Tyler didn’t often bring Susie to
The Lab with him; if so, it was to get some option on something he was close to
finishing. Mr. Smith noticed that Tyler
was spending a lot of time in Lab 3 the last two weeks actually. Tyler knew he wasn’t actually responsible for
producing results; however, it was nice to see them. Whatever the reason, today was convenient
because today he was going to formally introduce the two Jones to the whole staff of
The Lab.
Tyler, Susie, and Sam were standing
around one of the interactive wall screens that showed off all the data from
the recovered tablet. The three of them,
with help from Serene, had managed to finally get all the data from it; this
was the first opportunity to look at it as a whole.
Pressing a button on the corner of
the wall screen, Sam said “Serene please give a short summary of what we recovered
from the tablet.”
An indicator light turned on the
screen and the voice of Serene came out a speaker. She said “The data from the tablet was
limited and has all the indications of periodic data wipes. While we could not discern the exact meaning
of the serial numbers on the various lists, we can follow their headings
to get an idea. Based on the lists we
found it is most probable that these people deal with energy weapons and their manufacturing. There is also geographic location stored on
the device which indicates different bases these people use. A more detailed report of all this can be
found in a separate report I generated.”
A different wall screen already was
displaying four locations that could be bases on a map of New York City. They didn’t seem to have an apparent meaning
to their location and didn’t have access to the subway or sewer system. One location was close to the shipping yard in
Brooklyn; it seemed like the obvious starting point. Of course, the obvious problem was that they
had to know the tablet was taken and could have cleared from these places
already.
A beep from a computer terminal,
from across the room, caught their attention.
Tyler dashed across the room as Sam turned off both wall screens. Both women looked over his shoulders as the
simulation program displayed its data.
Sam had set up several different simulations to try and figure out
how much material they would need to make a new suit for Tyler; something that
wasn’t overly bulky. This last simulation
modeled ideas where all the major areas of the body were made up of Compressed Tech
while the rest was filled in Nano Tech. The
materials for a whole suit would definitely raise questions they didn’t want
asked.
As Tyler walked away from the
computer Sam looked over it. Focusing on the gauntlets, she said “While I don’t
think we can make the whole suit at once we might be able to make it one piece
at a time.”
Looking over the details on just
making the gauntlets, Susie said “I don’t think anyone would ask questions with
just this. You guys are always working
with this stuff.”
Tyler was going to look over what
they meant when they heard someone approaching their Lab. Sam closed the detailed as Mr. Smith opened
the door; Susie and Tyler both looked like they were discussing a new NanoTech ball. Looking in he announced “I’m
about ready to introduce the new members of the team. Tyler, you ready?”
“Yeah, just like we talked about
dad. We’ll all be there in a moment.”
Tyler said giving a thumbs up. When he
left Tyler continued with “Sam, see if you can get what we need to make just
the gauntlets.”
The three of them went up to the
first floor where the lobby had a few platters of snacks around the room. Over the reception desk was a sign that read
‘Welcome to the Team’. Most of the staff
was milling around, making small talk with each other and their new
college. Tyler noticed no one was
talking to Brenda; Tyler nudged Susie, indicating they should go talk to her. She looked over at her, recognizing a similar
look she often had at Convergence Industries parties, and followed his lead.
Brenda had on an outfit for this
gathering: a light blue top, a knee-length black skirt, and black flats. They sat next to her as Tyler said “I hope
I’m not the first to welcome you to the team.”
Giving him a slight smile, she
answered with “No, I got a few of those already. Glad to hear it from the only person here my
age. I’ll be downstairs with you, not
the same Lab though.”
“You’ll do fine. Something I wish someone told me when I got
here; until you’re hired here, in earnest, you aren’t responsible to actually
produce results. I’ll be happy to help
the only other R.I.T. here.” Tyler said trying to look as engaged as possible.
The three carried on with small
talk until Mrs. Smith came up to them.
She told Tyler that he was needed to welcome the new members. Brenda followed him, her instructions
unspoken, as the two stood next to their respective fathers. Mr. Smith talked for a minute and then
introduced Mr. Jones properly. After a
short applause, he indicated for his son to say something.
Tyler cleared his throat and said
“I feel like I must say, both, more and less than my father. I’ll do my best not to drone on.” Pausing for a moment he continued with “It
takes a special type of person to pass the multiple tests and interviews to get
into the Researcher in Training group; some of my fathers’ own colleges jumped
through fewer hurdles. Nevertheless, I
welcome Miss Brenda Jones to the third floor and hope I can be as much help to her
as she will be to us all.”
A similar amount of applause came
from the small crowd as Tyler looked through it. His father put his hand on his shoulder, his
mother gave an approving nod, and Susie gave a thumbs up. He looked back at his new colleagues as they
both flashed a smile of appreciation.
After a moment where they had their photo taken, they went back to going
around and talking to people. This only
lasted so long, for the Smith family anyway, because they had a rare family
night planned.
Tyler didn’t go out as The Mirage
that night; actually, taking time to get a full night’s sleep. It was the kind of thing that Susie kept
telling him he needed to do more often; if not for his sake than for hers. The next day was a Saturday, Tyler and
Jennifer had their second date planned for that afternoon. They met at a Bryant Park Café and, each,
ordered the cheapest options. While they
were eating their conversation was, mostly, kept to school topics.
While picking at her food, Jenifer
said “So you’ve never met my parents have you.”
“I don’t like where this is going.”
Tyler said looking at her a little closer.
“It’s just that we’ve been friends
for a long time and now we’re dating. I
was thinking that you should do that at this point.” Jennifer said, lightly
swirling her drink straw.
Leaning back in his chair he said
“Fine, that makes sense. You have a
family dinner Sunday nights, right?”
“Yeah, but tomorrow won’t be
ideal. I’ll let you know when they say
is good. I guess I’ll have to do the
same for you.”
He leaned back in his seat and said
“You have it easier, you’ve already met them.”
The two finished their meal and
went on a walk back up to Central Park.
They walked around the Central Park Zoo and, then, Tyler walked her back
home. Before Jennifer went inside, she
looked back at him. She looked like she
wanted to say, or do, something but a slight blush overcame her cheeks, and she went
inside quickly. Not sure what that was
about Tyler turned back to Central Park and started for home.
Along the way, he bumped into his
sister talking to one of her friends.
She introduced her as Julie and the three made small talk. After a short while, the two siblings started
their walk home when Sam called.
“So, we got approved for the order
of parts needed for phase one.” She said sounding excited.
“That’s great, as soon as it’s in
we need to get working on the fabrication process.” Tyler said holding the
phone between him and his sister.
Hearing Sam move on the other end
she said “I would like to double check that your measurements are
accurate. I’ll be sure to schedule the use
of the scanners on the second floor.”
“You’re a lifesaver. I’ll stop in on Monday for the measurement
checks.” Tyler said and hung up the phone.
Susie nudged his shoulder and said
“You would not get very far without her.”
He agreed with her and as the two walked
up their front stairs and inside. Tyler
spent the rest of the day getting familiar with the locations from the tablet;
three of the warehouses were owned by completely different businesses. One location, however, was owned by
Convergence Industries and had a similar function as The Lab. He decided to look into that one as himself,
with the grace of his father, as an “expanding of the businesses different
ventures”.
The night came and it was time for
Tyler to head out and see what the location at Brooklyn Heights was about. He headed directly there, relying on the
rocket boosters more than he normally would, only stopping on a couple of
rooftops. Susie didn’t bother watching
the police scanner as they had a singular goal tonight. Tyler stopped a block away from the building
and wanted more sensory information about their target.
The building was a concrete
warehouse in a modern design. It had a
few entrances, for both people and vehicles, and had windows along the middle
of the wall. There seemed to be sections
of window on the roof; a dim light emanating from the building but there were
no cars parked close by. Tyler scoped
out the building for about twenty minutes; finally seeing enough activity to
justify him moving onto the building.
As he landed on the building Serene
said “The odds of you not getting useful information are low Sir.”
Tyler peered down one of the
windows and saw people moving around creates and boxes. It looked like the place was fuller recently;
possibly being emptied out because of him.
Susie echoed his thoughts and he replied with “I was just thinking the
same thing. I plan to go in, invisible,
and get more information.”
He could feel her roll her eyes as
she said “Alright, just be careful. I’ll
be here the whole time; as I always am.”
He turned invisible and lifted open
one of the roof windows. Taking a deep
breath, he grabbed the ledge and allowed himself to fall. Falling, for only a moment, he used the
grappling hook to ease his way down. He
looked around to make sure that none of the people around him hadn’t noticed
him; the two moving boxes never even turned their heads. He moved around them quietly and took a short
walk around the building; making sure to capture as much video as possible.
After about ten minutes of snooping
around the place, he grappled on top of a high shelve. He noticed an office in the back of the
building and saw the door open. From the
office walked out the businessman that was at the dock followed by a woman. She was taller than average, had jet black hair,
a black padded uniform, and had a pair of goggles on. The two shook hands and someone escorted the
man to a nearby door.
Serene couldn’t identify the woman
and Susie said “Looks like the person in charge here.”
“Could be, at least she looks like
the person in charge the apparent move.” Tyler said noticing the woman looking
straight at him.
A smile spread across her face and
he knew he had to get out of there.
Moving to another shelve he saw her track his location and make a small
arm movement. Someone quickly walked
over to her and hand her a glove of some kind.
In a swift motion, she pointed it at him and an energy pulse fired. He dodged the first shot but a second shot
landed its mark. His invisibility was
disrupted as he tumbled to the floor and, tried to, quickly get back up.
Before he could do anything, Tyler
was surrounded; by six people pointing Model 397s squarely at him. He looked around a couple times, trying to see
any means of escape when the woman spoke “So you must be The Mirage. I’ve known you were here the moment you let
yourself in.”
Tyler could hear Susie watching his
video feed, anxiety rising every second.
He decided to try and not look like he was working out escape solutions
and relaxed his posture. The woman continued
with “I’ll let you go but first I have an offer for you. Leave us alone and we don’t bother you. The Order has no need to quarrel with you.”
Keeping his voice calm, he said “So
you’re called The Order. Are you some
kind of experimental weapons dealer?”
The woman made a hand movement and
the six people lowered their weapons.
Keeping her voice in a soft, almost dismissive, tone she said “Something
like that. Now, do we have a deal?”
Taking a moment to pause, sensing
the anticipation form his sister, he let out a sigh. “I can’t do that. I highly suspect what you’re doing is legal
and I can’t just turn a blind eye.”
The woman gave him a disappointed
look, like his mother might give, and said “Very well then. Allow me to show you what you’re pitting
yourself up against.” She snapped her
fingers and a person walked to her side.
They were dressed the same as the rest but didn’t have energy guns on
them. Putting a hand on their shoulder continuing
with “This is our newest recruit. Find
out what power even our lowest has.”
She patted the person, telling them
to engage him. The six people moved out
of their way completely, as if they were never there. This person was a woman, about his height and
build. She put herself in a fighting
stance waiting for her opponent to show he was ready.
In his ear, Susie said “I don’t
recommend this; she’s different from the others here. She has energy pulser gantlets and, what
looks like, energy boosters. It looks
like they styled her after you.”
He could see Serene mapping out
different escape routes across his internal display. Thinking he could get more information out of
this he said “Let’s see what The Order has to show.”
With that Tyler dropped into a
battle stance, indicating his readiness.
The woman came at him with a running start, a hand at her right
side. He shot a few energy blasts at
her but they didn’t seem to do much.
Taking a quick step to the side she went right past him. He shot a grappling hook at her back, reeling
her toward him, and fired a few more shots.
Apparently unfazed, she spun herself around and grabbed his hook
line. She activated her boosters and
tried to drag him into the air.
He let the line go slack and fired
his other grappling hook at her helmet.
It didn’t come off but it did send her tumbling to the ground. She landed just in front of a shelf and Tyler
brought the thing down on her. The boxes
shifted, some violently, and the woman was up again. She paused for a moment, likely a little
dazed, and reached for her belt line.
Pulling out a small rod she pressed a button and it ignited into a purple
energy sword.
She came at him fast and shot her
own grappling hook at him. She closed
the distance even more by dragging him closer.
She brought down her sword but missed ripping into him by an inch or
two. She didn’t miss a beat and kicked
him in the stomach. It knocked the wind
out of him but she didn’t let up.
Another hit or two knocked him into a shelf and she pointed her sword at
him.
Taking beep breaths he looked
around trying to find some way to get out of this. Looking up he saw some boxes held in a, not
very sturdy looking, net. Thinking fast,
he grappled the energy sword from her hand while shooting at the net. Its contents came crashing down while the rod
landed in his hand. The boxes crashed
down on the two of them; for a moment both laying motionless. The world didn’t quite make sense anymore but
he used the energy sword to make an opening.
Not wanting any more of this he
turned invisible and rocketed away as fast as he could. He flew through a glass panel in the ceiling,
not looking to see if the woman was back on her feet. He flew further away than was probably
necessary, feeling a little dazed still.
He was pretty sure that Susie was trying to talk to him but he couldn’t
focus. Landing on a building, not even
sure what kind, he stumbled his landing.
He laid flat out on the ground, still holding the rod, and finally
focused.
“Tyler please tell me you’re with
me.” He finally heard Susie say, panic heavy in her voice.
“I’m here, I’m here. It was all just a bit overwhelming being crushed
by boxes and all.” He said the world making more sense every passing
moment. Looking at the rod in his hand
he said “We’ll have to get this analyzed."
Susie let out a sigh of relief and
said “We’ll worry about that later, just come home.”
Comments
Post a Comment