Complications: Research Log 183

Although the project has been running relatively smoothly, all things considered, we have run into a slight complication.

On August 17th we conducted our first stress test with the flying mechanism we have placed inside of the Vox’s back compartments. Éclair was chosen for this, as she seemed the most willing and the most excited according to Olive. The rest of our Vox were on standby in case anything should happen to Éclair as well as to learn for themselves what they are capable of.

Outfitted with a baby blue cape that shone against the sunlight that day, she tested the waters, flying just a few feet into the air. Her eyes widened and the smile on her face was huge, all of her teeth glinting. Sage, Olive, and Gideon stood in a neat row with their identical clipboards, looking up at her. “Go on, then,” cried Olive, encouraging her to fly even higher.

And so higher she went, tens then hundreds of feet into the air until it seemed she would breach the clouds. But just before she did… well, I try to keep these posts objective. But, to me it looked as though some invisible hand took Éclair straight out of the air. She stopped for a second, lurching back as if the hand was winding up, and then she was flying again only downward. She must have been going about 100 miles an hour.

It seems ridiculous, but I felt a divine presence in that moment. As if an Astra, angered by our hubris, sought to strike Éclair down.

Sage spoke up first, her deep monotone voice level-headed as ever. She called for someone, anyone, to catch her now. Olive cried out, dropping the pastel pink drink in her hands and clutching Gideon’s arm. And it was at this point that I saw Gideon’s indecipherable expression. He was… angry, almost? I couldn’t tell for sure, but he stared unmoving as Michael, one of the bigger boys shoved through our little entourage and leapt into the air, only to end up in a heap the ground with Éclair.

Stranger still was Éclair in particular seemed to have been in pain. We had turned off her pain receptors for this occasion, just in case, and yet she cried out as if she could feel every injury she sustained. Was it psychological? Like a phantom pain?

Regardless, Éclair is undergoing substantial repairs as we speak. It could take months at least to repair her to what she used to be. And Gideon has disappeared somewhere. Uncharacteristic of him, especially after something like that. Due to this setback and the lack of the head of our project, it could be some time again before I post any more research logs.

At this time I would also like to take a moment to discourage religious groups from contacting us. We hear you loud and clear.

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