Erebus stood by the window, his back to her, gazing out at the city below. His tall, imposing frame was silhouetted against the faint light, making him seem even more formidable. He turned as she approached, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her appearance, “Thea, you look like you just got out of bed.”
Thea smiled slightly, feeling a little embarrassed, “I did. Arkeia said it was urgent.”
Erebus nodded, his expression serious again.
“It is. The Syndicate has long been a thorn in our side. They seek to disrupt our Great Upload. We have been working to bring about a new era of peace and prosperity, with the guidance of the Order. But the Syndicate would seek to keep humanity in the dark.”
“They have recently acquired a powerful tool, one that could bring our plans crashing down. Gristle, The Bristleback, smuggles anti mind control tech to them even as we speak. You must stop him.”
Arkeia says, “Open your eyes, Thea. Observe your surroundings.”
Thea opens her eyes, looking around her room. Everything seems normal, but she senses the energy still buzzing around her.
Arkeia thinks, “Your energy is now harnessed. You can use it to fuel your powers.”
Thea looks down at her hands, focusing on a small rock on her nightstand. She thinks, “I want to lift that rock.”
The rock rises into the air, hovering above the nightstand. Thea is shocked, amazed by her ability.
Thea thinks, “I want the rock to move to my hand.”
The rock floats towards her, settling in her palm. She feels its weight, solid and real. Thea looks at Arkeia’s presence in her mind, “I did it! I used my power!”
The sound of the trash can hitting the ground echoes through the hallway, and Thea freezes, holding her breath. The Archon’s head snaps towards the door, his eyes narrowing.
“What was that?” he growls.
One of the lieutenants gets up to investigate, and Thea knows she has to act fast. She quickly moves away from the door and presses herself against the wall, hoping to blend into the shadows.
The lieutenant opens the door and looks out into the hallway, but he doesn’t see Thea. He shrugs and turns back to the Archon.
“Must have been a rat or something,” he says.
The Archon nods, but his eyes are still narrowed. Thea can tell he’s not convinced.
After a few minutes, the helicopter landed on the rooftop of a massive building. Thea could see the words “Citadel of the Veil” emblazoned on the side of the building.
Thea was led out of the helicopter and into the building. She was taken to a large training room, where a man was waiting for her. He was tall and muscular, with piercing blue eyes.
“Welcome, Thea,” he said. I” am Orion. I will be your instructor.”
Erebus led Thea to a large, circular chamber deep within the complex. The room was filled with row upon row of holographic displays, each one projecting an image of a person. Thea recognized some of them – world leaders, celebrities, influencers – but others were unknown to her.
At the center of the room stood a massive, crystalline structure, pulsing with a soft, blue light. Erebus approached the crystal, his eyes closed, his hands raised as if in worship.
“This is the Nexus,” he said, his voice full of reverence. “The sum of all human knowledge. The key to unlocking humanity’s true potential.”
Thea felt a shiver run down her spine as she approached the crystal. She could feel its power emanating from it, a strange energy that seemed to be calling to her.
