Altered Cosmos

Chapter 24; Buried Secrets

Somewhere off the coasts of Northern Africa…….

A set of dark vehicles were parked in a make-shift camp somewhere in the open field. In a small tent with the symbol of the Index on it, Levi sighs as he finishes an energy drink and winces a little as he wipes his lips.

Even though most of his injuries and bruises were almost healed, he still felt some pain in his body.

He settles down the empty can on the table as he rubbed his cut cheek… his mind drifting back to an hour ago, the first and only lightning tron he ever encountered.

Her methods of fighting and her lightning control were all far better than his…to the point that even his squad captain sustained a few blows. He clenches his fists and his entire body shivers with frustration.

“Damn it.”

“Levi?” Levi looks up and sees MJ giving him a worried look.

“I’m okay.” He sighed with a weak smile and MJ nods as she goes over to take a seat just as Veronica spoke from a bench.

“I’m even surprised you managed to escape.” She said with folded legs and Levi chuckles a little.

“Barely escape.” He sighed as he leans into his seat and Jake who was leaning against a large machine spoke.

“What did they do to you anyway?” He asked and Levi throws his head back, gazing at the ceiling as he recalls the facility.

He closes his eyes and pictures the environment as he answers. “I don’t know. I found myself in a lab. They gave me some kind of drug, I guess to keep me sleeping but it wore off and I escaped.” He opened his eyes and Jake rubs his chin in contemplation.

Veronica scoffs with a little smile as she spoke. “Maybe they were going to dissect you.” MJ throws Veronica a ‘seriously’ look and Levi actually laughs.

“Maybe…” He rubbed his white hair, a sad but relieved look on his face. “I hope we get them.”

As he said that, the doors to the tent opens and Nina walks in, a band aid on her cheek and another lollipop in her mouth.

“Bad news. The base was empty by the time we got there.”

Levi jumps up in shock and speaks. “How? They were like, 50 guys there.”

Nina places her hands on her hips and sighs. “Well, they’re all gone now. Left a few things but nothing useful.” Levi drops back to his chair with disappointment and Jake turns to Nina with a serious stare.

“Who was that?” Nina gives Jake a stern look and the others turned to Jake as he walks towards her with his arms still folded. “I thought Levi was the only living lightning tron. We were never informed of a second especially one working with the Web.”

Nina looks between them all, their curious expressions staring back at her but especially Levi who was completely speechless.

“Guess the cat’s out of the bag…” She sighed as she opened the interface on her band, pulls up a profile and swipes it over to them to see.

“As you know, there have been 23 total recorded lightning elementrons including Levi. We still don’t know why the Web decided to hunt and eliminate them all but what we do know is that only one of those trons was added to their forces instead of being disposed.”

MJ and Veronica joined Jake as he scans through the profile where the masked lady was displayed. “S rank threat: Codename; Spectre.”

MJ glances at Nina as she speaks. “Like… some kind of phantom?”

Nina shrugs and responds. “Based on the way she comes and goes, yeah… You can say that.”

MJ gulps nervously and Nina continues. “One of their best killer agents. Hard to catch or kill with a heavy bounty on her head from the Index…”

She sighs and glances out the tent as she finishes. “The Web must have been pretty serious to use ‘her’.”

Veronica’s brows crease once she saw the origin slot on her profile. “Where the hell is Asylum Bay?” The moment she said that, Levi’s heart stops and he looks up with terror in his eyes.

“It’s an island off the coast of South Africa. It was used as a refuge spot during the war.” Jake said and Nina gives Levi a knowing look.

“Isn’t that right, Levi?” Levi flinches at Nina’s statement and MJ’s eyes widen when she recalls the name to be Levi’s homeland.

Veronica and Jake exchanged confused looks and Nina turns to them. “Anyway. She seemed to have manifested her powers there when she was a kid but before we could get our hands on her…”

“The Web got to her first.” Levi mumbled with head between his hands and Nina nods before continuing.

“She was already connected to their network and disappeared before we could stop her. The village chief then reported that she was an orphan with no siblings so there was, ‘apparently’, no way to ID her.”

She sighs with a little shrug. “But that was over 17 years ago.”

Jake glances at Levi completely silent before turning back to Nina. “Do you think they wanted to connect Levi to their network as well?” Levi flinches and Nina shakes her head.

“No clue.” She taps a finger on her cheek for a moment before speaking.

“But a lot of trons have disconnected from the Index before and some trons can even fully awaken even without a connection so… it’s possible.”

Nina turns to Levi and gives him a concerned stare. “I was told to watch out for you but what happened last night…”

“It’s like they knew he was going to be there.” MJ muttered and Jake and Veronica shared a knowing nod.

Nina then walks up to Levi but he doesn’t react as she stops in front of him. He just stares at the ground and Nina chuckles as she ruffles his hair.

“Come on. Shake it off, kid.” She removes her hand and Levi looks up with a severely messy hairstyle which made her stifle a laugh. “Look. It wasn’t your fault, kid. I should have been more careful. I’m just glad you’re okay.” 

Levi stares at her smiling face for a moment before giving a weak smile. “Thanks.”

Nina nods and pats his shoulder just as a sudden clearing of the throat draws their attention to the door where a man in an emerald-coloured French suit was standing.

“Excusez moi. I hope I’m not interrupting.” He said with a thick French accent while adjusting his expensive looking glasses.

Nina goes over to the man and Levi takes a moment to look at the man closely. His buff-coloured skin, brown coloured straight hair and a signature French moustache.

His suit clearly expensive with shiny black shoes and a very peculiar feeling from his emerald-coloured eyes. “Miss Nina.”

Nina chuckles as she gives him a friendly handshake. “It’s good to see you, Francis.”

Francis nods as he releases her hand before chuckling fondly at the lollipop in her mouth. “Still a sweet tooth, I see.”

Nina laughs with both hands on her hips. “Still a stickler for suits, I see.” She said with a funny French accent that made them both laugh. She then stops when she turns back to see her completely confused squad members.

“Sorry.” She chuckled as she steps aside to introduce him. “This is Agent Port agent from the Southern Faction.”

Francis places a hand on his chest and bows slightly as he spoke. “It’s nice to meet you all.”

“Same.” MJ said with a friendly smile and Francis nods at her before gazing at Levi.

“I am pleased to see you are recovering nicely, Monsieur West.”

“Thanks.” Levi said with hand straightening his messed up hair just Nina spoke to Francis.

“So? We good to go?” 

Francis chuckles as he turns to her with a smile under his moustache. “Yes. The enemy base has been secured so your mission here is done.”

“Finally.” Veronica grumbled as she cracked her neck and Jake lets out a relived sigh.

Francis chuckles fondly and speaks. “Your plane is ready for you in Nigeria. You are to leave before afternoon.” Nina nods and gestures for the squad to follow as they stepped out of the tent.

“But I thought we’re in Northern Africa.” Levi asked and Nina stops beside Francis with a nod. “So how exactly are we going to get before noon?” He asked again and everyone around him gave each other funny looks.

Nina laughs with a hand on her stomach as she turned to Levi. “I’m glad you asked.” Levi stares at her in confusion and she glances at Francis with a proud smile. “Mr Francis…If you please…”

“It’s my pleasure.” Francis said with another bow before turning to face the centre of the base before them.

He raises a hand up and Levi senses the sudden rise of energy in him. He then watches as the green-coloured aura stretched out of his hand and stops mid-air. It then twists and turns, distorting the air in from of him until……

“Whoa.” Levi mumbled as he stared at the green-coloured dimensional gate in front of them. “Spatial powers?” He mumbled with a curious smile that makes Nina and Francis laugh.

“Correct. I’m a Paratron with the ability to create……how do you say…. rips in space to move from one place to another.”

“Dope…” Levi mumbled and MJ chuckles as she playfully punches his arm.

“How do you think we were got here so fast?” She said and Levi shrugs.

“A photron-powered jet?” They all share a laugh and Levi smiles in embarrassment just as Nina speaks up.

“Alright, then.” She gazes at the spatial gate and smiles. “Let’s get out of here.”

They all nod and follow as Nina steps through the gate first, her figure fading into the swirling gate. MJ, Jake and Veronica followed next and Levi takes a moment to stare at gate before slowly stepping through it.

There was a sudden pitch black darkness with his entire body feeling funny just as he suddenly finds himself out of the gate and in a completely new environment which looked suspiciously like the Lagos Airport.

<Dope.> He thought in his head and Francis steps out behind him with a proud smile on his face.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Francis said and Levi turns to him with a smile.

“I’ve read about it but it’s more awesome up close.”

Francis chuckles fondly. “Merci.” He then turns to Nina with a friendly smile. “It’s been a pleasure to see you again, Nina.”

“You too, Francis.” Nina chuckled and Francis nods at her before turning to the rest of the team.

“I hope we meet each other again.” The squad gave him welcoming expressions and Francis glances at Levi for a short moment before bowing to them.

“Au revoir, mes amis.” He said as he turns back to the gate and disappears into it, causing the gate to softly implode and fades away.

Some hours after that, Levi and the rest of the squad changed back to their normal clothes and were relaxed as their pilot, Mr Smith flies them through the sky.

A new attendant passes some snacks by to them but Levi barely touched his as he just stares out the window, his entire mind focused on Spectre.

Something about her was as terrifying and scary at first but the more he thinks about it, the more frustrated he felt that he was so weak and immature in his abilities.

After a moment, he turns when he hears MJ speak some distance from him.

“How exactly was ‘Spectre’ connected to the Web? I didn’t see any band on her wrist.” MJ said to Nina who chuckled with legs folded.

“It’s not the same as ours. The use of Index bands is more……convenient for us. The Web don’t need it. Their connection goes straight into the mind of the tron…” Nina points a finger to her head and speaks with a grim expression. “…turning them into mindless puppets.”

“That sounds painful.” Veronica grumbled a seat behind Nina and MJ.

Meanwhile, Levi continues to stare at Nina… <How?>

His mind drifts to how Nina was able to compete and react to Spectre’s moves with only a few scratches and actually managed to damage her as well.

Despite the fact that her gears and speed could go as fast as lightning speed… Nina could counter, dodge and reciprocate most of them.

Even how she is able to react the first time she fought Levi still baffles him. 

Nina turns to Levi who had been staring at her for several moments. “You need something, kid?”

“Sorry.” Levi mumbled as he shook his head apologetically and turned back to his window while Nina shrugs and faces her Index interface.

He couldn’t help but give quick glances at Nina several times as he continues to think about it throughout the entire trip back home. 

Hours fly by and the squad finds out that the van has pulled up just outside the hostel of their College.

“Nice work, team.” Nina said, completely relaxed on the leather seats as they stepped out of the van but Levi hesitates once one of his legs stepped out.

“Alright, kid. Out with it.” Levi swings his head around and looks at her but she keeps her eye closed with hands crossed behind her head.

“Come on. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you staring for hours.” Levi blushes a little in embarrassment and Nina chuckles a little. “I don’t mind though. It’s kind of cute.”

Levi rubs his head with a still hesitant expression. “Sorry about that.”

Nina finally opened her eye and gives Levi a concerned look. “What’s up?” 

Levi nods and sits back in the van with Nina giving him an expectant stare. He takes in a deep breath and speaks.

“Okay. I was wondering if you could train me.” She remains unresponsive except for a sceptic rise of one of her eyebrow and Levi continues.

“Back at the enemy base… I couldn’t do anything against Spectre even though we had the same abilities… She was way more experienced and adapted to her power than I am.”

Nina gives him another sceptic expression and he sits up straight. “The point is… you were able to keep up with her and I want to know how you did that.”

“Spectre, huh…” Nina chuckles softly as she sits up a little with her leg crossed over the other. “So that’s what this is about.”

Levi gives her a determined and pleading expression as he spoke again. “I promise I won’t be trouble. Please…” 

Nina flicks the lollipop stick in her mouth with a finger several times as she stares at Levi in contemplation until……

“Fine.” Levi’s eyes widen in excitement and Nina pulls out her lollipop and points it at him. “Tomorrow. Battle ground 6. 4pm.”

Levi nods and gives her a thumb-up as he steps out of the van. “Thanks, Miss Nina.”

“Just Nina, kid.” She grumbled.

“Right. Sorry.” Levi mumbled in embarrassment and she lets out a little chuckle.

“See you later, Silva.” Levi nods as the door closes and the van whirls as it cruises away and out of the college. 

With anticipation in his heart, Levi patiently waits throughout the next day until it was time for Nina’s training session.

By 4, Levi found himself in one of the combat rooms on campus in a white tee-shirt, black shorts and sneakers and Nina approaching him in her stylish grey training outfit.

“Alright, kid. Lesson number one: Hit me.”

Levi throws her a confused look. “That’s it? No pointers, advice. I just have to hit you?” Nina shrugs and Levi hesitates before nodding, taking his combat stance. 

A brief moment of silence fills the room before being cut off by the lightning crackling around Levi’s body.

He grunts as he suddenly zooms forward but Nina easily weaves to the side, leaving his speeding figure to whizz past her.

He then shifts his footing and changes course, aiming for her back but she successfully jumps aside, making Levi miss again. He flips and skids to a stop on one knee just as Nina spoke.

“Come on. Are you even trying?” She said with a cocky smile and Levi furrows his brow in concentration.

He charges forward again, this time with the sound of thunder behind as he instantly appears in front of her but she reacts again with a punch drawn to attack……just as Levi splits into two blurry figures going to both of her sides.

She gives a smug look as the afterimages circled her before suddenly stretching her hand back, with violet energy radiating from her palm……directly in front of Levi’s face.

“Nice try.” Levi instinctively backs away and she turns to him with the same smug on her face. 

“Alright then.” Levi said as he raised his arms up, powerful and bright electricity crackling around his skin but Nina watches calmly without a change in stance.

Levi then draws his electrifying fists back and takes in a deep breath as he surges forward again. He skids beside Nina and throws several high-speed punches which Nina continues to evade.

“The Viper’s fist, right?” Nina said as she backflips, ramming Levi’s chin with her sneakers. She lands in a crouch position and chuckles.

“It’s impressive.” She chuckled as she looked up to see Levi already aiming another attack.

She then jumps back as Levi swings an electrifying palm past her just as a sudden smile spreads across Levi’s face and he aims his other arm at her, blue electricity crackling around his fingers.

“Oh?” Nina mumbled as her feet slightly touch the ground but she instantly jumps up as a powerful bolt of lightning zips from Levi’s hand and flies under her. 

“Damn it.” Levi grumbled as he looked up, ready to throw another lightning bolt but Nina spins mid-air, the ball of bright violet energy in her hand sent flying towards him.

Levi manages to block the gear but the explosion sent Levi flying. He groaned as he crashed to the ground back-first and Nina laughs as she lands on the ground.

“Ow…” He grumbled as he got up, his Static shell already faded as Nina approaches him. “Why do most tron training include me falling on my butt?”

Nina stifles a laugh before speaking. “It’s more fun this way.” Levi rolls his eyes as he dusts off his clothes and Nina suddenly switches to a more professional expression.

“You said you want to learn how to keep up with Spectre, right?” Levi nods and she slowly paces around him, hands on her hips.

“How did you keep up?” He asked, turning around to face her as she continues to pace around him before suddenly stopping.

“Three things.” She said with three fingers held up and Levi listens attentively. “First is Detection. The next is Speed.” She chuckles as she approaches him. “Well. You’ve already got the first two covered.”

She stops some metres from him and Levi speaks. “So what’s the third?”

Nina glances at her three fingers still pointed up and reduced them to only one erect finger. She suddenly points the finger at Levi and gives him an eerie smile.

Levi stares at her in confusion just as he felt a slight energy surge and weaves to the side as Nina’s finger fires a tiny ball of energy past his face…then Nina suddenly appears behind him and sweeps his legs, sending him down with a thud.

She smiles down at him as he rubbed his aching back. “Prediction.” He got up with a grunt as she explained.

“Sensing and moving as fast as your opponent is okay but you also need to be able to anticipate and predict their next move and counter it before they even try to do it.”

Levi rubs the back of his neck with a sigh. “Any pointers on how to do that?”

“Sure.” Nina suddenly sinks into a combat stance and Levi reciprocates with his. “You need to be able to pick up on the tiny details of movement.”

Her foot slowly shifts forward as she spoke. “Change in breathing pattern, muscle flexion, movement of eyes……but most importantly, your photron energy.” She said as she started to circle round with Levi mirroring her movements.

“My photron energy?”

“Yeah.” She said as she stopped still in her combat stance. “When you move, your energy unconsciously moves to the part of your body functioning at that moment. Whether it’s a kick or a right hook, your energy tells the enemy everything about you.”

She suddenly charges forward, throwing punches at Levi who successfully blocks and evades. “You need to be able to conceal your intentions and with training…”

She suddenly throws a punch with a powerful energy coat radiating from her fist and as Levi prepares to guard, her left leg suddenly flies up, colliding into Levi’s chin and sending him crashing to the ground back-first.

He rubs his chin and gazes at Nina who slowly puts her leg down. “…you can use it to trick your opponent.”

Levi wipes the saliva on his lips and stands up with determination in his eyes. “Got it.”

Nina nods with a hand on her hip. “Good. Until you’re ready, you’re not allowed to use your Static shell gear. Hit me on your own normal speed.”

Levi nods and takes in a deep breath as he slips into his combat stance, a fist drawn back below and his other hand, palm faced forward. Nina reassumes her stance with a smile on her face.

“Come.” Levi charges forward, a fist drawn and Nina prepares to counter………

Days pass as Levi spends his time as normal in classes and later in the evening with Nina.

As he trains, he not only improves his fighting style but also picked up a few projectile tricks from her such as his new Split strike gear which causes a single lightning bolt to spilt into several bolts just like what Spectre used on him. 

As time goes by, rumour quickly spread about Levi’s little encounter with the Web leading to a little more popularity in his social life with his new nickname being the ‘Silver Ghost’, the tron who managed to slip through the Web.

But Levi didn’t care about all that as he remained focused on his training with Nina and the thought that Spectre once lived in his hometown.

And no matter how hard he tried to forget it, he can’t help but feel the same familiar feeling with Spectre …so he decided to message Agent Steel/Peter to arrange a call with his folks back home.

Peter agreed to this but so far, there’s been no call. Another important new development which Levi himself haven’t really noticed is that ever since he got back, all those weird dreams, voices and headaches he used to have mysteriously disappeared without a single trace……

But that’s a good thing……right?

It’s been two weeks since Levi’s mission and in the vacant training hall in the campus, two figures stared each other down.

Levi shifts his foot to the side, eyes focused on Nina who stands metres away in a standard army combat stance. She then smirks and gestures for Levi to attack.

With that, Levi takes off with a gust of wind and blue energy. He grunts as he suddenly spins in front of her, sending a backhand towards her face but she blocks with her elbow, the two colours of energy clashing beautifully and violently against them. 

He then turns to his side and began throwing all manner of quick jabs which Nina continues to parry and dodge.

He then jumps up and Nina blocks with both arms as Levi gives some kicks before bouncing off her with enough force to make her slide back on a knee.

She looks up as he charges at her again and she throws a punch at him……just as he deflects the incoming fist aside with one hand and throws a right hook immediately.

But Nina suddenly counters his counter with her elbow, disorients him with a quick hit to the ankle and throws a fist at him…… stopping just a few millimetres from his face.

He stares at the fist in complete shock……just as she flicks his forehead.

“Ow.” He said as he rubs his forehead and stare at Nina for a moment before suddenly both breaking into laughter. “I almost had you.” He mumbled and Nina throws an arm over his shoulder.

“Yeah. ‘Almost’.” She said with a sly rolling of her eye and Levi laughs as he escapes from her grasp. “But the good thing is that you’re getting better. You depended too much on your Static shell before.”

“Yeah.” He mumbled with a smile on his face and a hand rubbing his neck. “Hey. I might even beat you in my Static shell now.”

“Oh yeah?” She said with a raised brow and Levi chuckles a little. “Show me.”

He grins proudly as he activates his Static shell again, blue electricity crackling around his body as he prepares to charge forward. He watches as Nina’s energy level rise as well, visible violet aura around her body. 

He then charges forward……just as Nina suddenly appears in front of him. He throws a punch but Nina moves to side just out of his line of vision.

As Levi turned to her, a sudden chop collides with his gut and he grunts as swings an arm to her but she ducks before suddenly dealing two blows to the sides of his neck, further disorienting him.

Before he could even do anything else, Nina swiftly slides under his legs, performs a handspring which sent her towards Levi’s back.

She then locks her legs around Levi’s neck and torso before suddenly spinning, sending Levi into a spiral that ends with a crash to the ground.

He groans in pain and looks up at Nina staring at him from behind. “You going to need more than ‘speed’ to beat me.”

“Noted.” He grumbled and she chuckles as she helps him up.

Nina glances at the clock on the wall and sighs, her lollipop rolling in her mouth.

“Let’s call it a night.” Levi nods and they move to get their belongings before heading out of the training hall.

As they stepped out into the cool night, Nina’s band flashes with a knowing sound and she stops to tap it. Her brows creasing at the words on her interface.

“A mission?” Nina closes the interface with a smile and ruffles Levi’s hair suddenly. “Hey.” Levi said as he pulled her hand off and she laughs at him.

“Looks like today’s our last session.”

“So it ‘is’ a mission.” He mumbled as he adjusted his hair and Nina nods.

“Have to guard some lab at HQ. Not sure how long.” Levi’s eyes fall a little and she punches his chest lightly. “Besides you’ve pretty much improved your anticipation skills. Just work on that.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled and Nina swings her jacket over her shoulder. “Thanks for the lessons.”

“No problem.” She said as she tapped his shoulder just as a small car cruises over to them, its door opening for Nina.

“Night, kid.” She said as she enters the car and Levi waves at her. “It’s been fun.”

She chuckled with a smile as the door closes and the car whirls as it cruises away with Levi staring at it with a smile on his face.