Strongest Nova: Path of Vengeance

Chapter 235: Hardware

After the doctors went away, the four leaders arrived to see what had happened. They had received the news a little late. As everyone had found out afterward, the AAA had set up jammers everywhere before they came to attack, so no one was aware that something was even happening.

People had to run to them to let them know what had happened.

"What happened? Is everyone alright?" Harvesh was the first to arrive.

"Ssh!" Fred pointed to the two resting individuals so that they wouldn’t bother them.

Aleone, the Demonspawn leader whose real name no one knew yet, and Gunblazer—otherwise known as Tim— arrived afterward.

"We were suddenly attacked," Fred said. "I was resting in my room when I heard a shout from outside. I came out and found that... monster standing by Sol, biting on his neck."

Fred started recounting the events. "I don’t know what happened before that. I don’t know how Vera didn’t find out, or how none of the alarms went off. But we were under attack before I even found out."

"It seems Nova was already attacked, and Sol managed to let out his attack at the last moment, and well... I got blinded too."

"I only felt relieved because John was there," Fred said, pointing to Stanley who was staying to the side.

He didn’t speak or anything and didn’t even acknowledge their existence. He simply sat there watching them, somewhat annoyed that they weren’t leaving. But that was to be expected.

Vera was nowhere to be found. She had already left, hoping to find something on the computers about who had attacked them, but that wasn’t possible as everything had been jammed beforehand.

He had something to do, but he wasn’t able to do that at all, which annoyed him a little. He watched Fred continue speaking about everything.

Fred didn’t seem to know what had happened after he got out. All he knew was that he saw Hank and then the bright flash of light blinded him momentarily. After that, he barely saw anything regarding Stanley’s fight and didn’t even realize that he was gone for so long.

"We got careless," Fred said. "We thought we were fine because we were one, but we didn’t expect to be attacked from outside."

"I’ll have some of our people keep guard of the place. Once you can, you should move to a different, more secure location," Aleona said.

Fred nodded. "We have no choice," he said.

They talked for a while before the four got up to leave. Once they left, Stanley wanted to leave too. But it was a little hard leaving just like that.

Only he knew that there wouldn’t be another attack. No one else did, and that meant everyone would remain vigilant for a long time. If he left while everyone else was vigilant, it would be somewhat careless of him.

So, he sat there.

One thing he had realized by listening to Fred’s conversation was that Fred hadn’t known that he had left. Having been blinded mere moments after getting out of his room, Fred knew nothing about anyone’s presence.

So, he had assumed that just like him, Stanley too had come out after the commotion. Stanley wondered if they would ever figure out that it was not the case.

About 15 minutes later, Sol stirred awake.

Stanley quickly grabbed him, stopping him from getting up. "You’re hurt, don’t move."

Sol paused. He grunted a little from his pain and struggled to remember what had happened. He remembered being attacked and... and then a bright flash of light...

He didn’t remember much afterward.

"Young mi— Boss, where is she?" he asked quickly, but not quick enough for either of them to miss what he said.

Stanley gave Fred a weird look, who simply shrugged. He had no idea what that meant. "Boss is wounded, but fine," Fred said. "What do you mean Young Miss?"

"None of your business," Sol said. "Where am I?"

"You’re in the communal room. We got you set up here with Nova," Stanley said. "Are you hungry? The doctor said you should only drink some fluids right now."

"Get me some booze if that’s possible," Sol said. Stanley chuckled a little and went to get some smoothies that they had prepared beforehand.

"And turn on the damn lights. Why the hell are you two sitting in the dark?"

Stanley paused and turned around with a weird look on his face. Fred’s face fell as well when he heard that.

"What’s wrong?" Sol asked. "Why are you two— oh fuck! I’m blind, aren’t I?"

"You can’t see anything?" Stanley asked. "There’s a light bulb directly above your head."

Sol tried to look up. "Dammit! Now I lost both of my eyesight," he grumbled.

"Were you not wearing your sunglasses?" Fred asked. "I thought you had it on when we were having dinner."

"I did," Sol said. "But I must have lost it during my struggle with that monster. I had to drag it out of the boss’s room."

"I see," Stanley said. "I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that we were getting attacked earlier."

"It’s fine," Sol said. "It was bound to happen anyway. I had it coming ever since I lost my first eye all the way back when I was a kid."

Sol sounded as if he did not care much for the damage to his eyes, but the tears that slid down the side of his face said otherwise. Who would be happy knowing you would never see it again in your life?

Stanley didn’t know what to do and just stayed there, standing, until Sol shouted at him to get him some booze.

This time, he really did bring him back some alcohol. That was the least he could do.

Sol drank half a bottle of beer before placing it to the side and speaking. "What’s done is done. I’ve lost my eyesight, so I’m pretty much useless to the gang aside from a select few times. You two have to take care of the boss now."

Both Stanley and Fred nodded.

"Did you just nod?" Sol asked.

"Hmm? Oh sorry," Fred apologized quickly. "We meant to say yes."

"Yeah, Speak up. I can’t see either of you two," Sol said. "How’s Vera? Was she attacked?"

"Vera’s fine. She’s trying to find the culprit, but it’s looking difficult," Stanley said.

"That’s good. What time is it?" Sol asked.

"Uhh... a little past 9, why?" Fred asked.

"You two need to get ready to sleep too," Sol said. "You can’t keep guard of us all night."

"We sure can," Fred said. "And we will."

"Has the gang not left people to look after us?" Sol asked.

"They have, but they won’t be enough if that monster from before comes," Fred said.

"We will have to stay here," Stanley said reluctantly.

"Take turns then," Sol said. "Fred stay for now. John go rest and be ready to fight if need be. Switch at 1 or 2. Something like that."

Stanley and Fred looked at each other, and Stanley nodded. He needed to leave, so this was the better idea.

"I’ll go rest," Stanley said. "I’m not really tired, so I should be done with my sleep in a couple of hours."

"Alright," Fred said. "I think there will be a big enough commotion that you will get up before the monster comes to us again."

Stanley nodded and left the room. He went back to his room where he finally sighed and sat down. He lay down on his bed and remembered all the things that happened that day.

"That was close," he thought to himself. Had he not arrived back in time, Hank would’ve most likely healed from the blood he drank and would have killed everyone in the building.

Stanley took a deep breath and got back up. "Now’s not the time for that," he thought. He had finally acquired something that he had been looking forward to getting for a very long time.

Ever since Caleb had handed this to him, Stanley had wanted to make use of it, but he couldn’t find any. Now that he finally had it, he couldn’t waste any time.

He quickly got up and pulled out the guitar case from the corner of the room. His sword wasn’t with him and was instead in the training area where it was multiple times its size and shape.

However, he had no use for the sword. He needed the guitar case.

He opened the case, which at first glance looked empty. However, Stanley quickly unlatched a secret latch that was hidden inside a small cover and the side of the case popped out.

Stanley pulled the side open and brought out a small piece of hardware, no longer than his watch, maybe even smaller and flatter. He opened it up, revealing a small compartment where something rectangular was supposed to go.

Then, he pulled out the thing that was inside his pants pocket. It was a small black rectangle with fine strands of hair-like metal coming out of it.

Stanley wiped away the blood and it became more clear what it was.

A Chip.

It wasn’t just any chip either. It was a chip that belonged to Nova, someone who had her powers evolved.

It was just the chip that he was sent looking for here. This was the first step to finding out the person who was causing so much chaos.

He placed the chip into the small box and closed it. Now, it would upload all the data to a secure location from where Caleb would access it and refine it to get information.

Stanley no longer had anything he needed to do.