Shadows of the Past

Chapter 8:

Shadows of the Past

**1st TIMEZONE**

The Life

Of Archabbey Nova Sykes

The year is 2032, The underground base of the Rogues was a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors and hidden chambers. In the heart of this maze, Archabbey Nova Sykes stood before a holographic map, her sharp eyes scanning the data. She was a force of nature, a leopard in the tall grass, stalking her prey with unmatched precision. Her dark hair, tied back in a practical braid, contrasted sharply with her piercing gaze. Nova was a member of the Rogues, a band of elite pirates with ties to black marketeers and slave traders. But she was more than just a pirate; she was a Genpure, a member of a fanatical cult devoted to genetic purity.

Nova’s disdain for machines was legendary. She viewed any form of augmentation or machine adaptation as a stain on human struggle. To her, the fusion of flesh and metal was an abomination, a betrayal of the purity she so fervently protected. Her team guarded all military Pasttech, and she took pride in hunting down machines to destroy them. Her hatred for the Eidolon Rite, an artificial intelligence machine race, was personal. She had seen the devastation they wrought and vowed to eliminate every last one of them.

The Infiltration Mission:

Nova’s Precision

In one of her many missions, In the dead of night, Nova infiltrated an Eidolon-controlled facility, under the cloak of darkness. Originally known as Archabbey Nova Sykes, the scientist, was clearly something else here, a leopard with shadowed spots. She moved like a shadow through the Eidolon-controlled facility.

Her movements were swift and silent, each step calculated and deliberate, as she wore a sleek, black suit that blended seamlessly with the night, with her presence almost imperceptible to the unsuspecting guards.

She dispatched the guards with lethal precision, her combat skills honed to perfection through years of training and battle. A quick thrust here, a silent strike there, and the guards crumpled to the ground, their lifeless bodies a testament to her deadly efficiency. The facility was a maze of corridors and chambers, but Nova navigated it with ease, her familiarity with enemy layouts giving her the edge.

As she reached the core of the facility, her heart pounded with a mix of adrenaline and anticipation. The reactor room was bathed in a cold, bluish glow, the hum of machinery filling the air. Nova approached the reactor, her eyes scanning the intricate network of pipes and wires. She pulled out the explosive charges, her hands steady as she carefully planted them around the reactor’s base, and carefully setting the countdown.

With a final glance at her handiwork, she peaked backwards at the remaining minutes left on the countdown. “24, 22, 20, 18, 16…” The digital timer blinked to life, each second a step closer to destruction. Nova hurried outside the compound, her footsteps echoing in the silent night, as her timer slowly counted down on the last remaining seconds on the explosive tag embedded on a chemical infused reactor.

The timer counted down mercilessly, in a unique and unquestionable way, a clever design to allow a chemical reaction, within an intricate system. This device was engineered to countdown in sets of twos, allowing a chance for the chemical compounds to interject the biometric system that was used by Nova’s team to set off alarms.

Outside, the night air was crisp and cold, the stars twinkling like distant beacons. Nova’s breath formed clouds in the frigid air as she sprinted towards safety. She could hear the ticking of the timer in her mind, a constant reminder of the impending explosion. The facility loomed behind her, a silent giant about to meet its end.

The Chain Reaction

Inside the reactor room, the chain reaction began. The blue liquid inside the reactor turned a vibrant green, as bubbles expanded, gathering momentum the more cycles they did revolving around a coil strapped to the shell casing. The chemicals fused together in a coordinated manner, directed by the timer’s digital movement. The levers brushed forth on the inner gears of the device, each tick bringing the explosion closer.

The Blueprint of Destruction

This unique explosive system was manufactured under the blueprint supplied by Nova’s Company: ZELL, a New Generation type of explosive that was fitting enough to wipe out an entire Vatican-sized facility. The fleet of the 4th Rite was situated within a building of similar dimensions. The Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world, both in area and population, served as a reference point for the scale of destruction required.

Nova meticulously seeded the approximate dimensions she needed from images she saw on her Sonar42 Lite: Smart Watch. The results were intense and of high quality, providing her with the viable imagery necessary to determine the right chemistry. Precision was paramount; the explosive had to cover a specific location without causing collateral damage. Any miscalculation could result in a catastrophic backlash, jeopardizing her mission.

She recalled how a church congregation moved in silos among other ministers within The Vatican, along with fellow gatherers. The memory served as a stark reminder of the importance of precision. To ensure the explosive’s effectiveness, she needed to regulate the temperature and boiling intensity of the device. Strapping ice on the reactors would alter the temperature, prolonging the time for her to set up the device and discharge it safely.

Calculating Precision

In her sacred room, Nova donned her white coat, the fabric a symbol of her dual identity as a scientist and a warrior. She was known formally by her full name, Archabbey Nova Sykes, a brilliant scientist who had abandoned the confines of the office for the thrill of the field. Her honed skills were now directed towards designing the device in her laboratory, ensuring that the C4 charges would detonate consistently with the conducting surge emitted by the boiling substance from a mini Bio-reactor.

The explosive needed accurate dimensions to be precise. Nova employed a methodology using the blueprints of a Methodist Church:

The Methodist Church =

Area: 44 hectares (110 acres), which is about 0.44 square kilometers (0.17 square miles).

Circumference: The perimeter of The Vatican City's border is about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles).

Radius Coverage: Since the area of this church is roughly circular and almost about the same architecture, she estimated the radius using the formula for the area of a circle:

The Area = πr² = r = (√A/π)

Substituting the area (0.44 km²):

r ≈ (√0.44/π) ≈ 0.37 km (370 meters)

“So, The Vatican’s radius is approximately 370 meters, the same size as the Methodist Church,” she noted.

Nova’s calculations were meticulous, each step a testament to her scientific prowess. She knew that any deviation could result in failure, and failure was not an option. The explosive system was designed to be both powerful and precise, a reflection of her dual expertise in science and combat.

The Final Preparations

In her laboratory, Nova worked tirelessly, her mind focused on the task at hand. The mini Bio-reactor was a crucial component, its boiling substance engineered to emit a conducting surge that would set off the C4 charges. She tested the reactor, observing the chemical reactions with a keen eye. The blue liquid inside the reactor turned a vibrant green, bubbles expanding and gathering momentum. The chemicals fused together in a coordinated manner, directed by the timer’s digital movement.

Nova’s hands moved with practiced precision as she assembled the device. Each component was carefully placed, each wire meticulously connected. The reactor hummed with energy, the countdown timer blinking to life. She strapped ice packs around the reactor, regulating the temperature to ensure a controlled detonation.

With the device complete, Nova took a step back, her eyes scanning the intricate network of wires and components. She felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that her creation was both a testament to her scientific brilliance and a weapon against the Eidolon Rite.

A Scientist’s Resolve

Nova’s mind wandered to the upcoming mission; the stakes higher than ever. The explosive device was an incentive for the bigger task ahead, a crucial step in her plan to dismantle the Eidolon Rite’s stronghold. She knew that the path she had chosen was fraught with danger, but her resolve was unshaken.

As she prepared to leave her laboratory, Nova glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The woman staring back at her was a blend of scientist and warrior, a testament to the duality of her existence. She had abandoned the safety of the office for the thrill of the battlefield, and she would not turn back now.

With a final, determined breath, Nova gathered her equipment and set off on her mission. The night was dark and cold, the wind whispering secrets of the battles to come. She moved with purpose; her mind focused on the task at hand. The explosive device, a symbol of her brilliance and determination, was ready to unleash its destructive power.

The Aftermath of the Explosion

“8, 6, 4, 2, 0” !!!BOOOOOM!!!

The building trembled as the pressure built up, a low rumble resonating through its structure. Nova had reached a safe distance when the first shockwave hit. She turned just in time to see the facility erupt in a brilliant explosion, the green light illuminating the night sky. The ground shook beneath her feet, and a powerful gust of wind rushed past, carrying with it the acrid smell of burning metal and chemicals.

The mission was a success. The facility crumbled down, and as the frame of the entire structure broke apart, wire cables snapped off the rails and slashed across, cutting through two Bots in the process. Sparks and oil flew into the air, creating a chaotic display of destruction.

As she gazed upon the extraordinary sight, the entire building came tumbling down like a rolling stone. But instead of gathering moss, it managed to gather enough synthetic intelligence that lay beneath it, destroying all robotic life and causing an extravaganza of explosions. Metal mixed with chemical compounds, and foreign objects intercepted with the metallic generators powering the facility, resulting in a cascade of secondary explosions as the structure fell.

As Nova watched the facility disintegrate, a sense of accomplishment washed over her, but it was fleeting. The 4th Rite Bots were reduced to rubble, the task was done and literally dusted, but something about the situation felt unsettling and tense. All her victories came with a cost. Although she had achieved her milestone, nothing was really over in her mind. Each battle hardened her, blurring the line between humanity and vengeance.

As Nova watched the facility disintegrate, a sense of accomplishment washed over her, but it was fleeting. The 4th Rite Bots were reduced to rubble, the task was done and literally dusted, but something about the situation felt unsettling and tense. All her victories came with a cost. Although she had achieved her milestone, nothing was really over in her mind. Each battle hardened her, blurring the line between humanity and vengeance.

Nova’s heart raced as she watched the flames consume the facility. She had succeeded, but the cost of her actions weighed heavily on her mind. The destruction was necessary, a blow against the Eidolon Rite, but each mission left a mark on her soul. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the journey back to the Rogue’s base. Her mission was far from over, and there was no time for rest.

The return journey was a blur of shadows and silent steps. Nova’s mind replayed the events of the mission, her thoughts a whirlwind of strategy and reflection. She reached the base just before dawn, the first light of morning casting a pale glow over the hidden entrance. She slipped inside; her presence unnoticed by the guards on duty.

Reflections in Solitude

In the privacy of her quarters, Nova allowed herself a moment of respite. She removed her suit, the fabric clinging to her skin, a reminder of the night’s exertions. She stood before the small mirror, her reflection a stark reminder of the toll the war had taken. Her eyes, once bright and full of hope, now held a weary determination.

She splashed water on her face, the cold liquid a jolt to her senses. The explosion played out in her mind, the green light, the shockwave, the destruction. She had done what needed to be done, but the weight of her actions pressed heavily on her. Each mission was a step closer to victory, but also a step further into the darkness of her own soul.

Nova knew there was no turning back. She had chosen this path, and she would see it through to the end. She dressed in fresh clothes, her resolve hardening with each passing moment. There was no room for doubt or hesitation. The war against the Eidolon Rite demanded everything she had, and she would give it willingly.

Turmoil and Reflection

Nova’s thoughts raced as she distanced herself from the smoking ruins. The echo of the explosions still rang in her ears, a reminder of the destruction she had wrought. She no longer wanted to see herself in that laboratory again, but she lacked someone skilled enough in her team to acquire the materials she needed from Gillian. The Eidolon Rite were evolving at an unprecedented rate, and she knew that this 4th Rite facility she had just disposed of was only the tip of the iceberg.

In the far East Echelons, a whole mountain of steel and metal was being replicated. Molten rock was used as fuel, and more and more of a new substance called B10-H83 was resurfacing. It kept appearing everywhere, whether in the market of black traders or in the discarded bodies of machines destroyed on the battlefield.

The Mystery of B10-H83

Each time a machine was killed, Nova observed that the organic materials used in the manufacturing of the outer shells of these machines disintegrated due to the heat of the Red Sun. This substance, B10-H83, was at the core of her investigation. She had discovered that these organic materials, capable of disintegrating after being exposed to the sun for weeks or months, consisted of B10-H83.

In her observation of what this substance was and what it did to the earth’s atmosphere, she was able to trace it back to the Eidolon Rite themselves. The nature of the substance was crucial and important in her study. B10-H83 was used in Bio-Tech, but its origin and purpose were shrouded in mystery. Why did it dissolve under the rays of the Red Sun, unlike other metallic materials and alloys used in the current industrial manufacturing system to produce weapons and machinery?

Nova’s thoughts were a whirlwind of hypotheses and calculations. The implications of her discovery were vast, but the answers seemed just out of reach. She needed more data, more resources, and more time.