The both of them were lost in their own worlds, Sean appreciating the marvel of the outer sector, plus the people and culture, while Richelle drowned herself in guilt and regret, trying to think of a way to close in the gap between them.
Sean watched the car take a detour towards a certain highway that emitted a soft blue, ley light. The cars on it, were also hovering over the road, their tires, nowhere to be seen.
He felt his pulse rush, and his heart thundered in his chest in giddy excitement. He knew what such roads were, since he had read them in the book, but seeing them, it was even better than anything his imagination could have come up with.
Their vessel approached the road, and after a small jerk, Sean felt as though he was floating.
Their ride had been smooth so far, particularly from when they entered the outer sector, though the subtle vibrations even after implementing shock absorbing technologies, still reminded them they were on land.
But on this magnetic field roads, that allowed the use of hover cars, it was as though he was floating. The sensation was even better than flying on a plane, and by a long shot.
Infact, if he wasn't staring outside now, he wouldn't even have known they were still moving. That was just how smooth and stable it was.
But there was something else Sean was more excited for.
As though having heard his thoughts, it appeared up ahead.
A large and round machine, with a mass of grey and white particles swirling around each other, that became denser and darker the closer it got to the center, until it became pitch black.
The human invented wormholes. It was beautiful, majestic, and terrifying all together. On both its sides, stood gigantic automatons, the size of the hulk or transformers.
The large eyes of the automatons, produced a soft green plasma looking beam, considering the light did not scatter, and rather widened like cut wood. A light was very visible, even against the sunlight, shining down on every vehicle.
For a second, Sean was worried about Drew, since those from lower sectors were not allowed into the inner sector, which these portals lead to. But then considering they had just been through the outer sector and almost leaving it, then the researcher must have a way to cover for it.
They soon got to the front, and the light fell on them.
Sean felt a small tingle run up his entire body as the light passed over him, akin to a very mild electric shock, which although did not hurt, was a little uncomfortable.
And then their vessel sped into the portal.
Sean felt like he had been bombarded with an overload of sensory information as they passed through, so overwhelming that even though his eyes were open, he couldn't see anything.
And just as suddenly as it happened, it stopped, making him take a deep breath, as though just surfacing from the depth of the sea, after exhausting all the oxygen in his lungs.
"You never reacted this violently to the road teleporter before, aside your first time." Richelle's voice suddenly came the side, sounding calm and collected.
Sean pulled his attention away from the window taking some seconds to orient himself.
"That was not a good experience," he groaned, massaging his temple casually. "It should be a result of the enhancement I guess. My senses have heightened quite a great deal."
Richelle's expression soured at his mention of "enhancement", and Sean couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
"Uhh... Did I say something wrong?" He asked a little confusedly.
Richelle, interpreting it as him taking a little jab at her, for completing his enhancement successfully, couldn't help but frown. But then she recalled that he infact, had been confirmed dead before, yet bu some miracle was alive.
"Forget it," she replied. Then keeping her gaze pressed on him, "The researchers said you were dead." She said, biting her lips.
Sean remained silent at her question. Even he, did not know how he rose from the dead. And this wasn't even the first, but second time.
"I figured so when I woke up in the pit," he replied.
"Why did you do it? You know it is dangerous, Sean you even died. Do you know how I felt hearing that?" She asked, looking at him.
Sean couldn't respond though, doing his best to act the guilty junior brother.
"I'm sorry I never listened to you... I'm sorry I never gave you the room to grow, but look at it.
"I can't say for sure that I was right in not helping you to get an enhancement, but what if you had not survived? Infact, you did not even survive it, what if you had remained dead?"
Her voice toward the ending went softer and softer, to the point it was even strained and shaking. It seemed that even after all these while, she still hadn't come over it.
"I wanted to be strong." Sean answered. An answer both sincere, and what he felt would be Sean's drive too, considering everything she had just exposed with her questions.
"I'm sorry," he added at the end.
Richelle sighed at his words. It basically just confirmed everything as she had reasoned. Her desire to protect him, had only more, his own desire for agency.
He did not want to hold her back. He loathed being a burden.
"It's alright." She said softly.
"Miss, we are here." The gruff voice of the driver, alerted them to have finally arrived.
Sean looked outside, and what greeted him wasa parking lot, with rows upon rows of sleek luxurious vehicles.
Then there was the main building. A tall, high rise building made from metal and glass, looking more like a corporate building than anything else.
As he stepped out of the car, his confusion on the building seemed to have its answer before him.
At the entrance, was a glowing neon light, and even the Aegis Protocol popped up.
[MORALES RESEARCH HOSPITAL]
******
How's it going? Enjoying the story so far?
Ahem, I noticed a drop in the tax pay rate. C'mon don't fail this Seat. Send dem power stones!!!!!
Now let's go back to cooking PEAK 🔥