CHAPTER 4 — THE SOVEREIGN HAND HEADQUARTERS, PAXVILLE, EARTH 3065
The Sovereign Hands headquarters stood like a Tower of Power in the heart of Paxville, a gleaming citadel of control and dominance. Its sleek, modern design pierced the sky, crowned by a radiant halo of spotlights that cast an intimidating glow across the fractured cityscape.
At the towers pinnacle, the Sovereign Hand's logo gleamed in cold, metallic steel: an eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a sword in its claws. The eagles eyes pulsed with a piercing blue light, a constant reminder of the organization's watchful gaze over the red-gray clouded Earth below.
Deep within the tower, the council chambers thrummed with silent authority. The walls, clad in dark polished wood, reflected the flicker of holographic displays.
The scent of leather and sterile steel hung heavy in the air. At the center of the room was a long, oval table surrounded by high-backed, throne-like chairs, each occupied by a figure of immense power.
The nine members of the Sovereign Hand Council sat in hushed attention:
1)General Ashton Gray, Supreme Commander.
2)General Dice Everton, the Chancellor.
3)Dr. Christiania Clay, Head Virologist.
4)Dr. Rhode Stone, Chief of Bioengineering.
5)Emerald Pierce, Director of Security.
6)Louis Canister, overall Minister .
7)Dr. Eshton Lavender, Chief Medical Officer.
8)Victor Rice, Council Advisor.
9) Kell Ice, Director of Technology.
Their faces were bathed in the blue light from the displays as Dr. Christiania Clay addressed the council.
"Dr. Ethan Thompson was a crucial contributor to our research from his lab in Sarion," Dr Christainia Clay said, swiping through a series of images.
Her fingers trembled slightly as a hologram revealed Dr. Ethan Thompsons motionless body sprawled on his lab floor, the elevator doors behind him slightly ajar.
"Its unfortunate we couldnt get a clear message from him before he fell into a coma"
A beat of silence fell through.
Louis Canister leaned forward, folding his arms with a scoff. "I still say were wasting resources by keeping him on life support. Let the man die in peace."
Dr. Christainia Clay's gaze hardened as she met Louis indifferent stare.
"We need him alive. His current research may lead us to the true source of the cure and possibly the location of the Black Archive" Dr Christainia Clay said firmly. "Our investigators" she said looking over to Emerald pierce "found encrypted files in his the computer inside his lab with heavily coded references to it."
Emerald Pierce tapped her screen, sending a visual to the center table. A faint shimmer of a video static appeared, it was a footage from Dr. Thompsons lab.
"We are working with Kell Ice to understand the digital encrypted files" Emerald pierce replied
"Also, from our analysis, the bioluminescent creature must have intercepted his last message before it reached our central receivers" Emerald pierce said, her voice cool and professional.
"But... were conflicted. "Theres also a chance someone from our side intercepted it and wiped out the voice recording, intentionally or not. The video remains, but the audio is blank"
She exhaled sharply, tension rising in her shoulders.
"All we know for certain is that the creature was hunting Dr. Ethan Thompson" she concluded.
General Ashton Gray sat forward, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "At least we have an image of the thing. Thats something. I suggest We send a strike team to eliminate the bioluminescent creature permanently"
General Dice Everton nodded to Generate Ashton gray suggestions. "When do we deploy the troops?" general dice Everton asked.
"In two days," Ashton replied, eyes narrowing.
"Emerald, I want you tracking that bioluminescent creature using Dr. Ethans Video records" then He turned to the medical side of the table.
"Dr. Eshton Lavender, any new details on the recent survivors that were brought into Paxville?"
Dr. Eshton Lavender cleared his throat, glancing down at his notes. "Most are stable, but two showed early signs of infection. I referred them to Dr. Christiana Clay. She collected virus samples for further study. They survivors still appear human for now"
All eyes shifted to Dr. Christiania Clay, who tapped her pen against the table before swiping through her own display. "Some individuals take longer to mutate, others turn fast,she said grimly. Thank heavens we have a few with delayed symptoms, it gives us a window to investigate futher"
The council nodded in solemn agreement. Dr. Clay hesitated, then brought up a portion of a letter recovered from Dr. Thompson.
"However" she said before she began to read aloud,
"Recent findings suggest that the virus is evolving into something far more insidious. This new form is not just terrifying, it is bitter. The infected cells have developed a stubborn protein layer that allows the virus to latch onto its host instantly, leaving no window for study or early intervention."
She looked up from the display after reading the letter. The room was silent. Fear was written clearly on their faces.
Victor Rice furrowed his brows. "That contradicts what you just said earlier just now. So If it the virus mutates slowly at first, how come its mutating fast leaving no observation window?" Rice asked
Dr. Clay closed the display and leaned back.
"These words are from Dr. Ethan's letter, also he monitored every single infected sample at Sarion. The virus is adapting. The new strains are aggressive and… persistent. Our sterilization chemicals may soon become ineffective"
Kell Ice interjected confidently, folding his arms. "Our digital walls are still functional. I designed them using your own virological data" he scrolled through his own end immediately releasing the virological data for display.
"Christiania these are your research, if there is any other information regarding the virus that I am not aware of then you must send me a copy but as long as we stay inside the digital walls we all are protected.
Dr. Christainia Clay shook her head slowly.
"They digital walls protect us from the air, not from contact. One touch, one mistake and were infected. The Black Archive may be our only shot at full immunity. An injection from it might shield the body completely"
Victor Rice leaned forward. "So what do we do now?"
Christiania shrugged, flipping the pen between her fingers. "Same as always. Stay careful. Limit movements. Use digital the shielding"
Louis Canister snapped impatiently.
"Or you inject a survivor with the virus and watch what happens. Learn from it use it to enhance a cure. You re the virologist, do something"
Dr. Rhode Stone glared at him. "Or we could observe the virus under a microscope, like Dr. Ethan did. He never needed to use innocent survivors, he tested samples from the already infected." Rhode said breathing hard.
Louis Canister sneered at Rhode "Everything we do is for the people. Let them use as many survivors as they want. We need answers"
Rhodes eyes flared. "Use innocent people? Are you forgetting this virus wiped out eighty percent of humanity? And youre all to blame"
"It was ninety percent" Kell Ice corrected, flatly
"I dont care if it was fifty, eighty or ninety" Rhode snapped, slamming his fist on the table. "What good are we as leaders if there's no one left to lead?"
A heavy silence fell over the room. The tension was thick, pressing down on every breath.
General Ashton Gray broke it. "Rhode, get yourself together"
Rhode sank back into his chair, chest heaving.
General Ashton stood up his voice calm but ironclad.
"Now Back to the basics. First we have to let a few survivors be used for controlled studies"
Rhode shook his head in disgust and disapproval as Ashton talked.
"Second we send a strike team to eliminate the bioluminescent creature. Third, Dr. Ethan Thompson has one more month. If he doesnt wake from his coma, we remove him from life support and find someone to replace him"
He paused, his eyes sweeping the council. Some flinched at the life-support remark, but no one spoke.
"You all know your role in this. Do the needful."
He turned to Kell Ice.
"And you, keep the tech systems running. Build more barriers. Improve shielding. Anything to protect us from this damn virus"
Without another word, General Ashton Gray exited the room, leaving behind a storm of unease.
As the remaining council members gathered around the glowing table, the weight of their responsibility hung in the air like a sword above their heads. In silence, they acknowledged the truth:
They werent just fighting a virus.
They were fighting time and their own humanity.