CHAPTER 56 : NEXT STEP...

"I've already made calls to several other countries, including America, Japan, and China, which are among the countries with the highest cases of dangerous mutant mutations. They admitted... that they've known what's really happening all along and confirmed the existence of the alien beings that Ms. Bella mentioned." The Prime Minister, along with several other ministers, was in a dark meeting room. There were files submitted by Syafiq in the room, and he pushed the files forward."Each country is looking for ways to face this new enemy. They won't help us, just as we don't have the capability to help them. Out there, there are groups of Mutants using their powers for good; they're eliminating Strays and fighting other Mutants who misuse their powers... Not all Mutants are enemies," Syafiq stated as he stood from his seat, drawing the attention of the leaders present."I understand we're all scared, and there's a lot we don't understand, but it's the same for those who have become Mutants; they're still human and citizens of our country in the end. Sure, some commit crimes, but we can't punish them all, can we? We need a program to unite Mutants with us... We need them," Syafiq explained, recalling the fight between HOPE and the White Tigers, where, despite the Special Forces acting on their own and failing, Nasuha and Kyoko chose to save them."How are we supposed to control them, Captain Syafiq? Think about it... They're dangerous! We won't be able to control them at all. What happens if they suddenly don't align with the government's wishes? What happens if they betray us?! Mutants are dangerous! They need to be eliminated just like the mutant monsters!" an angry minister shouted, pointing a finger at Syafiq."Why do we treat them as if they're not human?" Syafiq challenged."Because they're no longer human!" the minister replied, and Syafiq gritted his teeth."I'm sorry if I'm being rude right now, but all of you ministers don't see what's really happening out there! How many of my men were injured and killed. How powerful the enemy out there truly is! Our hands are tied! If this continues, more people will die in vain. This is the time to believe! Believe in the hope offered by those Mutant groups..." Syafiq raised his voice, and everyone present fell silent, while members of the Special Forces looked on in admiration at their captain arguing for their safety."We're not just numbers and data, dear ministers. What we need now isn't more enemies; we need allies from anyone willing to align with us," Syafiq continued."I understand what you're trying to say... but what do you actually want to tell us all?" a female minister asked."This is my long-term project; mutant monsters and evil Mutants won't disappear anytime soon. Under the Superhuman Special Forces, I want to establish a new group where all members are Mutants... They will be 'Superhumans' working alongside us, Project Superhero." Syafiq handed over a file labeled 'Project Superhero.' The Prime Minister opened the file, which contained reports on the identities of known Mutants based on investigations by the Special Forces.Nasuha, Khairul, and Nur were among those listed in the file."What we need now is heroes to save us."A male nurse assisted Ehsan as he walked while holding onto a railing. He looked exhausted and struggled to move his legs. Sweat dripped from his forehead and chin as he got stuck, and the male nurse helped him back into a wheelchair."I'm sorry; I'm getting old..." Ehsan sighed."It's okay, Mr. Ehsan... Oh? Is someone here to see you?" the male nurse asked, glancing toward the recovery room door. Ehsan turned his face to the window and his expression changed to one of surprise.Nasuha and Khairul were watching him, with a smile on Nasuha's face as she waved. The male nurse wheeled Ehsan out, leaving him with Nasuha and Khairul."Can you both come here? Aren't the Special Forces looking for you?" Ehsan asked anxiously."Don't worry, Chyou is here. With his power, we managed to sneak in," Nasuha replied, pointing her thumb toward Chyou, who was sitting alone on a bench."We can't stay long... Remember that..." Chyou warned."Okay, okay." Nasuha glanced back momentarily."How are you doing now, Nasuha? I was very worried because I haven't heard anything from you for several weeks..." Ehsan asked, holding both of Nasuha's hands."We're all okay. Now we're staying at Mei's house together; we're taking time to train," Nasuha replied, and Ehsan nodded in understanding."Khairul, thank you for looking after Nasuha," Ehsan said to Khairul."She can take care of herself," Khairul replied with a bittersweet smile."I need rehab... It's still hard for me to walk; the broken bones were pretty bad, but thankfully, nothing more than that," Ehsan said, lifting both shoulders."I'm sorry, I haven't visited you at all... Every day, I feel so uneasy," Nasuha's expression turned sad."I'm okay, dear," Ehsan smiled gently and touched his daughter's cheek."Out there, there are people who need you more. Go save the world, my hero..."Ali, dressed as the 'Masked Man,' entered a building through a broken window, rolling his body and landing safely. He was in the abandoned headquarters of the White Tigers in Shah Alam, a result of Mikael's battle with the Rubber Mutant earlier."Nothing much..." Ali sighed as he examined the building's nooks and crannies. Only empty boxes were left behind, with large cracks visible in the walls. Red tape with the words 'Warning' and 'No Entry' was strewn about the building. Ali exited through a small door.For the past two days, HOPE and I haven't found anything...Mei told me there might be a Mutant who can hide their Mutant aura, just like their previous enemy.Danielle is strong. I wouldn't be surprised if he could do it too...Everything the White Tigers left is in the hands of the Special Forces.No, don't think about it, Ali... Don't even think about going there."The sky had turned dark as Ali entered his home through a window he opened slowly. He removed his mask, then sat on the sofa and exhaled deeply, pressing the remote to turn on the television."The public is demanding answers from the government! We've been in this mutant cell crisis for five months... But what we don't know is the origin of these cells! 304 authority members have been killed, thousands of Malaysians have turned into monsters, and now there are humans with powers fighting in Klang?! What kind of world are we living in right now?" an elderly man on television shouted, banging on the table and pointing his finger. Ali changed the channel."The Superhumans believed to have fought in Klang and eliminated mutant monsters have been found again by the Special Forces. They are believed to have been missing for several weeks after the battle in Klang with the gang, The White Tigers. Many netizens are calling them heroes, but many are also skeptical and questioning their true intentions," a woman in a gray hijab and glasses commented on the news. Ali continued watching before slowly setting the remote down.HOPE... especially Khalid and Mei. Their desire to protect the public with the powers they received is why I placed my trust in them after they helped me before...No one knows what they've lost, their failures, or the sacrifices they're willing to make. I'm not a hero like that. I'm self-aware; my heart is full of anger... I'm angry, and I want to release it.Two armored were positioned between a truck, with armed members of the Special Forces in all three vehicles. Inside the small truck were two scientists carrying various lab equipment and the body of a Stray stored in a capsule."It's foggy this morning..." said the driver of the front armored vehicle as they were surrounded by fog obscuring their view."Strange... It didn't rain last night, did it?" another member asked.Suddenly, they collided with roots protruding from the road, causing the armored vehicle to nearly skid off the path. The truck behind the vehicle attempted to brake but failed to stop in time and crashed into the armored vehicle in front, while the armored vehicle behind managed to brake and stop."What happened?!" asked a Special Forces member in the rear of the armored vehicle as they began to exit to see what was going on."This... is not fog..." One of the members covered his face after smelling the mist surrounding them, realizing it wasn't fog but thick smoke.Several roots moved and knocked down several Special Forces members, gunfire erupted in the chaos. Lilly emerged from the smoke, wielding the roots she brought, and slammed a captured member of the Special Forces hard against the road."We're under attack!" yelled a member of the Special Forces. Those who were in the vehicle that had been hit by the truck earlier began to emerge, but some were injured and unable to fight. Danielle appeared in front of them with a smile. One of the Special Forces members quickly pointed a gun at him, but Danielle crushed the gun with just a strong grip before choking the member who attacked him and lifting him into the air."Wh-Who...urgh...are you?" asked the Special Forces member who was being choked by Danielle. His comrades pointed their guns and rifles but were unable to fire."You're all useless to me," replied Danielle before snapping the neck of the Special Forces member. The others immediately opened fire, but their bullets did not penetrate Danielle's body."Order, Invincible." Danielle's entire body glowed blue, indicating that his 'Order' power was active. Danielle swiftly kicked the head of one of the attacking Special Forces members, severing it from the body, with blood splattering everywhere."Aaaarghhh!" The remaining Special Forces members started to panic. Danielle quickly killed them with powerful punches and kicks. Lilly, who was there, was also shocked to see what Danielle was capable of."Even though I'm a Mutant...I'm not nearly that strong," Lilly monologued. Danielle walked away from the tank after easily killing all the Special Forces members, as if tearing paper.He and Lilly then moved toward the truck. Danielle opened the front door, and once again, the Special Forces member in the driver's seat tried to shoot at him, but the bullets didn't penetrate Danielle's face, and he crushed the attacker's head with a single punch. The truck driver had already been killed in the collision earlier.Lilly entered the back of the truck, where two scientists were still present. One of them pointed a small gun at Lilly."Please, don't resist," said Lilly, moving vines toward the two scientists."D-Don't come any closer!" The armed scientist fired, but the vines were unaffected, and Lilly quickly tied both of them up."Well done, Lilly...Good job," praised Danielle, gently patting Lilly's head."Ouh...ah...thank you..." replied Lilly."Syakir. They're yours now. Use your power...Get all the information we need," Danielle ordered as Syakir appeared."Don't give me orders...I know," replied Syakir. Danielle smiled slightly and moved toward the laboratory equipment that was there."W-What are you going to do?!" asked the terrified female scientist. Syakir extended wires from his fingers."I hate noisy women. I'll silence you first," said Syakir, inserting his wires into the backs of both scientists.The three of them soon exited the truck. Danielle placed the lab equipment he had taken and the lifeless body of a Stray on the road. Lilly took out a few seeds, which immediately grew large and opened. Using her vines, she placed the items inside."I can't control a dead Stray. Why bring it along?" asked Syakir, walking while carrying the two scientists who were already under his control."We only need the Stray's organs...You'll understand later," replied Danielle. Syakir looked at him oddly."You're still hiding something?""Not hiding...More like a surprise," Danielle smiled. Syakir ignored him and continued walking.The large seed from earlier shrank again, and Lilly stored it away. Danielle approached Lilly."Your power is interesting...How can the seed transform objects and living things inside and shrink them?" Danielle asked."Honestly...I don't know. The Mutant Cell makes me feel like I've had these abilities since birth, but I still don't understand everything. It's strange," Lilly lamented. Danielle gently patted her back."We'll understand everything, one day...Let's get out of here for now," Danielle replied. Lilly nodded in agreement and used her vines to carry herself, Danielle, and Syakir away from the scene.The smoke that had covered the area earlier dissipated, revealing the gruesome slaughter of the Special Forces members, with blood splattered everywhere and their bodies strewn about, destroyed. One of the cameras on the road moved toward the scene and made a noise, indicating that it was recording what had happened.