In the fortified basement, Lia completed her work with precision—saving data and hacking through systems as if dancing on a blade's edge. The blue glow of the monitors reflected off her glasses, a thin sheen of sweat forming on her brow.
Once done, she joined Kyle and the soldiers, and they evacuated the facility under the pulsing red alarm.
---
Corvassion Camp
The team returned to the main camp—an immense military installation perched atop a crystalline cliff. Guard towers and electric fences surrounded it, bathed in cold lights that gave it an icy air of discipline and dread.
On the top floor lay Commander Moathan's office—a dimly lit room saturated with the scent of old paper and military fuel. Digital maps covered the walls, displaying mission details, locations, and casualty reports. One wall featured his achievements, thousands of them, documented with strangely old dates.
Chloe sat in the middle of the room on a metal chair.
Chloe (with a faint smile):
"There are… some issues, Commander."
Moathan (from behind his electronic files, coldly):
"Did the new brat die? Is that why you're smiling?"
Chloe (sitting up straight, expression hardening):
"Some new recruits died. And Brian… is furious. I think that fool caused it."
Moathan:
"Their deaths prove they were worthless. What about the girl? I've heard much about her… promising, it seems."
Chloe (hesitantly):
"So that's why you sent File and 09? Thought she was a failure, so you sent her into the lion's den?"
Moathan (standing, walking to the window):
"She chose that. Ever since she was banned from working on the 'injection' and 'blue salt' projects."
Chloe:
"Why was she banned? As far as I know, there's no discrimination among scientists. They all seek a cure."
Moathan:
"Her mind is fragile. If she learned the truth about the blue salt's origin, she might break."
Chloe (curiously):
"And yet you're sending Kyle with us? Do you believe he's the key?"
Moathan (dark chuckle):
"She joined the army. That means she has willpower. She's only nineteen—we'll use her before she dies."
Chloe:
"Are you thinking of giving her the antidote?"
Moathan (cryptically):
"Anything is possible… But the blue-eyed ones will give us only one dose, and in return, they'll demand the impossible."
(A knock on the door)
Moathan:
"Enter."
Soldier:
"Brian is waiting, sir."
Moathan:
"Let him in."
Brian entered confidently, his face hard and defiant.
Brian:
"Commander."
Moathan (sharply):
"I heard you failed your mission."
Brian (calmly):
"I completed it fully."
Moathan (bursting into laughter):
"Three recruits dead on a simple mission! Without 09, we'd have lost a top scientist!"
Brian:
"That's your failure, not mine. You forced that brat on us. I didn't want him. You did. The result? Chaos."
Moathan:
"Blaming me for your own failure? I trusted you! Turn trash into gold, don't complain!"
Brian (smiling faintly):
"If that's how you see it… so be it. What's my punishment?"
Moathan (laughing suddenly):
"I just wanted to see your reaction… You're still boring. You never change."
(Places a hand on Brian's shoulder)
Moathan:
"Tell me, do you think Kyle deserves to live… or should we dispose of him?"
Brian (calmly):
"Do you want a logical answer or an emotional one?"
Moathan:
"Do you even have emotions?"
Brian:
"If I were you, I'd keep him. His potential is still unclear, but he's unusually strong."
Moathan:
"Can he beat 09?"
Brian:
"I don't know. But it's hard to imagine 09 losing easily."
Moathan:
"What punishment do you think is fitting?"
Brian (laughing):
"Public punishment… could be fun."
Moathan:
"I heard you were angry. That's rare."
Brian:
"I was in a bad mood. Just wanted to act out of character… But did you know I got threatened?"
Moathan (surprised):
"By Kyle? He threatens everyone."
Brian:
"No… by his sister. She dug up stuff on me even I had forgotten."
Moathan (laughs):
"Smart, but naïve. Don't touch her, just keep an eye."
Brian:
"I don't care… I have precautions."
Moathan (gesturing):
"Send in Lia first… Kyle can come a few minutes later."
Brian salutes and leaves. Lia enters moments later, her pink hair messy, visibly nervous.
Moathan (mocking):
"Collecting dirt on me? The messages haven't stopped. Think your friends outrank my authority?"
Lia looks around at the wall of achievements, thinking to herself:
"These dates… don't make sense. Were you alive with the dinosaurs?"
Noticing her drifting thoughts, Moathan taps her forehead.
Moathan:
"Snap out of it. This isn't the time to space out."
Moathan:
"Was there any use to that mission?"
Lia:
"Answer your calls first."
Moathan:
"I know they're from your side. That's why I ignore them. My decisions are final."
Lia (teary-eyed):
"Just listen to him. Maybe he'll change your mind."
(He grabs the phone and calls)
A hologram of a young scientist—thick hair, oversized glasses, barely 17—appears.
Moathan:
"What do you want?"
David (the scientist):
"Please be lenient this time. If you want to see research progress… she's emotional, but her talent is priceless."
Moathan:
"You're using her to steal ideas, aren't you?"
David (laughing):
"It's mutual. I risk my head for her."
Moathan:
"You praise her too much… Aren't you afraid of losing your place or the antidote?"
David:
"I have blind confidence. I'm the best."
Moathan:
"I wasn't going to kill him anyway. Just a light punishment to maintain Brian's image."
David:
"Glad to hear it. Thanks."
(The hologram fades)
Lia jumps with joy.
Moathan:
"Why do you assume the worst of me?"
Lia:
"Based on the intel… you don't usually show mercy."
Then suddenly, she asks:
Lia:
"Do you have the antidote? When was it made?"
Moathan (angrily):
"It was created by people worthy of being called 'scientists'… Not like you lot. We humiliate ourselves just to treat one or two people—at nearly impossible cost."
Lia:
"Did the continent of Bluva make it? If we get our hands on it, we could replicate it."
Moathan:
"As if they'd give it to us! Change the subject—I won't ruin my mood."
Moathan:
"Send everything you found with the smugglers to the intel office. Anything new?"
Lia:
"Just failed experiments and some smuggling tunnels."
(Kyle knocks, then opens the door without permission)
The atmosphere shifts. Moathan's aura grows heavy, his voice and tone changing, eyes glowing—as if he became someone else.
Moathan (shouting):
"Leave, Lia!"
Lia stumbles out, heart pounding, realizing a single wrong move could mean disaster.