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✱ CHAPTER 14 : ANOMALY
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"What happened to her?!" Brooks asked, surprised by what happened to Suki , as Levi urged them to rush out. They crawled out of the vents and began scanning the area for anomalies. Orion took the lead, followed by Levi, Brooks, and Mochi. They advanced cautiously, eyes sweeping every visible corner. Flickering lights hinted at the failing power supply. Desks, research materials, and scattered documents littered the space. Mochi followed them as they stepped out of the room, heading toward the marked floor to continue the mission objective.
Orion took the lead, with Levi and Brooks behind him, and Mochi following. They moved forward as they scanned the zone, watching every visible space; the flickering lights showed signs of low power supply. Desks, research materials, and documents were everywhere.
Mochi followed them as they moved out of the room toward the floor to proceed with the mission objective.
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Sector D - G: Field Operations & Bio-Storage
SGI Confidential | Medicus Sector
Level 3-5: Tactical & specialized Research (Floors D-G)
FLOOR MAP
Facility Type: Underground Secret Biomedical Research Lab
Primary Research Fields: Genetic, Biomechanical, and Radiation Experimentation
Tracking System: Alphabetic Floor Designation (A-Z) with Numbered Sectors
[A - C] [D - G] [H - L] [M - R] [S - X]
D1 – Field Equipment Depot (Storage for tactical gear and anomaly containment units)
D2 – Bio-Sample Cold Storage (Secured vats containing organic material for experimentation)
E1 – Genetic Sequencing Lab (High-speed DNA mapping and synthesis)
E2 – Mutation Observation Wing (Quarantined cells for tracking rapid biological changes)
F1 – Radiation Shielding Prep (Lead-lined zones for personnel protective equipment)
G1 – Logistics & Transport Hub (Internal rail system connecting the Medicus Sector to the surface)
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"Floor F2, hmm. Orion?" Levi said, as Orion replied. "All clear around this premise, but I am worried about the radiation site," Levi says.
"Yeah, there must be anomalies," Brooks casually tries to calm Mochi. "Or who knows, it might be empty. Stay optimistic." They both disagree, saying nothing.
"At least in front of the kid," Brooks said, remembering his earlier mention and asking, "And what happened to Suki? Was it the water?" Orion replies,
"Most probably, but I sensed another one with her as well." Levi continues the conversation with some thought...
"Yeah! But something was odd about her," Orion says.
What we know now is Suki is compromised, to say the least, and we can't sidetrack from the main objective, which is to obtain the black box and rescue survivors and the VIP," Brooks said.
"Okay, first let's get to the locations then," Levi said to the AI. "Bella, which way is the closest and most secure way to get to the W1 Floor?"
"In order to get to W1 safely, it is not possible considering the recent encounters with anomalies," Bella said. "But we need to get to the area as well as find the VIP Member, Board Code 2."
"With the given information, I cannot estimate the surroundings within a 100-meter radius. I can give you the closest route to get to W1. Because of my offline connectivity, I cannot access the surveillance."
"Can you go online?" Orion asked. Bella replied, "Yes, I need the user confirmation." Then Orion says, "This AI sucks. I thought it could get us to the location quickly and safely." Levi tells them to calm down. "Access granted."
"Hopefully something good…" Brooks says when AI accesses the server. It says, "Access denied due to power outages in the facility."
Orion said, frustrated, "Still useless!" Brooks replies. "Well, just give me the locations then," Levi says. "At least we know that the power supply has been off for a long time. Thank you, Bella," Orion said, as Brooks replied.
"Still not helping, mate." Mochi giggles as they proceed to the G1 sector. Bella slowly tried to access the information around them. It beeped,
"Detected unidentified anomaly." The operatives stand in tri-formation, guarding the kid at the center. As they look for anomalies, Levi asks,
"Where, and how many?" Brooks says to Orion, "Orion, can you sense it?" "What the f**k. No! I can't."
"What? How can you not sense it?" "There is only one person I can't sense, if she wants to…" "..."
"Beep... Unidentified anomaly at 6 o'clock towards Levi. One identified. 20 meters close. Highly hostile." "Suki?"
"Correction, two anomalies detected. Code Red." "S**t, things are gonna get dirty." (In Japanese) "Hey boys, it's time to die…" Yuki says.
Yuki and Suki come into view. The whole place is dark and has an eerie vibe with a rusty smell. Suki is docile, she feels delicate but hostile at the same time, completely unreadable while Yuki is completely active and gazes at them with excitement and bloodlust.
Yuki says to Suki, "It's time, Suki. Let's finish them and get home soon." She said, "I... miss... home... Please... Die!"
Orion and Brook said, ready for action. "Guys, we are prepared for this, right?" "Levi, you good?" "Yes, we have to eliminate traitors at any cost. Formation set—no mercy, engage."
Brooks said, "Orion, where is Mochi?" "I thought he's with you, s**t!" Levi shouted, "Guys, focus. Here they come!"
Shots fired… Mochi is gone. Levi stands at the center, Brooks on the left, and Orion on the right, armed and cautious. Yuki rushes forward to strike with Suki close behind. Levi fires precise headshots. Yuki manifests two black dual swords, weaving through the bullets with fluid footwork, and closes the distance. Just as she prepares to strike, her vision warps, hallucinations flickering in her mind. Levi seizes the opening and lands a clean, unavoidable headshot. Suki pulls Yuki back just in time and counters, lunging with her claws. Levi narrowly evades and returns fire.
"Fall back!" Suki warns, sensing something. Orion lunges at Yuki, but she vanishes. His sidearm, mounted in his forearm, shifts into his hand as he fires at Suki. She darts forward, evading, and is about to slash Orion when Brooks leaps over him to strike. But Suki anticipates it, countering with a sharp low front kick to Brooks head.
Their suits adapt to their abilities, but the ongoing battle is wearing them down. Yuki suddenly reappears behind Levi. He spins, already aware—his infection letting him sense her presence.
[20% Yuki – 40% Suki]
Levi fires, but Yuki strikes from behind. Brooks' eyes widen as Levi's suit begins to fail. Suki claws across his mask, fracturing the inhaler. Orion curses, "S**t, both are compromised!" His body shifts, engulfed in biomass.
[BIOSKELETON – Hardened exoskeleton counters physical attacks. Strength increased, speed reduced. Biomass generation enhanced.]
Orion charges forward, deliberately drawing their attacks. He slams Yuki against the wall, his jaw mutating into a monstrous maw ready to bite her head off. She vanishes again, but his heightened senses detect a trace, his matter clinging to her shoulder. He follows her trail and strikes back.
Meanwhile, Suki engages Brook, overwhelming him with brute force and precision. Levi, barely conscious, channels his infection to warn Orion: "They know how we fight!"
Orion pins Suki while trapping Yuki against the wall with biomass spears from his chest. Yuki stops moving, and for a moment Suki freezes too, trembling. Yuki teleports and starts whispering something to her, unsettling Orion who thought his biomass remains intact. He thinks quickly:
Yuki – Able to produce weapons from black matter, teleport at will, and fully aware of our combat styles. Can manipulate Suki's mind. Must eliminate her.
Suki – Physique manipulation, superior senses, and flexibility. Right now, I'm disoriented by hallucinations.
Orion steadies his breath. Both enemies advance. He hides his right hand, reshaping his left arm into a huge shield. Suki strikes first; he blocks. Yuki teleports behind, slashing his shoulder. She notices his hand buried deep in the ground. Brook protects Levi in the corner. Orion mutters,
"I understand now!" [70% Yuki – 90% Suki]
Before the fight, Orion had coated himself with Levi's blood. Now he unleashes his final stance—Bioskeleton Surge. Yuki and Suki tear at his armor, but the ground erupts as biomass tentacles whip outward, ensnaring both. Their bodies are forced into contact with Levi's blood which affects them making them unmovable. Orion exhausted collapses, drained, his biomass fading.
Levi steps forward to seize control. To his shock, Yuki resists. She lunges, immune to his blood. Levi evades, while Brooks restrains her, shouting, "Try again!"
Levi can't—then realization strikes. Bella's voice cuts through the chaos: "The unknown entity is identified—Yuki: Hana Nakamoto, daughter of Daichi Nakamoto. Status: Deceased. Cause of death: Daichi Nakamoto."
The team freezes to comprehend the information. Yuki reappears, her face and hair shifting to reveal Hana's true form. She smirks, "Time's up, boys."
The ground quakes violently as the notice this whole time the veins were growing through the entire space. They lose balance. Levi reaches for Suki, but she vanishes, along with the others. In his last glimpse, dark veins writhe across the space.
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They were teleported. The new place was immense, like a colossal evergreen globe with a false sapphire sky, far larger than the Exhibition Dome. Levi realized instantly. This is the destination they have been trying to reach since the beginning of the mission, the location of the Black Box, Floor X1.
Bella broadcasts: "Warning: High toxicity detected. Infection levels: Extremely Critical. Immediate evacuation advised."
"Well, now the tables have turned," Orion mutters as he coughs. "Give me time, I'll break through... this!" Brooks strained against the vines. Levi asks Orion, "Any way out of this?" Orion snarls, "I can't sense s**t, mate. F**k!"
A deep, guttural roar echoes, shaking the dome. They spot movement, a grotesque, red-and-green mass of vines stretching from top to bottom, connected to a massive, cocoon-like structure. Inside it, a figure sleeps. Hana strolls past as thorned vines bind the operatives, all except Suki, still unconscious.
Bella's voice: "Protocol Ghost-Town initiated. Code Red confirmed." Orion whispers, horrified, "Guys... inside the cocoon…" Hana smiles, "He is waking up." It's Nakamoto.
The stench of wet soil filled the air, nostalgic yet unnerving. The wind howled like it was sweeping across an open field, but the setting felt more like a haunted forest. Periodic screams echoed rhythmically through the vast chamber.
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