Chapter 4
Issac and his team are sneaking through the dark, their footsteps nearly silent as they move toward the heart of the district—a hidden laboratory experimenting on Espers. Issac's expression is grim, a stark contrast to the happy-go-lucky man he once was. His wind powers hum quietly at his fingertips, ready to be unleashed at the first sign of trouble. He signals for his team to stay low, and they advance toward the lab.
Inside Issac's head, Alfred, the snarky system, comments dryly: "Ah, nothing like a little light sabotage to spice up your evening. Shall I log your total destruction count?"
Issac mutters under his breath, not bothering to respond, focusing instead on the task at hand. His mission: to destroy the equipment torturing Espers—flesh and bone bent to scientific 'advancement.'
---
Meanwhile, Jaren is on his patrol nearby, his breath fogging up in the cool night air. His sharp eyes scan the quiet streets, his gut telling him something's off. He wasn't supposed to be here tonight, but a change in his schedule placed him in the exact spot where fate would intervene. As he rounds a corner, movement catches his eye—a group of shadows slipping into a warehouse.
Who would be stupid enough to break into this area? he wonders, his curiosity piqued.
Jaren crouches behind a stack of crates, watching carefully. His powers simmer beneath the surface, ready to strike if necessary. As he focuses, his heart skips a beat—one of the figures looks familiar. His mind races, and then it clicks: Issac Stross.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Jaren whispers to himself.
He debates on intervening. Issac is supposed to be an ally, but what he's seeing now suggests otherwise. This isn't an official mission, and the fact that Issac and his team are operating covertly raises too many questions. Jaren decides to stay hidden for now, watching as Issac's team approaches the heavily secured lab.
---
Inside the warehouse, the group moves swiftly, bypassing security measures like seasoned professionals. They reach the entrance to the lab, hidden beneath layers of junk and rusted metal. Issac taps into his wind powers, sending sharp gusts of air to disable a few laser tripwires, and gestures to his team to follow.
The laboratory beneath is filled with sterile white tiles, a harsh contrast to the grimy exterior. Machines hum ominously, and a faint smell of chemicals stings their noses. Inside, unconscious Espers lie strapped to tables, connected to nightmarish equipment.
"Alfred," Issac says in his mind, "what do you know about this place?"
"Ah, it appears our friends have been busy. Lovely gadgets they've set up, designed to drain Esper powers and repurpose them into god knows what. I'd say you're about to blow up some expensive toys, old sport."
Issac sets a device on the wall—a small, homemade bomb, perfectly timed to go off after they evacuate. But just as he arms it, one of his teammates freezes.
"We've got company," the teammate whispers, eyes flickering to the shadows outside the window.
Issac turns just in time to catch sight of a figure moving near the entrance—Jaren.
---
Jaren watches as Issac and his team plant explosives. His instincts scream at him to stop them, but he hesitates, his mind a storm of conflict. Should he arrest them? Call for backup? Confront Issac?
But something else gnaws at him—why would Issac be here, of all places? Jaren's righteousness demands answers, but the realization dawns on him: Issac isn't the villain here. The lab is wrong. Espers are suffering.
Still, as an S-class Esper, Jaren knows he has to act.
With a deep breath, Jaren steps forward from his hiding place, announcing his presence with a cold, commanding voice: "Issac."
The team freezes, and Issac turns slowly, locking eyes with Jaren. Neither speaks, the tension thick as the surrounding darkness.
Finally, Issac breaks the silence. "Jaren... This isn't what it looks like."
Jaren crosses his arms, gaze unwavering. "It never is."
The tension between Issac and Jaren hangs thick in the air. Issac, always quick on his feet, is already calculating his next move. His team stands still, eyes darting between the two powerful Espers, waiting to see how things will unfold. The soft hum of the machines around them feels almost deafening now, the only other sound the faint ticking of the bomb Issac just set.
"Look, Jaren," Issac starts, raising his hands in a show of peace, "I know this looks bad, but you have to trust me. You don't want this place standing any longer than I do."
Jaren narrows his eyes, stepping closer but staying guarded. "Trust? You're operating without authorization, and you've brought your own team to sabotage a government facility. I'm supposed to trust that?"
Issac's jaw clenches, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "This isn't about the government. This is about stopping these people from experimenting on Espers like they're lab rats. They're stealing powers, Jaren. We're just trying to stop them."
Jaren glances around the lab, taking in the unconscious Espers strapped to machines. A pang of disgust rolls through him. He's heard whispers of corrupt labs and illegal experiments, but nothing had been confirmed. Seeing it now, though… it sickens him. He looks back at Issac, still conflicted.
"And you thought this was the best way to handle it? Blowing everything up?" Jaren asks, his voice hard but no longer as accusatory.
Issac shakes his head. "What else are we supposed to do? Go through proper channels? By the time we do, these people would be long gone, and more Espers would be dead or worse. We don't have time for bureaucracy, Jaren."
For a long moment, neither of them speaks. Jaren can feel the weight of his decision pressing on him. On one hand, he knows Issac isn't lying. The lab is a nightmare, a place that shouldn't exist. But on the other hand, there are protocols, laws—boundaries that can't be crossed. He's always been one to follow the rules, but now…
Before Jaren can respond, one of Issac's teammates nudges him urgently. "We need to move. We've only got five minutes left."
Issac looks back at Jaren, a rare vulnerability flashing across his face. "I need to do this, Jaren. Help us or stay out of the way."
Jaren clenches his fists, torn between his duty and what he knows is right. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he nods. "I'm not letting you blow this place without getting everyone out first. You do this my way."
Issac blinks in surprise but nods quickly. "Deal."
---
The team moves swiftly, guided by both Issac's wind powers and Jaren's sharp instincts. Together, they disable the remaining security measures and begin releasing the captured Espers from their restraints. Some are too weak to walk, so Issac's team supports them, rushing them toward the exit.
Jaren stays at the rear, making sure no one is left behind. As they reach the doors, the ticking from the bomb grows louder. Issac's team starts filing out into the alleyways, helping the freed Espers onto waiting transports. But just as Issac is about to leave, a faint sound catches his attention.
"Wait," he mutters, stopping in his tracks. "Someone's still inside."
Jaren whirls around. "We don't have time, Issac. The bomb—"
"I'm not leaving anyone," Issac growls, dashing back inside without another word. Jaren curses under his breath and follows.
---
They move quickly through the darkened hallways, searching for the source of the noise. The ticking of the bomb echoes louder in their ears, making every second feel like an eternity. Finally, they reach a small, sealed chamber at the back of the lab.
Inside, a young Esper girl, no more than sixteen, lies strapped to a machine, her body limp but still breathing.
Issac's heart pounds in his chest. "Damn it," he mutters. "Jaren, help me with this."
Jaren nods and together they work quickly to dismantle the restraints holding the girl. As soon as they free her, Issac hoists her into his arms. The bomb is seconds away from detonation now.
"Go!" Issac yells, and they sprint for the exit.
---
Just as they clear the doors, a massive explosion rocks the warehouse. Fire and debris billow into the night sky as the lab collapses in on itself. Issac shields the unconscious girl with his body as Jaren throws up an ice barrier, protecting them from the worst of the blast.
When the dust finally settles, they're left standing in the rubble, panting from the effort.
Issac glances at Jaren, still cradling the girl in his arms. "Thanks."
Jaren sighs, shaking his head. "Don't thank me yet. We're going to have a lot to answer for when the higher-ups get wind of this."
Issac nods, knowing he's right. But for now, they've saved lives. That has to count for something.
As they head back toward the waiting transports, Jaren looks at Issac out of the corner of his eye. "This isn't over, Stross. We're going to have a long talk about this."
Issac smirks, despite himself. "Looking forward to it."
---
As the fiery glow of the warehouse explosion flickers against the night sky, Jaren watches the retreating team with a sense of growing unease. The corruption radiating from Issac is undeniable. The dark, crimson hue weaving through his aura is a clear sign that his energy is slipping deeper into red. Jaren knows the consequences of such corruption.
"Issac," Jaren calls, his voice steady but filled with concern. "Wait."
Issac barely glances back, his jaw set, his expression hard. He shifts the unconscious girl in his arms but doesn't slow down.
"Issac, your corruption… you're close to red," Jaren continues, quickening his pace until he's walking beside him. "You need to be cleansed before it gets worse."
Issac grits his teeth, barely sparing Jaren a look. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not," Jaren presses, his brow furrowed with worry. "You know what happens when an Esper hits red. You can't handle this alone."
"I've handled it alone before," Issac mutters sharply, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't need a Guide."
Jaren's hand shoots out, grabbing Issac by the arm, forcing him to stop. "It's not about needing someone to fix you. You've fought this for too long. The corruption is eating away at you."
Issac pulls his arm free, his eyes blazing with stubbornness. "I'm not letting anyone put their hands on me and mess with my energy."
Jaren's voice softens, but his urgency remains. "Guides don't control us, Issac. They don't change who we are. They just help cleanse the corruption so we can keep fighting."
"I don't care," Issac snaps, stepping away. "Their powers hurt me. Every time."
That stops Jaren in his tracks. He knows some Espers are incompatible with specific Guides, but to hear Issac admit that cleansing was painful to him makes sense now. No wonder Issac avoided the process so vehemently.
Issac looks back at him, eyes blazing with a mix of anger and something else—something more vulnerable. "I'll use the machines. It takes longer, but at least it doesn't feel like razor blades tearing me apart."
Jaren runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated but understanding. "Issac… I get it. But this isn't something you can push aside. Machines aren't enough for what you're facing."
"I'm not letting anyone cleanse me," Issac growls. "Not now. Not ever."
Jaren watches him for a long moment, the concern etched deep on his face. But he knows he can't force Issac to accept help he doesn't want, and certainly not when the very thing meant to help him causes pain.
"Just… don't let it get any worse, okay?" Jaren says quietly, his eyes pleading for Issac to be careful.
Issac gives a sharp nod, turning back toward the transport. "I'll handle it," he mutters. "I always do."
As Issac walks away, the flickering red in his aura continues to pulse—a silent warning of the growing danger. Jaren watches, heart heavy, knowing that while Issac's strength has carried him this far, it may not be enough to fend off the corruption closing in on him.