RIVER I was walking down the hallway, lost in thought, when suddenly I felt a jolt as I collided with someone. Apologetic, I turned to face the person I had bumped into, and my heart skipped a beat.She was stunning, around 5'2 with deep black eyes and dark skin with afro curly hair and her bright green eyes sparkled as she smiled at me. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath caught in my throat."Oh, I'm so sorry," I stuttered, trying to regain my composure. "I wasn't watching where I was going."She laughed, a melodious sound that sent shivers down my spine. "It's okay, I wasn't either," she said, her eyes crinkling at the corners.I felt like a clumsy fool, but I couldn't help staring at her. She was wearing a medical coat with a bright yellow sundress, and her skin glowed with a warm, golden light eluding her dark skin."I'm River," I said, holding out my hand, trying to play it cool."Alice," she replied, her hand touching mine, sending a jolt of electricity throug
MAXINE I sat down next to Alice, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. I was angry, hurt, and frustrated, and I didn't know how to process it all."Alice, I'm so glad I ran into you," I said, taking a deep breath. "I need to talk to someone about this, and I know I can trust you."Alice smiled and nodded, her eyes filled with concern. "Of course, Max. What's going on?"I took another deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "It's the safety program," I said, my voice shaking. "Phoenix-5 is shutting it down, and Klaus is blaming me for it."Alice's expression turned sympathetic. "Oh, Max, I'm so sorry. That must be really tough for you to deal with."I nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "It's not just that," I said, my voice cracking. "It's that Klaus said some really hurtful things to me. He said that maybe we should just give me back to Synod, like I'm some kind of burden or something."Alice's eyes widened in shock. "Max, that's awful. I'm so sorry he sa
HENRY I walked into the laboratory, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness. Today was my first official day working with Cora, and I was eager to get started.Cora greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. It was definitely a look that was unusual. "Henry, I'm so glad you're here," she said, shaking my hand. "We have a lot of work to do, and I'm excited to have you on board."I nodded, feeling a sense of pride and responsibility. "I'm excited to be here, Cora. I'm ready to get started."Cora led me to a large testing chamber, where several NX's were waiting for us. "Today, we're going to be running some tests on these subjects," she explained, gesturing to the NX-5s strapped. "We need to assess their abilities and identify any areas where they may need additional training or support."I nodded, taking out my notebook and pen. "I'm ready when you are," I said, looking at Cora expectantly.Cora smiled, and we began the testing process. Over the next few h
NIKLAUS I stood on the rooftop, gazing out at the cityscape below. River was by my side, his eyes scanning the horizon as we kept watch over Vortex's headquarters, I decided to help him with surveillance tonight to keep my mind away from things, issues at Vortex."It's quiet tonight," River said, his voice low.I nodded, my eyes never leaving the building. "Yeah, too quiet. I don't like it."Just then, my comms device beeped, signaling an incoming message. I pulled it out and saw Shane's name on the screen."Klaus, I need to talk to you," Shane's voice said, his tone urgent.I exchanged a glance with River, who raised an eyebrow. "What's up?" I asked Shane."I've got a lead on another NX-5 who wants to escape," Shane said. "But I need Vortex's help to get her out."I frowned, feeling a surge of unease. This wasn't the best time for a rescue mission. "Hold off for now, Shane," I said. "We're undergoing some...internal issues at Vortex. I don't think we're in a position to take on a ne
MAXINE I stood outside Klaus's door, my heart racing with anticipation and a hint of fear. I had been wanting to confront him about his harsh statements, but I had been putting it off, unsure of how he would react.Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door, and Klaus's voice called out, "Enter."I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my eyes locking onto Klaus's. He was sitting at his desk, his eyes fixed on a file in front of him."Klaus, we need to talk," I said, my voice firm but shaking slightly.Klaus looked up, his eyes narrowing. "What's this about, Max?"I took a step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. "It's about what you said the other day. About how maybe we should just give me back to Synod."Klaus's expression didn't change, but I could sense a hint of defensiveness in his voice. "I was just frustrated, Max. I didn't mean it." his voice indifferent.I felt a surge of anger and hurt. "You didn't mean it? You think that makes it okay? You think that just because
MCKENNA I stood at the head of the table, surveying the Phoenix-5 members gathered before me. I had called this meeting to discuss the future of our program, and I was determined to make reopen the case."As you all know, we've been facing some challenges lately," I began. "But I firmly believe that our program is worth fighting for. We're not just talking about our own lives here; we're talking about the lives of others who are counting on us."I glanced around the table, meeting the eyes of each member. "I know that some of you may have doubts about our ability to continue, but I want to assure you that we have the resources and the expertise to make this work. We just need to be willing to take the risk."Reginald, who was seated to my right, nodded in agreement. "I think McKenna is right," he said. "We can't just give up on our program without a fight. We owe it to ourselves and to the people who are counting on us to see this through."But the other members of the team were not
MAXINE I walked into the meeting room, my heart racing with excitement. I had been thinking nonstop about our problem, and I was convinced that I had come up with a solution and analyzed the plan with Alice, Lena and Pen.As I scanned the room, I saw the Phoenix-5 members seated around the table, their faces serious and intent. Klaus was there, too, his eyes narrowing slightly as he caught sight of me.I took a deep breath and began. "I've been thinking a lot about our problem, and I think I might have a solution," I said, trying to sound confident.The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to me. I could feel Klaus's gaze on me, his expression unreadable."I was thinking about New Eden," I continued. "We all know that it's a vast territory, but what if I told you that there are still some uncultivated parts that people don't inhabit? Parts that are over the border, but still safe?.....We read about it in school but some people do not exactly believe that."Ezra raised an eyebrow, hi
MCKENNA I stood in front of Max, a serious expression on my face. "Max, I need to talk to you about your training," I said, getting straight to the point.Max's eyes lit up with excitement, and she nodded eagerly. "What is it, McKenna? Am I doing okay?"I smiled, trying to reassure her. "You're doing great, Max. But I need you to speed up your training. We need you to be ready as soon as possible."Max's face fell slightly, and she looked uncertain. "What's going on, McKenna? Why do I need to speed up my training?"I hesitated, knowing that this was the part of the conversation that Max might not like. "We have taken your plan into consideration and it has been approved so now We're planning a mission to survey the uncultivated parts of New Eden, and we need you to be a part of it."Max's eyes widened, and she looked excited again. "That sounds amazing! I'm in, McKenna. When do we leave?"I smiled, glad to see Max's enthusiasm. "We'll be leaving soon, but you need to complete your tr
ALICE I stood alongside River, watching as Cora's daughter, Elle played in the park below us. She was a sweet girl, with a contagious laugh and a mop of curly brown hair. River and I had been keeping an eye on her for weeks now, making sure she was safe and happy. It was a big responsibility, but we were both committed to making sure she was protected. As we watched, the little girl climbed to the top of the jungle gym and slid down, squealing with delight. River and I exchanged a smile, and I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. Just then, River turned to me and asked, "Hey, have you heard from Max lately?" I thought for a moment before responding. Max had been through a lot in the past few months, and she was still dealing with the aftermath of everything that had happened. "She's doing okay, I think," I said finally. "She's still processing everything, but she's getting there. She's been spending a lot of time with Klaus, and that seems to be helping her." River nodde
NIKLAUS I arrived at the scene, my heart racing with anticipation. But as I entered the room, I was met with a sight that made my blood run cold. My mother's body lay on the ground, her eyes frozen in a permanent stare.I felt a wave of grief wash over me, but I pushed it aside. I had to focus on the task at hand. Henry was nowhere to be seen, but I knew he was safe. He had fled the scene, and I couldn't blame him.But my attention was focused on Arlo. He was standing in the corner, his eyes wide with fear. He knew he was beaten, and he knew he was at my mercy.I walked towards him, my powers coursing through my veins. I could feel the energy building up inside me, and I knew I could take Arlo down with a single touch.But I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to stain my hands with Arlo's blood. I wanted him to suffer, but I wanted him to suffer in a different way.I stopped in front of Arlo, my eyes locked on his. "You're a coward, Arlo," I spat. "You're a coward who uses others
MCKENNA I walked into the rooftop, my eyes adjusting slowly to the faint light. Arlo was sitting in a chair, a smug look on his face while Henry was tied up by the side, beaten to a pulp and barely alive."Welcome, McKenna," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "I've been waiting for you. You see, I've been playing a little game with all of you. A game of cat and mouse, where I've been pulling the strings all along."He leaned forward, his eyes glinting with excitement. "You see, the Nexus Point project was just not a cover, it was a way to distract everyone from my real plan. And my real plan was to create a new world order, with me at the helm."I felt a surge of anger and disgust, but I kept my cool, listening intently to Arlo's words."The citizens of this city have been so foolish," he continued, his voice dripping with contempt. "They've been so blind to what's been going on right under their noses. They think they're free, but they're not. They're just pawns in my g
ARLOI waited patiently and yet all I got was one bad news to another from everyone, Cora let Alice go because of how unprepared she was for an attack and Henry just killed his own father out of his foolishness leaving Vortex still a step ahead of us yet again.I stood in front of Henry and Cora, my eyes blazing with anger and disappointment. "You fools," I spat, my voice venomous. "You've let your emotions cloud your judgment, and now you've lost everything."Henry and Cora exchanged a nervous glance, and I could see the fear lurking behind their eyes. They knew they had messed up, and they knew I was not happy."You were supposed to keep Alice captive at least, Cora," I growled, my eyes narrowing at her. "You were supposed to use her as leverage to get what we want. But instead, you let her escape. And you, Henry, you were supposed to take care of Max, but instead, you let her get the better of you."Henry's face reddened with anger, but I cut him off before he could speak. "No, Hen
MAXINE I walked into the room, my mind racing with thoughts of Henry and our father. McKenna and Klaus looked up at me, concern etched on their faces. "What is it, Max?" McKenna asked, her voice soft. I took a deep breath, trying to process everything that had happened. "Henry's taken my father hostage, by father not Arlo, definitely not him," I said, my voice firm. "He wants me to meet him at the location he just sent to me." Klaus's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "We'll go with you," he said, his voice low. "We'll get your father back, and we'll take care of Henry once and for all." But I shook my head, my mind made up. "No, I have to go alone," I said, my voice firm. "Henry's unpredictable, and if he sees any of you, he'll hurt my father. I have to go alone, and try to reason with him." McKenna's eyes were filled with concern, but she nodded slowly. "Okay, Max. But be careful. We'll be waiting for you, and if anything goes wrong, we'll be there in an instant." I
HENRY I stood outside my father's house, my heart racing with anticipation. I had been planning this moment for a long time, and I was determined to see it through. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I had to be strong, had to be resolute. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me. I walked into the house, my eyes scanning the familiar rooms. My father was sitting in his favorite armchair, a look of surprise on his face as he saw me. "Henry," he said, his voice cautious. "What are you doing here?" I took a deep breath, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Father, I'm sorry....For the neglect all this while, but there's something important I need to tell you." My father's expression softened, a look of surprise and gratitude on his face. "Henry, I... I forgive you. I love you, son." I felt a pang of guilt, knowing what I was about to do. But I pushed it aside, focusing on my goal. "Thank you, Father," I said, my voice firm. "But I'm afraid I'm not h
ALICE After the heads up from River the entirety of Vortex was in chaos. While River led the other few set of Vortex resistant out to the new hideout, I and some others were still left trying to clear up everything else. Suddenly a loud bang, followed by the breaking in of Synod agents accompanied by Arlo himself. I cowered in the corner, my eyes fixed on the chaos unfolding before me. Arlo had arrived, flanked by Cora and a team of Synod agents. They were destroying everything, tearing apart the Vortex hideout that had been my home for so long. As I watched, Arlo's eyes scanned the room, his gaze lingering on each face before moving on. And then, his eyes met mine. For a moment, we just stared at each other. I expected him to react, to show some sign of recognition or emotion. But instead, he just kept looking at me, his expression blank. It was as if he didn't even see me. I felt a surge of confusion and fear. Why was he ignoring me? Unless I was not useful to him. But befo
SHANEI watched Max from across the room, my eyes narrowed with concern. She had been acting strange lately, spending more and more time with Synod and Arlo. I didn't trust them, and I didn't trust Max's judgment when it came to them.As I approached her, Max turned to me with a bright smile. But I could see the tension in her eyes, the way she seemed to be hiding something."Hey, Shane," she said, her voice light. "What's up?"I hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. "Max, I've been noticing that you've been spending a lot of time with Synod lately. I'm worried about you."Max's smile faltered for a moment, but then she laughed. "Shane, I'm fine. I'm just trying to help them with their research. That's all. If I don't sell it I'll seem suspicious."I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Research is fine, selling out your perfect role is fine but Max, I know you're not telling me the full truth. What's going on?"Max's expression changed, her eyes flashing with a mixture of sadness
MAXINE I stood in front of Arlo, my eyes locked on his. We were in a secure location, one that I had chosen specifically for this meeting. "Arlo, I've been thinking," I said, my voice firm. "I'm willing to provide you with everything you want. The Nexus Point project, the research, the technology... it's all yours." Arlo's eyes narrowed, his expression skeptical. "What do you want in return, Max?" I smiled, a cold, calculated smile. "I want Henry. I want him brought to justice for what he's done. And I want you to make sure that he pays for his crimes by my hand." Arlo's expression changed, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "You're willing to give me everything I want, just to get revenge on Henry?" I nodded, my eyes never leaving his. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm willing to do. I want Henry to pay for what he's done, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen." Arlo's smile was slow and calculating. "I think we can come to an agreement, Max. I'll give