Chapter 20: The Zoo
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Switched the Thoughts and Talking plus I won't bold these 2 anymore
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"Talking" (when in 3rd POV or in another's POV)
'Thoughts'
~Highlight~
{system}
*****side note*****
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3rd POV
The cold air of mid-January seeped through the windows of the Avery's house, a chilling reminder that winter still had its grip on the world outside. Snow flurries danced in the pale morning light, a beautiful but fleeting sight, as people hurried along the streets, bundled up against the biting wind. Inside, the ambiance was warm and bustling, filled with the low hum of conversations and the clatter of keyboards. Avery D. Traveler stood by his large office window, gazing out at the icy landscape, his mind swirling with thoughts about the future and the weight of the secret he bore.
The soft sound of a door creaking open broke his reverie, and he turned to see Maia Simmons enter, her cheeks flushed from the cold. She radiated a warm glow, one that could melt the frost from any window. He felt a rush of affection swell in his chest as he recalled the proposal from the day before, the way her eyes had sparkled with surprise and joy.
"Good morning," she said, her voice brightening the room even more.
"Morning," he replied, a smile tugging at his lips. "How did you sleep?"
"Better than I expected," she admitted, her gaze drifting to the cityscape outside. "Yesterday felt like a dream." Little did she know what her little adventure of the previous day would lead up to.
Maia stepped closer, wanting to bridge the distance that lingered between them. "Yeah, I didn't think I'd have the courage to do it," she admitted, her tone shifting to something more serious.
Her expression softened, and she took another small step closer. "I'm glad. I've been thinking about the future, about what it all means."
"Me too," he said, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. He wanted to share things with her, but he had to keep his position in SolTech a secret, at least for now. "But we should take things one step at a time."
Maia nodded, her eyes reflecting understanding but also curiosity. "I get it. There's a lot happening around us, and I respect your wishes."
In that moment, the chaos of the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them standing in the warmth of their shared connection. Avery longed to reach out and pull her closer, to assure her, even if uncertainty loomed on the horizon.
She tilted her head, her eyes searching his face for something unsaid. "I know there's more to what you're feeling, Avery. You've always been careful with your words and actions, but I have known you long enough to know when something is wrong. You don't have to carry it all alone, you know."
He let out a small sigh, realizing she could read him,... a little. The thought of unburdening himself, of telling her everything, was tempting, but now wasn't the right time. Not with the weight of SolTech pressing on his conscience and the looming chaos that lay just beneath the surface of their lives. But despite his reservations, there was one thing he could offer. His presence, his support, and the unwavering commitment he had made to her with that ring.
"I'll tell you eventually," Avery promised softly, looking into her eyes. "But not yet."
Maia gave him a small, understanding nod, her fingers tightening around his. "I trust you. Whatever it is, we'll face it together, when you're ready."
Maia POV
As I stood next to him, my thoughts swirled with excitement and some concern. The proposal had ignited a spark. But alongside that thrill was the weight of uncertainty. I was determined to prove myself capable, especially after turning down my father's plans for me to join Apex Cybernetics. I wanted to carve my own path, and Avery's support was a reassuring presence in her life.
Yet, in the back of my mind lingered the fear of what Avery was hiding. I respected his need for privacy, but my desire to know more about the man who drag me into this was unfounded. With the world changing around them, and whispers of animals behaving oddly, she couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental was on the horizon.
Yet, the uncertainty gnawed at me. I knew Avery was hiding something, something important. The way he danced around certain topics. I respected his need for privacy, but that didn't stop me from being curious, from wanting to know every part of the man I was falling in love with. It was frustrating at times, knowing he held pieces of himself back, even though he clearly trusted her in so many other ways. The question wasn't if I could handle whatever he was keeping from me, but when he would be willing to share it with me.
3rd POV
The tranquil morning at SolTech was abruptly shattered by the shrill sound of alarms echoing through the building. Avery's heart raced a little as he turned to Maia, who immediately tensed.
"Is that…?" she began, but before she could finish, a frantic voice came over the intercom.
"Attention all personnel! We have reports of unnaturally aggressive animal behavior in Africa. Animals are breaking out of reserves and attacking civilians! Please await further news!"
Avery exchanged a worried glance with Maia. The implications were dire. The animal kingdom was becoming increasingly aggressive, a trend that had been hinted at in recent weeks. He could feel a storm brewing on the horizon, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Avery knew he couldn't sit idly by. He had to act. "We need to create something to protect people," he said, his mind racing with ideas. "What if we developed a protective type of technology?"
"What did you have in mind?" Maia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I was thinking something like a bubble shield (Halo) or a shield grenade (Fortnite). It could create a protective barrier against most form of energy." As Avery said and continued by saying as he was heading for the door. "I am going to get another person on board with us. We could always use more help."
"And who would that be, Ave?" and Avery replied as he exited the room. "Charlotte,... Charlotte Lockwood." As he returned with Charlotte behind him. He used the same method as he did with Maia to convince her. A promise for more is how I did it, her feelings for me may have gotten in the way to. "Now that everyone together. Let's get to work." Avery said, determination shining through all three of them. They gathered materials and brainstormed in Avery's office, merging their expertise and creativity.
For hours to days, they drew sketches, calculated dimensions, and discussed the mechanics behind their creations. Avery felt a thrill of invention pulse through him, and he could see the excitement growing as they worked together. The atmosphere crackled with energy, and their close collaboration deepened their bond.
Both were determined to help Avery with these plans. They understood the gravity of the situation and felt a newfound sense of responsibility as they rushed to implement their protective measures. "If we can create something effective, we might save more than a few lives," Charlotte said, her voice resolute.
As they prepared their prototypes, Maia's thoughts flickered to her father, who had always been critical of her choices. She wanted to prove that she was capable of making a difference, even if it was in the face of a rising threat. The challenge invigorated her, and she felt a sense of purpose beyond just working at SolTech. This was about protecting humanity and finding her place in a rapidly changing world.
It took from the mid-January to end-March. In that time frame, around the end of February, Maia had been acting weirdly. Their would be some rather aggressive behavior when we missed a step, well Maia and Charlotte did, Avery did it on purpose to let them grow. She would look at Avery like he had just killed someone from time to time. It was obvious to Avery that she wanted to tell him something but she just wouldn't let him hear it. While Charlotte was a little less confused on what was happening, she had a rough idea but she made no accusations choosing to make sure instead.
Maia's POV
It wasn't until the end of February that Maia began to understand why she had been feeling so off. She wasn't just overwhelmed with work or the growing tension of the animal rampages. No, this was something more personal, something life-changing.
I was pregnant.
The realization had hit her hard, like a tidal wave crashing over her, filling her with a mixture of fear, excitement, and confusion. Avery's proposal had already stirred up so many emotions, but this... this was entirely different. Her hands would linger over her stomach when she was alone, her mind racing with questions.
'How do I tell him?'
I wasn't even sure how I had conceived, I had only done it a few times with him and it was protected. With everything going on, the rampages, their work, the long nights researching. I hadn't noticed the subtle signs at first. I was already so caught up in everything happening around them that I had dismissed the symptoms. But as the weeks passed, it became undeniable. The morning nausea, the fatigue, the sudden, unexplained mood swings. Avery and Charlotte had seen my aggression, my strange behavior, but he hadn't pushed. He'd let me be, and now I wished he hadn't.
Maia felt guilt settle heavily in her chest. This is something I should tell him, but the words just wouldn't come out. Every time I opened my mouth, I second-guessed herself, I guess I was afraid of his reaction. What would he think? He was already so busy, with their work, with the world practically falling apart around them. How could I add this to his shoulders?
Charlotte's POV
I have my suspicions about Maia. I was observant, always had been and I could see Maia's changing behavior: the irritability, the tiredness, the way she sometimes touched her stomach as if in thought while looking at Avery. But Charlotte didn't want to push. Maia had enough on her plate, and if there was something personal going on, Charlotte trusted that she'd speak up when she was ready.
Still, it was hard to miss the signs. Maia seemed almost volatile some days, glaring at Avery like he had wronged her in some unforgivable way. And while it was clear that Maia adored him, something deeper was bothering her, something that Avery either didn't notice or chose to ignore.
One afternoon, while they were in the lab, I caught Maia rubbing her temples, her expression one of quiet frustration. It was clear that she was struggling with more than just work.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked cautiously, not wanting to overstep.
Maia paused, then gave a half-hearted nod. "I'm fine. Just... tired."
Charlotte didn't push further, but she knew better. There was something Maia wasn't saying, and it was only a matter of time before it came out.
The following day, as they continued working late into the night, Maia finally reached a breaking point. She dropped her tools onto the counter with a frustrated sigh, her hands trembling. I noticed instantly, setting my own work aside.
"Maia," I began, my tone soft but firm. "What's really going on?"
Maia blinked, looking as though she might brush it off again. But this time, the weight of her secret was too much. She turned to face me fully, her expression vulnerable in a way Charlotte hadn't seen before.
"I... I'm pregnant," Maia confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, as if saying it aloud would make it more real.
My eyes widened for a split second before softening with understanding. "Oh, Maia…" she said, stepping forward and pulling her into a gentle embrace. "You've been carrying this alone?"
"I didn't know how to tell anyone," Maia admitted, her voice cracking with the weight of weeks of uncertainty. "I don't know how to tell him."
I held her tighter, her voice soothing. "You'll find the right moment. But you don't have to do this alone, Maia. I'm here. We'll figure this out together." I continued by saying "Take you're time, if you need anything feel free to come to me I have been through this before so feel don't feel shy. But don't take to long, you need to tell him at some point, before you know."
Maia let out a shaky breath, her chest feeling lighter for the first time in weeks. It wasn't a solution, but confiding in Charlotte was the first step. She wasn't alone she knew that now.
3rd POV
It was now April and the news continued to pour in about the escalating situation about animals all over the globe. Avery, Charlotte and Maia, with the help of Loreleï secretly, monitored reports, growing increasingly alarmed by the number of incidents. Animals were breaking out of reserves, attacking anyone in sight. It became clear that this was not an isolated incident; it was part of a larger trend. Avery began gathering evidence, documenting each case of aggression to understand the underlying causes of it and found Dr. Robert Oz to be apart of it.
"Look at this," he said, pointing at a screen displaying footage from the latest incidents. "It's not just a few animals; it's entire populations going rogue. Something is triggering this behavior and it's spreading among the animal kingdom. The only places their isn't animal behaving this way are those along the Muertes Archipelago and Skull Island"
They compiled information, realizing that with each passing day, the animal kingdom was becoming more unpredictable and aggressive. The knowledge weighed on Avery's mind, driving him to accelerate their technological development.
Amidst the chaos, Avery received a call from Maia's father, who demanded to know what SolTech was doing to address the situation. "You're in over your head, Avery. Apex Cybernetics has the resources to handle this better than you do," he barked, his tone dripping with condescension.
"I assure you, we're working on it," Avery replied, maintaining his composure. He could sense Maia tensing beside him. "We're developing technologies and gathering data on the aggression. We're not sitting idly by."
"Your company can't solve a crisis of this magnitude. I expect results, and the company you work for isn't giving any" her father snapped before hanging up, leaving Avery feeling very little of the weight of expectation, especially for someone like this.
Maia exhaled sharply. "I'm sorry about that. He's just… he doesn't believe in what we're doing here."
"It's fine," Avery replied, shaking off the encounter. "We'll show him we can make a difference."
With renewed determination, Avery, Maia and Charlotte dove into their work. Together, they made significant progress on their protective technology, building a prototype bubble shield capable of enveloping small areas and shielding against aggressive animals for at least a day before it needs to recharge.
"Let's test it," Maia suggested, her excitement palpable.
"Now?" Avery raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? We need to know if it works before we deploy it." Charlotte said, her excitement brimming to the surface.
After a few moments of hesitation, Avery nodded. They found a suitable area within SolTech's expansive grounds to conduct the test.
As they activated the shield, a translucent barrier formed around them. It shimmered with energy, pulsating softly. They exchanged excited glances as the shield held steady against light to medium impacts from test objects they threw from a book to a boulder.
"This could work," Avery said, exhilaration rushing through him.
"Now we just need to scale it up," Maia added, her mind already racing ahead. And they did, it can now last 2 days protecting before it needs to recharge instead of one.
The air was thick with tension as they stood in a command center, surrounded by a small team of engineers and security personnel. Outside, the rumble of distant growls and the cacophony of shattering glass signaled that the animal kingdom was indeed in chaos. The rapid escalation of violent behaviors among animals was unlike anything they had ever encountered.
"Maia, Charlotte, we need to act fast," Avery urged, his eyes scanning the holographic map of the city projected in front of them. It displayed various points where animal attacks had occurred, each flashing red as another report of violence came in. "If this continues, we'll have more than just broken fences and destroyed property on our hands."
They nodded, their determination shining through. "What's the plan?" Charlotte asked.
"We need to deploy the protective technology we've been working on." He gestured to the prototype shield generator they had set up in the lab. It resembled a weird oversized lamp, of the tiki torch variation, on three metallic legs but was more compact and could be deployed rapidly in response to threats. "We can set these up around vulnerable areas to protect the public or contain the animals. And hand out the grenades to the authorities who would then hand them out to the public. Their shouldn't be a problem since it isn't dangerous in nature"
Maia's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "I can help with the configuration. We can enhance the settings to ensure maximum coverage and efficiency."
"Before that, how are you so sure about the authorities handing out the grenades? That would seem very unlikely" Charlotte question.
"Don't worry to much about that it won't be to difficult" Avery responded, making sure to lead them on that there is more to it than naivety.
As they worked together, Avery's mind raced through the possibilities, strategizing the best locations for the shields. While Charlotte and Maia busily input data, he took a moment to reflect on his own skills. He might not have had as much time to explore his supernatural powers deeply as of late, well not publicly, but he could use his extensive knowledge in engineering, technology and pretty much every other subject to protect those around him.
"Once we deploy the shields, we can monitor the situation from here," he said, his fingers dancing over the controls. "We'll need to coordinate with local law enforcement to ensure they understand how to work with our tech."
"Let's also involve the the team who are already working against this," Maia suggested, her enthusiasm seemingly infectious. "If we can get their insights and expertise on the current animal behavior, we'll have a better chance of understanding what's driving this aggression. Plus, they have access to some of the authorities which we can tap into."
Avery appreciated her proactive approach. It was moments like this that reminded him of why he was going along with teaching them. "That's a good idea. I'll reach out to them," he replied, already pulling up contact information for the team. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride watching the two of them take charge.
"Let's move fast," Maia urged, her voice steady and authoritative as she started to contact the authorities. Charlotte continued "We need to get these shields deployed and the information to everyone involved."
They divided their tasks efficiently, and the tension in the room shifted to a focused determination. As the team worked diligently, reports of animal rampages filtered in zoo breakouts, wildlife attacks, and strange occurrences spreading across the globe, all indicating a shift in nature itself.
Both girls were undergoing a transformation. Maia felt the pressures of leadership resting on her shoulders, but rather than buckle under the weight, she embraced it. Every decision she made solidified her commitment to what they were doing, pushing her beyond the boundaries of her former self. The pride she had once carried was now accompanied by a sense of responsibility that guided her actions. The same went for Charlotte.
They could sense Avery's 'unease' and wanted to reassure him. "We'll figure this out together," Charlotte said, her voice steady, a balm against the chaos swirling in his mind. "We always do." Little did she know that every put on a show to see just how much they had improved. Since IQ is very different from EQ both are necessary if you want to go places.
Their shared focus on the crisis allowed them to connect on a deeper level. In between strategizing and deploying technology, their eyes would meet, conveying unspoken support and understanding. As they worked side by side, their relationship seemed blossomed even further, built on mutual respect and shared goals.
Each small victory they achieved: a shield deployed, a successful communication with the Zoo team, brought them closer, reinforcing their bond amid the storm.
As night fell, the chaos in the city began to settle, thanks in part to the shields they had deployed and the efforts of the local authorities, now better equipped to handle the unprecedented situation. Reports indicated a decrease in aggressive animal behavior, but it was clear that the underlying issue remained unresolved.
"We made a difference today," Charlotte said, leaning against the console, her voice filled with both relief and exhaustion.
Avery nodded, feeling a swell of pride in the teamwork he was seeing. "But we can't let our guard down. We need to prepare for whatever comes next."
In the quiet moments after the chaos, as they reviewed the day's events, Avery knew that he would have to confide in the both of them about his role at SolTech eventually. But for now, he wanted to keep them shielded from it since chances are they would end up doing things they might regret. So for now, they had each other, and that was enough to face what laid ahead.
With their immediate crisis averted, Avery began brainstorming their next steps. He couldn't afford to waste any time; the situation was getting worse every day. Avery suspected there was more to the phenomenon something intentional, a grand design hiding just beneath the surface of these seemingly random outbreaks. The deeper they delved into it, the more certain he became that Dr. Robert Oz played a role in this growing chaos.
Brainstorming sessions became their new normal. Avery and Maia spent long hours in the lab or in the private confines of his office, going over research, theories, and potential solutions. For Avery, this was more than just tackling a global threat; it was an opportunity to teach them, to pass on some of the knowledge and methods he had spent cultivating. He saw in them a prepared mind, eager to learn, and he welcomed the chance. She had already proven her capabilities, but with the world collapsing around them, they needed to be even sharper.
Still, teaching them was not without its challenges. Avery found himself juggling several responsibilities at once handling the development of defensive technology, working with Loreleï to gather intelligence, and guiding Maia through the increasingly complex problems they faced. But despite the challenges, their collaboration grew stronger. Late-night conversations about work sometimes turned into something more personal. Every glance and every shared word seemed to bring them closer together. They were not just partners in the lab; they were a little more than that. And just like when they are learning, it would take time to process through all of it since accidents happen and etcetera,... even protected accidents happen.
By May, both women were acting stranger and stranger. Maia seemed exhausted so Avery gave her some time off but Charlotte was giving the same look Maia was a few months ago. Mai seemed to have noticed but neither wanted to tell him what was really happening. So life kept moving forward.
Charlotte POV
The signs were unmistakable, just like they were the first time. The bouts of nausea in the morning, the random waves of exhaustion that hit me during the day, the subtle changes to my body that only I could feel. I knew what this meant, and yet, the weight of it settled differently this time. I wasn't panicking or rushing to figure out what to do. I'd been pregnant before, after all. But this time... this time it was Avery's.
I kept thinking about it in the quiet moments when Maia and I worked late into the night, analyzing data, trying to make sense of the animal rampages. She was five months along now, and as much as she tried to push through, I could see the toll it was taking on her. I wondered if she could see it in me too.
At first, I wasn't going to say anything. I had it under control. I knew how to handle it — what to eat, how to rest when I needed to, what signs to look out for. But despite all that experience, there was one thing I couldn't handle on my own: the fact that Avery didn't know. And I wasn't sure how to tell him.
One evening, after another exhausting day, I finally decided I needed to talk to someone. I found Maia sitting in the lab, her hand absentmindedly resting on her belly as she studied the latest reports. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about the connection she already had with her unborn child. I envied that, in a way.
I took a deep breath and approached her. "Maia, can we talk?" I asked, keeping my voice low so it wouldn't carry beyond the two of us.
She looked up from the screen, her eyes tired but focused. "Of course," she said, offering a small smile. "What's on your mind?"
I hesitated for a second, wondering if I should even say anything. But I couldn't keep it in any longer. "I think I'm pregnant."
Her eyes widened slightly, and she immediately sat up straighter, her hand instinctively going to her belly. "Avery?"
I nodded, feeling the knot of nerves tightening in my chest. "Yeah... I haven't told him yet. I don't know how. With everything that's happening, the rampages, the research... I don't want to distract him. Or worse, overwhelm him."
Maia was quiet for a moment, processing what I'd just said. Then, without a word, she reached out and took my hand, squeezing it gently. "I get it. Trust me, I really do."
Her understanding was a comfort, but it didn't ease the uncertainty gnawing at me. "You're already five months along, Maia. But you haven't told him yet. I've seen how you've been struggling to keep it in. I don't even know if I can handle that conversation when it's my turn."
Maia sighed, her hand unconsciously moving to rest on her belly. "I know," she murmured. "Every day, I think about telling him, but then something happens, or we get wrapped up in work, and... I just can't. I'm afraid. Afraid of how he'll react, of how it'll change things."
I could hear the raw emotion in her voice, and it made my own hesitation that much more real. "I feel the same way," I admitted, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my lab coat. "I haven't told him either, and I've known for a week now. But every time I think about it, I freeze. It's like... he's already doing so much and everything going on in the world doesn't help."
Maia looked at me then, her eyes filled with a kind of exhaustion I hadn't seen before, but also a deep understanding. "You're right about that, Charlotte. He is doing a lot. But we are part of his world too. We matter just as much to him, at least I think we do, and this... this is huge. We can't hide it from him forever. He has a right to know, even if it's terrifying."
I nodded, the lump in my throat growing. "It's not just that. I've been through this before, but this... this feels different. He's the father this time. I don't even know how he'll react. What if he doesn't want this? What if he feels like it's too much, with everything happening around us?"
Maia squeezed my hand, her grip firm but comforting. "Avery is a lot of things, but he's not someone who would ever abandon us. Not like this. You've seen how much he cares. About you, about me, about everyone close to him. He'll want to know. I'm scared too, but... we're in this together,... right?"
Her words they were true, and I felt the tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. She was right. Avery wasn't the type of person to run from responsibility or to turn his back on the people he cared about. But still, the fear lingered, the unknown hanging over me like a dark cloud. "Together," I echoed, a soft smile forming despite the tension in my chest. "We'll figure it out."
Maia gave a tired but genuine smile in return. "We always do."
For a moment, the world outside the lab seemed to quiet down, the chaos of the animal rampages, the pressures of work, and the uncertainty of the future fading away. It was just the two of us, two women caught in the same whirlwind of emotion, sharing a secret too life changing to keep hidden for long. As I looked at Maia, I realized how much we had both been holding in, trying to protect each other. But we couldn't keep going like this, pretending everything was fine when it wasn't. Sooner or later, we would have to face the truth. Both of us.
Even so, now that I was pregnant again, I couldn't stop thinking about my already crappy motherhood, I already have Maisie, my daughter. But I am practically never home to be with her. I think it's about time I change that. I'll take July off to be with my family well my dad and daughter. Plus some time off work never really hurt anybody. I mean we already came up with a solution for the immediate threat being the currently rampaging animal kingdom.
3rd POV
By June, however, the pace of the crisis had accelerated. The animal rampages were no longer so isolated to certain regions. The fall of some of the world's most important wildlife reserves sent shockwaves across the globe, throwing the once fragile balance of ecosystems into chaos. Entire populations of animals, once safely contained and protected within their habitats, had either broken free or turned hostile, and the reserves that had long served as sanctuaries had become battlegrounds.
Australia's Natural Park of the Coral Sea was one of the first to fall. Its pristine waters, once teeming with marine life, had become a danger zone as well as a no man's land,... water's. The animal behavior there had gone from aggressive to outright lethal, with sharks and other large predators attacking ships and divers without provocation. The park, which had once attracted tourists from around the world, now served as a terrifying barrier to travel by sea. Many commercial shipping lanes had been closed, cutting off a major route between Australia and neighboring countries. Trade was severely impacted, and the global supply chain felt the sting as exports slowed to a crawl.
In Africa, the situation was just as grim. The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, one of the largest wildlife reserves in the world, had been overrun by aggressive herds of elephants, rhinos, and even antelopes. These animals, normally docile or wary of human presence, had become unpredictable and more violent. Reports poured in of entire villages being trampled, vehicles destroyed, and even rangers who once protected these animals being forced to flee for their lives. The destruction of such a significant area didn't just affect local communities, it had ripple effects across the continent, nowhere was safe in Africa. The tourism industry collapsed, economies were strained, and the governments of multiple nations scrambled to find answers.
The Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest protected land area in the world, had also succumbed to the mounting chaos. Its frigid wilderness had become hostile, not just due to the natural predators that roamed its icy landscapes but because even the smallest creatures seemed to have turned against humans. Polar bears, once a rare sight, were now marauding through research stations, attacking anyone they came across. Migratory birds, seals, and walruses were behaving erratically, disrupting ecosystems that had been stable for 40 years due to human interference. The isolation of Greenland meant that help was slow to arrive, leaving the few remaining inhabitants stranded with no choice but to fend for themselves in an increasingly hostile environment.
The islands of the Pacific were not spared either. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in the Hawaiian archipelago had been one of the last untouched wildernesses on Earth, a sanctuary for marine life. Now, it was one of the most dangerous places in the ocean. Schools of fish moved in unnatural, aggressive patterns, and large predators like orcas and whales had begun to attack boats. Scientists studying the phenomenon were baffled by the sudden shift in behavior, but the result was clear: much of the region had become too dangerous to navigate. The Hawaiian Islands, once a hub of marine research and tourism, now found themselves cut off, their natural beauty marred by a growing sense of dread.
In Germany, the situation was less about wilderness reserves and more about the effects of global interconnectivity. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, an area rich in cultural and ecological significance, had seen its ecosystem collapse as species once thriving in harmony turned against one another. What used to be a place of serene natural wonder had become a battleground. And because the German economy relied heavily on global trade and marine routes, the disruptions caused by the chaos in the Pacific had hit home. Ports were shut down, shipments delayed, and the ripple effect through the European Union was devastating.
Avery new that the main issue with these were that the animals were pushing humans out keeping them away from there habitat and what the news channels described as an environmental collapse was nothing more than the wildlife removing human factor not it's collapse. Places with reserves had our shielding tech to protect them they lost the territory the reserves were on at the most but not the city.
He felt a certain weight of responsibility on him, but he knew they couldn't afford to falter. They had to stay ahead of the curve, keep pushing forward with their innovations, and most importantly, they had to uncover the full extent of Dr. Oz's involvement before it was too late. The technology they were developing had the potential to save lives, but without understanding the root cause of the animal uprising, it was like putting a bandage on a wound that was still bleeding out.
By the end of June, Avery had gathered enough evidence to link Dr. Oz to several significant locations where he made all this possible. That includes Pandora Island the worst part about this was that it's apart of the Muertes archipelago the same as Isla Sonar and Isla Nublar. It wasn't just circumstantial anymore. The full extent of his plan was still unclear, but one thing was certain, he had to be stopped. However on the up side, this plan of his would bring one thing that was good and that is that people will learn their lesson. Resulting in humans as a whole would start progressing again and it seems to be going in the direction of genetic manipulation.
However that area was weird, animals were much more docile there and Skull Island than anywhere else on the planet. Another thing that was weird to Avery was that Maia was rather hesitant on going in to work in person and said she would rather be the person behind the computer in her home where it was 'safe'.
As the world teetered on the brink of collapse, Avery along with the girls prepared for the next phase of their mission. They knew that the battle ahead would be unlike anything they had faced before, but they also knew that they couldn't turn back now. The future of humanity was at stake, and there was no one else they could trust to see this through.
As for me, I took 1 month off of everything well at least for everyone else but me, Charlotte seemed to have the same idea as me since she also took a month off. I would go exploring in Nova's Oa. The time dilation being 1 day to 1 year, that would be 31 years for me. I just need to blow off some steam. I also wanted to try and create a clone that I would be able to control in a direct manner meaning something like a secondary thought, I should be able to achieve this by combining: Geokinesis, Hydrokinesis, Thermokinesis, Psychokinesis, Aurakinesis and Ergokinesis plus Amétkinesis if I want to give it a personality.
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- This chapter was around 6'200 words.
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