Chapter 19 - Explosion

Estimated reading time: ±4 minutes

An explosion took place in the country of Dontol, north of the town Jiamlot. The authorities do not understand the origin of the accident and the nearby town and villages have been evacuated. The blast from the explosion was minimal and devastated only one or two kilometres around the plant. Decontamination teams arrive within the hour. Darakei and some agents had gone to the camp which was quickly set up. Darakei soon finds the person who manages the event.

Darakei: Mr. Niif, I understand that the situation may be tense, but I will need to enter the contaminated area with my team.
Mr. Niif: Listen, Mr. Drumel, there is no question of people outside the authorized persons entering the zone.
Darakei: Then make sure we are allowed into the area.
Mr. Niif: It doesn't work that way, Mr. Drumel, you can't come somewhere and ask for access.

Darakei took a paper out of his bag and showed it to the man in question. Mr Niif puts his glasses back on while he reads the paper. He removes them after reading the outline and the signature. Darakei puts the paper away and looks at the man in charge.

Darakei: So?
Mr. Niif: Go ahead and leave me alone, I am not responsible for any damage you and your team might suffer and I do not provide you with the suits.
Darakei: Perfect, thank you very much sir.

Darakei left the room smiling, he knew what he was doing and how to achieve his goals, he suspected a new human was behind the explosion. Darakei's agents had already put on their suits, they know he'd be cleared. Darakei put on the suit quickly and entered the area. Mr Niif watched Darakei's small team enter the area, two men were in front with radiation detectors and advancing cautiously. The team arrives one kilometre from the plant, the indicators still show no sign of radiation on their screens.

Agent: Sir, the indicators still show nothing, is that normal?
Darakei: No, they should produce a sound. Let's get closer to the plant.

The team arrives in the vicinity of the power station, finally what remained of it between the walls and the ceilings which collapsed to form ruins. Darakei hears someone coughing and directs his attention to the noise. He leaves with two officers while the other four search the rubble for plant employees. Darakei can barely recognize the young man facing him.

Darakei: Is that you?
The young man: What are you talking about, man?

The young man looked at Darakei with an air of incomprehension. Darakei approaches and signals the agents to stay there. The young one retreats a little, wary.

Darakei: Tom, you remember me Tom?
Tom: Who is Tom?
Darakei: We thought you were dead.
Tom: I'm not Tom or dead.
Darakei: Tom Tralvan, you have the power to manipulate radiation.
Tom: It's my power, but not my name, I have to go, don't follow me or I'll send you all the radiation I've absorbed.
Darakei: Did you absorb all that? And you're all right, aren't you in pain?
Tom: I don't have to answer that.

Tom started running, he had been gaining weight and speed since he was supposedly dead. They were employees from another GenCorp centre who had come to collect the body. He was gonna have to investigate all this. He returned from his agents who told him that some people were still alive, but injured and in need of care. Darakei took his phone and contacted Mr. Niif.

Darakei: Here is the situation, no radiation, but get help, there are wounded and very few dead. We leave, our work is done.
Mr. Niif: Wait no radiation? How is that possible?
Darakei: Don't worry about that, I'll fill out that part of the report.
Mr. Niif: I don't have to send my reports to outsiders.
Darakei: But you're a kid or something, use your brain, I'll send you what you need to write and that's it.

I hear a little growl on the line, he didn't like my critic.

Darakei: Well, as I say, we're leaving from there.

Darakei hangs up without giving Mr Niif a chance to answer. He's signaling his agents to leave the area. They soon return home with the two vans. Darakei was sitting on the passenger side and looks at the register of GenCorp employees who were handling Tom's case. He felt like something had happened to Tom there. Darakei takes his phone and thinks to contact Wamien, the problem is that he does not know yet what happened to him and that he knows that Wamien and his friends are already very busy with The Legion and the Black Eagles. He found the name of one of the leaders and sent her a message. He did not especially expect a return from the lady in question.