CHAPTER 64 : HOPE, MY FAMILY

"The government has released previously classified documents regarding what actually happened after the attack on the Special Forces base. This document explains various things about mutation cells, technology being developed to address the current issues, and about the Mutants who were previously called 'Superhuman.'""A few days have passed since the attack by the Mutants, believed to be a gang called The White Tigers, on the Special Forces base. Many were killed and severely injured in this tragedy, but there were also other groups of Mutants who saved many people...""An investigation is being conducted by the authorities concerning the group of Mutants that assisted the Special Forces and fought against the White Tigers the other day.""Our world is becoming more dangerous... There are indeed groups of Mutants who claim to be on our side, but we don't know their true objectives!""For me, the Mutants who fought for us the other day are hope! Hope for us to fight against those who abuse their powers. I really hope they cooperate with the government...""How many more members of the authorities need to die? How many more citizens need to turn into monsters? Is this... the destruction of humanity?"The atmosphere in the devastated Special Forces base looked grim, with workers still demolishing parts of the building and tearing down the walls of the base. The effects of the previous battle left various containers filled with items like weapons and tools scattered around, tents torn apart, and large holes leading to the lab.Syafiq was helping with the cleanup alongside several other members of the Special Forces."I am now at the demolished Special Forces base; they are about to move to a new location that will be kept secret to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again..."A television was on in a hospital ward. Rose slowly opened her eyes, lying in a hospital bed, her head and neck bandaged. As her previously blurred vision cleared, she turned to the side to see Ehsan sleeping beside her bed."Mr. Ehsan?" Rose asked. Ehsan immediately woke up, his eyes wide open."You're awake, Rose! Wait... I'll call the doctor!" Ehsan quickly checked Rose's condition before rushing out of the ward.Two doctors came to examine Rose. Bella walked into the ward just after Rose finished her examination. Both of her hands were in a lab coat as she approached Rose, who was with Ehsan."Right..." Rose nodded in understanding after hearing the explanation of what happened while she was in a coma for several days. Bella crossed her arms, her expression showing discomfort."I haven't been able to contact HOPE, and Mr. Ehsan hasn't heard anything from Nasuha... They're really missing this time. Moreover, Shaurya mutated after you were attacked," said Bella."W-What? Shaurya?" Rose looked worried."He's in my lab right now... I had to sedate him while his body recovers. When he wakes up, I'll let you know," Bella replied."What about HOPE?" Rose asked."I don't know what to do... I also checked your phone, and they haven't replied to any messages or calls. They've blocked you," Bella said, handing the phone to Rose, who quickly checked her messages and call log."The media is searching for them now; during the previous battle, some masks were torn, and there are pictures of their faces. The Special Forces have revealed their identities..." Bella explained, and Rose put her phone down."Do you know about Mei? At her house? Is anyone there?" Rose asked again."No. Believe me, I've scoured your phone for all the information I could find about HOPE, but they're really missing. Mei's house is empty... The only one I found was the Masked Man, Ali; he's the only one not hiding," Bella replied, recalling her encounter with Ali."Ali? He's not even a member of HOPE.""He kept quiet too, didn't give me anything... and warned me not to search for HOPE right now," Bella sighed."I must do something but right now...I can't." Rose leaned her head back on the pillow, looking regretful and tired."Alright, I understand." Bella stood up and then looked at Ehsan."Please keep an eye on her, Mr. Ehsan," Bella requested."Yes, don't worry," Ehsan replied with a small smile."Can you move your hand?" Aisyah asked, as she and Ali were in her living room. Ali flexed his fingers a few times and then looked at his palm; the blue veins glowed before slowly fading away."It looks like you've fully recovered. That's good..." Aisyah said, and Ali let out a small sigh."Thank you, Aisyah." Ali looked at Aisyah with a bitter smile, his eyes appearing sad."Okay... Why do you look like a lost puppy?" Aisyah asked, but Ali shifted his gaze. Aisyah playfully kicked his foot gently."I... I can't change anything. In the end, I thought killing Danielle was the right choice, but I was wrong too; I still failed him." Ali sighed."Some people really are lost and can't be brought back. He has killed many people... Can you forgive that? and even if you can, what about his victims? And their families?" Aisyah looked at Ali with a confused expression."Killing him... is also a form of justice and a way to save him." Aisyah continued, this time with a calmer expression. Ali remained silent, processing what Aisyah had said."Danielle is my responsibility, but HOPE, they bear the consequences of Danielle's actions... What can I do to repay them?" Ali asked, his eyes misty."Share that responsibility together, Ali. Be there for them." Aisyah encouraged him."I'll try.""For me... you've already become one of HOPE's members. Join their fight, Ali. Don't be alone." Aisyah smiled, and Ali nodded in understanding."Speaking of HOPE, what are they doing now?" Aisyah asked."They..."Kyoko placed her hand on the generator, releasing purple lightning from her palm, powering up the generator. The lights turned on, revealing a living room furnished with sofas, a television, several tables and chairs, and cabinets. On the wall, there was a symbol of 'HOPE' with a hand holding it.The lights also turned on in a corridor with special rooms for each HOPE member, their names written on the doors. Mei entered the last room at the end of the corridor, which was spacious and equipped with various training tools such as targets, punching bags, and gym equipment.The kitchen was bustling as Nasuha and Khairul organized items in the fridge and cabinets together. Meanwhile, Mikael sat in his room, which contained only a bed, a desk, a chair, and a closet. A few books, files, and a framed picture of Mikael with his late wife, Syakila, and their daughter, Farah, adorned the room."Ugh... Finally... I'm tired... I hope Nasuha cooks something delicious today..." Nur lay sprawled on her bed, surrounded by several cat plushies. She picked one up and hugged it tightly."This is it, our new home," Khalid said, entering the training room of HOPE with Chyou, where Mei was already present. A large HOPE symbol was displayed in the room."This marks our new journey." Mei gazed at the HOPE symbol with a bittersweet smile, while Chyou stood beside her."Thank you all for your efforts over the past few days. I know what I asked for was nearly impossible, but together, as a team, we built this underground base. This is our home now. Once again, thank you, HOPE members!" Khalid raised a glass filled with orange juice, smiling at all the members gathered at the dining table."Thanks me! It's my powers that did the most work!" Nur raised her glass confidently."That's fair after you demolished your friend's house and replaced it with another," Kyoko teased, lifting her glass, causing Nur's expression to change to one of guilt."That was a long time ago... I've come to terms with it," Nasuha smiled bittersweetly, raising her glass."Thank you as well, everyone. I've never had a chance to express how much I appreciate all of you for being by my side when I fought against my father..." Khairul focused his gaze on Nasuha, then on Nur, and finally on Mikael, smiling faintly as he raised his glass."We've sacrificed many things, and our lives won't be easy, but we are family now. Let's stay strong together, HOPE." Mei raised her glass, followed silently by Chyou."There will be many more challenges ahead, but as Mei said, we will stay together. I won't let my new family down." Mikael was the last to raise his glass.All the HOPE members clinked their glasses together. On the table were grilled chicken and several side dishes like vegetables and fried tempeh. Nasuha scooped rice and served it, and everyone enjoyed the meal laid before them.As they chewed, Khairul watched Nasuha smile while chatting with Kyoko and Nur. Mei served Chyou some food, insisting he eat the vegetables, making Chyou grimace at the sight of the pile on his plate. Mikael remained silent as he ate.Khalid looked at his group, smiled bitterly, and bowed his head slowly.I'm not perfect.Most of the time... I fail more than I succeed.But they are here, by my side, believing in me...Am I really going to betray that trust just because I don't believe in my own abilities?I should try harder, be a better leader for HOPE...A few days ago...Mei opened her phone to find articles, news, and social media buzzing about the attack on the Special Forces base. All HOPE members, including Ali, were at Aisyah's house, still partially injured and wearing their torn costumes.Aisyah switched on the television, showing the aftermath of the battle at the Special Forces base, with widespread destruction, including walls downed by Ali's Nuclear Punch and a massive hole where Lilly had previously uprooted a giant tree and its roots."Look at this! They're sending our faces with torn masks; some are unclear, but... with pictures like this, they can figure out our identities," Kyoko complained, as the Special Forces had sent CCTV images featuring the faces of HOPE members.Ali quickly opened his phone to check the images, relieved to see that only a picture of him from behind was visible, his face obscured. However, for the other HOPE members, several images clearly showed their faces."Nasuha... Mei... These two images clearly show your faces," Kyoko pointed out, showing everyone the CCTV footage where Nasuha and Mei were prominently visible during the fight."The Special Forces have known my identity for a long time... but Mei," Nasuha turned to Mei with a worried expression."What the hell!" Khalid snapped, shocking everyone present as they had never seen him so angry."What's the reason the Special Forces sent these images to the media?! They must want us to come to them, to turn ourselves in?! We defended them, and yet they betray us!" Khalid fumed, stomping his foot in frustration."Calm down, Khalid..." Mikael advised."How can I?! All of this... We... This is all my fault..." Khalid sighed."What are you talking about, Khalid? Why do you blame yourself?" Khairul asked, confused."Because I shouldn't have... put us in this danger again... Now, the authorities are likely aware of our identities; so many netizens already know who we are... Where can we show our faces? What if your families find out—?" Before Khalid could finish his sentence, someone's phone rang. It was Mei's phone, displaying 'Mom' on the screen. Mei looked at everyone with a troubled expression."N-No..." Chyou realized what was happening."I'll take this call for a moment," Mei stood up and walked away."Damnit..." Khalid bowed his head."You all need to lay low... What's your plan now?" Aisyah crossed her arms, her expression curious."Not a single one... I don't know what to do." Khalid replied.Mei returned, gripping her phone tightly until it shattered, splitting in two. The shards fell to the floor as she stomped on them."Mei?" Khalid was taken aback."My family knows. They are sending people to my house to take me and Chyou; we can't go back there now..." Mei stated."What? Where are we supposed to go?" Kyoko asked."You all, destroy your phones, destroy your numbers... Don't let any parties track us right now. I'm serious." Mei ordered, Kyoko and Nasuha glanced at their phones.Without a second thought, Khalid stomped on his phone until it shattered too, looking at Mei with a sorrowful expression."Whatever! If my family finds out and looks for me... It'll be a problem later." Kyoko caused her phone to explode in her hand by charging it excessively with her lightning powers."Khai...help." Nasuha handed her phone to Khairul."O-Okay." Khairul looked at Nasuha's scared expression, took Nasuha's phone, then drew his blade and stabbed the phone."Now we can't be detected at all. Don't leave any traces; for now, we need to head to Khalid's house to plan our next move...Chyou, can you teleport us one by one? We can't let anyone see us," Mei requested, looking different, more assertive and serious. Khalid noticed this change, as did the other HOPE members."I can, sister," Chyou nodded."Is there anything I can help with?" Ali asked, standing and approaching Mei."There is. If possible, I want you to join us too, Ali; we need the strength of a few people."After a while, they were now at Khalid's house. All the HOPE members and Ali were in the living room, the atmosphere tense, each silent and gloomy, unsure of what to do."I...have long lost contact with my family, but you guys..." Nur looked at Nasuha and then at Kyoko."Do you know ASADA Corporation?" Kyoko asked."ASADA Corporation? If I'm not mistaken, it's one of the largest family companies in Japan..." Mikael replied."Yes...My full name is Kyoko Asada," Kyoko said with a bitter smile."What is a member of the Asada family doing studying in Malaysia out of all countries?" Mikael asked, surprised, while the others were clueless about ASADA Corporation."I actually ran away... For a stupid reason... Because I fell in love with a Malay guy. I was willing to learn Malay, came here to study, and in the end, we broke up... Because of that guy, I became a Mutant," Kyoko explained."Pfft." Khairul almost laughed, but Nasuha elbowed him."It's okay, laugh... It's actually funny and sad at the same time," Kyoko scolded."Love really took you far," Ali added, and Kyoko shrugged her shoulders."What's up with ASADA Corporation, Mikael?" Nasuha asked."You kids might not know much, but... ASADA Corporation is a large company founded by the Asada family, Kyoko's family. They hold the world's most advanced robotics and cybernetic technology, along with several other businesses. Their technology is widely used around the world now," Mikael explained."You know a lot about my family..." Kyoko replied."I used to read a lot of newspapers and articles, so I know a bit," Mikael said."Tch, I forget you're older sometimes," Kyoko teased, and Mikael shot her a defeated look. Meanwhile, the others began to chatter, and Chyou turned toward the door behind them with a worried expression.Mei and Khalid were in a separate room. Khalid was bowed down, while Mei stood in front of him, leaning against the wall."Khalid... The group needs you now. I have a plan, and I want you to hear it... I've actually been planning this for a long time," Mei said."I'm sorry, because... you have to... lead..." Khalid sighed, and Mei held both his shoulders and forced him to look at her."Once again... You look just like how I first met you in college. You were defeated about something, about your dreams," Mei looked at Khalid with a sad expression."I can't lead HOPE... I'm not worthy, not strong enough... Someone like Mikael or Ali would be better than me..." Khalid's body trembled as he acknowledged his weakness, and Mei hugged him, causing Khalid to freeze."I want you to lead HOPE. Not anyone else. I don't care whether you're worthy or how strong you are... I want you, Khalid... You're my hero," Mei said, her voice trembling, and Khalid's expression changed to surprise upon hearing Mei's words."Khalid, you are a hero... And there are times heroes need saving. I am here, and the others too; I see no doubt in their hearts... They may have moments of fear and anxiety, but they trust you... You are our leader," Mei released her hug and looked back at Khalid, resting her forehead against his.Memories of their childhood playing together, their first meeting in college, Khalid in the Mind Dimension gaining his Mutant powers, the Beast Tiger shield forming as he faced Stray, their encounters with Khairul and Nasuha, and Ali. The last memory displayed was all the HOPE members at the dining table, enjoying and laughing together."T-Thank you, Mei," Khalid said as Mei gently moved her forehead from his."What's your plan?" A smile returned to Khalid's face, this time with determination evident. Mei smiled back."Let's create... a base for HOPE!"