OPERATION: ADULT LIFE

INT. CGO International Hospital 

The cold, metallic hue of the room unnerved Yuka, its sterile walls closing in on her. She hadn't realized just how much the atmosphere would weigh on her until now. But she couldn't afford to let it show. Not now. Not with everything on the line. For Evah. For the people. She had to remain strong, and she had to uncover the true culprit behind everything—no matter the cost.

"Miss Iekami, how are you feeling today?" A nurse in a standard uniform entered the room, but Yuka knew this was no ordinary hospital. She wasn't here for care. She was here as a prisoner, whether they acknowledged it or not.

"I'm fine. Any news today?" Yuka forced a smile, keeping her voice steady despite the unease gnawing at her insides.

The nurse carefully helped her into a seated position, mindful of her injury. Paralyzed from the waist down, Yuka had been instructed not to move on her own.

"We need to limit all movement," the nurse had explained on her first day. "We're not sure if the drug is entirely out of your system, or if it's still active."

I hope I made the right decision to trust them, Yuka's thoughts twisted. She knew how dangerous the CGO could be. They played dirty, ruthless games. But she had vital information. And then there was Erion—the Major General from Zone 4, the man who had saved them.

If he's really a good person, he'll be the one to save us. If not, at least I can keep them distracted with Evah's case. They would never suspect my true involvement.

Yuka couldn't shake the feeling that she should have been the one involved in whatever had happened. It's my fault.

"Miss? Are you alright?" The nurse's voice snapped Yuka back to the present, her gaze refocusing.

"Sorry, just… feeling homesick," Yuka muttered. Her smile tightened, but she forced it through. "What do you need?"

The nurse adjusted her kit and smiled kindly. "We just need another blood sample, like yesterday."

"Of course." Yuka extended her right arm without hesitation, the cold prick of the needle sharp as it slid into her vein. As the needle drew her blood, her mind raced, but all she could think about was Evah's safety. I'm safe here. I hope you're safe, too.

EXT- STREETS OF Y'RUEN- 11 am

Weeks had passed since the incident, and Evah had forced herself to get out and face the world again. But the truth was, she didn't have a choice. She had to keep going—she had to find a new job. The days of moping, of hiding behind her fears, were over. At least, that's what she told herself. But the reality was hard to ignore. She couldn't afford to be sad or scared anymore; she had to push those feelings aside, just like she'd always done before. That was the life she knew—pragmatic, driven, focused.

But today… today felt different.

Evah stepped out of the building, the weight of the rejection hanging heavy on her chest. Three interviews, she thought bitterly, and not a single one felt right. She had walked out of her third one just moments ago, feeling like her self-esteem had been crushed under the weight of judgmental stares and polite but detached responses.

Three different companies, and yet all of them seemed put off by the same thing: her history. The fact that she had spent five years as nothing more than an entry-level originator. Five years of her life, and it meant nothing to them.

Her countless awards from university, her near-perfect record—none of it mattered now. All those accomplishments, all those sleepless nights, now overshadowed by her lack of 'real' experience. The cold, impersonal world of the job market had slapped her in the face, reminding her that it was all about connections, about the right kind of experience, not the potential or the knowledge that she brought to the table.

She knew it would be a problem, but that didn't make it sting any less. Every rejection felt like a confirmation of her worst fear: that she wasn't enough. And the more she tried, the more it felt like she was sinking deeper. The frustration boiled in her chest, a feeling that she couldn't shake no matter how hard she tried. What's the point? she wondered, What's the point of trying when the world just keeps telling you that you're not good enough?

But she couldn't give up. She couldn't afford to. Not yet.

Evah's mind was on fire as she walked down the street, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. I wasn't in that position because I wasn't good enough, she fumed internally. That damn power-thriving system! She had been the best on her team, hands down. But it didn't matter. Not to the higher-ups. They didn't care about merit.

In this industry, if you didn't get promoted, it meant one thing: you were either average or a poor worker. And the companies she was targeting? Well, they didn't have time for 'average.' The stakes were too high, and the competition was fierce. But Evah knew what she could bring to the table—she had the talent, the drive, and the ability to contribute to a high-tech company. The only problem was... who was willing to believe in her?

She remembered the call she'd received earlier this morning, from her previous superior, Mr. Davidson. A call she hadn't been particularly eager to answer.

Incoming call: Mr. Davidson.

Without thinking, her fingers moved, answering the call before she could stop herself. It was muscle memory, the reflex of someone who had spent years trying to be courteous to her superiors—even the ones who didn't deserve it. Only then did she realize she wasn't obligated to answer.

"Hello there, Evah!"

"Oh, hi." Her voice was curt, strained. She wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

"How are you?" he asked, though his tone lacked any real warmth or concern. She could hear the insincerity dripping from his words.

"I'm doing great. Can we cut the chase?" For the first time in a long while, Evah let go of her usual polite facade when speaking to superiors. She wasn't playing the game anymore.

There was a pause on the other end, but he quickly regained his composure. "The blueprint for the implementation of Version 4 for the Operations department, are you done with it? Can you send it to me?"

Are you kidding me? Evah's blood boiled. This was something so simple, something that should've been handled by senior staff. It wasn't her responsibility anymore, but they were always trying to pull her back in, always asking her to solve their problems.

She couldn't hold back. "Why don't you ask the senior staff?" she snapped, then hung up before he could respond.

She didn't even hesitate to block his number.

That had been too easy—far too easy. And yet, here they were, the ones at the top of the chain, acting like they couldn't handle their own mess. How do these people get to the top? she thought bitterly. The whole thing was so damn infuriating.

She needed to move on. But first, she needed to make sure they knew that she wasn't going to be their fallback option anymore.

Evah sat down on a bench in the underground subway, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her. Exhaustion crept through her bones, and yet, she knew she couldn't afford to relax—not yet. Another interview awaited. The cycle was endless, the pressure mounting with each failed attempt to secure a new position.

For five years I've waited, she thought bitterly. I believed my skills would be enough to climb up the ladder, but it turns out, that's not how the real world works.

Why had it taken her so long to realize that? She had been working, grinding, doing everything by the book, and yet here she was—fighting for opportunities, barely even getting her foot in the door. Why did I realize that too late? The question gnawed at her as the train pulled up.

Her phone suddenly buzzed in her pocket. Incoming call: Mama. Evah's heart softened immediately, and she answered without hesitation, continuing toward the train.

"Ma? Is everything okay?"

"Lithyia! Where are you? It's time for lunch." Her mother's voice was filled with warmth, that familiar, comforting tone that always made her feel safe.

Evah smiled despite herself, feeling a pang of homesickness. "Mama, I'm at work right now. How did you get the phone?" Her voice was light, but she couldn't help the soft chuckle that followed.

Her mom's voice, always so soothing, brought her a sense of calm even in the middle of this chaotic day. I want to go home.

"Toby can't walk right now, I am in charge!" her mom declared cheerfully, the joy in her voice lifting Evah's spirits a little.

"Can I talk to him, ma?" Evah's tone softened as she asked, her heart warmed by the idea of hearing from her brother.

"Okay!" There was a rustling sound in the background, and then Toby's familiar voice came through, surprising her with its softness.

"Hi, Sis!"

"Toby! Is everything alright?" Her voice was laced with concern as she gripped her bag tighter, the weight of the papers reminding her of the endless job search that had consumed her days.

Her mother, who had been battling a rare disease that had slowly turned her into a child-like version of herself, had become more fragile over the years. It started a few years after their father died—she had snapped, and things were never quite the same. Evah had done her best to adjust, but it was difficult at times.

"Toby was involved in a minor accident at their work at the construction site—" her mom's voice filtered through, loud and clear in the background.

"Ma! I told you not to tell Evah!" Toby interrupted, his tone a mix of concern and annoyance.

"But lying is bad, right?" her mother replied with a soft, sad voice.

Evah couldn't help but smile at the exchange. She knew her mom meant well. "Okay, okay, don't cry. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Toby's voice softened as he comforted their mom, though his frustration was evident.

"You made her cry again," Evah teased him, a smile tugging at her lips despite the tension of her day.

"She's too sensitive!" Toby complained, his voice tinged with a mix of affection and exasperation.

"What happened to you? Everything is alright now?" Evah asked, the worry creeping back into her voice.

She hugged her bag close to her chest, trying to steady the anxiety that bubbled inside her. Her brother's voice on the other end of the line was reassuring, but the weight of their financial troubles was a constant worry.

"I'm all good, but I've accumulated quite a debt at the hospital. I won't be able to work for the next three weeks, I think." In the background, Evah could still hear their mother sobbing softly, her tears a reminder of the delicate balance they had to maintain.

Evah's chest tightened. "Toby…" she murmured, her heart breaking for both of them. She wished there was more she could do.

Her brother sighed. "I'll figure it out. Don't worry."

But it wasn't just him she was worried about—it was them, the family she was trying so desperately to protect and support. I need this job, she thought, the urgency rising within her. For them, for me, for all of us.

"Ma, I told you, I'm sorry already…" her brother's voice was a continuous stream of apologies, each word laced with guilt that tugged at her heart.

"The hospital has sent up a lot of letters already. Because of what happened, the money for mom's medication was used for my medication. I'm sorry, sis," he said, his voice cracking under the weight of his own shame.

Evah's chest tightened. I still have some money... but if I continue to stay unemployed a little longer, I won't have enough to support them. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

Her brother, despite his towering height, was a child at heart. He always tried his best to protect her, even though it felt like she was the one always protecting him. If I become a millionaire, you don't need to work for that company! He had said that once when she had cried over work. His words still rang in her ears, reminding her of how much he cared.

"This should be covered by the company, right? It happened at work," she had asked once, trying to find some semblance of justice.

"They said it was my fault. You know how the system is." His voice, heavy with resignation, confirmed what she already knew—there would be no justice for the working class.

"How much is it?" she asked, her voice low as a deep sense of dread settled in her chest.

"I-it's quite big... 120,000 alz. I promise I'll pay you back!" he said, his voice filled with embarrassment and guilt.

120,000 alz. That was an amount she couldn't even fathom. She made 20,000 alz a month—how could she come up with six times that amount?

She struggled to hold it together, her eyes prickling with tears. "I'll try to send it as soon as I can, just take care of mom. Okay?" Toby's voice was full of guilt, but Evah couldn't let him carry the burden alone.

"I will, take care of yourself always, remember to eat in time an-"

The call ended abruptly. She couldn't handle the long list of reminders right now. She couldn't stop him, much like she couldn't stop her mom from worrying about her.

Where do I get that much money as soon as possible?

The number 120,000 alz repeated in her mind, echoing over and over. Did any company offer that much? She thought back to the interviews she had gone to that morning. Even the biggest company does not offer that much for an entry position. She didn't think any of them had offered that kind of salary, but now she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she had missed something.

The train came to a halt. It was her stop. She stepped off and kept walking, the weight of the day pressing down on her.

Under the hot sun, she walked down a familiar street. Her thoughts were scattered, lost in the maze of her worries, until she found herself standing in front of the building for her next interview.

But then, she paused.

Across the street, she saw it. The Grand Covenant Order Zone 4 Office. The name flashed in her mind like a lightning bolt. A bell rang in her head. She remembered the folder she had been given days ago—the one Erion kept pressing into her hands.

She fumbled in her bag and pulled out the folder. What was it again?

She opened it and found the contact information, her heart sinking as her eyes landed on the number:

120,000 alz / monthly

Position: Chief Assistant to the Head of Innovation

The contract was waiting for her signature.

No, no, no…

Yuka's image popped in her mind. You can help on the study for the antidote. Erion's word seems echoes in her head. Yuka, she won't like this reasoning

She closed her eyes tightly, willing herself to think clearly. But is there any other choice? she asked herself. Was this her only option? The choice between desperation and compromise? The offer was there, right in front of her.

What else could she do?

She stared at the contract, the weight of her decision pressing down on her.