“I hate this place,” Lady Echidna stated as she stood on an icy hill clothed in the finest winter apparel money could buy.
Nova, in a bright while arctic suit, held up a pair of special binoculars and scanned the area. “I know. This place brings back terrible memories.”
They walked down the icy hill, away from a special landing craft that was surrounded by her soldiers, all dressed in thick, wintry military gear.
“What is that?” She pointed over at a large glass domed city.
Nova said, “That would be New Meta City, a BADGE facility.”
She turned on him with a sharp glare, “You told me BADGE wouldn’t be down here!”
“And I didn’t lie, my sweet.” He responded to her with a gentle smile. Looking once again through the binoculars, he said, “New Meta City isn’t a military or observation installation. It is a haven for meta humans who do not wish to be heroes. In fact, many people in there are at significant risk due to their unusual powers and that place is the only way they can live a normal life. No one there is looking for us or working for any Hero leagues. There is a minimal BADGE security presence. The only transport is one that brings supplies down once a week and sometimes transports new residents.”
A terrible glint in her eye gave off a mischievous plan forming. “So, you are saying there are super powered humans in this city?”
“Yes.”
“Then, perhaps we could add them to our little group and harness that untapped strength.”
Nova shook his head, “Most of the people there are so weak in their powers, they aren’t of any real use. The rest either have powers that are not useful in combat, or are in need of containment all the time due to the risk of killing themselves.”
“Do I detect that old Director Nova sentiment in you? You are protecting them from me.”
“Hardly, my lady. I only wish to prevent you from obtaining unworthy subjects. Tactically speaking, they are more likely to hinder your plans than help them. And, if we do any harm to New Meta City, it will instantly alert BADGE that we are here and I don’t think you want a confrontation at this time.”
“True. They shall be left alone... for now.”
“However, I believe I see our target.” He handed her the binoculars and pointed in another direction.
She looked through them and saw a flickering purple light near a wide field of snow. “That does look like magic. My guess was correct. The magical barrier between worlds is weakest down here, especially after what happened to us. This was the perfect place for them to open a portal.”
Nova said, “We need to get to it in case it’s closing. It’s a two days walk for us. We can’t use any powers to move quicker, or the global sensors will pick us up.”
Lady Echidna shoved the binoculars back in his hand and snapped her fingers. Five of her men rushed over to do her bidding. “Time to move. We have a long walk, gentlemen.”
“Yes...my...lady.” The leader shivered so hard he staggered as he walked.
Lady Echidna hardly noticed his discomfort and marched ahead with Nova directly behind her.
Chase walked down the corridors of the Space Station. EB hopped along with her, chattering the whole time.
“Don’t be angry. We’re all under a lot of stress.”
Chase said, “We’ve been under a lot more stress, and Nova never treated us like that. Justin is way out of line.”
“He’s doing his best.”
She slapped a panel, and the door opened to the next hallway. “The only way this operation works is if we are all on the same page. He is a shut book with nothing but angry looks and few words.”
EB hopped ahead of her and then bounced backwards as he talked to her. “Look, you gotta be understanding. Justin is a great guy, like one of the totally best leaders under Nova. And I’ve known Nova for a long, LOOONG time. I don’t say that lightly. I remember this one time when Nova was still working outta Rome, he had this one general who was a complete dolt. To be fair, back then Nova was undercover all the time, so they thought he was just another member of the Italian military. But, anyway, this General Mastrovito was like all about flirting and politics and chocolate. That wasn’t so bad. He liked the chocolates I made. He didn’t know I made them, but I made some really good liquor filled chocolates that were a HUGE hit. Didja know I invented the whole liquor chocolate thing. I... OW!” He had hopped backward into a wall.
Chase turned another corner and said, “I don’t care. Justin has no right to treat us like he has been.”
EB, rubbing the back of his head, ran alongside her. “Chase, wait... STOP!”
She stood still and looked down at him. “What?!”
“Chase, you have to give him time. Nova was a good friend of his as well. Nova personally trained Justin. Justin looked up to him. Now, quickly, Justin has been given the biggest job in the world. And he’s gotta hunt down his former boss. We all know Nova is nutsy because of what that witch has done to him, but that doesn’t make it any easier. You were bamboozled a while back too, and that made us all upset. So, just... try to be understanding.”
She knelt down and brushed his head. “Okay, I’ll try. But I’m still going to see if I can figure out this clue Nova left us.”
EB followed her. “I know. That’s why I’m coming with you. Someone’s gotta be there if this goes wrong. I like Dr. Henderson, but she ain’t a mighty, magical bunny.”
They walked down several more corridors, moving through several security checkpoints. Security robots stood in place to keep anyone out who might try to get through.
Putting her code into the panel, a door opened into a high-tech lab. Dozens of computers lined the walls while various sensor equipment hung from the ceiling. Everything surrounded an energy field where the teardrop shaped blue object was suspended.
Dr. Henderson stood in front of a computer, checking data. A man was on the screen talking to her. “Thank you, Dr. Hostetter.”
“Any time. I’m sorry I wasn’t of much more help.”
“You did fine. I’ll be in touch if we need anything further.” She cut off the transmission. Standing up, she greeted them, “Chase, EB, I was waiting for you when Dr. Hostetter came back with his analysis.”
Chase asked, “Why ask him? Isn’t he a geologist?”
“Yes. I sent him all our scans and data on this thing. If he could tell us what this was made of, it might help. But he couldn’t find anything like it in all of his research. As far as we can tell, it isn’t made of a mineral from the Earth... if this is mineral at all.”
EB hopped up onto a moving tray and looked at the little object. “It looks like liquid water inside.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t register as water. In fact, it only has an arcane energy reading.”
“Magic?” EB asked, “But I don’t sense normal magic in it.”
“Nothing about this is normal,” Chase said.
Dr. Henderson asked, “Are you sure about investigating it again? The last time you tried it... “
“I know what it did. It took me a full day to recover. But there were other factors that could be part of that. We have to try. We are getting nowhere with finding Nova or Lady Echidna, learning more about their plans, or explaining why we suddenly have watery disasters right after getting this strange water relic.”
“Okay, but I’ll be right here to make sure you get immediate medical attention if this doesn’t work out.” Dr. Henderson stepped back and picked up a sensor device.
EB, still standing on the tray, said, “Be careful.”
“I will.” Chase slowly reached up and put her hand through the energy beam. She wrapped her fingers around the object and closed her eyes.
There was a moment of nothing, then she tensed up and gasped. “I... I see Nova. He is holding this. No, now he is pulling it from something. Wait... ah... I see faces, fangs, a monster... MY HEAD.... AHHHH!” She lurched back, her hand gripping the teardrop.
EB clapped his paws together and then threw them apart. A bright light flashed between her and the teardrop and she was thrown away from it. Dr. Henderson rushed over with her medical scanner.
“Chase! Chase! Are you okay?” Dr. Henderson asked.
Chase, laying on the ground and shaking, looked up at them. “I think... I know what this is.”
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