NIX Space Station, Orbiting above The Atlantic Ocean, March 29 2073. 6:47 P.M.
As dusk settled in, a towering space station loomed, observing as darkness enveloped the world and city lights illuminated across the globe. Outside, a dedicated astronaut toiled away, diligently repairing a complex engine using a versatile multi-purpose tool. Immersed in his task, he reached out to the control center, the words crackling through the radio waves.
"Control, what is the status of the Cosmos Flux Regulator? Over," he inquired.
A burst of static filled the airwaves before the control center responded, "Negative. The Regulator remains non-operational. The Cosmos energy is too volatile for it to handle. Attempt to fix the K^9 Core, Dr. Neumann. Over."
Acknowledging the instructions, the astronaut, revealed to be Dr. Neumann in his suit, contemplated a solution, I think I know what I need to fix this. He retrieved a dodecahedron shape engine core, known as a K^9 Core, and tossed it into space, allowing it to drift away. From his belt pocket, he produced a makeshift version of K^9 Core. Inserting it into the module, he swiftly restored everything to order.
"Okay, try it again. Over," Dr. Neumann informed the Control. A few seconds later, the station hummed with power. "Dr. Neumann, congratulations. You have successfully fixed the Ambience Flux Regulator. Now we can begin collecting the Ambience for Project Event Horizon," came the response from the Control. However, Dr. Neumann didn't share the Control's enthusiasm. Lost in his thoughts, Dr. Neumann found solace in the tranquility that space offered. He relished the opportunity to immerse himself in its profound silence, a respite from the bustling noise of everyday life. The vast expanse of the cosmos provided him with a sense of serenity, a retreat from the chaos of the world inside.
Dr. Neumann gracefully manoeuvre through the depths of space until he located a compartment for re-entry into the station. After the decompression process, he removed his spacesuit, carefully placing it on a rack. Making his way to the main compartment of the space station, he headed toward the men's changing room and proceeded to the showers. Opening the locker bearing the label 'Dr. Victor Magnus Neumann,' he donned a white long-sleeved turtle-neck and a dark green NIX Engineer jumpsuit. He used a comb to neatly sweep his black hair to the right side, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. Satisfied with his appearance, he closed his locker and exited the changing room.
As he strolled along the corridor, the vastness of space beckoned him, capturing his attention. "Dr. Neumann! Here is your parcel delivery for today," a deliveryman interrupted, thrusting a large package into Dr. Neumann's hands. "Congratulations on fixing the Cosmos Flux Regulator! Now we can fight the Voids!" the deliveryman hastily added before rushing off to deliver another package. Dr. Neumann continued on his way, heading towards the NIX Research Station where he carried out his work.
Upon entering Level 1 of the laboratory, Dr. Neumann encountered a colossal machine known as the Cosmos Flux Regulator. Surrounding it were scientists from various fields, diligently working amidst swirling metal circles that generated a transparent bluish hue of energy. Dr. Neumann passed through the room swiftly, and enter the elevator pressing the button Level 3, he attempt to avoid drawing attention from his colleagues due to the limited time for breaks. Finally, he arrived at a room accessible only to head scientists and researchers, a privilege he enjoyed. Swiping his key-card, the door swung open, revealing a stark white interior adorned with cushions on the floor, ceiling, and walls. Unobtrusively, gears and components shifted around the room. A woman in her mid-twenties, with long unruly black hair and elves-like ears gently peeking through, she was engrossed in playing a lyre, producing a harmonious melody. She paused as she heard someone enter.
"Good evening, Pandora! I have a gift for you!" Dr. Neumann exclaimed, his joy evident as he presented a parcel to her with outstretched arms. "Is it for me? What's inside, Victor?" Pandora replied through sign language, her speech impairment apparent.
"Sorry!" Dr. Neumann swiftly responded, placing his index finger over his lips in a zipping motion. "It's a secret!" he exclaimed, his excitement reminiscent of a child. Pandora smiled at his playful antics and proceeded to unwrap the gift. Inside, she discovered a violin. Testing the strings, she retrieved a bow and began to play Amadeus Mozart's Moonlight Sonata. Dr. Neumann simply listened, captivated by the music, losing himself in the passage of time.
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Nexuscape Integration eXpansion (NIX) Polytechnic, Central Park, Manhattan, USA. October 18 2203, 12:43 P.M.
Felix clutched the official document from NIX Corporation, a multinational conglomerate, intended for newly graduated Stargazers. The document recommended talented civilians for recruitment as Stargazers, a profession with over a million practitioners in New York. NIX Corporation held a dominant presence across various industries from the 2170s to the early 2200s, including cosmetics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial machine production, consumer products, health foods, transportation, and tourism. Despite the potential financial rewards and benefits offered by NIX Corporation, hunting Voids—the primary responsibility of Stargazers—was widely regarded as one of the most perilous occupations.
As Felix departed from the NIX Bureau Sector, his golden hazel eyes remained fixated on the document, absorbing the words as he walked toward the elevator. Suddenly, someone collided with his shoulder, causing him to forcefully ricochet against the wall. In the process, the document slipped from his grasp and skidded across the floor, coming to a stop near the man's feet. "Oi! Watch where you're going!" Felix exclaimed, annoyance evident in his voice, as he looked up to glare at the man.
The man had unruly waves of black hair that framed a face adorned with sharp, chiseled features. High cheekbones, a strong jawline, and an aquiline nose accentuated his confident and self-assured posture, mirroring his tall stature, golden complexion, and well-proportioned, muscular build. With a nonchalant expression in his pale green eyes, he gazed back at Felix. The man callously stepping on the paper that Felix had been carrying, causing it to crumble beneath his shoe. Without another thought, the man continued on his way, leaving Felix behind.
Sighing heavily, Felix rose from the ground, retrieved his crumpled paper. "Nincompoop! That guy did that on purpose! He don’t know how long I have to wait for this piece of paper!" he thought, frowning at the paper as he enter the elevator. He felt a tinge of sadness, knowing that he would have to present a damaged document to someone he held dear. Unbeknownst to Felix, the elevator suddenly halted due to a power shortage that the NIX Corporation had been trying to fix for the past eight months. However, Felix remained unfazed, confident that it would resume its operation within the next ten minutes.
Lost in his thoughts, Felix failed to notice a woman with headphones in the elevator beside him. Startled, he jumped nervously, his reaction akin to that of a startled cat. "Gahhh! That's Evangeline Weiss! How did I not notice her? Oh man, she's as scary as the rumors say. Felix, you nincompoop!" his mind raced. "Sorry! I didn't see you there!" Felix hastily apologized, moving to the side to give her more space. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Evangeline, noticing her attractive oriental-like appearance. "She looks so... very...sad," Felix contemplated silently. Evangeline returned his gaze with a disinterested yet warning glare in her dark eyes, prompting Felix to quickly look away, not wanting to invite her wrath.
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"Why? Why are you here?" Evangeline's voice was barely audible, causing Felix to strain to catch her question. "What?” Felix gives her a confused looks, “Why are you here at NIX Polytechnic? What are your reasons?” Evangeline reiterated. “Oh! Why am I here? Um...” Felix contemplated, unsure whether he should reveal his purpose. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQpfFTqFQj
"Should I tell her? No one seems to believe me except Bartholomew," he pondered, letting out a sigh. "Hey, I'm actually looking for someone named Starling. Do you happen to know anyone by that name?" Felix asked hopefully. Evangeline's eyes widened for a brief moment before returning to their stoic stare—her reaction was subtle, but Felix noticed it. "I have never heard that name," Evangeline replied, causing Felix's hope to deflate. "For a very long time," she added cryptically. "Wait a minute! Does Evangeline knew her? Maybe she can help me find her?" Felix's hope resurfaced momentarily but dissipated as he observed the gloominess that shrouded her. And so, they waited in an uncomfortable silence.
"What happened to the paper?" Evangeline pointed toward the document, breaking the silence. Felix sighed and responded, "Some guy, stepped on my paper." There was a moment of silence before Evangeline reached out, her fingers hovering above the paper in mid-air. In an instant, the paper was restored, devoid of any shoe prints or wrinkles.
"WOW! Evangeline! How did you do that?" Felix asked, his confusion evident. "According to your profile, I don't remember reading that you were a Quasar," he added. Evangeline smiled fondly and responded, "I'm not, but it's something I can do." She then turned to Felix and continued, "You seemed sad, and you wanted to give the paper to someone important to you. So why not make that person happy?" Evangeline offered her support before retreating back into her usual gloomy demeanor.
As the power in the elevator was restored, they began their descent. Felix pondered Evangeline's words aloud, "Make someone happy, huh?" A mischievous smile crept across his face as he made a decision. "OK! LET'S MAKE YOU HAPPY!" Felix announced, taking Evangeline's hand as the elevator reached their destination. With a sense of purpose, he led her towards a place in his mind, with Evangeline following along. "My name is Felix, just Felix," he introduced himself to Evangeline. Her radiant smile in response was infectious. "Please call me Eva, just Eva," Evangeline greeted, and Felix laughed carefreely, leaving the other recruits to witness the most abnormal occurrence in their lives.
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Nexuscape Integration eXpansion (NIX) Polytechnic, Central Park, Manhattan, USA. October 30 2203, 2:57 P.M.
Eva took another slice of pizza while Felix devoured an entire box. The man sitting beside them, his eyes on the verge of tears, said, "Felix, you're taking advantage of my kindness."
"What? Tetsuo, you've been giving me free pizzas for the past three years!" Felix retorted.
"That's not what I meant! You took Eva on a date, and she's like a little sister to me," Tetsuo expressed, his protectiveness evident.
"Eva is your little sister?" Felix looked back and forth between Tetsuo and Eva.
"Well, we don't share any blood relation. We were taken in by temporary guardians and have been living together since birth," Eva explained.
"That's unusual," Felix blurted out.
"Yes, it is. And our guardians are deadbeats. Even though I've graduated, they still take my income, claiming we owe them. I have to work every day to avoid going hungry. I can't enjoy my favorite foods or desserts like I used to. At least I still have pizza, which is one of my favorites," Tetsuo complained, while his seatmates looked at him with blank expressions.
"You want to ask Lucy out, don't you?" Felix deadpanned.
"Don't say that aloud! What if she can hear us?" Tetsuo nervously panicked about his crush.
"Dude, she's sitting right behind you," Felix pointed out, causing Tetsuo to go pale as a ghost.
"She's right behind me?" Tetsuo's thoughts raced as he turned to look behind him. To his horror, he saw a young woman in a NIX security guard uniform. Her short blonde hair was sleeked back, and she had her head resting on her hand while leaning on the table. She looked at Tetsuo with icy blue eyes filled with a menacing glare, and a smirk played on her lips.
"Eeeeeeeeeep!" Tetsuo internally screamed, quickly dashing to hide behind Eva, who was still chewing. She swallowed with a gulp.
"Hello, Lucy. Would you like to join us? We have free pizzas," Eva invited Lucy.
"Ehhh, I ate the last box," Felix blurted out.
"I'll go get some more!" Tetsuo disappeared in a blur.
"I guess, why not?" Lucy walked over to their table and took a seat. A few seconds later, Tetsuo returned with five freshly cooked pizzas in boxes, and everyone helped themselves to the food.
"To be frank, I've never eaten pizza before," Lucy explained to the trio.
"What? Pizzas are cheaper and more delicious than burgers," Tetsuo spoke passionately.
"Even though burgers are one of your favorites," Felix quipped, causing Tetsuo to stutter.
"Actually, burgers and pizzas are not his only favorites," Eva trailed off, listing down Tetsuo's preferred foods. "He likes sushi, fried chicken, barbecue steak... seafood, except shrimps and lobsters. There are so many, I can't list them all!" Eva realized with feigned shock.
"Tetsuo, you are a glutton," Felix chimed in.
"Please, you guys, don't tell my crush I'm a glutton, even if I admit it," Tetsuo sank lower in his seat, wanting to disappear. However, his pizza box was snatched, and the trio stared in bewilderment as Lucy quickly devoured its contents. She swallowed. "Tetsuo, you were right! Pizza is delicious," Lucy shyly admitted.
Tetsuo's heart elated, and he grabbed Felix's pizza box. "Please have some more!" Tetsuo handed Lucy the box, while Felix pretended to be enraged. "Oi! Why don't you get a new one for Lucy?" complained Felix.
"The pizzas are sold out," Tetsuo explained.
"Hrmp! You just want to impress Lucy," Felix faked dissatisfaction towards Tetsuo, trying to guilt trip him.
"Well then, Felix, from now on, you won't get any more free pizzas," Tetsuo countered.
"No! No! No! I'm sorry! I shouldn't make fun of your gluttony and Lucy!" Felix desperately apologized and clung to Tetsuo, on the verge of tears.
"None taken," said Lucy monotonously reply while munching on the pizzas. "That's okay, I didn't really mean it. You can still get free pizzas," Tetsuo being kind-hearted for those who are hungry.
"Really! Thank you! You're the best!" Felix overwhelmed with joy. "Huhhh Eva, are there any..." Felix turning to look at Eva’s pizza box, "Sorry, it's empty," Eva stirred her fruit punch.
"What! That was your third box!" Felix genuinely shocked this time. Eva deadpanned at Felix, and everyone laughed.
"Oh! I forgot to tell you guys, tomorrow Sasha Everhart will visit with her mother to start the semester here!" Felix enthusiastically announced. However, he noticed that Lucy's face went pale, and Tetsuo and Eva also noticed her reaction.
"Lucy, are you alright? Was the pizza bad?" Tetsuo sounded worried.
Suddenly, a group of NIX officers approached their table, causing everyone to rise from their seats except for Lucy. Felix questioned the officers with a hint of annoyance, recognizing the same man who had bumped into him earlier.
"Hey! What's going on?" Felix asked.
"Felix, you are hereby expelled from NIX Polytechnic and under arrest for conspiring against the NIX Corporation, as well as collaborating with the Paradox Movement" the man stated firmly.
One of the officers swiftly pull a gun and stunt Felix before he could react, and his body slumped to the ground. The officers carried him away, leaving the man in charge, behind.
"Sievernich! You're making a mistake! Felix hasn't done anything wrong!" Tetsuo tried to defend his friend.
"NIX Corporation doesn't make mistakes," Sievernich retorted, showing a video footage of Felix giving an object to a man Eva and Tetsuo didn't recognize. In exchange, Felix received a package of cash. The video ended, leaving Tetsuo and Eva stunned.
Sievernich left, and they turned their gaze back to the table, only to find Lucy nowhere to be seen.
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NIX Space Station. Orbiting above the Atlantic Ocean. March 31 2203 6:40 A.M.
"Victor, why don't you confess your love for Pandora?" one of Dr. Neumann's two friends asked, interrupting their intense session of the multiplayer video game, Galactic Evil VIII, that they played every morning before their shifts begins. The question hung in the air, causing Dr. Neumann to fall silent.
"...Victor?" his friend inquired, breaking the silence. "Is it because she isn’t human that you can't confess your love for her?" questioned his other friend, cutting through the tension. The question snapped him back to reality.
"No, Gunther! That's not it! I don't care if she really is a human, or even if she is hypothetically a Void!" Dr. Neumann defended himself, frustration evident in his voice. "Then answer Newt's question, man!" Gunther retorted sharply. Dr. Neumann sighed, trying to find the right words. "It's just... I don't know how she feels about me," he explained as his two friends continued playing the game.
"Then answer Newt's question, man!" Gunther retorted sharply. Dr. Neumann sighed, trying to find the right words. "It's just... I don't know how she feels about me," he explained as his two friends continued playing the game.
"I thought she might reject me, and I don't want to risk ruining our friendship because of that," Dr. Neumann confessed, his voice filled with apprehension. "Dude... you've known her for over a year, you visit her during every break, and you've even been showering her with gifts, hand-picked and paid for, mind you. I have high hopes for you, man! You're being a chicken!" Gunther complained, his frustration evident.
"Actually... more like a dumpling," Newt chimed in, unable to resist the opportunity to tease his friend. "Oh, now you guys are comparing me to my favorite food," Dr. Neumann interjected, hoping to divert their attention from making fun of his eating preferences.
"Of course, we are! It's unhealthy!" Newt scolded, concerned for his friend's well-being. "Yeah! Try eating some brave-berries; they might give you the courage to confess your love to her!" Gunther suggested, trying to be as supportive as possible.
"Sigh... You guys are right. I'm being stupid and cowardly. I'll never be able to confess my love for Pandora!" Dr. Neumann exclaimed, his voice filled with hopelessness. His friends fell silent, allowing him to wallow in his despair.
"Victor... there's so much more that you and Pandora can do together. You know she doesn't have much time left to live, maybe just months or, if you're lucky, a few years, with those meddling researchers constantly experimenting on her for their project. Victor, you are her light, the reason she keeps fighting. You both deserve every ounce of happiness you can get, every single second that's counting," Newt encouraged, his words filled with sincerity.
Victor took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination within his heart. "Okay, guys... I'll do it. I'll face the consequences head-on, whatever NIX brings," he declared, his voice filled with newfound resolve. Newt and Gunther applauded, sharing in his newfound determination.
"Now, this is revenge for mocking my love for chicken and dumplings!" Victor's video game avatar showcased incredible skill as he fought against his opponents. "NOOO!" Newt exclaimed, trying to outmatch Victor's skills. "YOU'RE CHEATINGGGG!" Gunther’s game avatar was defeated by Victor's prowess.
The three friends burst into laughter, momentarily basking in the lightheartedness of the moment, temporarily escaping the burdens of their individual struggles. However, their joy was abruptly shattered by a powerful seismic tremor that violently shook the very ground beneath them. Victor, Newt, and Gunther exchanged concerned glances, their faces etched with apprehension as they comprehended the gravity of the situation.
"Victor, we just experienced a colossal earthquake here on Nexuscape," Newt uttered, his voice laced with fear, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Worry etched deep lines on Victor's face as he absorbed the impact of Newt's revelation. "I felt it too, here on the NIX Space Station," he responded, his voice quivering slightly. "But what could have caused…"
Before they could delve further into the mysteries of the seismic upheaval, another tremor, more relentless and ferocious than its predecessor, shook the very foundation beneath their feet. The world around them blurred into a chaotic frenzy as they were hurled into a disorienting whirlwind, and an ominous crimson hue enshrouded their surroundings, intensifying their sense of impending doom. Suddenly, a deafening alarm pierced through the air, its urgent warning repeating in a relentless loop: "WARNING! WARNING! THE VOID INCURSION IS COMMENCING!”
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