The shuttle’s computer announced, “Approaching Texas Advanced Computing Center.”
Alex looked over several sensor screens. “I’m showing a large power signature inside the building. There are significant computing signals emitting from this location.”
“Any defense systems showing on sensors?” Nova navigated toward the TACC building.
Alex went through several sensors. “Nothing. Austin seems to be almost completely shut down. I am hardly showing any signs of activity other than BADGE robots working on the ground.”
Nova flipped two switches, and the interior of the shuttle changed lighting. “Taking us out of cloaking and putting our defensive systems on top alert.”
“But I didn’t see anything dangerous.”
Nova leveled the shuttle off and made a wide circle around the University grounds. “Legion tech defies our sensors. We still can’t see inside those damn spheres. I’m not taking chances. This shuttle is the most tactically advanced vehicle on the station. I brought this one for a reason. Activating laser systems and sensor defraction network. Alex, if you can cast any detection spells to be certain, I want every advantage.”
Alex closed his eyes and spoke a word between his hands. He then spread his hands out toward the window before him. A wave of purple energy spread out, touching every surface in a five city block radius of them.
“Anything?” Nova asked.
Alex’s eyes were glowing for a moment. They faded as he shook his head. “Still nothing.”
“Okay, taking us down. Keep your hands on those weapon controls just in case.”
The shuttle lowered to the ground outside the oddly shaped building. It was a bit of modern art, structured as an advanced computer lab.
Once they were on the ground, Nova waited a moment for any sign of the defensive systems. Nothing happened. “This is... unusual.”
“We could be in the wrong place,” Alex said.
Nova pressed a button, pulled out his gun, and headed for the opening door. “We’ll find out. With me.” He commanded and then left the shuttle.
Alex was on his heels, following the circuitous path Nova took to get to the front doors of this building. Both of Alex’s hands were glowing with magic, ready to fight. Nova wordlessly gave him directions and Alex followed, moving to the side of the main doors. Nova pressed his back up against the wall and reached out with one hand to open the door. It clicked, but didn’t move.
Nova gave him a commanding nod. Alex interpreted that as to mean he should try. He pressed a finger to his forehead and then placed a hand against the side of the building. Closing his eyes, he spent a moment examining it. In a hushed tone, he said, “I’m seeing two dozen people here, in a lower part of the building. There is one strapped to a chair or something like that. I can’t tell why. There are multiple people. I can tell you they’re all human, but the one strapped down has a strong morphonic aura.”
“Gamer G.” Nova said.
Alex took his hand off the wall. “Looks like they aren’t expecting company. There’s no one near us.”
“Then we go in and catch them off-guard.” Nova stepped away from the building and stood before the door and lifted his foot to kick in the door.
Alex held him back. “Let me. This is easy.” He held the doors and said something in his fae magical tongue. The doors opened for them with ease.
“Nice.” Nova readied his weapon. “Behind me.”
Alex got behind Nova again, his hands ready for a fight. Nova moved in with focused determination in his eyes.
“I hear...” Alex whispered this, but was cut short by a severe look from Nova.
Nova made a hand gesture that commanded Alex to be silent and follow. He also indicated that he too heard something. They avoided any elevators and choose the longer stairs to get down to the floor, where the power signature appeared on their sensors. Nova kept a keen eye on his wrist comm, which had the sensor readout still flashing.
They arrived at a set of doors that had lights coming from under them. Nova pressed his ear up to the doors and gave Alex a soft nod. Alex charged his hands with magic while Nova readied his weapon. With a swift kick, Nova forced the doors open and charged in with his gun, ready for a fight.
A fire extinguisher flew right past his head, thrown from behind a barrier made up of overturned tables and chairs. Nova did not return fire.
“STAND DOWN!”
“Like hell!” A girl launched another fire extinguisher from behind the barrier, not even getting close.
A man ran from around the barrier and aimed a weapon at them. Alex caught him in a magic field and thrust him against a wall.
Nova yelled, “Gamer G, you won’t survive this if you don’t surrender. I’m only going to warn you once.”
A briefcase flew from behind the barrier and hit Alex, who lost control of his magic, allowing the man with the weapon to hit the ground.
“Stop!” The word came with an odd doubling sound to it. It boomed through the room. “They are not our enemies. Let them through.”
Nova didn’t lower his defenses as college-age kids in lab coats dismantled the barrier. The man with the weapon wore a university security uniform. His weapon was a stun gun, which he still kept aimed at Nova.
“Gamer G?” Nova called out as he approached.
That voice spoke. “He is not here. However, it pleases me most to know you are here, Director Nova of BADGE.”
Alex asked, “Who are you?”
“Come closer.”
Nova said, “Oh my god, Dr. Roger Hermes.”
“It is good to see you again, Director Nova. However, I am no longer just Dr. Hermes... I am so much more. You may call me The Oracle of Tech.”
Alex frowned. “Oracle of Tech?”
Dr. Hermes’ eyes changed, so that they were completely sapphire blue with a glow behind them. His voice doubled again. “Greetings, Nova of BADGE. I am the Avatar of Tech. I have bonded with this morphonic human so that he and I could help the world in this time of crisis.”
Nova said, “The avatars of morphons have vanished, only appearing now and then. They never get involved with human affairs.”
“I am not here merely to protect the humans, but because the crisis is far greater than you realize.”
“How so?”
Oracle cocked his head slightly and his face became even more serious. “Morphons, director, are not the creation of Legion. They exist across the universe. Humans call them dark matter. In rare places they congregate. One such place, thousands of years ago, was the birthplace of Legion. When they realized the power of morphons, they bastardized them, corrupted them into a force to alter and twist creatures into powerful beings.”
Nova said, “They cannot live without them.”
“True, that was their mistake. They infused so much of the morphons into their bodies, they required them to breathe. However, in the past, your people defeated Legion and thus ended the corruption of morphons. This is why we chose your world to manifest ourselves. Yet, the darkness has returned. Someone has corrupted them again. Therefore, I found a willing host to join with and become an oracle. Together, we mean to help you stop that which threatens this world.”
“Why Dr. Hermes?” Alex asked.
“For many reasons. Dr. Hermes is smart, understands technology better than most humans, and he has morphons in him already.”
Nova added, “Dr. Hermes came to BADGE after the rise of the morphons, since he displayed a strong morphonic signature. However, the morphons merely enhanced his knowledge. We agreed that while he pursued education and research for the benefit of humanity, we would not require him to register as a hero.”
The eyes and voice changed as Dr. Hermes now spoke. “As Ren Wear users stormed our building, the attackers captured me, though my students remained safe. My students found me and attempted to remove the Ren Wear. It should have killed me, but I heard a voice in my head and felt my body changing. That is when the Avatar came to my mind. I am now permanently bonded with this creature.”
“This is all interesting, but we are still in search of Gamer G?” Alex said.
Dr. Hermes smiled. “That I can help you with. In fact, we are currently working to counteract the situation. Now that you are here, perhaps we will succeed.”
Nova put his gun away. “Tell me what you need.”
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