Chapter 4

I was still sitting in the park, thinking about it.

I'm trying to find a way out of here ASAP.

Not far from where I was sitting, I saw a group of scientists standing close together.

They looked serious, talking quietly but quickly as if they were discussing something very important.

One of them's got data on his tablet, like special instructions or something more important.

After a few minutes of interaction, they disperse.

Two of them seem to be heading towards the east gate, the same way Kaito and his colleague left earlier with the scientists.

I squint and watch from a distance.

I couldn't stop thinking about what Kaito said about the project that would save the world. I didn't really get what he was saying, but it got me curious.

I got up slowly from my seat.

Quietly, I followed the two scientists from a distance

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After getting past the east gate, I found myself in a wide, unfamiliar, and confusing corridor.

The hallway was long and went off in a bunch of different directions, with signs I didn't really get.

I kept my distance, being careful not to be seen.

After walking for a bit, I saw them about to enter a special corridor behind a big door at the end of the hallway.

I watched from a distance as the two scientists passed through the door.

As soon as the door closed behind them, I took a quick step forward.

It looked like this door had extra security, with a small panel on the side for entering a code or special access card.

Above it was a simple screen lit up in red with the words:

WARNING ACCESS LIMITED - RESTRICTED AREA

"Shit... this ain't your average goddamn door."

I checked the panel for any emergency slots or manual keypads. But the door's security required biometric authentication and a special access card.

I tried messing with the door system, pressing different options on the digital screen, hoping for a glitch or a simple bug. But it was still locked.

"Geez... if I still had my damn hacking gadget, this door would've been open by now," I muttered, feeling a bit annoyed.

I was still in the moment, so I kept working on breaking into the door system.

But then I didn't notice someone behind me.

"Hey, you... What are you doing here…!?"

The deep voice caught me off guard.

I turned around quickly.

It felt like a guy in a white lab coat was standing right behind me, staring intently.

A younger guy, maybe his assistant or colleague, was standing next to him, carrying a lab equipment case.

"And why is a Proxima unit like you wandering around in a restricted zone…?"

"Proxima unit...?"

His words were sharp. They sounded like what the boy Kaito had said earlier.

I quickly responded, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"Oh, sorry... I—I got lost... I thought this was the way back... I tried to go in, but the access was locked."

The scientist narrowed his eyes, studying my face like he was trying to figure out if I was lying.

"Lost, huh?... Where were you before?"

"...A-015, I think. That's the last sector I remember being in..."

He paused for a few seconds, then shook his head slowly.

"Hmm... You look suspicious..."

I had to keep them convinced. It'd be pretty hard for me to get away if they knew what I was up to.

"I was in that sector earlier..."

"I just needed some air, and I ended up in the park. After a while, I remembered that the old man would meet me again, so I hurried back to my room, but..." I ended up here instead..."

The scientist in front of me didn't say a word, then turned to his assistant.

"Hmm... Ketsuki, check the data..."

"Okay, hold on..."

The assistant lifted his tablet and aimed it at my body. The scanner light turned on right away and started scanning my body. I did my best to keep my cool and look neutral.

"Scanning subject..."

I tried to think hard to prepare myself to either attack them or run away if something happened that put me in a tight spot.

Then, not long after, the tablet system beeped softly:

Subject detected: Rinne Eisenhardt

Classification: Secret Project Proteus-X

Status: Semi-active

"Damn...looks like they really made me one of their damn test subject..."

The lead scientist looked a bit annoyed as he read the screen.

"Eisen...? That old project... I thought it had been discontinued years ago. Professor Kurokawa's development unit... it can't be..."

He looked at me again, this time with a sharper gaze than before.

"Ahh... so you were the one behind that mess in the northern sector."

I've got to keep my cool and not do anything rash. For now, I'm trying to remain calm and act normally around them.

"Man, I just woke up from a long sleep, so my Memory's still kinda foggy..."

He stared at me for a long time. His face showed shock when he saw me.

"Hmmm... So that's how it is."

"But Professor Kurokawa isn't assigned to this sector. You're in the wrong place, Eisen..."

Before I could say anything, Ketsuki, the assistant, whispered,

"We can get in touch with Professor Kurokawa... Or... help you get back to the main lobby..."

"No…it's not necessary!" I quickly cut him off, trying to sound calm and firm.

"I'll head back to the park..." I'll wait for the old man there."

The guy in the lab coat gave me a long look, like he was still trying to decide if I was up to the task.

"...Alright. Just be careful. Don't get lost again. This building isn't very welcoming for newcomers."

"Yeah... right."

I nodded and started walking away, pretending to be relieved.

"Hhh...Thank fuck for that"

But this time, my steps felt heavy. I wasn't at ease either.

"Unit... Proxima..."

That wasn't the first time I'd heard that term used to describe me.

Kaito brought it up before. And now they were using it too.

"Could this be why I'm having such a hard time remembering the past clearly?"

"Damn it. Damn corporation..."

I clenched my fists as I walked away from them.

"If I see that old guy again, he's got to tell me the truth this time..."

I looked around, taking in my surroundings.

I tried not to go back. But then I felt like now wasn't the time to back down.

I suddenly stopped.

I had a feeling they were hiding something behind that door. Maybe the answer I'd been looking for was there.

Out of the blue, I had a flash of inspiration.

I quickly turned around and went back to them.

"Hey...!"

I shouted loudly at the two of them.

They both turned around at the same time.

"Sorry, to be honest... I'm not sure how to get back to the park. Can you take me there?"

The man let out a soft sigh and looked at me for a second. Then he turned to his assistant.

"Haha… I knew you'd say that..."

"Ketsuki, take him there. Just make sure he meets Professor Kurokawa. I'll head back to the lab first and bring these things."

"Ah—okay…!"

His assistant shot me a quick look, then kept going.

"Hey, Eisen…follow me. Let's head to the lobby..."

I did as he said and started following him from behind.

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Our footsteps echoed softly in the long, quiet hallway. The man walked briskly, holding a tablet in one hand and glancing at the screen every now and then. He didn't say much.

After a while, I decided to start a conversation.

"Hey, you've been working in this sector for a while, huh?"

He glanced over, then answered briefly.

"Nah, just a few days. Got transferred from the southern sector."

"Hmmm, I see..."

I looked around.

"This place... It's big. Back before I went under, this building didn't look anything like this in my memories."

He nodded.

"Wow, that must feel pretty strange... But you know, this place is now the main headquarters—and the only building still standing in Kuraiomi City."

I nodded slowly, trying to process his words.

"Main headquarters, huh..."

He snorted softly.

"Yeah, we're really grateful to the main office for their help. They let us renovate the place during that crazy disaster."

Damn, my hunch was right this corporation has grown significantly since the last time I knew about it. I can even guess that this damn corporation must have taken over the world.

"O.R.B.B.I.T. huh... where's the main headquarters…?" I asked, sounding a bit curious.

"Hmm... I'm not totally sure. But... I've heard from the higher-ups. They said the main O.R.B.B.I.T. headquarters is on the western continent..."

"Um..."

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Not long after that, I switched gears and changed the subject in a more casual tone.

"Actually, there's one more thing that's been bugging me."

He just muttered under his breath.

"Just ask. If I can answer, I will..."

I sped up to keep up with him.

"Why am I—and some other kids I saw earlier in the park—wearing medical uniforms like this...?" What do you think we are...?"

He looked at me, and his expression changed.

"Hmmm... you...?"

He took a few steps back and didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"You're not patients or prisoners. As you heard earlier, you are... Proxima units."

I looked at him intensely, feeling a lot of hidden anger.

He looked away, avoiding eye contact, and his eyes dropped to the floor.

"It's hard to explain simply... What's clear is that you're a key part of something much bigger..."

"Then... why us?" I finally asked.

He gave a shrug, looking a bit puzzled as he tried to answer.

"I'm not really sure. If you're one of the chosen, it's because you've got something others don't. Courage, endurance, or maybe... because you can do what others can't."

I nodded slowly.

Some of it made sense. But it seemed like there was still a lot he was keeping from me.

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Our footsteps echoed along the long, quiet corridor. A few seconds of silence passed, then I spoke up.

"Hey, pal..." I said suddenly.

"Before we go on, I was hoping to ask you something."

He glanced over, eyebrows raised.

"What else...?"

I looked down a little.

"Hey, there's a bit of a problem... I seriously need to hit the restroom. Like, now. I can't hold it in any longer..."

He looked at me like I had two heads.

"Ha... just hang on. We're almost at the lobby. There are toilets there."

I shook my head quickly.

"Ugh... okay, it's an emergency. Now or... well, it could get embarrassing..."

He let out a deep sigh, clearly not looking forward to it. But finally, he pointed to the corridor turn ahead.

"Tch... Alright, follow me. There's a washtroom at the front corner. Turn right, then go straight. Come on, hurry..."

"Yeah... Thanks pal…"

A few minutes later, we arrived at a door with a small sign:

The washroom is in Zone 3.

He turned to me and leaned against the wall.

"Okay, go in. I'll hang out outside. Don't be long..."

I nodded and went in.

The door opened on its own as I got closer.

I didn't even look back before going inside.

The room was cold and fairly well lit.

The ventilation system hummed softly. The automatic sink lights were dim, and the floor was slippery with condensation from the air conditioning. The row of toilet stalls at the end of the room looked empty—the perfect place to carry out my plan.

I stood in front of the sink, staring at the faint reflection of my face.

"Now or never..."

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"Hey, pal…!" I shouted, loud enough for him to hear.

"There's something wrong here, the sink's still running and I have no idea how to turn it off…!"

A voice from outside interrupted.

"Ugh... Just ignore it! Alright, let's get going. My friend is waiting."

"Yeah, but... this is serious. Water is splashing everywhere. Come here, something's wrong."

After a few seconds of silence.

Then a heavy, annoyed voice.

"Tsk... Oh my Gosh... Alright... I'll check it..."

The door opened again on its own.

He came in and gave me a suspicious look.

And at that moment—

Wham...!!

I spun around super fast, coming at him from the side. I immediately grabbed his neck with my arm, putting on a tight choke hold.

His body went rigid. He raised his hands, trying to pull my arm away, but I had a good grip on him, pressing against his neck.

"E-Eisen... what are you up to...?"

"Ugh... I don't want to do this. But I have no choice… I need to get out of here..."

His body squirmed.

But it was too late. Before I knew it, my grip stopped the blood from flowing to his brain. A few seconds later, he started to lose consciousness.

And as his body started to go limp—

Crack…!!

In just seconds, his body went limp, and he was out.

I caught his body before it hit the floor and carried him to the corner.

I reached into his lab coat pocket without missing a beat. I quickly looked for the access card and ID tablet. I also took off his white lab coat—that was the key to my disguise.

I put them on quickly, adjusting the collar to cover my original medical uniform. The fit was a bit loose, but it was enough to not raise any eyebrows. Before I left, I put his body in the bathroom stall farthest from the door and locked it from the outside.

"Forgive me, pal..."

I quickly stepped out of the bathroom.

We're one step closer to the secret of O.R.B.B.I.T.

...

I went back to the portal door that had been locked before.

I had the access card in my hand and went up to the locked portal door.

Beep...!

The door opened quietly, and I was able to step into the restricted area.

The hallway was quiet. I strolled down the hall until I came across a room that seemed a bit fishy.

As soon as I got in. This room was nothing like I'd imagined.

The place was huge.

There were these huge metal pipes all over the ceiling, and they were releasing steam that hissed gently from the vents.

Near the entrance, a row of monitors displayed data that was pretty much Greek to me. Cameras, vital signs, stabilization readings.

My footsteps echoed. The deeper I went, the stranger the atmosphere felt.

This wasn't your typical lab. It was an experimental facility.

Then I saw them along the sides and center of the room—glass tubes standing in rows.

A blue-green liquid glowed from within, giving the glass a shimmering glow.

At first, I thought they were empty.

But then I took a closer look at one of the tubes.

Dew covered the glass.

I put my hand on it and wiped it off.

And I was surprised to see that—

"Damn it..."

I could clearly see that it was a human body.

Their bodies were floating in the liquid, with small cables attached to their backs and arms. They looked like corpses asleep.

"What the heck is this…?"

I looked over the other tubes in the room.

And sure enough, the others were the same. It's full of human bodies.

Is this an experiment? A world-saving project?

"Damn it all..."

I tried to take it a step further.

Then, behind the glass wall, I saw a moving shadow.

There are the outlines of a few people. Moving quickly. As if they were working.

I could barely hear their voices.

But just as I got to the wall, a scream shook the room.

"Arghhh...!!"

I stepped forward, feeling a bit emotional, to see what was going on.

I opened my eyes really wide.

That boy.

"Kaito...?!"

His body was lying on the operating table.

His head was connected to cables, and his chest was partially open with a biochip module attached. The cables were plugged directly into the big monitor next to him.

A few scientists were standing next to him.

Two more were seen at the main terminal system.

They were programming something into Kaito's body!

"Damn...!

I was there, and I was pretty overwhelmed by it all.

My hands clenched in anger.

"You bastards! What the hell are you doing to this kid…?!" I shouted.

The voice reverberated throughout the room.

Everyone looked over at me. Without wasting any time, I punched one of the people closest to me very hard in the face.

The scientists there were shocked, frozen in place. Some of them immediately backed away, their faces showing panic.

"Who are you...?!... How'd you get into this area?" someone near the control panel shouted.

I didn't respond right away. My breath was heavy.

I pointed at them, fuming.

"Answer my question first, you bastard..."

One of them turned to his colleague. His voice was soft, but I could still hear him just fine.

"Who is he? I've never seen that scientist before...?"

Then someone else joined in from the person sitting in front of the monitor. He looked right at me. His face got all tense.

"Wait... I recognize his face..."

He looked like someone I met at the portal door... Dr. Kurokawa's Proxima unit."

"But why's he wearing our lab coat?!" someone else shouted.

"Gosh, you should still be with Ketsuki. Why are you here? Where's Ketsuki…?"

I gave a little smirk, feeling pretty annoyed.

"Your colleague, huh... I've already disposed of him and I'll do the same to you all..."

One of the scientists snorted, kind of rudely.

"Hmph... So he's Professor Kuro's failed project, huh... What a bummer."

When I heard that, I just couldn't keep my cool.

"You screwed up that project, didn't you? What a damn mess you are…!"

I finished off the people there as quickly as I could.

Crash…!!

The next scientist was thrown into the reaction tube rack, causing glass to shatter and chemical liquid to spray like blood.

Some people there screamed and tried to call the guards.

"Do you think I'm your test subject, hah… you bastards…?"

I went after the people again.

My kick hit one of them from the side, breaking his ribs, and his body crashed into the table.

I didn't stop there.

A female scientist, clearly alarmed, tried to call the guards.

I quickly grabbed her and started choking her. Her eyes widened.

"You call me an experimental project...?"

"You've been messing with my body, putting in chips, and now that I know what you've done to these people..."

Before I could hit her, she looked like she was about to pass out. I let go of her neck right away.

She fell to the floor, coughing like crazy.

Some guy with a gun tried to shoot me from behind.

But he looked like he was about to panic just as he was about to fire.

I heard his faint panic and turned around.

I gave him a look that made him feel a bit uneasy.

He was really hesitant about shooting me.

"You took too damn long..."

I turned around and went over to him.

Before he could fire, I launched a lightning-fast counterattack, grabbing his arm and mercilessly breaking it behind his back.

"Argh..."

I snatched his weapon.

"Enough screwing around in your little hell..."

"Eisen, what the hell are you doing…?!" someone shouted from the main terminal.

"Hey, is your chip broken? Or is there a virus controlling your body...?"

"There's no virus, you bastard... I just want to end this..."

"You've got it all wrong. We're not hurting you or anyone else. This project is humanity's last hope, Eisen. Trust me."

"Yeah, I've heard that crap a hundred times in this damn place..."

The scientist just sighed and kept trying to convince me.

"We're not taking your bodies, Eisen. We're running a program."

I made a show of being annoyed.

"By putting us into barrels... huh...?" Turning us into programs in your server...?"

"Why don't you just do it yourself?"

The scientist didn't say anything for a minute. But there was a hint of frustration in his voice. It looked like he was trapped, and he quickly pulled out a tablet from his pocket.

"Eisen, this is the only way we can reshape the world."

My breath got faster. His wild words really got to me.

Out of the blue,

The system's voice interrupted from the monitor:

"The subject's consciousness upload process has been completed."

I looked over at Kaito.

His body was lying there on the table. His face was pale.

He had his eyes closed. He wasn't moving.

It's like a corpse.

My fists clenched tightly.

I felt this burning feeling all over my body.

"You guys are out of your minds..."

The scientist knew what was about to go down.

He panicked and tapped the emergency tablet in his hand.

"Send the execution unit right away...! There's a red-level anomaly in the experimental lab, and the target is extremely dangerous—"

Too late.

I took my weapon and fired at his chest.

BANG…!!

His body flew backward, crashing into the equipment table.

Blood was dripping down his white lab coat.

"Arghh...!"

He groaned, then fell silent. Just lying there.

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I walked slowly over to the operating table.

I looked at Kaito, feeling guilty.

I put my finger on his neck.

It was too late—there was no pulse.

"Damn it..."

"...Sleep well, boy…"

I took a step back. I'm looking at the room, which is full of people and cables.

But not long after this happened

Out of the blue, the security alarm went off!

"WEEEOOO!!... WEEEOOO!!... WEEEOOO…!"

"Damn it…!"

I've got to get out of here before I end up like them.

I hurried towards the exit.

My eyes got a lot sharper.

And at that moment, I would put an end to this madness.