The SUV’s hovertech hummed to life. It rose gently from the tarmac, then glided smoothly toward the airport exit.
Khalid turned slightly in the front passenger seat. “Your first arbitration meeting with the Throne of Scales is scheduled for tomorrow at ten a.m.”
Alexander nodded, settling back into the comfortable seat. One part of his mind watched the city pass by, taking in the beauty and the sheer amount of activity blending normalcy with casual displays of power. The other managed his powered senses, spread as far as he could reach, tracking thousands of superhumans and forged alike. Not to mention the many normal humans with ascended attributes despite a lack of powers.
They’d only just arrived, and already he was fascinated. Dubai lived up to its reputation as a place that embraced the superhuman.
He wanted nothing more than to head out into the city and explore. See the sights.
Unfortunately, he’d promised to be on his best behavior.
And that meant no borrowing.
***
The underground facility’s central chamber stretched forty meters across, its domed walls lined with display screens. Archaic technology, but practical given the limitations of the work. The project.
Two wide tunnels extended from opposite ends of the chamber, disappearing into darkness.
Zephyr-Nine sat in a leather chair near the center of the room. Surprisingly comfortable, given it was of human design. One of his staff had provided it years ago, back when the project was still in its infancy.
Twenty-three figures worked at stations arranged around the chamber’s perimeter. Most belonged to younger Council species. Three were human. All had proven themselves capable of handling the work, though several had required replacement over the years. The mental strain of prolonged proximity to the project broke weaker minds eventually.
Zephyr allowed the holographic display before him to resume its progression. Faces and information scrolled past, one after another. Thousands of potential candidates, each profile compiled from his network’s surveillance of Earth. Superhumans. Organizations. Guilds. Governments.
The data packets his subordinates had prepared during his absence stretched on endlessly.
The layered holograms wrapped around his form shifted as he adjusted position. They’d concealed his true appearance for millennia now, disguising what he’d become.
His tertiary synthesis cortex engaged, processing and cataloging each profile against the perfectly recollected thousands he’d already examined. His presence on the Nexus had demanded too much of his time recently. Months of valuable research time wasted, forced to manage the Council’s endless debates while younger species squabbled over territory and resources.
But it had been necessary. His presence was needed to soothe fear. His hand required to steer galactic events away from outcomes driven by the paranoia and cowardice of the younger races.
The display paused.
Two faces. Nearly identical. Asian features, though the distinctions between Earth’s ethnic populations meant little to him. The names required effort to parse illogical phonetics into something processable.
Nakamura.
The human languages remained so discordant even after years of observation. Thousands of distinct variations saying essentially the same things, just differently enough to cause endless confusion.
Zephyr leaned forward. “Eighteen. Are these subjects’ abilities confirmed?”
One of the humans stood, inclining his head. The gesture was deferential. “Yes, Master Zephyr. Both manifested identical powers through synchronized meditation before injection. They call it Sympathy, and have verified the capability to transfer physical objects, injuries, sensations, and thoughts between each other. The documentation suggests they can even transfer abstract concepts, though we haven’t independently confirmed that claim.”
“Who provided this information?”
“They published an academic paper on their own before they understood the implications of what they’d achieved or how their powers pushed the boundaries.”
Zephyr’s eyes narrowed as he reviewed the data again. “Synchronized powers with perfect transference. How many other such documented cases exist?”
“None, Master.”
“Bring them in. I want them incorporated into the project immediately.”
One of the other staff members turned from her station. A Councillor species with four manipulator limbs and compound eyes that reflected the display light. “They’re prominent researchers in their home nation, Master Zephyr. Their disappearance will draw attention.”
“Then provide a distraction. I want them processed within the month.”
Multiple heads inclined in acknowledgment.
The holographic display resumed its progression. Face after face, ability after ability. Each one a potential component for the project’s expansion, each one another step toward the threshold.
It stopped again.
Spencer Elias Rooke. The Pathfinder. His profile carried notes spanning years. Initial power observations. Restraint orders. Escape notifications. Co-conspirators. Initial recapture attempts. Commands to use his family as bait. Then hundreds more failure reports.
He was always at least one step ahead. Almost as if he could see a way through every carefully orchestrated attempt to bring him in.
Because he could.
“Perhaps it’s time to redouble efforts on the Pathfinder,” Zephyr said quietly. “His abilities remain too essential for the project to abandon, despite the failures.”
Eighteen glanced at the profile hovering in the display. “Should we increase resource allocation, Master?”
“Yes. And determine which technological advances would best serve his pursuers. Run simulations forward a century if necessary. Provide them through the usual channels with extra care. I will abide no failures at this stage.”
“Of course, Master,” Eighteen said with a nod. “We can use Veritus Praxis. They still have ties with Goliath.”
Zephyr leaned back in the chair, studying Spencer’s face intently. The Pathfinder thought himself clever, dancing between probabilities and nudging outcomes. But prescience had its limits. Boundaries that couldn’t be breached. Future sight could only extend so far before quantum uncertainty made predictions impossible.
With enough attempts, they would find where his gifts ended.
And then they would find him there, ready to be added to the project.