The next few hours blurred together. Stella had arranged for Marvin and his mother, Sophia Richmond, to escape to Neovalle, a distant city where they could be safe from Mr Richmond.******Stella had pulled strings within two days to get their visas quickly, and everything had seemed to be in order.Now, they were rushing toward Westwood Airport, Stella drove with a quiet focus, her grip was tight on the steering wheel.Marvin sat in the backseat, and his mother sat next to him. He was still reeling from the news that his father wanted him dead. He couldn't wrap his head around it—his own father, willing to pay assassins to kill him. His stomach churned with anxiety as they sped down the highway.Sophia Richmond placed a comforting hand on Marvin’s arm. “Everything will be fine,” she whispered, though her eyes were clouded with worry. “We’ll be safe soon.”When they arrived at the airport, everything felt rushed and chaotic. They hurried through the busy terminal, and Stella led them
Marvin’s mind was still spinning from the officer’s words when suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind. “Hello, give way, I have to check in.” It was Martha Arceneaux. She stood just a few feet away, holding her son Bryan’s hand, her eyes scanned the scene with a smug look on her face.Marvin’s heart sank further. How could she be here? How did she get involved in this? And how did she manage to take their slots and thwart their escape plan?Sophia Richmond turned, her expression instantly hardened with pure hatred. She stepped in front of Martha, blocking her path.Martha smirked, not even trying to hide her contempt. “Hey, old madam, please get out of the way. I’ve got a flight to catch.” Her tone was sharp, almost mocking.Sophia’s eyes narrowed, as her anger began to rise quickly. “I’m not moving,” she said coldly. “How did you get our visa slots? How did you even manage this?” Martha crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, pretending to be innocent. “What are you talking a
Marvin slipped his phone out of his pocket, his hand was steady as he scrolled through his contacts. He stopped when he found the name: "Donovan Reeves". The airport manager, and someone Marvin had once done business with. This was his best shot.He pressed the call button and raised the phone to his ear, glancing one more time at Martha. She was still smirking, confident that she’d won. But Marvin knew better. This wasn’t over.The phone rang twice before Donovan’s deep voice answered.“Hello, who am I speaking with?""It Marvin, Marvin Richmond." He said the last name like he wasn't proud of it."Marvin! It’s been a while. How are you, my friend?” The voice at the background was overjoyed as he heard that lit was Marvin.Marvin didn’t have time for small talk. His voice was calm but firm. “Donovan, this isn’t the time for pleasantries. I need you to do something for me.”There was a pause on the other end. Donovan sounded surprised. “Alright… what do you need me to do for you?”Ma
Marvin slipped his phone back into his pocket, trying to maintain his composure. The air in the terminal felt thick, charged with tension and the hum of whispered mockery. He could feel eyes on him, he could hear the murmurs behind his back, but he refused to react. Mr Donovan's presence was the only thing cutting through the chaos, but even he seemed rattled. He placed a firm hand on Marvin’s shoulder, leaning in close enough so that only Marvin could hear him.“Marvin,” Donovan said, with a voice that was low and urgent. “Please, calm down. I need you to think this through. We can work something out. How about I put you and your mother in business class on the next flight to Neovalle? It leaves in a few hours. Just… be patient.”Marvin’s jaw tightened, but his expression remained unreadable. “Donovan, you don’t understand,” he muttered, just as quietly. “I can’t stay here. Westwood isn’t safe for me anymore. I need to leave this moment. My mother and I… we have no future here. M
Martha’s mocking grin was long gone. Her voice, which had cut through the air so sharply before, was now barely a whisper. "How… how is this even possible?"Marvin stood tall, his gaze turned distant, as if the chaos of the terminal no longer mattered. Just moments ago, he had felt like the center of a cruel joke, but now the air was electric with disbelief, and people began to murmur as they processed what had just happened.The murmurs from the crowd began softly at first, then grew louder as disbelief turned into confusion and frustration.“How did he pull this off?” someone whispered, shaking his head. “I thought he was broke—kicked out by his own father,” another voice said, with eyes that were wide in shock.“Wait, he just bought the whole plane? That's crazy!” someone muttered, their tone was a mix of awe and irritation.“This is ridiculous. We’re all supposed to wait because of him?” another passenger grumbled, crossing their arms.“I know Marvin Richmond, he has been nothin
Marvin and his mother stepped off the plane onto the tarmac at Neovalle’s sleek, modern airport. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the city skyline in the distance. It felt like stepping into another world—one that seemed light-years ahead of the life they had left behind.As they made their way through the terminal, Marvin pulled out his phone and opened a rideshare app. Within minutes, they were greeted by a dark blue Uber, its electric engine was humming softly as it pulled up to the curb.“Hello! Marvin and Sophia Richmond, right?” the driver asked with a friendly smile. He was a middle-aged man with a kind face and a name tag that read Elian.“Yes, that’s us,” Marvin confirmed. “Um, we are kinda new around and we would like to ask if you can recommend a good hotel around here? Something top-notch.”Elian’s eyes lit up. “Oh, definitely! You’ll want to check out The Aurora Grand. It’s one of the best hotels in Neovalle. Five-star service, stunning views, and all th
Marvin walked to the reception area, but as he got closer, he realized there was a long line. Four people were ahead of him, while three joined in behind him. They were all dressed in expensive suits and elegant dresses. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to catch his breath. His shirt was sticking to his back, and he felt a bit embarrassed.As he stood in the queue, a couple of people in front of him started to turn their heads and sniff the air, their faces also began to scrunching up. Marvin felt a pang of anxiety when he realized they were reacting to his smell. He had been lugging heavy bags around, and now he was really sweaty.“Hey man, are you a plumber or something? You look all worked up,” one man in the line who was two steps behind him joked, he had been eyeing Marvin’s sweaty clothes.Another person, a younger guy with slicked-back hair, wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, and it smells like you’ve never had a shower. You smell like a fish!”A wave of laughter ripple
The young woman’s eyes widened in shock. “What the hell, you must be kidding me!” she shouted, drawing more attention.“Come on, run the card in the machine again,” the young lady demanded, with a voice that was tight with irritation.The receptionist took the card and swiped it again, but the screen displayed the same message: “PAYMENT DECLINED.”The young woman’s face turned red with frustration. “This is ridiculous!” she exclaimed. “Wait, sir, let me call my banker. I’m not having this.” She pulled out her phone, furiously tapping at the screen to make the call.“Please, madam, kindly step aside so I can attend to the next person,” the receptionist said politely but firmly.She turned to look at Marvin with a sneer, then huffed and stepped aside, holding her phone to her ear.The receptionist turned to Marvin. “Hello, sir, and welcome to Aurora Grand Hotel,” he greeted with a somewhat tired expression. “Are you here to book a reservation?”“Yeah, of course,” Marvin replied, still f
Mr. Richmond shifted uneasily in his seat, his lips trembled as he finally found the courage to speak. His voice was soft, almost pleading, as he asked, “What do you want me to do, Marvin?”Marvin’s gaze didn’t waver as he leaned forward, his expression was calm but deadly serious. The glow of his veins was gone, but the intensity in his eyes remained. “If I decide to help you deal with Mr. Daniel Bowen,” Marvin began slowly, “then I will be entitled to thirty percent of what Richmond Tech generates annually for the next twenty years.”The room went silent. Mr. Richmond’s eyes widened in shock, and his mouth opened slightly as though the air had been knocked out of him. “But... but with all due respect, son, that is an outrageous offer. Come on, son, that offer is not fair.”Marvin’s eyebrows furrowed in disgust. “Not fair?” he asked, his voice rising slightly as he repeated the words, a sharp edge of bitterness lacing his tone.“Not fair?” He stood abruptly, glaring down at his fat
Mr. Richmond’s mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at Marvin, his face turned pale and his hands were trembling as though he were looking at a ghost. Finally, he managed to stammer, his voice shaking:“You... have... the Synapticore Force?”The glow of Marvin’s veins pulsed brighter, and the crackling energy around him surged again, filling the room with an overwhelming aura. He leaned forward, his glowing eyes boring into his father’s own as he spoke with a calm, controlled fury.“Yes, I have the Synapticore Force,” Marvin replied, his voice was cold, and each word cut like a blade.He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle in the room. Then, he continued with a tone that was laced with bitterness.“If you were patient enough, if you had the love of a father to seek deeper, to confirm whether or not I had the Synapticore Force, maybe you and Richmond Tech would have been reaping the benefits by now. But instead, you threw me away like I was nothing.”
Standing there, dressed impeccably as always, was his father—Mr. Richmond.“Hello, son,” Mr. Richmond greeted softly, his voice almost hesitant. “I am amazed by the structure you’ve put up here. It’s really… ecstatic.”Marvin’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw was clenched. The faint glow in his veins pulsed brighter as his anger surged. “What the hell are you doing here?” he snapped, his voice was dripping with disdain.“Marvin, please, calm down,” Mr Christopher urged, stepping forward slightly, his hands were raised in a calming gesture.Marvin ignored his uncle’s plea and glared at his father. “I don’t care about the trash you want to say to me,” he seethed, his voice was low but filled with venom. “Now get out before I do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”“Marvin, please…” Mr. Richmond began, his voice was heavy with desperation, but he faltered under his son’s piercing gaze.“Marvin,” Mr Christopher interjected, his tone was firm but compassionate, “everything you’re
Two weeks had passed since the chaos at the energy core, but for Marvin, it felt like a lifetime.He sat in his office, slouched in the large, leather chair behind his polished oak desk. The expansive window behind him let in streams of sunlight, but the brightness felt out of place. Inside, Marvin felt dim and distant, like a part of him had been stripped away.On the surface, he looked composed. His suit was neatly pressed, the dark fabric hiding the faint glow of the blue veins still etched into his arms. The glow was faint now, but it was a constant reminder of the price he had paid in an effort to stabilise the energy grid.Marvin sighed, leaning back in his chair as he stared at the untouched documents on his desk. His mind wandered to his telepathic abilities—once sharp, vibrant, and second nature to him. Now, reaching that state felt like trying to grab smoke with his bare hands.He closed his eyes for a moment and focused. "Reach deeper." he told himself. His thoughts st
The room grew silent for a moment, the only sound was Marvin's heavy breathing as his body gave out. His knees buckled completely, and he crumpled to the floor, his glowing veins had faded into dull lines as his consciousness slipped away.Just as the energy field began to spiral out of control again, a faint whirring sound filled the room. The female cyborg stepped forward, her movements were smooth yet deliberate. Her metallic limbs shimmered under the harsh glow of the unstable core, and her glowing eyes were locked onto the chaotic pulses of energy.She knelt beside Marvin, placing a cold hand on his shoulder. "Rest, Marvin," she said softly, her voice was calm and soothing. "You've done enough."Straightening her body, the cyborg turned her focus to the core. Her expression was unreadable, but her glowing eyes seemed to brighten as she extended her hands toward the storm of energy.Her internal systems were activated, sending a surge of telepathic waves toward the core. Her m
The air around Marvin crackled with energy, the violent storm of the Synapticore was roaring louder as the seconds ticked by. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, sweat soaking his face as the temperature in the room climbed to unbearable levels. Yet, his eyes were fierce, fixed on the glowing core.“Tell me what to do,” he repeated, his voice was sharper now, his resolve solidifying.Luminar’s voice echoed in his mind, it was calm but tinged with urgency. “like I said before, to stabilize the grid, you must sync with its chaotic frequency. The energy is wild and erratic, but you can calm it by matching its rhythm. Focus, Marvin. Listen to the pulses, feel them, and let your mind flow with them.”Marvin closed his eyes, shutting out the flashing lights, the sparks, and the unbearable heat. His breathing steadied as he reached deep within himself, his consciousness stretching out to touch the volatile energy field. Slowly, he began to feel it—the erratic thrum of the core’s
The Synapticore energy buzzed wildly, and its light pulsed with an unpredictable rhythm. Rays of the sky-blue glow flickered outside the energy room, spilling through cracks in the walls and vents. It illuminated the dark corridors beyond, casting eerie, dancing shadows that stretched and twisted along the walls.Outside the energy room, chaos was brewing. Technicians scrambled to address the sudden surges in the facility’s systems. Warning lights flashed red, and alarms blared, signaling critical instability.The lead technician, a middle-aged man with a nervous air about him, noticed the strange blue light seeping out. His brow furrowed as he turned to Mr. Christopher Richmond, standing at few feets away from the energy room.“Mr. Christopher,” the technician called, his voice shaky, “what’s that sky-blue light coming from the energy room?”Christopher’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his face remained calm. He knew exactly what it was—the result of Marvin’s Synapticore power. But t
Marvin pressed his palm firmly against the cyborg’s cold, metallic arm.The moment their connection was made, a jolt of raw energy shot through him like an electric surge. It was as though his very veins were on fire, as each pulse of energy sent a sharp tremor up his arm. He gritted his teeth, trying to concentrate. The Synapticore energy that lived deep within him, which was dormant and unpredictable, was now his only lifeline."Focus," the cyborg’s voice broke through the chaos, it was steady and commanding. “Draw it out. Don't hold back. This is it.”Her words echoed in Marvin's mind, but his body was already pushing past his limits. His veins, once normal, were now glowing a brilliant sky-blue, pulsing as if his very bloodstream had become a river of energy. He clenched his jaw against the searing heat of it, fighting the rising panic.The energy surged through him, pooling in his chest, his limbs. He didn’t hesitate. He funneled it all down into his arm, sending it out throu
Marvin’s heart pounded as he stared at the woman before him. Chaos erupted all around them—the roaring hum of the energy field grew louder, threatening to consume the entire facility. Yet, his focus remained locked on her, as if the world had paused just for this moment.Her piercing eyes, like shards of tempered steel, held a strange mix of calm and determination that left him both mesmerized and unnerved. The flickering lights played across her flawless features, highlighting a beauty that seemed almost inhuman.No, not almost.Marvin’s gaze traveled downward, catching the gleam of her metallic arm. Its sleek, intricate design was unlike anything he’d seen, seamlessly blending with the flesh of her shoulder. It wasn’t a flaw; it was a statement.“Who… are you?” Marvin asked, his voice was barely audible above the cacophony around them.The woman’s expression remained steady. “Focus, Marvin. There’s no time for distractions,” she replied, her tone was calm yet commanding.Her words