New Beginnings

Power Struggle — Epilogue Part 2

Victoria is brought deeper into Air Power Corporation’s hidden world, where familiar faces, ambitious ideals, and unsettling truths begin reshaping her future. As she struggles to process everything she has lost, the promise of belonging comes with a cost she is not ready to accept.

New to the story? Start building the suspense from Chapter 1 here!

Created by Jason Tabrett on 3rd of June, 2025 | Openart.ai

The underwater passage is tightly sealed with a series of watertight doors, mostly leading straight ahead, with side doors also present in each new section. Kage stays focused on his mission down the main tunnel, Victoria following not far behind, unable to gather much from her surroundings about where they are. It all looks old and metallic.

Kage manually types in the code for the fourth door and it opens into a large command centre. People stand at black and green screens as men and women move urgently across the command centre, focused entirely on the task at hand.

Kage is no exception. He turns to speak to Victoria.

“This former naval base is where Air Power Corporation runs their operations. They have a different registered office, but there is more privacy down here for their research.

Stay here. I need to provide my report on everything that happened tonight, then I’ll come back and fill you in too.”

Without waiting for a reply, he powers off into the room, disappearing down a corridor on the right.

Victoria doesn’t know what to do with herself while she awaits Kage’s return. It feels awkward to stand in an unfamiliar place full of strangers without catching their attention and needing to explain herself. What would she say?

But as she watches people hurry around the room, none of them appear interested in her at all. She will definitely be watched closely through security cameras, but she’s an ignored nobody here, unlike the ridiculed one above ground.

She is surprised by how isolated that makes her feel. Being victimised gave her the right to argue and complain. It was a form of company. Where she is, no one even cares about her enough to challenge her.

A senior operator points at green text on one of the middle screens before rushing to a larger screen on the right, attracting a crowd of operators behind him. He picks up an antique communication device, places it against his face and screams orders into it. He slams it down, then rushes to another screen on the left, drawing the pack back that way.

Victoria doesn’t know how productive the setup is, but something urgent must be happening tonight for everyone to be on such high alert. From what she can gather, the naval base branches off from the atrium into different wings in every direction. Unfortunately, the signs are probably centuries old, and she’s pretty sure the submarine docking stations are a thing of the past. There could be anything down here now.

She tries to interpret what some of the scurrying people are doing. They’re holding tablets or pieces of equipment which don’t give enough away, but she does notice a familiar face. Is that Mr Klein?

His movements are as driven as the rest of the underwater population, except they remain calm, clashing with the surrounding calamity. He walks with more purpose than Victoria has ever seen before. He as acts part of a higher purpose.

Mr Klein looks up from the equipment he carries and catches her analysing him. He is the first person to show her any recognition. A small smile outlines his face as he changes direction to make his way to her, greeting her with enthusiasm.

“Welcome to the team! I was hoping my brightest student would uncover United World’s corruption through her investigations. I’m sorry to have missed your findings.”

Victoria is glad to have found someone she knows. She forces an uncomfortable smile in return and takes the opportunity to seek more clarity.

“What is this place? I mean, apart from a former naval base. And I’m sorry you missed my presentation too. What happened to you?”

His expression turns serious, understanding the difficulty of her change in circumstances from her tone. He tries to make her feel safer, brushing over his sudden absence to focus on the positives.

“Oh, nothing serious. I just had some fundamental disagreements with the faculty and, with the end of the year approaching, took the position Bill had held open for me at Air Power Corporation.

The microeconomics of resource allocation is useless without real-life examples to apply it to. It’s wonderful getting the chance to collaborate with a wide range of intellectuals who share the same goals and values.”

“Like what?” Victoria asks.

Mr Klein launches into an explanation of their cause.

“Ethical power distributions within society are a strong starting point. Sustainable growth of our available power, without harming the world we live in, is another. That’s why we focus on turning elemental movements into power, particularly from wind and water. There are no waste by-products if we repurpose expired parts. However, if we can get the resources to produce economies of scale and invest in larger projects, we have ambitious plans that could save the world, regardless of whether the population continues to increase or not.”

Victoria can’t help but feel intrigued to know more. Her questioning nature wants the blanks filled immediately.

“What are the plans? It seems like we’ll be working together. You can trust me.”

He gives a little laugh. “Always so eager for knowledge. Keep up that thirst and you’ll be a young sensation in no time!”

Her face drops, wishing she could receive all the answers she wanted the moment she wanted them. She understands that a longer explanation may be required, but that doesn’t mean she has to like being patient. She’ll just have to spend more time around him to find out. He was cute before, but this refound confidence does wonders for him.

He continues with light-hearted guidance.

“Speaking of thirst, the kitchens are over there if you need a drink or something to eat.” He points straight ahead.

“The dormitories where you’ll be sleeping are that way.” He points to the right. “But I imagine you’ll be shown around soon.”

A thought comes to his mind and he adds as an afterthought, “Be careful that you know where you’re going if you head that way, though.” This time he points to the left. “There are many different levels of classification, and you don’t want to follow someone into an area without the proper clearance. Although working your way up to the higher clearance levels is part of the fun!

I have to get back to what I was working on, but I’m very glad that you’re here and hope to see a lot more of you. See you later.”

Victoria echoes, “See you,” and Mr Klein marches off, his focus returning to the metal pieces he was holding.

She’s waiting again, just as awkwardly as before her conversation, although slightly more clued in. She likely has the job she was going to apply for. She’ll earn the money she’s always wanted to, but will have no place to spend it.

Maybe not everyone has to live on-site, but she’s on the run from the law. She’ll certainly have to. With her father and sister gone, she only needs money for Ernie anyway. How would she get it to him? Maybe Kage knows a way. She will have to rely on him.

Victoria continues to wonder about her new life, one she likely would have chosen, but never got the chance to pick for herself.

She has always only had herself to depend on, and now she has to depend on others to survive.

She realises how much she hates being in this position.

She’s safe, but has lost the only freedom she had left.

The freedom to choose how to live her life.

Continue reading the epilogue next week in New Beginnings — Part 3!

Inspiration for Comments:

• Have you ever felt as helplessly dependent as Victoria?
• What in Air Power Corporation doing in secret?
• Did you like Mr Klein’s happy ending?

If you are thinking of the answer to these and more questions, please share your thoughts in the comments!

🔶 Read our newsletter 🔶 Follow Serial Stories🔶 Share your story 🔶