Unfinished Business
The Morning After
Remond barely had time to sleep. His body ached from last night's fight, but his mind was what kept him awake. The explosion at the railway docks had raised more questions than answers. Who was the man in the trench coat? What was inside that container? And what was the Axiom Syndicate planning next?
When he finally rolled out of bed, the first thing he did was check his phone. Several messages from Sid and Hayato. Nothing urgent. But one notification stood out.
A new article.
"Mysterious Explosion at Railway Docks—A Criminal Cover-Up?"
The author: Innes Fairchild.
Remond exhaled sharply. Damn it, Innes.
---
A Heated Conversation
At school, Remond wasted no time in finding her. Innes was by her locker, casually talking with a few classmates. She noticed him approaching and excused herself.
Before he could even speak, she smirked. "I see you read my article."
Remond crossed his arms. "You shouldn't have written it."
Innes raised an eyebrow. "Why not? It's news, Remond. A huge explosion in the middle of the night, and the authorities barely said a word about it? People deserve to know."
"You don't understand. You're putting yourself in danger."
She frowned. "Is that what this is about? Or is it that you don't want me digging into something you're involved in?"
Remond hesitated. "Both."
Innes sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "Look, I get that you and Hayato are doing... whatever it is you're doing. But if you think I'm just going to sit back and ignore this, you're wrong. I became a journalist for a reason."
Remond clenched his fists. "And what happens when they come after you? Axiom Syndicate isn't just a bunch of thugs, Innes. They kill people."
She stared at him for a long moment. Then, softer, "Then let's expose them."
"It's not that simple."
"You think I don't know that?" She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I know you're trying to protect me, but I'm not some helpless girl, Remond. This is what I do. This is how I fight back."
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated but understanding her point.
"Just… be careful."
Innes smiled. "I will. But don't ask me to walk away from this. I won't."
Remond sighed in defeat. He knew he wasn't going to change her mind.
---
Tracking Dr. Malcolm Graves
Meanwhile, across the city, Hayato moved through the shadows. He had spent the morning piecing together leads on a man Sid had discovered in his research:
Dr. Malcolm Graves.
A former geneticist, Dr. Graves was rumored to have worked with classified human experiments before his sudden disappearance five years ago. Now, his name had resurfaced—connected to Axiom Syndicate.
Sid's intel pointed to an old research facility in the industrial district. Abandoned on paper. Active in reality.
Hayato crouched on a rooftop across from the building, watching as a handful of armed guards patrolled the entrance.
"Sid, I found the place."
Sid's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Figured you would. Heat signatures suggest there are at least twelve guys inside. If Graves is in there, he's not alone."
Hayato narrowed his eyes. "I'm going in."
"Want backup?"
"Not yet. Let me get eyes on him first."
Sid sighed. "Alright. Just don't get yourself killed."
Hayato smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
He moved swiftly, slipping past the outer guards with ease. The facility was old, but it wasn't abandoned. Machinery hummed faintly, and security cameras swept the hallways.
Then, he saw him.
Through a half-open doorway, an older man sat in a dimly lit office. Thick glasses, silver hair, and a cold expression.
Dr. Malcolm Graves.
Hayato pulled out a small device and snapped a picture, sending it straight to Sid.
Sid's response came fast. "That's him. Good work."
Hayato smirked. "Now let's see what he's up to."
---
Unraveling the Mystery
As Hayato carefully maneuvered through the facility, he overheard voices coming from another room. He inched closer, his sharp senses picking up the conversation.
"...the process is almost complete."
A second voice responded, calm and authoritative. "Good. The next phase will begin soon."
Hayato peered inside. A few scientists stood around a large tank filled with some kind of liquid. Suspended inside was a humanoid figure—its body covered in scars, tubes attached to its arms.
A human experiment.
Hayato's blood ran cold. What the hell are they doing here?
He quickly snapped another photo.
Then—
A floorboard creaked beneath his foot.
One of the guards turned sharply. "Hey—!"
Hayato cursed. So much for stealth.
The fight erupted instantly. Hayato took out the first guard before the others could react, but the alarm had already been triggered. He needed to move—fast.
---
Escape and Revelation
Hayato sprinted through the hallways, dodging gunfire as the facility erupted into chaos. He knocked out another guard before diving through a side window, rolling onto the pavement below.
His earpiece crackled. "Hayato, what's happening?"
"I got what we need, but they know someone's onto them. I'm getting out now."
He disappeared into the shadows, leaving the facility behind.
Back at Sid's workshop, he uploaded the photos.
Sid stared at the images in stunned silence.
"They're experimenting on people," Hayato said. "And I'm willing to bet Dr. Graves is running the whole thing."
Sid exhaled. "This just keeps getting worse."
Remond clenched his fists. "Then we stop them."
No one disagreed.