Project Tempest

Dorian carefully collected the papers from her and stepped away to read.

Subject: Project Tempest – Candidate Confirmation Packet

Candidate Name: Dorian Garnet Mordaine

Reference Code: TEMP-005-GM

Age: 17

Status: Cleared for Entry

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Ms. Kaiser,

This document confirms that Dorian Garnet Mordaine has been successfully registered as a provisional combat cadet under Project Tempest. His application was fast-tracked under Emergency Authorization Protocol following the events at Facility 077. Per our agreement, you have been granted temporary guardianship with observational rights and internal clearance up to Tier-2 within the program's soft zones.

Summary of Assignment:

Role: Adaptive Combat Oversight / Temperament Conditioning Candidate

Designation: Class 4 Sentinel

Access Level: Junior Provisional

Category: Chosen – Volunteer

Evaluation Period: 2 Months (Initial Phase)

Instructors Assigned: Pending

Escort Officer: Mr. Benson (Confirmed)

Note:

Please ensure Dorian is mentally prepared before formal intake. The first orientation session will occur on-site, pending his verbal confirmation. Mr. Benson will return to escort both of you at the appointed time.

Should Dorian choose to decline, notify us immediately and the slot will be reassigned. We look forward to working with the both of you.

—Dr. William Fox, Head of Candidate Evaluation, Project Tempest

Tier 1 Development Authority.

Dorian's eyes widened as he read the letter over and over again till he was sure he wasn't actually seeing things.

"Volunteer," he said slowly, the words coming out from his lips when he read that part again.

He knew what it meant, he would definitely choose, but what he couldn't understand was why they picked him, and how.

Knowing that there were five active running projects, with names even himself couldn't quite remember. 

He could say Nephlim was the worse, and now another facility had eyes on him, and they didn't even run Nephlim but another different project.

Tactical Enhancement and Management Program for Evolved Specimen Training.

The word enhancement alone made him feel uncomfortable, not to mention the meaning itself.

He slowly turned to her, his eyes cold, but his expression said otherwise, falling between anger and sadness.

He muttered, "What exactly is this project about?"

Rose leaned against the table casually, so as to not put him on edge even more. 

"Well, it's a training facility."

His eyes narrowed, but he nodded, giving her the go ahead to continue while he watched her closely.

"Well, it's a training and management facility for children who escaped, were abandoned after failed tests, or were injured in battle, especially those with unique abilities," she paused."They selected you because of your records and even gave clearance before we even started today's plan."

"I never agreed to this," Dorian snapped and his hands trembled slightly. "You said we were done with labs, or being lab rats."

"Dorian," Rose said softly. She could understand how he felt. 

The dread behind his cold glare couldn't even be compared to how terrified he was of labs, but then it was for his own good.

She let out a sigh, "I recommended you when they were searching for new candidates in their new facility outside the walls." 

She stretched her hand toward him, smiling warmly, "You trust me, right? I wouldn't do anything if it only put you in danger."

Dorian stared at her hand blankly, then looked back at the paper and handed it over to her reluctantly, "I'm not going."

"Dorian."

"I don't want to have those synthetic things injected into me again. I don't want to be kept in a glass box, and I definitely do not want to see any scientists…"

"Dorian…"

"What if we go there and they put another collar on me, huh? We can't tell what they're planning, and who knows, maybe they'll make you work for them too."

"Dorian, listen!"

"What!"

Rose took a deep breath and gestured for him to come closer. 

When he did, she placed her hands on his face, "Listen to me, you already being a candidate for Project Nephilim alone is a problem."

"If we leave you out here for too long, and not under the care of another facility, we'd have to run again, or worse, the other facilities running Nephilim will come for you once they hear you aren't under any program."

"Tempest is also a project too. I am not going there." he answered flatly.

Rose sighed. "Don't you want to kill the beasts?"

"I do, but it doesn't mean I have to be under—"

"It doesn't work like that. Unauthorized individuals can't step into zones without identification or permits."

Dorian frowned and averted his gaze, then he murmured, "They'll connect me to tubes again."

Rose smiled. "I promise, if they connect you to tubes and it's dangerous, then I'll tell them to stop."

He finally looked at her, searching for a hint of a lie in her eyes, but it was still the same genuine look she always had when she was talking to him.

He finally sighed and quickly stepped away from her, rubbing his cheeks. "Fine," he raised a finger, "But if anyone crosses the line—"

"You can defend yourself, but don't make a move unless they do. Is that clear?"

Dorian frowned deeply. "What if they stab me?"

"Like that could do anything to you," she scoffed and took out a pen from the bag. 

She signed in the space she was supposed to and tossed the pen to him as well.

Once he had filled all the required spaces, she folded the paper neatly and tucked it back into the envelope.

Then put it in the bag along with the things she removed from it, except for a syringe and a white liquid in a bottle.

"Alright, it should be time for your next dose," she said, stabbing the syringe through the bottle cap and drew out the contents.

Dorian stared at the bottle, reading the label closely until he was sure it was the right one, then he stretched out his hand.

"How long do I have to keep taking this?"

Rose shrugged, carefully placing his arm on the table, "If you stop having attacks, then sure."

"I haven't had any attacks in two days now."

"Yes," she smiled, "because I had to force five bottles of this into your bloodstream last time, and your next attack will probably be when you see the lab."

She tilted her head, "With how you are now, keeping you still will be even harder now, maybe even impossible."

Dorian grinned as he sat on the stool in front of her, watching as she tied his scarf around his upper arm.

"Those attacks can't happen now that I'm like this. No one is going to do anything to me."

Rose nodded, temporarily agreeing with him. 

She flicked the tip of the needle twice and placed it on his skin before raising her head to look at him.

"Ready?"

He nodded, and she pushed the needle into the swollen lines on his skin.

She pressed down on the top and looked up at him, making sure it showed the right signs. 

For a brief moment, everything stood still, until his eyes went completely white, and then returned to normal.

Dorian, however, didn't notice it. He only believed that his vision temporarily went black, like blinking, with a cool sensation beneath his skin.

A small smile found its way to his lips. "I oddly feel good."

Rose laughed, "See? I told you." She tossed the used syringe into the trash can, then got up from the stool and dusted her hands.

"So what do you want for dinner? Rice, porridge, takeouts, or…"

"Waffles and milkshake," Dorian quickly answered without even thinking, and it got her frowning.

"What?"

"You can't have waffles for dinner. You need good food to replenish the blood you lost."

A soft groan left Dorian's lips as he also got up and followed her around the counter to the shelves where they kept food.

He watched her take out the pack of rice, seasoning, and dried fish, fish from the fridge, and a few vegetables before turning to him.

"We'll have spicy chicken soup and rice, and I might need to make something to help with your blood production."

Dorian raised a brow and narrowed his eyes. "A drink for blood? Does that exist?"

She nodded, placing the items on the counter. "I think I have to boil some herbs and other stuff… something rich in iron."

He tilted his head, still very confused about what she was talking about, then he spoke up. "I took a cookbook, maybe what you're looking for is there."

Rose nodded with a smile. "That's smart of you." She reached over to him without sparing him a glance, her gaze still fixed on the items and the stove, then she patted his head.

"Take a shower, then check the drawers in my room and bring the smallest and largest comb you can find."