Present
Jo Lupo stormed down the halls of Global Dynamics. She weaved through wondering scientist without a second glance. She was set on her destination. In her left arm she carried a datapad while her right arm swung by her side. Her hand was balled into a tight fist as she walked.
Jo stopped at the lab doors. She placed her thumb over the scanner and waited for the doors to open. Jo stormed through the door into the lab. It was empty save for the one person Jo was ready to kill.
Zane stood in the center of his lab. It was completely clear off all project save for two devices. Zane was station at one of them, working. He held a black geometric rod in his hands. He placed into a holding case filled with at least twenty more, all different sized. Zane picked up one of his tools and reached into the bed of the device, most likely to secure the rod in place.
"Zane!" Jo yelled.
Zane jerked in surprise, dropping the tool he was using. He glanced over his shoulder, giving Jo a severally annoyed look. He dropped to his knee and retrieved his tool before setting back to his work. "What did I do?"
"I have seventeen labs all over GD running on backup power. I checked with the grid maintenance, they explain the power is failing because of an antimatter fluctuation. Guess where the source of the fluctuation happened to be." Jo explained.
"My lab." Zane answered.
"Good guess." Jo snapped. She walked from the door down to the floor of his lab. "Just what the hell are you doing?"
Zane glanced over his shoulder. "What does it look like?"
"Like you're making my life hell." Jo answered. She crossed her arms.
Zane laughed. "Ha ha…funny Lupo. No, this is an antimatter power converter."
"Please don't tell me you're planning to create another positronic lightning storm." Jo said.
Zane turned, smirking. "That's the plan."
Jo took a deep breath. "Your project is not the only one in Global Dynamics. Your project, however, is screwing with the other projects at the moment."
"Yeah I figured that would happen. The energy the positronic lightning creates overwhelms any power grid." Zane said.
"Shut it off." Jo ordered.
Zane set his tossed his tool onto the lab table near him. "You don't get it, Lupo. I can't just shut this off. No I have to test this thing in seven hours and I need this thing producing ample amounts of energy."
"And I need to have GD running at prime capacity or I have a pissy Director breathing down my back." Lupo replied.
Zane chuckled lightly. "What the hell is your problem Lupo?"
"My problem is that I have a smartass scientist overloading the power grid to GD." Jo replied.
Zane shook his head. "I don't think so. You've been a hardass hardcore bitch ever since I kissed you over two months ago."
"It has nothing to do with that." Jo said.
"Really? You go out of your way to avoid me, here. You're always sending your staff to do whatever you want me to do." Zane explained. He crossed his arms. "I mean if I'd known that kissing you would've turned you into a hardass bitch I wouldn't have done it."
Jo snapped. Her internal battle of whether to punch Zane or not had ended. However, before she could enjoy the contact of her fist meeting his jaw, her phone rang. Jo ripped it out of her pocket. "Lupo."
"We're detecting an unknown energy reading in Section 5, chief."
Jo frowned. "I'm on my way." She placed her phone back in her pocket and turned toward the door.
"You can't keep running from me, Lupo. Zane called.
Jo spun on her heels. "Shut that down until GD personnel have left. Then you can work on your little toy."
Zane shook his head and turned back to his conductor. Something was up with Lupo, and if she wasn't going to tell him, Zane was just going to have to push her until she did.
Year: 2015
Carter stood in the rotunda of GD. It was coming up on nine o'clock. Zane had said he could get himself into GD on his own. Carter had learned not to ask certain questions, so all he had to do was meet Zane in the rotunda and escort him down to Section 5. But so far, Carter hadn't seen Zane yet.
Then someone came up to Carter's side. Carter had seen him once before today. He had blonde hair and a thin face. It took a moment before Carter realized it was Zane in disguised.
"You've got to be kidding me." Carter said.
Zane smirked. "Hey, gotta find work somewhere."
"How long have you been working here?" Carter asked.
"A few days. New identity, new look. Couldn't risk be identified, but if you can see through it I'm screwed." Zane explained.
They started through the rotunda toward the elevator. Carter watched the other GD employee's, seeing if they noticed Zane's strange appearance. However, not all the workers seemed to notice the disguise.
"If you had access to GD, why do you need my help?" Carter asked.
The entered the elevator, luckily it was empty.
"Because I don't have Section 5 clearance. You do." Zane answered.
Carter nodded.
The elevator doors opened. Carter and Zane stepped out of the elevator. They walked down the hall toward Section 5. There were several scientists along their way, but none gave them a look of curiosity or concern. They walked to the door leading to Section 5. Carter placed his thumb over the scanner. The door hissed and opened. Carter entered first, and then followed Zane.
"Alright, which way?" Carter asked.
"Take a left." Zane said.
Carter turned left down the hall.
"Hey are you sure that Fargo took care of the Security chief?" Zane asked.
Carter nodded. "Yeah. He won't be near the screens any time soon."
"The labs right here." Zane said.
Carter stopped walking. He placed his thumb over the scanner. The door opened and they both entered. In the center of the room was Perkins device, with a little adjustment on Zane's part. Zane walked past Carter to the device. He pulled off his blond wig and tossed his lab coat aside. Zane started activating the device. The device began to hum loudly as it became active. The ring began to orbit around the center of the device. Ribbons of light began to emerge from the center of the device.
Zane turned from the device and picked up a backpack stashed away in the corner. He pulled the bag over his shoulder and turned to Carter. "This is it, Carter."
"Good luck Zane." Carter said.
Zane nodded. He turned and stepped into the light. Carter shielded his eyes, as the light grew more intense.
Present time
Jo ran through the hall toward another lab in Section 5. An alarm had been triggered in one of the unused labs. The energy source the grid men had called about was getting stronger. Jo had called several more staff to the lab to secure it.
Jo reached the lab where several of her men waited for her. She pulled out her gun and placed her hand on the scanner. The doors opened and her men entered. Jo followed them, her gun ready.
In the center of the room, there was a large glowing sphere. The light was intense. Jo shielded her eyes from the light, as did most of her men. She watched as the sphere seemed to be collapsing on itself. But then someone fell through the sphere. The sphere collapsed seconds later, killing the bright light. The security team aimed their weapons for the new arrival. The men surrounded the visitor, keeping their gun on him.
"Who are you?" Jo demanded.
The person rose to their knees. T was a man. His dark hair reached his chin. His face was thin and pale. But no matter how he looked, Jo knew in an instant who he was.
"Hey Lupo." Zane said.
Jo lowered her gun in shock. "Zane?"
Zane rose to his feet. "Yep."
"What the hell have you done?" Jo demanded.