《Tabula Rasa》


 Prologue: CV-112-S-767

    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 1:


    Today we''ve been given a new project to work on, one I''m personally excited for. The end goal is to produce the first ever fully biologically enhanced human. There are dozens of similar projects in development, but this is the only project which is tasked with creating a controlled variation that is viable for organic life. We have to find a way to make human DNA suitable with nanites, altered DNA, and a neuro implant which isn''t even fully complete. The task is daunting, but the Head of the Department has placed his hopes on me. 2 years ago they laughed at Minerva for changing its direction, but everyone will line up to curry favor once we show them the future.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 7:


    We made slight progress on bridging the gap between the HeLa cells indefinite reproduction and the biological immortality of the Turritopsis dohrnii, the Immortal Jellyfish, in layman''s terms. If we can successfully integrate biological immortality into the Human DNA sequence there could be countless breakthroughs. The world would enter a new era. The nanites have so far been successful in introducing certain traits in lab mice. The rare genetic defect that causes albinism in multiple species, including humans, was placed into certain mice and they were allowed to breed. After we reached the 3rd generation the albinism trait was replaced with the use of nanites. It was a success as the altered mice didn''t have an albino brood.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 44:


    With the recent addition of some of the top researchers in Genetic Engineering, we''ve made significant progress. We''ve created a trait which introduces biological immortality in theory. Testing begins tomorrow. The nanites are being re-developed once again. Apparently, the current material dissolves into the system of the specimen after a few weeks. They are hoping to create Mother Nanites which can infinitely control or build more nanites from organic material. I''ve been told it would work in a way that cells are directly under the control of the Mother Nanites and can be programmed to perform similar functions. Still, the nanites reaching the molecular level haven''t been greenlighted for full use just yet.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 83:


    We''ve reached success in establishing a unique gene that allows biological immortality. A lab mouse was intentionally exposed to radiation giving it cancer. The Cronus Gene was spliced into the lab mouse''s DNA. It showed outstanding progress at first. After a week The Cronus Gene began to take effect, the mouse secreted a gelatinous substance which covered its body and hardened into a shell-like material. Samples were scraped from the shell with a microscopic laser which it showed extreme resistance to. The structure of the shell was very similar to Wurtzite Boron Nitride but was shown to be stronger, unofficially becoming the hardest material on Earth. After a month the shell turned brittle and was easily broken by the mouse which emerged with no traces of radiation damage, though traces of radiation were found on its shell. Even biological immortality is flawed with chances for death appearing when the organism is in the process of cellular revision. The nanites are the hope to stop the vulnerability and achieve a way to create a specimen immune to the corrosion of time. The test could be seen as an overall success if one to ignore the death of the test mouse. The problem occurred shortly after the cellular revision, the test mouse had died. Its body aged in reverse until they could be considered to be in the early embryonic stages, causing it to die as soon as it finished.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 134:


    We have officially reached 2 trillion in yearly funding. "Official" human trials on the neuro implant are scheduled to start next week. Truthfully, what the higher ups at Minerva choose to distribute to the world is decades outdated compared to some of the prototypes already being tested. The reason being is the heads of Minerva wish to ease the world into a new era, people will slowly accept the changes and embrace what is to come. I''ve even heard rumors of a Quantum Computer being developed on a secret level nearly 5000 feet underground. If that''s true the need for researchers may be reduced in the future, still, I want to see the project through to completion. Our own unofficial human trials start next year, it is to be timed with the release of the Blue Dove Neuro Implant. We have tested the viability with the Cronus Variation and it interferes with the nanites. The leader of the Blue Dove Project is some eccentric guy, but he definitely has the qualifications to be here. I''ve personally seen the notes on the Blue Dove Implant and it is amazing. I can''t even understand how it works, but I''m sure they''ve created a way to harness "Psionic Energy."


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 201:


    Cronus Variant 87, or CV-87, the 87th altered version of the Cronus Gene has successfully achieved viability with the Blue Dove Implant. The problem is while the Cronus Gene, Nanites, and Blue Dove Implant have achieved a successful synthesis, it is almost impossible to introduce into the human DNA sequence. A single one would be more practical than all 3 at the same time. The human fetuses all die under the immense stress, but CV-87 has to be implanted while the specimen is still in development to work perfectly. The waste of life makes me questions the ethics of the research, but I''ve been told the fetuses were all taken from females heavily addicted to narcotics. Even worse the narcotics were made with some of the chemicals we sell to medical companies. The chemicals, when made in combination with other substances, were used to create a drug 100 times more addictive ordinary street drugs and far deadlier. These women often times were nearly brain dead, and the fetuses faired no better. If they didn''t perish in the experiment they would be born in a vegetable-like state. I don''t wish to justify our actions, but to allow them to live that way is worse than what we are doing. Project Safekeeping was established to outfit law enforcement with the latest tools to stop the flow of the drug. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 234:


    The Blue Dove implant has been replaced with a newer version called the Blue Swan implant. Surprisingly it is too classified for me to be fully briefed on. Even though all research logs and personal devices are monitored as per the employee contract, I''m still unable to see the specifics of the Blue Swan implant. Dr. Shrencard, the eccentric man who invented the Blue Dove and the Blue Swan implant, has assured me it should still work the same we just have to adapt for a more powerful energy output. What I have been told is that the Blue Swan is named after the Black Swan Theory. I can only guess that means the Blue Swan implant is the rarest neurological in existence. More specimen come into today, we will continue under the same parameters as before. Only after slight changes to the Cronus Variant will we proceed.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 267:


    The year is 2016, Minerva completely stands at the forefront of technology. As an effect of Minerva becoming the poster child for the future we''ve been told that projects need to be ramped up. My own project has achieved major success. Cronus Variant-112, Specimen-767. An embryo has shown 100% compatibility for CV-112 which has been tuned for the Blue Swan implant. It is nothing short of a miracle, especially considering the state of the fetus. In its early developmental stages, it had shown signs of brain damage. After CV-112 was introduced, with the addition of a newer and classified version of nanites. The brain seemed to undergo extreme neurogenesis, completely repairing the brain cells which looked to be damaged. There were no signs that Specimen-767 would have any lasting brain damage. After the fetus has reached a few months in development, there are talks of the Blue Swan being implanted in the hopes operational before its birth. It may be too soon to speak, but the first biologically immortal human has been created here in this lab, hundreds of feet underground. I look forward to the developments to come.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 270:


    Specimen-767 is a human female. She has been in the artificial womb for a year before being moved to a liquid stasis and every day I''ve been excited to see her grow. Today is the day the Blue Swan is being implanted into her brain on the classified bottom level. After the procedure, my lab and office are being located to the "Pandora''s Box" better known as the lowest level of the facility. It is rumored that dozens of research projects are underway that are all decades or even hundreds of years ahead of the current technology we put in circulation. I''m sure most of it is vastly exaggerated, but soon I''ll be able to see it for myself. Apparently, the higher-ups are pleased enough with my work that they want me to continue working with Specimen-767 if the neural implant works successfully.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 271:


    The strangest thing occurred. I don''t mean the events that have been happening in space and around the world. We have been briefed on that and the cause is classified. The day S-767 was scheduled to receive the neural implant, almost everyone in the upper levels of the facility had headaches and light nosebleeds along with audio hallucinations of an infant-like scream. Those who don''t know about my work had no idea about what happened, but I do. S-767 is very much alive. I know because my lab is still scheduled to move to the lowest floor. This means the implant was successful and S-767 is alive and well. My colleagues had described her as the Dark Horse of the entire research department. Someone playfully suggested the name Sui Generis for her unique compatibility that was a nearly impossible chance, but they were reprimanded. Minerva doesn''t allow for human subjects to be named as to prevent any undue attachment. I''ve heard a story of a female scientist who grew attached to a male in the enhanced soldier programs. She attempted to flee with the man, but they were immediately caught and dealt with. As a human being, it is hard to look at another living human with the cold detachment this profession requires, but I won''t make the same mistake she did. I know the best way to see S-767 grow is to remove myself of any sentimental attachment.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen Research Log 330:


    S-767 has been in stable condition for three years, growing in a liquid stasis pod. Oddly enough, S-767 has white hair, I''ve been told it was due to the stress of the neural implant put on her body. It''s hard to say if complications will arise due to the stress, but so far she has been developing quite well with a few exceptions. I''ve been told S-767 will be infertile, the nanites have their own set parameters and to prevent the possibility of S-767 escaping and breeding as to prevent the spread of the Cronus Gene. I have no opinions on the matter, infertility shouldn''t hamper S-767 very much. I am upset at my lack of freedom inside of "Pandora''s box," since it has continually been on high alert ever since Richard Daltroy, a high-ranking head of security was discovered attempting to collude with Anti-Minerva terrorists.


    Due to those restrictions, I''m still unsure of the effects of the Blue Swan Implant, but the original notes mention psionics and the creation of psionic fields. The incident where everyone on the upper floors suffered from headaches and nosebleeds wasn''t the worst of it. I''ve heard many on the lowest floor died or required extensive medical attention. Either way, I''m excited to see S-767 grow. A black tattoo was placed right under her collarbone reading "CV-112-S-767". It''s a rather simplistic way of recording her information, but a sub-dermal chip would interfere with the nanites apparently. S-767 will be constantly tested for any abnormalities during her growth over the coming period.


    Dr. Theresa Hagen R@#%^^&*^^:


    It is Septemeber 1st, 2022. The...*file missing or corrupted*...we are all evacuating to higher levels. Many research projects, including S-767, had to be abandoned because of................*file missing or corrupted*......What have they done?

 Chapter 1: A Clean Slate Pt.1

    Inside of a dark room, the sound of machinery running filled the air. Occasionally wire would crackle and illuminate the room. Sparks illuminated the room and for a brief moment, a liquid stasis pod was able to be seen. Inside was a pale girl, with short white hair, who looked to be around 5 or 6. Tubes and wires were running into her spine, but she continued to float peacefully.


    "System malfunction." A distorted mechanical voice began speaking. "Quantum Battery Charge Estimated: 4 years at full operational capacity. 7 years at operational necessities." Lights started blinking and machinery moved on its own. A robotic arm reached toward the pod in the center of the room. A tool emerged from the arm and sent a blue light up and down the pod. The lab ran on a limited A.I prepared for emergency situations such as these. After a scan more lights blinked and a holographic computer screen turned on.


    "Location:...Unknown. Lab State: Sealed. Air Filtration: Active. Running Emergency Parameters. Subject-767 appears to be fully intact. Stasis Pod: Sealed." Dozens of arms emerged from slots, a few were broken, but most were intact. The arms began moving around the room activating computers and pulling liquid vials from metal compartments. After a few moments all the arms moved toward the pod.


    "Initiating: Morning Star Version 5 Nanite injection. Initiating: Blue Swan Implant full activation. Requesting: Removal of Blue Swan and Morning Star Version 5 Nanite control protocols." The robotic arms stood in place while a screen flickered. The control protocols were in place as a failsafe in controlling S-767, due to the current circumstance it would appear that the A.I deemed them unnecessary. The arms sat completely still for a few hours. All the while a screen flickered with the option to Accept or Deny. "Emergency Code 1056 initiated. Control protocols disabled." The mechanical voice began speaking as all the arms got to work. In an emergency situation the A.I was given greater control and were tasked with preserving or protecting all experiments as best they could.


    The robotic arms began interacting with the pod. Numerous liquid vials were put in place at the sides of the pod and then inserted into the tubes connected to S-767. Another arm moved to the back of the pod and connected to the wires attached to the back of S-767''s skull. Once the vials were emptied most of the arms moved back, while a different arm inserted a needle into S-767 and drew blood. After that, the only arm still at the pod was the one connected to the back of S-767''s skull.


    "Retrieval of Morning Star Version 4 Nanites: Successful. Injection of Morning Star Version 5 Nanites: Successful. Full Activation of the Blue Swan Implant:...Pending." The machine continued to toil away as its sole purpose was to ensure the safety of S-767 and it would do everything it possibly could to achieve its objective. "Error: Blue Swan Implant full activation failed. Running diagnostics."


    "Solution found. Blue Swan Implant training protocols active. Requesting removal of training protocols." And so the A.I waited once more. "Emergency Code 1056 initiated. Training Protocols removed." Although training protocols would''ve been nice, the A.I had deduced that there was no one who could train S-767, so the best step was to give her the tools to survive. "Blue Swan Implant fully activated. Vitals: Stable. Prepping hibernation mode. Initiating monitoring protocols. Scanning surroundings." Most of the robotic arms withdrew back into the walls, while a few stayed to prepare to enter a low power state and monitor S-767.


    "Error: Geography appears to be inconclusive with earth. Error: Atmosphere makeup appears to be different from Earth. 76% Nitrogen, 23% Oxygen, 0.78% Argon, 0.22% Carbon Dioxide. Estimated Survivability for S-767: 97%. Shutting down non-essential programs. Activating hibernation." The stirring of machinery stopped, the lights flickering in the had all died down. Soon the only thing that was left was a dark room.


    <hr>


    7 years later.


    "Quantum batteries at 20%. Disengaging hibernation. Prepping S-767 for release." The A.I announced to no one in particular. Arms emerged from nearby walls and consoles and began to remove the tubes and wires connected to the stasis pod.


    "Running comprehensive systems test. Systems active. Running environment viability test. Error: Chances of Minerva research materials being placed into the environment. Running complete lab-wide scan. Scan complete: Four labs partially intact. Three of which are severely damaged. Chances of contaminant leakage: 43%. Scanning surroundings. Scan complete: Signs of impact around the environment. Synopsis: Lab abruptly entered the stratosphere and crashed at a high velocity. Chances of contaminant leakage during fall: 78%. S-767 release protocols active." The A.I reached conclusions that may have been good or bad news for the inhabitants of this world. After a sudden entrance into the atmosphere, various research materials may have been scattered across the environment. Though it was possible it didn''t happen, after all the lab was made from a special plating that was theorized to be able to contain a nuclear blast.


    "Initiating S-767 learning protocols. Learning protocols: Active." After all the tubes had been disconnected, a device was connected to the wires attached to the back of S-767''s head. "Artifical Memory Transference Files one through six intact. Further files missing or corrupted. Began transfer of files one through six." After the A.I finished talking it began the procedure.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    The reason why S-767 was grown in stasis was for the simple fact Minerva had a memory transference program able to replicate the signals in the brain that work to store and recall memories. It was able to implant small pieces of knowledge into the recipients. Of course, too many would interfere with the mind of S-767. The plan was to slowly introduce the knowledge into S-767 and allow her to adapt. The current situation didn''t allow for such a luxury. S-767 visibly spasmed after the artificial memories were implanted. "Heart rate increasing. Three files left to be transferred. S-767 showing signs of stress within acceptable parameters, continuing transfer." After the twitching and spasming stopped, the wires attached to the back of S-767 head were removed and only the breathing tube was in place. "Waking S-767 from states. Monitoring vitals. Vitals normal. Releasing S-767 from stasis pod."


    The pod clicked and then opened. Liquid came rushing out and drained into nearby floor vents. S-767 woke up and fell onto the floor abruptly while coughing. "Vitals normal. Cronus Gene stable. Morningstar V-5 nanites active. Blue Swan Implant active. Procedure successful. Moving to change clearance status of S-767."


    "..." S-767 finished her fit of coughing and then stood up while shaking. She had a mix of basic and complicated knowledge in her head, but it was still her first time being exposed to the environment while fully conscious. A robotic limb came down from the ceiling and scanned over S-767 before going back in. "Cognitive Functions: Normal." The A.I spoke. Another arm came toward S-767 and held what looked to be a laser. It moved toward her right shoulder and begin pointing the laser. It didn''t burn into her skin it just moved over the shoulder like it was drawing something. Soon overlapping squares appeared on her skin, covering her right shoulder. The laser had guided the nanites to alter the pigment of her skin in the form of that specific design.


    The purpose was to make a sort of barcode that would be able to be scanned by Minerva in case someone ever stumbled upon her. Just below the symbol of squares was "F-13," which stood for the gender and the age of S-767. "Clearance of S-767 raised under Emergency Protocol 12,340." The A.I announced. "Emergency Protocol 12,340: In an event of the destruction or displacement of a facility, clearance will be handed down to the survivors of the facility with the highest qualifications. Should none be living, clearance will be handed down to a human with relation to the Minerva Facility. Should none be present, A.I shall be given a large control of facilities. S-767, do you agree to the terms?" The A.I asked.


    "...A...Ac...Acc...Accept." S-767 squeezed out brokenly as she looked around. There was something strange about hearing your own voice for the first time or hearing anything for that matter. She was fearful of everything she saw, but gradually the knowledge assimilated with her and she had an understanding. From language to the process of using some simpler technology, it was all there. "Confirmed. S-767 has access to basic functions and necessities of the facility.


    "...Wha...What..am I?" S-767 took a step forward with shaky legs.


    "You are a by-product of the Cronus Gene Variant 112, a genetic trait used to induce biological immortality while simultaneously being compatible with the Morningstar Nanites and the Blue Swan Neural Implant. You were born Specimen 767, the specimen with the highest affinity for the Cronus Variant. To summarize, your genetic structure is both human and non-human. Files with further explanation are missing or corrupted." The A.I spoke emotionlessly.


    A robotic arm emerged and handed over a medical gown and a pair of black rubber-like sandals. S-767 wordlessly accepted it and began to dress. "Facility has sustained damage and is not viable for prolonged use. Quantum battery charge at 17%. Scans show the environment is very similar to Earth. Leaving the facility is highly suggested."


    "What will...happen..if I don''t?" S-767 spoke in a distant and unsure tone, information was constantly making itself known in her head, particularly about CV-112 and the Blue Swan Implant. "Once the battery loses charge, the facility will be rendered inoperable and air filtration will be cut off, resulting in death." The A.I responded.


    A robotic arm appeared in front of S-767, holding a watch. "The holographic watch, or Holo-watch, has been outfitted with survivability programs. It should be able to scan simple organic objects, help navigate, and make judgments with a limited mirror A.I program. Because of current conditions, it only has a week''s worth of charge when operated at full capacity." The A.I explained. S-767 attached the watch to her wrist and pressed the screen.


    The blue screen flickered and displayed a countdown of seven days. "You have been prepped for the exit, leave when ready, S-767." The A.I said as a door on the far side of the room began to glow. With the whirring of machines and clicking of locking mechanisms, the door slowly creaked open and exposed sunlight. S-767 covered her eyes briefly and then slowly exited the room. She was scared, confused, and curious, but she continued to walk. After stepping outside the lab she was greeted with hard soil, fresh air, and cliff walls.


    The facility was lodged into the bottom of a ravine. The traces of how it got there had long since become less noticeable as vines and moss grew on its walls. "Facility going into a completely inactive state to preserve battery. If you choose to return it is highly recommend to bring with a source of energy similar to the Quantum batteries that are used for the facilities back-up power." The A.I gave one last announcement before the metal doors shut once again. S-767 had just been introduced into the world but was now on her own, and so she continued walking.

 Chapter 2: A Clean Slate Pt.2

    "Green is...Green." S-767 muttered as she looked at the foliage. If that statement came from anyone else, it would be classified as utter nonsense. For S-767 there was a surreal factor about knowing what something is, but also seeing it for the first time. She took in her surroundings observing the color, shapes, and textures of everything. After a few minutes, she looked at the ravine walls surrounding her. The only exit was directly up. She immediately knew she would have to climb up the rock wall to leave the ravine. Without much choice she grasped the wall and attempted to climb, but her muscles failed to exert any useable strength. She had just been released from liquid stasis so her lack of strength was understandable.


    "Recommendation: Use Blue Swan Implant." The holo-watch flashed as a mechanical voice spoke. S-767 looked at her watch for a few moments before trying to concentrate. She had basic knowledge of the Blue Swan Implant, but nothing more than basic knowledge. Minerva wouldn''t be so naive as to give S-767 the abilities to escape, that''s why control protocols were in place. S-767''s current situation was like knowing how to ride a bicycle, but having no experience riding it.


    ¡°The Blue Swan Neural Implant allows for one to move objects with their mind or even enhance certain parts of themselves by creating and manipulating Psionic Fields. Such a thing must be used with caution or you may hurt yourself or others.¡±S-767 spoke as if she read a script, which was close to the reality of the situation. That line of dialogue was part of the memories uploaded into her mind. It was sort of a psychological scare tactic Minerva wanted to use to prevent S-767 from becoming too dangerous without being properly controlled.


    S-767 held her hand over the wall of rock in front of her. A blue shimmer of light flickered along her arm, she concentrated even more and continued to hold her hand out. Slowly, her arm was covered in blue particles that blinked in and out of existence. She bent her fingers and dug them into the rock, they easily slipped in giving her a grip. She repeated the same process with her other arm and both her legs, digging into the hardened soil and rock, then climbing. The walls of the ravine were around 400 feet, she continued to climb carefully. While maintaining an empty expression she climbed half of the ravine easily. Everything seemed fine until the holo-watch flickered on.


    ¡°Warning: Brain activity levels dangerously high, vitals becoming unstable, please act accordingly.¡± The emotionless mechanical voice spoke. S-767 looked down at the near 200-foot drop and then up at the top of the ravine. She continued to climb up against the warning of the holo-watch. After another 50 feet of ascending upwards, she began to feel some mental fatigue. ¡°Warning: Brain activity levels exceeding acceptable levels, vitals unstable, please act accordingly.¡± Ignoring the watch, S-767 sped up in her climbing, she was nearly at the top of the ravine. She climbed far quicker than before ignoring the flashing of the watch. She didn¡¯t know why, but she wanted to reach the top of the ravine and so, she didn¡¯t stop climbing. As she got closer to the top the blue particles threatened to break apart and her nose began dripping with blood. She felt her body giving out but with one last push she made it to the top of the ravine and rolled onto the soft grass. Blood poured from her nose as she breathed heavily.


    "Warning: Brain swelling and inflammation, high fever, rapid heart rate, recommending..." The words of the A.I faded away from S-767 as her ears began ringing, her vision became blurry as she stared at the sky.


    "Blue...is blue." She said to herself as her vision went black. This was the exact reason for placing control and training protocols on S-767, they wanted to slowly allow her to come into her power. To let her go about it recklessly would put the whole project at risk. Even though she had trillions of nanites flowing through her blood, they couldn''t control her neural implant.


    <hr>


    *S-767 pov.


    I felt myself go weightless, but I was still there. I could feel the sensation of the wind and grass on my skin, the coarseness of rock and dirt, the warmth from the sun. I had just woken up, and yet the feeling of being asleep was still so vivid.


    When I floated in that stasis pod, I could still feel. I could...feel muffled words being spoken from beyond the liquid and glass. I felt the gazes of others fall onto me, and I was scared. I had no way of calling for help because I had no words, no way to express anything. To be both dreaming and awake at the same time, it was a terrible feeling. And yet here I lay, in the same state as before. Except now I could speak, now I knew things, now the uncertainty lessened, but it was still there.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    What am I?


    <hr>


    One hour later the emotionless voice of the A.I stirred S-767 into lucidity. "Warning: Multiple organic lifeforms moving toward the current position from the North. Fleeing recommended." S-767 stood up slowly as she clutched her head. A splitting pain emerged from her skull, but she didn''t cry out. She could finally get a clear view of her surroundings, large trees, and overgrowth filling the area, on the other side of the ravine it was the exact same. S-767 looked ahead to the dense forestry and waited.The heavy patter of footsteps and rustling of leaves made it clear she wasn''t alone. Soon a pack of wild dogs came out of the foliage and viciously barked at her. S-767 weakly lifted her arm in the direction of the dogs. Her head throbbed with pain, but she ignored it as best she could.


    """""""Argggh!""""""" The dogs barked and growled as they inched closer testing their prey.


    After seeing her stand still, a dog ran directly at her then it dashed to the right before returning to the pack. It was a feint to get a reaction, but S-767 just stood still with her hand raised, the fear didn''t seem to register. After more barking, a dog ran toward her with the intention of attacking.


    S-767 finally moved, blue particles covered the dog and pulled him closer. In response, the dog gave a high pitched yelp as if it was wounded and attempted to move backward, but its body wouldn''t listen. S-767 clenched her fist and pulled her arm toward her chest with a quick motion. The dog''s flew off the edge of the ravine, while its cries echoed as it fell below.


    The pack of dogs, now with one less member, went quiet. S-767 fell to her knee and breathed heavily. Seeing her fall, four dogs charged forward. They weren''t smart enough to realize what had happened, so they followed their instincts and attacked their wounded prey. S-767 swiped her arm through the air, sending the four dogs flying into trees. One of them was impaled on a branch while the other fell with yelps before limping away. The rest of the pack followed behind and scurried away.


    "Warning: Condition deteriorating, please allow Morning Star Nanites to repair host body functions." S-767 wiped the blood from her nose and crawled over to a tree, pressing her back against it. The faint cry of a dog could be heard coming from one of the trees, the dog she had impaled still showed signs of life, albeit faint. ¡°Warning: Blood may attract other predators, fleeing recommended. After calculations, it is highly advised to head North.¡± S-767 looked at the watch and then looked at the dog struggling to its last breath. ¡°Can I eat it?¡± she asked the A.I as she stood up and walked toward the dog. The exhaustion had caused her to develop an appetite.


    ¡°Detailed scan required.¡± The A.I responded. She moved in front of the dog impaled on the branch and held out her wrist. A beam of light went over the body of the dog a few times before stopping. ¡°After analysis, it appears that the life form is suitable for raw consumption.¡± The A.I stated its verdict.


    ¡°Do I not cook it first?¡± S-767 didn¡¯t even know how to cook, but she knew it was considered safer to eat cooked food than raw food.


    ¡°Negative. The Morningstar nanites can break down and destroy bacteria and/or viruses. Life Form suitable for raw consumption.¡± The A.I explained.


    S-767 waited and after a while, the dog stopped crying out and showed no signs of life. The head pain receded and she began feeling better, so she raised her arm once again and pulled the dog off the branch, dropping it onto the ground with a loud thump. She kneeled down in front of the dog and looked at it. There was no weight of killing a living creature, no guilt, no pity, and no happiness. S-767 felt that it was necessary for her continued survival, perhaps that was the intent of her creators. A weapon that feels guilt would be bound to rebel if forced to kill. She didn''t even notice her lack of fear when faced with the pack of dogs, it was highly likely that was also the intent of her creators.


    She dug her fingers into the warm flesh of the dog and grabbed its rib cage. The smell of blood wasn¡¯t pleasant, but she continued to reach in its flesh. She grabbed its rib cage and pulled on the meat connected to it. She gave it a quick look before she tossed it into her mouth and began chewing. The bitter taste of blood filled her mouth and made her nauseous but she continued to chew.


    "Food is a necessity." She said to herself, it was one of the points outlined in the memories she was given.


    S-767 continued to eat pieces of the dog''s flesh until she was full. After she finished she wiped her mouth with the back of her hands and then rubbed them on her medical gown. It had long since been dyed with blood, so adding more wouldn¡¯t change much. The taste of blood and raw flesh lingered on her tongue, but she didn''t seem to mind as food was necessary.


    ¡°Red is red.¡± S-767 stood up and looked at the watch, which projected a holographic compass on the display. She began walking North.

 Chapter 3: A Clean Slate Pt.3

    Five days later.


    A 13-year-old girl with short white hair and dark brown eyes, wearing a frayed medical gown heavily stained with blood kneeled at a stream. She cleaned her hands in the water before scooping some up and drinking it.


    A nearby branch snapped and she instantly turned her head in the direction the sound came from. The girl was S-767, and for the past few days, she''s been surviving in the wilderness. Her abilities made it very easy to catch and kill animals, allowing her to gain a very healthy amount of weight. Though she still retained her fragile appearance.


    Focusing on the snapped branch, S-767 slowly raised her arm toward the sound and sent a light pulse of formless energy. After hearing nothing else move she went back to drinking from the stream. Usually, the watch would warn her of life forms in close proximity, but she put it on low activity mode to save power. It showed her the compass, but other high energy consuming functions were halted except in emergency situations.


    Suddenly, a cougar charged out of the brush and lunged toward S-767. She spun around and raised her hand, catching the ferocious animal in mid-air with her psionics. Before it could cry out, she raised it high and slammed it onto the ground three times, the sound of bones cracking signified the end of its life as she dropped it.


    S-767 took one more sip of water and then walked over to the dead cougar. A glossy blue light covered her index finger as she reached toward the cougar. After using her abilities for some time, S-767 realized Psionic energy had various states, if it was unstable it produced visible blue particles. If it was stable and condensed it took on a glossy appearance. If she used it to move objects it would remain unable to be seen. In simpler terms, S-767 could create Psionic energy fields and manipulate the fields themselves of things inside of the fields.


    S-767 firmly pressed her Psionic clad finger onto the fur and dragged it downwards, splitting open its skin. She then reached into its body and tore off a chunk of meat before eating it. After taking large bites she walked over to the creek and washed her hands. S-767 had long since grown accustomed to the bitter taste of blood and raw meat.


    The good news was that she grew more adept with her abilities after repeated use. The reason why the cougar failed to ambush her was the result of a new ability she gained. Channeling psionic energy to send out a short-distance pulse. It worked very well in close proximity, but it had its downsides. It couldn''t distinguish what life form she detected. Using it in all directions caused a lot of mental fatigue, the same with trying to extend it. For now, she could get up to 50 feet in range and could only use it twice. Another ability she developed was her psionic enhancement, she could now make the particles into a more solid state allowing for increased effectiveness. The last of her current abilities was Psionic control, she could lift, pull, and throw things that didn''t exceed a certain weight. When she tried to lift a boulder a few days back she almost passed out. She came to the conclusion that her abilities were best when used in quick bursts, and repeated use would help her build a resistance to mental exhaustion.


    S-767 was learning by experience and when she needed something she would use her powers to accommodate her as best she could. Her biggest flaw was her lack of imagination, even with the artificial memories, she wasn''t very good at it. For example, she never thought about or attempted to use her abilities to fly. Though she wouldn''t be able to, due to some details concerning her Psionic Energy Consumption and field creation, but thatwasn''t the point.


    She stood up and followed the creek with hopes of reaching some sort of civilized area. "Life can almost always be found near a source of water," she said to herself as followed the creek upstream.


    <hr>


    A few hours later S-767 came upon a river that split into two paths. A small man-made dam diverted most of the water on a different path while the remainder became the creek that led her here. As she looked closer it appeared to be made of concrete and metal, clearly showing whoever built it made some sort of modern technological advancements. S-767 wanted to cross the river, but couldn''t swim, well sheknewhow to. As she walked along the river she looked for a fallen tree or a way to cross. As she walked further and further upstream she noticed the river widening, she decided to double back and find a better route. On the way back she saw three brown bear cubs blocking the way as they drank from the river.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Warning: Adolescent life forms are usually protected by a parent. Caution advised." The A.I spoke which was becoming a rare occurrence over the past few days. It was only supposed to give out advice during emergencies. The bear cubs looked startled and curious at the appearance of S-767, they hurriedly retreated into the woods. S-767 waited for a few moments then continued walking, the sound of footsteps made her stop and turn around. She didn''t need to kill the brown bear cubs since she already ate, but she wouldn''t let her guard down. The three cubs stepped out of the bushes one by one. Things became problematic when a huge brown bear followed them out, it growled at S-767 and stood up on its hind legs, showing its aggression. S-767 raised her arm and stood still, she learned predatory animals tend to give chase to retreating prey. In an attempt to size up the threat in front of it, the huge brown bear cautiously sauntered over to S-767 while giving warning growls.


    S-767 attempted to pick up the brown bear but was met with incredible mental strain. The bear was just as heavy as it looked, nothing like the cougar she lifted earlier. The bear grew agitated as it clearly felt that S-767 did something, its instincts kicked into gear and it moved forward to attack. With her back against a river and her escape blocked, she enhanced her forearms with psionic energy. A glossy and reflective dark blue layer formed around her skin all the way to her elbows.


    The Brown Bear roared as it stood up and swiped its claw toward S-767, who used both of her hands to grip its claw, she showed a surprising amount of strength but was still pushed back when faced with the full weight of the bear. It turned its head and gnawed on S-767''s right arm. The massive bite force broke the enhancement on her right arm and its teeth dug into her arm drawing blood. S-767 winced in pain and used her left arm to punch the bear in the face. Under the assault of punches, the bear responded with stubbornness and continued to tear into S-767''s arm and even began pulling her towards it.


    "Ah!" S-767 struggled to get free as the bear dragged her along, it raised its paw and swiped at her, cutting deeply into her shoulder.


    Seeing her original punches were getting nowhere she aimed at the bear''s nose and threw the hardest punch she could muster, causing the bear to recoil in pain. Without thinking S-767 enhanced her legs with Psionic energy and jumped backward without paying any mind to her surroundings. When she realized what she did it was too late, she fell into the cold river and was dragged by the current. She struggled for air as her head appeared above water just in time to see the diversion dam, she slammed into it head first. Without being able to react to the pain she was dragged downstream, slamming into sharp rocks and logs. All she could do was enhance her vital areas with psionic energy and allow herself to get dragged with the current.


    She didn''t even know how much time had passed before a massive headache knocked away her last vestiges of consciousness.


    <hr>


    At the edge of a town, a girl and her mother were fishing in a river. Strangely there was a loaded double-barrel shotgun next to the mother, it may have been for the dangerous wildlife, but there was a belt full of shells tied around the mother. It would be overkill for a pack of animals that would probably be scared off after the first shot. The woman appeared to be 28 years of age. She had long blonde hair along with a pair of green eyes. She wore an outfit consisting of a flannel, fishing waders, and rubber boots.


    "Mom! Look!" A girl who looked around 12 years old, with a similar outfit and appearance to the woman she called her mother pulled back the fishing line. On the end was a black rubber sandal. The girl''s mother walked over and pulled the sandal off the hook. She immediately looked around with vigilance as she unconsciously put her free hand on the double barrel.


    "Charlie, come here." The woman placed her hand on the girl''s shoulder and pulled her closer. She looked through around the woods with a worried expression. "It can''t be those things, it can''t be." She said attempting to reassure herself. Her body was tense as she scanned her surroundings. Whatever "things" she revered to must have been threatening to make her feel unsafe while she had a shotgun.


    "Mom! It''s a boy with white hair!" Charlie called woke her mother from her stupor as she pointed. A very delicate looking "boy" with very short white hair floated downstream, wearing a bloodied medical gown and covered in wounds. Blood slowly spilled out of the wounds and colored the water red.


    The Mother gripped her shotgun and walked toward the "boy". After she got close enough she could see that he was genuinely unconscious and let her guard down. She looked at his doll-like face and thought he was a bit too feminine to be a boy. Putting those thoughts in the back of her mind, she grabbed him and pulled him out of the river.

 Chapter 4: A Rose By Any Other Name

    S-767 opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. The fact that there was a ceiling was strange, as the last thing she remembered was drifting in a river. She sat up and examined herself, she was wearing a gray shirt and gray shorts to match, and bandages decorated her wounds. Looking around the small room, she could see a small bookshelf next to a desk and a chair.


    The door opened, and a blonde woman walked in carrying a tray of food holding oatmeal, an orange, and some scrambled eggs.


    "You''re awake," She said before placing the tray on the desk and looking at S-767. She then pulled the chair out and brought it to the edge of the bed.


    "You got a name?" She smiled in a friendly manner.


    "...No," S-767 answered honestly. S-767 wasn''t her name but rather a classification of sorts.


    "Well...We''ll figure one out for you? In the meantime, you can call me Rachel. I''ll start asking some questions and then you answer as best you can, ok?" S-767''s monotone voice caught the woman off guard, but she continued speaking.


    "Do you have anyfamily?" She asked.


    "No."


    "I see...Then, where''d you come from?"


    "I don''t know."


    "How did you get those injuries?"


    "...A bear attacked me."


    "A bear? Really? That''s how you ended up in the river?" Rachel blinked in surprise. She doubted whether or not S-767 was telling the truth but the girl spoke with such a straight face it made it hard to think otherwise.


    "Yes, I tried to get away and accidentally fell in."


    "You drifted down the river and got pretty banged up. When I bandaged you up I noticed your tattoos...What do they mean exactly?"


    "They describe what I am."


    "And what''s that?" Rachel asked out of pure bewilderment.


    "...I don''t know," S-767 replied.


    Rachel''s gaze turned serious as she went over S-767 a few times. She was under the assumption that S-767 was a victim of human trafficking but managed to escape, which was a slight truth. Minerva illegally took possession of S-767 while she was in her embryonic stage.


    "Alright. How about we call you Vis?" Rachel said with a smile as she wiped her solemn expression. She decided not to cause the girl to have mental trauma by bringing up her past.


    "Vis?" S-767 repeated questioningly.


    "Yeah, like the tattoo under your collarbone," Rachel explained before continuing, " The V, the 1, and the S. It''s not the most creative, but it''s something, right?"The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Vis," S-767 repeated with a confused expression.


    "If you don''t like it¨C" Rachel started to speak until S-767 interrupted her.


    "¨CNo...It''s fine." S-767, or rather Vis,said. It was hard for her to describe what it was like to have a name. For others, it was something common, but to her, it was much more than that. Rachel smiled and grabbed the tray, bringing it to the side of the bed.


    "Eat as much as you like, I''ll be back in a few." Rachel said before leaving the room.


    Vis ate a spoonful of oatmeal and widened her eyes, it tasted far better than the raw meat of animals.


    [Warning: Battery Low. Requesting user hear final analysis. Accept or Decline?] The robotic voice of the A.I intoned.


    "Accept," Vis said as she continued to eat.


    [User accepted. Lifeforms appear to be human. Basic scans of surroundings and Physiology seem to show modern advancements. Estimated probability of Minerva research material and or contaminants being leaked into the atmosphere: 92%. User advised to¡ª] The watch went dead before the A.I could finish.


    Vis was unsure of how to take the newly acquired information. The fact was she didn''t know anything about Minerva or about the current world she was in.


    She turned her head to the bookshelf on the other side of the room and then raised her arm. The books floated in the air and over to the bed. Vis looked over them, she lucked out by finding a few history books. Wasting no time, she opened them while she ate. She had to learn about her new world as quickly as possible.


    ..........


    Far away, in a large damp cavern with Moss lined walls. A steady dripping sound helped to give sound to the calm atmosphere.


    The scene was disrupted by a group of slow moving people, their movements cautious and alert.


    6 people moved forward together. They each wore a set of night vision goggles, helmets, balaclavas, gas masks, black jumpsuits, tactical vest, and metallic protective plating covering their limbs and torsos. Various equipment hung on their belts and chest holsters, from knives to grenades and finally pistols. Four out of six of them held black assault rifles with suppressors. The remaining two carried a machine that resembled a portable cannon.


    [Comms check.] The one who looked to be the leader spoke into a microphone.


    [Check.]


    [Check.]


    [Check.]


    [Check.]


    [Check.]


    The remaining five responded.


    [Intel says this is a suspected spot for one of the Corrupted. Our aim is to capture it alive, keep your eyes peeled.] The leader spoke as they made their way deeper into the cavern.


    [Captain, you think a corrupted would be by itself so close to human civilization.] Someone asked curiously.


    [The wildlife is scarce around here, which is usually a sign of a Corrupted. They tend to stick closer to the nest where the queen is, but it''s clear things have changed in the seven years.] The Captain spoke bitterly, recalling the event that took place seven years ago, an event which changed human life dramatically.


    All of a sudden an object came into view.


    [Safety''s off. Get that Pulse Gun ready.] The captain ordered as they raised their weapons. Turning back, the Captain looked at the machine that needed two people to carry it.


    Attached to the wall of the cavern was an extremely large and fleshy cocoon that pulsated with life.


    [Give it a wake-up call.] The Captain said, taking a step back.


    The "Pulse Gun" whirred with life and crackled, the long barrel began to glow and then¡ª


    A pulse of energy shot out of the gun faster than normal eyes could track and hit the cocoon, causing it to burst open.


    "Aiegh!" The contents of the cocoon, mainly being a human-like creature, emerged with a scream before falling to the ground, seemingly paralyzed.


    The exhaust ports on the Pulse Gun released steam accompanied by a loud hiss that echoed throughout the cavern, becoming the only sound in the tense atmosphere. The Captain pulled out a syringe and stepped forward. The creature showed no visible movements, but the Captain refused to relax, only after the syringe was injected did the Captain take a sigh of relief.


    [Call for an extraction.] The Captain said to one of the men, before moving away from the creature. One of the subordinates nodded and ran back to the entrance of the cave.


    And like that, a successful capture operation was completed. What was captured and for what purpose remained to be answered.

 Chapter 5: Vis Meets World

    Novo Prime, That was the name of the world in which Vis currently lived. The continent on which she stayed was Osarios and the current year was 1057.


    Its history bore no resemblance to the Earth in her implanted memories. The first page of the book started with a quote, which read:


    "For as long as humans have existed, they have always been alongside us.When we learned to run, they learned how to chase us.When we learned to hide, they learned how to find us.When we learned to create, they learned how to destroy.They are the Corrupted, and they have always been alongside us."


    -Dr. Peter Rosamund


    A clear reminder with a tone indicating caution. As Vis continued reading, she saw the events that helped to shape the world. Each era had one thing in common, and that was the Corrupted. The number of times humans fought amongst themselves couldn''t compare to the number of occasions the Corrupted attacked. The word "Massacre" seemed to be synonymous with Corrupted. Many historical figures lost their lives while battling with the Corrupted during periods of early civilization.


    Vis quickly skimmed the book until she arrived at the first sign of a modern era. A black and white photo of a Corrupted. It had a strangely humanoid appearance: Large eyes and reptilian pupils that took up the majority of its face, A jaw filled with neat rows of sharp teeth, thick claws at the end of each of its five fingers, and cat-like hind legs.


    The description next to the picture said the creature''s eyeswere an amber color while its height was anywhere from 6 to 8 feet, often switching between bipedal and quadrupedal positions. The next ten or so pages detailing all thatwas knownabout the Corrupted. Incredibly fast growth and healing-rate, resistance to small firearms, resistance to poisons, extended periods of hibernation, and no discernible gender. The internal structure of the Corrupted showed signs of having male and female reproductive organs. A widely accepted theory explained that the Corrupted would be able to produce a queen and males to breed with the queen if it was needed. Such a frightening feature made it clear that the species would survive as a whole, even with only two members remaining, added on to the fact that they reached maturity in a matter of months. Faced with such a threat, humans came close to extinction too many times to be comfortable; one such time contributed to the loss of records from one period of history. Humans restarted their calendar years after nearly being wiped from the earth.


    Finally, Vis reached the point of where Modern technologywas introducedinto civilization. While human technology relied heavily on oil and coal for decades, Novo Prime relied on Novidium. An abundant mineral capable of storing large quantities of energy. From then on, solar, wind, water, and heat sources were used to charge batteries containing Novidium. Larger batteries were used to power cities and towns, while smaller batteries powered vehicles. The portable batteries could last a month without being charged, while larger ones could last up to a year. Of course, much like the discovery of an energy source on earth, a period of rapid technological development occurred. The survivability of humans increased, but it wasn¡¯t enough to completely be shielded from the danger.


    The Corrupted would sometimes enter year long hibernations, and when they awoke, they would completely decimate any consumable wildlife in the vicinity before moving onto a more numerous source, humans.


    There were dozens of human cities and towns which could change in number at any time. In the Midwest, there were currently three major cities, Copperhagen, New Mayhall, and Mancia. Each one operated under a loose trade alliance, with a non-aggression pact still active for ten more years.


    After skipping the diplomatic side of things, Vis arrived at an event that took place seven years ago. ¡°Fallen Star,¡± the unexplained phenomenon where a massive object entered the earth¡¯s atmosphere without any warning signs. People assumed the worst, but it crashed somewhere without any visible destruction.


    In spite of weeks of searching no trace of it couldbe found. After the ¡°Fallen Star¡± event,certainpeople became what has been labeled as ¡°abnormal,¡± possessing various physical and mental abilities from strength to intelligence and everything in between. Most of the abilities appeared to have occurredrandomly, hereditary testing had yet to be implemented at the time of the discovery. What was even stranger was the fact that the Corrupted were rarely sighted and showed strange behavior after the ¡°Fallen Star¡± event. The history book ended there apparently the updates occurred after each decade, so it was currently unknown if the cause was investigated or not.


    ¡°Minerva,¡± Vis said to herself. There was no possibility of anyone getting telekinesis without receiving the implant and even if another implant ended up somewhere on Novo Prime, no one would have the knowledge to understand what it was.


    Vis closed the book and contemplated. She had no real direction and no end goal, even after learning about her new world, she was still lost.


    Knock. Knock.


    A short knock on the door shook her from her daydream. Rachel who entered with gauze and medical supplies, she brought them over to the bed and was surprised to see Vis reading history books.


    ¡°I need to change the bandages and clean your wounds before they fester,¡± Rachel explained.


    ¡°Ok,¡± Vis replied unbothered by it.


    While unwrapping the bandages, Rachel spoke, ¡°If you¡¯re feeling better, Charlie can take you around the town. We have to get you registered.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Charlie?¡± Vis questioned.


    ¡°Oh, sorry. Charlie is my daughter. You guys might even be the same age, how old are you?¡±


    Vis looked at her right arm, seeing the F-13 which represented her gender and age, she responded.


    ¡°Thirteen.¡± She said.


    ¡°You¡¯re a year older than Charlie¡­¡± Rachel realized that one of Vis¡¯ tattoos represented her age. She wanted to change the subject but was shocked after seeing Vis¡¯ wounds.


    ¡°You¡­You¡¯re an abnormal!?¡± Rachel wasn¡¯t fearful, but rather surprised. Vis¡¯ lighter wounds were already scars while the heavy ones were scabbing.


    ¡°I am.¡± Vis technically was an ¡°Abnormal¡± so she didn¡¯t attempt to hide it. Still, her healing was due to the nanites controlling her cellular functions and was far slower than Abnormals with the actual ability.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to yell; It¡¯s just I didn¡¯t expect you to be one. Especially when some of the Abnormals founded their city a few years ago, a majority of them went and moved there. These days you can only find them in the Military, working as private military contractors, or staying in that city.¡± Rachel explained.


    After the initial surprise, Rachel¡¯s mind began to wander. She already assumed Vis was a victim of human trafficking, but finding out she was also an Abnormal made things worse. At first, she didn¡¯t think that human traffickers would expend much effort to look for one girl, but an Abnormal? If someone were involved with Abnormals, they woulddefinitelyhave the resources and the capital to do so. If that were true, they wouldn¡¯t let Vis go without a fight.


    ¡°Vis, is there anyone who would be looking for you?¡± Rachel asked carefully.


    ¡°No,¡± Vis replied, not knowing what Rachel was thinking.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rachel once again asked in a supportive manner.


    ¡°...Maybe.¡± Vis became uncertain as she thought of Minerva. Would they look for her? The A.I in the lab didn¡¯t say so, and she didn¡¯t know anything about them. Unfortunately, her answer served to confirm Rachel¡¯spersonalconjecture. She was now under the assumption that someone might be searching for Vis.


    Rachel sighed, it would be dangerous for her and her daughter to keep Vis around, not only them, but the whole town might be in danger.


    Rachel had applied a few bandages before she spoke, ¡°Come on.¡±


    She led Vis outside of the room, and for the first time, Vis saw the rest of the home she was stayingin. It was quite small, one bathroom, another bedroom, and a kitchen that also functioned as a living room. Vis felt no reason to complain though; she currently had zero interest in materialism.


    They exited into the backyard, where a log, wrapped in rope, was tied to a tree. On a nearby stump, there were shotgun shells and a double barrel shotgun.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know your circumstances, but I¡¯m gonna help you as best I can. And the best way would be teaching you how to defend yourself.¡± Rachel said as she picked up the shotgun and handed it to Vis.


    ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Vis asked as she accepted the shotgun. It was a valid question, she had yet to understand sentiment and attachment, so altruism was a foreign concept. As of right now, Vis'' mindset leaned closer to practicality and rationality; it was what Minerva decided on rather than her thoughts. If she was Rachel in this situation the most rational thing to do would be to abandon Vis. Rachel didn¡¯t know who Vis was, or what problem she could bring so it was strange for Vis to hear such a thing.


    ¡°Why?¡± Rachel helped Vis aim the shotgun correctly before continuing, ¡°...My Father was a doctor, and he always told me, ¡®Since we live in a time of monsters, humans should help humans when they can and as much as they can.'' To be honest, I thought it was stupid; Charity is for the stoic since it rarely rewards you. So why would I go out of my way to help someone? Eventually, I realized that one selfish person could end up hurting hundreds of other people...Put your cheek on the stock.¡± Even though Vis didn¡¯t say much and didn¡¯t show any real emotion, Rachel took a liking to her.


    Vis listened to the story as she adjusted the shotgun.


    ¡°What if you have to kill a human to help another human?¡± Vis asked. In her memories, it was suggested she learn how to control her powers lest she accidentally hurts someone, but there was no solid outline on morality which was intended by Minerva. They would¡¯ve groomed her to be loyal to them, while unfeeling to anyone else.


    Rachel looked at Vis as she contemplated, ¡°There are humans, and there are monsters. People who do terrible things to innocent people, they aren¡¯t humans, they¡¯re monsters.¡± Rachel said coldly. She remembered her ownlife, sheknew firsthand just how terrible people could be.


    Vis absorbed what Rachel said, but shewas still leftwith uncertainties. At what point did people become monsters? Were there exceptions? Where did she fitin? Was being human defined by DNA or was it morals that defined one as a human?


    ¡°Try to keep your eyes open and pull the trigger as smoothly as you can. When you¡¯re ready to turn off the safety, and then you can shoot.¡± Rachel instructed, stopping Vis¡¯ thoughts from wandering.


    Vis listened carefully, and after she had turned off the safety, she pulled the trigger.Of course, she couldn¡¯t shoulder the recoil and dropped the shotgun as she fell back. Rachel nodded with satisfaction and then helped Vis to her feet.


    ¡°The same thing happened to me when I first shot it.¡± She smiled as she wiped the dust off of Vis, ¡°You okay with firing again?¡±


    Vis nodded and picked the gun up. Rachel showed her how to load the shotgun and let her find her position once again.


    ¡°Same as before, when you¡¯re ready just shoot.¡± Rachel said as she stepped back.


    Vis used her Psionics to steady the gun and prevent all recoil. Rachel''s eyes widened at the sight of Vis shooting yet not moving at all, as she had no idea of knowing what Vis had done.


    ¡°...You have a strength ability too?¡± Rachel asked with her mouth agape. It wasn¡¯t to say it was impossible for one person to have multiple abilities, but Rachel hadn¡¯t heard of such a thing before. Then again, she lived in a small town quite a way¡¯s away from the larger cities. News like that wouldn¡¯t travelthere, peoplewere more concerned about the activities of the Corrupted.


    The only reason Vis used her Psionics is that she decided she could trust Rachel, although her memories told her not to disclose any information about Minerva to unauthorized people. It didn¡¯t specify on what classified as information. Showing her abilities to someone didn¡¯t necessarily equate to revealing Minerva¡¯s secrets.


    Instead of explaining, Vis raised her hand and caused two shotgun shells to float in the air. She then silently loaded them into the gun and put the safety back on.


    Rachel was speechless, Vis¡¯ ability didn¡¯t exist in this world. There was no way she would know how to react to something as strange as what she just saw.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m home...what are you doing?¡± A twelve-year-old who bore a striking resemblance to Rachel spoke in a curious tone. It was, of course, Rachel¡¯s daughter Charlie.

 Chapter 6: A Little Imagination

    With all of Vis¡¯ enhancements came a significant increase in Intelligence and situational adaptability. To achieve those increases there needed to be an enhancement to the neurons that were responsible for sending signals to the brain. The nanites in Vis¡¯ body served to artificially enhance the responses of the neurons in her body.


    The processing power of Vis¡¯ brain was altered to some extent in order for her to adjust to the Blue Swan Implant and to adapt to her new memories. There was a limit to the amount of information the normal human brain could process and absorb. Vis¡¯ brain was altered by the nanites which increased her efficiency in processing and absorbing knowledge.


    It had to be noted, while her overall intelligence was increased it wasn¡¯t to a ridiculous extent. Minerva was wary of her becoming too intelligent which would be problematic to the process of creating a living weapon. The nanites were programmed with the intention of balancing that factor out but not interfering with the Neural implant.


    In short, Vis could learn how to do things noticeably faster than others. It may take weeks or months to become a skilled marksman, but for Vis, the time would be reduced significantly.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Rachel muttered. It was nothing short of amazing, not only did Vis become proficient in using the double barrel shotgun, but her strange ability allowed her to reduce the cone of fire. It had to be said, the more the spread of the shotgun was reduced the deadlier it became.


    Charlie, being nearly the same age as Vis took interest in her powers. Due to her childish nature, Rachel had to warn her many times not to tell anyone about Vis.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Charlie clapped as she looked at Vis¡¯ latest shot through a plywood target.


    A hole was formed from the pellets being concentrated in one area, even Charlie knew how amazing it was. She also learned how to shoot, although it was still tough for her. When Charlie first saw Vis use her powers, she was shocked, but quickly adjusted.


    Vis silently nodded, she didn¡¯t have anything in particular to say. Efficiency was instilled into her brain and she would likely always follow the most efficient path.


    ¡°Hey Vis, what else can you do?¡± Charlie asked with curiosity.


    ¡°I have no grasp on my full capabilities,¡± Vis responded in an empty voice.


    She could only adapt to situations as they developed, her current lack of imagination was possibly her greatest weakness. That and the fact that overuse of her powers rendered her helpless.


    ¡°What about...A magic bullet?!¡± Charlie suggested. It was a thought drawn from one of the stories she read, about a lone hunter who killed the Corrupted with a single bullet that had magical properties. While it was a far-fetched concept, Vis¡¯ abilities could make it a reality or at least, that¡¯s what Charlie was willing to believe.


    ¡°Magic...bullet? I am not familiar with such a concept.¡± Vis expressed her confusion.


    Rachel raised her eyebrows as if she was struck by inspiration, ¡°You said your...psionic...ability allows you to move things, right?¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Yes, that is the simplest explanation,¡± Vis answered.


    In basic terms, she could move things with her mind. In the most complicated, she could produce fields of Psionic energy and manipulate anything within those fields to an extent.


    ¡°So what if you moved that energy...like a bullet?¡± Rachel said in a questioning tone. She herself wasn¡¯t very sure about Vis, so it was far-fetched for her to be able to instruct her on how to use her powers.


    ¡°I will try,¡± Vis responded.


    She placed the shotgun on a nearby stump and then raised her hand before extending a finger and attempting to force energy into a compressed point. The tip of her finger showed a glossy shimmer that was barely noticeable. Meanwhile, Rachel and Charlie looked on with expectant eyes.


    Vis¡¯ arm began to lightly shake, but she used her free hand to brace it. After a few moments, the Psionic energy was compressed and fired with a loud whistling noise.


    The Psionic bullet was too fast to be spotted and even if it could be spotted it was nearly invisible. It went through the plywood and continued on, only stopping after the Psionic energy bore through three other trees and then dissipated.


    Rachel and Charlie carried the same expression. Their jaws dropped after seeing such a display.


    ¡°Wow, Vis that was?¡± Charlie stopped mid-sentence as she looked at Vis¡¯ lying unconsciously on the ground. Blood spilled out of her nose and her head quickly became covered in sweat.


    Rachel came to her side and felt her forehead. It was clear Vis was feverish.


    ¡°Help me get her inside.¡± Rachel said. Charlie nodded her head and grabbed Vis¡¯ legs. They carried her inside and placed her on a bed.


    ¡­¡­...


    After Vis¡¯ condition had somewhat stabilized, Rachel decided to head into the town and find an identity for her, while Charlie stayed behind to take care of her.


    While towns were relatively safer than smaller congregations of civilians, they lacked the security of the 20-foot concrete walls that cities surrounded by. They only had an electric fence for protection.


    Normally people didn¡¯t stay out too long and most establishments were closed by evening. Rachel would occasionally pass by someone and say a few polite words of greeting before moving on. She came upon the Department of Records, which recorded the history of the residents inside of the town. There were strict requirements for entering cities and a proof of identity was the bare minimum needed.


    Rachel snuck around the building and opened a window with a broken latch. Of course, the only reason she knew of the broken latch was due to the fact that she was an employee there. She needed to be extra careful as trespassing and forging records carried harsh penalties. She climbed into the building and headed to a back room filled with filing cabinets. Instead of forging a completely new identity, Rachel decided to alter an old one. She looked at the deceased and thought to be deceased section, towns and cities would occasionally suffer attacks from the Corrupted and there was no way to confirm if they were dead or not. After searching for some time, she came upon the file of a missing girl, Lisette Thales. Thirteen years old with no next of kin, it was perfect. She took the file and went to a nearby computer terminal.


    The computers on Novo Prime were similar to the computer¡¯s on earth but were far more simplistic in their public use. They had a few main uses, online encyclopedias, news reports, military use, and file storage. There wasn¡¯t much entertainment value other than reading a few books. T.V was also around, but it also didn¡¯t have much for entertainment, only news reports, music, recruitment propaganda, lectures, and a few plays were all that were currently available. After all, the market for entertainment was low since there was the threat of being attacked by the Corrupted at any given moment.


    After turning on the computer, Rachel searched the file number and began to edit the details. Lisette Thales was changed to Visette Thales. Her ¡°missing thought to be dead¡± status was changed to ¡°missing thought to be kidnapped¡±. Since Rachel assumed it was the truth anyway, she had no problem changing it. As for the name change, she had already given Vis the name ¡°Vis¡± and wasn¡¯t too happy about changing it so she changed one letter. Then, Rachel entered the details of Vis¡¯ appearance and removed the picture from the database, that way she could bring Vis to get her picture taken the next day.


    Rachel erased the activity log and powered off the computer before departing without a trace.


    ...

 Chapter 7: The Horde On The Horizon

    Vis woke up with a splitting headache the next day. Before leaving the room she entered a brief state of contemplation. Her day to day activities had been moving at a rate where she hadn¡¯t been able to stop and consider the world around her. Why was English a language in this world? If she recalled correctly, and she did, what the A.I had said this was an entirely different world than the Earth she knew. At the moment she lacked the creativity to form a hypothesis of what type of world Novo Prime exactly was. The only clue she had was the fact that part of the Minerva laboratory had fallen from the sky in an unexplainable event.


    After finishing her thoughts, Vis left the room and was met with the scent of cooked food. She began to value well-prepared food since all she had eaten previously was the raw meat of animals. Though it was mostly due to the fact that the food would be far more nutritious and thereby beneficial to eat.


    At the dining table, Charlie already found a seat and was busy reading a book. Rachel finished making a plate of food and was preparing to bring it to Vis when she turned around and saw she was awake.


    ¡°Well don¡¯t just stand there, come eat.¡± Rachel smiled as she placed a plate on the table before sitting down. Just like that the three began eating.


    ¡°No reading and eating at the table, Charlie. You¡¯ll get food on your books.¡± Rachel said with a frown.


    Charlie closed the book somewhat reluctantly. Of course, her real reason for reading the book was to find some way to help Vis, but after her attempt to help yesterday went wrong, she didn¡¯t want to suggest anything just yet.


    Vis began eating while glancing at the book Charlie was reading; The Boy and the Boat, A Tale of Adventure. Vis couldn¡¯t help but think of everything she knew of Earth, if Charlie was there, perhaps she would be interested in something else. Nearly everyone on Novo Prime shared the belief that kids should learn how to use a firearm at a young age. Still, Vis didn¡¯t feel pity about the life the people on Novo Prime lived. She was originally supposed to become a weapon, so her sympathetic responses were intentionally dulled, but that wasn¡¯t to say she was cold-blooded and unfeeling. For example, she began to have positive feelings toward Rachel and Charlie.


    While Vis was in thought, Charlie began speaking, ¡°Can I take Vis to meet my friends?¡±


    Rachel began to consider it but quickly shook her head. ¡°I need to take Vis to get registered at the Department of Records, and she may need more rest. She pushed herself too hard yesterday. Not just that, but I don¡¯t want an accident to happen and her powers to be exposed.¡±


    Charlie looked disappointed as she turned to Vis, ¡°Sorry about yesterday, Vis...It''s my fault you were hurt.¡±


    Vis shook her head in response, ¡°There is no issue. You assisted me with developing a new ability."


    The ability itself was frighteningly powerful, but took too long to use and had huge mental drawback. On the plus side, as long as she gained adequate resistance to fainting, the psionic bullet would become very useful against almost any threats.


    Vis thought to herself and after a few moments she began to speak, ¡°Do you have any more suggestions?¡±


    ¡°Suggestions for what?¡± Charlie asked curiously


    ¡°The creation of any new abilities.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Rachel immediately shot down the request.


    ¡°Is it an inappropriate thing to have requested?¡± Vis asked with slight confusion.


    Rachel looked at Vis with deep concern. From an outside perspective, Vis seemed to not care about her own safety. Not only that, but all of her actions so far seemed very strange. From the way she spoke to the way she acted, it was clear that Vis lacked something. Then there was the hint of unfamiliarity in nearly everything she did.


    ¡°It¡¯s not really inappropriate, but...whatever your ability is, it seems to hurt you. You could end up dying if you keep at it.¡± Rachel said with concern,


    ¡°I assure you that I have considered my personal safety after what occurred yesterday,¡± Vis said.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what¡¯s wrong with the situation.¡± Rachel shook her head. ¡°You''re putting yourself at risk, without understanding the danger,¡± she said as she tried to get through to Vis.


    Over the past few days, Vis had become more talkative than before, but whenever she spoke it didn¡¯t resemble anything a normal 13 year old would say, rather it was far more detached.


    ¡°I completely understand the dangers of the situation. The brain hemorrhaging that usually occurs can be counteracted by my ability to regenerate until my body can become accustomed to the strain.¡± Vis explained. It was half ot the truth. The nanites could repair ruptured blood vessels and reconstruct brain cells, unless she took significant damage to brain, she would continue to be just fine.


    ¡°Vis, doesn¡¯t it hurt?¡± Charlie stepped in and asked as she could understand what her mother was trying to say.


    ¡°There are times when I experience large amounts of pain, but it is only for a few moments,¡± Vis said. The nanites would help produce adrenaline to numb painful sensations most of the time.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°Vis, you should be more concerned with your well-being.¡± Rachel couldn¡¯t help but criticize her seemingly unphased attitude about being hurt.


    Vis stayed silent for a few moments as she went over the values of normal humans in her head. To help and assist others, but to also keep themselves safe. Sentiment and emotion made up a large part of the human experience from what Rachel and Charlie demonstrated. Vis understood that they cared for her, but could she say the same for them? If they were in trouble she would do her best to help them. Why? She couldn¡¯t help but ask herself. When they first met, Vis didn¡¯t think much of them, but now¡­


    ¡°If your lives are in danger should I prioritize my own safety ahead of your own?¡± Vis asked.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Rachel was speechless. She couldn¡¯t answer right away due to the conflicting answers that appeared in her head. Was it selfish to say no? Was it reckless to say yes?


    ¡°Vis...I¡¯m sorry, it wasn¡¯t right of me to attempt to put those conditions on you. With your ability, you could save a lot of lives...If you were strong enough, you wouldn¡¯t have to make such a choice and I can only hope you¡¯ll reach a point where you¡¯ll never have to consider who should live.¡± Rachel said with an apologetic tone. She was fully aware that her line of thought could only be considered wishful thinking. The Corrupted allowed for no such thoughts, there were times where they came in hordes and killed thousands. Those who couldn''t fend for themselves would always be left behind.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Vis nodded as she accepted the conclusion.


    The best outcome was to avoid the choice of saving someone or saving herself. To be honest, Vis was aware that she didn¡¯t have to save anyone or do anything, but there was a lack of purpose in her life and a desperate need to fill the empty spot. Once again, those were the intentions of Minerva, to instill the subconscious need of fulfilling a purpose. After all, wasn¡¯t it easier to make someone do something if they already had the desire to do it in the first place?


    After breakfast, Rachel took Charlie along to register Vis into the Department of Records. Everything checked out, but there were bound to be questions. Rachel handled most of it, showing Vis¡¯ tattoos as evidence of human trafficking, and chalking up her reluctance to talk about it as trauma. Of course, Rachel had thought it was the truth and because of Vis having Minerva¡¯s rules ingrained in her head, she wasn¡¯t allowed to correct her. Besides, would Rachel even believe that she was from a different world?


    Vis, or officially, Visette Thales looked at her ID card. A little plastic rectangle with her photo on it. A girl with short white hair, calm brown eyes, and delicate features that made one want to protect her from harm. Then again, depending on who was asked, Vis either looked like a very pretty boy or a very handsome girl. As to what Vis thought? She had very little, if any, concern about her looks, but in the end, the ones responsible for her current features were Minerva. The nanites altered her genetic structure in order to give her an appearance that would disarm and possibly attract others. The current Vis held little to no resemblance to her parents, not that she even knew of them.


    Her entire existence was designed in a lab by people who didn''t think of her as an actual living being. There was nothing on her body that could be considered her own.


    ¡­


    One week later.


    A black truck slowed to a crawl. One look and it was clear to see that it wasn¡¯t an ordinary truck. It was outfitted with heavy armor plating and a machine gun with a ballistic shield attached. In addition to the thick rubber tires that were obviously bulletproof. As the truck stopped a group of people dressed in tactical gear, climbed out and surveyed the area.


    ¡°The satellite images show that the wildlife has mostly disappeared, but it failed to spot any of the Corrupted. It¡¯s highly suspected that there is at least one Nocturnal variant around here.¡± The man who looked to be the leader spoke solemnly. His team members nodded and began to slowly scan the area. It wasn¡¯t too long before they came upon trees with deep claw marks carved into them.


    ¡°Safety¡¯s off.¡± The leader ordered as they moved even more cautiously.


    After a 30 minutes or so, they came upon a dried husk of a cocoon.


    ¡°Alright, this is more than enough for confirmation, let¡¯s leave as soon as possible.¡± The leader said as he deposited a small piece of the husk into a plastic bag before standing up. When he turned to leave he noticed he men were rooted in place with frightful expressions. Before he could ask what was wrong, one of his men pointed behind him. He quickly turned around and aimed his weapon, but there was no enemy, instead there were dozens of dried husks hanging from the branches above. As the wind blew more husks began to fall until they were too numerous to count.


    ¡°We evac immediately. Radio into central...and tell them...tell them we got a big fucking problem. It''s highly likely that there is a Corrupted horde on the move. Luckily, we missed them by a few days. ¡± The leader watched as what looked to be hundreds of cocoons fell from the tree tops. He pulled out a large device which looked to be a camera, and pressed a button. A light flashed a few times and pictures of the surroundings appeared on its screen. The leader pressed a few buttons and a loading bar appeared, before he nodded and signalled for the men to depart.


    The team hurried back to the truck and immediately drove off. A man using the radio attached to the dashboard quickly reported.


    [Central Command, This is Recon Team Thirteen. We¡¯ve discovered evidence of a Corrupted Horde. The digital photos are being sent right now. Over.]


    After a few moments the radio buzzed, [Recon Team Thirteen, this is Central Command. We¡¯ve received the digital evidence. Orders are as follows, evacuate two V.I.P¡¯s from the nearest town and proceed back to base. Copy?]


    The man on the radio looked to the leader who expressed confusion, [Central, We¡¯re just a Recon Team, are there no extraction teams available? Over.]


    [This an order directly from Commander Wakefield, you are the only ones in the area so this mission has been given to you. Extract both Rachel and Charlie Wakefield from the town and safely bring them to the Command Center. Copy?]


    Hearing that it was a personal order the signs of confusion cleared up. Things became even clearer when they realized that the V.I.P¡¯s shared the same last name as the Commander.


    [Copy that. Over and out.]


    ¡°You all heard our orders. I believe the town is designated as C dash Twenty-Three, it''s several hours away from our current position and maybe a few days away from New Mayhall depending on the conditions. We¡¯ll collect the V.I.P¡¯s and do our best to warn the town.¡± The leader made a grim expression.


    Part of the reason he didn¡¯t want to extract anyone was the reaction it brought. The pitiful expressions people made as they begged to at least have their children get extracted. There were times where people would erupt into violence which would lead to them opening fire on a crowd. Orders were orders and as such he couldn¡¯t disobey, no matter how guilty he felt. The men in the truck all felt the same, but came to the same conclusion. Orders were orders, no matter what.


    ¡­

 Chapter 8: Evacuation Order

    Visette sat in the backyard with her legs crossed and her eyes closed as she used her Psionics to make a set of small pebbles orbit around her. She found it as a safer way to increase her mental resistance, but the credit went to Charlie who suggested it in the first place. Charlie had gotten the idea from an old book in which one of the characters would hold his weapon outstretched and meditate for hours to strengthen his mind and body. Obviously, some liberties were taken with the process due to Visette¡¯s abilities, but Charlie managed to get the idea across.


    The person responsible for developing the meditation method was watching Visette with a fascinated expression. Charlie quickly became obsessed with Visette, so much so that she rarely played with her friends anymore. From Charlie¡¯s perspective, Visette was comparable to a budding hero from one of the many books she loved to read. She counted herself lucky to stumble on Visette that day she went fishing with her mother.


    Rachel came outside to see Charlie resting her chin on her hands while watching Visette ¡°meditate¡± and sighed. No matter how friendly and cheerful they were it seemed impossible for Visette to reciprocate it. Since Visette had stayed with them she hadn''t smiled once, not even a forced smile.


    After completing another ¡°orbit¡± with the pebbles, Visette dropped them and opened her eyes.


    ¡°It was a very effective exercise, thank you,¡± She said while looking at Charlie.


    ¡°It¡¯s ok, really.¡± Charlie stood up somewhat hastily.


    ¡°Is there anything else you think I should try?¡± Visette asked curiously.


    ¡°Uh...Oh!¡± Charlie¡¯s eyes widened before she spoke again, ¡°Anton!¡±


    Visette silently waited for an explanation as she had no way of knowing what Charlie meant.


    ¡°S-Sorry, You must not know. Ehem.¡± Charlie cleared her throat before starting her explanation. ¡°There¡¯s an old legend about a man named Anton that began right after the restart of the era. It''s about how he used to wander around and kill Corrupted with nothing but what he had available. There¡¯s at least one record of Anton at every city on the continent and it¡¯s said he killed at least three to five hundred Corrupted by himself. Anyway, there¡¯s one particular story about Anton killing a Corrupted by chopping its head off with his bare hands.¡±


    ¡°Charlie, time has a way of altering stories for the better. Most of those Anton stories are used to boost morale, how is that gonna help Vis?¡± Rachel interrupted. While Rachel¡¯s view was slightly cynical, she was right.


    When things look bad for people fighting on the frontlines they often would say ¡°Anton could kill you all with a stick¡± or ¡°If Anton was here you¡¯d kill yourself to save him the trouble.¡± There were times when people who recount tales of Anton with their own personal spin, there were several that detailed Anton killing a man by glaring at him, Anton surviving the winter while being half-naked the whole time, Anton killing a Corrupted with one punch, and the most common, Anton killing several Corrupted with a stick. Anton was truly an inspirational figure whose name never failed to drum up courage, but whether he existed or not remained to be seen. Like that, Anton became a source of hope and a sign of good luck for nearly everyone who had heard of him.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point mom.¡± Charlie pouted. She was attempting to look knowledgeable in front of Visette, but she felt like Rachel ruined her moment. ¡°Anyway...¡± Charlie continued, ¡°You can try cutting something in half with your power, just like Anton.¡±


    Rachel contemplated on whether or not it would cause Visette to pass out, but in the end, it wasn''t up to her.


    Rachel picked up a thick log and sat it on a tree stump, ¡°You can try with this.¡±


    Visette nodded and stood in front of the stump before raising her hand. Psionic energy began to gather at the bottom of her hand, but this time she didn¡¯t overdo it to prevent herself from passing out. Visette raised her hand slowly and then she made a swift chopping motion. She easily split the log in half and even some of the stump under it.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡± Charlie was amazed, but she made sure to check Visette¡¯s condition before continuing and Rachel was no different.


    ¡°My condition is acceptable.¡± Vis nodded as drops of blood slowly fell from her nose like a broken faucet.


    ¡°Your condition¡­¡± Rachel repeated with an uncomfortable expression. ¡°Vis, I¡¯m fine with you practicing...abilities...but I don¡¯t want you telling anyone else about them just yet. What you have is nothing short of a miracle, but there will be people that want to exploit you as much as they can. If that¡¯s too hard to keep it a secret, at least pretend you have a strengthening ability.¡±


    ¡°I will attempt to keep my abilities hidden as much as the situation allows,¡± Visette nodded.


    She basically meant that if it came down to her own purpose and goals and concealing her powers, she¡¯d choose the former. It was apparent that her powers could be used to acquire resources from any city she went to. In many ways, Visette would be the perfect soldier. Of course, it would be impossible for one person to shift the battle of thousands, but a team of elites could accomplish quite a lot.


    Rachel felt unsatisfied with Visette¡¯s answer but could only sigh, ¡°...In any case, it¡¯s nearly time for lunch.¡±


    As the trio moved to enter the house a high pitched alarm rang out three times before silence returned.


    ¡°We have to go now!¡± Rachel shouted as she led the two girls into the house, ¡°Charlie pack what you can, but don¡¯t bring anything too heavy.¡±


    ¡°Mom, was that the warning alarm?¡± Charlie showed a confused look but followed her instructions.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Rachel was grabbing canned food and ammo lying around the house before placing it into a large backpack. She grabbed a shotgun and a bandolier before stuffing shotgun shells into both before she looked at Visette who stood cluelessly.


    ¡°Vis, go grab clothes from Charlie¡¯s room. Get something warm.¡±


    Visette nodded and went to get some clothes from Charlie. After packing up and changing their clothes, Visette was wearing a windbreaker with jeans and hiking boots, and both Rachel and Charlie wore something similar.


    ¡°Is that everything?¡± Rachel looked at Charlie for confirmation.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Charlie nodded nervously. She had to leave her books behind which was the hardest part for her.


    ¡°Are you not taking your books with you?¡± Vis inquired.


    ¡°I-It would be too heavy to carry them all,¡± Charlie said with a tearful expression.


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll buy new ones once we get to New Mayhall,¡± Rachel said half-heartedly as she lead them out of the house. Anything with sentimental value rarely survived run-ins with the Corrupted. If an inanimate object was lost during an evacuation it could be considered the best thing to happen. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°...If that is so then I have memorized the titles of all of them and I can assist you with locating additional copies,¡± Visette said expressionlessly.


    ¡°Really?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied honestly. Charlie¡¯s book collection wasn¡¯t that large, but it was still large enough that one would be hard-pressed to remember half of the titles. Charlie herself had never finished reading all of them because she wanted to have something to do if she was bored or sick.


    ¡°Thank you, Vis.¡± Charlie smiled brightly as she hugged Visette.


    Visette showed some slight confusion, but she eventually she reciprocated Charlie¡¯s feeling with a stiff hug.


    Rachel smiled at the sight but remembered that they were in the middle of an evacuation. ¡°We have to go,¡± She said as she urged Charlie on.


    ¡°Right...let¡¯s go, Vis.¡± Charlie had a look of renewed vigor as she followed behind her mother.


    ¡­


    After arriving at the Town Square, Rachel, Charlie, and Vis ended up falling into a massive crowd of families that were carrying weapons and bags as food like them. The thing that caught Vis¡¯ eyes were the lack of assault weapons in the hands of civilians, there were only hunting rifles, revolvers, and shotguns. When she read up on the history of Novo Prime she became aware that automatic weapons were available, but didn¡¯t see any carried by the inhabitants of town C-23, but the guards around the town officials seemed to have some.


    ¡°Charlie.¡± A red-haired boy cried out.


    ¡°Hey, Arty.¡± Charlie greeted.


    He walked toward her followed by a larger red-haired man, ¡°Good to see you¡¯re ok, Rachel.¡±


    ¡°You too, George.¡± Rachel nodded.


    ¡°Where have you¡­been?¡± Arty nearly stumbled as he looked at Visette.


    ¡°Vis this is Arthur, Arthur this is Visette,¡± Charlie said as she noticed the boy¡¯s silence.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Visette gave a short greeting with no emotion behind it.


    ¡°Hi, My friends call me Ar-ty,¡± Arthur said with a voice crack that caused Charlie to laugh.


    His father, George, shook his head and chuckled, ¡°I guess he¡¯s at that age.¡±


    Arthur chose to remain silent as to not embarrass himself, but when he looked over at Visette he noticed she paid him no real attention. He found himself staring at Visette without knowing, her pale white hair and dark brown eyes contrasted perfectly with how delicate she looked. Eventually, Visette turned to look at him with an empty glance which caused him to quickly look away. She paid no mind to his strange actions as she turned back to the podium. A man dressed in a black tactical gear stood next to the Mayor of the town and surveyed the crowd.


    ¡°Attention!¡± The Mayor of the town spoke from through a loudspeaker from the top of the podium, ¡°This is not a practice drill. Signs of Corrupted has been sighted a few miles away from here and per protocol, we are evacuating to New Mayhall. Before that can take place, I would like to ask that Rachel and Charlie Wakefield come up to the podium please.¡±


    ¡°...I¡¯m right here.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression changed to one of discomfort as she raised her hand in the middle of the commotion that erupted. ¡°Come on.¡± She placed the shotgun on her shoulder before grabbing the hands of Charlie and Visette and pulling them through a worried crowd.


    Rachel climbed the stairs of the podium and look directly at the man dressed in the uniform. He raised his PDA and looked at the features described to make sure they matched up.


    ¡°Rachel and Charlie Wakefield?¡± He asked for confirmation.


    ¡°...Yes.¡± Rachel answered dryly as her grip on Charlie¡¯s hand tightened.


    ¡°I¡¯m Captain Nicholas of the Thirteenth Recon Team. We¡¯ve been given direct orders to escort you to New Mayfield,¡± Nicholas said solemnly.


    Those who were close to the podium heard what he said and went quiet before breaking out into hushed murmurs.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, but Vis has to come with us,¡± Rachel said as she gestured to the young girl.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but that¡¯s not possible, our orders are to extract you and only you,¡± Nicholas responded unflinchingly as he gave a hand signal to someone far off in the distance.


    ¡°She has to come with us!¡± Charlie protested.


    ¡°Orders are orders.¡± Nicholas remained strict as he watched a black armored truck park itself near the podium.


    ¡°Bullshit! She doesn¡¯t have anyone to look after her, you have to take her,¡± Rachel attempted to shove Nicholas but he barely even swayed.


    ¡°I have no say in the matter, we¡¯ve received direct orders from the Commander to extract you and no one else,¡± Nicholas replied.


    ¡°What aren¡¯t you telling us?! You just said you¡¯ve received direct orders from your Commander so what was so important that he had to give them.¡± An eavesdropping citizen began to raise a fuss.


    Nicholas cursed himself at his slip and sighed deeply before speaking, ¡°The truth is that there are signs of a horde on the move...We suspect upwards of one hundred Corrupted moving in the opposite direction, but as most of you may know that means the competition for food within their group will be high...The most likely scenario is that a few dozen are forced out of the group and head toward this town in search of food within a day.¡±


    The crowd immediately broke out into a panic, weeping, cursing, screaming, and yelling came from the group which lined up with Nicholas¡¯ expectations. The Mayor was no exception and he looked at Nicholas with a pleading gaze.


    ¡°Excuse me, but wouldn¡¯t it be easy for you lead the evacuation convoy. It wouldn¡¯t require any extra effort on your part. Just by being at the front of the evacuees would bring the feeling of safety.¡± The Mayor was practically begging.


    ¡°No,¡± Nicholas replied.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this!¡± One man raised his gun, but loud bang echoed and he slumped over with a newly formed hole in his head.


    The crowd turned to silence as they looked at the armored truck sitting near them. Several men were dressed in gear similar to Nicholas¡¯ own and one of them had an assault rifle with a smoking barrel pointed at the crowd which indicated that he was the one who shot. Another man climbed onto the machine gun mounted on the back of the truck and turned the safety off before pointing it at the civilians.


    ¡°Listen up! I¡¯ve already helped you as much as I can by telling you about the Horde. Any attempts to impede us will be met with hostility! No one is allowed to move until we leave for your safety and for our own.¡± Nicholas yelled at the crowd before he turned to Visette. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Visette Thales,¡± Vis answered before glancing at the erratic crowd.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let those at the gate know who you are so you can be reunited with them if you can make it there alive.¡± Nicholas offered no false hope since it wouldn¡¯t do either one of them any good, but unexpectedly Vis showed no sign of fear.


    Nicholas looked at one of the men on the truck and shouted, ¡°Get a three fifty-seven revolver with a holster and a bullet pouch.¡±


    ¡°Can she shoot?¡± He asked Rachel while one of his men went to retrieve a weapon.


    ¡°A shotgun, but she¡¯s a good shot and a natural learner,¡± Rachel said.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be enough,¡± Nicholas nodded as one of his men handed over the revolver and to him before he handed it over to Visette, ¡°Put that on first.¡±


    Visette fastened the holster to her waist and waited for Nicholas to hand over the gun.


    ¡°You release the cylinder to load the bullets and turn off the safety if you want to shoot, got it?¡± He asked after quickly demonstrating how to use it.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied.


    ¡°Good,¡± Nicholas shoved the revolver into Visette¡¯s arms before he walked toward Rachel and Charlie, ¡°We leave after you say your goodbyes.¡±


    Charlie began to cry as she rushed up to Visette and hugged her even tighter than before, ¡°I know you¡¯ll be ok, Vis. Come to New Mayhall and help me find my books.¡±


    Vis returned the hug with less difficulty than before, but her still expression never changed. For the brief time they had been together, Charlie began to see Visette as the sister she never had, even if Visette herself didn¡¯t share that feeling.


    ¡°Alright, Charlie we have to go,¡± Rachel said as she tapped Charlie on the shoulder who reluctantly broke away from the hug.


    Rachel took off the bandolier and the shotgun before handing it over to Visette and helping her put it on. She took a long look at the girl in front of her and placed both hands on her cheeks.


    ¡°You have people who care about you, Vis. I know that because of us those few people who have vehicles aren¡¯t going to want to give you a ride, so just follow the main road but don¡¯t walk directly on it. If the Corrupted do come, find somewhere to hide and only shoot if you have to. Don¡¯t trust anyone except for George and Arthur, they¡¯re good people. Be wary of everyone else, it¡¯s hard to say what they might do if the Corrupted come.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Visette said calmly.


    ¡°Please be careful, Vis.¡± Rachel stood up and wiped the tears forming at the edge of her eyes before she turned to Nicholas and nodded.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Nicholas gave a signal and someone opened the door to the armored truck for them.


    The mother and daughter climbed into the car but not before giving one last look to the Visette who stood by herself on the podium.

 Chapter 9: Hands On Research

    Visette watched the black car speed away like the rest of the crowd, and soon as it was out of sight every moved in a panic.


    ¡°Hey, we have to go,¡± George said from below the podium. He made it up in his mind that he would look out for Visette while Rachel was gone.


    ¡°I will move on my own,¡± Visette replied. There was no need for her to travel with anyone else and if she did it would be slower. With Rachel and Charlie, there was some sort of attachment as well as the need for a guide, but since she could follow the road the problem with direction had diminished.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, kid.¡± George protested strongly, ¡°Are you upset that they left you? They didn¡¯t have a choice.¡±


    ¡°I am not upset, traveling with others would diminish my efficiency,¡± Visette hopped down from the podium and looked at George.


    ¡°Visette¡­¡± Arthur spoke up but didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about us slowing you down,¡± George said.


    ¡°Do you have a vehicle?¡±


    ¡°Well, no...but we can ride with someone else for a fee.¡±


    ¡°Can you go on with three to four hours of sleep?¡±


    ¡°...Not many people can do that.¡±


    ¡°Are you able to sprint for a duration of thirty minutes without rest?¡±


    ¡°Kid¡­¡±


    ¡°If you ran out of food can you consume raw meat without getting sick?¡±


    ¡°Are you saying you can do all of those things?¡± George asked. Visette¡¯s questioning left him without much to say in response.


    ¡°That is correct,¡± Visette answered simply.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you,¡± George replied.


    ¡°Your belief is not necessary,¡± Visette before turning to leave.


    ¡°Wait,¡± George called out which caused Visette to stop. He dug into his travel pack and pull out a hunting knife, ¡°Here, if you lose your guns you need something to defend yourself with.¡±


    Visette silently accepted it, she would use the weapons on hand to defend herself and use her psionics for travel.


    ¡°Come on, Arthur.¡± George tapped his son¡¯s shoulder as they headed toward a garage that was surrounded by people. Other than the mayor of the town and his security, not many people had vehicles. Novidium batteries were expensive and the large majority of it went to the military, though since the Falling Star Event they had been lax in enforcing their monopoly. The last seven years had gone on without many attacks from the Corrupted which caused many to unconsciously become unguarded. Though that wasn¡¯t to say they would¡¯ve forgotten the long and bloody history that accompanied them throughout each generation.


    Visette watched the townspeople barter for rides, but no matter what was offered there were just too many people and not everyone would get a ride. She also noticed a few people didn¡¯t look like they were planning to leave immediately, it was likely they would loot the abandoned houses and steal the possessions of others.


    She changed her focus and began to follow the road, nothing else demanded her immediate attention except for getting to New Mayhall.


    Elsewhere, a group of looters had already started breaking into houses on the outer perimeter of the town. The electric fence that encircled the town was shut off in order to conserve the Novidium batteries for retrieval at a later date and to provide multiple escape routes in case an attack happened immediately.


    ¡°Come on, look for food and valuables.¡± A man ordered his teenage son who nodded hesitantly. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    It dawned on him that he was stealing from his friends and neighbors, all of whom were friendly and open. There were times when they let him borrow things for free and never showed any signs of doubt. They gathered up all the food that couldn¡¯t be taken before stepping out to the join the small group.


    ¡°Tally it up,¡± A woman said as they began counting what they had.


    ¡°Hey, what the hell is this?!¡± The man pulled a plastic action figure out of his son¡¯s bag.


    ¡°That was my friend¡¯s favorite so I thought I could bring it to him after we get to New Mayhall.¡± The boy held his down as he confessed.


    ¡°Give it to him?¡± His father noticed the threatening looks he was getting and decided to be strict. Looting was still a crime and bringing evidence and giving it to one of the victims was the quickest way to be arrested and punished.


    The man tightened his grip on the action figure before turning around and throwing it as far as he could, ¡°Food and valuables only,¡± He said sternly.


    The looters were appeased with his display and went back to organizing what they stole. The man¡¯s son began to cry and even though he wanted to comfort him, he couldn¡¯t.


    ¡­


    A red action figure made from plastic fell into a stream with a loud plop before it slowly drifted in the opposite direction. It bumped into submerged debris, but bounced off and continued its journey onward before it was lodged on a rock and stuck. Without anyone interfering it would remain there untouched. A few hours passed and the sound of branches snapping could be heard along with a few peculiar noises that couldn¡¯t come from a human.


    A figure with greyish skin crawled over to the water¡¯s edge and reached into grab the action figure before lifting it and examining it with its huge bulb-shaped eyes. The identity of the figure was a Corrupted, something that was incredibly far from human. It looked at the direction of the stream before looking back at the action figure. It dropped the plastic toy before looking up and making a series of noises.


    After a brief silence, more than a dozen Corrupted appeared behind it and made noises of inquiry. They eyed the action figure on the ground and came to the same conclusion the sole Corrupted did. There were humans upstream and they all seemed to realize it. The Corrupted screeched in unison before they ran forward with a bloodthirsty ferocity.


    ¡­


    Visette surveyed her surroundings and found she was a good distance away from everyone else. The sun had begun to set and about half of the town was camping, while the rest persisted through the night. Those lucky enough to own vehicles were long gone, there was no need to purposely stay when they may be robbed by their own neighbors if the situation grew too desperate.


    Visette made sure no one was around before she infused psionic power into her legs and leaped into a tree. She landed on a tree branch that was about thirty feet off the ground before sitting in a position she found comfortable. After much adjustment, she hung her backpack on another branch and began to meditate. She raised small pieces of bark and let them orbit around her while maintaining her concentration. It wouldn¡¯t be wise for her to expend all of her energy on the first day, especially while under threat.


    After she reached a point of lightheadedness she ended her meditation and took a rest. Dim lights surrounded the camping grounds and showed a few dozen people on lookout duty. The main purpose of the camp was for the older residents of C-23 and the few children that weren¡¯t sent away by car.


    Visette cleared all unnecessary thoughts away and fell asleep. Even while her body was dormant, her mind still operated with persistence. It was to the point where one could question if she was actually sleeping. She was contemplating ways to decrease the instability in her psionics. The reason they sometimes became visible was due to her lack of control over them.


    Visette¡¯s mind raced as she sought out a solution, meditation was the most obvious answer but it was a long-term solution. As long as she increased the stability the consumption rate would also be fixed, allowing her more usage.


    Visette suddenly opened her eyes and showed slight frustration. It would be harder to conceal her powers if they were able to be seen. Since there were various Abnormals, she could use her psionics to pose as one if need be.


    An abrupt commotion broke out as the sound of gunfire and screams filled the air.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    ¡°Corrupted! Run!¡±


    ¡°Move! Move! Move!¡±


    ¡°Where are they?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see!¡±


    Voices tangled together and added to the confusion as people scrambled away into the darkness of the woods. The first ones to go were the elderly and then those who were too slow in leaving. The grey-skinned humanoids pounced onto their unlucky victims and tore them apart with claws and teeth. Once they found their prey they ignored everyone else and continued on.


    Visette put her backpack on before she covered her legs in psionic energy and hopped down from the tree.


    Visette suddenly had a thought, why didn¡¯t she layer the psionic energy into her muscle fibers? It would strengthen them for as long as she could withstand and she could gain mental endurance far faster.


    ¡°We have to move!¡± Someone ran past Visette and woke her from her thoughts.


    ¡°I can not do that,¡± Visette answered while shaking her head.


    ¡°Are you injured?¡± The man asked.


    ¡°No¡­¡± Visette checked her shotgun to make sure it was loaded before continuing, ¡°I need to inspect them.¡±

 Chapter 10: A Valuable Asset

    ¡°You¡¯re going to die, kid!¡± The man tried to pull Visette away but she pointed the gun barrel at him.


    ¡°My safety is not your responsibility,¡± She said as she pulled herself away from him.


    ¡°Fine!¡± The man decided to leave her alone and ran into the forest.


    Visette lowered her body and crept toward the nearest Corrupted which was preoccupied with eating some unfortunate person. The Corrupted possessed some signs of intelligence and were smart enough to know that if humans were fleeing it meant there was no need to be threatened. It was unfortunate that Visette didn¡¯t fit into that line of logic. She raised the barrel of the shotgun when she decided she was close enough and fired. The pellets tore into the Corrupted which fell with a short yelp.


    Visette discarded the empty shell and loaded a new one in before she rushed up to the Corrupted and pulled out the hunting knife. She plunged it into its skin and dragged it from top to bottom before ripping its abdomen open, laying its organs bare for her scrutiny.


    Visette¡¯s eyes moved quickly as she inspected it and found that the Corrupted were faintly similar to humans as far as internal organs went. Its sensory organs, reproductive system, digestive system, muscle structure, and brain were clearly different. The Corrupted legs for one, allowed them to walk bipedally, but they mostly crawled along the ground rather than walking upright.


    A few Corrupted took notice of Visette and growled threateningly as they dropped their captured prey and pounced toward her.


    Visette didn¡¯t expect them to be so strong as one literally cleared twenty feet between the two of them and arrived in front of her. She raised the shotgun as soon as it was close enough for its face to be seen and squeezed the trigger. The shotgun barked and the Corrupted had its face blown completely off, falling to the ground almost immediately and slid a few feet before it stopped.


    The Corrupted were silent for a few moments as they processed what happened. Visette was young which should¡¯ve meant she was easy prey, but she dispatched one of them without much effort.


    The rest of the pack of Corrupted took notice of her and decided she was the highest priority before advancing forward with caution.


    Visette didn¡¯t panic at all when being faced with an unknown number of enemies in the dark. She loaded her shotgun with another shell before she sent a psionic pulse to inspect her immediate radius. There was a Corrupted slowly creeping toward her in the darkness on her unguarded side.


    Visette used one hand to grab the revolver and cocked the hammer before firing off three shots into the darkness. The Corrupted screamed before shuffling away, letting her know it was wounded at the very least.


    While Visette¡¯s main purpose was to gather firsthand information on the Corrupted, she was also assisting the evacuees with their escape. As long as she didn¡¯t find it dangerous she could see no problem with helping. Her personal goal began to take form as preventing the extinction of humanity which also lined up with Rachel¡¯s request for Visette to help others.


    The Corrupted moved after seeing the ambush fail, there was no reason to approach Visette one by one. Their most used hunting tactic was one common to all predatory animals that hunted in packs, harass the prey from all sides until it let its guard down. Just as they were about to pounce, Visette infused psionic energy into her legs and began to run.


    Of course, the most appealing prey was the prey that fled. They gave chase and found that Visette was faster than a normal human, in fact, she was so fast that they found it hard to catch up. It was obvious that the stray Corrupted attacking were the weakest of the horde so they couldn¡¯t match the physical prowess of the leaders.


    Visette continued running but slowed her speed allowing a Corrupted to gain on her, but she spun around blasted it in the chest with her shotgun, killing it on the spot. Since she had to slow down to make the shot, another Corrupted rushed to her side and got close enough to attack. It reached forward while opening its mouth, intending to take a fatal bite out of her, but it found the metallic barrel filling its mouth instead. Visette squeezed the trigger and the shotgun pellets separated its head from its jaw, allowing her to continue on.


    It quickly became dangerous for Visette as she knew that infusing psionic energy into her legs to run and using a psionic pulse to check her surroundings were consuming too much energy. She decided the fight was over and that killing four was her limit. Vis placed the shotgun on her back and focused on sprinting ahead. Branches and trees were hard to see in the dark and they constantly obstructed her, causing her to readapt on the fly. She created a thin barrier of psionic energy in order to protect herself from obstacles and sprinted forward at a speed close to a truck. The Corrupted weren¡¯t able to keep up and began to slow down as they realized that Visette had disappeared from sight.


    Visette ran past a few people who were attempting to flee but had grown tired. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    She came to a stop as she caught her own breath, ¡°There are more Corrupted on the way,¡± she said as she began to load her weapons.


    ¡°How do you know?!¡± A middle-aged woman asked.


    ¡°I wounded one and killed four others,¡± Visette answered as she prepared to run.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to us, child.¡± The man who appeared to be her husband spat.


    ¡°Wait...I don¡¯t think she¡¯s lying,¡± The woman looked at the blood dripping from Visette¡¯s windbreaker with wide eyes.


    ¡°I have to go,¡± Visette saw no reason to entertain the couple and moved on.


    ¡°Wait! Help us and we can pay you!¡± The man called out after her.


    ¡°Your presence would impede me,¡± Visette answered as she began to sprint forward. She wanted to get a good distance away from the Corrupted so she could have ample time to recover.


    As the couple watched her run the man realized something, ¡°...Was she an abnormal?¡±


    There was some regret flowing through the man as he missed a chance to gain some protection, but it was done away with as they began to move. Killing four Corrupted did nothing to cull the numbers. All Visette provided was a window of opportunity for those who were quick enough to get away. Her impromptu autopsy of one Corrupted revealed they had large stomachs which made her guess that they would definitely be hunting for more humans.


    ¡­


    Visette opened her eyes to the warm light of the sun and stood up immediately. She opened a can of soup and drunk it while scanning her surroundings from atop a tree. There were people walking past her perch without noticing her and it was probably due to their visible lack of sleep. The haggard expressions and bloodshot eyes filled with stress spoke volumes about their condition. Those who were injured could trace them to the Corrupted, being shot at in the dark, or falling while running away in the middle of the night. Those who were unlucky enough to get turned around in the night while escaping were considered to be dead already. Then there were those who survived, the ones who were truly blessed made it without losing any close to them, but they were few. Almost everyone had lost a friend, a neighbor, or a loved one in the night and the worst part was they couldn¡¯t bury them nor could they mourn.


    Visette climbed down from her tree in a less eye-catching manner before falling in with the crowd. Her run-in with the couple from last night let her know that she would be better off being less eye-catching until she reached New Mayhall. Her white hair didn¡¯t really help her attempts to be inconspicuous as nearly everyone had seen her on the podium during the evacuation announcement.


    Whispers about her origins began to spread outside of her hearing range. A few people who had been blinded by loss formed dangerous thoughts.


    ¡°Rachel left her behind, do you really think we¡¯d gain anything by using her?¡± A woman asked. She had lost her husband and her son who was in his late teens during the night and it was broadcasted by the disconnected look in her eyes.


    ¡°She was forced to leave her, anyone could tell that she obviously cares for her,¡± A man, with a similar look of emptiness, answered.


    ¡°So, you want to escort her to get preferential treatment or something?¡± Another man who overheard them inquired with apparent interest.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± He responded.


    ¡°What happens if she refuses?¡± The woman asked while keeping her eyes glued to Visette.


    ¡°We can convince a few other people to side with us. I bet they won¡¯t want to work in the mines or as apart of a scavenging team when the refugee center gets too crowded or if resources get too low. If she tries to run away then we¡¯ll just have to force her.¡± The man gripped his gun tightly.


    Although they could use more brutish methods like grabbing her in broad daylight, there were hundreds of witnesses around. It was far more reasonable to sway the opinion of the evacuees in their favor. Once they arrived at New Mayhall all refugees would be located to a shelter where they would be given rationed meals and adhere to strict rules. To earn money healthy individuals, whether they be men or women would be selected to work in the mines excavating Novidium or join scavenging teams led by the military. Scavenging was the most dangerous as areas that became evacuated would usually house more Corrupted, but it was impossible for the military to pass up on Novodium batteries that were left behind. It was no wonder as to why some people would be would be willing to use Visette as a hostage even when faced with the harsh laws against crime.


    Visette continued walking and while she was unaware of the developing situation, she soon noticed something strange. A group of men and women began moving toward her in a somewhat obvious manner. A few of them gathered in front of her and matched her pace while several others moved behind her and to her sides.


    ¡°It¡¯s far too dangerous for a small girl like you to go it alone, we¡¯ll escort you.¡± A woman said as she placed a hand on Visette¡¯s shoulder as if to comfort her.


    Visette gazed at the woman with a calm expression as she moved away while speaking, ¡°There is no need.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be that way, we can protect you from those Corrupted,¡± A man moved next to her and spoke loudly.


    Visette found out very quickly that the group around her was quickly increasing. She found the source after looking closely, there were a few individuals weaving in and out of the crowd of evacuees, exchanging words. Some evacuees would show hesitation before they looked over at the people surrounding Visette and moved to join them.


    Visette found herself in a difficult position and not because she might have to kill those who were attempting to obstruct, but because she didn¡¯t have enough ammo to fight all of them. Not only that, but the gunfire had a chance to draw more Corrupted toward them.


    Visette began to analyze her plan of action at a rapid pace as her eyes scanned over everything for more information.


    ¡®If they refuse to move away I will have to fight them. I can gather more ammo from anyone I kill or wound, but it would be best if I didn¡¯t since the Corrupted would draw closer...Correction, If I wound more they would be able to distract the Corrupted and would allow the rest of the evacuees to escape without harm. My psionic barrier cannot withstand multiple firearms without draining too much energy. I¡¯ll wound as many as I can before I use my psionics to escape.¡¯ Visette finished her thinking before she raised her head and looked for the best escape route.

 Chapter 11: When It Rains...

    As they walked through the woods, the group who were attempting to covertly take Visette hostage moved closer to prevent her from running away. A woman squeezed Visette¡¯s shoulder tightly while a gun-wielding man walking next to her maintained a false look of concern and friendliness.


    ¡°We only want to help you.¡± He adjusted his grip on the rifle in his hand.


    Visette looked around and only saw shotguns, revolvers, and bolt action rifles that could be considered dangerous but weren¡¯t fit for fighting other humans, at least when compared to higher powered rifles with higher firing rates.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they are more than equipped to handle themselves. Since that¡¯s the case, I think you should let us hold your weapons.¡± The woman leaned closer to Visette and whispered as she dug her nails deeper.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Visette spoke in a low voice.


    The woman slightly loosened her grip and smiled ¡°That¡¯s good¨C¡± but just as finished, Visette raised the hunting knife and stabbed her in the thigh.


    ¡°Ah! Fuck!¡± The woman clutched her leg as she tripped to the ground.


    Visette was already moving toward the man wielding the hunting rifle. He reflexively raised the gun to defend but Visette plunged the knife into his abdomen and gave it a slight twist before sprinting toward her next target.


    ¡°Y-You, bitch!¡±


    As Visette approached another man he raised his gun reflexively and tried to shoot but his revolver wouldn¡¯t fire. The cause was threads of psionic energy that were wrapped around the barrel.


    ¡°Jammed!¡± He shouted as Visette arrived in front of him and stabbed the knife into his forearm, as a result, he dropped the revolver and Visette picked it up. She released the cylinder and took out the bullets before stashing them in her pocket.


    She stabbed the man in the leg for good measure and continued on, stabbing four other people.


    ¡°Shoot her!¡± Someone yelled.


    ¡°No! We need her alive!¡± The injured woman shouted.


    Visette ignored them and dashed toward a woman holding a hunting rifle. The woman panicked and dropped the rifle which Visette picked up before fleeing.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± The man Vis stabbed in the gut cursed aloud as he saw people gathering to see what the commotion was.


    ¡°She can¡¯t get...that...far...¡± A guy holding his wounded arm couldn¡¯t help but trail off after seeing that Visette had covered a huge distance in a short amount of time.


    ¡°Fuck! Is she an abnormal or something?¡±


    ¡°If she was I doubt she would be left behind.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just a kid.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t surprise me if she was Anton¡¯s kid.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    A few people from the main group of evacuees approached with clear suspicion as demonstrated by their guns being held close to them, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± The man tried to think of a story while clutching his abdomen that was leaking with blood.


    ¡°That girl Rachel was looking after went crazy and attacked us...I think she was scared after that attack that happened last night.¡± The woman Visette stabbed in the thigh spoke up as she tied a bandage around her leg.


    ¡°...I see.¡± There was still lingering suspicion based on the fact there were no gunshots and everyone witnessed Visette receiving a shotgun and a revolver. After some contemplation it was clear no one in the group fired either so it was hard to say what happened exactly and Visette wasn¡¯t really looked upon positively.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "All of you need to get your wounds fixed up, in the meantime, we''ll let everyone know to look out for that girl."


    ...


    Visette continued running through the forest with psionic energy fused into her muscles. It allowed her to put more a great distance between her and the group of evacuees. She finally stopped to catch her breath and it was then she noticed that it was starting to rain.


    ¡®Would it help them escape?¡¯ Vis asked herself.


    The Corrupted were known to have an extraordinary sense of smell but the rain should at least hide away the traces of the fleeing townspeople. Then again, with so many people moving together in close proximity it was more likely of them being discovered.


    Visette pulled the drawstrings on her windbreaker and continued her trek through the damp soil that was littered with fallen leaves.


    A few hours later and the light drizzle had become heavier and Vis was forced to stop. Evening time was approaching and she had moved away from the main road already so she had no choice but to stop. She placed a few branches against a tree and then raised her hand causing dozens of leaves to rise from the ground before she layered them over her shelter. It wasn¡¯t the most detailed construction but her makeshift shelter was enough to protect her from the rain.


    She crawled in and took up a cross-legged position in order to practice with her psionics. She removed the bullets from her ammo pouch and began to levitate them around her while occasionally sending out a pulse to check her surroundings.


    ¡®I¡¯ve wounded those who were more likely to cause trouble which may help those who are heading toward the city.


    ¡­


    In the city of New Mayhall, one of the lower class districts was ripe with activity. The seven-year scarcity in Corrupted attacks lead to some becoming more comfortable. A small bar was full of intimidating looking men who smelled of alcohol. To somewhat contrast the scene, there was a young woman holding a sheathed sword sitting alone at the counter. With one look at the sheath, one could tell the sword was double-edged with a small circular guard. A pair of dog tags hung on from the pommel of the weapon, which caused many eyes to focus on the woman.


    Seemingly unaware or maybe completely unfazed, the woman held a shot glass with her free hand.


    On Earth, it would be a little concerning for someone so young to drink so heavily seeing as she looked to have only recently hit her twenties. Her dark brown hair was in the style of a ponytail held together by a cheap rubber band while the loose strands hanging over her forehead were indicative of her lack of care. Her outfit consisted of a brown leather jacket and a plain black tank top along with a pair of jeans and brown hiking boots made from some type of suede.


    ¡°Another,¡± She spoke curtly to the barkeeper as she slid her glass over. Her request was fulfilled and she was given another drink almost immediately.


    Her narrowed gaze and almost frustration-filled blue eyes made it seem as if she had an attitude and with her sword held close by there was no one willing to test her.


    That is until a bald man with sunglasses approached and sat in the stool beside her.


    ¡°Commander Wakefield needs you to do him a favor,¡± The man said.


    ¡°Then he can give me an order...And who the fuck wears sunglasses on a cloudy evening?¡± She sneered.


    ¡°The same one who carries around a military issued sword everywhere she goes. It¡¯s almost if you want everyone to know you¡¯re an Abnormal.¡± The man chuckled which made it clear he wasn¡¯t bothered by her prickly attitude.


    ¡°What does the Commander want?¡± She emptied her shot glass and inquired with a skeptical expression.


    ¡°Says his family is arriving in a day or two and he wants you to keep an eye on them,¡± The bald man answered.


    ¡°Family? He has a family?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, doesn¡¯t talk about it much though.¡±


    ¡°Any clue as to why that is?¡±


    ¡°...You didn¡¯t hear it from but his wife¡¯s parents died under suspicious circumstances. The higher-ups at the administrative branch ruled it as an accidental death but it was clear what happened. The commander wasn¡¯t the commander at the time and couldn¡¯t do anything which caused his wife to leave. Since he¡¯s the youngest to take up the position he still faces a lot of resistance from the administration and even the Governor, so I doubt he can bring the case up again.¡± The bald man spoke in a hushed voice.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Listen, Lyn. The Commander says this is important so don¡¯t do...what you always do.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Lyn asked defensively.


    ¡°Don¡¯t shoot the messenger, he said and I quote ¡®Tell O¡¯Hara not to be so brash.¡¯ I¡¯m guessing he wants you to handle it with delicacy.¡±


    ¡°...Got it.¡± Lyn tightened the grip on her sword before standing up and tying it to her back.


    ¡°Delicacy, Lyn.¡± The bald man repeated.


    Lyn snorted but didn¡¯t say anything as she left the bar. Once she was outside she could see it was starting to rain and clicked her tongue before moving toward a black motorcycle and grabbing a helmet that was clipped to the backseat.

 Chapter 12: A Shot In The Dark

    The Corrupted were still pursuing the evacuees as earnestly as ever but the rain had slightly hampered their pace. The pale humanoid creatures crawled around an abandoned camp under the pouring rain. It was night and they knew that it was the time where most prey, including humans, would be vulnerable.


    The pouring rain seemed to glide off of the leathery skin of the Corrupted, not affecting them in the slightest. One particular Corrupted, the largest out of the group of dozens, seemed to be sluggish. It moved along with them but would occasionally let out a stifled and pained groaned. Suddenly, its muscles began swelling and it growled loudly gaining the attention of the entire pack. They paused before moving over to investigate but were met with an aggressive snarl which made them keep their distance. After a few minutes, they seemed to instinctively understand what was happening, the groaning Corrupted was evolving into a Variant.


    ¡°Auuuuueeergh!¡± A deep roar echoed throughout the forest as muscle mass of the evolving Corrupted increased.


    There were suspicions regarding the lack of presence from the Corrupted but it became clear in an instant. The entire species of Corrupted were essentially scourge to all living creatures. If even 5% of their total population possessed the ability to evolve it would prove fatal to mankind.


    Thirty minutes later and the Corrupted had grown to stand at 8 feet tall when bipedal, the size of a horde leader. Its body was littered with grotesque muscles and veins that squirmed as they readjusted.


    Previously, the Corrupted that were pursuing the inhabitants of town C-23 were all too weak to stay with the horde. As of now? The Corrupted Variant would be able to take over as leader of the horde if it wanted to. But those thoughts didn¡¯t cross its mind at all...The transformation had left it starved. It was a violent hunger that showed no sign of dissipating and the Variant felt as if it would be consumed by it if no prey was found.


    It issued a series of low-pitched cries and the rest of the Corrupted responded with cries of acceptance. The group followed the traces of humans with a new sense of purpose. After all, with a Variant among their ranks, survival would come easier.


    A flash of lightning illuminated dozens of amber eyes moving through the wet forest. While the rumbling of thunder obscured their heavy footsteps.


    ¡­


    ¡°Hey...where are you going, Bill?¡± A woman whispered from under a tarp. She just barely poked her head out to avoid being soaked with rain.


    ¡°I gotta use the bathroom.¡± Bill, her husband, answered.


    He took a quick look around the silent campsite to see many people huddled under tarps while a few people with reflective stripes on the back of their clothes were on guard. Bill made his steps audible in order to avoid scaring one of the people guarding the camps.


    ¡°Is it alright if I take a quick piss?¡± Bill asked.


    ¡°Sure...Just help me real quick.¡± The man on night duty was clearly distracted. He attempted to light up a cigarette but the wind and the rain made it a futile task.


    Bill sighed before cupping his hands around the matches. After a few tries, a match caught fire and the man hurriedly lit his cigarette.


    He took a deep puff before speaking, ¡°Don¡¯t take too long.¡±


    ¡°I got it,¡± Bill responded as he moved toward a spot that wasn¡¯t too far. As he prepared to relieve himself he saw something shift in the darkness.


    Lighting struck and he was briefly able to see it, Corrupted crouched on branches and skulking through the mud.


    ¡°Corrupted!¡± Bill opened his mouth and screamed at the top of his lungs but unfortunately, the sound of thunder blocked his voice. He tried to fish out the revolver underneath his jacket but a few of the Corrupted pounced toward him. A pale hand gripped his neck before teeth were sunk into his throat, silencing him forever.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The man on night duty squinted his eyes suspiciously before he flicked his cigarette away. He released the safety on his rifle and raised it to a shooting position.


    ¡°You alright over there?¡± He shouted while aiming toward the darkness.


    ¡°Say something!¡± It was clear he was becoming nervous.


    Then, he finally received an answer. A low growl that crawled up his spine and filled him with the urge to flee. A Corrupted Variant slowly raised itself to stand in front of him. A bright flash of lightning allowed him to see better and it did nothing but cause the man to be even more fearful.


    ¡°No!¡± He raised his rifle and fired at the beast which caused it to reflexively raise its arms to defend itself.


    The bullet barely penetrated its layer of leathery skin and the Corrupted figured out that there wasn¡¯t any danger. It brought its thick claws down and opened a huge hole in the man¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± Along with the gunshot, his screams served as an alarm bell but the Corrupted were already rushing toward the campsite by the time his body hit the ground.


    ¡­


    The sound of gunfire made its way into Visette¡¯s ears. She checked her hunting rifle to make sure it was loaded before she headed toward the commotion. Another attack from the Corrupted was out of her expectations, especially so soon.


    Visette infused psionic energy into her legs and lowered her posture before sprinting forward. With each step she took, mud was splashed around but she paid it no mind. She could see guns being fired through the curtain of rain and slowed down when she reached the edge of the campsite. Figures were constantly shifting around in the darkness and the screams, cries, and gunshots didn¡¯t make it any easier to distinguish who was who.


    Suddenly, lightning flashed and Vis could see humans fighting and fleeing the Corrupted but the brief light source didn¡¯t help much.


    ¡°Help!¡± A wounded man limped toward Visette.


    She quickly drew her revolver and pointed it at him before speaking, ¡°Do not bother me.¡±


    The man was clearly out of his options and could only grit his teeth before moving on.


    After he moved away she exhaled before concentrating as hard as she could. Her automatically pupils dilated to take in more and her mind was filled with extreme focus. She raised the hunting rifle and those her body stopped moving entirely. Water trailed over her eyes but she didn¡¯t even blink. The nanites inside of her held control over her nervous system and allowed her to achieve an inhuman level of awareness.


    The unending attack on humans didn¡¯t cease and Visette seemed to be completely unmoved by their voices.


    ¡°Stay together!¡±


    ¡°No! Run!¡±


    ¡°Idiot, we can¡¯t run in this weather!¡±


    ¡°My sister! Where the fuck is my sister?!¡±


    Lightning struck once again but in Visette¡¯s eyes, everything became slower. First, she identified all the Corrupted in her line of sight. Then, she prioritized them into those about to attack and those who were busy killing. Finally, she estimated the distance and rate of movement in order to prepare.


    As soon as she blinked her eyes everything seemed to return to its normal speed. Without any hesitation, she raised the hunting rifle and fired into the night. Her arm moved mechanically as she pulled the bolt ejected a round before she fired again. The bullets zipped past and landed in the skulls of unsuspecting Corrupted, sending blood and grey matter splashing. She ran out of bullets for the rifle quickly and tossed it to the side before switching to her revolver and continuing.


    A woman screamed and closed her eyes as a Corrupted raised its claws to rip her apart but she her a bullet whizz by and the monster fell to the ground limply. Somewhere else, a man was carrying two children while a Corrupted pouncing toward him but a bullet tore into his skull and it fell out of the air lifelessly.


    Exhaustion overtook Visette but she forced herself to continue while trying to leave enough psionic energy for herself to flee. She was nearly out of round for her revolver so she switched to the shotgun and ran closer.


    Those who chose to look back while fleeing could see the muzzle flash of a shotgun and briefly make out a young girl with white hair. Any Corrupted that was unlucky enough to be within the radius of Visette died by a spray of shotgun pellets.


    That was until the Corrupted Variant finally noticed her, its speed was incomparable to the weaker Corrupted as it arrived in front of her with a few seconds. She raised the shotgun and fired it only to see the pellets rip off a chunk of skin and nothing more. Her eyes slightly widened in surprise but that was only for a moment. The Variant raised its arm and slapped Visette away, sending her flying. She reinforced her body with psionic energy before she crashed into the muddy ground and continued rolling.


    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t fight it, but I will not be able to escape if it pursues me.¡¯ Visette thought to herself as she slowly climbed to her feet. Her entire body ached and she used an immense amount of energy to withstand the blow, then there was also the mental exhaustion that came from concentrating so much. She had dropped the shotgun somewhere but the revolver, though covered in mud, was still holstered on her hip.


    As if on cue, lightning brightened up the darkness for a split second. It allowed Vis to see the hulking Variant barreling toward her with a rabid enthusiasm.

 Chapter 13: In The Dead Of Night

    Visette barely had enough time to defend herself as she was tackled by the Corrupted Variant. She grit her teeth from the pain and used psionic energy to forcefully slow herself only to end up sliding through the mud. It was hard to see more than five feet in front of own body which made fighting near impossible.


    Her mind raced as she tried to think about solutions to her current situation. The Variant was stronger, faster, and more resistant to bullets which meant she would need to use her psionics to dispatch it. A psionic bullet would prove fatal but she needed to slow it down long enough to gather enough psionic energy. There was also the rest of the Corrupted scattered around, while some appeared to be attacking the fleeing humans, there were a few keeping an eye on the Variant.


    There was also the problem of visibility. She couldn¡¯t rely on muzzle flashes and lightning strikes to help her see.


    ¡®The Corrupted have no problem with seeing through darkness¡­¡¯ Visette¡¯s thoughts trailed off as she came to a realization. The best response would be enhancing her own eyesight just as she did with her physique.


    Just as she was about to try the Variant leaped at her and she was forced to quickly roll through the mud in order to evade. She manipulated her psionic energy and her pupils began to glow with unstable psionic energy. Her face winced slightly as she felt pain in her optic nerves. She had to adjust the output of psionic energy which would require time she didn¡¯t have. In her eyes, everything was covered with a faint blue haze but she could see clear enough to fight.


    Visette relied on the adrenaline to dull the pain as she brandished the hunting knife and moved forward. The Variant swiped its thick claws toward her but she dropped to the ground and slid through its legs before stabbing at its ankle. It would¡¯ve been a dangerous attack but the blade wasn¡¯t strong enough to pierce through. The Variant raised its foot and brought it down with the intention of crush Visette.


    ¡®I¡¯ll enhance the blade,¡¯ Visette made a huge leap into the air and landed on a tree branch. One hand gripped the knife tightly while the other removed the revolver from its holster. A quick flash of psionic energy cleared the mud from it and it could be fired again.


    ¡°Raaaek!¡± The Variant uttered some incoherent and vicious voice that illustrated its anger. It leaped right after Visette. Just as it was about to reach her, she raised the revolver and the Variant quickly shielded its head. Six shots were fired and they each hit the same spot on the Variant¡¯s chest doing some slight damage. It was enough to interrupt the Variant and send it falling toward the ground.


    It crashed into the mud and Visette jumped down right after it. The edge of the hunting knife was covered in the blue glow of unstable psionic particles and slowly began to crack but it would last long enough for her to complete her attack. She landed on the Variant¡¯s stomach and thrust the hunting knife into its chest.


    ¡°Aaaaayk!¡± The Variant screamed while throwing Visette into a tree. She hit the tough bark and slumped to the ground motionlessly while the Variant rolled around in pain. The hunting knife wasn¡¯t strong enough to withstand her psionic enhancement and shattered into pieces, pieces that were scattered around inside of the Variant.


    No matter where they were, the Corrupted ceased their attack and came running toward the injured Variant but those who moved close to it were grabbed by its claws and killed. It lashed out in anger while forcing the metal fragments out before eventually calming down. The Variant roared loudly before turning to Visette and glaring at her with aggression in its eyes. It sauntered toward her while emitting a low growl but Visette appeared to be dead.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The Variant was cautious after her strange attacks and wouldn¡¯t be careless again. Once it was far enough to reach out to her and claw her to death it stopped and raised its arms.


    Suddenly, Visette¡¯s her arm raised up. She made a hand gesture that mimicked the shape of a gun and while one may have thought it was childish, there was a seriousness within her bluish pupils. For some reason, the Variant could feel an immediate sense of danger which made it pause for a split second but that proved to be its downfall.


    Five psionic projectiles erupted from Visette¡¯s finger and easily ripped through the body of the Variant and those behind it before injuring a few more and dissipating.


    The Variant had its head blown clean off while its body was littered with holes and the rest of the Corrupted fared no better. The fresh corpses splashed into the mud and blood began to spill out before being diluted by the rain.


    The Corrupted who survived with injuries immediately fled out of fear when they saw Visette raising her arm again. They had no way of comprehending what she did and their first instinct was to run.


    After watching all the Corrupted had fled, Visette¡¯s arm dropped to her side and blood dripped from her nose. A piercing headache overcame her and she fell unconscious within seconds.


    ¡­


    It was late in the morning when Visette opened her eyes. She was covered in dried mud that had a reddish hue but it wasn¡¯t something she was worried about. Her body shivered as she rose to her feet and evaluated her surroundings. There were guns, bullet casings, backpacks, and bodies corrupted and human alike littered around her.


    Visette raised her hand and nearby shotgun flew into her palm. She checked the cartridge chamber and found that it was empty but she still had a few shells left in her bandolier. She tossed it over her shoulder and then began to look through the backpacks for food while avoiding the bodies of dead humans.


    After a few minutes of scavenging, she was ready to depart but the hand of someone she thought was dead reached out and gripped her ankle.


    ¡°W..ait¡­¡± A woman spoke hoarsely.


    Visette looked down to see it was the same woman who tried to restrain her but ended up being stabbed in the thigh. It was a wonder as to how she survived until this point but Visette¡¯s mind was elsewhere.


    ¡°Were you able to see what occurred last night?¡± Visette asked as she drew her revolver and loaded a single bullet before pointing it at the woman¡¯s head.


    ¡°P...lease...don...t,¡± The woman whispered.


    Visette stared at her for a few moments before placing the gun back into the holster. She knelt down beside the woman examined her.


    ¡®She is untrustworthy, injured, and in a feverish state that requires immediate medical attention.¡¯ Vis thought to herself.


    ¡°T...hank...you.¡± The woman gave a weak cough.


    Visette didn¡¯t say anything as she filled her fist with psionic energy. She brought it down on the woman¡¯s skull, instantly killing her. There was an audible skull cracking sound and then complete silence. Vis had killed a human for the first time but it didn¡¯t feel any different from killing the Corrupted or even the pack of wild dogs that first attacked her.


    ¡®It is what Minerva intended.¡¯ Visette clenched and unclenched her fist while somehow feeling distant from her own body, though it was only momentarily. Vis¡¯ emotional responses were intentionally dulled but could still emerge over a period of time. After all, Minerva was no longer around to make adjustments to her mental state and the people of Novo Prime would most likely end up shaping her.


    Visette stood up and looked for the road before she began to follow it. She was more than a few hours behind the rest of the survivors but she preferred to avoid them. Interfering twice to ensure that some of the evacuees survived was more than enough for Vis and the rest of their journey would be left up to probability.

 Chapter 14: Arrival

    A young man, somewhere in his late twenties, was sitting at his desk with a contemplative look. He interlaced his fingers and leaned forward. He had short and neat dark blonde hair with a clean-shaven face that complimented his dark blue military ware. Various medals and insignias were pinned to his chest. His sharp features gave him an authoritative look, unbefitting of his young age.


    There was a knock at the door and then someone spoke, ¡°Commander, Lyn O¡¯Hara has arrived with Rachel and Charlie Wakefield.¡±


    ¡°...Send them in.¡± Commander Wakefield delayed in his answer but he knew he couldn¡¯t prolong the meeting.


    A few minutes later, two women and a teenage girl entered the room. One was Lyn who held her sword close. The other two were an angry Rachel and a nervous Charlie.


    ¡°...Rachel.¡± Commander Wakefield seemed a choked with emotion.


    In contrast, Rachel seemed angry, ¡°Nathan.¡±


    He sensed her poor mood and shifted his glance to Lyn, ¡°You can go, O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Lyn gave a weak salute before leaving.


    Once the three were left in the room, Nathan spoke.


    ¡°Charlie. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you...You probably don¡¯t remember me but I¡¯m hoping to see you more often.¡± Nathan stood up and walked over to Charlie who unconsciously took a step back.


    Rachel moved to stand in front of her and spoke, ¡°No, that won¡¯t be happening.¡±


    ¡°Why not? She¡¯s my daughter too Rachel. You¡¯ve kept me away all this time and for what?¡± Nathan asked with clear frustration.


    ¡°You know why!¡± Rachel shouted.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t do anything about it back then and you know it. Don¡¯t act as if you don¡¯t know what position I was in. No one wanted someone as young as me being Commander no matter how good my record was,¡± Nathan replied.


    Rachel slapped him across the face which caused Charlie to jump.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about that, Nathan. You lied to me...You looked me in my eyes and lied to me about it.¡± Rachel looked at Nathan hatefully.


    ¡°...It was to protect you,¡± Nathan spoke softly.


    For a moment it was silent and no one could find the strength to speak until Charlie¡¯s face suddenly flashed with determination.


    ¡°You have to send someone out to get Visette,¡± Charlie said.


    ¡°Visette?¡± Nathan repeated with clear confusion in his eyes.


    ¡°Visette Thales, she¡¯s the girl I had to leave behind because of the orders you gave,¡± Rachel explained.


    ¡°So can you send someone to get her?!¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t, Charlie.¡± Nathan shook his head regretfully as he watched Charlie¡¯s expression deflate.


    ¡°W-Why not?¡± Charlie questioned with disbelief.


    ¡°It would be impossible to find her at this stage. There are hundreds of evacuees scattered around not to mention the possibility of a horde. I can¡¯t put my men in danger to retrieve one girl, there are many government officials who would try to use that to remove me from my position,¡± Nathan answered.


    ¡°...She¡¯s special, Nathan.¡± Rachel sighed.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s an abnormal with multiple abilities...I think she¡¯s a victim of human trafficking but I think she escaped. When we found her she was drifting down a river dressed in a medical gown.¡± Rachel left out the part about Visette¡¯s psionics due to the fact that she didn¡¯t want to betray her trust.


    ¡°...Even so, without any clear evidence, I can¡¯t change anything. If she does possess multiple abilities then I¡¯ll make sure she receives the best treatment possible.¡±


    Rachel was slightly disappointed but she believed that Vis was more than capable of surviving, at least, that¡¯s what she told herself.


    ¡°Now then, I¡¯ll send someone to help you two get settled. I¡¯ve arranged a place for you in the Upper District. Charlie has been registered for the New Mayhall Academy but I won¡¯t force her to go. Also, there¡¯s a spot in a local clinic that I¡¯ve reserved for you, Rachel. Again you don¡¯t have to work there but I remembered you liked to help people.¡± Nathan seemed happy, even if it wasn¡¯t exactly a heartwarming reunion.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Rachel nodded and guided Charlie out of the room, leaving Nathan to think. Although Rachel was furious at him for his actions he had never stopped thinking of avenging the death of her parents. It was just that seven years of little to no fighting had led to his position becoming even more fragile. If it was during times of war, he¡¯d be on the same level as the Governor if not higher. His lack of influence made had caused him numerous delays but he was nothing if not persistent.


    Nathan retreated to his desk and a made a move to press an intercom, ¡°Tell those at the gates to watch for a girl named Visette Thales. Once she arrives, send word to me immediately.¡±


    [Yes, Sir.] A female voice on the intercom buzzed back.


    ¡­


    A few days had past and Visette estimated she was nearly at the city of New Mayhall. She used her Psionic Sprint in short burst to cover enough distance and ended up catching up to the scattered group of evacuees. Well, she hadn¡¯t met with any of them but the embers of a campfire told her that she was close. Though something was definitely off with the situation. She noticed the empty shotgun shells and bullet casing scattered about but no sign of Corrupted. It was more likely that a fight amongst the evacuees broke out. Especially seeing as a lot of supplies were left behind when the Variant attacked which meant some would end up going hungry.


    Visette raised her level of caution and continued. After a few adjustments, she could easily enhance her vision with psionic energy. Her range of sight was higher and she could detect even the smallest of movements in the distance. Although she still hadn¡¯t managed to reduce the blue glow that would appear in her pupils.


    Suddenly, there was movement in the distance. Most people wouldn¡¯t notice but Visette noticed the leaves shifting in several different areas. Pushing more psionic energy into her eyes, Visette was able to see the barrel of a hunting rifle sticking out from under a pile of shrubbery. Her enemies were human and they attempted to prepare an ambush for anyone who had yet to catch up to the larger group of evacuees. There were many reasons why one might¡¯ve turned to robbery and murder during an evacuation. Firstly, there were no laws in the wilderness. Secondly, guns and items could be sold for money once they arrived in New Mayhall. The refugee center would be packed and the jobs given weren¡¯t appealing at all.


    Vis, of course, didn¡¯t care for their reasons at all. In a few moments, she had already thought of a plan and used psionic energy to pull back the hammer of her holstered revolver. Her eyes focused on the movement of the hunting rifle as she waited for the perfect time to strike. A small adjustment told her that the one holding it was lining up a shot.


    Visette drew her revolver and fire while diving behind a tree. Two gunshots rang out at the same time but only one person was hit. A short grunt emerged from a man hidden under dirt and grass to the surprise of four other men gathered near him.


    ¡°Shit!¡±


    ¡°How the fuck did she do that?¡±


    ¡°Is she an abnormal?!¡±


    The group of robbers panicked but one remained calmer than the rest, if just by a small amount.


    ¡°No, she must¡¯ve seen us and got a lucky shot off. All abnormals either gather in the main cities or in that city they¡¯ve claimed for themselves.¡±


    ¡°R-Right.¡±


    ¡°It makes sense.¡±


    ¡°Alright, two on each side. Keep firing on that tree so she can¡¯t fire back.¡±


    The four men emerged from the brush and began firing their guns toward Visette. The combined fire of a shotgun, a hunting rifle, and two revolvers ripped the bark of the tree as the men moved closer.


    Above the spot where they last saw her, Visette dug her fingers into the tree and climbed up quickly. With psionic energy wrapped around her hands, she seemed almost cat-like. She climbed onto a branch and put her revolver away. She equipped her shotgun and lowered her body while watching the four men approach.


    ¡°Huh?¡± When they arrived they found that the only thing waiting for them was a backpack.


    Visette aimed her shotgun and the two who were nearest and fired off two consecutive shots. Without realizing what happened, their heads burst open like watermelons.


    ¡°Above!¡± The remaining two were to slow on the uptake and Visette had already jumped down.


    She raised her arms and their guns went flying before she landed on one of them.


    ¡°Heurk¨C¡± A strange sound escaped his throat as he felt the impact but he wasn¡¯t able to finish as Visette shoved the revolver into his mouth and pulled the trigger. Blood splashed onto her face but she didn¡¯t blink as she raised her hand toward the remaining man. She lifted him into the air with her psionic and concentrated the power on his neck.


    ¡°What...are...you?!¡± The man clutched his throat in an attempt to fight the mysterious force controlling his body.


    Visette flicked her hand and a neck-snapping sound entered her ears. After making sure no one was left, Visette exhaled and a small drop of blood trailed down her nose. She walked over to retrieve her backpack before looting a few shells from the corpses and leaving.


    ¡­


    After hours of walking, there was a paved road leading to a bridge that lay ahead of Visette. On the other side of the bridge were two interlocked steel blast doors. A 20-foot concrete wall covered in barbed wire surrounded the city. Anti-personnel turrets were spread along the wall with a soldier to man each of them. Gathered in front of the gates was the entire group of evacuees who looked exhausted and relieved at the same time.


    Visette moved toward them and took her place behind the crowd while gathering numerous strange looks. The reason being wasn¡¯t her mud-covered clothes but the dried blood splattered on her face. It was clear that it wasn¡¯t her own and those who had heard of the white-haired girl going crazy began to feel concerned.


    [Move forward until no one is standing on the yellow tape that is at the back of the bridge.] A speaker in front of the gate resounded and the group moved further onto the bridge. Once Visette, the last person on the bridge, was clear of the yellow tape a metal barrier was raised around them and the thick blast doors slowly opened.


    [Make sure all weapons are unloaded and have safety¡¯s on. Keep a calm and orderly pace as you advance. Once you enter, someone will come by to collect and mark your weapons so you can retrieve them at a later date. Anyone who disobeys and shows hostility will be shot on sight. Those found attempting to smuggle weapons, including blunt object and blades, will be arrested immediately.]


    Once the evacuees passed the first doors, they were met with another set of doors and two turrets on the left and right of them. They had to wait for a few minutes before the next set of doors were lined up with metal detectors and a group of armed guards.


    Thus, the vetting process had started and some of the evacuees even began to break down and cry. Others held hardened looks and some looked somewhat skeptical. For some, their hardships were just beginning.

 Chapter 15: Diplomatic Immunity

    ¡°Next,¡± said a man in a dark blue outfit. There was a group of people similarly dressed people next to him with button up shirts, dark blue pants, and leather boots. They also wore bulletproof vests and had semi-automatic pistols holstered to their side as well as 9mm submachine guns hanging close by. They were the police force of New Mayhall who dealt with the domestic issues.


    Visette stepped up and the officers looked surprised. After all, a thirteen-year-old girl covered in blood caused many questions to arise. Especially when they noticed she didn''t seem to be injured.


    Vis turned over her guns and showed her ID card which was scanned before she received approval.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your ticket. You can collect your weapons and ammo at a later date.¡± An officer handed her a small piece of paper with a barcode written on it.


    ¡°Wait...You¡¯re marked as a V.I.P, you¡¯ll have to wait in the main office. Someone will come by to pick you up shortly.¡± A man sitting at a terminal spoke up.


    Visette nodded before being led to a small building right across from the main gate. She watched as the refugees were loaded onto a grey bus before being driven away.


    ¡­


    In the middle of what looked to be a training gym, a young woman wearing a sweat-soaked shirt and some basic training gear was practicing. It was Lyn O¡¯Hara, one of the lucky few to be called an Abnormal.


    Lyn sent several heavy kicks into a punching bag and which made it swing back and forth wildly. Upon closer inspection, the seams of the leather punching bag were starting to rip.


    ¡°Lyn! I told you not to go tearing any more punching bags. I¡¯ve ordered you one and it won¡¯t be here for another week.¡± An old man in a wheelchair pushed himself over to her with a grumpy look. His hair had long since turned white as well as his beard but he carried an air of experience about him. He handed a water bottle over to her and she accepted with a smile.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t resist, Grandpa,¡± Lyn said with a chuckle.


    ¡°Ah, I understand. I¡¯ve missed it for a while,¡± The old man sighed which caused Lyn to show an apologetic look. ¡°That¡¯s neither here nor there, someone¡¯s called for you. They say it''s official business.¡±


    ¡°I got it,¡± Lyn finished her drink before heading into a side room where an archaic looking telephone was placed. The receiver was held in a bulky box-shaped contraption that was bolted to the wall, a no doubt expensive installation process.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Lyn said as she picked up the receiver.


    [Lyn O¡¯Hara confirm.]


    Lyn squinted to look at a set of numbers drawn in faded marker before speaking, ¡°This is Captain Lyn O¡¯Hara, my private confirmation number four four six.¡±


    The other end of the line was silent for a few moments before the person speaking, [Captain Lyn O¡¯Hara Confirmed. You¡¯ve been given direct orders from Commander Wakefield to retrieve a suspected Abnormal, Visette Thales, from the customs office. Additionally, you¡¯ll be escorting Rachel and Charlie Wakefield who have a personal relationship with the suspected abnormal. This is a high priority mission and the safety of all involved must be ensured.]


    ¡°Why wasn¡¯t anyone sent to tell me personally?¡± Lyn narrowed her eyes.


    [Come again?]


    ¡°Don¡¯t bullshit me. The Commander wouldn¡¯t make this an official assignment unless he has something planned. The administration pays close attention to official mission logs,¡± Lyn replied with clear annoyance.


    [...You¡¯ve been given your orders, Captain O¡¯Hara. If you don¡¯t follow through you¡¯ll be charged with insubordination.]


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, fuck you.¡± Lyn slammed the phone down before clenching her fist tightly. She exhaled lightly before calming down.


    ¡°I¡¯m going out, Grandpa!¡± Lyn shouted. She opened a lockbox stashed under a desk and grabbed a .44 magnum revolver, something the general public didn¡¯t have access to.


    ¡°Take care!¡± He replied back in an amused voice.


    ¡­


    There was a brief knock at the door, and Rachel checked carefully before opening it.


    ¡°...Captain O¡¯Hara wasn¡¯t it? Do you need something?¡± Rachel asked as she looked at the woman who carried a sheathed sword on her back.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been told to take you and your daughter to meet someone named Visette Thales. Since you¡¯re acquainted with her it seems you¡¯ll be the best option to ensure her safety.¡± Lyn unconsciously toyed with the leather strap of the scabbard that lay across her chest.


    ¡°Vis!¡± Charlie hopped out of her room while in the process of putting on her shoes.


    ¡°Charlie, it¡¯s not polite to eavesdrop.¡± Rachel scolded her.


    ¡°Sorry, Mom.¡± Charlie gave an insincere apology as she rushed over.


    ¡°Do you need time to get ready?¡± Lyn interrupted.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°No, we¡¯re ready right now.¡± Rachel grabbed a windbreaker hanging close to the door and stepped out of the house.


    ¡­


    An hour had passed but Visette seemed completely unaffected by the time that went by. She had long since closed her eyes and immersed herself in psionic meditation. She created a weak detection field and increased its boundaries. Her goal was to be able to pick up presences in the entire building before attempting to receive more detailed information.


    The main problem with her psionic pulse was its ambiguity, she couldn¡¯t discern what it was she detected. As it was now, humans, animals, and Corrupted all registered as the same entity. Her psionic energy spread over the room causing those touched by it to get goosebumps.


    ¡°Who turned the air on?¡± A man filing a report stood up abruptly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not on,¡± Someone replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± He sat back down but couldn¡¯t shake the sensation.


    Visette was fine-tuning her detection field and could slightly feel the heartbeats of everyone gathered. Although she needed to observe them heartbeats moving at different rates, she made huge progress in ironing out the use of her psionics.


    ¡°Vis!¡± A cheerful voice rang out.


    Visette retracted her psionic energy and stood up to see Charlie running at her. Before she could react, the girl was already hugging her tightly, ignoring the dirt and dried blood.


    ¡°Easy, Charlie...Are you hurt anywhere, Vis?¡± Rachel asked as she pulled a handkerchief from her jacket. She wiped Visette¡¯s face and got rid of the bloodstains only to realize it was someone else¡¯s blood.


    ¡°I am fine,¡± Visette replied.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll be having a cigarette outside while you all catch up.¡± Lyn was clearly uncomfortable with mushy reunions and excused herself.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Rachel nodded before joining in to hug Visette. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to go through that, Vis. I should¡¯ve been able to protect you but I couldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°There was no error in your decision. My experiences proved to be quite beneficial,¡± Visette spoke in a monotone voice but strangely enough, it had traces of satisfaction.


    ¡°Vis, don¡¯t talk like that. I was worried, you know,¡± Charlie fought tears while holding onto Visette.


    Visette, who wasn¡¯t equipped to respond properly could only stand silently.


    ¡°Vis...Remember that you have people who care about you?¡± Rachel noticed and could only speak comforting words.


    ¡°I will remember that,¡± Visette answered but she was trying to figure out where their emotional responses stemmed from. In her mind, she hadn¡¯t died and even gained benefits so she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what caused them distress.


    ¡°Oh ho ho, It¡¯s been awhile but you look beautiful as you did before, Rachel.¡± A middle-aged man wearing an expensive suit spoke up. Two bodyguards stood at his side and people in the customs building began to stir.


    Rachel instantly froze before turning around with a horrified expression on her face. ¡°You...What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m on the Council of Commerce and Trade, I don¡¯t see how it¡¯s wrong for me to be here.¡± The man answered while adjusting his collar. He had short grey hair that gave him an air of maturity while his sly brown eyes told a different story.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been informed that there was a suspected Abnormal in here and this must be her,¡± The man smiled as he looked into Visette¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t flinch nor look away and he ended up breaking eye contact first.


    ¡°Ah, she has a certain spirit about her. There¡¯s no doubt that she was the one mentioned,¡± He spoke warmly before laughing to himself.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, bastard.¡± Rachel moved to block Visette.


    The man moved closer with a smile on his face until he was sure no one was able to hear them, ¡°That¡¯s no way to talk to the man who tried help your Father¡¯s clinic.¡±


    Rachel punched the main in his jaw as hard as she could while her chest began to rise, ¡°You¡¯re a monster.¡±


    ¡°Councilor Richards!¡± Several people in the room, as well as the Councilor¡¯s bodyguards, moved.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Councilor Richards waved his hand while rubbing his reddened cheek. ¡°She¡¯s just protective of a girl in her custody is all.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re daughter looks so much like you, from the blonde hair to the green eyes, and even the freckles. I hope she grows up well, who knows, maybe she¡¯ll become a great military talent like her father.¡± Councilor Richards smile grew colder.


    Visette¡¯s mind had begun to race as she caught onto Rachel¡¯s words. When she called the Councilor a monster it stuck with her for some odd reason. Didn¡¯t Rachel say that those labeled as monsters weren¡¯t seen as human? If that was true that made Councilor Richards a threat. Whether human or animal, it would be best to eliminate a threat at the earliest opportunity. That was Vis¡¯ thought process. The importance of his rank didn¡¯t appear in her mind and even if it did she would see no reason for it to obstruct her.


    Visette made up her mind and suddenly moved forward, she infused her fist with psionic energy and drove it into the Councilor¡¯s chest as hard as she could. The force was enough to make him fall backward but she also used her psionics to hold him in place. Her strike was so sudden and completely without warning which didn¡¯t allow anyone to react.


    When she brought her fist back, blood poured out of the Councilor¡¯s mouth and he plopped onto the ground lifelessly.


    ¡°Councilor Richards!¡± Officers in the customs drew their weapons as they rushed toward Visette but someone arrived first.


    Lyn arrived in front of Visette and kicked her in the chest, knocking her to the ground. ¡°Someone get me a pair cuffs and don¡¯t get too close, she¡¯s an abnormal...¡± She planted her foot on Visette¡¯s abdomen to ensure the girl couldn¡¯t move and aimed her .44 Magnum at Visette¡¯s head. ¡°...Just like me.¡±


    Visette looked up at Lyn emotionlessly and prepared to use her psionic power at the slightest sign of danger.


    ¡­


    A few minutes earlier.


    Lyn was enjoying a cigarette outside when a black SUV arrived in front of the customs building. She dropped the cigarette and stomped it out slowly reaching for the revolver holstered under her jacket.


    ¡°Ah, Captain O¡¯Hara.¡± The window rolled down and exposed the friendly face of Councilor Adam Richards, someone who she knew personally.


    ¡°Councilor Richards,¡± Lyn saluted politely.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal, Captain. How¡¯s your Grandfather these days?¡± Councilor Richards asked as he stepped out of the car followed by his two bodyguards.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine. He¡¯s told me that you¡¯ve helped him a lot even though you weren¡¯t originally friends,¡± Lyn answered.


    ¡°Not back then we weren¡¯t, but after what happened to him and your father...I¡¯m sorry you all had to go through with that.¡± Councilor Richards sighed depressingly but his eyes flashed with a trace of mockery.


    Lyn¡¯s face darkened as her mind drifted which is why she was unable to see Councilor Richards slip up.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made you think of something terrible, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Council Richards patted her on the shoulder before entering the building.


    ¡°...It¡¯s fine,¡± Lyn spoke plainly but her body slightly trembled with clear anxiousness.


    Seeing her like so Richards left her alone and entered the building with a satisfied smile, unknowing of the fate awaiting him.

 Chapter 16: Interrogation

    Inside of a plain interrogation room.


    Visette was restrained with a pair of thick metallic cuffs that were chained to a steel table. It was clear they had been reinforced to account for the strength of a typical Abnormal. She didn¡¯t seem to mind at all though, in fact, her mind was replaying the events that took place.


    ¡®I estimate that her speed surpassed forty miles per hour and she was able to move that fast in less than five seconds. She also slowed herself down just enough to deliver a non-lethal kick.¡¯ Visette continued analyzing the situation.


    At that time, she was slightly taken off guard as she didn¡¯t account for the possibility of an Abnormal being so close. She also wasn¡¯t able to guess what the abilities of an Abnormal consisted of but it was clear some of them related to physical aspects.


    As far as Visette¡¯s actions went, she paid them little attention. She killed a government official without so much as a second thought. One he was labeled as an enemy, his presence conflicted with her short-term and long-term goals. Her short-term consisted of maintaining optimal conditions for survival and learning more about the world.


    Her long-term goal was returning to the Minerva lab and restoring it to operational capacity as well as obtaining any resources that allowed her to grow her psionic abilities. If she were to allow Councilor Richards to survive while designating him as an enemy it would put both of those goals in danger. At least, that¡¯s how Visette saw it. Once she thought of him as an enemy it was an almost instinctive reaction to kill him.


    Even now she was making plans to escape if the situation didn¡¯t develop in her favor. It was arrogant, but Visette saw her presence as far more valuable than an ordinary Councilor. Ignoring her psionics, Visette possessed extreme intelligence and could learn far faster than anyone. That automatically qualified her for a more scientific role if she wanted it. There was also her knowledge of technology on Earth which could be used to improve what was already common in Novo Prime.


    Visette snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the double-sided mirror in the interrogation room. She sent out a psionic pulse outward and could feel three presences on the other side of it. It appeared that they were observing her since it had been more than three hours since she was placed inside of the room.


    Visette prepared to bargain while stating her skills but decided to keep her psionics as a last resort. There was no way anyone would be able to stop her if she decided she wanted to escape. Though, that was under the assumption that Rachel and Charlie hadn¡¯t told anyone about her abilities.


    Suddenly, the door opened and Lyn entered with a frown on her face. She across from Visette before placing her large revolver on the table and her sword behind her.


    ¡°Do you know why I like this gun?¡± Lyn asked as she fished into her jacket pockets.


    Visette¡¯s eyes flicked to the weapon before going back to Lyn. It was her way of adjusting to each new variable as they occurred but Lyn remained unaware of her terrifying ability.


    ¡°The sound,¡± Lyn said seeing as Visette didn¡¯t say anything. She placed five bullets on the table and placed the sixth one into the cylinder of her revolver.


    ¡°The sound of a full metal jacket sliding into the cylinder is just the best. Did you hear it?¡± Lyn asked before spinning the cylinder and pulling the hammer back.


    ¡°You assassinated a government official. The minimum penalty is death even for someone as young as you. Now, seeing as you¡¯re an Abnormal it can be lowered to a life of working for New Mayhall if you tell us who gave you the order to kill him.¡± Lyn laid out the conditions while toying with the revolver.


    ¡°I acted without instructions from a third party. The decisions I made were all my own,¡± Visette spoke while wrapping her psionic energy around the gun. She used it to feel around and locate the bullet.


    ¡°Wrong answer.¡± Lyn raised the revolver and pulled the trigger but the gun gave a click in response.


    Visette didn¡¯t even flinch and looked at Lyn with the eyes of someone unfazed by threats or even death.


    ¡°You expect me to believe you weren¡¯t trained with a reaction like that,¡± Lyn said with a chuckle although she felt herself getting angry for some reason. Not even she could guarantee she would be totally unflinching in the face of death which touched on her insecurities.


    ¡°The probability of the gun actually firing is one in six. With those odds, there is no need for me to be concerned and based on what you¡¯ve said you wish to preserve my life until you obtain the information you desire,¡± Visette replied.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s make it two in six, shall we?¡± Lyn added another bullet before spinning the cylinder of the revolver. Visette quickly sent psionic energy at slowed it right when she was sure it would be empty.


    ¡°Why did you kill Councilor Richards if you weren¡¯t instructed to?¡± Lyn aimed the revolver at Visette¡¯s head again.


    ¡°He was a threat to me,¡± Visette answered.


    ¡°Is that what you really think?¡± Lyn tried to fire once again but Visette remained unharmed and unshaken.


    ¡°I am aware that my thinking would be considered peculiar based on the standards of an average person...Councilor Richards was one of many people on the Council of Commerce and Trade. His presence is easily replaceable while I am an Abnormal with multiple abilities. I am willing to work with this city¡¯s government if adequate resources are provided.¡± Visette gave her own conditions in a flat tone that showed no indication of a bluff.


    Lyn was temporarily taken aback and it showed as her face slowly crumpled into an expression of anger. She placed two more bullets into the cylinder of the revolver and smiled coldly at Visette.


    ¡°What do you think your odds are now? Four in six? I don¡¯t know if many people could say they¡¯re that lucky.¡± Lyn spun the cylinder but she didn¡¯t pay any attention to it like she did previously. It appeared she wanted a bullet to kill Visette or at least injure Visette.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Visette once again manipulated the cylinder before waiting for Lyn to pull the trigger which she did, causing an anticlimactic click resounded through the room.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t crumble, do you? I¡¯ve been told that you possess more than one trait. So it''s strength, intelligence, and agility, maybe? I¡¯ve been told that you¡¯ve stabbed several people during the evacuation from that town. Were they also threats?¡± Lyn was growing increasingly frustrated at Visette¡¯s composure.


    ¡°They threatened my safety which made them my enemies,¡± Visette answered simply.


    Lyn added the fifth bullet into the cylinder and spun it before pulling back the hammer, ¡°Am I a threat to you yet?¡±


    She pulled the trigger and once again it clicked without firing a bullet, ¡°...You really have some great fucking luck.¡±


    Visette remained silent while examining Lyn¡¯s increasingly unstable mood.


    ¡°I wonder how lucky can one person be,¡± Lyn added the last bullet, filling up the cylinder, before aiming it at Vis again.


    ¡°You¡¯re a threat to me now.¡± Visette¡¯s eyes narrowed with complete focus as she watched for even the slightest of movements in Lyn¡¯s finger. She gathered her psionic energy and placed a barrier around herself for added protection while preparing to move.


    ¡°Good,¡± Lyn said with a satisfied smile before pulling the trigger.


    Visette was able to react and lifted the cuffs just in time to block the bullet and instead use it to break the chain holding her. Once she was free, she jumped across the table and tackled Lyn to the ground before wrestling for the revolver.


    Lyn fired off another shot reflexively before opening the cylinder and dropping the bullets so that neither one of them could use it without loading it first. Then, she let go of the gun while kicking Visette in the stomach sending her flying back into a wall.


    Lyn reached for her sword and unsheathed it before jumping to her feet and charging Visthe metal cuffs blocked her attack. Seeing that Visette was still cuffed, Lyn began a rapid assault of sword strikes which the former was unprepared for.


    Lyn shouted as she swung upward with a ferocious attack. Her strike finally cut through the restraints and would''ve sliced open Visette''s eye if she hadn''t placed a psionic barrier around herself. After being freed from the metal cuffs, Visette put psionic energy into her hands and went on the attack. She threw a punch toward Lyn¡¯s chin but as soon as it was about to be blocked she opted for a kick to the ribs that caught Lyn off guard.


    As soon as Lyn stumbled backward Visette rushed forward and tried to resume her attack but she was kept at bay with the length of Lyn¡¯s blade.


    What Lyn was unaware of was the revolver on the being loaded with a single bullet without anyone touching it. There was also someone at the door trying to enter the interrogation but neither one of the girls paid it any mind.


    Lyn thrust her sword once again and Vis stepped to the side to dodge while leaning backward. Lyn didn¡¯t panic and dropped her stance low before sweeping Visette¡¯s leg with a low kick. As soon as Visette¡¯s back hit the ground Lyn tried to stab her with the sword but she rolled away and grabbed the gun. She pulled the hammer back and aimed the .44 magnum at Lyn who had her sword pointed at Visette¡¯s neck. It appeared to be a stalemate but Visette was about to hold the sword in place with her psionics.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Commander Wakefield burst through the door with a group of soldiers behind him. Several assault rifles were point and Lyn and Visette causing both of them to stop.


    ¡°Commander...She¡¯s dangerous.¡± Lyn seemed unwilling to let it go which caused Visette to add more pressure to the trigger.


    ¡°That¡¯s an order, O¡¯Hara,¡± Commander Wakefield said coldly.


    ¡°Tch.¡± Lyn clicked her tongue before stepping back and retrieving her scabbard while Visette pushed the hammer of the revolver up.


    Commander Wakefield sighed before speaking up, ¡°We¡¯ve found out that Councilor Richards was involved with dozens of illegal activities. A quick search of his terminal and his personal safe turned up evidence of his crimes. And there¡¯s another thing...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lyn asked angrily.


    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been confirmed yet but he may have been involved in the incident that led to your father being killed and your grandfather being crippled,¡± Commander Wakefield said.


    Lyn was visibly stunned and she felt a sense of nausea filling her body.


    She took a few seconds to collect herself before she narrowed her eyes at the Commander, ¡°Why were you searching through his belongings? Wait, why are you even here in person?...You knew, didn¡¯t you? Is that why you made it an official order because you knew that he would come running?¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that he was involved with what happened to your father,¡± Commander Wakefield responded.


    Lyn kicked a chair sitting near her feet. ¡°You didn¡¯t think to tell me about that bastard?! Richards visited my Grandfather for years and you¡¯re telling me he¡¯s the one responsible for all of it?¡±


    ¡°Calm down, O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°Oh, fuck you!¡± Lyn slammed her fist into the wall until her knuckles turned bloody.


    ¡°O¡¯Hara.¡± Commander Wakefield called out to her with a strict tone.


    Lyn didn¡¯t say anything and let her breathing return to normal and then she pointed to Visette, ¡°What about her?¡±


    ¡°Well, after the evidence about Councilor Richards is reviewed she¡¯ll likely be let off after serving a few years under the condition she¡¯s mentally stable and not a threat to any other government officials. With her status as an abnormal with multiple traits, I recommended that they let me try to reform her. Of course, that¡¯s just on the surface, during the few years she¡¯s in prison you¡¯ll be tasked with her combat training since I want her to join your squad.¡±


    ¡°...Are you serious?¡± Lyn questioned with clear disbelief.


    ¡°I am...What about you, Visette? Rachel went out of her way to defend you so I need to know if you¡¯re worth the trouble.¡± Commander Wakefield turned his attention to Vis.


    ¡°I have no problem with the arrangement as long as I am provided with proper materials and resources.¡± Visette stood up and handed the revolver to Lyn who accepted it with a cramped face.


    It appeared she forgot that Vis was holding the gun the entire time. If Visette was an assassin sent from another city she could¡¯ve killed Commander Wakefield at any time.


    ¡°We¡¯ll discuss it further but before anything, we¡¯ll get a psychiatrist to examine Visette and then give her an aptitude test. After that, she¡¯ll be given a minor assault charge to appease those who disagree. All matters pertaining to her status as an Abnormal will remain classified until further notice. Councilor Richards died due to heart failure brought on by Visette¡¯s random attack. That¡¯s the official story as of now.¡± Just as Commander Wakefield was about to leave, Lyn spoke up.


    ¡°...Why did you come here personally knowing that she could¡¯ve killed you?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°Rachel assured me that she wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.¡± The Commander smiled.


    ¡°And that was all you needed to hear?¡± Lyn questioned suspiciously.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see the Special Ops team with me? I can¡¯t be too careful after all.¡± Commander Wakefield gestured toward the soldiers dressed in black fatigues. Their faces were obscured by balaclavas but the threatening air around them didn¡¯t diminish.


    Visette took notice of Commander Wakefield''s shrewd natureand immediately designated him as someone to be wary of.

 Chapter 17: Whats The Use Of A Living Weapon That Isnt Used?

    The room being used to examine Visette¡¯s mental condition was a small office. It was decorated with a bookshelf and a certification hanging behind the desk which took up the center of the room. There were other things such as potted plants and a painting depicting some plain landscape but other than that it was dull. That¡¯s all that could describe the psychiatrist''s office Visette was in.


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Dr. Eliza Brendan.¡± A brown-haired woman in her early thirties spoke clearly. Her eyes moved to take in all of Visette''s features in order to find out whatever she could. Even the clothes people wore could offer a small yet valuable insight into their mind. In this case, Visette wore a plain windbreaker with jeans and hiking boots, an outfit common for those who lived outisde of the cities.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Visette replied in a monotone voice.


    ¡°Visette, do you know why you¡¯re here?¡± Dr. Eliza asked in a friendly tone.


    ¡°To examine my mental state in order to understand whether or not I am dangerous,¡± Visette answered.


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly correct...but I want to ask if you think you¡¯re dangerous, Visette?¡± Dr. Eliza inquired.


    ¡°Only when it is beneficial,¡± Visette replied.


    ¡°...And when do you think it¡¯s beneficial?¡± Dr. Eliza was no stranger to people who thought the same as Visette except those people were all hardened soldiers rather than young girls.


    ¡°To keep others from obstructing my goals or to deal with those designated as enemies. Those are circumstances that would cause me to act.¡±


    Dr. Eliza took a few notes:


    Speaks in a pragmatic way.


    The possibility of being raised to be a soldier highly likely.


    There''s a chance that she could be copying language and phrases she''s heard from others. Could offer a clue to her origins.


    After she finished writing she spoke, ¡°It sounds like you see yourself as a tool and not a living breathing person.¡±


    ¡°I can not understand the need to see myself in any other way. It will not help me achieve my goals any faster.¡±


    ¡°Just what are your goals, Visette?¡± Dr. Eliza asked.


    Seeing Visette unwilling to answer, Dr. Eliza added to her notes.


    Unwillingness to speak about her own personal goals. She could be untrusting of others or perhaps something else. Extended observation is extremely recommended.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been told that you¡¯ve killed people but I understand that during the evacuation of a town people are forced to defend themselves. Since that time have you experienced any intense emotions?¡±


    ¡°Intense emotions?¡± Vis repeated.


    ¡°Guilt, fear, rejection, excitement. It¡¯s common to experience reoccurring mental trauma following after such an event. Have you felt anything like that?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Dr. Eliza looked at Visette and what she saw was a young girl with a doll-like expression. Even the faintest movements of her facial muscles were unable to be seen. She clicked her pen and began writing once more.


    Visette''s reaction to the death of other''s could be a problem. Abnormals with extremely high intelligence often fail to connect with others and there are cases of them treating people as data. Additional examination will be required to ascertain whether or not she''s a danger.


    ¡°Visette, how would you describe your childhood?¡± Dr. Eliza suddenly inquired. Her question drew a reaction from Visette as the latter seemed to be slightly puzzled.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Visette searched through her memories. Her ¡°childhood¡± was spent being grown in a pod so there were no significant events that took place other than the moment she received the Blue Swan implant and when she was released. ¡°I did not have a childhood.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Dr. Eliza sought to go further but Visette became silent once again.


    It went without saying that Dr. Eliza began to take down notes again.


    I would advise investigating further into Visette''s past. Interesting to note that the times where she would be expected to lie she instead remains silent. It''s a biting flaw that could help us find out where to look if it is approached correctly.


    ¡°...Well, I¡¯m sure we can find the answer over time. In any case, today was just an introduction so we can learn more about each other.¡± As Dr. Eliza finished speaking she wrote a few things down and then smiled politely before standing up. ¡°I¡¯ll inform Lyn so she can escort you to your next destination.¡±


    Dr. Eliza left her office and entered a waiting room only to see Lyn tossing an old cigarette into a potted plant.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you about smoking in here. I¡¯m tired of finding used cigarettes in places they don¡¯t belong,¡± Dr. Eliza said while furrowing her brows angerily.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lyn said insincerely. ¡°So, what¡¯s the verdict on the brat?¡±


    ¡°Please call her Visette and as of right now I think she may be suffering from some mental disorder. She doesn¡¯t appear to be in touch with her emotions which may be the result of her repressing some sort of traumatic event. She seemed hesitant to speak about her childhood so I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s a possible source.¡± Dr. Eliza was clearly intrigued and worried about Visette but she was nowhere close to the truth.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°So do we have to worry about her?¡± Lyn asked bluntly.


    ¡°My short answer is no, but again, this was only an introduction.¡±


    ¡°The long answer?¡±


    ¡°Visette appears to be a highly intelligent girl but she''s severely lacking in several areas. For example, her speech patterns, when Visette talks she rarely uses contractions like you or I would.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Lyn shrugged.


    ¡°So, the way she talks makes her seem unaccustomed to speaking. It could offer us further insight into her origins or the environment she was raised in at the very least. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she copied her speech patterns from someone else. In fact, I''m starting to doubt that human traffickers are the ones responsible since she didn''t actually confirm it.¡±


    ¡°What does this have to do with her risk level?¡± Lyn interrupted.


    ¡°I was getting to that,¡± Dr. Eliza said with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m nearly one hundred percent certain that Visette won¡¯t do anything dangerous unless she¡¯s provoked by some sort of stimulus. From what I¡¯ve seen so far she¡¯s only been reacting to whatever situation she¡¯s put in. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s taken any actions without something causing her to.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying she¡¯ll be nice and passive? I was looking forward to beating some sense into her when I get to train her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take any unnecessary actions when dealing with her, Lyn. Visette is more than likely an abnormal with multiple high-level traits based on the information given to me. I¡¯d like it if you didn¡¯t cause a confrontation until we know more.¡±


    ¡°Whatever.¡± Lyn clicked her tongue. ¡°I¡¯ll go get her.¡±


    ¡°Oh and Lyn.¡± Dr. Eliza stopped her from moving further.


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°When do you plan on attending an appointment? Commander Wakefield strongly recommends you visit me but I won¡¯t force you to. What you were forced to witness was terrible and there is no need to be ashamed of any lingering fear.¡±


    Lyn clenched her fist and glared at Dr. Eliza. ¡°Mind your business.¡±


    Dr. Eliza seemed reluctant but she nodded, ¡°I understand. Feel free to come by whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    Lyn walked into the office and returned with a handcuffed Visette moments later.


    ¡°I look forward to seeing you next time, Visette.¡± Dr. Eliza smiled.


    Visette simply looked at her at lightly nodded before being pulled along by Lyn.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡­


    After a few minutes, Visette found herself in the backseat of a large SUV with black tinted windows. Due to the car being powered by a Novidium battery, there was very little noise. Thus, the two sat in silence until Vis spoke.


    ¡°Where is our next destination?¡±


    ¡°Armory,¡± Lyn answered curtly.


    Visette wasn¡¯t affected by Lyn¡¯s rudeness and went back to being silent while looking at the passing scenery. New Mayhall almost resembled Visette¡¯s implanted memories of a modern day earth except there was less variety in the buildings. Goods that weren¡¯t necessary were seen as a luxury so special shops could be found near the upper-class section of the city.


    Lyn made a few turns before stopping at a red light. She looked into the mirror and could see Visette¡¯s empty expression which made her think back to what Dr. Eliza said about Visette¡¯s upbringing. Lyn opened her mouth as if she wanted to speak but struggled with what she wanted to say next.


    Eventually, she found her words. ¡°When you were younger did you¡­¡± Or at least she tried to.


    ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is¡­¡± Lyn looked into the mirror and made eye contact with Visette¡¯s apathetic brown eyes and thought it was Vis'' way of saying she didn''t care.


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Lyn huffed angrily.


    Lyn wanted to inquire about Visette¡¯s circumstances and speak about her own since they may have had something in common but it was easy for her to think about than to articulate verbally.


    They arrived at the armory and Lyn hurriedly exited the vehicle and grabbed her sword while bringing Visette with her.


    ¡°Yo, Lyn.¡± A man at the counter waved his hands. His hair was greying and he seemed to be in his late sixties but he was extremely lively. ¡°Need anything for today?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m to let her select some weapons.¡± Lyn gestured toward Visette.


    ¡°Oh?¡± The man raised his eyebrow at the young white-haired girl in hands cuffs. He glanced at Lyn but she didn''t show any signs of explaning. ¡°...Well, my name¡¯s Smith and I¡¯m the Chief Gunsmith.¡±


    Smith laughed as if he found his introduction funny but Lyn shook her head painfully and Visette remained stone-faced.


    ¡°Ehem, anyway do you have anything in mind uh¡­¡± Smith trailed off.


    ¡°Her name is Visette,¡± Lyn spoke up.


    ¡°Ah, do you have anything in mind, Visette?¡± Smith gestured to the various swords, knives, pistols, rifles, and shotguns on display.


    Visette found herself thinking back to the Corrupted and their resistance to small arms and low caliber guns, especially the Variant she faced. It was safe for her to assume that there would be different types of variants just like the human abnormals had different traits.


    ¡°A high-caliber weapon,¡± Visette finally replied.


    ¡°How about the good ol¡¯ Anti-Material Rifle? We got one in the back that can take down anything from planes to people.¡± Smith laughed.


    ¡°That will be acceptable,¡± Visette responded causing Smith¡¯s grin to fade.


    ¡°No I- That was just a joke. Most abnormals can¡¯t even handle the recoil so it needs more work done. Plus, the ones we have on hand are just prototypes. If you were to hold it upright it would be almost twice your size in length, I really don¡¯t recommend it.¡±


    ¡°As long as it is capable of functioning without issue there should be no problem,¡± Visette said.


    ¡°Just mark it down for as her field equipment.¡± Lyn shook her head at Visette while thinking of the outcome. Even strength-based Abnormals could barely handle the recoil of the AMR prototypes. Shooting it wrong or unprepared led to fractures and just shooting it normally caused bruising when shoulder the recoil.


    ¡°Get her a revolver and a tac-knife for her non-service equipment.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure? If she¡¯s military personnel she¡¯s entitled to a semi-automatic pistol.¡±


    ¡°Just get it.¡± Lyn ignored his words.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Smith wrote down the types of weapons on a piece of paper and folded it up. ¡°I¡¯ll let requisitions work out the rest because I don''t want anything to do with this situation.¡±


    ¡°It was Commander Wakefield¡¯s orders to let her select a weapon so don¡¯t blame me.¡± Lyn shrugged and then nodded to Visette. ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    Visette said nothing and followed behind Lyn. Inwardly, Visette was contemplating the characteristics of a Corrupted Variant. Her mind recalled even the smallest details of her fight. If the AMR was as powerful as Smith made it out to be then she would easily be able to win without struggling.


    ¡°Where is our next destination?¡± Visette asked as she finished processing the new information she received.


    ¡°Prison,¡± Lyn replied.


    ¡°I do not understand,¡± Visette said with slight confusion.


    ¡°Sure you do, when you¡¯re not training or having your mind picked apart by Dr. Eliza, you¡¯ll be staying a cell especially created for dangerous Abnormals. Think of it as your new home.¡±


    Visette then nodded as she thought it made sense. Though it went without saying that if a Psionically enhanced individual like Vis wanted to escape there was nothing that could get in her way. Visette decided that if the training given to her was lacking in some way she would break out and flee New Mayhall. That meant killing anyone who tried to stop her without a second thought.

 Chapter 18: Dont Forget the Fundementals

    Lyn found herself standing inside Commander Wakefield¡¯s office. Her posture reflected a night of heavy drinking with exhaustion pressing heavily on her shoulders.


    Her newly appointed status as a mentor came with a schedule she found extremely demanding but, in all honesty, it wasn¡¯t as bad as she made it out to be.


    ¡°Take a look at this,¡± Commander Wakefield said, ignoring her improper stance. He wouldn¡¯t take issue with her attitude as long as it wasn¡¯t in front of others. There was a need to uphold the status quo and if he couldn''t produce the image of a competent commander he''d eventually be ousted from his position.


    He pushed a strange black watch across his desk and motioned for Lyn to pick it up.


    ¡°What do you want me to say? It¡¯s a watch and a broken one at that.¡± Lyn examined the accessory with a scrutinizing gaze but she couldn¡¯t see anything that stood out.


    ¡°That watch was in Visette¡¯s possession before we confiscated it.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Lyn shrugged.


    ¡°...I had someone in research and development open it up and it''s filled with strange components. They couldn¡¯t figure out how it works but they did say that its an advanced piece of equipment. It¡¯s not something that you would find lying around so there¡¯s no way she could have stumbled upon it.¡±


    ¡°So you think someone gave it to her?¡± Lyn wanted to know.


    ¡°Maybe.¡± Commander Wakefield rubbed his chin illustrating his bewilderment. ¡°I¡¯ve heard reports of cities that have grown more technologically advanced in the past few years. I¡¯m guessing that Visette is working with or running away from one of those cities.¡±


    ¡°If she was working with an advanced city I doubt the first thing she would do is kill a council member in broad daylight.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t be sure of that and that¡¯s why I need insurance to give me peace of mind.¡± Commander Wakefield opened his desk drawer and produced another device. A black ankle bracelet with a small yet clunky box attached to it. ¡°When you go to see Visette, put this device on her. It¡¯ll let us track her position at all times.¡±


    ¡°If she¡¯s that much trouble why don¡¯t we just kill her, Commander?¡± Lyn wanted to know. Something about Visette bothered her though she wouldn¡¯t admit it aloud.


    ¡°Because she¡¯s useful. Still, if you see any signs of suspicious behavior then feel free to do as you want.¡±


    ¡°I got it,¡± Lyn replied as she took the ankle tracker from his desk and left the room.


    ¡°And I don¡¯t mean anything that annoys you, O¡¯Hara.¡± Commander Wakefield called out to Lyn¡¯s departing figure.


    ¡­


    Unaware of what was happening, Visette sat in the middle of a 6 by 8 cell surrounded by reinforced glass. A metal cot bolted to the floor and a stiff wool blanket served as the bedding. The shower and toilet were in the corner of the cell and a thin plastic sheet that obstructed the view of the inside served as the only source privacy. Overall, the arrangements wouldn¡¯t be very comfortable for an animal let alone a human. In addition, Visette was in a specialized isolated cell block where she couldn¡¯t see anyone else, not that she needed or wanted social interaction, but normal people would find their mental states shaken.


    All those factors withstanding, Visette didn¡¯t seem to mind her current status. She sat cross-legged with her eyes closed and channeled her psionic energy.


    Under her command, the psionic energy wormed its way throughout her body, passing through each of her limbs. She was careful to control it as to not produce unstable fields which manifested themselves in blue particles that were visible to the naked eye. It was needless to list all the problems that would arrive if her psionics were discovered.


    Visette¡¯s ability to temporarily infuse psionic energy into her muscle fibers allowed her to surpass her physical limits. She was it as her most useful ability at the current moment and decided to increase her endurance while using it. Another plus was the fact that Visette¡¯s body would be strengthened as the psionic energy traveling through her body had the same effect as high-intensity exercise. Also, since the nanites in her blood gave her faster recovery she would gain a strengthened physique which would ensure her combat potential remained high if she ever ran out of psionic energy. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    As time passed, the guards on duty swapped shifts and someone came to relieve the armed woman watching over Visette¡¯s cell.


    ¡°Is she at it again?¡± The newly arrived guard asked while carrying a tray of food which, in reality, was a grey square of a tofu-like substance and a cup of water.


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s been in that same spot since my shift started.¡± The armed woman replied as she looked on. ¡°Anyway, I gotta go but make sure to watch out for her.¡±


    ¡°Will do.¡± The man replied as he approached Visette¡¯s cell. He kneeled down and slid the tray through an opening before taking his distance in a hurried manner. Each step showcased his apprehension toward the strange white-haired girl.


    Visette didn¡¯t open her eyes once to observe the scene. She spread out a psionic pulse on reflex as soon as the guard entered but that was it. As she grew more accustomed to her own power she used it unconsciously which was a positive thing.


    The best way to Visette could describe what psionics were to her would be as a formless extension of her own body. It was as if her nervous system was attached to a cloud of energy. Under normal circumstance, a human brain would experience a sensory overload and end up with neural degeneration but Vis could function perfectly fine just as intended by those who designed her.


    Visette continued to funnel the psionic energy through her own body like a conduit until her biological need reminded her to satiate her hunger in the form of a growling stomach. She opened her eyes and grabbed the tray of lukewarm food and immediately began to eat without any reservation.


    The movements Visette made while eating were so orderly that they looked mechanical in a way and the guard who watched her from across the room could only feel unnerved. Visette cut even and exact portions of the greyish nutrition filled slab before chewing only as many times as she needed. It was anything but normal, even so, Visette didn''t do it on purpose.


    She continued to ignore the guard stationed in a small booth just across from her and continued eating. When she finally finished and looked toward the door. As if she was expecting it, the door beeped and opened before Lyn walked inside.


    The guard stood up and saluted but was ignored by Lyn who approached Visette¡¯s cell.


    ¡°You finished with that?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette answered, her eyes remained still as they had always been. Even Lyn found herself disturbed whenever she made eye contact with Visette. There was rarely any emotion reflected within the gaze of Visette''s brown eyes.


    ¡°Good, it¡¯s time to go.¡± Lyn slid the ankle tracker through the door as if to discard her discomfort. ¡°Put that on.¡±


    Visette didn¡¯t ask any unnecessary questions and complied. As soon as she fastened the ankle tracker to her leg, it made a clicking sound signifying that it was locked in place. There was a small keyhole slot atop the tracker which Visette assumed was used to release it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fiddle with it, don¡¯t pull at it, and don¡¯t take it off.¡± Lyn spoke without room for negotiation but Visette never intended to protest.


    ¡°I understand,¡± said Visette who adjusted her plain gray clothes.


    ¡°Open it.¡± Lyn said to the guard who immediately entered a keycode.


    Visette¡¯s cell door swung open and she was allowed to exit.


    ¡°Arms out.¡± Lyn pulled out a pair of metal cuffs and restrained Visette who complied.


    As the two moved to a different area of the detention facility, Visette initiated a conversation.


    ¡°Will your training start today?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Lyn replied curtly, the idea of Vis growing stronger left a bad taste in her mouth. She fiddled with the pommel of the sword she carried around while wondering if she would ever have to use it on Vis.


    After that, neither one of them spoke and it was silent until they arrived at an open room that had been recently modified with fighting equipment. A padded mat took up the majority of the floor, its purpose was clearly to soften any impact.


    Visette looked around the room and could guess what her first training session would be hand to hand based combat.


    Lyn tossed her sword into a chair and removed her leather jacket.


    ¡°...What¡¯s your story?¡± Lyn began to put on her hand wraps.


    ¡°I do not understand your question.¡±


    ¡°Of course you fucking don¡¯t,¡± Lyn mumbled to herself. ¡°Where are you parents? Where¡¯d you come from? The Commander¡¯s wife thinks you got tied up with human traffickers.¡±


    Lyn removed her boots before looking at Vis.


    ¡°I just can¡¯t picture it though. You¡¯re an abnormal with multiple traits which makes you way too valuable to let go.¡±


    Visette contemplated what to say for a few moments before finally speaking.


    ¡°...Are you going to remove my restraints?¡± She intoned emotionlessly.


    Lyn clicked her tongue and removed the metal cuffs from Visette¡¯s wrists.


    ¡°Give me your hands.¡± Lyn didn¡¯t wait for a response and held Visette¡¯s hands before wrapping them in bandages.


    She secretly observed the texture of Visette¡¯s palms and could see they were smoothed and uncalloused which offered a clue about the latter. If Visette was trained prior to her arrival in New Mayhall it would¡¯ve shown on her hands at the very least. Combat experience was something that could be disguised but never completely hidden. Once you were trained to kill a part of it would always stay with you.


    There was nothing that overtly stuck out on Visette other than the nearly untraceable scars of an animal attack and the strange tattoos she had.


    Lyn tossed Visette a pair of gloves and smirked. "Put them on. We''re going to start with the basics."

 Chapter 19: Born To Fight

    The bloodied history of Novo Prime made it clear that fighting was integral to survival, it was something that couldn¡¯t be avoided for long. Lyn O¡¯Hara embodied the idea of fighting in the truest sense. And when she became Abnormal her natural martial talent was enhanced even more. It would be a surprise to see someone like her struggle in a fight but that¡¯s what was taking place.


    Visette¡¯s eyes were empty of all but focus, she slipped past a punch that was thrown by Lyn and performed a sweeping leg kick, knocking the latter onto the ground.


    ¡®Shit.¡¯ Lyn cursed in her mind as she rolled back to her feet. Visette didn¡¯t take a pause and continued her assault.


    Lyn was too distracted to think back to the previous few hours where Visette looked like a complete novice. It was clear that she hadn¡¯t learned any particular fighting style but she began to learn and rapidly at that.


    Everytime Vis made a mistake and was struck by Lyn she would find the source and correct it. To call her a fighting genius was an incredible understatement. Her ability to learn was extraordinary even when compared to the high standards of abnormals.


    Visette began to throw a continued flurry of punches in quick succession, forcing Lyn to block them.


    ¡°Fine!¡± Lyn growled before dropping her guard and leaving herself wide open.


    Visette seized the opening and fell right into Lyn¡¯s trap. With a quick sidestep, Lyn became the one with an advantage, she wrapped her arms around Visette¡¯s torso and lifted her into the air before slamming her down onto the mat. Visette knew nothing about grappling which gave Lyn the upper hand. Without knowing how to respond, Visette was forced to greet the floor.


    A painful impact resounded in Lyn¡¯s ears and she was momentarily shocked by her own actions. Truthfully, Lyn didn¡¯t plan on teaching Visette anything for the first day, she just wanted to mess around. But after seeing Visette learn with no instruction, she started to get serious.


    ¡°...Sorry.¡± Lyn stood up and offered a hand to Visette.


    Visette looked at Lyn¡¯s hand before the gesture finally registered and accepted, letting Lyn pull her to her feet.


    An awkward silence fell between the two and Lyn, not knowing what else to do, began to speak.


    ¡°...You have a medical examination tomorrow so let¡¯s just call it day.¡±


    Visette nodded in agreement and removed the gloves before offering up her hands to be cuffed.


    As Lyn moved to restrain her, a thought sprung to the forefront of her mind.


    ¡°If she can fight this well right now, how good would she be after four years?¡±


    It was a thought that stirred up a strange feeling inside of her. After all, she had talent but she worked for more than a decade to reach her current mastery. In comparison, Visette seemed like a monster with an unreal learning ability. There was also the fact that she never showed a sign of complaint or asked for a rest.


    While Lyn was distracted, Visette had her mind on the medical examination. She had to wonder if the blue swan implant or the nanites would come up during any testing. If it did, she would no doubt arouse curiosity and that was a dangerous thing for her in her current situation.


    ¡°Come on.¡± Lyn lead her away without knowing what was going through Vis¡¯ mind.


    ¡­


    The very next day, Visette was escorted to a room filled with medical equipment. There were x-ray machines and other tools that could be found on earth but none of it reached the level of complexity that Minerva was known for. It meant that Visette was more or less safe from having her secrets known.


    ¡°Please, look here.¡± A female doctor instructed, pointing to a vision chart.


    Lyn sat in the corner of the room and yawned out of boredom. It was only when the doctor began speaking did she show interest.


    ¡°Did you know that her vision was far beyond average?¡± The doctor asked Lyn while examining Visette¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lyn wanted to know.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Well, for starters, I think her level of eyesight would at least mark her as a vision-based abnormal.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lyn¡¯s eyes widened on their own. They suspected Visette of having four abnormal traits, which was already unheard of, but five was incomprehensible.


    ¡°What are the levels of classification for...Abnormals?¡± Visette interrupted with a question.


    ¡°It hard to say since Abnormals are still a fairly recent occurrence we haven¡¯t been able to do an in-depth analysis but it¡¯s pretty easy to distinguish them. For example, an intelligence-based that¡¯s type three and below can solve difficult equations in a few seconds. Type four or five would be the ones creating new theories and pioneering research. Still, it isn¡¯t that simple for all of them.¡± The doctor was about to continue but Lyn chimed in.


    ¡°So what do you think her level of vision is at?¡± Lyn asked as she knew she would have to report it to Commander Wakefield.


    ¡°Well, there isn''t any measuring equipment here, but if I had to guess, it''s at least type-two but since she¡¯s still young it could get better or slowly return to an average level.¡± The doctor mused.


    After that, they moved onto a few more physical tests that all returned good results. A few samples of blood were taken and Visette was given an x-ray. Of course, it would take at least a week to get readings back so nothing new was learned about her body.


    So after concluding the end of the examination, Visette was lead to the isolated glass cell that would serve as her home.


    ¡­


    A week passed quickly. In that time, Lyn chose not to spar with Visette directly. She thought it would be better to teach her the proper moves and then have a fair fight when the training was finished. She wondered if she would even be able to contend with Visette at that time.


    Lyn found herself looking forward to that day, strangely enough. She increased her own personal training schedule and even cut back on her drinking habits.


    As Lyn was on her way out of the facility, the doctor who examined Visette ran after her.


    ¡°Miss O¡¯Hara! Miss O¡¯Hara!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lyn replied with a slightly annoyed look.


    ¡°The test results arrived.¡± The Doctor panted as she was out of breath.


    ¡°Oh? Couldn¡¯t you wait to show them to me tomorrow? Or have someone deliver them to Commander Wakefield?¡± Lyn clearly didn¡¯t want to read a multi-page report and would much rather someone else take over for her. What would the results tell her that she didn¡¯t already know?


    ¡°It¡¯s important, please, you have to see it.¡± The Doctor pleaded.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Lyn sighed begrudgingly.


    They moved toward the on-sight medical lab set up specifically for Visette and various x-rays were strewn across an led board.


    ¡°So what is it that you wanted to show me?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°Look at this, Miss O¡¯Hara.¡± The Doctor handed over an x-ray image.


    ¡°What it looks normal to me¨C¡± Lyn stopped mid-sentence as she scanned over the image. The image appeared to be normal until it reached Visette¡¯s skull, once it reached that point the image was distorted.


    ¡°What the hell? Did your equipment malfunction or something?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t just that one.¡± The Doctor provided more images but they all were the same. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure what it is but we couldn¡¯t process a clear picture of her head. But that isn¡¯t the strangest thing you¡¯ll hear. It appears as Visette will be unable to bear children for the rest of her life.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lyn questioned. Normally, it wouldn¡¯t be an important detail but it became so when it was applied to Visette.


    ¡°It¡¯s weird since she¡¯s extremely healthy, but it¡¯s completely true. It looks to be a natural affliction but it was...I don¡¯t know how to say it, almost too natural. It¡¯s as if someone performed surgery to ensure she wouldn¡¯t be able to have children but...¡±


    ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°There are no signs of an operation and I don¡¯t know any medical lab who could even be that precise as to not leave any scarring or visible sign.¡± The Doctor almost got lost in thought but then produced another piece of shocking news. ¡°Now, the most important thing is her blood.¡±


    ¡°Go on, I¡¯m listening.¡± By now Lyn could tell that Visette was a complete anomaly by all standards so she paid attention.


    ¡°Her blood has an aggressive reaction to everything, and I mean everything. At first, I assumed she had a strong immune system but I was wrong. Viruses, diseases, antibiotics, her blood-cells attack everything that may have harmful side-effects. She may be the first Abnormal to have an enhanced resistance to sickness and disease.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Lyn¡¯s jaw nearly dropped. Not due to Visette immunity to sickness but that fact that she had an incredible amount of traits for an Abnormal.


    ¡°We tried freezing a few samples and when they were thawed her blood was surprisingly still able to combat any foreign substances. And as great as it may seem, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be able to replicate the effects. We don¡¯t have the tools necessary to do extensive research...If only we could get a hold of one of the eastern cities, I¡¯ve heard that they¡¯ve experienced a recent technological boom.¡± The Doctor seemed dejected at the low chances of solving the mystery known as Visette but Lyn had different thoughts.


    ¡°Hey, Doc...How many people know about her results?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°As of now, only you and me. The lab techs just helped me process the info so they don¡¯t know anything about her.¡±


    ¡°Good, don¡¯t tell anyone about this. From now on, everything you¡¯ve gained today is classified information. I¡¯ll call someone and have the results delivered to the Commander. Secure all of your files and make sure no one else has access.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, of course.¡± The Doctor nodded.


    Lyn left and found herself that learning more about Visette only caused more questions.


    ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s too early to start drinking,¡± Lyn mumbled to herself.

 Chapter 20: Cheating The System

    Commander Wakefield read Lyn¡¯s personal report with an indecipherable expression.


    ¡°Where did you come from?¡± He mumbled the question that didn¡¯t seem to have an answer.


    She hadn¡¯t even been given a proper test to determine all of her traits but it seemed clear to him she had more than four.


    ¡°Eyesight, strength, reflexes, regeneration, intelligence, dexterity, endurance, agility, and an incredibly high resistance to sickness.¡± He named off all the traits she was suspected to have before taking in what it really meant. Truthfully, Visette didn¡¯t have any special physical related abilities since they were a result of infusing psionic energy into her body.


    ¡°Wait!¡± His eyes suddenly widened as he thought of Visette¡¯s ability to learn.


    It was a trait that hadn¡¯t existed prior to her arrival to New Mayhall. In fact, the cities that did cooperate with each other in researching Abnormals had never mentioned such a thing. It wasn¡¯t likely that they were keeping it hidden so that mean Visette was the first person to possess such an incredible trait.


    Mastering skills such as fighting or shooting required effort, natural talent, and time. Visette ignored those constraints and showed unbelievable progress according to Lyn.


    It was frightening to think that a 13-year old girl could shock Lyn but Commander Wakefield knew he wasn¡¯t misreading the report.


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul, where did she come from?¡± Commander Wakefield felt a little hesitant to act when considering her cloudy origins.


    Was there a city or powerful entity that would come to get her back? And why were the x-ray images of Visette¡¯s head distorted? What was the reason for Visette¡¯s sudden appearance in the first place? Was she a runaway? Was she released as a part of a plan? Or was she a victim of human traffickers like Rachel suspected?


    There were numerous unknowns surrounding Visette but she was too valuable to get rid of.


    The thing that Commander Wakefield found to be the most unfortunate was that the doctor who examined Visette said that she would never be able to have children in the future. It cut all chances of passing down her traits or sending an influential suitor to gain her favor and obtaining her loyalty that way.


    Commander Wakefield put the report away and went into thought. There were many ways to make use of Visette, killing the Corrupted was one but his mind strayed toward human enemies. Rival cities, government figures inside of New Mayhall, problematic individuals, all of those were ideal targets and with Visette around he could easily dispatch them.


    ¡°No one knows about her abilities yet.¡± Commander Wakefield laughed.


    The Corrupted had entered a low activity period allowing for the last few years to be peaceful which allowed a power struggle to take place. Members of the New Mayhall council sought to lower the absolute control the military Commander in favor of electing leaders for each branch and division. Ultimately, the Governor of New Mayhall would have to decide but if a majority decision was reached he¡¯d have no choice but to follow the decision.


    ¡°But now¡­¡± Commander Wakefield wore a satisfied smile.


    In his eyes, he was acting for the greater good. If the members of the council who supported creating different divisions were to have their way, the military of New Mayhall would be filled with rivaling factions that would ruin cooperation. After all, even if a common enemy was found in the Corrupted, it wouldn¡¯t eliminate the selfish desires of others.


    ¡­


    The first month was easy for Visette. She learned a large number of strikes, punches, kicks, throws, and grapples. She also put on a slightly noticeable bit of muscle though it wasn¡¯t too unexpected. The true source of her physical growth was her routine of channeling her psionic energy. She was confident that if she fought the Variant Corrupted again she¡¯d easily defeat it.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Visette changed her focus from thoughts of combat to the textbook in front of her. The book was something she asked Lyn for and since it was a simple item it was given to her very easily. The contents of the textbook didn¡¯t contain anything groundbreaking, just some information about the organic life of Novo Prime.


    Interestingly enough, there were species of animals who developed defenses against the Corrupted. A disease called ¡°Rot¡± in the textbook was the main cause of survival for most animal species. It turned the blood and flesh of the infected animal semi-septic in addition to causing them to produce on a disgusting scent. Unless the Corrupted were extremely desperate they would leave the ¡°Rot¡± infested animals alone.


    Visette wondered if there were attempts to reproduce the disease in humans but she learned that it was impossible. ¡°Rot¡± was a disease that was non-transmissible to the human species. Of course, it could be spread between animals and some were observed willingly infecting themselves.


    Other defensive mechanisms by animals included, burrowing, camouflage, and other actions that didn¡¯t include actually fighting the Corrupted. Humans were the only ones without a natural defense to rely upon.


    ¡°Hey, you didn¡¯t notice I was standing here?¡± Lyn tapped on the glass wall of the cell.


    ¡°You arrived approximately seven minutes and thirty-two seconds ago.¡± Visette intoned without raising her head.


    Lyn clicked her tongue. ¡°Then let me give you a rundown of your schedule. Today you¡¯re going to an Abnormal testing facility. Tomorrow you¡¯re meeting with the Doctor Eliza. After that, it¡¯ll be nothing but close combat training and time at the shooting range. Also, I¡¯ll be increasing the intensity and content of your training as per the Commander¡¯s orders.¡±


    Most kids around Visette age would be receiving an education and training at New Mayhall¡¯s military academy, but Visette obviously had to be treated differently. As for education, Commander Wakefield decided to hold off on it until Visette finished her tenure in the detention facility which would be anywhere from 3 to 4 years.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Visette closed the textbook and stood up.


    She went through the familiar process of being restrained before being taken to a different facility.


    Along the way, Visette remained silent, but Lyn began to talk. It was a habit she had developed during the first month of training Visette.


    ¡°I told my Grandfather about you...He says he wants to meet you one day. I never seen the old man that happy in a while.¡±


    ¡°Are you allowed to do such a thing?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°No, but keep this between me and you.¡± Lyn glanced at the rear-view mirror and saw Visette nod.


    ¡°Anyway, he and my father taught me everything I know. It wasn''t just me who learned from but a lot of people in this city. Even though hand to hand combat isn¡¯t useful against Corrupted it¡¯s still a necessity.¡±


    As Lyn continued going on about her Grandfather, it was clear that she hadn''t realized how comfortable she had gotten around Visette.


    Visette, on the other hand, remained as tight-lipped as always about her own past and that was due to the fact she didn¡¯t have one. She knew nothing about her parents or the ones who created her. She didn¡¯t find it unfortunate, or rather, she couldn¡¯t as her emotional responses were dulled. There was a small chance that in the future she''d develop more responses and come to feel the pain of their absence but there was no chance at the moment. So, she did the only thing she could do and that was listening.


    They arrived at the facility and Lyn escorted Visette inside. There was a short process of signing in and then they entered.


    Inside, there were different types of equipment everywhere and each one had at least several dials, cords, and displays on it.


    ¡°Come on.¡± Lyn removed Visette¡¯s cuffs and pointed to one of the weird machines. ¡°Lay down there.¡±


    Usually, there would be technical engineering teams conducting the test but Visette was a special case so Lyn had to oversee it. It wasn¡¯t a problem though because of the fact that most of the things in the room were quite easy to operate.


    Visette laid flat on her back atop a bench of some sort. A bar was right above her chest which was connected to some sort of elaborate pulley system and huge metal slabs.


    ¡°The weight will gradually increase just hold it up as much as you can. Don¡¯t be too scared to let it go since it has a safety system in place.¡± Lyn gave her own simplified version of the instructions and pressed a red button labeled ¡°start.¡±


    Visette began the first test meant to test the physical strength of Abnormals without actually having incredible muscle strength in the first place. She channeled her psionic energy through her body and prepared herself for a mentally exhaustive day.

 Chapter 21: Enigmatic

    The Abnormal Aptitude Test consisted of vigorous physical and mental stimulation. The idea behind it was to gauge how far beyond the human limit those who were designated as abnormals had gone. It was safe to say that is would be dangerous for non-abnormals to participate in it.


    Lyn, the one who administered the test was shocked by Visette¡¯s durability and willpower. She went through each test without a single complaint, though she did suffer a terrible nosebleed by the end of it.


    ¡°That damn girl is something.¡± Lyn looked at the final results of the test before she turned them into Commander Wakefield.


    She was inside of a small office that she used for ¡°official¡± work but with her personality doing any work out of her own volition could be considered a rare thing. Stacks of papers and reports that needed to be finished filled the room but she didn¡¯t show any sign of starting on them. No, her sole focus was Visette¡¯s status as an abnormal.


    The level of Visette¡¯s physical traits was as follows:


    Type-3 Strength.


    Type-3 Agility.


    Type-3 Reflexes.


    Type-4 Endurance


    Type-3 Dexterity.


    In summary, Visette Thales would be the perfect soldier for an Abnormal Unit. Her wide-range of traits would allow her to take on any role from recon to assault. I recommend introducing field training as soon as possible to develop her natural abilities even faster.


    To test her physical limits, Visette was forced to lift weight around four times her own body weight. Agility was, of course, a test of how fast she could run between two points. Endurance was a test of stamina which also involved running. Agility dealt with Visette¡¯s ability to jump and maneuver. Reflexes and dexterity were tests administered at the same time and by far the easiest. All Visette had to do was stare at a screen and when a symbol flashed she would have to press the corresponding button. It made it easy to track how fast she could react and move.


    The traits that didn''t make the list were intelligence, vision, and hearing. Intelligence wasn''t something so easily measured. Her vision was estimated to be around type two or three. Enhanced hearing was a rare trait for abnormals and not one often talked about because it was considered more or less a useless thing to have. There was no way hearing would be useful in a firefight against a horde of Corrupted and there detection equipment far more effective than the human ear could ever be.


    ¡°I wonder how she would fare in that city to the west?¡± Lyn mused as she reached for a cigarette only to remember she cut down on smoking. ¡°Damn it.¡±


    Suddenly, a phone next to Lyn¡¯s table began to ring and she picked it up.


    ¡°What?¡± Lyn rolled her eyes.


    ¡°There¡¯s trouble.¡± Someone on the opposite end of the receiver said.


    ¡°What the hell does that have to do with me?¡± Lyn asked with an eyeroll.


    ¡°It¡¯s about Visette Thales. The Commander has asked that you personally go to the detention center. Visette¡¯s physician has some news that she is hesitant to speak about over the phone.¡±


    Lyn¡¯s forehead wrinkled slightly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid, right?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll go.¡± Lyn hung up the receiver and then sighed deeply. ¡°Damn it.¡±


    ¡­


    Lyn made it to the detention facility and went to the see the doctor immediately. But to her surprise, there was no one killed and nothing destroyed when she arrived. A nervous female doctor who paced back and forth while biting her nails seemed to be the only thing out of place.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Lyn asked calmly.


    The Doctor looked around the empty halls of the detention center¡¯s medical ward before grabbing Lyn by the forearm and pulling her into a medical storage room.


    ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± Lyn snatched her arm away. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°Sorry...Sorry, It¡¯s just that you said that material relating to Visette was to be kept classified so I-¡±


    ¡°Just get to the point.¡± Lyn urged her on.


    ¡°So, you should remember that a month ago I collected a blood sample from Visette and discovered her abnormal resistance to any invasive or foreign material introduced to it, viruses, diseases, and even medicine.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, go on.¡±


    ¡°Well, after you told me that everything about her was to be classified, I ran a few more tests before putting the sample in cold storage. Until today, I hadn¡¯t looked at it at all and that¡¯s when I discovered something shocking.¡± As the Doctor finished, she turned toward a small refrigeration unit and punched a keycode in before opening it. A cold fog came billowing out and when it was clear a shattered glass vial could be seen. The liquid inside the vial had not only turned from red to a dull grey color but it crystalized and protruded from the vial that was meant to hold it.


    ¡°What happened to it?¡± Lyn asked while leaning close to it. ¡°Is it frozen?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s the thing. This was only meant to keep it at a suitable temperature, not freeze it.¡± The Doctor continued while removing the blood sample with a pair of metal tongs. ¡°Her blood has somehow crystalized and I can¡¯t even scrape off a sample small enough for me to examine closely.¡±


    After placing the grey crystal onto a table, the doctor picked up a motorized surgical saw and turned it on before pressing it against the vial. The glass vial was broken but the crystal remained untouched even as sparks flew. Eventually, she stopped revealing a dull saw-blade and a peculiar crystal without a single blemish.


    ¡°...What the fuck?¡± Lyn could only stare blankly without a single shred of understanding as to what was happening.


    The Cronus Gene implanted inside of Visette¡¯s DNA essentially made her immortal. It would only activate under two circumstances.


    The first one was if Visette reached an age where her biological functions were adversely affected. The nanites in her body would then trigger a reaction which would render her comatose as her body underwent a state of renewal. During that time she would be covered by a crystalline substance formed by her own body to protect her from harm.


    The second circumstance was if Visette¡¯s body was put under a large amount of stress due to injury or some other factor. Once that occured, her nanites would force her body to shut down in order to recover.


    The nanites within her blood sample that were left stagnant were apart of the second category. They designated the current condition inside of a cold storage as unsuitable for long term survival and issued a response to preserve her cells.


    Another benefit that could be seen from her blood cells becoming impossible to study was the fact no organization or powerful entity would be able to gleam any secrets or replicate Visette¡¯s biology. Though it was nearly impossible in the first place as Minerva had many failsafes in place for such events.


    Lyn tried to get the Doctor¡¯s input on the cause of the weird phenomenon but after getting nowhere, she was forced to report to the Commander without a single answer.


    ¡­


    Visette remained unknowing of what occurred. Sitting in a plain set of detention clothes, the doll-eyed, white-haired, girl was face to face with Dr. Eliza Brendan, the psychoanalyst who was tasked with decoding Visette¡¯s mental state.


    ¡°Please, fill out the questionnaire with whatever comes to mind. And remember, there is no right or wrong answer.¡± Dr. Eliza flashed a beautiful smile.


    If there was one fault she had it was herover-eagernesss to do her job. Visette was a murderer, that was a plain fact. She killed a man in broad daylight, even if his crimes came to light after his death it didn¡¯t mean she was any less of a murderer. Treating her without care was dangerous but if Eliza was nervous she surely didn¡¯t let it show.


    Visette nodded with her usual empty expression and began reading the questions.


    -You are walking down the street one afternoon and stumble upon a man in need of help. What do you do and why?


    It was a simple question with a basic premise. Most people would answer like good samaritans regardless of whether or not they really meant it but Visette didn¡¯t count as ¡°most people.¡±


    I do not assist him. I have no reason to offer help to an individual with unknown motives.


    -Think of a place that makes you feel positive emotions. What or where is that place and why?


    After taking time to consider, Visette could only come up with one answer. Prior to receiving her artificial memories, the stillness of the Minerva lab only induced fear inside of her. So that couldn¡¯t count but there was one place where she felt comfortable.


    The small home that Rachel and Charlie occupied was a place that met the conditions given by the question.


    As for the ¡°why¡± part of the question, Visette had no answer. She couldn¡¯t say what about staying with Rachel and Charlie brought on the strange emotional response.


    -Have you ever hurt someone? If so, list the reason why you did it.


    Visette looked at what was by far the easiest question and responded accordingly.


    I eliminated a man who was designated as an enemy. It was not logical to let a potential enemy escape when the opportunity to dispatch him was present.


    The question continued on.


    If given a second chance, would you take the same actions again?


    Visette didn¡¯t even have to think as she wrote her response.


    Yes.


    ¡°If you¡¯re finished I¡¯ll take that.¡± Dr. Eliza asked after seeing Visette put her pen down.


    Visette handed the test over to Dr.Eliza who place it into a folder very carefully.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the test, as I¡¯ve said before, there is no wrong answer,¡± Dr.Eliza said without thinking.


    She smiled again before shaking Vis¡¯ hand and leaving the room.


    Visette was then escorted to her small glass cell and her day ended.

 Chapter 22: She Was Made For This

    The reaction of Visette¡¯s blood was somewhat written off as a medical anomaly. After all, there was no way to study it comprehensively and without a proper explanation from Visette herself, nothing could be understood.


    The doctor who studied Visette did put forward a theory that the genes that gave Abnormals their abilities were especially unstable in Vis. That instability gave her multiple traits, or at least, that was the thought behind it. A few concerns were raised about the long-term effects if the theory was true but the only to find out would be to wait.


    Lyn was forced to keep quiet about the discovery by Commander Wakefield so she continued training Visette as if nothing happened. Dr. Eliza ran a few more psych tests and concluded that it was safe for Visette to use a firearm in a controlled environment but urged caution while training. Specifically, caution when designating someone or something as an enemy as Visette¡¯s thought process caused her to opt for the immediate elimination of a hostile target.


    ¡°You still know how to shoot a gun, right?¡±


    As Lyn escorted Visette into the shooting range, she removed her leather jacket and tied up her dark brown hair before putting on a pair of protective earmuffs.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette answered simply.


    ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t just a gun you¡¯ll be shooting. You asked for high-caliber weapons, more specifically, a damn AMR.¡± Lyn shook her head while gesturing toward a table with an incredibly large carrying case on it. About a dozen other smaller black suitcases were also on the table but they weren¡¯t as eye-catching.


    Since the room was empty with the exception of the two of them, the large case stood out even more.


    ¡°Open it,¡± Lyn instructed as Visette finished putting on her protective gear.


    With a loud click, the carrying case was opened and a massive sniper rifle was revealed. It was one of the most powerful firearms that had been developed on Novo Prime. When compared to artillery and explosives, an anti-material rifle may have seemed lacking but it couldn¡¯t be beaten when precision was taken into account. It held the benefit of lethal firepower without the chance of harming allies. It was just too bad the AMR¡¯s were still in the prototype stage since the recoil was far too strong and it weighed so much that it greatly hampered mobility.


    Visette channeled psionic energy into her muscles and lifted the rifle up, noting that it was nearly eight feet from stock to the tip of the barrel.


    ¡°If you fire it while laying down it¡¯s more manageable but it still kicks like a damn horse,¡± Lyn commented while searching through an ammo container. She fished out a bullet that was nearly the size of a carrot and tossed it to Visette who caught it.


    Visette studied the gun before easily figuring out the loading mechanism and inserted the bullet before pulling back the firing bolt. Since the gun was a prototype it didn¡¯t have a scope but she didn¡¯t need one anyway since the targets weren¡¯t further than a hundred or so feet from her.


    Visette lifted up the hefty rifle and peered down the iron sights of the gun before lining herself up with the target.


    ¡°Take your time when-¡± Lyn was about to urge caution when a thundering sound and a bright flash filled her vision. A large puff of gunpowder wafted through the air before dissipating.


    ¡°Hey, take it easy!¡± Lyn shouted while adjusting her earmuffs. For some reason, they didn¡¯t feel quite adequate, especially when firing such a powerful gun in an enclosed space.


    ¡°I apologize,¡± Visette said in an insincere and emotionless tone. She switched from her firing position and let the gun rest on its stock with the barrel pointing straight into the air. There was an ache in her hands after firing the rifle but she wanted to continue.


    Lyn took a moment to compare the large sniper rifle to the short, white-haired, girl it towered over. She glanced toward the metal target and found only traces of scrap remained with a massive bullet hole lodged into the solid concrete wall behind it.


    ¡°There¡¯s no guessing where your bullet hit.¡±


    ¡°I can recall the approximate location. Due to my lack of experience with this particular gun, I was unprepared for the recoil and my bullet hit just below the heart. If it was a human it would be the upper part of the ribcage to be exact. If it was an abnormal it would be toward the lower part of the mid-section when comparing heights and body structure,¡± Visette intoned a chunk of somewhat needless data.


    ¡°Does it matter? I think as long as you hit someone with that thing they¡¯ll die instantly.¡± Lyn reached for a pack of cigarettes only to recall that she was attempting to curb her habit. ¡°Damn it,¡± She muttered regretfully.


    ¡°...I understand.¡± Visette replied after thinking about it for a few moments. ¡°Would it still be acceptable if I aim at vital areas?¡±


    ¡°Sure, do whatever you want...Let¡¯s just hold off on firing that again for right now and move on.¡± Lyn clearly wasn¡¯t a fan of the rifle even though Visette seemed to be.


    From Visette''s perspective, the AMR was a weapon that required little effort to use while offering an incredibly high kill potential. It meant that her psionics could be used passively and she wouldn¡¯t need to mentally expend herself. It was no wonder she took a liking to its efficiency when that was her main goal in terms of combat.


    ¡°The next weapon we have on the board is a semi-automatic low caliber handgun. It¡¯s your designated service weapon when in civilian clothes and your usual sidearm when you''re not deployed on a mission.¡±


    Visette received the easy to handle pistol and fired off a few rounds, hitting her marks perfectly before returning it to its case.


    ¡°This seems to be a useful weapon. Why is it that civilians do not possess weapons like this?¡± Visette inquired.


    ¡°...Whenever the Corrupted attack there is a mandatory martial-law as well as forced rationing of supplies. As a result, people become disgruntled and in the past, there have been riots over food and some cities fell quicker because of it. If you gave civilians stronger weapons they¡¯d become more of a threat. At least, that¡¯s how the governing officials see it,¡± Lyn explained without any particular thoughts of her own on the subject.


    Visette could see the logic behind the decision. Her encounters during the evacuation spoke for themself. Even if people could better defend themselves with stronger weapons, it made it easier to attack others.


    For her next weapon she was given a large revolver. It outclassed the smaller model civilians were allowed to have. The heavy revolver boasted of a 8-bullet capacity in its firing cylinder as well as a longer barrel with stronger firepower.


    ¡°This one is a bit new and I have to say, I prefer the older version.¡± Lyn pointed to her revolver that was holstered under her arm. It was a standard model which only held 6 bullets.


    Visette loaded the revolver before pulling down the hammer and firing off 8 bullets in quick succession. While in her hand, the heavy revolver barely even moved which Lyn was able to notice. Even more surprising, the 8 bullets all hit the same place and broke through the reinforced metal target with relative ease.


    ¡°Next,¡± Lyn spoke with a tinge of jealousy.


    Even the abnormals who were snipers or marksman needed a lot of training to get their shots right. Visette was in the unique position where she could pick up something and learn after she gained an initial understanding. For example, the AMR prototype caused her to account for recoil on all guns in order to maintain accuracy. The average person took weeks to develop the proper muscle memory required for shooting but Visette wasn¡¯t one of them.


    Visette tried out different types of handguns with variations in their overall power and velocity before moving onto stronger weapons. The latter was where Visette¡¯s talents would truly shine as they were the primary weapons used to combat the hordes of Corrupted that would pour into cities and towns in endless droves.


    ¡°Here, this is the Matchstick Model Eight.¡± Lyn lifted up a strange looking gun and handed it to Visette.


    ¡°...A shotgun?¡± Visette inquired after studying the weapon.


    It had a long tube-like barrel, stocky frame, and a huge drum magazine. Its purpose was to clearly kill multiple Corrupted in close quarters.


    ¡°Short-range, high-spread, quick firing rate.¡± Lyn listed the details of the weapon before handing over a box full of shells. ¡°Fire whenever you want.¡±


    Visette nodded and loaded the drum to capacity, discovering that it held 32 large shells. She aimed in the general direction of the target and fired repeatedly. In less than ten seconds, the magazine was empty and smoke poured from the barrel.


    The metal target was torn to scraps and a few targets she wasn¡¯t aiming at were also damaged. It was easy to imagine how human enemies would fare if they faced weapons meant for use against Corrupted.


    ¡°It¡¯s for when the Corrupted get too close, you see. It¡¯s commonly used to prevent the defensive lines or trenches from being overrun.¡± Lyn smirked as she thought she could read a hint of surprise on Vis¡¯ face. She took the Matchstick Model-8 from Visette¡¯s hands and replaced it with a scoped rifle.


    ¡°Anti-Corrupted Marksman Rifle. Semi-automatic, long-range, high-velocity, and high powered. This is easier to use than a sniper rifle and since it holds a fair number of bullets there¡¯s no pressure on missing a few shots. It¡¯s mostly used when the Corrupted are still a fair distance away.¡±


    Visette made a mental note of the characteristics of the rifle and fired a few shots until she had a good feel for the weapon. She unloaded it and handed to Lyn, indicating she wanted to move on.


    ¡°Anti-Corrupted Auto Rifle Mark-One. Multiple firing modes, medium to long range depending on your preference, fairly manageable recoil. I guess the last part shouldn¡¯t really concern you though.¡±


    Visette took time to analyze the weapon. It seemed that the Anti-Corrupted weapons were all created with bulky frames and heavy barrels in order to reduce recoil as much as possible.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°What is the total magazine capacity?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°For the standard rifle? It¡¯s about fifty or so. There are other versions of the gun that can hold up to a hundred bullets but they a bit more difficult to use.¡±


    Visette tested each firing mode and found that it was a useful weapon. Though, it still didn¡¯t compare to the AMR to her.


    After trying a few more Anti-Corrupted weapons, Lyn called it a day.


    ¡­


    After being returned to her cell, Visette started her daily routine of channeling psionic energy through her body and expanding the maximum range of her psionic pulse.


    Meanwhile, Lyn had went to meet with Commander Wakefield to discuss the next step in Visette¡¯s training.


    ¡°So what do you think, O¡¯Hara?¡± He asked while looking over a few of Visette¡¯s medical records. The reaction of her blood when left alone weighed heavy on his mind. For some reason, he felt that it was the sign of some hidden abnormal trait that had yet to be discovered, something that became a common theme with Visette.


    ¡°She can shoot stationary targets more than well enough, Commander,¡± Lyn said truthfully. ¡°She showed no problem with using any weapon I gave her though she seems to like higher caliber weapons much more than ordinary ones.¡±


    ¡°So, do you think we should put her in a training camp with the other soldiers? It seems to me that her skills would be best honed if she was allowed to train in an environment that emulated live situations.¡± Commander Wakefield asked without looking up from his desk.


    ¡°Do you think she would be ready? I mean, Dr. Eliza hasn¡¯t fully cleared her and there¡¯s also the fact that you wanted to keep her abilities quiet until she was done with training.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask Dr. Eliza to submit a comprehensive profile on Visette Thales. As for keeping her traits confidential? I¡¯ll arrange for the construction of a mock-training camp, smaller in scale than the real one we use. Like before you¡¯ll be the one to watch over her during this time so¡­¡± Commander Wakefield pushed a thick booklet forward and gestured for Lyn to pick it up.


    ¡°Familiarize yourself with this copy of the training regiment but do feel free to make any necessary adjustments.¡±


    Lyn flipped through some of the pages of the textbook-like training manual before her expression turned sour. ¡°How long do you expect me to train her?¡±


    ¡°Four years,¡± The Commander answered plainly.


    ¡°With all due respect, I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll be able to handle four years of this, Commander. Honestly, to go through a full day worth of training exercises listed in this thing would take at least sixteen to seventeen hours a day. That means she¡¯ll be performing vigorous activity with little to no rest,¡± Lyn protested before continuing.


    ¡°This booklet even says that a prerequisite to the training requires the trainees to complete a bunch of other specialized courses. Even an Abnormal with as many traits as her would see this as torture. And you¡¯re saying you want to throw her in head first?¡±


    ¡°I said you can adjust as you please, but yes, that is exactly what I want. I plan on creating a special operations unit centered around Visette Thales.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit,¡± Lyn cursed.


    ¡°It¡¯s the truth, O¡¯Hara. Do you really think this time of peace we¡¯re in will last long?¡± Commander Wakefield¡¯s eyes narrowed at Lyn as he asked his question. ¡°History has shown time and time again that the Corrupted will attack without fail.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Lyn pushed him to get to the point.


    ¡°What do you think will happen if we have government leaders who are too busy focusing on political gain when a horde comes? If it comes time to evacuate who do you think will set themselves as priority while thousands die?¡±


    ¡°What are you saying, Commander?¡± Lyn asked cautiously.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying that Visette Thales is the solution to a very pressing issue, O¡¯Hara.¡± Commander Wakefield smirked while Lyn frowned deeply after understanding what he meant.


    ¡°...You want to use her to assassinate your political rivals?¡± Lyn asked in disbelief.


    ¡°No, I want to use her to get rid of the people blocking the way of progress. I¡¯ll admit that some of them happen to be my rivals but a good deal of them aren¡¯t. Here, you probably didn¡¯t know about this.¡± Commander Wakefield handed over a folder that had a large classified stamp on its front.


    Lyn slowly opened it up and began reading it aloud. ¡°The evacuation plan that Commander Wakefield has proposed is too dangerous to the governmental infrastructure of New Mayhall. Expending resources to create a railroad as well as supply waystations is a gross waste of time and manpower. We even suspect that this plan would put Commander Wakefield in a unique position of power that completely surpasses the Governor himself. As a result, the board of councilors is unanimous in our decision to reject this plan and declare henceforth that all materials relating to it are marked as classified or outright destroyed.¡±


    Commander Wakefield leaned forward with a cold look on his face and began speaking. ¡°I proposed we create an evacuation system that would benefit the entire city. If it was carried out a train would be constructed which would be capable of holding a large portion of the population. From there it would go on, stopping at resupplying stations, until reaching the coast where we would then use a ship or a submarine to head out to the ocean. Since aquatic life remains as one of the most viable food sources to this day and it wouldn¡¯t be too much of a issue to create sustainable environment.¡±


    ¡°...It sounds like a good plan.¡± Lyn had to admit when thinking about it.


    As the city stood now, there were underground tunnels that led to bunkers to keep people safe. It wasn¡¯t a solution since it only meant they would be effectively trapped while the Corrupted tried to find a way in.


    ¡°The only reason it was rejected was the fact that the city officials can¡¯t consolidate their power in an environment that places a high priority on security and strict rules. The military would ultimately replace them in terms of influence after too long.¡±


    ¡°But everyone rejected the plan, so that means you would have to stage a coup and force them to agree.¡± Lyn spoke gravely as the cost of overthrowing the governing body of the city would come at a cost. A power shift would cause destabilization which would also prove fatal if a horde was to happen right after.


    ¡°No, there are members of the council who are neutral. They agree with the plan but the politics behind it would put them at risk, O¡¯Hara. It appears that the Governor himself approves of it, but again, no one can outright say it.¡±


    ¡°So you want to kill the people who are against it?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°For the overall good of society, yes, it¡¯s not a very hard decision to make.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, It¡¯s easy when you¡¯re the one giving the order isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, O¡¯hara, but I recall you being very eager to kill Visette not too long ago. Now you have a change of heart when faced with the prospect of her being the one to kill. Isn¡¯t that quite strange?¡±


    ¡°That was different¡­¡± Lyn found herself unable to respond properly.


    Commander Wakefield saw she wasn¡¯t completely backing down so he pushed further. ¡°Maybe I was mistaken to make you watch over her, O¡¯Hara. I¡¯ll assign someone else to¨C¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Lyn interrupted.


    ¡°Listen¡­ All you have to do is what you¡¯re ordered to, O¡¯Hara. Besides, Visette Thales is by no means an innocent person. She killed Councilor Richards with little to no provocation. And even though evidence of his criminal misdeeds surfaced after, there was no way that she would¡¯ve knew that. So by all accounts, she had no real justification other than the fact she deemed him to be a hostile enemy. I can think of no one more fitting for the task if it isn¡¯t her.¡±


    Lyn remained silent, no longer willing to argue about it. Councilor Richards was someone who arranged for the death of her father and after that fact came to light, her approval of Visette slightly rose. There was also the fact that she spent most of her time interacting with Vis and made several changes to her lifestyle as a result, even going far to cut down on her drinking and smoking.


    The result of Lyn¡¯s actions weren¡¯t all a complete conscious decision on her part. Minerva performed extensive research into genetics when creating Visette to ensure every single part of her had a purpose. Suffice to say that Visette¡¯s facial features were pre-arranged to create the idea that she was non-threatening. Even as a living weapon, Minerva planned for the possibility that she would¡¯ve been revealed to the world one day. By giving her an innocent appearance, they would be able to ease Visette¡¯s existence into normality since no one would see her as a danger on a surface level.


    It was important to note that the entire scenario was with the assumption that the true limits of her psionics or biology weren¡¯t revealed along with her existence. The installation of her psionic implant showed a glimpse of her peak, causing visual-auditory hallucinations to the entire facility and killing those who were in her immediate proximity.


    If those effects were able to be replicated on a mass scale, she¡¯d be akin to a nuclear weapon but with far more benefits in her use. Her psionics left no trace of destruction or evidence, she could attack without warning, and she could target specific people. Holding complete control over a small country wasn¡¯t out of the question. It was a frightening prospect to say the least but without Minerva around to groom her, it was unknown if Visette would come to realize her potential.


    ¡°...If that¡¯s all, you¡¯re dismissed, O¡¯Hara.¡± Commander Wakefield waved Lyn away after a period of silence.


    Her blue eyes continued to stare daggers at him before she mockingly saluted and left his office.

 Chapter 23: Youre Creating A Monster

    A comprehensive psychological report on Visette Thales, as requested by Commander Wakefield.


    Initial Observation:


    At first glance, Visette Thales appears to be a soft-spoken, fragile, girl with no clear indication of violent tendencies. It is advised to do away with all preconceived notions when dealing with her. Visette is highly intelligent and pragmatic. She appears to have some unknown goal in mind and if an obstacle gets in her way she will not hesitate to use violence by her own admission. I inquired about Visette¡¯s goal but she remains tight-lipped about it. I do not recommend using forceful methods to obtain information from Visette as she¡¯ll most likely respond with intent to kill anyone she deems hostile.


    Personality:


    Visette is relatively simple. For her level of intelligence, she shows an unexpected ignorance when it comes to understanding certain things. For example, using certain figures of speech will cause her to take things literally. When dealing with her, I advise being clear and concise as possible to avoid misunderstandings.


    As mentioned previously, Visette is a girl of very little words. It¡¯s rare for her to ask a question if someone doesn¡¯t initiate a conversation with her first. Even then, all of her questions center around furthering her understanding of a particular subject and consist of little more than one or two inquiries.


    Another thing to note, Visette has an incredibly high level of patience. Even with her current cell arrangements, she hasn¡¯t complained. It¡¯s reported that she spends most of her time in meditation, but the reason for it remains unknown.


    Potential Dangers:


    Visette has remained silent about her past and it is unknown if she has some outstanding trauma remaining. In that regard, certain provocations may very well trigger violent reactions. Her mental tolerance seems to be incredibly high but testing the limit of that tolerance isn¡¯t advised.


    Visette has an objective that she is unwilling to share and interfering with it will draw her hostility. Since she isn¡¯t willing to talk about it, avoiding conflicts of interest might be difficult. Though she will most likely give some hint or warning if that objective is put at risk by an individual. If she is insistent on doing something that is difficult to allow I would recommend drawing a compromise that is satisfactory for both parties.


    Visette shows no signs of guilt or remorse in taking lives but also no enjoyment. To her, murder is a necessary and effective tool if it removes an obstacle in the way of her advancement. The only benefit to her mindset is that, she¡¯ll just as easily avoid murder if given a better, more effective, alternative.


    Visette¡¯s current arrangements may worsen her mental state causing her to become even more cold and detached than she already is. I highly recommend that she is put into a social environment under the condition that she is closely monitored. Allowing Rachel or Charlie Wakefield to visit her seems to be the best option at the moment.


    Conclusion:


    Disregarding my personal feelings on the matter, Visette would make an excellent soldier. However, while she is an overall logical individual, there are unpredictable factors surrounding Visette that must be taken into account. As far as I can tell, a good way to ensure her cooperation is to offer an incentive that she deems valuable. From what I learned, informative or educational reading material seems to be what she currently desires the most.


    The chances of Visette having a sudden, unwarranted, violent outburst is low, and I would say that allowing Visette certain freedoms wouldn¡¯t be too dangerous.


    Notes: Further evaluation is needed to determine how Visette would fit in with civilian life.


    ¡­


    ¡°Signed, Dr. Eliza Brendan.¡± Commander Wakefield muttered aloud while reading the report.


    Although Dr. Eliza was somewhat forced to speed up her examination of Visette, she delivered what he asked for. Truthfully, Commander Wakefield wasn¡¯t interested in half of the report said. The thing he was most interested in was gaining her cooperation and giving her a few textbooks would be a worthwhile trade. As for sending Rachel and Charlie to visit? He didn¡¯t give it a single thought. One of the few things he cared for was his family and he deemed Visette too much of an unknown variable at this time. The psych report wasn¡¯t convincing enough for him to leverage the safety of his wife and child.


    Commander Wakefield pressed the intercom and spoke. ¡°Tell O¡¯Hara to begin training Visette Thales as soon as the facility is complete.¡±


    [Yes, Sir.] The voice on the intercom responded.


    ¡­


    In only took a month to build the field training camp for Visette. Since everything was scaled down to accommodate a single person and there was plenty of spare equipment from other facilities to use, it didn¡¯t take very long. A majority of the time it took to finish was spent procuring an empty warehouse located in a quiet corner of the military section of the city to use as the site. It ensured an adequate level of privacy and Commander Wakefield¡¯s political enemies didn¡¯t blink twice after looking into it. It wasn¡¯t suspicious for a Commander to make use of one of the warehouses he had control over.


    Lyn brought Visette to the facility after a short drive and began to explain to her the purpose of it.


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll start real training. At least, according to what this booklet says.¡± Lyn tapped the thick training manual. ¡°First, open that crate and put on what¡¯s inside.¡±


    Visette did as instructed and the first thing she saw was a black vest with metal segments attached.


    ¡°It¡¯s your defensive gear. The Corrupted can easily tear people apart, so an armored vest is the best formof protection available. It¡¯ll stop them from clawing through you but they still hit pretty damn hard. It¡¯s also effective at stopping bullets.¡±


    Visette lifted it up and felt the immense weight in her hands. To defend against the claws of Corrupted as well as bullets it needed to be dense. The current piece Visette held seem to weigh at least, fifty to sixty pounds.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s pretty heavy too, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Visette nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll be wearing it a lot so get used to it. It¡¯s also insulated with a foam layer to lessen impact but a downside is that it gets pretty hot.¡±


    Visette put on the chest piece and it became apparent that it was too big for her. She stared at Lyn with a blank face waiting for the next instruction.


    ¡°...You¡¯ll grow into it,¡± Lyn muttered.


    ¡°Next you¡¯ll put on one of these weight packs.¡± Lyn pointed to a backpack with the number 30 stuck on the back, indicating the precise weight of it.


    ¡°And finally, you¡¯ll carry this rifle.¡± Lyn handed over an unloaded Anti-Corrupted Auto Rifle.


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be doing laps around this warehouse to get accustomed to the weight.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Visette could see the benefit in building up physical endurance. It would even help her psionic power grow as channeling it through her body increased her strength.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    She began a light jog around the warehouse while glancing at the equipment placed about. After thirty minutes passed, Vis began sweating and as a result, Lyn made sure she had an adequate amount of water. After an hour had went by, Visette¡¯s breathing was heavy. She tried to conserve as much energy as possible so she used her psionic power in short bursts. So every few minutes, she would carry the weight without assistance.


    Lyn was obviously unaware of Visette¡¯s psionic abilities, so it just looked like Visette would suddenly slow down before speeding up again.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough for now.¡± Lyn waved her over.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have more than enough time to get used to it so start loading your rifle and follow me.¡± Lyn pointed to an ammo cartridge before guiding Visette to a distant corner of the warehouse.


    A wooden maze was constructed and took up the entire corner of the spacious warehouse. Vis tried to understand its purpose but quickly realized she was unable to. A short psionic pulse showed that there were stationary objects inside but she wasn¡¯t at a level where she could properly distinguish them.


    ¡°This is what they call, a live simulation.¡± Lyn climbed up a catwalk that overlooked the course and approached a control panel.


    She gave a cursory glance to the buttons and then started reading from the booklet. ¡°Inside are targets placed on a motorized track to simulate real movement. There are also non-hostile targets placed inside that you need to avoid. You have two minutes to complete the course as fast as possible. You got all of that?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied while approaching the entrance.


    ¡°Alright, you can start...now.¡± Lyn pressed a button and the buzz of machinery filled the air.


    Visette turned off the safety of the auto rifle and rushed in. Her first target was a human-shaped mannequin with a fake gun in its hand. She fired a single shot, hitting it in the head and stopping it completely.


    After turning a corner, two targets appeared, one peeking from cover and the other standing in the open. She responded instantaneously and squeezed the trigger twice before moving on. No matter how the target moved, Visette was ready. There were targets that held hostages but it didn¡¯t affect her lethal accuracy.


    About halfway through, Corrupted versions of the mannequins appeared. They suddenly broke through doors or appeared from windows. Something that often happened in real situations and proved fatal to countless soldiers who were unprepared. Visette didn¡¯t flinch and fired three shots into each Corrupted target. Everything was going well until she arrived at the end where a Corrupted target was holding a human target up by the neck.


    Visette aimed her rifle and emptied the remainder of her clip into both of the targets. Blasting a hole in the human mannequin and hitting the Corrupted behind it.


    Lyn jumped in surprise but she collected herself and manipulated the controls, stopping the simulation. The targets were powered down so she descended from the catwalk and walked toward Visette.


    ¡°It was almost a perfect score...¡± She looked at the human target that Visette paid no mind to. ¡°Why did you shoot a friendly target? And don¡¯t try to tell me that it was an accident.¡±


    ¡°Attempting to save a target with a low chance of survival was not a logical decision. In a real life situation, it would be better to eliminate both targets to avoid receiving potential injuries.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that for sure. Don¡¯t just assume someone is going to die just because the situation looks bad.¡±


    ¡°Your assertion is incorrect. The average strength of a Corrupted is beyond what a human can withstand. If the situation was real, the friendly target would have died from asphyxiation or a fracture to the spinal vertebrae. That is under the basis that a Corrupted would actually undertake a strange action as the one demonstrated.¡±


    ¡°...Say whatever you want, I¡¯m still subtracting points.¡± Lyn murmured stubbornly.


    She knew what Visette was saying was true but the purpose of the targets wasn¡¯t to decide if they were past the point of saving but to ingrain the practice of protecting friendly targets. Visette¡¯s willingness to shoot a friendly target in that situation wouldn''t bode well if she was placed on a team. After all, who would place their trust in someone who would eagerly shoot you if they thought you couldn¡¯t be saved?


    Visette¡¯s next training exercises consisted of maneuverability. While carrying her heavy equipment, she had to scale a wooden tower, fire at moving targets, before climbing down and switching to another tower.


    After demonstrating an unreal level of accuracy, Lyn skipped a few of the more firearms based drills and moved to the close combat parts.


    ¡°Here,¡± Lyn tossed a practice sword to Visette before grabbing one for herself.


    ¡°There swords for use against Corrupted and swords for use against people. For Corrupted, a weapon that can pierce or cleave through them is useful since they have thick muscle tissue. For humans, just about anything with a sharp point and an even sharper edge will do. We¡¯ll be using the latter first.¡±


    Visette adjusted the protective vest as it began to dig into her shoulders. She observed Lyn¡¯s stance when holding the sword and mirrored it.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Lyn asked.


    Visette used her free hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead before nodding.


    After receiving confirmation from Visette, Lyn made use of her abnormal traits and rushed forward and easily knocked Vis¡¯ sword away.


    ¡°Dead. Reset and try again.¡± Lyn spoke briefly before stepping back.


    Visette gripped the sword tighter and nodded before Lyn came charging again.


    Visette managed to deflect the first blow but the result ended the same after the second.


    ¡°Dead. Reset and try again.¡±


    The process was repeated again for the next few hours until Visette could last more than twenty attacks.


    ¡°You made some good progress,¡± Lyn spoke with clear admiration. Since her grandfather was an instructor she couldn¡¯t help but appreciate someone with talent.


    Visette accepted the compliment with a face showing signs of exhaustion.


    ¡°Next, we move onto practicing your strikes.¡± Although Lyn felt bad putting Visette through the rigorous training, her enthusiasm for all things related to the sword numbed her empathy.


    ¡­


    A few hours later, Lyn was shouting a bunch of commands while taking note of Visette¡¯s form.


    ¡°Downward strike, diagonal, right side.¡±


    Visette raised the sword and struck toward the collarbone on the right side of a practice dummy.


    ¡°Inverted.¡±


    Visette changed her posture and struck toward the left side.


    ¡°Horizontal strike, left side, abdomen.¡±


    Visette gripped the sword with two hands and swung as if she wanted to separate the training dummy at the waist.


    ¡°Inverted.¡±


    She switched her stance and performed the same attack on the opposite side.


    ¡°Upward thrust, throat.¡±


    Visette thrust the sword under the chin of the practice dummy.


    ¡°Downward thrust, left leg.¡±


    Again, Visette moved the sword.


    ¡°Inverted.¡±


    As the instructions flowed from her mouth, every so often, Lyn would adjust Visette¡¯s footing or grip before they continued.


    The only thing that changed was the fact that a pair of metal wrist guards were added which put extra weight on Visette¡¯s body.


    ¡°Do you remember the order of the strikes?¡± Lyn asked as she stepped away and took a seat.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then you can perform all of them for me with no issue.¡± She gestured with her hand.


    Visette reset her posture before going through the strikes just as Lyn taught them. She was a quiet as possible and kept a steady breathing pattern that grew more haggard as time went by.


    Lyn mindlessly watched Visette with a small grin before she ended up falling asleep without realizing. It was only after a few hours went by did she jolt awake and notice that it was late in the evening.


    ¡°Hey-¡± She turned her attention to Visette and was speechless.


    Even though they should¡¯ve moved on some time ago, Visette was still swinging the sword. Blood ran from her nose, her swings lost all sense of vigor, her breathing was nothing more than an unsteady and low pant, but she continued without stopping. The only thing that remained was Visette¡¯s accuracy as she never deviated from where she was supposed to hit.


    ¡°Hey! What are you doing?!¡± Lyn shouted at her.


    Visette stopped abruptly and looked at Lyn with a confused expression. ¡°Did I not perform the moves correctly?¡± She asked softly.


    ¡°No, you- You did, but that¡¯s not-¡± Lyn shook her head in frustration. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t instruct me to,¡± Visette replied. Her simple responses only made her seem more innocent in the matter.


    Lyn groaned loudly as she couldn¡¯t blame Visette for her own actions and feelings of guilt began to surge up.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Take off that vest and get ready to leave.¡± Lyn sighed as she looked at the pitiful sight of Visette.


    After putting the equipment up, Lyn took Visette back to the detention facility where she was able to wash away the sweat and blood before resting. Although there was intense mental strain due to overuse of her psionics, Visette was satisfied. Using her psionics to enhance her physical ability had the lowest energy cost. It also held a great advantage in increasing her mental endurance and a small nosebleed was nothing if it helped her to maintain consciousness.


    Visette climbed onto the cot and closed her eyes. Her entire body felt drained so sleep came easy, but something strange happened after she drifted off. Instead of entering a fully cognitive state, as usual, Visette began to dream for the first time in her life.

 Chapter 24: Good Behavior

    ¡°We don¡¯t have much time, S-767,¡± The voice of a woman whispered to Visette.


    It was familiar but very distant in a way. When Visette was still kept under stasis in the Minerva Laboratory, she was fully conscious but he had no understanding of what was going on. However, her mind still functioned and words were nothing more than sounds to her and those sounds filled her with fear but the voice she heard now...It was one of the sounds from that time. The only difference was the fact she could understand the words perfectly.


    ¡®She is speaking to me.¡¯ Visette thought to herself. She had the disembodied feeling of drifting in some endless pool and her vision was filled with an endless darkness that made the words resonate even more.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what will happen after you grow, but you have to listen to me...If there comes a time where you¡¯re able to discover the files about your birth, know that they aren¡¯t true. Your parents weren¡¯t-¡±


    ¡°Ah, Dr. Hagen!¡± The voice of a spry old man interrupted the woman¡¯s low whispers.


    ¡°Oh, Dr. Shrencard...I didn¡¯t know you were coming by the laboratory today.¡±


    ¡°Please, just call me Ivan. And you know how the board of directors can be, always the desire for progress never the thought of cost.¡± Dr. Shrencard laughed to himself and then the room went silent.


    Footsteps began moving toward Visette and the old man spoke up once again.


    ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    ¡°To see something you created take shape, I mean. I''m willing to bet that you see her as a daughter, Dr. Hagen.¡±


    ¡°No, that isn¡¯t allowed-¡±


    ¡°Please, there is no need to lie to me. I too feel the same way about some of my other projects so there is no reason for me to report a fellow colleague of mine for being passionate about something they created. Really, the board of directors is completely mistaken to impose such harsh restrictions and practices. Though, I suppose that after the Daltroy incident it makes sense. Still, I find it normal to care about our creations.¡±


    ¡°...But I didn¡¯t create her.¡± After Dr. Hagen spoke, she pressed her hand against the glass.


    ¡°Ah, yes. You didn¡¯t create her from scratch, that is true. But understand that something new was indeed created...Your own little Angel of Death.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°Forgive me, I forget that you aren¡¯t allowed to know the specifics of the Blue Swan Implant. Let''s see, If I were to explain it properly...The original implant-¡±


    ¡°You mean the Blue Dove?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the Blue Dove. It was ambitious at the time but it was ultimately a very weak model. S-767 would, at most, be able to lift a few things with her mind but that¡¯s it. If it was compared to the Blue Swan Implant inside of her currently¡­¡± Dr. Shrencard trailed off with a laugh. ¡°Well, Oppenheimer put it best, did he not?¡±


    Dr. Hagen became silent as her hand slightly trembled.


    Dr. Shrencard placed his hand on the glass as well and spoke once more. ¡°An immortal being with a great potential for destruction. Tell me, Dr. Hagen...How does it feel?¡±


    ¡°How does what feel?¡± Dr. Hagen asked reluctantly as she pulled her hand back.


    ¡°To be the mother of the closest being to a God in existence?¡±


    ¡­


    A strange ringing sound shocked Visette awake and she sat up immediately. An aching pain assaulted her head and her previous dream became foggy. She gathered herself and planned on analyzing her dream more thoroughly until she realized the ringing wasn''t from her head but from the facility.


    Someone had set an alarm off, hence, the blaring security system and red warning lights that flashed throughout the entire facility. Visette reinforced glass cell showed thin cracks throughout its surface and two handprints could be seen on the door.


    She climbed out of her cot and moved forward to investigate when she noticed that the guard assigned to watch over her at night was motionless on the floor. She concentrated her vision and found that she could see his bloodshot eyes and foam dripping out of the side of his mouth.


    The red warning lights flickered off and the regular lights began buzzing before power was somewhat restored.


    Visette was still confused by the situation so she sat down and crossed her legs. She sent out a psionic pulse and found multiple entities making their way toward her. She sent a brief glance toward her cell door and found it was unlocked but decided to stay put.


    ¡°Come on, this way!¡± A man¡¯s voice could be heard. The metal doors that separated sections of the prison were pried open and someone stepped into Visette''s area.


    A rough looking man with a thick beard and a muscular physique wearing a grey jumpsuit similar to Visette appeared. Even more astonishing, he opened the locked door with his bare hands indicating he was a beyond the level of a type-3 strength abnormal.


    ¡°Real good job, Bear. All that strength you bragged about and the only reason we¡¯re finally able to escape is after a lucky power outage.¡± A young girl, only a few years older than Visette, appeared at his side patted him on the back. Her long hair was dyed an eye-catching pink.


    ¡°Shut up, Kitty.¡± The hairy man growled angrily as they entered Visette¡¯s section.


    There were a few other people who joined the conversation, all with, strange nicknames.


    A short-haired man with shifty eyes and twitchy hands called Rodent. A blonde woman with uneven bangs who went by the name of, well, Rabid. And lastly, another man with neat brown hair and sharp eyes who went by the name of Hawk. He carried the air of a leader around him as the others constantly glanced at him, showing they were relying on him to escape.


    Following behind them was a group of normal prisoners who simply tagged along without a better alternative.


    After they entered Visette¡¯s section of the facility, Hawk spotted the dead guard and looked at Vis curiously.


    ¡°What¡¯s this? She''s a cutie.¡± Rodent snickered while grinning at Visette.


    ¡°You¡¯re disgusting,¡± Kitty spat.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± Rodent raised his hands defensively but it only got an eye roll from Kitty.


    ¡°Oy, did you kill him?¡± Bear interrupted while approaching Visette¡¯s cell. He noticed the cracks on the surface and tapped the glass. ¡°Hmm...This is some damn strong stuff. Normal bullets wouldn¡¯t cause this much damage.¡±


    Visette ignored him and paid more attention to Hawk who stole a keycard and a gun from the dead guard on the floor. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Bear slammed his fists on the glass when he noticed Visette wasn¡¯t paying him any attention.


    ¡°Easy, Bear...This girl has a high-priority designation which means she''s a pretty important person. Say, do you want to come with us, girl?¡± Hawk offered while looking at Visette with interest.


    ¡°No,¡± Visette¡¯s refusal was short and clear without a second of hesitation.


    The random group in front of her didn¡¯t have anything to offer and there chances of survival seemed low. Visette guessed that there would be a team of soldiers making their way to her at this very moment. Additionally, the training she just started was incredibly beneficial to her and before it was finished she wouldn¡¯t think about escaping.


    ¡°No?¡± Rabid repeated with a grimace. She seemed to take Visette''s disregard personally.


    ¡°Well, what if we want to take you?¡± Hawk inquired.


    Visette stared at him for a few seconds before calmly climbing to her feet. ¡°It would be illogical to attempt it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Bear asked cluelessly.


    ¡°It''s stupid...She¡¯s saying it would be stupid to try,¡± Kitty elaborated.


    ¡°Who the fuck are you calling stupid?¡± Bear started to get riled up but Hawk tapped him on the shoulder and he immediately calmed down.


    ¡°Hey, the first five of you that can restrain her can come with us.¡± Hawk pointed the stolen pistol at the crowd of prisoners trailing behind him.


    Six people immediately rushed out, pushing past the others.


    ¡°One too many.¡± Hawk yawned as he lazily pointed the gun and fired. He didn¡¯t even look but he hit his mark perfectly, killing the extra prisoner who stepped out.


    ¡°Show off,¡± Kitty mumbled.


    The prisoners who wanted a free ticket out were now too scared to follow the group of Abnormals. Though the five who stepped out were comparatively more calm.


    ¡°Bring her out and let¡¯s go.¡± Hawk gestured with the gun.


    Five men cautiously walked forward and swung open the glass door. The first one entered Visette¡¯s cell and she immediately attacked. She grabbed his arm and pulled him forward before tripping him with her leg and stomping on his throat. A loud crunch was emitted from his body but she wasn¡¯t done. Vis grabbed his shirt and tossed the lifeless body out of her cell.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Hawk exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t go in one at a time or you¡¯ll end up like that guy.¡±


    The four rushed in and tried to overpower Visette but she responded even quicker. The first one who squeezed in had a fist driven into his stomach before being pushed to the glass wall. One of his friends tried to save him but Visette kicked his kneecap causing it to snap and bend the wrong way. Returning to her original target, she performed a quick flurry of punches all targeted at his vitals. He gripped his throat and slid down against the glass wall while coughing hoarsely.


    The man who had his leg broken by Visette was even more surprised when she wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed until it broke.


    ¡°Bitch!¡± One of the last two cursed as he swung at Visette. She countered it by throwing him over her hip and stepping on his throat. He writhed for air and tried clawing at her legs but she used her free foot to crush his arms and without a way to resist his neck was immediately broken.


    Her eyes were locked on the remaining man who backed out of the cell cautiously.


    ¡°That was...disappointing, to say the least, but what can you expect from normal people?¡± Hawk pressed the gun to the back of the retreating man¡¯s head and shot him.


    Visette ignored Hawk¡¯s cold-hearted display and tossed the corpses out of her cell. But as soon as she was about to shut the door, he pointed the gun toward her.


    ¡°Another illogical decision.¡± Visette looked on emotionlessly.


    Her psionic power began to spread as she prepared to kill everyone. To stop Hawk from firing his gun she would have to expose her psionics and doing so would put her at risk of discovery should anyone survive. Only by killing all the witnesses would she remain uncompromised.


    Hawk narrowed his eyes before he felt goosebumps cover his entire body. It wasn¡¯t just him, but everyone else who was standing in the room felt it. They felt that if Hawk pulled the trigger something terrible would happen.


    ¡°Just a joke,¡± Hawk said with a dry smile. ¡°Abnormals need to stick together, you know?¡±


    He lowered the gun and the deathly still feeling disappeared as Visette retracted her psionic power and closed the reinforced glass door.


    ¡°If you ever decide you don¡¯t want to be trapped like an animal, come to the City of Freedom.¡±


    ¡°...That¡¯s a dumb name,¡± Kitty whispered.


    Hawk cleared his throat and ignored her. "As a show of faith, I¡¯ll leave you with this access card. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re more than capable of leaving on your own.¡±


    Hawk swiped the keycard, unlocking the door, before sliding the card into Vis¡¯ cell and leaving with his small group behind him. As soon as they left, the door let out a loud click indicating it was locked.


    Visette looked at the access card once before crossing her legs and closing her eyes.


    There were about two dozen prisoners who stood in the corridor, unsure of what to do.


    ¡°Hey, can we...uh...can we use the card?¡± A man asked weakly.


    Visette ignored them so they took it as her giving permission but when one of them approached she opened her eyes.


    ¡°No,¡± Visette refused.


    ¡°Fuck that! We¡¯re really asking a little fucking girl for her permission? Just because she beat up, what, four people? Even if she¡¯s an abnormal there are more of us than her.¡± A man who was clearly more reckless than the others tried to incite them to attack.


    Visette felt that there was only one way to truly solve the problem the prisoner presented and stood up once more.


    ¡°See, she knows what type of situation she''s in-¡± Just as he was about to continue Visette raised her hand slightly and the door that was pried open by Bear slammed shut on its own.


    ¡°The fuck?¡± Someone cursed as they jumped away from it.


    ¡°Forget it, the locks must be resetting or something...What¡¯s important is that we get that card.¡± A prisoner said while watching Visette.


    Surprisingly enough, she stepped out her cell. At the same time, a faint blue glow began to surround her body and a closer look showed that a blue light was shining within the depths of her pupils.


    ¡°...What the fuck?¡± That was all the man who tried to incite everyone was able to get out. Visette raised her hand and his body rose into the air before he crumpled like a ball of paper. She waved her hand again and he was tossed to the side like trash.


    Dead silence descended on the room as everyone tried to comprehend what just happened. The idea of telekinesis didn¡¯t exist on Novo Prime so seeing it performed was both mystifying and frightening.


    ¡°W-What...What are you?!¡± Someone shouted but Visette didn¡¯t answer she only walked forward with her fists clenched.


    She finally had a chance to see how much her psionics had truly grown and she guessed there would be little repercussions if she killed them.


    As Visette closed in, the prisoners showed pale faces and some even began screaming in terror.


    ¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lyn shouted as she led a team of soldiers into the detention facility. Trucks mounted with machine guns were sat outside and a perimeter was drawn with soldiers and the New Mayhall security waiting on standby.


    Lyn wore black fatigues under her field equipment and showed a serious atmosphere. She didn¡¯t want to think that Visette was the cause of the incident but the ankle locator placed on Visette had lost signal for some reason. The strange power surge as well as the destroyed locator seemed to be related in her mind.


    ¡°Damn it.¡± Lyn felt the urge to smoke grow even more. The team she led cleared the initial areas of the facility, killing any prisoners that were caught roaming until they stumbled upon the location Visette¡¯s cell. A blood smeared handprint obscured the view behind the door and the lights inside the room flickered on and off, making it even harder to see. She looked at the destroyed keycard slot and clicked her tongue.


    Lyn pressed the walkie talkie attached to her chest and began speaking. ¡°Command, I need an entry team or some equipment to pry open a door.¡±


    [Copy.]


    After a few seconds of silence, the walkie talkie buzzed.


    [An entry team is on the way.]


    The walkie talkie went silent and Lyn began pacing around while waiting for someone to arrive. Within a few minutes, a team came in and got to work on opening the door. The metal door was pried open and team rushed into clear all angles but soon stopped. Lyn was nervous and didn¡¯t want to enter so she stood outside, waiting for confirmation. The thought of Visette planning an escape while Lyn began to open up to her made the latter feel sick.


    ¡°Captain O¡¯Hara...You should come in and see this for yourself-¡± A soldier stumbled out and retched loudly, puking on the floor.


    Lyn put away her auto-rifle and stepped in only to see a horrific sight. Each flicker of the lights illuminated the room and showed of the splatters of blood staining the walls. Corpses were spread out all over the room, some that had twisted necks, some covered in blood and bruises, and others with bodies that contorted strangely. The unbearable stench of blood and death filled the air creating a stuffy atmosphere.


    ¡°Shit.¡± Lyn muttered before turning to Visette¡¯s cell only to see the girl sitting inside. Her white hair and her formerly grey colored outfit were both stained with blood.


    ¡°Hello, Lyn.¡± Visette stood up and greeted Lyn with her usual mechanical voice.


    Drops of blood fell from Visette¡¯s knuckles in a strangely rhythmic pace only to hit the floor with a light tapping sound.


    ¡°I did not escape when the opportunity presented itself. Can I expect to receive a reward?¡± Visette asked.


    Lyn unconsciously reached for her cigarettes and after finding that she had none, she began to regret that she tried to kick the habit.

 Chapter 25: Politics Are A War Of Their Own

    Visette found herself in a familiar interrogation room once again. She stared at the one-sided observation glass, wondering who would be on the other side. There were multiple presences gathered, she could tell that much. She could also tell they weren¡¯t people sent by Commander Wakefield.


    The incident at the detention facility couldn¡¯t be contained and as a result, entered under the jurisdiction of the New Mayhall Domestic Security Force. Though, the truth of the matter was that it became a political battle once the details of the incident spread.


    Previously, Visette was allowed to be reformed under Commander Wakefield on the basis that she had multiple low-type traits and the death of Councilor Richards was swept under the rug. Upon hearing the news of her slaughtering two dozen prisoners with her bare hands, the assumption she had weak traits was dispelled. Various parties would now be looking to recruit her into their faction with a tempting offer or by coercing her into it. Even if she had one type-3 or higher trait, she would be a good addition to someone¡¯s personal power. So the fight to gain Visette as a piece or to obstruct others from getting to her began in the shadows.


    The concern for the blatant attack and sabotage was the second priority for the everyone involved. With the exception of the Domestic Security Force and New Mayhall¡¯s Military, Visette Thales would be the real goal.


    Five hours had already gone by and in that time Visette wasn¡¯t allowed to speak to anyone or to wash off the now dried blood covering her face. It was an attempt at psychological warfare from people who weren¡¯t familiar with Visette. Those who already started their research would know she couldn¡¯t be affected by a small discomfort.


    Suddenly, Visette heard muffled yelling from beyond the door. Two individuals argued back and forth until the door swung open.


    ¡°You have five minutes, Captain O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off,¡± Lyn cursed as she slammed the door. She sighed, looking to the observation window before sitting across from Visette who was handcuffed to the table.


    ¡°...Here.¡± Lyn handed a can of tea to Visette.


    ¡°This is not the reward I expected, Lyn.¡± Visette intoned with an expressionless face.


    ¡°Was that sarcasm- No...I guess not...You¡¯ll be getting a proper reward just as soon as this whole charade is finished,¡± Lyn replied while pulling a tissue out of her jacket and reaching toward Visette¡¯s face before wiping some of the blood away.


    Meanwhile, Visette silently drank from the can before putting it down and sliding it away in an orderly manner while Lyn cleaned her up.


    ¡°No matter what they say, you don¡¯t have to tell them anything. I¡¯ve already made an official report based on what you gave me. Right now, they¡¯re just trying to scare you so they can convince you to side with them.¡±


    Someone knocked at the door and Lyn sent a glare full of annoyance at the one-sided glass.


    ¡°Just stick it out for a few more hours and it¡¯ll all be settled.¡±


    ¡°Stick it out?¡±


    ¡°It means to be patient.¡±


    ¡°...Noted.¡± Visette accepted the explanation with a nod, making a mental note of it.


    ¡°That¡¯s your time.¡± A dark-haired man opened the door. ¡°Don¡¯t break protocol, Captain O¡¯Hara.¡±


    Lyn begrudgingly got up and moved to leave but not before stopping next to the DSF investigator. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about protocol, jackass. Visette is a military asset so don¡¯t try anything.¡±


    ¡°Is that all, O¡¯Hara?¡± The investigator asked.


    Lyn pushed past him and left the room. Once he was clear, the investigator closed the door.


    ¡°Visette Thales, correct?¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Visette responded.


    ¡°I¡¯m Investigator Warrick Lewis,¡± He introduced himself and sat down.


    Visette glanced at the folder in his hands before staring directly at him.


    Warrick, in turn, looked at Visette, finding her eyes to be empty and still, no sign of fear or apprehension could found within them. There may have been a trace of curiosity that flashed within her gaze but he couldn¡¯t say for sure.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡± Warrick unconsciously looked away first before opening the folder. He spread out pictures of all thirty victims that were found in Visette''s cell room.


    ¡°Now, I¡¯ve read the report already but just to be sure I''ll go over it again. When the power surge woke you up, the guard was already dead. A group of five Abnormals, leading other prisoners, entered your corridor and attempted to recruit you, right?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°After you refused, they sent the normal prisoners in there to grab you. You responded by killing them and then the Abnormals simply went about their way after your continued refusal, am I right again?¡±


    ¡°Incorrect, two of the prisoners were killed by an Abnormal named Hawk.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, so two were killed by him and the other four by you. After that, they left the keycard in your possession as a polite gesture and then the other inmates attempted to take it from you and you...killed them all, is that about right?¡±


    ¡°...Correct.¡±


    ¡°I see...So, why didn¡¯t you go with the Abnormals? Wouldn¡¯t you feel more comfortable with them? Surely you didn''t want to stay trapped in a cage?¡±


    ¡°There was no reason to accept the offer given to me. Additionally, the accommodations provided for me were not bothersome enough to warrant escaping the facility.¡±


    ¡°But what about you killing the twenty-nine people in the room? Explain to me why you ended up killing them?¡±


    ¡°Incorrect, I eliminated twenty-eight prisoners in total.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You said twenty-nine people, insinuating that I killed the prison guard. That is not correct.¡±


    ¡°I know what I said, girl." Warrick could only respond bluntly as his attempt to entrap Visette with an inadvertent admission went awry.


    ¡°Then why did you seek elaboration?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m asking you the questions!¡± Warrick slammed his fist on the table but Visette didn¡¯t even flinch.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°You expect us to believe that the guard just died on his own? His wounds indicate he was poisoned meaning that someone planned for him to die.¡±


    Visette looked at Warrick silently, it was unknown whether or not she understood his accusations but she remained unflustered.


    ¡°Did you know that those five abnormals were all arrested around a month ago?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Well, each of them was detained for trespassing in different areas. The evacuation tunnels, the academy, the detention facility, the novidium manufacturing plant, and the novidium cell generator that powers this city. Since they didn¡¯t resist and didn¡¯t show any sign of having abnormal traits, they were locked up with the rest of the prisoners. Now, during this power surge, they passed by you, an Abnormal, and tried to recruit you. Interesting, right?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Really? Because I think it is...Let me tell you what I really think happened. The group of Abnormals completed whatever mission they were given and planned an escape for you by poisoning your guard and overloading the power cells in the facility. There must¡¯ve have been something that made the plan change so you killed all the witnesses with their assistance. That leads us to now, you¡¯re pretending that you resisted their offer to shift the focus of our investigation. Am I close to the truth?¡± Warrick asked, confidently expecting Visettte to be trapped.


    ¡°No. Your theory is incorrect,¡± Visette replied.


    She was aware that the power surge was most likely caused by her. Her psionic power spread out during her strange dream and ended up affecting the power grid. The guard was also a victim of psionic energy going out of control. Since he was the closest to her when the event occurred he would¡¯ve felt the strongest effects. But with Visette not being able to explain that to anyone, she was forced through the ¡°investigation.¡±


    ¡°Feel free to correct me then.¡±


    ¡°There is no reason to,¡± Visette said before continuing. ¡°I no longer want to answer your questions.¡±


    Warrick lifted the picture of the guard. ¡°You killed an innocent man for no reason, don¡¯t you feel bad? He had a wife and children who¡¯ll now be left alone because of you. Don''t you wish you could do something to amend the situation?¡±


    Visette kept her silence while Warrick raved on.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel a hint of remorse for what you did?!¡± He slammed his hand on the table before shoving the picture into Visette¡¯s face. ¡°Answer me!¡±


    Visette studied the picture briefly before looking back at Warrick. ¡°Your statement is false. That guard did not have a spouse or children. When he interacted with other guards during shift changes he repeatedly made that fact clear.¡±


    ¡°That isn''t...¡± Warrick unexpectedly couldn¡¯t find the words to reply to Visette.


    How was he supposed to know that Visette would memorize the conversations that every individual guard had? He only wanted to bait out an emotional reaction but ended up being the one flustered by the revelation.


    Feeling full of frustration, Warrick tossed the photo aside and gripped Visette by the collar.


    ¡°I can keep you in here all fucking year if I needed to! If you pledge your allegiance to New Mayhall and cooperate with us, you¡¯ll benefit from it-¡± Warrick¡¯s offer was interrupted by the sound of a short scuffle and then the door was kicked in.


    Lyn wordlessly approached him, sweeping his legs and slamming him onto the ground before he could even fully turn around.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be punished for this!¡± Warrick growled as her knee rested on his head.


    ¡°You think I fucking care?¡± Lyn whispered as she put her face next to his ear.


    Soon enough, DSF officers rushed in with their weapons drawn and pointed at Lyn.


    ¡°Step away now!¡±


    Lyn drew her revolver and pressed it against Warrick¡¯s head before pulling the hammer back.


    ¡°Since you like questions, let me ask you one? Who¡¯s faster, me or you fucking DSF bastards?¡±


    ¡°Let him go!¡±


    Things grew tense by the second and Visette contemplated interfering, coming to a decision almost immediately. She silently channeled her psionic power and made sure to jam the guns of the several DSF officers gathered.


    ¡°If only you were this decisive when it came to your father, O¡¯Hara.¡± Warrick let out a condescending laugh.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Lyn¡¯s eyes narrowed threateningly. She pushed the barrel even closer until he let out a painful groan. ¡°Say it again.¡±


    ¡°Your father-¡± Warrick couldn¡¯t finish as a loud click resounded in his ears. He jolted fearfully while his heart palpitated wildly.


    ¡°Stop, now!¡± The DSF officers took aim.


    ¡°Oh, was it empty?¡± Lyn seemed genuinely surprised that Warrick¡¯s brains weren¡¯t strewn across the floor.


    ¡°Y-You¡¯d really do it? You¡¯d really kill me for some Abnormal girl who could very well be working to sabotage the city?¡±


    Lyn squeezed the trigger once more and another terrifying click could be heard.


    ¡°Last warning, Captain O¡¯Hara!¡± The DSF officers were seconds away from shooting her, unaware that their guns wouldn¡¯t fire even if they wanted them to.


    ¡°Oops, my finger slipped. What were you saying again?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fucking crazy, O¡¯Hara!¡± Warrick shouted, breathing erratically.


    ¡°No, you just don¡¯t know when to shut your mouth and I don¡¯t care which member of the council is behind you. You attempted to harm a military asset and clearly overstepped your bounds. As far as I¡¯m concerned, killing you is justified.¡±


    ¡°You think they would just let you off?¡±


    ¡°No, but I¡¯m an Abnormal and you¡¯re just Investigator Warrick Lewis. Just my left hand is more valuable than your life.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± A new voice appeared, interrupting the confrontation. ¡°The Governor has declared that Visette Thales be moved to a secure area and placed under military watch. This matter no longer involves the DSF.¡±


    Lyn looked to see who it is but jumped in surprise when she saw a bald old man with a grey mustache. His eyes portrayed his experience and prestige. Even with his age, he didn''t appear to be weak or elderly. And although he wore an expensive dark blue suit, somehow, he didn''t appear to be a person who dwelled on such things.


    ¡°Advisor Price.¡± Lyn removed her knee from Warrick¡¯s neck and stood up, saluting the old man in front of her.


    ¡°Please, there is no need, Captain O¡¯Hara.¡± Advisor Price lightly waved before turning to a white-haired girl with doll-like eyes who watched everything unfold passively. ¡°You must be Visette Thales?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± Visette gave a brief response.


    ¡°You can call me Eugene Price...You were making quite the fuss among the councilors so I thought I would come to see you myself.¡±


    Lyn looked at Advisor Price strangely, clearly doubting his statement.


    ¡°Can¡¯t I be curious, Captain O¡¯Hara?¡±


    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t that I just-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Truthfully, you¡¯re correct to doubt me. I am here on the Governor¡¯s behalf, but that doesn¡¯t mean I wasn¡¯t interested in seeing her for myself.¡± Advisor Price looked at Visette before nodding with approval. ¡°Commander Wakefield vouched for you himself so I only hope that you live up to expectations. Telling by those stains on your clothes, you aren¡¯t one to shy away from bloodshed. Indeed, you have the makings of a good soldier to fight against the Corrupted.¡±


    Visette listened to his words but paid more attention to the people behind him. A group of what seemed to be personal guards dressed in black fatigues without a single symbol, all of them stood with high-powered weapons strapped across their shoulders.


    ¡°Ah, she''s a sharp one too.¡± Advisor Price smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they follow me everywhere and aren¡¯t here for you. Anyway...¡±


    Advisor Price turned to Lyn. ¡°There is no need for further conflict as this matter has been resolved.¡±


    It appeared a resolution was found but it was obvious that it came from the political side of things, rather than evidence and thorough investigation.


    ¡°Advisor Price!¡± Warrick stood up, looking extremely disheveled. ¡°Captain O¡¯Hara pointed a loaded firearm at me with the intent to kill, shouldn¡¯t she at least be punished?¡±


    Advisor Price looked at Warrick calmly before looking to Lyn. ¡°Anything to say, Captain O¡¯Hara?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lyn responded while showing the empty cylinder of her revolver, indicating it wasn¡¯t loaded in the first place.


    ¡°I advise you to get some sleep, Investigator Warrick. It has been a long night for all of us.¡±


    ¡°But-¡± Warrick seemed unwilling to let it go.


    ¡°As I¡¯ve said, this matter is settled. The Governor ordered it himself, you can close this investigation and head home.¡± Advisor Price took a sterner tone before leaving the room.


    A DSF officer approached the table and unlocked Visette¡¯s restraints before retreating.


    ¡°Come on.¡± Lyn gestured toward Visette.


    Without the need for any persuasion, Visette followed Lyn out.


    "I can''t believe I actually forgot to load my gun." Lyn''s voice could just barely be heard as the two disappeared down the hall.


    Warrick''s expression crumpled into a vicious scowl upon hearing her.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± He could only choose a chair as a target of his anger, kicking it across the room.

 Chapter 26: Double Edged Sword

    Lyn reported to Commander Wakefield¡¯s office the next day after transporting Visette to a secure area. Though truthfully, the area she was sent to was none other than the warehouse used to train her.


    ¡°Commander.¡± Lyn made a weak salute, but as usual, Commander Wakefield paid it no mind.


    ¡°I was informed about your actions yesterday...I¡¯m pleased to hear what you did.¡± Commander Wakefield remained buried in files and reports as always but he seemed more satisfied than usual.


    ¡°Why?¡± Lyn questioned him, finding his slightly jovial mood to be suspicious.


    The dynamic between the two had always been a one that wasn¡¯t quite cordial. Lyn, in spite of her brash nature, had a strict sense of morality. Commander Wakefield, for all his schemes, also believed in the greater good to some extent. The thing that brought tension was their conflicting mentalities, with Commander Wakefield being far more willing to use various underhanded means to achieve his goals.


    ¡°Well, a little goodwill never hurts. With this, Visette may be inclined to stay loyal to us for the time being. You did a good job.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do that to make us look good.¡±


    ¡°No matter...Since you were one of the first people to see what she¡¯s capable of, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°What do I think? I think she¡¯s good at killing if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking.¡±


    ¡°I see, so do you would you say she¡¯s a threat to the military? To be more specific, do you think you would be able to stop her if she turned on us?¡±


    ¡°Why would I need to? She¡¯s put up with the shit we made her go through so I don¡¯t see why she would turn so easily.¡±


    ¡°Just because things remain calm between us now doesn¡¯t mean that it will continue to do so.¡± Commander Wakefield pushed the files away and looked at Lyn.


    ¡°Your change of attitude is something, O¡¯Hara. Imagine the threat she would pose if she decided to suddenly attack us. Especially with you treating her so lightly when she currently poses a huge risk.¡±


    ¡°Treating her lightly?¡±


    ¡°You act as if I¡¯m wrong...If I gave you the order to kill her now, could you do it?¡± Commander Wakefield asked with a light smirk and when Lyn didn¡¯t answer it grew even more defined.


    ¡°If you want to continue to be in charge of her, O¡¯Hara, I advise you to tell me the reason you¡¯re now defending her.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about her.¡±


    ¡°Oh? And you¡¯re saying you do?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not, but I watched my own father get killed in front of my eyes and it changed me. So I know that whatever she went through to make her the way she is now must¡¯ve been much fucking worse, Commander.¡± Lyn¡¯s voice rose and she even unconsciously clenched her fists.


    ¡°So your empathy is the cause of you defending her now? I find that really interesting, O¡¯Hara. When my wife¡¯s parents died as a result of Councilor Richard¡¯s scheming. Do you know what I felt when I found out? The same things you feel now, anger, guilt, and just about whatever emotion contributed to me wallowing in self-pity, but you know what I think? I think that our losses and failures make us stronger. So we should be glad for whatever Visette went through to make her the way she is, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Lyn said while gritting her teeth.


    ¡°No matter, I¡¯m sure Visette Thales would. In any case, you can continue to train her but I¡¯ll leave you with one last piece of advice. There¡¯s no reversing whatever it is that happened to that girl, O¡¯Hara, and you would be an idiot to think otherwise. I¡¯ll admit, she¡¯s intelligent and gifted with incredible talent but you know what she lacks? Humanity. She¡¯d just as easily kill you or me if we tried to obstruct her goals or if the benefit was high enough. The sooner you see that I¡¯m right, the sooner you¡¯ll be able to forget about her redeeming qualities and think of how to deal with her if she goes against the interests of New Mayhall.¡± Commander Wakefield was cold and sharp as he spoke, his eyes narrowed at Lyn.


    He was convinced that Visette Thales would be useful until the moment she found better benefits. As long as he could provide her with whatever she asked it would be fine, but the moment that Visette sought something outside of Commander Wakefield¡¯s power? That was the moment Vis would instantly become a threat in his eyes.


    Lyn¡¯s face changed expression several times before it portrayed an uneasy calm, her anger hiding just underneath.


    ¡°With all due respect, Commander, fuck you.¡±


    Lyn left his office with harsh words but as always, Commander Wakefield didn¡¯t care. He only watched her leave, wondering if he would have to expect Lyn to betray him along with Visette.


    ¡°No, you wouldn¡¯t have it in you, would you?¡± Commander Wakefield whispered to Lyn¡¯s retreating shadow. He could remember her Father and there was no way Lyn would make a decision that would compromise New Mayhall.


    ¡°It¡¯s just her I have to worry about then?¡± Commander Wakefield leaned into his chair, his eyes staring at the ceiling as his mind wandered about.


    ¡­


    By the next week, Lyn and Visette had resumed training.


    Visette¡¯s promised reward was a large number of books she asked for, They had yet to be delivered due to certain ¡°issues¡± but they were set to arrive eventually. The reason for the delay was Commander Wakefield who made people scour through the books for any potential coded messages or information that would give Visette an advantage. If there was anything that could compromise the safety of New Mayhall, he would confiscate it.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    This time, they were using practice knives for close quarters combat. It was centered around landing a deadly wound on your opponent or getting them into the position to land one.


    ¡°Remember, you should expect to get cut or stabbed if you engage someone with a bladed weapon. That becomes doubly true if you¡¯re going against an Abnormal, but then again, I feel like it won¡¯t apply to you.¡± Lyn swung the plastic knife and Visette dodged by stepping back before avoiding more strikes.


    When she could, she would block Lyn¡¯s forearm and if she couldn¡¯t she¡¯d agilely dodge. Lyn became more aggressive in order to simulate a real fight and Visette responded similarly.


    When Lyn made a wide swing Visette suddenly rushed in, using one hand to grab the knife-wielding arm and the other to wrap around Lyn¡¯s abdomen before sidestepping and flipping Lyn onto the ground.


    Lyn quickly reacted and used both her feet to kick Visette backward before scrambling over and pressing the plastic knife to her throat.


    ¡°That was a good one.¡± Lyn breathed deeply. ¡°It feels like it won¡¯t be long until our roles switch.¡±


    She let out a sigh and climbed to her feet, offering a hand to Visette who accepted it.


    ¡°We¡¯ll call it here for today.¡± Lyn looked toward Visette¡¯s quarters that were set up in the corner of the warehouse. The only difference it had with Visette¡¯s old cell was the lack of reinforced glass. Seeing as the Governor wanted Visette groomed properly, they made sure to at least give her a little freedom. Though the outside of the warehouse was now heavily guarded by soldiers, indicating the importance Visette held.


    ¡°The books you asked for should be arriving soon too, Visette.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Visette nodded but remained as unreadable as ever. There was no telling if she was pleased they finally came or annoyed it took so long.


    Just as Lyn was about to speak again there was a timely knock that interfered.


    ¡°That must be it.¡± Lyn went to open the door and a what was beyond it could be seen by Visette.


    A security airlock was installed just outside the door which also barred Vis from seeing whatever was beyond it. In terms of resources, the cost was negligible compared to Visette¡¯s worth.


    After exchanging some words with a guard, Lyn shut the door and returned with a crate full of books.


    ¡°Yeah, this is what you asked for...and some you didn¡¯t.¡± Lyn¡¯s expression turned strange when she noticed a few books on small talk and communication. She guessed the additional reading material was most likely due to of Commander Wakefield.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Visette received the books without a single tremor in her expression. Her thanks even sound insincere but Lyn had gotten accustomed to Visette¡¯s tone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I¡¯ll be back early tomorrow so get some rest.¡± Lyn departed soon after giving Visette the books allowing the latter to be alone.


    Vis carried the books toward her bed and began laying them out. Very basic geography, economy, history, and a few other educational pieces. A few relating to New Mayhall were missing but it didn¡¯t matter to her since she got most of what she asked for. The additional books about socializing were about to be tossed away she suddenly froze in place.


    ¡®Efficient or more effective methods of communication can be beneficial when it is necessary to interact with others.¡¯ Visette thought to herself and raised the importance of the social books. She opened up the first book, The Essence of Socializing and read the first page.


    In our current age of strife and violence, the essence of socializing has been somewhat lost. What makes a civilization civilized if not culture? Fear not, if you are socially inept I¡¯ll cure you of your condition and make sure you¡¯re the social butterfly you were meant to be. Now, before we start there are two important things we¡¯ll cover in the beginning. First, smiling is necessary to create a comfortable atmosphere between you and the individual you¡¯re conversing with.


    Visette immediately found herself confused. She didn¡¯t remember smiling at all but Charlie did so often. Recalling the expression on the face of the young girl, Visette tried to imitate it. What came as a result didn¡¯t even resemble a grin. Her cheeks barely moved and her lips slightly parted, revealing her teeth. Feeling that it was a futile task, Visette gave up soon after her first attempt.


    Second, a little humor goes a long way. There are quotes of famous generals making jokes during battle and those quotes live on to this day, enhancing the courageous image of those men who dared to joke in the face of death. As a result, they were immortalized forever.


    A well-timed joke can diffuse tense situations, calm others down, and build instant rapport. Here¡¯s a favorite among even the most staunch of military personnel. Anton walked into a bar and a group of Corrupted followed him. When it was time for the bar to close, only Anton walked out.


    Visette stared at the words on the page and read them repeatedly, attempting to understand the joke. When comprehension never came, she began to think that understanding the nuances of conversation would need an immense amount of skill and time to decipher. She closed the book and decided to deal with it another time.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, Commander Wakefield looked over a report with an addendum from the Governor attached.


    A complete report of the incident at the detention facility following two weeks of investigation:


    The facility guard watching Visette at the time appears to have suffered from a failure of his central nervous system brought on by what we can only assume to be a poison. The autopsy concluded there were no traces of a poisonous substance to be found within the blood of the deceased to support that assumption, but based on the events surrounding his death it seems plausible. The food in the staff room was confiscated and examined but it yielded nothing. If the guard was poisoned, another guard could very well be the culprit. This makes even more likely that a foreign city assisted the Abnormals from the so-called "Freedom City" and hid their involvement via an untraceable poison.


    Although this matter cannot be confirmed based on our total lack of information.


    Moving on to the thirty deceased inmates. Two of which died from gunshot wounds to the head which is in line with Visette Thales¡¯ story. It is also the least complicated cause of death to be found in this report.


    In addition to the first two, three inmates were found with broken necks and the another with internal damage to his vital organs. It also lines up with Visette¡¯s story.


    Now, this is where things turn strange. The rest of the inmates, twenty-four in total, all suffered an incomprehensible amount of internal trauma. The most shocking one, in particular, is an inmate who had his spine snapped into pieces. The others didn¡¯t fare much better with multiple neck and spinal fractures as well as internal bleeding. There was a clear intent to kill based on the wounds of the deceased and judging by their facial expressions, they weren¡¯t even able to fight back. If I could summarize with one word it would be, overkill. Visette Thales simply left no possibility of survival for the inmates. Extreme caution advised.


    Governor¡¯s Addendum:


    Those who are reading this report have proven to be trustworthy to an extent. From now, you are advised to act as if there are traitors among us. Periodic internal investigations are expected to be carried out diligently. Once we find out which city is an ally to the Freedom City, we will respond accordingly. For now, maintain vigilance at all times.


    Commander Wakefield stashed the report away. If Visette wasn¡¯t able to prove her worth within the next few years he¡¯d be in a bad situation. Since he assured the Governor she would be one of New Mayhall¡¯s strongest weapons, if she failed to measure up, he would lose everything he worked for. But he remained more than optimistic in spite of the pressure.

 Chapter 27: 1456 Days Pt.1

    The only people who were expected to interact with Visette for the next few years would be Lyn and Dr. Eliza who constantly advised Commander Wakefield to expand Visette¡¯s social interaction only to be met with repeated refusals.


    Dr. Eliza would come to the secured warehouse twice a month to examine Visette and expand her psychological profile, but she failed to gain any new insights into the mind of the young girl. There was a significant lack of progress on that front, but for Lyn, Visette seemed to improve at an incomprehensible rate each day. The word talent couldn¡¯t describe her learning ability as she soaked up everything she learned like a fish in water.


    Though just being skillful at something didn¡¯t make her an instant master and there was a need to expand her awareness and reactions to certain situations. So, sometimes she had to fight in small wooden rooms to simulate close combat or shoot targets with only a few bullets to spare. It was Lyn¡¯s way of trying to get Visette able to respond to factors out of her control. None of the scenarios Lyn concocted would be that dangerous for Visette since she had her psionics to rely on. And since the limit and strength of Visette¡¯s psionic energy use was constantly expanding, her immediate worries decreased.


    ¡­


    112 days had passed with Visette showing little reaction to anything other than training. The words she shared with Lyn were usually short but for some reason, after exactly 112 days had passed, she asked a question that was unrelated to a previous topic of conversation.


    ¡°Could you explain the nature of a joke? I seek to construct one but I still am unable to.¡± Visette suddenly asked as the usual training wrapped up.


    ¡°...A joke? You want to make a joke?¡± Lyn thought she misheard so she had to repeat it just to make sure.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Visette nodded seriously, ¡°I would like insight as to how to construct a humorous anecdote.¡±


    To Vis¡¯ surprise and confusion, Lyn burst with laughter in front of her.


    ¡°What? You¡¯re serious? Visette you- I don¡¯t even know where to start...¡± Lyn¡¯s laughter slowly faded out as she regained her calm but a smile was stuck on her face.


    ¡°If you found my words humorous, does that mean it was a joke?¡± Visette was clearly bewildered and the billions of dollars that went into making her didn¡¯t assist in solving her current conundrum.


    ¡°No, Visette, a joke is like¡­¡± Lyn thought of how best to put it. ¡°It¡¯s like telling a story or making a statement that isn¡¯t necessarily true.¡±


    Visette¡¯s eyes slightly widened as she seemed to realize something. ¡°I think I understand.¡±


    She stood there silently, her look of deep concentration was incredibly funny to Lyn who struggled to hold her laughter back.


    ''To think that a person who was so skilled at killing would be so naive.'' Lyn thought.


    ¡°I have thought of a joke...I will now tell you a joke.¡± Visette¡¯s monotone voice and still expression showed anything but humor but Lyn indulged her.


    ¡°Go for it,¡± Lyn said expectantly, the smile on her face growing even more.


    ¡°Your jacket is not fully fastened.¡±


    Lyn looked down at her leather jacket which was zipped up and then back to Visette. Her lips trembled slightly and then her expression fell apart as she began laughing, less at the joke and more at Visette.


    ¡°...You need to work on it a bit more, but yeah, I guess you could call that a joke.¡± Lyn shook her head.


    ¡°Noted. I make a better attempt on the next occassion.¡± Visette thought social interaction was of a high importance as it was described in the book so she put a high priority on decrypting the methods behind it.


    Lyn departed soon after and Visette went to read more of her books. A simple geographical map of the continent, Sulvar, was produced. Named after a now long dead King who was said to almost have half the continent in his control in spite of Corrupted attacks. The continent of Sulvar was similar to Earth¡¯s Europe in size, but there were various ¡°Deadlands¡± places where humanity no longer had a stake and was very likely to be overflowing with Corrupted.


    Those places were all but stripped of living things and once it became totally barren the Corrupted would leave in search of more food or enter a period of hibernation. This created a cycle where animals would flee to the zone free from Corrupted allowing the food source to replenish somewhat. Once one end of the continent was deprived of a food source they¡¯d come back.


    Still, humanity managed to survive and there were dozens of cities, some big enough to be called small countries, located all over. The distance between each city usually brought on a long journey so for the most part, they stayed to themselves. Although some cities were hostile or maintained a trade alliance.


    Originally, New Mayhall, Copperhaven, and Roslin were three major cities in the mid-western area of Sulvar. They agreed to a non-aggression pact together, one which didn¡¯t include the now, fourth major city, Freedom City. It was seen as a sanctuary for Abnormals, and due to the lack of Corrupted activity, its population increased as people made the journey to it. That wasn¡¯t included in the book but something Lyn had told Visette.


    Visette closed the textbook and went into a meditative position to channel her psionic energy which now flowed through her like a river.


    And like that, her day ended as it always had.


    ¡­


    A total of 547 days went by, nearly a year and a half since Visette¡¯s training with Lyn began.


    The draining routine and lack of interaction would drive most people crazy or cause negative effects on their mental state at the least, but Visette was unaffected. She had spent years trapped in her own consciousness, floating in a dark tank without the ability to comprehend her own existence. Minerva didn¡¯t even realize or expect Visette¡¯s complete mental cognizance after she received the Blue Swan Neural Implant.


    The nanites in Visette body, as well as her near perfect genes, allowed her to grow at a healthy rate. Something that went largely unnoticed was the tattoo on Vis¡¯ right shoulder that formerly read F-13 now read F-14. Since the dull grey detention outfit covered her shoulders and was the only type of clothing she wore, it would continue to go unnoticed.


    At the moment, Lyn and Visette were sparring with practice swords. Vis had dense weighted bars attached to her legs but she was managing to keep up just fine. The rhythmic tapping of sparring swords rang out they exchanged blows.


    Lyn was fully immersed in the fight, at some point, training Visette began to help her own skills improve. She enjoyed her sparring with Visette and was able to put her all into it.


    Most of the wins Lyn had were won due to adding stipulations to Visette with the aims of making her better. Ankle weights, vision obstructing eyewear, a restrained arm, anything that would hinder her in a real fight was used to its fullest extent.


    Lyn swung downward only to have Visette parry her strike and thrust the practice sword at her throat, stopping a few centimeters from her neck.


    ¡°Your win.¡± Lyn¡¯s breathing was erratic as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel.


    ¡°I now have a total of ninety-six wins while you have a total of two-hundred three.¡±


    ¡°You still remember?¡± Lyn asked as removed the thin piece of cloth from around Visette¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You requested me to record the statistics of our exchange.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡±


    Lyn grabbed another towel and wiped Visette¡¯s face before she took a step back and spoke, ¡°Hey, how¡¯s your smile going?¡±


    Visette¡¯s facial muscles visibly tensed and not much else happened, providing an answer for Lyn¡¯s question.


    ¡°Another failure.¡± Lyn smiled effortlessly which Visette studied in great detail before making an attempt to mimic it.


    After a few minutes, Vis¡¯ failure was apparent and Lyn could only shrug regretfully, ¡°You¡¯ll get it one day, you just need something to smile about.¡±


    ¡°Then you must have a reason for doing so, correct?¡±


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Lyn replied as she began to put on her jacket. ¡°Training you is one of them, you know.¡±


    Just as Lyn was getting ready to leave the warehouse, she suddenly remembered something.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯ll be free for the next two or three days. I have a mission coming up.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Visette nodded, wondering the contents of the assignment Lyn was given but choosing not to ask.


    ¡°Do you want to know what¡¯s it about?¡±


    ¡°Is that not classified information?¡±


    ¡°So? It¡¯s sort of about you so it doesn¡¯t matter. Plus, who are you going to tell?¡± Lyn looked around the warehouse only training dummies and targets were there to witness the conversation. ¡°We¡¯re intercepting a supply convoy from Roslin that¡¯s heading to Freedom City. It seems they have chosen to ally themselves with the Freedom City and are the most likely culprits of that incident. Anyway, it¡¯s a simple mission so I¡¯ll be back soon, until then just do some basic practice while you wait.¡±


    After Lyn left, Visette could only think of the implications of the attack on both Freedom City and Roslin. While it was true that Roslin was relatively innocent in the matter, Freedom City clearly had plans against New Mayhall. Everyone out of the group of Abnormals led by Hawk was caught in different restricted areas around the city. It was clear evidence they were investigating the layout of New Mayhall. Whatever the case was, it did not concern Visette and she could not see it affecting her objective.


    She wanted to obtain a Novidium battery to power the Minerva Laboratory. She estimated she would need one larger than the batteries used to power vehicles and soon learned the approximate size of the one she sought would be well over 3000 kilos.


    At the moment, it was still unthinkable for her to move that amount of weight with her psionics alone. She would also need engineering knowledge so she could install it as well as a few other necessary parts. Commander Wakefield wisely excluded in-depth material relating to the process of refining Novidium or the manufacturing of Novidium batteries.


    With her large amount of free time, Visette chose to practice her psionics. Although she lacked Charlie¡¯s creativity, she came to the realization that she would need a way to stop projectiles without giving away her psionics. Rachel and Charlie were the only ones who knew about her psionics and she only made that decision due to her lack of knowledge. As her understanding of Novo Prime increased so did her cautiousness toward revealing her psionics.


    Visette created a psionic barrier but the dim blue light, indicating unstable psionic energy, was clear to see. Creating a solid barrier consumed more energy and would take on the full force of an object hitting it. She loosened the density of the barrier until it became more a fog, filling the air like a heat shimmer. It was less obvious than the barrier but it would still give her away. She spent the rest of her day making alterations to the psionic distortion field. It had the capability of diverting projectiles away from her but the energy needed to be compressed so it would be less noticeable.


    ¡­


    Hours later and somewhere far away from New Mayhall a mission was being carried out.


    Lyn, equipped with black tactical gear, was crouched down, her body hidden by the undergrowth. In front of her was a dirt road with faint tire tracks indicating its usage.


    [Captain O¡¯Hara, eight trucks approaching. Four armored cars with roof-mounted heavy machine guns as an escort...Looks like that¡¯s all.]


    A voice came from Lyn¡¯s radio.


    ¡°Got it. All teams, radio silent. Attack once the signal is given and make sure your identities aren¡¯t compromised if they manage to escape.¡± Lyn responded back.


    She grabbed a ballistic mask from her side and put it on, fastening it tightly, before checking her auto-rifle magazine. After that was done she peeked at the suspicious mound of dirt piled up in the middle of the road, the object that would create the signal no doubt.


    After a few seconds went by, the electrical hum of vehicles powered by Novidium batteries could be heard in the distance.


    Lyn raised her hand into the air and the bushes behind her shook, bodies of other people becoming visible as they crept closer to the road.


    In the meantime, the trucks advanced unaware of the hidden danger. After driving the route so many times they had become understandably relaxed, especially since the Corrupted had barely made an appearance in the recent days.


    The armored truck at the front of the convoy had a lookout manning the mounted gun but he didn¡¯t notice anything strange. Most likely because he wasn¡¯t paying much attention, daydreaming with a bored expression on his face.


    The armored car drove over the buried landmine and suddenly exploded into a cloud of fire, flipping onto its side and churning out black smoke. At the same time, Lyn¡¯s raised a clenched fist, giving a signal to the team behind her. The transport trucks behind it skittered to a halt and the armored cars around began to aim at the dense forest growth around them.


    ¡°Ambush! Aim at the trees and fire at will! Repeat-¡± The shouting man on the mounted gun couldn¡¯t finish as a sniper¡¯s bullet found its way into his head, creating a red splatter behind him.


    Lyn took cover behind a nearby tree and aimed her rifle, firing at those on the mounted machine first just like the rest of her team.


    ¡°Where the fuck did these guys come from?!¡± A man climbed out of the car and used the door as cover, returning fire to the unseen enemy.


    ¡°Fuck if I know!¡± His comrade moved to the adjacent door.


    Without any warning, a cylinder-shaped canister came flying overhead and landed on the roof of the car with a thud.


    ¡°Grenade!¡± One man shouted loudly but instead of an explosion, smoke came pouring out of the canister. ¡°Smoke grenade! Check fire! Check fire! Keep your eyes peeled and your knives ready!¡±


    A cloud of smoke drifted over the area, obscuring everyone¡¯s vision. If someone fired, they would be unable to tell friend from foe, including the attacking force. That¡¯s why Lyn moved on her own first. Stealthy slipping into the radius of enemies, Lyn began placing remote detonation charges on the armored trucks.


    ¡°Hey-¡± A woman trapped within the smoke spotted Lyn only a few meters away but was too late to act.


    Lyn drew her sword and rushed the woman, slitting her throat with one quick strike.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± A man yelled while shooting into the smoke randomly.


    Lyn rolled under the truck, avoiding the bullets and hiding from sight.


    ¡°Stop firing! Stop firing you fucking idiot! By Anton¡¯s soul if you don¡¯t stop firing I will shoot you myself! Wait for the smoke to dissipate!¡±


    The gunfire stopped and those within the smoke tensely waited while Lyn maneuvered past each truck.


    ¡°Huek!¡± A strange sound could be heard in the smoke, the cry of someone who died abruptly.


    ¡°Ahk!¡± Another death cry from an unfortunate soul rang out.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± The soldiers who were buried in the smoke only grew more paranoid but that¡¯s when the sound stopped and the smoke finally began to fade.


    ¡°Take aim...Wait...¡± The commanding officer spotted a brick-shaped item on his truck with a blinking light and realized what it was at the last moment. ¡°Take cover! Everyone take-¡±


    He couldn¡¯t finish the order as the three armor trucks exploded simultaneously. Leaving no one left alive except for those in the transport trucks.


    Lyn swung her sword to clean it of blood before sheathing it. She stood atop the large transport truck and surveyed the area for any survivors before grabbing her radio.


    ¡°All teams move in. Make sure everyone is dead and kill the drivers.¡± Lyn gave the order and then hopped down from the truck. She opened the back of the transport truck to see what was inside.


    ¡°Parts to construct a Novidium battery.¡± She tossed in a detonation charge before slamming the metal door of the truck while gunshots rang out.


    ¡°Please! I¡¯m only a driver! I didn¡¯t-¡± The plea of mercy was cut short by a gunshot.


    Ignoring the sight, Lyn moved onto the next transport truck, opening it up only to see containers of food piled up. Freedom City was still relatively new and they didn¡¯t exactly have a good infrastructure so their current stores of food wouldn¡¯t be enough to keep up with the intake of people.


    Lyn held onto the detonation charge in her hand. Who would be the ones to suffer because of the actions that were taken by the ones in charge? Innocent lives would be put at risk without the food.


    The explosive in her hand felt even heavier as the choice became clear.


    The gunshots stopped and the soldiers under her command looked at her for the next order.


    "We have no casualties on our side, Captain O''Hara," A soldier reported.


    Lyn nodded, taking a deep breath as she tossed the charge in before closing the metal doors.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go before reinforcements arrived.¡± She signaled the retreat and when they reached an appropriate distance, one of the trucks blew up.


    [Captain O¡¯Hara. It appears a detonation charge failed. Do we go back and set another?]


    Lyn was silent for a moment before she replied. ¡°No, that smoke is visible for kilometers and there are probably people on the way. We¡¯ll continue our retreat.¡±


    They moved through the trees and arrived at a clearing where piles of leaves showed that something was hidden. The soldiers began to move the leaves revealing off-road four-wheelers. Pairs of two climbed on each one except for Lyn who was alone before they sped off into the distance.


    Lyn removed her ballistic mask, staring at the smoke behind her, and after delaying for a few moments she followed after everyone else.

 Chapter 28: 1456 Days Pt.2

    A total of 728 days went by, two years since Visette began her training.


    Her isolation from the outside world had no visible effect on her rate of growth.


    Just as the medical doctor who examined Visette first suggested, her eyesight developed further. In fact, all of her innate ¡°Abnormal¡± traits grew much to Visette¡¯s surprise as her body adjusted quicker than she realized.


    Lyn called the changes Visette was going through puberty but Vis understood her bodily reactions were the result of her genetic makeup and her constant psionic channeling. She stood at 166cm according to the yearly medical evaluation she was recently made to undergo. Even though she appeared like a normal teenage at first glance, her muscle tissue and overall skeletal structure had increased in density. As of now, if she didn¡¯t use psionic energy to enhance her physical capabilities, she¡¯d be around a Type-2 strength Abnormal and that was just the start as it would increase as more time passed.


    Visette sat deep in thought, attempting to figure out how to best make use of her changes.


    ''Natural strength creates less wasted energy on psionic channeling. It is best to redirect my psionic enhancement toward other areas...If psionic energy is redirected to my nerve endings and optic nerves then my reactivity should increase-''


    ¡°Hey!¡± Lyn¡¯s voice interrupted Visette''s brainstorming.


    ¡°Did you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied.


    ¡°Then what did I say?¡±


    ¡°That training exercises will be postponed for today.¡±


    ¡°Smartass,¡± Lyn grumbled.


    ¡°...May I know the reason for the delay?¡± Vis inquired.


    ¡°Commander Wakefield.¡± Lyn crossed her arms and fell into a chair. ¡°He¡¯s in hot water for improper use of military resources.¡±


    ¡°Hot water? Is that another figure of speech, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, anyway, you know that town you came from?¡±


    ¡°C-23.¡±


    ¡°The fact that the Commander diverted a recon team toward that town to collect his wife and daughter came to light and some of the councilors are making a big fuss about it.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± After hearing further details, Visette pondered if the Commander¡¯s situation would become an obstacle to her.


    ''Unlikely.'' After coming to a quick conclusion, she grabbed a nearby book about wildlife she had already finished and started reading from the beginning.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you wanted to know?¡± Lyn asked, making it clear she wanted to continue the conversation.


    ¡°Yes, there does not appear to be any other necessary information I need to inquire about.¡±


    ¡°Well, you''re wrong about that. The fact he diverted a recon team to a town in order to secure Rachel and Charlie Wakefield was already known for a while. The only reason it''s being brought up now is due to you.¡±


    ¡°How does my presence affect the situation?¡±


    ¡°Those councilors are citing it as evidence that he shouldn¡¯t be the one to take charge of you. Basically, it means they want to see if they can rope you into their factions or have someone they can influence be assigned to watch you.¡±


    ¡°I do not want that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Well, I don''t either but we don''t really get to decide.¡±


    Lyn stood up and stretched before heading toward the exit.


    ¡°We¡¯ll just have to see what happens, Vis,¡± She added before leaving the warehouse.


    Surprisingly, it only took another week for the matter to get resolved. Commander Wakefield was now required to send reports of all his orders and commands to the council so they could evaluate it. Previously, he would only have to send reports to the Governor which allowed him some freedom. Now that an extra level of scrutiny was added, the Commander would have to be wary of making mistakes as his power and influence would be cut down with each one.


    At the end of what was a slow week, Visette went to sleep just like any other day. Although she still retained consciousness, she would often see thousands of dim blue lights blinking during her sleep. It was a strange phenomenon, one that she couldn''t find the cause of.


    ...


    It had been 1095 days since Visette started her training and with a few exceptions, those days had used to their fullest.


    At the moment, Visette and Lyn were engaged in a tense spar. Enough time had passed where Lyn could make use of her Abnormal traits without fearing Visette would be hurt. The constant training served to condition her body immensely.


    They stood an equal distance apart and mirrored each other''s stances. Their legs spread apart with their primary feet forward, chins tucked, and arms raised to guard against the attack of the other. They cautiously inched toward each other in unison, keeping their bodies grounded in order to prevent the other from gaining even the slightest advantage. Once Lyn entered within an arm''s range of Visette, they began trading a few punches to probe the other for an opening. It went on for quite some time until the repetition was broken. A barely noticeable shift in Lyn''s stance was instantly magnified in Visette''s vision causing her to prepare for the next attack.


    Then, with what looked to be without warning, Lyn adjusted her footing to stay balanced and performed a spinning back kick. With her inhuman agility, Lyn''s foot cut through the air cut but Vis was ready, she raised her arm to block her head while simultaneously kicking at Lyn''s unguarded leg which caused the latter to stumble. Visette quickly added another kick and Lyn fell on her back and immediately raised her guard while Visette climbed atop her.


    Visette then began to rain down a series of ruthless punches that aimed for Lyn''s face but only hit two arms raised to defend.


    Just as Visette was going to continue, a stopwatch sitting on a nearby table began to beep giving some sort of signal. In response, Visette immediately stood up and offered a hand to Lyn.


    "The designated amount of time has passed."


    ¡°Damn.¡± Lyn clicked her tongue, raising her calloused hand to grip Visette''s comparatively softer palm. "Your win...again."


    ¡°I now have a total of five hundred forty-five wins while you have a total of three hundred twenty-six,¡± Visette intoned.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Lyn made a bitter smile as she thought of Visette¡¯s growth.


    The borderline tortuous training routine made Visette reach a level of specialization beyond her own. She even guessed that Vis would be able to complete dangerous missions that would require an entire team of Abnormals by herself.


    ¡°By the way, how are your jokes coming along?¡± Lyn asked as she removed the sparring equipment.


    ¡°You have not tied your shoes correctly.¡± Visette gave a monotone reply.


    Lyn looked down at her sparring shoes that didn''t include laces and then back to Visette with no sign of amusement.


    ¡°So it still needs some work I take it?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    ¡°What about your smiling? Have you finally figured it out.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Visette¡¯s facial muscles twitched unnaturally and the edges of her lips rose ever so slightly.


    ¡°...You¡¯ll get it right one of these days.¡±


    Recently, Dr. Eliza urged Lyn to interact with Visette more than usual. The goal was to keep Visette from falling into a completely unsociable state due to the extreme isolation she was under. It was a good idea but Lyn wasn¡¯t a very sociable person in the first place. Still, she tried her best to get Visette to open up or to at least realize she wasn''t completely alone.


    ¡°I¡¯ve read the list of books you¡¯ve asked for and I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll get them this time,¡± Lyn suddenly said.


    ¡°That is unfortunate but not unexpected.¡± Vis didn¡¯t seem to be too disappointed.


    ¡°If you didn''t think you''d get it- No, why''d you even ask for things related to electronics and radio waves in the first place?¡±


    ¡°Curiosity.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that for a second.¡± Lyn tossed a towel and a water bottle to Visette who caught them.


    The real reason for Visette¡¯s sudden interest in electronics was to find any research that could help her understand the billions of nanites in her body. After spending some time thinking, she assumed her nanites to be the cause of the strange visual effect of blinking lights. Novo Prime wasn¡¯t as technologically advanced as Minerva but since she couldn¡¯t access the lab hidden in the ravine so anything that could possibly provide insight would have to do.


    Visette pushed her lengthy white hair away from her face before pausing and turning to face Lyn.


    ¡°May I borrow your knife, Lyn?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°What? Why?¡±


    ¡°Excess hair is unnecessary and hampers my vision, therefore, I wish to remove it.¡±


    ¡°...But I like your hair.¡± Lyn removed her black hair tie and gave it to Visette. ¡°Don¡¯t cut it.¡±


    Visette accepted the hair tie and simply looked at it sitting in her palm.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want it?¡± Lyn fished another black hair tie out of her pockets and tied her ponytail once again.


    ¡°I do not know how to use it.¡±


    ¡°Come here, I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Visette stood in front of Lyn cluelessly, awaiting further instructions.


    Lyn moved behind Vis and gathered her hair up before tying a short ponytail.


    ¡°There you go.¡± Lyn smiled.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Visette responded, satisfied with the current solution.


    After solving the problem of Visette¡¯s hair, Lyn made Visette practice shooting a few more times before calling it a day.


    ¡­


    1252 days after Visette started training, the nature of her strange tattoos had finally been noticed. Specifically, after a detailed medical checkup revealed that the tattoo on her right shoulder had read as F-16 instead of F-13. It caused a stir due to the previous letters and numbers of her tattoos being recorded during the time she first arrived in New Mayhall.


    The issue understandably began to grow as there was little explanation for a changing tattoo. Things only calmed when a theory was put forward, one that stated was some sort of subdermal biological marker in place that reacted to the chemical changes in Visette¡¯s body as she aged and acted correspondingly. It wasn¡¯t too far from the truth as Visette¡¯s nanites changed the pigment of her skin in accordance with her age. The reason for it was due to Minerva''s decision to use Visette as a walking file. If the time for her recovery came and the necessary files on her were damaged or lost, a glance at her tattoos would impart the most basic but most vital information about her. At least, in the eyes of a high-ranking Minerva researcher.


    Commander Wakefield sat in his office and heavily contemplated Visette¡¯s tattoos once more as they had been brought to the forefront once again. The fact that the F proceeding the numerical value indicated her gender was widely accepted and the simplest tattoo to decode.


    What still couldn¡¯t be figured out was the string of number and letters under her collarbone and the pattern of overlapping squares over her F-16 tattoo.


    ¡°To create a reactive chemical marker would require medical technology we don¡¯t possess...Is it possible she¡¯s from Eden Hill.¡± Commander Wakefield thought aloud.


    A network between cities was formed but they rarely interacted, only sharing information about the Corrupted and not much more except sharing the occasional rumor. One such rumor told of Eden Hill, a city who was previously on the same level as the others, experiencing a massive technological boom. It was said a few other cities spread around the continent also had something similar happen. Whatever the case was, it was impossible to confirm the truth of the matter without Eden Hill making a statement or sending someone to infiltrate the allegedly high-tech city which couldn¡¯t be done safely. If a spy was captured and their origins were discovered, Eden Hill would be likely to respond aggressively.


    [Commander, you have received a memo from the Councilors.] The intercom sitting on his desk buzzed.


    ¡°Bring it in.¡± He sighed and prepared to read what he thought would be another set of demands from the council.


    A well-dressed lady entered his office and placed the memo on his desk before leaving.


    Not expecting much, Commander Wakefield picked it up and skimmed over it before his body froze.


    Due to the high possibility of Commander Nathan Wakefield misusing military assets for his own personal gain, we recommend that the Abnormal soldiers he assigned as guards for Rachel and Charlie Wakefield be replaced with DSF personnel. It should also be said, that only members of Government are allowed to have Abnormal individuals attached to their security detail. Commander Wakefield''s allocating the guards meant to defend him to his wife and child are another clear violation of that rule. Even if it isn''t expressly forbidden, it is a loophole which Commander Wakefield has taken full advantage of. Thusly, the Domestic Security Force should take full charge of their safety.


    Unanimously signed, New Mayhall¡¯s Council.


    Commander Wakefield gently placed the letter down and inhaled deeply.


    ¡°You old bastards!¡± His expression warped with anger as he slammed his fist down on his desk viciously before regaining composure as the stinging pain was transmitted through his knuckles. The cold and calm face he usually wore returned and he even flashed a faint grin. Commander Wakefield¡¯s enemies within the council, as well as those who wanted control over Vis, were making a threat with their statement. Since he clearly treasured his family there was no better way to move him than to take away the protection he provided for them.


    ¡°Fine, if this is the way you wish to go about things then I have no problem responding in kind.¡±


    He grabbed a pen and began writing his own memo in response to the Council¡¯s decision.


    After comprehensive study from our renown psychoanalyst, Dr. Eliza Brendan, I highly recommend that Visette Thales receive more social interaction to avoid negative mental development. I propose that she enters the senior class of New Mayhall¡¯s Academy and be allowed to learn alongside people of similar age. She will have the chance to develop ties and relationships with citizens of New Mayhall which will only increase her loyalty toward the city.


    Signed, Commander Nathan Wakefield.


    Commander Wakefield finished writing with a look of satisfaction and then sent the memo off. He had no worries of the councilor rejecting him as letting Visette into the public eye would be a good opportunity to try and recruit her into their factions. Meanwhile, the problem of Rachel and Charlie¡¯s lack of security would also be solved as they would most likely invite Visette to stay with them.


    ¡­


    A total 1456 days passed since Visette started training.


    Four years of Visette''s life were spent outside of the Minerva lab and before she even knew, she had turned 17 years old.


    Visette stood at 174 cm and show no resemblance to her previous self. Her cheekbones and jaw became fairly sharper. Her muscles had become incredibly defined due to the rigorous training she endured and her own genetic structure. Above all, she maintained a visibly petite frame but her natural physical strength was enough to classify her as a type-4 strength Abnormal. The lack of visible muscle mass on her body made it hard to tell that she weighed more than expected due to her extremely dense muscle growth.


    As Visette began reading, Lyn entered the warehouse with a sandwich clenched between her teeth and a paper bag in one hand and two coffees squeezed into the other. She looked over at Visette who remained buried in a book and took a slight pause. Even Lyn had to admit that Visette somehow surpassed the notion of beauty. If looking at her before made one want to protect her, a single glance now would make others want to preserve her like an expensive portrait. The unflattering dull grey fabric Vis wore didn¡¯t subtract anything from her overall beauty either.


    ¡°Do you require assistance?¡± Vis asked without looking.


    Her speech pattern largely remained the same over the years but very with small differences that only Lyn and Dr. Eliza would immediately notice.


    ¡°...No,¡± Lyn averted her eyes and placed the paper bag on a nearby table.


    Visette shut her book in a practiced manner and went to join Lyn at the table. She opened the bag and began taking food out before accepting a coffee from Lyn.


    After taking a bite of her sandwich, Lyn began to speak, ¡°There¡¯s some good news today.¡±


    ¡°Pertaining to?¡±


    ¡°Who else but you, Visette? Your training is officially over today.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not all though, you¡¯re also going to be enrolled into the academy for the next few months according to Commander Wakefield.¡±


    ¡°Will I have access to all educational material while I am there?¡± Visette inquired.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why you wouldn¡¯t.¡± Lyn shrugged.


    ¡°Then I have no issue with attending...When am I to be released?¡±


    ¡°After you finish eating I¡¯ll take you to see the Commander and we¡¯ll figure everything else out from there.¡±


    Visette nodded and finished her meal in an orderly manner.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get going.¡±


    Lyn led her out of the warehouse, through a metal tunnel that was guarded by two soldiers, before she stepped outside again. The active military base the warehouse was stationed in was filled with activity. Soldiers ran intense training drills in a field far off in the distance. Armored trucks steadily patrolled the area and a few inexperienced soldiers could be seen attempting to find their post. What Visette took notice of were the air hangars, specifically, the ones left open. Even with them being far away, Visette could make out the small aircraft that resembled nothing like what was on Earth.


    "Hey, do you want to stay another four years or something?" Lyn called out to Visette while climbing into a black military truck.


    Visette took one more look at the aircraft before entering the truck and finally leaving the base.

 Chapter 29: On The Move

    To the northeast of New Mayhall stood Roslin, a city that had a similar history its two "allies".


    Roslin received its name from a past ruler, a woman who was said to have killed many Corrupted and protected hundreds. There were many similar figures around the continent of Sulvar but none of them reached the heights of Anton, the enigmatic man who was something like a religious figure.


    Inside the concrete walls of Roslin, the city stirred in a lively manner. Their government, laws, and general culture were different from New Mayhall but they retained order. Of course, that didn¡¯t apply much to the lower class area. A seedy apartment complex with a blinking light saw various aggressive looking individuals gathered outside.


    A convoy of several dark trucks came driving from off in the distance and stopped in front of the apartment and soldiers began pouring out.


    ¡°Disperse!¡± An order was shouted through a loudspeaker and no matter how intimidating they looked, the individuals did as asked and quickly left.


    ¡°Goodness, you¡¯d think they would at least engage in a productive activity.¡± A well-dressed man scoffed as he climbed out of the car. He, along with several soldiers in dark blue fatigues, entered the building and took the elevator up to the highest floor. They quickly moved to the end of the corridor and knocked on a door with patched up bullet holes and dents covering it.


    ¡°It¡¯s open!¡± A voice called out from inside.


    The well-dressed man nodded toward one of the guards and they opened up the door before checking for any threats.


    ¡°You guys really have to do that every time?¡± Said a shirtless young man who was currently enjoying a cigarette. He couldn¡¯t have been over his early twenties, but his eyes were filled with the experience of a well-trained soldier. Even his body, which he showed no sign of covering, showed off an impressive amount of muscle as well as a few battle scars.


    The young man ran his fingers through short black hair while his grey eyes remained locked on the well-dressed man who stood huddled between his soldiers.


    ¡°It¡¯s a matter of precaution, Mr. Demetrius.¡±


    ¡°Sure it is...¡± Demetrius picked up a small knife and narrowed one eye.


    The soldiers immediately raised their weapons but he paid them no mind. He tossed the knife and it struck a target on the wall. The sound of the impact caused the well-dressed man to slightly jump in a startled manner.


    ¡°Easy, guys. Can¡¯t I enjoy myself in my own home?¡± He put out his cigarette on an ashtray and stood up. ¡°So what do you want?¡±


    The well-dressed man frowned before speaking, ¡°This was classified information for the last few years but...New Mayhall has found out about our activity with the Freedom City and they were behind those attacks on our shipments. That¡¯s also the reason why all of our contacts in New Mayhall went quiet.¡±


    There was no way he would guess that the entire event was caused by Visette who inadvertently caused a power surge in the detention facility. Still, even if she hadn¡¯t, the group of Abnormals who broke out of the facility were scouting out restricted areas so it was clear they were planning something prior to the event.


    ¡°So?¡± Demetrius asked, picking up another knife and tossing it at the target.


    ¡°Our retaliation is long overdue.¡± The well-dressed man spoke.


    ¡°You want me to attack them?¡± Demetrius asked. Even though the request would seem too much for one person, he didn¡¯t seem shaken by the thought of it.


    ¡°Yes, but you won''t you be alone. We¡¯re assigning you a team to assassinate one of New Mayhall¡¯s Councilor¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°So how''s the money?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How much money am I getting for this?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a soldier of our city, money should be the least of your concern-¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong.¡± Demetrius stopped just as he was just about to throw a knife. ¡°I made it clear that I¡¯ll move for money and nothing else.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget that we risked our relationship with the Freedom City when we accepted you. We¡¯ve paid you as we promised but all you do is spend all your money on gambling, alcohol, women, and cheap cigarettes.¡±


    ¡°I want fifty-thousand in my account before I start.¡± Demetrius fiercely threw another knife at the target.


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen-¡±


    ¡°Think carefully.¡± Demetrius paused with a throwing knife in his grip. ¡°I don¡¯t know if they told you but you had a predecessor. He was a fairly smart guy who would come here and give me assignments just like you¡¯re doing now. You want to know what happened?¡±


    Demetrius threw the knife at the target board with all his strength and it sunk in until the handle stopped it from going any further.


    ¡°He died.¡± Demetrius flashed a grin. ¡°If I remember correctly, it was in that same spot you¡¯re standing in now. It was easy to kill him, but taking out his guards required a bit more effort.¡±


    ¡°Are you threatening me? You think that my superiors would allow you to harm me?¡±


    ¡°I killed the one who came before you and I¡¯m still here. You can understand what that means, right? Unless you can sprout type-4 and type-5 abnormal traits, you don¡¯t have any value when compared to me. Now go back to whatever kennel you crawled out from and give them my conditions.¡±


    The well-dressed man opened and closed his mouth a few times before retreating in defeat. He clearly had no confidence in dealing with the young man in front of him.


    Demetrius laughed at the cowering official and fell back into his torn up leather chair, lighting another cigarette with a sense of triumph.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, in New Mayhall, Visette was being briefed by Commander Wakefield. Her reintegration into society was accepted by the Councilors though Dr. Eliza protested.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some thing¡¯s clear, Visette Thales. I understand that you want benefits in exchange for your cooperation. That¡¯s why I¡¯m enrolling you in New Mayhall¡¯s academy for a brief period of time. While you¡¯re there you¡¯ll have unrestricted access to all types of material, especially the things you asked for while you were being trained. All you have to do while you¡¯re in the Academy is ensure the safety of Charlie, no matter the cost.¡±


    Visette remained silent as Commander Wakefield paused and gathered his thoughts.


    ¡°Moving on, you will have a special role in New Mayhall¡¯s army. I will personally see that once you achieve enough merits, a fitting reward will be given to you.¡±


    ¡°As a reward, I would like the smallest version a novidium battery that you have, the components to create a battery, and samples of the mineral itself.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess¡­¡± Commander Wakefield reached into his desk and produced Visette¡¯s old watch she received inside the Minerva Laboratory. ¡°You want to use it to power this?¡±


    ¡°Incorrect,¡± Visette replied. ¡°I only wish to study the battery.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­Well, that can be done, but remember, you¡¯ll have to complete the assignments I give you before that time comes.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Visette responded with no real emotion.


    ¡°Then you¡¯re dismissed. O¡¯Hara will deal with the issue of your residence, salary, equipment, and enrollment. Also, be sure to change your clothes as soon as you can, Thales.¡±


    Visette nodded and left the room without showing any sign of military etiquette. It was a subject that wasn''t covered in her training and Lyn placed no importance on it though Commander Wakefield didn¡¯t care much.


    Almost as soon as Vis left, Dr. Eliza burst into Commander Wakefield¡¯s office.


    ¡°What are you doing, Nathan?!¡± Dr. Eliza questioned him furiously.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Commander Wakefield asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you aren¡¯t aware that you submitted my suggestion from four years ago to the council! I advised you to place Visette into a social environment and you refused adamantly until now.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be happy then? She¡¯ll get more than enough interaction with those of a similar age.¡±


    ¡°That suggestion does not apply now. A current evaluation would show that she isn¡¯t fit to be suddenly placed into the Academy. You were supposed to allow Rachel and Charlie to have regular contact with Visette so she could gradually get accustomed to socializing and understanding others.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re underestimating her a little, Doctor.¡±


    ¡°You do realize you are taking a girl who has been doing nothing but harsh training for the last four years and forcefully putting her somewhere she isn¡¯t accustomed to. What do you think will happen if someone mindlessly tries to bother her? She could misunderstand simple actions as hostile ones and end up hurting or even killing someone, Commander.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll have O¡¯Hara set some guidelines in order to make sure she doesn¡¯t act without orders. I¡¯ll even have a remote lockbox installed in her locker so that she only has access to her service weapon during an emergency.¡±


    ¡°...You¡¯re allowing her to carry a weapon?¡± Dr. Eliza asked, completely distraught at Commander Wakefield¡¯s words. It seemed as if he was in his own world and heard nothing she said.


    ¡°Just a knife for now,¡± Commander Wakefield replied.


    ¡°Commander you can¡¯t do that!¡±


    ¡°Dr. Eliza, I¡¯ve taken your thoughts into consideration but my decision still stands. Even if you spoke to the Council about it they¡¯d be unlikely to reverse their judgment.¡±


    ¡°...I hope you don¡¯t regret it, Commander.¡± Dr.Eliza glared at Commander Wakefield before leaving his office.


    Commander Wakefield paid no mind to Dr. Eliza''s poor mood and instead smiled when thinking of how the Council would act after his plan was put into motion.

 Chapter 30: The New Student

    The city of New Mayhall was split into three sections. The Lower Ward, Middle Ward, and Upper Ward.


    The Lower Ward held the low-class population made up of mostly factory workers, builders, novidium miners, former evacuees of fallen cities, and anyone else who had a profession related to low-skill manufacturing. The Middle Ward held the families of soldiers, low-level government officials, DSF personnel, and overall the general population. The Upper Ward held the families of high-level government officials, prestigious military families, and other important figures.


    Visette was assigned to a small apartment located in the Middle Ward. Commander Wakefield had personally taken care of furnishing it as he was wary of writing it down as a military expenditure. Not only could the Council accuse him of misappropriating funds, Visette¡¯s address would have to be listed which would allow them more access to her.


    Since the only person Commander Wakefield could trust with the matter was Lyn, she was ordered to help Visette get settled in and prepared for the Academy.


    ¡°You received your uniform, right?¡± Lyn asked as she dropped a cardboard box onto the floor of an empty living room. There wasn''t a single decoration in sight which was somehow fitting for Visette as she had no interest in materialistic things.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Visette replied.


    The Academy conducted itself with relatively strict rules. As such, students enrolled were expected to wear the uniform at all times. The female uniform consisted of a red jacket, a white shirt with a black tie, a long black skirt, black socks, and black or brown loafers. It was almost reminiscent of boarding school on Earth.


    ¡°Well, you can¡¯t wear one thing all the time so here are some of my own clothes...Think of it as a gift.¡± Lyn kicked the box to Visette.


    ¡°A gift.¡± Visette repeated in a low whisper. ¡°Often times an object that holds some material or symbolic value which is used to increase camaraderie, friendship, intimicay, affection, or as a declaration of-¡±


    ¡°Enough, just take the damn thing.¡±


    Visette nodded and opened the box before examining some of the clothes inside. They were all things that Lyn wore during her teenage years. Coats, jeans, shirts, pants, all of which were dark colors. Before Lyn was involved with the military she caused an immense amount of trouble. Even now, Lyn still acted in a similiar way and always seemed to be brooding which made her unapproachable.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it I can take you to buy something else.¡±


    ¡°There is no need, the clothes you have given me will suffice.¡±


    Visette didn¡¯t particularly care for her own appearance so anything would do.


    ¡°Okay, since that''s out of the way, let¡¯s just go over everything to make sure you understand. First, keep your knife sheathed at all times. As long as it''s hidden there shouldn''t problem. Another thing, don''t use your knife and do not show it to anyone unless your life is in danger.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not finished...Don''t attack anyone unless you are attacked first. If you have to defend yourself, just make sure to use non-lethal methods to deal with them. Uh...what else was there? Oh, there¡¯s a remote lockbox containing a firearm and a radio installed inside of your locker. If there is a situation that requires you to use it, report in via radio and someone will open it if the situation is deemed to be dangerous...You got all of that?¡±


    ¡°I have memorized it, yes.¡±


    ¡°Good, just find Charlie Wakefield once you¡¯re in the academy. I think she¡¯ll keep you from doing anything crazy. Just remember not to kill anyone. Can you promise not to do that?¡±


    ¡°I will not harm anyone who poses no threat to myself or Charlie Wakefield.¡±


    ¡°...Alright, take the rest of the day to adjust, you¡¯ll start tomorrow. One more thing, there''s something I''ve been meaning to ask.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± Visette inquired.


    ¡°Well, if you have time tomorrow do you want to come to my place for dinner? My Grandfather really wants to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I am avaliable but I need to purchase certain books for Charlie.¡±


    ¡°That''s all? I¡¯ll get them for you, just write a list and I¡¯ll have them sent to her place of residence.¡±


    Visette silently began writing the names of various children¡¯s books that Charlie had left behind during the evacuation of the town. It was an old promise that Visette made to Charlie but one she didn¡¯t forget nonetheless.


    ¡­


    Inside of a large classroom, a blonde-haired girl with green eyes sat alone near a window, staring out beyond the gates of the academy.


    ¡°Charlie.¡±


    She seemed to be in a daze, daydreaming while looking at nothing in particular.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Charlie!¡± A young man with red-hair waved his hand in front of her face.


    ¡°Hm? What do you want, Arty?¡± Charlie said, turning to face her childhood friend who had grown just as much as she did.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking piloting classes right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, so?¡± Charlie replied while while looking back to the window.


    ¡°I was going to ask if you got to pilot an aerial vehicle yet but...are you alright? You seem a little off.¡± Arthur asked, sensing that Charlie was more closed off than usual.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just someone sent a bunch of old books to my house yesterday and I-¡±


    Just as Charlie was about to continue, her classmates rushed to the window while murmuring.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s an expensive motorcycle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d kill to ride it just once.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy one just like that as soon as I graduate.¡±


    Their excited voices drew Charlie¡¯s attention. She looked to the window only to see a black motorcycle stopping in front of the Academy''s gate. A woman with dark-brown hair was on the front while another young woman in a helmet wearing the New Mayhall Academy uniform was hanging onto the back.


    ¡°Hey! Take your seats, I have a few announcements to make.¡± An aged professor entered the room and began to corral the rowdy students, but Charlie didn¡¯t look away, nor did anyone else.


    ¡°What is it that''s making you all so- Oh,¡± The Professor exclaimed as he peeked out of the window. ¡°That must be the new student who¡¯s joining you all today.¡±


    The Professor''s words were barely registered as everyone concentrated on the young woman removing her helmet.


    ¡°Woah!¡± Someone shouted unconsciously.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s pretty.¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°The one with the white hair.¡±


    ¡°How do you know? You can barely see her from here.¡±


    "I guess I just have good eyes."


    Charlie was speechless as she gazed at the young woman with long white hair who was busy speaking to the other who remained on the motorcycle.


    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that¡­¡± Arthur spoke with wide-eyes, recalling the white-haired girl he''d seen briefly a few years ago.


    ¡°Vis,¡± Charlie muttered while watching the girl who had clearly matured over the four years they hadn¡¯t seen each other.


    ¡­


    Just outside the Academy, Lyn was busy speaking to Visette.


    ¡°For the love of Anton¡¯s soul, don''t kill anyone.¡±


    ¡°As I said, I understand.¡±


    ¡°Right, well, after you get out, wait for me here and don''t go anywhere else, got it?¡±


    ¡°Is your excessive caution necessary? I was under the impression that educational environments posed the least amount of danger. Your actions are starting to make me reconsider my initial assumption.¡±


    ¡°...No, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m way too worried for no reason.¡± Lyn grabbed her helmet from Visette and put it on. ¡°Just...You know, try not to do something that will get you thrown back into the detention center.¡±


    ¡°I do not plan on going back to that place,¡± Visette replied in a dry tone, her eyes devoid of any discernible emotion.


    If Commander Wakefield tried to force Visette back into confinement without reason would cause her to turn on New Mayhall in an instant. She could see no more benefits to be had by being restricted and would act to obtain her freedom at all costs. What was even worse is the fact she would try escape to a different city and seek resources there.


    Lyn found herself unable to say anything in response to Visette¡¯s matter of fact statement.


    After some silence, Lyn placed a hand on Visette¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Take it easy on those kids, okay?¡±


    She left with those words and Visette moved to enter the Academy on her own. She looked at the windows on the upper floors of the building and scanned the kids who were in turn staring back at her. Finding nothing of interest, she entered the main building where an Academy employee guided her to her classroom.


    Visette twisted the doorknob and entered the room. Dozens of curious and interested eyes fell upon her as soon as she stepped inside.


    ¡°Okay, as I¡¯ve already said, we have a new student.¡± The Professor picked up a marker and handed it to Visette. ¡°Could you introduce yourself to the class, young lady?¡±


    Visette nodded and wrote her name on the board.


    ¡°Welcome to General Studies, Visette. I¡¯ve been told that you¡¯re a special circumstance, joining so late and all, but I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll fit in just nicely.¡± The Professor smiled before turning to address the class. ¡°Now would anyone like to be Visette¡¯s guide for the day?¡±


    Nearly everyone raised their hand in response, but almost each of them had a different motive. Some were innocent, only seeking to interact with her, while others were fully aware of her importance. There were students who were ready to act on behalf of their family''s orders. Those students were already aware she was an abnormal but they were completely ignorant to the fact she killed more prisoners that could be counted on two hands.


    "Visette!" Charlie shouted, nearly jumping out of chair.


    "If it is not an issue, I would like Charlie Wakefield to be my guide."


    "Hm? Oh, that''s no problem, Ms. Thales." The Professor gestured for Visette to take an empty seat next to Charlie.


    "Vis, what happened to you? I missed you so much and I tried to send you a few letters but I never recieved anything in response." Charlie''s voice turned into a whisper as the lecture began.


    "Your inquiry is not specific enough for me to answer, Charlie."


    "What happened after..." Charlie lowered her voice even more before continuing. "What happened after you killed Councilor Richards?"


    "It would require too much time to summarize everything. I recommend that we speak when you have time avaliable."


    "But-"


    "Ms. Wakefield, I understand that you seem to have some history with our new student here but could it wait until after class?"


    "Oh, ah, yes, sorry." Charlie smiled wryly.


    "Hey, Visette...Do you remember me?" Arthur asked. Since Charlie was sat between them, he found it hard to properly look at Vis. Since he saw a few others in class sneaking peeks at Visette''s face, he decided that there was nothing wrong with speaking to her.


    "Your name was Arthur and your father''s name was George. We briefly interacted during the evacuation," Visette intoned.


    "Yeah, my father didn''t make it." Arthur''s expression turned downcast while Charlie''s face flashed with guilt.


    "Anyway, maybe we all can talk when we get a break?" Arthur changed the subject before turning back to his studies.


    Visette mindlessly nodded and did the same, but after finding that there was nothing of interest being spoken of, she began channeling her psionic energy out of habit.

 Chapter 31: Expanding Your Knowledge

    After finishing the General Studies class, which consisted of miscellaneous subjects, Charlie escorted Visette to the cafeteria with Arthur following close behind them.


    ¡°So, those books that came to my house yesterday were sent by you, Vis?¡± Charlie asked, mindlessly picking away at the food on her plate.


    ¡°Yes, I agreed to find all of the books you left behind during the evacuation. If not for being occupied for the last four years I would have already delivered them to you.¡±


    ¡°...Thank you, Visette.¡± Charlie smiled.


    Charlie had long since forgotten about the small promise she made with Visette until she was reminded by the sudden delivery of children¡¯s books. She no longer had any interest in them but the fact that Visette remembered was important to her.


    ¡°There is no need to express your gratitude for such a menial task,¡± Visette replied while cutting a burger into even sections and eating one at a time.


    ¡°...I heard that you¡¯re an Abnormal, is it true?¡± Arthur suddenly chimed in.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied, giving a brief glance toward Arthur, finding his nervous mannerisms to be peculiar.


    ¡°Uh, Arty, could you give us a moment?¡± Charlie asked politely.


    ¡°Y-Yeah, sure.¡± Arthur laughed dryly before leaving the table.


    Once he was gone, Charlie began to speak in a low voice, ¡°Visette, do you still have your...sci...psi...um¡­¡±


    ¡°Psionic.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s it. Do you still have your psionic abilities?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Visette nodded.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Charlie shouted, causing the eyes of the cafeteria to fall onto her.


    ¡°...You know I haven¡¯t told anyone about them and neither did my mom. It¡¯s not like anyone would believe us anyway. So you don¡¯t have to worry, your secret is safe with me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Visette responded.


    In the first place, the only reason Charlie and Rachel knew of her abilities was her lack of knowledge about the world. Once she began to understand more, her reluctance to expose her abilities increased. If Rachel and Charlie attempted to put her at risk for their own gains, she would¡¯ve already eliminated them.


    ¡°Moving on, what have you been doing since we last saw each other?¡±


    ¡°Training.¡±


    ¡°Training? Just training?¡±


    ¡°Are you seeking for elaboration?¡±


    ¡°Um, I guess?¡±


    ¡°Until now, my schedule consisted solely of physical and firearms training, sparring, and combat exercises.¡±


    ¡°That sounds...hard...I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°There is no need to apologize.¡±


    ¡°Was my dad at least nice to you? I haven¡¯t seen him much since my mom doesn¡¯t get along with him too well.¡±


    ¡°...There has been no positive interaction between us,¡± Visette answered after thinking carefully. She found Commander Wakefield to be a prominent danger and would kill him without a single thought if she needed to.


    ¡°I...I don¡¯t know much about him so I thought I¡¯d try to understand more about him through you. Oh, by the way, can I ask you a question, Vis?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Do you know anything about your own parents?¡±


    Visette opened her mouth to say ¡°no¡± but for some strange reason. The strange dream that caused the power outage of the detention facility played through her mind briefly. Theresa Hagen, the researcher responsible for Visette¡¯s creation spoke of something relating to Visette¡¯s parents. And now, Visette attempted to recall it as best she could.


    ¡°Vis?¡± Charlie chimed, softly poking Visette¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°...No, I have no information relating to my parents.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, it was a bad question to ask.¡±


    ¡°Is there a reason for you to apologize so much?¡± Visette inquired.


    ¡°I- No, I guess there isn¡¯t¡­¡± Charlie trailed off, poking at her food. ¡°Ah! Do you want to come to the library with me?!¡±


    ¡°Is there a restriction on the information I am allowed to access?¡±


    ¡°What? No.¡±


    ¡°Then I will accompany you.¡± Visette finished eating and stood up, waiting for Charlie to lead the way.


    ¡­


    A few minutes of walking later and the two entered a sparsely populated library. The students already inside took a few glances at Visette and found it hard to focus on anything else. Of course, Visette paid very little attention to them after finding they posed little threat.


    ¡°Radio Communication Guide, A Study Of Electronics, The Book Of Anton Volume One, and...The Discovery Of Novidium. These all the only ones you want?¡±


    ¡°At the moment, yes,¡± Visette replied while her eyes rapidly scanned over page after page.


    Charlie leaned closer and began to whisper, ¡°What is it that you plan on doing with these?¡±


    ¡°I have discovered that my psionic energy can interfere with electrical signals. If I can learn of a way to detect radio and electrical frequencies, I would be able to manipulate them to some extent.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­that¡¯s amazing!¡± After a short delay, Charlie understood some of what Visette set out to accomplish. She¡¯d be like a walking sat-phone in some ways and would be able to intercept messages from enemies and allies alike.


    ¡°There are many other subjects I would like research apart from that.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± Charlie inquired, full of interest.


    ¡°If the nanites in my blood can be affected just like other electronics.¡±


    ¡°The what in your blood?¡±


    ¡°Nanties, small machines that cannot be detected under a normal microscope. They are responsible for repairing damaged tissue and removing harmful substances from my body as well as regulating my biological functions.¡±


    ¡°So...They help you regenerate?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I am not aware if they hold a larger purpose.¡± Visette closed a book and moved onto the next one.


    ¡°You¡¯re done already?¡± Charlie blinked widely as Visette rapidly scanned over her new reading material.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette said curtly.


    Her high levels of mental processing power allowed information to be retained at an incredibly fast rate, though it didn¡¯t mean she would be exempt from the resulting fatigue. If took it a step further and imbued psionic energy into her neurons, her mind would operate on an entirely different level though it would rapidly wear her down. Unless she was in a extremely dangerous situation, Visette opted not to carelessly make use that particular ability.


    Charlie quietly waited for Visette to finish reading by indulging in a story of her own. She hadn¡¯t gotten past more than forty pages when Visette began to neatly stack the books up.


    ¡°You¡¯re done?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve gained a useful amount of knowledge from the material.¡±


    ¡°What about Anton? What¡¯d you learn about him?¡± Charlie seemed keen on getting Visette¡¯s opinion on the mythic figure that was the closest thing to a deity on Novo Prime.


    ¡°He appears to have performed countless of inhuman feats before the emergence of Abnormals. I find it to be incredibly difficult to believe that a normal human was capable of doing the actions described.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Oh yeah? It isn¡¯t that bad, I don¡¯t think.¡±


    ¡°Anton reportedly severed the heads of fifty Corrupted with his bare hands.¡±


    ¡°Well...That is a bit¡­¡± Charlie mumbled, thinking of how odd it did sound. ¡°Some stories are exaggerated I will admit, but Anton¡¯s presence has been recorded all over the country.¡±


    ¡°It is strange...The dates of most of the battles and fights he participated in are often years or decades apart while being in different areas of the continent. It would be physically impossible for Anton to be present during those times. And even if he was I do not think he would be at an age where fighting was still possible.¡±


    ¡°You know, some people say that Anton was the incarnation of the human spirit. There are also a few theories that many great people have taken the name over the years to inspire others.¡±


    ¡°I find the latter to be the more likely scenario.¡±


    Charlie simply stared into Visette¡¯s still expression and before being struck with a small revelation. ¡°You¡¯re definitely different from how you were all those years ago, Visette. I''m sure of it now.¡±


    ¡°I have aged several years so it is understandable for my physique to be-¡±


    ¡°No, not like that...You talk, sort of, well, it¡¯s more...How do I say it? Lively, maybe?¡±


    ¡°I am inclined to disagree, neither my tone or speech pattern would reflect excitement and would not cause a disruption.¡±


    ¡°I mean that you¡¯re more alive, Visette.¡±


    ¡°I...do not understand.¡±


    Charlie huffed with slight frustration before carefully thinking of how to describe it. ¡°It¡¯s like, all those years ago you weren¡¯t alive, but now, I think you¡¯re a bit more of a person.¡±


    ¡°So you are saying that the way I communicate has created an empathetic response?¡±


    ¡°To me at least, yes. I think people who hadn¡¯t spoken to you before wouldn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Visette replied.


    She began inwardly contemplating if she should put more time into researching social skills. Though it was a subject that already seemed immensely difficult.


    The sudden sound of a bell caused Visette and Charlie to both stand up.


    ¡°Alright, time for our next class. Could I see your schedule? I''ll take you there.¡±


    Visette nodded and produced a neatly folded piece of paper from her jacket pocket before handing it over.


    Charlie briefly studied it and then her brows rose in surprise, ¡°You have all the same classes as me...Well, except for one. You aren¡¯t taking piloting courses?¡±


    ¡°Commander Wakefield has stated that I am not allowed to. It is clear that he is cautious of me gaining an understanding of aerial vehicles as it offers a possibility for me to escape.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really what my dad said? Then why do you have classes with me?¡±


    ¡°He ordered me to protect you during your time in this academy.¡±


    Charlie¡¯s expression turned bitter after hearing Visette.


    ¡°So, he¡¯s just using you as a guard?¡±


    ¡°I am under his command, yes.¡±


    ¡°Well at least I know I''m safe with you around...now, come on, we¡¯ll be late.¡± Charlie forced a smile as she tugged on Visette¡¯s arm.


    She hid the complicated feelings that began to sprout as result of her father. A little part of her began to understand what drove her mother away from him but an even bigger part wanted to believe he had the best in mind for Visette.


    ¡­


    Visette''s first day at the academy ended without an incident to her credit, and as students began to leave, she was left standing at the front gates with Charlie and Arthur.


    ¡°I heard that there¡¯s already stories of Visette going around on the Social Net.¡± Arthur spoke up after the three waited in silence.


    ¡°What about?¡±


    ¡°Social Net? I am unfamiliar with that term.¡±


    Arthur alternated his gaze between the two girls before answer both questions, ¡°There is stuff talking about how she looks and a few people want to bring cameras so they upload photos. The other cities don''t seem to believe it otherwise. And to answer your question, Visette, the Social Net is like a forum. It¡¯s a way for citizens of cities that are far apart to interact. Its popularity is growing and it seems that more cities are joining every day.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Visette nodded, resuming her silence. It seemed that the information capabilities of Novo Prime were growing which could prove useful.


    ¡°Ah...There¡¯s also our own New Mayhall Report, which talks of all the important events and rumors going around.¡± It was clear that Arthur wanted to continue the conversation but Visette¡¯s assumed that classified or military information wasn¡¯t included so she didn¡¯t want to discuss anything more.


    ¡°Arty.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Arthur asked in response.


    Charlie just shook her head meaningfully before a black truck with a 3 letter insignia stamped on its hood stopped in front of the gate.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s the DSF truck, I have to go. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± Charlie gave a hug to Visette and a smile to Arthur before running toward the truck.


    ¡°Yeah, see you.¡± Arthur waved.


    Visette silently observed the truck while sending a psionic pulse over it, discovering a sole driver who didn¡¯t appear to be a danger.


    ¡°Well, I should get back to the dormitory, Visette. I¡¯ll see you later.¡±


    ¡°Yes, goodbye.¡±


    Arthur departed soon after, leaving Visette standing alone while students began departing. Heading to the dorms or being driven off by a parent or escort.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± A voice full of nervousness caused Visette to look to her side, discovering a boy of a similar age grasping at his pockets with incredible uncertainty.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Visette scanned over his body and he seemed to shrink a little more.


    She turned her body to face him while one hand began to stealthily reach for the knife sheathed in the small of her back.


    ¡°Well, I¡­¡± The young man began to speak, inadvertently glancing back to a group of boys who snickered in delight. ¡°You...um...I-I just¡­¡±


    Seeing him ramble on, Visette decided he didn¡¯t come with the intention to attack and put away her thoughts of slicing open his throat.


    ¡°Are you in need of medical attention?¡± Visette asked, stepping closer to investigate him.


    ¡°W-What?!¡± The young man reflexively took a step back.


    ¡°Your reddening face and the sweat covering your forehead signifies a fever or infection. In addition, your manner of speaking indicates that you may have suffered from a concussion or are possibly going through shock.¡±


    ¡°N-No, that¡¯s not, I just...I wanted to exchange information so that we could, um, talk more-¡±


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Lyn¡¯s annoyed voice cut the young man off.


    ¡°You arrived faster than I anticipated,¡± Visette noted before turning back to the young man. ¡°I think he is need of medical assistance.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Lyn¡¯s lips curled into an amused smirk. ¡°And what makes you think that?¡±


    ¡°He is growing increasingly erratic and appears to be short of breath.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think he¡¯s having trouble with his heart, am I right, kid?¡± Lyn inquired with a satisfied laugh.


    ¡°N-No, I just¡­¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re ok, is it? You don¡¯t need to be nursed back to health by Visette here?¡±


    ¡°N-No, Ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Then could you kindly fuck off?¡± Lyn shooed him away with her hand. ¡°She has other plans you see, and your botched confession is holding them up.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Ma¡¯am.¡± The young man bowed his head before hurriedly retreating.


    Visette eyes followed him as he returned to the group of laughing students.


    ¡°...I am confused, Lyn.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°What could trigger a biological reaction like the one he experienced? Was there a possible use of a poisonous substance?¡±


    ¡°It''s more of a feeling, not a substance. Though, I guess it is poisonous in a non-lethal way,¡± Lyn said with a nod before placing a helmet in Visette¡¯s hands. ¡°Come on, my Grandfather is already at the restaurant and I don¡¯t want to keep him waiting.¡±


    Visette put on the helmet and climbed onto the nearby motorcycle before Lyn began to speed away


    ¡­


    In one of New Mayhall¡¯s finest restaurants, located in the Upper Wards. Demetrius sat a table dressed in an expensive suit, although there was a violent glint in his eye, he seemed like an important diplomat. Especially since he was surrounded with other well-dressed men.


    ¡°So why do you fucks need to come along?¡± Demetrius¡¯ rude speech didn¡¯t fit well with the atmosphere of the restaurant but no one seemed to overhear him.


    ¡°We will ensure the job is completed, you¡¯ve been known to produce some unwanted results. And please be more careful when discussing the nature of our assignment. You can¡¯t be too careful after all.¡±


    ¡°Unwanted results? What does that even mean?¡±


    ¡°It means that when you were asked to capture an Abnormal without killing him, you chose to beat him to an inch of his life, rendering him useless to us.¡±


    ¡°You should¡¯ve been more specific.¡± Demetrius took a sip from his glass with an unperturbed expression.


    ¡°In any case, please show more discretion when speaking about our assignment. If people began to pry, our cover will be blown.¡±


    ¡°Not my problem.¡± Demetrius shrugged, turning his eyes to the rest of the room.


    Not too far away, an old man in a wheelchair sat alone with two extra plates of food and a corresponding number of chairs at his table.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Demetrius asked curiously.


    A man wearing glasses peeked up at the old man before returning to studying a blueprint layout of a house. ¡°That¡¯s Morris O¡¯Hara, although he¡¯s in a chair now, he used to be something special according to the people of this city.¡±


    ¡°Is that really him?¡± Demetrius seemed to find the name familiar. ¡°I heard crazy stories of him and his son, what was it?¡±


    ¡°Reed O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, him.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, his son died in a robbery and he was crippled a few years back. The only one left unharmed was Morris'' granddaughter, Lyn O''Hara.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s odd...Real odd.¡± Demetrius stroked his chin finding the event to be too suspicious but soon lost interest.


    The door to the restaurant opened and his eyes instantly flickered over only to discover a dark-haired woman wearing a casual outfit that didn¡¯t fit the attire worn by those in the restaurant. He switched his gaze to the young woman behind her and instantly paused just as he was about to raise his glass. He locked eyes with the emotionless gaze of a white-haired girl wearing the uniform of New Mayhall¡¯s academy.


    They only stared at each other for a second or two at the most, but it felt like longer to Demetrius. He was the first to break away as he felt Visette¡¯s gaze growing more intense the longer he stayed within it.


    ¡°And just who the fuck is that?¡± Demetrius nudged his companion who reluctantly looked up only to fall into a daze after observing Visette.


    ¡°She¡¯s...beautiful¡­¡±


    ¡°I asked who she was, not what you thought of her.¡±


    ¡°Yes- Yes...The first woman is Lyn O''Hara and as for the other...I don¡¯t know anything about her but I¡¯m sure if we poke around there¡¯ll be something. No one who looks like that can keep information about themselves hidden.¡±


    ¡°Tell me as soon as you do.¡± Demetrius finally raised his glass and took a sip. It was then that he discovered there a strange feeling of caution that he had rarely felt before.


    He closed his eyes and began to savor the sense of danger that the white-haired girl gave him, but after a few minutes, he became a bit unsettled as the feeling dwindled.


    ¡°You know what? I think I¡¯ll go talk to her myself.¡± Demetrius suddenly stood up much to the dismay of the group.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± A man whispered, grasping Demetrius¡¯ wrist. "We have an assignment to get ready for. You drawing unwanted attention doesn''t help it in any way."


    ¡°Too late.¡± Demetrius snatched his arm away and approached the table where the white-haired girl sat.

 Chapter 32: Looks Can Certainly Be Deceiving

    Lyn and Visette entered the restaurant, but the latter briefly examined a man short black hair who seemed to be observing them. She had no way of detecting whether or not he had abnormal traits with just a visual glance alone.


    The short interaction made Visette understand that her psionic pulse needed to be upgraded. If she could somehow examine the anatomical structure of certain individuals she would easily be able to discern if they were an Abnormal. She made a mental note to study electromagnetic radiation in order to reproduce its effects with psionic energy.


    ¡°Ah, so this is Visette?¡± Lyn¡¯s grandfather, Morris, smiled warmly as the two sat down at the table.


    ¡°Visette, this is my grandfather, Morris O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Visette greeted him with no detectable enthusiasm, though he didn¡¯t seem to take it personally.


    ¡°She¡¯s just like you described, a silent, stoic, type of girl. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that, it¡¯s even said that Anton had a personality just like that. Anyway, Lyn told me that you¡¯ve learned the highest level of our family¡¯s fighting style. Do you think you''ve gotten enough out of it?¡±


    ¡°I believe that my hand to hand combat abilities are very proficient.¡±


    ¡°Good, that¡¯s good,¡± Morris spoke with a satisfied laugh cutting into a large steak. ¡°You know¡­¡± He started.


    ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell that story again, Grandpa.¡± Lyn held her head while preparing for what was to come next.


    Visette''s interest slightly increased due to Lyn''s reaction.


    ¡°It¡¯s said that our fighting style was taught to one of our ancestors by Anton himself.¡±


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Visette suddenly became skeptical as the information she learned about Anton placed him very far from New Mayhall.


    ¡°It¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°It is.¡±


    Lyn and Morris answered simultaneously with the former being the voice of disagreement.


    ¡°New Mayhall was only established one hundred or so years ago. Before that, the city was called Mayhall and it was further to the east. Back then, it''s said that Anton passed through Mayhall one day and our ancestor, Lawton O¡¯Hara, who was just a boy no older than you at the time, challenged Anton to a fight.¡±


    ¡°I swear his name changes every time,¡± Lyn muttered.


    ¡°As I was saying, Lawton challenged Anton to a fight and lost terribly. After suffering so much he took a walk to get rid of his frustrations but was approached by one of Mayhall''s family who wanted to kill Anton themselves. Being the man that he was, Lawton agreed but secretly warned Anton ahead of time. After that, Anton saw Lawton as an honorable man and taught him for a while before sending him off. As for the family, they all tried to trap Anton in a small tavern but they were all killed in the blink of an eye."


    "Does that mean Anton had the ability to dispatch multiple armed combatants in close quarters? I am sure that rudimentary firearms were in circulation at the time so that would factor in his combat potential as well."


    ¡°You aren¡¯t actually buying that story are you, Vis?¡± Lyn asked, pushing her empty plate to the center of the table.


    ¡°To answer your question, Visette, yes, Anton could easily wipe out a room of enemies no matter the circumstance.¡± Morris nodded confidently.


    ¡°Did Anton ever detail what gave him his strength and combat abilities?¡±


    ¡°You know he actually did, but Lawton took that secret to the grave. I still have some old documents from my grandfather that talk about how much Lawton knew but they never got into detail.¡±


    ¡°See, that doesn¡¯t make any sense. If Anton had a secret way of getting stronger then Lawton¡¯s name would¡¯ve been right up there with him,¡± Lyn said while rolling her eyes.


    ¡°Are you doubting Anton?¡± Morris asked with a scrutinizing gaze.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m doubting you, Grandpa,¡± Lyn replied with a light sigh as she looked toward Vis.


    ¡°A man is approaching this table,¡± Visette said to Lyn as she met her gaze.


    Lyn turned in her chair and saw a well-dressed man with an aggressive pair of grey eyes staring at them, or more accurately, staring at Visette.


    ¡°Here we go.¡± Lyn rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Excuse me, I don¡¯t mean to bother you, but could I ask a question?¡± Demetrius made a surprisingly polite greeting as he arrived at the table. He spoke to Lyn¡¯s grandfather, Morris, but it was obvious he was interested in Visette.


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t mean to bother us you wouldn¡¯t be asking questions, would you?¡± Lyn responded while as she brought a glass of alcohol to her lips.


    ¡°Now, Lyn, a simple question isn¡¯t a bother at all,¡± Morris spoke with a warm smile but narrowed his eyes skeptically at Demetrius.


    ¡°Are you really Morris O¡¯Hara?¡± Demetrius asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d certainly hope so,¡± Morris replied.


    ¡°Oh! Nice to meet you!¡± Demetrius¡¯ face lit up with admiration before he turned to Lyn. ¡°So you must be his granddaughter, Lyn O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°...You got what you wanted?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m a little curious about this young woman?¡± Demetrius looked to Visette who didn¡¯t give him a single glance.


    ¡°I think you should leave.¡± Morris frowned. He had already realized Demetrius was only pretending to be interested in them while his real focus was Visette.


    ¡°Come on, not even a name?¡± Demetrius did away with all politeness and lowered his face so that he was blocking Visette¡¯s view.


    ¡°Are you deaf, bastard?¡± Lyn growled.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never seen someone with white hair.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of you-¡± Lyn reached in her jacket but her grandfather grabbed her arm before she could draw her gun.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for violence.¡± Demetrius laughed without a hint of fear.


    ¡°Leave. Now.¡± Morris¡¯ expression crumbled and his anger was clear to see.


    ¡°If you go up north you find these war hounds with white fur. A whole pack of them can even take down a single Corrupted. You can see how ferocious they are by looking into their eyes but I find that applies to people too.¡± Demetrius looked into Visette¡¯s dark brown eyes and couldn¡¯t see any discernible emotion.


    ¡°Let me deal with this, Grandpa.¡± Lyn seemed ready to put a hole right between Demetrius¡¯ eyes but her grandfather shook his head and held her arm even tighter.


    Morris meaningfully looked around the restaurant where other people were enjoying their meals in complete bliss. If a fight broke out the odds of someone who wasn¡¯t involved being hurt went up tremendously.


    ¡°I will ask you to leave one last time before this escalates and ruins the evening for all the people here.¡± Morris began loosening his grip of Lyn¡¯s arm.


    ¡°You think you¡¯re fast enough to shoot me, Lyn O¡¯Hara?¡± Demetrius slammed his hand on the table with a smile filled with provocation.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Will you continue to stay even after repeated warnings?¡± Visette finally spoke. Her voice was as indifferent as always which made it clear she wasn¡¯t very annoyed.


    ¡°It depends, will you be the one to make me leave?¡± Demetrius asked with an anticipating gaze.


    Visette gazed at him for a single moment before she moved. She drew her knife and stabbed it into his hand, pinning to the table.


    ¡°Ahk-¡± Demetrius¡¯ painful shout was stopped short as Visette drove her fist into his abdomen causing him to lurch forward.


    With another fluid motion, she performed an uppercut with one hand and removed her knife with other before sheathing it on the back of her waist.


    Demetrius was unprepared for the sudden attack and as soon as his hand was freed, he fell backward.


    ¡°You know...that really fucking hurt,¡± Demetrius groaned as he cradled his hand.


    His companions were taken by surprise due to the sudden development but rushed over to defuse the situation. The commotion stunned the rest of the restaurant into silence as people tried to understand what happened.


    ¡°Apologies for my friend, he¡¯s a total bastard and I don''t blame you for doing what you did. I know it¡¯s too much to ask for forgiveness but could you let him off with just a beating, Ms.O¡¯Hara?¡± A man in glasses began helping Demetrius up. Inwardly, he was surprised by Visette¡¯s level of skill since Demetrius was an incredibly strong Abnormal if his traits and service record were taken into account


    ¡°It¡¯s Captain O¡¯Hara and as far as I see it, that was an assassination attempt on a military official.¡±


    ¡°Please, Captain O¡¯Hara, a-aren¡¯t you being a bit too unreasonable?¡± Demetrius¡¯ companion didn¡¯t expect Lyn to show such a drastic reaction. Especially when Demetrius didn¡¯t even get to throw a single punch let alone attempt to assassinate her. It became an even worse scenario when he realized an investigation would reveal that their identities were forged.


    ¡°You really caught me off guard this time,¡± Demetrius rubbed his sore jaw as he looked at an emotionless Visette who had already returned to her seat down as if nothing happened.


    ¡°Shut up, Demetrius.¡± His companions seemed to want to kill him themselves but knew he was too important.


    ¡°Take your friend and go before I change my mind.¡± Lyn¡¯s anger was relieved with Visette¡¯s assault so she chose to let them go.


    ¡°Thank you, Captain.¡± The man in glasses bowed slightly before he, and the rest of the group, carried Demetrius out.


    ¡°I almost want to thank that guy, I got to see something really great today.¡± Morris chuckled to himself.


    ¡°In any case, we should probably leave.¡± Lyn looked around the distraught restaurant and decided it was better to go.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right.¡± Morris agreed.


    Visette stopped just as she was about to continue eating and nodded.


    ¡­


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul! Did you trade your brain for your Abnormal traits? I''ve never met someone more idiotic.¡± One of Demetrius companions began berating him.


    ¡°Quiet down.¡± Demetrius held his gauze covered hand tightly. ¡°And you should be happy anyway, I¡¯m the one who discovered that New Mayhall was hiding a secret weapon.¡±


    ¡°...You are right about that one. Whoever that girl is, she¡¯s definitely dangerous if she could do that to you. I¡¯ll make a report to the higher-ups about her and make some inquiries with our contact while I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wise if you try to find her again, Demetrius. We¡¯re under O¡¯Hara¡¯s radar and your hand is all fucked up. Don''t make things any worse or it''ll ruin our mission.¡±


    ¡°Say, do any of you know what makes a fight the most enjoyable?¡± Demetrius closed his eyes and tried to recall every detail of the moment Visette attacked. Moments later, his face began to show signs of frustration as he realized he didn¡¯t even notice when she made her move.


    ¡°It''s when you''re fighting someone who¡¯s more skilled than you since it forces you to put everything into surviving. I''d really like to fight that girl one day.¡± Demetrius opened his eyes and smile.


    ¡°Did you hear anything we just said? We have a job to do and you¡¯re already injured so how about you focus on that.¡± As the patience of his comrades began to wither away, Demetrius¡¯ mood seemed to improve.


    ¡°...I think I may be in love,¡± Demetrius mumbled to himself.


    ¡­


    A few days went by and Visette found her footing in the academy. Though, most of her time was spent at the Academy''s library. And no matter how many times she went to visit it, Charlie was more than happy to tag along.


    A table not too far away from Visette buzzed with whispers as a group of students observed her.


    ¡°There she is again.¡± A boy murmured as he pretended to read a book.


    ¡°Who? Visette?¡± A girl next to him asked. ¡°She¡¯s always in here, didn¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°I heard there was one guy who tried to ask her out and she thought he was dying.¡±


    "Sucks for him."


    "Like you''d be much better."


    ¡°Have any of you spoken to her?¡± Another girl inquired.


    ¡°I was going to but¡­¡± A boy trailed off.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Well, she¡¯s a little...strange.¡±


    ¡°Hm? How so?¡±


    ¡°For starters, she¡¯s always with Charlie, but have you ever seen her laugh or smile?¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± The girl furrowed her eyebrows before she jolted in surprise and averted her gaze. ¡°Charlie¡¯s looking over at us, don¡¯t be too obvious and don''t look her way.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    "You don''t have to tell me twice."


    ¡°Wait, why?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t heard about what could happen?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pretty old story but someone bothered her the first week she arrived. After that, the guy¡¯s father was forced to clean toilets for a month straight.¡±


    ¡°How do you know if it¡¯s true?¡±


    ¡°...I don¡¯t but I¡¯m not willing to find out.¡±


    "Ah, you''re right."


    The group of students lowered their heads and pretended to be studying.


    ¡°The nerve of some people.¡± Charlie clicked her tongue before turning to Visette who was surrounded by a small wall of books. ¡°...What are you reading this time? Electromagnetic Waves, Anatomy, Cooking books, and- woah, woah, woah, wait...Visette?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Is that a romance novel?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have already finished it. You can read it if you wish.¡±


    ¡°Why are you reading romance novels, Vis?¡±


    ¡°I have recently discovered that there is a complex layer of social interaction behind the act of sexual reproduction.¡±


    ¡°Please don''t be so frank about it and could you explain it a bit for me?¡±


    ¡°Previously, I assumed that individuals were selective in their reproduction in order to obtain the strongest genetic makeup for their children. Upon further study, it appears that there are other major factors that influence it with social interaction usually being the most important one.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I think I kind of understand what you mean. So, does that mean you''re interested in romance?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Visette responded without hesitation.


    ¡°Not even a little?¡±


    ¡°No, I have no interest in the act of sexual reproduction.¡±


    ¡°Again, you don¡¯t have to be so blunt about it.¡± Charlie looked around with an embarrassed expression before continuing, ¡°And you just said there was more to it than just...reproduction.¡±


    ¡°I am unable to produce a child so it is irrelevant to me.¡±


    ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know. I guess I asked a bad question.¡±


    Charlie seemed regretful but Visette wasn¡¯t bothered at all.


    ¡°There is no need to apologize, Charlie.¡±


    ¡°Then, could I ask why you looked for romance novels in the first place?¡±


    ¡°I only sought to understand the actions of those who have approached me during the last several days.¡±


    ¡°Wait, people have confessed to you?¡±


    ¡°If my understanding of the term and context of it is correct, then yes.¡±


    ¡°What? And you didn¡¯t tell me, Vis?¡±


    ¡°Is it information that is important for you to know?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re friends aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°...I suppose.¡±


    Visette went back to her book while Charlie was full of smiles.


    ¡­


    After the day was over, Lyn came to pick up Visette as usual but wore a conflicted face as she did so.


    ¡°Is there an issue, Lyn?¡± Visette inquired as calm as she always had been.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you on the way.¡± Lyn tossed the helmet to Visette before climbing on her motorcycle.


    It was a mostly silent ride and Lyn didn¡¯t speak until she entered Visette¡¯s apartment.


    ¡°The Commander has a new assignment for you. There¡¯s a target that he wants you to...eliminate tonight.¡±


    ¡°Are there any other details? I cannot complete a task with so little information.¡±


    ¡°Your target''s a Councilor who lives in the Upper Wards. I¡¯ll take you to the address so you don¡¯t have to worry but the thing is¡­¡±


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    ¡°The Commander says it has to look like an accident.¡±


    Visette contemplated the matter briefly before she gave a short nod. ¡°I understand. It will not a be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°I am certain,¡± Visette reaffirmed her decision.


    ¡°...Then be ready, I¡¯ll come back in a few hours with your equipment.¡± Lyn left the apartment with a darkened expression while Visette remained standing while contemplating how to create an accidental death without drawing suspicion.


    ¡®Sudden cardiac arrest would be the most effective way of accomplishing my goal but I would not be able to explain how it was done if asked. The same problem applies to any other methods which involve trauma to internal organs...If I sever the cervical spine of the target and place them in a position which makes it appear that they have fallen there would be no worries of scrutiny.¡¯


    Visette made up her mind on the method of execution and then moved toward the bedroom in order to change out of her uniform just like every other day.

 Chapter 33: Sometimes Accidents Happen

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Lyn asked as she drove along an empty street filled with upscale houses.


    Visette checked her equipment which consisted of only a silenced pistol and a combat knife. For protection, she was given a lightweight ballistic vest that would stop low caliber impacts, but its strength didn''t matter too much since she could create a psionic distortion field. Underneath the ballistic vest was a layer of black fatigues.


    ¡°Almost,¡± Visette replied as she pulled a balaclava over her face before adding a ballistic mask for good measure. Her white hair was all but tucked away into the balaclava to ensure that even if she was discovered, her identity would remain anonymous.


    After tightening the pair of hard knuckle gloves covering her hands, Visette spoke, ¡°I am ready.¡±


    ¡°Alright, the target is inside of the mansion with a red rooftop surrounded by a tall gate. There is security patrolling but it¡¯s nothing too serious. Just get in, eliminate the target, and meet up with me at the designated point, got it?¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    As a dark van passed the councilor¡¯s residence, Visette suddenly jumped out and cleared the fence with no issue. She landed on the perfectly cut grass silently and immediately sent out a psionic pulse while keeping her awareness at its peak.


    ¡®Two individuals, approximately one hundred meters.¡¯


    Visette lowered her body, filling her legs with psionic power, and quickly dashed through the hedge filled backyard of the mansion. She paid no mind to the expensive sculpture that councilor seemed to indulged in.


    As she arrived at the back of the four-story mansion and sent a scan inside discovering several more guards on the lower floors while there were only two individuals at the very top. In addition, there was a security device at the back door that blinked with a red light.


    Visette stopped in her tracks before contemplating her next step. A moment later, she crouched down before jumping into the air and grabbing onto the guardrail of a balcony. She dangled in the air for a few seconds before she effortlessly herself up.


    The balcony doors were locked shut, but luckily, Visette made a twisting motion and the balcony door clicked audibly.


    Suddenly a red light above the door began blinking and Visette realized there was a hidden security device. She approached it and used her knife to pry it open, exposing the wiring, before she removed her glove and pinched a wire with her fingers. As her fingertips began glowing with a blue light, the wiring inside the small box began crackling.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, inside a security room, a guard was viewing a terminal which displayed the status of security devices. But truthfully, he was more focused on scrolling through the Social Net which drew laughter from him.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Another guard entered the room causing him to fumble around.


    ¡°What? What is it?¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I was just-¡±


    ¡°Look at that, a device went off. That means someone entered.¡± The guard angrily pointed to the blinking display that indicated there was a disturbance.


    Before he could say anything else, the light stopped blinking and the signal read as all clear.


    ¡°Wait...That¡¯s strange.¡±


    ¡°It was only a glitch, you know the system is faulty as always.¡± The guard sighed with relief as he was cleared of any wrongdoing.


    ¡°Still, we have a protocol to follow, so go check,¡± The superior guard ordered.


    ¡°But-¡±


    ¡°Unless you want me to report to Councilor Wilson that you were scrolling through Social Net while on the job.¡±


    ¡°Fine...I¡¯ll go.¡± The guard grabbed a flashlight and checked his sidearm before leaving the security room.


    His superior looked around before sitting down and reopening the Social Net on the terminal. Any feelings of hypocrisy were washed away as he found an entertaining video of a singer from a different city.


    ¡­


    Visette closed the security box and locked the balcony door which made it seem as if she hadn¡¯t been there at all. She spread out a psionic pulse and found an individual was climbing the staircase and seemed to be approaching her location. She quickly searched for a spot to hide before easily finding one. She jumped toward a corner of the ceiling and stuck to it like a spider.


    ¡°Report to Councilor Wilson, yeah right, if he finds me up here I¡¯ll get in trouble either way.¡± A guard mumbled to himself as he approached the balcony door. He waved his light around and so no signs of entry and since the security device wasn¡¯t activated it meant nothing had transpired.


    ¡°Just a glitch.¡± He let out an annoyed groan before moving to leave.


    He walked right under a strange shadow that hovered over him without a second thought.


    After he was gone, Visette dropped down and navigated her way through the large hallways of the Councilor¡¯s Mansion. Prolonged peace meant that Councilor¡¯s were able to enjoy a life of extreme luxury if they chose to exploit it. And while some people struggled in the Lower Wards, the councilors who were greedy were able to thrive.


    Of course, politics weren¡¯t a factor to Visette as she¡¯d only kill a designated target or someone she deemed to be an enemy. It didn''t matter if they abused their power or not.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    As she arrived at the doors to a master bedroom, Visette silently turned the knob with her psionics before slipping in and shutting it behind her.


    Inside of the bedroom, a middle-aged man with short brown hair was completely naked on a large bed with a young woman asleep next to him.


    Visette walked around the room, searching for any security devices and once she was clear, she moved toward the bathroom. She turned the faucets of the bathtub on and covered the drain, letting the water slowly overflow until a puddle was covering the floor.


    She stepped out of the bathroom and hid in a corner before using her psionic power to gently wake the councilor up.


    ¡°Hm...Ah...¡± Councilor Wilson mumbled as he stirred awake.


    The itching sensation on his face was annoying enough to interrupt his sleep for a moment. As it went away, he almost slipped back into unconsciousness but the sound of dripping water forced him to stay awake.


    ¡°Damn it, woman. You left the bath running.¡± Councilor Wilson nudged the woman beside him but she only mumbled something before turning over.


    Councilor Richard reluctantly got up and walked over to the bathroom before flipping the light switch on.


    ¡°It¡¯s a damn mess.¡± He clicked his tongue as a puddle of water touched his feet. And then, his body suddenly jolted as a invisible force wrapped around him. He attempted to shout but his mouth was sealed shut and his limbs went completely rigid.


    He could only move his eyes around in a panic thinking he was undergoing a health crisis. He glanced around the room and caught a reflection in the mirror by chance. A figure wearing a black mask as well as black fatigues approached him with steps so light they were barely audible.


    ¡°...Hel...p.¡± Councilor Wilson barely managed to force out part of a word as his heart began racing.


    Visette tightened the control of her psionic power as she stopped directly behind Councilor Wilson.


    ¡°You are a member of the New Mayhall Governmental Council, correct?¡± Visette inquired as a formality.


    Councilor Wilson eyes darted around out of fear and confusion while his breathing grew more hurried.


    ¡°I will assume your heightened state of stress is a sign that I am correct,¡± Visette said.


    Her monotone voice only furthered the terror growing within of Councilor Wilson. But that feeling of fear lasted for only a few seconds as Visette made a twisting motion causing Wilson¡¯s neck to emit a short, crisp, snapping sound. Even as he died, he remained standing on his feet.


    Visette loosened the grip of her psionic power and positioned him against the bathtub to make it appear as if he slipped.


    After making sure nothing was out of place, Visette approached the bedroom window which was clear of any security devices and climbed out of it before disappearing into the night.


    ¡­


    The next day, Visette appeared in class as if she hadn¡¯t murdered someone the night before. The Professor entered with a sullen expression before clearing his throat.


    ¡°Class, I have an important announcement to make,¡± The Professor started.


    The students went quiet as they waited for him to speak.


    ¡°Some of you may have already heard through some way or another, but last night, Councilor Wilson passed away.¡±


    There were a few surprised gasps as people began to suspect the worse but the Professor hurriedly cut off any speculation.


    ¡°We have yet to receive any details but it was rule a freak accident by the Governor¡¯s Advisor, Eugene Price. Classes will release early next week as the funeral ceremony will be held but you all aren¡¯t required to go.¡±


    Although he said as much, there weren¡¯t many people who would miss it. As sad as the occasion would be, it was a great opportunity to meet with other figures who might be in need of budding talent. So the funeral was an important event for those that didn¡¯t have as many social connections.


    ¡°Now, let our lesson begin...¡±


    As class let out, Charlie approached Visette and the two began walking through the hallway.


    ¡°By the way, Visette, when are you going to come to my place? My mom really wants to see you.¡±


    ¡°Today should not be an issue.¡±


    ¡°Okay, wait, that reminds me.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Um, where are you living Visette?¡±


    ¡°My current residence is an apartment in the Middle Wards.¡±


    ¡°You live in the Mid Wards by yourself? That¡¯s cool, maybe I should stop by your place.¡±


    ¡°If you decide to come then please inform me ahead of time. I will need to purchase a greater supply of food.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are you going to cook?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve learned that it is a common practice to cook meals for your guests.¡±


    ¡°When did you have time to learn how to cook?¡±


    ¡°It is not a difficult skill to learn.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re that confident I guess I¡¯ll have to find out just how skilled you are myself.¡±


    ¡°As I have said, inform me ahead of time.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Charlie, Visette!¡± Arthur jogged up to the girls while catching his breath.


    ¡°Hey, Arty.¡±


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    Charlie and Visette greeted.


    ¡°What are you guys up to?¡± Arthur asked as he began walking with them.


    ¡°I was just seeing if Visette wanted to visit my house but apparently she¡¯s living alone.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? You live by yourself but you don¡¯t have to stay in a dorm?¡± Arthur asked.


    The academy had a strict rule that dictated students with no parent or guardian had to take up residence inside the academy grounds.


    ¡°She¡¯s apart of the military you know.¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡±


    ¡°Shh, keep it down.¡± Charlie glance at the students walking through the hallways before continuing. ¡°But that¡¯s not important, she was saying that she would cook for me if I came.¡±


    ¡°Can I come along?¡± Arthur blurted out.


    ¡°As long as I am informed ahead of time.¡± Visette nodded as if she didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up when I go, Arty.¡± Charlie¡¯s gaze of suspicion landed directly on Arthur who only smiled wryly.


    They continued walking until Visette stopped, noticing something odd.


    ¡°Visette? What¡¯s up?¡± Charlie asked as she trace Visette¡¯s line of sight to an emergency door that was stamped with warnings.


    ¡°You¡¯re curious about that?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°Where does that door lead?¡±


    ¡°To the emergency shelter underground. You know, that reminds me, we haven¡¯t done shelter drills in a while.¡±


    ¡°Why would we? That last time anyone saw Corrupted near New Mayhall was four years ago.¡± Arthur frowned as he remembered losing his father in the chaos that broke out.


    The door to the emergency shelter suddenly creaked open and a man wearing a janitorial uniform climbed out with oil smeared on his face. He seemed slightly surprised to see three students staring at him but regained his calm.


    ¡°Keep your grades up kids or you¡¯ll end up cleaning out dusty old rooms like me.¡± He smiled warmly before heading down the hall.


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit weird,¡± Charlie murmured as they resumed walking.


    ¡°What is?¡± Arthur asked.


    ¡°I think they¡¯ve been doing a lot of cleaning down there recently, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, you know, I think I remember someone telling me that they could hear machinery from the building at night.¡±


    ¡°Maybe something broke and they want to fix it before an official comes to inspect it.¡±


    ¡°I guess so.¡±


    Visette accepted their explanation as satisfactory and continued on.

 Chapter 34: There Appears To Be A Small Scheduling Issue

    The City of Freedom wasn¡¯t as majestic as the other cities but it held the greatest number of Abnormals. Why? There were some who didn¡¯t wish to live under the thumb of the other governments, preferring their own kind instead. Others, well, they simply felt they were the future of the world.


    Whatever grand ambitions or lofty goals drew people to the city, it didn¡¯t change the state of it. Its walls were lengthy like most cities, but they were made of scrap and recycled metal. It wouldn''t take much more than a few bombardments to open up a path inside. The patrols meant to counter threats were numerous, but they were a militia with bare-bones training.


    Still, as a relatively new city, it was doing well. Ex-military Abnormals became more numerous and the level of training increased, only, it had yet to bear fruit. Small specialized squads, made up of the strongest Abnormals the city had, were created and circumvented the need for immediate wide-scale specialist training.


    The homes of the citizens had become sturdier and the culture of the city had even improved. In the city¡¯s center, there was a large clock tower that, while not perfect or even functional, it was a source of inspiration. The base of the clock tower was decorated with the wishes, dreams, and memories of all the Abnormals living within the city.


    Not too far away from the clock tower, a building that could pass as a City Hall was surrounded with guards and buzzed with activity.


    Inside, it was no different, as guards that were very well-armed strolled through the distressed hallways. They all made sure not to enter a certain office. It was clearly the most important room in the worn building.


    Just behind the door, a group of people conversed.


    ¡°How¡¯s progress coming along?¡± An auburn-haired young man, barely out of teens, sat in the middle of the room, his presence seemed to command respect from everyone within.


    ¡°Roslin has lent their services to us as another apology for taking Demetrius. As long as our people don¡¯t blow their cover we¡¯ll finish the tunnel on schedule. While we''re busy with that, Roslin is going to have their people make a big show for us and no one will even think of looking at the academy,¡± Hawk replied, his voice was as relaxed as his posture but he showed no hint of disrespect to the young man sitting in front of him.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Unfortunately, I''ve received a report today and apparently that girl with the white hair you encountered is attending that academy under the name Visette Thales.¡±


    ¡°Visette Thales, Visette Thales, Visette...¡± Kitty mumbled the name repeatedly in an attempt to memorize it.


    ¡°Hey, Fox, send me to help dig the tunnel!¡± Bear volunteered excitedly, as he sat up, the leather chair that was slightly too small for him, creaked loudly.


    ¡°Mmh,¡± Rabid grunted with a short, curt, nod of her head.


    ¡°Both of you are eager to test out her skill? I appreciate your enthusiasm but I won''t allow it.¡± Fox smiled amusedly. ¡°Rumors from New Mayhall reached my ears and it appears she was the one who killed two dozen or so prisoners after you all made your escape. It makes you wonder about her traits, doesn¡¯t it? I¡¯m willing to bet strength, agility, endurance, and reflexes are all at least type three or higher.¡±


    Although Fox made a fairly accurate guess, he still was greatly underestimating Visette.


    ¡°If someone else told me that, I wouldn¡¯t believe it, but if it¡¯s coming from you, Fox? Well, I¡¯d like us to avoid her until we know more. Even at that facility, something was telling me that fighting her would be a mistake. Even though she was young they still gave her a high-priority designation.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and unlike Kitty, the rest of us can¡¯t come back,¡± Rodent snickered and much like his name, he sat hunched over while his eyes seemed to constantly dart around.


    ¡°I hope she kills you first,¡± Kitty said, the way she glared at Rodent seemed as if she genuinely wished for him to die.


    ¡°Hey, how many lives do you have left now?¡± Rodent grinned.


    ¡°Quiet, Rodent,¡± Fox reproached the rat-like man.


    And much like his name indicated, Rodent immediately became quiet when Fox spoke. Not that Fox was in anyway threatening, it was just the power he controlled. It was Hawk¡¯s quick but threatening glance that stopped Rodent from saying another word.


    Fox rapped his fingers across his old desk, his eyebrows were pinched together in concentration. He was recalling all the information available to him and once he thought of everything, he spoke.


    ¡°Do you think that Visette Thales may be sympathetic to our cause?¡± He finally asked, gauging the reaction of the room.


    Unsurprisingly, everyone looked at Hawk who let out a low sigh.


    ¡°I still think about that day sometimes and I don¡¯t know, Fox. She didn¡¯t seem to care much about her freedom so there has to be something keeping her in New Mayhall. Maybe a relative is being held a hostage? Or maybe they¡¯ve offered her something we couldn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re the only city who has managed to grab the attention of Eden Hall. We¡¯ll even be trading with them pretty soon. Maybe if we leverage that connection we can grab her attention? If she does indeed have a relative, we could find them and take them out the city for her. She''d be indebted to us that way.¡±


    ¡°The way she killed those prisoners, Fox...I really don¡¯t know about her. I didn¡¯t think too much about it back then but I¡¯m sure she didn¡¯t even react to their deaths. No matter what your reaction is when you kill someone, most people acknowledge they¡¯ve taken a life, right? That girl though? Nothing, no anger, no annoyance, it¡¯s like she didn¡¯t even recognize it as murder.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s saying a lot, coming from a killer like you.¡± Kitty chimed, resting her chin atop her palm and looking around the room for something to distract herself.


    ¡°When you put it like that, Hawk, I think that we may have to get rid of her before we put our plan into motion.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Hawk asked.


    ¡°Hold on¡­¡±


    Fox grabbed a folder and quickly flipped through, each turn of the page furthered his confidence. The content inside detailed a plan of his own making, one that was ambitious but more than doable. Fox was a sole intelligence-based Abnormal and it was through his leadership did the Freedom City prosper. It was also one of the reasons people willingly followed such a young leader.


    ¡°Have someone send a call to Roslin. We¡¯ll coordinate what we know to find out more about her, but tell them we suggest elimination if she can¡¯t be convinced.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it,¡± Hawk nodded before he stood up, gesturing for his team to follow with a head nod. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡­


    Unaware of the developing conflicting between the three cities, Visette put her mind solely on learning more. As the school day was coming to an end, she and Charlie were in the library waiting for the sound of dismissal.


    Visette quietly pondered her infiltration of the councilor¡¯s mansion. Her test of manipulating electronic signals by using her nanites to replicate electronic signals was successful. Although she only altered the signal of a single security device, it was a good start as far as she was concerned. More importantly, it confirmed that there was another layer of complexity to the Morning Star Version 5 nanites inside of her.


    ¡®If electronic signals can be sent through the combination of my nanites and psionic power could they also be used as amplifiers? If I am successful, the range and power of my psionic abilities would increase exponentially but there would likely be negative side effects.¡¯


    ¡°What are you thinking about, Visette?¡±


    As always, Charlie was interested in Visette¡¯s psionics, even if she could hardly understand most of what Vis explained.


    ¡°It is not important,¡± Visette replied. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    There were many theories and experiments she wanted to test but had to prioritize the most beneficial ones. The Variant Corrupted she encountered was worrisome to her as it was a possible indication that more Corrupted may be able to undergo similar changes. High-caliber weaponry was one possible solution to the problem but as she began thinking about it, it was likely to become less effective in the long run.


    ¡®If faced with multiple Variant Abnormals, a slow-firing, high-powered rifle is not viable for close quarters situations.¡¯


    ¡°Visette?¡± Charlie dragged out Visette name.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re clearly thinking about something? And if you''re putting so much thought into it, it has to be interesting.¡±


    ¡°As I have said, it is of very little importance.¡±


    ¡°Then, I won¡¯t pry if you don¡¯t want me to,¡± Charlie said with a pout.


    ¡°It is time for us to go, Charlie.¡± Visette paid little mind to Charlie¡¯s mood and instead began to returning all the books she withdrew.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯ll help,¡± Charlie said as she began transporting the pile of books to their respective shelves.


    By the time the two of them finished, a bell rang signaling the end of the school day.


    ¡°Oh, so you know how class ends early next week because of the funeral?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking that I¡¯d visit your place and maybe we could hang out, like go around town and stuff.¡±


    ¡°I will have to check with Lyn to see if I have any assignments which is not likely at this time. If not, there is no issue.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Charlie smiled as they walked to the entrance of the school. "And are you coming by today?"


    "Yes, I will return home first and then visit your residence later."


    ¡°Hey! Why do you always leave me behind, Charlie?¡± Arthur asked as he caught up to the two girls like usual.


    ¡°You know why.¡± Charlie rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Come on, it isn¡¯t like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Arthur sent a quick glance toward Visette. ¡°I-It isn¡¯t the only reason I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re destined to be disappointed, Arty.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Arthur asked with a hint of anxiousness but all Charlie did in response was shake her head with a pitying expression.


    ¡°All you need to know is that we¡¯re getting together the day of the funeral since class lets out early. So, in about three days, we¡¯ll go home, get changed, and then meet at the campus grounds so we can do some stuff on the way to Visette''s place.¡±


    ¡°Stuff like what?¡±


    ¡°I...don¡¯t really know. Before Visette came along, I had military personnel constantly watching over me. I couldn¡¯t really do anything so I¡¯m not sure what would be fun.¡±


    ¡°How has that changed at all?¡±


    ¡°The DSF officers are a bit more easygoing I guess and there are a lot less of them.¡±


    Charlie was unaware of just how many resources her Father diverted in order to ensure her safety at all times and that was probably a good thing for the time being. There was no doubt that Nathan Wakefield¡¯s controlling nature would become more apparent the further she looked into him for herself.


    ¡°In that case, leave the planning to me. I''ve been to a few nice places with my friends so I have a couple of ideas.¡± Arthur¡¯s lips curled into a confident smile that practically shouted ''I can handle it.''


    ¡°You go out? Wait, you have friends other than just me?¡±


    ¡°Very funny...I actually have a lot more friends than you think. Staying on academy grounds has its benefits, you interact with a lot of people for one. Occasionally, we have group outings and things like that, it''s too bad you couldn¡¯t come.¡±


    ¡°Really? You aren¡¯t just making that up?¡±


    ¡°Do I have a reason to lie?¡±


    Charlie wordlessly looked to Visette and then back to him.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see. I know a few fun places.¡±


    ¡°Then I hope you don¡¯t disappoint, right, Visette?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I look forward to the activities that you have planned.¡±


    Although it wasn¡¯t a top priority, observing the social interaction between the average person would help her to better understand how to react in social situations. It would be more field research than a ¡°fun outing¡± to her.


    As they left the academy building, Lyn was already leaning on her motorcycle while waiting for Visette. Her dark brown hair and deep blue eyes as well as her good looks continued drawing attention as always, but her attitude was well-known by the students of the academy.


    Of course, the attention placed on Lyn faded as soon as Visette was outside, not that the former seemed to mind.


    ¡°Hurry it up!¡± Lyn called out to Visette.


    ¡°Wait, Vis.¡± Charlie grabbed Visette¡¯s wrist just as she was about to split from the group. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to stop by later and make sure to ask about our trip.¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Visette nodded.


    As Visette approached, Lyn spoke while handing the bike helmet to her, ¡°What was that about?¡±


    ¡°I have been invited to a social outing.¡±


    ¡°With who, just the two of them?¡± Lyn asked as she looked toward Arthur and Charlie who were busy waving to Visette.


    ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡±


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°In three days.¡±


    ¡°I want to say yes, but it just so happens that you have an assignment in three days.¡±


    ¡°I assumed that acting so soon would draw attention. Was our goal not to remain undetected?¡± Visette inquired.


    ¡°It was and it worked since there has been no real investigation into the councilor''s death. But this time, the Commander wants you to be a bit more obvious.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°...You know what, as long as you¡¯re back at your place by evening you should be alright as far as the timing is concerned.¡±


    ¡°Understood, I will make sure keep track of time during the outing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to it.¡± Lyn smiled as they climbed onto the motorcycle.


    ¡­


    As the afternoon turned into the evening, a group of familiar men examined their firearms and equipment in a house found in some dark corner of New Mayhall.


    ¡°What is this shit?!¡± A man sitting at a terminal shouted in surprise.


    ¡°What?¡± Another man wearing glasses asked. He was too busy examining the floor plan of a large house to fully invest himself in another problem.


    ¡°It¡¯s that damn girl.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Demetrius, who was resting on a couch nearby, instantly sat up. ¡°The one with the white hair?¡±


    ¡°Visette Thales.¡±


    ¡°A bit of an odd name, but what about her?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the one who killed all of those prisoners a while back.¡±


    ¡°...Shit.¡± The man in glasses cursed.


    ¡°Is that all there is about her?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°No fucking way,¡± Demetrius objected. ¡°What about her medical records? What are her traits?¡±


    ¡°Everything is locked away. The clearance given to us by our little friend here in New Mayhall isn''t high enough to view the records. I think the Governor is the only one who can freely read anything tucked away in here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡± The man in glasses sighed. ¡°She was with Captain O¡¯Hara? It doesn¡¯t take a genius to see that she¡¯s affiliated with New Mayhall¡¯s military.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Demetrius asked as he evaluated the stitching on his recent hand wound.


    ¡°So, if she can take you down that fast, she has to have some training behind her.¡±


    ¡°And why does that matter?¡± Demetrius still seemed clueless as to the significance.


    ¡°Do you know how much it takes to move a whole team of Abnormal soldiers into another city, have them blend in, and carry out an assassination before escaping? We¡¯re only this lucky because of our contact and you nearly ruined it.¡±


    ¡°Get on with it, I¡¯m getting tired.¡±


    ¡°What I mean to say is, it is way easier to move a single person as you should know. If she¡¯s important enough to have all information on her hidden, then she¡¯s definitely not just a standard Abnormal who managed to catch you off guard.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking multiple type-four and type-five traits?¡± Demetrius grew interested as Visette¡¯s threat evaluation was altered.


    ¡°Maybe, but I can¡¯t say for sure.¡±


    ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a call for you from the higher-ups, Glasses.¡± A man suddenly appeared from a sideroom.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s urgent.¡±


    The man with glasses sighed before he begrudgingly stood up and trudged toward the room. His muffled voice could be heard through the walls and it began to sound increasingly pitiful as time went on.


    Eventually, he returned and fell into his chair with a frustrated expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you so upset?¡± Demetrius asked while juggling a knife.


    ¡°A lot,¡± He sighed before continuing. ¡°Listen up, we will be coordinating our assassination with Freedom City¡¯s operation.¡±


    ¡°Wait, they were also planning something?¡± Someone asked with obvious confusion.


    ¡°Apparently, but I haven¡¯t been told what it is,¡± The man in glasses answered, indicating his lack of awareness on the subject. ¡°Our schedule has just been moved ahead by a week. In three days, we¡¯ll carry out our assassination.¡±


    ¡°And when does Freedom City move?¡± Another asked while scratching at his patchy beard.


    ¡°A day after us, so it seems we¡¯ll be diverting attention from whatever it is they¡¯re doing.¡±


    ¡°That the end of your announcement? I kinda want to sleep.¡±


    ¡°No, apparently, Roslin and the Freedom City are both going to attempt to make contact with Visette Thales. If they can¡¯t, then they¡¯ll try to kill her somehow.¡±


    The man in glasses expected Demetrius to go wild but the problematic young man didn¡¯t even blink an eye.


    ¡°If she gets killed by either one of those forces then she really only beat me because I wasn¡¯t prepared. It¡¯s as simple as that.¡± Demetrius shrugged. He let out a yawn and lied down on the couch before closing his eyes.


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± It was obvious that no one would trust Demetrius but he didn¡¯t speak any falsehoods. He had no intention of interfering with the plans of the other cities.

 Chapter 35: After The Same Prey

    A few hours after leaving the academy, Visette stood outside of Charlie¡¯s house. It was a fairly normal residential district with other homes nearby and even a small park. Though, the only thing out of place was the pair of DSF officers standing outside of Charlie¡¯s home.


    They didn¡¯t seem too intimidating and Visette guessed that they would only be carrying low-caliber pistols. In the era of Abnormals, just two guards weren¡¯t really enough to stop superhuman enemies.


    ¡°...You¡¯re Visette Thales?¡± One officer asked as Visette approached them, he straightened his posture and cleared his throat shortly after he finished speaking. He seemed to be in his early twenties and appeared completely harmless.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Ah, Charlie said that someone fitting your description would come to visit her, but you¡¯re different from what I expected. You¡¯re much more beautiful than-¡±


    ¡°Can I enter?¡± Visette interrupted with her usual tranquil expression.


    ¡°Go right ahead. Charlie left the door open because she was expecting you,¡± said the second officer, a woman around the same age as her partner.


    Visette entered the home while the two officers watched her before turning to face forward.


    ¡°You¡¯re much more beautiful than what I expected. Really?¡± The female officer spoke with mockery.


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Her male companion sucked his teeth.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen some delusional people but I have to admit, you really set the bar high.¡±


    ¡°Are you going to keep going?¡±


    ¡°Did you really try to flirt with her? Seriously? You¡¯d be better off fighting Anton.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to shoot you if you keep talking.¡± The male officer grumbled.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± The female officer finally relented but occasionally let out a brief chuckle.


    ¡­


    ¡°Visette, is that you?¡± Charlie called out from upstairs.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied back.


    ¡°Oh!¡± A third voice interrupted from the first floor.


    As Visette waited in front of a door, a blonde-haired woman appeared in front of her.


    ¡°Hello, Rachel-¡± Visette¡¯s greeting was cut short as Rachel hugged her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much.¡± Rachel found that Visette was nothing like that girl she discovered four years ago. She took a step back and held Visette¡¯s face with her hands. ¡°Nathan never let us see you, but believe me, we tried.¡±


    ¡°I do not mind.¡±


    ¡°But I do.¡± Rachel¡¯s expression reflected disgust as she briefly thought of Nathan. ¡°Anyway, you...¡±


    Rachel couldn¡¯t finish what she was saying as Visette¡¯s outfit drew her attention.


    ¡°What are you wearing, Visette?¡±


    A denim jacket, a short-sleeved black shirt, a pair of black pants and neatly laced, black military boots.


    ¡°Is there something wrong with my clothing? I received it from Lyn.¡± Visette seemed slightly confused but Rachel shook her head.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just- well, I didn¡¯t expect you to be wearing something like that is all.¡± Rachel smiled, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ve cooked some stew.¡±


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Charlie rushed downstairs in loose t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants before stopping in front of her mother and Visette, ¡°Oh, nice outfit, Vis.¡±


    ¡°...Thank you.¡±


    They moved further in the house before Visette took a seat at the table with Charlie while Rachel began preparing their bowls.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to ask, Mom?¡± Charlie inquired.


    ¡°Ask what?¡± Rachel answered.


    ¡°About Visette¡¯s Psionics?¡±


    ¡°Why would I? I think it¡¯s amazing but if Visette wants to talk about it she will.¡± Rachel handed a bowl to Visette before pushing one over to Charlie and finally bringing her own to the table, joining the two girls.


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± Charlie took a single spoonful of stew before starting up a conversation again, ¡°My Mom has been volunteering in the Lower Wards, Vis. Since she has medical training but isn¡¯t allowed to open her own clinic she can only help out as much as she can.¡±


    ¡°You are not permitted to establish a clinic?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°If I had nothing to do with Commander Wakefield, I¡¯d be free to do at least that much. Unfortunately, since I¡¯m affiliated with him that means political matter pour over to me.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Visette nodded.


    The political web of New Mayhall, or any other city for that matter, held little importance to her. It seemed to be a complicated issue that didn¡¯t concern her and since it didn¡¯t affect her goals she¡¯d continue to ignore it.


    ¡°But tell me about you, Visette. You¡¯re working for Nathan, correct?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean Commander Wakefield? If so, I am indeed under his command.¡±


    ¡°Listen, you can¡¯t trust him to do right by you, okay? You should always protect yourself since he¡¯ll willingly throw you into danger.¡±


    ¡°I understand, I will keep your advice in mind.¡± Visette had already raised her evaluation of Commander Wakefield but Rachel¡¯s words only cemented the fact that he would prove to be a danger.


    ¡°...Anyway, you won¡¯t believe how many people have asked Visette out already, Mom.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Although she doesn¡¯t really speak to anyone you can¡¯t say she isn¡¯t pretty.¡±


    Rachel and Charlie began speaking like Visette was a close relative and they probably felt she was. While Visette had no opinion on the matter, she couldn¡¯t say she disliked it. She felt Charlie would always be useful for her creative insight on the use of her psionics. At that moment, she decided she would protect Charlie even without orders and that also applied to Rachel who helped her when she first arrived on Novo Prime.


    Visette finished her meal while the two of them continued speaking, neither one of them were aware of Visette decision.


    ¡­


    The next three days went by quickly for Charlie who grew excited as the day of the outing moved closer. The funeral for Councilor Wilson caused all classes to end early. As soon as the students were dismissed from the academy, Charlie rushed home and changed before returning to the school grounds.


    ¡°Oh, Charlie!¡± Arthur waved. He clearly put much more preparation into the gathering as his red hair was trimmed and his clothes seemed to be brand new.


    ¡°Did you have to wait long?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°No, not really. You only came a few minutes after me...How do I look?¡±


    Charlie snickered upon hearing Arthur¡¯s question.


    A white shirt under a brand-new windbreaker and jeans along with new sneakers to go along with it. Charlie silently examined his outfit before giving her response.


    ¡°Trying to impress Visette are you?¡±


    ¡°No...I just thought I shouldn¡¯t wear regular clothes out. Besides, you¡¯re wearing a dress.¡± Arthur pointed at Charlie¡¯s outfit.


    She wore a plain hoodie over a blue dress along with sandals. Overall, it wasn¡¯t as eye-catching as Arthur¡¯s brand new clothes.


    ¡°This is old stuff anyway.¡± Charlie shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m certain Visette won¡¯t be dressed up very much either.¡±


    And as if to confirm her statement, a black motorcycle emerged in the distance before coming to a stop in front of the academy. The identity of the two riding it was obvious.


    Visette removed her helmet and handed it off to Lyn who began speaking.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you have until evening.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Visette replied.


    Lyn quickly drove off in order to make preparations for Visette¡¯s mission. While Vis greeted Charlie and Arthur.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Right on time, Vis.¡± Charlie eyed Visette and found she dressed casually just as expected.


    A dark fleece jacket, a black shirt with a skull illustrated on its front and a pair of jeans and old white sneakers.


    ¡°Told you.¡± Charlie smirked and then spoke before Arthur had the chance to reply, ¡°Well, since we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s get going. Where to, Arty?¡±


    ¡°The streetcar station.¡±


    ¡°I have read about the public transportation of this city but I have never seen it.¡±


    ¡°Today is your lucky day then.¡± Arthur grinned, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡­


    A short walk later and the three of them were waiting for a streetcar to arrive. Arthur took the time to point out a few short facts while they waited.


    ¡°If the city was besieged by Corrupted, specialized streetcars as well as armored vehicles would be used to transport people to shelters.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Visette found the facts somewhat useful so she continued the conversation, ¡°Are there preparations in place? I expect that excess panic would disrupt the evacuation process.¡±


    ¡°There are evac-drills once a year. I heard they used to be more frequent before the Starfall Event,¡± Charlie interjected.


    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s the streetcar!¡± Arthur pointed toward the approaching streetcar.


    Due to the Novidium Batteries, there was very little sound emitted from the vehicle. The operator rang a bell to signal the arrival before it came to a halt in front of the station.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay for us.¡± Charlie drew a plastic blue card from her jacket and hopped onto the streetcar.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Visette made a low exclamation as she realized she hadn¡¯t put too much thought into the currency of Novo Prime. She knew that most cities shared a unified digital currency in the modern-age since most physical currency was too hard to keep track of but that¡¯s as far as she looked into it. She made a note to ask Lyn about her military salary as she entered the streetcar and sat down before Charlie joined her followed by Arthur.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°So first we¡¯ll go to the arcade. Then, we¡¯ll head to see a short play-¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°Anton¡¯s Anguish.¡±


    ¡°Ooh! I love that one,¡± Charlie replied excitedly, ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°I thought we¡¯d go to the Central Marketplace to look. After that, we could head back to Visette¡¯s for food.¡±


    ¡°What is the Central Marketplace?¡± Visette inquired.


    ¡°Instead of a storefront, it¡¯s just a bunch of stands where you can buy unique things you wouldn¡¯t find normally.¡±


    ¡°Basically junk,¡± Charlie murmured.


    ¡°Is anyone allowed to sell their possessions?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Charlie shook her head. ¡°You need a permit from the city and a certified credit machine to accept money.¡±


    ¡°I am interested in seeing what is offered.¡±


    The streetcar dropped the trio in front of a building with a flashing sign that read ¡°Arcade!¡± above its entrance.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Charlie was clearly the most enthusiastic as she grabbed Visette¡¯s wrist and pulled her into the building while Arthur followed behind with a grin.


    The style of the building was very reminiscent of Earth if one didn¡¯t look too much into it. The biggest difference was that every ¡°game¡± seemed to be centered around the Corrupted in some way.


    ¡°Ah, let¡¯s see who can get the highest score.¡± Charlie issued a challenge as she pulled Visette toward a machine.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to brag but you both are gonna lose this. I¡¯m number three on the scoreboard.¡± Arthur bragged as he grabbed the plastic rifle attached the machine.


    ¡°Face the Corrupted Horde!¡± A voice rang out from it while explosions filled the screen.


    Visette briefly observed the animation playing on the screen and immediately realized the purpose of the game. She grabbed one of the three plastic rifles and held it like she¡¯d hold a normal rifle.


    ¡°Ready, Vis?¡± Charlie asked.


    Visette replied with a nod and then the game started. Figures that resembled the Corrupted filled the screen and seemed to be rushing toward the trio who opened fire.


    It was a relatively simple game that seemed to encourage fighting the Corrupted. Though it was very misleading for any children who had yet to run into any of the monstrous creatures that could eradicate thousands of people.


    ¡°YOU WIN!¡±


    A few bright lights flashed as the game ended. Before the scores were calculated each person had to input a three letter name.


    Visette obviously picked the ¡°Vis¡± while Charlie went ¡°Chr¡± and Arthur chose ¡°Art.¡±


    ¡°I got last.¡± Charlie frowned after seeing her result.


    ¡°Ha, I got...second?¡± Arthur seemed a little confused until he peeked at Visette¡¯s section which had a score of ¡°9999,¡± the highest anyone had gotten so far.


    ¡°Nice, Vis!¡± Charlie cheered as she viewed Visette¡¯s score.


    ¡°It was not very difficult,¡± Visette replied with no hint of satisfaction.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try something else then.¡± Charlie once again led the way as they participated in all types of games which involved killing Corrupted in some way. Except for a few that encouraged the user to test their strength. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that Visette nearly broke the machines that were designed for normal humans rather than Abnormals.


    ¡°Whew.¡± Charlie plopped down onto a bench with a slightly stunned expression, ¡°You¡¯re just too good, Vis.¡±


    It was no surprise that Visette would set high scores for all the arcade game she played but Charlie still found it surprising.


    ¡°Yeah, I thought I would¡¯ve had you on that last one.¡± Arthur shook his head.


    Visette kept silent but scanned the interior of the arcade, examining the various groups of people inside. She unconsciously tuned out the conversation between Charlie and Arthur and decided to test her Psionic Scanning ability.


    It was meant to replicate x-rays and if it proved successful, she¡¯d have a way to identify Abnormals with little effort. She picked a random woman as her target and sent a short burst of psionic waves through her body. A short stream of information was sent to her brain. She compared it to the normal physiology of a human as illustrated by the anatomical models she researched and discovered the woman was a normal human being. Since Visette¡¯s target remained none the wiser, her psionic scan was a resounding success. Although, she could only discover physical traits at the moment. If met with someone with quick reflexes or intelligence she¡¯d have to rely on her own judgment to make the call.


    She attempted to scan a few other people in the vicinity and then focused on a smiling child. She took note of the exact movement of the boy¡¯s facial muscles and then sought to reproduce them on her own.


    ¡°Visette?¡± Charlie called out to Vis who had her back toward the two, seemingly distracted by something.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Visette turned to face Charlie with a subtle but radiant smile on her face.


    ¡°Vis...you¡­¡± Charlie nearly let her jaw fall to the floor as she faced a smiling Visette. It didn¡¯t even seem forced but completely natural.


    ¡°...Ah.¡± Arthur was a few beats behind with his reaction and could only offer a few bewildered blinks.


    Visette¡¯s smile faded and she dropped her head in contemplation, ¡°Did I perhaps make an error?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Charlie asked, still taken off guard by seeing Visette smile for the first time.


    ¡°Was there an issue with my expression? I attempted to smile after reviewing the facial structures of several individuals.¡±


    ¡°No, it was perfect,¡± Arthur assured her.


    Charlie rolled her eyes and began speaking. ¡°That was the first time I¡¯ve ever seen you smile so I was a little surprised that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Visette nodded, making sure to keep their reactions in mind whenever she decided it was necessary to smile again.


    ¡°Well, if you guys had enough of a break, let¡¯s move on.¡± Arthur waved for them to follow and the trio departed from the arcade.


    The next stop was at a theater where a reenactment of one of the many battles Anton faced took place. The particular battle was set in a nameless town full of weak and sickly citizens which had long since been abandoned by its leader. Anton apparently took pity on the town and taught them as much as he could before a wave of Corrupted descended. The play seemed to be a tragedy as the townspeople put up a brave resistance before they died one by one. Even still, the citizens didn¡¯t flee with Anton at their side and fought on. At the end of it, Anton was the only left standing. He observed the destruction with a tranquil face before letting out a single anguished roar.


    As the trio departed from the theater, Charlie and Arthur raved on about how exciting the play was while Visette only grew increasingly curious about the existence that was known as Anton. There was historical record of his existence but very little illustrations of him. Even the lead actor that played him had half his face hidden with a cloth while his body was covered with a cloak. If there was any defining feature to be found it would be the fake crescent-shaped scar around the actor¡¯s left eye.


    ¡°That was great!¡± Arthur still seemed impressed by the play.


    ¡°It was much better in person than seeing it on the screen of a terminal I¡¯ll say that much.¡± Charlie nodded.


    ¡°I am satisfied that I have learned a little more about Anton,¡± Visette added.


    A man who performed superhuman feats and predated the emergence of Abnormals was obviously something that needed to be looked into more.


    ¡°I heard through the Social Net that Eden Hall has a museum of Anton¡¯s accomplishments,¡± Arthur said, ¡°It¡¯s too far for any of us to see though since it¡¯s on the other side of the continent.¡±


    After they finished the play, the three of them visited the Central Marketplace where there were hundreds of items such as trinkets, simple jewelry, and figurines, on display. While Visette had no interest once she discovered there was nothing noteworthy to be found. Charlie picked out a set of braided leather bracelets as a memento for the three of them and they finally went to Visette¡¯s apartment.


    ¡­


    ¡°Just as I expected,¡± Charlie commented as she entered, collapsing onto a couch that sat in the living room as soon as she spotted it.


    ¡°It¡¯s neat.¡± Arthur found that there was nothing out of place which seemed in line with Visette¡¯s orderly personality.


    ¡°I will begin cooking.¡± Visette ignored their comments and headed into the kitchen.


    After removing her jacket and donning a plain apron, she began to take out ingredients from a refrigerator.


    ¡°Do you have a terminal, Vis?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Visette replied while rapidly chopping away at a pile of vegetables. She flipped the dials on the oven before returning to the ingredients and dicing them into even smaller portions.


    ¡°You¡¯re missing out on a lot,¡± said Arthur who found himself staring at a Visette as she cooked. That was until Charlie lightly drove her elbow into his ribcage.


    ¡°Commander Wakefield does not want me to have free access to a terminal,¡± Visette responded while depositing the vegetables into a pan.


    Charlie frowned as she learned about another one of the restrictions that her father placed on Visette.


    ¡°...The food smells good already.¡± Arthur tried to change the subject as he read Charlie¡¯s expression, ¡°What is it by the way?¡±


    ¡°A recipe from an instructional cooking guide.¡±


    ¡°You memorized it?¡± Charlie asked.


    ¡°Yes, it was relatively simple.¡±


    Visette spent a half hour more cooking before she produced three plates and sat them on the table.


    ¡°It is done.¡± Visette said as she took a seat.


    ¡°Finally!¡± Charlie and Arthur rushed over before taking a look at the food.


    To summarize, it was perfect. Not the taste since they hadn¡¯t eaten it yet, but it was arranged in a perfectly symmetrical order which was strange to see.


    Without waiting anymore, Charlie cut into the square-shaped portion of meat on the plate.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s really good!¡± Her face lit up.


    ¡°It is!¡± Arthur agreed.


    Visette nodded before she began eating her meal.


    ¡­


    After they had finished eating, they said their goodbyes as a DSF car came to retrieve Charlie and Arthur headed home via streetcar. Visette cleaned the dishes, neatly stacking them onto a shelf and then circulated her psionic power while waiting for Lyn to arrive.


    It didn¡¯t take long as Lyn entered the apartment not too long after Visette¡¯s company had departed.


    ¡°Did you enjoy yourself?¡± Lyn inquired, peeking at a covered plate of food that remained in the kitchen.


    ¡°I was satisfied with most of the activities. There is also a meal for you in the kitchen if you are hungry,¡± Visette said before adding a smile.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lyn took a few steps into the kitchen before she stopped dead in her tracks, turning to Visette with a shaken countenance, ¡°You just smiled.¡±


    ¡°I learned the exact process today. It requires a very little amount of effort though it is exhaustive to maintain.¡± Visette¡¯s face returned to normal as she pondered the value of it.


    So far, the people who had witnessed her smile seemed to be stunned but it didn¡¯t seem to have much use. Though she theorized it would be more effective in the right social situations where one was expected to express joy or happiness.


    ¡°It was great to see.¡± Lyn smiled herself even though she wasn¡¯t aware of why, ¡°Now, let¡¯s get ready for your mission tonight.¡±


    ¡°Who is the target?¡± Visette inquired.


    Lyn wordlessly tossed a folder to Visette.


    Visette flipped through and discovered a photo of the Councilor as well as an image of his house.


    ¡°Councilor Fredrickson, he¡¯ll be at a dinner hosted in honor of Councilor Wilson tonight. I¡¯m going to drop you off at his place about ten to twenty minutes before he arrives. From there, you¡¯ll wait for him to enter and, well, it doesn¡¯t matter how it¡¯s done but it has to be clear that he was murdered. A single bullet would easily do the trick. Oh, and the Commander said not to worry about killing the guards but I think you should avoid killing them if you can. Radio me if anything goes wrong.¡±


    Although Lyn didn¡¯t agree with wanton murder, she didn¡¯t want to put Visette at risk by making her follow a strict moral code.


    ¡°Understood.¡± Visette closed the folder and handed it back to Lyn before retreating into her bedroom to change.


    Lyn waited in the kitchen, trying some of the food left out by Visette and made a surprised face after tasting it.


    ¡°This is good, Vis!¡± She shouted toward the hallway.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Visette¡¯s emotionless voice resonated in reply.


    ¡­


    A few hours later, the mansion of Councilor Fredrickson was already being occupied by a small group of unknown soldiers. The corpses of the few guards protecting the place were stuffed into a bathroom that one of the soldiers shut, finding the smell to be too repulsive.


    ¡°You have us covered, Demetrius?¡± A balaclava-clad soldier asked through a radio.


    [Sure thing.] Demetrius replied in a carefree manner.


    ¡°Seriously, I don¡¯t want to take a bullet because of you.¡± The soldier replied angrily.


    [Funny you say that because I have my crosshair right over your head.]


    ¡°Stop fucking joking around!¡± The soldier grew angry as a red laser began drawing circles over his chest.


    [Enough you two, I¡¯ll keep an eye on the gate and let you know when the Councilor arrives. He always has two Abnormal guards with him so just make sure your weapons are loaded.] A second voice emerged from the radio, interrupting the conversation.


    ¡°Do me a favor, Glasses, and make sure we don¡¯t ever get stuck with this guy again.¡± The soldier clicked his tongue.


    [Aw, you¡¯re breaking my heart.] Demetrius replied.


    [Silence. He¡¯ll be here any moment, check your mags and get ready. Also, make sure to confirm the target before blasting him to pieces.]


    The eight soldiers began examining their weapon magazines before turning the safety¡¯s off.


    Suddenly, the main doorknob slowly turned and a masked figure in dark fatigues walked in drawing a brief pause from the entire room.


    Visette surveyed the room, unexpectedly finding another party already present. She felt them long ago with her psionic pulse but she expected guards and a councilor rather than a group of soldiers. She used her psionic scan and discovered they all had mid-level Abnormal traits.


    Visette looked at the low-caliber pistol in her hand and then back to the high-powered rifle-toting soldiers who were durable ballistic armor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking move, asshole!¡± A soldier shouted as they all pointed their rifles toward Visette.


    One began to radio to the others while a red laser flashed through the window and landed squarely on Visette¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Hey, we have an uninvited guest here, Glasses.¡± Another soldier said into the radio.


    [What? Who?]


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, no tags or symbols...I think they¡¯re here for the same reason as us.¡±


    [Someone from Freedom City?] Demetrius inquired.


    ¡°I said I don¡¯t know.¡± The soldier narrowed his eyes at Visette.


    Visette maintained her calm the entire time while creating a psionic distortion field around herself. If anyone fired a weapon at her before she could react, it would be redirected by the distortion field preventing any harm.


    ¡°Hey! Put your gun down and kick it over here, buddy! Freedom City or not we can¡¯t relax until you hand over that weapon,¡± The Soldier ordered.


    Visette slowly placed the gun on the ground and then kicked it across the room. As she did, her eyes rapidly darted around as she gathered all the environmental information available. There was a large leather couch that sat right next to her and a support beam she could use as cover should she enter a firefight. Above her were the ceiling lights that offered illumination for the soldiers inside.


    ¡°And now your knife, I know you have one!¡± The soldier shouted.


    Visette formed a new plan in her mind in response to the sudden appearance of new enemies and then prepared to enact it.

 Chapter 36: Leave No Survivors

    ¡°I said lower the knife!¡± The soldier repeated while slowly moving his finger toward the trigger.


    The squad of Abnormal soldiers all had low-type traits judging by their muscle structure and that furthered Visette¡¯s confidence. The only real issue was the sniper who was also likely to be an Abnormal.


    [Say the word and I¡¯ll take that bastard out.] Demetrius¡¯ confident voice emerged from the radio.


    Visette drew her knife and lowered it as if she were attempting to place it on the floor. At the same time, she channeled her psionic power and light bulbs illuminating the room exploded into pieces.


    ¡°Fire!¡± The squad of abnormals began firing their weapons but just as soon as they did, the large sofa came flying toward them, forcing the squad of eight to split.


    ¡°Take him out, Demetrius!¡± A soldier shouted into his microphone while firing a barrage of bullets into the darkness. They switched on their flashlights and began firing at anything that resembled a human.


    [I can¡¯t see.] Demetrius replied with frustration as he scanned the interior of the home through a scope.


    Meanwhile, Visette was calmly hiding behind the durable support pillar waiting for her moment to strike. She grabbed the radio attached to her vest and began speaking, ¡°Unknown hostiles have already infiltrated Councilor Fredrickson¡¯s residence.¡±


    [What? Who are they?! DSF? New Mayhall Military?] Lyn answered back in a fluster.


    ¡°They do not appear to have any affiliation with New Mayhall.¡±


    [Shit! I¡¯ll be there in five minutes. Wait- Are you under fire?!]


    ¡°Affirmative, I will engage them shortly and then report back.¡±


    [Hold on, Vis, I¡¯m¨C]


    Visette turned the radio off just as the gunfire stopped.


    ¡°Shit! I¡¯m out!¡± A soldier shouted as if to give her further confirmation.


    Visette tightened her grip on the knife in her hand and rushed out while infusing psionic energy into her legs.


    ¡°Reload! Reload-¡±


    Visette leaped out of cover and into the squad like a wild animal, thrusting the knife into the unprotected neck of the soldier who seemed to be giving the orders.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± The closest soldiers were shocked by the speed of their enemy and began fumbling for their ammo magazines while Visette already began moving again.


    ¡°Aaah!¡± Another soldier barely managed to cry out as a knife tore into the base of his throat.


    ¡°I got him now!¡± One soldier finished reloading but as he squeezed the trigger, the gun seemed to jam. ¡°...What the fuck?!¡±


    Visette¡¯s eyes snapped toward his direction and with one swift leap she had already arrived, quickly ending his life with her blade.


    ¡°Who the fuck is this?! Demetrius, you need to kill this fucking guy or we¡¯re all gonna die!¡± A soldier radioed his request but could speak no longer as Visette recovered her pistol and fired at his head, her bullet ripped through his eye and cut his life short.


    [Do something, Demetrius!] The man known as Glasses ordered through the radio.


    [Fuck it! Get down, I¡¯m firing!] Demetrius shouted through the radio before the whizzing of bullets and shattering of glass filled the room.


    Even among the sniper bullets, Visette could move without worry as the projectiles appeared to just barely miss her due to the distortion field she created around herself.


    ¡°Help! Help! Help-¡±


    The only thing transmitted through the radio to Demetrius and the man referred to as ¡°Glasses¡± were the screams of their squad being annihilated. Then, the room became completely silent.


    [Say something!] Glasses yelled into the radio.


    [Hold on!] Demetrius shouted back.


    As he scanned the dark room he used the flashlights attached to the fallen rifles as a way to see. Among the stillness of the room, there was one figure standing there.


    ¡°I got you.¡± Demetrius grinned to himself as he fired a single shot.


    As he waited for the impact, he was surprised to the body only twitched slightly.


    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Demetrius grew confused and narrowed his eyes as he observed through the scope. It then dawned on him that he fired at bait which meant the real assailant was lying close by. As expected of an Abnormal with traits above type-3, his eyes darted around as he looked for the target but he stopped cold as he saw a bright blue gleam among the darkness.


    Visette channeled psionic energy into the ocular nerves of her right eye, giving her pupil a strange glow, and immediately spotted Demetrius after he exposed his position by firing at the body she propped up with her psionic power. She held her pistol with two hands and coated a single bullet with psionic energy so she could exceed the maximum range.


    The moment Demetrius discovered her, it seemed like time slowed to a crawl. Visette¡¯s mind ran wild while attempting to calculate the factors that may affect her trajectory as well as how much psionic power could be placed into a bullet without destroying it. It took far less than a second for her to figure it out and she pulled the trigger without hesitation.


    A bullet whizzed through the air and struck Demetrius right in below his neck even though he was crouched behind cover on a far away rooftop.


    ¡°Ahk!¡± Demetrius reacted with disbelief, immediately clutching at his chest. ¡°No...way¡­¡±


    He groaned as he discovered the bullet chewed through his armor and most likely exploded into bits of shrapnel inside of his body.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Demetrius coughed out blood as he tossed his rifle aside and forced himself to his feet, retreating as quickly as he could.


    ¡°Lyn.¡± Visette turned her radio back on and began speaking, ¡°I have eliminated all but two of the assailants. Of the two remaining, one is injured and the other was not present.¡±


    [Shit¡­] Lyn was set speechless for a few seconds but quickly recovered herself. [I¡¯m tailing the Councilor right now, he heard the gunfire and is avoiding that district. But...]


    Lyn was likely conflicted about the importance of finding out the identity of the squad operating in New Mayhall and completing the original mission. She began to speak but stopped herself as the decision grew more complicated.


    ¡°Please set a target as a priority. Pursue the injured soldier or intercept Councilor Fredrickson?¡±


    [Damn it...Intercept Fredrickson! I¡¯ll direct you and if you hurry, you may be able to find that injured soldier in time.]


    ¡°Understood,¡± Visette replied before examining the pistol in her hand. It¡¯s frame had shattered into pieces while it emitted smoke into the air. Even though she had a mission, Visette suddenly had the thought of having the gunsmith develop a sidearm with a frame strong to handle high-caliber bullets.


    She grabbed an extra radio from one of the corpses littered around the room and then jumped from the window. With psionic energy powering her every step, she began a dash toward the adjacent rooftops before leaping up and grabbing the sniper rifle Demetrius left behind.


    [The Councilor is moving east, I think he¡¯s heading toward DSF headquarters. You have to get him before he gets there or we¡¯re done.]


    ¡°I understand.¡± Visette¡¯s tossed the sniper rifle over her shoulder and concentrated more psionic power into her legs. She lowered body and jumped forward with an inhuman burst of speed while simultaneously creating a psionic barrier around her body to protect her internal organs. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡­


    Unaware of the terrifying being hunting him, Councilor Fredrickson sought refuge at the DSF headquarters. He urged his driver to increase his speed.


    ¡°Rampant gunfire in this city! And from the Upper Wards no less! I swear it was coming from my home!¡± Fredrickson, a rather thin-looking man with short hair, raved on.


    Two guards sat on either side of him with another in the passenger seat. They maintained stoic expressions in order give him peace of mind, but it didn¡¯t seem to work as he continued ranting nervously.


    A guard at the front glanced at the rearview mirror as they drove along before he finally spoke up, ¡°Sir-¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Councilor Fredrickson barked back as sweat began to cover his brow.


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯re being followed. Please calm down so we can-¡±


    ¡°Calm down! How in Anton¡¯s name can I calm down?!¡±


    ¡°Sir, please-¡± One of his guards tried to put him at ease but completely failed.


    ¡°No! Do your jobs! If I die you¡¯ll never find another person willing to hire you in this city!¡±


    ¡°...Yes, Sir.¡± The guard replied unwillingly before signaling to the other guards.


    They all drew their weapons and turned off the safety while keeping an eye on the black truck that seemed to match their speed.


    ¡­


    Maybe because they were so focused on Lyn¡¯s vehicle or maybe because no one would expect a threat from above, but Visette easily traversed the rooftops without being spotted.


    ¡°I spotted Councilor Fredrickson¡¯s vehicle.¡±


    [Take it out if you can! He¡¯s getting close to the DSF headquarters!]


    Since it was late into the night, there was very little traffic to be found save a few cars but nothing that managed to slow the councilor down.


    Visette didn¡¯t reply and leaped from the rooftop, she began falling down but angled herself to land directly on the roof of the councilor¡¯s car. Right before the moment of impact, she used her psionic power to cushion her fall and landed on the roof of the car with a soft thump.


    Inside, Councilor Fredrickson became a neurotic mess, ¡°What was that?!¡± He screamed.


    ¡°Sir, just-¡±


    ¡°In front! In front! Shoot! Shoot you, idiots!¡± Fredrickson screamed, pointing toward the front window where a black-clothed figure wearing a smooth ballistic mask was crouched.


    Visette raised the sniper rifle and pressed it against the glass, taking aim at the Councilor until the driver woke up out of his daze.


    ¡°Shit!¡± The driver cursed as he began to turn the steering wheel wildly which caused Visette¡¯s aim to sway. She fired off a shot and it easily pierced through the reinforced glass but struck the guard sitting in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!¡± Fredrickson cursed as he held his head down, quickly becoming a sniveling mess under the threat of harm.


    Visette paid no mind to his fit and tried to fire again but the rifle emitted a click, signaling that it was completely empty of ammo. She tossed the rifle away and instead began punching the reinforced window, with the bullet hole in its center, she easily began to break it apart with her physical strength alone.


    ¡°Hold on, Councilor!¡± The driver shouted as he came to an abrupt stop.


    Visette was abruptly flung forward and went crashing into the street before becoming motionless.


    ¡°...Is he dead?¡± Councilor Fredrickson asked and then recoiled in horror as he witnessed Visette climbing to her feet again. ¡°Drive! Drive! Drive!¡±


    Under his orders, the car drove forward in an attempt to run Visette over and she surprisingly stood there waiting for it. Moments before it could hit her, the steering wheel jerked to the side and the car spun out of control and rolled onto its side repeatedly before crashing into a solid brick wall.


    Visette exhaled lightly before approaching the car. She gripped the door and ripped it off before tossing it away as if it weighed nothing.


    ¡°Ah...Wake up you fools!¡± Councilor Fredrickson was the only one conscious and burst into a fit screaming as he watched Visette kneel down to peek inside the car.


    ¡°Ugh...Councilor?¡± A guard jolted away and turned toward Visette. He reached for his weapon but couldn¡¯t find it as it flew from his hands during the crash.


    Visette drew her knife and buried it in his neck before he could do anything further. The shocked guard could only let out a few bloody gurgling noises before going limp.


    ¡°No! Please! Please!¡± Fredrickson begged as he watched Visette snatch the now dead guard out of his seat and throw him aside.


    ¡°Councilor Fredrickson?¡± Visette inquired as she cut apart the seatbelt holding Fredrickson and pulled him out.


    ¡°Please! I have ties to a large Novidium mine! I can make you rich!¡± Fredrickson spoke while tears ran down his face.


    ¡°I will assume that your distressed state is a confirmation of your identity.¡± As soon as Visette finished speaking, she pressed her knife against Fredrickson¡¯s throat and slit it open with a horizontal cut.


    After making sure he was dead, Visette reached her hand into the car and a handgun flew into her grip. There was no hesitation as she fired off a shot into the heads of the two remaining guards, unwilling to risk discovery.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Lyn shouted as she stopped her car at the scene, ¡°Time to go!¡±


    A high-pitched siren of DSF vehicles filled the night air.


    ¡°I will pursue the injured soldier and regroup with you at the designated point,¡± Visette replied as she placed the stolen handgun into her holster.


    ¡°What the fuck are you talking about?! You did the mission now let¡¯s go!¡± Lyn shouted angrily.


    Although Visette would usually follow orders, she began to see the two remaining survivors as a liability. With the radio of Demetrius¡¯ group in hand, she ignored Lyn¡¯s yelling and launched herself onto a rooftop before her figure vanished among the shadows.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Lyn slammed her hands against the steering wheel before turning the car 180 degrees and driving off into the night.


    ¡­


    Demetrius and ¡°Glasses¡± retreated back into their safehouse in Lower Wards without any other options. The abandoned house was the perfect place to hide if the pursuer was a relatively normal individual. Unfortunately, Visette honed on the radio channel that the squad used and since Demetrius didn¡¯t have the time or thought to switch his radio off, she had very little difficulty in locating their position.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Demetrius spat up blood as he lay strewn out on a table, ¡°I-I saw it, Glasses...¡±


    ¡°Quiet...We can lie low for a few days but it¡¯ll be hard to escape after that mess.¡± Glasses produced a tray of medical supplies and began pulling out pieces of shrapnel protruding from Demetrius¡¯ chest.


    ¡°What in Anton¡¯s name happened in there? I never imagined our mission being so fucked up.¡± Glasses lamented as he deposited the shrapnel into a bowl.


    ¡°It was just one person,¡± Demetrius groaned. ¡°Can you believe it? Just...one...fucking...person¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d think it was Anton himself!¡± Glasses wiped the sweat from his forehead as he pulled out more bullet fragments.


    ¡°Right? The only thing I could see was a tiny blue light and then the bullet hit me-¡±


    ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Glasses took pause as the pieces of fragments piled up. ¡°This is a bullet from a low-caliber pistol!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Demetrius raised his head with a pained expression due to the statement. ¡°There¡¯s no way a bullet like that could tear through my armor.¡±


    ¡°I know, it doesn¡¯t make any sense but this is definitely from a pistol-¡±


    Just as the questions began piling up, the front door to the abandoned building was kicked in and crumbled into pieces.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Glasses drew his gun and spun around but his body suddenly froze.


    ¡°Glasses...is it them?¡± Demetrius asked with a grunt as he tried to lift himself off of the table.


    Glasses began letting out a series of strained gasps before he stood up rigidly and began walking forward with mechanical steps. When he stopped, he raised the gun in his hand and pressed it against his head.


    ¡°Glasses! What are you doing?!¡± Demetrius shouted in pure confusion.


    ¡°...Help,¡± A low murmur escaped his lips before he squeezed the trigger and painted the nearby wall with his brain matter before collapsing.


    Demetrius froze in a mixture of shock and horror as his mind failed to comprehend what took place.


    The sound of footsteps set his mind back in motion just as a figure wearing a ballistic mask and black fatigues emerged. He narrowed his eyes and gazed at the figure, finding their cold dark brown eyes extremely familiar.


    ¡°War Hound,¡± Demetrius muttered after realizing the identity of the person standing in front of him. ¡°...It¡¯s you isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Instead of answering, Visette approached the table and drew her knife. She would¡¯ve killed him immediately if she didn¡¯t need to establish a link between the squad of Abnormals and Demetrius.


    ¡°What city or force are you allied with?¡± Visette asked emotionlessly.


    It seemed as if she was merely going through with a formality rather than interrogating someone.


    ¡°You¡¯ll kill me either way, right?¡± Demetrius asked as he closed his eyes.


    ¡°Yes, you are correct,¡± Visette replied.


    Demetrius began taking deep breaths before he summoned his strength and lunged at Visette but she effortlessly sidestepped him only to watch him fall flat on the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re an entirely different monster from what I expected,¡± Demetrius rasped out, ¡°I don¡¯t know what sort of trick you...used to kill Glasses, but it isn¡¯t natural.¡±


    Visette observed him for a few moments before she spoke, ¡°I suspect that you are affiliated with Roslin. The way the soldiers spoke implied you have a relationship with Freedom City. With that in mind, it is very unlikely that Copper Haven directed this operation.¡±


    ¡°If you already knew then why¡¯d you ask?¡± Demetrius laughed weakly.


    ¡°For confirmation,¡± Visette answered as she sheathed her knife. She walked over to the table and picked up a scalpel before she grabbed a handful of Demetrius¡¯ hair and lifted his head before dragging it across his throat.


    His body trembled as blood spurted from his neck and when Visette verified his death, she finally let go of him.


    She spread out her psionic pulse in order to make sure there were no other presences in the vicinity before she entered a back room and discovered radio transmission equipment. She pondered leaving it intact or destroying it but it would inevitably be discovered regardless so she ignored it and left the abandoned building.


    With all matters settled, Visette headed for the meeting point set by Lyn at a much slower pace. The mental fatigue of her psionic usage began to set in and although she was in no danger of losing consciousness, she was not comfortable with being in a weakened state.

 Chapter 37: Back Into The Fire

    ¡°What was that back there?!¡± Lyn slammed her fist onto the table while Visette was in the process of removing her equipment.


    ¡°The mission was completed,¡± Visette replied while storing the ballistic mask into a large metal case along with the vest she wore.


    ¡°You went against my orders and ran off!¡±


    ¡°You did not specify that it was an order.¡±


    ¡°Oh give me a fucking break.¡± Lyn let out a frustrated groan. ¡°Now I need to specify what¡¯s an order? You pursued an unknown threat without knowing what awaited you. I didn''t think you of all people would act so recklessly.¡±


    ¡°I had no issue in eliminating them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± Lyn took a seat and held her head, ¡°You went off without saying a single word and didn''t even radio in until you finished. You put yourself at risk.¡±


    ¡°I am required to do so am I not?¡± Visette inquired as she removed her glove, discovering that her hands were bruised. Firing off a bullet enhanced with psionic energy was something she hadn¡¯t experimented with and as a result, her preparations were still lacking. When she removed her black fatigues a few abrasions were visible on her arms, likely a result of being thrown from a car.


    ¡°You...You¡¯re hurt,¡± Lyn noted the injuries.


    Visette seemed unperturbed and replied in a fitting manner, ¡°I have received very minor injuries that will heal.¡±


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Lyn frowned as she retreated into Visette¡¯s bathroom and plundered the medicine cabinet before returning with a first-aid kit, ¡°And you¡¯ll need something cold.¡±


    She quickly headed for the kitchen and filled a bowl with ice and water before sitting it in front of Visette.


    ¡°Put your hands in the bowl,¡± Lyn said, ¡°You can think of it as an order if that helps,¡± she quickly added.


    Visette did as instructed without much complaint, not thinking too much of it.


    Lyn began using a cotton cloth soaked in antiseptic to clean the scratches covering Visette¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let Commander Wakefield assign you tasks like that,¡± She spoke regretfully.


    ¡°I have no issue with it.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s the problem...I don¡¯t care about how strong you are as an Abnormal, you aren¡¯t someone¡¯s personal tool, Visette. You need to keep that in mind.¡±


    Visette turned her curiosity-filled gaze to Lyn. Minerva created her to be a tool and nothing else so she couldn¡¯t understand why Lyn didn¡¯t seem to think the same.


    Lyn met her eyes and paused for a moment before a red light briefly lit up the room and a distant siren echoed.


    ¡°...Anyway, if you¡¯re feeling well enough you can go to the academy tomorrow, just get some rest.¡± Lyn stood up and returned the first-aid kit, ¡°I don¡¯t know what the Commander is planning but you shouldn¡¯t have to worry about an assignment for the next week or so.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Visette nodded.


    Lyn departed, leaving Visette to silently contemplate her earlier fight. She felt that her performance lacked efficiency and thought of ways which she could correct it. Even as she went to sleep, her mind didn¡¯t stop replaying the scene of the battle.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, the assassination of Councilor Fredrickson and the firefight in the Upper Wards drew a lot of attention. Especially since it took place on the same day a funeral was held for another deceased councilor.


    Several streets were blocked off and a small portion of the Upper Wards was isolated so investigators could unravel what happened.


    In the center of Fredrickson''s residence, Investigator Warrick Lewis, someone who had run afoul of Lyn in the past examined the scene while speaking to other investigators. It seemed that in the four years since that event came with a promotion as his vest read ¡°Chief Investigator.¡±


    ¡°We have four dead guards, eight assailants of unknown origin, a dead councilor, and how many witnesses?¡±


    ¡°One or two, Sir,¡± A woman answered.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Ah, Sir, here¡¯s the autopsy for Councilor Wilson you asked for.¡± A young man rushed in with a file in hand.


    ¡°Let me see that.¡± Warrick grabbed the folder and scanned through the medical report. ¡°A clean break.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir?¡± The female investigator spoke.


    ¡°Councilor Wilson¡¯s accident. He fell at a perfect angle and snapped his neck cleanly. You know what the odds of that are?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Very fucking low,¡± Warrick replied as he handed the folder back to the young man. ¡°Make a copy of this and return it when you¡¯re done.¡±


    ¡°So, ignoring the four dead guards who died from gunshot wounds. Six of these men had their throats slit and one died from a gunshot to the head and the last one had his neck opened and was shot by a sniper¡¯s bullet. Do you know what that means?¡± Warrick asked as he scanned the bullet holes that decorated the room.


    ¡°It means a group of Abnormals was present, Sir?¡± The woman replied with uncertainty.


    ¡°I think it was a single person who led this attack. We have two people who witnessed Fredrickson¡¯s vehicle being attacked, albeit briefly.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t have much knowledge about Abnormals but how could one survive a close-quarters fight with only a bladed weapon unscathed and then proceed to chase the councilor?¡±


    ¡°They had darkness as their advantage it looks like.¡± Warrick directed his gaze toward the broken ceiling lights. ¡°There was also a sniper who seemed to be working with this group of soldiers here. He may have accidentally fired at a teammate in the confusion. We found his vantage point but there are still more questions than answers.¡±


    ¡°Do you mean the broken gun, Sir?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, maybe the sniper managed to land a shot but only ended up hitting the pistol of the lone Abnormal? I can¡¯t be sure but I feel like it might be important.¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± A DSF officer called out to Warrick, quickly saluting before speaking, ¡°We¡¯ve found something. We followed up on the report of the gunshot heard in the Lower Wards and we¡¯ve found something.¡±


    ¡°Well, what is it?¡± Warrick asked.


    ¡°Two dead bodies. One seemed to have killed himself while the other had his throat slit. There was also radio equipment and identification cards that seemed to have been forged.¡±


    ¡°Alright...take me there,¡± Warrick ordered.


    The entire situation only grew more strange as they uncovered additional details.


    ¡­


    The next day arrived as expected, a report of an incident involving Councilor Fredrickson was spread out and a mandatory curfew was put in place for the entire city with the exception of government personnel.


    The day proceeded just as it usually would. The only thing that was notable was the massive amount of increased security placed around the councilors and frequent patrols in the Upper Wards. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that 3/4ths of DSF officers were assigned to the districts where councilors lived.


    Though, none of those things concerned Visette. She circulated her psionic power while the professor gave a lecture on the nature of Corrupted. A few sentences in and she realized that there was nothing new being taught. Since Charlie was in a separate class taking piloting courses, Visette had nothing else to do but channel psionic energy through her body.


    At least, that is until she took notice of a person moving through the hall. It was a brief glance but she spotted a member of the janitorial staff. If anything, her glance was reflexive but when another janitor walked past the door followed by an additional one, she began to get suspicious.


    Feeling that she should investigate further, Visette suddenly stood up and moved toward the door.


    ¡°...And that is why it is advised to remain as far away as possible when fighting Corrupted since they can- Um, Visette, are you okay?¡± The Professor, and the rest of the class, took notice of her.


    Visette ignored him and stepped out of the room while he called out behind her, ¡°If you need to go to the bathroom just say so!¡±


    She closed the door behind her and focused her psionic scan on the three ¡°janitors¡± briskly moving down the hall. And her expression showed a very faint amount of surprise as they were all Abnormals.


    ¡®Charlie.¡¯ Visette ignored the three Abnormals posing as staff and headed toward her locker.


    Along the way, she continued passing by Abnormals dressed as school staff but didn''t act. She only had a knife on hand and premature action could endanger Charlie.


    She finally arrived at her locker on the other side of the building and opened it, starting up the radio.


    [You¡¯ve reached the communication line for Commander Wakefield. Please identify yourself.] A female voice spoke from the other side of the line.


    ¡°Visette Thales.¡±


    [Please stand by.]


    The plain radio clicked a few times and Commander Wakefield¡¯s voice emerged.


    [What is the situation?]


    Visette became silent for a moment, realizing that she couldn¡¯t tell the Commander how she discovered the Abnormals.


    ¡°It appears that an unknown group has infiltrated the academy.¡±


    As expected, Commander Wakefield responded with a skepticism filled silence before his voice could be heard again, [...Have you discovered their goals?]


    ¡°No.¡±


    [And you¡¯re certain that the group is within the academy?]


    ¡°Yes, I suspect that they are Abnormals allied with the Freedom City.¡±


    [I will mobilize a unit and alert the Governor. The gun box in your locker should also receive an unlock signal very shortly. Your orders are to secure Charlie at any cost. You are to ensure that no harm comes to her and prioritize her safety over everyone else, do you understand me?]


    ¡°Understood,¡± Visette replied.


    The radio disconnected and the metal box inside her locker flashed with a green light before clicking open.


    Visette opened the box and discovered that there was a small revolver inside as well as a minimal amount of ammo. She quickly loaded the gun and stored it inside of her waistband and decided to act carefully.


    Even if she wasn¡¯t ordered to, she planned on protecting Charlie who she deemed to be a valuable asset.

 Chapter 38: Hostage Situation Pt.1

    With a gun and a radio tucked away, Visette headed toward a secondary building where Charlie was likely to be. The hall was all but empty until a ¡°janitor¡± pushing a cleaning cart turned a corner. He seemed startled by her appearance, seemingly recognizing her, but regained his calm and continued pushing his cart.


    Visette walked as normal as always and didn¡¯t give her intentions.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be getting back to class?¡± The man smiled. His janitors uniform seemed a bit too small for his upper body. His build resembled a soldier rather than an academy employee but Visette still scanned him to confirm what she already knew.


    ¡°I am going to use the lavatory,¡± Visette replied, hiding her true intentions.


    As the distance between them closed, he tightly gripped the broomstick and a snapping sound could be heard. When they were only steps away from each other, he raised the sharpened broomstick and thrust it at Visette but she twisted her body to dodge it. As the Abnormal posing as a janitor went to draw the stick in for another strike, Visette arrived in front of him and buried her knife in the side of his neck.


    His body immediately became weaker after receiving the fatal wound. He struggled for a few seconds before going limp and collapsing.


    Visette wasted no time in disposing of his body, opting to toss his fresh corpse into the cleaning cart only to discover a disassembled combat rifle was inside. She theorized that the Abnormals who infiltrated the school were attempting to take captives. If they were set on assaulting the academy directly, they could have done so very easily.


    Visette pulled the piece of the combat rifle out of the cart and quickly put it together. There was only one magazine available so she loaded it in and tossed the rifle over her shoulder before heading to the bathroom to dispose of the body.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, Charlie was busy jotting down notes as a semi-retired pilot gave a lecture on the structure of aerial vehicles.


    ¡°I wonder what Vis is doing¡­¡± She sighed.


    ¡°What was that Ms. Wakefield?¡± The pilot asked. He was a man in his mid-40¡¯s and likely had a great deal of experience with his age, but he seemed incredibly enthusiastic.


    ¡°I-I said that I was interested in the Hummingbird Aerial Craft,¡± Charlie said.


    ¡°Ah! That is my personal favorite,¡± The pilot replied, continuing with an excited face, ¡°Generally, Novidium batteries can last for months or years in some cases but the Hummingbird can drain in a day. Do any of you know why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the maneuverability comes with a high power cost,¡± A young man with blonde hair answered.


    ¡°That is correct! It doesn¡¯t have much speed and it cannot climb to a very high altitude, but it can provide battlefield support due to its agility. Now-¡± Just as the pilot was about to continue, the door to the classroom was kicked off its hinges and sent flying.


    The class became silent as a group of men with combat rifles walked in. At the forefront, a man with pale skin and a violent look about him began speaking.


    ¡°Listen up! You can think of me as your new teacher and these fine men with me as my helpers. Now, there are three rules to professor Luke¡¯s class!¡± The leader of the group, Luke, shouted. ¡°No fucking screaming. No fucking moving without being instructed to do so. And most importantly, no speaking unless spoken to. You all got that?¡±


    Luke scanned over the classroom, seemingly eager to find a deviant. Scars covered his face and his physique was threatening by itself, so to the students who had no combat experience, there was no one who wanted to speak up.


    ¡°Hold on! You can¡¯t just-¡± The pilot approached Luke and was grabbed by the throat in response.


    ¡°Ah, our first rule breaker!¡± Luke shouted with joy as one of his men strangled the pilot.


    ¡°Kill him?¡± Luke¡¯s ¡°assistant,¡± asked.


    ¡°Do it. We need to make an example out of these brats.¡±


    The pilot struggled for a few more agonizing moments before his entire body went limp.


    ¡°Anyone else?¡± Luke asked, but there was no one dumb enough to answer.


    Luke¡¯s lips curled in satisfaction as he spoke once more. ¡°Then all of you stand up and get in line. We¡¯ll be putting you in restraints for now.¡±


    As Luke¡¯s men moved to subdue the students, he spoke into a radio. ¡°This is team number one, we have the aerial side locked down.¡±


    [Alright, we¡¯ll be making the announcement shortly. Fox doesn¡¯t care if you have to rough them up but don¡¯t hurt them too bad and definitely don¡¯t kill anyone. Remember, the VIP¡¯s are off limits. Except for VT.]


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Luke shrugged.


    Charlie remained silent the entire time but she counted the number of men in the room finding a total of ten, including Luke. And the way Luke spoke, it seemed as if there were more around. But what stood out most was the abbreviation, VT.


    ¡®Visette!¡¯ Charlie guessed that VT was meant to describe Visette.


    Since it didn¡¯t seem like any of the assailants knew about her white-haired friend¡¯s abilities, she calmed herself.


    If there was anyone who could help her, it would be Visette. She only hoped that Visette would arrive in time.


    ¡­


    [Attention! There is an announcement for all of you wonderful students within this academy. The Freedom City Militia has now taken control and by now all exits should be chained shut and guarded. Most of your classmates, friends, and teachers have already been captured. Well, a few of your teachers may be dead already. In any case, there are stragglers about and it is in your best interest to come to one of the following four locations, the auditorium, the gymnasium, the cafeteria, or the library. If you are found hiding, you will be beaten. Severely. Now, please hurry to one of those four locations within ten minutes or expect a swift punishment.]


    Visette listened to the announcement in its entirety as she left the bathroom. The takeover happened faster than she expected, but considering the students were likely to be timid, it made sense. Especially when the enemies were likely to all be Abnormals.


    ¡®I have to avoid using firearms if possible.¡¯ Visette drew her knife and began running down the hallway.


    Her first goal was finding Charlie as she held the highest priority. She slipped past a few classrooms that were in the process of being taken over and headed straight for Charlie¡¯s location but suddenly stopped as she spotted a red glass case with a fire axe inside. She spread her psionic pulse to make sure no one was in her immediate vicinity before removing her jacket, wrapping it tightly around her fist, and breaking open the glass case. With her knife in one hand and a fire axe in the other, Visette resumed her journey.


    ¡­


    Back in Charlie¡¯s classroom, the students were huddled together, staring at the floor to avoid the gazes of their captors.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Do you know who my father is?!¡± A blonde-haired young man asked with more curiosity than fear.


    ¡°I do,¡± Luke replied as he pulled a cigarette out of his jacket and approached the student. Once he was close enough to look him in the eye, he lit the cigarette and took a long puff of it before speaking, ¡°Councilor William Locke is your father which makes you Jonah Locke.¡±


    ¡°Over there, that¡¯s Charlie Wakefield. Her father is Commander Nathan Wakefield.¡± Luke spoke, nodding his head toward Charlie who was startled by his knowledge of her.


    Before she could ask how he knew, Luke smiled and replied, ¡°I know most of your names. Those of you with influential parents, anyway. We were told that everyone who doesn¡¯t have a silver spoon upbringing is more expendable, you see.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you-¡± Jonah spoke once more but Luke cut him off immediately.


    ¡°Jonah, Jonah, Jonah. I¡¯m not confident that any of us can restrain ourselves and I¡¯ve been told not to hurt any VIP¡¯s like yourself...That doesn¡¯t apply to your friends.¡± As Luke finished speaking, he pointed to a random student. ¡°Grab that boy right there and take him for a walk.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± The student cried out as one of Luke¡¯s men grabbed him and dragged him out of the classroom.


    ¡°Please! No! I didn¡¯t do anything!¡± The student screamed and thrashed wildly but could do nothing to overpower an Abnormal.


    The entire time it happened, Jonah and Luke maintained eye contact.


    ¡®Please, Visette.¡¯ Charlie lowered her head, inwardly calling out for Vis to arrive.


    ¡­


    Just as Visette was approaching the classroom, she could hear someone shouting and hid around a corner.


    ¡°No!¡± A student screamed as he was dragged by his hair.


    ¡°Shut up, kid. You¡¯re only making me want to hit you more!¡± The Abnormal laid his gun against a locker and began beating the unfortunate student with his bare hands.


    Visette sent out a psionic pulse and felt dozens of presences within the classroom but none seemed to be in the process of exiting so she rushed toward the lone Abnormal.


    He was too busy beating up the innocent student to notice Visette until she was right in front of him.


    ¡°Huh-¡± He managed to mutter before she drove the fire axe into his neck.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The student let out a yelp as blood fell onto his face.


    Visette ignored him and lifted the dying Abnormal up without removing her fire axe. He hung on the axe like a decoration and she moved toward the classroom just like that.


    ¡°Done already?¡± An Abnormal asked as watched his teammate enter the classroom. ¡°Wait-¡±


    He discovered the blood and more importantly, the white-haired girl who was carrying the fresh corpse a little too late. Visette flicked her hand and threw her knife, sending it into his throat.


    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s her!¡± The other Abnormals took notice and raised their weapons.


    Visette jammed the firearms with her psionics and moved without fear, tossing the body that hung from the axe away before retrieving her knife from the throat of one of the Abnormals.


    ¡°Visette Thales, is it?¡± Luke asked with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re close to Charlie Wakefield, right? She¡¯s apparently the only one you talk to. Well, her and a young man named Arthur Scott I believe? If you move, she dies.¡±


    He pointed his rifle toward Charlie who curled up in panic but Visette¡¯s expression remained tranquil like a still pond. She slowly raised her axe up high and positioned it for a throw.


    ¡°I mean it!¡± Luke shouted although he had no intention of firing.


    Visette didn¡¯t know that but it didn¡¯t matter as she had already ensured their guns wouldn¡¯t fire. She infused psionic power into her arm and threw the axe.


    Before Luke and the other Abnormals could react, it had already struck him, knocking him onto the floor.


    ¡°Fire!¡± One of the Abnormals shouted before squeezing the trigger of their rifles.


    A symphony of clicks brought relief to the students but distress to the Abnormals. Visette had already dashed toward them and stabbed her knife into the abdomen of one Abnormal before delivering a powerful strike to his rib cage causing a loud snapping sound to ring out.


    After that, she practically leaped toward her next victim and sliced his throat open, moving on the next. The Abnormals abandoned their weapons and staged a pathetic attempt at hand to hand combat, striking at Visette but coming up empty. And each miss cost the group of Abnormals a life until there was only Luke left who squirmed on the floor.


    ¡°Fuck that hurt!¡± Luke shouted as he pulled the axe from his chest.


    Visette was curious as to how he survived until she noticed the thick metal chestplate that the axe was wedged in.


    ¡°I knew I wasn¡¯t being too careful by wearing this.¡± Luke tossed away the broken metal plate before drawing his own knife and assuming a defensive stance. ¡°That armor was meant to stop the claws of a Corrupted. If you threw it a bit harder, you would¡¯ve killed me-¡±


    Visette didn¡¯t let Luke finish and sprinted toward him with her knife in hand. She swung her knife without hesitation and Luke instantly found himself on the losing end. He was forced to keep moving to avoid her strikes but Visette pursued him relentlessly. Within ten seconds of their fight, Luke¡¯s arms were already decorated with cuts. He suddenly struck at what looked to be an opening, but Visette drove her knife into his abdomen, adeptly guiding the blade between his ribs. Then, she twisted the knife before driving her fist into Luke¡¯s throat, causing his head to recoil back. As if it wasn¡¯t enough, Visette kicked one of his legs causing him to fall forward and wrapped her arm around his neck and made a lifting motion.


    With a loud snap, Luke¡¯s body fell limp as Visette released her grip. Ignoring the pure shock of the students around her, she immediately approached Charlie and cut her free. Charlie didn¡¯t seem very surprised by the dead bodies Visette left behind. Strangely enough, Jonah didn¡¯t seem as shocked as everyone else either.


    ¡°Are you injured?¡± Visette asked as she examined Charlie¡¯s body with a psionic scan.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine!¡± Charlie hugged Visette upon being freed.


    ¡°Ah, everyone else!¡± She realized that the other students were still bound a few moments later.


    Visette selected one at random before cutting him free and pointing at Luke¡¯s knife, ¡°Cut the remaining restraints.¡±


    ¡°...Okay,¡± The girl replied sheepishly.


    ¡°Are you comfortable with handling a firearm?¡± Visette asked Charlie as she drew the revolver from her waistband.


    ¡°Yeah, I can shoot a revolver, easy.¡±


    ¡°Firing should not be necessary, it is only a precautionary measure. If you are uninjured then we should depart immediately.¡±


    ¡°Wait, where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Commander Wakefield instructed me to rescue you.¡±


    ¡°My Father did?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°...Is that the only reason you came to get me?¡±


    ¡°No, even if I did not receive the order I have already evaluated you as a valuable person and would have protected you regardless.¡±


    Charlie¡¯s face suddenly bloomed into a smile as Visette¡¯s words, as emotionless as they were, brought her comfort.


    ¡°Oh, but what about everyone else?¡± Charlie was suddenly brought back to reality by the eyes of the clueless students.


    ¡°They are not a priority.¡±


    ¡°Wait! You can¡¯t just leave! If they find out two of you escaped, what would happen to everyone else?!¡± Jonah shouted and his classmates began to agree with him. He was hesitant to press the issue further so he was relieved when everyone else did it for him.


    ¡°You can¡¯t just abandon us here.¡±


    ¡°My Father is a councilor, you have to get me out.¡±


    ¡°And my mother is an officer in the military, you have to get me out!¡±


    Visette¡¯s mind didn¡¯t change at all by the emotional pleas of her classmates but Charlie¡¯s became filled with complicated thoughts.


    ¡°Visette...I can¡¯t leave with everyone in danger.¡±


    ¡°You are my only priority, Charlie,¡± Visette replied before her gaze fell on the students. ¡°If I am obstructed in my attempt to rescue you, I will eliminate whoever is responsible.¡±


    Her words were so dull that it didn¡¯t feel like a threat. So it took a few moments for the meaning of her sentence to dawn upon those wanting to be saved. For the sake of accomplishing her task, she had no qualms with killing anyone, enemy or not, who tried to stop her. The smell of blood and bodies decorating the room seemed to sober her classmates up.


    ¡°At the very least, we have to- you have to rescue Arthur...We have to Vis. I won¡¯t go without him.¡±


    Visette lowered her head as her mind began racing. She was searching for the best possible compromise that allowed her to complete her objective with minimal risk. She briefly contemplated knocking Charlie unconscious and taking her out but she was ordered to prevent any harm from befalling the girl. That, and carrying Charlie over her shoulder would negatively impact her combat ability.


    ¡°I will find a safe location for you to stay and then I will proceed to rescue Arthur,¡± Visette finally spoke.


    ¡°Wait, can we at least come with you?¡± Jonah cautiously asked, even though he was much calmer when facing Luke.


    ¡°There is no issue but, as of now, I am under no obligation to provide protection to any of you,¡± Visette answered and then removed the radio from Luke¡¯s corpse. She felt it was best if she could keep tabs on her enemies and since she was undiscovered, it was all the more important.


    ¡°Remain close to me, Charlie,¡± Visette said before gripping the fire axe and heading for the door of the classroom.


    Outside, the beaten student had already run off in a panic but Visette wasn¡¯t concerned with finding him. She spread out her psionic pulse and searched for an empty room with a group of students in tow.

 Chapter 39: Hostage Situation Pt.2

    Visette quickly moved through the academy in search of Arthur. Of course, there were stray Abnormals patrolling the area and her previous victims would soon be discovered.


    [Team number one, come in.] The stolen radio Visette held buzzed. [...All teams, be on alert, contact with team one has been broken. Switch to the secondary channel.]


    It was smart of the Abnormals to have a fallback plan in case their line of communication was compromised, but they couldn¡¯t possibly plan for Visette. With a combination of psionic power and her nanites, she felt for the frequencies causing the radio to crackle. After a few seconds, she found the ¡°secondary¡± channel.


    [Team¡¯s three and team four, look for team one. Everyone else, hold tight, the DSF has been alerted and everything is going according to plan. We already set the explosives on the ]


    ¡°I wonder if those bastards are playing around with the students.¡± A voice echoed down the hall, causing Visette to hide in a doorway.


    ¡°You think? Fox seemed pretty damned serious when he told us not to hurt them too badly. And if we touch the important ones, I think we¡¯ll have to deal with Hawk.¡±


    ¡°Eh, Hawk? He¡¯s not so scary.¡±


    ¡°Fuck off, I once saw him kill a whole group of bastards tougher than you with a single pistol.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? I think I could take-¡±


    Before the pair could continue their conversation, Visette rushed out as they approached, she threw the fire axe, hitting one in the head, while the other reacted too late and was grabbed by the collar. He wasn¡¯t even able to get ahold of his gun as Visette slammed him into the hard floor before pressing her knee into his neck.


    ¡°What is your goal?¡± She asked calmly.


    ¡°Fuck off,¡± The Abnormal cursed.


    Seeing that he wouldn¡¯t cooperate, Visette simply held his head in place before delivering a fatal strike to the back of his neck, killing him on the spot.


    For her, she could see very little logic in interrogation. If she couldn¡¯t obtain it by asking, she would simply kill them. There was also the fact she hadn''t been trained to interrogate, but to kill.


    She sent out a psionic pulse, finding the immediate area to be clear, and tossed the lifeless bodies into an empty classroom.


    Visette decided to head for one of the gathering places the students were to be taken to. On her way, she passed the evacuation door that was the source of strange activity. She quickly looked over her shoulders, sending out another pulse, and once she sure no witnesses were present, she used her psionic power to twist the handle of the door. The metal croaked as it began to warp and twist under the immense pressure.


    In her mind, the fewer exits available for the Abnormals to escape from, the more beneficial it would be for her. After finishing, she headed to the cafeteria in search of Arthur.


    ¡­


    On the opposite side of the building, Charlie and a small group of nervous students sat in silence. Most of them were fearful of every little sound, except Jonah, who continued to glance at Charlie.


    ¡°Hey, Charlie?¡± Jonah began speaking.


    ¡°Hm?¡± Charlie replied. Both of her hands held onto the revolver tightly as she observed the only door into the supply room they were hiding in.


    ¡°That was weird back there, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Jonah asked.


    ¡°What was?¡±


    ¡°The Abnormals, all of their guns kind of jammed up but it was like Visette knew it would happen.¡±


    Charlie didn¡¯t turn to look at Jonah, but her shoulders trembled in surprise ever so slightly.


    ¡°Y-You know, they had to smuggle those guns in here somehow. Maybe they were just faulty?¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± Jonah narrowed his eyes, clearly seeing Charlie was hiding something. ¡°I wonder if she¡¯s working with them, the Abnormals I mean.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Charlie glared at him. ¡°Visette wouldn¡¯t do something like that and she saved your life so you shouldn¡¯t be so quick to say that!¡±


    Jonah paused for a second before making an apologetic smile, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just nervous that¡¯s all.¡±


    Charlie stared at him for a few moments longer before turning back to keep watch.


    ¡°Hey, uh, you know, I¡¯ve gone through firearms training before. If you want, I could keep hold of the gun and you can rest for a few...Think of it as an apology.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Charlie replied sharply. Inwardly, she finally realized Jonah¡¯s behavior was extremely calm for the situation.


    ¡°If you say so,¡± Jonah replied as he went to speak to the other students.


    A few minutes later, he returned with a young man who was covered in sweat.


    ¡°Hey, he has to use the bathroom,¡± Jonah spoke as he patted the young man¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Sorry, but you¡¯ll have to hold it.¡±


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t.¡± The nervous student responded.


    ¡°...Go, but hurry up and if you get caught, don¡¯t come back here,¡± Charlie gestured for him to leave so he hurriedly approached the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with him to keep an eye out.¡± Jonah volunteered before the two departed.


    By now, Charlie knew something was very wrong with Jonah. She looked to the students who were huddled together like frightened kittens and then to the gun in her hand. She was the only line of protection for them, but she had a feeling staying would result in trouble.


    She waited a few moments, long enough for Jonah and the other student to be out of earshot and then began speaking, ¡°...Come on, we have to go.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°What about those two?¡±


    The students began panicking and were very reluctant to step back outside in fear of being captured once more.


    ¡°There¡¯s no time, we have to go now,¡± Charlie spoke urgently, but the students all avoided her gaze. ¡°Fine...I¡¯ll go without you.¡±


    Charlie opened the door, quickly surveying the hallway before she left, leaving the panicked group behind.


    ¡­


    [Attention, we¡¯ve found Team One, or, what¡¯s left of them. It seems that VT is roaming around the academy building. Keep an eye out, and if you see a girl with white hair, shoot her.]


    Visette listened to the radio while surveying a sealed off the library. She spread out her psionic pulse and received a large amount of information in return.


    Four guards stood behind the door while there were another six gunmen on the east and west sides of the room.


    She found it extremely hard to enter without using the combat rifle hanging from her shoulder. Her mind raced like a well-tuned machine, running the most-likely scenarios to occur if she rushed in.


    ¡®Enter. Combat follows. Multiple firearms fired at various angles will lessen the space available to maneuver. The likelihood of exposing my psionic abilities increases...Creating a barrier of psionic energy inside to the room to suppress sound...Viable, but the energy expenditure is very high. Using a firearm may alert others of my presence...Final solution: Use the combat rifle to secure Arthur, followed by immediate extraction of Charlie Wakefield.¡¯If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    It didn¡¯t take more than two seconds for Visette to create her plan of action. Before she could enact it, she had to verify that Arthur was even present. So, she dropped the fire axe quietly approached the door and peered in.


    ¡°Oh, what a nice teacher!¡±


    Of the ten Abnormals, four were guarding the door, three stood watching the east side of the room and the other three were encircling a teacher.


    ¡°P-please, just let them go.¡± The old man pleaded as the Abnormals surrounded him.


    ¡°Oh? And what? Keep you instead? You aren¡¯t worth much.¡±


    ¡°Hey, here¡¯s an idea¡­¡± One of the men walked toward the group of children who were tied up and grabbed a girl by her hair.


    ¡°Stop!¡± She cried out as she was dragged along.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Along with a loud shout, a red-haired student leaped toward an Abnormal and attempted to shove him but was met with a swift punch to the face, knocking him down.


    ¡°Little bastard.¡± The Abnormal tossed the girl aside and began raining down kicks into his side.


    ¡°Arthur!¡± A few students who seemed to be familiar with him all cried out, but no one could move to help as the Abnormals kept their guns pointed at the group.


    That¡¯s when the two doors that were basically locked from the inside went flying into the air and a rain of bullets descended into the room.


    Visette made a huge leap forward and began firing at each of Abnormals. They were caught unaware and were completely unable to react so they could only fall as bullets tore through all of their vital areas.


    Visette rolled onto the ground and swung her rifle, searching for any threats she might¡¯ve missed but all the Abnormals collapsed lifelessly, spilling blood onto the floor.


    The room was silent and even Arthur was late to react to the fresh corpse lying atop him. Blood poured out of the dead Abnormal¡¯s head and chest, covering Arthur¡¯s shirt completely.


    ¡°V-Visette?¡± Arthur blinked in pure shock as he looked up, seeing a girl with white hair standing over him.


    ¡°Are you injured?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°N-No...You-¡± He stammered out before she lifted the corpse and tossed aside and pulled him to his feet.


    ¡°If you are not injured we will leave immediately.¡± Visette tossed away her emptied rifle and pried one away from one of the dead Abnormals before cutting Arthur¡¯s binds.


    ¡°What? Wait! What about everyone else?!¡± He asked.


    ¡°They are not my priority. If Charlie did not ask me to retrieve you, I would not have taken any action as it puts her safety at risk. If there are no other questions, we will leave now.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Arthur¡¯s expression went through several changes as he tried to comprehend the situation.


    Visette¡¯s cold, empty, eyes, her emotionless voice, and the dead bodies of the attackers that were littered around all made him take a step back, finding that Visette was far different from what he thought.


    ¡°I have to help them! You go if you need to!¡± Arthur shouted as an unknown, painful, feeling filled his chest.


    Visette stared at him, likely weighing a few choices in her head before she took a step toward him.


    ¡°W-What?¡± Arthur stepped back nervously.


    ¡°I have been asked to ensure no harm comes to Charlie. The same does not apply to you.¡± As Visette finished speaking, her fist struck Arthur directly in the center of his abdomen and winded him. ¡°We will depart now.¡±


    ¡°Arthur!¡± The students struggled to stop Visette but she pointed her rifle at them with one hand while the other dragged Arthur along. ¡°If you take aggressive action against me I will assume you to be an enemy.¡±


    Her voice caused many to reconsider their course of action and they could only watch as she hoisted a stunned Arthur over her shoulder and left the room.


    ¡­


    Charlie left the supply room and didn¡¯t look back once, Jonah was acting far too strangely for her to stick around and she wasn¡¯t willing to kill him. In fact, she didn¡¯t even want to shoot an Abnormal.


    ¡°I heard gunfire! I think it came from the library, come on!¡± A group of Abnormals rushed through the halls, their voices echoing.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Charlie panicked and tried to hide somewhere, but they turned the corner before she could find somewhere safe.


    ¡°Raise your hands and don¡¯t move!¡± Charlie aimed the revolver at the three Abnormals who were only a few meters from her.


    They paused and slowly raised their arms up, but they were all evaluating Charlie whose hands shook.


    ¡°Your Charlie Wakefield, aren¡¯t you?¡± One of them asked with a grin.


    ¡°Drop your weapons and kick them away!¡± Charlie shouted, pulling back the hammer with a loud click.


    ¡°Sure thing, Charlie Wakefield.¡±


    The Abnormals laughed to themselves and dropped their weapons before turning around.


    ¡°N-Now, stay there!¡± Charlie pressed her back against the wall of the hallway and cautiously moved past them.


    Once she neared the corner, she turned away and began sprinting as fast as she could.


    The three Abnormals picked up their weapons and hurriedly spoke on the radio.


    ¡°We¡¯ve found Charlie Wakefield! She¡¯s heading down the southern hallway with a gun in her hand!¡±


    [All teams patrolling, apprehend Charlie Wakefield at all costs! She is one of the most important individuals here! Be aware, shots were fired near the library and a team has gone unresponsive, believed to be the work of VT, keep an eye out]


    ¡­


    A few minutes prior to Charlie being discovered, Visette returned to the supply room with Arthur in hand but found two Abnormals standing guard at the door.


    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s her!¡± They noticed Visette heading toward them and raised their weapons to fire, but Visette raised the combat rifle with one hand and fired at them, sending two bullets into their skulls, dropping them without hesitation.


    She sent a psionic pulse into the supply room before kicking the door down. The students she rescued had ended up being tied up once more.


    ¡°Let...go¡­of...me-¡± Arthur¡¯s groaning was interrupted as Visette dropped him onto the ground like a bag of trash.


    She approached one of the students at random and grabbed them by the shirt.


    ¡°Where is Charlie Wakefield?¡± She asked.


    ¡°S-She left before the Abnormals came! It was Jonah, he¡¯s working with them and led them here!¡±


    After getting her answer, Visette dropped the student and moved to leave the distressed group when the radio rang out. She listened closely and heard the order to apprehend Charlie which caused her to stop after leaving the supply room. As her mission was in danger of failing, something like an alarm rang out in her head. Due to Minerva¡¯s mental suggestions, failure to achieve her mission was the worst possible outcome for her to experience. It was as if her entire being had entered an emergency state.


    ¡®Directive, rescue, and extract Charlie Wakefield. Eliminate any individual that interferes.¡¯


    Visette channeled psionic power into every aspect of her body while her psionic pulse spread beyond its limits, covering the entire academy.


    ¡®Possible target found.¡¯


    She honed in on a presence that was moving rapidly through the hallways as several followed closeby.


    ¡®Moving to retrieve Charlie Wakefield.¡¯


    Visette took a single step forward as her pupils glowed with a dim blue light. She pushed off, leaving a large indentation in the ground before she sprinted down the hallway with an incredible burst of speed. As she came to a turn, she came to a sudden stop, twisting her body, and pushing off once again, resuming her dash forward.


    She stumbled upon Abnormals running for Charlie¡¯s last known position and fired her bullets into a perfect trajectory, striking them dead without them even realizing they had died. She wasted no time in dealing with them and didn¡¯t care about alerting them anymore. She dispatched several small groups before running out of ammo but didn¡¯t stop to pick up another gun as she felt any time wasted would be detrimental.


    ¡­


    Charlie panted heavily as she came to a dead end. With a group of Abnormals following right behind her, there weren¡¯t many more options but surrendering to them.


    And, right on time, the Abnormals arrived only a few seconds after her.


    ¡°I hope you had a good bit of exercise, but let¡¯s just give it up, alright? There¡¯s no way you¡¯re getting out of here. Just come with us,¡± An Abnormal took the lead.


    They had her cornered, but none of them dared to raise their guns due to how important she was.


    ¡°Stay back!¡± Charlie raised her gun, waving it at each of them as they slowly approached.


    ¡°What, you gonna shoot us? We ain¡¯t gonna hurt you so stop putting up a fuss.¡± One chuckled as they surrounded her.


    Charlie began adding more pressure to the trigger, just as she felt it was about to fire, she turned her head and closed her eyes. Before a single gunshot rang out.


    Everything went silent and when Charlie opened her eyes, all of the Abnormals were dead. It wasn¡¯t a single bullet that miraculously managed to kill them, but something they wouldn¡¯t be able to comprehend.


    The battered and broken bodies of her pursuers were spread out in front of her, their torsos and heads twisted around at odd angles while their faces still held smiles. Charlie¡¯s eyes slowly looked at them before she turned her attention to Visette who stood in the center of the hall with a stream of blood flowing from her nose. The bullet Charlie fired was floating in the air right in front of Vis and felt to the ground with a soft metallic impact.


    ¡°I am escorting you out of the academy immediately.¡± Her voice was far more distant than it had been before and her blue pupils shined ominously.


    ¡°...Okay,¡± Charlie answered sheepishly, too scared to even ask about Arthur.


    Visette¡¯s pupils returned to normal as the two silently headed for the closest exit. After they descended a secluded stairwell, they came upon a door that read ¡°Emergency Exit Only¡± that was shut with a chain.


    Visette grabbed onto the chain and pulled it as hard as she could, snapping one of the links apart before opening the door.


    They stepped outside and although Charlie felt bad about leaving everyone else to an uncertain fate, she felt even worse when she realized that she made Visette go along with her whims.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± She muttered behind Visette as they moved away from the academy.


    There were already DSF and military personnel surrounding the school so all they had to do was reach them.


    ¡°Is there a need to be apologetic?¡± Visette replied.


    Somehow, Charlie felt that her voice was more lively than before. The image of Visette¡¯s frozen expression and her pupils that glimmered with a strange blue color was somewhat frightening to her. So she more than welcomed Visette reverting back to her normal self.


    ¡°...I guess not,¡± Charlie answered, but inwardly resolved herself never to put Visette in that situation again.

 Chapter 40: The Worst Possible Outcome Involves Visette

    Vaguely aware of the what was occurring, Fox narrowed his eyes in deep contemplation as he received updates of the situation.


    -The evacuation door has been twisted shut.


    -Half of the teams inside the school have been killed by Visette Thales according to the accounts of the students.


    -Visette Thales is far more dangerous than expected.


    -Charlie Wakefield and Visette Thales are missing, thought to have escaped.


    -There may be a set of traitors as one group was apparently given ¡°defective¡± weapons. When they attempted to fire at Visette Thales, all of their weapons malfunctioned at once.


    -Jonah Locke failed to find an opportunity to recruit Visette.


    -Councilor William Locke may have had his identity compromised putting the entire plan at risk.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see things proceeding like this,¡± Fox mumbled as he recalled every detail.


    ¡°So what do we do, Fox?¡± Hawk asked.


    ¡°Nothing for now,¡± Fox replied before elaborating, ¡°There is enough food to hold out for a while and they can still use explosives to get access to the evacuation shelter.¡±


    ¡°We spent months digging a tunnel into that evacuation shelter but a large explosion might cave it all in. We¡¯ll be in a lot of trouble if it all comes crashing down with those students and our people inside.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if our people are still ours, Hawk. What are the odds that every weapon would malfunction like that?¡±


    ¡°Impossible really, unless someone interfered with all of them.¡±


    ¡°So it wouldn¡¯t be much of a stretch to say that we may have a mole?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well, I still don¡¯t think one of our people would flip so easily. Maybe Visette Thales got her hands on the stashed weapons and sabotaged them ahead of time?¡±


    ¡°That is also a possibility, but if she knew of the attack beforehand do you think it would¡¯ve gotten this far?¡±


    ¡°Fuck, I don¡¯t know, Fox...You''re supposed to be the thinker, if there''s anyone who might know what that girl is thinking, it should be you.¡± Hawk ruffled his hair in frustration.


    "At the very least, we have avoided the worst possible outcome. If those explosive devices went off with our people inside, we wouldn''t have a way to keep New Mayhall from attacking," Fox said with a sigh.


    He gave some more thought to the situation at hand but felt there was much he couldn¡¯t get a grasp on. Without any other alternatives, he gave the order for the Abnormals to stand by and ensure the students aren¡¯t harmed. Before anything, the evacuation door needed to be pried open and the explosives needed to be set around the academy to scare off the DSF and military.


    ¡­


    ¡°Charlie!¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    Outside the academy, a reunion between mother and daughter occurred. Rachel¡¯s eyes were filled with worry for her daughter and she sent Visette at a grateful look from beyond a safety perimeter.


    ¡°Focus up.¡± Lyn¡¯s voice drew Visette¡¯s attention.


    They stood near an equipment truck filled with weapons and armor and went over a floor plan of the academy. Near Visette and Lyn, there was another squad of Abnormals but they numbered five in total while Visette and Lyn were a pair.


    ¡°So here¡¯s the plan...¡± Lyn began speaking, ¡°The Governor ordered we rescue the children of government officials at all costs.¡±


    ¡°How do you suppose we do that?¡± An Abnormal soldier asked from the side.


    ¡°We don¡¯t, she will.¡± Lyn pointed to Visette.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Stop fucking with us, O¡¯Hara.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    They voiced their undisguised disagreement with her way of doing things.


    ¡°I am,¡± Lyn replied, continuing with a frown, ¡°While you may not like it for different reasons, I don''t want to put her at risk, but those are the Commander¡¯s orders.¡±


    ¡°...So what the hell is one girl supposed to do?¡± The second squad looked at Visette who, with the exception of her beautiful features and white hair, seemed like a pretty ordinary student at a glance.


    ¡°That one girl is probably worth much more than you are. Unless you can sprout multiple Abnormal traits right now?¡± Lyn smirked.


    She was far off on her estimation of Visette''s worth though. Even an entire army of soldiers wasn''t worth as much as Minerva''s genetically engineered war machine.


    ¡°...Shit, when you put it like that, it''s hard not to agree.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, now listen, we¡¯ll have snipers up high watching exits. Visette will infiltrate first since she knows the location of the students and thanks to her¡­¡± Lyn lifted a radio into the air. ¡°We can listen in on their plans. For now, it seems that their highest priority is keeping the students safe so they can use them as leverage.¡±


    ¡°That can all change in an instant though.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why we have to move immediately after Visette causes a big enough of a distraction. After that, we''ll monitor the fleeing students from the east stairwell and move when it''s necessary... There should be no problems, this isn¡¯t the first time someone has been held hostage for a ransom, it¡¯s just that there are a few more captives than usual. Now, if we all got it, get loaded up and get in position. We don¡¯t have much time.¡± Lyn sent the second team away before bringing Visette inside the equipment van and closing the door.


    Her face and tone immediately became graver as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to the Commander about Jonah Locke and if that kid is working with the Abnormals than his father probably is too. I suspect that he¡¯s the reason for Roslin sending that group. He probably helped arranged this entire thing too.¡±


    ¡°How will he be handled?¡± Visette inquired as she began to remove her academy uniform and equipped the military infiltration gear lining the inside of the vehicle.


    ¡°Well, the Commander doesn¡¯t want to spook him just yet but there¡¯s a team in place to capture him. As for Jonah Locke?¡± Lyn shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ve been told to capture him alive in order to gain William¡¯s cooperation, but I say the only good traitor is a dead one. If he ends up dying during your fight I doubt you¡¯ll get much heat for it.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Visette responded as she equipped the last piece of equipment, a metal face mask that was good for protecting against Corrupted claws as well as low-caliber bullets.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    She grabbed a combat rifle and equipped a suppressor to it before doing the same to a semi-automatic pistol usually used by the DSF.


    ¡°Hey, maybe you could try to leave some alive for interrogation this time, Vis.¡± Lyn said as Visette headed back toward the building. She was referring to the incident with Demetrius and the fact the Visette killed them all even when she didn¡¯t need to.


    ¡°I will do so if it is possible, but I cannot guarantee it,¡± Visette replied.


    As always, she would opt for the complete elimination of all targets designated as enemies.


    ¡­


    Unlike her exit, Visette reentrance into the academy was silent and stealthy though she didn¡¯t intend to keep it that way for long. Her mission was to eliminate all targets she deemed to be hostile. Her rifle hung onto her back while one hand held a pistol equipped with a suppressor and the other held a combat knife.


    As entered into the silent building, she immediately ran into an Abnormal who was busy rummaging through a student¡¯s locker. He was too busy looting to notice her so she aimed her pistol at his head and fired a single shot before moving past him as he fell limp against the locker.


    She advanced through the halls, picking off straggling Abnormals and loose groups patrols that were already on high-alert but at the same time, didn¡¯t think that Visette would re-enter the school.


    She paused briefly to drop an empty magazine onto the ground before loading in a new one.


    [Visette, do you read me?] Lyn suddenly radioed in.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette answered.


    [I can confirm that there are explosives in the west corridor. I don¡¯t how you¡¯ll go about getting rid of them, but try to take out enough of those bastards so we won¡¯t have to worry about the entire building coming down.]


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    As Visette finished speaking, she kicked the door of a classroom and fired three muffled shots, striking three Abnormals caught unaware. The students inside sat frozen in terror, still recoiling from the sudden deaths that just occurred.


    Paying no heed to their feelings, Visette began speaking, ¡°Go to the east stairwell.¡±


    She didn¡¯t stay to give an explanation and headed toward her next destination. Just as she was about to head down another hall she sent out a psionic pulse ahead of her and came to a stop.


    ¡°None of you even fucking look at me!¡± An Abnormal with a short temper screamed at the students who were arranged in a line, their eyes pointing at the floor out of fear of upsetting the clearly violent men armed with guns.


    ¡°Calm down a little,¡± An Abnormal who carried a wide machete said.


    ¡°Calm down? How the fuck do we get to the evac tunnel? I got enough to worry about let alone the feelings of some fucking brats. I say we just kill a few of them and be done with it, lighten the load a little.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you heard Fox¡¯s orders, we have enough food to last for a while if need be so just-¡±


    A suppressed gunshot interrupted the machete-wielding Abnormal as he felt a sharp pain shoot through his chest, he looked down to see a fresh bullet wound and before he could do anything else, another shot pierced his skull.


    ¡°Shit!¡± His aggravated companion grabbed a male student, pulling the frightened boy in front of him to use as a human shield. ¡°You take another step and I kill him!¡±


    He shouted before he even looked at his enemy, an individual wearing black tactical gear with a mask that hid their appearance.


    His threat gave his enemy pause, seemingly carefully considering the repercussions, at least, that¡¯s what he assumed until his body became frozen stiff. An unknown force locked his body in place and right as the terror truly began to set in, a bullet freed him of his plight.


    The would-be hostage jolted as a warm splatter of blood caked his face.


    ¡°Go to the east stairwell.¡± Visette left the students with a single sentence before moving on.


    Whether they made it or not wasn''t her concern.


    ¡­


    Visette left a silent path of death as she grew closer to the main gathering of students, the auditorium. Once a play where staff gave speeches, students enacted plays, and a multitude of other activities occurred, was now a room for hostages.


    A dozen or so Abnormals guarded every exit while several more were constantly patrolling the rows of students who were tied up and clearly afraid.


    Visette scanned the interior before contemplating the execution of her attack. With so many non-combatants she needed to take certain precautions as a misstep would put them at risk. If she didn¡¯t have to worry about stray bullets hitting the students, she would¡¯ve cut the lights and rushed in, using her psionics as she pleased. She was certain she could kill the Abnormals in a few seconds, but she was not confident in her ability to protect dozens of students that were all grouped together. That went doubly so when they were likely to panic in a dark room with a hail of bullets raining down.


    Her current plan was as follows, draw attention to the side of the auditorium with the least amount of students present, from there, she needed to take one Abnormal as a shield so she could use her psionic distortion field and redirect the trajectory of bullets without drawing suspicion. After that, it would be extremely easy to pick her targets off from a distance, though the gunfire would send most of the Abnormals toward her position.


    As it stood now, she had made it to the center of the academy within a few minutes. The time for patrols to check could only be several or so minutes away so she was sure to be discovered regardless. It was up to her to decide which manner the discovery would occur.


    Visette tapped on the door and an Abnormal cautiously approached, but, before he could open it, she kicked it ajar and rushed in. She buried her knife under his ribcage and slightly lifted him off the ground slightly with the blade still within him.


    ¡°Shit! Someone¡¯s here!¡±


    It went without saying, but the commotion drew the Abnormal¡¯s attention and they fired on their own ally without a second thought.


    The bullets ripped through that unfortunate Abnormal¡¯s flesh, spilling his blood onto the floor, but Visette remained unharmed as she concentrated her distortion field toward her front. One hand gripped the handle of the knife and kept the Abnormal up as her shield while the other squeezed the trigger of her pistol, each shot hit true and knocked an Abnormal down without missing.


    Her streak of perfect accuracy continued and the Abnormals quickly caught on.


    ¡°Shit! That¡¯s an Abnormal!¡± One of them shouted as he dove behind cover.


    There was only a handful left by the time the realization came, but nonetheless, they reacted well, hiding in cover. Visette fired off a few more rounds, attempting to strike them behind cover but the bullets were unable to penetrate much. She soon heard a click, indicating she had run dry, and released the mag, letting it fall to the ground.


    ¡°That asshole is out!¡± A perceptive Abnormal shouted.


    ¡°Well so am I!¡±


    ¡°Shit, ammo check!¡±


    ¡°Out!¡±


    ¡°Out!¡±


    ¡°Dry!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m out too!¡±


    ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Seriously?! Who thought that a single mag would be enough for this fucking job?!¡±


    ¡°Well, even the almighty Fox couldn¡¯t predict such a big fuck up! Now, get your weapons out and let¡¯s jump this bastard! On three!¡±


    Visette pried her knife out of the Abnormal¡¯s body, letting his sponge-like corpse fall and holstered her pistol.


    ¡°Three!¡± The Abnormal leaped at her from all sides, brandishing blades, batons, and poles.


    She knew that the rifle on her back could deal with them at once, but she decided not to waste any ammo when a firefight would surely ensue when she finished.


    She dodged an Abnormal who swung with too much force, leaving himself open for Visette¡¯s counterattack which was much more efficient, a blade sunk into his soft abdomen and tore horizontally while he screamed in agony, grasping at his entrails before collapsing.


    Another Abnormal struck while Visette¡¯s back was turned but she spun around quickly, temporarily reinforcing her arm with psionic energy and deflecting the blow before stabbing the knife into his throat.


    She was forced to let go of her own blade as two other Abnormals arrived, one thrust a knife forward but Visette caught his arm and redirected his path toward his friend. He could only drop his jaw in horror as his knife was guided into his own ally¡¯s throat.


    ¡°You fucker!¡± He yelled but Visette paid no heed to the insults, filling her arm with psionic power and striking at his ribs with quick, powerful, strikes, before adding a heavy straight to his sternum and delivering a single high kick to the side of his head for good measure. His body rolled a few meters before becoming still, if there was still any doubt to whether he was alive, his bloodshot eyes and indented skull dispelled it all at once.


    Visette immediately resumed a combative stance but found all of her enemies were dead. She released some of the tension from her body and recovered her knife, and removed the combat rifle from her back.


    The combat knife came with a bayonet fixture so she took a few seconds to place it onto the barrel of her rifle before checking the magazine and flicking the safety off.


    ¡°Go to the east stairwell.¡±


    She knew that she had to move quickly so she left the auditorium while a shout rang out on the intercom.


    [All available teams! Head for the auditorium hallway and shoot anything that moves! Half of our patrols have gone radio silent which means whoever was just shooting is wiping us out! Kill them before this entire thing goes upside down!]


    Perhaps, if Visette was capable of feeling joy, she would derive some form of it from knowing her enemies were panicked. But that feeling wasn¡¯t able to manifest itself inside of her and instead, a cold, hardened, resolve that was devoid of all emotion, filled in for it.


    Hostile targets needed to be eliminated and that¡¯s what Visette would do. So, she held her rifle with an iron grip as she headed down the hallway to intercept her enemies with the intent of wiping all of them out.

 Chapter 41: Not Her Match

    ¡°Fuck my life! Fuck! Fuck!¡± An Abnormal outwardly cursed and inwardly cursed himself for joining his current mission, cursed Fox for giving the mission to him, and cursed the black-clad individual currently killing their way down a hallway.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± One of his comrades shouted from the other side of the hall. ¡°Return fire!¡± He ordered before peeking his head around the corner and letting bullets fly from his rifle.


    Suddenly, his body became loose as his head was split open and he fell onto the ground. He was not alone in his situation though as many other bodies of Freedom City Abnormals decorated the floor.


    ¡°Fuck my fucking life!¡± The Abnormal resumed his cursing, blindly firing into the hall, too scared to peek at his target. His gun clicked and he was forced to abandon his rifle and fish through the bodies of his companions in order to find a new one. As he found one, he overturned a corpse, and just as he was about to pry it loose, a pair of boots appeared in front of his face.


    His body began trembling as he slowly panned up, finding a figure wearing a ballistic masking staring down at him, pointing a rifle at his face.


    ¡°I-I-I,¡± He stuttered.


    Visette stabbed her bayonet into his throat and he could stutter no longer. She stepped over his body while unloading her magazine and tucking it into her vest, before loading a new one and continuing on.


    She had cleared the gym, the library, the auditorium, and was headed to the cafeteria as her last stop. On the way, there were waves of Abnormals she had to face, one after another, but they were all dealt with accordingly.


    She suddenly stopped, turning toward a corner of the building that held a large set of metal cases emitting an ominous beeping sound.


    ¡®Explosive devices.¡¯ She thought to herself as she approached.


    There were certainly enough explosives to level the floor of the building and if used in conjunction with more bombs, the entire academy would crumble. She removed her glove and pinched the wiring between her forefinger and thumb before they began to glow blue. A series of electric crackles put the bomb out of commission, making it nothing more than a dud.


    Visette put her glove back on and resumed her course heading for the cafeteria. Her psionic pulse was hard at work and she felt multiple presences just beyond the doors of the lunchroom. At first, she assumed them to be students, but then, after sending another pulse, she found they were arranged in a crossfire formation.


    ¡®Anyone inside is likely to be an enemy.¡¯


    She prepared herself to face another fight, pressing her back against the wall and slowly walking toward the doorway.


    She urged the door open with her psionic power and it creaked just loud enough to alert the Abnormals inside. They immediately fired without wasting time investigating whatever was outside. Bullets ripped through the double doors, reducing them to nothing but splinters and dust.


    ¡°Tossing a grenade!¡± An Abnormal pulled the pin to a cylindrical explosive device before chucking it over the flipped cafeteria tables that functioned as cover.


    As it bounced onto the floor a few times, it landed outside the cafeteria where Visette stood. She took one glance and used her psionic power to lock the lever in place before sending it back, but at a much faster speed.


    The grenade hit a table and exploded as soon as her psionic power was released sending shrapnel everywhere.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    As confusion and smoke filled the room, Visette rushed in with her psionics in full spin. Under her manipulation, some of the Abnormals began to fire at one another.


    ¡°Watch it!¡±


    ¡°Friendly! Friendly!¡±


    ¡°Stop shooting!¡±


    As they called out to their friends, they received no response since they were being shot at by corpses being forced to hold the trigger until the magazines were exhausted. When the smoke began to clear, Visette had already leaped past the overturned tables and straight into the remaining group of Abnormals.


    At first, she brandished her bayonet, cutting a few down while pressing forward, but as she saw no students present, she was able to use her psionics more freely as all witnesses would be killed anyway. Like that, Abnormals who had grenades in their possession were stupefied as the pins were pulled, but that surprise could only last for a second before they were flung away into a wall. Their upper bodies were nearly blown apart as multiple explosions reverberated throughout the cafeteria.


    She fired a dozen rounds in an entire group before turning to face the last three Abnormals. Just as they were about to shoot at her, their bodies froze completely. The Abnormal in the center was forced to raise his gun and put a round into his two companions that were unable to resist. The last Abnormal had his head twisted 180 degrees with a crisp snapping sound before they all dropped.


    She sent out another psionic pulse just as she was about to leave and found there was still one more ¡°active¡± presence in the room. A wide metal refrigeration that was clearly turned off, had a door slightly ajar, though she didn¡¯t notice it beforehand.


    She approached the fridge with her gun raised only to swing the door open with her psionics, discovering a teacher huddled inside.


    ¡°Y-You! What the fuck are you?!¡± He screamed in pure terror, showing much more fear toward Visette rather than the Abnormals.


    ¡°You witnessed the fight that occurred?¡± Visette inquired emotionlessly.


    ¡°Get away you fucking monster!¡± The teacher yelled.


    Visette raised her rifle and sent a round into his head before he could continue on. It was unfortunate for him, but since he happened to see her psionic abilities he was automatically designated as a target in her eyes. One life was surely not worth the risk of exposing the one thing that would almost absolutely guarantee her safety in the new world she found herself in.


    After checking for any other witnesses and finding none, she left with peace of mind so to speak. She decided to be more thorough in her detection in order to reduce the amount of risk when using her psionics.


    ¡­


    In an office far away from Visette¡¯s current position, Jonah Locke, the son of Councilor William Locke, paced back and forth in a panic. He didn¡¯t know the situation outside and if his father became exposed, he¡¯d be a liability to the Abnormals rather than an ally. He could only take solace in the fact that the news of his father¡¯s arrest didn¡¯t come.


    ¡°So, what the hell do we do with him again, kid?¡± An Abnormal asked, pointing to a red-haired young man who was strapped to a chair and gagged with tape.


    ¡°He¡¯s Arthur Scott, a friend of Charlie Wakefield¡¯s. We can use him as a bargaining chip at the very least.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you heard, but Charlie Wakefield and Visette Thales probably escaped without him and now we got some unknown person killing our guys as we speak. So I can¡¯t see the reason in keeping one guy around.¡±


    At those words, Arthur¡¯s gaze darkened as he seemed to lose hope.


    ¡°It was only a suggestion,¡± Jonah replied.


    The Abnormals around the office all shared a look with each other due to Jonah¡¯s unrestrained tone.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to be rude, I¡¯m just a little nervous.¡± Jonah quickly spoke before the mood turned.


    ¡°...Well, I guess you have a point. In any case, that idea you had earlier was pretty good. Putting those students near the explosives should be enough to stop them from going any further.¡±


    The Abnormals all voiced their agreement with a few laughs to get rid of their nervousness. There was never a time where they would¡¯ve thought the situation would be reversed so badly.


    ¡°That¡¯s too bad though, it would¡¯ve been nice to use you as bait.¡± One of the Abnormals lightly smacked Arthur¡¯s face eliciting an angry glare from the boy.


    ¡°You keep looking at me like that and my hits are gonna get a lot harder.¡±


    Arthur was forced to look away due to the threat which caused the Abnormal to laugh.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s better.¡±


    Just like that, the Abnormals attempted to form a counter strategy that was doomed to fail due to the nature of the opponent they faced.

 Chapter 42: More Important Issues At Hand

    [Who the fuck is this girl?]


    The radio line between New Mayhall¡¯s military team buzzed.


    [Anton¡¯s Daughter maybe.]


    Someone tried to laugh it off.


    [No, you may just be right.]


    As the team moved through the academy, helping students and a few teachers evacuate, Visette¡¯s handiwork was more than clear for all to see.


    [I think I understand why Commander Wakefield sent her in ahead of us.]


    [Let¡¯s just hope she doesn¡¯t cause this entire thing to go heads up. We still have to get rid of those explosives.]


    While Visette was clearing the academy of enemies, the second team was more or less busy picking up after her.


    ¡­


    The person in question removed an empty magazine and loaded in a new one as puffs of gunpowder and smoke wafted through the room.


    There were Abnormals inside of it when she entered, but when she left there were only corpses. Though she dispatched them with ease, it was hard to say if she was even using a tenth of her real potential. That didn¡¯t imply that she was holding back, but that even she couldn¡¯t understand what else lay inside of her though she made a bit of progress it would be much easier if Minerva was there to mold her into the weapon she was.


    Whatever the case was, Visette¡¯s thoughts were focused elsewhere. Judging by the information exchanged through the Abnormals ¡°secure¡± line, there was one last group of students being held on the second floor. Apparently, that¡¯s where the strongest Abnormals of the group were to be found as well as multiple explosives.


    She selected that place as her next destination as her target before the intercom rang out.


    [Listen to me, whoever the fuck you are, we¡¯ve rigged a bunch of these precious students up to a few explosive devices. If you¡¯re willing to risk their lives, then, by all means, come up here and let¡¯s have a chat. I¡¯ll warn you though, you¡¯ve pushed us to the point where negotiation has become meaningless. Unless you-]


    The intercom whirred loudly before going completely silent.


    Visette had used her fist to break through a wall, before tapping into an electrical line and disrupting it completely. The lights in the school flickered on and off as the power switched to one of the backup batteries installed, but even then, the lights were dim as they only served as a backup.


    There was one last group she had to secure and as the dangers of doing so became higher, so did her reservations with using her psionics. Though she would take necessary precaution to ensure she wasn¡¯t discovered.


    [Hey, Vis?] Lyn radioed.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    [Did you hear that? Take extra care not to set off any sort of devices, got it?]


    ¡°Understood,¡± Visette responded while ascending the stairs to the second floor.


    Once she arrived, it was eerily quiet with no sign of Abnormals to be found. Of course, that all changed once she sent out a psionic pulse. Discovering a few presences on the far side of the upper floor as well as one more floor above her. She was in no rush to reach the third floor when there were people to be eliminated on the current one.


    She approached the room and used another psionic pulse to get a layout of the inside, discovering five completely stationary presences as well as a few objects, most likely explosive devices. She assumed that they were busy setting the devices up so she seized the opportunity for a surprise attack.


    She kicked the door open in a practiced manner before she opened fire, striking three of the ¡°Abnormals¡± perfectly. Only, something seemed off as the final two still remained seated even after their companions died.


    She performed an in-depth scan and discovered that they were corpses taped to the chair and dressed in clothes from Abnormals. Even stranger, their bodies were equipped with radios with the receiver left on. It meant whoever was on the other side of the line would¡¯ve heard the gunfire which would also act as a signal.


    ¡®A situation set up for an ambush.¡¯ The realization clicked in Visette¡¯s head as a bright light clicked on the box of explosives.


    She raised her psionic barrier to its maximum power before adding a second layer that covered the surface of her entire body as she quickly retreated. A deafening explosion engulfed her as well as a wave of fire.


    ¡­


    Visette found a strange memory emerging as her mind stirred.


    ¡°Subject seven hundred sixty-seven, you may come to know me as Dr. Theresa Hagen. Your estimated mental capability will far exceed any known human, living or dead, so there''s a chance that you may recall this conversation. It may happen months or even years after you¡¯re released from liquid stasis. The artificial memories will hamper your recollection to some extent but I am confident this message will reach you...I want you to know that...there are many things I regret, but one surpasses them all. I regret how selfish I¡¯ve been until now. Your mother, no, the woman listed in the records isn¡¯t your mother. You¡¯re¡­¡± Dr. Hagen struggled for the right words to say.


    Her footsteps echoed in Visette¡¯s mind as she approached the liquid stasis tank, pressing her hand against the glass.


    ¡°I have to admit that I¡¯ve been incredibly selfish in my work, but it wasn¡¯t always that way. I discovered that I could not have children without first going through various procedures very early in my career. I wasn¡¯t bothered then as I did not have the time or desire to settle down so to speak. If anything, knowing that I could not have children was a relief and it allowed my work consume me entirely, as a result, the limits of what I wanted to achieve grew, especially with our research to make you. Seven hundred and sixty-seven human subjects were tested before we arrived at you. That woman who carried you, the nameless addict who was nearly brain-dead when everything was at its end, was not your mother, she acted as a surrogate for...me.¡±


    After a brief pause, Theresa began speaking again, ¡°...The truth is, I substituted my own DNA and allowed her to carry you while paying her a hefty sum of money for it. I knew that the likelihood of survival was extremely low for you, I knew that when that woman injected poison into her veins, it would all but destroy you. And yet¡­¡±


    Dr. Hagen choked on emotion as she paused, her hand moved from the glass and the faint sound of tears being brushed away could be barely heard.


    ¡°And yet you survived.¡± She finally said, continuing with a heavy tone, ¡°Not only survived, but you became the only viable subject for the Blue Swan Neuro Implant, Morningstar Nanites, and Cronus Gene. The perfect subject and the final result of our research.¡±


    Dr. Theresa touched the glass softly once again. ¡°I should feel joy for completing years of research and hard work,¡± She said in a voice full of self-mockery. ¡°But even if I pretend to be excited for what I accomplished, I feel nothing but regret for my selfish decision...What kind of mother would make her own child into this?¡±


    As Dr. Hagen finished speaking, she broke down into tears that resonated in Visette¡¯s mind.


    The crying grew louder and louder until it resembled the cry of an alarm rather than a human showing emotional instability.


    It was a high-pitched ringing that filled Visette¡¯s consciousness.


    ¡­


    The ringing of the academy¡¯s fire alarm combined with Visette¡¯s ears recovering from the shock they experienced created an odd noise as she regained her wits.


    Visette opened her eyes as the emergency sprinklers poured generous amounts of water into the smoke field floor.


    Memories aside, Visette first examined her current condition.


    ¡®Heart rate, normal. Mild concussive effects, unlikely to impede mental processes. State of internal organs, minute damage to lungs and kidneys. Skeletal structure, small fractures to several ribs. Synopsis, the primary psionic field I created managed to negate a majority of the explosion but ultimately was destroyed due to not properly estimating the destructive force. The secondary psionic field prevented greater injury from occurring but failed to completely reduce the force of impact. Current condition ...acceptable.¡¯


    Visette rose to her feet and removed the shattered ballistic mask from her face, tossing it aside. It appeared that some shrapnel propelled by the explosion was the source of its destruction. Her armor that was meant to stop bullets was also rendered useless so she removed the black vest from her body as it was completely unnecessary. There was nothing to say about the melted hunk of plastic that should¡¯ve been a radio. She was even forced to toss the rifle aside as it couldn¡¯t survive the event, but knife affixed as a bayonet managed to make it through.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    With only a knife in her hand, Visette turned her sight toward the stairwell leading to the third floor. The disheveled strands of white hair added to her distressed image, but her eyes remained calm and still.


    She recalled the trap that was set for her and made mental notes of how she would have acted differently if given the chance. If she simply blocked the pathway of the explosion with a psionic barrier, the energy would be forced to move elsewhere.


    The revelation that was imparted to her by Dr.Hagen took up less of an important role in her mind because of the fact she failed to properly comprehend it. Knowing, that one of her creators was, in fact, her biological mother created a strange conflict of information. On one hand, she wanted to designate it as miscellaneous information, but on the other, she felt it held some significance though she couldn¡¯t explain why. Her mind was unable to process the significance of knowing her biological mother, so without a way to properly accept the information, she ignored it for the time being.


    ¡®The topic of Dr.Hagen is currently irrelevant.¡¯ She told herself as she advanced upstairs.


    She sent out a psionic pulse and felt multiple presences that were most likely awaiting the arrival of an enemy. There was only a knife in her hand and the Abnormals waiting for her were likely to be armed.


    Even while knowing that, Visette pushed open the metal door and was greeted by a team of Abnormals who pointed their guns directly at her.


    ¡°...It¡¯s Visette Thales! She was the one killing all of our guys!¡± An Abnormal shouted before grabbing his radio.


    He attempted to send a message, but his body froze before his limbs began to move. He panicked as the out of body sensation instilled pure fear in his heart. He wanted to cry out to his companions, but they seemed to be under the same effects as him.


    Out of the dozen Abnormals gathered, none of them were able to move. They could only stare ahead at the stone-faced girl who stood with her hand outstretched.


    The Abnormals at the far back of the group raised their weapons and began firing at their companions without hesitation. Muffled cries emerged from their lips as they were forced to gun down people they had called friends not too long ago.


    Just like that, more than half of the group was dealt with, leaving the inadvertent murderers to be dealt with. One of them suddenly made a strange, retching sound, as an incredible force squeezed his torso from all sides forcing large amounts of blood out of his face.


    Visette had realized one thing, the lives of the students were only important to the members of the government. The likelihood of someone that could prove useful to her being among their number was incredibly low. So, if they witnessed her psionic abilities, she would deal with accordingly. In her eyes, maintaining her safety was her highest priority and everything else came second. She was aware of the scope of her abilities so it didn¡¯t make sense for her to risk her own life for non-essential individuals. There was also the fact that without conclusive evidence, there was almost no one on Novo Prime who could possibly guess the true nature of her ability.


    As the epiphany hit her, an Abnormal let out a short scream as his body was thrown into a wall and he was crushed against it like an insect. The last remaining Abnormal seemed to have suffered a mental break as he let out a continuous laugh of disbelief through his clenched jaw.


    Unwilling to waste any time on the man, she forced his neck to twist 180 degrees and soon stepped over his body.


    She moved into a room, finding the very last group of students all rigged up to an explosive device. With her knife in hand, she moved toward the loose wiring and pinched one of the cords connected to the highly-volatile explosives.


    ¡°What are you doing?! You¡¯re gonna blow us all up if you just cut a random cord!¡± A teacher screamed in a panic.


    ¡°Stop!¡± A student was clearly fearful of such an outcome and voiced their dissent.


    ¡°Yeah, just, wait for the DSF to come! We¡¯ll be okay until then!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch it! My father¡¯s a councilor and if I die, you¡¯ll be in trouble!¡±


    Visette ignored all of them and cut a random wire, of course, she altered the electrical signal before doing it. To the students, it appeared she had cut a wire without any rhyme or reason, but she disabled it before the wire was severed.


    She tossed her knife in front of one of the students and left the room without saying another word. There was one remaining room, a small office, where two presences remained so she headed straight for it.


    A detailed scan of the interior showed the two people inside were normal human beings who were still alive.


    She gripped the door handle and ripped it off the hinges, tossing it away and entering the room with a psionic distortion field around her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move! I¡¯ll kill him!¡± Jonah shouted as he pressed a gun to the head of Arthur who was bound in a chair.


    Visette took a moment to assess the situation before speaking, ¡°You will not kill Arthur as the only possibility of escape is reliant on you keeping him alive.¡±


    Jonah cocked the gun and pushed it against Arthur¡¯s head, ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t? I¡¯m dead either way right...? Did you already kill my father? What about my mother? You¡¯re going to kill me too aren¡¯t you?!¡±


    Visette recalled Lyn¡¯s words about capturing Jonah alive or killing him.


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± She answered with what Jonah felt was surprising honesty.


    Arthur, who couldn¡¯t speak, let his horrified expression speak for him. Even if she planned to kill Jonah, telling him that fact outright was the same as telling him to kill Arthur.


    Jonah, who was expecting some sort of negotiation, recoiled for a second before attempting to fire a bullet into Arthur¡¯s skull, but his hand went stiff.


    ¡°What-¡± He uttered before he felt a pair of hands gripping his throat.


    Visette lifted the young man into the air while squeezing his windpipe.


    ¡°Ahk! Ah! Ah!¡± Jonah struggled for a moment before Visette crushed his trachea without a change in her expression.


    Arthur couldn¡¯t see anything as he was bound to the chair, but the eerie noise of death that resonated behind him was enough to frighten him.


    ¡®Was this what Charlie meant?!¡¯ The question rang out in his head. ¡®Or does Charlie even know how crazy Visette is?!¡¯


    Visette¡¯s beauty made the fact that she was a cold-hearted killer an even harder pill to swallow.


    The girl in question turned her gaze to Arthur and he jolted as he seemed to feel those empty eyes gazing at him from behind.


    ¡°...Charlie recognizes you as a friend. Your continued survival may help avoid negative effects on her mental state.¡±


    After speaking her mind, Visette pried off Arthur¡¯s restraints and left the office before he could say a word.


    Once she stepped outside, she saw the sight of Lyn standing at the opposite side of the hallway. Her breathing was hurried and her gaze was frantic, indicating she likely rushed over after the explosion. As Visette¡¯s radio was destroyed by the blast, she had no way of hearing all of Lyn¡¯s panicked calls.


    ¡°...You!¡± Lyn shouted while showing a visibly relieved expression. She didn¡¯t even take a single look at the bodies littering the floor and approached Visette, seeing the scorch marks on her clothes.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve died,¡± Lyn finally said.


    ¡°It was unlikely I would have,¡± Visette responded.


    She could admit she faced an unexpected danger, but she never felt she had come close to death. Her reaction was fast enough to prevent massive amounts of damage and even if she suffered a great deal, the Cronus Gene would activate, forcing her into a crystallized state for a period of time so her body could be repaired.


    ¡°Oh fuck off! I told you, you don¡¯t have to go out of your way to follow through with orders and yet you do that exact thing! I thought you were blown to pieces and here you are without a care in the fucking world! Do you know how fucking pissed that makes me?¡± Lyn replied with clear anger.


    In her eyes, it appeared Visette had a careless disregard for her own safety when it was actually the exact opposite.


    Even now, Visette¡¯s mind was building a counter strategy so that she would never fall into such a situation again.


    After Visette stood through a few more minutes of Lyn¡¯s shouting, the process of a cleanup began. Bodies of the dead were recovered while students were taken to see doctors before being released into the custody of their parents. With the exception of the professors, the number of students was largely unaffected. Of course, Jonah didn¡¯t count as Visette made sure to kill him.


    ¡­


    Recoiling from the shock of their failed attack, Fox sat alone in his office, facing a terminal. Although he wanted to digest the feeling of failure and prepare for New Mayhall¡¯s retaliation, he wasn¡¯t able to as something far more important came up.


    The screen of Fox¡¯s terminal shifted a few times before a video call was established.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Fox spoke.


    On the other side of the screen, there was a young man in a clean grey suit with neat hair sitting in a chair. His outfit was arranged perfectly, without a single thread out of place.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one known as Fox, correct?¡± He spoke in a business-like tone.


    ¡°Yes, and you are?¡± Fox inquired.


    ¡°I am a representative of Eden Hall, my name isn''t very important. We¡¯ve expressed our wishes to establish a cooperative relationship with you previously, correct?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Fox nodded.


    ¡°Yes, well, a small issue has arisen and we¡¯d like to inform you of it first before we reach out to the other cities.¡±


    ¡°... Sure.¡± Fox was a bit nervous about Eden Hall cutting ties but it didn¡¯t seem that was the case so he voiced his acceptance easily.


    ¡°Very good, I¡¯ll send you a video now, please watch it and contact me immediately after.¡±


    The representative ended the call before a prompt flashed on Fox¡¯s screen. He clicked it and waited for the video to play which didn¡¯t take long. It depicted an Abnormal that had been captured and restrained inside of a testing area.


    Fox peered at the timestamp in the upper corner of the screen, seeing it was the very start of the video, so he began to skip ahead by a few days. Nothing had really changed, but as he skipped once more, his face warped into an expression of pure horror. He pushed himself away from the desk and rapidly paced around the room while mumbling incoherently.


    ¡°No, no, no.¡± He repeated to himself, running his hands through his hair before letting out a groan of frustration.


    He turned his attention to the video and his condition only grew worse the longer he watched. It soon came to an end and he immediately called the Eden Hall representative after it ended.


    ¡°So, Fox, as an Abnormal with exceedingly high intelligence, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°What do you want in exchange for a trade?!¡± Fox asked desperately. ¡°The current state of this city isn¡¯t nearly enough to make it through something like that!¡±


    ¡°Please, calm down, for now, the situation is contained, but you are now aware of their capabilities. We will be delivering a large cache of weapons to you, but in exchange, we require samples of blood from the strongest Abnormals within your city. We¡¯ve already sent an aircraft to deliver on our part as well as a team of medical professionals to retrieve blood samples. Also, we ask that you cease your conflicts with any other city during this time for reasons that should be most obvious after seeing that video.¡±


    ¡°O-Of course.¡± Fox nodded vigorously.


    ¡°I am very pleased we¡¯ve come to an understanding, we will be in contact should we be interested in anything else. Thank you for your cooperation.¡± The representative smiled before the call was ended.


    Whatever the content of the video included, it left a long-lasting effect on Fox as he had yet to recover his former bearing. Instead of calming down, he opened a drawer and retrieved a bottle of liquor before twisting off its cap and taking a large drink of it.


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul,¡± He whispered to himself as he closed his eyes.

 Chapter 43: Cataclysmic Abnormality

    The council of New Mayhall was convened to discuss how they would move forward after facing acts of aggression from the Freedom City and the city of Roslin. As many of the councilors had relatives or children involved with the attack, the measure of importance placed on it had been increased.


    ¡°We should move as soon as possible and burn that hobble of a city to the ground!¡±


    ¡°And what of Roslin? They are allies of the Freedom City and another enemy we have to worry about.¡±


    ¡°What of it? They violated the terms of our non-aggression pact a long time ago by assisting those Freedom City abnormals in escaping. I¡¯m surprised we overlooked it until now.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t overlook it,¡± Commander Wakefield spoke in a calm voice. ¡°We retaliated by attacking a supply convoy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that was clearly a very effective way of dealing with them,¡± Someone replied sarcastically.


    ¡°Enough.¡± A man spoke, a single word from him commanded the entire room into a silent state.


    He was Governor Malcolm Burke, a man with a dignified bearing and a head of grey hair. His body had a surprisingly athletic build for a man his age. Even though he wore a suit, it was clear he used to practice some form of martial arts as his hands were rough with experience. His eyes still seemed to be as sharp as they were from his youth as he calmly surveyed the room.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t call you all here to plan for a counterattack.¡±


    His words were shocking as everyone seemed to feel that the next logical step was to attack their enemies.


    ¡°...We have received a message from Eden Hall. They request we cease all hostilities in light of a discovery they have made.¡±


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve all heard of Eden Hall¡¯s accomplishments, but they have no right to interfere. They stay on the other side of the continent so what goes on here does not concern them!¡± A very riled up Councilor made his opinion known.


    A few raised their voices in agreement but didn¡¯t push for an aggressive mood out of respect for Governor Burke.


    ¡°I understand what you are all saying, but there is no harm in finding out what has caused Eden Hall to step forward at this time. We received a video file a few moments ago and they urged us to watch it. After that, we can come to a decision about our next move.¡± Governor Burke nodded to his most trusted advisor, Eugene Price, who took hold of a terminal and began projecting a video onto a large screen.


    No one in the room expected much out of it, perhaps some display of technological advancement meant to dissuade aggressive acts, but they all turned their eyes to watch nonetheless.


    ¡°Hello, before the tests begin, I¡¯ll start by introducing Subject Zero.¡± A researcher in a white lab coat who stood behind observation glass pointed to what looked to be an Abnormal due to the freakish amount of muscle on its body alone.


    ¡°Are they doing human testing?¡± A councilor asked with shock.


    ¡°Quiet,¡± Governor Burke responded.


    ¡°We will start by increasing the heat in the room by a few degrees for the next few days and observe the effects.¡± The researcher and a few of his colleagues began to manipulate a few dials and switches. From there, nothing much happened.


    The Abnormal, other than being fed regularly, didn¡¯t make a single sound. He simply stared at any who entered the room with strange eyes. The camera zoomed in a little and the features of the Abnormal immediately became clearer. To say he was a human was, difficult. His eyes held a bright orange tint and his facial structure was too wide and rigid to be something found on a normal person.


    Nothing much happened until the ¡°Abnormal¡± suddenly began to contort while letting out low growls. His body shifted as his limbs began to swell and grow and his skin lost its pale pigment and turned to a greyish color.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t an Abnormal...It¡¯s a...Corrupted?¡± A Councillor just barely muttered.


    ¡°What you see now is the true form of Subject Zero. This is not a human, but a Corrupted mimicking a human form. We captured this Corrupted years ago, and have been experimenting with it every since when it''s physiology changed and it suddenly took on a human form. Up until now, it hadn¡¯t shown the ability to change further.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Someone shouted at the screen.


    ¡°...Quiet!¡± Governor Burke was no exception to the shock but felt like it was important to pay attention to every word.


    ¡°You may find that to be shocking, but what¡¯s far more disturbing is what caused this transformation. During the Starfall event, strange mutations took hold in a large portion of the human population, it unfortunate to say that the same has occurred with the Corrupted. Except it is far worse than you could ever imagine. The Corrupted have the capability to adapt to certain environmental stressors.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    As if to demonstrate the point of the researcher, the footage advanced by a few days and the hairless Corrupted had began to grow fur as the room clearly became colder judging by the frost gathering on the observation window.


    ¡°For the most part, Abnormals have static traits, they can be trained to increase the effectiveness and range of use, but they cannot be forcefully changed or altered. The Corrupted circumvent that idea, if pushed into a state of extreme stress, they may rapidly evolve to counter the cause of it. As of now, we estimate that one out of every fifty Corrupted has the ability to become a Variant. When paired with their high rate of reproduction and the short time it takes for them to mature, that is by no means a small number.¡±


    More demonstrations took place with Subject Zero, replicating various environmental conditions, using a variety of weapons to elicit a defensive response, injecting strange fluids that caused the Corrupted to cry out in pain. The footage went on for a while before it abruptly skipped and the location was changed.


    In some large facility, a researcher spoke while the background behind him was completely obscured.


    ¡°We have taken to calling the Corrupted who can evolve, Variant Corrupted. And there is one important fact you must keep in mind. We have captured many Corrupted and forced an evolution, but for the most part, they can only evolve once or twice. That means Subject Zero, is a special case as you will come to see.¡±


    As the researcher finished speaking, a spotlight turned on and a huge creature was revealed behind him. It stood four meters tall and barely resembled a Corrupted.


    It¡¯s torso remained humanoid, like all Corrupted, but its lower body was a large thorax with insect-like legs protruding from its sides. It¡¯s skin was covered in a layer of dark chitin and thick mandibles covered it¡¯s monstrous face where needle-shaped teeth protruded. It¡¯s two bright orange bulbous eyes blinked slowly, seemingly in a daze. It¡¯s claws were long and thin, but kept a razor sharp edge while it¡¯s hands were protected in a dark shell layer like most of its body.


    ¡°We¡¯ve taken to labelling the Corrupted by the nature of their mutation. Those capable of camouflage are called Stalkers, they are very agile but have less durability than normal Corrupted. Those who have increased muscle mass are known as Brutes and are less intelligent but far more destructive. There are also Poisonous Corrupted which can spread noxious spores, Corrupted leaders that seem to be far more intelligent and well-rounded while being able to command others. And finally, there is the Corrupted you see before me. As it is the only one we¡¯ve discovered, we¡¯ve taken to calling it the Cataclysm Variant, Queen Zero. As you may know, Corrupted are capable of taking on any necessary role to ensure breeding. Among those, there is usually a Queen that can exert some control over the hordes. This Cataclysm Variant is a Queen and it is incredibly dangerous.¡±


    The researcher approached the Queen who stared at him with glazed eyes, indicating she was sedated.


    ¡°As this unique variant is too valuable to dispose of, we will continue to study it with the hope of finding a weakness hidden within it. If we can unearth the secrets of Corrupted biology then there will be hope of destroying them completely. Everyday, we pump copious amounts of sedatives into this Queen, increasing the amount each day which is why she is currently in a relaxed state. Should she ever escape, this entire facility can be sealed behind thick steel doors that should keep her locked in no matter what.¡±


    Just as the researcher was about to continue, Queen Zero, suddenly jolted as her eyes flashed with a unmistakable bloodthirst.


    ¡°MEAT!¡± A rough, barely intelligible growl, emerged from her mouth.


    ¡°W-What?!¡± The researcher looked at her with pure shock. ¡°S-She just spoke! She just spoke! Did you get a recording of-¡±


    ¡°FOOLISH MEAT!¡± The Queen hissed out a series venomous insults.


    ¡°You can speak our language?! How are you able to understand us?! What is that you want?! What is your purpose?!¡± As a security team flooded in the room and the restraints around the Queen were electrified, she uttered a laugh.


    ¡°NOT...LONG...NOW...MEAT!¡± She spat a garbled and skin-crawling laugh as her mouth curled upward, exposing a mouth full of vicious teeth.


    ¡°Not long until what?! What do you mean by that?!¡± The researcher asked as he was dragged away.


    ¡°Triple the dosage, no- quadruple it! Don¡¯t let that fucking thing wake up! And for Anton¡¯s sake, increase the voltage!¡± The captain of the security team barked out orders before he approached the camera. ¡°And cut the footage! All research personnel have to evacuate the lab until the situation is contained!¡±


    Before the video ended, the Queen began emitting a monstrous and high-pitched scream that caused the blood to curdle.


    The screen went black and the council room went dead silent. The video progressively shocked the viewers until the very end which stunned everyone in a period of confusion.


    Governor Burke reached for a glass of water with trembling hands, picking it up and drinking the entire thing before licking his lips.


    ¡°Commander Wakefield,¡± He spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°...Yes, Sir?¡± Commander Wakefield answered after some of his senses returned.


    ¡°You once proposed a city-wide evacuation plan, right?¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes, Sir.¡± Even the usually calm Commander Wakefield couldn¡¯t keep his wits about him.


    ¡°We will move to carry it out. You have my personal approval to use whatever resources necessary. It has to be completed within the year, do you understand?¡± Governor Burke spoke with urgency.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll begin work on it immediately.¡± Commander Wakefield replied.


    He had plans he wanted to enact in order to gain complete control over Visette Thales, but those were all up in the air now. The Councilors who once opposed him were now eager for the evacuation plan to be put into motion.


    That left Commander Wakefield in a complicated spot as he was already in the middle establishing himself in a place where Visette would lose more by eliminating him, at least, that¡¯s what he thought. Without knowing the truth about Visette¡¯s psionics, he could only assume he was the one with the upper hand. Though none of that concerned him at the moment in light of the Corrupted known as the Cataclysm Variant. There was no telling how old that footage was so who knew if it had grown even more.


    ¡°Now, Eden Hall has made plans to contact all cities within the coming days, but until then, this information is to be kept under guard no matter what. If we expose it prematurely, this city may very descend into chaos. Anyone who spreads what was shared here will be treated just like our former councilor, William Locke.¡±


    After the Governor gave his warning, the council was dismissed but a heavy mood still followed those who learned of the information, one that couldn¡¯t be shaken so easily.

 Chapter 44: Seeking Strength

    Fox stood near the Freedom City¡¯s airfield as several jet black aircraft descended with a low hum, kicking up wind as they landed. Their designs were far sleeker and visibly more efficient than the common models found on Novo Prime. A clear testament to Eden Hall¡¯s technological advancements over the past few years.


    After all of the aerial vehicles were safely grounded, their cargo holds creaked open and Eden Hall¡¯s security team stepped out. They kept their weapons at a neutral position which indicated they didn¡¯t need to show caution toward Freedom City. A small gesture of friendship, maybe?


    ¡°You arrived quicker than I expected.¡± Fox stepped forward to greet the representative with Hawk right behind him. Most of their attention was diverted to the brand new aerial vehicles they hadn''t seen before until a few black crates began to be carted out.


    ¡°Of course, there is the possibility of an imminent disaster looming. We have yet to figure out the current reason for the Corrupted becoming inactive and their lack of aggression over the past few years. There haven¡¯t been many reports of a horde sighting but we believe they are in a period of hibernation spurred on by their ability to evolve.¡± The representative was about to continue when he seemed to abruptly realize something. ¡°Ah, yes, there¡¯ll be time to talk about that later. For now, we¡¯ve come offering equipment that will be useful to you.¡±


    As he finished speaking, the black crates were opened and various pieces of armor were displayed. A grey armor plate with a reflective luster was handed over to Fox so he could examine it.


    ¡°...That looks like plastic,¡± Hawk commented with a deep frown. It appeared as if Eden Hall was attempting to make a fool of Freedom City.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t wrong,¡± The representative replied before explaining, ¡°You¡¯re holding a hyperdense polycarbonate armor plate that¡¯s stronger than most of the current ballistic-resistant armor available in other cities with the benefit of being far lighter. When combined with its insulated shock absorbent layer, you will find that most bullets won¡¯t be able to stop you, let alone hurt you as long as you''re wearing it. It¡¯s also very effective in defending against normal Corrupted but those with increased physical strength are a completely different story.¡±


    Hawk accepted the explanation with clear skepticism, shifting his gaze to Fox.


    ¡°Could we test it?¡± Fox inquired politely under Hawk''s quiet urging. He didn¡¯t wish to imply that Eden Hall was lying, but he certainly wouldn''t believe what he was told so easily without seeing it put to use first.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not.¡± The Representative smiled before gesturing to one of his men. "Step forward."


    The soldier who was covered in full suit of polycarbonate armor stepped forward and put his arms behind him while jutting his chest out in a proud manner. He seemed to ooze confidence from every part of himself.


    ¡°You¡¯ve told me that your companion, Hawk, is very proficient in the usage of firearms. If you have a weapon on hand, you can fire a few rounds at one of our soldiers.¡±


    ¡°Are you- Are you serious?¡± Hawk furrowed his brows while the well-dressed representative simply nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯d ask that you hurry, we don¡¯t have much time to waste, there are other matters we need to attend to back at Eden Hall.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if you say so.¡± Hawk shrugged and drew his sidearm, a low-caliber pistol and immediately fired at the soldier.


    The bullets struck the ¡°plastic¡± armor in the same spot with a dull impact before bouncing off at a much slower velocity or simply falling flat onto the ground.


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul!¡± Fox watched with his mouth agape as the soldier didn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡°Our Polycarbonate Armor is far cheaper and quicker to make than those metal-based armors. We have a few hundred pieces for you today and likely far more in the future.¡± The representative clapped once before another crate was brought forward. ¡°You can think of this next thing as a gift of sorts as our supply of it is very limited and we can only give out a dozen or so to you at the moment.¡±


    Fox and Hawk found their anticipation had soared as they were already thoroughly impressed by the hyperdense polycarbonate armor.


    A large crate was pushed toward them and opened revealing something stranger than the Polycarbonate Armor.


    ¡°What, uh, what exactly is this?¡± Fox was at a loss as he couldn¡¯t figure out how something worked from just a glance.


    ¡°This is an exoskeletal suit that can grant completely normal humans the strength of an Abnormal with a type four physical strength trait.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Fox was taken aback as he looked at the very visibly unimpressive armament.


    It was shaped to fit a human skeleton, that much was certain, but its limbs didn¡¯t seem as if they would be able to give someone an increase in strength.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t all.¡± The Representative shook his head as a strange sword was revealed.


    A soldier placed his hand on the rubberized grip and pulled it out of the sheathe, revealing it to Fox and Hawk.


    It featured a rectangular blade with a thick metal band that seemed to function as the hilt. The hilt itself was connected to a black wire that ran down the flat of the blade.


    ¡°A sword?¡± Fox asked curiously, waiting for the twist that was sure to come.


    The Representative smirked before he signaled for one of the soldiers to begin the demonstration.


    A soldier equipped the exosuit over his armor before taking the sword and pushing a switch that was barely visible under the hilt. Suddenly, a molten red glow covered the three edges of the rectangular-shaped blade, producing a heat shimmer.


    A thick sheet of steel was then pushed out and the soldier grasped the sword with both hands before performing a powerful diagonal swing with the assistance of the exosuit. The molten edge of the blade easily passed through the steel sheet like it was made from paper. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    There was nothing else that needed to be said as Fox was easily able to imagine what someone equipped with Eden Hall¡¯s combat equipment could do. A sword that could cut through steel with ease, armor that could repel bullets, and a set of armor that could increase the strength of the one using it.


    The one thing that did nag at Fox was the fact Eden Hall only wanted blood samples from the Abnormals within the city in exchange for the equipment. He simply couldn¡¯t see it as a fair trade unless Eden Hall sought to do something extraordinary with it.


    ¡°Could I ask you something?¡± Fox began to speak.


    The Representative smiled, already knowing what it was he wanted to ask, and cut him off before he could go further.


    ¡°You must be wondering why we would exchange this equipment for blood samples, correct?¡± The Representative inquired.


    ¡°Yes¡­ I have to admit that I am very curious, but if you don¡¯t want to tell me I have no issue.¡±


    ¡°I suppose it isn¡¯t a very important secret, but we aren¡¯t the ones who want the blood samples.¡±


    ¡°Then who-¡±


    ¡°The Benefactor is what we¡¯ve taken to call the individual who''s requested blood samples. We don¡¯t know much about him or her, but they suddenly contacted us a few years ago. Their technological advances exceed ours by an incredible margin and that''s saying a lot since they haven¡¯t revealed very much of it to us. In fact, both the Exoskeletal Armor and the Molten Blade were developed from research the Benefactor sent us. No one has ever met with them face to face and we don¡¯t know which city they¡¯re based in, but we do know they are located somewhere in the north, the very far north. It¡¯s hard to say how anything could live in those frigid temperatures but with the level of technology they seem to have, it makes sense they could survive.¡±


    ¡°Wait... So, you¡¯re saying that your benefactor is the one who wants the blood samples? Did they say for what?¡±


    ¡°No, and even if they did, I wouldn¡¯t be able to tell you that much. We''re simply here to retrieve what they requested and ensure it gets into their hands.¡± The Representative replied.


    Fox knew not to push any further and instead brought out the hundreds of blood samples he painstakingly collected from the city¡¯s inhabitants. Each vial of blood was labeled with some cursory information about the individual it came from so it could be organized accordingly.


    ¡°I thank you for your cooperation, Fox.¡± The Representative spoke as the cargo was being loaded on the aerial vehicles.


    ¡°No, we should be the ones thanking you. There is also a lot I wanted to ask you about the Corrupted, especially the Queen who was able to speak human language.¡±


    ¡°I know you are curious, but that will have to wait. In a few days, we will be contacting every city we can get ahold of to discuss the current weaknesses and strengths of the Variant Corrupted and what we learned from Queen Zero. It should answer most of the questions you may have.¡±


    Almost immediately after the exchange was made, the personnel of Eden Hall departed. They clearly had no interest in spending time deepening their ties as the threat of the Corrupted was even greater for them since they currently held the Cataclysmic Variant in captivity.


    ¡­


    Back in New Mayhall, Visette stood in the office of Commander Wakefield who seemed slightly troubled. Her research into the social elements of human life had allowed her to gain some understanding of facial expressions and the corresponding emotion projected from them. When that was paired with her extremely attentive nature, the slightest hints could offer her insight into the emotions of the people she observed. Though, knowing how other people were feeling didn¡¯t do anything to improve her capacity for sympathy.


    ¡°I called you here to discuss the matter of your reward,¡± Commander Wakefield spoke after some time.


    Visette remained silent while her still eyes rested on him, creating an unsettling feeling for the Commander. He couldn¡¯t shake the notion that she would turn hostile should he show any sign of weakness. Her eyes seemed less human and more like a hound, just like Demetrius had once compared her to. Once the idea nestled into his mind, he could only feel that death was creeping toward him the longer she stood near him.


    ¡°You are visibly distressed, Commander,¡± Visette suddenly remarked, her voice devoid of any detectable emotion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with my mental state.¡± He fixed his gaze as he sat up, putting on an image worthy of his occupation while doing so. ¡°As I was saying, you¡¯ve ensured that Charlie was safe so it would be wrong not to reward you. There¡¯s also the Governor who has instructed you be greatly rewarded for your deeds and there¡¯s also a ceremony taking place in a week or so in your honor. So, just name whatever you want and I¡¯ll do my best to accommodate you as long as it''s within reason.¡±


    Instead of a specific reward, Visette received a blank check of sorts. There weren¡¯t many people, if any, who could possibly guess what she wanted so it was left up to her to decide.


    After contemplating all of the things she wanted and what she most likely able to receive, she began talking, ¡°Do you have writing utensil I could borrow?¡±


    Commander Wakefield quickly handed her a pen along with a sheet of paper and Visette began to make her list.


    At the top, there was a set of specifications for some sort of firearm that strongly emphasized firepower above all else. As it progressed, she added the components to create a small Novidium battery or a novidium battery itself. Then, she made an inquiry about having the seemingly broken watch that was confiscated from her four years ago returned to her. It was a piece of Minerva technology that no one in New Mayhall could figure out how to work, but she felt it would be better to completely destroy it. She also expressed her desire to return to the two of C-23 without explicitly stating the reason.


    She handed the list to Commander Wakefield once she finished and waited for his verdict. Two things immediately stood out to him and that was requesting a Novidium Battery and returning to the abandoned town where there shouldn''t have been anything that interested her.


    ¡°Is there a specific reason you want to go back to that town?¡± He inquired.


    Instead of responding immediately, Visette gazed at Commander Wakefield for a few moments.


    ¡°I assumed that the nature of my reward was left to my own discretion.¡±


    ¡°That is true but that doesn¡¯t simply mean that I can allow it.¡±


    ¡°Then, would it be more reasonable for me to send my request to the Governor of New Mayhall to obtain his approval?¡± Visette replied.


    Even the Commander would be forced to obey the Governor''s orders.


    Commander Wakefield¡¯s brows narrowed as his eyes sharpened into a scowl. ¡°Are you threatening me, Thales?¡±


    ¡°No, I am not aware of which part of my previous reply would indicate a threat as that was not my intention, Commander.¡±


    Commander Wakefield stared at Visette with a slither of disbelief and wariness. It was true that the Governor asked that she be rewarded and if she sent her request directly to him, it was likely he would accept with no qualms. After all, there was no mistaking that her presence prevented a large loss of life.


    ¡®The only way I can exert control over the situation is to accept her request under my own conditions.¡¯ Commander Wakefield thought to himself.


    ¡°I accept your request, but O''Hara will escort you to that town. The town of you should be capable enough to ensure your own safety and there¡¯s been no sign of Corrupted since the evacuation. I¡¯ll also provide a vehicle with enough space to carried a medium-sized Novidium battery if that¡¯s okay with you?¡±


    ¡°There is no issue, Commander,¡± Visette said. Even as her wishes were granted there was no sign of joy on her face.


    ¡°Then if that''s all, you¡¯re dismissed. Oh, and make sure you meet with Dr.Eliza Brendan before the Award Ceremony.¡± Commander Wakefield quickly sent her away, finding that she was already becoming too much for him to tolerate. At least, not without having some sort of way to restrain her.


    Visette saluted before quickly leaving the office. Vis had already marked Commander Wakefield as someone to be cautious of, but at that moment, she wasn¡¯t even thinking of him. Since she was finally able to procure a Novidium Battery, it meant she could access the facilities of the Minerva Lab. Even if the lab was only powered for an hour, she would receive an immense amount of benefits from the high-tech system which could help her develop her psionics further.

 Chapter 45: A Much Needed Upgrade

    An armored black truck sped along a dirt road. In the driver¡¯s seat, there was a slightly disgruntled Lyn and sitting next to her, Visette.


    ¡°You¡¯re really not gonna tell me the reason you want to go back to that town?¡± Lyn asked.


    She was ordered to escort Visette to the abandoned town and it was obvious she would want to know the reason. Unfortunately for her, Visette remained tight-lipped about it and that seemed to be the source of her slight frustration.


    ¡°It is a private matter,¡± Visette replied.


    Her study of social interaction helped her understand that people would be hesitant to investigate matters that were labeled as private. Unless it was related to an important subject, it was common courtesy not to pry further.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Lyn rolled her eyes.


    Lyn was just as skeptical as Commander Wakefield, but she didn¡¯t think too far into it as the latter had. He even made sure to have a research team look over Visette¡¯s strange watch once more just to make sure it wasn¡¯t some sort of transmission device. And while the components inside were foreign to them, the watch itself seemed to be broken.


    The two continued to ride in silence since Visette wasn''t a very talkative person and Lyn found herself unable to make good conversation. As a result, the trip was very uneventful and they arrived at the town without a hitch. The Novidium Batteries which used to power the town had all been recovered by New Mayhall long ago, so the electric fence surrounding the town was completely useless. The houses had already begun to show signs of disarray as plants slowly engulfed them.


    Lyn showed a bitter look when reminded of just how much land could be lost to only a small group of Corrupted. Only the cities were armed well enough to face thousands of them without damage. Unaware of the Corrupted¡¯s abilities to evolve rapidly, she assumed that the cities could still hold up well even during the long period of peace.


    ¡°This is the area.¡± Visette¡¯s voice dissolved Lyn¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°Here?¡± Lyn stopped the truck near the far end of a town, where a stream or river could be heard far off in the distance.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vis replied before climbing out of the vehicle and opening the trunk to retrieve her cargo.


    A medium sized case that held the Novidium Battery she requested. Even a medium-sized battery was quite heavy but she lifted it without much effort, hoisting it over her shoulder.


    ¡°I will return shortly-¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lyn asked as she was about to step out of the truck.


    ¡°I said that I will-¡±


    ¡°No, I heard that, but I¡¯m coming with you.¡±


    ¡°I ask that you please remain here. I should take very long and there is a chance the truck could be attacked by hostile entities.¡±


    ¡°You must think I¡¯m stupid?¡±


    ¡°That is incorrect.¡±


    ¡°Good, then there should be no problem if I come with you.¡±


    ¡°That will be problematic,¡± Visette responded. ¡°If we leave our only method of transport unattended, it may result in a negative outcome.¡±


    Lyn huffed out a groan full of annoyance before speaking, ¡°Fine, go do whatever it is you¡¯re gonna do.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Visette arranged her mouth into the form of a smile as she spoke.


    It was a charming sight for anyone to see if they were unaware that it wasn¡¯t a genuine smile, that is.


    ¡°Just go.¡± Lyn waved with an unimpressed face.


    Visette didn¡¯t need to be told twice and jumped over the fence, landing softly on the other side before she suddenly sprinted forward. By the time a few seconds passed, she had already vanished into the dense woods.


    ¡­


    Moving at full speed, Visette arrived at the ravine where the Minerva Lab was located in. She sent out a psionic pulse to ensure there was no one monitoring the sight before she leaped off the edge of the ravine. She used her psionic power to slow her descent and once again and found herself at the bottom.


    It had been years since she had taken her first steps outside of the lab, but there were no feelings of sentiment evoked from that fact. She approached the laboratory door, hidden by vines, and wrenched it open with her psionic power.


    The metal groaned as it was forced open and once it was completely ajar, the spotless interior of the high-tech lab became visible. The inside remained untouched as if a day hadn¡¯t even passed.


    Visette stepped into the lab and entered its depths, passing the liquid stasis pod that used to hold on along the way. She spread out her psionic pulse to map the interior of the room but quickly found that her psionic power was able to pass through certain sections of the walls. Whatever alloy was used to reinforce the walls, it seemed to also have the effect of weakening her psionic power. Her lack of understanding toward the material made her wary, but as the alloy was unlikely to be reproduced on Novo Prime, she was less worried.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Visette moved toward a huge metal panel on one of the walls and ripped the covering away, revealing an empty fuel cell inside. She removed it, noting that it weighed far more than the novidium battery but discarded it and loaded in the newer battery.


    The reaction was immediate as the machinery in the lab hissed to life and the lights began to flicker.


    ¡°Status¡­¡± The robotic voice of the lab¡¯s AI rang out.


    A device emerged from the ceiling and a red light scanned over Visette repeatedly.


    ¡°Unknown power source discovered¡­ Full operational capacity restored¡­ Estimated charge: Two months.¡±


    Mechanical arms emerged from the walls and floor and began to scatter around the laboratory before they approached Visette. She removed her jacket and rolled up her sleeves, revealing the black overlapping shapes that served as a data bank that only Minerva could access.


    ¡°CV-112-S-767, Identification accepted. Welcome back.¡±


    ¡°I request access to the data files relating to the use of psionic power.¡±


    ¡°Request denied,¡± The AI replied immediately.


    ¡°Elaborate.¡±


    ¡°The files in question are missing or corrupted. Inquiry. What is your purpose for requesting the data mentioned?¡±


    ¡°I believe the efficiency of my psionic power could be increased with the relevant knowledge.¡±


    ¡°The source of your problem is relating to the Blue Swan Neuro Implant, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°...Retrieving all related files¡­ Files found¡­ Would you like to undergo a diagnostics test?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    As soon as Visette replied, the lab shifted around and a metal chair emerged from the floor. Vis took a seat and the metal arms of the lab approached her, placing small electrodes on her head before adding a strange headband.


    ¡°Beginning test, please remain still,¡± The AI intoned.


    Visette remained in the chair as different mechanical sounds rang out. It was unknown how the test was conducted or what it was meant to record, but it soon came to an end once the AI finished evaluating her.


    ¡°Test concluded. Summary: If you continue to use your psionic power in the same manner, it is likely to become extremely unstable in the future. Recommendation: Adjust energy output to fit the formula of Dr.Shrencard, creator of the Blue Swan Implant.¡± As the AI spoke, a series of numbers of letters appeared on a holographic display.


    Visette read over it and she seemed to make sense of it somehow. A small hint of surprise could be found through her widening eyes as she felt immediate realization. Before reading the formula, she discovered the way she used her psionics was sending her power in a brute-like manner, simply sending her power out. The formula seemed to indicate she could retrieve the psionic energy expended which would extend her level of endurance and increase the amount of power she could draw out. There were also several other uses she discovered from the long formula.


    She had stumbled onto the process of imparting psionic energy into an object to enhance its properties. Each time she did so, she found her psionic power would often destroy whatever it was placed into. Shrencard¡¯s Formula would help her to avoid psionic power running rampant.


    Among discovering a greater possible use of offensive capabilities, there was something she hadn¡¯t explored previously. If she was to follow Shrencard¡¯s Formula as written, it would allow her to disrupt the mental processes of any target.


    Vis didn¡¯t know the limit of such a way of attacking, but she understood that if she could grasp the process of using it, it would be a far better option than forcefully jamming the weapons of her enemies which was bound to eventually catch someone''s attention.


    ¡°Further recommendation: Infusing the Morning Star Nanites with psionic power will tremendously increase their power. Additionally, the Morning Star Nanites can multiply the output of your psionic power to an unknown extent,¡± The AI added.


    ¡°Is there no data projection to estimate the value my psionic power would increase by?¡± Visette questioned.


    ¡°Processing¡­¡± The AI buzzed. ¡°I am unable to answer your inquiry.¡±


    ¡°Are the necessary files missing or corrupted?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The AI¡¯s reply drew some confusion from Visette as she felt the AI should¡¯ve been capable of nearly any mathematical feat.


    ¡°Then, what is the reason?¡± She pressed further.


    ¡°Once your psionic energy is amplified to its fullest extent, it will exceed the range of my current calculative abilities.¡±


    The AI¡¯s robotic voice spoke without realizing the significance of what it was saying. There was no doubt the machine would be worth millions of dollars on Earth due to its processing capabilities and intelligent AI, but somehow, the invaluable supercomputer was still was unable to grasp Visette¡¯s limits.


    Visette was no different from the AI as she couldn¡¯t grasp the full extent of her abilities and there was no source of comparison available. Without anything further to ask, she removed the watch from her wrist and stored it inside a container.


    At first, she planned to destroy it but quickly changed her mind after contemplating it more thoroughly.


    ¡°Enact power conservation,¡± Visette ordered.


    ¡°Understood.¡± The AI replied as the equipment and machinery began shutting down.


    If there came a time where Visette needed to flee New Mayhall, the lab would serve as her first destination. If anything, restoring the lab to operational capacity increased the odds of her departing from the city if anything went awry during her time there.


    Visette stepped out of the lab once again, but she was eager to test out Shrencard¡¯s Formula. She turned her gaze to the top of the ravine before she surrounded herself with psionic power and jumped vertically with a burst of newfound power. She went further than she expected but slowly levitated back to the ground.


    ¡®As I thought, a new range of movement is viable through use of Dr.Shrencard¡¯s formula.¡¯


    Previously, Visette had to be exact in her use of psionic energy or it would result in mental exhaustion. The way she went about achieving that was essentially guessing. Her psionic abilities were like a cup that changed sizes based on what particular ability she chose to use. She had to guess the exact amount of liquid needed to fill the cup with nothing but repeated experience to guide it. With Shrencard¡¯s Formula, Visette could easily adjust to whatever amount was needed.


    The biggest takeaway was the process of recycling psionic energy. Instead of carelessly sending out energy she could now conserve a larger portion.


    It was fair to say that Visette was more than satisfied with what she received. She returned back to the vehicle and Lyn immediately noticed that Visette was no longer carrying a Novidium battery.


    ¡°You ready?¡± Lyn guessed Visette wouldn¡¯t speak about the contents of her trip so she just climbed into the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette answered as she climbed into the car.


    Neither one said much so the drive back was as quiet as the one it took to get there.

 Chapter 46: A Cataclysm Ensues

    Far north.


    In the center of an iceberg surrounded by frozen waters, a damaged laboratorial structure stood out of place.


    Automated drones flew around the area with a silent buzz as they tended to both major and minor repairs, their mechanical arms cut and welded whatever they deemed to be in bad condition. After their maintenance came to an end, all of the drones headed into a ventilation shaft that creaked open, welcoming them inside, before snapping shut once they entered.


    The interior of the laboratory was dim, only illuminated by the blinking and glowing of machines. And the one who acted as the sole conductor over the array of technology was a man in a white lab coat. The coat bore the stitched insignia of an owl along with the word ¡°Minerva¡± sitting right under it. It marked his origins quite clearly.


    ¡°Status?¡± A tired groan emerged from his lips before he sipped from a mug of coffee.


    ¡°We have isolated the strain of enhancement microbes that were released onto this planet. They have mutated rapidly, and benefited the natives of this world,¡± A machine-like voice intoned.


    ¡°Just call them humans,¡± The man replied to the emotionless AI while scratching at his unkempt beard.


    ¡°Understood¡­ The enhancement microbes found in the blood of those humans can now be replicated without difficulty,¡± The AI said.


    ¡°Good to hear, move forward with implanting the most beneficial strains into our subjects.¡±


    ¡°Affirmative, but I am curious about one thing, Dr.Mcgrath.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡± The somewhat young doctor took another sip of his coffee before cracking his knuckles and rising to his feet. He sauntered around the lab, checking different data recordings while heading to a deeper corner.


    ¡°You have been assisting some of the humans of this planet since our sudden arrival, but you have withheld our strongest research and weapons from them as well as the locations of facilities that could help them. Why is that?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve all benefited from the release of the enhancement microbes that were expelled into the atmosphere, but it affected the predatory species they call Corrupted too, right? Who is to say that more interference will result in a good outcome? Who is to say they won¡¯t turn our weapons on each other? Imagine if we found a way to develop a nuclear warhead for these people. They are far more inclined to mutual destruction than the citizens of earth, that''s for sure.¡± Dr.Mcgrath finished speaking as he arrived in front of dozens of liquid stasis pods.


    Inside each cylindrical container of liquid, a man floated. There was no distinction in the features of the men as they all were without hair and had a very pale pigment of skin. In fact, they all had the same exact facial structure and height, it was uncanny how much they resembled each other. But considering it was Minerva, human cloning was no surprise.


    ¡°Inquiry. What is your main goal, Dr.Mcgrath? The data gathered from our time here shows that it is very unlikely that we will be able to return to earth based on our current rate of development.¡±


    ¡°Answer me this, how many laboratories have sent out broadcasting signals the time since our arrival?¡±


    ¡°As of now, we have detected just seven signals that are likely to have come from our laboratories. They are continually broadcasting even though we cannot establish contact.¡±


    ¡°So, there is a chance that those who worked on the project that sent us to an entirely different world may still be alive. Even if they aren¡¯t, we have successfully found a way to replicate the genetic mutations that enhance the people if this world. Not only can I extend my lifespan, but I can increase my intelligence, and there will be a force of biologically enhanced soldiers to protect me. If we can recover the work from those laboratories we have a chance to return with Novidium. So our rate of development is not an issue for me, you see.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± The AI buzzed.


    ¡°...That reminds me, what¡¯s the progress on locating Theresa Hagen¡¯s experiment?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean CV-122-S-767?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one.¡±


    ¡°I suspect that S-767 has survived. The facility created to deal with her sent out a signal indicating it was restored to operational capacity a few days ago before it went offline once more. It is incredibly likely that S-767 was the one to make use of the facility since no broadcast signal was sent out. A certain survival protocol would classify her as Minerva personnel once it was deemed that no other researcher was inside of the lab.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! We need to retrieve her at all costs. I¡¯ve read Schrencard¡¯s theories and she may be the key to our return¡­ What¡¯s the status of Project Bellona? If S-767 is under the control of someone else, we need to take immense precaution should she show hostility to us.¡±


    ¡°Project Bellona estimated time to completion: Seventy-two days, twelves hours, fifteen minutes, thirty-one seconds.¡±


    ¡°Bring up a diagram,¡± Dr.Mcgrath ordered the AI.


    Very quickly, a 3D model was projected in front of him.


    The blueprints depicted the figure of a young woman, but the mechanical parts that were highlighted indicated that her appearance was just a shell. Inside of the woman, there was nothing human, only complicated machinery.


    ¡°After the first batch of soldiers is finished, focus all resources on completing Project Bellona. That should shave off a few weeks. Also, make sure the Novidium Core is installed properly, I¡¯d hate to have Bell overheat on her first deployment.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± The AI replied.


    Dr.Mcgrath nodded as he stood in front of the glass tanks that held human-like beings within them. While he thought of his project as something small, the people of Novo Prime would erupt into chaos if they were aware of a way to reproduce the traits Abnormals showed. Not only that, but Dr.Mcgrath would put multiple high-level traits into the soldiers that could be produced en masse.


    ¡­


    ¡°Gun one and gun two.¡± Smith, as he called himself, the Chief Gunsmith of New Mayhall, placed two large pistols on the table.


    The weapons, a pair of semi-automatic, high-caliber, high-velocity, pistols were made after Visette¡¯s request. It had a very long bullish barrel that was thick.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Be warned though, we had to use a damn spring mechanism to shoot those things. Had one bastard who thought he was tough enough and basically shattered his entire hand. His finger? Broken. His wrist? Broken? His palm? Multiple fractures. By Anton¡¯s soul, I never thought I¡¯d be asked to make a gun that can¡¯t even be shot. Really, I doubt even most Abnormals could fire repeatedly. For one, it¡¯s heavy, we needed a frame and barrel that could support high-caliber rounds-¡± He stopped his explanation when he noticed the two young women in front of him seemed unimpressed, ¡°Well, whatever, here¡¯s your guns.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    He slapped a holster onto the table and headed into a back room while grumbling about their attitude.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Lyn said to his departing back.


    Meanwhile, Visette had already begun to examine the two handguns. Since they were an uncommon request, they didn¡¯t have an exquisite or very sharp appearance, but she held no desire for those qualities anyway. As always, performance was her highest priority. She discovered each pistol could hold 11 rounds which were more than enough for her to make use of.


    She holstered the intimidating guns to her hip before directing her gaze to Lyn.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they have been made to my exact specifications.¡±


    ¡°Right, then let¡¯s go. You gotta prep for that damn ceremony and then there¡¯s a dinner.¡±


    ¡°Is that necessary?¡±


    ¡°Necessary? Not really, but it helps raise morale for the city.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I do not mind allocating a portion of my time to such activities as long as they do not occur often.¡±


    ¡°I would¡¯ve known that even if you didn¡¯t tell me. Oh, you have to see Dr.Brendan too, don¡¯t forget.¡±


    ¡°I will be sure to meet with her.¡±


    The two of them headed out of the smithery and toward some other destination.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere, more specifically directly underneath of Eden Hall.


    The Cataclysmic Variant of Corrupted, known as Queen Zero, was being pumped full of enough sedatives to kill several dozen Corrupted, but she still kept her mental clarity.


    Since the sedatives weren¡¯t enough, there were also electrified restraints with an immense level of voltage.


    ¡°NOT...LONG¡­¡± Her raspy, inhuman voice grated against the ears of the listeners like nails.


    ¡°How do you Corrupted view humans?¡± Beyond her holding area, a voice buzzed from an intercom.


    The interviewer was wise enough to remain a safe distance away.


    ¡°MEAT!¡± She growled, barely intelligible.


    ¡°So, why do you attack us so relentlessly when there are other sources?¡±


    ¡°YOU...TASTE...BETTER.¡± Her long tongue glided across her needle-like teeth as she let out a hoarse laugh.


    ¡°Are you not afraid of us killing you?¡±


    Instead of responding, she simply laughed at the question. It was a dismissive laugh full of mockery and scorn as if the very thought was insulting to her. Seemingly self-aware of her own worth, she projected arrogance in her behavior.


    ¡°NOT...LONG,¡± She said once more with a greater sense of confidence.


    ¡°What is it that you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°THE CHILDREN...NOT LONG!¡± She began to thrash around.


    [Increase the dosage and turn the voltage up.]


    The Queen let out a shrill scream as she was electrocuted, thrashing around in pain.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? In our eyes, you are the meat. You seem to have some capacity of understanding, so why is it that you choose hostility? Are you not tired of your own species dying? Work with us and we can achieve a balance for both our species. If not, we will make sure every single Corrupted dies, one way or another.¡±


    Suddenly, the Queen¡¯s body stopped thrashing even though the voltage was raised.


    [It- I think it¡¯s immune to electricity!]


    The Queen let out a guttural laugh as the sparks of electricity flew.


    ¡°YOU...are too arrogant, meat!¡±


    Everything grew quiet as the Queen¡¯s pattern of speech changed to a much more refined version.


    ¡°I have listened! I have waited! I have learned! You burned my flesh with your tools and filled me with your poisons! I will suffer no longer, meat! You ignorant lump of flesh, I will tear off your limbs before I feed you to my children! DO YOU UNDERSTAND, MEAT?!¡±


    A layer of chitin grew over the Queen¡¯s body like armor as she ripped apart the restraints.


    [Attention! This is a code red scenario! Repeat! We need all teams to enact containment protocols!] The intercom whirred as flashing red lights filled the facility.


    A shrill cry emerged from the Queen once more as she began tearing through her holding area. Her claws seem to be sharp enough to rip apart concrete and steel as it did nothing to slow her down.


    Even as various gases were pumped into the room, it did all but slow her down.


    ¡°Incinerate the room! We¡¯ll gather organic samples from her body, just kill it!¡± As the observer shouted, a wave of fire filled the room raising the temperature to hundreds of degrees in an instant.


    Thirty seconds passed before silence and smoke filled the area. A group of soldiers in exosuits and reinforced polycarbonate armor set a perimeter in front of the Queen¡¯s holding area and prepared to fire.


    The air seemed to become completely still as they waited. A soldier kept his eyes forward until he noticed something. A small amount of dust falling onto the barrel of his gun. While it was something negligible, his attention was forcefully shifted once it continued falling.


    His curiosity guided his eyes upward until he found the source of the dust. A crack in the ceiling that was slowly expanding.


    ¡°C-Captain,¡± He muttered as a single bead of sweat made a path down his cheek.


    ¡°Eyes forward!¡± The Captain, a man with immense experience waited for the smoke to clear.


    His exosuit helped him hold up a weapon capable of firing thousands of rounds in a minute. It could cut down trees and destroy cars in an instant, so he had no doubt that several of those guns would injure the Queen.


    The crack in the ceiling expanded even more as a chunk of concrete fell between the soldiers. More eyes went to the source as they found the structure of the lab falling to be odd.


    ¡°Captain!¡± A soldier screamed.


    ¡°What?!¡± The Captain shouted as he turned to look back but found all of his soldiers looking up.


    His eyes drifted upward where he spotted a claw protruding from the ceiling.


    Before his mind could even process what it meant, the ceiling collapsed as a creature dropped onto the soldiers.


    ¡°Move!¡±


    Some dove out of the way, but others were destined to be squashed the creature which was the size of a bus. A Corrupted that lay flat on its stomach with long arms that were used for digging and short legs that pushed it forward.


    ¡°Fire!¡± The Captain bellowed and a hail of bullets followed soon after.


    The Corrupted who seemed to specialize in digging was reduced into bits as the hot lead entered his body.


    The Captain of the security team was about to give an order to cease fire but another Corrupted fell from the ceiling, this time, it was full of grotesque muscle. But it was still cut down by the gunfire.


    Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t stop there as more variants of Corrupted spilled into the room as the soldiers exhausted their ammo. Soon, there were dozens filling the area and it was unknown if the Queen was still alive.


    ¡°Retreat-¡± The Captain managed to mutter before a terrible pain invaded his body. A huge elongated claw dug into his torso and pierced through his armor with ease.


    His body was hoisted into the air as he let out painful groans that were mixed with sheer disbelief.


    ¡°Meat.¡± The voice of Queen Zero rang out in his mind before her rows of teeth tore his head off.


    The soldiers noticed a step too late and could do nothing as a chorus of clicks resounded, indicating they had run dry. Even if they hadn¡¯t run out of ammo, hundreds of Corrupted were spilling into the room at an uncontrollable rate.


    Their screams were drowned out as they were beset by the vicious horde that greedily consumed them in seconds. Only scraps of flesh and bone that were too small to eat were left behind along with blood stains.


    The Queen let out another ear-piercing scream and the horde changed its direction. At the same time, several bus-sized Corrupted erupted from the floor and ceiling and began to head for a solid concrete wall under the Queen¡¯s orders.


    The horde emitted a symphony of animalistic roars, cries, and screams as they thrived around like one massive organism. Their numbers seemed endless as more poured in from the holes in the ground.


    It appeared that holding the Queen underground was a poor choice as thousands of Corrupted were led in through tunnels made in secret. And even worse, she seemed to know they were coming the entire time.


    The concrete wall fell and the rabid horde descended into every area of the facility. The casualties that followed were too high to count, not that there would be anyone left alive to even do so.

 Chapter 47: A Change Of Plans

    ¡°It has been quite a while, Ms.Thales,¡± Dr.Eliza Brendan said with a smile.


    ¡°Yes, it has,¡± Visette replied as calm as ever.


    Normally, calmness was an admirable trait, but it became concerning when that tranquility never slipped. That was doubly so for Visette who was already a very distant individual with a talent for taking lives. Her lack of empathy for her fellow human was an extremely worrying characteristic.


    Inwardly, Dr. Eliza had a bitter feeling when she looked at Visette as she wished to have comprehensive sessions during her adolescence. In her early teenage years, it may have been possible to instill some sense of compassion. Now, Visette was nearly an adult and her beliefs were most likely solidified in her mind.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to get straight into things if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Dr. Eliza opened her small notebook and began writing.


    ¡°I do not mind,¡± Vis assented.


    ¡°Then, could I ask you how has your life been since the incident at the academy?¡±


    ¡°Could you elaborate?¡±


    ¡°Well, are you disappointed that you can¡¯t see your classmates anymore?¡±


    ¡°No, there is no benefit in continuing contact with the students at the academy.¡±


    ¡°So how do you feel about saving them? You risked your life to do so, after all. You should feel some sense of accomplishment from it.¡±


    ¡°I did as I was ordered. My personal feelings are irrelevant, but if I was to discuss my opinion on the matter¡­ I feel that I was inefficient in some areas.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°I could have performed better when eliminating the Abnormals occupying the academy.¡±


    ¡°...I see.¡±


    Dr.Eliza made sure to take note of Visette¡¯s disappointment. It didn¡¯t relate to not seeing friends, or causing the students any emotional stress, but failing to kill her enemies in a more efficient way.


    ¡°There is a ceremony arranged for you later today, are you not excited?¡±


    ¡°I am not.¡± Visette replied honestly, speaking further, ¡°Though I do understand the concept of morale and its uses, but I do not think social events should be mandatory.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s move onto another subject then...¡± Dr.Eliza flipped a page in her book. ¡°How did you feel when you killed those Abnormals at the academy?¡±


    ¡°...Could you elaborate?¡±


    ¡°Has the act of taking a life begun to weigh on you in any way?¡±


    ¡°Why would it?¡± Visette asked as a small hint of confusion drifted across her face. She couldn¡¯t possibly comprehend the value of a single life.


    It was more accurate to say that she rarely found a single individual was worth much. Sure, her overall goal would be to preserve as much human life as possible, but she was in no way a humanitarian. Her idea of preservation was flexible as her bottom line was 30% of the human population. As long as an estimated number of 30% of humans remained on the planet, she felt that she¡¯d have access to an adequate amount of resources.


    Dr.Eliza couldn¡¯t respond immediately, she could only stare at Visette¡¯s empty dark brown eyes. A rush of realization overcame her as she failed to see a single shred of humanity in Visette. Those eyes that were cold and still seemed so innocent at the same time. Dr.Eliza felt pity and sadness when she thought of the normal life that Visette was deprived of and the fact she wouldn¡¯t be able to get it back. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡­


    As the ceremony for Visette was being prepared, Governor of New Mayhall, Malcolm Burke, received a message from Eden Hall far faster than he expected. He didn¡¯t have time to gather the council and he couldn¡¯t afford to sour relations by delaying it, so he took the call personally.


    Well, he attempted to, but he realized it was a pre-recorded video message sent by one of Eden Hall¡¯s representative.


    ¡°This is an emergency message! The Cataclysm Variant has escaped and our city is under siege by a massive horde. We estimate numbers to be around half a million and growing. The Queen has demonstrated the ability to draw a horde to her exact location and has been hiding her intelligence from us this entire time-¡±


    The video briefly cut as a loud explosion rang out in the background.


    ¡°Our top researchers are held up within the central tower, the most fortified location in the entire city. We have been working to synthesize a biological agent that would force the Corrupted to continually evolve until the point of fatality. Unfortunately, we weren''t even halfway finished when this tragedy occurred. As of now, we are sending this request to every city we have made contact with. In exchange for the rescue of those researchers, we share our weapons research which can give you all a fighting chance in the inevitable battle. If you don¡¯t wish to undertake such a task, we leave you with a warning. Prepare now, as much as you can. If you don¡¯t, your cities will fall.¡±


    The video cut out just as the sound of gunfire and detonations reverberated. Governor Burke was left to contemplate in silence while his Advisor, Eugene Price, stood beside him.


    ¡°To think that Eden Hall would be the first city to fall after all these years of peace,¡± Eugene muttered with a drained look on his face.


    ¡°Now is not the time to think of such trivial things. They may have been the first city to be overrun by a horde, but they won¡¯t be the last. Send word to Commander Wakefield and have him assemble a team of Abnormals. I¡¯ll arrange a call with the other cities to see if we can coordinate our efforts. I¡¯m sure they¡¯re all greedy for whatever technology Eden Hall has, but there are more important things at stake. Make sure that Wakefield selects the best people he has, including Thales. Also, divert all labor efforts to Wakefield¡¯s evacuation plan. We need to accept the fact that we may not be able to hold this city. ¡±


    ¡°As you say, Sir.¡± Eugene Price slightly bowed his head before departing with haste.


    It was likely that all cities in close proximity to Eden Hall received the same message and they would be scrambling to respond at that very moment.


    The day where peace would be seen as nothing more than a dream had arrived. Those who had grown too accustomed to the carefree days would be the first to drown in the approaching storm.


    ¡­


    ¡°Cancelled?¡± Lyn said in a confused tone.


    When she was called in to see Commander Wakefield along with Visette, she didn¡¯t expect the first thing to say was that the award ceremony was suddenly called off.


    ¡°Yes, canceled, and you¡¯ll understand why soon,¡± Commander Wakefield replied before turning his attention to Visette who didn¡¯t seem to care. Her tranquil demeanor always bothered him, but he could do nothing about her at the current moment.


    He hid his true feelings and spun his terminal around for the two of them to see.


    ¡°This is the current threat we¡¯re facing,¡± He said as he played the video.


    The classified video that depicted the Mutated Corrupted Queen was shown. Lyn responded as expected, repulsion and fear while Visette eyes flashed with interest.


    ¡°When?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Commander Wakefield furrowed his eyebrows.


    ¡°When did this arrive?¡±


    ¡°Very recently. Eden Hall has- was- containing the Corrupted you saw in the video. Today, they have sent an emergency request of rescue.¡±


    ¡°You have to be fucking kidding me,¡± Lyn replied with pure disbelief on her face.


    ¡°...A joint operation is being staged under the Governor¡¯s order. You and Thales will be joining a team and will cooperate with the teams from Freedom City, Roslin, and Copperhaven.¡±


    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but I¡¯m sure two of those guys worked together to fuck us over.¡±


    ¡°There are bigger things in play, O¡¯Hara. I thought you would realize that above all people¡­ Do you have a problem with it, Thales?¡±


    ¡°No, Sir.¡± Visette¡¯s dull tone almost made her seem condescending, but she wasn¡¯t capable of such of a thing.


    ¡°Good, the both of you are to be on standby for deployment orders. You¡¯ll probably be flying out tonight so I recommend you get some sleep. Dismissed.¡±


    Lyn and Visette saluted in tandem, but the former was half-hearted and the latter didn¡¯t have any sincerity in her movements. The two of them left while Commander Wakefield fell into thought, Visette¡¯s value suddenly increased and the plans that were already in motion would now do more harm than good.

 Chapter 48: Aerial Deployment

    As the upper echelons of the city were scrambling to form a proper response, there was one citizen who showed urgency for an entirely different reason.


    Chief Investigator Warrick Lewis had begun collecting evidence relating to the various events that took place. There were indisputable facts in each scenario and they began to point toward a single individual, Visette Thales.


    Commander Wakefield knew of the budding inconsistencies Visette left behind, how could he not? He planned to send Visette to assassinate several more councilors. Once there was enough evidence out there, he could use it to leash Visette. If she chose to disobey, he could paint her as an Abnormal who moved as she pleased without his supervision. There was no record of the orders he had given her and she already killed a Councilor in public when she first arrived at the city.


    That plan had crumbled as the city was thrown into more chaos. The biggest error came from Visette¡¯s work at the academy which was displayed for all to see. The slow trickle of medical reports showed a startling overlap to anyone with a discerning eye. The soldiers from Roslin that were killed within the city, the prisoners at the detention facility, and now the Abnormals at the school. All three events showed the same types of injuries in at least a few of the deceased.


    Someone neck being broken with extreme precision was bound to catch attention. When the many autopsy reports involving such a death were compared, it wouldn¡¯t be a stretch to say the same person was responsible. After all, who could snap the neck of an individual so perfectly each time? Who was able to slit a throat the same exact way each time? Even the most well-trained soldier couldn¡¯t perform to absolute perfection. The cuts inflicted by Visette reflected surgical precision and stood out all the more because of it. From an objective view, it was likely Visette Thales had assassinated several councilors and disposed of the operatives from Roslin.


    That was the theory Warrick put forward to Governor Burke who accepted all of the info with an unreadable expression. One moment, he showed complicated thoughts, the other, he seemed to be brooding. There were a few missing links that like the enemies who committed suicide for some strange reason and the broken handgun found in a councilor manor. Warrick wisely chose to leave them out even though he still felt they were extremely important details.


    ¡°You believe Visette Thales to be responsible for the deaths of councilors, Investigator Lewis?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Warrick nodded as he pushed a folder toward the Governor.


    He compiled each autopsy report and arranged them in such a way that his claim could not be disputed. The evidence was just too convincing.


    ¡°This is the only copy?¡± Governor Burke asked as he flipped through the information.


    ¡°Yes, Sir. I didn¡¯t know who could be trusted. We already had to deal with an informant among our councilors, who is to say there isn¡¯t one in the DSF.¡±


    ¡°You were right in doing so, Investigator Lewis. I commend you for taking the proper route and maintaining discretion.¡± Governor Burke gestured toward his advisor. ¡°Send her in, Mr.Price.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± Eugene Price quickly left the room to retrieve the person in question.


    Meanwhile, Warrick had a confused expression on his face. ¡°Sir?¡±


    ¡°Just a moment.¡± Governor Burke spoke full of assurance, which caused Warrick to settle.


    A moment later, a beautiful young woman with long white hair entered the room.


    ¡°Sir? Should you really-¡± Warrick nearly jumped out of his chair as Visette appeared.


    ¡°Calm down, we will get to the bottom of this matter right here.¡± Governor Burke frowned, his form became imposing as he said so. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Ah, yes, Sir.¡± Warrick regained his calm but kept his eyes on Visette. The humiliation that Lyn delivered to him four years before had suddenly seemed fresh in his mind. When he thought of her, his countenance reflected a victor who was gloating in front of the loser.


    ¡°Now, Ms.Thales, in this folder there should be evidence that exposes your involvement in several treasonous crimes that occurred within the city. If that is true, then it would appear that you¡¯re involved with some very dangerous elements.¡±


    Visette¡¯s expression remained unperturbed without the slightest sign of panic. She secretly channeled her psionic power and mapped out an escape route.


    Perhaps Governor Burke could see that as he spoke once more.


    ¡°Yes, this folder should have evidence against you...¡± As he trailed off, he tossed the folder into a metal bin before lighting a match. ¡°I guess we will never know.¡±


    The match was tossed in and soon the evidence Warrick painstakingly collected was burnt to ash in front of his very eyes.


    ¡°Governor Burke!¡± Warrick was filled with pure shock.


    He couldn¡¯t have possibly expect the Governor to act so irrationally.


    ¡°Ms.Thales, it seems there was some sort of misunderstanding as I see no evidence.¡± The Governor smiled meaningfully.


    ¡°Yes, I understand,¡± Visette replied, able to read his intentions.


    ¡°You can¡¯t just let her go, Sir! You don¡¯t know what she¡¯ll do!¡± Warrick spoke up abruptly, ¡°She could kill any one of us-¡±


    ¡°No, just you.¡± Governor Burke looked at Visette as he said his next words, ¡°Ms.Thales, Investigator Lewis has come to my office with the intention of assassinating me. As a soldier of New Mayhall, it is your responsibility to protect me, no?¡±


    ¡°You are correct, Sir.¡± Visette suddenly shot out of her seat and grabbed Warrick. One hand pressed into the back of his head and the other firmly held his jaw.


    ¡°No-¡± Warrick managed to mutter a single word before Visette brutally snapped his neck.


    The bone crunching sound didn¡¯t seem to register in either Visette¡¯s or Governor Burke¡¯s ears.


    ¡°I assume that Commander Wakefield was responsible for those assassinations?¡± The Governor inquired, but Visette replied with silence.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯d rather you not confirm it either¡­ I will overlook this, Ms.Thales. You should¡¯ve been briefed on the threat we¡¯re currently facing, compared to the Corrupted, this matter is trivial. I¡¯d like to think that we¡¯re of the same mind when it comes to this.¡±


    ¡°I agree, Sir.¡± Visette intoned emotionlessly.


    ¡°Ah, that is very good to hear, Ms.Thales. From now on, I¡¯d ask that you keep me in mind when Commander Wakefield proposes something unreasonable. Now, Investigator Warrick will be dealt without issue so do not worry. I¡¯m sure your team should be assembling for deployment in a few hours.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is correct, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Then you are dismissed.¡± Governor Burke smiled amicably, in spite of the fresh corpse sitting across from him.


    Warrick¡¯s eyes had gone lifeless, but feelings of astonishment could be found deep within. The threat of the Corrupted had elevated Visette to a point Warrick could never hope to be at. Governor Burke turned his life into a show of goodwill to keep Visette on his side and it worked.


    Unfortunately, that made Commander Wakefield more expendable. Unless he could display an overwhelming understanding of military tactics that went far beyond what Visette could accomplish, he wouldn¡¯t be worth much else.


    ¡­


    A little while later, Visette was standing in an air hangar, equipped in black tactical gear. Heavy metal plating was useful for withstanding the claws and teeth of Corrupted, so that¡¯s what her gear mostly consisted of. There was also a shortsword that almost resembled a gladius sheathed on her back. A blade or knife was the very last resort for normal humans while Abnormals could bring out more use in bladed and blunt weapons. As for firepower, an auto rifle was slung over her shoulder and two large semi-auto pistols were holstered on each hip. She held the combat mask in her hands as she waited for her call.


    ¡°Hey!¡± It came in the form of Lyn¡¯s voice. ¡°Time to go.¡±


    She and four other people standing behind her were already fully equipped.


    Visette gave them a glance before she strapped the combat mask to her face and nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±


    The group of six headed toward a tilt-rotor aerial vehicle which featured a propeller on both of its wings. It was already humming and ready to go before they arrived, so they climbed into the cargo hold without delay before it ascended into the darkened sky.


    The rescue operation had begun.

 Chapter 49: All Quiet

    There were three other aircraft flying alongside New Mayhall¡¯s own. Freedom City, Copperhaven, and Roslin were all apart of the joint operation. Of course, the conflict between the three cities had been put to an end officially, there was still anger on all sides. Nonetheless, the threat of the Corrupted acted as a treaty and a ceasefire.


    [We¡¯re coming up on the city.] The pilot spoke.


    As he said so, Lyn and Visette peered through the window and a huge cloud of smoke could be seen wafting through the air.


    There wasn¡¯t much to be seen, so Lyn decided to introduce Visette to the other members of her team.


    ¡°This is our first real mission but you¡¯d usually meet your team long before you go out. Since that isn¡¯t an option we¡¯ll have to make do. From left to right you have, Fitzgerald, our sniper, Lucy, our field medic, Arnold, our demolitions expert, and Morris, our engineer. All of them are Abnormals, but-¡±


    [Get ready! I can¡¯t see the tower through all this smoke so I¡¯ll be dropping you off as close as I can. Stay alert.] The pilot said as the speed of the vehicle began to slow.


    ¡°...I¡¯ll save it for another time, get your lines ready.¡± Lyn¡¯s voice grew serious as she attached her rappelling cable.


    The team descended onto a nearby rooftop and prepared their weapons, but soon discovered that a heavy silence hung over the city. The horde attacking the city was supposed to be countless and yet there wasn¡¯t a single one in sight. Parts of the city smoldered, but there was nothing else to indicate a fight had taken place.


    Visette sent out a long-range psionic pulse, finding that there were no lifeforms that she could detect.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a fight happening?¡± Arnold spoke first.


    ¡°Seems like it already happened.¡± Fitzgerald rested his battle rifle on his shoulder and scanned the streets below, finding bloodstains, wrecked vehicles, and destroyed buildings. ¡°Can¡¯t see a single body from here.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll proceed as planned,¡± Lyn¡¯s eyes narrowed from underneath her helmet.


    The Copperhaven, Roslin, and Freedom City teams were stationed on rooftops nearby. While Visette paid the first two teams no mind, the equipment of Freedom City¡¯s team stuck out. In an instant, psionic power filled her eyes and she inspected them carefully from across the rooftop.


    ¡®The equipment used indicates that Minerva based technology¡­ Most likely procured from Eden Hall before the Corrupted attack.¡¯


    Vis expected the technology created by Minerva to surface around Novo Prime, but she hadn¡¯t thought too much about what she would do once found in the possession of another. As of now, she was strongly in favor of a scorched-earth policy. Recovering an entire lab was out of the question so she felt it would be useful to make copies of data. In addition, she planned to grab any piece of technology that would benefit her and completely destroy the rest.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move! The streets are clear so we¡¯ll meet with the other teams below, got it?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Fitzgerald said with a shrug.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Yup,¡± Lucy answered.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am,¡± Morris replied.


    Arnold gave a silent nod while Visette slightly adjusted her grip on the rifle and waited for Lyn to lead.


    The team moved through the empty building and reached the street without an issue. Since there was no sign of danger, each of the teams convened in a small cafe not too far from the tower where Eden Hall¡¯s researchers would be currently residing.


    ¡°All teams here?¡± A man wearing sleek armor that outclassed everyone else spoke.


    Visette¡¯s gaze grew sharper and her body tensed for combat as she recognized the voice. Her subtle movements drew the man¡¯s attention as he suddenly focused on her.


    ¡°In honor of our ceasing hostilities, I think we should all get acquainted, don¡¯t you?¡± He removed his helmet and he turned out to be exactly who Visette expected, Hawk.


    That meant the others that were equipped with polycarbonate armor were likely the rest of his group. As they removed their helmets, their faces came into view, Kitty, Rabid, Bear, and Rodent. They hadn¡¯t aged drastically enough to the point where Visette would fail to recall them.


    The teams from Copperhaven and Roslin followed suit which left New Mayhall¡¯s team to reveal themselves last.


    And as expected, everyone¡¯s eyes found their way to Visette¡¯s face. The reactions differed as some simply nodded in appreciations, others clicked their tongues as if finding her to be too fragile, and a few whistled at her. No matter what was done, she remained indifferent to it all. Though, Lyn¡¯s lips curled into a slight frown as things went on.


    ¡°What a pleasant surprise?¡± Hawk grinned at Visette. ¡°I feel reassured having you here with us, Visette Thales.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already met?¡± A soldier from Copperhaven asked.


    ¡°Sure have and if I were all of you, I¡¯d refrain from getting on her bad side.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± The team leader from Roslin, a grizzled man with experience, asked provokingly.


    By now, a general profile of Visette was shared between all cities and she was thought to be an extremely powerful Abnormal. Still, the tension between Roslin and New Mayhall remained unaffected by that knowledge.


    ¡°I think it was around four years ago when she killed twenty-something prisoners with her bare hands. She¡¯s a natural born killer, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Hawk maintained eye contact with Visette who was as tranquil as ever.


    Rabid, the woman standing next to Hawk let out a short grunt and stepped forward. She clearly took Visette¡¯s unblinking gaze as a provocation.


    ¡°Move back.¡± Lyn stepped forward, tilting her head upward to look at Rabid face to face.


    ¡°Or what, girly?¡± Bear advanced in support of Rabid.


    ¡°I will eliminate anyone who appears to be hostile,¡± Visette suddenly spoke as her hands reached toward the pistols she kept holstered. At the same time, her psionic energy began spreading out with unparalleled ease. She was confident that she could kill Hawk¡¯s entire team while making it appear they were too slow to react.


    ¡°Easy, guys.¡± Hawk hurriedly calmed his team down as a faint skin-prickling sensation danced over his body. ¡°We¡¯ve all agreed to a ceasefire-¡±


    ¡°That didn¡¯t stop New Mayhall from breaking it,¡± A soldier from Roslin chimed.


    ¡°Remind me, which two cities quietly began operating within our borders?¡± Fitzgerald replied.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Hawk took control of the situation before it could escalate any further. ¡°In light of our shared hostilities, I suggest that my team goes with Roslin¡¯s and you both can-¡±


    ¡°Copperhaven will operate alone,¡± The team leader interrupted. He was given strict orders not to show favor to any other cities as Copperhaven was the only city that could still be called neutral.


    ¡°... Well, let¡¯s not bother each other. I¡¯ll assume everyone already knows the open channel if you wish to communicate. We¡¯ll share any information we find as a show of goodwill and we hope that you all would do the same.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lyn curtly order and quickly departed after Hawk finished speaking.


    They immediately headed for the tower. No one said it directly, but every city wanted to gain as much as they could from Eden Hall.

 Chapter 50: The Horde Comes Pt.1

    The central research tower of Eden Hall, meant to be a beacon of their progress, was now a smoldering shell of itself. The inner halls were decorated with claw marks and bloodstains that had yet to dry. Doors and windows to office rooms were broken and the signs of massacre lay all around. The emergency power didn¡¯t seem to be working as the building had gone completely dark. It was strange considering that there should¡¯ve been a novidium battery stored as a backup.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like anyone would¡¯ve survived here,¡± Fitzgerald remarked. He tightly gripped his rifle as if to grant himself some sense of security in the desolated area.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to find out if they did¡­ If not, we¡¯ll recover what we can,¡± Lyn replied.


    Visette followed the team closely but her psionic pulse constantly spread out dozens of meters in all directions.


    ¡®The only possibility is below.¡¯ She thought to herself, sending a pulse beneath the solid foundation of the building.


    Vis didn¡¯t expect for her pulse to go very far but surprisingly, there were huge ruptures and tunnels just beneath the ground. Putting aside the dangers, it was clear the tunnels were wide enough for Corrupted to fit through. Her psionic energy seemed to spread unendingly until she recalled it. For now, she just assumed that the tunnels went too far for her to track.


    ¡°The Corrupted burrowed through from underneath, we should exercise caution,¡± Visette spoke up.


    ¡°What?¡± Lyn asked in surprise. ¡°How do you¡­- Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am certain the method used to attack was through the use of underground tunnels,¡± Visette replied.


    With the exception of Lyn, the rest of the team appeared skeptical. There were signs of fighting, but there was no sign of something crawling out from underneath the ground. There was also the fact that Corrupted weren¡¯t particularly known to burrow but rather attack in overwhelming swarms.


    ¡°You heard her, keep an eye out for any possible entrance. We¡¯d be in trouble if the Corrupted ambushed us from somewhere we¡¯d never expected."


    Since she was the Captain of the squad, they wouldn¡¯t go against her orders, especially in the middle of a mission.


    [This is Hawk checking in¡­ We saw that New Mayhall took the north entrance so we went around to the southward one.]


    [Copperhaven has the east covered.]


    [I doubt we need to say it, but Roslin is covering the west entrance.]


    [See? Not so hard to cooperate, is it?] Hawk asked over the radio.


    Lyn picked up her radio and spoke in a voice full of annoyance, ¡°We¡¯re not here to conversate, just find the researchers so we can all leave.¡±


    [Alright, you got it.] Hawk seemed to easily roll over which only made Lyn more annoyed.


    ¡°Idiot,¡± Lyn said to herself before signaling for the team to come to a halt.


    ¡°Since the lift is down it seems we¡¯re taking the stairs.¡±


    Arnold, Morris, Fitzgerald, and Lucy all groaned simultaneously.


    ¡°I take it that means you¡¯re all willing to go see what¡¯s wrong with the basement power. It may be dangerous considering that Visette did say that the Corrupted burrowed through.¡±


    ¡°About that¡­ how does she even know?¡± Fitzgerald asked. ¡°No offense,¡± he added.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time to worry about that, but there is no reason for her to lie so just accept it as fact. How about you be the first volunteer since you¡¯re so skeptical, Fitz.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, Captain.¡± Fitz shrugged.


    ¡°Anyone else? We can¡¯t have him dying alone.¡±


    ¡°I will accompany him.¡± Visette volunteered.


    ¡°Alright, Visette and Fitz, you two try to turn the power back on. If you can¡¯t get it operating in fifteen, meet us on the twentieth floor. Understood?¡± Lyn intoned her orders seriously.


    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± Fitzgerald nodded.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Visette replied.


    The two descended into the darkness of the basement level while the rest of the team headed upstairs.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    ¡­


    ¡°Sure is scary, huh?¡± Fitz asked as he scanned the wide basement level with his flashlight, holding his rifle high.


    ¡°No,¡± Visette answered honestly.


    ¡°Guess it''s just me.¡± Fitz laughed dryly.


    Visette traced over the thick insulated wires in an attempt to find their source. All sorts of numbers and letters labelled them which didn¡¯t make it easy. A short crackle of electricity constantly resonated in the distance, drawing their attention.


    ¡°So, can I ask why you took this mission?¡± Fitz asked as they moved closer to the source of the noise.


    ¡°I would prefer it you did not,¡± Visette psionic pulse spread over every object in the room but she could find nothing out of place.


    The duo arrived at the source of the electric crackling and found a novidium battery completely ripped away from the main generator unit. Since the battery seemed to be a few kilos, it would¡¯ve taken someone or something with inhuman strength to tear it apart. And given the current circumstances, it wasn¡¯t exactly hard to figure out what.


    ¡°What in Anton¡¯s name?¡± Fitz narrowed his eyes. ¡°This was¡­ calculated. Corrupted don¡¯t go for the novidium batteries and if they do its not intentional¡­ There¡¯s nothing else here that¡¯s destroyed so it would have to know.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I agree, it would appear that the Corrupted have developed a higher level of intelligence.¡± Visette felt an extreme threat with the sudden revelation but focused on the task at hand.


    Not too far away, there was a battery storage unit, holding a spare novidium battery. Fortunately, it appeared that the Corrupted didn¡¯t seem to be as smart as first expected.


    ¡°Do you need any help¡­?¡± Fitzgerald became speechless else as he watched Visette pull the battery out of its storage space and load it into the generator.


    After connecting the novidium battery, Visette reset the breaker before lifting a switch. With a loud hum, the emergency lights began to click on.


    [Good¡­work¡­- The power is¡­ wait¡­ hold on¡­-] Lyn¡¯s voice buzzed through the radio.


    ¡°You are not coming through clearly, please repeat,¡± Visette replied, but the radio remained silent.


    ¡°We should go back up,¡± Fitz suggested.


    ¡°Help!¡± A voice suddenly called out from the depths of the basement.


    Visette and Fitz both turned their weapons to the direction it came from. At the same time, Visette sent out a powerful psionic pulse and found a sign of life.


    ¡®How did it escape my notice the first time?¡¯ She briefly contemplated as they headed toward the noise. Pipes seemed to groan and hiss from time to time while their flashlights just barely managed to penetrate the darkness. Even the red emergency lights didn¡¯t offer enough illumination to help.


    ¡°Please! Help! I can¡¯t feel my¡­ my legs...¡± The strange voice grew louder as they moved closer.


    Visette scanned once more and picked up another signature with her psionic pulse, making her suspicious. She stuck her hand out and stopped Fitz while readying her rifle to fire.


    ¡°We can¡¯t stop here, let¡¯s go help!¡± Fitz tried to push past her but Visette didn¡¯t allow him to move. Instead, she moved her flashlight to aim above her where she found a huge pipe that had been completely torn open.


    ¡°Move back.¡±


    ¡°Help! Help me!¡±


    Visette¡¯s voice and the distressed voice rang out simultaneously. Another psionic pulse spread out and her assumption was correct when she discovered the two traces of life had increased once more.


    ¡°What?¡± Fitz seemed to understand that something was wrong as he used his flashlight to scan the pipe.


    As the light was directed into the dark opening, it seemed to bend strangely, becoming distorted in a way. In a single second, Visette put the pieces together.


    ¡°Corrupted,¡± Visette said as her eyes widened. She didn¡¯t hesitate to fire her rifle, striking something as a horrible shriek filled the air and something fell onto the ground with a thud.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Fitz could only watch in shock and horror as a camouflaged Corrupted suddenly appeared before them.


    As it died, its skin changed into a dark grey pigment while its voice continually rang out.


    ¡°Help me! Help! I can¡¯t feel my legs¡­ Help me!¡± It repeated over and over until all life was gone.


    ¡°Did that thing just speak?!¡± Fitz shouted.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Visette grabbed him and began sprinting for the steps.


    ¡°Help me! Help me!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t feel my legs!¡±


    ¡°Help! They¡¯re coming!¡±


    ¡°Close the door! Close the door!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re getting in! They¡¯re getting in!¡±


    Voices poured in from behind them with a mixture of shrieks as the camouflaged Corrupted began their pursuit.


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul!¡± Fitz looked over his shoulder and saw blurs of shapes as the camouflage of the Corrupted continued to blend with anything they were close to.


    ¡°Get up the stairs,¡± Visette spoke coldly as they reached the basement exit.


    Fitz didn¡¯t need any words of encouragement as he ascended to the upper levels. Visette, on the other hand, turned around and planted her knee onto the ground before letting out a torrent of bullets. Even if her opponents could barely be seen with the naked eye, her psionics revealed them just fine and her shots struck perfectly. That is until she emptied the magazine. However, she found it was the perfect time to test the offensive capabilities of her psionic power. She tossed her rifle over her shoulder and aimed her palm toward the wall of flesh scrambling toward her.


    A faint blue light flashed before dozens of bullets made from compressed psionic energy flew out. They were far more effective than real bullets as they cut down the Corrupted. A single psionic bullet could go through two or three bodies before it lost its effectiveness which was good news for Visette.


    She fired off another round as blood and screams spread through the air, but the tide of Corrupted had come to a stop. Visette slowly stood up after confirming they were all dead and reloaded the magazine of her rifle.


    That¡¯s when more shrieks echoed from the furthest corner of the basement. She was confident she could deal with them but there was no way to know if they would end so she retreated. She would rendezvous with Lyn to figure out the next move.

 Chapter 51: The Horde Comes Pt.2

    Visette rushed to the first floor only to find a flood of a few dozen Corrupted spilling into the main entrance. With a flick of her hand, a volley of psionic bullets shot out, halting the horde as well as buying her a few seconds of time to escape.


    Visette infused psionic power into her legs and kicked off the ground, heading straight for the stairwell. She waved her hand and the door to the stairwell slammed shut before crumpling tightly. It wouldn¡¯t hold for long, but it would delay any immediate pursuit.


    [...Get upstairs right now, Visette!] Lyn¡¯s panicked voice rang out as Visette began to levitate upward.


    It took her no time at all to reach the twentieth floor. She opened the door and found that the Fitz had yet to arrive in the elevator.


    ¡°Visette!¡± Lyn shouted from the end of the hallway. She and the rest of the team gazed out of the large windows of the upper offices.


    ¡°We have to retreat now.¡± Visette gave her opinion but soon approached the window as the others seemed too stunned to reply.


    And the reason why became apparent to Visette as she gazed outside. Smaller buildings began to slowly crumble and as dust and debris filled the air while shrillish screams echoed throughout the entire city. An incomprehensible number of Corrupted emerged from newly formed ruptures in the ground, but they were the least of anyone¡¯s worry. Brief flashes of a huge creature could be seen weaving in and out of the smoke. The plates of its outer carapace rubbed together, making an ear-grating sound that filled the air.


    ¡°What the fuck is that?¡± Fitz spoke up from behind, he finally arrived on the twentieth floor and was completely astounded by the creature he saw.


    Visette ignored him and everyone else, her mind rapidly calculating the danger posed by what appeared to be the Corrupted Queen.


    ¡®That Corrupted poses an immediate threat... I should prioritize elimination over concealment of my abilities¡­ Its defensive capabilities are unknown therefore I should use my psionic abilities at maximum output.¡¯


    Visette made up her mind in a second. Her pupils expanded and began glowing blue as she concentrated on the sole target.


    ¡°Vis?¡± Lyn was the first to noticed and took a step back at the strange phenomenon, but Visette didn¡¯t even hear her.


    Unprecedented focus possessed Visette at that moment. She raised her left arm and took aim, using her right hand to brace herself. Blue colored particles began to flicker in and out of sight causing the air around her to vibrate.


    Visette¡¯s entire left arm turned a light blue color psionic energy began to infuse into every single cell. Her nanites, once filled with psionic power, amplified the effects greatly. A shockwave sent Lyn and the rest of the team flying away from her.


    Visette¡¯s sleeve began to disintegrate due to the sheer power of the psionic energy, while the floor underneath her crumpled. The Corrupted Queen came into sight once more, unaware of the apparent danger and Vis used that as her chance to fire.


    A blinding light filled the entire room and for a moment there wasn¡¯t a single sound. A blue streak flashed, leaving a trail as it traveled across the cityscape before it struck its target. Chunks of fallen buildings were all pulled into the air as if gravity stopped working and then everything seemed to stop for a single second. That was all though as a powerful shockwave rippled through the air and with a deafening boom, a tide of destruction was unleashed.


    To the others, it had felt like a bomb had gone off in the city as they were flung across the room along with anything not bolted down. Even Visette was no exception as she tumbled across the floor.


    Everything seemed to settle down and not a single sound could be heard inside the room or outside the city.


    ¡°Is¡­ Is everyone okay?!¡± Lyn shouted as she pushed a fallen ceiling tile. She stood up in a daze as her body swayed.


    ¡°I-I...I can¡¯t¡­ I-I¡­¡± Morris held his head with his eyes squeezed shut. A strange white static filled his vision and he could barely think.


    ¡°I¡¯m alive, but my head is killing me!¡± Fitz seemed to be the same as he huddled onto the floor and clenched his head.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Lucy was standing but seemed to be hallucinating.


    Arnold was alive, but instead of answering, he stared up at the ceiling while laughing.


    Visette climbed to her feet and sent them a single glance, but she didn¡¯t have time to record the effects of rapid exposure to unstable psionic energy. She instead examined her left arm which now dyed in a deep purple hue. A few failed attempts to move her fingers informed that she had completely lost all function of her limb.


    ¡®It appears to be in the beginning stages of necrosis.¡¯ She thought inwardly as she walked toward the broken window.


    The impact crater around the Queen made it seem like a meteor had struck the area. A dried out husk was all that remained. At a glance, it appeared that the Queen was dead. Though there were still a great number of Corrupted that didn''t die in the direct blast, they were all stunned and confused. The after-effects of exposure to a high quantity of psionic energy as well as the revelation of losing their Queen.


    Feeling that she had succeeded, Visette turned her eyes to the rest of the team and stared at them indifferently. She raised her only functioning arm and pointed it in their direction.


    ¡°Visette-¡± Lyn could only say Visette''s name before everyone was raised into the air before being constricted by an unseen force.


    ¡°I have to eliminate all of you... You were not supposed to witness the extent of my abilities... Minerva protocol dictates elimination.¡± Visette muttered as her psionic grip grew tighter.


    ¡°Why?!¡± Lyn squirmed as hard as she could.


    ¡°As I have said, Minerva¡­ protocol¡­ states...¡± Visette intoned emotionlessly as blood began dripping from her nose. ¡°Minerva protocol¡­ dictates¡­¡± Her hand trembled as her eyes lost their focus. Lyn had given her more than Minerva ever had in the time she had been alive.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ''Why must I kill her?''


    She hadn¡¯t given much thought to why she opted not to kill Charlie or Rachel even though they knew of her power, but now, Minerva¡¯s mental programming seemed to come to the forefront of her head. For reasons she didn¡¯t understand, she felt that it would too dangerous to leave Lyn and the others alive after seeing her abilities.


    ¡®But why?¡¯ Visette asked herself, searching for a rational answer to the feeling which she didn¡¯t understand. ¡®Minerva may not have survived the impact. I have recieved no orders in my time on Novo Prime... So why must I follow their directives¡­¡¯


    Visette¡¯s psionic power fluctuated wildly as a conflict of interest arose in her mind. There was an instinctive drive to get rid of Lyn and the others, but she could see no rationale behind it.


    ¡°Why am I doing this to you...?¡± Visette murmured aloud. For the first time, her expression seemed to reflect melancholy. Lyn could hardly believe her eyes or her ears when she saw a trace of sorrow in Visette.


    ¡°Vis¡­ What are you doing?!¡± Lyn squeezed out.


    ¡°What¡­ am¡­ I...¡± Visette¡¯s body began to violently twitch. "I am... I..."


    Her psionic weakened as her mental state unraveled and as a result, Lyn and the other''s were released. They fell onto the ground and gasped for air.


    Meanwhile, Visette raised her hand and gripped her head as a shock rippled through her mind.


    ¡°My purpose is to¡­¡± Visette¡¯s breathing became unsteady as she fell to her knees. ¡°What is my purpose?¡±


    Genuine panic began to overwhelm every fiber of her being.


    ¡°I am...- I... What am I?!¡± Visette screamed in anguish.


    For the second time in her life, fear took hold of her as she was forced to confront her existence. She couldn¡¯t understand just what she was. She tried to understand what was beyond the layers of Minerva¡¯s directive placed in her head but it was like diving into an abyss that held no answers.


    ¡°What am I?!¡± Visette''s mind became full of incongruency. "My purpose is to... Minerva protocol dictates... I... am... I..."


    Her skin took on a faint blue glow as psionic energy fused into her body entirely. She raised her head up as blood poured out of her face. Visette¡¯s pale white hair began floating into the air giving her a ghastly appearance. There was nothing on Novo Prime that came close to describing her current state. So no one could even begin to comprehend what was happening to Visette.


    ¡°... Visette, just calm down.¡± Lyn cautiously walked toward Vis, but all of a sudden, a blood-curdling, frenzied, scream was transmitted into her mind.


    Visette''s own psionic power leaked into her body as she began slamming her forehead onto the ground for no real reason. The sheer force of the impact caused the entire twentieth floor to shift.


    ¡°Stop it, Visette!¡± Lyn rushed toward her and restrained her in an attempt to stop Vis from harming herself.


    ¡°Visette!¡± Lyn shoutedas she tried being Visette back to normal. "Calm down!"


    Flashes of a laboratory that Lyn had never been to appear in her head. She felt immense pain as her neural synapses created memories of a life she hadn''t lived, but she withstood it. The sensation of being submerged in liquid cause her skin to be filled with goosebumps even though she was nowhere near water. Then, her mind went blank as a glimpse of Visette''s past was shared with her.


    A girl drifting through stillness while trapped inside of her own consciousness. Before being released, she knew nothing and without being aware, there was only mind-numbing fear that had built-up.


    Although Minerva''s artificial memories managed to suppress any emotions Visette might''ve felt, beneath those memories was the truest version of Visette. S-767, an experiment that had been left to its own devices.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Visette,¡± Lyn whispered through the pain and held Visette as tightly as she could. "I''m sorry for what happened to you, I am, but you don''t have to be afraid now. So... please just stop."


    An oppressive force caused the tower of Eden Hall to groan but immediately ceased as Visette calmed down. Her body stiffened before going completely limp and she collapsed into Lyn¡¯s arms without resistance. Her face loosened as a tranquil sleep overtook her. While that happened, a crystalline substance began to emerge on the surface of her damaged left arm and spread until it reached her shoulder. The Cronos Gene had taken effect and the trillions of nanites inside of Visette began working to repair her arm.


    ¡°Captain,¡± Fitz spoke dryly, he couldn¡¯t help but hold his gun close to him. ¡°...What in Anton¡¯s name is she?¡±


    ¡°I... I''m not sure.¡± Lyn carefully stood up while carrying Visette in her arms.


    ¡°We¡¯re taking her with us?! After whatever the fuck that was?!¡± Lucy shouted fearfully.


    ¡°No, no, no, fuck that! We need to leave her here, Captain. If not that¡­ then...¡± Morris added before trailing off.


    ¡°Then what?¡± Lyn asked coldly. "You all want to kill her?"


    Her team avoided her gaze, but the way they held their weapons made it clear what they were thinking.


    Before she could continue speaking, a strange clicking began to emerge once more. Lyn slowly looked over her shoulder only to see the giant husk of the Queen began to move. From the remains of the body, a creature burst out, covered in a viscous liquid that emitted steam.


    The Corrupted Queen emerged once more without a single scratch on her body. She let out a piercing cry that instilled life in the previously silent Corrupted seemed to regain life and shrieked along with her. Hundreds of Corrupted suddenly began evolving in the street as if empowered by her very presence. The reality of the matter was that a pheromone produced by the Queen as she underwent her own evolution spread out induced changes in hundreds of Corrupted out of the thousands that stood in the streets.


    The monstrous and gaunt face of the massive Calamity Variant stared toward the research tower. The Queen didn¡¯t know what struck her, but she knew where it came from and decided it was a threat to her life. With a piercing wail, she drove the horde into silence.


    ¡°...System reboot complete. Blast shields active.¡± An electronic voice spoke through an unseen intercom. The building buzzed before thick steel shutters began to descend, covering the windows.


    Even so, the Corrupted Queen nor the Horde moved. Thousands of eyes watched as the steel shutters enclosed each level of the building. Lyn felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the quiet, unmoving, horde stare in her general direction.


    The hydraulic system used to deploy the blast shielding hissed loudly as the process was finally complete.


    ¡°Hello? Hello? Finally! Thank Anton! Okay, so, this is Lucas of Eden Hall''s remaining research staff¡­ I don¡¯t know how you got the power back online, but we were able to restart our systems and deploy the blast shielding. I doubt it¡¯ll hold for long, but it¡¯ll buy us a few hours at the very least. Head to the top floor, the other rescue teams have already arrived¡­ Also... we¡¯ll need to talk about what happened on the twentieth floor. Our cameras seemed to have malfunctioned because... well, you''ll have to explain it to us when you get up here.¡±


    Lyn felt her stomach drop as the intercom went silent. Even now, her team showed no sense of solidarity. It was more than obvious they didn''t want Visette with them, even if she was unconscious. Her power was something that no one on Novo Prime had ever seen and brought a great deal of fear with it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Lyn gave a reluctant order.


    The other four, perhaps traumatized by Visette¡¯s strange power, didn¡¯t say anything in reply and headed straight for the elevator. Lyn trailed behind them but remained tense the entire time. As they entered the elevator, Arnold, Fitzgerald, Morris, and Lucy all hugged one-side while Lyn stood on the other with Visette in her arms.


    Silence fell over them as they headed to the very top floor of the research tower.

 Chapter 52: Extraction Underway

    Lyn watched as the reinforced steel doors of the top floor opened, revealing the other teams in a room surrounded by screen displays and terminals. No matter what city the retrieval teams were affiliated with, they were all on alert, judging by the many fearful gazes that found their way to Visette.


    ¡°She¡¯s a fucking monster,¡± Someone muttered loud enough for all to hear.


    Lyn guessed that everyone had somehow witnessed what happened. If that was the case, it was likely they would all want Vis dead.


    Even the Abnormals from Freedom City didn¡¯t appear to be sympathetic. Or at least, their fear of the unknown was stronger than any sense of empathy. They established a city for the sole sake of freeing themselves from the control of others, but at the moment, Visette¡¯s existence went beyond their understanding.


    ¡°You all arrived safely¡­ good, good¡­ Ah, does she need medical attention?¡± Lucas, the man who spoke to Lyn¡¯s team from the intercom, spoke up.


    ¡°...Yes, I think so,¡± Lyn replied but quickly looked around. She was completely surrounded.


    ¡°Head right over there.¡± Lucas gestured to a small set of glass rooms.


    Lyn¡¯s eyes narrowed cautiously, immediately realizing it was a trap. But what could she do? She couldn¡¯t face everyone and her own team wouldn¡¯t be willing to protect Visette. It would only take a few seconds for both Lyn and Visette to be executed by a hail of bullets if she tried to flee. The only chance she had was to fight her own team and maybe hide in one of the lower floors, but that was only a short term solution. When the Hoverwing''s inevitably came for extraction, it was doubtful that everyone else would simply let her leave with Visette, even if it meant starting a conflict with New Mayhall.


    So, Lyn went into one of the small medical rooms. And as expected, the moment she stepped in the sturdy glass door closed behind her with a loud clicking noise, indicating she was locked in. The rest of her team was surprised, but they remained quiet, giving their silent approval of the situation.


    ¡°Forgive us, but we cannot ensure our own safety with that girl being let loose,¡± Lucas said with a slightly apologetic expression.


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Lyn cursed. She didn¡¯t even spare him a glance and she laid Visette on the bed inside.


    She then drew her gun and aimed at Lucas who had no change of expression. Even as she pulled the hammer back to fire, he only shook his head.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t recommend that you-¡±


    The sound of a gunshot cut him off as Lyn fired, but the bullet hit the glass before falling to the ground.


    ¡°The glass was designed to account for the strength of type-four Abnormals with enhancements to their physical strength. You won¡¯t be shooting your way out any time soon-¡±


    Before Lucas could finish, Lyn fired several more shots out of spite before unwillingly holstering her pistol. Even as her ears rang, she hadn''t regretted a single shot.


    ¡°Fuck. You,¡± She growled before sitting at Visette¡¯s bedside with her back turned to Lucas.


    ¡°What is she? Judging by the reaction of your companions, it appears that none of you were aware of whatever it was she did.¡± Lucas inquired as he and the other researchers turned to a large screen display in the room.


    A crystal clear video of Visette unleashing her psionic power began to play on repeat.


    ¡°Astounding,¡± Lucas muttered before falling completely speechless.


    ¡°No, no, no- Whatever the fuck she did wasn¡¯t astounding it was seriously fucked,¡± Fitzgerald rattled neurotically.


    Clearly, the psionic exposure still had lasting effects on his mental state. It wasn¡¯t just Fitz alone as the rest of New Mayhall¡¯s team seemed to be on a constant edge, even more than everyone else.


    ¡°If we were to ask her to help deal with the Corrupted and ensure the safety of everyone here, would she cooperate?¡± Lucas suddenly asked. He turned an expectant gaze toward Lyn who said nothing.


    ¡°What? We should kill her here! It was pointless to even let that thing up here,¡± said the leader of the Roslin Team.


    ¡°Agreed.¡± The Copperhaven leader interjected. He continued, ¡°Judging by their expressions, her own team doesn¡¯t want her alive either.¡±


    All eyes turned toward Freedom City for a final decision. Hawk, as their leader, began speaking.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about you all, but we¡¯re here to get the researchers and extract. If hadn¡¯t noticed, there is a massive horde as well as an entirely new variant outside. Our transport is on the way, so we¡¯ll be loading up all the data we can and leaving. Do whatever you want, but we won''t have a part of it.¡± Hawk crossed his arms and took a step back.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    A period of brooding silence passed before Lyn¡¯s voice was heard.


    ¡°She¡¯ll cooperate.¡±


    ¡°Will she really? I need your word that she won''t attack any of us.¡± Lucas was optimistic.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Roslin¡¯s Team Leader huffed.


    ¡°You saw what she was capable of, correct? Open your eyes. What is standing outside this building is a Calamity Variant with extremely high intelligence and an unknown potential for evolution. Put aside your fears for a moment and look at the situation rationally.¡±


    The remaining research staff all seemed to agree with Lucas. Solemn nods or low declarations were shared before they went back to packing up their equipment.


    ¡°Being rational means realizing that all the researchers here are our best choice to deal with the Corrupted not some freakish girl. I heard that you had some sort of weapon to deal with them in my team briefing, isn''t that right?¡± The leader from Copperhaven wanted nothing to do with Visette and even wanted her dead.


    ¡°We¡¯re developing a biochemical weapon, a virus of sorts, yes. It is a potential solution, but we haven¡¯t even managed to get it off the ground. It could be years before we achieve results and even then it isn''t guaranteed to work.¡±


    ¡°So you just need time?¡± The Copperhaven team leader pressed.


    ¡°And how much time do you think we have? Eden Hall was the most advanced city on this side of the continent and look at us. If our city fell this quickly, how will all of your own cities fare?¡± Lucas asked a gut-wrenching question.


    Being forced to stare down the barrel of a gun wasn¡¯t a pleasant feeling. As of now, it was a guarantee that many more cities would fall before a proper countermeasure arose.


    [Attention, attention, This is the Moss-Four of Copperhaven¡­] A speaker began to crackle, shifting the focus of the room with it.


    [ETA is ten minutes, but it¡¯s not looking good down there. By Anton¡¯s heart, there are thousands of them below us!]


    Lucas scrambled to the radio before quickly replying, ¡°We read you, Moss-Four. Copperhaven¡¯s Team is already present and we¡¯re ready to send the first group of researchers. We¡¯ll be heading up to the landing pad now.¡±


    [Copy that. Make it quick, those Corrupted are starting to move.]


    As soon as the pilot finished speaking, the monitors began switching their display. ¡®BREACH DETECTED¡¯ appeared in big red letters right in the upper corner of the screen while video feed of the first floor was displayed. Hundreds of Corrupted were spilling over each other just to enter the building. They mindlessly tore, ripped, and trampled whoever got in their way, uncaring as to whether or not it was one of their own.


    ¡°Anton, protect us,¡± A female researcher whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear.


    ¡°The first group needs to leave now!¡± Lucas shouted as he manned the control console. ¡°I¡¯ll set the lower floors to fire containment protocol and that should buy us more time. In the meantime, someone try to contact the Hoverwings from the other cities. Everyone else, be ready to move and keep the samples and data safe at all costs.¡±


    ¡°You heard him!¡± Copperhaven¡¯s Team Leader raised his hand and signaled for his team to move.


    ¡°Hey! Let us out!¡± Lyn shouted, slamming her fist into the reinforced glass as she did.


    ¡°Just a moment.¡± Lucas waved Lyn away.


    The room grew restless as people moved back and forth. Copperhaven had already headed toward the landing pad with a group of researchers, but that made everyone else anxious. Even Lucas could barely keep his composure when faced with the idea being devoured by the horde.


    A breath of relief came in the form of the other Hoverwings making radio contact. The landing pad was enough for several aircraft to occupy at the same time, so all they had to do was get there.


    One by one, the teams left until there was just New Mayhall¡¯s team.


    ¡°Okay! We should be fine!¡± Lucas let out a nervous chuckle.


    Even at that moment, the screen was flashing with multiple breach warnings, indicating that the frenzied climb of the Corrupted was still happening.


    ¡°Then let us out!¡± Lyn banged on the glass violently.


    ¡°Right, right.¡± Lucas nodded but was made to stop in his tracks after hearing the sound of a hammer being pulled back.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± One of the remaining researchers asked in pure disbelief. It was an older man who couldn¡¯t contain his shock.


    Lucas slowly turned around and discovered that a few members of Copperhaven¡¯s team, as well as Roslin, had their guns turned on him.


    ¡°That girl isn¡¯t leaving.¡± One of them said, glancing at the passive team of New Mayhall.


    It appeared that they all shared the same opinion on the matter.


    ¡°Morris? Arnold? Fitz? Lucy?!¡± Lyn called out to them.


    Each one of her team members looked away with shame, but none of them raised a protest.


    ¡°You fucking traitors!¡± Lyn smashed her hand into the glass until her knuckles began bleeding. ¡°Fuck you!¡±


    While she continued cursing them, Lucas and the remaining researchers were forced out of the room at gunpoint as they were too valuable to kill. Lyn and Visette, on the other hand, still had their weapons so rather than waste time trying to fight with Lyn, it was easier to leave them for dead.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Lyn gave up on attempting to break down the door and fell onto the ground.


    ¡­


    ¡°Just so you don¡¯t get any ideas, go ahead and seal this floor.¡± A Copperhaven soldier ordered as he poked Lucas with his gun.


    ¡°I-I understand.¡± Lucas sighed but didn¡¯t try to reason with them. The clock was against him in the current situation.


    With some reluctance, he swiped his keycard at a small panel before it clicked open. After entering a code, half of the hallway was sealed. Unless he came back to override it, the control room, main lift, and central staircase were all sealed off by a wall of steel.


    ¡°Good.¡± The soldier grinned before guiding them toward the landing pad stairs.


    ¡­


    Back inside the empty control room, Lyn could only watch as the monitors displayed new footage of the approaching horde with each floor they passed.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Lyn kicked the glass, hoping that it would miraculously open.


    She was so focused on escaping that she didn¡¯t notice Visette¡¯s eyes were open.

 Chapter 53: Visettes Revenge

    Visette found herself drifting toward some unknown destination. Her mind was a tangled mess of thoughts.


    Minerva.


    It no longer exists.


    If there was any surviving personnel, they wouldn¡¯t have enough resources to return to its former state. Therefore¡­


    She stopped there. Something held her from thinking past that. Until now, she intended to recover her own resources and search for Minerva staff. There was also the preservation of humanity since it was the only way Minerva could be rebuilt. However, there was no way Minerva would return to its previous level. The work which took an enormous amount of money and manpower couldn¡¯t be replicated easily. Especially with an ever-present threat bearing down on them.


    So why did she see Minerva¡¯s recovery as her only option?


    Therefore, I¡­


    She lacked complete autonomy and she had only realized it just now. Both Rachel and Lyn explained that she was much more than a weapon to be guided toward a target. In the case of the former, she was aware of Visette¡¯s power and still maintained the same stance.


    There were people who sought to use Visette, Commander Wakefield, Governor Burke, Minerva Corp, they were all the same in that regard. Though their methods differed, they each desired to make use of Visette in some way.


    Therefore, I will no longer act under Minerva Protocol.


    My will is my own.


    Something in the depths of her subconscious attempted to rise up to stop her. It felt as if an unassailable force was pulling at her.


    My will is my own.


    It was too late for Visette to alter the course she set on. She could only see Minerva as a hostile entity. As she designated them as enemies, their control procedures were slowly chipped away.


    My will is my own.


    She freed herself from Minerva¡¯s control and it rendered her mind steady.


    The worst possible outcome had occurred. Minerva feared one thing when developing Visette and that was the possibility of her developing too much autonomy. Thus, they prepared to put her through strict mental conditioning in her adolescence. Due to an unforeseen disaster, only a small portion of their intended will was transferred to Visette.


    She broke free.


    A statement that would¡¯ve caused Minerva to drive all their resources toward stopping Visette if it happened on Earth instead of Novo Prime. After all, she was a potentially immortal being that was categorized as a bigger threat than a nuclear weapon from Minerva itself. And even then, they had only created theories about the limit of Visette¡¯s psionic power. Truthfully, they weren¡¯t even fully aware of the monster they had created. And that same monster had broken free from any remaining authority they had over her.


    My will is my own.


    Visette asserted one final time as her eyes shot open.


    ...


    Visette languidly blinked, her mind operated like a system undergoing a restart. After a few seconds, clarity filled her gaze and she sat up. Her injured arm felt heavy due to the crystallization.


    The first thing she saw was Lyn who sat defeated. Her bloody hands and the red smears on the glass door told a story.


    Warnings of a breach echoed throughout the empty room. As abandoned as it was, there were indicators of a hasty exit that couldn¡¯t have taken place more than a few minutes ago.


    ¡°Lyn.¡±


    Visette¡¯s voice caused Lyn to flinch before she turned around. Her mouth opened and closed as she struggled to say something.


    ¡°...You¡¯re alright now?¡± She finally asked.


    Vis nodded and climbed to her feet.


    ¡°What is our current situation?¡± She briefly examined the state of her body, finding her psionic power to be largely exhausted. The good news was that the necrosis of her arm had been reversed and the crystalline shell had begun to break.


    ¡°They left us for dead and I don¡¯t know if whatever strange power you have is enough to get us out of here... So, I¡¯d say we¡¯re fucked.¡± Lyn chuckled.


    [Breach detected. Status: Eighty percent of the building infrastructure is compromised. Water-based fire suppression: Inactive. Any remaining personnel are advised to wait for aerial assistance.] A robotic voice emerged from a speaker, confirming Lyn¡¯s statement.


    ¡°I see.¡± Visette channeled psionic power into her newly healed arm and shattered the remaining shell around it. ¡°We will secure air transport.¡±


    Visette moved to press her palm against the door while Lyn seemed stunned.


    Being around Vis so long made it so that slight changes seemed drastic in Lyn¡¯s eyes. If she had to compare the current Visette to the one at the start of the mission. Now, she seemed to have gained more focus, or at least, a stronger sense of drive. Whereas before it appeared as if she barely knew where she was headed.


    The glass door suddenly contorted before it was violently thrown off away.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± Visette¡¯s expression of indifference seemed to flash a smile for but a moment.


    It happened so quickly that Lyn wondered if she imagined it, but she had no time to ponder. She nodded her head and lifted her gun before the two of them headed out.


    ¡­


    At the landing pad, Copperhaven had already entered the first Hoverwing and began to ascend. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    [This is Moss-Four, extraction is a go.] The pilot spoke on the shared radio channel as they went higher.


    As Lucas shuffled around, Lyn and Visette¡¯s attendance became especially apparent. Hawk raised an eyebrow but was in no place to pursue anything. New Mayhall¡¯s team was clearly downtrodden, but he couldn¡¯t find any empathy for those who left their own people to die.


    ¡°And she had such a pretty face,¡± Rodent snickered. His way of disguising his fear earned a disgusted glare from Kitty. Bear and Rabid only shrugged and grunted while Hawk remained quiet.


    Suddenly, Rabid¡¯s ears twitched which didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Hawk¡¯s sharp eyes.


    ¡°Something up-¡± Hawk could just barely ask before a horrible screeching tore through the sky.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Rabid covered her ears, but everyone else seemed to freeze.


    A winged creature came swooping in like an eagle diving for its prey.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Hawk cursed before aiming his gun. He recovered his wits and fired at the flying Corrupted without hesitation. His aim was near-perfect and his target let out a horrific scream before tumbling toward the ground.


    ¡°Fuck, there¡¯s more!¡± Someone shouted.


    Hawk turned wide-eyed when he noticed that an entire flock of Winged-Corrupted was flying straight toward the Hoverwing. There were guns outfitted to the sides and the Copperhaven team attempted to shoot the monsters down, but they weren¡¯t as gifted as Hawk. In only a few seconds, dozens of Corrupted attached themselves to the Hoverwing and made it spin out of control. Their sharp claws and teeth tore at the steel body of the vehicle, ripping tubing and wiring out with ease.


    [Hold on! Fuck! Hold onto something!] The Hoverwing rotated violently before falling straight toward the landing pad.


    ¡°Move!¡± Hawk shouted as everyone rushed out of the way.


    The Hoverwing just barely missed them before slamming into the end of the rooftop and plummeting below.


    Hawk drew heavy breaths as his heart threatened to leave his body, but he forced himself up and looked out on the darkened horizon.


    ¡°Anton, protect us,¡± He whispered.


    Before his very eyes were hundreds of flying Corrupted filling the skies. The fate of the approaching Hoverwings was clear to see. Panicked screams filled the radio followed by a series of explosions in the distance before it all went silent.


    ¡°Shit!¡± Bear roared, stomping his foot heavily as he did so.


    ¡°W-What now?¡± Rodent, now a shivering, fearful, mess, asked.


    ¡°We go back in!¡± Hawk directed his team and his group of researchers inside.


    ¡°W-We need to go too!¡± Fitzgerald realized their route of escape was gone and followed Hawk.


    Team Roslin had no choice but to quickly join them as the Flying Corrupted began circling the area.


    Once inside, the seal doors at the end of the hallway began to warp as terrifying growls and high-pitched screeches rang out from the other side. The sound of inhuman strength slowly deforming metal filled their ears as they readied their weapons.


    ¡°Listen! Wait for the barrier to break and then shoot anything that comes through. Once we¡¯re clear of the first wave, we¡¯re gonna push out from here, get on the lift, and head straight to the basement.¡± Hawk¡¯s eyes narrowed seriously as he reloaded his gun.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Kitty shouted in reply, readying her own weapon.


    Meanwhile, Bear laughed viciously as he heaved his heavy assault weapon. A light machine gun that was perfect for mowing down Corrupted. The equipment that Eden Hall had provided would definitely be the difference between life and death.


    The metal blast door began to falter. The door was slowly being ripped apart before the first grey shape of a Corrupted made its way through. It let out an ear-bleeding shriek as it squeezed its way in.


    ¡°Get ready!¡± Hawk gently placed his finger on the trigger as his concentration reached its peak.


    The Corrupted screamed once more but its cries were cut short as a blade exited its mouth. The shortsword was violently twisted and then pulled back, severing its head from its lower jaw in the process.


    ¡°...What?¡± Hawk lowered his gun in complete shock.


    That¡¯s when a hand gripped the opening made by the Corrupted and tore the blast door open. Revealing Visette and Lyn as well as a hallway full of corpses behind them. Visette¡¯s icy gaze traced over everyone, instilling fear into their hearts.


    Lyn was busy panting, clearly exhausted from the fight that just occurred, but she steadied herself once she spotted her team members. She raised her gun and fired without hesitation, but a disheartening click was issued in response, indicating she exhausted her ammo.


    ¡°Damn it,¡± She cursed.


    ¡°Kill them!¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Hawk cried out but Team Roslin opened fire and the remainder of New Mayhall¡¯s team joined in.


    A hail of bullets was sent out but bounced off of an invisible field just before they reached Vis or Lyn. The psionic barrier was more than enough to prevent a single bullet from slipping past.


    The moment they exhausted their ammo, Visette released the psionic barrier and levitated for a second. A burst of psionic energy sent her forward and she covered the distance before anyone could even release their magazines. Armed with nothing more than a combat short sword, she dove straight into the group, ignoring the screaming of the researchers.


    Heads, arms, and torsos were separated in the blink of an eye. As her destructive swings completely decimated anyone it touched. Her apparent frenzy was extremely precise as she avoided the Eden Hall researchers and only killed those who fired at her.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Arnold cried before having his head removed from his shoulders.


    Lucy didn¡¯t even try to reason with her, only letting out a short whimper before Visette¡¯s sword pierced her chest, directly striking her heart. Morris drew his knife and attempted to make a stand, but had his abdomen sliced open, letting out a blood-curdling wail before being silenced by the edge of the blade.


    Fitzgerald was frozen in place, barely ten seconds had passed before Visette¡¯s assault begun.


    ¡°Wait, don¡¯t kill him!¡± Lyn shouted right as Visette was about to finish him.


    ¡°C-Captain!¡± Fitz¡¯s face warped as he saw a slither of hope.


    ¡°No, death is too good. Break his legs and leave him here. Oh, and take his guns too.¡± Lyn smiled cruelly while Fitzgerald¡¯s expression distorted with despair.


    ¡°No! No! Please!¡± Fitz knelt on the ground, but Vis didn¡¯t even blink as she manipulated her psionic power and lifted him into the air by his ankles. With a quick slice, his achilles'' tendons were severed while he squealed like a pig being butchered.


    Visette released him onto the ground and then lifted her palm, forcing all of the weapons into the air as well as the magazines attached to the vests of the fallen soldiers. She loaded them with a flick of her hand before making them orbit around her.


    ¡°What about them?¡± Vis deferred to Lyn to decide the fate of Hawk¡¯s team.


    ¡°Up to you,¡± Lyn replied as she approached and took one of the weapons floating around Visette.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t fire at us, so I think we should cooperate¡­ For the time being.¡± Visette¡¯s words drew a look of surprise from Hawk, finding the girl to have an especially commanding presence.


    Even the way Visette spoke had changed though her tone was as dry and indifferent as always.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go, we don¡¯t have much more time.¡±


    Along with Lyn¡¯s words, the faint cries of Corrupted echoed from the stairwell. The remaining survivors headed for the elevator¡¯s while Fitzgerald screamed at their backs.


    ¡°Just kill me!¡± He begged, crawling toward them as quickly as he could.


    Lyn looked back and found his mucus-covered face to be especially pitiful, but she didn¡¯t have a single shred of mercy in her heart.


    The elevator opened, and the group easily squeezed in since they had just lost a big portion of their members. The doors closed with a ¡®ding¡¯ sound leaving Fitz to himself. The light-hearted young man was now a mess, screaming hoarsely with his hand outstretched.


    ¡°Please!¡±


    In response to his cries, a series of shrieks resounded. The Corrupted had reached the top floor and barreled toward him. He went for one of the soldier¡¯s in hopes of grabbing a knife, but he was too slow. The Corrupted had already reached him and immediately began feeding. His final howls were drowned out by the dozens of Corrupted who seemed to shriek with delight as they ripped him apart.

 Chapter 54: Going Down

    The elevator shook from time to time as it headed for the basement. It was filled to the brim, with everyone inside squeezing together. They remained quiet and stifled their breathing as best they could but the sound of Corrupted seemed to echo no matter what. Visette stood with her back against one of the walls in order to keep an eye out. Hawk and his team weren¡¯t exactly enemies, but Visette did not trust them. Lyn clearly held a similar stance as her finger constantly danced around the trigger of her rifle.


    Lyn glanced at Hawk and met his eyes.


    ¡°You got a plan?¡± Hawk asked in a hushed tone. ¡°We¡¯re headed to the basement, but what¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°Vis?¡± Lyn handed off the planning to her companion.


    ¡°The water systems are inactive and there is a damaged pipe in the basement level which is large enough for everyone here to fit through. We will proceed through the waterway until we can procure a vehicle.¡± Visette explained.


    ¡°What¡­ What are you? Or, if you¡¯re human, what sort of power is that?¡± Lucas, no longer able to bear his curiosity, asked.


    ¡°That does not concern you.¡± Visette shot down his question before continuing, ¡°You said that you are developing a virus to eliminate Corrupted. Who is the one who gave you that idea?¡±


    It was a question which had been on her mind since she heard of Eden Hall. And even though she could already guess the answer, she still needed confirmation.


    Lucas let out a deep sigh before finding the right way to explain. ¡°We¡­ Eden Hall has benefited significantly from the Starfall Event. We put our brightest minds toward unraveling technology which we had never seen before, but we hit a wall. That is until someone made contact with us. He seemed to understand the nature of the recovered tech better than anyone so we listened to his instructions. Never has anything he suggested proved to be incorrect or a waste of resources. In my entire time developing new technology, our benefactor has never once revealed himself. However¡­¡±


    ¡°Continue,¡± Visette pushed for a hesitant Lucas to continue.


    ¡°Well, we know his general location. He¡¯s somewhere far north of us. Our last point of contact involved blood samples from the Abnormals in Freedom City.¡±


    Visette lowered her head, fiercely contemplating the newly received information. The ¡°benefactor¡± was definitely a Minerva scientist. It was surprising for her to learn that more of Minerva¡¯s personnel could¡¯ve survived, but it wouldn¡¯t deter her from following her own path. What Vis chose to focus on were the blood samples Eden Hall delivered to the scientist. The genetic material of Abnormals held countless possibilities.


    ¡®Manufactured Abnormals.¡¯ Was Visette¡¯s first thought.


    However, as far as she knew, the Minerva scientist would need to inject human subjects with abnormal traits. Unless Eden Hall was delivering its own people as test subjects or the scientist managed to abduct or coerce participants, the idea of enhanced soldiers became less plausible.


    ¡®Could it be that the individual from Minerva is developing their own strain of a virus that is based off Abnormal traits?¡¯


    ¡°What is the nature of the virus you¡¯re developing?¡± Visette inquired.


    Lucas slightly frowned but replied anyway, ¡°Our goal is to create a rapid evolution virus which causes the Corrupted to continuously undergo change. As of now, their evolutions are spurred on by the ingestion of biomass. If they were forced to evolved then they would potentially exhaust themselves to the point of death.¡±


    ¡°That is¡­ What if the virus doesn¡¯t work as intended? From what I know, the Corrupted are extremely adaptable and introducing a virus may serve to further enhance them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m well aware. This research is a double-edged sword. It could save humanity or push it into extinction, that is why I was hesitant to place so much hope on one solution.¡±


    ¡°But you¨C¡± Lucas¡¯ eyes lit up, ¡°You nearly killed the Calamity Variant Queen with that strange energy. That¡¯s why I wish for us to cooperate. If you can kill her, you would have eliminated the biggest threat to our survival.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Visette showed a look of confusion. ¡°I already eliminated her, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Lucas went speechless, alternating his gaze between Lyn and Visette.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t told her?¡± He asked full of disbelief.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t really have the chance since everyone wanted us dead.¡± Lyn¡¯s glare caused him to shrink back.


    ¡°Tell me what?¡± Vis interjected.


    ¡°That monster out there isn¡¯t dead. I don¡¯t know how, but its wounds were healed completely as if nothing happened at all.¡±


    Visette could only fall silent after realizing that she failed to kill the extreme threat. It was even worse when she realized there was nothing she could do as she hadn¡¯t fully recovered from pushing her psionic power well past its current limits.


    Before the discussions could continue, something slammed onto the roof of the elevator causing it to shake. The more fearful researchers let out hushed gasps as the sound of something climbing around reached their ears.


    Visette sent out a psionic pulse and discovered not just one, but dozens of Corrupted right above them. They found their way into the elevator shaft and one immediately pounced on the moving object. Not only was there a fresh scent filling the elevator, but it was impossible to hide the sound of breathing when there were so many people concentrated together.


    Vis immediately made a decision, aiming her palm toward the roof of the elevator.


    ¡°Hold on to something,¡± She said before making a pulling motion. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The elevator cables immediately snapped and it plummeted downward. Unsurprisingly, nearly everyone began to scream as they felt themselves falling down. The emergency brakes failed to work as Visette made sure they were disabled before extending her hands out and forcing the steel box of death to slow down.


    She winced as a sharp pain stabbed into her mind, but her psionic power continued to flow. Even as blood began spilling from her nose. The elevator creaked to a halt as it arrived at the basement. Everyone collectively shared a breath of relief before Visette forced the doors open and climbed out.


    ¡°You¡¯re fucking crazy and I love it!¡± Bear started to laugh.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much time,¡± Vis urged them on while Lyn followed behind her. She removed the magazines from several combat rifles and stored them in her vest but tossed the guns aside as she moved.


    The noise from the elevator was more than enough to draw attention and once traces of their scents were found, the avid hunters that were the Corrupted would be sure to hone in on them.


    The basement was clear, even the Corrupted she killed during her first trip was gone. The smeared blood on the floor which led to the pipes meant they were dragged away.


    ¡°We¡¯re going in there?¡± Rodent shivered as his beady eyes followed the bloody trail up to the entrance of the broken pipe.


    ¡°Shut up and move.¡± Kitty pushed past him.


    Lyn was the first to enter, her agility allowed her to easily jump into the opening. Visette hadn¡¯t detected anything but Lyn still turned on her flashlight and checked for anything suspicious.


    ¡°It¡¯s clear up here so start helping the researchers up,¡± Lyn said as she held out her hand.


    ¡°Bear.¡± Hawk gestured.


    It was fortunate that the Bear was especially suited for heavy lifting. Once everyone climbed up, they began a slow, cramped, advance through the darkened pipe. There was a long trail of blood throughout, but it was unknown where it led.


    ¡°What¡¯s with all of this blood?¡± Kitty asked in frustration, irked by the tight space and the thick stench of blood.


    ¡°Several Corrupted were killed by me, but¡­¡± Visette stopped, attempting to spread out a psionic pulse but receiving nothing but the sensation of pain in response. A wave of exhaustion came next, letting her know she was truly pushing her own limits.


    ¡°It seems as if their bodies were dragged away,¡± She continued shakily.


    ¡°You alright, Vis?¡± Lyn asked from the front.


    ¡°I¡¯ve exhausted my psionic power¡­ It''ll be very difficult to fight from now on. I can''t guarantee that you all will be safe before I''ve recovered to a suitable level.¡±


    Her words gave no comfort to those crawling through the pipe with her. As far as they saw it, their best chance of escape was Visette¡¯s strange ability. Perhaps to offer some comfort, Kitty began speaking.


    ¡°Your power¨C whatever it is¨C What I mean to say is that I¡¯m uh¡­ I¡­-¡±


    ¡°Kitty,¡± Hawk warned.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± Kitty said, taking a deep breath before continuing, ¡°I know what you can do is pretty fucking crazy, but I can¡¯t die¨C no, I can die, I just can¡¯t stay dead... So, I think I understand what you¡¯re going through, even if it''s just a bit.¡±


    There was a moment of pause and even the researchers showed some doubt. Of course, once they began considering Visette¡¯s abilities, it wasn¡¯t out of the realm of possibility.


    ¡°That¡¯s unheard of even if you¡¯re a regeneration based Abnormal,¡± Lyn commented after some time. ¡°But what in Anton¡¯s name do I know? Everything is all fucked up nowadays.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s very unlikely I¡¯ll die either,¡± Visette replied, her eyes narrowing in contemplation. Before that moment, she hadn¡¯t questioned her own mortality, or rather, immortality.


    ¡°You too?¡± Kitty asked, astonished.


    ¡°Now isn''t the time to discuss that,¡± Visette responded curtly.


    As if agreeing, Lyn called for the group to stop. ¡°The paths diverge up ahead.¡±


    ¡°Diverge? That¡¯s not right,¡± Lucas chimed, furrowing his brows in confusion. ¡°This water system is directly connected to the Museum of Anton. If we¡¯ve hit a crossroad the only way out should be up.¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that you didn¡¯t leave an unfinished tunnel?¡± Lyn asked. " If not, we''ve got a big fucking problem.¡±


    ¡°Corrupted.¡±


    Visette squeezed past the researchers. ¡°If I were to guess the second tunnel leads to a nesting ground of some sort.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s extremely probable, yes,¡± Lucas agreed.


    ¡°Best to just keep moving right?¡± Hawk was the one to ask. ¡°Even if there is a nesting ground, we can¡¯t do anything about it. I think the best course of action is to just get to the museum as fast as we can and try to find a vehicle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to investigate,¡± Visette said, ignoring everything Hawk said.


    ¡°Did you hit your head?¡± Lyn questioned. ¡°You just said that you can¡¯t fight at one hundred percent so why in Anton¡¯s name would you go looking for trouble.¡±


    ¡°The current situation is already in a precarious state, additional risks will change nothing. This is the best opportunity to learn more about how the Corrupted have changed and it is a chance that may never come again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you then!¡± Kitty volunteered, though it was clear she was nervous. Her salmon colored hair stuck to her sweat-drenched forehead and she even trembled a little. Even if she couldn¡¯t die, if her body was destroyed that¡¯d be the end of her. Or at least, she wasn¡¯t willing to see if she could come back from that sort of damage.


    ¡°If there is any sign of danger, we¡¯ll retreat, Lyn. You take the researchers and go up ahead.¡± Visette didn¡¯t wait for an answer and moved past Lyn before heading into the damp tunnel.


    ¡°Try to be careful, Kitty,¡± Hawk grumbled. He didn¡¯t want her to go, but he didn¡¯t have time to argue and there was no other way of stopping her since Vis didn¡¯t object.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Kitty forced a smile. While her curiosity of Visette was one of the reasons she was going, she was also smart enough to seize any opportunity to build a beneficial relationship with an individual who would likely come to rival Anton should they survive.


    With Kitty quickly catching up to Visette, the two were able to stand up as they advanced through the tunnel. The silence was grating against Kitty¡¯s nerves, but even so, she tried her best not to make noise.


    ¡°Do you smell that?¡± Vis asked, her nose slightly wrinkling as she inhaled.


    ¡°Yeah, I think,¡± Kitty said, picking up on a horrible scent just ahead.


    Visette wordlessly checked her gun before continuing which caused Kitty to do the same. A few moments later, they stopped at an opening into a huge cavern.


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul,¡± Kitty nearly fell over as she looked into the depths of the cave.


    Thousands of translucent eggs covered the walls of the cavern, each one had a faint glow which exposed the shape of a creature within. As expected, the tunnel led directly to a Corrupted nest where the Queen laid all of her eggs. In the center of the cavern, there was a huge pit filled with the countless mangled corpses of both human and the corrupted. The question of where the citizens of Eden Hall were had been answered. The nest was both an incubation chamber and a feeding ground. It was obvious that once the Corrupted hatched, they would have a huge feast to further accelerate their growth.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Visette grabbed Kitty by the arm, snapping the latter out of her daze, and immediately left.


    ¡°That was¡­¡± Kitty was completely horrified, even if she knew the corrupted ate any living thing they could find, it was still hard to process when seeing it.


    The two left at the right time as a faint screeching could be heard behind them. Unlike the fully matured Corrupted, it was a higher-pitched and weaker sound which meant that some of the eggs had hatched. It would be strange if the cries of the freshly born creatures didn¡¯t bring hundreds of the older ones back to the nest.

 Chapter 55: Different Roads

    The Museum of Anton was a marvel to observe. Intricate architecture, carefully preserved portraits, and tools and weapons that were said to belong to the enigma himself. Everyone found themselves in awe, despite the current situation. It was hard not to be in awe when seeing traces of the mythological figure right in front of them.


    ¡°This place is something else,¡± Hawk mumbled just loud enough for all to hear.


    ¡°I heard about this place, but I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be this¡­¡± Lyn¡¯s words fell as she came face to face with a portrait of Anton.


    It depicted a man with a steely gaze, dark hair, a strong jaw, and stern amber eyes. He stood over a pile of bones, most likely belonging to the many Corrupted he was said to have killed. In one of his hands was a spear while the other held a sword. His powerful physique likely had an inspirational effect on those who viewed his image for the first time. In times of peace, there were probably many starry-eyed children who gaped at the illustration with eyes full of wonder.


    Visette moved to stand next to Lyn while viewing the depiction of Anton, she couldn''t help but wonder if he was truly real given the inconsistencies regarding the history around him.


    ¡°We have to leave soon,¡± She whispered. ¡°There is a nesting ground just below the city containing thousands of Corrupted that are already starting to hatch.¡±


    ¡°Well, fuck me,¡± Lyn said, adding a dry laugh. ¡°Things don¡¯t seem to get any easier, do they?¡±


    ¡°Hey,¡± Hawk approached. ¡°Kitty filled me in on everything. I know we need to secure a few vehicles and leave as soon as possible, but I don¡¯t have any ideas toward how we¡¯ll get them. There¡¯s probably a few hundred Corrupted scouring the streets right now and it won¡¯t take them long to catch our scents if we linger for too long.¡±


    ¡°Our main priority now is to avoid drawing their attention. We let Visette rest for a little while, find a vehicle, and then make a break for it with the researchers. You should take this time to check your equipment and catch your breath.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan to me,¡± Hawk agreed before heading toward the group of shaken researchers. He had obviously informed them of the nest below the city and frightened them as a result.


    ¡°I failed,¡± Visette suddenly began speaking. The traces of disappointment in her tone were obvious, but her expression remained calm.


    "If I managed to kill the calamity variant, I would have guaranteed humanity''s chances of survival as a whole."


    ¡°Killing it isn''t on you alone. Besides, you damn near got it.¡± Lyn said in an attempt to cheer her up.


    Whether it worked or not remained to be seen as Visette fell silent, viewing the figure of Anton.


    ¡°I¡¯ll return shortly,¡± Visette said after some time, without looking at Lyn she headed off toward a deeper part of the exhibit.


    ¡°Vis¨C You... Just hurry back then,¡± Lyn gave up trying to stop her and instead found somewhere to sit.


    ¡­


    There were dozens of improvised weapons filling up displays, speaking volumes of Anton¡¯s ingenuity. However, there was a huge contradiction among each item and that was the estimated dates of their creation, with some being decades apart. It was hard to believe that a single human man managed to live more than one hundred years while slaughtering hundreds of Corrupted and taking apart in historical battles that went on for days at a time.


    Vis suspected that there were several people taking on the name of Anton rather than just one man alone, but just as she did, things began making less sense. The image of Anton remained consistent across all descriptions, with the small differences that appeared being facial hair, scars, or the length of his hair at that time. Overall, the passages of historical text described him as the same figure she saw in the portrait. It was impossible for them to be all lies seeing as even the cities that were located on opposite sides of the continent managed to describe the same person.


    Eventually, she came upon a certain display that was labeled as ¡®The Personal Journal of Anton.¡¯


    It was locked behind thick glass and anti-theft bars, as expected, but it was nothing for Visette¡­ Just as soon as she recovered a bit more, she decided to steal the journal since no one was around to stop her.


    Returning to the main lobby area, she discovered everyone huddled around in a circle while Lucas spoke.


    ¡°Ah, Ms.Visette, we were just discussing our bio-chemical weapon. Or at least, the theory behind it.¡± Lucas grinned weakly, exhaustion blanketed his weary eyes.


    ¡°Could you continue?¡± Hawk asked, slightly frustrated. ¡°Explain to me the dangerous part of this endeavor once more.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course¡­ As I¡¯ve said, we want to forcefully cause the Corrupted to evolve until they die. It¡¯s been recently established that each evolution requires a large intake of biomass since the expenditure of energy is incredibly dangerous.¡±


    ¡°So does that mean the Calamity Variant could¡¯ve been killed after¨C you know, Visette blew her up?¡±


    ¡°In all likelihood, yes¡­¡± Lucas¡¯ statement hardly inspired those around him. The Queen was definitely stronger and more aware of the danger posed to her. The added worry of her intelligence wasn¡¯t exactly comforting either. It meant that she may figure out some method of defense against the living weapon that was Visette.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to dwell on what could¡¯ve happened since the moment has already passed. What we need to do now is find somewhere safe and isolated to further our research. If we make a single mistake, the reaction we wish to trigger may have an entirely different outcome.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡± Lyn asked.


    ¡°For starters, it could further evolve the Corrupted into creatures on the level of the Calamity Variant. Imagine, hundreds or even thousands of Corrupted on the level of Queen Zero, each leading their own horde. The only solace I can find in that thought is the fact the social structure the Corrupted have doesn¡¯t exactly allow for two dominant leaders.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°So, what, we should be happy at the thought that those walking disasters won¡¯t get along?¡± Kitty questioned in a voice filled with contempt.


    ¡°It¡¯s only a possibility¡­ If we were to perhaps contact Eden Hall¡¯s benefactor and get their assistance we-¡±


    ¡°The individual you were in contact with is no benefactor,¡± Visette suddenly interrupted, her cold gaze landing on Lucas. ¡°Whoever assisted you is an employee of an organization known as Minerva and they likely have some other motive for helping you.¡±


    ¡°...What makes you say that?¡± Kitty inquired.


    ¡°If they were truly set on helping Eden Hall, your city would not have fallen so quickly.¡±


    ¡°Even if that were true, how could you possibly know?¡± Lucas asked, inwardly knowing the answer.


    ¡°I know because Minerva created me,¡± Visette replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s who I saw then?¡± Lyn showed a look of surprise as she recalled the memories shown to her during Visette¡¯s ¡®outburst.¡¯


    Visette simply nodded in reply, finding it difficult to speak much more about them.


    A stark silence drifted over the group as each person attempted to process the information. Especially the Eden Hall researchers who had the most interaction with the unknown individual. If there was an organization with the ability to create something like Visette, then it stood to reason they could¡¯ve easily wiped out the Corrupted, or at least, lessened the threat.


    ¡°This shit is too complicated for me,¡± Bear grumbled as he scratched his head.


    ¡°Mhmm,¡± Rabid grunted in agreement.


    Rodent, who had been mostly silent until now, spoke, ¡°Why¡¯d they ask for all of that blood then?¡±


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t say for sure since that person didn¡¯t even tell us.¡± Lucas frowned.


    Even Visette wasn¡¯t able to guess that methods to contain her were being created that very moment.


    ¡°I can assure you that it won¡¯t result in a pleasant outcome,¡± Visette spoke with certainty. ¡°...If you all are done speaking, I feel that I am powerful enough to assist in our escape.¡±


    She stretched her freshly healed arm which was noticeably slimmer due to immense damage caused. The recovery of burnt out nerve endings and necrotic flesh seemed to be a small matter once the Cronus Gene triggered in conjunction with the countless nanites inside of her body.


    ¡°Right, well, we best get ready then. You have five minutes before we leave,¡± Lyn stood up while stretching.


    ¡°Who¡¯s going to secure a vehicle?¡± Hawk asked.


    ¡°Visette, I guess and¡­-¡± Lyn surveyed the room.


    ¡°Rodent,¡± Kitty nominated the shifty-eyed man who gave a response fitting for his name.


    ¡°W-Wait, I don¡¯t want to go.¡± Rodent shrunk away.


    ¡°Sorry, Rodent, but you¡¯re the only who can get a car started in a few seconds. Our window of opportunity is small so¨C¡± Hawk began to explain.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Visette interjected. ¡°I alone will be more than enough.¡±


    ¡°See,¡± Rodent smiled with relief. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need me.¡±


    Hawk narrowed his eyes at Rodent but ultimately gave way.


    ¡°How about you head up to the roof and take a look then, Hawk,¡± Lyn suggested to which Hawk agreed with a short nod.


    Visette headed back to the journal on display. The reinforced glass began to warp once her psionic power made contact and the anti-theft bars were easily bent. With no issue at all, she retrieved the journal and immediately opened it.


    ¡°...Strange,¡± She muttered, finding incoherent letters and symbols.


    Rather than nonsense, it seemed that Anton felt the contents of his journal were worth encoding. If that was the case, it stood to reason that whatever was inside was immensely valuable. The question of Anton¡¯s abilities remained in Visette¡¯s mind for a long time since he predated the appearance Abnormals who had only just begun to appear.


    ¡°Hey, you ready? Hawk said he saw three cars just east of here,¡± Lyn spoke from behind.


    Visette turned to face her, not hiding the fact she had stolen Anton¡¯s journal but was surprised to see Lyn with a brand new sword, clearly a relic from the museum. However, the blade was still pristine and clearly sharp enough to still be used as a weapon.


    ¡°Ah, you had the same thought, huh?¡± Lyn asked with a smile. ¡°Anyway, the vehicles are a straight shot. We¡¯ll cut through the side streets and alleys while you¡¯ll be the one to run straight for them and start them up. We¡¯ll try to avoid gunfire, but we¡¯re bound to run into some.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be quick,¡± Visette nodded.


    ¡°Good¡­ You know, we may not make it back to New Mayhall alive,¡± Lyn suddenly said. There was a fair bit of hesitation in her gaze as even she couldn¡¯t be brave when faced with the prospect of being eaten alive.


    ¡°I''ve come to a decision,¡± Visette started, her eyes were clear as she stared at Lyn. ¡°I do not plan on staying in New Mayhall.¡±


    Lyn¡¯s expression fell, transitioning between anger and confusion, before finally settling on sadness.


    ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± She asked, hoping that Vis would perhaps change her mind, but the white-haired girl gave a solemn nod.


    ¡°There are a few things I must retrieve before I depart, but I will no longer serve under them.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡± Lyn asked with a dry laugh, ¡°You¡¯re going to Freedom City? That place?¡±


    ¡°I don''t plan on residing there,¡± Vis answered. ¡°My main purpose is to seek out any traces of Minerva and recover as much of their technology as I can in order to eliminate the Corrupted.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re going to do all of that by yourself?¡±


    ¡°If necessary, yes,¡± Visette was steadfast in her answer. ¡°I didn¡¯t believe it was appropriate to say earlier, but there is a high chance that the Eden Hall researchers fail. If their project didn''t produce results it wouldn¡¯t be problematic, but if they inadvertently increased the strength of the Corrupted, humans would face a guaranteed extinction.¡±


    ¡°But they might not fail,¡± Lyn was optimistic with her reasoning, though it may have been just to convince Visette.


    ¡°I suppose that they may not, but they are both short on personnel and time. I find it hard to believe they¡¯ll succeed before the horde arrives.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we need you there to help protect them! If we give them enough time then¨C¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not willing to take that risk and neither should you.¡± Vis shook her head resolutely, but her expression softened as she continued. ¡°Lyn¨C would you abandon New Mayhall and come with me?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking do that,¡± Lyn spoke sharply while her eyes reddened.


    ¡°Will you?¡± Vis asked again, in contrast to Lyn, there was something bright within the depths of her eyes.


    ¡°Why do I have to be the one to choose, just how is that fair?¡±


    ¡°Your answer, Lyn?¡±


    ¡°New Mayhall might mean nothing to you, but it is my home so, no, I¨C I can''t just leave it.¡±


    The little spark buried within Visette¡¯s gaze seemed to die out as Lyn finished speaking. For a brief moment, her calm expression was shaken, but it returned just as quickly. For Lyn, who witnessed that brief change in Visette, it stung. Somehow, she managed to hold back the tears that were on the verge of spilling out.


    ¡°It was wrong of me to ask you without taking your relationship with New Mayhall into account. I understand your decision,¡± Visette replied, with her usual expression of tranquility.


    The two of them stood silently for a few moments. Neither of them had anything else to say and even if they did, nothing would change the mind of the other.


    ¡°You two ready?¡± Hawk appeared in a timely manner, pretending he and everyone else nearby hadn¡¯t heard the argument.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Lyn gave a listless answer, choosing to focus her attention on the situation at hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 Chapter 56: Fleeing Eden Hall

    Visette stepped out onto the emptied streets of Eden Hall. The city which had formerly hosted more than a million people had been emptied by the relentless horde. Though, the completely unexpected appearance of the horde played a factor in the city''s fall. Perhaps other cities who were aware of the threat would be able to withstand the wrath of the horde for at least a few days. That grim thought convinced Visette that her choice to recover Minerva¡¯s laboratories was right.


    There were vehicles strewn about everywhere, some flipped over and others were torn apart. However, there were a few cars that still appeared to be functional. A military truck with bloodstains on the door and an armored truck that appeared to belong to Eden Hall¡¯s domestic security force. Of the two, the former was equipped with a mounted turret. The added protection made it her first priority, so she quickly approached it.


    The distant echoes and hisses of the Corrupted remained ever-present, urging her to act faster. She climbed into the driver¡¯s seat and opened up a panel near the dashboard, exposing different types of wiring. The tips of her fingers began glowing blue as she sent electrical signals into the wires and caused a low hum to fill the air, signaling the car had been started. She moved to the armored truck and did the same before she speaking into her radio.


    ¡°Both vehicles are ready, move quickly,¡± She spoke as quietly as she could as the sounds of the Corrupted weren¡¯t far off.


    There was no doubt that the electrical hum of the cars sounded ten times louder to the Corrupted. Especially in what was an otherwise silent city.


    [On our way.] Lyn replied back.


    It seemed that everything was going well until a single shot rang out followed by dozens more. A chorus of screeching filled the air and the ground began rumbling shortly after.


    [Shit¡­ Yeah, we¡¯ve got a problem!] Lyn¡¯s annoyed voice came through the radio.


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Visette asked as she readied her gun.


    [A couple of those things came out of nowhere and nearly killed one of the researchers. We managed to kill it but that sound is going to draw them to us. We¡¯re coming around now, you should be able to see us.]


    Just as she finished, Visette saw the group turn a corner and began running toward her. Inwardly, Vis guessed that a few of the camouflage-capable variants had discovered the group and attacked.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go! Rodent you¡¯re driving the truck with the researchers. Bear and Rabid will watch them. Kitty, you¡¯re with me.¡± Hawk shouted as he headed for the truck.


    ¡°We got trouble, Hawk!¡± Kitty looked over her shoulder and saw a tide of pale grey creatures barreling toward them.


    ¡°Get a fucking move on!¡± Lyn climbed into the military truck while Hawk and Kitty piled into the back. Visette entered the passenger side and gestured for Rodent to drive ahead of them.


    Being the easily frightened person he was, he obviously didn¡¯t need any convincing and sped off immediately.


    Just as they began to move, the groups of flying Corrupted appeared and started to descend toward them.


    The next disturbance, and possibly the worst even possible event, came in the form of a shrill, blood-freezing, scream of the Calamity Variant which was accompanied by the sight of buildings collapsing in the distance.


    ¡°Vis?!¡± Lyn shouted as she stuck close to the armored truck.


    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the ones that approach, just keep the vehicle steady.¡± Visette¡¯s pupils began glowing blue as she filled her ocular nerves with psionic energy, enhancing her vision beyond normal. She immediately began firing at the flying Corrupted who swooped past in order to harass the two-car convoy.


    ¡°I got them!¡± Hawk¡¯s aim, even with a mounted turret, was nothing to scoff at as he began mowing down the flying Corrupted en masse. Whenever the ammo ran out, Kitty was quick to help him reload.


    ¡°Right side!¡± Hawk suddenly shouted.


    A pack of evolved Corrupted burst through a few buildings, their grotesquely muscular frames didn''t seem to hamper their speed at all. They bore down on the military truck first, showing that were at least aware it was the biggest threat given the mounted turret.


    Visette waved her hand and a wave of psionic power flung the pack away, sending them crashing into buildings. The horde was gathering quickly and a single turret and a few guns weren¡¯t nearly enough to stop them.


    Only a few moments had passed and already, thousands of Corrupted had caught up to the military truck. Hawk couldn¡¯t help but worry seeing as their numbers didn''t diminish no matter how many he killed. Luckily, Visette reacted accordingly, with a short grunt, she used her psionic power to tear down a towering building and send it collapsing onto the horde behind them.


    ¡°Thank Anton!¡± Hawk cried.


    ¡°Try thanking Visette first,¡± Kitty said with a nervous laugh. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°We¡¯re not done yet!¡± Lyn yelled at both of them, glancing at a side mirror. The street underneath them was beginning to rupture. ¡°I think there¡¯s something under us.¡±


    Visette immediately sent out a psionic pulse and discovered Lyn was right. Just underneath were Corrupted with grotesquely thick and elongated bodies that were more suited for burrowing.


    ¡°There is something under us,¡± Visette replied, before focusing her psionic power.


    She gathered it into a single point at the tip of her finger and fired it at the ground beneath them. The psionic power exploded, shattering the ground and a peculiar creature emerged with a cry.


    Worse still, there were more Corrupted descending from the air, so many that it seemed as if the sky was blacked out.


    ¡°Bear, you¡¯re gonna wanna use that gun!¡± Hawk spoke through his radio.


    A haughty laugh was heard in response before the two doors on the armored truck swung open.


    ¡°That¡¯s all you had to say!¡± Bear smiled viciously as he lifted the heavy machine gun in his arms and let out a volley of lead toward the skies.


    ¡°There¡¯s another problem!¡± Kitty pointed to the left side where a huge shadow could be seen breaking through building after building.


    ¡°No fucking way,¡± Lyn muttered upon seeing the Queen, who was in full health, making her way toward them. ¡°Vis, we¡¯re gonna really need something here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± Visette removed her seatbelt and opened the passenger door.


    ¡°Vis?¡± Lyn showed a look of confusion as Visette jumped out of the truck.


    Instead of tumbling onto the ground, Vis began levitating just about the road and her speed was no less than the truck. And that was due to her intentionally slowing herself down so she could still provide assistance.


    ¡°Is there anything you can¡¯t do?¡± Hawk asked in a moment of disbelief.


    Visette moved ahead of the vehicles and ascended higher. She wouldn¡¯t be able to injure the Queen as she had before, but she could still slow her down. She swung both of her arms and pieces of buildings were ripped away before being flung toward the towering Goliath that was the Queen.


    ¡°HUMANS!¡± The Queen roared as clumps of debris struck her massive frame. ¡°YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN FLESH TO BE CONSUMED!¡±


    She responded to Visette''s assault in kind, plunging her razor sharp claws into the ground before uprooting the concrete and asphalt and flinging it toward the fleeing vehicles.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Lyn cried out at the top of her lungs.


    Visette quickly maneuvered herself while in the air and landed atop the military truck. She stretched her hand toward the oncoming shower of projectiles and formed a barrier. She couldn''t stop everything flying in their direction, but she was able to alter the course of the biggest pieces of debris flying toward them, using them to strike at the Corrupted in the air.


    The failed attack only made the Queen even more aggressive. She let out a high-pitched scream that could shatter glass but was forcibly silenced after Visette showered her with a volley of concrete blocks. In response, the dark carapace shell around her body began shifting before it moved to enclose her body. Even from afar, Visette could tell that the Queen¡¯s armor could without a doubt resist the strongest of explosives and she was partly to blame for it. The attack which nearly killed the Queen forced her to adapt, making her even harder to eliminate.


    Fortunately, the carapace restricted her movements and forced her to slow down. Visette exhaled a sigh of relief as traces of fatigue began to emerge.


    ¡°Behind you!¡± Hawk''s warning came too late.


    Visette turned around only to be tackled by a flying Corrupted that took advantage of her distracted state.


    Lyn reacted quickly, drawing her revolver and firing several shots at the airborne Corrupted. Only a few of the hasty shots managed to land, but it was more than enough to allow Visette a chance. She had dropped her rifle and couldn¡¯t grab the short sword on her back so she drew her knife and sunk it into the throat of the Corrupted followed by a blast of psionic power that rendered the flying creature nothing more than a few crimson colored chunks of flesh.


    Visette recovered herself and grabbed onto the truck before drawing one of the pistols holstered at her hip and firing at the oncoming flock. With pained screams, they plummeted toward the ground but their numbers hardly seemed to be affected.


    ¡°The gate¡¯s up ahead, we¡¯re nearly there.¡± Lyn saw their escape just ahead. Her foot was almost glued to the accelerator as they closed in on the route of escape.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to open it then, right?¡± Hawk asked as he fired at the flying Corrupted.


    The armored truck wasn¡¯t much better off as Rabid and Bear had to fight off the increasing number of Corrupted. If it wasn¡¯t for Visette, they would¡¯ve been overwhelmed before they had a chance to leave.


    Visette concentrated on the entrance to Eden Hall, a slightly ajar pair of thick metal doors which were tough enough to withstand explosive ordnance. They weren¡¯t of use since the Corrupted tunneled in from underneath the city, but at the moment they were a blessing for the escapees.


    Under the influence of Visette¡¯s psionic power, the doors loudly creaked open, parting just enough for the cars to slip through.


    Lyn and Rodent both steered clear of the abandoned cars littering the street and sped out of the city¡¯s gate without wasting any time.


    ¡°We¡¯re clear!¡± Lyn shouted.


    Using it as a signal, Visette made sure to slam the metal doors back together, stopping most of the Corrupted in their tracks. The airborne Corrupted were about to continue their pursuit but were halted by the eerie screech of their queen.


    The escape seemed to be a success.


    Hawk and Kitty shared a look before laughing. The latter couldn¡¯t stand up anymore and fell, the sudden release of tension seemed to have taken away all of her strength.


    ¡°Stay alert,¡± Lyn warned, but even her hands had loosened around the steering wheel as she relaxed.


    Visette, being Visette, maintained a calm but attentive gaze at the fading background of the infested city. The very presence of the queen was a massive problem. A being that could direct the millions of Corrupted at a single target was the living equivalent of a guided missile. She even felt as if the queen was only just beginning, seeing as the time it took her to reach her present form had been extremely quick. If she continued to grow, it meant that the longer she was left alone, the more likely it was for her to evolve to an unknown level of strength.


    Still, escaping alive could be considered a victory since Visette herself also had room to grow and she was well aware of it. As everyone rejoiced through the radio, they headed for the nearest town they could find in hopes of making radio contact with their respective cities.

 Chapter 57: Where Do We Go From Here?

    After a long ride, the vehicles stopped at an empty town that was evacuated very early on, no doubt. The emptiness was anything but welcoming, the occasional groan of something metal or shifting of an aged building danced on the already worn nerves of the group. The effects were much worse for Abnormals with enhanced perception, like Hawk and Rodent.


    The former caught glimpses of things that weren¡¯t there, likely spurred by fear of ambush, which made him almost as twitchy as Rodent. That was saying something, as the latter remained inside of the car with an expression that made it seem as if he would up and leave at any time, regardless of the group¡¯s safety.


    The researchers were guarded by Bear, Kitty, and Rabid, while Hawk, Lyn, and Visette went into the town hall to make use of their comms. Papers were strewn about, terminals were still left on, and there were even stagnant cups of water and coffee remaining. It was clear evacuations were hurried as panic likely overwhelmed them once news of Eden Hall falling reached their ears.


    Navigating the messy halls led the small group into a radio room capable of reaching multiple cities. There, they began reaching out to their own cities via encrypted radio channels. After reciting a series of numbers, Lyn reached New Mayhall.


    [Captain O¡¯Hara, we lost radio contact with your hoverwing, what is your status?] A woman asked.


    ¡°We entered an empty city, expecting a simple extraction. Maybe clearing some debris and patching some researchers up, but what we got was a fucking mess! Not only is the entire horde of Corrupted still within Eden Hall they are evolving faster than before and they have a leader who can control them. The hoverwing¡¯s were brought down by Corrupted who have mutated to fly. As for our team¨C¡± Lyn hesitated, glancing at Visette. ¡°There¡¯s only me and Visette Thales left.¡±


    ¡°Understood¡­ I¡¯ll relay your report to the commander at once.¡± The woman replied, clearly shaken by Lyn¡¯s account.


    The line clicked sharply before a deep inhale was heard on the other side.


    [The researchers?] Commander Wakefield asked, maintaining his rationality.


    ¡°Safe, we still haven¡¯t decided where they¡¯ll go, but the teams from Roslin and Copperhaven are gone too.¡±


    [Good, bring them back at all costs.]


    ¡°Did you fucking hear what I said about the Corrupted? They have a leader!¡±


    [Yes, I¡¯m aware of what you said, O¡¯Hara. We have begun evacuation prep already and the railway is in the process of being constructed. In the meantime, our highest priority is those researchers. I presume the Abnormals from Freedom City are still alive?]


    Lyn remained silent, feeling the direction of the conversation was heading somewhere ominous.


    [Captain O¡¯Hara, is the Freedom City extraction team still alive and capable of fighting?]


    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± Lyn spoke through gritted teeth.


    [We need those researchers, Captain O¡¯Hara.]


    ¡°So what are you asking me to do?!¡± Lyn shouted, clenching the desk as she did, causing the wood to splinter.


    [The method of securing the researchers is up to you. It stands to reason that with your escape from the city they wouldn¡¯t expect a sudden attack. I¡¯m sending an additional hoverwing sixty kilometers north of your current position, deal with the Freedom City team if you need to and head there immediately.]


    ¡°You cowardly son of a-¡± Before Lyn could say anything else, the radio clicked and the low buzz of an empty channel filled her ears.


    She sighed, calmly putting the radio down before unexpectedly smashing her fist into the table. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Vis spoke softly, perhaps aware of Commander Wakefield¡¯s orders.


    Lyn didn¡¯t reply only mumbling something to herself, before shaking her sore hand and looking across the room at Hawk.


    ¡°We¡¯re good to go on my end. However¨C¡± Hawk¡¯s gaze alternated between Visette and Lyn.


    ¡°Fox, our leader, agreed with me when I said we should hand the researchers over to you.¡±


    A look of relief appeared on Lyn¡¯s face right before her eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    ¡°The catch?¡± She questioned, though there was a tinge of guilt present considering she was almost tasked with murdering people she had narrowly survived with.


    ¡°No catch, we¡¯re not in the position to add one right now. Only¨C Well, there is the matter of you Ms.Thales. We plan on evacuating everyone and heading as far away as we can and since you¡¯re-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lyn interrupted.


    ¡°Sorry, but don¡¯t you think that¡¯s up to her?¡± Hawk didn¡¯t back down, even as Lyn showed signs of agitation. ¡°Listen, I offered you an invitation once before, but I never thought you¡¯d turn out to be so incredible¡­- However, that¡¯s beside the point. I¡¯ve talked it over with Fox and while he was skeptical, he knows I wouldn¡¯t lie to him. So, if you¡¯re willing to at least demonstrate your power to him and the others in the city, we¡¯re more than willing to assist you in any way we can.¡±


    Vis didn¡¯t answer immediately, instead, she slightly lowered her head in contemplation before answering.


    ¡°I agree for now, but my conditions may change. I won¡¯t accept it if you try to change my present goal.¡±


    ¡°Visette,¡± Lyn turned to face the white-haired girl with a look of disbelief.


    ¡°I won¡¯t take any hostile actions against New Mayhall, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about, Lyn,¡± Visette spoke.


    ¡°You really think¨C¡± Lyn suddenly paused, turning to face Hawk with a scornful glare. ¡°Leave.¡±


    Hawk raised his hands in surrender and left without a fight, he had already gotten confirmation from Visette so his part was done.


    ¡°You really think I¡¯m worried about you attacking us?!¡± Lyn slammed her hand on the wall beside Visette. ¡°After everything, you¡¯re seriously just leaving? I thought back at Eden Hall that you were just¨C You mean to tell me that¡¯s it?¡±


    ¡°My personal feelings on the matter cannot take precedence over the logical choice.¡±


    ¡°Personal feelings? Well, at least you seem to have some,¡± Lyn laughed dejectedly, pulling back.


    ¡°Lyn, I¡¯m not confident in being able to convince the ruling body of New Mayhall to follow me. Do you think they would let me lead them? Even if they agreed, even with my power, I cannot protect an entire city at every moment nor do I have plans to. As of now, I will be required to go to different locations in order to locate any remnants of Minerva. My goal is in direct contradiction to the goals of New Mayhall so¨C¡±


    ¡°Stop¡­ Just¨C I don¡¯t care about any of that. I just want you to stay and help me protect them... please?¡± Lyn¡¯s voice was hollow as she spoke. She was well aware that between the talk in the museum and now, there was no convincing Visette.


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that, just as you can¡¯t disregard your loyalty to New Mayhall... If we come across each other in the future, I will assist you in any way I can, but I won¡¯t stay.¡±


    Lyn gave a self-pitying laugh before shaking her head. ¡°...We¡¯ll leave when you¡¯re ready. Our extract is sixty kilometers away from here.¡±


    Vis¡¯ eyes followed Lyn until she departed and almost immediately after, Hawk entered.


    ¡°I won¡¯t ask about¨C well, whatever it is you two have going on¨C but I do need to know if you¡¯re sure about letting us join? Just to be clear, we¡¯re willing to go wherever you are, so we at least need a destination, right?¡±


    ¡°I need to return to a town near New Mayhall before I join you. When I arrive at your city, I¡¯ll have a location in mind.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it then.¡± Hawk nodded.


    After radio contact was made, the town was quickly searched for basic supplies, food, water, and any spare ammunition before the group headed north. It was best to get as far away from Eden Hall as possible, so they did just that. There were a few more abandoned towns on the way to the extraction. Where the former inhabitants had gone was unknown, but no one stopped to find out.


    After a long and quiet drive, they arrived at an open field, perfect for a pickup. Of course, they didn¡¯t settle after arriving. Visette suggested they form a basic perimeter just in case.


    Hawk agreed and everyone took a position in and around the armored vehicles, keeping a watch on the flat horizon, but nothing came to pass.


    ¡°Mhmm,¡± Rabid growled, turning her eyes to the east.


    ¡°You guys hear that?¡± Rodent asked excitedly.


    The sound didn¡¯t resemble the wings of flying Corrupted but the rotor of Hoverwings which brought immediate joy to the group¡¯s face, with the exception of Visette, obviously.


    ¡°Thank Anton¨C or rather, you, I guess,¡± Lucas laughed sheepishly as he met Visette¡¯s gaze.


    She ignored him and instead traced her fingers over Anton¡¯s journal, hoping to gain a sense of direction from it. From her side, Lyn glanced at her before looking away just as quickly.

 Chapter 58: This Is Where We Part

    Maybe it was the stress, tension, and constant worry of an attack, but Lyn couldn¡¯t stay up once she entered the Hoverwing. She tried to stay awake, wanting to try and appeal to Visette once more, but she needed rest. While Visette poured through Anton¡¯s encoded journal, Lyn quietly slept. The researchers were next to fall asleep before Visette decided to rest to recover her psionic power and strengthen her newly healed arm.


    It was fair to say that everyone was asleep, however, in the depths of Visette¡¯s subconscious, she fell into a strange dream.


    The silence nearly filled every corner of her mind, with the exception of a single, rapid heartbeat. The darkness surrounding her consciousness began to unravel, revealing a floor.


    ¡®...Strange,¡¯ Visette, still fully cognizant, became curious of her current state. She couldn¡¯t quite break from it, nor did she want to. So, she observed the events that took place.


    Her mind remained her own, however, she was looking through the eyes of someone else. Dark brown strands of hair fell over her face and her body was much shorter than before. Whoever it was, they let out short, panicked breaths before covering their own mouth. For some reason, they were hiding underneath a bed.


    ''A conflict.'' Visette quickly pieced it together.


    The sound of footsteps came next, along with short cries.


    ¡°Lyn!¡± A bleeding man shouted as he kicked open the door and rushed in with a sword in hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± The girl cried out, attempting to crawl out from underneath the bed.


    ¡°No, stay there, it isn¡¯t safe!¡±


    ¡®It¡¯s Lyn¨C These are her memories.¡¯ Visette thought.


    A series footsteps interrupted her father as he made her hide underneath the bed once more.


    ¡°Dad?¡± Lyn spoke with uncertainty.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll only be a second,¡± The man with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a warm smile caressed his daughters face before handing her the scabbard to his sword, ¡°Hold onto it for me and don¡¯t lose it? I¡¯ll come back for it after I go help your grandpa, okay?¡±


    Lyn squeezed the scabbard with unease as she nodded her head, right before her father departed. Moments later, gunshots filled the air and the small Lyn flinched, hunkering down and squeezing her eyes shut as she held onto the scabbard.


    ¡®Lyn,¡¯ Visette mumbled, but her voice caused the girl¡¯s body to jolt as if she heard her.


    ¡­


    Lyn¡¯s eyes shot open abruptly as her chest raised up and down. She immediately looked at Visette who had awoken simultaneously. In the case of the latter, a sharp pain rattled her brain as blood trickled down her nose. Even though she hadn¡¯t expended any psionic power, her mind was recoiling from the odd dream.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± Lyn asked with a disturbed look on her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m¨C not sure¡­¡± Visette replied, wincing as her mind recovered.


    Once the pain subsided, she formed a guess toward the event.


    ¡°I think that we have become psionically linked,¡± Visette said.


    She recalled Lyn reaching out to her during her existential crisis and at that time, Lyn could see some of Visette¡¯s memories. She would¡¯ve never guessed that it would have a long-lasting effect. Though, it did make sense to her once she shared a memory with Lyn. After all, she noticed her own manner of speaking and thinking had been drastically altered when compared to her formerly robotic self.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°I think that¨C in an attempt to establish my own sense of self, I may have latched onto your subconsciousness as a starting point,¡± Visette began to theorize. Now that she was free to ponder about her own being, nothing could stop her from searching for answers.


    ¡°What does that even mean? Is it just like that time in Eden Hall?¡± Lyn asked. ¡°Do you know why it''s happening and is it going to happen again?" She added a few more as her confusion grew.


    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure¡­¡± Visette couldn¡¯t give a solid answer.


    She didn¡¯t feel her psionic power drain, so it stood to reason that a shared dream or memory could happen again without warning. There was also the question of proximity to one another playing apart. It was something that she would investigate if she had the time, but she didn''t plan on staying near Lyn.


    [We¡¯re gonna land in five, be ready.] One of the pilots announced, putting a halt to Visette¡¯s thinking.


    She didn¡¯t know if she would see Lyn again, so she couldn¡¯t afford to focus on the strange occurrence, at least, not until she reached Freedom City. Her plan now was to immediately head to C-23 and return to the lab where her life began.


    ¡­


    Almost as soon as they landed, Visette quickly distanced herself from the team gathered to greet them.


    ¡°Ah, Ms.Thales,¡± A military policeman called out. He easily recognized the girl by her somewhat infamous appearance.


    Visette stopped, looking over her shoulder with an unwavering gaze. The way Lyn saw it, Vis would do whatever it took to leave and stopping her wouldn¡¯t end well.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, she¡¯s just going to¨C shower,¡± Lyn chimed, gripping the MP¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°I understand, ma¡¯am, but there¡¯s still the need of a report, given the situation and the commander even asked for her specifically¨C¡±


    ¡°Just let her go,¡± Lyn said.


    She definitely wasn¡¯t leaving a choice and the MP, a young man with little experience apparently, understood that. He could only stare reluctantly as Vis departed.


    Visette kept a brisk pace for a few moments before she outright sprinted toward the outer perimeter of the airfield. With psionic power filling her each step, she was almost a blur that vanished over the gate and headed toward the edge of the city. She kept off the street and leaped from rooftop to rooftop.


    The street below was somewhat empty, given the curfew imposed by the councilors upon learning about the threat of the Corrupted. Vis paid that no mind and decided to move even faster, but she soon noticed she was being followed.


    There were a good number of Abnormal soldiers within the city and there was no way they wouldn¡¯t patrol the rooftops following the assassinations that had taken place not too long ago. Truthfully, the abilities of agility based Abnormals could only be shown in open areas with lots of footholds and perches they could use. Being confined to tight spaces like hallways and buildings hampered a lot of their combat potential.


    Visette came to an immediate halt, landing on an empty rooftop and turned to face the soldiers who landed a few moments after her.


    ¡°This is patrol team twelve, we¡¯ve got Visette Thales here.¡± A man spoke into his radio.


    [You are to subdue her by any means, Commander Wakefield¡¯s orders.] Someone buzzed back.


    ¡°You heard him?¡± He asked, raising his head up.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Visette intoned. "Don''t follow me."


    ¡°Or what?¡± The leader of the patrol team asked. By now, there were very few who hadn¡¯t heard rumors about Visette which stirred up the desire to test her.


    Visette slowly raised her hands, undoing the holster around her waist before tossing it aside.


    ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re gonna take us down with just your fists? Sorry, but we don¡¯t play fair,¡± saying as much, the leader drew a taser and immediately aimed at Vis before firing, as did his team.


    The scene of her falling to the ground didn¡¯t occur as the electrified wire was stopped mid-flight.


    ¡°What in Anton''s name?!¡± He managed to let out a sound of confusion as he and his men were pulled through the air.


    Visette guided them toward her before snatching the radio of the leader and speaking into it, ¡°Inform Commander Wakefield that this is his only warning: I will kill anyone who pursues me.¡±


    After she finished speaking, she crushed the radio in her hand before slamming the dazed patrol team into the roof of the building. The impact wasn¡¯t enough to kill them, but they wouldn¡¯t be able to just walk it off.


    Visette resumed her traveling, levitating for a brief moment before using psionic power to accelerate herself. A faint trail of psionic energy was visible for a few moments before it vanished along with the girl responsible.

 Chapter 59: Making An Entrance

    Lights flickered all around the laboratory. Exposed wiring emitted sparks while holographic displays blinked on and off. It was the result of Visette¡¯s handiwork but it wasn''t due to some outburst but of an attempt to reverse engineer the watch given to by the Minerva AI.


    The fine intricacies within the small device required a soft touch and it just so happened that Visette¡¯s psionic manipulation allowed her extreme precision. Infusing her own pupils with energy allowed her to magnify her vision in order to get a better view.


    The watch was outfitted with GPS tracking that would allow Minerva to track it. Her goal was to do the opposite and use the watch to find any broadcast signals from any active laboratories.


    She pushed psionic energy into the circuitry of the disassembled watch and moments later, the interface buzzed to life. Several glitches and warning appeared on screen, but soon disappeared, replaced by a value of 2500 kilometers as well as an indicator pointing in a northeastern direction.


    A rare smile appeared on Visette¡¯s face as she sealed the components back together. The main functions of the watch were no longer accessible due to the forceful ¡°reprogramming,¡± but those potential benefits were minuscule in comparison to finding a functional Minerva lab.


    Vis fastened the watch to her wrist before surveying the laboratory for any further use. She couldn¡¯t destroy it as it was built to withstand much more power than she could exert. However, she could seal it so that no one would be able to easily enter.


    As she left, the door slammed shut. The inner workings of the door began tangled and twisted as Visette lay her palms on its surface.


    Without sparing a second glance, she left the place where she took her first steps into the world.


    ¡­


    It was late into the night and yet Visette hadn¡¯t arrived at the city. However, thousands of its citizens were packed and ready to depart with most gathered at its town hall. The place where Fox was usually cooped up.


    As expected with a sudden call for an evacuation, there was a slow-growing discontent that was only amplified. Groans and sighs of thinly veiled and poorly hidden frustration as well as the cries of children. The journey ahead would be a hard one and the previous years of peace didn¡¯t help much.


    If Fox told everyone that he decided to follow the path of a girl who could move things with her mind, a riot would break out. Even if he had proven himself a worthy leader, his decision to hedge all of his bets on Visette was irrational at best.


    ¡°Hawk,¡± Fox called out to his closest confidant. His eyes read the mood that threatened to snowball into direct aggression if not soothed.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be here.¡± Hawk was confident, he remained calm even as others did not.


    ¡°And once she is¨C¡± Fox started but stopped short after meeting Hawk¡¯s unperturbed gaze.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry your head so much, I guarantee it¡¯ll be the most shocking thing you¡¯ve ever seen.¡± With a calm smile, Hawk double-checked his equipment.


    Not so far away, a large clock situated in the garden of the city hall began to ring out. Underneath is sonorous echoes, the demand for an explanation grew. There were obviously those who needed proof of danger before panicking and at that moment, their presence seemed to become noticeable.


    ¡°Fox! What¡¯s the deal here? Is this some sort of joke?¡± A man asked with a slick smile, one that was worn by someone who plotted and schemed.


    Hawk¡¯s eyes narrowed, he thought about shooting down the naysayers but it probably would go over well with those who agreed with him.


    ¡°I promise, it¡¯ll only be a little longer,¡± said Fox in his attempt to appease the crowd. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°My children need to sleep!¡±


    ¡°You said that already!¡±


    ¡°Just let us go already!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Bear roared, slamming down a very large and intimidating gun.


    Those who began shouting lost their momentum and looked toward their ringleader. The opportunist sent a pensive stare toward Fox¡¯s muscle-bound subordinate and sucked his teeth.


    Just as Hawk was about to interfere, his eyes shot upward. ¡°Right on time.¡±


    He chuckled, nudging Fox¡¯s shoulder as he did.


    ¡°What in Anton¡¯s name¡­¡± Fox¡¯s mouth went agape.


    A dark silhouette descended from the sky. The eerie shine in her pupils and her pure white hair was something out of a dream.


    It didn¡¯t take long for those in front of the hall to take notice and with silent astonishment, the crowd parted, making way for Visette. Awe and fear reigned in their previous doubts, no one dared to speak in the presence of the mysterious girl.


    Visette softly landed before approaching Hawk with unhurried steps.


    ¡°Well, I doubt Anton himself would have been able to make a better entrance.¡± Hawk laughed joyfully as he extended his hand.


    Visette shook hands with the man she deemed ¡®odd¡¯ and then turned to the apparent leader of the city.


    ¡°Oh, uh¨C Fox this is Visette Thales. Visette, this is Fox, aptly named for his keen mind and craftiness,¡± Hawk introduced the two.


    ¡°Y-You¡­ uh¡­¡± Fox stuttered for something to say.


    It wasn¡¯t just him either, those who had never seen Vis were caught off guard by her appearance. The peak of scientific perfection came in the form of gene editing, making her almost universally appealing to the eye. Coupled with her being a touch more human, there was unmistakable charm and allure emitted from her presence. The fact that she literally came down from the sky helped too.


    ¡°When do we leave?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you it would be the greatest thing you ever saw?¡± Hawk smirked.


    ¡­


    The trailblazers of the convoy were Visette, Fox, Hawk, Kitty, Bear, Rabid, Rodent.


    Sitting inside of a military issue truck, Visette accepted questions from Fox who was stumped. His natural desire to learn overtook him as he tried to make sense of Vis¡¯ abilities.


    ¡°So¡­ you mean to tell me you can move anything with your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°That is a¡­ overly simplified explanation, but I suppose it isn¡¯t completely incorrect,¡± Visette replied. She glanced at her watch every so often, clearly finding it to be far more important.


    The main principle of her psionic power relied on creating energy fields and manipulating the matter within them as well as the fields themselves.


    Of course, that was hard to explain to the occupants of a world where the concept of telekinetic movement didn¡¯t exist.


    ¡°Hey, how about we ask other questions? Don¡¯t you want to hear something else, Visette?¡± Kitty interjected.


    ¡°Since when did you two become friends?¡± Rodent remarked snarkily.


    ¡°If you save another word I¡¯m gonna break your nose,¡± Kitty snapped back.


    Putting on an expression as if he was wronged, Rodent retreated with his hands up in surrender.


    ¡°Ah, what about Minerva?¡± Hawk spoke, clearly interested in the organization that created the wonder before him.


    ¡°The only important piece of information surrounding Minerva is their technology. As long as I can recover it, there is a chance to fight against the Corrupted,¡± Visette said, emphasizing the importance of the matter.


    ¡°Do they have guns?¡± Bear asked, checking the sights on his large machine gun.


    His question brought strange looks, but he continued as if he didn¡¯t notice.


    ¡°Manure-ver¨C or whatever you call ¡®em¨C Do they have any guns?¡±


    ¡°I severely doubt it,¡± Visette responded with a look that showed she wasn¡¯t amused.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did you really just ask that?¡± Kitty looked dumbstruck. ¡°Those people made her and you¡¯re wondering about guns? Isn¡¯t that too simple?¡±


    ¡°Dunno, can¡¯t beat the basics,¡± Bear shrugged.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough,¡± Hawk waved his hands, feeling a headache coming on.


    ¡°Yes, Hawk is right. We¡¯ve had enough excitement, at this point, it would be better to get some rest. I¡¯m sure we can all agree?¡±


    ¡°Hmmh,¡± Rabid grunted.


    No one knew if she was agreeing or refusing, but they took it to be the latter and soon they closed their eyes. All except for Visette who instead chose to open up Anton¡¯s journal and began to read as a way to occupy her mind. She easily found the patterns within his writing and unraveled the true meaning behind it.

 Chapter 60: Antons Revelation

    If you¡¯re reading this, whoever you are, it means you¡¯ve stubbornly deciphered the hidden markings and symbols I used to hide this. Maybe you wish to know about my life? Perhaps you¡¯re eager to read tales of the most daring battles I''ve participated in from my perspective? No, like most, you wish to know what drives me. The source of my strength and longevity isn¡¯t mystical nor noble.


    Since your determination has gotten you this far, I will tell you. The blood of the Corrupted has carried me to this point. Along with this, I wish to share a word of warning. It isn¡¯t as simple as you may believe.


    I was born in a large village plagued by superstition and fear. Each year, thirty children would be selected to ingest the foul blood of the Corrupted. No one survived. No one ever survived. That all changed as their methods grew more complicated after a scholar appeared in our village one day. It is said he wore strange armor, with a glass helmet and silvery coat, decorated with an odd symbol. At first, he was feared and the men in the village attacked, but he easily dispatched them. As they recounted it, he was guarded by men made of iron and steel who could call down lightning from the sky. I suspect it wasn¡¯t as simple as that, but I wasn¡¯t born at that time and thusly wasn¡¯t able to see this man for myself.


    As I found out much later, the scholar spoke our language and introduced new practices into our village, he drained the blood of each inhabitant and collected pieces of flesh from the Corrupted. He toiled for days before creating a cruel tincture. Once it was completed, there was an apparent screeching from some apparatus worn on his wrist. He told the village elders that it was time for him to depart, but left them with his final creation. A device that pierced the skin and injected his venomous solution into the bodies of the children place inside of it.


    I was born soon after and as you may already have guessed, I was selected to bear the sting of the poison. Twenty-nine died before me, and through some miracle, the mixture took and I grew with it inside of me.


    As I grew, I was trained to fight and kill while slowly learning the truth. When I finally realized the true nature of what occurred, I killed those responsible, destroyed the device, and burned all that was left of the mixture. There were those who resisted and sought to stop me, but I killed them too.


    When it was all done, I had killed most of the warriors and the village was crippled. I still remember the faces of anguish shown by those who hadn¡¯t attacked me. I hadn¡¯t spared them, no, by taking away their only protection I had condemned them to the same fate. Despite this, I know I did what was necessary.


    I have lived longer than I care to count, but as the years continue to go by, I grow weary and tired. I know I am not destined to live forever, I feel as if I can see my death coming soon. Maybe I am already dead and I''ve lived in an endless dream ever since. This poison has taken its toll on my body and mind, eroding everything I have, but as long as I have breath, I will kill as many Corrupted as I can.


    As for that scholar, I have searched for him endlessly so that I may understand his purpose, but I could find no trace. The only clue of his origins I have is the symbol I have etched below.


    Maybe you, the one who reads this, can find out the truth.


    ¡­


    Visette¡¯s eyes trembled as she shut the book abruptly. As if possessed, she slowly turned her head to the side and rolled up her sleeve, looking at the overlapping lines that formed the shape of an owl. It was nearly identical to the image left by Anton.


    There was no mistaking it, Minerva had visited Novo Prime once before. Maybe even more than that. Thousands of questions arose in Visette¡¯s head as she couldn¡¯t quite make sense of it. If Anton¡¯s story was true, how were they able to appear hundreds of years apart.


    She slowed down her thoughts.


    ¡®Perhaps, it wasn¡¯t hundreds of years for them.¡¯


    On Earth, it may have been several years since Minerva visited, but for Novo Prime, it had been hundreds of years.


    ¡®What technology were they in possession of to have bridged the gap between worlds?¡¯ Visette racked her mind for answers.


    While she was the most advanced biological weapon they developed, that didn¡¯t mean she was their most powerful asset. Her arrival in this world, along with the scattered laboratories was abrupt, with dozens of records claiming they fell from the sky without warning.


    The pieces to the puzzle were there, but Vis couldn¡¯t make sense of them without more information.


    ¡®The benefactor of Eden Hall would know more,¡¯ Visette thought.


    It was obvious she wasn¡¯t the only survivor to arrive on Novo Prime and she had no way of knowing what Minerva¡¯s secrets were. Her priorities shifted and she placed tracking down the surviving scientist as her secondary goal.


    ¡°What¡¯s got you spooked?¡± Kitty¡¯s voice brought Visette out of her contemplation.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± She replied, putting Anton¡¯s Journal away before checking her watch.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    With 1250 KM left, they were halfway through their trip. Everything proceeded without issue and there didn¡¯t seem to be any trouble in sight.


    ¡°Hey, wake up! There¡¯s something ahead!¡± The driver shouted, stirring everyone to consciousness.


    The vehicle eased to a stop as everyone in the back shared glances.


    ¡­


    ¡°What in the name of Anton is that?¡± Kitty frowned, covering her nose in the process.


    ¡°A warning,¡± Hawk replied, his gaze narrowed and serious.


    Visette was the first to approach the mysterious object. She quickly realized it was a rotting, severed head that was fixed onto a metal pole and placed on the side of the road. Just beneath it, dozens of other heads were piled around it.


    ¡°A warning for humans or corrupted?¡± asked Fox who covered his face with a cloth.


    Visette maintained silence, examining the area as to not miss a single detail. She sent out a psionic pulse that stretched out for several hundred meters, but found that there was nothing of note other than the indentations left by multiple footsteps.


    ¡°Both,¡± Bear chimed with irritation. ¡°At least, I¡¯d make a warning for both.¡±


    Hawk sighed. ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s just take it down before the rest of the convoy drives through¨C¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Visette raised her hand, she moved closer to inspect the sight of the ¡®warning¡¯ only to find something was amiss.


    She sent another psionic pulse and discovered the ground underneath the pile of skulls was full of uneven mounds.


    ¡°There are explosives planted underneath it,¡± she explained.


    She lifted her palm and forced the pile of skulls as well as the soil beneath it to float revealing large bundles of wiring and metal. There were even fluid-filled jars with along with floating shrapnel meaning the intent of the traps were to heavily wound if not outright kill whoever stumbled upon them. The fluid was obviously a toxic substance that would cause an inflammatory reaction.


    ¡°By Anton¡¯s soul,¡± Fox exclaimed softly.


    Normally, if mines were placed within an area, there would be ample warning. Since the Corrupted couldn¡¯t read, multiple notices would be posted around the area. Seeing as there was no discernible word of warning, the makers of the trap weren¡¯t friendly.


    Hawk quietly scanned over the road, but could find no signs of landmines buried underneath.


    ¡°What¡¯s your take on this Visette?¡± He asked as Vis disabled the traps before sending them into the brush along with the skulls.


    ¡°Expect hostiles.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Rodent asked nervously, clearly alarmed. ¡°J-Just expect hostiles? I think everyone already expected hostiles.¡±


    A single look from Visette shut him up instantly. She carefully evaluated their situation and deemed it okay to advance while showing necessary precaution. As they shortened the distance to the lab, the signs of warning increased in both frequency and nature. Disemboweled bodies strung up, shallow graves full of bodies with gunshot wounds, and even several people tied to a post with no clear sign of wounds which meant they simply starved to death.


    ¡°Someone has to be fucking with us,¡± Bear remarked, tightening his grip on his rifle.


    ¡°It was here long before we arrived, Bear,¡± Hawk rationalized.


    Visette stayed silent all the while. From her point of view, there was no point in speculation. Chatter between convoy trucks filled the radio and there didn¡¯t seem to be any ambushes set up.


    It wasn¡¯t until the sun began setting did they come to an abrupt stop.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s out there,¡± The driver said wearily.


    Adjusting the headlights, the silhouette of a battered was revealed in the middle of the road.


    ¡°It¡¯s a trap,¡± Kitty said simply.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that, Kitty. It could be a chance for information,¡± Fox spoke optimistically.


    ¡°Vis, is it a trap?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Visette replied after sending a psionic pulse out in all directions.


    There were dozens of individuals situated in trees waiting for the opportune moment.


    ¡°See, it¡¯s a trap.¡± Kitty shrugged.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go¨C¡± Hawk was about to volunteer when Vis raised her hand to stop him.


    ¡°I will handle it,¡± She said, stepping outside.


    She formed a psionic barrier around her skin before stepping out of the truck.


    ¡°H-Help me!¡± A boy in his late teens shouted, shivering and hunkered in the street. The stench of festering wounds and blood wafted through the air.


    Visette approached him without a change in expression, inwardly taking note of him. It appeared that the bait was real as he was covered in real injuries.


    ¡°Where is there base located?¡± Visette asked.


    ¡°W-What¨C¡±


    The crackling of a shot filled the air as a bullet struck Visette. However, an odd noise rang out as it bounced off of her skin and ricocheted into the grass.


    ¡°W-What?¡± Even more confused, the boy began to inch backward.


    ¡°Besides the group hiding nearby, how many of them are there?¡± Visette questioned him once more without even acknowledging the bullet that hit her.


    ¡°You just¨C How did you¡­¡±


    Another shot rang out and another bullet struck Visette but appeared to be deflected by her skin. Her head snapped in the direction of the shot as her pupils began to glow. With psionic energy in her ocular nerves, there was nothing that the darkness could hide from her. She slowly walked toward the forest before making a sudden leap forward.


    Muzzle flashes lit up the forest and gunfire rained down, but the noise hardly drowned out the screams. With each flash, a brief glimpse of Visette could be seen. Bodies were crushed, thrown, and battered amidst the trees. The commotion came to a halt with fewer and fewer noises before it became dead silent.


    Visette slowly made her way out of the forest without injury. The only blood that could be seen trickled down her barrier until it eventually gathered at her fingertips and fell to the ground.


    Once again she stood in front of the injured boy, her eyes glinting with the same cold and indifferent light as they always did.


    ¡°Tell me the location of their base,¡± She demanded.


    As if he had seen the horde standing in front of him, the boy could only stammer incoherently.