Indomitable: Book One of the Push Chronicles

Book 1: The Push Chronicles

by J.B. Garner

Genres: Superheroes; Humorous sci-fi

Synopsis

A cross between “The Boys” and “Wonder Woman,” INDOMITABLE will have you on the edge of your seat, cheering for a plucky heroine who has to fight much more than City Hall to save the day.

Irene Roman never wanted to be a hero. Fortunately for the world, she turned into one.

Irene Roman was just a scientist living an otherwise normal life until one fateful evening – and one startling betrayal. In the literal blink of an eye, not only her life but the future of the entire planet has changed. Without warning, random people have gained powers and abilities far above those of mortal men and women, acting like superheroes and villains plucked right out of a comic book.

Now, these newly empowered beings – called the Pushed – battle across the Earth, shattering lives as they wrest mankind’s destiny from its grasp. Witness to it all is Irene, who not only knows the cause of this unbelievable change but may be the only person with a chance to stop the chaos. But there are legions of heroes and villains alike who stand in her way, all unwilling to give up their new “gifts.”
Will Irene have the indomitable spirit to fight for humanity’s fate? And if so, what price will she pay to be the hero she never wanted to be?

 

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Release date: April 30, 2024

Publisher: Ginger Blue Publishing

Print pages: 364

Sample

Prologue

 

It’s a slippery slope to think about what could have been. That’s what my friends have told me many times over the years. And before the Whiteout, I believed them. Maybe it was because I had so few things I regretted.

Maybe I lived something of a charmed life. Good, supportive parents, athletic enough to get a softball scholarship, pretty enough that I had my fair share of guys to date, smart enough to make it into the esteemed Georgia Institute of Technology. But maybe my efforts to be a good person paid off and, as unscientific as it sounds, I got good karma in return.

But after the Whiteout, I looked back at everything that happened. Every little thing I missed in the last two years seemed like a startlingly obvious clue pointing to the future. How could I have been so blind, and how could I have let all these things happen, be they strange, terrible, or perhaps wonderful?

Hindsight is twenty-twenty, so I shouldn’t feel guilty. That’s what I try to tell myself, anyway.

Too bad I don’t believe it.

 

Chapter 1

 

“Good morning, Dean Tyson,” I said as I stepped into the Dean of Science’s office. “You wanted to see me?”

Said dean, Reginald Tyson, chuckled as he waved me in. “Irene, please. Come in, take a seat.” As I took the proffered seat in front of his desk, a beautiful antique hardwood affair, he rummaged through his papers. “Why so anxious? You only call me ‘Dean Tyson’ when you’re nervous.”

“It’s more than anxiety, Dean –” I sighed. “Sorry, Reggie, but you remember what day it is, right? I’ll be honest, I had hoped to take a half-day and be there for Eric. It’s all still pretty raw for him.”

Reggie paused in his search, and his brow furrowed. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised he didn’t immediately remember. He was a busy man, after all, and while we were friends, he had a lot of plates to spin in his position. Still, the light of recognition flashed in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Irene. It’s been a year, hasn’t it?” He gave me a sympathetic look. “But as much as I wish I could put this off, I’m afraid I can’t.” I was about to protest, but he cut me off. “Trust me, you’ll understand when I’m done.”

I’d known Reggie for years, and when I started dating Dr. Eric Beck, a fellow scientist at the college, some two years ago, the dean became his friend too. More importantly, Reggie had been there for us when Eric’s parents died last year, and the dean wouldn’t push on something like this unless it really was important.

“Okay, I’ll hear you out. You don’t usually send me a message that we’re having a morning meeting every day. Then there’s the whole request to not tell anyone about it, so this has to be something important.”

Reggie seemed to find what he was looking for, as he produced a folder from the disorganized pile. That wasn’t like him. Reggie was usually quite an organized neat freak. In fact, the older man’s suit

was a tad rumpled, too and, frankly, he gave the impression that he hadn’t slept well the past week. Still, he seemed sharp and on point, the same old Reggie I’d known for years.

“I do apologize for the abruptness, the secrecy, and the rest, but this is important. I need to talk to you about your research project.”

Oof. There it was. I’d heard the scuttlebutt, that Georgia Tech was having some issues securing research funds. And, as important as my team’s work was, it wasn’t the kind of flashy project that got the attention of the big government spenders. Leave that to the physics and engineering departments. They always brought the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to the yard.

“Reggie, I know our neural stimulator isn’t the most attractive thing for the donors, but that doesn’t mean you have to pull the plug. We could –”

“Whoa, hold on, Irene. Pump the brakes and think about who you’re talking to. I’ve been your number one cheerleader since you started your post-grad work. You know that.”

I did, in fact, know that. Reggie and I had met before I’d even graduated with my bachelor’s. He was a faculty booster for the softball team and, when I went into post-grad work, we grew to be closer. First, he was a mentor – in fact, with his bald head, I often thought of him as my personal Professor X in those days – then over time, we became friends. These days, the combination of his blue eyes, broad shoulders, and willingness to fight to keep my work funded turned him into the Ben Grimm of my life. I didn’t cast myself as the Invisible Woman, though I did kind of know who the rest of my Fantastic Four were.

The calm part of my brain, what I called Rational Irene, had been reminding

me of all that ever since I’d gotten Reggie’s message. So I decided to listen to her and rein in my emotions for the moment.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion.” Now that my anxiety was out of the way, my curiosity took over. “So why did you want to meet then?”

“I don’t want to rush things, and this is going to sound highly unusual.”

He wasn’t usually the type to be reluctant about, well, anything, so I decided to prompt him. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

Reggie slid the folder across the desk towards me. I arched an eyebrow as I picked it up. Flipping it open, I saw the paperwork to not just authorize but fast-track the final test for the medical device my team was working on. My life’s work, my pride and joy, what I called the biofeedback neural stimulator. I was still working on a more concise name.

“I’m flattered, and I know that if the medical world gives this a look, my device will not just save lives, but improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of people across the world, if not more. But the date on this is today.” This wasn’t a fast-track, this was moving faster than the Flash. “This is far from normal.”

“I know. But there’s a good reason. First off, I need you to promise me something. What I’m about to tell you does not extend beyond this office, not even to Doctor Beck. Especially not him.”

The last part shocked me to momentary silence. I wondered what could have changed to make Reggie turn on Eric like this, on this day of any. I only gave a silent nod of agreement for Reggie to continue.

“You probably know that the Institute is suffering. While we’ve had no significant failures, none of our research departments has put out anything that’s excited our sponsors and grant-holders in the last two years. Grant money is starting to dry up, long-time sponsors are starting to question their commitments. 

Your neural stimulator always excited me and, from your team’s reports, it’s nearly finished testing. I think it has the potential to get Georgia Tech the attention it sorely lacks right now.”

“I understand, and I wouldn’t pry, but you brought him up specifically. What’s this have to do with Eric? Is it because I tell him too much?”

“No, no. That isn’t the issue here.” Reggie’s voice turned deathly serious. “I’ll be plain. Another issue plaguing our college is a rash of equipment thefts, including at least one experimental prototype.”

“I doubt Eric had anything to do with any of this, because, trust me, I see everything that goes into our apartment. If he was swiping anything, I’d know.” While our place was pretty big, it wasn’t “hide piles of stolen scientific equipment” spacious.

“Irene, I don’t mean to accuse Eric specifically. But the majority of these thefts have centered on the physics department, specifically the nuclear energy labs. Everyone in those labs is currently under investigation, both internally and by the campus security, Eric included.” Reggie sighed. “You can understand my position, can’t you?”

My defensive instinct relaxed some, but my hackles were still raised. In the end though, Rational Irene was quick to point out that Reggie was correct. While I wanted to believe that Eric was innocent, the whole matter was up for investigation and, if I were a tech thief, a breakthrough medical device that was easily transportable would be a prime target. Which was exactly what my biofeedback neural stimulator was. I closed the folder and set it on my lap.

“I understand. So I get my team together, we do this final test, and…?”

Now that the cat was out of the bag, Reggie let his own anxiety show, and I swear he looked five years older in just a matter of moments.

“You lock up the prototype and keep it safe. Meanwhile, I’ll get things

 arranged with the Office of Sponsored Research to get you a proper full presentation. They’ll love your research, I know they will, then it’ll get patented and fast-tracked.”

“So we’ll get this done before our thief can even hear about our success. And even if they did, my research will be verified with patent applications sent off before the thief could capitalize on the thefts.”

“And, perhaps most importantly of all, you’ll impress the people with money to pay your work proper attention.” Reggie sighed and shook his head regretfully. “I hate that all the bean counters have limited your grant funds. I had to do some accounting magic to get you two assistants and that little basement lab. But when you knock their socks off, they’ll open up all the funding you deserve.”

It was a good plan, I had to admit, even if it had to be today of all days. But there was another aspect left unsaid. If the thief did make a sudden move on my device after our test today, it narrowed down the list of suspects dramatically. It’d have to be our test subject or someone on my very small team. The mere thought of that was a kick in the gut, the reality of it would tear my heart out.

“What about Ken and Alma? They’re going to ask questions the moment I tell them we need to get ready for a big test as fast as possible.”

“And you’d absolutely fail at telling them any reasonable fib.” I scowled at Reggie, and he shrugged. “I’ve known you for almost a decade. You’re a terrible liar, but you’re even worse with your friends. Mister Louis has been your research assistant since you started this project and a friend for longer, and Miss Guiterrez might as well be your little sister with how you try to watch out for her. But, more importantly, the investigation has already cleared both of them as potential suspects. While it’d be best not to tell them everything, if they ask, you can be honest with them.”

Huh, well, that made things simple. I let out a sigh of relief. Of course, I still

had to avoid bringing up the final test with Eric until after the presentation to the Sponsored Research folks. Even if I wouldn’t have to lie to his face, I’d still be deceiving him on the day he was most vulnerable. Worried as I was about that, something else caught my attention.

“Wait. I’m curious now.”

Reggie arched an eyebrow. “You know you can ask me anything.”

“Have I been cleared too? Or should I make sure to cover my ass?”

I knew that I wasn’t going to entirely like the answer the moment Reggie couldn’t look me straight in the eyes.

“It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.” He managed to meet my gaze again, so the uncomfortable bit was over. “I trust you implicitly, and that’s all that matters here.”

Well, at least Reggie wasn’t lying to me. But it also told me that the Institute had a lot of suspicions regarding Eric. It still seemed crazy to me, but it occurred to me the best thing I could do for him and everyone else was to go with Reggie’s plan. If everything went well, it would add some evidence pointing to Eric’s innocence, and if it didn’t, well, I guessed we’d all have an answer to the mysterious thefts. I’d deal with that emotional fallout if I had to, but only when I had to.

“Are you absolutely sure this has to happen today?” I knew the answer Reggie would give me the moment the question left my lips.

“I’m sorry, but it has to, and I think you know that.”

I sighed and stood up, tucking the folder under my arm. “Okay, I’ll get this done.” Just so I didn’t leave my old friend thinking I held any ill will, I smiled brightly. “Thank you for placing and keeping

your faith in me.”

He returned that smile. “You’re welcome. I just can’t wait for these clouds over our school to blow away.”

“You and me both.”

 

Chapter 2

 

When I got back to our little basement laboratory, nestled in a corner of one of the older research buildings on Tech campus, I tried to put on a normal, calm face for the troops. In reality, I’d spent my entire walk from Reggie’s office wracking my brain on what all needed to be done for the experiment. It was a convenient thing to focus on, something to keep worry about the thefts and concern for Eric from consuming my attention.

As I stepped into the main lab area, I was pleased to find that both Ken and Alma were already here and at work. Ken, my right hand, was at his desk, computer monitor glowing as he parsed test data, and Alma, my electrical engineer, fussed over the prototype stimulator at her worktable across the room from Ken. Triple checking the special electrodes she had double checked after yesterday’s test, no doubt.

“Morning, team,” I said, trying to sound as chipper as I could. If Reggie was our ever-loving blue-eyed Thing, Ken’s hot-bloodedness made him the Human Torch, and Alma’s desire to blend into the background crowned her the Invisible Woman. That made me Mr. Fantastic, but I hoped I came across as way more personable than Reed Richards.

A pair of “Morning, Irene’s” greeted me as Ken spun in his office chair.

“How’re things this morning?” he asked while Alma refocused on her work. “I mean, with it being today and all…” His voice trailed off. I could understand that he didn’t want to go into specifics. While the deaths of Eric’s parents hit their only son the hardest, I’d loved the couple myself.

“It’s okay, and things are interesting.” The fact there was at least one good aspect – fast-tracking our research – let me get that out with betraying my emotions. “Alma, can you wrap that up? We’re going to need to work triple hard this morning, so I need everyone’s attention.”

“Oh, sorry,” she chirped. She quickly closed the neural stimulator’s

case and turned to face me. “I’m all ears.”

I nodded and held up the folder of paperwork Reggie had given me. “We’ve not only gotten clearance for our next big trial, but Dean Tyson’s fast-tracked us.”

“Just how fast-tracked?” Alma asked. “Because I’d really like to do a full top-down check of all the wiring before the next test.”

“First off, your build is damn near perfect. You’ve got to stop second guessing your work. Trust me, Ken and I would let you know if there was something wrong. Second, and more importantly, extremely fast-tracked. The dean wants us doing our test treatment with Alex today, the sooner the better.”

I could see the anxiety spike in Alma’s eyes, matched by the concerned look in Ken’s.

“Do you really think we can pull this off that quickly?” Ken asked. “Assuming Alex is even available for the procedure.”

“If we didn’t jump at these difficult opportunities, we’d never be this close to getting our dream off the ground. You let me handle our patient. I have every faith in you both to take care of the rest of the set-up.”

I nodded towards the double doors next to Alma’s workstation, on the right side of the lab. “Alma, you focus on setting up the lab equipment, the printer, and the audio recorder. We can provide Reggie’s observation team with physical test results and digital recordings for reference immediately afterward.”

“Okay, I can make sure that’s all done, no worries.”

I gave her an encouraging nod, then turned to Ken. “Get together a presentation packet with our previous test results and the technical specs.”

“Right, no problem.”

“Good. And when you both finish, I need you to put your heads together, because I need you two to deal with the observation team. Answer

their questions, explain the procedure as I’m doing it. I’m going to need to concentrate on the procedure itself, especially the little surprise we were planning. I’ve got total faith that you can pull this off.”

They both nodded, but their nervousness was palpable. I expected to see the tension in Alma’s shoulders – it was in her nature – but Ken’s furrowed brow and slight clench of his fingers told me he was only barely more relaxed than she was. That was okay, because I wasn’t lying when I professed my faith in their abilities.

“You did already run that by our patient, right?” Ken asked. “Because if it does go wrong –”

“I have, and it won’t. We all know this is going to work. Our science is sound, the build is near-perfect, and there are layers and layers of safety measures. Now, unless there are any more questions, the clock is ticking.”

Surprisingly, it was Alma who answered. “Don’t worry, Irene. You can count on us.”

It was a flash of positivity in a sea of stress, and it made me grin. “Let’s do it then.” I nodded toward my office door in the far end of the lab. “I’ll be in my office arranging things with our patient if something comes up, and when I have him coming in, I’ll let you know and pitch in where I can.”

I’d managed enough of a pep talk to get everyone moving. Not that I’d measure up to a Captain America speech, but it would do, as they had almost as much passion for this project as I did. I just needed to push them past their nerves. Of course, I’d also have to keep pushing past mine.

At least I didn’t have to bring up Eric at all. While my project wasn’t bound by as many layers of non-disclosure agreements and security as his was, being tied up in the nuclear physics department for the DoE, we were all professionals who didn’t go about telling our friends, even our close ones, about the specifics of the research. With any luck, we could push through

and get this done before Eric pinged me about lunch, as he usually did. I was already going to have to break the news that I wouldn’t be able to join him in visiting his parents’ graves this afternoon, best if there wasn’t something else hanging over the meal.

As I settled down in my office chair, I pushed that aside to look through our patient’s file as I rang him up.

Alex Zheng, twenty-two, Chinese descent, chemical engineering major. While in overall good health, Alex suffered from Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Essentially, Alex had an extra electrical pathway to his heart, leading to episodes of tachycardia – extremely rapid heartbeats to the layman. In terms of cardiac diseases, WPW was relatively minor and had a few clinical solutions, but Alex’s recent diagnosis made him a perfect subject for this big test of the neural stimulator.

I almost gave up hope when Alex hadn’t picked up by the time I finished my quick review, but one more ring delivered relief. The phone picked up, and Alex answered.

“Hey, Doctor Roman. Sorry, my lecture just ended. What’s up?”

“Alex, I’m glad I got a hold of you.” I did my best to sound professional and not relieved. “We have a unique opportunity today. The Dean of Sciences just greenlit your procedure with us this morning and, more so, he wants us to proceed as soon as possible. Today, before lunch would best.”

“Wow,” he gasped, “I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it. But the real question is how soon you can come down to my lab.” Not one to dabble in superstitions, I resisted the urge to cross my fingers, especially as a brief moment of silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity. It was a tremendous relief when Alex finally answered.

“Sorry, I had to send off a text to my study group. Had to cancel because this is way more important. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

My relief increased tenfold, but I kept my professional tone. “Excellent

We’re busy setting up, so if no one answers a knock, text me.”

“Understood. Thank you so much for this.”

“It’s our pleasure, Alex. See you soon.”

As I hung up, I leaned back in my chair and rubbed the bridge of my nose. One problem solved, at least a half-dozen to go. Taking a deep breath, I tried to clear my head and move to the next thing. With Alma and Ken taking care of most of the prep work, I reviewed what we planned for Alex’s treatment. Our theory was sound, and every smaller test had supported them, but this was the big step, the first human trial, and under the scrutiny of Reggie and his team.

I was confident, but I wasn’t stupid. The stakes were too high not to make sure everything would go right when I did the procedure, for Alex, my team, and my life’s work.

Fortunately, the string of luck involving our patient held up. Alex arrived within thirty minutes, and I ushered him right across the lab to my office. He’d been here several times in the past weeks as we did preliminary testing and prep work for this. Today, he seemed to have that perfect combination of anxiety, expectation, and excitement as I went through the necessary paperwork and releases for the procedure. As we got to the big part, his signatures, I paused him for a moment.

“As much as I’m confident in this, I’d be remiss in my role as a scientist if I didn’t ask you – are you absolutely certain you understand the risks involved? There’s a small chance this could not only fail to treat your WPW but make it worse. Then there’s the even smaller chance for other kinds of neurological damage. Even death.”

He smiled despite his nervousness. “I understand, Doctor Roman, but I trust you and your team on this.” To punctuate his statement, he signed the forms and releases one after another until the small stack of paperwork was done.

“Thank you for the trust. We won’t let you down.” I stood and headed out

of the office into the main lab. “Come on, let’s get you into the examination room so we can take your vitals and make sure you’re all ready to go.”

Alex nodded and followed me. Ken looked to have finished printing out the data packets for Reggie’s team, because he was gone, most likely to the examination room. Perfect for my purposes. Alex and I went through the main lab, through the double doors to find Ken and Alma together, going over notes and discussing their end of the presentation.

“Here’s the man of the hour,” I announced as I presented Alex to the rest of my team.

“Nice to see you again, Alex,” Ken said. “Thanks for coming in on such short notice. It means a lot to our project’s success.”

“You’re in good hands with Irene,” Alma chipped in as she waved.

“You’re in good hands with all of us,” I corrected. “Now, if you two can explain the specifics of today’s procedure to Alex, I’m going to contact Dean Tyson and let him know we’re about ready.” I arched an eyebrow. “You two are about ready, right? You look ready.”

Ken grinned and flashed me a thumbs-up. “We are ready.” Alma’s supporting nod was less confident, but that was okay. I had enough confidence in both of them to cover.

I left them to prep Alex as I stepped out to call Reggie. The fact that my heart was thudding hard in my chest surprised me, but I swallowed down the anxiety and got this show on the road. ...