Chapter 93: Spatial Explosion
2023-10-23 Author: Rowing Without Oars 233
Central City is a city that never rests.
Many would say that each city's iconic superhero sets the city's own tone. However, in a way, the reverse is also true: a hero is equally influenced by the city that raised them.
Central City was just such a dynamic place. The neon lights of skyscrapers dotted the city's skyline at night, their glows interweaving. On the streets, cars flowed back and forth, and traffic lights blinked in alternating succession, creating an ever-moving tapestry of light and shadow. The streams of traffic formed brilliant ribbons of color, weaving through the night like the city's rhythmic arteries.
Earlier this evening, an explosion had swept through the streets of Central City.
No one yet knew the cause, but three people had already disappeared in the blast. A police cordon had been set up, and personnel in helmets and protective suits bustled about the street, investigating and collecting evidence. Police cars and ambulances came and went, their flashing lights and shrill sirens piercing the street's silence.
"Pal, what are we looking at right now?"
Orin Vale, in stealth mode, hovered high in the air, looking down from his vantage point. His visual sensor zoomed in on the busy crowd below, inside the police cordon.
"An explosion of unknown origin, sir. The official report hasn't been released yet, and the media has no further reports for the time being."
"So it seems we'll have to go down and talk to the personnel on-site to get the details."
"It appears so, sir. Do you require an identity?"
"Of course. Design one for me... hmm." Orin Vale thought for a moment. "...Actually, no need for a new one. Let's use the one from last time. A.R.G.U.S. Senior Agent Mike Williams. Smooth things over for me, and remember to call the higher-ups at the Central City Police Department."
"A simple matter, sir."
A few minutes later, Orin Vale, once again donning the persona of "Agent Williams," had already passed through the police cordon and stood before Captain Singh, who was leading the investigation on site.
Captain Singh glanced at his credentials and nodded. "I've already received a call from the higher-ups. They said an organization would be sending a secret agent. I assume that's you. Welcome."
Orin Vale shook his hand and smoothly entered the cordoned-off area.
"This is our field investigation specialist from the Forensic Science Division."
Captain Singh introduced a young man to him. He was a blond young man with a handsome face and sky-blue eyes, quite good-looking but exuding the distinct aura of a tech geek.
"Barry Allen, Forensic Science Division," the young man said, shaking his hand as well.
Hearing the name, Orin Vale couldn't help but pay closer attention.
So this was the legendary The Flash.
But Orin Vale had specifically checked before; the laboratory electrical accident that turned Barry into The Flash had not yet occurred. So, theoretically, he was just an ordinary person right now—the kind who'd fail a physical fitness running test, not the fastest man alive.
"Bring our officer up to speed on the situation, Allen," Captain Singh said gruffly. "Don't mess it up this time. Also, don't forget your written self-critique. I want to see it tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir," Barry grumbled.
Orin Vale recognized the expression.
It was that classic workplace look: all 'sir this' and 'sir that' to the boss's face, while secretly wishing him every kind of misfortune.
"A written self-critique, huh? Been there, done that, I get it," Orin Vale chuckled. "How many words?"
"One hundred thousand words," Barry said pitifully.
Orin Vale suspected he had misheard. "How many?"
"One hundred thousand."
For a moment, Orin Vale didn't know what to say.
He mulled it over before speaking. "...Dude, what did you do, defy a divine decree?"
"I was late... just, a little more than usual," Barry said, embarrassed. "And Captain Singh is... rather strict."
"Don't worry, I get it. Difficult bosses," Orin Vale smiled. "I have a pretty difficult boss myself. Fat as an aircraft carrier and incredibly self-important. The moment he opens his mouth, life gets difficult for everyone under him..."
After the small talk, Barry quickly led him to see the scene.
"A sudden explosion without any warning. We can't find any signs of a suspected explosive; the cause is still under investigation." Barry frowned. "I won't lie, it's not like I haven't seen a bomb scene before, but I've never seen one stranger than this. Three people went missing in this explosion, and that part is just as baffling. I mean, look, no body fragments, no residue whatsoever. It's like they just... vanished into thin air. You know what I mean?"
"Sounds like you're saying they disappeared from the face of the earth," Orin Vale said.
"That's more or less it," Barry said. "And considering this isn't the first time, it's even weirder."
"Not the first time?" Orin Vale raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, it happened last Tuesday, too. A similar explosion, at a restaurant. No warning, no explosive found. Two people disappeared that time."
Barry shrugged.
"Serial incidents of explosions, and we don't have a single clue. The Commissioner is about to lose it... Oh, right, that's why you guys are here, isn't it?"
Barry's eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"I heard you guys specialize in dealing with aliens... Is that true?"
Although A.R.G.U.S. was originally a top-secret organization, with the increasing frequency of supernatural events across the globe in the past year, its activities had become more frequent, and many people had begun to hear of its existence.
So, while it was nominally a top-secret organization that had never been officially announced, it wasn't really that top secret anymore.
"Something like that."
"Whoa, cool."
Barry was quiet for a moment, then asked in an even quieter voice.
"So, if you find out this is really related to an alien, are you going to use 'that thing' on me?"
"Huh?" Orin Vale was taken aback. "What thing?"
"You know... the long, stick-shaped thing." Barry made a gesture. "They say you just flash it, and you won't remember a thing... Ah, right, if you're going to do it, be sure to set it so it doesn't erase the memory of the written self-critique. Because I've thought about it, and if I forget to write it, Singh will be super mad tomorrow... Oh, and if you can, please don't delete my memory about the washing machine. I left in such a hurry this morning I didn't take the clothes out of the washer, and if I go back and forget again, they'll get musty..."
Orin Vale: "..."
Worthy of his reputation as the Justice League's famous motormouth. You really have to see it to believe it. It seemed this attribute was clearly innate and had nothing to do with his superpower.
Orin Vale raised a hand in a gesture to stop him from continuing.
"Stop. Okay, don't worry, we're not going to erase your memory."
Barry's mouth moved silently for a couple of seconds, as if he'd slammed on the brakes so fast that the words got stuck in his throat, but his mouth hadn't gotten the memo.
"You're really not going to erase my memory?"
"Of course not. What do you think I am? The Men in Black?" Orin Vale said. "But could you be quiet for a moment? Let me do my job?"
"Oh, of course, no problem."
Barry made an OK gesture.
"You know, I can be very quiet when I want to be. The kind who doesn't say a single word. I'm actually not that talkative. Back when I was in class..."
Orin Vale let out a soft sigh.
Alright, looks like this was going to take a while.
However, Orin Vale quickly confirmed that he had come to the right place. The anomalous energy reading here was at its peak and hadn't dissipated even now.
"Sir, the reading has been continuously rising since just now... and it's getting faster and faster," Pal reminded him.
Orin Vale frowned. "Now? Here?"
"Yes, right where you are. The reading just shot past a critical value. If my calculations are correct, you should be able to see it by now."
Orin Vale snapped his head up and immediately understood what Pal meant.
A flash of lightning.
Golden lightning, crackling above the cordoned-off area like thousands of golden small snakes.
A rift was slowly being pried open amidst the countless bolts of lightning, like a devouring maw.
"...Yes, I see it."
(end of chapter)