[Nuclear energy utilization levels exceeding previous parameters.]
Oh!
Vlad was pleasantly surprised to see the message.
The Rad suit made of mutant skin released nuclear energy which the body absorbed thus resulting in enhanced strength, speed and durability. The more nuclear energy one could use the stronger they would get. But there are limitations and flaws that come with the gifts.
There is a set limit to how much NE a suit can provide at a time. Harnessing more NE - for physical, external or other use - then the suit can provide leads to freeze output - meaning no NE for the body to absorb - essentially making the wearer a regular human.
As for Vlad who is now capable of using more NE was thrilled - clenching and reopening his fists.
Well, I can't expect it to take effect immediately.
Finally having a moment to catch his breath - Vlad contacted Kel.
"I'm heading to where Adele is, this area is mostly cleared."
"Okay- shit!" Kel shouted into the comms.
Vlad got concerned hearing Kel shout.
"You alright over there? Should I come over?"
"No, I'm fine, it's dead now. I'm heading over right now."
Vlad turned in the direction Adele was. His eyes caught a glimpse of a see-through balloon-like shape in the periphery of his vision. He went over to it to quench his curiosity.
"Oh a Floater," he said, a surprised expression on his face.
The floater drifted away due to Vlad startling it.
It's still a fledgling, why is it coming out of its nest?
"Hey Kel I found a Floater nest," Vlad spoke over the comms.
Kel answered from behind him.
"It's more of a Floater colony than a nest. And why are the little ones coming out this early?"
Vlad turned around.
"Oh, you were here already."
Kel walked closer and asked:
"Did you touch their air sac?"
"Of course not, I'm not that dumb. Maybe they sensed some danger or something. There are a lot of fights happening."
"Yeah, most likely."
Vlad stood from his half-knelt position.
"Anyways, let's get on with catching up to that blonde flamingo."
***
Kaff and Hax finally got their hands on the NE absorption data. The data helps to see and understand which cadets are promising and will rise through the ranks and those who are not so gifted.
Hax put himself together after the excitement washed over.
"This...I didn't expect."
As the data started appearing - Kaff's analytical mind engaged and his gaze locked on the screen in front.
An almost unnoticeable smirk played on Kaff's lips.
Lionheart's already on par with senior agents.
***
1st - Adele Lara Lionheart: [64.8 kilobecquerel.]
2nd - Iliana Luov: [41.4 kilobecquerel.]
3rd - Vlad Romanov: [41.1 kilobecquerel.]
4th - Kel Firouza: [36.9 kilobecquerel.]
5th - Ace DeLauro: [37.1 kilobecquerel.]
…..
***
Kaff's smirk remained unchanged.
The rest of them are better than I expected as well. Two on the same level as junior agents. Kaff thought.
A female voice spoke from behind them.
"We got quite promising cadets this time around."
An unusually skinny woman with a tired expression wearing a white overcoat and glasses with ragged hair walked towards them - One of her hands in her pockets and with another having a drink.
"Oh Miss Airel," Hax said, the sound of slurping overpowering his voice.
Kaff spoke with a sigh of exasperation:
"You shouldn't make sounds while you eat Airel.".
"Shut up Kaff! I've been so stressed because of the expansion mission of sector eight! I need to take my calories."
Kaff remained silent.
"I saw some atherions of sector eight enter our air space before I went on break. Did the commander leave?" She asked.
"Yes, almost an hour ago."
Hax kept watching the screens overlooking the cadets.
The Lionheart's daughter and Romanov are together, He thought.
***
Vlad's limbs were covered in blood and other parts of mutants. He shook his limbs to get the blood off of them.
Kel reloaded his rifle.
"Getting to you was a lot of work, Miss Lionheart."
"We encountered a lot of mutants you missed on the way here. Not at the top of your game today?" Vlad said, his tone full of taunting.
Adele's brows twitched at the teasing.
"I had to let you get some kills at least, I wouldn't feel great getting them all."
"How considerate of you my lady. I am truly grateful," Vlad replied.
"As you should be."
Kel intervened on the pair saying:
"There's a few mutants coming towards us from the east."
Both Vlad and Adele lost their bantering demeanor and became serious almost like a switch was flipped inside them.
Vlad got irritated seeing the mutants.
"Come on, flying type? They're all yours, you two deal with them."
Kel looked at the incoming mutants through his rifle's scope.
"Those are vulturovs, and there's a red vulturov...leading them?"
"What? A red vulturov? And they're not fighting amongst themselves?" Adele questioned.
"Vulturovs are extremely selfish, they fight with their mates for small things. Especially red V's," Vlad added.
"Yeah I know, but from what I'm seeing they're working together and the red vulturovs leading the other ones," Kel replied. "Are they here for the floaters?"
Vlad shook his head.
"Having the same goal and prey would just make them fight each other more. They're behaving oddly, especially the red V they only hunt in high altitudes."
Adele's eyes narrowed.
"Something is definitely off."
***
A beeping sound took everyone's attention in the monitoring room. A spectra-pad buffered red and yellow.
Airel turned and asked:
"What's happening?"
"We've detected more mutants approaching the area the cadets are in. There are a few vulturovs and they're showing unusual behavioural patterns."
"What category?" Hax asked.
"They're mostly savages below 2.5 but there's a red vulturov among them and that's 3.6"
Airel rushed over to the agent.
"What's a red vulturov doing here?"
Another agent's words took everyone by surprise.
"The vulturovs for some reason are not attacking each other."
Hax turned to Kaff, hearing the agent.
"Many cadets don't know how to handle flying types yet. Plus there's a ravager with never-before-seen behavioural patterns, should we stop the test and call them back?"
Kaff's eyes narrowed - his analytical mind racing to analyze the situation.
"The cadets can handle regular vulturovs from what they've shown so far but the red vulturov is the main issue, and the change in behaviour…"
He paused for a second.
"Where is the red vulturov headed?"
"There's a large floater nest near the large rocks and for some reason, young floaters are coming out of their nests right now. So they're probably after them."
Confusion overtook Airel's features.
"It's been hours since sunrise. And floaters so little shouldn't come out of their nests until weeks."
"That floater nest is two hundred meters from the gate, should we reduce the test perimeters so the cadets are not near it?" Hax asked.
"Seems like a simple solution. Inform the cadets that the test area is now 150 meters from the gate - everyone outside that, is to fall back to the newly designated area," Kaff ordered, his voice through the tension
"Alright, sir."
Everything seemed to be under control when a monitoring agent shouted, his voice filled with alarm
"Sir! The red vulturov changed its flight pattern, it's descending rapidly along with the entire flock behind it directly towards the cadets!"
Hax paused and blinked.
"Why are they suddenly ignoring the floaters and going after the cadets?"
The agent went on:
"Another ravager-class red vulturov detected from the opposite direction! And it's heading straight for the gate!"
The shield is turned off right now and we're lacking in manpower but there's no way the mutants know that. Kaff thought.
Kaff and Hax locked eyes - seeming to have an entire conversation through them.
"I want all the agents on standby to deploy immediately!" Hax instructed using his QC.
"Prioritize the safety and retrieval of the cadets," Kaff ordered, his voice laced with urgency.
"We're going as well, Hax."
Hax nodded and followed Kaff.