Crisis: Identity - Prologue

London a town that’s built upon magnificent architecture, tall buildings looming over the city’s cobbled walk ways designed to portray wealth and stature right down to the deprived areas where each house is heaped upon one another all of which are connected by a variation of vast pathways of streets, alleyways and many more forgotten spaces shrouded by the dim light of street lights connecting the very in’s and out of the city right down to the underground. This gargantuan and mesmerizing city holds many mysteries and bewildered enigmas to histories knowledge that the likes of a run-of-the-mill individual can only begin to invent. Within this city, honourable and brave individuals are constantly fighting off the notorious and corrupt. London populated with high socialite, striving to further their standing within society, lower class and working citizen fighting to live another day with their head hung low amongst the hustle and bustle of the demanding city, mixed in with an array of nonconformists who pride themselves on the originality and chaos they cause.  Cut throat thieves who are renowned form miles around, murderers who live for sheer blood lust and the high of fear from society at the sheer utter of their name, brothels inhabited by high paid courtesans who strive for passion and desire, mechanics and inventers alike who live to strive for a better tomorrow using sheer intellect to gain knowledge for the better of their work and the world as they know it. Where they strive on the notion of whatever is imaginable is possible.

Taking in the city’s imposing nature, there are two imposing and all together exquisite mansions facing opposite each other across the city’s landscape, one with the symbol of two majestic foxes, mid creep positioned around the crest detailed with fine art nouveau, whilst the other holds a symbol of two strong foxhounds standing beside the crest detailed with a bolder backdrop. On this particular night the weather had taken a turn for the worse with howling winds, torrential rain topped off amongst a lighting storm. Underneath these stately mansions lay secret underground passages, to which connects the two together leading to various parts of the city, hidden beneath London itself. The main passage way is decorated by the luminous glow of the many lit charcoal iron candelabra’s complementing the beige walls lined with a subtle cream pinstripe, finished of by a deep satin blood red narrow carpet overlaying grey stone slab flooring. The sound of a crackling current echoed all through the passages, the main part of the tunnel paths were exposed in the form of an awe inspiring circular room filled with chalk boards; barely visible underneath the scribbled notes, theories and equations. Along with two grand oak desks that made up the heart of the room and were covered with diagrams and half made models, complemented by many clinical glass cabinets crammed with wires and tools, beside vessels filled with acids and chemicals.

Two figures, a male and female immersed in conversation surround a podium connected to an array of wires as linked up towards the ceiling and floor; the podium itself matched the hips of the smaller female figure.

         “…You do realise, that the sheer notion of this working the first time, let alone generating enough power to cause a serge from the storm for the connection to be made is highly unlikely…right?” questioned the male.

         “Nonsense” replied the female with a playful wave of her hand as if brushing off the statement. “If one keeps doubting the impossible, nothing shall ever happen. Furthermore you and I both know this prototype has to at least make a connection.”

As the young female continued to tweak the machine in question, the male figure took a moment to take in the sight of his smaller companion; pale skin, contrasting against dark brown hair, tied up in a low lose bun allowing the wild hair to fall around her face, accessorised with one pair of heavy worn brown leather, bronze framed rubber sided goggles dangling around her neck, complemented by two long thin plaits that ventured past her shoulder ending in a bow, summed up with large rich hazel eyes, framed with long dark lashes.

         ‘There really is no stopping you now is there? No looking back, only gazing into the horizon desperately searching for a better future for yourself and all of mankind’s state…’As the male regained a sense of belonging to the world again, he was met with his companion mumbling to herself, apprehension exposed on her young face as she repeated the principle of the designs workings and intentions to herself.

         “Identifying the imbalance of each individual identity and harmoniously balancing them via the memories, thoughts and emotions that will access the prefrontal, avditory association and visual association cortex that joins the putamen, amygdala, hippocampus and cortex…. This has to work, by the gods, please allow this experiment to work” As a hand gently rested on the young females shoulder the older male gave a gentle yet reassuring squeeze, resulting in the female to turn and look up to meet the male’s sharp blue eyes.

         “My dearest Nova, please do not trouble yourself with such apprehension.” The male moved his rested hand from her shoulder and cupped Nova’s cheek. “We have both given a measureless amount of time and effort into the creation of this first working prototype of the Hand of Fate, it shall not be in vain.” With this he smiled.

The sound of electrical current mixed with that of bubbling tubes passing various liquids echoed in the air due to the acoustics of the underground laboratory, the only light source was that of the candelabras emitting the warm glow by candle flames reflecting from the glass beakers that surrounded the room.

        “…Xavier, my dear.” Nova spoke softly as she leaned towards his touch gently grasping his hand that held her cheek. “I cannot and shall not become my dearly and beloved departed mother, to whom I lost in the descent of madness of the mind, or even think about allowing any poor unfortunate soul to go down the same path of deterioration she faced.” Nova stated while her eyes widened with focus showing passion and determination while also displaying disappear for the loss of her mother and fear of the unknown.

Xavier well aware of Nova’s heartbreak for the loss of her mother from such horrible and uncontrollable conditions, leaving this young girl of eighteen with just her virtually empty vessel of a father to whom her mother, his everlasting source of inspiration to his scientific experiments which sparked the interests and curiosity to a young Nova also. If not for Nova baring remarkably mirror traits to that of her mother in her persona, her father would surely have perished three years ago. With this thought upon the young mans mind, he embraced Nova warmly.

        “I miss your mother deeply also. Though I cannot truly understand your heartbreak or drive for such determination my dearest Nova. I can assure you I will be here for you, weather you need me or not, like I always have been and will always be” Said Xavier.

With this voice of reassurance, Nova allowed herself to pull away from Xavier’s embrace to face him with a smile. “Thank you”, while she walked towards one of the two opposing grand oak tables, pulling up her goggles that rested around her neck, she gazed upon the overflowing table, filled with the many bubbling beakers, displaying a variety of coloured liquids. Grabbing three test tubes she positioned them within a steel stand and withdrew three colours from a large tri-sectioned orb container via a tube, one green, red and blue. Carefully carrying the contents of the beakers towards the middle of the room towards the Hand of Fate, Nova positioned them inside the very machine by the hatch at the base of the object via the clips and the tubes instantly began to bubble and make its way up the spouts.

        “It seems to have taken the individual liquid persona matter as we planned Xavier” as she stepped back and wiped her hands together in that of a finished gesture as she watch Xavier head towards one of the chalkboards.

Nova proudly gazed upon her and Xavier’s so far fully functioning Hand of Fate, built upon that of a hollowed out square oak block lined with bronze interior for conductor purpose filled with an array of wires linked together with a fully working hatch door that holds the three test tubes and there individual spouts, atop of the solid bottom base resides that of a large black iron cage like globe, with a gap big enough to fit a solitary hand and arm upon the bronze arm rest connected to the wires and tubes.

         “So it appears Nova, very promising indeed however even though our design and principle method have motive and the data of our workings are impeccable we have not yet got the sources for safety to fully test anthropological trails yet. ” Xavier voiced as he walked towards Nova browsing at the many papers that provide the equations and schematics he had gathered from one of the chalkboards. “If our parents where to find out what we’ve been up too, well I dare to think of the punishment” Xavier shuddered at the very thought.

Silence was the only response. Once beside Nova, Xavier glanced at his companion with an unsettled feeling and witnessed a look; the look of a person who has come to far only to be stopped by such a trivial matter. Nova pulled up her sleeve, hurried over the cold stone slabs and immediately placed her right hand in the ‘Hand of Fate’ and onto the arm rest, took a deep breath, clenched her eyes shut and turned on the machine with the power to change everything…

Nothing.

Current filled the air, with the rapid motion of static creating a humming noise. Hazel eyes wide, confused and frustrated skimmed the circular room; glancing at wires, papers, test tubes, boards, tools and many more mad contraptions. Xavier; motionless, papers containing equations and schematics once held in his strong hands had now been dropped in a cluttered manner amongst the stone floor. Skin paled from the blood draining shock, blue eyes wide and mouth opened with disbelief from the sheer impulsiveness of her resent action.

         “I don’t understand, why didn’t it work?” said Nova in a small voice of disbelieve, as she pulled her hand from the machine and ran it through her hair causing her slackened bun to waver to display lose curls.

Xavier responded quickly from shock to a state of anger caused by fear “What in god’s creation where you trying to do? Did you honestly think that display of stupidity throwing yourself, as a test dummy would have worked? You could have died, been injured or even altered to the extent of your personality, that changes the person you are completely!”

Once composed by Xavier’s outburst of concern and frustration, Nova slowly walked over to Xavier and picked up the array of scattered paper. Xavier bent down to help, avoiding Nova’s many layers from on of her many favourite brown, cream and black laced coloured dresses.

In an exhausted sigh Xavier apologised for his verbal outbreak. Nova accepted the apology, knowing full well it was her own fault for getting caught in the moment, making Xavier panic. Once all the papers where collected both made their way to the solid oak desks to rethink what went wrong to have caused the machine to fail.

        “Could it possibly have been a lose wire, or lack of electricity?” implied Xavier as he browsed through the stacks of papers that contained information about the machine in question looking towards Nova for a response. Nova quickly put down the piece of paper that held her attention and immediately followed the wires that connected from the back of the machine, examining them with a close eye to see if the source of power had been disconnected anywhere, without their knowing. She trailed all along the stone floor carefully stepping over the tubes and wires as she made her way to the final visible part of the wires before they descending out of a hole in the ceiling of the underground laboratory. Upon this Nova discovered that indeed a wire had fallen out of the copper tubing to help transfer and conduct the power.

        ‘Well… is that not a little embarrassing.’ Nova calmly thought to herself, thankful as a smile graced her lips in the knowledge of both she and Xavier had not failed in their secret experiment to prove there family’s wrong and could still help find a way to save people from the disease that so cruelly took her mother from them. Carefully placing the wire back into place Nova walked up towards the desks with a playful smile as she wiped her hands on her light coffee crème layer of her dress avoiding the delicate combination of crème and black lace.

Xavier turned in time to witness Nova’s slight adjustments to the wires. Vibrant blue eyes lit up with amusement as he walked towards Nova. “Not a single word from your lips, Mr. Superego-Axiom”. Teased Nova as she gazed upon the man who had a tall, lean build complemented by pale skin, short brown hair and stubble.

 
        “I would never think of it my lady” Replied Xavier with a bow taking hold of Nova’s hand and gently placing a sweet and light kiss.

        “Shall we try this dance, we call an experiment one more time?” questioned Xavier with a smile “I’ve viewed our blueprints and the formulas and everything is in tip top shape”. Whilst pulling his strapless bronze and rubber framed goggles from his back pocket, placing them upon his face held by black rubber like material.

         “Indeed we shall”. Agreed Nova as she placed her goggles from around her neck and positioned them on her face.

Taking both their places in the room, Nova’s in the very centre, right arm attached and left ready to push the button to start the machine and Xavier at the main power switch next to the one of the two exits of the laboratory, ready to re-apply the current.

 
         “Are you ready to do this Nova?” asked Xavier.

         “As ready as I will ever be Xavier. Pull the switch please.” Nova took one last glance behind her at Xavier, about to pull the switch, smiled, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “July 15^th 1870, first ‘working’ attempt to test ‘The Hand Of Fate’ prototype” and pushed the button.

Immediately the room altered from illuminated to pitch black apart from the glow of sharp colours of the three liquid filled test tubes connected to the machine. Xavier, motionless in anticipation and concern as he watched the colours radiate off Nova’s pale skin as the machine takes its hold on its makers, the tips of his fingers had gone white from squeezing on the handle of the switch and whispers “Please for all our sakes let this work”.

Nova savouring the fact her and Xavier’s experiment works, allows herself to relax and embrace the moment  “I can feel everything… my personality. I am finally feeling my old self again. Mother I hope you are proud of us, we are obtaining the cure.” At that moment Nova opened her eyes due to slight discomfort in her right hand, an almost current like surge was making its way up her arm, eyes wide, she attempts to turn the machine off without success.

Xavier witnessed the distress in Nova’s facial expression when the machine failed to switch off by the button, realisation hits Xavier as his eyes widen upon the conclusion of what has happened “The amount of power has been to great for the machine, it has completely killed the human to machine communication” He’s moving before he knows it.

Suddenly the lights completely go out, and that’s when Xavier here’s it, stopping him dead in his tracks, causing his very blood to turn cold. That scream that can only belong to one person, a sound to which he has never heard before, the sound is filled with pain, agony, and distress.

         “NOVA!” screamed Xavier

Refusing to be consumed again by terror from the distress of his companion, the collapsing room around them and the overwhelming pitch black darkness. Xavier forces himself to run towards Nova’s screaming form all the while thinking “Please, let me get to her”. Then darkness completely took it’s hold as Xavier fell to the floor, Nova’s scream becoming fainter with each passing second as the room caved in.