Protective Team

I was startled awake by Alba ringing the dorm bell, and she was already with Dom.

I had forgotten to set the alarm because I fell asleep without realizing it and ended up oversleeping. Since I had missed the agreed time, I rushed to the door, quickly threw on the protective suit, and got ready to leave.

I managed to eat some fruit along the way as we went straight to the lab, and soon we arrived.

“Good morning, Innie. How was your first night there?” Luna asked as she helped me out of the vehicle.

“Really good. I desperately needed that shower, I don’t even know how to thank you,” I replied gratefully.

“Good news, but I also bring bad news,” she said as she led us inside the building. “You’ve been summoned to the finals of the Mist Games. Silva did what he could to prevent it, but our sources said there was never any other option. So today we’ll start with a physical evaluation and then move on to the tests.”

Luna led us to the second floor of the research center.

This floor had no subdivisions; the entire level was one single open space. There were three central tables with 3D holographic technology and several pieces of equipment scattered among them. Along the sides were horizontal chambers and benches like in a laboratory.

Besides the four of us, there were two other people there. I assumed they were Luna’s assistants, but they were so absorbed in their work that they didn’t even notice us come in.

“This is where I conduct the practical part of my studies. It’s where I synthesized your new suit. I had to bring you here to give you a new version. They almost discovered your phone, so I had to make adjustments. Put this on,” Luna said, handing me a new one-piece outfit.

“What’s different about this one?” I asked as we walked to the reserved area where I could change.

“Every time you leave the house, put your phone inside this protective case. Now, when you touch it with your right hand, the phone will snap directly to the back of your neck by magnetic transfer. You won’t even need to lift your arm. That way, the risk of exposure is reduced.”

“Got it.”

I got dressed and picked up the case to slip the phone inside. It was triangular, with the same lead-colored texture as the suit.

“Careful,” she warned. “Whenever you press the central button, the phone case will lock onto your neck. We’ll run a test in the simulator later.” She guided us to the nearest central table.

“Before we begin, I need to explain how the next few days will go. Inertia and Rei will spend today and tomorrow in testing, so we can make sure you’re ready for the battles in the Games, which start in three days.

Alba, you’ve been suspended from Nowy’s defense duties and reassigned to Inertia’s protection team during the Games. Your father has authorized your temporary leave. Inertia’s special protection team will include four members: Alba, Dom, Aziza, and Ghedi.”

As she spoke, a hologram above the central table projected 3D images of the new members.

“Inertia and Rei, it’s important that you understand all the details about your new security team and how their special abilities work. First, you need to know the origin of our abilities.

After the arrival of the Eterno, and years of study, we discovered that each individual has a natural affinity with one of the four elements: water, earth, fire, or air. But there are exceptions, and some abilities don’t follow this pattern.

It’s still unclear which part of human DNA determines this affinity. Interestingly, though, the twelve zodiac signs are also divided among the four astrological elements, with three signs linked to each.

Alba’s DNA shows an affinity with fire, and coincidentally, she’s a Leo. Her personal defense weapon is long-range and adapted to her element, but Alba also has a rare trait. She can generate countless incandescent micro-viruses capable of infecting her opponent’s DNA and triggering combustion at the cellular level. This ability was classified as extremely dangerous, since it can destroy the DNA contained within the Eterno. That’s why Alba was banned from using it and can only wield the weapons supplied by Nowy.

Of course, we adapted this ability here in the lab and made it less aggressive. Her long-range weapon now fires bullets infused with her virus. On contact with any tissue, they cause instant combustion. The virus is programmed to trigger a reaction as soon as it touches any atom of matter, even before infecting a cell.”

I stared at Alba, stunned. I had never imagined she carried a personal weapon with such a powerful ability.

Luna wrapped up Alba’s presentation and moved on to Dom.

“Dom, like Aziza, doesn’t follow the rules. His special ability is based on electricity. Dom’s DNA doesn’t respond to any of the four elements, but when it comes into contact with electricity, his DNA can store it and even amplify the energy.

As you know, Dom’s personal defense weapon is designed for close combat. He has a blade on each arm that channels electricity, and his entire body becomes electrically charged.”

Dom’s ability wasn’t exactly a surprise, but hearing the details now made everything much clearer.

She went on.

“Ghedi and Aziza are twin siblings from ancient Somalia. Ghedi is currently head of public security in Kera. He has a naturally large build, and his DNA is 100 percent compatible with the element Earth. His main ability is defense. When activated, he can create a nearly impenetrable dome two meters in diameter.

His body transforms into a clay golem, and a medium-range firearm is activated, loaded with seeds that grow and explode any material on his command. Ghedi can also use the earth’s geomagnetism, extending its range up to four meters.”

From the hologram, Ghedi appeared as a tall, powerfully built man with a black buzz cut, black skin, and green eyes that reminded me of the jungle.

“Aziza’s DNA reacts to fire, but like Dom, she has a rare affinity. She can manipulate physical plasma — the fourth state of matter. She relies on the magnetic field generated by Ghedi to ignite the plasma after heating it to extreme temperatures. Her special ability, known as combustion plasma, allows her to unleash high-powered explosions anywhere within that magnetic field,” Luna explained.

Like Ghedi, Aziza also wore a black buzz cut, but her eyes were lilac and pink, glowing faintly, almost as if they were made of plasma.

“Once your training is complete, I’ll introduce them to you in person before the trip to Nowy,” Luna concluded.

“What do you mean? We’re going to Nowy?!” I asked, startled.

“Well, I’m not. But your protection team and Chefe will be there for the finals of the Mist Games, held right in the center of Nowy. You’ll need our best fighters in case they try something illegal. But don’t worry — illegal against illegal, everything is fair game, including Alba’s ability,” Luna replied.

Among them, Alba possessed the most feared ability. But would she really risk being banned and having her consciousness imprisoned, all for a simple human like me?

“Well, that would be our last resort. I hope I never have to use it,” Alba said as she rose to her feet.

From there, we headed straight to the simulation center.

End of Report 30