“Now then, your whipsword.” Dr 5 sat down in his seat, “It’s an interesting concept, so I’ll do it. But, I still needed to know what size and weight to make it, hence why I asked for your presence, little one. Forgive me for causing you such inconvenience.”

  Seohwa shook her head, “That’s alright.”

  Dr 5 waved his hand, “5-03, do you mind, umm, getting some tea for our guests? Oh and my measuring tape.”

  “Yes, doc.” 5-03 bowed as she headed to the kitchen.

  “Oh it’s nice having an assistant.” Dr 5 chuckled as he ruffled his grey beard.

  Seohwa eased her worries at Dr 5’s behaviour. Though she was worried since he seemed so… clumsy?

  When the tea came, Dr 5’s fingers shook terribly as he was just drinking some tea.

  Seohwa couldn’t even sip once as she was ready to help him just in case he dropped his cup.

  Rhino sighed, “I’ve been telling you to retire already for your own good. You’re getting old. It’s about time for you anyway. Your wife and family must miss you.”

  “Oh them? We got divorced a few months ago… telling me I was a mad scientist and such…” Dr 5 coughed, “And besides, I find my time here rather pleasant with these young ones.”

  Rhino massaged his temple, “Look, sorry about your wife and family… but, we’re here for the whipsword, remember?”

  “Rhino, you’ve gotten quite snappy, I see. Are you on your menopause?” Dr 5 chuckled.

  “Pfft.” Seohwa let out a small laugh at his tease. It wasn’t that the joke was funny but it was the image of Rhino having menopause that was funny.

  Rhino frowned, “Are you sane?”

  “Boringly enough, yes I am.” Dr 5 nodded and then leaned in towards Seohwa and whispered, “You see, back when he was just a new soldier, he used to be this twig and was bullied for it.”

  “No way.” Seohwa gasped.

  “Yes way.” Dr 5 winked.

  “Can we just get on with what we came here for?” Rhino sighed, mentally drained.

  Dr 5 chuckled, “Oh you still can’t handle a little teasing even after getting your Steel Body… anyway…” Dr 5 got his glasses as he began to examine Seohwa, “How long does the whip side do you want it to be? And, do you want a sword that you can grow with?”

  Seohwa replied, “Preferably, a 5-10 metre whip range. And as for the sword maybe the size of my arm?”

  Dr 5 hummed, “Well, I think I know the style you’re going for… Umm, 5-03 dear? Do you mind opening my furnace?”

  “Yes, doc.”

  Dr 5 huffed as he shakily stood up, “I’ll get to work. It should be done tomorrow. 5-03, see our guests out. Oh! Actually Rhino, you stay. I have something to talk to you about.”

  5-03 and Seohwa walked out the lab as Seohwa examined her. 5-03’s hands were full of burn scars as Seohwa asked, “…What’s your name?”

  “Yoon Hwayeon.”

  “I’m Tang Seohwa.” Seohwa paused, “…How did you hide that you were awakened?”

  Hwayeon stopped, hesitating as she fibbed, “I don’t know what you mean…”

  Seohwa then explained, “I tend to observe people… Your burn scars are irregular.”

  “It could’ve been when I was smithing needles.”

  “True, but your burn marks are too big if it was from making those tiny needles. At most, it should only be up to your fingers.” Seohwa rebutted.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “…” Hwayeon looked at the girl beside her, “Will you tell them?”

  Seohwa asked, “Why are you hiding it? Is it because of Dr 5?”

  Hwayeon nodded, “I heard many things about other generations. They have my pity. But Gen5 isn’t like that. That’s only because of Dr 5. He allowed us to freely innovate and educate us. But, he is old, forgetful, clumsy, makes a mess of things and even sacrificed his family time for us…. I’m worried about him.”

  Seohwa listened before sighing, “Alright, I won’t. But, if you told Dr 5 about it, I’m sure he would be happy. He looks like a man who would push you forward instead.”

  “…” Hwayeon lowered her gaze before saying, “I’ll think about it. For now, I’ll lead you out.”

  ***

  After leading Seohwa out, Hwayeon came back to the lab and saw Rhino leaving. He patted her head and whispered, “Take care of him, won’t you?”

  “I will.” Hwayeon nodded. She turned to face Dr 5 smiling, “Good that you’re here… help me draw the whipsword.”

  “Yes, Doc.”

  Right, the doc would support me no matter what. For now, I’ll stay by his side supporting him.

  ***

  Day 263, 03:46

  “Increase the fire!” Dr 5 yelled.

  Hwayeon increased the flames as she hammered down each piece.

  “More!” Dr 5 coughed.

  Hwayeon warned, “Get back, Doc!”

  “No! I need to see this through!” Dr 5 stubbornly stayed behind, “And how can I leave you all on your own close to the fire? It's dangerous.”

  Hwayeon increased the flames as the furnace began to heat up the whole lab. Due to the fact there was a fire furnace involved, there were no smoke detectors in the room to prevent continuous smoke alarms. When huge smoke was spreading and cracking the glass windows, Dr 5 coughed, “Get back! 5-03! It failed!”

  Hwayeon was about to give up when she saw the white spark when she hammered, “No! We’re almost there! I can do this!”

  Dr 5 yelled, “That’s not the point! We’re taking too much fumes! Get out! That’s an order!”

  However, Hwayeon stubbornly continued. She hammered away causing white spark after white spark.

  It’s better to finish this now than repeat it continuously. More repetition means more fumes and that will only hurt Doc.

  When she finally completed it, the furnace was about to blow.

  But before she could dodge, Dr 5 jumped to protect her body.

  Hwayeon’s heartbeat quickened, her survival instincts kicking in. She let go of her hesitations temporarily as she stood up in front of the flames.

  Dr 5 noticed and yelled, “Are you an idiot? What are you doing?!!”

  However, she stood her ground and when the furnace exploded, she quickly raised her hands and did a slicing motion to split the flames, preventing Dr 5 and her from being burnt.

  She then waved both her hands in a circular motion before they formed a circle in her chest as if gathering the fire then compressing it.

  “Ugh!!” She continued to press the large flame smaller and smaller until it extinguished. She panted heavily and quickly turned to check up on Dr 5, only for her to see his mouth agape.

  “…I…I can expl—!”

  “You’ve awakened!” Dr 5 chuckled, jumping up happily, “My goodness, a flame awakener at that! You did a good job controlling those flames, or we would’ve been toast!”

  Hwayeon lowered her gaze as Dr 5 noticed.

  Dr 5 raised his brows, “Why the long face, my dear?”

  “…Just… I lied to you.”

  “…About what?”

  “Actually, I awakened long ago when I was practising smithing.”

  “…”

  Hwayeon bowed her head and whispered, “I’m sorry. I just wanted to be there to support you…”

  Dr 5 hummed as he hugged her, “Oh, my dear, if that’s what you consider lying to me, then lie to me all you want…”

  Hwayeon’s breath hitched.

  “What matters is we got out of this fire situation safely. And it’s a good thing you awakened beforehand or else we would have been burnt to a crisp.” Dr 5 leaned back and held her cheeks, “You are a lovable, caring young lady. But your kindness is wasted on me…”

  “Of course not!” Hwayeon interjected.

  “Let me continue…” Dr 5 sighed, “As you know, I’ve been coughing a lot lately… that’s because of my lung cancer…”

  Hwayeon gasped, “What?”

  “…My dear, I’m a dying old man… as much as I appreciate your kindness, I also don’t want to be the cause of your misery… and if by sending you away to a place with many kind people like yourself means I die alone, so be it.”

  Hwayeon’s lips trembled as she began to shed tears.

  Dr 5 chuckled softly, “Don’t waste your potential just to help me. I don’t want that and I abhor the idea of it. I can handle myself. I lived 80 years like this. And the others will be there to help me. So… what do you say?”

  Hwayeon sniffled as she wiped her tears, “…Ok.”

  “Good girl.” Dr 5 patted her head as he then glanced down to the dark green whipsword on the ground. “Pick it up for me, won’t you?” Hwayeon picked up the whipsword and gave it to him.

  “Isn’t she a beaut? You did it wonderfully, 5—! Actually, why don’t you tell me your name before you go?”

  Hwayeon chuckled at his easy going nature, “Hwayeon. Yoon Hwayeon.”

  Dr 5 smiled warmly, “Hwayeon, thank you for helping me and staying by my side all this time…”

  Hwayeon bit her lips, “Can I…see you again?”

  Dr 5 chuckled, “Ask Rhino and bring him along, won’t you?”

  Hwayeon laughed with him, “Yes, doc.”

  “…Now then, let’s go to the lab for a bit and examine the whipsword, shall we?”

  “Yes, doc.” Hwayeon helped support him to the door. Dr 5 then stopped, “Actually, Hwayeon, I want to give you a parting gift… it’s in cupboard 333.”

  Hwayeon temporarily walked to the cupboards with him and opened cupboard 333. There were gauntlets inside. “Doc, this is?”

  “You’re quite good with your hands. I thought it would be a waste if you don’t protect them and lose the ability to create, regardless of your ability… you can adjust them and see how it fits.” Dr 5 smiled.

  Hwayeon held the gauntlets carefully as she hugged him, “Thank you.”

  “Fufufu.” Then Dr 5 remembered, “Ah right, since you’ll be going to Sector A now, I’ll have a word with Stretch to see if they can allow a smithy for you. You will need it if the whipsword gets damaged.” He winked.

  Yoon Hwayeon chuckled, “Ok.”

  They left the furnace room and headed to the lab.

  ***

  Day 263, 10:21.

  When Rhino and Seohwa came to pick up the whipsword, Yoon Hwayeon gave it to Seohwa with a smile.

  Seohwa noticed she was carrying gauntlets and asked, “You’ve decided?”

  “Yes, you were right.” Hwayeon glanced back at Dr 5 who was snoring on the couch of the lab. “Let’s go.”

  Thank you for everything, doc…