I Breathe Euro

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight peeked over Mumbai's skyline, Jack, Katrina, and Emma stood on the private helipad of The Oberoi. Jack's jet was already waiting for them, its sleek, futuristic design reflecting the golden hues of dawn.

Jack took a deep breath, taking in the crisp morning air. The temporary calm of the past day had done its job—his mind was sharper, his resolve stronger. He glanced at Katrina and Emma, who stood beside him, both radiating quiet confidence.

"We're heading back," Jack said, his voice firm yet calm. "No more distractions."

The girls nodded. The world was still on edge. The ground had split open, monsters had emerged, and an enemy at Level 1500 had already made his presence known. It was only a matter of time before the next catastrophe struck.

They boarded the private jet, and within minutes, Luxaviation's finest aircraft was slicing through the skies at Mach speeds, racing towards Future Island.

Jack sat back in his luxurious seat, watching the clouds rush past. He pulled up a holographic screen, displaying global reports on the monster emergence. The heroes had managed to hold them back—for now. But Jack knew this was only the beginning.

Katrina leaned over, reading the data on his screen. "So, what's next, genius?"

Jack exhaled. "We upgrade. We prepare. And we make sure next time, we're the ones taking the fight to them."

Emma smirked. "Sounds like my kind of plan."

Within two hours, Future Island appeared on the horizon.

As the jet landed smoothly on Future Island's private airstrip, the island's vast technological marvels stretched before them.

Massive skyscrapers housing the world's most advanced research facilities.

A sprawling underground complex teeming with AI-driven laboratories.

And, at the heart of it all, Jack's personal headquarters—The Aether Nexus.

Jack stepped onto the landing pad, breathing in the salty ocean air. This was his domain. His kingdom.

The moment they arrived, a team of high-level scientists and engineers rushed over, eagerly awaiting their leader's return. Dr. Voss, head of the Aether Research Division, stepped forward.

"Sir, we've made some breakthroughs with the synthetic Aether formula. But… we also detected something."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Dr. Voss hesitated before pulling out a holographic display. On it, a pulsating energy reading emerged—one that wasn't coming from the island.

Jack's blood ran cold.

"This…" Jack's voice was grave. "This isn't our reactor's signal."

Dr. Voss nodded. "That's what we're worried about. There's another Aether signature out there."

Katrina folded her arms, her expression darkening. "That means someone else has access to it."

Emma clenched her fists. "And if they know how to use it, they could be just as strong as us."

Jack's mind raced. He was supposed to be the only one with access to Aether technology. But now, someone else had tapped into its power.

His eyes burned with resolve. "Find the source. Now."

Dr. Voss nodded and immediately got to work.

Jack turned to the girls. "We don't have much time. We need to finish your upgrades—because whoever is out there might already be stronger than us."

And with that, the real battle began.

The control room of Future Island's Aether Nexus was filled with tension. Jack, Katrina, and Emma stood before a massive holographic map, analyzing the anomalous Aether readings. The signal was weak but steady, originating from a point somewhere in Mumbai.

Jack crossed his arms, eyes locked onto the pulsating red dot on the screen. "Whoever has the Aether… they're right in the heart of the city."

Emma frowned. "It doesn't make sense. If someone knew what Aether was, they wouldn't be hiding in plain sight."

Katrina adjusted her suit, now fully powered by the Aether Reactor. "Let's not waste time, then. We find them before they attract attention."

Jack gave a sharp nod. "I'll handle the search personally. You two stay on standby in case things escalate."

Within minutes, Jack boarded his stealth jet, the sleek black aircraft roaring across the sky toward Mumbai.

Jack landed discreetly on the rooftop of a high-rise building in Mumbai, right near the signal's source. The city was alive with its usual chaos—cars honking, people moving through the crowded streets, and neon signs flashing in every direction.

His enhanced visor scanned the area, pinpointing the exact location. The reading was coming from a small, rundown apartment complex at the edge of the city.

Jack leaped off the rooftop, landing softly in a dark alleyway. Moving swiftly, he entered the building, navigating the narrow corridors until he reached a single apartment on the third floor.

The door was slightly ajar.
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Jack pushed it open carefully, stepping inside. The place was small, barely furnished, and looked abandoned—except for one thing.

In the middle of the room, a tiny girl, no older than three, sat on the floor playing with a small glass bottle filled with a glowing red liquid.

Jack's eyes widened.

Aether.

She had Aether.

The girl giggled, shaking the bottle as if it were a toy. She had short black hair, wide curious eyes, and chubby little hands gripping the container carelessly.

Jack took a slow step forward. "Hey there, kid…" His voice was calm, controlled. He knew that one wrong move could shatter the bottle, and with it, an energy source unlike anything else on Earth.

The little girl looked up at him, blinking. Then she smiled. "Hi!"

Jack crouched down to her level. She had no idea what she was holding.

"Where did you get that, sweetheart?" he asked gently.

The girl pouted, thinking hard, then pointed at a pile of old clothes in the corner.

Jack followed her finger and spotted a torn backpack, dirty and worn, with a symbol that made his stomach drop—an insignia from the ship Katrina had pulled from the ocean.

Jack's mind raced. Had this child been on that ship? Or had someone from that ship abandoned her here?

The girl clutched the bottle tighter, tilting her head. "Is it candy?"

Jack exhaled sharply. "No, kid. It's not candy."

At that moment, Katrina's voice buzzed in his earpiece. "Jack, what's the situation?"

Jack's gaze remained locked on the little girl. "We have a problem."

Jack carried the little girl in his arms as he boarded his stealth jet, setting a direct course for Future Island. The child had no parents, no guardians—she was alone in the world, and for now, Jack was the only one who could protect her.

She clutched the Aether bottle tightly in one hand while her other hand held onto Jack's collar. Her innocent eyes scanned the high-tech interior of the jet with curiosity.

Jack glanced down at her. "What's your name, kid?"

She blinked a few times before responding in a small voice. "Meera."

Jack nodded. "Alright, Meera. We're going somewhere safe."

The jet shot forward, cutting through the skies at breakneck speed.

By the time they landed on Future Island, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the futuristic skyline. Katrina and Emma were already waiting at the private airstrip, their eyes widening slightly as they saw Jack stepping out with a tiny child in his arms.

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Jack… you went looking for Aether and came back with a kid?"

Katrina crossed her arms, scanning Meera curiously. "Who is she?"

Jack sighed, walking past them toward the main research facility. "She's an orphan… and she was holding a bottle of pure Aether like it was a toy."

That got their attention.

Katrina and Emma exchanged glances before following Jack.

Inside Jack's personal suite, Meera sat on the floor, surrounded by an abundance of colorful toys, stuffed animals, and candy. Her eyes sparkled as she unwrapped a chocolate bar and took a bite, humming in delight.

Jack stood near the glass wall, arms crossed, watching her.

Katrina sat on the couch, resting her chin on her palm. "She's completely clueless about what she had."

Jack nodded. "And that's what worries me. Who gave it to her? How did she survive alone in Mumbai?"

Emma knelt beside Meera, brushing her fingers over the little girl's hair. "She's been through a lot… but at least she's happy now."

Meera looked up at Emma and held out a gummy bear. "Want one?"

Emma chuckled and took it. "Thanks, kid."

Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. "For now, she stays here. I'll assign security to watch over her, and we'll start investigating where she came from."

Katrina tilted her head. "So, are we adopting her?"

Jack glanced at Meera, who was now giggling as she stacked plush toys into a pyramid. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"She's safer here than anywhere else," he said simply.

Meera looked up at Jack and smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Jack!"

Jack nearly choked. Katrina and Emma burst into laughter.

Katrina smirked. "Uncle Jack, huh? That's a new one."

Jack groaned, rubbing his forehead. "I need a drink."

After ensuring that Meera was settled in, Jack excused himself and headed straight for his private laboratory. His mind was already racing with possibilities. Aether alone had proven to be an energy source far beyond nuclear power, but what if he could push the boundaries even further?

Inside the lab, his top scientists were already waiting. They stood in front of a holographic display, equations and complex models hovering in the air. The entire room was lined with reinforced walls, shielding it from even the most volatile experiments.

Jack took his seat at the center table, leaning forward as he addressed the team.

"I want to explore the potential of combining Aether and Nuclear Energy to create something stronger." He tapped a command into the console, and an energy model appeared on the main screen. "If we can manipulate the atomic structure correctly, we may be able to produce Anti-Matter."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Dr. Richter, an expert in quantum physics, adjusted his glasses. "Jack, you're talking about creating something that could, in theory, become the most powerful energy source—or the most dangerous weapon—ever known to mankind."

Jack's gaze was unwavering. "I'm aware of the risks. But if we can control it, we can advance human civilization by centuries. Infinite clean energy, propulsion systems beyond light speed, and weapons powerful enough to keep threats in check."

Dr. Mei, a renowned nuclear engineer, crossed her arms. "What makes you think Aether can stabilize Anti-Matter? Current models suggest that even the smallest error in handling Anti-Matter could lead to a catastrophic explosion."

Jack smirked. "Because Aether doesn't follow the conventional laws of physics."

He pulled out a small vial filled with the synthetic Aether he had recreated. The deep blue liquid inside seemed to shimmer with an almost otherworldly glow.

Jack placed it in the containment unit, locking it in a secure chamber before continuing.

"Aether doesn't decay, doesn't generate radiation like normal elements. Instead, it absorbs and amplifies energy. If we can use it to counteract the instability of Anti-Matter, we could achieve controlled energy generation without the risk of annihilation."

Dr. Richter's skepticism wavered slightly as he examined the data. "You're saying Aether could act as a containment field?"

Jack nodded. "Exactly."

Dr. Mei exhaled, deep in thought. "If this works… we're talking about a breakthrough beyond nuclear fusion. A power source that could outlast entire civilizations."

Jack stood up, placing his hands on the table. "Then let's get to work."

The team exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. The greatest scientific endeavor of all time had just begun.