"Sir, we have a problem," Stormblade's voice buzzed through the encrypted comm-line, calm but laced with urgency. "We're heading to the lab now. Greg says he's found something we need to see."
"Stay on it," the President barked from the other end. "And Stormblade… no mistakes this time. If this is what I think it is, we're out of time."
"Understood." Stormblade cut the call and turned to me, jaw tight. "Let's move."
We reached the lab twenty minutes later. Inside, the air crackled with focused energy—holographic interfaces hovered mid-air, scientists murmured behind screens, and at the center of it all stood Greg Mandoff, face lit up with giddy excitement.
"Guys!" Greg practically yelled, waving us over. "You're not gonna believe this."
Stormblade, Julie, and I gathered around as he pointed to a massive display screen. "I was reviewing the full microscopic scan released yesterday Tyrone's full body scan and look at this," he said, zooming into a region near my chest.
"There," he pointed. "Right around the heart."
Julie tilted her head. "It looks like… a ring?"
"Yes! But that's not all," Greg said, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Watch."
He zoomed in further. Within the circular shape embedded deep inside my body were two orbs trapped between the inner and outer edge of the ring. One orb glowed a radiant white, pulsing like a small sun. The other flickered a deep, shadowy violet, its presence colder, more still. The space between them shimmered violently.
Julie leaned closer. "Wait... those two spheres they're moving."
Xavier emerged from behind a pile of crates, carrying a clearer image on a data pad. Built like Stormblade but with a sharper edge to his features, he handed it over without a word.
Greg introduced him. "Oh yeah meet Xavier. My assistant. He's been off-world for a while on business, but he just got back yesterday. He helped refine the scan."
Julie took the image from him and gasped. "They're not just moving… they're clashing like they're fighting each other."
She looked up at me, her brown eyes narrowing. "It's like light and darkness trapped in a ring. They're swirling violently, trying to overtake one another."
Stormblade stepped closer, his expression darkening. "Look closely the ring itself is cracked. That shouldn't be possible."
"And that crack?" Greg added. "It means one thing your body's starting to reject the containment. The Titan construct embedded in you… it's failing."
I stared at the image, the pulsing lights, the ring, the fissure. "The Titan construct?"
"Think of it like a power dampener on a cosmic scale," Greg explained. "It's used to imprison or suppress unstable power sources especially ones that could tear reality if left unchecked."
"You're saying that's inside me?" I asked.
Greg nodded. "And judging by what we're seeing... it's losing control. You've been Titaned, Tyrone. Someone embedded this device in your core likely from birth to suppress your abilities."
Julie placed her hand on the glass of the screen, eyes locked on the two warring orbs. "The light and darkness… they're sentient. I can feel them. They're battling inside you like they're trying to decide which one takes over."
I turned to her, hesitant. "What... what even are your powers?"
She looked at me, calm. "Telepathy. Telekinesis. And I can sense things deep truths through physical contact. Emotions. Memories. Energy."
I exhaled. "Right. Remind me to apologize for punching you on the ship."
She smirked faintly, but said nothing.
Xavier crossed his arms. "Greg told me about your dreams. The being Igris, right?"
My breath caught. "How do you know that name?"
"Because it's all connected. The Titan construct. The inner war. The dreams. Igris might be the one part of your mind that hasn't been silenced by the ring. A fragment trying to wake you up."
Stormblade's tone shifted. "If we're going to help you, you need to start connecting with Igris. Whatever that being is… it may be the original owner of the power sealed in you."
Greg nodded. "The crack means your abilities are waking up, and once that happens... we can't protect you. Or anyone else."
I stared at the image on the screen—the ring, the glow, the pulsing orbs of light and shadow forever locked in struggle. Something ancient. Something buried. Something angry.
Stormblade rested a hand on my shoulder. "You're not just some powerless kid anymore, Tyrone. You're a walking battleground. And if we don't figure this out soon…"
Xavier finished the thought. "One side will win. And we have no idea which side that is."
Later that Night
In my room at the dorm facility, I stared out the window at Jupiter's swirling clouds and flicked through my holo-pad. My thoughts were still stuck on the ring inside me.
I sighed and tapped the interplanet comm-link. After a few seconds, Mike's voice popped up grainy but enthusiastic.
"Yo, T! You alive or what? Tell me you're not getting beat up by aliens out there."
I smirked. "Only emotionally."
Mike laughed, but I could tell he was listening. "How's Jupiter? Weird tech? Floating cities?"
"All of that," I said. "But listen, I called for a reason."
His voice dropped. "What's up?"
I hesitated for a second before speaking. "I've been thinking about the hooded figure the one who attacked the training grounds."
"Yeah? You remember something?"
I leaned back against the bedframe. "I've narrowed it to two suspects."
Mike was silent for a beat. "Two? Who?"
"Can't say yet," I replied. "Not until I have proof. One of them was near the scene. The other... let's just say they've been moving suspiciously since the attack."
Mike whistled. "You're really playing detective over there, huh? Want me to do some digging on my end?"
"If you can keep it quiet," I said. "I'll send you details coded through our old game chat."
"Got it. Operation Darkstream," Mike said dramatically.
I laughed. "Don't make it corny."
"Too late," he said. "Be safe, man. If anything happens, we're coming to get you. Training or not."
"I know," I said, softly. "Thanks, Mike."
The call ended. I stared at the comm-link a few seconds longer before switching off the lights.
Somewhere deep inside, I could feel the two orbs again light and darkness, spinning endlessly in their prison, each clawing for control.
And for the first time in my life… I wanted one of them to win.