At the top of a large technological building located in the center of Quantium, the most modern and advanced capital city in the world, a bustling group of uniformed employees worked on holographic devices.
The building held a multitude of machines and workers, all hired by E.G.O. to monitor its facilities and teams in action around the planet. After all, this was the organization's base of operations.
All the employees on the top floor tensed up when the automatic glass door opened with a low squeak, the team manager — who was standing supervising the work of the group — rushed out to welcome the people who had just entered the facility.
The figure in front of the others was an older woman, who must have been around 60, but was in great shape. Her gray hair was cut short and straight, the strands almost obsessively aligned on her scalp. Along with the few sharp wrinkles on her face and the firm fit of her light-colored suit, you could feel the intimidating sense of control emanating from her in the air, indicating that this woman must have the highest hierarchy within the company. In other words, she was the one in charge in that environment.
To her right, a tall man a little younger than her — probably around 50 — stood with his back straight. He was wearing a kind of black military uniform, covered in some pompous decorations. His pale blond hair, dotted with white strands, had a classic military cut, while his expression was serious and unreadable. His icy blue eyes, coupled with his rigid and impeccable posture, made him look like a war veteran.
And finally, to the woman's left, there was a bent and eccentric man. It wasn't possible to be sure of his age, as numerous scars covered his face. His white, spiky, thinning hair revealed that he might be older than the boss, but his eyes shone with an evil light from behind his round glasses, and a crazy, half-twisted smile adorned his deformed face.
He looked very much like a mad scientist, even more so when he couldn't contain his suspicious excitement and let out a chilling giggle. His gloved hands smoothed the impeccably white lab coat, but he stopped moving as soon as he received a reproachful look from the woman, whose dry lips covered in dark lipstick twitched in disgust.
— I received word that our search drones had finally found the prisoner convoy 9307 in Ousbury, an abandoned town that was part of the route they were following. — The woman commented, looking over her thin shoulder at the soldier and the scientist, who didn't move or respond. — Do us the favor of informing about all the details you've discovered. — She demanded from the team manager, her expression blank as the employee hurried to set up a few things on the tablet in his hands.
— Yes, ma'am! The images we received from the drones were enlightening, but we still haven't determined the mastermind behind the attack. — The manager explained as photographs of the cars, the lifeless men and the unprecedented traces of corruption-free vegetation flashed by on different flat and wide screens on the walls. — Detailed forensics at the scene of the incident allowed us to create a 3D simulation, which was able to reconstruct part of the events.
The official pointed to a circular table of reasonable circumference positioned in the center of the room, onto which a blue light was projected, forming a complete holographic image of the scene. The three stepped forward and watched the re-enactment with curiosity, then the military officer commented coldly:
— The tires of the vehicles were punctured and the positioning of the debris on the road seems random at first glance, but there are no natural means that put them in these locations. The officers tried to fight back, as they drew their weapons and fired a few shots, but failed. — The blond man paused, frowning with a mixture of seriousness and concern. — It's clear that this was an ambush, the aim of which was to take the cargo from the van.
— My little lab rats... — The mad scientist lamented.
— The rebels. — The woman corrected him. — However, I don't think they have the strength or the means to wreak that kind of havoc on our reinforced vehicles. Although powerful, our prisoners were wearing their power-suppression collars, so they couldn't have helped them. — She commented, resting her wrinkled hands on the edge of the circular table.
— Yes, perhaps the rebels had something to do with the incident, but they didn't act alone. — The soldier also moved closer to the projection on the table. — What did your team's analysis reveal, Dr. Nexhu?
— I thought you'd never ask, hehehe... — The scientist cackled. — By studying the remnants of purified vegetation in the area, we were able to conclude that they were covered in the same energy that appeared with those four mysterious cocoons, but at a considerably lower intensity. — Dr. Nexhu leaned over the holograms on the table, poking at some with his gloved forefinger. The woman and the soldier looked at him with arched eyebrows. — In this sense, we can deduce that one of the creatures that awoke from these cocoons is involved with the rebels, more specifically that wooden woman who controls nature.
— This is becoming a problem, a big problem... — The woman muttered without taking her eyes off the van entangled with pumpkin vines. — There are several small suspicious incidents taking place, and these creatures must be involved. Unfortunately, we didn't take them seriously at first and failed to capture them, so they're getting stronger. — She shot the soldier with sharp eyes, blaming him for the failure. — Now we need to get in touch with Higher Command to ask for further guidance...
— I apologize for my clumsiness, Mrs. Ryga. It won't happen again. — The soldier said apologetically, his cold eyes fixed on the ground. — I assure you that I will personally participate in the next missions related to these things. I will capture them, alive or not.
— Calm down, Commander Verber! — The scientist interrupted, smiling disturbingly and rubbing his gloved hands together. — We need the specimens alive, so that my research can provide more complete results. And that's the kind of information we need now, isn't it, Mrs. Ryga?
— Indeed, Dr. Nexhu. At this point, we can't let anything interfere with the High Command's plans. — Ryga reluctantly agreed. The scientist was not to her liking, but Nexhu's genius was necessary. — After all, we're only a short way from reaching our goal...