x
The group sat in a circle, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the holographic map. The elemental storm was a daunting adversary, but they were determined to face it head-on.
Lead Carbon, the group’s de facto leader, was the first to break the silence. His voice echoed in the room, steady and resolute. “This storm is huge and ominous, I agree. But it won’t stop us.” he said, his gaze sweeping over each member of the group.
Next to him, Aurelia Oxide nodded, her eyes never leaving the swirling mass of energy on the map. “We have the knowledge and the resources to combat this storm. We just need a solid plan,” she added, her voice filled with determination.
The others chimed in, each contributing their ideas and strategies. The room buzzed with activity as they brainstormed, their collective minds working together to devise a plan that would ensure their survival.
“First, we need to know why it happened,” Nickolas said. He was in his element. Planning and strategizing things. Even the smallest text to Aurelia was thought out, drafted, edited and proof-read within a 10 second gap before it was sent. “And why we’re unaffected.”
“Maybe it’s the francium…” Selena pitched in. “It would have reacted with the C-14 and prevented the four of us from freezing.”
“So I can manipulate time now?” he asked, a small grin on his face.
“I don’t know,” Aurelia replied, nonchalantly. “I really don’t know.”
“Yeah, that’s the most likely theory.” Lead nodded. “But I don’t know too much about the campus…”
“But I do,” Aurelia stepped in.
Aurelia’s assertion cut through the tension in the room, her confidence palpable. “The campus has its own secrets, and I’ve uncovered many of them,” she said, locking eyes with Lead. “Understanding the campus’s unique properties could be key to our strategy.”
Lead Carbon’s expression hardened, but he recognized the value in her words. “Alright, share what you know.”
Aurelia smiled, a spark of defiance in her eyes. She began to share her knowledge, her voice echoing in the room. As she spoke, the others listened, their attention riveted on her. The power dynamics in the room shifted subtly, the balance tilting in Aurelia’s favor.
The slight tension between Aurelia and Lead was obvious, a silent battle of wills. But for now, they had a common goal - to neutralize the elemental storm. And for that, they needed each other.
“Not half bad… you’re quite the expert, aren’t you, Goldilocks?” he said with a smirk, his pride preventing him from acknowledging the value of her knowledge.
“Copycat…” Nickolas grumbled under his breath to Aurelia, who was sandwiched between him and Lead.
“It’s just a nickname,” she murmured in return, then faced Lead. “After all, I’ve spent my entire existence within these walls,” she said with a nonchalant shrug.
Aurelia’s gaze drifted towards the window, where the night was as stationery as ever. “But,” she continued thoughtfully, “it’s time to see what the world has to offer beyond these confines.” Her words hung in the air, a silent invitation to adventure that neither boy could ignore.
“You were just at the theater with us a few days back,” Gallus said. “Not to burst your bubble or anything, but you have been outside before.”
“Okay, but other than that she hasn’t experienced a lot.” Thalia answered, before her thoughts drifted back to the past. “She used to ask me every day how school-school was. When she wasn’t interrogating me, she was exploring the campus.”
“Those were fun days… what are your backstories, guys?” Aurelia asked, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “What brings you to this corner of the world?”
“Well,” Selena started, ever the extrovert. “My childhood was pretty solid. My parents are nice and supportive, and I have a little sister. She’s 10 years younger than me, and a real pain. Before coming here, I told her I was glad to leave home and be rid of her, but I do miss her. Don’t tell her, though. I’d rather sniff a gym sock after sports day than admit I miss her.”
Nickolas chuckled. “My childhood wasn’t half bad either. I don’t have any siblings, but I do have a lot of cousins, who lived nearby. We were all good friends, which was nice considering school was pretty awful for me. I was a bit of a nerd — and I’ll admit, I still am — but at the same time I was kinda popular. So I had a lot of fake friends which pretty much ruined my friendships, and my social skills went down the drain… but otherwise life was pretty decent.”
“It’s like that meme where you say you’re fine but then you’re not fine,” Lead joked. “No offense though, but that must have been awful, man.”
“Oh, it’s all good,” Nickolas responded, the corners of his mouth curving into a grin. “At the rate Aurelia dishes out those quirky nicknames, if I had a nickel for each one I’d be the most powerful being on the planet. How about you, Gallus?”
“Me? I’m your textbook introvert,” Gallus confessed. “Struggle to chat with girls, clam up around guys, can’t even babble to a parrot. Ever seen that emoji with the face melting off? Yep, that’s me in a nutshell. Every. Single. Day.” With a chuckle, he morphed into a puddle, perfectly illustrating his point.
Thalia’s laughter filled the room as she observed him reshape into his human form. “Mine wasn’t much different from Aurelia’s, though I did attend school at school,” she reflected.
“True, but you’re definitely way less of a pain,” Nickolas remarked, casting a playful look towards Aurelia, who responded with a cheeky smile.
“Says the guy who fell head-over-heels for me, and then admitted it in the most ridiculous backdrop possible,” Aurelia rebutted. “What about you, Lead?”
“You guys have the weirdest inside jokes…” Lead leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Well, as for me, the competition with my sister was real. She set the bar high, graduating top of her class here. So naturally, I have to strive for nothing less,” he said with a small smile. “But you know, it isn’t just about outdoing her. It’s about finding my own path, making my own mark.”
“That’s nice,” Aurelia replied. “I don’t have any siblings though. And I’m glad I don’t. But I’ve never really met my extended family. I met my grandparents once, and a few cousins but not that many. All the fun I had in life was the campus to explore.”
As the conversation continued, the tension between Aurelia and Lead became more and more visible. Aurelia, with her extensive knowledge of the campus and its secrets, had gained an upper hand. However, Lead, with his natural leadership skills and determination, was not one to back down easily.
“Alright, Aurelia,” Lead said, his voice firm. “You’ve proven your point. You know the campus better than any of us. But remember, this is a team effort. We all have our roles to play.”
Aurelia nodded, acknowledging his words. “Of course, Lead. I didn’t mean to undermine anyone’s contribution. We’re in this together.”
Just then, the holographic map flickered, drawing their attention. The elemental storm was growing, its energy swirling more violently. They knew they had to act fast.
“Let’s get to work, then,” Nickolas said, breaking the silence. “We have a storm to neutralize.”
As the group huddled around the holographic map, the room was filled with a sense of urgency. The storm was growing, and time was running out.
“Alright, let’s break this down,” Lead said, his gaze fixed on the swirling mass of energy. “We need to understand the storm’s pattern and find a way to disrupt it.”
Aurelia nodded, her fingers dancing over the holographic controls. “I’ve been studying the storm’s energy signature,” she said. “It seems to be drawing power from the elemental core of the campus.”
“Elemental core?” Gallus asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.
“Yes,” Aurelia replied. “The campus was built on a sort of reservoir of elemental energy. It’s what powers the holographic systems and other advanced tech here. But it seems like the storm is somehow tapping into that energy.”
“That’s not good,” Nickolas muttered. “If the storm drains the core, it could cause a catastrophic energy surge. The entire campus could be destroyed.”
“We can’t let that happen,” Lead said, determination flashing in his eyes. “We need to find a way to cut off the storm’s energy supply.”
“And how do we do that?” Selena asked, her voice laced with worry.
Aurelia was silent for a moment, her gaze distant. Then, she looked up, a spark of resolve in her eyes. “We’ll need to go to the core,” she said. “If we can re-calibrate the energy flow, we might be able to weaken the storm.”
The room fell silent as they absorbed her words. It was a dangerous plan, fraught with risks. But it was their only hope.
Lead stood up, the weight of the moment falling upon his shoulders. A hush fell over the group, anticipation hanging thick in the air. His eyes, alight with a faint red glow, fixed on the horizon where the sun was yet to rise, and the time had been 10:28 p.m. for a whole day now.
With a deep breath, he raised his hand, like a conductor before his orchestra. The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the cue. Then, with a movement both swift and deliberate, he brought his fingers together in a sharp snap.
The sound echoed, not just in the room, but through the very fabric of reality. A ripple of energy surged outward, and the frozen tableau of the world outside the window sprang to life. Crickets resumed their chirping, leaves continued their swaying to the breeze, and the earth continued to rotate and revolve.
Time, once paused, now marched forward, and with it, the possibilities of a new day returning. The group exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. It was time to step into the future they had just unlocked.
[A/N: Today was the best possible day for me to upload this chapter. I heard a really nice rendition of Phineas and Ferb's theme song, and that show has a hell lotta villain back story from the Perry side story
Second A/N: Now I'm gonna start doing silhouettes instead... Except if and when I want y'all to visualize Lead and/or Thalia. No wait acc...
]
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