Trent was still trying to process the situation. It was like a computer had spoken to him, and he was both excited and nervous at the same time. He couldn't even understand the user interface (UI) he was seeing. "Who are you?" Trent asked, hoping to make sense of everything and calm his racing thoughts.
The computer responded immediately, as if it had anticipated Trent's question. "My name is Project 12, but you can call me Harley," it said. Trent was shocked. The computer had introduced itself with such familiarity, as if it had done so countless times before.
In the midst of the fight, one of the men attempted to deck Trent. He ducked and performed a 360-degree leg sweep, knocking the man off balance. Just as he regained his footing, Harley spoke in his ear. "It seems like you're having a hard time defeating these inferior opponents. Would you like me to show you the suit's potential?"
Trent wasted no time in answering, "Yes!" He was both anxious and excited to know what the suit could do. He felt like he was on the cusp of discovering something extraordinary.
The gold stripes on the suit began to glow, and suddenly Trent felt a surge of power as he zoomed across the room and knocked one of the men out cold. To everyone watching, it looked like he had disappeared and reappeared in an instant. The students and teachers watched in shock and awe as the fight unfolded. The other two men turned and ran from the room in terror. "Damn it," Trent exclaimed, frustrated that they had gotten away.
"Not yet," Harley said. "Would you like an x-ray vision to locate them? They couldn't have gotten far." Trent's expression said it all. He wanted the x-ray vision. "Yes, please!" he answered. A yellow, translucent eyepiece appeared in front of Trent's eye, allowing him to see through the wall. The two men were running down the hallway. "Now what?" Trent asked. "Use the Titania Gun," Harley responded. "It can penetrate almost any surface." Trent fired the gun at the wall. Trent fired at the wall numerous times and he could see the two men collapse to the floor.
A collective gasp filled the room, as Trent's suit seamlessly dematerialized, leaving him on his knees, breathless, everyone gaped at him in disbelief. "Trent!" Barbara's scream pierced the air as she rushed to his side. The onlookers couldn't help but speculate about Barbara's connection to Trent, as her genuine concern surpassed the usual bounds of friendship. The air was charged with an unusual tension, questioning the depth of the connection between Trent and Barbara. Some students whispered among themselves and pondering about the nature of their relationship. "Are they dating?" One student whispered.
Barbara gently took hold of Trent's arm. She examined his body, which was still the same, but had a more mature, handsome look. His jaw was strong and angular, with a prominent chin. "Are you okay?" Barbara asked, her voice brimming with care and sweetness. Her concern was evident, and she was clearly worried about Trent's well-being.
"I will be," Trent replied with a nod. Barbara could no longer contain her excitement. "You were so awesome and cool during the fight," she gushed, barely able to contain her excitement. Then, her eyes widened and she exclaimed, "But you look all grown up now. Like you're 21 or something." Her words trailed off as she wondered if she had said too much. She hoped she hadn't embarrassed herself.
A chuckle escaped from Trent's lips, surprising Barbara, who had become accustomed to his neutral expression since emerging from the machine. She blushed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. Her smile faded as Trent asked about the whereabouts of John Wales. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Suddenly, it occurred to her that John Wales had left for the surveillance room and hadn't returned. "I think John Wales might be in trouble," she said to Trent, who looked alarmed. Mr. Fane, sensing the situation, stepped forward and volunteered to call John Wales on the phone. Barbara and the others felt a wave of relief wash over her as Mr. Fane reached for the phone.
After several attempts, John Wales still didn't pick up the phone. On the last try, a prerecorded message informed them that the phone was currently switched off. "That doesn't sound good," Anton commented. Mr. Fane interjected, stating that John Wales always answered his phone, no matter who it was from, and that he never turned it off. This revelation only served to heighten the tension in the room.
Trent stood up confidently. "No one should leave this room; I'll be back," he declared, attempting to stride out. However, his exit was momentarily halted by Barbara's cautionary words, "Be careful... Twigs." Trent couldn't help but smirk before sauntering out. Barbara mused that no matter how muscular and cool Trent appeared now, he would always be her "twigs."
.
.
At the surveillance room, Diogo and some of his men stood facing the entrance, anticipating someone or something. Diogo's gun was pressed against John's head, while the surveillance operator was tied to a chair in the corner. The remaining five men stood with their guns at the ready, their gazes fixed on the door. The atmosphere was tense, and it seemed like something big was about to happen.
Just then, one of the men turned to Diogo with a puzzled expression. "I think the person that man was talking about might not exist, Diogo. He could have been lying to us to try to cause panic. There's no such thing as immortality." Another man chimed in, "Yeah, I want to see the day someone actually becomes immortal. It's all just make-believe." Before he could finish his sentence, a bullet ripped through his head with lightning speed, and he crumpled to the ground, dead. A moment later, the four other men dropped to the floor, felled by the same fate.
Diogo was shaking like a leaf. John could hear Diogo's heart pounding in his chest. The sweat on his face was pouring down like a summer rain shower. Diogo's breaths were shallow and rapid, and he was clearly terrified. John could almost feel the fear radiating off of him.
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell across the entrance of the room. A figure stepped through the door, a smirk on his face. It was Trent, transformed by his encounter with the machine. John didn't recognize him, but he recognized the X-shaped necklace that hung around his neck. It was John's greatest invention, the one that had caused all of this. Diogo spoke, his voice quivering with fear. "D-d-don't come any closer."
Diogo began menacingly threatening to blow off John's head if Trent took another step. John Wales, initially scared, suddenly sensed Diogo's grip softening, perhaps due to his fear. Seizing the moment, John promptly stepped on Diogo's foot, eliciting a groan. Taking advantage, John bolted behind a nearby table. Diogo, in frustration, fired at Trent. In a swift move, Trent triple-tapped his necklace, and the suit materialized on his body, rendering the bullets useless in a spectacular display of transformation.