The door opened automatically with a monotonous, mechanical click as a man in his late forties stepped into a white steel corridor. Lights flickered on one after another ahead of him, while the path behind sank back into darkness.
His presence felt suited to a gloomy, secretive underground lab like this. Yes, an almost abandoned lab. He turned right, holding a sheet of paper and a small plastic bag barely big enough to fit in his palm. Soon he reached the end of the corridor, where it split in two and a door stood before him. There were shoes scattered everywhere, making him rub his temples.
He sighed and quietly opened the door.
"Thermo-responsive bioaerosol activation."
A cold mechanical voice stated:
"Do not inhale the smoke within the commanded time."
Violet microbubbles and fog filled the corridor. It smelled faintly like fresh wine, though he covered his nose.
"What is—" He paused as he saw the pink figures standing inside, their coats so stained they might once have been white. The sickly sweet smell made him cough.
"Doctor Haider, long time no see," a well-built man among the hazard-looking scientists said, violet powder dusting his hair.
"What's going on?"
"A welcoming party going wrong".
Doctor Haider coughed before shaking his hand. "What brings you here without notice, Rain?"
Rain cooed, "Mr. Sahara, come here. I brought a new Pokémon, teacher."
Sneezing, a woman with black curly hair stumbled forward. "Hello, sir. Nice to meet you. I'm from the Irquian Research Center of Aerospace and Technology."
"And?"
"And—oh! Yes. I'm also a target of the CIS (Crime Investigation Department of South Sovia) because of my artificial neuron model in recent years."
That sparked Haider's memory. "It was dismissed as blaffery—a product of an unstable mind, I recall. And then you were in some kind of plane crash? Sahara Kizmah, if I remember correctly?"
"Yes, but I survived. Somehow." She lifted her robotic left hand, moving them like a kid with toy, "Mr. Rain got me this. It works surprisingly well."
"Nice to have you here, Doctor Sahara. I am Doctor Haider Sawdem. Welcome to the Null404 Assembly."
Their hands met in a firm handshake.
Outside, a breeze went across the road—one that seemed to be preparing either a storm over the continent of United Leagues, bringing everything upside down. What followed could be a warm spring… or massive plague. It depended on whose side we are on.
_
_
The bike stopped in front of the Deversorium Fortunae. The hotel was owned by the Rhaegon Group—the legal side, to be exact.
Rusś Dan entered with a bright, intentional smile so charming that some of the female employees scratched their necks, blushing.
Deversorium Fortunae was an international hotel, so clients from all over the world— celebrities of the surface and celebrities of the underground alike— came here and coexisted in relative peace for a few days.
Thanks to that, the employees often struggled with overhyped guests, especially on the 7th, 13th, and 20th floors, which were reserved for "exceptional" individuals.
Rusś had important matters to attend to. Usual things. Go in, make the deal, and if the deal failed— well, no. Lady Serena's orders didn't revolve around killing, but it wasn't exactly taboo either.
Today, she had to go to the 13th floor. Entering the lobby, she was once again greeted with a smi—
A bizarre scene.
Normal, but not normal.
A bulky man, at least a head taller than her 180 cm frame, was tossing waiters and staff around like toys.
Huh… she sighed. How do you run a business like this without losing a few brain cells from stress?
She stepped forward, but the elevator door opened and Rain bumped into her.
"You said you'd visit tomorrow," Rain smiled widely.
"Don't be an idiot. It's been a long time since I last saw your drilled face. Got another piercing? Damn… what's going on?" She nodded toward the chaos behind her without saying anything.
"Are they—are they nuts? Where are the guards?"
The two of them stared blankly at the surreal scene. The meat-ball of a man grabbed a female employee by the collar, a woman a head shorter than Rusś.
"Yeah? Say it again? Ye all the same—what's de difference, huh?!"
"Ugh, why do you allow these uncultured idiots to barge in. It's a civilised place?" Rain muttered, irritation sharpening his tone. He stepped forward just as the brute raised his hand to slam, uh no, throw the woman.
"Oh civilised my ass."
Both of them rushed forward and grabbed the woman.
"Are you okay, pretty lady?"
Rusś's voice and subtle smirk died when she noticed a flushed hunk of muscle lying across her lap, growling. She pulled out instantly.
Rain removed his hands, rubbing them on Rusś's back in disgust. The man was dropped onto the floor without further concern. His eyes fixed in front of himl
The woman dusted her arms as if shaking off filth, then smiled politely. "We sincerely apologize that you had to witness such an unpleasant incident, respected sir and madam."
"Rusś", the unusual tone in Rain's voice gave her a bad feeling.
"I feel weird in my stomach."
"What?"
"Feels light."
"That's called getting a crush."
"Is it? How do you know?"
"I feel it too."