January 10, 2020. Friday. 07:43 PM
T. Castro, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(The dim, flickering streetlights of the downhill street cast long, distorted shadows across the alleyway where Sus stood, the humid night air clinging to him like a second skin.)
Sus: (internally) (staring blankly at a small, rectangular object in his hand) Oh boy…
(The object appears nondescript, a void of color under the faint urban glow. Yet, as his thumb traces its surface, intricate patterns, almost unnoticeable, rise and fall beneath his touch. They feel like miniature topographic maps, a network of ridges and valleys that seemed to shift and reform with each brush of his skin.)
Sus: (internally) (his gaze unfocused, drifting beyond the object.) Well. I guess this is permanent now.
(The distant hum of jeepney engines, the blare of horns, the indistinguishable chatter of late-night vendors – it all registers, yet none of it truly penetrates the thick fog of his thoughts. Each texture on the object, each faint tremor in the air, seemed to pull him back, unwelcomely, to the events of the past week.)
Sus: (internally) Boss Maria… Rachel… What is happening?
(A hollow ache settled in his chest, a heavy counterpoint to the relentless buzz of the city. He clenched his jaw, the cool, smooth object digging slightly into his palm, as if trying to ground himself in a reality that felt increasingly alien.)
Sus: (internally) (breathing heavily) Wew… And now I'm literally running everyday.
(A bead of sweat, cold and sharp, trickled down his temple, splashing onto the surface of the card. The moisture seemed to momentarily highlight the faint patterns before disappearing into the black.)
Marcus: (calling out from a few paces behind him, a playful smirk in his voice) Already tired, Magno? Your little Sensitive Card won't carry you all the way back to The Metro, you know!
Sus: (turning, a weary grin touching his lips) Give me a break, Marcus. You know I'm not exactly the physical type. My natural habitat is a desk chair, not a marathon route through Cubao.
Marcus: (standing tall with hands on his waist) This is your new office, Magno. And every Sense-Shifter needs stamina. How else are you going to learn Expand?
Suri: (wiggling) I know we're okay with this guy now but he's still a jerk! (inflating)
Sus: (internally) Hey! Haha. Well. We at least know he has good intentions.
Marcus (continues): We've been doing this for three days now, you should be getting used to it. It's important to master using Explore on both your target and the environment.
Sus: (heaving) Yeah yeah yeah. Without stamina, we can't explore. Okay okay. Geez. I was just going to buy an energy drink.
Marcus: (eyebrows crossing) What?! You don't need that sugar-flavored drink! Just have water!
Sus: (internally) C'mon, Kevin. Wake up please?
(Sus slumps onto the curb near a brightly lit drugstore, uncapping a bottle of water. The plastic crinkles faintly in the humid air. He takes a long, desperate gulp, the cool liquid a bland wash over his tongue.)
Sus: (annoyed) A drink... supposed to be refreshing. Tastes like absolutely nothing.
Marcus: (taking a swig from his own water bottle, a faint chuckle in his voice) That's how you know you're not a high-level Taste-Shifter, Magno. For them, even plain old water can be exciting.
Sus: (wiping his mouth with the back of his hand) Oh yeah? Because they can use Explore while drinking water?
Marcus: (nodding, leaning against the wall beside Sus) Exactly. From Extract – pulling the raw data from the matter, then Explore to make sense of it. But it's different depending on what you're... tasting, or hearing, or seeing.
Suri: (floating around Sus's head, shimmering with curiosity) Oh! The memories!
Sus: (confused) Depending on what?
Marcus: (taking another sip of water) Think of it this way: when you're Exploring something that's alive – like a person, or even a plant – you're dealing with Active Memories.
Sus: (frowning slightly) Active? So, like, their heartbeat, or if they're nervous, like that kid we caught?
Marcus: (snapping his fingers) Precisely. Active Memories are dynamic. They're subjective, colored by the living being's emotions, biases, their very perception of reality at that moment.
Sus: (nodding) So that's why Kevin's so good at influencing people? He reads their emotional states, their active memories, and then he works with them.
Suri: (wiggling excitedly) They're easier to hear because they're always moving! So much energy!
Sus: (internally) Yeah, definitely easier than the walls. (to Marcus) So what's the other kind, then?
Marcus: Passive Memories. That's what you were trying to Extract from the school walls and the ground the other day. These come from non-living objects – a street sign, a building, the asphalt beneath our feet. They're more objective, like a recording of events that happened to them.
Sus: (eyes widening) So, when I was listening to the street signs tell us where to run... that was Passive?
Marcus: (nodding slowly) Exactly. They hold the "facts" of what they've witnessed, but without the emotional filter of a living being. They're harder to detect, take more energy, and they fade faster. You were really pushing it trying to Extract while running.
Sus: (shudders) Tell me about it. Still felt like I ran a whole day. So Active is easier to get, but Passive gives you the 'facts.'
Marcus: You're getting it, Magno. Now, not all Passive Memories are created equal. Take music, for example, especially recorded audio. To a Sound-Shifter, it's not just objective sound waves. When you Explore a recorded track, it can bring you into entirely different experiences.
Sus: Hmm… Music…
Marcus: (continues) You're not just hearing the sound; you're tapping into the molecular memories of those who created or performed it – their emotions, their intent.
Sus: (fascinated) So like... listening to a song could be like reliving someone else's memory? Or feeling their emotion?
Marcus: (a rare, genuine nod) Precisely. You can even say that making music is a form of Expand technique, influencing others' perceptions through curated sound.
Sus: And I need to master Explore before I can use Expand?
Marcus: To be more accurate, Expand can only be possible with Explore.
Sus: (staring at his Sensitive Card) And I need to Extract as much Molecular Memories as I can to make Explore more effective…
Marcus: (nodding) Yes, that's how you can combine both your memories and their memories to create new experiences. Good Expand techniques can affect both our minds and our bodies.
Sus: (breathing deeply) Okay okay. I'll train harder, Marcus. I will find Boss Maria.
Suri: (floating over Sus's shoulder) We can do this, Sus.
Marcus: (tapping Sus's shoulder) Don't do anything drastic, Magno. Other Enforcers are already on their way to our district. This will be sorted out. Just focus on training, okay?
Sus: (looking sideways) I just… I just… I hope we get back to whatever normal was.
Marcus: (scratching his head) To be honest, I'm just as confused as you are. Hernandez is one of the most loyal Sensitives to The Council. Things aren't adding up.
Sus: She's our leader…
Marcus: Trust the system, Magno. Master the fundamentals. You'll be great.
Sus: (scoffs) What? Haha. I'll be great? What the hell are you talking about?
Marcus: (seriously) What? Because you can absorb enormous amounts of Molecular Memories! Didn't Hernandez tell you about your test results?
Sus: (steps back in surprise) What?! No. I'm just hearing this now. I never got the results of my test so I thought they were… You know… Just okay.
Suri: (spinning around Sus) Wow! Wow! This explains a lot, Sus!
Marcus: (scratching his head) Hmm. I'll send it to your email. We don't know why or how yet, but your body seems to be able to absorb more amounts of memories than the average Sensitive.
Sus: (looking at Marcus) What does this mean, Marcus? Am I in trouble?
Suri: (bumping Sus) That's probably why you were able to perform Extract and Explore without proper training.
Marcus: (smiling) You're not in trouble, Magno. Your threshold for Sensory Overload seems higher than many. We still have to confirm, but that is very rare.
Sus: … I don't really understand.
Marcus: (calming Sus down) We will all soon, Magno. For now, don't overdo it. Practice one step at a time. And of course, you know this, your techniques won't really matter if you don't have stamina so…
Sus: (rolls eyes) I know. I know. Geez. Okay okay. I'm gonna run now!
Marcus: (drinks his water and starts jogging again) Let's go! Five more kilometers!
Sus: Five?!
January 11, 2020. Saturday. 07:12 AM
J.P. Rizal, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(The hospital canteen hums with a sterile, subdued energy. The fluorescent lights cast a pale glow on the few early morning visitors. Sus and Tara sit at a small, circular table, two cups of lukewarm coffee steaming between them.)
Visitor's Phone: (video of news report) …in other news: Alert Level 1 remains in effect over Taal Volcano…
Sus: (internally) (irked) I guess headphones are not necessary for these people.
(The air, though devoid of the usual hospital tang, carries a subtle undercurrent of sorrow, a weight that presses down on every hushed conversation.)
Sus: (taking a sip, then making a face) This coffee... Kevin would have a field day. Definitely wouldn't pass his 'Sagada roast' standards.
Tara: (a soft, almost melancholic laugh escaping her lips, her eyes finding his) He'd probably insist on brewing his own right here in the room. You know how he is.
(A comfortable silence settles, laced with the unspoken acknowledgment of Kevin's absence.)
Sus: (looks sideways) Kevin…
(Tara's gaze lingers on Sus for a moment, a faint, almost unseen warmth in her eyes. Sus feels a subtle shift in the air between them, but he quickly averts his gaze, a faint blush creeping up his neck.)
Tara: Thank you for coming by, Sus. Really. It means a lot to me, and I know it would to Kevin too, having you here.
Sus: (clearing his throat) Of course, Tara. He's... he's my best friend. I just... I wish there was more we could do. It's been days already, and he's still...
(His voice trails off, the image of Kevin's still form in the hospital bed flashing in his mind. The worry, a cold knot in his stomach, tightens further.)
Sus: (continuing, his voice laced with frustration) And the only real clue we had, Jordan's Expansion Amplifier, Boss Maria has it and…
Tara: (her smile fading, replaced by a deep concern that mirrors his own) I know. It's... unsettling. Every day feels like a lifetime when he's like this. And now Maria and Rachel are nowhere to be found.
(Sus nods, his gaze hardening. A splash of silence wraps him and Tara.)
Visitor's Phone: (video of news report) …The public, however, is reminded that the Main Crater should be strictly off-limits because sudden steam explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.
Sus: (internally) No. I can't just sit here and wait. Not when Kevin's on the line. I need to find Boss Maria. And Rachel. I need to know what they found. I have to do this myself.
Suri: (flickering nervously beside him, its light pulsing erratically) Sus! Are you sure about this? Be careful!
(Sus walks down a sterile hospital corridor. He approaches a large, frosted glass door with the name "Dr. Tito Tuazon - Head of Sensory Trauma" etched onto it. He knocks hesitantly.)
Dr. Tuazon: (from inside, voice muffled) Come in.
(Sus pushes the door open. Dr. Tuazon is hunched over a microscope, the harsh glow illuminating his neatly trimmed mustache.
Dr. Tuazon's Phone: (video playing) …high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.
(The office is meticulous, filled with anatomical charts and complex diagrams of the human ear and brain. It carries the faint, precise hum of medical machinery and the distant murmur of hushed conversations from other rooms.)
Sus: (clearing his throat, stepping inside) Good morning, Dr. Tuazon.
Dr. Tuazon: (without looking up) Mr. Magno. To what do I owe this… unscheduled visit?
Sus: (pulling out his Sensitive Card, holding it up proudly) Well, I, uh… I just got this. My Sensitive Card. I wanted to show you. And, uhm, ask about Kevin.
(Dr. Tuazon finally looks up, his sharp eyes instantly spotting the card. He straightens, a flicker of approval in his gaze, before a familiar sternness settles back on his face. He takes the card from Sus, examining it with a critical eye.)
Dr. Tuazon: (turning the card over in his hands, his touch precise) Ah. So you're finally registered. Good. Keep this safe at all times, Mr. Magno. It's more important than you realize.
Sus: (internally) It's just… a black card.
Dr. Tuazon: (continues, his tone shifting into a didactic lecture) This isn't just an ID, Mr. Magno. This is your Sensitive Imprint. It's a bio-and-mental scan, a unique record of your abilities, your energy signature.
Sus: (internally) Right… They did put me through a lot of machines while processing this.
Dr. Tuazon: Every registered Sensitive has one. It's how the Council tracks our kind, assesses our gifts, and ensures… accountability.
Suri: (wiggling excitedly around Sus, its light pulsing faintly) Oh! So it's like our fingerprint for the Sensitive world!
Sus: So… The Council should be able to track anyone of us, right?
Dr. Tuazon: (handing the card back to Sus, his expression darkening slightly) Supposedly. Yet now… Certain individuals are… untraceable.
Sus: (looking sideways) I'm not really sure what is happening, Dr. Tito. Boss Maria and Rachel are good people.
Dr. Tuazon: Yet their cards cannot be located by the Council and they're nowhere to be found. Either they've destroyed them, which is a severe violation, or… they've found a way to override their imprints.
Sus: (internally) Override?
Dr. Tuazon: (pauses for breath) It should be impossible.
(Sus's heart sinks. The words "impossible" echo in his mind, confirming his worst fears.)
Sus: (worried) But… But why would they even do this? I've known them since I got to Metro. It doesn't add up.
Dr. Tuazon: Indeed, it doesn't. And it certainly doesn't help Kevin's situation. We desperately need the Expansion Amplifier used against him.
Suri: (deflating in fear) Kevin!
Dr. Tuazon: Knowing how that weapon works is crucial. It could lead to identifying, or even reverse-engineering, the specific and amplified frequency that caused his barotrauma. Without it, Kevin's full recovery remains… uncertain.
Sus: (staring at Dr. Tuazon's table blankly) Why is this happening?
Dr. Tuazon: (his voice tight with a mixture of anger and shame) Why, indeed. Rachel… my own daughter. A Scent Sensitive from a lineage of healers and researchers.
Suri: (floating left side of Sus) Tuazon family's really a long line of pros, huh?
Dr. Tuazon: Her ancestors, recognized for their contributions to public health, to medicine, their names etched in the annals of the Sensitive Council for generations of honorable service. And she… she throws it all away. To follow that woman.
(He shakes his head, a deep sigh escaping him.)
Sus: (internally) I followed that woman too…
Dr. Tuazon: It brings great shame to our family name, Mr. Magno.
Sus: …
Dr. Tuazon: Our family, recognized globally for breakthroughs in sensory medicine, for lives saved, for contributions that honor our gifts. And Rachel chooses… this.
Sus: I will find them, Dr. Tito.
Dr. Tuazon: (dismissive) Why even bother, Mr. Magno. Aside from you not having the skills to do so. It may be for the best if Rachel just disappears. One time she becomes noticed and this is what she does. (shaking his head again)
(Sus looks at the Sensitive Card in his hand, then back at Dr. Tuazon.)
Sus: (internally) Kevin…
(Sus stands outside Kevin's private hospital room. The door is ajar, a sliver of muted light escaping into the hushed corridor. The rhythmic beep... beep... beep of a medical monitor is the only sound, a stark, unsettling counterpoint to the silence.)
Sus: (internally) (he takes a deep, shaky breath, the sterile hospital air doing little to calm his racing heart.) This is it.
Suri: (floating close beside him, its light dim and flickering with apprehension) Sus… This sound. It feels... broken.
(Sus pushes the door open slowly, stepping into the room. The blinds are drawn, casting the space in a somber twilight.)
Sus: …
(Kevin lies motionless in the bed, a network of wires and tubes connecting him to various machines. His face is pale, a stark contrast to the vibrant energy Sus usually associates with him. The silence in the room is heavy, punctuated only by the relentless beep... beep... beep.)
Sus: (whispering, his voice thick with emotion) Kev...
(He walks closer, his footsteps muffled by the soft carpet. He reaches out, his hand hovering over Kevin's arm, unable to bring himself to touch. The sight of his best friend, so still, so vulnerable, sends a fresh wave of worry crashing over him.)
Sus: (internally) It's been too long. Why isn't he waking up? What if... what if he doesn't?
Suri: (its form trembling slightly) He feels so... quiet, Sus. Like a song that stopped playing.
Sus: (internally) We need to help him. But how? Boss Maria and Rachel are gone, the Amplifier is with them... I have no leads, no idea where to even start looking. All I have...
(His gaze falls on Kevin's still hand, resting on the white sheet.)
Sus: (internally) All I have are Kevin's memories.
Suri: Sus... we can Explore him! We can delve into his memories. Maybe… It… It could lead us somewhere. We have to try.
Sus: (hesitates, pulling his hand back from Kevin's arm, his eyes fixed on Kevin's face) But… he's unaware, Suri. We can't just… invade his mind.
Suri: (swirling nervously, its light pulsing erratically) He's unconscious, Sus. His mind isn't probably filtering.
Sus: (still staring at Kevin, a flicker of fear in his eyes) Won't that mean memories can be erratic then? Like a broken record?
Suri: (its form steadying slightly, a calm returning to its voice) Raw. Pure. His active memories might be less influenced by waking emotions. A more direct record. This may lead you forward!
Sus: (internally) (his eyes closing in concentration) Okay. Explore. First, I need to focus. Like Marcus said, I can absorb enormous amounts of molecular memories. So, I need to extract everything I can from Kevin. Then, I analyze it, make sense of the fragments... experience them.
Suri: (its light brightening, swirling around Sus with renewed vigor) We will do this, Sus! Together! I'll be your anchor.
(Sus takes a deep, shuddering breath, the faint hum of the machines in the room seeming to recede. He reaches a trembling hand towards his noise-canceling headphones, preparing to take them off and plunge his senses into the unknown.)
Sus: (internally) Okay. Let's see if my training works.
(Just as his fingers brush the earpiece, the door creaks open with a soft sigh. Tara stands in the doorway, a small bag clutched in her hand, her eyes wide with surprise as she sees Sus.)
Tara: (whispering) Sus?
Sus: (gasps, startled, his hand freezing mid-air) Tara!
Tara: (her voice hushed, closing the door behind her) Sus! What are you doing here? I thought you left.
Sus: (his breath catching) I… I couldn't. I had to come back. I need to find a way to help Kevin. And to find Boss Maria and Rachel.
Tara: (her brow furrowed with concern) Help him? What were you about to do?
Sus: (gesturing vaguely towards Kevin) I was going to… Explore him. Delve into his memories. It's the only way I can think of to find out what happened, or where Boss Maria went with the Amplifier. Why haven't you, Tara? You're a Sensitive too. You could help.
Tara: (a sad smile touching her lips) Sus… I don't practice Sense-Shifting. Not all Sensitives do, you know.
(She approaches him slowly and takes his hands in hers, her touch warm and firm)
Tara: We're born with the gift, yes, but many choose to live… normal lives.
(Sus stares at her, surprised. He had simply assumed everyone used their abilities, especially Kevin's wife.)
Sus: (internally) So… Not everyone's required to Sense-Shift?
Tara: Away from the Council's duties, away from the dangers.
Sus: (looking sideways) I… I understand, Tara.
Tara: The Council called me. They said Enforcers are already en route to conduct an Explore on Kevin.
Sus: Yeah. Marcus told me last night.
Tara: (her grip tightening, her voice dropping to a near whisper) But honestly, Sus… right now, I don't know who to really trust. You should try.
(Tara's words hang in the air, a heavy mantle of trust. Sus looks from her determined face to Kevin's still form, the rhythmic beep of the monitor a stark reminder of the urgency.)
Sus: Okay, Tara. As long as you're here.
(He takes a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm the frantic drumbeat of his own heart. The scent of antiseptic in the room suddenly seems sharper, the distant hum of machinery more pronounced.)
Suri: (its light flickering with nervous excitement) Good thing you just had coffee, Sus!
(Tara moves with a quiet swiftness, her gaze firm. She walks to the door and with a soft click, locks it, then turns to face Sus, a silent promise in her eyes.)
Tara: (her voice barely a whisper) I've got you covered, Sus.
(Sus nods, a silent acknowledgment. He reaches up, his fingers trembling slightly as he unhooks his noise-canceling headphones.
Sus: (internally) Here we go.
(The world crashes in – the sharp beep of the monitor, the faint whir of the IV pump, the almost unnoticeable creak of the hospital bed. It's an overwhelming tide, but he forces himself to focus, drawing on the lessons from Marcus's training.)
Sus: (internally) Focus. Just focus.
(He closes his eyes, extending his senses towards Kevin. Suri flares with light, a vibrant beacon in the dim room, and then surges forward, a shimmering orb hovering over Kevin's chest.)
Suri: (its voice a soft, resonant hum, addressing Kevin's body) Hello, Heart. Tell us your story.
(A faint, erratic thump responds, a weak echo of Kevin's usual powerful beat. Suri's light dips and swirls, absorbing the subtle vibrations.)
Suri: (moving lower, its voice a gentle inquiry) Lungs… what do you remember?
(A shallow, almost silent hiss-gasp answers, the faint whisper of strained air movement. Sus feels a pull, a strange resonance in his own chest, and he forces himself to breathe deeply, anchoring his focus.)
Suri: (then hovering over Kevin's face) And you, little Nose. What have you perceived?
(A faint, almost indistinguishable whiff of something metallic and sharp, then a dull, cloying sweetness, filters into Sus's awareness. Suri brightens, pulsating rapidly as it absorbs the incoming data.)
Sus: (internally, a flicker of fascination cutting through his worry) We're... we're extracting from everything. Not just the heartbeat. This is different. And I'm not gasping for air anymore.
Suri: (its voice firm, pulling him back to the task) Focus, Sus! We're getting a lot! But we need to conserve energy for the Explore! Let's keep moving!
Sus: (internally) Right. Sorry, Suri.
(He takes another deep, slow breath, letting the steady rhythm ground him. His eyes flick open, meeting Tara's. She offers a faint, reassuring smile. He closes his eyes again, picturing Kevin's familiar grin, the thought a tiny anchor in the swirling chaos of his mind.)
Suri: (its glow intensifying, swirling faster around Sus) We are ready to Explore, Sus! We have extracted a significant amount of memories!
Sus: (his voice low, a tremor of anticipation in it) I'm ready, Kev. I'm listening.
(As Sus slowly exhales, his trembling hand finally settles on Kevin's forearm. The moment his skin makes contact, a surge of overwhelming sensory input engulfs him.)
Sus: (internally) Whoa.
(The muted twilight of the hospital room shatters. The solid hospital bed flickers, its white frame glitching into transparent lines, then reforming, only to distort again.)
Suri: (glowing brighter) Here we go!
(The medical machines, with their precise beeping, warp and stretch, their digital displays dissolving into streaks of vibrant, chaotic light. The very air around them thrums with an intense, disorienting vibration, pulling at Sus's perception like a strong current.)
Sus: (internally) How far are we going to Explore, Suri?
(The floor beneath his feet seems to melt away, replaced by a dizzying vortex of swirling patterns. He feels a profound sense of detachment, as if his body is being stretched thin across time and space, pulled both backwards and inwards simultaneously.)
Suri: (inflating and glowing) Kevin will show us, Sus.
(The only constant is Suri, its light a brilliant, unwavering core in the eye of the storm, tethering him to the overwhelming journey into Kevin's subconscious.)
Sus: (internally) Lead us, Kev…
(The swirling vortex of light and sound abruptly snaps into focus, but the edges of reality remain frayed. Sus finds himself standing in an office, familiar yet subtly wrong.)
November 12, 2018. Monday. 09:47 AM
Metro Center, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(The crisp lines of the cubicles occasionally shimmer, and the fluorescent lights above flicker with a buzz-pop that feels like a skipped beat.)
Sus: (internally) We're here…
(The air carries the faint scent of new carpet and stale coffee. Kevin is there, a little younger, his hair a little messier, a wide, excited grin plastered across his face as he talks animatedly into his phone.)
Kevin: (into phone, voice bright) You wouldn't believe it, darling! First day back from that retreat and guess who just joined Metro?
Tara: (from the phone) (laughing) Oh yeah? What? You have a new bro now?
Kevin: (smiling) This new guy, Sus. Yeah, S-U-S. Sounds weird, right? But he's seriously good. Super polite, really sharp. Total finance whiz. I think we're gonna get along great!
Suri: (a faint, almost inaudible crackle in its voice, its form flickering at the periphery of Sus's vision) The memories... they're not fully rendered. Stay focused, Sus.
Kevin: (still beaming into the phone) Yeah, exactly! Someone who actually appreciates a good strong brew! He even said he likes Sagada coffee, can you believe it?
Sus: (internally) Hm… My first day at The Metro…
Tara: (from the phone) Wow! Tell me more about it when you get home. You should invite him sometime to have Kare Kare with us.
Kevin: We're totally hitting up that new cafe downstairs later. Or maybe just stick to my special stash, haha. You know the one.
(The desk lamp on Kevin's table briefly stretches into a thin, distorted line, then snaps back to normal. The cheerful murmur of distant office chatter suddenly cuts out, replaced by a hollow whoosh, before clicking back on, slightly out of sync.)
Kevin: (suddenly pausing, his attention drawn to a sharp, insistent knocking at his office door) Hold on a sec, honey. Someone's here.
Sus: (internally) (freezes) What the hell, Suri?! Can they see us now?
Suri: (spinning in panic) What?! I don't know! What??
(Kevin lowers the phone slightly, a hint of annoyance crossing his face. The office door, a solid oak panel a moment ago, briefly phases into a transparent outline before solidifying again. Marcus stands on the other side, his posture rigid, holding a sleek, sealed briefcase.)
Marcus: (voice firm) Hey, Chen. They sent the upgrades.
(Marcus strides past the invisible Sus, his form shimmering slightly as he clips through Sus's perceived space. Sus involuntarily flinches back, a relief crawls over him when he realizes he truly cannot be seen or heard within the memory.)
Sus: (internally) Phew! Why was I even nervous?
Suri: (its spinning slows, deflating slightly) Oh, thank goodness! I almost had a meltdown!
Kevin: (to Marcus) (sighs) Upgrades? Marcus, man, do we really need this new gear? You and I have been rigorously training since we were kids. We're top-notch. What's the point of testing this so early?
Marcus: (shrugging, unsealing the briefcase with a click) Council orders, Chen. Apparently, Ms. Ahmed is pushing for rapid deployment. These aren't just your average headphones, you know.
(Marcus pulls out a pair of sleek, dark headphones. Their polished surface gleams faintly, adorned with a bold, angular 'M' logo that seems to cut into the material itself, giving it a surprisingly professional, almost industrial feel.)
Kevin: (raising an eyebrow) Oh yeah? What's so special about them?
Marcus: (a rare hint of genuine interest in his voice) They've got precise sound filtering features. Means a Sound Sensitive can isolate specific frequencies, or even entire ranges, and block out the rest.
Sus: (internally, a sudden, chilling realization dawning on him) The headphones... the noise-canceling headphones.
Marcus: (continues) Makes Extracting way more efficient, especially when you're out there in the chaos of the city. You won't have to absorb everything you hear.
Kevin: (nodding thoughtfully) Hmm. More efficiency… that could definitely enhance our Explore and Expand techniques. Yara really wants to strengthen the Sound-Shifter Enforcers, huh? (scratches his head.)
Marcus: (shaking his head) Yeah, but I don't know, Chen. Going out on patrol wearing these things? Looks juvenile, doesn't it?
Kevin: (chuckles, a wide grin returning to his face) You got a point there, bro. Definitely not the most intimidating look.
Sus: (internally) They're not just noise-canceling. They're Sound-Shifter gear.
Suri: (its light flickering with understanding) We should learn how to use it, Sus!
Sus: (internally) Wait. Maybe they'll talk about how to use it.
(Marcus takes the headphones from the briefcase and, with a flourish, puts them over his own head. He adjusts them, a slight frown on his face as he looks at Kevin.)
Marcus: (voice muffled slightly) There's only one unit for now. I'll leave this with you, Chen.
Kevin: (bursting into laughter, covering his mouth to hide his mirth) Bro! Hahaha! You look ridiculous! Seriously? That's what we're supposed to wear? You look like you're about to drop a very normal beat on a street corner, not apprehend a Sense-Stealer!
Sus: (internally) (a wave of awkwardness washing over him) Oh god. I wear these all day.
Suri: (giggles, its light swirling wildly) He doesn't know! He doesn't know!
(Just as Sus expects Marcus to launch into a detailed explanation of the headphones' mechanics, the memory around them begins to warp again, violently this time.)
Sus: (surprised) What the hey?
(The office walls ripple like disturbed water, stretching and compressing in impossible angles. The fluorescent lights above flicker rapidly, not with a simple buzz-pop, but with blinding flashes of pure white and absolute black.
Suri: (looking around) Kevin's memories are shifting! Brace yourself, Sus!
(The cheerful murmur of office chatter contorts into a distorted, garbled scream, then plunges into an echoing silence. Kevin and Marcus, mid-sentence, freeze, their forms pixelating into a cascade of vibrant, geometric shapes before dissolving into a swirling vortex of fragmented colors and echoing noise.)
Sus: (internally) A little too late for that, Suri! It's happening!
(The chaotic swirl of glitches and fractured reality snaps back into a coherent, yet distinctly altered, scene. The lighting is soft and diffused, imbued with a warm, slightly faded golden-hour glow.)
July 26, 1999. Monday. 04:00 PM
Boni Serrano, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(Colors are vibrant but slightly oversaturated, and the sounds carry a faint, almost nostalgic echo. Sus finds himself standing in a meticulously manicured garden, bursting with lush greenery and blooming flowers. The air smells of freshly cut grass and damp earth.)
Sus: (internally, blinking, adjusting to the shift) This looks familiar but… Different.
Suri: (its form shimmering, its light a steady, reassuring pulse) Further back, Sus! But it's still unstable. Look!
(In the center of the garden, a younger Kevin, perhaps only ten or eleven, sits cross-legged on a patch of grass, his brow furrowed in intense concentration. He holds a small, wooden whistle to his lips. Opposite him, perched on an ornate birdcage, is a fluffy white rabbit, its nose twitching nervously, its tiny heart audibly thumping at an anxious rhythm.)
Unknown Woman: Remember, little one.
Sus: (internal) Who?
(A calm, resonant voice, belonging to an elderly Chinese-Filipino woman with serene eyes and a knowing smile. She's dressed in daily workout garb, her movements graceful. Her form occasionally flickers, briefly superimposed with abstract geometric patterns, before settling back.)
Young Kevin: Yes, Master. I will never forget.
Kevin's Master: The essence of Expand is not just about being heard or felt. It is about understanding resonance.
Sus: (internally) Oh… Is that Kevin's… Hmm? I never really met her.
(She gestures towards the rabbit with a delicate hand, her movements occasionally freezing for a split second, then resuming.)
Kevin's Master: You must Extract. Collect the Active Memories from our furry friend – its fear, its stress, the rapid pulse of its tiny heart.
Suri: (swirling over the rabbit) Extracting from an animal… Amazing!
Young Kevin: (continues) And from the environment, gather the Passive Memories – the stillness of the air, the gentle rustle of the leaves, the peace of this garden.
(The leaves on a nearby bush briefly stretch, warping into pixelated squares before snapping back into natural form.)
Kevin's Master: (smiling) Correct. Bright as always, you are. Then, Explore. Find the relevant information. What sound, what frequency, what melody, did it associate with calm? With safety?
Young Kevin: (smiling back) This is why I practiced my whistles, right? In all their varied frequencies and volumes, since I was small.
Sus: (internally) Kevin was training to Expand this young? Wow.
(The sound of Kevin's whistle briefly distorts into a low, almost digital fizz, then reasserts itself.)
Kevin's Master: When you find that combination of sounds, that precise resonance that triggers its deepest calming memories, then, and only then, will you successfully execute
Young Kevin: …the Serene Serenade Expansion Technique.
Kevin's Master: Okay, then. Anytime, you're ready, my only…
(Just as Young Kevin is about to demonstrate, the memory around them shudders violently. The serene garden fragments, breaking into shards of vibrant color that stretch and snap.)
Sus: (internal) Okay what now?
(The nostalgic sounds warp into a frantic, high-pitched whine, followed by a deeper, guttural rumble. It's faster, more chaotic than before, pulling Sus and Suri in multiple directions at once.)
Suri: (its light flickering desperately, its form elongating and contracting) Sus! It's because Kevin is unstable! His memories... they're too fragmented!
Sus: (internally) (his voice tight with alarm, feeling a dizzying nausea churn in his gut) Is this hurting him?! We need to stop! This is the last trip, Suri!
(The chaotic storm of light and sound intensifies, violently tossing them through disjointed flashes of time – a fleeting glimpse of Metro's lobby, then a blurred image of Kevin's hospital room, then a blinding white light.)
Sus: (internally) Kevin… Let me help you. Please.
(Suddenly, with a sharp crack and a sickening lurch, everything solidifies. The frantic glares of color fade, replaced by a suffocating, inky darkness.)
February 02, 2019. Saturday. 01:00 AM
Unknown Warehouse, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(The air is thick, stagnant, heavy with the metallic tang of old rust and the cloying sweetness of decay. A low, continuous thrum, almost below the threshold of hearing, vibrates through the very ground.)
Sus: (internally) What is this place?
(Sus can't see anything, but the sound wraps around him, ominous and vast. It's the kind of silence that isn't truly silent, but rather a void filled with suppressed, lurking noise.)
Suri: (floating slowly) Have we been here before?
(From somewhere in the oppressive darkness, a faint, rhythmic clink... click... whir echoes, like forgotten machinery awakening. The memory feels colder than the others, pregnant with a foreboding stillness.)
Sus: (internally) I'm not sure. But this looks sketchy.
(A faint, almost translucent glow illuminates a figure huddled behind a towering stack of metal shelves.)
Sus: (internally) Kev.
(It's Kevin, wearing his usual semi-formal attire with his crucifix, his face etched with a familiar intensity as he whispers into a phone. His form shimmers slightly, a tell-tale sign of the memory's instability.)
Suri: (its light brightening with recognition) He seems to be on a mission.
Kevin: (into phone, voice low and urgent) Rachel, I'm in position. I found it. An old warehouse, rented by ALAP Inc. What we suspected as a hideout for The Cloud.
Sus: (internally, a jolt of recognition) I read about that in the financial reports! A leased warehouse...
Rachel: (from the phone, voice slightly tinny) Good! This could be our chance to finally figure out what The Cloud is up to. And if they're behind these recent Sense-Stealer appearances in the district.
Kevin: (nods grimly) Yes, Rach. That's exactly what we talked about during the briefing. Why are you repeating it now?
Rachel: (a faint, teasing note in her voice) Dad will finally be very proud, you know. Imagine.
Kevin: (a quick, sharp sigh) Rach, this isn't the time. Just... be ready.
Sus: (internally) She's really going there, huh?
Kevin: (continues, voice firm) I'm going to do a quick Extract and Explore in the area. Get as much as I can, then get out.
Suri: (pulsating with anticipation) He's going to Explore!
(Kevin brings a hand to his ear, his eyes closing in concentration, preparing to Focus. The faint clink... click... whir of the unseen machinery in the warehouse seems to intensify, drawing his attention.)
Kevin: (inhales deeply) Here we go.
(Then, a new sound cuts through the ambient hum – a distinct, heavy thud. Followed by a softer, rhythmic scrape... scrape... scrape of something being dragged across the concrete floor, growing steadily closer.)
Sus: (internally) (surprised) Who's that?
(The rhythmic scraping grows louder, echoing unnervingly in the vast, dark space. Dust motes dance in the thin, fractured beams of moonlight filtering through grimy skylights, swirling around unseen obstacles.)
Suri: (its light dimming, clinging closer to Sus) Sus… I don't like this. It's too quiet. And too loud at the same time.
(The air, already heavy, seems to press down, making each of Sus's internal breaths feel shallow.)
Sus: (internally) Who could be here at this hour? Another Sense-Stealer?
(Shadows lengthen and contort, playing tricks on the edges of his vision. Every creak of metal, every distant drip of water, seems amplified.)
Kevin: (internally) Damn it. Too fast. Didn't hear them approach.
Sus: (surprised) Right… We can hear his thoughts too…
Suri: (floating a bit closer to Kevin) Because we're in his memories!
Kevin: (internally) Their assasination attempt to Ms. Fei. It severely injured Marcus's mother. And now they're in our district.
(Kevin, still in his semi-crouched position behind the shelves, tenses. His breath hitches, almost imperceptibly, but Sus and Suri hear it, a sudden spike in his already elevated heart rate.)
Kevin: (internally) My kids… Hammie, Connie… Tara… I need to make sure they're safe. (touches his crucifix)
Sus: (internally) Show us something, Kev. We can help you.
Kevin: (internally) Is someone from the Council helping them? Feeding them information?
(The dragging sound of footsteps grows heavier, closer now, accompanied by a faint, metallic clanking that vibrates through the floor, a low frequency rumble through Sus's feet.)
Sus: (internally) We can't see ahead of what Kevin remembers, right?
Suri: (nodding) Yes, correct. We can only experience this as he remembers it.
(The temperature in the vast warehouse seems to drop, replaced by a cold, prickling sensation on Sus's skin. The gloom ahead deepens, swallowing what little light there was, pulling the shadows tighter around them.)
Kevin: (internally) (his thoughts now rapid and fragmented) No time to extract more. Need to expand. Get out. Serene Speed... then Serene Serenade on anything that moves. Can't risk being trapped. Not here. Not now.
Suri: (its light a frantic pulse) He's going to move!
(Kevin begins to shift, his muscles coiling, preparing to unleash his technique. His hand moves to his side, subtly reaching for something unseen.)
Sus: (internally) (adrenaline surging through him) What's going on now?
(Just as Kevin prepares to focus, a figure appears directly behind him, emerging from the oppressive darkness as if materialized from the shadows themselves. Her posture is effortlessly composed, almost regal, even in the dim light.)
Sus: (internally) (squinting) Huh?
(Her dark hair is styled impeccably, and the faint gleam of half-moon glasses sits perfectly on her nose. Her presence exudes an almost palpable aura of sharp, professional composure, yet there's a cold stillness about her.)
Sus: (internally) Who…?
(A sleek, personalized red laser pen is visible between her fingers. From it, three distinct, sharp clicks echo in the vast silence of the warehouse.)
Sus: (internally) (a jolt of recognition and confusion) Is that?
(Before Sus can even fully process the unexpected presence, before he can utter a word to warn Kevin, the memory explodes.)
Suri: (speeding back to Sus) Oh no! It's collapsing!
(The warehouse walls distort wildly, stretching and shrinking as if seen through a warped lens. The metallic tang in the air turns acrid, burning in Sus's phantom nostrils. The low thrum intensifies into a deafening roar, then fragments into a thousand discordant screams.)
Suri: (its light a desperate, blinding flash, its form violently contorting) Sus! We're losing it! Too much... instability!
(The figures of Kevin and the mysterious woman dissolve into a swirling vortex of pixelated colors – reds, blues, and electric greens – violently mashing together, pulling Sus and Suri away from the memory.)
January 11, 2020. Saturday. 08:16 AM
J.P. Rizal, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(The chaotic swirl of fragmented colors and echoing noise abruptly snaps back into the dim, sterile reality of Kevin's hospital room. The rhythmic beep of the medical monitor is once again the dominant, unsettling sound.)
Sus: (gasps, pulling his hand away from Kevin, his eyes wide and disoriented) Whoa…
(Sus's hand is still on Kevin's forearm, his body a trembling shell, his breath ragged. Tara stands frozen by the door, her eyes wide with concern, a small bag clutched in her hand.)
Suri: (flickering weakly, its light barely a pulse around Sus) Sus… are you alright? That was… intense.
(Sus fumbles for his phone with a shaking hand, the screen a sudden, jarring burst of light in the dim room. He stares at the time, a fresh wave of disbelief washing over him.)
Sus: (whispering, a hollow laugh escaping his lips) Only… six minutes? It felt like… a lifetime.
Suri: (its light flaring briefly, then dimming further) Time can be relative in there, Sus. Especially with unstable memories.
Tara: (rushing to his side, her touch gentle on his shoulder) Sus! Are you okay? Did you find anything? Anything at all?
Sus: (shaking his head, still catching his breath) It's… it's hard to explain, Tara. Kevin's memories are… unstable. I couldn't pin anything down for long.
(He looks at Kevin, then back at Tara, his gaze filled with a desperate uncertainty.)
Sus: But… I think I saw something. A lead. A place. It's not much, but it's where I need to start looking.
(A heavy silence descends upon the room once more, broken only by the relentless beep.)
Tara: …
(Tara looks from Sus's haunted eyes to Kevin's still face, then back at Sus, her own expression a mix of fear and dawning resolve.)
Sus: …
(The unspoken weight of what lies ahead settles between them, a cold premonition in the sterile air.)
January 11, 2020. Saturday. 05:27 PM
Molave St., Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.
(The late afternoon sun, a bruised orange, cast long, distorted shadows down Molave Street. The humid air, though cooling slightly, still clung to Sus, thick with the exhaust fumes of passing vehicles and the distant, muffled.)
Suri: (floating beside him, its light a steady, inquisitive glow) Sus… Where are we going now? The air feels… different here.
(The street itself was a mosaic of weathered concrete and patchy asphalt, lined with low-slung, unassuming buildings that bore the marks of countless seasons. Grime-streaked walls, once painted in bright hues, now faded into a muted palette, punctuated by the occasional flash of peeling posters.)
Sus: (internally) (clutching his phone, his thumb tracing the screen with a determined frown) ALAP Inc. I cross-referenced the address from the financial reports. It's supposed to be just around this area.
Suri: (its form swirling slightly, a hint of concern in its voice) Should we… Should we contact Marcus? Or the authorities?
Sus: (internally) (his gaze sweeping the grimy storefronts and closed-up workshops) I don't think we have time, Suri. We'll just look. See what we can find. Get in and out. That's it.
(As the last vestiges of daylight bled from the sky, a vast, imposing structure loomed into view. It was a wide, unkempt lot, surrounded by a heavy-duty, reinforced concrete wall, topped with barbed wire that glinted faintly in the dwindling light.)
Sus: (internally) This should be it. Wow. Not even one logo, hm?
(A massive, industrial-looking gate, seemingly made of solid steel, sealed the entrance. There were no guards, no visible cameras, yet the place exuded an aura of impenetrable stillness.)
Sus: (internally) (stopping abruptly, staring at the gate, a thoughtful frown on his face) This isn't going to be easy.
Suri: (its light dimming further, mirroring the approaching dusk) It looks… locked down. How do we get in, Sus?
Sus: (internally) (pulling out his phone, his fingers rapidly typing) We need to know if anyone's even inside first. With all this noise out here, it would take too much Sensitive Energy to Extract all the sounds and find heartbeats.
Suri: (tilting its form inquisitively) So… what are you doing?
Sus: (internally) (his eyes scanning the search results on his phone) I'm looking up the average frequency of a human heartbeat. See, typical resting rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. That's roughly 1 to 1.6 Hertz.
(Suri inflates in excitement)
Sus: (internally) (continues) If I can figure that out, I might be able to configure these Sound-Shifter Headphones to filter out everything but those specific frequencies. Make Extracting efficient, like Marcus said.
Suri: (its light brightening with understanding) Oh! That's smart, Sus!
Sus: (internally) (a grim line to his lips) Let's hope it works.
(Sus pulls off his headphones, examining them closely in the fading light. The sleek, dark material offers no clues. He presses a thumb against a small, unmarked button on the right earpiece. A tiny, digital screen on the side lights up, displaying a series of numbers.)
Sus: (internally) (his brow furrowing) Figures. No unit of measure. No labels. Just numbers.
(He tries another button, positioned directly opposite the first on the left earpiece. The numbers on the screen change, incrementing upwards. He presses the first button again, and they decrement.)
Sus: (internally) (frustrated, sighing loudly) Great. A bunch of unmarked buttons. I'm just gonna trial-and-error the shit out of this.
Suri: (its light hovering over the screen, a confident hum in its voice) I can help, Sus! Once you get a general idea of the sound you're looking for, I can focus our senses on just listening for that.
Sus: (internally) You can do that? Sort of amplifying the filter the headphones are trying to do?
Suri: Correct!
(Sus taps the button on his headphones, setting the small digital display to "1.6". He then carefully places the headphones back over his ears. The chaos of Molave Street doesn't disappear completely, but it shifts, becoming a faint, distant hum, as if perceived through a thick pane of glass.)
Sus: (internally) Whoa. It's… different.
(He can still feel the vibrations of passing vehicles, but the distinct sounds are muffled, receding to the background. What remains is a subtle, almost imperceptible thrumming beneath the dominant street noise.)
Sus: (internally) Not silent, but... I think I got it.
(He quickly ducks behind a large, dilapidated street sign leaning near the compound's perimeter, its faded advertisements for local businesses barely legible. He pulls out a cigarette pack with a practiced motion, his fingers fumbling slightly in the fading light.)
Sus: (internally) Just look inconspicuous, Magno. Like you're just… having a smoke.
(He lights the cigarette, the small flame briefly illuminating his determined face. He takes a long, slow drag, the familiar burn in his lungs a grounding sensation amidst the strange auditory landscape. As the smoke curls into the cooling air, he exhales, focusing his mind.)
Sus: (internally) Okay, Suri. Let's begin. Focus on heartbeats. Active Memories. See if anyone's inside that warehouse.
(Sus closes his eyes, straining his senses, listening past the muted city sounds. The low thrum of the warehouse intensifies, vibrating through his bones. He feels for the subtle rhythm of life, the tell-tale beat of a human heart. A moment of tense silence stretches, broken only by the distant traffic and the faint hiss of his cigarette.)
Sus: (internally) Nothing? Is it empty?
(Suddenly, a new set of vibrations cuts through the filtered silence. Not a heartbeat, but something else. A series of rapid, precise thuds on the asphalt, followed by the faint clink of metal against metal, growing rapidly louder from down the street. It's too fast, too coordinated for casual passersby.)
Suri: (its light flares, then retracts, a sharp, alarmed pulse) Sus! Incoming! Multiple signatures! Fast!
(Before Sus can react, a sleek, dark van, indistinguishable in the deepening twilight, screeches to a halt outside the heavy gate. Four figures, moving with practiced efficiency, leap out. They are dressed in dark, form-fitting tactical gear, their faces obscured by visors and headphones. They move with an undeniable authority, radiating a controlled power that Sus instantly recognizes.)
Sus: (internally) Are those the… Enforcers?
(One of the figures, a tall, imposing man, approaches the massive gate. With a swift gesture, the heavy steel gate groans open, sliding inward with a low rumble that vibrates through the ground.)
Sus: (internally) This is our chance. Let's go!
(The figures move as one, entering the darkened compound with a silent, determined stride. Sus, driven by an instinct he doesn't understand, slips from behind the street sign, following them through the still-opening gate, his footsteps swallowed by the ambient city hum amplified by his headphones.)
Suri: (whispering, its light a frantic flicker) Sus! Wait! This is dangerous!
(He follows them into the cavernous darkness of the warehouse. The air inside is thick with the metallic tang of old rust and the cloying sweetness of decay, just as it was in Kevin's memory.)
Sus: (internally) What are they looking for?
(The low, continuous thrum vibrates through the ground. The figures move swiftly, their movements precise, heading towards a dimly lit section of the vast space. Sus keeps to the shadows, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.)
Figure 1: (whispering) This is it. The Metro's records were correct.
(The lead figure stops before a large, reinforced door, its surface humming with a faint, electrical current. With another swift gesture, the door slides open with a soft hiss, revealing a blinding flood of stark, white light from within. Sus squints, his eyes adjusting, and then his breath hitches in his throat.)
Sus: (internally) What is this place?
(The room beyond is a massive, high-tech data center, rows upon rows of humming servers stretching into the distance, their indicator lights blinking like a thousand watchful eyes. And in the center of it all, standing before a holographic display of complex data streams, is Rachel Tuazon. Her back is to them, her short, spiky hair unmistakable.)
Figure 1: (voice sharp, cutting through the hum of the servers) Rachel Tuazon! Surrender S.I.S.A. now!
(Rachel slowly turns, a wide, unsettling smile spreading across her face. Her eyes, usually bright with enthusiasm, are cold, almost vacant, reflecting the harsh server lights. She looks directly at the figures, her gaze sweeping over them with a chilling detachment.)
Rachel: (chillingly calm) Nobody ever truly saw me. They said I was nothing. A support role.
(She laughs, a high, brittle sound that echoes unnervingly in the server room, devoid of her usual warmth. Her hands, which had been casually at her sides, now move with startling speed.)
Rachel: You oh so important Enforcers didn't even consider protecting your delicate noses, huh?
(From her palm, a fine, almost invisible fume begins to emanate, diffusing rapidly into the brightly lit air. It carries a sickly-sweet, cloying scent that immediately prickles Sus's nostrils.)
Enforcer 3: (confused) Wha… What is this? I can't… I can't move!
(The figures recoil, their movements jerky, clutching at their throats. Their forms stiffen, locking in place, rigid as statues. They are paralyzed, held upright, their faces contorted in silent agony as the fume envelops them.)
Rachel: Did you enjoy my Sampaguita Seal? Hm?
(Rachel moves among them with chilling grace, a wire spooling from her wrist. She attaches thin, metallic wires from her device to the figures' tactical vests, connecting them directly to the humming server racks around them.)
Rachel: (with rising glee) Now everyone will know. Everyone will see me.
(She gestures towards the connected Enforcers, her smile widening. The servers' hum deepens into a guttural growl. A sickening crackle of energy erupts, and the indicator lights on the server racks surge with blinding intensity.)
Enforcer 4: (weakened) Argh! What are you doing to us?!
Enforcer 2: My… I can't feel my…
(Their forms struggle, then implode inwards with a wet, grotesque sound, almost as if something is dissolving. A dark, vaporous energy, like smoke, streams from their bodies, funneling directly into the glowing server banks.)
Rachel: (smiling at the Enforcers) Not so easy to ignore now, am I?