The morning sun filtered gently through the curtains, casting golden stripes on the wooden floor.
"Kael, wake up!"
Aira's voice broke the silence. She peeked over the top bunk, her long hair tumbling forward.
Kael stirred beneath the blanket, blinking sleep from his eyes. "O-okay... I'm up."
"He's calling you," she said, already hopping off the bed.
Downstairs, Raegal stood in the kitchen, sipping black coffee from a chipped mug.
"Morning, Kael."
Kael stepped in, eyes still heavy. "Morning… Father."
Raegal tossed a cereal box across the room. "Try this. Better than that toothpaste garbage they fed you in the White Room."
Kael caught it mid-air. ChocoBurst.
He poured milk into a bowl, took a bite—and paused.
"...It's good," he muttered.
Raegal gave a rare smile. "Get dressed. Got you some new clothes."
Kael glanced at the table. A plain black hoodie, dark gray shirt, jeans. Simple. Comfortable. Not a hospital gown.
"We're seeing the doctor today," Raegal added.
Kael looked up. "Okay."
Raegal smirked. "And this time… I'm driving."
Kael chuckled under his breath.
Raegal grabbed his coat. "Aira, you coming?"
"Sure!" she beamed, already pulling on her boots.
The three of them stepped into the sunlight. Kael's hair fluttered in the breeze.
For a moment, it almost felt like peace.
---
—Halcyon City, United States. Near Raegal's former agency base—
The black SUV came to a stop outside a discreet concrete facility — windowless, silent, humming with tech.
"Here we are," Raegal said.
Kael yawned, stepping out. "Didn't think I'd be back in a lab this soon."
The door opened.
A man in a white coat stepped out, arms crossed. Late forties. Gray streaks in his beard. Tired eyes.
"Raegal."
"Monroe," Raegal replied.
Monroe's gaze shifted to Kael. "This the boy?"
Raegal nodded. "There's something in his neck. We need it out."
The doctor turned. "Follow me."
---
—Inside the operating room—
Monroe adjusted his glasses, studying Kael's neck.
"Scar tissue. Clean incision. Whoever did this… knew what they were doing."
He tapped a screen. A blinking red dot pulsed near Kael's jugular.
"That it?" Raegal asked.
"Yeah." Monroe's face darkened. "And it's bad."
"How bad?"
"If blood flow spikes — even slightly — the device explodes."
Raegal's fists clenched.
"Can you remove it or not?"
Monroe nodded slowly. "There's a way. But it won't be pretty."
He turned to a panel. The wall slid open, revealing a surgical pod — sleek, silver, glowing faint blue.
"Controlled nano-extraction. But Kael... there's a catch."
"The anesthetic?" Kael guessed.
Monroe nodded. "It risks your blood pressure. Which means—"
"No anesthetic," Kael finished, quiet but steady.
Raegal stepped forward. "No. We'll find another way."
"Father… please," Kael said. Calm. Certain.
Raegal stared at him. His son — resolute. Brave.
"...Alright."
---
—Surgery Begins—
Kael lay inside the pod. Loose straps bound his limbs — just in case.
Monroe stood behind a reinforced screen. The robotic arms descended.
A soft hum filled the room.
Kael's chest rose slowly. Then—
KSHHH.
"UAGHHHHHH!"
A scream tore out of him as the needle pierced flesh, metallic tendrils drilling inward.
His spine arched. Hands clenched the surgical bed.
"HOLD STILL, SON!" Raegal barked, gripping his arm. His voice cracked.
Kael gritted his teeth, blood on his lip.
Every nerve screamed. White-hot pain surged through him.
"Come on, kid," Monroe muttered. "Almost there…"
Aira turned away, hands over her ears.
"I… can… handle it…" Kael rasped.
Then—
CHTUNK.
The transceiver released.
A blinking chip dropped into the tray. Kael went limp.
"Kael?" Aira's voice was soft, barely audible. She peeked over Raegal's shoulder, eyes wide.
"I-I'm… f-fi—"
He collapsed.
---
Kael stirred. White ceiling above. Faint beeping monitors.
Two shapes hovered.
Raegal. Aira.
"W-What... happened?" Kael murmured. His voice was hoarse.
Monroe stepped in, checking readings. "Massive adrenaline surge. You blacked out, but you're stable."
Raegal let out a breath. "Thank God…"
Kael looked up.
He questioned.
"...Am I free now?"
Kael waited.
But nobody answered.
Then, eyes narrowing: "Was I the only one with a transceiver?"
The air turned still.
Monroe hesitated.
Aira answered.
Her voice cracked. "You were their masterpiece, Kael."
His eyes darkened.
"I see."
She touched his wrist gently.
"Don't leave us...please..I-I don't want to lose another one."
Kael blinked. "Another?"
But she was already looking away.
Raegal knelt beside him. "You need rest. You've done enough."
Kael nodded faintly, body sinking into the bed.
"...Let's go home soon."
But somewhere deep in his heart he knew that-
The home he once knew was gone.
Forever.
Silence followed — then sleep claimed him again.
He didn't get any answers.
Maybe he never will.
But in this new silence something stirred.
Something he couldn't outrun.