Chapter 19: The First Catch
The immense scale of Marcellus's ambition was instantly replaced by the intimate focus of Carter's mission. Deep beneath the surface of the Midwest industrial complex, in the black, reinforced silence of **The Fortress Foundation**, **Carter** and **Earth** shifted from construction to reconnaissance.
The bunker's operational hub was a marvel of fusion: physical tech bought with billions and integrated with the planet's magic. Holographic displays floated everywhere, fed by thousands of satellite feeds, municipal records, and medical databases—all seamlessly, silently accessed by the **Earth System**.
"We start with the fire child, Earth," Carter commanded, pacing the steel floor. "Yolanda's baby. She was the first publicized anomaly, the best data point. We need to know how fast the power is growing."
*"Affirmative,"* Earth responded, locking onto the case. A small, pulsating red icon appeared on the Mana Map overlay, pinned directly to the hospital where the child was born. *"The child's birth name is **Amina Johnson**. She and her mother were released from the hospital six hours ago. They are currently located at a residential apartment complex fifteen kilometers from the Academy site."*
A full profile of Yolanda Johnson, including her credit history, social media presence, and current schedule, flashed onto the main display. Carter felt a pang of ethical discomfort—he was stripping away this woman's privacy—but the urgency of the mission overruled it.
"Her mother is non-magical, correct?"
*"One hundred percent non-magical,"* Earth confirmed. *"She is attempting to live normally while dealing with a child who is, by all accounts, perpetually running a 110-degree fever. Amina's mana signature is spiking, indicating periods of extreme, uncontrolled thermal discharge. She is a danger to her immediate surroundings."*
"We need a clean extraction," Carter said. "No collateral damage. We can't just snatch her; we need the mother's cooperation, or at least her compliance. We need to appear as a legitimate, highly specialized authority."
*"I have prepared a deep cover identity,"* Earth stated. *"You are the lead investigator for the **Centers for Epidemiological Study and Genetic Anomalies (CESGA)**—a fictional branch of the CDC funded by **Aetheric Solutions**. Your role is to secure and study Amina, claiming her unique genetic markers are a threat to public health."*
The System instantly generated a digital ID, official government credentials, and a fleet of secure communications to handle any local police inquiries. Carter was handed a simple, sleek **scanner**—a device built into a wristwatch that could detect and measure mana signatures.
"I go in alone," Carter decided, pulling on a suit jacket provided by the System—the perfect blend of authority and anonymity. "Frank stays outside with the SUV. If anything goes wrong, I need immediate air cover and extraction."
*"Understood. One last parameter before deployment,"* Earth said. The display zoomed in on Amina's mana signature. *"If the child's power is too aggressive, or if the mother resists, you may need to use a localized **mana depressant**. A mild surge of your Light Magic will temporarily calm her core. Avoid using Dark Magic; its nature is too volatile for a newborn."*
Carter clipped the scanner watch onto his wrist. He looked at his reflection in the dark glass of the bunker wall, his dual eyes sharp and ready. He was no longer playing a role on a stream; he was a black-ops mage, a clandestine warrior in the new war for Earth.
"Time to meet the future," he said, and walked toward the pressurized lift that would take him to the surface. The Foundation was built; the hunt had begun.
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