SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 43: Don't Touch Me

It was five minutes past eight o'clock, the time we had set for the so-expected meeting. Everything was ready and we all had arrived early. So all the introductions were done. Stella Chan, the city's Head Commander of the Security Department, was sitting next to me. She had her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, fastened with a rigid triangle-shaped hairband that emitted small silver dots. I was amazed by the level of fanciness of that hairband.

On the other side sat Beverly Duklas, the top shipbuilder in the Reg Society. She looked a bit tired and not exactly thrilled to be there. She had thick and rounded aviator glasses propped up on her head, keeping her messy red curls from falling into her eyes.

Only one person was missing: Heather. 

Brooke, at the head of the table, was tapping her fingers impatiently. At this point, I was sure she wasn't coming. Heather was always punctual; she took things seriously and wasn't the type to be late. Brooke glanced at the clock again, then stood up.

"Let's get started," she said, activating the hologram projector positioned in the center of the table. "Welcome, everyone. Thanks for being here Stella, Beverly, and Grace."

With a couple of quick touches to her Reg Bracelet, Brooke dimmed the lights in the room to make the hologram more visible. Then she continued. "As you're aware, incidents have been destabilizing our society over the past few years and..."

Suddenly, the door of the meeting room swung open. Brooke paused her speech and spun around. Heather entered, her eyes dark, her hair cascading over her shoulders, with crown braids coming from her temples and merging into one at the back of her head. 

She wore a long navy overcoat with a fuzzy collar so inviting, you'd want to snuggle up in it. It had a shrinking floral pattern in metallic blue that had me hooked. Beneath, a crisp white shirt peeked out and a black blazer layered over her shoulders. It seemed she was now the fashionably late type, a new development. 

Heather fixed her gaze on Brooke, who seemed to shoot laser beams with her eyes, before settling in beside Beverly, directly across from me. We all turned to her, anticipating an apology or at the very least a greeting. But she just stared at Brooke waiting for her to continue. Not a word.

"Alright, finally... We've got the whole team." Brooke said her tone tinged with anger.

She then gestured at the hologram with her Reg Bracelet, and a map materialized, the same one she'd shown me days ago: The other side. A red point pulsated, emitting waves of energy that moved across the layout.

"As I was saying, the Phoenix group has become a significant threat to us, especially since we found out they've developed technology that rivals or exceeds our own."

"That's not a threat," Heather interjected without even paying attention to the map.

We all looked at her, surprised that was the first thing she said. Brooke didn't even blink and answered immediately. "It is. They could use it against us."

"Only if that technology is a weapon. We don't know what that is." Heather stated now locking eyes with Brooke.

Beverly with her hand on her chin, chimed in. "That's true. It might be something for them, created for their survival."

Brooke let out a laugh. "We can't risk it. Whether it's a weapon or not, it has to be destroyed."

"I agree," Stella said. "As a Security master, I don't think we should wait and see what happens. We have to anticipate the events."

"Thanks, Stella," Brooke said, throwing a smile her way. Stella stood up and moved closer to the hologram to get a better look.

Brooke gazed at me. "Grace, Heather, you're the ones who are more familiar with the other side. We'd like to hear your approach on the best way to get there," she said, pointing at the map.