The next morning, at nine o'clock, the golden rays of the sun began spreading from the eastern horizon.
Bardi could only pray that it wasn't a cloudy day. Nothing would devastate him more than losing this chance. No one in the entire underground base longed for sunlight as desperately as he did. For Bardi, sunlight was more than warmth and light, it was life itself. It was the source of power for all Kryptonians.
He had spent the entire night wide awake. After Jenny had left the room, he had closed his eyes, feigning rest, though his mind refused to quiet.
Jenny had been running her experiment in the lab all night, exposing his cells to infrared light combined with the gene serum catalyst she'd created. Bardi didn't know what results she might have achieved, but one thing was certain: it couldn't be good.
Even the slightest unexpected reaction could unravel everything.
For hours, he lay still, forcing himself to practice the Kryptonian meditation techniques to calm his racing mind and suppress the storm of anxiety brewing within him.
The sterile white room was illuminated by the harsh light of an overhead incandescent bulb. Bardi opened his eyes, letting warmth radiate through his gaze, a practiced warmth that reflected the happiness of a man about to marry the woman he loved most in the world.
Moments later, the door opened, and Jenny entered, her face glowing with joy. She couldn't contain her excitement. Her radiant demeanor made her look even more stunning.
Today, she wore a bright red, form-fitting dress that accentuated her curvaceous figure. Her blonde hair flowing all the way to her slender waist and graceful silhouette were dazzling, and her confident, sensual elegance exuded a charm that could captivate any man.
This striking transformation from her usual cool, professional attire left Bardi momentarily breathless.
His obvious reaction brought a delighted smile to Jenny's face. She walked behind him, her fragrant presence intoxicating, and began guiding his wheelchair forward.
As they moved, Bardi spoke words of admiration, complimenting her beauty in a way that was both sincere and calculated. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with affection and lighthearted warmth.
"I'll stop by the lab first to check on the results from the infrared irradiation experiment," Jenny said, pushing the wheelchair with practiced ease. Her concern for Bardi's condition was ever-present, and she was eager to see if her work had yielded any progress in reversing his paralysis.
Bardi's heart clenched at her words. He couldn't allow her to see the results, not yet. Maintaining his composure, he gently stopped her.
"Jenny," he said softly, "today is about us. Let the lab wait—it's not as important as this."
Jenny hesitated briefly but quickly relented, touched by the sentiment. She glanced at her dress, remembering the significance of the day Bardi had planned for them. It wasn't the time for scientific pursuits, it was their moment.
"Alright," she agreed with a smile. "I'll ask Bori to check later."
Her words made Bardi's heart sink further. If Bori examined the results, the situation could spiral out of control even faster. But he said nothing, knowing he needed Jenny's help to leave the lower levels of the base.
As they exited the white room and began down the corridor, Bardi's sharp gaze caught sight of Bori approaching.
The old man's eyes immediately flicked to Jenny, and he couldn't help but notice her unusual attire. He then turned his gaze to Bardi, an amused, knowing expression crossing his face.
Jenny spoke first, her tone direct and unapologetic as always. "Bori, I've been running an experiment irradiating Bardi's cells with infrared light combined with the gene serum catalyst. There might be some changes, I need you to take a look later."
Even as she spoke to her superior, Jenny's tone carried a matter-of-fact authority. It was as if she were issuing instructions rather than making a request.
Bori didn't take offense. He was accustomed to Jenny's blunt manner and admired her dedication to her research.
"Of course," he replied easily. His curious eyes drifted back to her dress, his amusement deepening. "And where are you two headed?"
Jenny glanced at Bardi with a sweet smile before answering. "I'm taking Bardi to get some sunlight."
Bori froze for a moment, surprised. The only place in the base where sunlight could reach was through the high-strength composite glass on the second level—a restricted area.
For security reasons, Bardi's movements were deliberately confined to the lower fourth floor. Even when he was escorted to the third floor for research, Slade had remained vigilant, ensuring he was never unsupervised.
Letting him go above the second floor, even accompanied, would be highly unusual.
Bori's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered the situation. But then, his gaze returned to Bardi, slouched in his wheelchair, paralyzed and entirely dependent.
He glanced at Jenny again, who radiated nothing but joy and excitement, and his suspicions eased. The ground above the first floor was a heavily secured military base, swarming with armed soldiers. Even if Bardi somehow posed a threat, there was no chance of him escaping.
Before Bori could voice his concerns, Bardi spoke with a casual, disarming smile.
"Bori," he said lightly, "about what you promised me yesterday…"
His tone was playful, harmless, as though he were merely reminding Bori of a small favor.
The old dean blinked, caught off guard, before realizing what Bardi meant. His expression softened, and he reached into the pocket of his white lab coat, pulling out a small red box. He placed it gently on Bardi's lap.
"I didn't forget," Bori said with a chuckle. "Here it is."
The red box held the ring, a symbol of the promise Bardi had manipulated him into fulfilling.
Bori's earlier hesitation melted away. After all, the underground base was impenetrable, and Bardi was confined to his wheelchair. Fulfilling such a harmless request posed no risk.
Bori smiled. "Congratulations, Mr. Bardi. I wish you the best."
"Thank you," Bardi replied sincerely, his gratitude carrying a depth that only he truly understood.
Jenny, meanwhile, was overcome with emotion. Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at the red box. She looked at Bardi with such love and devotion that it seemed her heart might burst.
Bori nodded politely and turned to leave, heading toward Jenny's lab to examine the cells irradiated with infrared light. Bardi felt a pang of urgency, but he forced himself to remain composed.
The time for worry would come later. For now, his focus was on the moment at hand.
As Jenny pushed the wheelchair toward the elevator, her joy was palpable. Bardi could see it in her every movement, feel it in the way she handled him with care.
The elevator ride was smooth, the soldiers stationed at the checkpoints offering only routine questions before allowing them to pass. Jenny's credentials as a senior researcher granted her access to the upper levels, and they saw no reason to deny her.
As the elevator ascended, Bardi's thoughts were focused on the sunlight awaiting him. But as the doors opened, his heart sank.
Standing in front of them was Slade, his imposing figure blocking the exit.
Slade's sharp eyes swept over Jenny's vibrant dress before settling on Bardi. His expression was as unreadable as ever, his tone cold and direct.
"Where are you going?"