Chapter 20 - Principles of Power
Leonard: "Power, in it's purest form, is the rate of energy transfer. A force applied, a distance traversed, a moment in time. Yet, in our world, power transcends physics. It's the subtle dance of influence, the delicate balance of control. The true question is, 'What drives the flow of power, and who holds the gears?'"
Dr Elliot, charges in straight ahead for Mr Barnes and Mr Jones, and as they braced themselves, Dr Elliot activates his energy shield powered by the exoskeleton suit it activates with a translucent shimmering barrier, it emits subtle humming noise, the rising tension is palpable on both sides as they engage.
Mr Jones with his eyes intensely locked on Dr Elliot, shouts out to Mr Barnes with a deep authoritative tone.
Mr Jones: "Brace yourself!"
Mr Barnes who replies back with a deep resonant tone.
Mr Barnes: "Of course!"
Mr Barnes unleashes a gamma blast, a vibrant pulsating blue-white blast which illuminates the greenhouse accompanied by the sharp, piercing sound of the blast. Dr Elliot's shield manages to absorb the attack, however due to the impact the blast staggers his footing, Mr Jones immediately creates an iron shield with dark metallic aura to surround and protect Mr Barnes.
In a desperation attempt Dr Elliot fires off advanced missiles, the missile explode with a deafening boom in a burst of flames, and smoke. Mr Barnes dashes out with explosive speed with a soft blue aura surrounding his body.
As he strikes Dr Elliot with a right hook accompanied by a crushing force, a vibrant blue-white energy is released from his fist. Mr Jones' dark metallic aura springs behind Dr Elliot's exosuit, as his eyes open wide with panick, Mr Jones clenches his fist.
Dr Elliot's exosuit starts to malfunction as the energy shield starts to flicker with the sound of sparking electricity the shield disappears, and Mr Barnes let's out a deafening roar, and unleashes an intense, pulsating blue-white energy wave which sends Dr Elliot hurling backward as he is defeated.
Mr Barnes exhales deeply, while Mr Jones with hands in pockets humorously remarks.
Mr Jones: "You're so reckless in fights. You're lucky I was around."
Mr Barnes retorted
Mr Barnes: "Oh please, I'm sure Mrs Michaels would've provided better assistance."
Mr Barnes tone changed from punctual to playful.
Mr Barnes: "Besides I'm sure she's absolutely livid with you keeping her out of the battle."
Mr Jones: "Pfff, doesn't matter she knows she's our only trump card."
Mrs Michaels sitting in a room who a group of students and staff, visible irritation shown through her droopy eyes as she's immensely agitated tapping her feet repeatedly on the floor.
Mrs Michaels: "This sucks."
A deafening boom erupts inside the school as the metallic walls fall apart and collapse, with the intense acrid smell and thick smoke, walking through this smog is Flora with a large grin etched on her face, as she strolls along the image of her strolling becomes clearer with the silver-blue x-ray visuals piercing through the metallic walls.
As soon as Flora makes to corner of the hallway a burst of green emerald approaches at a rapid speed, Flora sees this and leaps upward, she manoeuvres herself in the air and touches the emerald incinerating it.
The sound of shattered glass loudly echoes of the burnt metallic walls, and approaching from the direction of where the emeralds emerged is Nick who slowly approaches as the silvery-white type of metal fades off of his eyes, he then calmly evaluates.
Nick: "Ahhh, so anything you touch gets burnt to a crisp."
Flora with a raised eyebrow, she asks.
Flora: "Who you?"
A calm blue aura surrounds Nick as he replies.
Nick: "That's not important. I'm just that guy in every story who tries to stop the bad girl from causing more trouble."
A warm golden glow begins to emanate from Flora as she playfully antagonises Nick with a witty grin and a few arm stretches.
Flora: "Oh yeah? Bad news for you kid, nobody can tame this chick."
Flora begins to heat their surroundings, as Nick begins to sweat, and as he takes a whiff of the ozone smell that filled the air.
He then coats both his arms in a silvery-white metal, he raises both aiming in Flora's direction and he unleashes a vibrant, pulsating silver-blue energy blast. A bright fiery orange-yellow flame then engulfs Flora as it neutralises Nick attack.
A soft, crackling sound can be heard as the metal walls falling apart start to bend and crush, the flames which engulfed Flora begin making their way to Nick, however Nick responds with a translucent, watery barrier which surrounds him, Flora raises her right hand and clenches it tightly, the golden aura intensifies, as a surge of heatwaves overwhelms Nick while still wrapped in the watery barrier.
Flora begins moving towards Nick, however Nick takes a few steps back as he contemplates.
Nick: "{From what I've seen she can't do anything except increase the temperature without touching me. I need to keep my distance and spare any units for my nuclei while I can. Although it wouldn't be a bad idea to try out the new move of mine.}"
As he contemplates, realisation strike him as his barrier starts to falter with chaotic bubble sounds coming from it due to the intense heat, Flora then releases a swirl of toxic fumes with smell resembling noxious chemicals, Flora hurls the toxic fumes towards Nick and he panics however he immediately steels himself, and with a determined glare in his blue eyes, Nick's right arm turned emerald green, merging with a silver-blue energy wave that released a potent blast.
The energy wave overwhelms Flora as her flames begin to go out of control, she stumbles and extinguishes the flames, and immediately after need closes in with intense speed, and with swift precision he launches a emerald green blast from his right hand which sends Flora tipping backward.
As he witnesses this relief envelopes Nick while he pants heavily, and as he cracks a smile and mutters out.
Nick: "See? I told you, I'm just that guy."
As Nick's battle tips in the scales of his favour trouble still brews inside the school as Carbonyl who travelled through numerous walls now final begins to restructure himself, as his body takes original form he speaks through the comms his voice aggressive and authoritative.
Carbonyl: "Has anyone managed to obtain the data?"
Micro who's returned to original size replies.
Micro: "Well, I'm near the principle's office, although something is obstructing me."
Elizabeth who's standing in front of the door towards her father's office, with her long curled honey-blonde hair covering her green eyes which used to sparkle as she tilts her head upward her eyes seem lifeless as they she had lost all emotions.
Carbonyl then simply replies to Micro's feedback.
Carbonyl: "Deal with it."
As he goes off comms Micro sarcastically replies.
Micro: "Yes sir."
Elizabeth then recalls a memory with her and her father Zeus, a memory to when she was 9 years old in front of the Neutron Institution for the very first time while holding for father's hand.
Zeus: "You see that? It's a school that'll help kids like you and your cousins to get better with your gifts."
As Zeus explains Elizabeth gazes at the school's sleek, modern architecture which gleamed in the sunlight. She gasps and her eyes sparkle brightly as she remarks.
Elizabeth: "Wooooow, so shiny."
Zeus then begins laughing to himself.
Zeus: "Yeah it is, and you know what?"
Elizabeth enthusiastically replies.
Elizabeth: "What, what?"
Zeus then crouches down and whispers in her ear.
Zeus: "Someday, I'mma leave it all to you."
The previously enthusiastic little girl flashes to the 16 year old girl who's world had crumbled, as she looks on at Micro and declares in a confident tone.
Elizabeth: "You won't get away with this."
To be continued...