The Eagle #15 - Awakening

Ten Years Ago…

                “I want to live in a floating city.”

                Alexander Jackson lay naked in bed, the sheets barely covering him, breathing slowly and enjoying the moment of bliss. In the crook of his arms with her head on his chest was his fiancé, Valerie.

                “A floating city?” Alex smiled at the thought. “That would be incredible. We’d be able to leave all of the drama of this modern world and just float through the sky, living life like angelic beings.”

                “That is exactly what I want,” Valerie replied with a sigh. “No bull shit, no super villains, no politicians, and no seedy corporations. Just the best and brightest from around the world, all working towards building the perfect future.”

                “If only,” Alex chuckled.

                Valerie leaned up onto her elbow. “You don’t think it’s possible?”

                “In the future, yes. But as of now, I’m not sure of a conceivable way to keep the city afloat. We’d need some sort of anti-gravity technology, and there hasn’t been much research done on that yet. Plus the cost alone would bankrupt a small country. And we’d be totally self-sufficient, so new ways of creating resources would be needed.”

                Valerie gave a great depressing sigh and laid back down. “You really know how to kill a girl’s dream, huh?”

                “I’m sorry my heart,” Alex said as he smoothed her hair out of her face. “But until someone finds a way to keep the city off the ground, it’ll just have to be a dream.”

                They were quiet for a few minutes, and Alex almost drifted off to sleep. Can’t sleep yet, not with patrol later on, he thought. He had found strong friends with the members of Frontier, but there were plenty of days, more frequently as of late, that he wished he wasn’t tethered down to a set routine.

                “I got it!” Valerie said suddenly, propping herself up once more and looking into Alex’s eyes.

                “Got what?”

                “A way to hold up the city. That is what we were just talking about, you know.”

                “And just like that you solved the anti-gravity problem?” Alex was smiling when he said it. Valerie did not have any formal education in engineering, let alone any of the higher sciences. But what she lacked in learned knowledge she more than made up for in spirit and imagination.

                “Yeah, I did.” Valerie smiled and pointed at herself. “Who needs anti-gravity engines when you have me?”

Present Day, Onboard the Eagle…

                “And I tried everything I could to bring you back. But nothing worked until Damien’s powers manifested. The electrical waves he generates affects organic material and brain waves in a way that I will never be able to. It’s…a miracle, really. Despite everything I knew, and everything I can do, I was powerless to help you. But our son had the power all along. If only I’d have told him sooner, perhaps…”

                Alex stopped talking and trailed off into thought. He had been driving the conversation for over an hour now, standing up, pacing back and forth, even crying at certain points. He explained everything, from his personal thoughts on the idea of the Eagle, to the most detailed layout of the city. He didn’t have his phone on him, and John was making sure nothing was to interrupt him today. This was one of the most difficult things Alex had ever done, because the only other person in the room, the only one he was talking and explaining himself to, was the only person to whom it really mattered: his wife.

                In the silence, Alex looked at her. Regardless of the loss of weight and sickly pale complexion, he still believed she was the most beautiful being in the entire world. Having just returned from the hospital with Damien and John earlier this morning, he only swung by the office to check for important updates. Yet sitting in the chair at his desk was Valerie. Her presence floored him and he was left utterly speechless. Alex had fallen to his knees at the sight of her, and it took her gentle touch to raise him up and sit him in one of the padded chairs. She did not speak, and relatively quickly Alex composed himself and began his long explanation of everything that had happened up until now.

                Still after so much talking, there were thousands of thoughts left in his mind. He had no idea where to go from here. Valerie had been silent the entire time he was rambling on, but he saw a wide range of expressions cross her face. And now that he had fallen silent, she rose and slowly walked to the window.

As she looked out over Cloudtop City, she whispered, “You did it. Despite not believing it was possible, you created a floating city.”

Alex hurried over to her side and put his arm around her waist to hold her up. She was still very weak. “I could not have done it without your power. You were always the heart of the Eagle.”

“I still am,” she said staring off into the distance. “You unlocked something within me, Alex. Even now I can hold this city up with my power. I don’t believe I can do much of anything else with my powers while I’m at it, and I don’t know what will happen when I sleep, but for now I can keep your city in the sky.”

“Your city,” Alex corrected her and turned to look into her eyes. “This is your city, my love. Always was and always will be. I was merely acting in your place. But we’ll figure something out until the actual anti-gravity engines are built.”

Valerie turned back to look outside. They stood looking over the Eagle for a long time before she spoke again. “It’s beautiful, Alex. I need to learn about it. I want to know all about this beautiful kingdom you’ve built.”

“Of course Valerie.”

“And Damien. I need,” here she stopped and Alex saw her shoulders tense up for the incoming sobs. He pulled her closer gently as she started crying. “I’ve missed so much. His whole childhood. Ten years, Alex. My God, I’ve missed so much.”

Alex held her and whispered soothing words. After she quieted a bit and the tears stopped flowing freely he continued. “We will make up for it, I swear. I am just so happy to have you back, and so relived you do not despise me for what I did to you. I was so worried you would never forgive me.”

“Forgive you? Alex, you kept me alive and built my dream in memory of what I had always wanted. This entire floating structure is a testament to your love for me. How can I be mad at you? You did what was necessary, and it all worked out for the best. I’m here and feeling better than I ever have. There is no anger from me, Alex. Only joy.”

They embraced, and Alex felt like he would never let her go.

“We need to hold a public meeting.”

“Whatever for?”

“For you, Valerie. No one knows the truth. I did not know how they would react, but it is time to come clean and face whatever repercussions come my way. The people deserve the truth.”

Valerie squeezed his hand and nodded. “I’ll stand beside whatever decision you make, Alex. You have my full support.”

Alex kissed her gently, and then started laughing. “In a way dear, you’ve always been supporting me. All of us.”

Valerie sighed. “I’m glad your sense of humor is still intact. Now show me where I can get some food, and let’s pick up Damien on the way. I need to meet this son of mine. I owe him my life, as a mother and a person.” She looked up at Alex with a smile. “Plus I need to see just how lenient of a father you’ve been. I’m sure you’ve given him the run of the city and raised an unruly animal.”

Alex laughed and led her out of the office. “Now Valerie, I am offended! If he has any of those qualities, he surely got them from you.”

The happy couple walked down the hallway, hand in hand and laughing the whole way, just as they had ten years ago down the aisle. And just, as Alex hoped, they would from this day forth.

The Eagle #14 - Enter the Abyss pt. 6

                John made sure everything was packed before waking Damien. The boy needed all the rest he could get, but they needed to leave quickly. Damien slowly dressed as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and then the pair gathered their bags and made to leave. However walking down the hallways, Damien stopped.

                “Something doesn’t feel right,” he said looking back over his shoulder.

                “You’re just tired, Damien. Come on let’s hurry.” John didn’t want to unnerve the boy any more than he already was, but John could feel it too. The building was too quiet.

                Suddenly the lights started flickering and then turned off altogether. John pulled Damien closer to him and turned on a flashlight he fished from his bag. The hallway was empty both ways; or was it? Ahead of them the beam from the flashlight seemed to shorten, as if the shadows themselves were walking forward.

                “Go back to your room, Damien,” John said in the calmest voice he could muster. There was a balcony, and they could climb down to safety. Damien started backing up and John held his ground, wanting to make sure Damien made it first. John stared at the slowly approaching shadows, however Damien’s scream made him turn around with a jolt. Standing behind them was a shadowy figure with no discernable features besides for a horrific smile on what passed as a head.

                “The fool’s joker and his spawn! Exactly who I was looking for!” The creature’s voice was distorted, but understandable. John leapt at the form, yelling for Damien to run. Instead of colliding with a physical body however, John flew through the form and landed on the ground behind it. The shadow laughed and what was its back formed into its front.

                “Why even bother trying, fool? If your special Eagle couldn’t beat me, what hope do you have?”

                John turned the flashlight up as high as it would go, trying to expel the shadows using light. The shadow grunted, but followed that up with a laugh. “Really? You try using light to fight me? Smart thought, but shadow energy is much more than anyone ever knew!”

                The shadow seemed to darken and the next thing John knew, he was flying backwards after being kicked hard by the creature. He quickly got back to his feet, only to be knocked down again. The entire time, the shadow was laughing and Damien was huddled in corner, watching in fear. The shadow continued attacking John, and despite the man’s best efforts, he couldn’t hit this foe.

                “Come now, how about you just lie down and let me kill you? That would make it easier on both of us!”

                “You won’t get that chance, Muahitl!” A blast of electricity scorched the shadow and it screamed out. Alex was running down the hallway and stopped in between the villain and Damien.

                Abyss formed back together and roared, “I am called Abyss! And I will devour your life!”

                “You can try, monster.” Alex ran to meet Abyss, and the two traded punches. Each time Alex hit the shadow, more of the shadow energy dissipated, but there was still enough for Abyss to keep himself solid. John staggered to his feet, bloody and bruised, but he charged to help Alex.

The two men had Abyss surrounded and were hammering on the shadow when Abyss screeched out. His body blew up into a radial wave of shadow energy, knocking both men to the ground. John seemed down for the count, but Alex looked around to find where Abyss went. His eyes went wide when he saw Abyss standing behind Damien, his hand raised and shaped into a deadly knife that was poised to kill.

“Damien!” Alex bellowed and raised a hand to blast Abyss.

Damien turned quickly and saw the monster behind him. He let out a cry and threw up his hands. Suddenly the whole building was charged with static, and Alex watched as a burst of electricity exploded from Damien’s body.

When the wave washed over Alex he felt completely recharged. More than that, he felt like he was at his upmost peak. Even John sprang back to consciousness and came up on his elbows. However the super charge of energy did not help Abyss. The villain screamed in pain and his body was annihilated, turning into nothing more than a fading shadow in the dim light.

Damien started to collapse, but Alex caught him and held him close. Damien was still alive, just weakened from the attack. John stumbled over, the energy from Damien’s attack already fading in both men.

“Did you know about his?” Alex asked, not looking away from his son.

“The doctor’s figured it out while he was in the hospital. I never had a chance to tell you, but Alex I think…” John stopped, seeing the smile on Alex’s face. “We need to get him to a hospital. Again, the poor boy.”

Alex stood up and carried his son out to the hovercraft. John followed after using the intercom system to make sure everyone else was alright. Nobody was more than a little hurt, and John breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside, Alex had buckled Damien in and started up the hovercraft when John climbed in. “Do you think he’s gone?”

Alex looked over at his friend and nodded. “And if not, I think it’ll be some time before he can pull himself back together after what Damien did to him.”

John looked back at the now sleeping boy. “He already seems so strong, Alex. He’s definitely going to become a formidable metahuman one day. Just like his father.”

Alex smiled, “Not like just his father, John. Like his mother as well.”

As the new day’s sun rose over the main engine, the Eagle Squad stood on guard, waiting for some news. Alex had given the command to guard this engine, but that was last night and they hadn’t heard any news about the shadow monster that attacked the research facility. Coupled with the faint wave of heat they all experienced, the men were restless for some information. While the squadron leader left the engine room and radioed for an update, the sound of breaking glass grabbed everyone else’s attention. They raised their weapons and looked around for the source. When the main room was deemed secure after a quick check, they went for the single closed door in the room. As one of the guards went to open it, the door swung open. Their guns went up, but their fingers never made it to the trigger, and the trained soldiers were stunned at what stood before them.

In a gentle but commanding voice that was soft from not being used in years, the woman spoke. “Stand down, soldiers.” When they obeyed, she smiled. “Now, will someone please take me to my husband?”

Metas #5 - A Loose End pt. 5

                Laura felt the transformations before she saw them happen. Sensing energy wasn’t a part of her power; at least, she’d never felt it before. But in the split second before Josh Matters enlarged his fists and Melissa Molecule shifted into her liquid form, Laura felt their bodies initiate the change. Her reaction was instinct, and she quickly threw herself to the side to dodge Melissa’s attack. The black liquid flew through the spot Laura was standing in and landed on the ground, quickly forming back into a humanoid figure.

                Not yet, Laura thought as she remembered her promise to Matt about only using her powers if absolutely necessary. But if I go down, I’m taking this bitch with me.

                Meanwhile Arthur was struggling to stand back up after Josh’s sudden attack. Josh was standing in front is Arthur, his fists increased to ten times their normal size and his height nearing eight feet tall.

                “Like this look?” Josh taunted as Arthur got back up. “I borrowed it from that big superhero Fist. Figured it wasn’t a bad look for a fighter.”

                Arthur sneered, knowing that he wasn’t going to walk away from this without a fight. He was not a fighter at heart, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t fight if necessary. The transformation happened within moments, and Josh was either polite enough to let it happen or was too shocked to react. Soon a ten foot tall, one ton grizzly bear was standing in his living room.

                Arthur let out a mighty roar and charged, teeth and claws glistening in the moonlight. Josh took a few steps back to try to eye up the competition, but Arthur moved faster than Josh’s mind. He slammed into the celebrity and threw him from the house clear into the pool. Arthur continued his charge, chasing Josh down and cornering the metahuman in his pool. Josh tried once to get out of the water, but Arthur knocked him back in hard, leaving Josh dazed and unwilling to try again for the time being.

                Back in the house, Laura was putting up a good fight against Melissa, which surprised her. She had assumed the celebrities would be better combatants, seeing as how they started the fight. But Melissa fought like someone who never had to before, foolishly relying on her powers and a few tricks and not on actual skill. Despite only training with Matt for a few weeks, Laura was almost running circles around her.

                As Laura landed a solid punch across Melissa’s face, her body shifted into liquid and she skirted across the floor out the door. Laura ran outside to catch her but in the darkness she was gone. Laura stopped to help Janet, who was just regaining consciousness. By the pool, Josh made one last attempt to escape the giant bear. Jumping out of the pool and increasing the muscle mass of his legs, Josh was able to outrun Arthur, who gave chase.

                By the time Arthur returned, Janet was leaning on Laura and holding her head. “We need to go,” she said quickly, “they called the police before they even started that fight.”

                Arthur shifted back into his human form and dashed inside to grab a blanket. “What about Matt?” he asked as the trio quietly began to flee the scene.

                “You’re kidding, right?” Janet replied, “Matt is more than capable of handling himself. Let’s just get back to the hotel room, and he’ll meet us there. Hopefully he’ll have found Ty and we can all go home.”

                Sneaking back to the hotel room was no easy task, but Laura and Janet proved they were very skilled at going unnoticed. It helped that once they took off their masks, they could be confident that no one would recognize them. Arthur had a little more trouble, being that he wore only a blanket, but eventually all three made it back in one piece. Once back, they were all quiet, each keeping to their own thoughts. After showering, Arthur and Janet left to get them some late-night food. Laura was on the balcony overlooking the still-bustling tourists section of town when she once again felt an energy signal. She spun around and saw Matt descending onto the balcony behind her. In his arms he carried a teenage boy, only slightly older than Janet and bearing a strong family resemblance. Laura breathed a sigh of relief when Matt smiled at her and nodded to her unasked question of whether the boy was alive or not.

                When Arthur and Janet returned, Janet nearly dropped her bag of food when she saw her brother lying on the bed. He was awake, but dizzy from a serious hit on the head. While Tyrone calmed Janet down by insisting he was fine, Arthur came up to Matt.

                “I hope your night wasn’t as exciting as ours,” he said looking at the teen. “We had to fight those celebrities. Not fun.”

                Laura snorted, “But easy, that’s for sure.”

                “I heard from Laura,” Matt said, pulling a hamburger out of a bag. “Sorry about that, I really didn’t think they would jump into a fight after the beating I gave them. They shouldn’t pursue this though, since I don’t think their egos would let them admit to losing so badly. But yeah, you could say my night was exciting.”

                Matt explained how he had to subdue Basher, which was more difficult than Matt imagined since he was refusing to use any energy-based attacks. After that, Matt quickly moved through the base, taking out whatever guards he found until he located Tyrone’s energy signal. The stealthy meta was indeed stuck, hiding where he wouldn’t be found but couldn’t leave either. After that it was a quick pick up and escape, unfortunately made more difficult by Basher once again, who seems to get stronger each time Matt sees him. During the fight Tyrone suffered a hit to the head, but Matt assured everyone he’d be fine.

                After explaining everything, the group sat down to eat something finally, with Tyrone happy to actually have real food again and not his emergency nutrient bars he brings with on missions. While eating Arthur and Laura learned more about Tyrone, known as Arach, and his connection to Matt.

                A couple years ago, Matt was scouting out the ruins of Old New York, which has become a poor, lawless metahuman community. Even the GMA won’t send agents in unless something drastic happens, and life goes about according to whichever crime lord is currently on top. Any metahuman on the run from the law or just generally lost in life eventually finds their way to Old New York, and it’s there that they usual end up staying or dying. While Matt was wandering around, he stumbled across Tyrone, Janet, and the group of thugs trying to kill and rape them both. Matt ran the thugs off and after spending a day with the siblings and seeing their quality and potential, he offered them a job as his go-to duo for covet missions.

                At this point, Arthur stopped Matt. “Okay, I have to know once and for all. How often do you do these little covert jobs? I had no idea this was such a large part of your life.”

                Matt shrugged, “Every once in a while. Usually at least once a month. It depends, if I know someone needs help I help them. Ty and Janet are my infiltrators if I need someone to be sneaky.”

                “But how do you never get caught?” Laura questioned, a little nervous now that the adrenaline of the fight was over. If Matt and she were caught doing something like this, into a cell they both go. Well, maybe not Matt, she thought, but I’d definitely be put away for a very long time. And I do so enjoy my relative freedom.

                “Oh, I know a guy,” Matt started, and after everyone giving him looks to continue he did. “There’s this metahuman my Dad knows called Techbit. He works for the GMA now, but he’s able to build anything, given time and as long as it isn’t an obvious weapon. Don’t ask; it’s just how his powers work. Anyway I did him a favor, and in return built me a nice little robot helper that gives off an energy signal that equals what mine normally is. All I do is charge it up, program where I want it to go, and set it loose. As far as the energy satellites are concerned, I’ve never left my area of residence.”

                Arthur was genuinely amazed, but Laura was skeptical. “They can track you with digital satellites though. What if they take a close look at you and find your little robot instead?”

                Matt shrugged again, clearly not worried. “Why would they? They track energy because it’s cheaper. Plus every time they use those powerful digital satellites they need to file a public report with the government cuz of those privacies acts. I’m sure the public won’t like to hear they’re spending extra taxpayer dollars on taking clear pictures of me while the energy satellites work just fine.”

                “That’s a huge assumption, Matt.”

                “True,” Matt said with a smile, “but what did you say a few days ago, Arthur? I always come out on top.” Matt laughed, and the rest gave in to join him. Soon they were heading to bed for a few hours of sleep before the flight home tomorrow, which they were all taking. Before laying down for some rest, Matt pulled the USB drive out of his pocket and sighed. Both Janet and Tyrone swore this was the only copy of the videos, and Matt believed them. Matt smiled before slipping it back into his pocket and closing his eyes.

                The following night, after an evening out on patrol, Marian returned to her bedroom exhausted and ready for bed. As she stripped down she noticed a folded piece of paper on her nightstand that she didn’t put there. On the paper was a short and simple note.

                “Now they have nothing on us. I hope this is a start to mending things between you and me.”

                Marian picked up the USB drive and smiled.

               

The Eagle #13 - Enter the Abyss pt. 5

                Alex hastily excused himself from the group of politicians and answered his phone. Any reason to get away was welcomed after the day he’d had, or so he thought. The call was quick, frantic, and cut short. Something had gone wrong at the research facility, and the Electric Eagle was needed.

               

                Alex pushed his way into the research facility after forcing a path through the fleeing mob of scientists and civilians. The scene before him was a disaster and it looked as if the entire facility had been hit by a tornado. Tables, equipment, supplies, and even the occasional body lay strewn across the open area. Millions of dollars worth of damage, yet the most horrific sight to Alex was not the monetary loss but the humanoid shadow that was causing the chaos.

                It stood no taller than a normal man, but it was composed entirely of shadow energy. Alex had seen with his own eyes, and even fought with this own fists, shadow energy in the past, and knew that the new, mysterious energy was not something to take lightly. He had no answers to the multitude of questions in his mind and his only course of action at the moment was to stop this monstrosity from further hurting people and damaging the facility.

                Alex ran towards the shadow thing, his fists sparking with electricity. Though he didn’t have his gauntlets, that didn’t mean he was powerless. The advanced gauntlets let Alex amplify and use his electricity easier, but he was still very dangerous without them. About twenty feet away, the shadow figure noticed Alex and turned to face him. Alex was unsure how, but a terrible roar erupted from the shadow and it charged at Alex, vicious claws taking form on what counted as hands.

Alex knew, despite being composed of the equivalent of shadows, that those claws could tear through skin with no problem. He checked his speed and dodged to the side, letting the claws swipe the air where he once stood. The shadow was still within Alex’s reach though, and he struck with all his might, hoping the body was as solid as the hands. His punch collided with the shadow, and electricity ripped through its body. The humanoid let out a painful shriek and shrank back from Alex, who stood ready to attack again.

The shadow looked to be having a hard time keeping itself solid after Alex’s electric attack. Shadow energy was slowly dissolving, giving it the appearance of constantly smoldering. Alex took this time to figure out whether this creature could be reasoned with or not.

“Any way we can talk this out? Or am I going to have to put you down for good?” Alex sounded confident, although he would have felt more so if he had answers.

To Alex’s surprise, the shadow started laughing. “Talk?” The voice was distorted, but Alex thought he recognized it.

“Yes, talk. Can you do that without hurting or breaking anything else?”

The shadow cackled again, “You have talked far too much, Alexander Jackson! Now I will show them all what kind of fool you really are!” The shadow roared again, prepping to attack once more.

But in that moment, Alex recognized the voice. “Dr. Muahitl?”

The shadow had taken a step forward but stopped, and Alex saw a face try to form. It was blank, with the exception of a malicious smile the split the head in two. “Good,” Dr. Arjun Muahitl hissed, pleased that he was recognized, “I was worried you would die before knowing whose hands were around your neck.”

Dr. Muahitl dove for Alex, but he was ready for the attack. Alex pivoted and countered after Muahitl’s attack missed, driving another punch into the shadow man’s gut. Though the punch hit something with the consistency of molasses, Alex released a burst of electricity, shocking Muahitl and causing him to drop to the floor.

As Muahitl struggled to keep his body from dissolving, Alex took a step back but never took his eyes off the shadowy form by his feet. “I don’t know what you did to yourself doctor, but it’s obliviously caused you to lose your sanity. Let our scientists help you. They can help restore you to a more normal state.

“Normal?” Arjun laughed as he climbed to his knees. “What makes you think I want to go back to being normal?” Arjun managed to form the shadows into a crude image of his face. “I have become a being of pure shadow energy. You cannot understand the power I now have!”

“I thought we released all of the shadow energy weeks ago?” Alex was stalling, still hoping he wouldn’t have to kill what used to be his most intelligent scientist.

“You are a fool, Alexander. And no fool could run the Eagle without running it into the ground.”

“That is enough, Dr. Muahitl!” Alex commanded, his fists sparking again. Despite respecting Dr. Muahitl’s intelligence and expertise in the scientific fields, Alex realized he could not hesitate to destroy him if it was necessary to save the Eagle.

“Arjun Muahitl is no more, Alexander.” The face disappeared and was replaced by nothing but a gigantic cavernous mouth that was pulled into a hideous smile. “I will forever be known as Abyss!”

“So be it,” Alex said and sent a blast of electricity at the villain, intent on destroying any trace of the shadow energy. But before the blast could strike its main body, Abyss dissolved into a cloud of shadow energy and flew towards a broken window.

“I will destroy your world!” Abyss screeched from a dozen floating mouths before flying out of the facility.

By that time, an Eagle Squadron had arrived and was assisting the injured scientists. Alex left the crowd control to them as he pulled out his cell phone. After a few rings, John answered.

“What the hell is going on, Alex? The reports aren’t making any sense.”

“How’s Damien?”

John stopped and was relieved that was the first thing out of Alex’s mouth. “He’s fine, Alex. Clean bill of health and we’re already back home. He just fell asleep. Now what’s this I’m hearing about shadow energy?”

Alex quickly briefed John on what had happened. At the end, “You need to wake Damien and get him out of there. I have no idea what that madman will do, but I can’t risk you two getting hurt.”

“I’ll get right on it. I’ll keep him safe, you just deal with the mad scientist turned monster.”

They hung up, and Alex pulled a member of the Eagle Squad aside. “I need you to send a squadron to the main engine and protect it from whatever that thing might do.”

The Eagleman nodded and made the call before returning to help the scientists. Alex made to leave, but was stopped by a lone scientist.

“Sir, can I have a moment?”

“You may have one, but unfortunately that’s all I can offer right now.”

The scientist nodded. “Then I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve developed a working anti-gravity engine.”

Alex was floored. “You, you did it? And it’ll work?”

“Absolutely, sir. It’s only a small one, but we can scale it up to as large as we need. I just finished testing it minutes before all this happened.”

“That is outstanding! Put it into production immediately. Use whatever help or resources you need, just build those engines!” With that, Alex ran out of the facility. The engine problem was fixed. Now to stop Abyss.