[Nicholas Acker Villin]

"Dr. Villin is on site" a security personnel informed the group of researchers who were working in another area, one of them acknowledged, Acker briefly glanced at the communication devices they were using when he felt his power being aware of the devices.

Acker had entered inside a tent, similar to those hospital tents, but this tent was used to shield curious eyes from prying. His guard dogs, two Dobermans called Zeus and Apollo, were sitting outside the tent, they looked like two real dogs, but in reality they were robotic machines.

The security personnel led him to another part of the tent which was like a round hallway, his shoes walking on dirt, not that it mattered, his black clothes had already been dirtied by the dust outside. The walls of the tent were shaken by the wind outside. Acker was looking at the far side of the hallway, excited by what laid beyond. The Sector never called him for something dull.

Acker liked research, he would have worked in research after university if it hadn't been for his power. The security personnel zipped down the entry to the next area where the researchers were. The researchers were standing all around a deep hole in the ground, there were lights pointed down at the hole, tables with equipment on them scattered around the area, some of the researchers were writing down clipboards.

One of them turned around and walked towards Acker with his hand forward waiting for a handshake which Acker shook automatically without even thinking about it because his attention was on the hole, he even took off his glasses "Thank you for coming, we..." a gust of wind came out of the hole "Did that hole just breath?" Acker cut off the researcher, but that gust of wind had caught him by surprise.

"We can't verify, we can't reach the bottom of the hole with our equipment" the researchers explained to Acker that it wasn't just a matter of depth, but also the gusts themselves, and the equipment seemed to get stuck in the hole for some reason. So, the researchers couldn't do much, they needed help hence why paging Dr. Villin.

"I need any data you have collected" Acker actually needed just some specific data, but it was faster asking for any data instead of standing there and explaining it to the researcher. The data was necessary so that he could use the appropriate drones "Acker!" a familiar voice called behind him. He turned around and a tiny smile formed on the corner of his mouth when he saw the familiar face of Dr. Kasper. Acker didn't usually enjoy the company of others, but he liked Dr. Kasper, or better, he valued Kasper's intelligence.

Dr. Kasper hugged him which caught Acker off guard, even though it wasn't the first time Dr. Kasper had done that, but Acker wasn't a hugger. Dr. Kasper was very energetic and excentric, but Acker overlooked all of that because of how brilliant Kasper was. In fact, Dr. Kasper knew what type of data Acker needed, leaving out the superfluous data. It was efficient and helped Acker assess the situation without wasting time. Dr. Villin appreciated it.

Acker put his glasses back on and connected to some of his drones that were waiting inside of an armoured truck. After a minute, the drones came out from the hallway, Acker turned towards the drones while the hallway got zipped up. The drones were round and smooth with an eye in the middle which was green now, but it could turn to yellow and red depending on the alert level. The surface of the drones was grey now, but it could change colours.

The researchers moved aside when one of the drones approached the hole, but then went back to stand around the hole, looking down at the drone making their descent. Meanwhile, Dr. Kasper and Dr. Villin were moving some screens that were standing on wheeled worktables. They carefully put the two screens next to each other so that they looked like one bigger screen. Acker had screens in his truck, but he didn't want to waste time bringing some here if these two screens were sufficient.

Dr. Kasper turned them on and the screens connected to the drones' visual wirelessly "Adequate" Acker was talking about the quality of the screens and how well they connected to the drone. The other researchers gathered around the screens while the hallway got zipped down again, meaning that someone was coming in.

@zanefowler

//First of all, I want to apologise if this is long, but I wanted to describe the situation to set the scene so to speak. Everyone, besides our characters, is an NPC so you can move them too of course! I imagined Dr. Kasper to be someone Acker has worked with many times before, so they know each other. Also, I have no idea what's in the hole, I'm just going with the flow lol so by all means you can write anything you want about it, you don't need my permission of course, I'm just saying it in case you think I have something planned for the hole lol the only thing that I planned is that the hole will disappear by itself at the end because of the power negation thing because I thought that hole was created by something gifted (like an object down the hole) and with the power negation thing the hole will slowly get smaller and disappear eventually...idk I thought it could be fun to connect the hole to the power negation thing! Oh, I have no idea where the thread is taking place, maybe just a little bit outside of Los Eurosia, somewhere desertic-like, or anywhere else really. But, let me know if you don't like the idea or you would like to do something else!//

[Deleted]

Zane was no stranger to strange assignments, especially when apparent gifted individuals were involved. It had been the entire reason he had enlisted in the Sector in the first place. So, he had enthusiastically gone to this assignment.

In his excitement, the young man had foregone much other than needed equipment, a couple notebooks, writing utensils, and his phone and wallet. A lab coat had been the last thing on his mind. Besides, he needed to travel a fair bit before he got to the site, right now swarming with researchers and covered by a tent to avoid prying eyes. Then again, it seemed unlikely with a place like this…Nevertheless, Zane put on some glasses for some form of protection on his eyes, approaching the tent entrance and showing his ID to confirm who he was. Now for the annoying part of signing in and confirming his biometrics, his identity, stowing away personal belongings until he would have to leave, all the formalities. Once everything was confirmed, Zane grabbed an earwig and placed it as needed, pressing the button to turn on communications of which he heard immediately.

They had already started.

Feeling like he was unnecessarily late, the student quickened his pace to head through the halls, hoping he hadn’t missed much. Before long, the zipped entrance to the research area soon opened and his presence was announced, “Mr.Brown, our junior researcher is here.” Someone announced, causing the man to redden slightly. Did they really have to announce him like that? Zane gave a quick nod to the other researchers gathered for those who had bothered with his presence.

Already it was clear to see someone or something had caused a stir. Zane shifted around until he could see between some of the gathered researchers, curiously noting a rather massive hole being the cause for excitement. Well, that was mildly disappointing. Not exactly what he had been hoping for. But, neither could this exactly be ignored. Had a Gifted caused this odd phenomenon? Maybe. Zane moved closer to the group, edging himself around until he was closer towards Acker and Dr.Kasper, peering over the edge for a moment to see if he could see anything. All he could feel was the occasional gust of wind and his heart racing slightly at the thought of falling inside. All the while, the youngest of the researchers was also trying to ignore a faint throbbing at the back of his skull since stepping inside the tent. Of all times he needed a headache.

He could only hope focusing on the present situation might help take his mind off it for now. But between his excitement and curiosity of the unknown entity before them, Zane had subconsciously began projecting his negation field, afflicting the powers of those around him. “Wonder if we’ll make the Mariana Trench look like a small canyon today.” Zane mused out loud as he also took notice of the drones, not talking to anyone in particular.

Nicholas Acker Villin

[Nicholas Acker Villin]

Dr. Kasper smiled and waved at the junior researcher, friendly as always. A direct contrast to Acker who instead didn't even look up, focused on the screens. From his pocket, Acker had grabbed a small rectangular tablet from which he was controlling the drones. Sure, the mad scientist here could have used his power to control the drones, but he needed to keep up appearances. After all, he could control the drones with the tablet, so there was no need to use the power at the moment.

Even though Acker wasn't actively using his power right now, he still felt his power connected to his machines. It was a familiar and comforting sensation that Acker had gotten accustomed to in these decades of using his power. The tablet seemed to respond to the gloves, meaning that another's person hands couldn't use the tablet. The gloves couldn't be used by any unauthorised person. The tips of the gloves had an internal scanner that could analyse fingerprints, and only two fingerprints were authorised for use: Acker's and his assistant.

Dr. Kasper and a few other researchers reacted positively at the junior researcher's remark, but Acker had barely heard it, uninterested. Acker pushed some buttons on the tablet's screen and another small drone descended the hole. The drone was about to collect a sample of the hole's wall, which looked organic, but his hands shivered and the tablet slipped his grasp.

Dr. Kasper, the nearest to Acker, noticed what had just happened. The doc looked down at the tablet and then up at Acker. The friendly doctor's first response wouldn't have been worry if he hadn't seen Acker's expression. However, it was clear that something was wrong, even though Acker's eyes were covered by the dark glasses.

The drone near the organic wall was idle waiting for input. The drone kept floating near the hole's wall, waiting, but the tablet was still laying on the worktable, untouched. The other researchers were starting to notice that something was wrong, but Dr. Kasper was adamant to drive people's attention elsewhere "Let's take five!" the other researchers exchanged looks, but nodded.

There were no refreshments in the researching area because there wasn't enough data to determine if the air coming out from the hole could contaminate food and beverages, although it had been determined that it couldn't contaminate people hence why no one was wearing protective suits. However, the researchers moved away from the screens and started walking around, soft chitchatting voices filled the area.

"Did something happen to your hands? Do you need a medic?" Dr. Kasper whispered to Acker, but there was no response. Acker kept looking at his hands which weren't shivering anymore, but Acker was still in shock. It had been so involuntary. Suddenly, Dr. Kasper was pressing a tissue under Acker's nose.

Acker rose a brow "Nosebleed" Kasper explained in a calm voice meant to soothe any panic that this new predicament could bring in Acker's heart. However, a headache was starting forming with nausea. He wasn't okay. Something was wrong.

Indeed, something was wrong and it happened all at once. Acker hadn't been actively using his power, but it was still connected to anything technological. The drone idling in position in the hole started hitting its spherical body against the thick organic wall. At the third hit, the drone got engulfed into the wall, as if the hole had sucked it like a Slurpee. There was a noise of something hitting a surface hard and breaking, the noise reverberated in the hole. It was the drone that had been descending the hole. A puff of hair exhaled from the hole, the researchers half-expected a burp too, but it never came.

Some of the researchers were around the hole and others were around the screens observing the events unfurling. Dr. Kasper had grabbed the tablet and Acker, moving them away from the crowd. Dr. Kasper was more than worried now "I'll fetch the medic, wait here, I'll be right back" he left Acker in an isolated corner, but he had barely noticed.

Acker loathed feeling this powerless. Researchers started running away the moment the painful throb in his skull became a full hard on headache. Acker looked up, his left eye bloodshot. The rest of the drones were going after the researchers like they were playing a game of chase. Luckily, those were research drones for collecting data and such, so they weren't weaponised.

Acker was deeper in shock. Astounded. He had never felt anything like this before. His power was disconnecting and the drones were behaving erratically as consequence. Then rage started filling his heart like a slap in the face bringing him back into reality, reminding him who he was. He was Dr. Nicholas Acker Villin and he wouldn't let this inner demon take over him. He would fight. He would win.

@zanefowler