Ch. 21
Evan and Robin met the burly Captain Miller in the lobby of the healthcare center. He had two other formidable looking female security officers with him. Judging by their facial expressions, they had something serious to discuss with him.
“What’s going on?” Evan said.
“Earlier this afternoon there was an incident at the base involving one of the top-grade magical artifacts,” Captain Miller said. “This particular artifact was rumored to have the power to change the weather. It turns out that was true.”
“Somehow, the artifact was activated,” he continued. “It began throwing off powerful bolts of lightning, causing major damage to several key research departments.”
“Whoa,” Evan said imagining the scene in his head.
“We were able to contain the artifact in a secure room, but it can’t be left alone for long,” Captain Miller said. “We need you to help us deactivate it.”
“Me!?” Evan said. “I still can’t use any of my power.”
“Dr. Campbell has thought of a method to smother the power from the artifact and shut it down, but he said he needs you to help do it.”
Was he going to use the magic transference machine? He might be able to help if they used that somehow. Dr. Campbell would be the one to know if it was possible or not. If he was saying Evan could do it, it was probably true.
“Ok, I’ll help.”
“Good,” Captain Miller said. “We need to go now. We can’t afford to waste time.”
Before the group left to head to the base, Captain Miller turned to Robin.
“We’ll escort Evan from here,” he said. “You’re more needed on campus.”
“But…I need to stay with Evan, right?”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said shaking his head. “He’ll be safe. We have most of the force helping secure the base right now anyway. Stay here and help secure the dorm for now.”
“Ok,” Robin said after a short pause. She didn’t look happy about the orders, but she didn’t go against her superior officer.
“Don’t say anything to anyone about this incident,” Captain Miller said. “They don’t want word getting out about the artifact. It’s one of the highest guarded items in the vault.”
Robin nodded, and everyone else made to leave. Evan’s group didn’t speak on the way to the base. He had never met these officers other than Captain Miller, and he only met him briefly the one time. Under different circumstances, Evan might have tried to strike up a conversation, but the atmosphere didn’t feel right for small talk. It sounded like this was a major deal with big potential consequences, and judging by the looks on the officers’ faces, some people might have gotten seriously hurt. Evan really hoped Dr. Campbell knew what he was doing bringing him in. He didn’t want everyone to hate him if he couldn’t do anything in the end.
The base didn’t look any different on the outside as they arrived. He noted the same level of activity that he normally encountered when he came to the base, and nobody looked especially panicked. He was glad that the base hadn’t been hurt too badly yet.
The group walked into the research building with Evan protected at the center. The inside also seemed to be rather normal. No blaring sirens or warnings being shouted about an impending explosion. Maybe he had seen a few too many disaster movies? Their group gathered inside an elevator where it felt a little crowded. Captain Miller put a key into the control pad and hit a button sending the elevator down to a lower level.
“I haven’t been down before,” Evan said. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“The artifact was put in one of our underground bunkers,” Captain Miller said.
That made sense to Evan. Putting a volatile and potentially deadly weapon in a room reinforced by tons of earth made sense. It seemed like they had contingencies in place for any disaster. It was nice knowing the people he had been working with were so capable.
He couldn’t tell how many levels they went down, but the trip didn’t take too long. The doors soon opened to a hallway, and the officers led him to the destination. After entering a code on the security pad next to the door, the group walked into a large bright room. There they found Dr. Campbell and General Carn waiting for them.
“Yes! You made it!” Dr. Campbell said.
“Well, you said you needed my help, so here I am,” Evan said.
“Fantastic,” Dr. Campbell said smiling.
“First things first,” General Carn said. He gave a small nod to the officers on either side of Evan.
The officers, who Evan still had not been introduced to, suddenly grabbed Evan and held his arms behind his back roughly.
“What the hell!?” Evan said, struggling.
“Quiet,” Captain Miller said before hitting him in the gut.
Tears filled Evan’s eyes as the force of the blow knocked the wind out of him. One of the officers continued to hold his arms tightly behind his back while the other began rifling through Evan’s pockets. He retrieved Evan’s phone and stepped back.
“You’ve been given a great gift, Evan,” General Carn said. “It’s a shame that it’s destined to be completely wasted in your hands. That’s why we’re taking matters into our own.”
“Put him here,” Dr. Campbell said.
The two nameless officers dragged Evan to where the doctor had indicated. Evan was put on top of a metal operating table. They strapped his wrists and ankles down securely with heavy metal clasps. The table was then operated so he was sitting up at a forty-five-degree angle.
“What’s going on? Why are you doing this?” Evan said, a tremor in his voice.
“We did think about persuading you to our cause,” General Carn said. “But it became apparent after talking to you that you would never join us. You didn’t even entertain the idea of obtaining power to change the world for a second. It was clear you would never sympathize with our mission. You just want to go to school like a ‘normal person’, right? That right there was enough to know.”
“You’re doing this because I didn’t want to join your army?”
General Carn scoffed.
“We may have used the military and the security force in Tourmaline to gain access to the things we needed, but we have no allegiance to such petty establishments as those,” he said. “There is only one thing our society is loyal to above all else. The pursuit of the perfect race!”
“For centuries we have worked endlessly toward our goal of creating the perfect living beings,” he said. “Vampires, werewolves, mermaids, angels, devils, giants! Each with their many improvements over normal man, and each with their own many flaws. Ancient mages sought to improve mankind, and we carry on their will! Through us, mankind will emerge as the true culmination of all life on earth. Through us, mankind will evolve into its final form!”
“You’re crazy,” Evan said quietly in disbelief. His whole body was shaking.
“Is it crazy to want a world where humans don’t get sick? Where you no longer have to watch your loved ones grow old and die?”
“…”
“It’s always the same,” General Carn said. “People always fail to see the big picture. But that is what we are dedicated to. The greater good for the human race.”
“How could you possibly achieve all that?”
“We’ve spent decades in Tourmaline studying all the races gathered here,” the general said. “With modern technology, we’ve been able to isolate the most desirable traits in each of them. We have the knowledge necessary to reach our goal at long last. We were only missing one piece.”
He smiled at Evan.
“You,” he said. “A generator mage. One with power capable of altering the human genome and taking advantage of our accumulated knowledge. Now that we have you, it will only be a matter of time. But we’re no strangers to waiting. We are patient. Even if it takes decades of experimentation, we will succeed.”
“I won’t help you,” Evan said.
“That’s one of the best parts,” General Carn said. “With Dr. Campbell’s machine, you won’t have to.”
The general stepped away to where Evan could no longer see him. Evan heard the people around him talking, but he couldn’t see what was happening, and he couldn’t move at all strapped down to the table. He was completely helpless.
“Bring him in,” he heard Dr. Campbell say.
Evan’s eyes widened as he saw someone being wheeled in on a gurney. As it was brought closer, Evan recognized the form of Derek Volkov strapped down tightly unable to move. Derek was in rough shape. He had bandages covering almost his entire body, and Evan wasn’t even sure if he was conscious.
“Derek here was a big help to our research,” Dr. Campbell said. “It was him that helped us make our final adjustments to the transference machine. I just needed a closer look at the magic inside a male mage’s body as it worked.”
“You’re a monster,” Evan said barely above a whisper.
“No, I’m a visionary,” Dr. Campbell said unfazed. “Now, how about we get started? Derek only has to go through one last experiment, and then he’ll be free to go.”
Dr. Campbell went to a nearby table and opened a box. He reached in and took out a metal sphere. It took Evan a few seconds, but he was able to recognize what the sphere was. It was the converter, the artifact the general had previously shown him in the vault.
Evan didn’t want to think about what was about to happen. The whole situation felt unreal. He thought he was coming to help save the day!? All these people he had respected ended up being psychopaths. He struggled against his restraints, but it was no use. He was left only to hope and pray. Pray that someone would show up and wake him from this nightmare.