(Episode XIII) (Act 3)

“Okayokayokay—If you all can still hear me, I’m on my way to see what’s the current situation is—which most likely, we’re gonna go dark again and some of the sensitive information being presented not mentioned at all—not to lie to you all, but to safeguard things from people willing to attack or abuse possible weakpoints in our structure of the new normal…”

She reassembled her ORACLE again, waiting for the Enforcer escort so she doesn’t look like some smuck that ran into the place.

With arms crossed firm, but still trembling, all of this was starting to hit Tabby. If this ends up as another terrible tragedy, it might be over. Everything. All this goodwill, all this proof to show that yes, everyone can do something…

Tabby instructively looked away from the on-rushing wind, closing her eyes tight as flashing lights followed. Turned back around, she saw two Enforcers—but not the ones she made friends with. The left motion their head as much as they could, to which Tabby nodded.

“…It’s hard—to find assurance during all this… Because let’s face it—there isn’t any at the moment. We’re placed in an ever-evolving situation and every single time it hits, it does it hard and leaves nothing left to cling to. But you all do have something. Even if it is going to be taken away, hold it tight and let it be your assurance. I know, it’s freaking impossible…”

She looked around, surrounded by two armored men. In a tunnel that could fit multiple air liners in them and still be spacious, she saw a number of people wiz by, all important, all Extant. The tunnel themselves were dim, sans the lights built into the sides of the flooring meeting the walls. It was only until they got to the hub was there any beaming light that filled the corridors.

“But it really is times like these where… We just manage to do it. We manage to—give everything of ourselves. You don’t run—you’ll be left behind--? Well, you’re gonna end up running faster than anyone has ever seen you, even yourself. Not strong, not brave—There’s always a point where you can be, and it’s a lot more accessible than you think. And you don’t need siVis for that.”

The Nexus was the centerpiece of not only this hub, but the entire base.

It was like an ancient rock formation, a black craggy pillar just planted in the center of an egg-shell, slick modern room with multiple exit halls. But, it has multiple—green—glowing wires, had screens of floating information broadcasted from it, and spun clockwise to keep generating the level of productivity that it created.

Crowds of people, some sat at long-connected desks surrounding the Nexus from a few feet, the others running across the floors into other open halls to go to their department, and people behind the glass walls from above taking note of what’s happening—it all created an atmosphere.

They’re trying to put something broken back together. Or rather. Trying to keep the rest of it from falling apart as well.

“S-so uh…” Tabby begun to ask. “Is the meeting straight ahead…? Or anywhere in this place-?”

“Dead-ahead, yes,” one of the men in white answered.

“Then let’s mosey…” Tabby struggled to lead by example.

The two Extant Enforcers formed up closer to the girl, as they made their way through the crowds like hot knife slicing through butter. Tabby couldn’t gleam conversations or whatever the people said, just bits of words and conflicting tone reads, but sharing in the same, full of dread mood.

Past the crowds, around the pillar the trio went, making it to the middle hall. A ramp appeared to them, and while easing away from Tabby, they scaled it upwards.

Once they did, they were met with a vault—gunmetal steel doors with the Extant logo printed black across it. No buttons, no levers, no control place—it might as well have been an exotic wall at a glance.

“Requesting authorization,” an Enforcer (definitely not the one from before, a more thin and crackle voice they have, Tabby reasoned) said in the air. “Enforcer Driven, Higher Authority Needed, Enforce Is Able of Mind and Clear of Immoral Intent to Be Making This Request.”

No response.

“0-0-0: Permission to Enter-0.”

And like that, the vault opened. The top and bottom of the barriers that surrounded it clicked and moved into the ceiling and floor respectively, as the door broke into pieces and folded into the left of the building.

Tabby quickly took off the ORACLE once more, but looked directly into it.

“Hopefully this’ll be the last time I sign off. Remember. Be safe. Love each other. Be how you should be.”

She turned it off… from broadcasting. She put it into her custom made Dummy Mode. Able to record conversation and take photo or footage within reason, but the system is “off” for a lack of a better term.

She trusted them. Really does. But if there really is reason to abandon said trust with these people… At least she can provide proof.

Tabby walked into the dark, but glowing room.

“…Oh, uh,” Professor Diana Blake turned around to meet Tabby. “Y’know, I should’ve guessed that you would’ve came here, but this is a genuine surprise—in every sense of the word…”

Then, right next beside her, was Mr. Conrad Miller. He turned his head as much as he could at her, a massive gesture on his part (or, well, to see who the hell invoked that reaction from the Professor).

“Ah, yes. Tabitha Morrow…”

“Hello—I mean, uh… Pleasure to meet you, sir!” Tabby scrambled to say.

He turned his wheelchair, now everyone faced to face with each other.

“By all means… You’ve been doing an amazing and herculean job yourself—at such a young age as well… A-and excuse an old man like me, but is ‘her’ okay for you? I just want to make sure, sorry again.”

“She/her, yeah…” Tabby smiled at him. “You making an effort is commendable enough. I’m really patient with it anyways.”

Conrad nodded his head. “Well, there’s seats embedded into the walls. I trust that you know everything that’s going to be talked about is sensitive, but we will allow for you to inform the public about the broad strokes.”

Tabby nodded. “Of course, of course.”

“Thank you again for coming, miss.”

It was the guilt, looking at him—looking at the worn, haggard face of Extant, that caused her to say the next thing.

“Thank you. I know you haven’t heard it lately, but yeah… Truly. For everything.”

There was a pause. Just a stare she could feel behind those small, black shades he wore. After that, he just nodded, and looked away. It was more for himself, than anyone, as Tabby took it.

She went towards the curved walls in the chamber, and sat on the jutting seat before her. Looking forward, where Mr. Miller and Professor Blake looked as well.

And like that, the room expanded. The front of it, the floors, opened up to reveal a light system that had see-through lens-glass hybrid with all the necessary technology to make what was about to happen—happen.

The lights whirled to working, presenting 6 people across the way. Very different people from very different nations and creeds.

In no particular order—there was Arthur Boseman, of Extant America. Olivia Fernsby, Extant Europe. Bogdan Elin of Extant Russia. Diami Abayomi of Extant Africa. Genichi Sato, representing Japan, of Extant Asian Collaboration. Joy Levesque of Extant Canada.

The Extant branches that the HQ called upon for immediate help, all gathered together.

“Alright folks,” Arthur spoke in his grizzled—direct way. “Let’s talk about how things are going bad.”

There was a mix of scoffs and groans, but Conrad chuckled. “You can always count on me to laugh at that every time, Arty—"

Arthur Boseman saluted, his light brown—sideparted style hair. “And I am always honored that it is you, General Miller. But in all seriousness, what is the developing situation there?”

“Just when stable relief and supply was getting going, we have a Trend scenario dropped on our laps…” Conrad explained. “Desireé ‘N’atural’ Schwartz. It seems by the information we have, be it word of mouth from would-have-been victims and from what we heard for our own reports—her ability has taken over what little of her she hung onto.”

“What evidence is there of that?” Bogdan Elin spoke up, looking dead ahead of Conrad while his fingers mingled and messed into knots. Long beard, with puffy sideburns with tired eyes. “We cannot sign off of a verdict such as that—especially since most ability-overtaken cases involved instant death.”

“Keep in mind? All of this is very short notice,” Professor Diana Blake responded. “We’re getting footage as well as putting up barriers to minimize the impact as we speak.”

“Even with the lack of evidence, is Bogdan incorrect with his deduction…?” Genichi Sato asked. Very well kept, in a black and blue-tied suit, with combed-over hair.

Professor Diana looked down. And proceeded to do a sharp inhale.

“Given the files we have on her? And the timeline brings up? I hate to say it, but this is a swan song, guys. Acting out her last wishes, no matter how primal they are.”

“If that’s indeed the case, then our hands are forced,” Diami Abayomi spoke. She had her dreaded hair into a bonnet with orange, blacks and reds. “We cannot afford another addition to the current Existential Nemesis line up. That will even bring the rest, Nathaniel, Cassie—to stir and react to that news. We have to be humane and end whatever’s left.”

“We’ll be putting an end to a girl that’s barely lived, just making that clear and laying it out on the table,” Conrad responded.

“And with what methods and solutions…?” Arthur piped up, hand against leaning head, hand against graying stubble. “The masses wouldn’t want us to do this anyways—if we kill the child, now we’re a group of child killers. If we don’t, we let another monster roam the streets. And with the little wiggle room of lethality we’re allowed to have, not many options IN that.”

“You know exactly why,” Joy Levesque commented. Sardonic looking, with straight black hair with a gap-y fringe and an almost vacant expression on her face. “If we actually had full access to our lethal methods, we’re a rogue militia stationed at every weakening human settlement. Then everyone’s going to be scared of us more than the space things trying to kill them—”

“Oh no, I’m not rooting for violence—un-American I know, I’m terrible at my job—I’m just saying. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t—also damned if we do it like they want.”

Joy shrugged, “We’ve been telling them that we have to do things a certain way, be a certain way, or everything is wiped out, but hey. They got a few slam dunks on the Aether webs.”

“Right when Davenport’s been weakening too…” Olivia Fernsby. Had greying blonde curls down to her neck, big glasses that made her green eyes huge. “Are you really that underprepared…? Has the new situation thrown a wrench that badly?”

“Oh, we’re well stocked,” Diana replied. “It’s the fact that we’re limited in the ways of back up, is the problem here—”

“Surely, you can call for ships or relief that will aid in possible naval escape…?” Bogdan asked, slightly twitching.

“If you’re not, then I’ll call upon some more your way,” Arthur responded.

“And I’ll be in touch with Madrid to double the supplies…” Olivia also aided.

“We cannot let Davenport fall,” Genichi stated. “With that, the hope of a possible future is gone as well. The fact that this other disaster happened as already made the world stop and notice…”

“Believe us, we know…” Conrad ran a hand down his face. “We were chosen—all of this—to be the physical symbol of humanity getting everything back from the Shifts, right back to a new normal… It is indeed over if it goes anything less than north.”

“Dealing with the Trend and dealing with a possible new phenomena…” Joy said after. “It’s a hotbed, an eruption point. Both can instantly send Davenport in Terminsys Zone qualification. And another human settlement on the scale of the megapolis, as well…”

“Has work been done trying to study that new phenomena?” Diami asked. “Can we at least box her in with that?”

“Oh no, she can burst through…” Diana replied. “It’s an odd thing, that… It’s Shift-level energy—just there and nothing can be done with it… But a siVis user commanded it.”

“Commanded?” Genichi asked.

“Terrence Hearth—he was the last siVictim wheeled in that night at Gregor Mallory. He was the patient that was near mutilated by my former-medical works, now criminals at large, Victor and Lexa Homer. That was him—somehow and some way, he was able to call out and trigger the then-ongoing Shift to create… This.”

“That’s bad,” Olivia responded. “That’s really, really bad—”

“Whatever we end up doing to her, I’m going to advise and hope that she can only think simplicity enough to just want to come over, nothing else…”

Arthur buried his head into his old, worn hands. “This is a mess…”

The vault door opened, and Tabby looked to her side.

The fact that she hasn’t said or thought anything as these titans talked didn’t occur to her in that moment. Only rage.

“Trust me,” Mr. Davenport sauntered in. “I’ve been saying that for ever.”