The message remained on David's screen.
PORTAL RADIATION: RETURNED TO BASELINE.
He stared at it for several seconds. Veronica stood beside him.
-Someone may have just arrived, David had said.
Neither of them moved. Then David picked up the tablet.
-Get the investigation team ready.
Veronica looked at him.
-You're going?
-Yes.
-You just said we shouldn't tell the others.
-I said we shouldn't tell the world.
He looked at her.
-There is a difference.
The portal facility had been placed under complete lockdown. Nobody was allowed within several hundred meters of the structure without authorization. Military vehicles surrounded the area, while several OPESTM teams established a perimeter around the massive gateway.
The portal itself stood silently in the darkness. It looked almost harmless. That was what made it disturbing. A structure capable of connecting Earth to somewhere beyond their universe simply stood there as though nothing had happened. David arrived with Veronica and six members of the investigation team. The lead scientist approached them.
-Radiation has stabilized.
David looked toward the portal.
-Any sign of an arrival?
-No.
-Then what caused the change?
-We don't know.
David frowned.
-You called us here because something happened.
-Yes.
The scientist handed him a tablet.
-We detected a dimensional fluctuation approximately twenty minutes ago.
Veronica looked at the readings.
-How large?
-Large enough to trigger the warning systems.
-But nothing came through?
-Nothing that we can detect.
David looked back at the portal.
-Then what exactly happened?
The scientist hesitated.
-We think the portal connected to something.
Veronica raised an eyebrow.
-Connected?
-Yes.
She looked at him.
-Isn't that what a portal does?
-Not exactly.
The scientist pointed toward the screen.
-Until now, we assumed the portal was continuously connected to a particular location.
David looked at him.
-You're saying it isn't?
-We don't think so.
He enlarged the readings.
-These are the energy signatures from the previous incidents.
Several patterns appeared on the screen.
-The first event produced one signature.
Another appeared.
-The second produced another.
David studied them.
-And tonight?
The scientist brought up the newest reading. A third pattern appeared. Different from both. Veronica stared at it.
-Three different signatures.
-Yes.
David looked toward the portal again.
-So the destination changed.
The scientist nodded.
-That is our current theory.
Silence filled the room. Veronica looked at David.
-Then it's not a doorway to one place.
-No.
David's expression hardened.
-It can reach multiple places.
The scientist nodded.
-Professor Carter suspected this before he died it's in his old notes. We just made his assumption more solid it, and that's not all.
David looked at him.
-What else?
The scientist enlarged another section of the data.
-We found something inside the energy pattern.
-What?
-A structure.
David frowned.
-Explain.
-We've spent years studying the portal's radiation. Most of it is chaotic. We assumed that was simply the nature of dimensional energy.
He pointed at the screen.
-But this isn't chaotic.
Veronica stepped closer.
-What is it?
-We don't know.
David stared at the strange pattern. It was almost invisible among the waves of energy. But it was there. A deliberate sequence. Something arranged. Something structured.
-This isn't natural, Veronica said.
-No.
David looked at the scientist.
-Earth didn't create it.
-No.
-Can we trace its origin?
The scientist shook his head.
-No.
-Can we identify what created it?
-No.
-Can we reproduce it?
Another shake of the head.
-No.
David sighed.
-Then what do we know?
The scientist looked toward the enormous portal.
-One thing.
-What?
-The portal isn't a door that simply exists.
David waited.
-It is a connection.
He pointed toward the readings.
-And something has the ability to establish that connection.
Veronica's expression changed slightly.
-Meaning someone can choose where this thing connects?
-We don't know if it's someone.
She looked at him.
-Then what?
The scientist paused.
-Something.
David stared at the portal. For the first time, he considered the possibility that Earth had misunderstood the entire phenomenon. They had spent years watching the portal. Measuring it. Studying it. Waiting for something to come through. But perhaps they had been looking at it from the wrong side. Maybe the portal wasn't waiting for someone. Maybe someone else was using it. David looked at the scientist.
-Can we determine where it connected tonight?
-No.
-Can we determine whether anything came through?
-We've found no evidence.
-Then why did the radiation drop?
The scientist looked at the readings.
-Because the connection ended.
David was silent. Veronica folded her arms.
-So tonight, the portal connected to another location, remained open briefly, and then disconnected.
-Yes.
-Without anything arriving.
-Yes.
David looked toward the massive gateway.
-Then why?
Nobody answered. The scientist finally said:
-Maybe it wasn't meant for us.
That sentence remained in the room. David slowly lowered the tablet.
-Keep this classified.
The scientist nodded.
-And the report?
-Say the portal experienced an unexplained dimensional fluctuation.
Veronica looked at David.
-You're not going to tell them what we found?
-Not yet.
-Why?
David looked at her.
-Because right now, humanity is deciding whether to surrender to an organization we know almost nothing about.
He glanced toward the portal.
-If I tell them that the portal may be part of a larger network capable of connecting to multiple destinations…
He shook his head.
-They'll panic.
Veronica understood.
-And if they find out later?
-Then I'll deal with that later.
David handed the tablet back.
-Keep working.
The team returned to their instruments. David and Veronica remained there for another few minutes. Neither spoke. The portal stood motionless. Waiting. Or perhaps simply existing. David finally turned away.
-Let's go.
Hours later, Paul finally left OPESTM headquarters. The city outside looked strangely normal. Cars moved along the roads. Buildings remained illuminated. People walked along the sidewalks. Somewhere, someone was probably laughing. Paul found that strange. A few days ago, he had watched an entire military force get destroyed.
He had watched his soldiers die without being able to stop it. And now the world just left them behind and moved forward. People were buying food and waiting for taxis.
Life had continued. His hands remained on the steering wheel as he drove through the quiet streets. His mind wandered.
The portal. The Five Leaves. MJC. The questions.
The things nobody could answer. He didn't know where the portal led. He didn't know who controlled it. He didn't know why those beings had come to Earth. And he didn't know why they had left. Paul sighed. He drove for several more minutes. Then something caught his attention.
Someone was walking along the side of the road. Paul slowed down. He recognized her immediately.
Veronica.
She was still wearing parts of her OPESTM uniform. Her jacket hung loosely from one shoulder, and her hair was slightly disorganized. She looked exhausted.
Paul drove past her. Then he looked into the rear-view mirror. She continued walking. He hesitated. His foot slowly moved toward the brake.
For several seconds, he considered simply continuing. It would have been easier. They hadn't spoken properly in years about their personal life.
Even when they were in the same building, their conversations were usually professional.
Short.
Necessary. Sometimes a bit apart from that but there was always something. Something couldn't break the ice. The thick wall of ice that they created themselves.
But Paul eventually pulled the car to the side of the road. He lowered the passenger window.
-Veronica?
She stopped. She looked toward the car. Then she saw him. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Paul leaned slightly toward the passenger side.
-You heading home?
-Yeah.
Her voice was tired. Paul glanced at the empty road ahead. Then back at her.
-Need a ride?
Veronica hesitated. Not because she didn't want one. Perhaps because she wasn't used to accepting anything from him anymore. Finally, she opened the passenger door.
-If you don't mind.
Paul shook his head.
-Get in.
She sat beside him and closed the door. The car became quiet again. Paul started driving. Neither of them spoke for several minutes. The only sound inside the car was the engine. Paul glanced at her.
-You should've gone home hours ago.
-There was some business.
A moment of silence then Paul said
-Oh.
Veronica leaned her head against the window.
-I thought we'd finish the work earlier.
-We never finish earlier.
She smiled faintly.
-That's true.
Another silence. Paul continued driving. A few minutes later, he looked at her again.
She was asleep.
Her head had fallen slightly toward the seat. "Heavens" by Bryan Adams was playing on the radio. Paul turned the music down.
He looked at the road again. Then at her. There was something strangely familiar about the sight. Not because he had seen Veronica sleeping recently.
He hadn't.
It was something older. Something buried beneath years of missions, arguments, silence and regret. He looked at her face. And suddenly, for a moment, the years disappeared. He remembered another time.
Another war. Another Veronica. Before the ranks. Before the powers. Before the child. Before everything that had happened.
Years Earlier
The world was already burning when Paul first met Veronica.
Not literally.
At least not everywhere. But several nations had been fighting for months, and the conflict had reached a point where diplomacy was no longer working. Borders had been closed. Military forces had been mobilized. Cities had begun preparing for attacks. The situation had become so unstable that OPESTM was ordered to intervene.
Paul wasn't a Grand Super Soldier then. Veronica wasn't one either.
They were Elite Super Soldiers. Paul had already developed a reputation for being reckless. Veronica had developed almost the opposite reputation.
Disciplined. Precise. Serious. And neither of them knew the other. Until Corlowall put them on the same assignment.
The briefing room was crowded that morning. Maps covered the main screen. Several military officers stood around the table. Corlowall entered and placed a file in front of him.
-The situation has deteriorated.
Nobody spoke. He continued.
-Two countries have deployed forces along the border. Intelligence believes another attack will happen within twelve hours.
Paul looked at the map.
-How many troops?
-Enough to turn this into a regional war.
Veronica stood on the opposite side of the table.
-What are our orders?
Corlowall looked at both of them.
-Prevent it.
Paul raised an eyebrow.
-That's it?
Corlowall looked at him.
-Do you want me to make it complicated?
-No, sir.
-Good.
Corlowall pointed toward the screen.
-You two will lead the operation.
Paul looked at Veronica. Veronica looked at Paul. Neither seemed particularly impressed. Corlowall continued.
-You will enter the conflict zone, secure the command centers and force both sides to stand down.
Paul nodded.
-Understood.
Veronica picked up the file.
-How many soldiers?
-Enough.
She looked at Corlowall.
-That's not a number.
-It's enough for the mission.
She sighed quietly. Paul noticed. He almost smiled.
Almost.
The operation began before sunrise. Their forces moved through the border region while both armies prepared for what could have become one of the largest military engagements of the year.
Paul and Veronica moved ahead of the main unit. They had barely known each other for an hour. And they were already arguing.
-You're moving too fast, Veronica said.
Paul didn't stop.
-We don't have time.
-We don't know what's ahead.
-That's why we're moving.
-That's exactly why we should slow down.
Paul turned around.
-You always this cautious?
-Only when someone's trying to get himself killed.
Paul smiled.
-Good. Then you can keep me alive.
Veronica stared at him.
-I already regret this assignment.
Paul laughed. That was the first time she heard him laugh. It was also the first time he saw her smile. Neither of them knew it then. But something had already begun.
Not love. Not yet.
Just familiarity.
A small crack in the wall between two strangers. They reached the first command center before noon. The operation quickly became chaotic. The two armies had begun moving. There was no time left for a perfect plan.
Paul took one route. Veronica took another. They separated. Then, somehow, they kept ending up in the same places. Paul disabled one communications station.
Veronica secured another. Paul stopped a convoy. Veronica intercepted the troops sent after him. Eventually, the command structure of both sides began collapsing. By evening, the fighting had stopped. Not because either side had won. Because neither side could continue.
The international conflict that had threatened to turn into a war had been neutralized. Paul returned to the temporary OPESTM command post covered in dust.
Veronica arrived a few minutes later. She looked at him.
-You disobeyed the plan three times.
Paul sat down.
-Only three?
She shook her head.
-You're impossible.
-And you still followed me.
-I was making sure you didn't destroy the mission.
Paul looked at her.
-Did I?
She paused.
-No.
Paul smiled.
-Then I guess we're good.
Veronica rolled her eyes. That was the beginning. Not some grand moment. Not some perfect first meeting. Just two soldiers who had been assigned to the same mission. Two strangers who had survived the same battlefield. And slowly, they began to know each other.
There were other soldiers around them. People who would eventually become familiar faces. People they would trust with their lives. One of them was a quiet soldier who rarely spoke unless necessary. Paul remembered working beside him during those early years. He was simply another colleague then. One of the people they fought alongside.
Nothing more.
Paul didn't know that years later, the entire world would know his name. He didn't know that the man would eventually disappear. He didn't know any of that. Back then, they were simply soldiers. And life was simpler.
"Paul?"
Paul blinked. The memory disappeared. He looked toward the passenger seat. Veronica was awake. She was staring at him. Paul realized he had been looking at her for too long.
-Yeah?
-Why are you staring at me?
Paul looked back at the road.
-I wasn't.
-You were.
-I was thinking.
-About?
He hesitated.
-You.
Veronica became quiet. Paul immediately realized how that sounded.
-I mean….
She smiled faintly.
-I know what you meant.
Another silence. Then Veronica looked through the windshield.
-How long was I asleep?
-About twenty minutes.
-Twenty?
-Yeah.
She sighed.
-I didn't realize I was that tired.
-You are.
-So are you.
Paul nodded.
-Probably.
They continued driving. After a while, Veronica spoke again.
-Where are you going?
-Home.
She looked at him.
-Do you want to go home?
Paul didn't answer immediately.
-No.
Veronica looked out the window.
-Neither do I.
The car continued through the city. Then she said:
-Do you want to come to my place?
Paul looked at her. He wasn't expecting that.
-Your place?
-Yes.
-Why?
Veronica shrugged.
-I don't know.
She looked down at her hands.
-Maybe because I don't want to be alone tonight.
Paul said nothing. Then he nodded.
-Okay.
Veronica's apartment was quiet. She unlocked the door and stepped inside. Paul followed her. Neither of them had been inside the other's home for a long time. There was no awkwardness at first. Just exhaustion. Veronica placed her keys on the table.
Paul looked around. The apartment hadn't changed much. There were a few books on the shelf. A small table near the window. A photograph. Paul's eyes stopped there.
Veronica noticed. She walked toward the kitchen.
-Coffee?
With a exhausted voice Paul replied
-Oh! not again.
He paused
-Ok one without sugar.
She gave him a small smile. Veronica prepared two cups.
For a while, they talked about nothing important. The investigation. The portal. The political arguments. The ridiculous amount of paperwork waiting for them tomorrow.
Then the conversation slowly became quieter. Paul looked at the photograph again. Veronica followed his eyes.
-You remember that?
Paul nodded.
-Yeah.
There was another silence. This one was different. Not uncomfortable. Just heavy. Paul took a sip of his coffee.
-Ugh! Terrible as always.
Veronica laughed.
-You still complain.
-Because you still make terrible coffee.
-And yet you keep drinking it.
Paul looked at her.
-I think I love that terrible taste.
Her smile slowly faded. She sat across from him. For several seconds, neither spoke. They had spent years avoiding conversations like this. But tonight, neither of them seemed willing to run away.
Veronica looked down at her cup.
-Do you remember when we first met?
Paul stared at her. A small smile appeared on his face.
-Unfortunately.
She laughed quietly.
-You were unbearable.
-You weren't exactly pleasant.
-I was professional.
-You were annoying.
-And you were reckless.
-I still am.
-Yes.
They both smiled. For a moment, it felt like the years between them weren't there. Like they were back on that battlefield.
Two young soldiers. Two strangers. Two people who had no idea what their future would become.
Paul looked at Veronica. She looked back. Neither of them knew what to say next. But for the first time in years...
Neither of them left.
To be continued...