The skies above Voyage City churned with violent clouds, streaks of purple lightning arcing across the heavens. Rain pelted against the massive transparent dome that shielded the city, a colossal structure of reinforced energy glass humming softly under the pressure of the storm. Within the heart of the city, tension simmered just as violently.
Crowds had gathered at the southern plaza before the towering gates of De Great Labs, a sprawling fortress of science and innovation that pierced the skyline like a silver dagger. Citizens young and old waved placards and raised their voices in protest.
"We need sunlight!"
"The dome is choking us!"
"Open the sky!"
Thunder cracked. The storm above clawed at the dome like a beast desperate to break through.
At the height of the protest, a tall figure emerged from the entrance of the facility. Clad in a three piece lab suit tailored to perfection, his golden hair glowing under the artificial lights, Lucian Stark, the founder and CEO of De Great Labs, stepped forward with an air of quiet control. His voice echoed through the plaza, carried by invisible mics and speakers embedded across the district.
"I understand your pain. I hear your frustration. But please… know that the dome was not built to imprison you. It was built to protect you."
The crowd murmured. Some silenced. Others grew louder.
"Protect us?" shouted one man, his voice ragged. "A Xenomorph was just seen attacking Star Clinic! And it took two unknown Betas to put it down. You call this protection?"
A woman's voice rang out next. "My home is gone because of that fight! And what about food? You think teleporting foodstuff and resources from across the country is safe?!"
Lucian raised a hand gently. "We are aware of the Star Clinic incident. The breach is being investigated. As for supplies, we have been utilizing Teleportation Protocol Delta. It is functional, secure, and under calibration."
"It takes weeks!" another protester screamed. "And when it gets here, half of it is spoiled!"
Just then, a figure emerged from the side, a young man barely in his twenties, with dark skin, rectangular glasses, and a humble lab coat marked with a junior scientist badge. Stanley Jenkins adjusted his glasses and stepped forward beside Lucian.
"Please… my name is Stanley. I am an intern here. I just want to say, Mayor Lucian is doing everything he can. He has already initiated talks with mayors of other cities for resource sharing and safety coordination. This storm is temporary. But your lives, that is what matters most."
The crowd softened slightly at the honesty in his tone.
Lucian gave him a proud glance before stepping back up. "We will issue a full report within the next twenty four hours. In the meantime, I ask you all to return to your homes. Stay calm. This city is still your home… and it will be safe again."
Slowly, the crowd began to disperse.
As the gates of De Great Labs closed, Lucian turned only to find a familiar figure stepping quietly through the outer hall. Tall, draped in a torn patient uniform, her long red hair soaked from the rainfall that had breached the entry tunnel, her eyes sharp and haunted.
"Joyce," Lucian called, stopping her gently with one arm. "You should not be out here."
She looked at him, her voice low. "I am sorry Mr. Lucian. I have failed you in the only task you gave me. I promise to make it up to you."
Lucian's expression tightened. "Did Dr. Marty let you out, or did you sneak out?" His brows furrowed.
"I need to meet someone. I will be back as soon as I can," Joyce said with a faint smile, before teleporting away in a flash of light toward the underground shelter.
The dim, humming depths of the Underground Shelter nestled within the heart of Voyage City carried the echoes of chaos above ground, though faint and distant now. The scent of damp stone and filtered air mixed with the quiet murmur of survivors, people who had seen the storm of destruction and found a flicker of hope beneath the earth. Most were from the slums, wounded and weary, their eyes hollow with fear and exhaustion.
Suddenly, a soft pulse of light cracked through the halls of the shelter like a heartbeat. Joyce had arrived. She stood tall and steady, clothed in a casual ensemble of a dark jacket, fitted jeans, and a cap pulled low over her eyes. Her energy was calm, magnetic. Beside her appeared Dawne, a serene Elf with light toned skin, flowing silky white hair, and long ears that twitched softly in the glow. They had come to help.
"You know you have to pay for bringing me all the way from Hub City," Dawne sighed, studying Joyce carefully. "What happened to you… I sense some unknown energy in you."
"Oh really, I do not really know much about that but rainbow coloured lightning struck that special student, and I was caught in the blast I guess." Joyce noticed a long glowing green lasso wrapped around her wrist. Her eyes widened. "What the hell? Why are you using that on me? Wait… it is transparent. How can I see it?"
"How can you see it?" Dawne asked in confusion. "Sorry, I do not trust humans. Ever since I came from the Rift into this city, I have never trusted a single soul." She released her hold.
"It is okay. I understand you do not trust humans, but I am your comrade. Remember, you have to trust me." Joyce patted Dawne's shoulder.
"Ugh, that is rich coming from a flat chested girl with enhanced boobs. You want me to trust you, you have to work on that," Dawne teased playfully.
Joyce gasped in shock. "How dare you call me flat! That is rude. Are you not a girl like me?" she pouted, her face turning red.
"Ha, let us not forget what we came for. We need to heal the patients and care for the ones with serious injuries and hunger, same with some citizens," Dawne said, moving down the halls.
"I would have come myself, but I cannot heal completely compared to you. I want to release everyone from the hospital, especially the children and every sick person, and rebuild the hospital," Joyce said, her eyes filled with determination.
"That is a lot of determination coming from you. I respect that," Dawne replied, regarding her fellow member of the Elite Gold with newfound respect.
"Hey, do you think some might still be alive? I mean the building crashed on some residents, or so I heard." Joyce's voice carried worry as she adjusted her cap.
"They will be. I will make sure to heal everyone," Dawne said, though fear crept into her heart. "I hope they are safe."
"Amen," Joyce whispered, as she opened the door to the next room.
But the sight that met them stopped them in their tracks.
The patients were healed. Every broken limb, every infected wound, every twisted agony… all soothed. At the center of it all, half conscious and slumped against a pillar, was Angela. A young girl with bright green hair cascading like vines over her shoulders, round glasses cracked from stress, and sharp ears that twitched faintly with each breath. Her mana was completely drained, her body trembling from overexertion. Yet, even in her exhaustion, her face carried a soft smile.
Joyce's eyes widened. "Is that not one of your clan?" she asked in confusion.
"No, she is not. She is from the Dryaid race. I thought they died out. I am surprised one of them is still alive," Dawne said, staring intently.
"Then who healed all these people?" Joyce asked.
"She saved us," a woman whispered from the crowd. "Fed us, healed us, gave us money from her magic bag. She said it was from God."
Children clung to their mothers, nodding in agreement. Others wept, pressing their foreheads to the dusty floor in reverence. Joyce knelt beside Angela, awe in her eyes.
"She is incredible," Dawne breathed. Without hesitation, she placed her hand over Angela's chest and whispered an ancient healing invocation.
"Anima pulchrae, sana et renova. Lux vitae, reverte."
Angela's breathing calmed. The flush of life returned to her cheeks. A faint shimmer of magical energy glowed around her like morning dew kissed by sunlight.
"I will talk to Mr. Lucian," Joyce said softly. "She deserves a place at the academy."
"Do not decide on your own, but that is fine. I will talk to Mr. Lucian so he can let her into the academy," Dawne replied.
"I do not know if he will put her in my care. I already have my hands full with Rio and Johnson," Joyce sighed.
"Then she will be in my care," Dawne said firmly. "I am impressed that someone could cure everyone in such a short time without using her life force."
"She did not?" Joyce asked, shocked.
"No, she only expended her magic and stamina. When I healed her, I only restored a portion of her magic. What is more, she has a divine blessing of healing… and it is new," Dawne said, her voice filled with awe as she gazed upon Angela, who had been placed on a bed.
"That is great. She will do well under you," Joyce said, scanning the room, only to notice someone approaching her.
It was an old woman, hunched and wrapped in a patched shawl. Her hands trembled as she touched Joyce's arm.
"Tell her… tell her my son is alive. He had AIDS. Doctors gave up and abandoned him to die. But that girl… she laid her hand on his chest and whispered something. He is sleeping now. Peacefully. No fever. No pain."
Joyce's throat tightened. She turned to Angela, still resting, still glowing faintly.
Just as they prepared to leave, another patient, Alice, pressed a letter into Joyce's palm.
"For Angela," she whispered. "When she wakes up."
"Who are you?" Joyce asked in confusion.
"Nobody of importance. But tell her it is a letter from her human friend. She will understand," Alice said, leaving the shelter immediately.
"I will be going, Joyce. With her. I will come to school tomorrow with the Dryaid," Dawne said, lifting Angela gently onto her shoulder.
"No biggie. I would want to meet up with the guardian of that special student," Joyce said, teleporting away.
Dawne adjusted her cloak and addressed the room. "Please everyone, remain calm. We will open the shelter by morning. You will return to your daily lives. Please gather in front of De Great Labs to receive resources." With that, she turned invisible and exited.
The residents remained calm, waiting for help.
Meanwhile, Joyce adjusted her face cap and reappeared with Mary inside De Great Labs.
"Please, I am going to need you to calm down. The thing is…" Joyce began carefully.
"What exactly happened? Where are the children? I heard there was a disaster in the center of the city, but I live on the outskirts so I could not find them," Mary said, her voice heavy with worry.
"That is why I found you not too far from the destroyed clinic. I am sorry to tell you this, but your children, they…" Joyce hesitated, her face still hidden under her cap. Her voice cracked. "I am sorry. I could not… I could not protect them."
"What do you mean?!" Mary grabbed her shoulders, tears streaming. "What happened to my children! Answer me!"
"I did not know. I only found out while watching the news in Hub City. I rushed here as fast as I could. When I arrived, they were seriously hurt. Johnson was bleeding, Rose unconscious. Before I could reach them, they were struck by an unknown lightning. Miss Stones, I am sorry…" Joyce's voice broke as she wept bitterly. "I brought them here. I do not know their condition now."
"It is okay. You do not have to cry so much. I understand. Just take me to them," Mary said, patting Joyce's back.
As if summoned, Lucian Stark appeared with Dr. Marty.
"Miss Stones, you might want to sit down," Lucian said, gesturing for Mary and Joyce to sit opposite him and the doctor.
"So how are they? Are they alive at least?" Mary asked, her hands trembling with anticipation.
Lucian sighed. "The cases of lightning striking through the dome are extremely rare. What is more, this one tore through the small demarcation that allows radiation of sunlight and rainfall. It is technically a one in a million chance that lightning would strike the dome, and a billion to strike someone. For it to be rainbow colored due to unknown causes? The chances are zero." He paused, his gaze tightening. "Yet your children were struck. Why did you not go with them to the hospital, or call when you knew something was going on?"
Mary lowered her head. "I am sorry. I could not protect them. It is my fault. I take responsibility."
"And would you be ready to hand them over to child support services? Because you clearly are not doing a great job as their guardian," Lucian snapped.
"They… I am sorry. I understand this is my fault. I should not have let them leave the house except when it was safe," Mary whispered, tears dripping as her dark hair veiled her face.
"Well, let us not dwell on that. What matters is they are still alive. We should be grateful for that," Dr. Marty intervened, turning to Mary. "You must brace yourself for the news."
"I am ready. Tell me," Mary said nervously, her fingers twisting together.
"They are alive. But they will not be waking up anytime soon." He activated a hologram. "Scan results show Johnson still has many broken bones. Rose Hart was injured badly at her side but was instantly healed. Johnson is still wounded. They are in a comatose state. We are doing the best we can."
"Why…" Mary's heart screamed silently. "Why must I lose those close to me? First my fiancé, my sister… now the only ones entrusted to me are hurt because of me…" She wept bitterly, her hands touching Johnson.
"I am sorry, Miss Stones. And I am sorry, Rose and Johnny. I could not save you. Forgive me…" Joyce whispered, offering Mary a handkerchief.
"This is why we told you to prepare yourself. They are comatose at the moment. I pray God heals them," Lucian said, feigning sobs.
"Mister Lucian?" Joyce called softly as he turned to leave. She followed him to a nearby bathroom where he washed his face. "Are you okay, Master Lucian?"
"Yes, I am fine," he replied, wiping his face with a tissue and turning to her.
"I came to apologize for not being there for Johnson. And to thank you for helping my friends, and for always training me." Joyce bowed.
"Do not mention it. By the way, how is your boyfriend?" Lucian asked, narrowing his brows.
"He is fine. I should be on my way now. He calls for me." Joyce hurried out, teleporting away.
"Oh, okay. Take care," Lucian murmured, before moving deeper into the lab.
Within the most secretive vault of De Great Labs, buried in its dark heart, advanced machines hummed. It was a futuristic chamber of extra dimensional sciences and forbidden technologies. Lucian Stark, the speedster with an unyielding ambition, entered with a manic smile. Here, in the shadows, his mask fell.
"Hahahahaha! Hahahahuahahaha!" Lucian's laughter echoed madly through the chamber. "Wonderful. How wonderful. How beautiful. Everything I have planned for over eight years in this timeline is happening. Now that he has the bond, I will make him grow… and then I will break him!"
He contacted the main body through a secret device he had forged.
"How are you doing? I am still with Metra Tron overseeing the story. How are things with Plan B?" The sinister voice of Lucian's true self resonated darkly. "Do not tell me you still do not have the bond?"
"No, actually I do. I orchestrated many events to ensure Johnson received his powers today. His sister was struck as well," Lucian's clone confirmed.
"His sister… interesting. She is not a problem. I am glad John got his ability this late. That said, I hope you are preparing for your date with Joyce tonight as James?" the true Lucian asked.
"Of course. How could I forget? I killed that poor fool and took over as her abusive boyfriend. I bet she is crying wherever she is, hahahaha," the clone sneered, adjusting his suit and tie. With a press of a button, he shapeshifted into a young boy of seventeen or eighteen.
"Have fun. Remember, the goal is the time bond, not killing John yet," Lucian Stark reminded.
"Yes, Master," the clone replied, before zooming out.
Inside the medbay , Johnson lay in a pod, his body glowing faintly as his body glows in energy