Nova stood off to the side of the second largest conference room on the station with Ambassador Talos talking to the Human Rights Committee via a video call. Three massive screens displayed a panoramic view of a meeting room filled with representatives of many nations.
Ben Talos pleaded his case. “I have personally approached each of you over the past few days and provided a lot of information. Surely this has given you reason to show a little more trust for BADGE?”
A man with a heavy Indian accent said, “Mr. Talos, we appreciate your position. But we have also been approached by members of this World Corps with mounting evidence that BADGE is harboring villains.”
“They are skewing the facts. Yes, BADGE has a few members who have shown they are willing to act wrong. But they have been punished. Each of those members has also saved this world frequently. That must be considered.”
A woman spoke with a British accent. “BADGE has contradictory policies. They imprison some villains and allow others to remain among their ranks. That is troubling.”
“More troubling than kidnapping children?” Ben asked.
The Indian man replied, “there is no evidence that the World Corps is kidnapping anyone. They are merely being questioned.”
“Children?”
An American man said, “I agree. It is troubling to see them take children without parental permission. However, we have yet to see proof that this is an act of villainy, as you are inferring.”
“I have sent you the evidence that BADGE has collected. Three individuals that have been missing and now altered and working with the World Corps. If that does not concern you, then I don’t know what will.”
There was a light murmuring among the delegates and finally the Indian man said, “we find this concerning, but we are still waiting for an answer from the World Corps representative on this matter. For now, this evidence has given us pause in our decision on whether to recall BADGE’s authority.”
“Thank you.”
There was a chime, and the meeting ended, the transmission cutting off.
Nova said, “looks like they are not listening closely enough.”
“They never do. They always want someone else to give them the answer. They don’t like deciding, only debating facts until the facts die of old age. I just wish I could be there when this World Corps rep shows up to give them answers. I would love to know how they try to spin this.”
Nova led him out of the room. “I hate politics, always have. Nothing but power hungry people who love to use words to choke each other to death. At least you seem to handle them.”
“I have a flair for it.”
“Perhaps, once this is all over, you might consider a position as a BADGE official representative. I could use a man with your talents helping keep things smooth with the world governments and the UN.”
“It would be my honor.”
“Get some rest and something to eat. I have to see how things are progressing with another project.”
Ben asked, “what project is this?”
“I’d rather not tell you, for your sake.”
“I understand. Good luck, Director.”
Nova walked through the crowds that filled the BADGE station. Heroes from every corner of the planet were mingling and looking for a place to be comfortable in the throngs.
Gargoyle flew up spoke through a megaphone. “Hero Leagues who have been assigned to sections fifteen through thirty board the shuttles for the League Wars arena now. All others assigned to the arena, be ready to leave within the day. Thank you.”
Nova watched the crowds shift and move as large sections gathered and headed for the docking bay. Soon, the League Wars Orbital Arena was going to look like a refugee camp, but at least it gave them more space to spread out. The Leagues just got home from the last League Wars and now they are back up here.
After a long trek through the station, Nova finally found a calm, relatively empty area. He passed a series of special check points and was allowed into the laboratories. Dr. Henderson and her staff worked around the room with a table in the center where ARX was laying. He was naked, save for a skimpy pair of briefs, and had a dozen cords attached to him.
“Where are his clothes?” Nova asked.
Dr. Henderson came over as she checked a computer tablet for readings. “From what we can tell, this process will cause a surge of energy across his body that would likely set any clothing on fire. The last thing we need is the fire suppression system to activate and fill the lab with foam before we finish.”
Nova asked, “will this work? Will we get what we need?”
“I have no clue if this will actually work. But it stands the best chance.”
“What, exactly, will this do?”
She showed him her tablet, which was a blindingly complex series of calculations. “We will pull out the energy from his body, which will extract the energy that operates his mind. From that, this system will reorganize his memories into three-dimensional images. We will literally be able to project this in one of the holo simulation rooms and see everything around him.”
“If it is just what he saw, then why can’t we just get it out of him without this whole process?”
Dr. Henderson shook her head. “The mind is a powerful and strange thing. We don’t fully register everything we see. It is logged away as an image. By processing this image, we can see what he never really paid any attention to. Now, this won’t be a perfect replica of what he once saw, but it will be a much clearer image than he can produce...if this works.”
“Pulling the energy out of him...won’t that take his ability to think away?”
“Yes. In all the cases we have from the North Onnotangu records, the person was left either dead outright, or a vegetable.”
Arx spoke up, “Director, I’m willing to give my life to do anything to save the world from these people. They used me as a weapon. I want you to use me to stop them.”
Nova coldly replied, “I was told by the U.N. to execute you the day we captured you. I guess this will be a better way to accomplish that.”
Arx laughed, his face still facing the ceiling. “I’m sitting here, giving my life for this, and you still don’t trust me.”
“I don’t.” Nova answered without explanation.
Dr. Henderson was handed another tablet, as all her assistants came to a stop. She read it and then quietly said, “we are ready.”
“Do it.” Arx said.
Nova nodded, “get me results.”
The doctor waved her hand. “Okay, everyone out of the lab. Into the observation room. Arx...I don’t know how this will feel. I would give you something for the pain, but I can’t be sure if it would cause any problems.”
“Just get this over with.” Arx said.
Nova followed the staff out and watched them enter a separate room where they could observe and control the process.
Chase came up to him. “Are they ready?”
Nova nodded, “they are going to do it now.”
She headed for the observation room, but Nova stopped her. “No. I don’t want you seeing this.”
“But I promised I would be there for him.”
Nova held her arm and gave her the look of a father protecting his child. “You don’t need to see this.”
Suddenly there was a dimming of the lights in this section. The sound of whistling energy was outmatched by the screaming of a man. Chase held Nova’s arm and clenched her eyes shut.
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