Chapter 10 

[Helaman Peak - September 21st 1pm]

James gradually emerged from the depths of a vivid, dreamlike state, feeling the warmth of the small fire beside him. As his senses returned, he noticed Sentra peering down at him, her expression a blend of curiosity and concern. “How do you feel?” she asked, her voice steady yet soft.

“I... I feel wonderful,” he stammered, struggling to articulate the overwhelming emotions swirling within him. As he looked down, he realized he was still clutching the prism tightly in his hand. Eagerly, he extended it to Sentra, his excitement palpable. “Look! What did they give me? What is this?”

The prism shimmered with crystalline clarity, but then, as if responding to an unseen force, it transformed into a radiant golden hue. Intricate alien symbols were etched into each of its four sides, their meanings as enigmatic as the object itself. 

“That is a resonance stone,” Sentra explained, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the shimmering object. “This highly advanced device facilitates telepathic communication by transmitting high-frequency waves that exist beyond the range of human hearing. But that’s not all—it also possesses extraordinary healing capabilities. By harnessing these frequencies, it can promote cellular regeneration and even repair DNA, potentially unlocking profound benefits for those who wield it.”

James’s brow furrowed as he recalled the last moment of his vision. “Sentra, right before it ended, I saw myself inside a chamber. When our eyes met, everything collapsed into a strange realm, and I woke up. What does that mean?”

“I’m afraid I’m not permitted to disclose that information,” she replied, her tone shifting to a more serious note. “Such interpretations are up to you.”

“So, you are communicating with these Entities then?” he pressed, searching her expression for any hint of an answer.

Sentra remained silent, her focus unwavering as she turned and continued down the trail toward the group. Confusion washed over James once more. “I’m just going to assume that means yes,” he called out after her, his voice echoing with a mixture of frustration and curiosity.

[Unknown Location - September 23rd, 2085 - 7 am]

For the next two days, the team of four hiked through the dense forest toward the eastern coastline. James and Ava donned their gas masks and activated their portable jammers, carefully navigating the apocalyptic landscape. In the early morning, at sunrise, Mount Orpheus erupted once more. This time with a ferocity that shook the earth beneath them. A colossal plume of ash shot miles into the sky, darkening the atmosphere. The ground trembled violently as ancient trees cracked and toppled around them. Thick, suffocating clouds of smoke poured from the mountain, raining ash down in relentless torrents. The wind carried this ash eastward, blanketing the ground in a thick layer of tephra. It felt as though the end of the world had finally arrived, leaving everything in desolation and ruin. Yet, undeterred, the four continued along the remnants of the trail, hiking through the ash with the hope that on the other side lay the refuge of the SR.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a crimson glow across the sky, the team paused at the crest of a small hill. Below them, they spotted a cluster of tents, neatly lined up in rows. The camp was surrounded by hills and thick forest, all covered in a layer of ash that made it difficult to discern at first glance. Sentra pulled out the map, confirming to the others that this was indeed their destination. They descended the hill, where they were met by two droids stationed at the outer entrance. Recognizing Sentra, the droids greeted them warmly and guided them into the camp.

Inside, hundreds of refugees awaited shelter within their tents, seeking refuge from the relentless ashfall. They wore heavy boots and jackets, their hoods drawn tight against the elements, masks and goggles obscuring their faces. Most strikingly, none of them wore vision glasses; it was clear they no longer trusted the devices that had once been so ubiquitous, having abandoned them in the ruins of their homes. As the team moved through the camp, eyes turned toward them with a mix of hope and apprehension. Eventually, the two droids led them to the heart of the camp, where a larger tent stood prominently. Inside, they found Commander Arden and several members of the council, ready to discuss the unfolding crisis.  

After an extensive conversation and a thorough debriefing about the events at the bunker, James felt a pressing need to interject. “Excuse me, Commander. May I ask an urgent question?” Commander Arden paused, granting Shade the floor to speak.

“I know who the mole is, sir. Zep can confirm. He was with me when I caught him going through the lab reports, and that was right before we were attacked.”

Arden raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s the name?”

James took a breath, steadying his voice. “It was the new intern... Osbourne.”

“Osbourne!” Commander Arden exclaimed, concern etching his features. “How sure are you?”

Zep swiftly reached for his holographic display, pulling up the relevant files. “See, sir? He used some sort of device to access our files. We walked in and called security, but then we were attacked almost immediately. We need to confirm whether he’s still in the camp.”

Commander Arden’s brow furrowed as he processed the information. “Well, we just picked him up in New Haven. He’s boarding a refugee convoy right now.”

“We need to redirect his route immediately! He must not discover our location!” Zep urged, his urgency palpable. “Was he given the coordinates?”

“No,” Commander Arden replied decisively, then motioned for one of the droids. “Stop the convoy.”

The droid quickly exited the tent, its mechanical footsteps echoing in the tense silence as it delivered the urgent news. Minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity before the droid returned, interrupting the meeting with the weight of the situation hanging heavily in the air. 

“Excuse me, Commander. I have some unfortunate news,” the droid began, its voice steady but urgent. “Osbourne has escaped. However, we managed to capture his accomplice. Her name is Monique, and she was caught fleeing the scene alongside Osbourne. We have her contained and have discovered that she had unauthorized access to sensitive files just before the attack.”

“Bring her to the Atlantica Headquarters. Set up an interrogation with Sentra. And I want Osbourne alive,” Commander Arden commanded, his voice firm and resolute.

“Yes, sir.” The droid exited the room, its mechanical footsteps echoing in the tense silence.

Commander Arden then signaled for a helicopter to transport Sentra to the new headquarters. As she prepared to leave, Sentra approached James, her expression serious yet conspiratorial. She handed him the Resonant Stone, ensuring no one else was watching. “I need you to hold onto this. You’ll find a way to make it useful—just keep it safe,” she instructed, her voice low.

Outside, the helicopter touched down, its blades whipping up the air. The tent shook violently as wind swept through, dispersing the ash and creating a swirling cloud that enveloped the area. Sentra joined a small group of droids and boarded the aircraft.

As they disappeared into the distance, James stood there, his heart racing. He felt the stone vibrating subtly in his pocket, its warmth seeping through the fabric of his clothes. Hurrying over to an empty tent, he slipped inside, ensuring he was out of sight.

Once inside, James pulled out the prism. It emitted a radiant purple glow, casting an ethereal light that illuminated the dark and dreary interior of the tent. The brightness was blinding, forcing him to shield his eyes with his hand. Just then, Ava entered, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“James! Where did you get that?” she exclaimed. Startled by her sudden appearance, James instinctively threw the stone, and it landed on the ground. As it hit the floor, the light shifted and focused on the blank wall, revealing a detailed map.

“Damn, Ava, you scared the hell out of me!” he said.

“Look!” Ava stepped closer to the wall, her excitement palpable. “That’s the MetaWave building!”

They both watched in awe as the map transformed, displaying what appeared to be drone footage of the area surrounding the MetaWave headquarters. The camera panned over the tall glass structure, revealing small groups of SEA troops, heavily armed and holding assault rifles. As the footage continued, it glided down the street, exposing countless homeless encampments. The scene was harrowing—thousands of people were sleeping in the streets, living in abject poverty. Many were shown smoking fentanyl openly, while others sat hunched over in a drug-induced stupor.

A small group of droids appeared in the footage, delivering water and supplies to the encampments. Desperate faces surrounded them, pleading for help, their eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair.

Suddenly, the light from the prism dimmed, plunging Ava and James into darkness. James quickly picked up the device, determination etched on his face. “I’m heading over there. I think they want me to use the prism there.”

“Commander Arden just asked us to stay put…” Ava replied hesitantly.

“I don’t care!” James interrupted, his resolve unwavering. “I’ll get Zep to convince him to let us go. They gave me this stone for a reason. It’s obviously trying to show us something important.”