PHANTOM : Cosmic Birth

The trio feasted, elegantly, relishing the sumptuous essence of Annabelle's assorted delicacy.

"I must say, Annie, your cooking's outta this world," Cassie acknowledged with a mouth full.

"Why, thank you, Gorgeous," she retorted with a blissful smile.

Ron chewed, softly, avoiding eye contact with either damsel.

It did feel overly awkward to him, being sandwiched between two lasses, whom he shared intimacy with.

And soon, the doorbells rang again.

"I'll get it," he sighed in relief, phasing through the Dinning to the living room.

Yet, welcoming the visitor, Ron was perplexed by the sight of Bradley Smith and his entourage, clad in dark suits, their piercing irises, obscured by sunglasses.

"Greetings Ron Ramon," Brad took off his spectacles.

"Uhh.. hey! May I.. help you?"

"Fear not, scientist, we come in peace," the Federal Agent said, brandishing his leather law enforcement badge holder, an evidence of his international sovereignty; legitimacy personified.

The badge's gold engraving glistened in the daylight, an emblem of hope and and knowledge — the atom symbol, sigil of the world's largest and most enigmatic intelligence organization.

"You're from F.O.R.N.A.X.?" Ron muttered beneath his breath in a whispery cadence.

"Positive!" Brad affirmed, his dimpled chin, accentuating his granite features.

"What could the Federal Organization for Researching Nefarious and Aberrant eXperiments possibly want with a loser like me?"

"You, Master Ramon, are a diamond in the rough, a bewildering genius with an impeccable intellect," Bradley Smith acknowledged.

"You possess a mind brimming with the wisdom of the ages, a soul restless to unlock the mysteries of the universe."

"And what sorcery have I conjured to savor in all of this flattery?" Ron pondered with a brow raised.

"You're smart, kid. Last person I saw with a powerful mind like yours was the airborne scientist, Pro.."

"Procyon?" Bradley finally caught Ron's attention.

"We're aware of your molecular star, Ron," the Federal Agent locked gazes with the nuclear physicist.

"What star?" Ron denied.

"C'mon, Kid. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Does the name... Xenon Prismara ring a bell?"

Ron's heart sank beneath his chest, beating like a war-drum at the words of the Secret Agent.

"Who's that, Ronnie?"

Forthwith, both damsels came to his rescue, sandwiching the genius by the doorframe, a hand on his shoulders.

A mischievous smirk was etched across Brad's face, the words bouncing off his lips ;

"Ladies man?"

Cassie and Annie exchanged a naughty glance, soon welcoming the guests in.

"How rude, Ronnie.

You don't leave a guest standing outside," they insisted.

...

"I Created the Xenon Prismara, emulating the infamous cosmic sphere.. the Xeno-nexus," Ron summarized.

"My intentions were to restore the glory of this corrupt nation, propel it into the future.

Twenty-four seven power supply, innovative discoveries, scientific breakthroughs, a leap in the world of medicine, a solution to ailments and the cancer of death.. blah blah blah.

However, I undermined the dangers of my experimental project, blinded by approval and good grades.

I know I'm inexperienced, I'm no a pro, and I certainly ain't no Billionaire, either.

But with the whole nation hellbent on destroying itself, I just thought it'd be a lil nice to put some of it back together."

Ron's heartfelt speech was inspirational, highly applaudable.

Brad sighed emotionally, the words of the quantum physicist had pierced his soul, leaving hysterical goosebumps on his porcelain skin.

"Motivational, Kid.

The detonation certainly wasn't your fault. Still investigating the crime scene.

An explosion this mysterious couldn't have been triggered by you, you're just a kid," Brad Smith pondered aloud.

"I mean, what's the motive? Blowing up a school you already graduated from with a first class degree?

Doesn't make any sense."

"You know what?" one of the Federal Agents chimed in, instigating the curiosity of the entire room.

He was a burly man with a ginger crop of hair, named Ted Éclair.

"This, by far, is the best dish I've had in years," Ted lisped with a mouthful, disappointing everyone in the room.

They all smacked their faces in mock exasperation.

"Why, thank you," Annabelle retorted with a gracious smile.

"Your welcome," Agent Éclair blushed before being nudged by his superior, Agent Smith.

"What? Tastes better than my wives'," Ted murmured, with childlike innocence.

"In as much as you cannot be blamed for the effects of the explosion, it still doesn't exempt you from the penalties," the words of Brad Smith were blunt and emotionless.

"The Xenon-Prismara is also considered a nefarious experiment, hence our duty is to detain mad scientists."

Ron flinched in astonishment, Bradley's words, definitely struck a nerve, stinging like a bee.

"Mad scientist? I ain't mad?" he objected.

"You're not taking our Ron, anywhere," Cassie infuriately resisted the Federal Agents as though she could hurt a fly.

"Seconded!" Annabelle frowned, standing akimbo.

"Chill out, ladies," Brad calmed the nerves.

"We're not gonna apprehend.. your Ron.

He will however, be placed on a twenty-four hour surveillance as penalty for creating a doomsday contraption."

"That's not fair!" the girls protested, tensely, their agitations, saturating the confectionery.

"You call yourselves the haven of liberty when you've got no respect for his fundamental human rights?" Annabelle questioned the equity of the agency.

"Well, he could negotiate with us?" Brad suggested, fiddling with his spectacles.

"Perhaps, he could indulge in secret service as retribution for his crimes?

Make significant contributions to the organization and his nation."

"You're trynna manipulate him!" Cassie shrieked.

"Yeah.. what makes y'all different from V.O.R.G.?" Annabelle concurred with the tomboy, her words, interrogating, causing a sense of unease to reside in the troop of Federal Agents.

"Annie, Cassie, it's okay," Ron grinned, his face, awash with concern.

"At least it's better than being placed under surveillance."

"Great! Come with us, then," Agent Smith called, ascending from the couch.

"You're not taking him anywhere," Cassie stood at the doorframe, obstructing the exit.

"Really?" Brad smacked his face in disbelief. "Éclair?"

Ted Éclair rose awkwardly from the sofa, butt-dialing a remote control by accident.

The Television screens flickered to life with a soft click and abruptly, the news headlines flashed up, capturing everyone's attention.

"U.F.O. sighting in Africa?"

Roxanna Ross, the charming blonde news anchor, heralded the breaking news.

"Africa, a safe haven for the most bizarre U.F.O. sightings, recently.

Nigeria, one of the most corrupt countries in the world, has had her fair share of extraterrestrial attacks, lately.

Lagos is considered the most dangerous place to reside in, currently, following a third successive U.F.O. sighting in less than a week.

Ex V.A.P.O.R. employee, Isaac Ornstein was found dead in his apartment, early hours of Friday morning, following yet another bizarre surveillance footage.

His spouse, Lara Ornstein describes the tragedy as mysterious and sudden, claiming to have uncovered Isaac's remains in their matrimonial bed.

Surveillance cameras spotted the image of what appears to be.. an angel of death, only a few minutes before the victim was brutally murdered in cold blood."

A blurry image of the winged assailant was displayed worldwide.

"Mere coincidence?" Roxanna continued, "I don't think so.

The winged suspect has been given a hilarious pseudonym by fans on social media, "SCAVENGER."

The name implies that the anomaly was, in fact, present at the crime scene, shortly before the tragic demise of the deceased, reminiscent of a scavenger.

Aliens, living amongst us.

Who are they? And what do they want?

Thanks for watching, ladies and gentlemen, I'm your host, Roxy Ross and this is.."

Ron shut the TV, interrupting the reporter.

Brad's countenance, awash with concern.

"C'mon Kid, got a lotta work to do," he sauntered out the room, his entourage, following closely.

Ron, Cassie and Annie exchanged nervous glances with one another, minds, fogged by perplexity.

Hitherto, they vehemently chased after the troop of Secret Agents.