Chapter 91 - Cosmic Context

Ellis took a deep breath, the air in the secluded university storage room thick with dust and the faint scent of forgotten chemicals. He needed to choose his words carefully. Jason deserved the truth, or at least as much of it as he could handle right now, but the full cosmic tapestry would likely break him. "The Ulterians… think of them as one of many players on a vast stage, Jason. A stage so large, Earth is barely a speck of dust upon it."

He gestured vaguely towards the ceiling, attempting to convey the sheer scale of the galactic landscape. "There are countless species, Jason. Civilizations that rise and fall like tides. Some are benevolent, some are… less so. The Ulterians, generally, fall somewhere in the middle. They are technologically advanced, structured, some might say rigid in their societal hierarchies. Expansionist tendencies are common among them, resource acquisition is a key element to their culture. Their reach extends across several star systems." Ellis paused, gauging Jason's reaction. "However, the group targeting you, targeting Earth, is… different. They're considered a rogue faction, even by Ulterian standards. Driven by a fanatical ideology."

Jason frowned, absorbing the information. "So, they're like… space Nazis?"

Ellis gave a grim smile. "A crude but not entirely inaccurate analogy. Their motives are complex, rooted in a distorted view of Ulterian destiny and a perceived right to exploit resources they deem 'underutilized.'"

He moved to stand near a dusty window, staring out at the campus grounds, now bathed in the orange glow of early evening. "Earth, in the grand scheme of things, is relatively isolated. You haven't made much noise on the galactic stage. You haven't even triggered the galactic equivalent of a smoke alarm. That makes it… vulnerable. Easy pickings for a faction like this."

Jason leaned against a stack of forgotten textbooks, his expression troubled. "Easy pickings? But… why me? Why am I so important to them?"

Ellis hesitated. "That, Jason, is a more complicated question. It has to do with your… unique energy signature. The blend of human and Ulterian… it's something they believe they can exploit."

Ellis paused, gathering his thoughts. He needed Jason to understand the scale of what he was facing, but not to drown in it. "Imagine a tapestry, Jason. Woven with threads of energy, of history, of countless lives. Each thread connected to every other, influencing the overall pattern."

He took a step closer to Jason, his gaze intense. "I have… seen a great deal of that tapestry. Watched civilizations blossom and wither, witnessed the dance of cosmic energies, the eternal struggle between creation and destruction. It's a cycle, Jason. An endless cycle. And the Ulterians… they are but one thread in that pattern." Ellis knew he was being cryptic, but he couldn't bring himself to reveal the full extent of his past, not yet. The risk of overwhelming the young man was too great.

"So, you're like… some kind of space history professor?" Jason asked, a hint of wry humor in his voice.

Ellis managed a faint smile. "Something like that. I have observed… a great deal. And I have learned that everything is connected, Jason. Every action, every decision, ripples through the tapestry, creating unforeseen consequences." He paused, his expression darkening. "Consequences that I have, on occasion, been responsible for."

The weight of his past was heavy in the air, a palpable presence that Jason couldn't ignore. He saw a glimpse of the immense burden Ellis carried, the countless experiences etched into his ancient eyes. It was a perspective so vast, so removed from his own life, that it was almost incomprehensible.

Suddenly, Ellis stiffened, his senses on high alert. "They're communicating," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "Encrypted. Ulterian."

He closed his eyes, focusing his energy, trying to intercept and decipher the signal. A moment later, he grimaced. "It's heavily shielded. But I can catch fragments… enough to get a sense of their intentions."

Jason watched him, his heart pounding. "What are they saying?"

Ellis concentrated, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Coordinates… Dr. George's lab… and… 'prime energy signature.' They're still focused on you, Jason. You're the key to whatever they're planning."

Jason balled his fists. "Damn it! My dad… he could be in danger."

"He *is* in danger," Ellis confirmed grimly. "They need you, Jason, but they also need something in that lab. Something your father created."

Jason paced restlessly, his mind racing. "So, what do we do? We can't just sit here and wait for them to attack."

Ellis nodded. "No. We need to understand what they're after. We need to decipher the rest of that message, figure out what's in your father's lab that's so important to them."

He turned back to Jason, his gaze intense. "And you, Jason, need to learn to control your abilities. You have a power within you that you don't even begin to understand. It's time to unlock it."

He focused his attention, summoning his inner energy. He needed to push Jason, but not too hard. The boy was still new to his abilities. "Alright, let's begin with something simple. Energy manipulation. Can you feel the energy within you, Jason? The hum, the pulse?"

Jason closed his eyes, concentrating. After a moment, he nodded slowly. "Yeah… I think so. It's like… a vibration, deep inside."

"Good. Now, try to focus that energy. Direct it. Imagine it flowing from you, like a stream." Ellis instructed.

Jason extended his hand, his brow furrowed in concentration. Nothing happened. He tried again, focusing harder, visualizing the energy flowing outward. Still nothing.

"It's not working," he said, frustrated.

"Relax, Jason. Don't force it. Let it come naturally. Think of it like… shaping water. You can't clench your fist around it, or it will simply spill out. You have to guide it gently, mold it with your will." Ellis advised.

Jason took a deep breath, clearing his mind. He closed his eyes again, focusing on the feeling of energy within him. This time, he didn't try to force it. He simply let it flow, visualizing it as a stream of light emanating from his hand.

Slowly, tentatively, a faint shimmer appeared around his palm. It flickered and wavered, like a heat haze.

"There you go," Ellis said encouragingly. "You're doing it. Now, try to shape it. Give it form."

Jason concentrated, picturing a shield in his mind. He visualized the energy solidifying, becoming a barrier between him and the outside world.

The shimmer intensified, coalescing into a faint, translucent disc. It was small and unstable, but it was undeniably a shield.

"Excellent," Ellis said, impressed. "Now, try to project it outward. Extend it."

Jason pushed his will, focusing on expanding the shield. It grew slightly, becoming larger and more defined. But it was still fragile, flickering erratically.

Suddenly, the shield collapsed, dissipating into nothing. Jason gasped, his hand trembling.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, frustrated. "I almost had it."

"You did have it," Ellis corrected. "You created a shield, Jason. That's more than you could do an hour ago. It takes practice. Patience. Control."

He paused, considering. "Try again. This time, focus on absorbing energy. Imagine the shield drawing in energy from the environment, strengthening itself."

Jason nodded, determined. He closed his eyes again, focusing on the feeling of energy within him. He visualized the shield forming, then imagined it drawing in energy from the air, like a sponge soaking up water.

The shimmer reappeared, coalescing into a shield. This time, it felt stronger, more stable. Jason focused on absorbing energy, visualizing the shield growing denser, more resilient.

The shield pulsed with energy, absorbing the ambient light in the room. It felt warm to the touch, radiating a faint hum.

"Incredible," Ellis murmured, impressed. "You have a natural affinity for this, Jason. Your Ulterian side… it's drawn to energy manipulation."

Jason opened his eyes, a look of awe on his face. He could feel the power coursing through him, the energy humming within the shield. It was an exhilarating, almost intoxicating sensation.

But then, a disturbing thought crossed his mind. "What if I can't control it?" he asked, his voice filled with apprehension. "What if I hurt someone?"

Ellis saw the fear in his eyes. He knew that Jason was grappling with the responsibility that came with his newfound powers. It was a weight that he himself had carried for centuries.

"You will learn to control it, Jason," he said reassuringly. "I will help you. But you must also trust yourself. Trust your instincts. Trust your heart."

He paused, his expression softening. "You are not just Ulterian, Jason. You are also human. You have compassion, empathy, a sense of justice. Those qualities will guide you. They will prevent you from losing control."

He stepped closer to Jason, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Embrace both sides of your heritage, Jason. They are not in conflict. They are complementary. Your human side will temper your Ulterian power, and your Ulterian power will amplify your human compassion."

Just then, Ellis paused, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "There is something else I feel I must tell you. About the events of five years ago, the sacrifice I made that I mentioned before."

Jason looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

Ellis sighed, knowing he had to reveal at least a piece of his past to Jason. "Five years ago, I stopped a different cosmic threat, a being of immense power that threatened to consume this entire planet. I stopped it, yes, but my actions had unforeseen consequences. The destruction of that being created a power vacuum in a region of space, a destabilization that this rogue Ulterian faction has exploited. In a way, I am responsible for what is happening now. My actions then have led to this present danger."

The weight of guilt in his voice was unmistakable, and Jason could see the pain in his eyes, the burden of responsibility he carried for the events that had unfolded. Before Jason could say anything, a piercing alarm began to blare throughout the university building, cutting through the dust-filled air.

"That's the campus security alarm!" Jason exclaimed, his eyes widening in alarm. "What's going on?"

Ellis's expression hardened. "They're here. The Ulterians. They're attacking." He quickly moved to the side of the room and grabbed Jason by the arm. "We need to move, now!"

Suddenly, a holographic image flickered into existence, a towering figure materializing in the center of the room. It was the Ulterian commander, his cold, calculating eyes fixed on Ellis and Jason.

"Ellis," the commander said, his voice a low, menacing growl. "I know you. I know what you are. You cannot hide from me."

He turned his gaze to Jason, his expression hardening. "Surrender the boy, Ellis, and I will spare this planet. Refuse, and I will crush it beneath my heel."

The image flickered and vanished, leaving Ellis and Jason in stunned silence. The commander's words hung in the air, a chilling promise of destruction.

Ellis stared at Jason, his expression grim. "It's time, Jason. Time to face your destiny."