Alexander
walked through the corridors towards the research facility onboard the Eagle.
As he walked, his golden robe swayed with each step and scientists smiled
politely as they stepped aside. Alexander was not the king of the Eagle, nor
was he one of the council members. Instead he filled more of a presidential
role, acting as a check and balance to the council’s decisions, and vice versa.
The legislative process on the Eagle was a perfected example of what America
had tried to do. The three sections, citizens, council members, and Alexander,
each voted for new legislature and kept one another from gaining too much
power. Still, with his official title of “The Eagle”, Alexander gained a lot of
love from the citizens, in addition to well-earned respect.
Upon
entering the facility, Alexander was met with a bustling scene. The facility
was one gigantic room split off into three different sections by retracting
walls. In each section were workstations and offices, including some walled off
areas where volatile or fragile experiments were taking place. The first
section dealt with technology and advancements in machines and man-made
wonders. Alexander walked through the tech section, nodding his approval at the
busy engineers. The technological advancements were the reason the Eagle could
afford to be built; originally Alexander took many loans from many people to
fund his dream. Now that his researchers were inventing the future, he could
afford to sell the ideas and pay back the loans. Once the nearly completed monetary
obligations were met, the Eagle could truly be free from the earthly realm.
Before
leaving the tech section, Alexander stole a glance over to one of the room’s
corners. A large group of scientists were hard at work developing a new system
of anti-gravity engines, and have been for the past six years. So far, their
breakthroughs have given the Eagle hovercrafts, floating furniture, and even an
accidental invention of a working teleportation device, which has since been
perfected. However they have yet to crack the key to keeping the Eagle afloat
once the current engines die, and it was the most concerning aspect of the
research facility to Alexander.
The
next section dealt with biology, and was much more orderly than the tech
section. Plexiglas cubicles lined the open area, each one enclosed to contain
any accidental spills. Some cubicles were large enough for multiple biologists
to inhabit, and that was where various chemicals were being created. The Eagle
did not have a large military force, but they were well-prepared, through
chemical and biological advancements, to defend their city. Gene–therapy to
enhance a person’s physical and mental abilities was currently being researched
in full force onboard, with positive results in both the theoretical and actual
world. Using chemical advancements, the agricultural workers on the Eagle were
able to yield nearly a perfect crop every season. Waste was also non-existent, as
everything was broken down and recycled.
It
was the third and final section which Alexander was walking towards. In this
section, scientists strove to unravel the mysteries of life, including the
greatest mystery of all: the Illumination. One week ago, Alexander issued his
request to the council for research into shadow energy. After witnessing the
power the metahuman named Sombra exhibited in the attack on Hopling, Alexander
wanted to learn all he could about this new dark energy. At first the
researchers were skeptical, since never before has anything in the world led
them to believe shadow energy even existed. However after reviewing the footage
of the battle, they all agreed that there was something different about the darkness Sombra controlled. The fact
that the superhero Echo was able to absorb the darkness from her was another
astounding fact. Given everything that happened, Alexander did not like being
in the dark, and wanted answers.
As
Alexander strolled into the room, the lead researcher walked over and shook his
hand. “Thank you for stopping by, Mr. Jackson. I didn’t think you’d rush down
here so quickly, however.’
Alexander
looked behind the researcher at all the screens analyzing data. “This is
important to me. I witnessed firsthand the power of this new energy, and I hate
not knowing how to handle something. Have you found anything out yet?”
The
researcher, Dr. Muahitl, shook his head. “Nothing concrete yet. This is
uncharted territory. I’m sure the GMA has done some research into it while the
metahuman was in custody, but we are flying blind here, so to speak. We didn’t
even get a sample until late last night.”
Alexander
was visibly stunned. “What do you mean, a sample?”
“Of
the shadow energy,” Dr. Muahitl replied, waving his hand towards a black cube.
“Inside that glass box is all the shadow energy we have been able to collect
from the atmosphere around us. We’re not really sure why, but it seems last
night a sort of cloud rolled by, and our instruments went wild with readings.
We managed to collect some before the cloud dissipated completely.”
Alexander
eyed the doctor closely. “This cloud didn’t exhibit any unusual attributes, did
it?”
Dr.
Muahitl shook his head, knowing where Alexander was going with this. “Don’t
worry, Mr. Jackson. We closely monitored it the entire time. It acted exactly
how a passing cloud would. No human traits whatsoever.”
Alexander
breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was to discover Sombra was
still alive and in control. The last thing anyone knew, Echo had triumphed, and
Sombra dissolved into a cloud of shadow energy that scattered into the wind. If
she had somehow survived and was merely laying low, then she would have even
more power than Alexander imagined.
No mortal can dissolve into nothing, only to
reform as the same being. Alexander steadied himself with that logical
thought, but deep inside he knew that anything was possible.
Dr.
Muahitl brought Alexander out of his reflections. “We might not know much about
the energy itself, however we did learn one valuable bit of information.” At
Alexander’s nod, Dr. Muahitl continued. “We figured out its unique wavelength.
Given this information and our equipment, it is entire possible for us to find
and track shadow energy.”
Alexander
nodded, his mind calculating the possibilities. A new form of energy is always
a global phenomenon. “Excellent work doctor. Keep at it and continue sending me
updates.”
As Alexander turned to leave,
Dr. Muahitl coughed. “Sir,” he said hesitantly, “if this work is so important,
we could use some more minds. Perhaps pulling some researchers off the anti-gravity
engines? I understand that is a top priority as well, but…”
“Absolutely not,” Alexander cut
in. He was very always very adamant that the anti-gravity engines were the top
priority of the research lab.
“Of course Mr. Jackson. I just
fail to understand why you don’t share the blueprints you used to build the
first six.”
Alexander sighed. Nearly every
time he came to the research facility, he was asked the same question. “How
will those researchers learn how to do it if I give them the answers?”
“Science is built on top of the
research of others, though,” Dr. Muahitl countered, as usual. “How can they
improve on the original design when you won’t show them what that design is?”
“That is a problem they will have
to figure out on their own.” With that, Alexander walked out of the research
facility, lost in his own thoughts.
John knocked before entering
Alexander’s private quarters. He found the Eagle standing on his balcony,
looking not over the city, but out to the nearest anti-gravity engine. Its
quiet hum was barely audible right next to it, much less three hundred feet
away. John joined Alexander on the balcony, where they were alone for the
moment.
“They continue badgering you
about the engine blueprints, especially now that it has been over two years
since their latest breakthrough.”
Alexander nodded. Quietly he
spoke, “At times like these, I wonder if I did the right thing.”
“You can’t think like that,
Alex. This is exactly what she would have wanted; to soar high above the ground
amongst the soft white clouds.”
Alexander continued staring
solemnly at the engine. “No one can ever know, John. Not a soul except you and
me.”
“What about Steve?”
Alexander sighed and turned
towards John. “Steve is no fool. I’m sure he knows as well, but my secret is
safe with him.”
John nodded, gazing out towards
the engine. “Then your secret is safe, my friend. No one will ever find out how
the Eagle really flies.”
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