The Orion Project (Rewrite) (indefinite hiatus)

Chapter 23

Everyone stood at attention in the medical wing. The day of their final operation had arrived. They had stayed up all night, their eagerness and anxiety keeping them up from getting a wink of sleep.

Rose worried for her brother. She couldn't help it. He had yet to show any signs of being able to gain access to his spirit's abilities. The quick glances she made towards him did not go unnoticed. He nodded his head and she looked away from him as Seraph entered the room.

"Zealots! It has been a long, long time coming, but today you shall all undergo your final operation. No matter where you stand with your abilities, we can still make use of your skills and determination." He announced.

"This operation shall grant you a few things. Enhancing your strength even further so that you can handle the armor Hephaestus made, increasing your magical reserves, and it shall provide you a more direct link to your spirits. This should help those of your who are having...difficulties with theirs." He continued.

     Jackson and Devon both looked down for a second, frustration plaguing their minds.  Doctor Seraph walked past them, patting their shoulders, almost comfortingly.

"Now then, let us begin. Michael." Seraph nodded.

     All of them laid down on a bed provided, nurses surrounded them. They began connecting air tubes into their nostrils and needles into their wrists. Hera briefly looked over at the windows, a worried expression on her face.

     Hydros stood on the other side, watching the entire scene unfold. He nodded to her with a soft smile, though his eyes could not hide his worry. She hesitantly nodded back before turning to Devon, needle in hand.

"It'll be alright." Devon said to her.

"Y-Yes. Of course it will." She softly whispered.

      As she injected an anesthetic into him and he began to drift off to sleep, Vick entered the room with Hydros, taking his place next to him.

"And so it begins." Vick said.

"Yeah, it does. How's everyone doing?" Hydros asked.

"Uncertainty has snaked its way through all of them. They are unsure of what to do at this point, sir."

"I don't blame 'em."

"What do you want to do now sir?"

"Well, right now, all we can do is wait. Did you find anything?"

"During my investigation over the past few years? Or recently?" Vick asked.

"Most recent would be nice."

"Well, I should tell you that Seraph has taken over the last Island out here, as we expected. But it's what is on Island two that worries me." Vick explained.

"What's going on at Island two?" Hydros asked.

"That's the thing, I don't know. There is nothing even in the system about what's going on there. I would more than likely have to go there to find anything else."

"Alright, for now, we'll play it safe. Let's wait this out and then go there when we're ready."

"Yes sir."

The procedure took until late afternoon. Devon shook off the drowsiness of the anesthesia and pushed himself up onto his elbows. He looked around the room, finding everyone still asleep. He felt a pinching like sensation at the back of his mind and he laid back down. The anesthesia took affect again and he was out like a light.

He found himself back in the mountains and it felt like winter was setting in nicely. Snow lightly powdered the ground and the trees were shining with fresh icicles.