"Explain yourself, agent Ross."
"I already said I need more time." Wren said over the cellphone. "The Spectre revolution is nearing its end. I'm simply waiting for the rebels' attack on Imperium to make my move. It's the only way I'll be able to steal the files unhindered. Just… just give me a little more time."
"This attack on Imperium... Do you know when it will happen?"
"My sources say a week."
"..."
Wren had a vague suspicion of what that silence meant. "Give me a week and I'll have the files sent to the organization." He said, hoping they would fall for the lie again. He doubted, but hoped.
"You know our superiors aren't known to be patient men, Wren Ross."
"...I know."
"One week." The voice said after another long silence. "That's all I can give you. If you do not send us the secrets to Adrian's dome, we'll send another." That's what Wren was worried about. Still, he had little option than to agree. "And remember, we want everything." The male voice added, before hanging up.
Wren closed his cell phone and pocketed away. He leaned back on his chair and let out another long sigh. He managed to delay another week. But what then? He still didn't know what to do. Spreading the secrets to create another dome would bring a lot more chaos into the world. Those secrets needed to die with the Lord Ruler. There was no other way.
"Was it them again?" A voice said.
Wren looked up to see his friend Elek standing by the door. Wren nodded, sitting back on his chair and burying his face in his hands. The Organization wasn't fond of failures, and Wren was technically failing by delaying his mission. But lately, after befriending Lady Ada and learning more about the Does, Wren had been having doubts. The dome had too many flaws, too many downsides, to be replicated in another city. Giving to The Organization, he concluded, would be a bad idea.
"Hey Elek," Wren looked up at his friend. "Do you think we're doing the right thing by making The Origination our enemies?"
Elek shrugged. "I'll tell you this much, it's a stupid move. I'm mean, we're talking about people with the means to rule the Earth if they so choose."
"Don't hype them up." Though Wren knew that wasn't far from the truth. They had been finding and hiring teenagers with very powerful abilities, making them a powerhouse. "They are powerful, yes. But let's not overestimate them too much."
"Regardless, things aren't looking too good for Spectre at the moment." Elek said, motioning over to the news studio through the see-through glass. They were currently covering the capture of the recently dubbed Vigilante Lord. Wren had seen the video. The news had spread all throughout the city. William was captured by Heimdal, removing the rebel's strongest fighter. Now, the public opinion was changing and people, the Commoners and the ones that matter at least, were starting to lose hope in Spectre's rebellion, believing that this revolution will end like all the others, in failure. The Lord Ruler was succeeding in his goal to discourage future rebel groups from even attempting to form. By crushing Spectre in this matter, he'll also dissuade future superheroes from taking arms against the Royals.
But Spectre still had one more card under their sleeve, one that the Lord Ruler has yet to discover, and it took the form of the infiltrator Arlong. A member of Spectre with the ability to hide from nearly all forms of detections. The man was still lurking in Imperium gathering intel for Spectre. The only ones aware of Arlong's presence were Lady Ada and her Royal Knights.
"Where's Lady Ada?" Wren asked Elek. "I need to talk to her."
"Just saw her a moment ago accompanied by Johnny. They were on their way to meet with the Lord Ruler."
***
Johnathan followed Lady Ada out of the elevator, walking slightly behind her, as they made their way towards the Lord Ruler's location. Johnathan already knew why, even though Ada hadn't told him yet. It was what Johnathan had been secretly wanting for the past few days. Still, guilt was still washing over him. He had to let Ada know. It didn't feel right working for her to achieve a goal that he wasn't so sure he wanted.
"My Lady, if I may have a moment." He said, pausing in the hallway.
"What is it?" Lady Ada turned around. "Something on your mind, Johnathan?"
"May I ask your honest opinion on something?" Johnathan said.
"When have I ever given you a dishonest one?" She smiled.
Johnathan looked up, then down. "I suppose never, but…"
"Go on, then." She said, her voice calm and soothing. "Speak your mind. I sense something's troubling you."
Johnathan gave a slight nod. "It's about the dome." He said at last. "Would it really be that terrible if it remained? Is the Royal Hierarchy System that corrupt? Unfixable?"
Lady Ada was quiet for a moment, then said; "When my brother and I created the dome and the Royals, we did so with a vision. A vision to eventually make everyone a Royal. We wanted to create a city where everyone had access to their Aura and abilities. But somewhere along the way he lost himself. Became the tyrant you know today. Though his vision remains the same, his methods have changed, and not all for the better. You will understand once you see for yourself soon enough." She paused, looking at Johnathan. "But I understand where you're coming from, John. And if most Royals were like you, then perhaps I wouldn't be actively conspiring against my own brother. But you a rarity amongst the Royals, and as long as the Royal Hierarchy System remains, then I don't see a future where everyone in New Miami will live in peace. The Commoners will keep getting bullied. The Royals will still act selfishly. And most importantly for me, my brother will continue to descend into madness."
"I… don't know what to say." Johnathan said. Though her speech hadn't changed his mind, it did make him feel worse for wanting her and Spectre to fail. He had moved to New Miami for the explicit purpose of wanting to live as a Royal. His life before hadn't been that luxurious. But here in New Miami, he had everything he wanted. He didn't want to betray the person who had given him more freedom, though restricted because of the dome, than he had ever wanted.
"Say nothing." Lady Ada placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. "But do think things through. Now, shall we continue?"
Johnathan nodded. He followed Ada through the hallway, then up some stairs, and into a room where the door sign read: Laboratory 3. The Lord Ruler was there inspecting what looked like a vial of golden liquid. There were other people there too, men and women in white coats. Scientists handpicked by him. The Lord Ruler was wearing a lab coat himself, though his was over a white suit. They were discussing something. Files and lab equipment covered the table where they stood. The room went quiet when Lady Ada walked in, Johnathan behind her. The Lord Ruler waved the Scientists to leave the room and they obeyed, leaving he, Lady Ada, and Johnathan alone.
"Look Ada." The Lord Ruler said, showing the vial in his hand. "You see it." Johnathan understood that Lady Ada, along with the Lord Ruler and the Copycat hero, were able to somehow 'see' Aura. Something Johnathan knew nothing about. Though he suspected that the golden liquid must look more than that to these people. "His Aura. It's similar to ours, though much more flexible in its functionality. Fascinating, isn't it?"
"Where is he?" Lady Ada said. Johnathan didn't have to guess that they were talking about William Dia.
The Lord Ruler ignored her and kept talking. "With his Aura I can develop a new type of serum. One to give Commoners abilities of their own. Can't you see Ada, I have brought us closer to achieving our dream. This is a revolutionary discovery. We'll be bypassing Lunam's Laws." Lunam's Law were a set of supposedly unbreakable rules that govern the use of Aura. If what the Lord Ruler had said is true, and he is indeed able to give people access to Aura after having turned 20, then that would indeed be revolutionary. It would change the world at large.
"With this," The Lord Ruler continued. "We'll be one step closer to achieving our dreams, sister. Aren't you as ecstatic as I am with this discovery?"
"Where is he, Adrian?" Lady Ada asked again. "I want to see him."
The Lord Ruler frowned. "I can't let you do that. At least not yet." He paused for a moment to regard Lady Ada, looking at her. "You sound concerned for the man. Now that I think more of it, you seem to have poured a lot more effort into supporting Spectre's plans than previous rebel groups in the past. Why is that? In fact, your confidence in their success is… unexpected."
"Have they not already accomplished far more than past rebels?" Lady Ada said.
"Ah, yes. Allowing them to get this far has had quite the impact on public perception. Some people actually believe that I can be taken down." The Lord Ruler smiled, but for just a moment, right before Lady Ada spoke, Johnathan did notice a hint of something there. Suspicion, perhaps? It was gone now though. "But things are turning out as I had expected. Soon, all of New Miami will realize that rebellion is futile. They leave me no choice but to crush their hopes. With the capture of their hero, I can simply taken the first step. Soon, I will make my next move against Spectre, and then..." He paused for dramatic effect. "I will make sure that no more rebellions will rise into the future." He looked at Lady Ada. "You already know this, sister. Or did you expect things to have gone differently?"
"I suppose not." Lady Ada said. "I'll leave you to your… new discovery." She looked at the vial in the Lord Ruler's hand. Johnathan wished he could see Aura like she does. Being able to see Aura is an advantage in any fight.
Lady Ada motioned for Johnathan to follow as she left the laboratory. They bumped into Wren in the hallway. He looked worried.
"Wren," Ada said.
"My Lady, I have bad news."
"What is it?"
"The Organization," He said. "They've contacted me again."