Observations to Make

 - Ready for the fifth test, director…in 3…2…1…. Now!

The machine emitted its characteristic distant hum as the constantly rotating rings decelerated to stop in their rest position; tense moments passed as Raon watched from behind the glass, her fist clenched over her chest and her escorts, hands crossed, beside her. The operators continued working at the consoles, engineer Ye circling the platform, supervising their work while making notes in a handy notebook, a rarity in these days of curved screens and ear recorders but it was to be expected, as that man had been working there since the auspicious 1989. Finally, the rings stopped and behind, the trembling and shivering biocom stopped after channeling its power directly, controlled by the capsule that made the process totally painless, the most the director would do for the wretched creature.

- Portal open and ready.

There was the bubble, clear and smooth, and on the other side, a forested landscape could be seen, as unassuming as that of the other four versions of Jeju Island they'd got to so far, at least in the current survey phase. Just as in two of those versions, neither HQ nor anything resembling it existed in that place, or so the results of the probe drones, sent to investigate the terrain, showed. The little robots, hovering with rechargeable electromagnetic engines, were connected to the memory console, transmitting and downloading data, making backups simultaneously just at that moment.

- The atmosphere is breathable. No unknown pathogens were detected. You may proceed.

- Copied. - Raon said.

On the other side, greenery was being caressed by the breeze, and even across immeasurable chasms, the portal brought back that fresh, herbal scent to the recon agents' nostrils; Hae Jun, Kang Shin, and Dong Gil, who was assigned there after accomplishing an operation in Bilbao:

- Okay, you three. Insertion #5. Ready.

- Yes, ma'am - the three said in unison.

- Move forward. Now.

The Awoken Ones checked their weapons and equipment, immediately moving towards the platform, clad in peculiar tight-fitting suits, with segments of armor on its padded surface; they advanced in a row, helmets equipped, with Kang Shin in front, Hae Jun and Dong Gil behind. All were gently phased through the portal, and in an instant their boots were already on the grass; with a signal from Kang Shin, the three separated to secure the immediate 20 meter perimeter around their entry point, using their remote vision to check a couple kilometers around, weapons at hand:

- Clear – Hae Jun said.

- Clear – Dong Gil replied.

- Here too, there's no...wait, 2.1k away NE, a light vehicle heading to the area. One driver.

It was a woman with disheveled hair, driving an old dark-red Chevrolet down a secondary road directly towards where they were; because of her lost-in-thoughts attitude, or even because of her deep focus on just looking ahead, it was most likely a coincidence. Most likely, she was following the blue signs in the direction of what, in this world, was called "Southcliff Provincial Park"; by telepathic order he had the rest of his squad follow him to the line of trees opposite to the fenced ravine, where only a pair of oxidized binoculars rested upon a stalk.

They had to be absolutely sure this was not an intentional visit, so they stayed on hold. Hae Jun remotely saw how the vehicle got parked in an improvised esplanade and the woman got out, closing the door without looking back or locking it. She continued to watch as the visitor walked without any rush until finally closing in to their position, carrying an old bag and wearing an even older uniform, a teacher's:

- Ok, it's a school teacher – Dong Gil retorted - Why are we supposed to keep waiting…?

- Didn't you notice? – answered Kang Shin.

- What? – asked Hae Jun.

It was when they realized it, by looking more closely with their own eyes, only then taking note; the lady was around 35 to 40 years old, and therefore it was not really obvious. However, when carefully observing the shape and expression on her eyes, her face, her cheeks...

- It's her, director Kim... - Dong-gil muttered, perplexed - Kang Shin, if it's her...perhaps she had...

- Maybe it's not a coincidence... - Hae Jun concluded.

- We can only wait - Kang Shin stated - If she gets within 5 meters of the portal, we act.

- Surely heat prevents her from distinguishing, but if it's her, she'll end up noticing... - Dong-gil said.

The woman walked along the gentle slope straight to the top of the hill, but she never even noticed the mirage effects that the vortex generated, nor did she try to get closer to its location. It seemed that, amidst the mirage the sun itself generated in the air, she did not even realized anything and continued walking besides it, going down the other side.

- You don't seem to notice us, Kang Shin. We should go now...

- No, not yet. Wait until it reaches the edge...then we retreat.

This lady continued on her way, and actually reached the railing that separated her from a long drop; at that moment, she began to shiver, and her crying could be heard as far as they were:

- Aishhh, it can't be... - Kang Shin cursed.

A scream interrupted them:

- My life's a damn lie! All of it!

It was the woman, who continued:

- I'm not Hong Min-yoo...no, I'm not - she whimpered, looking at the sky - she doesn't exist. She has nothing...

- What is she talking about? – Hae Jun said to the others.

- Shhh…

- I'm To Sang-hae! Sang-hae, damn it…! My life... everything, they took it from me! I tried...I swear I tried...

The woman cried, and immediately fell to her knees. She suffered for a while, until gathering the strength to stand up, clinging to the rail. There she placed her first foot on one of the crossed irons and began to climb, slowly and tortuously:

- Your order, sir... - Dong Gil said, in a mocking tone - shall we save the "director"? Perhaps not...?

- No. It's time to leave. - Kang Shin replied

Hae Jun had heard enough, and believed to have just found a meaning in the current situation, interpreting it as a sign of destiny. She ran out of the bushes towards the woman

- Hae Jun, wait! - Kang Shin shouted.

And just when Min-yoo stood a foot on the last bar, about to step into the void with the other, an invisible force pulled her forcefully backwards, dragging her several meters along the road and the grass. She reacted by screaming in terror, until, again, at the top of the promontory, she stopped and fell silent, hands tight on her chest, scared to death and looking from one side to the other trying to understand what just happened. It was when, looking up, she crossed stares with someone, who pulling off a helmet, showed her the face of a young, brown-haired woman, which immediatly knelt down behind her. 

This stranger took her face with both hands, delicately posing her fingers:

- To Sang-hae – Hae Jun called her - That's your name, right?

The woman's heart pounded against her chest, frightened to see her secret exposed:

- Be calm, ok? I won't hurt you. And I won't tell anyone about it either...

Min-yoo sat up, and again looked at the cliff; she again began to cry because of so much pain, putting the instep of her hand to one eye. At first Hae Jun wasn't sure how to react to seeing her like that, but searching her mind, she found an answer that seemed satisfactory. She hugged the woman from behind, and stayed like that.

Raon called in the squad leader, as she couldn't see from her perspective what had transpired:

- Kang Shin. What's going on?

- A false alarm. But we found... a double, ma'am. Non-hostile, possibly not superhuman either.

- I see. Take her data and return to base.

- I already sent Dong-gil, should be coming back by now.

- And Hae Jun?

- She's...with me, director, we'll get ready. - he lied, cutting comms.

Dong-gil, who went to Min-yoo's car, returned just in time, and by Kang Shin's signal, headed back to the portal:

-But Hae Jun…

- Right there - he pointed - She'll follow, now let's go.

Agent Min felt their urgency within her mind; she released Min-yoo, who had just fainted as a result of the shock that strange and unexpected gesture just made in her adult life, now that those she once loved were no longer with her, neither physically nor in the heart either. The secgen returned with her team, putting on her helmet, and after standing next to her leader, the three returned through the portal; Raon was already waiting for them on the platform, and she noticed her subordinate wiping a tear from her eye, the others looking at her a little uncomfortably:

- Report.

- Initial recon complete. - Kang Shin stated - the double's data was successfully acquired.

Dong-gil handed her a device similar to a curved screen, and she threw it towards engineer Ye, who was attentive to the whole scene, and grabbed the machine to connect it to the computer.

He spoke as he went through the data:

- The name's Hong Min-yoo…

"That's not true but, why have the double identity?" Hae Jun thought "Kang Shin's not telling them."

- Born on June 12, 1988, currently a teacher at an elementary school. She lives alone in a rented apartment, and owes several months of rent. It would be possible, if you authorize...

- Leave her alone for now. Better to have this in the resonance Save coordinates.

- Done - Ye said - Director...there's only fuel for one more use...

- Then we must take advantage of it; how much time we got left?

- 8 minutes at most.

- Proceed.

The vortex contracted, the rings turned; for several minutes, the static and the smell of grass was replaced by that of ozone, until the bubble expanded again while the rings stopped in a rest position, the strange sensations disappearing. This time the bubble showed a more rugged landscape, a dull sky of clouds gently covered the sun, creating a temperate environment felt by those right before the bubble; just as Raon was to order the agents to enter, they appeared. There were three people, a middle-aged man and a woman along with a pre-teenage girl heading to the top of the promontory, carrying various things; the child carried a basket, the guy carried a cooler and a thermal box, while the woman carried a little foldable table, a drawing book and a notebook.

Raon smiled with amusement when she saw that this person, who seemed to be some housewife artist with a happy life going on picnic, was also an exact double of her, although somewhat older; Soo Young looked at the family from behind as the woman smiled tenderly at her daughter:

- Gahyun, come here… - she called.

The subordinate could see what the director could not; behind those eyes hid a whole history of very strong ups and downs, an aura that emanated a background radiation full of regret, of nostalgia, although it was impossible to know why from that distance, without mindworming her:

- Wait, mom... I'm tired, are we there yet?

- Yes it's here. Put the fabric there, and the basket...help me with the table, take it out, oh, that's it, now I'm going to arrange this...

The woman then arranged some handwriting and drawing tools, getting herself a good view of where her husband was just now sitting cross-legged, leaving the boxes aside:

- How's it Nam-sook? Do I look handsome? – he joked.

He was making a half heart with one hand next to his face:

- Aishhh, Seong-hyuk, don't ruin the scenery – she responded with a pout.

- And what more landscape do you want than this? – he responded, winking at her.

The girl tried, but upon hearing that, she felt a little sorry for herself when she saw her father do what only seemed tender to a young singer or actor; of course, she loved her dad just the way she was, but she… in the end, she couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. Inevitably Nam-sook left appearances and also laughed herself to death, dropping her pencil; luckily, she hadn't even taken the things out of her backpack to begin drawing her family having a pretty day.

From the other side, all the staff operating the portal, as well as the director and her agents watched that scene and bursted in cringy laughter; it wasn't funny anymore, it was sad. Through another body, another consciousness, another life, Raon felt she was being humiliated:

- Enough of this! – she exclaimed firmly – Stop acting like children. How much time left?

- Less than 2 minutes - Ye stated - The coordinates, uhum...have already been saved.

- Close the portal. There's no point in seeing more of...this...

The director turned to get off the platform.

- But director...we're not yet... - Kang Shin mumbled.

- I said that was enough.

Hae Jun wanted to add something, but was cut short:

- Ma'am, I...

- Gonna give this one a hug too? – she asked, smirking menacingly - Yes weakling, I saw your mind.

The aforementioned kept her gaze averted while Raon walked away, and Kang Shin put a hand on her back briefly, so as not to draw too much attention from the others; he too moved out of there as the vision of the bubble behind them faded, and the rings spun one last time, closing the portal. This became smaller and smaller until only one point remained, which dissolved into the air, while the biocom was put asleep again by Soo Young and the operators deactivated the entire machinery with an almost manic concentration, fearing the errors on the previous iterations. With the same efficiency, it was Soo Young herself who, after receiving instructions from Goo Joon and Ah Ra a few days ago, disengaged the clone and transferred it herself to the capsule, taking it back to the lab.

- Kim Ra-on. Truly you are... someone miserable – she muttered to herself.

The director had already arrived at her office when someone else entered. It was the meeting scheduled at 3 p.m with one of the Division's Board members, Yamashiro Kosuke:

- Well, Director Kim, tell me about the progress of our third phase... is there any breakthrough?

- Ten out of two hundred and thirty-three surviving test subjects have shown promising... abilities following the new genemods. In two months, we'll do a final lab test. Field testing may follow...

- I speak for the Executive Board when I tell you this is not enough. You promised us the final products three months ago, and we want to know why there aren't any yet...

- Watch your tone when you talk to me, Mr. Yamashiro.

- What I'm trying to say, Miss Kim, is that you should take care of your steps, and yes, the Awoken Ones are quite a useful asset but... more failings will cast doubt on your leadership if it keeps going like this. Our agency cannot back someone who doesn't turn up with results as previously agreed.

The man felt his phone vibrate; he apologized and checked. They were messages from a furious NIS Director. He responded desperately, but his fingers froze when he saw some photos of himself, meeting in a hotel with suspicious people, escorted by paramilitary units from a super-terror group:

- Two months, no more, no less - Raon stated, smiling - The first units will be demonstrated to the Board and NIS officials by January 14th. If there's nothing more you have to tell me, please leave…

Yamashiro automatically rose from his seat, and the guards opened the doors; He left in a hurry.