The Strike Trilogy (42 page)

“I have to say, Rigel, you’ve really outdone yourself with this celebration,” Albert Carroway remarked.

Rigel smiled and tugged on his collar, uncomfortable in his tuxedo. “Yes, well,” the red giant said with a smile, “parties aren’t usually my thing, but I knew it would be good for the people of the city. Vincent always told me how important celebrations were for the community.”

Albert’s wife, Stella, finished her drink and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter. “Well, I know I have spoken to many citizens tonight, and they could not be more thrilled. Celebrating like this in the Trident is a wonderful luxury for them.”

“And for the party to be a celebration of the new world, and the fulfillment of Vincent’s dream?” Oscar Elmsberry added. “That just makes it all the better.”

Albert nodded. “It really is an amazing achievement.”

Oscar waved his glass around, his speech starting to slur. “Just being here, with all these people, so proud of their heritage and our new home, and just so happy to be with one another. And just celebrating our new lives...it’s really, truly amazing.”

Dottie Elmsberry chuckled. “I think someone has had a little bit too much to drink.”

The group laughed.

“Maybe,” Oscar said with a grin, holding up his drink. “But I’m not going to stop now. We’re celebrating our new conquest, after all. Imagine: a life where we don’t have to worry about the barbarians of Earth.”

Albert held his glass up. “Now that’s a reason to celebrate.”

As the men clinked their glasses together, Rigel took advantage of the opportunity and stepped away.

“Yes, keep going,” the red giant said. “Enjoy yourself. I’m a little uncomfortable with all this extravagance, but I know—” The communicator on Rigel’s belt buzzed. He looked down at it. “I’m sorry, excuse me a moment,” he said, before stomping across the party to a group of admiring partygoers gathered around Nova.

“It’s something we really wanted to do,” the grey-masked man said to his captive audience. “We wanted to open up the skyscraper to the city, and throw other celebrations around the city, to show this belongs to all of us. We hope to make it an annual—”

Rigel made his way through the crowd and grabbed Nova’s shoulder.

“Nova, I need to speak with you,” he said, making it known it was not a request.

Nova turned to the guests. “I’ll be right back.”

The red giant and the grey-masked man stepped off to the side of the dance floor, in a corner where there were no partygoers.

“What is it?” Nova asked. “What’s so urgent?”

“They did it,” Rigel whispered. “There’s been a breakthrough.”

“What kind of a breakthrough?”

The red giant smiled. “The one we’ve been waiting for.”

On the fourth floor of the skyscraper, Rigel and Nova followed Dr. Arthur Brooks into a science lab tucked away in the far corner of the Research and Development wing of the building.

“Show it to us,” Rigel said. “Show us what you’ve found.”

The green-skinned Dr. Brooks—dressed in his pristine, white lab coat— handed Rigel a manila folder. “Well, it’s just as we thought. Based on the findings from our tests on the Daybreaker, and the readings from our extractions, it is absolutely certain that his powers are transferable.”

Rigel looked over the readings inside the file. “Just like his father’s.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“So this means what we were thinking is true?” Nova asked. “His energy powers can be transmitted to other people?”

“Yes.”

“And this will be permanent? The person on the other end of the transfusion will be granted similar powers to him permanently?”

Dr. Brooks adjusted his glasses. “Yes, absolutely. It will result in a complete change in the recipients’ physical cosmology. But I must tell you, it will be a while before we—”

“Where is he?” Rigel snapped. “Where is he now?”

“We are just finishing up our latest extraction.”

The doctor stepped in front of a massive, circular metal door. The door protruded from the wall and appeared to be over five-feet thick, with its front adorned with several electronic locks and a handle that looked like the captain’s wheel on a ship.

As Dr. Brooks began entering his codes into the electronic locks, a horrible, agonized scream came from behind the door.

“What is that sound?” Nova asked. “Who is that?”

“That,” Dr. Brooks said, as he turned the handle of the door and opened it, “is the boy.”

Rigel and Nova stepped inside. Across the gigantic, cold, metallic room, the Daybreaker was strapped into a metallic, bed-like contraption, which was several feet off the floor and standing straight up against the wall. The Daybreaker’s arms were extended out from his body and pressed against the contraption, and there were dozens of sensors, IV’s, and thick tubes protruding from his exposed biceps and chest.

Nova followed Rigel and the doctor across the room, shocked at the sight of the Daybreaker, whose forehead and body were dripping with sweat. As the boy gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, a blue electricity wave around him snapped and flashed, reaching out towards the scientists gathered around him. The entire room was soon covered in the blue-and-white light from this seemingly alive energy, which only grew more wild and violent as the boy screamed in pain against the wall.

Dr. Brooks approached one of the young scientists who was manning the controls of the energy extractor. “Two more rounds, Daybreaker,” the doctor said, “then we will be finished for the day. Dr. Matthews, bring it up to level seven-dash-twelve. And follow it with level ten-dash-eleven.”

Dr. Matthews adjusted a knob on the controls in front of him, and the energy extractor hummed and vibrated, shaking the walls and floor of the room. As the Daybreaker screamed, louder than ever, his body contorted in pain. Nova stepped back, startled, as the blue electricity suddenly exploded from the boy’s chest, streaking across his arms and hands.

Dr. Brooks waved his hands up and down, motioning for Dr. Matthews to turn off the energy extractor. “Very good, Daybreaker. That’s all for today. You did very well. Now it’s time for a rest.”

The humming of the machine stopped, and finally the Daybreaker’s arms and legs went limp, still strapped against the wall. Several nurses and doctors dashed to the Daybreaker and began unlatching his wrists and ankles, being careful not to touch the parts of his body that were still pulsing with blue electricity. Exhausted and nearly unconscious, with his body involuntarily shaking, the nurses helped him down and carried him to a wheeled hospital bed in the middle of the room. As they pushed him toward a door, a group of doctors frantically gathered around him, checking his pulse and shining lights into his dilated pupils.

“Is it always so violent?” Nova asked.

“Yes, unfortunately. We haven’t found a way yet for the extraction to not result in incredible pain for the Daybreaker.”

“As long as it does not kill him,” Rigel said.

“No, it certainly won’t. Not unless we go too far with our extractions, but we know where the line is that we must not cross.”

Rigel stepped toward a gigantic, round, metal container attached to the energy extractor by thick pipes. The silo-like tank took up nearly a quarter of the room, and was covered in warning signs and meters that displayed the readings of the energy stored inside.

“And all of the power is being stored here?” the red giant asked, placing a hand on the silo. He could feel the electricity vibrating inside.

Dr. Brooks stood next to Rigel. “Yes, since our very first extraction of the Daybreaker, all of his transmittable power has been stored in this unit. The amounts are still incredibly concentrated now, and much too dangerous for transmission. But once we are able to dilute the power and separate it into smaller doses, the sky is the limit for whoever wishes to receive the first transmission.”

Rigel looked up, admiring the energy tank. It was so large that metal catwalks wound around its top, with scientists walking along the walkways high up near the ceiling, inspecting the electricity readings.

“It’s just as we thought,” the red giant said. “Just like his father, his powers are transmittable. This will change everything for us.”

“When do you think you will have the first doses ready?” Nova asked.

“Not for another few weeks or so. Maybe a month. We are still testing the extracted power, to see how far we can go, what size doses will be safe for the recipients. The level of his power is stunning, and we need to make sure we know how much is viable to transmit at a time. We—none of us—have ever seen energy and powers this strong.”

“Good,” Rigel said. “Take your time. We want to make sure we get this right. Where is the boy now? Will he be able to speak?”

“Yes. He’ll be a little disoriented, but he’ll be conscious. He’s in the recovery room.”

Following Dr. Brooks through a door at the rear of the science lab, Rigel and Nova stepped into a brightly lit, comfortable room with a bed, nightstand, and television. The Daybreaker was laying in the bed with his eyes closed, and a few of the nurses were checking on him and transcribing his condition into their electronic tablets.

As Nova waited in the doorway, Rigel approached the hospital bed. The nurses and doctors stepped aside as the red giant stood next to the Daybreaker.

“Hello, Daybreaker. How are you feeling?”

The Daybreaker opened his eyes, his eyelids fluttering before closing again. “Fine. Tired.” He took a deep breath. “But I should be up again soon. It doesn’t last long.”

“Good,” Rigel said. “I’m sorry about the pain from the procedure. But it’s necessary, if we are going to heal you and make you better.”

“I know,” the Daybreaker replied. “I just want things to be okay. I just want to be okay again.”

Rigel patted the Daybreaker’s shoulder. “It’s one of life’s cruel twists that the powers that are such a gift to you are also making you so sick, but with all the work the doctors here in the Trident are doing, they’ll have you cured in no time. And then you can get back to doing what you do best.”

The Daybreaker nodded. “I just want to be back on my feet at full strength again. So I can get to work with you and Nova. We need to get everything ready for the next phase.”

“You will be ready, don’t worry. These procedures are going to make sure of that. Once the doctors are finished with their work, you’ll be back to feeling like your old self again. And ready to lead us where we’re going next.”

The Daybreaker groaned and rolled over. “Can I go back to my office now?”

“In a few minutes. When you are feeling better. Now, just stay here and rest. The nurses are going to take care of you.”

Rigel walked away from the hospital bed and toward the exit of the recovery room. As he reached the door, he pulled one of the nurses aside.

“Make sure he doesn’t leave this room,” the red giant said, gripping the nurse’s arm. “In twenty minutes, have him ready for another extraction.”

The nurse was a pretty, green-skinned young woman in her early twenties, with blonde hair and brown eyes. She pulled away from Rigel, surprised and frightened.

“But—but we can’t,” she said. “We can’t do that. We’ve already done too much today, we can’t do any—”

“He can handle it,” Rigel said. “We need another extraction. Tell the Daybreaker that the doctors found an abnormality in his most recent extraction, and that another procedure must be done tonight. I’m going to tell the doctors the same thing.”

The nurse looked at the Daybreaker lying in bed. “But he can’t, he’ll—”

“Believe me,” Rigel said, growing impatient. “He can handle it.”

The red giant stomped out of the door, followed by Nova.

Soon, the nurse was left alone in the quiet recovery room with the sleeping Daybreaker. In silence, she walked over to the boy’s bed and placed her fingers on his neck, checking his pulse.

“Hmm,” the Daybreaker said with his eyes closed. “Your hand is cold.”

The nurse pulled her fingers back, startled. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were asleep.”

The Daybreaker opened his eyes. He couldn’t see very well, but he could recognize the nurse; she was around his age and very pretty, with blonde hair and beautiful dark eyes that were striking against her white uniform. She was often in the recovery room with him, after his procedures. He smiled at her.

“It’s okay,” he said. “It felt good. Thank you for helping me.”

The nurse was surprised. “Oh, I don’t—it’s my—of course. That’s why I’m here.”

The Daybreaker looked up at her. He was growing delirious. “You know, you are one of the only people I see in this skyscraper besides Rigel and Nova. You and the doctors. It’s so nice you are all helping me.”

The nurse looked to the floor. The Daybreaker had never spoken to anyone before, besides Rigel and Nova. “Yes, well, we would do anything to help you, sir,” she said. “We all owe you so much. But just rest now, okay?”

“Okay. Let me know what the doctors say about that last test. I hope I’m getting better. I hope it says I’m not dying anymore.”

The nurse looked up, shocked. “Is that—is that what you were told? That you’re dying?”

“Yes.” The Daybreaker rolled over. “But now Rigel and all of you are helping me. So I’ll get better.”

The nurse thought, looking at the back of the Daybreaker’s head. “Okay. Just try and sleep, okay?”

The nurse watched the Daybreaker. Eventually, she heard his breathing change, which meant that he was asleep. Pulling up a chair, she sat down next to him, with her hands in her lap. She listened to his breathing and the clock on the wall ticking.

Soon, Dr. Brooks stepped into the recovery room.

“Nurse Somerset? Have the patient ready for another extraction in fifteen minutes. Rigel’s orders.”

“Yes, sir,” Nurse Somerset replied.