The BADGE shuttle landed near the Ren Tech HQ. The shuttle was invisible to the naked eye and most sensors. Justin was in the lead, with Arx beside him. Dragonborn, Ladyhawk, Dreamlord, and two BADGE defense robots joined them.
Justin spoke to the group before they decloaked and disembarked. “This mission is simple. We go in and arrest Chorad and take any information vital to understanding their technology. If we encounter any resistance from security or other workers, we are to disarm and disable, but no killing.”
Ladyhawk asked, “Shouldn’t we have the police with us to arrest people?”
Arx said, “We tried getting the local police involved. No one answered. It seems everyone is currently being brainwashed by the Ren Wear. This is why we have to get this information.”
Justin said, “This is a priority one mission. Although some of you haven’t graduated yet, I know you’re well-trained and capable. Do your duty, follow orders, and this will go smoothly. Now, let’s get this done.” He pressed a button, and the door opened. The cloaking shields deactivated, revealing their shuttle.
Stepping out into the night air, they found the Ren Tech campus quiet. In fact, the metro area was eerily silent. No cars, no sirens, just the occasional dog barking. Standing around the building were employees, in a daze, watching whatever was on the glasses.
“This is creepy,” Arx said.
Justin pointed forward. “Just move.”
Leading the way, Justin marched toward the main entrance. He had a computer map on his comm that had the layout of the structure. The key card entry system secured the door.
“Allow me.” Dragonborn stepped up and took in a great breath. With a quick yell, a ball of fire exploded out of his mouth and the glass doors were blown apart.
“Good work.” Arx patted the dragon scaled man on the shoulder.
Justin stepped through and continued following the directions. All along their path were many more employees in a trance as they stared into their glasses. The signs of a company party lie around in trash, decorations, and some flickering dance lights. Everyone was trapped behind their glasses; no one was partying.
“He didn’t even spare his own employees,” Dreamlord stated.
“We’ll free them.” Justin walked through several more doors.
The last doors to the gardens were locked behind another keycard. These doors were far more solid. The BADGE robots slammed through them with ease.
They walked up to the opulent office, and the door opened for them.
“You didn’t need to break my things to come in. I would have let you through.” Chorad’s voice greeted them.
He sat in his chair behind his desk. A smile played on his lips as he met them with casualness.
Justin stepped forward. “You’re under arrest and will turn over all data about your company’s technology.”
“You’re just a peon. I want to talk to Nova. Where is he?”
Justin held up his wrist comm and activated it. Nova’s face was on the screen. “Dr. Chorad.”
“Nova. I was hoping to talk to you. Why haven’t you called?”
Nova responded, “The phone lines seem to be down. Regardless. You will surrender yourself to my people and hand over your information. Or they will take you by force. Those are you options.”
“I’m a man who has made it his life to give himself options, even when others don’t agree.”
“Whatever you have planned, forget it. This ends now.”
Chorad said, “You’re correct, Ren Tech is done for. But, this is far from over. Here are my options. First, I will keep you and your heroes busy. Second, I will deal with your little annoying team. Third, I will move onto the next part of my glorious plan.”
“Enough of this. Justin, take him.”
Justin gestured to the others, but Chorad merely pressed a button on his computer. They all paused and nothing happened.
Arx demanded, “What did you just do?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Well, Nova will. You’ll likely be dead.”
Nova said, “What just happened? We’re showing a spike in morphons on the planet in Detroit. WHAT DID YOU DO?”
Dragonborn and Arx grabbed Chorad and yanked him out of his chair. “TELL HIM!” Arx commanded.
Chorad said, “Oh, how threatening. And, just think, once upon a time you worked for me.”
“What?” Arx asked.
Chorad said, “I would be happy to oblige your little abduction, but I’m not even here.” He vanished away.
“A hologram?” Justin backed up.
Chorad’s voice spoke through his computer. “No witnesses, no evidence.”
A flash of light turned everyone’s head as they watched a fireball explode over part of Ren Tech, the shockwave broke all the windows at the same time. They didn’t have a moment to consider that when explosion after explosion ripped through the entire facility. Justin hardly took in a breath to scream for them to retreat when the final fireball ripped through Chorads’ office.
***
Nova watched from the comm until it went dead.
“Justin! JUSTIN!” He mashed his finger into the comm signal button.
A computer voice stated, “Comm device has been destroyed, emergency locator settings activated.”
10915 Said, “Incoming transmission, Furious Squirrel.”
An emergency comm alert opened up on the screen as Furious Squirrel ran through Detroit, stopping occasionally to fire his weapon. “BADGE, NOVA, WHOEVER. WE HAVE A SITUATION HERE!”
Through the shaky image from Furious’s comm unit, Nova could hear screaming people and explosions. A car flew over Furious’s head and crashed into a building.
“What’s going on?” Nova asked.
Nova said, “Damnit. Furious, get people to safety however you can. The civilian population is your goal. I’ll send help.”
“I .... WATCH OUT!” Furious dove, grabbing a woman and then tumbling across the ground. Something exploded behind him. The comm ended.
Nova pressed his comm. “Nova to all heroes who can still hear me. Get to Detroit and clear the area of civilians. There is an enemy that is an eminent threat. Do not engage. Further instructions will follow. I repeat, do not engage until otherwise instructed, just get people to safety. NOW!”
Nova pointed at a robot. “I want every agent that is still with us to get down to the Ren Tech facility. Be ready for fire. Find our people, pull them out.”
“Sending message.” 92628 stated and went to work.
***
“Can’t you do something?” Alex pleaded with Quark.
Quark said, “I’m not a god. I can’t overcome everything with my powers. If I try something to open this, it could kill her and everyone in this city.”
EB hopped around the sphere. “We need to get it to the station.”
Gar said, “I tried to move it. It won’t budge.”
“What’s happening?” Chase stepped back when the sphere slowly rose in the air.
Quark shook his head. “I don’t know. This thing defies all understanding.”
The sphere rose quicker and slowly faded from view as a cloaking shield surrounded it.
“NO! BRING HER BACK!” Alex cried as he rushed to fly toward it.
Alex stopped mid flight, unable to find where it had gone.
“This is bad,” Gar said.
Just then, their comms all activated. “Nova to all heroes who can still hear me. Get to Detroit and clear the area of civilians. There is an enemy that is an eminent threat. Do not engage. Further instructions will follow. I repeat, do not engage until otherwise instructed, just get people to safety. NOW!”
“Now what?” EB retorted.
Chase clicked her comm, “Director, we have further news. The sphere just vanished and flew away.”
“This is getting out of hand.” Nova said. “Get back up here.”
0 Comments