Fractured Horizons - The Rift Paradox

ergy converter or a futuristic espresso machine gone terribly wrong. Her goggles reflected the sharp blue arc of light, and

and exasperated. "Tell me you didn't leave the defense drone

ense drones don't arrest people, Lu

ing his shoulder as he approached. "I had to hack the thing w

ject. "Maybe if you didn't try to sweet-talk it with that

, which immediately squeaked under his weight. He leaned back, crossing his a

s not his idea, it's ours," she corrected, though her tone betrayed a flicker of defe

ly has a trophy room somewhere for all his groundbreaking achievements. I'm s

ough her cheeks reddened s

nning. "Look, I'm just saying, if Alex's obliviousness were

f unintentional charisma that made people either love him or feel irrationally inferior. His white lab coat was perpetually wrinkl

e energy spikes detected in the stratosphere. If this isn't addre

d, just a casual 'end of the wo

data. Her eyes widened as she scanned it. "This... this isn

they are, they're using technology dec

you telling me someone's playing God with the

yes," Alex rep

s. "Great. Just great. And I suppose

n turned to Amira. "We'll need your expertise to rec

when Alex looked at her like that-like she was the only p

to Luis. "And we'll need your,

lowing endorsement. I'll make sure t

ched her for a moment, his expression softening. "You know," he said casually, "if I were the one handin

ncerity in his tone. "Thanks, Luis," she sa

urs later, the trio convened in the lab's main control room, which resembled a cross between a high-tech bunker and the lair of a very organized mad scientist. Amira ha

to a map on the screen. "An uncharted island. Whoever'

going to waltz right into their evil

ike that," A

dea' like storming an island filled with peop

ickered, and an ominous hum filled the air. The computer

EADY TO FACE WH

dropped. "What t

the keyboard, but his face

"Whoever they are, t

then went out entirely, pl