Nexis
One by one, the regional leaders in full regalia trooped into the largest experimental facility in all of Nexis.
With every region represented, they were ushered in by Nexist personnel into private booths forged from impenetrable metal, each fitted with a transparent front from which they could observe the vast chamber below.
Once seated, they watched as another entrance slid open.
Superintendent Jeremy stepped in.
Behind him, two Vatican officers dragged forward a pair of figures clad in identical experiment suits, their heads concealed beneath dark body bags.
The Presidents straightened in their seats in quiet anticipation—President Zha'rik included, though his restlessness stemmed not from excitement, but from the dread of what was about to be revealed.
The unknown figures struggled against their captors to no avail as the stone-cold soldiers clamped their wrists onto metal poles positioned side by side.
At the tap of a button, transparent glass tubes rose from the floor around them, sealing them inside as beams of white light pulsed from above.
The clamps were broken off.
Freed, the captives tore the covers from their heads, squinting sharply against the sudden glare of light.
At the sight of the familiar youths, President Zha'rik released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
They pounded against the glass, shouting, their voices muffled by the thick walls of their confinement.
Standing before them, Superintendent Jeremy turned to face the Council, a proud smirk carving slowly across his face.
"I welcome all regional heads to this fine establishment," he spoke up. "I also take this moment to extend my gratitude to the ruler of the Nexist region for making this facility available for use."
The Nexist President gave a small nod.
"You've outdone yourself, Superintendent," the Vatican President joined in. "Your efforts will surely be rewarded, as promised. But I must ask—what about the rest of the participants?"
Jeremy smiled. "They'll be here, Mr President. I assure you."
President Zha'rik raised a brow. "And you know this because?"
"Because whoever is feeding them intel about our operations will lead them here. To us."
The Zairan President nodded, though he prayed for a miracle in silence.
While the enemy huddled above them, Lynx continued to struggle against his tube.
"Just stop… it won't budge," Rowynn muttered, her voice hitching.
He turned to her, catching the streak of fear in her eyes. "Rowynn, I need you to take a deep breath. We will get out of this."
"What if we don't?" she whispered. "What if the rest don't get to us in time?"
Lynx paused, a painful thought flickering through his mind. He shook it off.
"They will find us," he said firmly. "If no one else, I trust Valtor. He won't let them lay a hand on us."
Rowynn kept staring at him, trying to believe it.
"Let us begin," the Superintendent's voice rang out as he and a group of professionals started toward them.
Rowynn shrank back against the glass, her heart slamming against her ribs.
The lab technicians in white coats swarmed a web of devices, splitting off into precise tasks—tightening screws, offloading canisters, fixing hoses, activating modified systems—all under the watchful eyes of the Council and their captives.
Amid his rising nerves, Lynx's gaze sharpened at the identical blue shirts worn beneath each lab coat.
The silver capital letter S stitched into the fabric caught his attention.
Then, beneath the low hum of machinery, a violent spray of sparks tore across the illuminated ceiling.
The lights died.
Operations froze as the chamber plunged into sudden darkness.
Breaths of relief escaped from the glass tubes while every head tilted upward.
Lynx let out a low chuckle. "Perfect timing," he whispered.
"What just happened?" the Nexist President called out.
"They're here," Superintendent Jeremy internally replied.
"Onto Plan B!" he yelled.
Almost immediately, the lights flickered back on though dim, running on faint emergency currents.
As the chamber slowly brightened, all eyes darted across the room.
No one was there.
One of the technicians tapped rapidly at a console. Moments later, several drones burst from hidden panels, projecting thin green laser scanners that swept across the entire facility.
Inside their tubes, Lynx and Rowynn watched intently as the scanners abruptly shifted into blasters, firing toward a single point in the air.
A purple shield wall snapped into existence, absorbing the attack.
Then their friends shimmered into view, all huddled around Kymani.
They moved at once, tearing into the drones.
Rowynn's eyes lit up with excitement. Above them, the regional leaders rose to their feet in awe at the display of skill and power.
Lynx didn't move.
He watched Jeremy lean in and murmur something into a technician's ear.
"Guys—he's planning something!" Lynx shouted, pounding the glass. "Look out!"
Rowynn joined him, striking the tube desperately.
Their voices came out muffled.
Warnings unclear, their friends turned back to the fight—just as a second wave of drones emerged, releasing ripples of invisible energy across the room.
Valtor stiffened.
The flames around his hands weakened, then died, a familiar tingling crawling through his limbs.
"No…" Lynx whispered.
One by one, their friends faltered, dropping to their knees, fighting to stay upright as the strange sensation drowned their powers into nothing.