NOVEL NEXT Chapter 48: Nexus
Government Facility, Nexus.
It was a gigantic government building that was suspended above the middle of the deep blue ocean. Nexus was composed of three blue and white towers named Central wing, Western wing, and Easter wing–each one seemed tall enough to grasp the clouds. It was really a sight to behold, the peak of humanity's technological feats synthesized to create this beauty.
The government had poured a lot of money into the conception of Nexus, serving as the sister to the main headquarters in NQSC and harboring the same–if not more–power than the main. Unlike other areas where the affiliate facilities stood, Nexus was isolated in the ocean which allowed it not to have any competitors like the legacy clans. Its influence was consolidated into one general region, giving it plenty of fame. Without a doubt, it was the pride of the government.
Even the way to get to the place was quite elaborate.
You had to board state of the art government small boats that housed only a few select people at a time. These included government current or to-be employees only, which included me.
The swift black boat was clearly made for battle, regardless the way it cut through the water like scissors through silk was astonishing. I had to clutch the guard rails and my own hat multiple times to avoid falling off.
It was only a few minutes when the boat crossed the distance between the shore and the Nexus, halting to an unbelievably calm stop after moving at lightning speed.
Nexus didn't necessarily have a "front door," instead, there were five large pillars that supported the three towers above the water. Two pillars stood in the middle of the bases, above raging ocean water. Foam ran like a plague up the metal surface as it splashed against the two pillars, but it barely crossed even a fraction of the full height of a single pillar.
Speaking of a single pillar, the entrance pillar that allowed visitors to come in through boats was so dauntingly large I had to take a second to understand its composition. It was a huge steel cylinder, larger than most things I've seen. I could hardly believe the government could create something like this, much less five of them.
Me and the few other passengers on board of the black boats jumped onto a pier across from the entrance pillar. There were overhead street lights which were off for now in daylight, but the shade casted underneath from the government building above was still dark. I wouldn't be surprised if this place would just be complete darkness in the truest sense at night, if it weren't for the streetlights.
It wasn't as simple to get into the entrance pillar like I expected. There were multiple layers of black fences surrounding the entrance and exit pillar, going high up the pillar and down into the ocean depths, with thick sliding gates for each fence layer.
I went through so many inspections that everything became a blur. While government employees patted me down, my mind was drowned by the white noise of the whirring of the boat engines and the rolling waves underneath.
To pass the time, I looked around underneath the Nexus–my attention mostly taken by the remaining three pillars which stood under each of the three towers. These ones were covered in more fences and cameras, and unlike the entrance and exit pillars, they had no entrance to speak off.
It made sense, I assumed each of the pillars were quintessential to holding this massive facility up. Including their size, they had to manage for the size and the fact we were in the ocean. The ocean was still a dangerous place even though this specific location was quite tranquil in comparison. Regardless, I learned that there were hundreds of people awakened here as well as a couple masters and a rumored saint–they served a better defense than anything else.
When I finally passed the arduous amount of checking and cross checking outside the entrance pillar, my expectations were killed when I found the inside of the entrance pillar to be a huge pillar. The inside walls were granted with an assortment of vertical rails, platforms, cables and caged lights. The boats were carried up the walls using the contraptions available while people…by the gods.
I couldn't even properly describe the depth of my dread when a government employee pointed at a long ladder and platforms, forming multiple floors. Then when she started walking—yes, walking—up the ladder, I found myself hating my own aspect once again.
"Damn, mobility aspects. Why couldn't I get one instead of the one I have now?" I grumbled under heavy breath as I went up my fourth set of ladders.
I almost collapsed when I reached the main lobby of the central tower, however, being surrounded by people made me keep my composure. From dreary, claustrophobic darkness to an imposing sleek white hall full of people shuffling through the place like ants–the change was disarming.
I quickly got into step and moved to what I assumed was the main desk. Sitting there, behind a wall of glass on a soft rolling chair was a man sorting through some papers.
I stood patiently in front of his desk until he noticed me. He nodded at me with a question in his eyes. It took me a second to snap into reality and hastily take out a series of documents.
The documents disappeared in my hands and appeared in front of him–a teleporting aspect–and he quickly shoved the papers aside. He lazily pointed at a rumbling kiosk with a grainy screen and metal chairs lined up in many rows. "We'll process these and you can get a ticket and come when your number is called." He yawned and patted the documents I gave him without looking me in the eye.
I paused for a moment before taking out the Ravenheart envelope and waved it in front of him. "Does this do anything?"
The man did a double take of the envelope before looking at his coworkers working other desk areas. "Yo, we got a citadel recommended kid." His coworker looked surprised as he held a stack of papers given to him by a woman. "Seriously? Show it to me, kid."
I pressed the envelope's front against the glass window that separated me and the government employees who manned the reception desks.
"Huh." All of them said as they shoved each other around to take a look.
"So, we got a legacy kid?" An old woman with curly hair and brilliant red lipstick said.
"I don't know, paper's don't say any affiliations." The man who took my documents flipped through my files.
"Bah, he must be undercover. You're definitely a spy, you can't trick me!" He then started laughing when he saw my startled expression. "I'm just joking, you young boys are too stressed. That's why you lot are so depressed. Man up!" He slapped his belly with a snarky look.
"Wait…" The old woman with red lipstick said as she leaned over to look at my documents. "Doesn't this mean we have to call him?"
"Him(?)" I said along with the other two desk guys, though mine was more of a question while the other two had an irritated look.
The man who originally had my documents gave me a solemn look, "Yeah, him. Newman–"
"You called?" A voice whispered next to the man's ear. He jumped in his seat and turned around to look at a lanky bald man with glasses set down his crooked nose.
"Holy shit, Newman! Stop doing that, it's not good for my withering heart!" The desk man said as he held a hand over his heart.
Newman simply looked down at the man down his nose and folded his arms behind his back. "My name is only uttered when situations of utmost importance are discovered–now, I assume the situation is you." He pointed a thin finger at me, I didn't like that this odd man's focus was on me.
He assumed wide strides as he made it from around the reception desk to me. He snatched the envelope from my hand with little warning and opened the letter. His eyes glazed the paper surface immediately before throwing the letter over the glass window separating us and the desk employees.
"Shred it." Newman said, "I asserted its authenticity"
The eccentric man turned to me and raised a hand to me as a greeting. "Name?"
I slowly raised my hand and clasped his. "Vincent."
"Well, Vincent." He enunciated each syllable, "Welcome to the Oceanic Stronghold, Nexus. I will be your proctor for your recommendation exam—I go by Newman."