Veil of Secrets 2

The reunited group shares a moment of relief, the joy of Alithini's safe return reflected in the smiles exchanged between Alithini, Illios, and Elena. Unspoken questions linger in the air, leaving an aura of mystery. Albedo and Shilona, still observant, sense that more secrets await revelation.

Albedo notices something off while observing Alithini. Although Alithini's wounds have closed up, the torn part of the pant and the bloodstain still remain. Albedo is curious and looks at Shilona. Shilona, also noticing it, asks Alithini, "Hey, how did your pant get torn? And why are there bloodstains?"

Alithini, a bit surprised but maintaining his composure, replies, "It’s nothing. It got damaged by a subject. His hand was soaked in blood, and he tried to grab my leg, but Mr. C pulled me away before it got a hold. But my pant was damaged."

Albedo and Shilona look at each other and whisper between them. Albedo says, "He is lying, I am sure." Shilona replies, "But at the same time, it feels like he is telling the truth. Plus, there is no evidence of him getting injured."

Albedo concludes, "Maybe you’re right. We will discuss it later; it seems Mr. Hristos is trying to eavesdrop on us."

Hristos asks C, "So how is it there? Did you face any difficulty?"

C stutters, "I… It's a little scary, but we didn’t face any difficulties."

Hristos subtly signals Ramune with a series of hand gestures. Responding to Hristos’s cue, Ramune speaks, "Well, pleasantries can wait. I think everybody should go home and rest for today."

Hristos agrees, "Ramune is right. I think you kids should go home today. Come back tomorrow, and I will give you guys the explanation you want, but there is a condition: you must keep quiet about what you witnessed here today."

Illios questions, "What?! And why would we keep quiet after all this?"

Calloway suddenly stands up and declares, "Or do you want to face the aftermath of the situation you will create?"

Albedo tried to hush Illios by whispering urgently, "Don’t argue. You already know what they are capable of."

However, Illios persists, "What situation? You made us do something risky, and you won't give an explanation. Moreover, you say we have to keep quiet. Why?"

Hristos interjects calmly, "I am sure your words will pique the interest of Marie."

Illios, a bit shocked, stammers, "Wha… what? Are you trying to threaten me?"

Albedo intervenes, "Hey, just shut up. I think Mr. Hristos is right."

Illios, defiant, insists, "Don’t shut me up!"

Hristos clarifies, "Listen, I am not threatening you. If this information breaks, there would be chaos. None of the citizens will be safe, as the government will try to take over this facility. They don’t have the necessary means to keep the subjects under control."

Elena pleaded with Illios, "Illios! Just listen to him. We all know what he is capable of. Also, he said he would explain if we keep quiet. It’s not that big of a deal."

Shilona added her support, "She is right. For now, let’s just go home and pretend like nothing happened."

Albedo agreed, "Yeah, we will return tomorrow."

Calloway concluded, "Great. At last, we have reached an agreement."

The group of kids departs, making their way home. Hristos and the others choose to linger at the facility, their minds shrouded in uncertainty. All eyes fixate on Hristos, a magnetic aura of anticipation enveloping the room. The air becomes charged with tension, creating the perfect backdrop for the revelation of concealed truths.

Zhiroki voices his concern, "Now that they've left, I suspect they might expose us."

Hristos reassures, "They won't. I didn't give them the option."

Zhiroki, somewhat frustrated, responds, "How so? I expected you to take action, but you just let them go."

Hristos calmly replies, "Don't be impatient. Everyone, except the secondary duty officers, gather around in the conference hall. The rest, attend to your usual duties."

In the conference hall, a grand space adorned with a sizable table at its center, Hristos enters with purpose. The room exudes elegance, complemented by well-chosen furnishings and a slightly elevated wooden stage featuring a large screen. The late arrival of Hristos, bearing a drive from the control room, heightens the sense of anticipation in the room.

Calloway, I believe that’s the drive for the footages you encrypted?

Hristos: Correct. clears throat Ladies and gentlemen, I've gathered all of you here to share information on a successful research endeavor and to review and conclude the incident that occurred today.

Zhiroki to himself, "I am getting old waiting here."

Hristos: "Patience, Zhiroki. Now, first, let me show some of the footage from today’s incident."

Hristos connects the drive to the screen in the conference room and plays the scene from the chamber.

The scene unfolds when C and Alithini entered the chamber of the Earthling subjects.

Hristos: "As you can see, the subjects remain persistently active. They can still use their abilities, and their strength remains notably high. These abilities are encoded in their genes, even though these extraterrestrial creatures are still fundamentally human. Today's incident confirms that they are not flawless; they cannot sustain their abilities for extended periods. This leads us to the conclusion that they were discarded, likely the result of an experiment conducted on planet Earth."

Zhiroki: "Dr. Nabe mentioned this some time ago."

Hristos: "But he wasn't sure. Regardless, I want to show something else. Calloway, the answer you seek is in this footage."

Calloway: "I think I get it, but it doesn't hurt to see it with my own eyes."

Hristos plays the footage of the corridor between the chamber and the control room. After everyone watches it, Hristos, with joy etched onto his face, says, "As you all witnessed, someone from this planet healed his wounds like an Axolotl. It confirms the success of the research Seraphima was conducting."

Ramune: "But I thought she failed. If only she were here to witness it."

C: "Sir, if you don't mind. Who is Seraphima, and I want to know what was with that boy?"

Hristos: "Seraphima was a dear friend of mine. She passed away ten years ago. The boy is the second-to-last person she saved."

C: "I don't get it. How is he saved? It's more like he's a lab rat."

Calloway: "You're wrong. That boy had no chance of surviving if he was born normally. So, Lorelei and Nikolai, the boy's parents, came to Hristos seeking help. Hristos, along with Seraphima, tweaked the boy's genes so that he could heal himself. But the question is, why was he going to die?"

Hristos: "You got everything right. 100 points for you. Now, allow me to explain. The boy's heart was incomplete when he was a fetus. Also, his heart couldn't complete due to Lorelei's injury while being pregnant. Seraphima copied the gene responsible for healing from an Axolotl and modified it slightly so that it could blend in with human genes, with the help of my knowledge, and etched it into his genes. After that, according to the information on the boy's gene, the modified genes acted and completed his heart. However, we weren't sure about the healing of other organs and parts of the body, as the modified gene was only etched in the cells in the heart."

Calloway: "I see, but I don't get it. Why doesn't he show anything similar to an Axolotl, except the healing part?

Hristos: "It's because we took some of his cells from his heart and mixed in Axolotl genes responsible for their regeneration. Seraphima performed the miracle herself, implanting the genes. I still don't know how, despite me being a lot more knowledgeable than her."

Hristos looks at everyone and says, "Any more questions, anyone?"

Zhiroki: "I have one. What's with the boy Albedo? He seems normal at first, but when you see him in action, it doesn't look like he is a regular citizen to me."

Horatio: "I tried to dig up some info on him, but nothing special came up at first. The thing is, he's an orphan and stays in dorms. No info was ever entered on his birth or his parents."

Hristos: "Have you tried your luck in the orphanage?"

Horatio: "I only found a form of adoption being cancelled. Also, he was found abandoned on the side of Karavile street in the year x98. From there, the Aetherium orphanage took him in."

Hristos: "Interesting. For now, keep looking for more leads. Anyone else?"

Management Officer Kane raises his hand and asks, "I am a little concerned about those subjects. They have become a little more proactive than the time they were captured."

Hristos: "It is concerning. I believe they got enough time to heal despite all testing done on them. For now, try using some sleeping drugs on them. We need them alive until we figure out exactly what was changed in their genes."

Kane: "Okay, sir."

Calloway: "If only Seraphima was still with us. She could've discerned the modification in a day or so."

Hristos, grievingly: "Yeah. It's been 10 years, and we still aren't able to do anything. If only I was a little stronger, maybe I could've saved her."

Hristos gains back his composure and says, "If no one else has any questions, I conclude the meeting here. Calloway and I will be here for the next 2 days. Zhiroki, Ramune, and C can take a break."

C: "Thank you, sir."

Zhiroki: "About time."

Everyone leaves the conference hall only Hristos and Calloway remains.

Calloway: "Now that we have some space, what are you up to? What are your plans with the kids? Suddenly involving them doesn't seem normal."

Hristos: "Nothing much. I only brought all the pieces on board, is all."

Calloway: "That doesn't explain anything."

Hristos: "Why do you think humans look for options?"

Calloway: "To achieve the best outcome."

Hristos: "Yes. But there is a catch to it. You give them options, and they will stop thinking out of the box."

Calloway: "Don't tell me you are trying to manipulate them to do your bidding."

Hristos: "Well, you are right in a way. I just need to manipulate them a little. You see, I need a little time, which I don't get because of this facility. The staff here aren't that extraordinary."

Calloway: "So, you went out seeking some capable people, and guess what, you found them without trying hard."

Hristos: "No, it was hard. I went to Lorelei’s house to ask for her and her child's help, but she refused, saying 'My kid is free. I don’t want to destroy his freedom.'"

Calloway: "So, deliberately involved the kid so that Lorelei would come aboard. While seeking her help, you coincidentally stumbled upon some capable people. You know if Seraphima was here, she would’ve killed you for involving her child."

Hristos: "Don't worry, they won't be harmed. I just need to finish what I started."

Calloway: "And what is the thing you started?"

Hristos: "It's not time yet. When I am finished, I will tell you."

Calloway: "But I want to know how you got all of the kids to agree?"

Hristos: "Oh, it was easy. When I first saw them, I made an intimidating impression to make them think I have power and made them interested in the facility."

Calloway: "So, you've been manipulating them before they even knew you, huh? I see, that’s why you were visiting that academy often."

Hristos: "Tch, I am not done yet. Getting them onboard was difficult. Remember when I came to get you when the kids got in the facility?"

Calloway: "Yeah. What about it?"

Hristos: "At that time, I asked A to check the corridors to the storage."

Calloway: "I see. So, you made sure they get caught and feel like they owe you."

Hristos: "Yes. Also, while making them believe that I have enough power to punish them."

Calloway: "So, they got scared and stepped right into your trap."

Hristos: "Correct. Then I made them obey me while assessing their abilities. Also, I made sure to make them feel like it was their only option."

Calloway: "So naturally, they did your bidding, and you've figured out their capabilities and are trying to brainwash them, right?"

Hristos: "Hmm, but it wasn't enough. There was still the issue of trust. I cleared it with a conditional revelation of secrets."

Calloway: "Ahhh, that’s why you said you will explain everything, show them everything in this facility. But that puts us at risk; if they expose us, we will be dead."

Hristos: "They won’t. As they think I have all the control in my hand to do whatever I want. To make them believe it, I targeted the weak-minded one among them. Can you guess who?"

Calloway: "Elena?"

Hristos: "Bingo! 100 points for you. I texted her the night after she met me that day. In the text, I said, 'Listen carefully, girl. If you don’t want to get into trouble, don’t say anything to your friends about what I am telling you now.' Then I gave her some info on me and showcased my reach."

wCalloway: "So, you gave up info on you!"

Hristos: "You know, the deeper the secret, the easier to gain trust. And she was weak-minded, so she abided by."

Calloway: "What did you ask her, and why did she agree?"

Hristos: "I asked her to lead her friends to the facility. At first, she denied it, but when she heard about my capability to overtake the government and the information I had on all of their families, she agreed. But there was a surprise; despite her being weak mentally, she still is clever."

Calloway: "Ahh, the tracker. So, now you are going to reveal the facility to them to make them trust you. To think you conducted brainwashing in front of me without me realizing it."

Hristos: "Ahh, you are giving too much credit."

Calloway: "Good thing the old geezer never got his hand on you, and I accompanied you."

Hristos: "Well, whatever. I am grateful that I have a friend like you. Otherwise, who knows what I might have done."

In the streets of Merelony district, the group of kids was walking home. Alithini was looking for something a little bit tensely.

Shilona asks Alithini, "What’s wrong?"

Alithini: "I can’t seem to find my phone."

Illios: "You must’ve left it at the school."

Alithini: "Probably."

Meanwhile in the earthling chamber

The subject that attacked Alithini, Subject 004, gained consciousness. In his hand, he held Alithini’s cell phone. He laughed and typed in a number to his base on the planet.

Subject 004: "Hhuhhhhh. Finally, I can contact the base. It’s been a long time. I wonder how many years."

004 calls, and it connects to an AI bot.

AI bot: "This is Karaken e4 speaking. State your ID."

Subject 004: "B55A02."

Karaken e4: "It’s good to have you back, Sergeant Jason Liebrecht. How may I help you today?"

Jason: "Contact mother base and ask for reinforcement. Also, initiate emergency protocol level 3."

Karaken e4: "Right away, sir. Emergency protocol level 3 has been activated successfully."

Jason hangs up and smirks.

Time seemed to stand still, entwined in a red fate thread, ready to reveal the interconnected mysteries yet to unfold.

To be continued