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✱ CHAPTER 17 : COMPROMISE
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"Say cheese, in 3… 2… 1…" "Cheese!"
The snapshot was taken after the first squad mission. 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.
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 the minister's daughter 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 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?"
"Who else has a…" He glanced at Levi, Brooks, and Suki talking, Brooks laughing while sipping his drink.
Orion said, "Brooks is way too old for these games." She disgusted, replied, "The fuck—I meant Levi, idiot!"
"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 incident, so yeah… you're kinda right."
"Damn, this guy is good at everything. Fuck. Well, still—I'm not a quitter." Alina replied, "Really? Your contacts say otherwise."
"The fuck do you mean my contacts? Wait a minute…" She replied, "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."
"I'm filing a complaint to the Scouter." She said, "He's the one who ordered it. And by all things considered—you're an asshole. So don't try anything with Suki. She's been through shit that's nightmare fuel for any woman."
Orion's expression softened. "Was it that bad? What happened… Tell me."
Before Alina could answer, 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 earlier 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?" (static crackled)
"We're still searching… maybe some fell by parachute. The climate makes it worse. I'll update later." "Roger."
Suki muttered, "It's freezing out here. Let's head inside."
I asked, "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. She noticed Suki's face—filled with sorrow. Despite all their training to suppress emotions, Suki still mourned the victims. That touched Alina. She had lost her own empathy long ago—since the day of her brother's death.
The memory 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 protect others in a world where evil always returns? Even if we succeed, the cycle repeats. The right people had been given power, but what if one day it fell into the wrong hands? What if… (eyes open)
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."
"Oh, you didn't have to…" They kissed as he entered and closed the door. "So, you just woke up?"
"Yes, and let me freshen up. AND DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH MY CHICKEN!"
"Yes ma'am. Your wish is my command." She chuckled, "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. But no one knows what happens inside. 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.
"Morning."
"Morning. Any news from the mission?"
"Nothing yet. The connection cut off when they went under the ocean."
"Any information about the monster?"
"Nope. They're trying to erase all records of it instead. Frustrating."
"It is…" she said, handing him the coffee.
"Thanks. So… what's the plan? Binge and chill, or gaming?"
"Well, kind of both. I got this new movie called Epidemic Apocalypse."
"Another horror?"
"Yeah. Maybe it'll help us understand the situation out there."
"I thought there would be monsters and stuff—not just the typical zombies?"
"Or maybe both."
"Well… I don't know. But it might be worse than that…"
"Have some faith. Our team is by far… the strongest."
"Oh, yeah, of course. Better than you. Hey! Did you steal my fries?"
"Oh, the show's starting…"
"You bastard!"
They laughed on the couch, sipping coffee, as the scene transitioned to the submerged site where the survivors were struggling to escape and find a place to rest.
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.
| 00-00-0000 | 00:00
Temp: 28°C | Status: NULL
Location: Floor 21, Site - Compromised
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?"
"Any idea how we're supposed to use the toilet in a submerged lab?"
"We can't even eat anything here! Is there any dry area left?"
"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."
"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."
SGI Confidential | Medicus Sector
Level 6-8: Senior researchers & military (Floors H-L)
FLOOR MAP
Facility Type: Underground Secret Biomedical Research Lab
Primary Research Fields: Genetic, Biomechanical, and Radiation Experimentation
Tracking System: Alphabetic Floor Designation (A-Z) with Numbered Sectors
[A - C] [D - G] [H - L] [M - R] [S - X]
H1 – Radiation Testing Chamber (Simulated high-radiation environments)
H2 – Chemical Warfare Simulation Labs (Biohazard testing)
I1 – Neuro-Enhancement Studies (Brainwave and memory alteration research)
I2 – Human Performance Augmentation (Superhuman endurance experiments)
J1 – Classified Military Tech Lab (Development of advanced combat biotechnology)
F2 – Radiation Exposure Lab (Testing radiation effects on living organisms)
J2 – Black Project Research (Undocumented experimental programs)
K1 – Bio Weapon Containment (Storage of highly classified biological agents)
K2 – Subject Monitoring Bay (Long-term observation of experiment subjects)
L1 – Cybernetics R&D (Integration of biomechanical enhancements with neural systems)
Meanwhile, Ryan studied a large map displayed on the wall near the staircase. "So, what's the plan again?"
"Where were you?" Ryan and Zoey were talking while the other scientists explored the area. "Busy relieving myself."
She asked, "How?!" He replied, "Ahh, with a bottle. Couldn't hold it in with all this damn water around—so I improvised, like always."
"Oh God… we have to get out of here!" She agitated with his reply as he continued, "Yeah, sure. Anyway, I found this. Just… keep it hidden." Ryan handed her a gun with a magazine of twelve bullets.
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