{I'm remaking my way back down. Hopefully my weapons are ready and honestly if they're not then I'll just wait close by. Rather be around when they ARE done, then get scolded for not arriving fast enough after I was told the exact timing to stop by.
Yes, that was my intention...but....
WHO PUT ALL THE TRAPS BACK?!
AAAAH!
…
After around 20 minutes of dodging the already triggered ones, and close to an hour of hopping past landmines beneath the tiles I thankfully memorized...I managed to make it back to Floor U42 with only a few injuries back from before I knew what awaited me.
In fact, if it wasn't for my quick reaction time I'd have probably died just now.
Luckily I survived. At least THIS TIME nobody saw my embarrassing performance-}
Uncle Durandez: “Hurrhurr, looks like your reflexes are working properly, if nothing else.”
{….Hmm? That sounded like Uncle Durandez but...I don't see him. Except for the hallway, room 210-B which I was at earlier, and this, oddly placed grizzly bear in clothes, there's nothing.
Wait...a grizzly bear wearing...clothes?
Noel/Tyler: “Um...by any chance....y-you wouldn't possibly be hiding b-behind the bear, right uncle?”
{A roaring, hefty laughter boomed down into my ear canals. I couldn't help but look up in awe. He's huge! Not just in height either, but in muscle mass! His body looks abnormally swelled, like a balloon about to explode!
Yes, except for the simple fact that this balloon was hairy and can beat up a gorilla.}
Uncle Durandez: “Hurrhahaha! Your face is the exact same all the kids make when seeing me like this for the first time. It's priceless! I never get tired of messing with you young'uns.”
{His body suddenly started to deflate in a fierce bright neon yellowish glow. Then, out skipped a bearded middle-aged man about my father's height while humming.
I'm done questioning my family. From green fire blasts to body morphing, everyone's weird.)
Uncle Durandez: “Well? What didja think?”
{I truly mistook him for a bear because of all the hair covering his face and body. I don't really have another name for it. Well that...and the 'pressure' his gaze gave off was like a wild Grizzly's, desperate for food – only viewing me as a victim for his heartless prank.
Seeing him now though, his obnoxiously smug bearded face reminds me of Father and Aeron - that 'you know I'm right' look they always give to me. Ugh, the ability to annoy others must run deep in the family. Not in me though, of course.}
Noel/Tyler: “Pl-Please don't scare me like that uncle.”
Uncle Durandez: “Hmph! You can't be this weak if you're to represent the CORE family along side your siblings and cousins in the future. I say the same thing to all of my children: Improve yourselves! Don't trash the Malierano Family's reputation with weakness!
Now, your suit will be ready in a few minutes after the coating sets. It was easy to make thanks to the materials already being available in different sized cuts. That's all due to many practice sessions alongside my son. Hurrhurr-hahaha. Fitting it to your size wasn't anything praiseworthy either.
Your weapons on the other hand… now, those will take much longer to complete. Giving an estimate for now, They'll be ready in about a month or so. Just play with your fingers or something until then.”
Noel/Tyler: “Thank you uncle. Could I bother you to tell me...what-what does the suit look like??”
{Maybe it's because of my family's influence, but I really am fond of the suits that everyone wears. Alianne, Seiran and Kifah have an especially nice ascot tie to compliment theirs. I'm kind of getting excited, since I can get a suit too!}
Uncle Durandez: “The texture and feel of your tailored combat suit is designed to resemble Australian Merino wool, however it's actually made from my own personal hybrid of materials centering around Hemp Graphene, Kevlar and Dyneema Fibers....well....you don't have to know about those details. Just that with this suit on, you'll be somewhat invulnerable to nearly all modern assaults. I finished your gear with the Malierano Family's special Anti-Elemental coating: making you at the very worst – Flame resistant, lightning resistant, water resistant, wind-tear resistant and thanks to the applied coating, quite difficult to grab hold of. With the advanced techniques our Family produces and your slightly developed skills in them, there shouldn't be any problem escaping trouble, even for someone as talent-less as you.”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Noel/Tyler: “...Thank you.”
Uncle Durandez: “Oh! Almost forgot: Blunt force resistance has been added as a new modification I'm testing on your suit...not sure how well my addition to the fibers will hold, but it should block the brunt force of a landslide falling directly on your body, with its ideal maximum resistance capable of blocking a missile. I realize how bad this model is compared to older designs but hey: it IS only in the testing phase, after all. HURRHURRHURR-HAHA.”
{I...didn't understand uncle's explanation. Bu-But I guess it'll sorta be like the others', right?!}
Noel/Tyler: “....Thanks uncle. I'll...try to remember. So how long until the coati--”
{I couldn't finish my sentence because right then, uncle stopped moving...almost causing me to crash into him.}
Uncle Durandez: “Oh! It looks like you've got yourself a visitor before we can go any further.”
{Right in front of room 210B, the room brother Aeron sent me directions to in the morning, I begin to feel a presence nearly as strong as the bear-like pressure that uncle Durandez gave. I only just started turning around...
But almost faint when I see who was standing still like a statue.}
Noel/Tyler: “Bo-Boman! Hello, ho-how was yo-your...day today...hehe...he...”
{Oh jeez, just look at that fierce glare. He's angry! It couldn't be...did he actually know that I was following him?!...Wait, does dad know??!
Surprisingly though, he only handed me a piece of paper and left.}
Noel/Tyler: “Does...Does that mean I'm safe? Phew, close call...Hm? Oh, wait....on the paper...this paper says that Father gave me a mission! Uncle! Look! I got my ‘Final Mission’ from Father!!! This means I can become an Elite now!”
Uncle Durandez: "That's good, it means your dad is starting to trust you! Make sure you don't waste it by screwing everything up and embarrassing him once again. Hurr-hahahaha.”
Noel/Tyler: “...”
{Sometimes I wish I could just trade my depressing family in for a brand new one. Maybe the Rowes would adopt me.
...Nevermind. It wouldn’t be much different.}
---
A rustic, ivory building, stationed on top of a thick, metal platform that floats over the Atlantic ocean: Just off the Thames River connected to New London, Connecticut. Here, heroes can be seen frequently flying to and fro, alighting the sky and sea with brilliant glows from their impressive movements. However at the very top of the island, where that same ivory Building stands, a unique individual wastes the passing days, fishing. Yes, fishing. From the very top of the building, to the very bottom of the ocean.
He oversees the utilities and functions of said rustic, ivory building and commands complete respect from all that enter his faux island. Such a cautious, scheming man reputed for his ego and pride is known far and wide as Professor Molodov Watts: One of the infamous scientists who actually popularized the technology that can empower others with specific types of superpowers.
Professor Watts had started researching superpowers after the first heroes organization: “The Hero Society”, reached an agreement with the various nations of the world. It was then publicly announced to all that a Position deigned as 'Superhero' would be added to each continent's defense force, and would strictly depend on 'who', or 'what' their own nation could produce. The position is 'above the law' under emergencies, but can still be judged by the law on normal occasions.
Naturally, people scrambled to understand this new and rising force, but few became successful. Those who were successful, only became so due to the assistance of the very heroes they wished to understand, and their own country's backing. At the time, Professor Molodov was a young 4th generational researcher starting off, in his career.
He led a team of researchers one evening, completely intending to dig out a meteorite they'd stumbled across while trying to advance their research on 'human evolution'. Naturally, like most in their position, they were extremely cautious with their approach. They wore anti-radiation suits designed for increased mobility with attachable gloves and boots. Although it was a normal meteorite crash, Professor Watts refused to take any chances with the 'unknown' lurking all around them. Because of this bad habit, he grew to always assume the worst.
But even with all these precautionary measures, the 'thing' inside of that seemingly ordinary space rock was entirely at ease. Nothing these lowly scientists could do, apparently, would threaten it.
Once the research team stood at the edge of the crash site, an eerie purple hue seeped out from the earth below. Neither soil nor rock could keep this undetectable energy at bay. It phased through all physical matter like air. Whenever it passed, it would both cause everything alive to rot, and disassemble what is considered 'inorganic', concurrently.
Yes...Everything near this energy seemed to break down and scatter away like trace-less ash...
Everything except the research team.
Upon contact, something mysterious occurred. Many of the professional scientists collapsed while holding their heads. Screaming unintelligible phrases, they began rocking back and fourth while scratching at the sensitive temples that proved unable to withstand such friction. Self-harm was a last ditch effort at comfort, by 'removing' the invasive pain in their heads.
At least 3 of the research team members felt extremely minimal pain and were capable of standing..but that was it, as they still harbored very large headaches coupled with nausea.
Yet, there was one man among the group who felt nothing of the sort.
This lone man, only felt bliss.
He narrated aloud as if speaking to a higher source above the clouds: “O...rigin...? Origin...”
Immediately after spouting those two words, everything stopped. Along with the cease of movement, a strange glow appeared in his formerly clouded eyes.
“Hah...It feels as....as if something inside me is waking up! This indescribable feeling...ha..hahaha! HAHAHAHA!! Finally, I have found an answer! This...! Haha...this will...absolutely change everything!”
His name is Professor Molodov Watts.
…
{I thought I should be on edge because I'm from a criminal family, but it seems like nobody cares for my existence.
Following my father's directions, to the location out at sea where I will begin both my microchip implant PLUS my new mission, I was guided atop a boat. This thing has to apparently make a few stops at some supposed islands I never knew existed, before it can arrive at the floating laboratory which old man Mr. Watts is in charge of.
There were a couple small pieces of land floating at low altitudes above the ocean, as if they'd dip towards the watery surface with just a little more weight added. A handful of massive ships carelessly moved around without stopping to allow passage for those small ships ahead, desperate to get away. I could even see some moderate sized boats getting pulled by what appeared to be...massive dolphins? Or are those...sharks? There was also one ordinary small island, Block Island, that received a stop at the very end.
This...is going to be a long ride.}
---