Chap 197: Oh Crap
The door to the Commander’s office hesitated for a fraction of a second—long enough for Tee’s patience to snap. She kicked it down.
The Commander had seen her coming through his surveillance cameras, but the speed of her entry still caught him off guard. In a single blink, she was before his desk, hands spread wide. Cracks spidered across the glass surface under her weight.
“We need to hurry. We can’t wait another day to get the Omega stone,” she blurted, urgency lacing every word.
The Commander dismissed the holographic tabs hovering over his desk, giving her his full attention. He stacked one hand atop the other, inhaled deeply, and spoke with calm authority, his dark green eyes locking onto her pale ones.
“I had thought it best to wait until your teammates finished their home visits before assigning the mission,” he said. “But… a thought just occurred to me. Perhaps urgency is the better path.”
Meanwhile, Zod’s mother had stepped inside for a moment, leaving him alone in the garden. His younger brother was at school, his father at work. A holographic screen flickered to life, showing the Commander’s face—but Zod barely flinched.
“Greetings, cadet. I trust you’ve enjoyed your brief stay at home.”
Zod scanned his surroundings; the coast was clear. Five days had passed since he returned to his home district, and the Commander’s sudden appearance made his brows knit in suspicion. Another fragment sensed? The Harbingers showing up again? Talk about terrible timing—or spite.
“Unfortunately,” the Commander continued, “we must disrupt your home visit for something far greater. Details will follow in time. For now, we must stage your death.”
Zod’s throat went dry. “Wait… what?”
Miko, Kie, and Saeda received identical holographic messages. Unbeknownst to them, invisible cloaked hover jets circled their homes, tracking their every move. It was clear, Primus could find them anywhere.
Kie accepted the news without hesitation. Unlike the others, he had no one waiting for him at home. He stepped through a vortex back to Primus, the first to return.
Miko was more contemplative. Perhaps faking her death would worry her parents—then relief might earn their attention, their care. She took to solo jet-practice over the endless blue ocean, only to collide with an unseen jet. From the outside, the explosion obliterated them both, their burnt wreckage a grim spectacle. In reality, as Primus ensured, she was unharmed, teleported safely away.
Zod, however, declined his mother’s offer to go grocery shopping. He stayed behind, tending the garden until she returned. The backyard renovation looked nearly complete, and it pained him to think all his hard work could vanish.
As he lingered among the blooms and tilled soil, a shadow streaked across the sky. A hover jet plummeted, striking him. According to the news, he died instantly. In truth, just like Miko, he was whisked safely to Primus. He hoped his brother wouldn’t worry—and cursed under his breath at the damage left behind at home.
Saeda welcomed any chance to escape her traitorous father and the witch of the West. Her biological mother was no better. She simply informed the Commander that she would leave a letter claiming she had moved out on her own—which she did. After packing her belongings, she made her way to the train station, where a jet waited to whisk her away. The ride back to Primus was smooth, almost serene, a stark contrast to the chaos she had left behind.
Meanwhile, Zod’s mother emerged from her car, startled by the crowd and the commotion surrounding her home. Priman soldiers in white suits had just arrived. She hurried inside, calling for Zod, but no answer came. Entering the backyard, she froze, her eyes taking in the destruction. Later news confirmed her worst fear. Her son was dead. The shock was too much, and she fainted.
Saeda’s father and stepmother recoiled as they read her letter. Julie’s face was heavy with regret, guilt etched in every line.
“This is all my fault,” she cried, her voice breaking.
Saeda’s father pulled Julie close, offering silent comfort. Words felt meaningless there. They could not undo the moment.
In a clean, orderly meeting hall, several important figures gathered, tension crackling in the air. A holographic screen flickered to life, displaying breaking news and the announcement of Miko’s death. Two figures shot to their feet, eyes wide, mouths agape.
“Someone will pay for this!” shouted the man, rage rolling off him in waves.
The woman let out a guttural, wrenching cry that tore through the hall, body trembling and fists clenching as if she could claw the world itself.
Tee returned to the Primus Vergant village near the waters, the familiar scent of the lake filling her senses. Patience, her loyal animal companion, bounded toward her the moment it picked up her presence. She didn’t call it to stop—why would she?—and instead ran to meet it halfway. Wrapping her arms around its massive neck, she hugged it tightly. Patience nipped at her hair, a playful gesture of affection that never failed to make her laugh.
Tee leaned close, her wide smile reflecting in Patience’s large, sparkling eyes. “Cutie-pie… big things are coming. Just you wait,” she murmured, her voice soft yet full of promise.
Meanwhile, Kie realized he had been the first to return to Primus. A fleeting thought tempted him to sneak a visit to Tee, but he pushed it aside. The recent Xeno-victim mutation reminded him to maintain distance. He feared allowing intimacy, even inadvertently. She would encourage it, and he knew it would lead nowhere good.
A hologram flickered to life, displaying the Commander’s face. Not long after, Kie found himself in the elders’ sanctum, standing before a circle of the most formidable figures of Primus. The Commander stood silently at the side, his presence a steady reminder of duty.
Elder Caledor’s voice rang out, firm and clear. “Greetings. Let us get straight to the matter of why you are here.”
“Your comrade, Tee Edna Char,” Elder Earvangar added, his tone measured.
Kie’s brows knitted. A meeting about Tee? Was that about the Omega stone?
The elders began speaking in turn, their words weaving together as if they were a single entity…
Elder Caledor, “Though some among our brethren believe Tee to be the destroyer—the instrument of mankind’s punishment—we have not abandoned our duty to safeguard humanity, and, to some extent, the world itself.”
Elder Menrith, “We have received further correspondence from the Verge foretelling that she may one day betray us. Yet these visions are inconsistent. They shift from timeline to timeline, and the manner of that betrayal remains uncertain.”
Elder Seriphal, “Still, her recent displays of unruly behavior and unlawful coercion suggest she may already be drifting toward that path. Tee is… unpredictable.”
Elder Caledor, “If there remains any chance to prevent that future, we intend to seize it.”
A heavy silence fell. The Commander broke it, turning to Kie. “And that is where you come in, cadet. As team leader, the burden falls to you—to ensure she does not take that wrong turn. We need her in order to successfully retrieve the Omega stone.”
Kie’s chest tightened. As half-leader, as his team jokingly called him, he had heard similar warnings about Tee before, so he wasn’t shocked. But finding the Omega stone and shouldering this responsibility? Tension coiled in the air, heavy on his shoulders, pressing him down.
“And… where exactly is the Omega stone?” Kie asked, curiosity laced with apprehension.
The Commander cleared his throat before answering. Kie still couldn’t believe what he had just heard. His head felt like it was about to explode under the weight of the responsibility now thrust onto him.
Meanwhile, Zod had paused gathering items for a campfire, sensing an angel approaching. He and Miko met in the kitchen and ran to each other, embracing so tightly he lifted her off the ground.
“Man, I'm so happy to see you again,” he said.
“Me too. And I can't believe it… the Omega stone has been found,” she replied, her voice brimming with relief.
Zod tilted her chin gently, looking into her large brown eyes. “Soon we can put all this Sentinel stuff behind us and just… live our lives. I want to live my life with you, Miko.”
Miko cupped his cheek, her voice steady and sincere. “I want to live my life with you too, Zod.”
Then they kissed, a moment of warmth amidst the tension.
Kie entered after his private meeting, distracted and still lost in thought. He barely noticed the two lovebirds and didn’t register Saeda stepping in, dragging two suitcases behind her.
“Nice to see you too,” she said in her monotone voice. She wasn’t angry—just relieved to be back. She wasn’t missing anything at home anyway.
A hologram flickered to life, showing the Commander’s face.
“Cadets, suit up. Your next—and hopefully final—mission as Sentinels. Retrieve the Omega stone… located on the other side of the Veil.”
“Located where?” Zod blurted, eyes wide.
“Let’s get moving,” Kie said, already dashing off.
They wasted no time leaving the living complex. The Commander’s final words about the Omega stone on the other side of the Veil echoed in their minds as the elevator doors closed.
“On the other side of the Veil is where all the dark monsters from the Reign of Severin were cast after his defeat,” Zod said. “After hundreds of years, they’ve probably mutated… evolved.”
“You sound concerned,” Kie said.
“I am. And you should be too,” Zod replied, a tension in his voice.
“We’re the Sentinels,” Kie reassured him. “Nothing is impossible for us. We just need to work together as a team.”
“And speaking of the team,” Miko said, frowning, “one of us is missing.”
The thought of Tee made Saeda’s stomach churn. She dreaded seeing that other witch again—nothing good ever came easily.
The girls met up in the changing room. Miko’s smile widened at the sight of Tee.
“Tee, it’s so great to see you. Congratulations on helping find the Omega stone. That was really impressive,” Miko said warmly.
Tee puffed out her chest, head held high, her words dripping with casual superiority. “Yeah… it was nothing, really.”
In her mind, she felt invincible. Soon, she would no longer be a Xeno-victim. No one would have anything on her.
Saeda stayed silent, focused instead on the new suits they had been issued. The black, shiny organic material molded perfectly to their skin as they donned it. Each knapsack on their back held essential supplies.
Tee noticed the tasteless, odorless nutribars packed for her but knew she wouldn’t need them. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten. Her thoughts were briefly interrupted by Miko and Saeda whispering about an item in their pouches.
“It was Zod’s idea,” Miko whispered.
Tee decided she had heard enough and tuned out the rest.
On the way to the mission base, Tee bumped into Kie. The intensity in their eyes was undeniable. They had never shone so brightly for one another, but they said nothing, keeping their feelings carefully locked away.
“Long time no see—” “How was your trip—” they blurted simultaneously.
They froze, awkwardly, each waiting for the other to finish, but neither did.
“Guys… I think these suits are organic,” Zod said, breaking the silence.
“Meaning?” Saeda asked, genuine curiosity now in her voice.
“I think… it’s alive,” he replied.
A chilling thought washed over all of them.
“Wait… you mean I’m wearing a living organism right now?” Miko gagged, horror flickering across her face.
The idea was terrifying.
They reached the mission base, where the Lieutenant and the Commander awaited, flanked by the four elders and a throng of Primus workers and Vergants. The sheer number of people, combined with the authoritative presence of the elders, made the scene feel imposing—almost alarming. Yet, none of it dampened Zod’s curiosity.
As he tugged at the sleek, skin-tight material around his neck, he frowned, the thought gnawing at him. “This material… it’s organic, right? As in… I’m wearing another living being right now?”
The Lieutenant chuckled. “That’s partially correct. Imagine a living suit made from advanced biological material, designed so anyone could wear it…” she began to explain.
When you first put the suit on, it wouldn’t behave like normal clothing. Instead, the material would scan your body and adjust itself. Within a few seconds it would stretch, shrink, and mold to your exact shape, almost like a second skin. So whether the wearer was tall, short, large, or small, the suit automatically fit perfectly.
Another interesting thing was that the suit would be self-repairing. Since it was made of living or bio-engineered material, if it got cut or torn, the tiny cells in the fabric would detect the damage and start reconnecting the fibers. Small holes could close up in seconds, almost the way skin healed after a small scratch.
The suit would also be built for protection. The outer layer could harden when something hit it, helping to block impacts or sharp objects. Under that, there would be a softer layer that spreads out the force so the wearer doesn’t feel the full impact. On the inside, the material would stay soft and flexible so the person can move normally.
Another benefit was environmental protection. The suit would regulate temperature to keep the wearer warm in cold weather or cool in heat. It could also resist water and filter some harmful particles in the air, making it useful in rough environments like disaster zones or hazardous workplaces.
Since it was a living material, the suit would need energy to stay active. It could draw small amounts of energy from body heat, sunlight, or stored nutrients built into the material itself.
So in simple terms, you can think of the suit as a mix of clothing, armor, and living tissue. It fitted anyone automatically, repaired itself when damaged, and protected the wearer while still feeling comfortable enough to move naturally.
Zod was the only one of the Sentinels grateful for that brief science lesson. “Fascinating,” he said, nodding his head with one hand under his chin.
The Lieutenant stepped forward with a warning. “There is a strong concentration of dark energy on the other side of the Veil,” she said, her voice steady but grave. “It could interfere with your Ultramana abilities.” She then gave a brief rundown of the new weapons and tools at their disposal.
Their new summoning gloves were explained in detail. Unlike before, they could no longer teleport a buster sword from a warehouse with a simple hand gesture—transporting across the Veil was impossible. Instead, the gloves allowed the user to mold inanimate objects into sword-like constructs. They might not match the strength of the Ultramana swords they were accustomed to, and using them drained energy, but in a pinch, they could still prove invaluable. Other tools, including explosives, were also covered quickly, enough for the team to get a sense of their utility.
“If there are no further questions or concerns,” the Commander said, his tone firm, “we shall continue according to schedule. The fate of the world depends on this mission. Failure is not an option. The Omega stone lies across the Veil, and the elders’ vision has been limited by the Sealed Bond—the strongest interference they have ever encountered. With the aid of the noble Vergants you see before you, we will open a rift large enough and stable enough for all five of you to pass through. Tee will ensure your safe return. Once we sense an opening on this side, we will assist in widening the rift for your passage back.”
The Commander and the Vergants glanced at Tee. She understood immediately—that was her cue to partake in the chant, storing a reference in her Verge so she could replicate it and guide her teammates home.
Her throat tightened. She had hoped to keep her Verge closed to prevent another attack, but now she had no choice. Accessing it was essential to perform the sorcery.
Oh crap.