Chapter 6 - The Madman (2)

"This can't be!" Harmon exclaimed in panic. "The light is too bright; it won't work like this. Darn, are they trying to overcharge the system on purpose? They are going to destroy the entire network."

Some lampposts broke after the sudden light burst, and some facilities started fuming. Lights were going out one after another, and fire started spreading in various places due to short circuits.

"The central Nexus infrastructure will be devastated in a matter of minutes; there's nothing I can do to stop them," Harmon exclaimed in desperation. "They've disconnected the center from the rest so that they'll have enough energy for the overcharge, but it still makes little sense. How do they even have enough power for such an overcharge in the first place?"

It came to mind the ability of his Lieutenants, a distant memory in which he remembered his subordinates being able to generate large amounts of energy. Yes, he had five Lieutenants that had such an ability. But none of them would have been capable of generating so much power as to overcharge the entire system. At its best, they could power up an Outpost of two.

"No, it couldn't be them," he thought. "Even if one would have combined the power of all of my late Lieutenants, they would never be able to generate so much energy to overcharge such a huge area at once. But maybe it's someone, much stronger, with similar power."

"Young Harmon!" called an echoing voice from the outer darkness.

The young man froze, shivers going down his spine. The voice sounded like an old man's, but the echo was unnatural. Was that the enemy?

"Young Harmon, do not fear," echoed the voice once more. "Listen to my advice, and you shall live to see another day."

"Alive?" shouted Harmon. "Old man, I have no idea who you are and how you got here, but if the Red Barbarian has sent you, tell that usurper I'm not running anywhere."

"Young Illuminator," followed the voice. "You are a brave boy, but your presence here is fueled by greed and arrogance. This is not a fight that you can win at the moment."

Harmon frowned, visibly dissatisfied.

"I'm not playing your mind games," Harmon shouted back. "Come slowly into the light so I can see your face. Otherwise, I'll shoot you."

"I am not your enemy, young Harmon. I only came here to warn you. Those who chase you are not your enemies either, but they will come for you and try to take your life. Their numbers are great, and you cannot defeat them alone. You can only retreat for now."

Harmon's heart was beating with uncertainty. He couldn't tell whether this new guy was a trick from the enemy or a third party hoping to take advantage. In any case, he didn't trust him enough to give him credit.

"For the last time," Harmon shouted back. "Step into the light, or I will bring the light to you myself."

Harmon activated his spotlight, revealing the city's empty streets. But there was no one in the direction where the voice came from. It was like the old man had never been there in the first place. Was that a ghost?

Turning his spotlight in the other direction, he noticed a horde of Teardrops approaching him slowly. The spotlight surprised them with a short stunning effect. They clearly didn't enjoy the light.

"Were they trying to sneak on me?" exclaimed Harmon indignantly. "Darn, there must be hundreds of them."

He immediately started shooting laser beams at them, killing dozens by the second. But the monsters took no break and immediately resumed charging toward Harmon. Even more started coming from other directions, heading for the power plant.

"If they destroy the power source, I'm as good as dead," exclaimed Harmon, sweating. "And I can't use my laser beam fast enough to crush all of them in time."

Harmon continued shooting without thinking as the hundreds of Teardrops were closing more and more on him. He was trapped.

"If only I could shoot in multiple directions…" he whispered in terror. "Wait, maybe I could do that?"

He realized he had never tried this before.

He took a deep breath and pulled electricity from the power plant at total capacity. For a second, he felt as if the sudden burst of energy would tear open his entire body. Still, surprisingly, his body instantly accommodated the higher voltage. He started shooting laser beams from all fingers in various directions, vaporizing Teardrops left and right. Unfortunately, his Wheelers also got caught in the way, and the lasers cut their metal in half. Harmon would have never thought he held so much power.

Yet, the laser beams quickly went out of control. Most Teardrops were burned to vapors on a three-hundred-meter radius. The lampposts were shattered, and buildings were left with deep scratches. The second before the light went off, Harmon understood his terrible mistake.

Multiple laser beams shot through the windows of the power plant, cutting essential connections and causing the power generator to get permanent damage. Harmon was out of energy and utterly defenseless; he couldn't summon such incredibly destructive beams without energy. The closest Teardrops were gone, but the ones further away were now closing in.

He had no choice but to run. But where? If the Teardrops came from the west, the east was his only option. He had to run that way.

***

"Look, Harmon, I've read the book," the girl came happily, waving the heavy tome.

"Ok, but did you understand it?" asked the boy, watching her reluctantly.

"Yes, and look," replied the little girl confidently. "I've made a small solar panel. It charges an accumulator, which turns this lightbulb on. Ain't this wonderful?"

"I see," replied the boy, raising an eyebrow. "Did you do this alone?"

"Yes, Harmon!" she cried in excitement. "By myself! I'm smart, ain't I?"

"Haha, yes, I think you might be," laughed the boy, visibly happy with the result. "You know what, I think you're ready now. Wanna help with my project? I want to build an electric railway."

"Let's do it!" the girl exclaimed with joy. "When do we start?"

"Well, how about right now?" the boy replied enthusiastically.

"Harmon, I have a question. How much power do we need to generate for the railway?"

"We'll start small. I suggest a railway that can carry up to 120kg. That could be one person and some baggage. We need to get some bigger accumulators as well.

"Harmon," the girl continued reluctantly after a pause. "I have another question. Do you remember my name?"

The boy paled; his enthusiasm suddenly drained.

"My name, Harmon!" cried the girl, tears in her eyes. "What is my name?"

***

When Harmon awakened, darkness surrounded him. Nothing to see, nothing to hear, and if not for the feeling of the arid ground below him, he would have questioned whether he was even alive anymore.

"Wake up, child," the mysterious voice echoed. "Your life is in danger!"