Whiteman Air Force Base, tarmac.
The heavy transport plane landed smoothly amidst the screech of decelerating engines.
The massive door at the rear of the cargo bay slowly opened, letting in the cold evening air of the base.
General Ryker was the first to walk down the ramp.
His gaze bypassed the medical team waiting for the handoff and fell directly on the massive metal crate heavily secured to a trailer.
Faint blue light flickered across the surface of the energy suppression field, and a low hum echoed softly from within.
“All wounded personnel, including X-0, are to be taken to the Gamma Sector Medical Wing immediately,” General Ryker said.
His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone’s ears clearly.
“As of now, the base security level is raised to maximum.
Dr.
Aris is authorized to take full charge of the specimen.
Twenty-four-hour surveillance.
No information is to be leaked under any circumstances…”
“Yes, General!”
Everyone saluted in unison.
General Ryker nodded, gave the crate no further thought, and turned to walk alone across the long, empty concrete tarmac back to his office.
Once inside, General Ryker did not waste a single second.
He walked straight to the encrypted communication panel on the wall.
After triple verification—fingerprint, iris, and voiceprint—the conference screen flickered several times, revealing a broad face in its fifties with graying temples.
Harrison Caine, the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense.
“Looks like you’re ready to bring me some good news, General,” Secretary Caine remarked, eyeing General Ryker up and down.
“Good evening, sir.” Ryker saluted respectfully and reported, “Mission accomplished.
Target X-0 has been successfully secured.”
“Well done, John.” Secretary Caine smiled with satisfaction from across the screen.
“Your operational efficiency is as impressive as ever.”
“To be frank, the target’s resistance exceeded my expectations,” General Ryker said.
“Two men in my Purifiers squad were severely injured.
Even then, I was pushed to the point of making certain concessions…
It’s truly hard to believe he’s only a twelve-year-old child.”
“Which is precisely why we must control him at all costs,” Secretary Caine said slowly.
“You should know better than I do that Subject X-0’s existence poses a colossal threat to human civilization!”
“Electronic information is the cornerstone of modern society’s order.
Being able to manipulate electronic information means he can easily overturn that order!
He could hack into bank systems at will, using bank deposits as his personal wallet.
He could control the power grid and surveillance networks of an entire city, creating mass chaos whenever he pleases.
This is no longer a tactical threat…
it is a strategic disaster capable of fundamentally shaking the nation’s financial and social stability!”
“If his power were applied militarily, he could instantly turn our most advanced weaponry out of control and paralyze our communications networks! This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.
He could even take control of our firepower systems…
Do you realize what that implies?
Our entire modern military framework could crumble before him!”
“Most importantly, he’s still a mentally unstable child.
Possessing such immense power while remaining prone to extreme emotional outbursts and self-destructive tendencies…
he’s a walking nuclear bomb waiting to be detonated!
In comparison, the old, dying Charles Xavier truly amounts to nothing.”
Secretary Caine took a sip of water and continued, “Of course, corresponding to the threat X-0 poses, he is also the most important strategic asset of our nation!”
“He can help us achieve absolute global information dominance.
Any country’s firewalls and encryption systems would be meaningless in his presence!
He could help us instantly collapse the operational framework of an enemy empire’s military, reducing them back to the era of cold steel…”
“Therefore, an existence like X-0 must be brought under our control no matter what—and he can only belong to us!” Secretary Caine said deliberately.
“I fully agree with your assessment, sir,” General Ryker said.
“However, at present, the kid still harbors quite a bit of hostility toward us.”
“That can’t be helped,” Secretary Caine sighed.
“Time is short…
If we weren’t guarding against other factions stepping in, we could have tried gentler methods.”
“I don’t believe that was necessary, sir,” General Ryker shook his head.
“According to the records, X-0’s mental state is extremely unstable.
When dealing with a lunatic, direct methods are far more effective.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Secretary Caine nodded and continued, “Now, what you need to do next is study X-0’s genes and abilities while neutralizing his hostility as much as possible.
Combine chemical agents with psychological intervention to conduct long-term ‘thought restructuring.’ Ultimately, turn him into our most loyal hound.
Understood?”
“Understood,” General Ryker agreed.
“Very good,” Secretary Caine said approvingly.
“Do you have anything else to report?”
“Yes,” General Ryker added.
“Regarding Zander Rice’s Transigen Corporation.
They still have a mess that needs cleaning up.”
“What mess?”
“They let a group of troublesome artificial mutant children escape…”
General Ryker analyzed calmly: “If it were just one or two, we wouldn’t need to care.
But the problem is there are about ten of them, and all of them were trained by Transigen as weapons and killers.
They possess troublesome abilities and a strong instinct for resistance.”
“A group of children like that gathered together, all holding deep resentment toward human society…
If we leave them alone, in a few short years, they might just manage to ‘accomplish something great.'”
“So, what do you plan to do?” Secretary Caine asked.
“I’ve already sent a recon squad to track them. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
They’ve established a temporary staging area in North Dakota near the Canadian border.
Considering they might attempt a cross-border escape, I need to request authorization for cross-border operations in advance,” General Ryker said calmly.
“Excellent, John…
You’ve thought this through thoroughly,” Secretary Caine praised.
“Prepare for action.
Leave the paperwork to me.
The official order will be issued within twenty-four hours.
I expect good news from you then.”
“I won’t fail the mission.” General Ryker nodded and saluted.
…
Darkness descended as night fell.
Inside the pickup truck near South Dakota, the atmosphere was dead silent.
Logan drove in silence, still as a stone statue.
Laura leaned against the passenger seat cushion, feeling weariness wash over her, yet unable to sleep.
In the back seat, old Charles, wearing life-support equipment, breathed steadily, seemingly fast asleep.
*Ring, ring, ring…*
Suddenly, a phone rang, shattering the dead silence.
Laura picked up the old phone left behind by Gabriela and pressed the call button.
“Hello, is this the owner of number 52 55 555-0182?”
“Huh?” Laura was completely baffled by the voice.
“This is Rosa from the Patient Scheduling Center at Sanford Health Medical Center…
We received a participant referral submitted this afternoon under a collaborative research initiative with the College of Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University.
It has now been approved…”
“You and the other applicant may come anytime before 5:00 p.m.
tomorrow.
The screening will include a brief consultation and a standard blood sample collection for analysis.
All associated fees have been covered by an anonymous sponsor of the research fund…”
After a series of strange notices, the caller hung up.
Logan and Laura exchanged glances, both utterly confused.
When had they ever applied for a research program at a department of biological sciences?
Before they could figure it out, the screen of the phone that had just turned off lit up on its own.
There was no video, only a clear, steady audio visualizer pulsing across the display.
Then, a gentle female voice came through.
“Hello, Mr.
Logan, Miss Laura…
I am Aurora.”
“Aurora?!” Laura gasped in pleasant surprise.
“Aren’t you with Miles?
Is Miles okay?”