Surprise Kidnapping [2]

Even though the zephyr was considered a top-of-the-line stealth vehicle, it was around the size of an ordinary domestic cargo plane that didn't need to travel through space or multiple Stratums. 

It had space for multiple facilities, of which the clinic was only one. In an ordinary model, there were also three interrogation rooms that also doubled as prison cells, a large main area, three secondary areas that branched off and could be used for various purposes, and rooms able to house a crew of over thirty people if needed.

Then, how could such a massive plane with so many amenities and complex technologies also be fast enough and secretive enough to be prided for its stealth?

The answer was one simple thing: a force called Aether.

It was brought about during the Forthcoming. No, that was an improper retelling of events.

During the Forthcoming, when the Gehenna Tree appeared in the center of the solar system, humanity did its best to understand the sudden changes in its situation.

With adaptation and the creation of new tools and hypotheses, humanity spread its toes into outer space in a completely different way. What they set out to find was the truth behind the Gehenna Tree. They received something entirely different. 

The Gehenna Tree's mystery remained unsolved, but humanity was able to discover a force in the universe that solved many of the equations that had remained mysteries beforehand. 

It was a force that helped explain monsters and mutated beasts. It helped explain many of the different phenomena surrounding the Gehenna Tree even if the entity itself couldn't be approached.

That force was named Aether. 

Aether flowed ambiently through the atmosphere at all times. It was no different from any other element like oxygen or nitrogen. 

However, compared to those elements, Aether's properties were nothing short of magical.

When humanity learned how to harness Aether's energy, electricity became secondary. It was really only used in the Rathole where they couldn't afford Aether infrastructure. As for non-renewable sources, they had practically become things of the past. 

Vehicles were powered by Aether. Homes were powered by Aether. Appliances were powered by Aether. All of the world's infrastructure relied on Aether.

And, because of Aether, a plane like the zephyr could maintain stealth at an unbelievable level. It could move at the speed of a starjet that was capable of easily breaching the atmosphere without a problem.

The Aether-based systems that governed its cloaking and thruster technology could even be described as magic if one wanted to go so far.

Aether was nigh-infinite as it was a natural part of the universe itself that could never be depleted. It was much more powerful than electricity or any other form of energy. It was more conductive, more responsive, more efficient, and in every way an improvement when compared to anything else humanity had ever dreamed of. 

As an energy, Aether only had a single flaw.

It could not be absorbed by humans.

The almost magical strength it could give to human creations gave people hope that it could evolve humanity as well, however, it was nothing more than a false hope.

Aether became deadly when it was purposefully absorbed into the human body. If it was encountered in large amounts within the body's ecosystem, everything would begin to corrode. 

Gene Sequences and Bloodline Sequences came at a much later time after humanity realized that research into absorbing Aether was futile.

'But that was in the past era.'

Gio looked down at the device injected into his arm. It was a small needle attached to something like a tab of paper, but the moment the soldiers stabbed him with it, a refreshing feeling swept over his body.

His purple hands, his scarred and bruised arms, the leg he broke… as if none of it ever happened, his injuries were disappearing.

'In the current era, humanity has even grown to this level. I felt like I was on the verge of dying, but in only six or so hours I'm almost completely fine.'

Right. It had been quite some time. The soldiers left them alone in the clinic after starting their treatment. Two stood at the door to guard them, but that was it.

Ricky fell asleep some time ago. Only Gio was left awake contemplating the eras.

'We've certainly come a long way compared to where we were back when the world changed, however, the level of improvement we've reached is nowhere near the level of improvement we will see when the true calamities come.'

Because right now, humanity believed that it had caught up to the changes in the world. 

Humanity was wrong.

'Eventually, a way to absorb Aether into the human body will be created.'

Aether was a great supplement to the strength of Bloodline Sequences. It also enhanced the effects of Gene Sequences greatly. In the future, Aether would become a part of every fighter's arsenal.

'I need to create an Aether Core soon…'

He had a very specific plan in mind. In terms of the Bloodline Sequence that would be the foundation of his strength, he knew exactly what he wanted. 

'But I can't get that now or anytime within the next few years. In order to have something to work with before then, I need to start using energy to fortify my foundation.'

The plans for the future had been made in the forgotten past, but that didn't mean new plans wouldn't be created on the spot:

As Gio pondered over how he wanted to spend the next few years, the gliding metal door of the clinic slid open, revealing a new face. That of a man no older than thirty. 

Unlike the soldiers, who were dressed in all-black combat gear with their faces covered in masks, this person looked much more formal.

He wore a clean navy blue uniform adorned with an assortment of badges and a sash. His hair was black and cut neatly to frame his face. His pale white skin made his emerald green eyes pop almost like he was a celebrity of some sort. 

Every single badge on his chest had meaning, but for some reason, he gave off the vibe of someone who had never seen combat.

And that smile…

That was a smile Gio didn't like at all, because he knew what it was like to be the one sporting it.

"Hello."

He gave a short greeting with a small smile on his face.

"I see your friend has made himself comfortable. How are you feeling? Better now?" 

The man's tone of voice was almost offensively belittling, but Gio was forced to stand it. He had to remember that he was indeed a child at the moment. 

"I'm fine. More importantly, why did you abduct us? We aren't criminals, if that's what you're thinking." 

His response was cold. He looked into that man's eyes without fear.

He was speaking like he was a kind person, but Gio knew why he was here. He knew what information the man was seeking.

His tone certainly made that man flinch, but he didn't comment, seemingly choosing to be the bigger person.

"Ehem…"

Clearing his throat, he fixed the smile on his face.

"I am what you could call the captain of this ship. My name is Raymond Pierce, but you can just call me Ray," he said. 

"The reason we summoned the two of you isn't anything severe. We also know you aren't criminals. We only have a few questions we want to ask you before we leave you to go on your way."

Watching the man named Raymond fumble around trying to find a way to broach the subject, Gio couldn't help but smirk.

He wasn't focused on the words anyway. The question was obvious enough.

"Did you see anything strange while you were driving?" 

It hadn't come out yet, but that was surely what was to come.

It was a little funny that Raymond thought he could get away with acting casually when he quite literally had to destroy their truck to drag them up here, but that was also beside the point.

'Those badges… I was never a military mercenary like these guys, so I couldn't necessarily say what all of those badges mean, but I can at least recognize some of them.'

A portion of those badges were awarded by NEXUS, the council that ruled the 2nd Stratum. 

Even if Gio wasn't familiar with the rest of the badges, he was certainly aware of what that portion of them entailed.

And that information…

He had already thought of a way to use it to his advantage.