NOVEL NEXT Interlude - Thunder & Shadow
The expensive restaurant was nearly empty, just one table lit by soft golden light in an ocean of shadows. Crystal glasses caught the glow like tiny stars while Vienna cut into her perfectly prepared meal. Her red dress sparkled with each movement, making her look like she belonged in a magazine rather than having dinner with a madman.
She lifted her wine glass with practiced elegance, taking a small sip before setting it down with barely a sound. "You've become impossible to pin down lately, Trevor."
Across from her sat possibly the strangest dinner companion in the city's history. Half his head was completely bald while the other half sprouted wild ginger hair like he'd stuck his finger in an electrical socket. Thick glasses with swirling patterns sat crooked on his nose, and his scruffy beard looked like he'd trimmed it with safety scissors. The lab coat thrown over his shoulders completed the "mad scientist who wandered into the wrong building" look.
He let out a high-pitched giggle. "Vienna, please, no need for such formalities—call me Dr. T." His fingers scratched at his unkempt beard. "Besides, you seem to forget I've got my own projects running. I already made my trip to Maridian."
A waiter glided over and handed Vienna a long, elegant cigarette holder. She lit it with fluid grace and blew smoke directly at Dr. T's face. The gray cloud hit his permanently grinning expression, but he didn't even flinch.
"Ah yes, your little runaway problem." Vienna's voice carried the same temperature as winter air. "If you'd mentioned during our first meeting that your prototype—what do you call them again? Biodroids?—had escaped, we wouldn't be sitting here right now."
"Ha! Good thing I kept my mouth shut then, right?" Dr. T cackled like he'd just told the world's funniest joke.
She hummed thoughtfully, smoke curling around her words. "Indeed. Speaking of Biodroids, did you prepare what I requested?"
"Absolutely!" Dr. T's enthusiasm could have powered a small city. "Two hand-picked specimens are already at that... Thunder... Whatever place."
Vienna's eyebrow arched like a question mark. "Two? I specifically requested three. One for each target."
"Two, three—what's the real difference here?" Dr. T waved his hand dismissively. "One's got the brains, the other's got the muscle. Besides, adding a third would just mess up the perfect balance. Who does that?"
Vienna pinched the bridge of her nose like she was fighting off a headache. "Trevor—"
"Dr. T."
"Zip it." She pinched the air, her stare could have frozen boiling water, but Dr. T just kept smiling like someone had painted it on his face. "Please tell me you at least gave them proper instructions."
"Well, that really depends on how you define 'proper'—"
"Trevor..." She dragged his name out like a threat.
Dr. T shrugged with the casual air of someone discussing the weather. "I told them exactly what you told me—get information about that Angelo kid. They'll figure it out. Clay two point O's pretty sharp. He knows how to handle business."
"And you're certain they've already arrived?" Vienna needed confirmation.
"Oh yeah, they should be—" Dr. T started, but the restaurant door burst open with enough force to rattle the wine glasses.
Lector strode in, his usually perfect composure completely shattered. His face had gone white as fresh snow, and his hands trembled as he approached their table.
Vienna turned toward him instantly, her attention sharp as a blade. "Report."
"My Lady, I bring extremely disturbing news." Lector's words came out rushed and breathless. "Someone just acquired fifty percent of Vienna's Beauty's shares. The entire transaction completed in seconds."
Vienna's eyes widened for just a moment before her mask of control slammed back into place. "Who?"
"Humanity Rocks Incorporated."
The revelation hit the restaurant like a bomb going off underwater. Everything went silent except for the gentle clink of Vienna biting down on her thumbnail—the first crack in her perfect composure all evening.
"Why him?" she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "Why now, of all times?"
Angelo and his group finally reached Novaria after their exhausting journey with Joe and Brian. As promised, Blue had arranged to introduce Brian to the legendary Albert Goldstein. Meanwhile, Angelo and Red headed off to check in with Miriam, leaving Blue to escort their new scientist friend alone.
They walked through the familiar polished corridors of Albert's research facility, their footsteps echoing softly against the gleaming floors. Blue maintained his perfect posture while Brian fidgeted nervously with his glasses, clearly trying to process that he was about to meet his scientific hero.
"Blue? Is that really you?"
The enthusiastic voice made them both stop and turn. Steven Eagleprince practically bounced toward them, his designer glasses catching the overhead lights as his face lit up with recognition.
Blue's expression brightened with genuine pleasure. "Steven, my dear colleague. What an unexpected delight to encounter you here." He straightened even further, if that were possible, and gestured toward his companion with practiced elegance. "Allow me to present Brian, a fellow researcher of considerable merit. Brian, this is Steven Eagleprince—we became acquainted during Angelo's initial assessment at the ACE facility."
Steven rushed forward, grabbing Brian's hand and shaking it with the enthusiasm of a puppy meeting a new friend. "Outstanding! Any associate of Blue's automatically earns my respect and friendship!"
Brian managed a nervous chuckle, his voice barely above a whisper. "The honor is entirely mine, I assure you."
Steven stepped back, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Don't tell me—you're here to introduce him to Professor Goldstein?"
Blue snapped his fingers with satisfaction. "Precisely correct! Your deductive abilities remain impressively sharp." He glanced toward the heavy oak door behind them. "I assume the Professor is currently occupied in his private study?"
"That's right," Steven said, already moving past them toward the door. "I'll announce your arrival—he'll be absolutely thrilled to see you again!"
"I can't believe this is actually happening," Brian muttered under his breath, his excitement barely contained. "Meeting THE Albert Goldstein in person..."
Steven laughed warmly. "That's exactly how I felt when Blue first brought me here!"
"Oh for fuck's sake," Red's voice cut through their shared consciousness like a rusty blade. "Can we please end this nerd mating ritual before I lose my mind?"
Blue smoothly ignored his volatile counterpart, focusing instead on his companions. "I must confess, I'm particularly eager for this meeting. We've uncovered some rather extraordinary developments that demand the Professor's immediate attention. Steven, I would be honored if you would join our discussion."
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"Wild horses couldn't drag me away!" Steven could barely stand still.
They entered Albert's study to find the elderly scientist hunched over his desk, comparing two research papers with intense concentration. When he looked up and saw his visitors, surprise flickered across his weathered features before melting into a warm smile.
"Blue, my boy! You've been absent far too long." Albert rose from his chair, gesturing toward the comfortable seats arranged around his desk. "Please, make yourselves comfortable."
"Thank you, Professor. I bring remarkable news today, along with a potential new addition to our research circle." Blue indicated Brian with a graceful gesture.
Albert studied the nervous young scientist, making Brian shift uncomfortably under the legendary researcher's penetrating gaze. "Indeed? If you're recommending him, Blue, then I'm prepared to be thoroughly impressed. Your previous recommendation certainly exceeded all expectations." He glanced meaningfully at Steven.
Steven waved dismissively, though his pleased expression betrayed his satisfaction. "You're too kind, Professor."
As Brian settled into his chair, Blue stepped forward with barely contained excitement. "Professor, and you as well Steven—before any formal introductions, I must share a breakthrough of unprecedented significance that we discovered during our recent travels."
Every pair of glasses in the room seemed to gleam as their owners leaned forward intently. Albert's eyes sharpened with scientific curiosity. "A breakthrough, you say? Coming from you, I have no doubt it carries substantial weight."
Blue shook his head, his usual composure cracking slightly with excitement. "I cannot overstate the revolutionary nature of these discoveries. Though I must confess, the credit belongs entirely to Red, not myself."
"Red?" Albert and Steven exclaimed simultaneously, their surprise evident.
Albert recovered first, stroking his mustache thoughtfully. "That's quite unexpected. What prompted his sudden interest in scientific exploration?"
"Nothing quite so voluntary, I'm afraid," Blue replied with a slight smile. "These revelations emerged from necessity—they literally saved our lives in combat."
Steven practically vibrated in his chair. "What did he discover? The suspense is absolutely killing me!"
Blue took a deep breath, savoring the moment. "Red determined that we can see and hear through any energy we create. His reasoning was elegantly simple—since we exist as energy particles when in our gaseous state, the fact we maintain sensory input, transitively makes it apply to any energy we create."
"I don't even know what 'transitively' even means!" Red dismissed Blue's insight into his breakthrough.
Albert's mouth fell open. "That's... absolutely brilliant! The logical foundation is flawless!"
"Furthermore," Blue continued, his excitement building, "Red can control forged energy constructs as if he were physically present within them." He paused dramatically, letting the implications sink in. "Which led us to an even more extraordinary discovery..."
The room fell silent, everyone hanging on his words.
"Remote energy manipulation."
The sun hung low over Thunderclap Port, painting the sky in deep oranges and purples. From his perch atop the mining mountain, Rorck watched the day's final moments unfold across the harbor below. The town looked peaceful now—a stark contrast to how it was not long ago. His weathered hands rested on his knees as he sat cross-legged on the rocky outcrop, his expression as calm as still water.
Footsteps crunched softly on loose gravel behind him.
"So," came a smooth, confident voice that carried just a hint of amusement, "how did it all play out?"
Rorck didn't turn around. He waited until the newcomer settled beside him on the ledge, close enough that he could see the white hoodie and the few brown strands of hair escaping from beneath the deep hood. The stranger's face remained hidden in shadow, but his relaxed posture suggested someone completely at ease despite the precarious height.
"Quite well, I believe," Rorck replied, his tone thoughtful as he watched fishing boats return to harbor far below.
The hooded figure leaned forward slightly, curiosity evident in his voice. "What exactly did you do to make it happen?"
Rorck shook his head slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I didn't accomplish anything remarkable. The credit belongs entirely to him."
"Ooh, mysterious," the stranger said with mock intrigue, gesturing dramatically with one hand. "And who might this mysterious 'him' be?"
"His name is Angelo," Rorck explained, his gaze still fixed on the distant horizon. "I understand he's quite famous in Novaria, where they've dubbed him 'The Angel of Death.'"
A sharp laugh escaped from beneath the hood. "With a title like that, 'notorious' sounds more fitting than famous!"
When Rorck remained silent, the stranger bumped his shoulder playfully against the older man's arm. "Hey, what's eating at you? Something's got those cosmic wheels turning in your head."
Rorck's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "It's nothing of consequence..." He paused, seeming to wrestle with his thoughts before making a decision. "Though you might want to keep that young man on your radar. I have a feeling he could become the catalyst for changes this world has never witnessed."
The hooded figure clenched his chest in exaggerated shock, his voice rising to theatrical heights. "Don't tell me he's the chosen one of the ancient prophecy! Has the time of legends finally arrived? O glorious day!"
A genuine chuckle rumbled from Rorck's chest as he considered the dramatic proclamation. "The chosen one..." He rolled the words around like he was tasting fine wine, then shook his head. "No, nothing quite so grandiose. This young man isn't following some cosmic script—he's writing his own story, forging his own destiny with every choice he makes."
Beneath his hood, the stranger's unseen smile widened. He let the moment stretch before speaking again, his tone more casual now. "If you say so, old man." He shrugged, then tilted his head slightly. "What's your next move? Planning to stick around this charming little seaside paradise?"
Rorck took one final, long look at the sprawling view below—the port, the cliffs, the endless ocean stretching toward tomorrow. Then he pushed himself to his feet with fluid grace, brushing dust from his clothes.
"No," he said simply, turning away from the edge. "My purpose here has reached its conclusion. Time to move on to whatever comes next." He began walking toward the mountain path, his footsteps sure and steady on the uneven ground. After a few steps, he paused without looking back.
"Until fate decides our paths should cross again."
With that, he disappeared into the gathering dusk, leaving only the sound of wind through the rocks.
The stranger remained on the ledge, staring at the spot where Rorck had vanished. After a long moment, he spoke to the empty air, testing the name on his tongue.
"Angelo..." He paused, letting the wind carry the words. "The Angel of Death, hm?"
The last rays of sunlight faded, and darkness began to claim the mountain.
While the town above celebrated their salvation, a very different scene unfolded on the dark beach below. The sun had vanished completely, leaving only moonlight to illuminate the sand where waves lapped quietly against the shore.
Two figures stood near the water's edge, both radiating an unnatural glow that made the night seem even darker around them. One pulsed with sickly green light, while the other gave off an eerie ice-blue radiance that made the air shimmer with cold.
The green-glowing figure held Hugo suspended off the ground with one cybernetic arm wrapped around his throat. Hugo's massive frame—which had intimidated everyone in Thunderclap Port—now looked helpless as his feet dangled in the sand.
"What the hell... Are you?" Hugo choked out, his voice barely a whisper.
He found himself staring at something that belonged in a nightmare. The creature had wild orange hair that stuck up in sharp spikes, and his entire torso was bare, revealing pale skin that seemed to absorb the moonlight. But those were the only normal things about him.
His jaw had been replaced with gleaming metal, and razor-sharp teeth jutted out at odd angles like a broken saw blade. Both arms were completely robotic from the elbows down—one ending in a spinning buzzsaw that whirred softly, the other equipped with articulated fingers and a retractable blade on his forearm. His left eye glowed bright red like a laser sight, while the right remained disturbingly human.
The cyborg didn't respond. Whether he couldn't understand or simply refused to speak remained unclear as he tilted his head with mechanical precision, studying Hugo like a specimen.
Footsteps crunched on the sand as the second figure approached. This one wore flowing robes that covered every inch of his body, the fabric seeming to absorb light rather than reflect it. When he pulled back his hood, he revealed a completely bald head that gleamed like polished bone in the moonlight.
His face appeared almost normal at first glance—until you noticed his eyes. One soft green, while the other shimmered bright pink. His skin was so pale it seemed translucent, as if you could see the veins beneath.
"You are Hugo, correct?" His voice was quiet, almost conversational, which somehow made it more terrifying than if he'd been shouting. "My associate and I have some questions about the individual known as Angelo."
Hugo's expression shifted from shock to stubborn disgust. "Go to hell," he forced out through his constricted throat. "You won't get a damn word out of me."
Green electricity suddenly crackled around the cyborg's arm like angry snakes. He tightened his grip, making Hugo gasp and struggle for air. The smell of ozone filled the night air.
The robed figure watched with detached interest, as if observing a mildly interesting experiment. "I see that threatening your life isn't sufficient motivation." He glanced lazily up at the warm lights of the town perched on the cliff above them. "Perhaps I should bring you up there and eliminate every man, woman, and child in front of you, one by one, until you decide to cooperate. Would that be more persuasive?"
Hugo's eyes went wide with horror. What little color remained in his face drained away completely. "You... you wouldn't dare..."
"Would you care to test that theory?" The pale man's tone remained conversational, but something in his mismatched eyes suggested he wasn't bluffing.
"No! Please, stop!" Hugo's voice cracked with defeat. All his swagger and intimidation had crumbled like sand castles. "What do you want to know?"
The cyborg's buzzsaw arm spun once with mechanical satisfaction, while his companion smiled—an expression that somehow made the moonlight seem colder.