Day 790 - The LAB HQ, 09:21 (A day before the explosion)

  Stretch strode towards the Main Office of her younger brother, Dr Oh Taejoon as she barged in, “Taejoon-ah!”

  !!!

  She saw Dr 8 intimately fixing his tie as she frowned, “What is this?”

  Taejoon had Dr 8 leave as he coughed and held his hands behind his back, “Noona, how many times do I have to tell you to knock?”

  “Well, it was urgent.” She watched Dr 8 leave with a satisfied smirk as she faced Taejoon, “Why did you remove me from examining ANOM8-32?”

  “Ah.” Taejoon’s metallic leg clacked on the tiled floor as he sat down on his couch slovenly, “Simple… I received a certain report that you were sharing data to unauthorised personnel.”

  Stretch flinched, “But still—!”

  “Noona.” Taejoon spoke in a cold tone as he glared at her, “The only reason you’re still here is because you’re my noona and one of the co-founders that helped in creating the amplification liquid alongside me.” He then smirked, “Why don’t you sit and have some tea?”

  Stretch shuddered at his dual nature as she sat opposite him.

  Taejoon massaged his chin as he observed her, “To think we’re siblings yet we look so different… even think differently.”

  “You know,” Taejoon leaned forward, “The only thing similar about us is our dark blue hair. But I remember how I used to love your eyes like that of a clear and pure blue sky. It made me want to strive higher… But, that also made me hate my own pink eyes.”

  “Where are you going with this?” Stretch huffed.

  “I realised then, I can never be like you, always aiming high with the purest intentions.” Taejoon smiled, “But, I found someone special. With more beautiful eyes than yours and shares the same ideals as me.”

  “Don’t tell me it’s Dr 8?” Stretch’s jaw clenched, “Taejoon-ah, that woman is a monst—!”

  “DON’T SPEAK ILL OF HER!” Taejoon stood up before exhaling, “You shouldn’t speak ill of my lover… with her gorgeous eyes like that of crimson rubies.” Taejoon spoke softly as he sat down, “Noona. Oh my lovable Noona.”

  He lifted her chin as he whispered in a child-like manner, “We created something wonderful… all this power… in our hands.”

  Stretch smacked his hand, “We made this formula to save humanity, not satisfy your desires!”

  Taejoon’s smirk fell as he glared, “We may have started this project to save humanity but our sponsors, the Baekryong Industries, require a different reason. They want power to hold hundreds of awakeners that nukes can’t destroy in the tip of their hands. I cannot let you stop our mission and stop our research just for your own moral conscience.”

  “… You won’t change your mind, will you?” Stretch scoffed in bewilderment. Stretch picked up her cup of tea and threw it on his floor, “Screw you!”

  She walked out as she then heard his voice echoing her head, “Freeze.”

  Her body froze as he continued, “Turn around.”

  Her body involuntarily turned around.

  Why isn’t my body moving the way I want?

  “You look… bewildered.” Taejoon chuckled, “Understandable. You thought you were the only one who took the amplification liquid when it was completed. I just needed more tests before I took it myself….”

  “What?” He mockingly placed a hand behind his ear, “You’re wondering what my power is? It’s Mind-Control.”

  “… Oh relax, I won’t harm you. You’re my Noona!” Taejoon smirked with his arms raised, “And besides, this isn’t the first time I used my ability on you…”

  Stretch felt her eye-lids become heavier as the last thing she heard was, “Nighty-night, Noona… all will be ok later.”

  Everything went black.

  ***

  09:56.

  Strange, I feel like I forgot something.

  Stretch walked down the long corridors outside of Taejoon’s office.

  After summoning me to tell me I was no longer assigned to ANOM8-32…

  What else did he say?

  “Ugh!” Stretch groaned as she felt her head split with an ear screeching sound.

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  After a while, Stretch sighed, “It doesn’t matter. I should do what I should do.”

  Stretch walked with determined strides.

  ***

  Day 791 - WOW-LAB, 04:00.

  Stretch walked quietly around the facility as she borrowed a friend’s keycard to infiltrate the WOW-LAB. She used her stretch ability to move quietly and sneakily into the hidden corners, remaining undetected.

  It was then she overheard Taejoon and Dr 8 talking.

  Dr 8 sighed, disappointed, “ANOM8-32 has only shown symptoms of decline rather than improvement. Perhaps it was luck that made him special.” She paused as she turned to him, “What should we do, Dr Oh?”

  “Darling, you can call me Taejoon when we’re alone.” Taejoon smiled before glancing at the report and frowning, “As for this hatchling, he is a failure, dispose of him. He hasn’t even awakened so he can’t be used as an agent.”

  Dr 8 smiled, “Yes… darling.”

  “Now then, shall we?” Taejoon wrapped his fingers around Dr 8 as they left.

  Once they were gone, Stretch entered the facility to 8-32 and gasped at his state, “Oh God.” He was bleeding all over. His hair had turned white with only the tips highlighting his original dark green hair. She went to him worried, unlocking his chains until the boy growled and started to choke her.

  “Kek… friend… 8-33…” Stretch gasped as she felt his hand loosening.

  “Seohwa?” The boy asked.

  She nodded as she sat up, “I’m going to get you out of here. They’re going to dispose of you soon… so trust me this once and follow me.”

  Despite the seriousness of the situation, the boy chuckled, “… You?”

  Stretch frowned, “Yes me.”

  “With what ability?”

  Stretch stretched her body, “I am an awakener. I can handle a little boy like you.”

  “…” After seeing she was serious, he reluctantly got carried on her back as she ran.

  She stayed quiet in the dark hallways until….

  BOOM!

  The facility began to burst in flames as she dashed while the WOW-LAB structure was crumbling on top of her.

  The boy on her back, sighed, “You’re slow.”

  “Not helping!”

  And within that moment of hesitation, the floor beneath them crumbled as she stretched her arms and pulled but her back suddenly felt light as she turned to see the boy smirk, “Take care of my sister.”

  Why did you let go?

  Stretch widened her eyes as she tried to reach for the boy, “No!”

  The flames quickly engulfed the boy as she watched in shock.

  Before she could even grieve, she ran out the building, escaping the looming flames of the explosion, until she got toppled over a large debris of pillars that ironically blocked the flames for her.

  ***

  Stretch had no choice but to stay within the pillars until the Grey Agents came and removed the fire.

  The pillars were lifted as she saw a familiar face, “Hey Rhino.” Then she saw Hawk, “Hawk.”

  “I knew I sensed a presence under there.” Hawk pulled her out as he helped dust her off, “Why on earth are you under there?”

  Stretch sighed, “I was trying to save ANOM8-32.”

  Rhino glanced around, “Where is he, then?”

  Stretch closed her eyes, “I… was carrying him when he let go of me… he got engulfed in the explosion.”

  Hawk and Rhino went silent as Hawk rubbed his head, “Shit.”

  “Shit, indeed.” Stretch chuckled, trying to hide her distasteful helplessness as Rhino embraced her, “Let’s head to Ox… and once I’ve confirmed the cadets are ok, I’ll have 8-33 come to you.”

  Stretch nodded as Rhino supported her. Rhino turned to Hawk, “You lead the agents to clean up and see if there are any others under the debris.”

  “Yeah, on it!” Hawk flew up as he began to bark orders to other Grey Agents.

  ***

  Ox’s office.

  After meeting 8-33, Stretch was worried about her as she seemed dazed by the news of her brother’s death. Stretch watched her leave as she sighed and held her head in guilt.

  I couldn’t tell her that he jumped off my back…

  That’s why, I’ll do what I can and save her at least in her brother’s stead.

  Ox interrupted her train of thought, “What now? You know, Dr Oh will come after you and your faction, now.”

  “Just what I can.” Stretch looked up as she said, “I’m going to help those kids escape.”

  “How?” Ox sighed.

  “Get the nanobombs off their neck.”

  Ox groaned, feeling a headache, “You do know Dr 8 won’t let you near her lab, right?”

  “I’m not going to hers. I’m going to Dr 5’s.”

  “5’s?”

  “I remember Dr 5 telling me he was the original creator of the device and Dr 8 stole the blueprint and made it into what it is today.”

  “That’s bad luck then. He’s on vacation at the moment.”

  “What?!” Stretch rubbed her temples, “Please tell me you know when he’s coming back.”

  “He’s as elusive to me as you, Stretch.”

  ***

  Day 820 - Dr 5’s lab.

  Stretch knocked on Dr 5’s door. “Come in!” A frail voice yelled.

  Stretch came in as Dr 5 was packing some boxes, “Ah Stretch! Good to see you, old friend! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “I heard you’re back and got fired?”

  “Thank Dr 8 for that.” Dr 5 scoffed. “So? I know you’re not here just to visit me, what do you want?”

  “Remember how Dr 8 stole your blueprints and made the nanobombs?”

  “Hmph, don’t remind me. I’m still mad about that for the past 8 years.”

  “I need the blueprint.”

  !!!

  “Why?”

  “To save those kids and have them escape.”

  Dr 5 pondered, “Sure… it might be in my Draft Inventions drawers that Hwayeon organised yesterday. Though, I may also have thrown it. Who knows? I’m quite forgetful at this age.”

  “Thanks, pal.” Stretch went to his drawer he pointed at as she looked through the remaining blueprints.

  Not here… Not here either… Where is it?

  Realisation soon came as she asked him, “You said Hwayeon organised this?”

  “Oh silly me, you don’t know her real name, she’s known as 5-03.”

  5-03… if I remember correctly, she’s part of 8-33’s group…

  Stretch began to laugh aloud, scaring the poor old man’s heart. She looked at him, “Sorry. Something amused me just now.”

  “I’m not judging, Stretch.” Dr 5 shrugged.

  Stretch pulled back as she greeted him goodbye, “I’m heading to work.”

  Dr 5 waved at her.

  As she walked, she smirked.

  Smart brats…

  ***

  Same day, 12:00 - Sector A, Stretch’s Office

  She took out a burner phone locked in her safe and began to call someone.

  “Hey, it’s June Oh. I’m asking for the favour you owe me.”

  ***

  Following day, 09:00 - Cadet Hall.

  “Viper!” Rhino called out to Seohwa.

  Seohwa saluted, “Yes, sir?”

  “Mail.” Rhino gave her a small note.

  “From who?” Seohwa tilted her head.

  “Dunno. I don’t look at people’s mail.”

  After delivering the small note, Rhino went away.

  Seohwa looked down at the note and opened it.

  ‘77 Hangju-ro, Pyeongtaek Warehouse will save you. - S.’

  Seohwa folded the note as she looked around, curious if the sender was here.

  “What’s wrong, Seo—Viper?” Jiho walked towards her.

  “… Nothing, just…” Seohwa smiled, “An elf came and gave me an early Christmas present.”