3rd pov
A loud, piercing alarm blared through the facility, echoing down sterile corridors. The voice of the automated system cut through the chaos, crisp and urgent:
"Attention! High energy output detected. All personnel, report to the medical wing immediately. I repeat, all personnel report to the medical wing at once."
The warning echoed down the steel corridors, spurring the sound of rapid footsteps. A group of soldiers charged toward a room at the end of the hallway, weapons at the ready.
Major Allen was the first to burst through the door. Inside, the scene froze him in his tracks. In the center of the room stood a young boy, Arata, his hand outstretched toward a shimmering portal forming in the air. Energy crackled around him, the air thick with tension.
"What are you waiting for? Stop him before he escapes!" Major Allen barked, snapping the soldiers out of their daze.
The soldiers hesitated only a moment longer before charging at Arata. Spotting their approach, Arata yanked on the chain still attached to his handcuffs, swinging the broken railing, which was fastened to like a makeshift weapon. The soldiers skidded to a halt, wary of the swinging steel.
Arata's eyes darted toward the portal, its edges stabilizing as he poured more energy into it. He gritted his teeth, focusing intently, but the soldiers didn't miss the opening. Realizing he was distracted, they surged forward.
One tackled him to the ground, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. Another pinned his arms while a third seized his legs, holding him firmly in place. The portal flickered and collapsed, vanishing in a burst of dissipating energy.
Arata struggled, thrashing in their grip with desperation. He screamed, his voice raw, but his resistance was futile. One of the soldiers struck him with the butt of a rifle, and his world went black.
The tension in the room was palpable as the soldiers exchanged bewildered glances.
"What the hell was that?" Soldier 1 blurted out, his voice a mix of shock and disbelief. "Did he just create a portal? How is that even possible?"
Soldier 2 shook his head, his brows furrowed. "How the hell should I know? You saw the same thing I did."
Soldier 3 chimed in, his tone more measured but no less unsettled. "Yes, he really did create a portal. As for how… I have no idea. That kind of thing shouldn't even be possible. It's the stuff of fiction."
Major Allen, standing nearby, raised his hand to cut the conversation short. "That's enough," he said firmly. "Get him back to the bed and make sure he's restrained properly this time. I don't want a repeat of this incident."
With that, the major turned on his heel and strode out of the med bay. Returning to his office, he sat at his desk and began composing a detailed report of the incident. Each word he typed reflected the surreal nature of the event and the growing unease it stirred among the crew.
Once the report was finished, Major Allen reviewed it with a critical eye before transmitting it to his superiors. Now all he could do was wait for their response, his mind racing with questions that had no easy answers.
Three Weeks Later
Major Allen straightened his uniform as he approached the conference room. Pushing the heavy door open, he stepped inside and took a seat among the gathered figures—General Leo at the head of the table, flanked by scientists and other key personnel. The air was thick with tension, the gravity of the meeting evident on every face.
"Major Allen," General Leo greeted, his voice steady and commanding. "Now that you're here, we can begin."
"Yes, General," Major Allen replied, his tone crisp.
General Leo leaned forward slightly, lacing his fingers together. "Let's address the report you submitted. According to your findings, there was a significant energy surge detected in the Merem District. Could you elaborate?"
Major Allen nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, General. That's correct. We recorded two energy surges in the Merem District. The first was brief, lasting only a few seconds. The second, however, persisted for several minutes before we lost the signal entirely."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "I dispatched a recon team to the location where the signal was last recorded. Their mission was to identify the source of the anomaly. When they returned, they brought back a boy."
The scientist sitting to the General's right adjusted his glasses, his curiosity evident. "A boy?" he echoed, skepticism tinged with intrigue. "And you believe this child was the source of the energy surges?"
"That's correct," Major Allen confirmed, his gaze unwavering. "The circumstances surrounding his discovery, combined with his behavior during containment, leave little doubt in my mind. He is the epicenter of these events."
The room fell silent for a moment, the implications hanging heavy in the air. General Leo's expression remained unreadable as he exchanged a glance with the scientist. "Very well, Major," the General said finally. "Continue."
Scientist Stein leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the major. "And do you have any proof of this? According to your report, he was unconscious when he was brought to your base. Also, why is there no video evidence attached?"
Major Allen gritted his teeth, his thoughts bristling with frustration. This damn bastard… This is why I can't stand him. No respect for his superiors. Keeping his tone neutral, he replied, "Yes, I do have video evidence. The reason it wasn't included in the report is due to a security breach a few months ago. Someone attempted to hack into the base's system. As a precaution, I've kept the video on a pen drive."
General Leo's expression darkened immediately. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his sharp eyes locking onto Major Allen. "A breach?" he repeated, his voice low and measured, though it carried an undercurrent of authority that silenced the room. "How close were they to succeeding?"
Major Allen stood straighter, feeling the weight of the general's intense scrutiny. "Too close, sir," he admitted. "They managed to access some minor operational files, but they were stopped before they could breach the higher-level systems. Since then, we've implemented stronger protocols, and I've ensured that sensitive data is isolated from the main network."
General Leo's frown deepened as he tapped his fingers on the table, his mind clearly working through the implications. "This is unacceptable," he said, his voice clipped. "If they were able to come that close once, it's likely they'll try again, possibly with greater success. I want a full audit of your security measures and a report on the changes implemented. This cannot happen again, Major."
"Yes, General Leo," Major Allen responded, his tone resolute. "We've taken the necessary steps to ensure the base's systems are secure."
The general exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Very well," he said finally. "Now, let's see this video. I want to know exactly what we're dealing with."
Major Allen retrieved the pen drive from his pocket, inserted it into the computer, and opened the video file. Everyone in the room turned their attention to the screen as the footage began to play. The video captured every detail—from the moment the subject regained consciousness, to his violent struggle against the restraints, and finally to the shocking creation of the portal. The scene ended with the alarms blaring and the subject being subdued and restrained once more.
Scientist Stein's eyes lit up with unrestrained excitement as the video concluded. A low chuckle escaped him, growing into a full-blown laugh. "Ha-ha-ha! This is incredible! With him, my research could advance by leaps and bounds!"
Major Allen's jaw tightened as he fought to suppress a scowl, but he said nothing. He knew better than to argue with Stein's unorthodox enthusiasm—at least, not in front of the General. The general, however, remained silent, his stern expression unchanging as he processed the gravity of what he had just witnessed
Major Allen stood at attention, observing the heated exchange between General Leo and Stein. Vale Stein… The greatest scientific mind of this generation. I can't deny the advancements he's given us—technology that's revolutionized our military operations. That's why he's been unofficially granted a rank equivalent to a colonel. But brilliance like his doesn't come without a cost. He's as cunning as they come and mad enough to chase the impossible.
Stein leaned back in his chair, the faintest smirk on his face. "What's the situation with the boy now?" His voice was calm, but his eyes gleamed with curiosity and something unhinged beneath the surface.
Major Allen cleared his throat before responding. "He's under heavy sedation and securely restrained. We've made sure last week's incident won't happen again."
Stein gave a small nod, his smirk growing. "Good. I'll be at the base in a couple of weeks with my team. If there's nothing else, I'll begin preparations for my leave, I trust he'll be ready for further examination upon my return"
General Leo raised his hand, his commanding tone cutting through the room. "Not so fast, Stein. Let's make one thing clear—the boy is under military jurisdiction. He's better off in our hands, where he can be trained and deployed properly."
Stein turned to the general with a sharp, calculating gaze, his unsettling smile never faltering. "General Leo, you don't have to sugarcoat it. Let's call it what it is, shall we?" He leaned forward, his voice soft but chilling. "You want to turn him into a weapon, don't you?"
Leo met Stein's challenge without hesitation. "I do," he said plainly. "With his abilities, we can save lives on the battlefield, complete missions no ordinary soldier could, and end conflicts before they escalate. He's an asset we can't afford to waste."
Colonel Briggs, a grizzled veteran with decades of experience, cleared his throat. "That may be true, General, but we can't ignore the risks. If this boy loses control, we could be dealing with more than just a rogue asset—we could have a catastrophe on our hands."
Dr. Kline, one of the lead military scientists, interjected. "I agree with Colonel Briggs. His abilities are completely untested. We're talking about someone who created a portal out of thin air. That kind of power doesn't come without consequences. What if it's unstable?"
Stein raised an eyebrow, his cunning smile returning as he brushing off their concerns.. "That's where I come in, With my research, I can find ways to push him beyond his limits, understand his abilities at their core. Consequences are irrelevant, with proper experimentation, we'll understand his limits—and push them further. You're all thinking too small"
"That's not a tool—it's a ticking time bomb!" chimed in Dr. Hensley, another scientist at the table. Unlike Stein, her tone was grounded, professional, and cautious. "We don't know enough about him, or the circumstances of how he developed these abilities. Rushing in without proper oversight could have catastrophic consequences."
Allen finally stepped forward, his voice steady but firm, cutting through the growing tension. "Enough. If I may, we're missing a critical piece of this puzzle. General, Stein, everyone—has anyone looked into the boy's background? Specifically, the orphanage he came from?"
The room grew quieter, the officials exchanging glances. General Leo narrowed his eyes. "What are you getting at, Major?"
Allen exhaled, his tone growing more deliberate. "I've been reviewing the reports, sir, and something about the orphanage doesn't sit right. Its records are practically non-existent—no funding sources, no public affiliations, no detailed documentation about the children in its care. Yet somehow, they managed to stay operational for years. Doesn't that strike anyone else as suspicious?"
Colonel Briggs leaned forward, his expression darkening. "If what you're suggesting is true, Major, then we could be dealing with something far bigger than just one boy."
Stein tilted his head, intrigued. "Fascinating. If that's the case, it only strengthens my position. If we find the source, my research could take exponential leaps forward. Think of what we could uncover!"
Allen shot him a pointed look. "And if it's something dangerous, Dr. Stein? Something we're not prepared to handle? Rushing in blindly is exactly what will make this worse."
General Leo rubbed his temples, his tone sharp. "Alright, enough! Allen, your point is valid, but we don't have the resources to chase every loose end right now. Our priority is the boy and keeping this under control."
Allen didn't back down. "With all due respect, General, if we don't investigate this now, we'll be blindsided later. I suggest assembling a small team to dig into the orphanage and its connections. Quietly. We don't need this leaking out."
General Leo paused, his eyes narrowing as he considered Allen's words. Finally, he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Put together a team, but keep it discreet. Report directly to me."
General Leo turned to regard Stein carefully, then leaned forward, his voice low but firm. "Dr. Stein, you'll have your chance. You'll conduct your experiments and study him—but under strict military oversight. We'll also train him. I don't want any mishaps. And Stein—any deals you make with me go both ways. If this boy becomes more of a threat than an asset, I'll pull the plug on your research.'"
Stein grinned, leaning back in his chair. "A wise choice, General. Meanwhile, I'll continue preparing for my work with the boy. Rest assured, I'll find answers one way or another."
Allen's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He had made his point. As the meeting adjourned, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that they were only scratching the surface of something far more dangerous. We're playing with fire, he thought grimly. And I'm not sure anyone here truly understands the stakes.