Chapter 90 - Whispers of the Past,Seeds of Power

Ellis guided Jason through the twilight, away from the relative safety of the university, towards a destination he hoped would offer a temporary sanctuary. The abandoned observatory, perched atop a windswept hill overlooking Eastern City, was a relic of a bygone era, its astronomical purpose long forgotten. Now, Ellis intended to repurpose it, using its isolation and inherent energy-dampening properties to conceal them, at least temporarily, from the Ulterian's relentless search.

"Why here?" Jason asked, his voice tight with a mixture of apprehension and exhaustion. The adrenaline from the previous night's attack was beginning to wear off, leaving behind a gnawing fear and a growing sense of the enormity of the situation.

Ellis didn't answer immediately, his eyes scanning the surrounding landscape, ensuring they weren't being followed. The observatory was shrouded in shadows, the skeletal dome a stark silhouette against the darkening sky. "This place," he finally said, his voice low, "has a certain… resonance. The earth here is rich in minerals that naturally disrupt energy fields. It won't completely hide us, but it will make it harder for them to pinpoint our exact location. More importantly, it's isolated. We need space to learn."

He pushed open the creaking wooden doors of the observatory, revealing a cavernous interior filled with dust and decaying equipment. The air was thick with the scent of mildew and forgotten dreams. Jason coughed, instinctively covering his mouth with his hand.

"Learn what?" Jason asked, his voice echoing in the vast space. "How to be a better target?"

Ellis turned, his gaze intense. "How to survive. How to control what you are."

He gestured towards the center of the room, where a large, circular platform once supported a massive telescope. "This is where we begin."

The training was grueling. Ellis started with the basics, explaining the fundamental principles of energy manipulation, drawing upon his own vast cosmic knowledge. He described energy as a force that permeated all things, a constant flow that could be harnessed and shaped with the right focus and discipline.

"Imagine," Ellis instructed, his voice calm but firm, "that you are a conduit, a channel for this energy. It flows through you, not from you. Your body is merely a vessel."

Jason struggled. He closed his eyes, trying to visualize the energy, to feel its flow within him. But all he felt was a chaotic jumble of sensations, a restless energy that seemed to defy his control.

"Concentrate, Jason," Ellis urged. "Focus your mind. Your powers are a reflection of your will."

Heeding Ellis, Jason tried again. He focused on a small, metallic bolt lying on the floor, attempting to levitate it with his mind. He strained, sweat beading on his forehead, but nothing happened.

"It's not working," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "I can't do this."

"Patience," Ellis said. "Control takes time. It requires practice, discipline. Don't force it. Let it come naturally."

Jason took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes again, picturing the bolt, visualizing the energy flowing towards it, lifting it into the air. This time, he felt a faint tingling sensation in his fingertips, a subtle shift in the surrounding air. The bolt flickered, then trembled, and finally, with a jolt, it rose a few inches off the ground.

Jason's eyes snapped open, a look of surprise and triumph on his face. "I did it!"

But his excitement was short-lived. The bolt began to vibrate violently, emitting a high-pitched whine. Cracks appeared on its surface, spreading like spiderwebs. Before Jason could react, the bolt exploded into a shower of metallic fragments.

Jason recoiled, shielding his face with his arms. "What happened?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm.

Ellis stepped forward, examining the scattered fragments. "You lost control," he said, his voice grave. "You channeled too much energy, too quickly. You overwhelmed the object's structural integrity."

"I almost destroyed it!" Jason exclaimed.

"You did destroy it," Ellis corrected, then softened his tone. "This is why control is paramount. Your powers are immense, Jason, but they are also dangerous. Without control, they can be destructive, even lethal."

Ellis continued the training, guiding Jason through a series of exercises designed to improve his focus and control. He taught him breathing techniques to calm his mind, visualization exercises to channel his energy, and physical exercises to strengthen his body.

As the days passed, Jason slowly began to make progress. He learned to sense the flow of energy within him, to direct it with greater precision. He could levitate small objects without shattering them, create faint energy shields, and even emit small bursts of concussive force.

But the training was not without its challenges. Jason struggled with the discipline required, often growing impatient and frustrated. He chafed under Ellis's constant scrutiny, resenting his cryptic instructions and his refusal to reveal more about his own past.

"Why won't you tell me anything?" Jason demanded one evening, after a particularly frustrating training session. "Who are you, really? What do you want from me?"

Ellis turned away, his expression unreadable. "It's not important," he said, his voice flat. "What matters is that you learn to control your powers."

"But how can I trust you," Jason shot back, "when you won't even trust me with your own story?"

Ellis remained silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Trust is earned, Jason," he finally said, his voice low. "Not given freely."

He then diverted the conversation, choosing to share some tactical information about the Ulterians. He explained their reliance on energy-based weaponry, their advanced cloaking technology, and their ruthless strategies. He cautioned Jason against underestimating them, emphasizing their unwavering commitment to their mission.

"They are not like anything you've ever faced before," Ellis warned. "They are relentless, efficient, and utterly devoid of mercy."

He deliberately omitted details about their ultimate goals, fearing that the truth would be too overwhelming for Jason to handle. He also remained silent about his own past encounters with them, unwilling to reveal the full extent of his knowledge or the depth of his personal connection to the conflict.

During one of the quiet moments between training sessions, Ellis was struck by another flashback. He saw Ella Mae again, her face radiant with hope and trust. They were in a similar setting, a secluded training ground on a distant planet. He was teaching her how to control her own nascent powers, guiding her with patience and encouragement.

But then the vision shifted. The training ground was replaced by a scene of chaos and destruction. Buildings were collapsing, energy blasts were streaking across the sky, and bodies were lying scattered on the ground. Ella Mae was there, fighting valiantly, but she was outnumbered and outmatched.

Ellis watched in horror as she was struck by a fatal blow, her eyes widening in disbelief as she slumped to the ground. He reached out to her, but it was too late. She was gone.

Ellis clenched his fists, the guilt and regret overwhelming him. He could have saved her, he knew. If he had been stronger, faster, more skilled, he could have prevented her death. But he had failed. And now, he was faced with the prospect of failing again.

Jason, sensing Ellis's emotional turmoil, hesitantly asked, "Are you okay?"

Ellis shook his head, trying to clear the images from his mind. "I'm fine," he said, his voice strained. "Just…tired."

Jason hesitated, then asked, "What about my mother? Did she…did she know about all this?"

Ellis stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Your mother?" he repeated, his voice guarded.

"Yeah," Jason said. "Dr. George never talks about her. I was just wondering if she knew about my…Ulterian heritage."

Ellis turned away, his expression unreadable. "That's not relevant," he said, his voice flat. "Your mother has nothing to do with this."

But Jason sensed that he was hiding something. He saw a flicker of pain in Ellis's eyes, a brief glimpse of a hidden truth.

"Did you know her?" Jason pressed. "Is that why you won't talk about her?"

Ellis remained silent, his jaw clenched.

"Just tell me," Jason pleaded. "Please. I need to know."

Ellis hesitated for a long moment, his internal conflict raging. He knew that revealing the truth about Jason's mother could have far-reaching consequences, potentially altering the course of events in unpredictable ways. But he also knew that Jason deserved to know the truth, to understand his own past and his own identity.

But Ellis, haunted by the ghosts of his past, couldn't bring himself to speak the words. The fear of repeating his past mistakes, of causing more harm, was too strong.

"It's not important," he repeated, his voice strained. "What matters is the present. What matters is that we prepare for the coming battle."

He turned and walked away, leaving Jason alone with his unanswered questions and his growing sense of unease.

Despite the tension between them, Jason continued to train diligently, driven by a growing sense of responsibility and a fierce determination to protect his father and his world. He spent hours practicing his energy manipulation, honing his skills, pushing himself to his limits.

One afternoon, while practicing his shield projection, Jason experienced a breakthrough. He focused his energy, visualizing a protective barrier surrounding him, and this time, instead of a flimsy, flickering shield, he created a solid, shimmering dome of pure energy.

He stared in amazement at his creation, feeling a surge of power coursing through his veins. He had done it. He had finally achieved a significant level of control over his abilities.

Ellis, who had been observing from a distance, stepped forward, his expression approving. "Well done, Jason," he said, his voice laced with a hint of pride. "You're making progress."

Jason grinned, his face flushed with excitement. "I did it!" he exclaimed. "I actually did it!"

Ellis nodded, but his expression remained serious. "Don't get complacent," he warned. "This is just the beginning. The Ulterians will not be easily defeated. You must continue to train, to improve. The fate of Earth may depend on it."

Meanwhile, back in Eastern City, Dr. George was growing increasingly worried about Jason's unexplained absence. He had tried calling him, but his calls went unanswered. He had checked his apartment, but it was empty.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He reviewed security footage from the university, analyzed sensor data from his lab, and interviewed colleagues, piecing together fragments of information that suggested something extraordinary was happening.

He dismissed the possibility of alien involvement as absurd, but he couldn't deny the evidence before his eyes. The strange energy readings, the unexplained disappearances, the reports of unusual activity on campus – it all pointed to something far beyond the realm of human understanding.

He couldn't shake off the feeling that Jason was in danger, and that he was somehow connected to the events unfolding around him. He decided to take matters into his own hands, launching his own investigation, determined to uncover the truth, no matter how unbelievable it might be.