined forces of the Alpha and the Omega Phenomena."
"The Omega Phenomenon...," Enzyme's alarmed words.
"Who are you?" Horsepower demanded.
Math stopped just below the super-terrorist's cell and removed his eye shield for a while, revealing his face and leaving the imprisoned superhumans in a state of disbelief. He then put his eye shield back on.
"Are you kidding me?" Kid Saturn blurted out after a few seconds. "Lazaro? Are you screwing with us?!"
"What the hell is going on here?!" Horsepower shouted, eyeing his teammates unsurely.
"We're restoring balance, Horsepower," Math answered. "There is a powerful threat coming. Division will not be enough. The New Age Initiative will not be enough. You will do even worse on your own."
"You've got us hanging here in embarrassment, buddy," Alonsawa complained. "Stop the mockery and get to the point."
"Bullshit," Emerald spoke up. "You have the Creaton. Why would you even need our help?"
"Ah, yes...," Math said, chuckling sarcastically as he continued the rest of his round. "The Creaton."
"Why not just turn everybody into superhumans?!" Emerald continued. "The only thing that makes you and I different is that the government is playing buddy-buddy with you. For now, that is. Or is it you playing besties with the government? I won't be surprised if things begin to sour again."
Math stepped onto the platform again.
Eliza had a feeling that Math knew something she'd find hard to believe. There was a knowing glint in his slightly obscured eyes that made Eliza feel a bit uneasy as she followed him with her gaze.
"There have always been superhumans," Math declared, grabbing the attention of the baffled super-terrorists.
'Eh?' Eliza thought, squinting at her companion, who had never looked more sure about anything in all of their meetings.
"What are you saying?" she demanded, her perplexity creeping up.
Math gave her a mere glance before looking back at the others.
"There have always been superhumans," Math repeated. "More powerful than even all of us combined. They were here before we even had a name for them. They made the Creaton to advance humanity, to evolve it, and make it like them as the future draws near."
"That's fucked up," Alonsawa remarked. "In a way."
"I'm afraid it's worse, Alonsawa," Math replied, taking out something from his suit pocket. A black disk, Eliza noted. She watched in heightened attention as the old man threw the disk forward. It exploded into a holographic orb, surprising Eliza and prompting her to cover her face with her arm. She cussed in her head at Math's unpredictable theatrics. She was eventually overwhelmed by her curiosity, and she lowered her arm, finding herself looking at a familiar face in the holographic orb. She'd seen her before. Met her before, to be exact. Through Ames. Doctor Anita Masuda. Chilling and uncomfortable tingles traveled down Eliza's spine as she stared at the regal visage of the woman. "It's her. It's fate."
The ominous silence that followed after took over the prison. Eliza was especially speechless. She knew the woman. Not very well, but she knew about the woman's accomplishments.
Now, not so much.
"Doctor Anita Masuda," Math said. "The first Alpha Phenomenon."
Eliza couldn't stop looking at Dr. Anita's face. Deep inside the motherly image of her facial expression, there was something darker lurking. Eliza couldn't say that it was the bad variety, but it was dark, and that alone was dangerous.
"What about the first Omega?" Eliza inquired, turning toward her companion. Much to her curiosity, Math suddenly wasn't so talkative. She didn't like that, and she couldn't help but stare at him even harder. The old man, however, remained quiet.
Much to Eliza's alarm, the familiar sound of the prison's secret door opening puffed from her right. She turned toward it, training her Canary to the corridor where whoever had gotten in would eventually walk through. A tall silhouette appeared in it, slightly standing out from the shadows.
It continued to move forward, obscured by the dimness of the corridor where it walked.
Eliza kept her aim at the ready.
"We can't do this without keeping eyes on the new Alpha Phenomenon and the Omega Phenomenon," Math said calmly to her. "So I asked for help from someone just as talented and connected as you."
"What do you mean?" Eliza asked, her eyes not leaving the approaching shadow just yet.
"Breaker," Math said just as the shadow moved into the illumination of the prison, revealing its appearance. The biker fashion style was familiar enough, but it was the face that left her dumbfounded. It was a face she knew very well, and the jump of her heartbeat was accompanied by a suppressed gasp of surprise. She lowered her gun slowly. "Meet Malakh."
It was Tyler Andrade. Ames's brother.
"All the key players are here," Math remarked.
Tyler joined them on the platform, nodding at Eliza in acknowledgment.
'Is he...,' Eliza didn't like it when even her thoughts were stammering. 'Why is he here, too?'
'And how?'
'What is all this about?'
Not knowing where to start with processing the things going on in her head, Eliza returned her gaze toward the hologram before them as the image in it began to change. She knew she wouldn't like what she could see next, but if she were to make sure that they had a chance, she'd have to keep watching.
'So much for a proper break,' she thought, preparing herself for whatever else was coming.
"Everybody," Math called out, giving each of the super-terrorists an authoritative gaze before putting his hand on the central Mastermind-like device. A surge of energy hummed all over the place, echoing ominously, almost pulsating through them. A new image formed in the holographic orb. "Welcome to Phase Two."
End of The Phenomena of Fireflies and Star... Chapter 39. Continue reading Chapter 40 or return to The Phenomena of Fireflies and Star... book page.