"Say cheese, in 3… 2… 1…"
Everyone said, "Cheese!" The snapshot was taken after the first squad mission. The terrorists were handcuffed, and the target was safe and secured a thousand miles away. Everyone raised their glasses of red wine, celebrating victory against the terrorist attack in Siberia on the day of the minister's daughter's wedding. Snowflakes fell softly in the cold winter air as they boarded the helicopter.
The sun fades over the sky, as the beautiful open wedding decor fills a delicate sense of luxurious joy. The servers, bartender, and even the crew were mere props, packing to evacuate after the successful operation.
While the other copter prepared for takeoff, the squad waited, finally relieved and ready to rest peacefully for a week, as protocol allowed. Orion was stunned to see Suki's true face. She had been disguised as a bride all along. For the photo, however, she revealed her real self: hazelnut eyes, obsidian-toned hair streaked with purple—a side effect of her experiments.
Alina, mesmerized by her true look—which was rare during that time—teased, "Well, I thought I was the only pretty one here, but… turns out this squad is full of surprises." Orion smirked back, "You're busy with Ivan, but at least let me have my share."
Alina raised an eyebrow. "Hold up. You really think you stand a chance against him?" Orion said, "Who else has a…" as he glanced at Levi, Brooks, and Suki talking with Brooks laughing while sipping his drink. "Brooks is way too old for these games."
Baffled Alina said, "The f**k—I meant Levi, idiot!". He replied, "Oh. I thought Levi wasn't the type to hit on women." Alina said, sipping her wine, "They've been close since before the whole Axolotl shit, so yeah… you're kinda right."
"D**n, this guy is good at everything. F**k. Well, still—I'm not a quitter." Unfazed by his competition, Orion watched as Alina was ready to strike back. "Really? Your contacts say otherwise." Orion confused, "The f**k do you mean by my contacts? Wait a minute…"
"It's protocol to monitor your actions. Turns out yours are so messy that, if it weren't for your powers, you'd already be dead—either assassinated, or from an STD." Orion complained, taking a cupcake from the pantry, "I'm filing a complaint to the Scouter."
"He's the one who ordered it. And by all things considered—you're an a**hole. So don't try anything with Suki. She's been through s**t that's nightmare fuel for any woman."
Alina walked away, trying to prove a point to Orion, as his expression softened, filled with guilt but riddled with emotion and curiosity. "Got friend-zoned, I guess. Hey, Alina. What happened… Tell me?"
As Orion approached, chaos struck. Soldiers ran up as one shouted to Levi, "Sir! The first copter crashed five hundred miles ahead. Terrorists must've sabotaged it. We need immediate rescue!"
Glasses were set down as the squad rushed into jeeps and toward the choppers. Levi led Brooks and Orion to the crash site.
When they arrived, the helicopter was in flames. Two people were trapped inside, bodies burned, teetering on the edge of insanity and pain. Even with some of the strongest superhumans mankind had ever created, not everyone could be saved.
The photo they'd taken was recovered from a charred container—a reminder that behind happiness always lay sacrifice. As the others arrived, Alina stayed with Suki. She radioed Ivan:
"Did anyone survive?" The static crackled as he continued.
"We're still searching… maybe some fell by parachute. The climate makes it worse. I'll update later." She said, "Roger." Suki muttered, "It's freezing out here. Let's head inside."
"Yeah. By the way… you want some cheesecake they brought?" She replied, "I'm not in the mood." Alina carried the glass-covered cheesecake inside, excited to feast. She noticed Suki's face—her trying to stare at the wall. People cope in different ways. There is never a systematic way to cope, Alina thought, as she revolved the idea while having a slice.
Despite all their training to suppress emotions, Suki still felt sorrowful and mourned the victims. That touched Alina. Unlike Suki, she had lost her own empathy long ago—since the day of her brother's death.
The memories haunted her: the car accident, his disfigured body covered in needle marks, the hospital, Rose crying, their mother drowning in regret, their uncle arguing with officers. Alina had been asked to identify his body, since he carried no ID. Her father, too busy with work, never made it in time to see his son alive. That day, Alina's emotions died. Only confusion, questions, and the endless cycle of "why, how, what if…" remained.
Why do we die? What if we don't? If we survive longer, what purpose do we serve—just to guard others in this twisted world where evil always returns?
Even if we succeed, the cycle repeats. The right people were given the power, but what if it fell into the wrong hands? A purgatory of constant corruption and struggle of power.
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Alina woke up in her bed. Papers and books covered the cupboard. Candles and plants gave her room a cozy warmth. Her phone vibrated—caller ID: Rusty Pie is calling…
She answered, throwing on her robe as she went downstairs. Opening the door, she saw a tall, blond, broad-shouldered Russian man holding a parcel labeled Doniko Fries.
In a deep voice, he smiled. "Morning, sunshine! Got you fries." Alina, still dazed, said, "Oh, you didn't have to…" (they kissed as he stepped inside and closed the door).
"So, you just woke up?" he said. Alina replied, "Yes, and let me freshen up. AND DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY CHICKEN!" Ivan grabbed French fries. "Yes, ma'am. Your wish is my command." Alina's subtle smile and twitching eyes of suspicion said, "Good boy."
She went to freshen up while he cheekily stole a few fries and checked his phone. Breaking news scrolled across the screen:
Syveron stocks have tripled, creating GDP fluctuations worldwide. Their biomedical technologies are breaking records with new supply chains.
"Syveron stands strong, as always. I just hope the boys survive the mission." Alina came back downstairs, wearing a loose teddy bear t-shirt and comfy pants. Brewing two coffees, she handed him one.
They exchanged morning greetings again. She said to him about the mission, "Nothing yet. The connection cut when they went under the ocean. And the monster this time is literally f**ked." He said, "Scouter said that they're starting to delete records, which is frustrating indeed."
"Well… It doesn't matter, Ivan. Let's just focus on the fries as usual," she said, handing him the coffee. He replied, "Thanks. So… what's the plan? Binge and chill, or gaming?" He took a sip. Alina excitedly switched on the TV. "Well, kind of both. I got this new movie called Epidemic Apocalypse."
"Another horror?" Ivan's boredom continued as he accepted his fate. Alina replies, "Yeah. Maybe it'll help us understand the situation out there."
"I thought there would be monsters and stuff—not the typical zombies?" Alina sat with him, taking the nuggets and saying, "Or maybe both."
"Well… I don't know. But it might be worse than that…"
"As you said, have faith. Our team is gonna die without a fight." Ivan keeps his cup, his arm around her shoulder.
"Oh, yeah, of course. Better than you. Hey! Did you steal my fries?"
"Oh, the show's starting…" Alina said, pissed as he took his fries. "You b*****d!".
They laughed on the couch, sipping coffee, as the scene transitioned from the soldiers walking in the infected streets to the SGI submerged site, where the survivors were struggling to escape and find a place to rest.
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Survivors moved in groups, scanning the area and avoiding unwanted monsters. They passed through Floors 19 to 21 with relative ease since no anomalies were detected nearby. Altman and Johnson discussed their options for getting out, while the scientists and workers grew restless—disturbed by the sight of countless dead bodies floating in the flooded corridors.
To restore some order, Johnson called for a meeting. Two scientists whispered between themselves, debating whether the situation was even survivable.
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| 00-00-0000 | 00:00
Temp: 28°C | Status: NULL
Location: Floor 21, Site - Compromised
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They eventually reached the [K2] Subject Monitoring Bay as displayed on the screen—a vast facility once used to observe and study long-term experiments. Racks of documents lined the walls, monitors flickered, and the control panels still functioned, eerily operational despite the chaos. The survivors paused here, taking a short break from their exodus.
Johnson stepped forward, addressing the group: "Citizens, I know many of you have been trained for emergencies like this, but I urge you to stay cautious. Cooperating and sticking together is the best way we can survive this outbreak."
Almost immediately, questions arose: "Are we stuck here, or is there a way out?"
"How do we counter the anomaly if we have no weapons?" another asked. "Any idea how we're supposed to use the toilet in a submerged lab?" So another interrupted, "We can't even eat anything here! Is there any dry area left?" And another asked, "What about the rescue operatives? Are you certain they'll come for us?"
Altman turned his back, trying to hide his composure—especially regarding the operatives' likely defeat. Johnson, watching the quarrelling scientists, studied their fears and weighed the harsh reality of their situation.
"I understand your concerns. I cannot promise that we all will survive this, but I can assure you that if we follow procedure and stick together, our chances of making it through this nightmare are possible. With mutual support, we can pull this off."
Altman continued, explaining the plan. "We'll head to the nearest armory zone—Floor 26, the Telemetry Observation Deck. That's where the weapons and survival equipment are stored. We can use them, along with camp kits, to create a dry space."
Johnson concluded the meeting: "That's it, people. Take or craft whatever you can from this site and prepare yourselves. The only major challenge will be reaching the M-R Floor." A scientist interrupted with a question: "Are the trains still functional?"
Altman responded, "Yes, they are—but they've been warped by the anomaly. We'll need to proceed with extreme caution." Johnson continued,
"Alright then. Let's get moving. In thirty minutes sharp, we begin our expedition. Stay safe, and report anything you find that might help us better understand the situation."
As the meeting ended, Tim whispered to her, "It feels like going back to military school." She replied, "Yeah… at least this time, they're being honest."
Meanwhile, Ryan studied a large map displayed on the wall near the staircase. "So, what's the plan again?" Zoey said worriedly. "Where were you?"
Ryan and Zoey were talking while the other scientists explored the area. He continued, "Busy relieving myself." Zoey, not convinced, said, "How?!" Ryan nonchalantly said, "Ahh, with a bottle. Couldn't hold it in with all this d**n water around—so I improvised, like always."
Zoey said disgustedly, "Oh God… we have to get out of here!" "Yeah, yeah, sure. Anyway, I found this. Just…" Ryan took out the gun and gave it to her, saying, "Keep it hidden." Zoey took the gun with a magazine of twelve bullets. "I got it from the safety locker. Managed to sneak it past the others." Zoey, a bit skeptical, said, "Why keep it hidden?"
Ryan's facial changes as he explains, "Listen, Zoey—this situation is worse than any of those weird drills we had. No one here can be fully trusted. Everyone's got their own ego and survival instincts. I'm not saying don't help them, but when it comes down to making a choice—you're the only one I trust."
"Okay… but what about you?" Zoey replied. He replied with a smirk, close to her ear, "Oh, I've got my own." Zoey annoyed, said, "The f**k, then why lecture me, a**hole?" "Because I want you to take it seriously," Ryan said to comfort her.
"Hmph. Honestly, you're never serious about anything, are you?" she said. "Bruh, whatever. Just… be safe," Ryan said, giving her a light punch on the shoulder as he left.
Mike wandered over, asking, "So what was that? Another sibling fight?" Zoey answered casually, "Nah, nothing. Just random stuff." He said, "Oh, well then. Let's see if we can scavenge something. Got about twenty minutes. Wanna come?" "Sure," she said.
As they left, Ryan glanced at them with a faint smile, then turned back to search the area himself. While scavenging, he ran into Tim and his girlfriend. "Yo, Tim, how's it going? Holding up alright?" He replied, "Surprising, huh? A three-time Charmer like me, staying this chill." They shook hands as Tim's girlfriend waited nearby.
Tim, hands in his pockets, continued, "We're managing. We were trained for such situations after all. But… while scavenging, I noticed the safety locker was already broken into."
"Oh, maybe it got busted during the outbreak," Ryan replied, knowing full well what he meant. "Yeah… but somehow you have what was inside." Tim's eyes flicked to Ryan's pocket. He shifted uncomfortably, looking elsewhere.
Tim said this with a casual smile. "Well, man, gotta provide and protect, don't we?" Ryan replied, "Of course. Same here. And as long as it stays safe with us, it's fine. Just…" Tim leaned close to Ryan's ear, voice low and sharp. "Don't do anything foolish. We're here to help, not cause trouble."
"Sure," Ryan muttered. Tim's expression softened back into calm composure. "Good. Talk later. Stay safe." "You too." Ryan walked back toward Zoey as the others gathered around.
A scientist called out to the military team, waving them over. She had uncovered data footage recorded just before the incident. Spike alerted Johnson, who arrived with Altman, and they were immediately briefed. The scientist said seriously, "I was hovering over the clips and found recent footage recorded during the incident."
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20-12-20XX | 10:43 PM | SGI, Cybernetics R&D
In a glossy meeting room, researchers were reviewing slides, discussing data, and scribbling notes on boards. Everything seemed normal as the scientist fast-forwarded through the video. Suddenly, a siren blared, and the researchers froze in panic. The footage showed a figure carrying a large cartridge. His face was hidden, but his calm demeanor stood out.
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One of the scientists whispered, recognizing him, "Is that… The Commander?" Altman replied, "Yes. That's him, The SGI Medicus Commander—Dr. Daniel Foster. And he's also the prime suspect for shutting down the AI—exactly when the outbreak began."
Another female scientist spoke up, "So we've got the imposter? Whoa… the Commander of all people?" Altman frowned. "Maybe. But it's still not confirmed. And there could be more than one involved in this operation. We need to remain cautious."
The female scientist, her badge reading Marlien, pressed further. "And why should we trust you with all this? You could be one of them. How do we know for sure that you're not?" Altman answered firmly, "If I were one of them, I wouldn't have helped you. Nor would I waste my resources rescuing you." Beep…
Johnson glanced at his watch as it went off. "Alright then, I hope you all got your answers. Time's up, people—we're proceeding with the expedition. Stay sharp, and good luck."
As the group began to move, Tim muttered under his breath, "What have we gotten ourselves into…"
The scientists gathered—including Tim and his friends—with one shared goal: survive, and reach Floor 26, the Telemetry Observation Deck.
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