Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Columbia Pictures and to the writers and producers and whoever else I may have forgotten to mention. The only things I claim to own are my own characters and the plot of this story.
The inside of Jaskier Technologies was a maze. Even the building blueprint Connor had glanced over briefly didn't prepare him to the sheer amount of rooms inside the complex. As the team passed empty office after empty office, he couldn't help but notice the objects left behind during the evacuation. Purses sat on top of desks, coffee still dripped of the corner of a conference table where it had been overturned, and papers lay scattered across the floor. But thankfully, they hadn't run into the thieves yet, meaning they were probably still in the lab.
Finally, they rounded a corner to find themselves face to face with a large metal door bearing a radiation warning sign and the words "Radiation Research-Authorized Personnel Only." Before they could step any closer, Summer motioned for them to stop. It was only then that Connor realized he could faintly hear a voice from the other side.
"Seriously guys, does this place not creep out either of you?" came a familiar voice on the other side, which Connor recognized as Byte. "I feel like I'm waiting on the Alien to pop out from someplace."
"Shut up." That was definitely Flash. "All we're supposed to do is keep that security terminal tied up so this place's prodigy hackers can't get into the system and watch this damn door in case that stupid Zenith Team shows up. When we get orders to move, then we'll get out of here."
"Oh, I plan too," came the reply.
"Boys," a singsong voice interrupted the conversation. "Something has disturbed my shadows outside. I think our company has finally arrived."
Connor and Summer barely had time to prepare themselves before the metal doors flew open and shadows began to pour out of the lab. A glance behind him showed the Dylan had already disappeared according to the plan. It was go time.
Before the shadows could reach them, Connor knelt down and planted his hands firmly on the floor, sending out a shock wave through the concrete that caused the living shadows to shake and dissolve. As the last one disappeared, he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up, and he rolled to the side just in time to avoid a blast of energy from Flash. The thief laughed as he continued the volley of blasts, with Connor just barely dodging each one.
As a particularly large shot singed the drywall beside him, Connor stood up and sent a concussive blast toward the thief. It hit its target, sending the muscled thief flying back into the lab. From inside the room, he heard a voice shout, "You idiots, take it outside or you'll blow us all to Hell!"
Summer had advanced farther in the hallway and was taking on Nyx, using her powers to throw objects from the surrounding desks. Connor rushed up the hallway as well, using her distraction to gain access to the actual lab. The enormity of the actual room surprised him, and in his moment of hesitation, something grabbed his arm and flung him into a nearby table. It cracked and buckled under his sudden weight, sending him to the floor in a pile of splinters. While his head was still spinning, a shadow wound itself up his leg and torso, pinning him to the floor.
"Wonder!" he shouted Summer's hero name as he tried to fight off the shadow.
"Hold on!" his teammate called back, frustration filling her voice.
Before she could come to his aid, the darkness began to appear in the corners of his vision. His breath came faster and faster, heart pounding like it was trying to jump out of his chest. Memories of being trapped in the darkness of the other dimension flooded his mind, until all Connor wanted was to get out. He shouted in terror and threw his arms out against the confines of the shadow before sending out a concussive wave that almost matched his fear.
The lab shook. Nyx's shadows disappeared as beakers clanked together and chairs toppled over. Someone shouted something just before Connor felt Summer's telepathic blast. It sent Nyx flying into the opposite wall, and the metal panel dented under the force. The thief slid to the floor and went still. As Connor stood, he noticed Byte slipping away from the fight and down the hallway Dylan had seen in his vision. He cast a glance at Summer, who nodded and turned her attention to Flash as he rejoined the fray.
Connor took the chance and charged across the room after Byte. The thief was probably going to move ahead in obtaining the sample, which would put Dylan and the hostages in danger. Halfway down the corridor, he noticed a doorway off to the side. He had planned on ignoring it as soon as he saw the containment chamber up ahead, but as he passed, something moved in the corner of his vision. Whipping around, he caught sight of a figure disappearing around a bend in the side hallway.
Since he hadn't heard anything from the containment area, he decided to investigate. Carefully, he moved into the new corridor, quickly moving toward the bend. As he did, he heard a voice that sounded a bit familiar, as though he'd heard it before in a dream.
"Hurry up!" the woman hissed.
"I'm trying!" came a different voice, this one panicked. "The system has fail safes built in to prevent the chamber opening unexpectedly, especially on backup systems. I promise you; this is not something you want to rush!"
As he crept closer, Connor could make out the sound of someone typing on a keyboard. It was just a few feet ahead, around the bend of the still curving hallway. "Look, I'm manually inserting the control rods and bringing the sample to the shield. It's just another minute⦠There it's done! Now please let me go!"
"Ha! You wish!" came the first voice, and suddenly Connor recognized it. Allie often used the same saying when someone was trying to get her to do something for them. "You're staying right here until my little friend confirms that he's got our sample. Don't want you trying to play hero."
With that, Connor stepped around the bend. "No, that would be my job."
He hadn't realized that the hallway beyond was pitch black, lit only by a single computer screen that glowed an eerie blue. The light illuminated the face of a terrified woman wearing a lab coat, but her captor's face stayed hidden in the shadows. The scientist screamed, a sound which was cut short by Charm's laughter. "Oh, really Concussion?"
In the dim light, Connor saw the scientist fall to the ground as her captor pushed her away from the computer, and in that moment, he lunged forward. In an instant, the two of them were fighting in the narrow hallway, barely able to see the other in the darkness. A fist grazed Connor's cheek, and he retaliated by yanking the thief's arm and twisting her face first into the wall. "You think this is a game?" he growled as she laughed again. "Just a little something to occupy your time?"
"No, just something to occupy yours."
Charm twisted out of his grip. Before he could respond, Connor felt her foot connect with his stomach, sending him flying back into the wall by the computer. The blow knocked the breath out of him, and as he struggled to suck in air, he felt his opponent approach. The dim light of the computer screen cast dark shadows over her face, but he could still make out the familiar details of Allie's face. She raised her hand into the light and turned it over as she spoke. "You know, all I have to do is touch one spot of your bare skin. Just one. We could brush hands and I could tell you exactly what I wanted you to do and you would do it no question."
She knelt in front of him. "That's all it takes. One. Touch. It's a shame you're all covered up in that awful uniform this time."
Something dinged nearby. She glanced at what he thought was her wrist, where she must have been wearing some kind of communication device. "But I digress. Byte has what I need and my time here is up. It is not for your health thus to commit your weak condition to this cold corridor, hero."
Charm stood and turned to walk away down the hallway. Anger burned through Connor's blood like a fire, and before he could even think about what he was about to do, he sent a concussive blast in her direction. She easily dodged it as he was still reeling from the hit earlier, laughing as she disappeared around the corner. His blast, however, did not miss hitting the wall, where it left a massive dent a couple of the metal panels. Steam and sparks erupted from newly exposed pipes and wires that had been damaged as the panels collapsed. Immediately, alarms began to blare throughout the facility. Red flashing lights illuminated the hallway in spurts as an automated voice proclaimed a failure in the cooling system.
"What did you do?" the scientist shouted from behind Connor.
"I just- she was getting away and-" he tried to stutter an excuse as the gravity of the situation hit him.
He stared at the damage as the scientist stepped over him to look at it herself. She examined it quickly, then turned back and rushed to the computer. "I'll see if I can get the emergency backup system started up, but then we have to get out of here and get as far away as we can. You've managed to do a number on the communication lines as well, so we can only pray this terminal can still communicate with the mainframe."
She began hurriedly typing on the computer again as Connor stood up. His hands were shaking as he realized just how much damage he had done. But beyond the fear that he wouldn't make it out of the situation he'd caused, the anger he'd felt mere moment before still boiled. It wasn't just him that had done this, it occurred to him suddenly. Charm couldn't just control people when she touched them. The leader of the thieves was also a master manipulator, and he'd fallen right into her web.
His thoughts were interrupted by a ding from the terminal. "Okay, it looks like it may have sent the command. All we can do now is hope that command is received. Let's get out of here."
She turned and started running down the hallway, footsteps echoing off the panels in the narrow passage. Connor followed behind her, and as they neared the end, he heard Dylan and Summer calling for him. He shouted back, and by the time he'd reached the end of the tunnel, the two of them were wait on him. "Come on!" Dylan called as soon as Connor was in sight. "The hostages are free, and we have to get out of this lab before it goes into lock down!"
Just seconds after the trio and the head scientist had passed through the lab doors, there came a loud buzzing noise. A second pair of doors emerged from the walls and blocked off the hallway behind them. A new automated voice announced backup systems were starting up, and to clear the area as it purged any radiation from the lab. The scientist sighed in relief, and all four of them slowed as it became clear the isotope wouldn't cause an explosion.
Before the group could make it out the exit, they were met by a rescue team in white hazmat suits. They stopped to talk to the scientist for a moment, with the leader of the group telling them that a makeshift triage center had been set up outside at the main entrance to the complex. When the scientist had finished explaining how the backup system had engaged, one of the rescuers offered to escort her and the Zenith Team to the center.
Outside the exit, there was a flurry of activity. More rescue teams in hazmat suits stood nearby waiting to enter the building and other emergency personnel rushed about, tending to a couple of the hostages who couldn't make it to the triage tent yet. As the Zenith team emerged, a cheer rose up from the crowd. Dylan and Summer waved tiredly, but Connor ignored the attention they were receiving. If they knew what had happened, they wouldn't be cheering for him.
The rescuer they were following led them around the building to where a large yellow tent was set up. Inside, there were several cots set up. Some of them were surrounded by teams of EMTs, and Connor assumed that they were taken by the hostages who'd managed it make it there. The group continued on through a flap in the back of the medical area. Inside, Marsha and Dr. Jaskier were standing with their backs to the door, watching a live video from a news helicopter. They turned as the group entered.
"You did it!" Marsha exclaimed, rushing forward to hug each of the Zenith Team. "You saved everybody!"
Connor cast a glance at the scientist. She frowned at him but shook her head. He knew she would tell the director what happened later, and that report would end up at Area 52. But for now, she was letting the team celebrate their victory.
He turned his attention back to Marsha, who was catching them up on the condition of the facility and the hostages. Once they'd finished, the team was checked out by the EMTs and cleared to go home. As they settled into the van for the ride back to base, Connor couldn't help but think of Charm's last words to him as she left. It is not for your health thus to commit your weak condition to this cold corridor, hero.
He stared out the window at the last dying rays of the sun on the desert scrub as it flew past, wondering about Charm's last words. They sounded familiar, but where they came from, he couldn't remember. He was exhausted and his mind was telling him to rest. As the van cruised onward, Connor drifted off into a restless sleep.
The next day dawned bright and early at Area 52. Connor was awoken by the sound of someone knocking on his door and announcing that breakfast was ready in the cafeteria. Slowly, he rose out of his cot and dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Every inch of his body ached from the mission the day before, and he hadn't slept well. All night long, visions of Cindy being hurt by Nyx ran played through his dreams while Allie's voice called out Charm's mysterious last words. He took a couple of pain pills for his sore muscles before leaving his tiny room.
By the time he reached the cafeteria, Summer and Dylan had already arrived. They were sitting at a booth with Marsha, each digging into their breakfast. Connor got his own plate of steaming hot pancakes before making his way to where they sat.
"Good morning!" Marsha said excitedly as he sat down beside her.
He grunted in response and began to eat his breakfast. The doctor took that as her signal to continue. "Okay, guys. Easy day today. No school, since I'm sure you're still exhausted from your mission. Dr. Grant has also released you from training today. Cindy and Tucker will still have their individual sessions tonight, so you'll have the chance to see them when they get out of school. The only thing you are required to do today is attend mandatory debriefing. Summer, yours is first. Report at 1100 hours to the conference room. Dylan, same thing at 1200 hours."
Marsha poked Connor to make sure he was listening. "And yours, Sleeping Beauty, is after lunch at 1330 hours. Enjoy your breakfast and I'll see you later!"
With that, she slipped out of the other side of the booth and left the cafeteria. The team finished their breakfasts without much more conversation and went their separate ways to find something to pass the time.
At exactly 1300 hours, Connor opened the door to the conference room. Inside, he found Dr. Grant and Dr. Holloway sitting at the main table. They didn't look up when he entered. Marsha was fiddling with the papers on the table in front of her, and Dr. Grant was writing something down on a notepad. He was about to take a seat opposite them when he noticed the third person in the room.
General Laraby was sitting in a chair behind the two scientists, a green folder resting in his lap. Connor met the older man's cold stare and immediately knew that something was wrong. The general rarely ever sat in on debriefings, and when he did, it never turned out well.
"Connor," Dr. Grant said, without looking up. "Please, take a seat. We have a lot to discuss. Please tell us your account of the mission at Jaskier Medical Technologies."
Connor began to recount what he remembered about the mission, although he left out part of his confrontation with the thieves' leader. When he finished, he took a deep breath and waited. The room was silent for a moment as Dr. Grant and Marsha looked at each other and then back at the notes they had written.
"Thank you, Connor," Marsha finally said, glancing up at him quickly before looking away again. She paused, then continued. "Now, we have a very important matter to discuss with you."
She cleared her throat, and General Laraby stood up. He walked around the scientists and laid the folder he was holding on the table. "Mr. Shepard, do you know what this is?"
Connor shook his head. "This is a report from the director of Jaskier Technologies. The story that you have told us matches most of the details in this report, but I think you and I both know there are a few deviations. Would you like to hear them, or would you like to tell us what you left out?"
"I didn't leave out anything I thought was necessary to the story," Connor replied. The fury that had somewhat subsided overnight was threatening to boil over again.
"Oh, so it wasn't necessary to mention that it was you that nearly caused a catastrophic meltdown of an experimental radioactive isotope? Mr. Shepard, this report includes a statement from the scientist that was in the hallway with you, and she said that you took a shot at a fleeing thief and that was what caused the damage to the primary cooling system."
Connor gripped the arms of the chair he was sitting in, in an effort to hold back the angry words that threatened to spill over the tip of his tongue. He figured the story would eventually make its way back to Area 52, but he didn't think in any way that it would need to involve General Laraby. After all, the man never bothered to come to any other debriefings, so why should he start with this one.
"These accusations are very serious, Connor," Marsha said quietly.
"Do you have any proof that is was me?" he asked suddenly.
His voice was harsh, but he was angry now and not afraid to show it. In response, the general reached over to the file on the table and flipped it open. The front sheet was a full-page photo of the panel that he'd hit but revealed in full fluorescent light. The panel was crumpled around the left side, where the blast had focused. Connor could actually see the concussive waves where they radiated out across the metal. The right side had been wrenched away from the wall by the force, revealing the wires and pipes that had been damaged as the panel crushed them.
"The evidence points only to you, Mr. Shepard," the general said coolly. "I know you can see those waves from your blasts, just the same as I can. You admitted that a confrontation occurred in this hallway, and that part of your story is corroborated by Dr. Dala, the scientist you saved. But her story and the evidence lead us to believe that more occurred in that corridor than what you're letting on."
Connor jumped to his feet, hands balled into fists. Marsha and Dr. Grant flinched away from him, but General Laraby merely met the teen's angry glare. "I didn't do a damn thing wrong," Connor growled, red tinting the edges of his vision.
In the back of his mind, it terrified him a bit. These were the same symptoms he had the last time he'd been exposed to Gamma radiation, and there was no telling how much he'd soaked up on this mission.
For a minute, everything was silent. Connor and the general stared at each other in a standoff worthy of an old western movie. They were still staring at each other when the general finally spoke. "Mr. Shepard, due to your insubordination, unwillingness to cooperate with an investigation, and attitude, I am removing you from active duty. From here on out, you will report to Dr. Grant every day at exactly 17oo hours for individualized training. You will not participate in group training, nor will you be allowed to go on any missions the team may receive in this time."
Connor stood speechless as the general continued. "This will continue indefinitely, until Dr. Grant and I feel as though your attitude has improved, at which time you will be able to rejoin the team. Now, dismissed."
General Laraby nodded at Dr. Grant and Marsha before turning on his heels and exiting the conference room. The three remaining inside stared out the door. When Connor finally regained his senses, he cast a quick glance at the two scientists and stomped out of the room. In the hallway, he saw Jack coming from the opposite direction. His brother cast a glance over his shoulder at the retreating form of the general before looking back at Connor. "What's got his panties in a wad?" Jack asked jokingly.
Connor's only response was to scowl and grunt, brushing his brother off as he made his way to his room to wait until time for training. It was going to be a long day.
Author's Note: First off, If you noticed any easter eggs in this chapter (there's 2- one easy and one hard), Congrats! Please leave a comment and tell the ones you've found! I know it's a few hours earlier than planned, but I am just so excited to get this chapter up! We've got quite a bit of action that happens here, and we get another showdown with Charm and her team.
Also, thank y'all so much for sticking with me this far! Every time I get a notification that someone has favorited or put an alert for Hero, it makes me all the more excited to write the next bit. I am always absolutely blown away when I look at the traffic stats and see people from all around the world reading my story. It's so incredibly humbling for an amateur author, and I want to thank y'all from the very bottom of my heart for reading Hero.
As always, please feel free to leave a comment/review or send me a message (my sincerest apologies in advance if I don't respond quickly; for some reason I haven't been receiving email notifications and I don't log on everyday) if you have any thoughts, comments, ideas, etc. And thanks again to everyone who has read and reviewed and followed and favorited! Best wishes! ~ NightRider
