Blackout

HAIGE 5 YEARS AGO

THE WELLS HOUSE

WED. FEB. 19

7:00 PM

GARAGE

There are few tires lying un orderly around. Scrap metal could be seen few paces apart, some folded as though they were being made into something. At a part of the garage, a recorder beeps as it begins to tick softly from 00, 01, 02… soft sharp and quick breaths begin to fill the microphone of the recorder as the recorder gets closer and closer to the face of its user.

"Three years ago today, my little sister Mariah was killed right in front of my eyes. On my laps she lay, her blood flowed onto my hands. I was helpless, and just like that I was gone. The despair, the anger, they all threatened to pull my mind apart and at that moment, all I saw was darkness shrouding over me as memories flashed across my mind, and with a CRACK! the darkness and memories shattered like a mirror being struck by a base ball into thousand little pieces. I found myself falling into an abyss, deeper... deeper... down I went. I sat frozen as her warm blood slithered over my hand. Eyes on the ceiling but I could not perceive anything. Even now, I still remember vividly how warm her blood was."

"She was an amazing little sister and the best on the planet. She loved bacon avocado fries and I found myself eating that everyday just to feel closer to her. I thought that if I ate that all the time, she would eventually show up one day and eat with me. I had to skip school for the next 3 months and went to therapists twice every week for some really boring therapy sessions but with all that, it took 7 therapists for my shattered mind to slowly repair it's self. I'm glad I finally regained control over myself, and not just that though, I found more. A new identity, to help me deal with the threats lurking around this place. There's a lot of them actually and the kind of threats lurking aren't something I can easily deal with since their weapons could end me with a single shot."

"I need something that can protect me from those deadly weapons, a suit that can take that amount of firepower and so I came up with this new project which I call project PIXIE and today, I officially launch this project as well as taking on my new persona and going out for the first time in my life to fight crime. To protect my neighborhood, this is the only way so that no other kid ends up like me".

He walks to a table as his footsteps echo around the empty garage. He removes the sheet covering the table, revealing a pair of huge gauntlets and boots with really bad designs and having a homemade feel. There also is a file with PROJECT PIXIE written boldy on it.

"These are shock wave gauntlets and boots which I made from a bunch of scraps and some old computer chips but took some components from school though. I just hope no one finds out they are missing a..nd I will return them later, maybe. It's time to hit the streets and I'm super excited. Cao".

With another beep, the recorder stops.

PRESENT

C-HIGHWAY

9:15 PM

In a red sports car, two people sat speeding through the less busy highway. "Dad…" Ace calls from the passenger seat.

"Yes"

"…are you still working on the project?"

"Which of them? You know I am working on lots of projects right now, don't you?"

"The mutation project"

He sighs as he answers "No… I terminated the contract right after what happened"

"How about the laboratory… …are they still working on it?"

His dad falls silent, pondering for sometime before finally replying "Yes, they are. Though there are no signs of success yet". Quickly changing the topic, he asks "How's your hand?"

"Same as usual" Ace replies with a sigh

"I should have been more careful and I shouldn't have agreed to take up that contract. None of this would have happened if…"

"Dad" Ace interrupts him before he could finish. "It's not your fault so can you please stop blaming yourself just for once, Please. These kind of things are bound to happen during experiments so please stop blaming yourself".

His dad sighs, deciding not to pursue the matter anymore. "Any progress on the serum?" he asks.

"A little... uh... hey dad, did you notice that we are being tailed?" he sits up whiles asking, a bit nervous.

"What?"

"I think we are being followed. Those guys behind have been following us for a while now".

His dad looks at the rear view mirror and says "I noticed them but how sure are you that they are following us? They are probably just going the same way we are"

"I'm very sure dad. They started following right after we departed"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am sure" he says with nervousness clearly noticeable in his voice

"You better be right" his dad says and speeds up. Cars give way as he pulls out of his lane and races in between them with some abruptly stopping and soon disappears from the sight of all other cars, seemly alone on the high way except for cars passing once a while. As he makes a left turn towards a seemly deserted side road, the car spins twice and hits the road guard rail before straitening as it is impacted from behind with the side mirror dangling as the side of the car is badly damaged and the doors threatening to fall off. He gets back on the road and increases speed with the other car close behind.

"Ace, are you ok?"

"Yes… …dad, you are bleeding"

"Don't worry about it. Let's ditch this guys first".

Ace face brightens as he removes a small EMP from his pocket and says "Dad, I have an idea. Open the roof"

His dad presses the roof button repeatedly but it fails to respond "I think it's jammed"

"Shit"

"Hey kid, language"

"Really dad? Now?"

"Just carry on with whatever you want to do" his dad says indifferently. Ace unfastens his seat belt and punches the glass roof and after a few attempts, it lifts at the side noticeably allowing him to push it off and standing, he activates the EMP and throws it at the car behind. The car stalls as it is hit. He sits down and fastens his belt as his dad floors the accelerator and the car speeds off leaving behind only a set of tail lights.

5 YEARS AGO

THE WELLS HOUSE

WED. FEB. 19

9:00 PM

Lying on a sheet on the floor is a boy holding a recorder and with a click, the recorder beeps. "This kind of thing looks pretty easy in the movies. Didn't think it would be this difficult in real life... come on Zarx, what were you thinking?" Zarx gasps, turning his head as he stares at the broken gauntlets and soleless boots and then continues "First day... not much of a success. I was however able to take out a few thugs and worst of all, …I…I …almost… …died… this life is even riskier than I thought. Thinking about it, its kind off scary you know, that feeling when you realise you are out classed and out maned. Like you could be crushed at any moment with the least mistake you make. What happens to my new identity now, do I get rid of it or do I keep it?"

Chills run down his spine as he lays on the cold sheet on the floor. He begins to sweat as thoughts of the ealier event replayed in his mind. "I think I would keep it. Let's see what happens in the days to come but also, I need to enroll for a martial arts class, two at least. Wing Chun and Mauy Thai maybe and also I need to get a helmet, a full face helmet. I got bruises on my face and now I look like a freaking zombie, plus my dad's gonna kill me if he sees me like this. I need to come up with an excuse, and fast before…"

"Zarx!" a voice penetrates his ear causing his face to immediately fall as he says "That actually. Oh boy, I think am done for" he jumps to his feet and leisurely walks towards the exit, deep in thought on his way out.

PRESENT

LIAM'S HOUSE

LUNAR VALLEY

9:45 PM

A taxi pulls up in front of a detached house surrounded by beautiful hedges and small heart shaped pruned hedges on either sides of the pavement leading to the front door. A figure moves quickly through the hall, towards the door as the sound of a taxi coming to a stop outside could be heard. The slightly-built athletic figure emerges into the light revealing his towering stature and disheveled hair, a sign he just jumped out of bed.

Ace steps out of the taxi, hands wrapped in bandages and slightly soaked red as he helps his dad out of the car. The taxi drives away and with arms around his dad, Ace helps him to the door just as it creaks open revealing a familiar face filled with mixed emotions. The bandages begin to loosen onto his dad's face and whiles slowly lifting his head, they shift aside as he looks into the concerned eyes of the man whose face popped out of the door. "Hello, brother" he says with a heavy sigh out of exhaustion.

"Leo??, Ace??" Liam says, the astonishment in his voice clear as he opens the door wide and says "Come on in" before quickly helping them in. "Quickly over here" he motions to Ace who walks in the direction motioned as Liam shuts the door and follows.

In a well furnished bedroom, Leonard is lying on a bed with a drip attached to him, his sturdy figure now weakened. He appears to be in a deep sleep.

Walking out of the bedroom Leo is in, Liam walks to Ace as he asks "Wanna tell me what happened Ace? or should I say Doctor Ace?"

"Please don't call me doctor anymore uncle Liam. Now I'm just Ace, Tewksbury Ace. Look I just want to go back to being a regular kid uncle Liam, just like other kids" he says trying to keep his calm, though the annoyance was clear in his tone.

"Yeah, going back to high school and relearning all you already know, how's that working out?" his uncle asks indifferently

"It's working out pretty well for me and I don't want to discuss this topic again" he says as his face begins to turn black.

"Fine if you say so. Come, let me have a look at that" he says shifting his gaze to the red soaked bandages on his hands.

"I'm fine. It's not like I can feel it anyway"

"Kid, you had damaged sensory nerves not dead arms, now if you keep that up you will bleed to death one day" he says walking towards Ace. "Now give me your hand".

He is a bit hesitant but eventually gives up. Liam slowly removes the bandages from his hand as his eyes widened "Kid what the hell did you punch to get your hands this messed up?"

"It was nothing" he says withdrawing his hands.

"You sure go overboard don't you?"

C.C.P.D.

10:00 PM

Major Jong-Yul walks into the busy surveillance room and stands in the middle, arms folded. Several blinding large screens keep displaying numerous information's and images. Standing and observing for a while, he asks "Sections one, two, three, what have you got for me" whiles glancing back and forth between the sections mentioned.

Sections one to three are responsible for locating and identifying the Black Sword Order, by cross referencing their images with social media and other images that may appear on the internet, focusing more on their heights than facial features.

All members of the mentioned sections turned towards him with puzzled looks. He stared back with a blank expression without uttering a word. A middle aged man about 45 - 50 years who appears to be heading one of the mentioned sections breaks the silence as he answers "Sir, we have over five thousand people matching the said profile and..."

"And?"

"And the number keeps increasing every minute".

"Looks like it won't be easy to find them this way. Keep looking..." he says with a trace of disappointment is his voice

"Yes sir". Looking at the major for a while, he thought to himself 'does anything ever surprise him', noticing his indifferent expression.

The major walks further from the middle of the room as he enquires "Drone surveillance?" whiles scanning the screens before him.

"Found five abandoned buildings located north of central park, two east of here and three opposite Hill View Sports Complex." a female officer replies whilst scrolling to reveal the various locations as she spoke.

"I need as many men as I can in those buildings right now and a thorough search to be conducted in and around those buildings"

"Yes sir" she says as she picks up a communication device and begins to relay the majors orders.

"Sections five and six, any out of the blue activities?"

"No sir, everything is normal except for some gangs causing commotions that's all" replies a man who looks younger than the major, with freckles all over his face.

'We really need to dedicate some time to keep these gangs off the streets. They are becoming a nuisance' the major thinks to himself with a sigh.

"Major Jong-Yul…" an officer comes charging in, her alluring figure drawing the gazes of all present. "Sir there's been an accident on the C-Highway" she says rushing over to him.

"What kind of accident?" he asks with a serious expression.

"We have no idea sir and it's seems more like an attempted murder to me but the other officers have ruled that out. The Chief Officer asked for the case to be transferred to you since it may be related to the case you are currently working on"

Looking keenly at her, he thought to himself 'She's smart. I could use someone like that as an assistant'. Thinking so, he quickly asks "Do you have anything doing at the moment?".

"No sir"

"Alright then, why don't you come with me. Let's go find out the truth"

"Yes sir".

WELLS MANOR

10:15 PM

Speeding into the garage, Zarx parks his bike and heads straight to his room. Seeing him walk in through the side door from the garage, Mr. Martin says "You are back already"

"Yes she doesn't stay too far from here"

"Alright then, I would be inside if you need anything"

"Okay, goodnight"

"Goodnight".

Zarx goes in and leaves the door to shut itself as he proceeds to his workshop. "Sir, renderings for the first stage of project pixie has been completed. Would you like me to commence the manufacturing?" Alex's voice booms just as Zarx enters.

Scanning the screens in the room, a smile appears on his face as he sighs and says "At long last, project pixie is near completion" and pausing for a while, he continues "Yes Alex, commence manufacturing" his smile becoming broader but soon, his smile fades completely as he yells "What the…" as everything becomes pitch black. A blackout. The lights return as the backup generators kick in, bring all the screens back up. "Was that supposed to happen? Alex what's going on?"

"Sir, there seems to be a black out city wide. One that has never happened for years now. Still working on finding the exact cause"

"A sudden power outage in the so called power city? That should be far from normal. I think something weird is going on around here"

"Your assumptions are correct. I'm detecting anomalies in the power stations systems. Someone seems to have accessed the system remotely and infected it with a powerful malware thereby shutting down the generators."

"What? Can you trace the source?"

"All digital fingerprints have been wiped. It's as if the system was not even breached. Whoever did this is untraceable."

"The hell is this all of a sudden?" stood contemplating.

"Sir, power has been restored. Rebooting all systems"

He sits in front of a computer waiting for the reboot to complete. "News feed" he says as all systems have been rebooted and news feeds from several channels are displayed on the several screens around him, in different languages. He sits looking on helplessly as he yawns before saying "There seems to be nothing at the moment nor anything I can do about this power outage as of now" and standing he walks towards the elevator as he continues "Alex, alert me when anything comes up"

"I will". Zarx steps into the elevator and rides up.

C-HIGHWAY

10:30 PM

Major Jong-Yul pulls over on the skirt of the road and heads over to the supposed accident scene. Looking around, he sees officers lying motionless on the floor. "What on earth happened here" he whispers while running towards the scene with a woman behind him, her brown hair flying in the wind. It is non other than the woman who reported the accident to him, Trudy. One officer regains consciousness as he approaches and noticing him, he kneels and raises the officer's upper body. "Trudy, contact Camcot general, tell them I need ambulances here"

"Yes sir".

He turns to the officer and helps him sit up, his eyes scanning the officers badge as he says "Officer Benson is it?"

"Yes" the officer replies weakly

He hold up a finger and asks "How many fingers i'm I holding up?"

"One" the officer says faintly

He proceeds to lift four and the officer responds accordingly.

"Can you tell me what happened here? Slowly, don't rush it." he asks calmly after the quick first aid.

"We were inspecting the accident scene when the blackout occurred. I heard quick footsteps approaching and suddenly group of people dropped out of nowhere and gassed us. It happened so fast and the gas used was very potent such that even with a little sniff, one would pass out immediately. When I regained consciousness earlier, the cars involved in the accident were gone. Also, all damages caused disappeared. It was like nothing happened here at all".

"Were pictures of the scene taken?"

"Sorry sir, non was taken. We were here for barely ten minutes and were only inspecting the scene" he says with a faint sigh

Loud siren sounds could be heard as the ambulances arrive. Seeing them approach, Major Jong-Yul waves and shouts "Over here". He turns to the officer and remarks "You did great officer Benson, if you remember anything in cause of time be sure to let me know". The officer nods as paramedics quickly disembark and rushed towards the scene with stretchers in hand as they pick up the officer. Major Jong-Yul stands and walks to the brown haired woman as he calls "Trudy".

She turns towards him with a complicated look and calmly responds "Major"

"I think you might be right. This is no ordinary accident. Are there any eye witnesses?"

"Not that I know of. The other officers might be able to help with that once they regain consciousness" she says unable to hide her shock

He stares back at the supposed crime scene as he continues "Whoever is responsible for what happened here I deem dangerous. That makes working on this case very dangerous as well and so I would ask you just this once, would you want to continue working this case with me or would you rather not?"

"I would want to. Besides I am pretty much involved already and backing out at this time wouldn't really change a thing"

"It is going to be a really bumpy ride. Are you up for that?"

"Yes sir, I'm up for anything"

"Alright then, let's head back to the station and start putting the pieces of this puzzle together"

"Yes sir". He leads the way to the car as she looks back, a mysterious smile appearing on her face.