Chapter [82] 28

“■■.■■■■.■■.■■■■.■■■■■■”

[44] years ago

-Age 8

[Setting] Project Facility Mess hall.

[Location] ■■■■■■.■■■■ [■■■■.■■■■]

‘{135} why aren’t you eating your meals?’

A little blonde girl looks up to the female prefect who stood before her table. Her eyes were sore and red.

‘It’s nothing Ms.Teacher. I’ll eat my food now…’

‘{135} Have you been crying?’

‘No…’

The little girl recoils her body as the prefect studies her movements. She kneels down to the child’s eye level to assess her state of mind.

‘Listen {135} you know our house rules here…’

‘I know Ms. Teacher… I’m sorry I lied…’

The prefect kept her eyes looking at the child’s face as the little girl slowly relaxed her posture.

‘Am I being sent away now?’ She asked.

‘Why would we send you away?’

‘{127} Saw my scores on the light screen. He said that kids who get a low score on the aptitude test get sent away…’

The little girl started tearing up again.

‘Am I gonna get sent away?’

She said crying.

‘I'm gonna be banished am I?’

Her tears flow as her words echo throughout the room.

‘{127} said the banished kids don’t even get their names…’

‘Am I never gonna get a name?!’

The prefect leans back while the child continues to bawl. She stands up with a deep sigh as two men in grey uniforms approach the child. Each taking one of the girls arms while she resisted with all her might.

The little girls’ fear had finally been realized.

She had heard stories of the men wearing grey.

It was always bad news.

The girl kicked and screamed and cried out for any help.

But there was no one.

All the other children were somehow gone.

And the adults who were left paid no heed to her cries.

She was alone in her screaming.

She can see the exit to the mess hall nearing.

It was over.

Finally she stopped.

Silence filled the halls.

The hallway had walls on both sides.

All pristine and white.

The double doors ahead were also white.

With sunlight shining through its narrow glass pane.

It was a beautiful sight, she had thought.

Like the gates of heaven were welcoming her.

But…

Something calls her.

It calls her back.

That she must live.

Surrender was wrong.

But…

[Why?]

She thought.

But her body didn’t.

{‘NO!’}

She shouts as the double door opens.

Her fate was sealed.

But her body refused.

The squirming resumed.

The kicking resumed.

And she plants her feet on the ground.

She had an impulse.

They were pulling her by her sleeves.

She stepped back and raised her arms.

The men in gray stumbled forward.

Her white top hanging loose from their hands.

As she quickly turns around to punch the glass on the door.

A weapon.

The two men leapt towards her.

She dodges.

She lands and gets her bearing.

She turns and grabs whatever she could.

Her hand latches on to one of their belts.

And stabs one gray man down.

The other finds his footing and pivots.

She takes the punch on her cheek.

She rolls back.

Glass in hand.

The remaining man sprints forward.

She looked up, his foot was aimed at her.

And she moves herself to dodge beside him.

He stumbles, he missed.

She leaps, She aims.

And now her arm swings down on him.

{-STOP-}

The voice rang in her eardrums as it booms through the airwaves. It was enough to disturb her movement and make her trip. As the man in gray proceeds to elbow her on the chest.

{-I SAID STOP-}

The booming voice echoed. Everyone within earshot stopped all their activities. The man in gray who still fought stumbled back in shock. As if he was hit by a solid wall of air.

{-BRING HER BACK-}

The man in gray looked startled but quickly woke his senses to escort the faint little girl, who had just fallen unconscious with the last blow.

‘Director are you reconsidering {135}?’

The female prefect asked.

{-WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE I AM DOING?-}

The female prefect bows her head.

The remaining gray man carried the girl back indoors as he passed by his colleague whom she injured. Looking at the unconscious girl with piercing eyes.

{-DO YOU WANT REVENGE?-}

The wounded gray man quickly averted his eyes.

{-GO AHEAD-}

The wounded gray man looked back with confused eyes.

‘C-Can I?’

{-SURE-}

{-BUT CAN YOU WIN?-}

He Smiles

With just one gesture, he knew.

All knew.

Why the girl was called back.

…

...

[24] years ago

-Age 28

[Setting] Project Facility Auditorium.

[Location] ■■■■■■.■■■■ [■■■■.■■■■]

‘Subject {135}...

How fascinating.’

A man in full military attire said as he witnessed the once little girl who had grown up to be a stunning lady with eyes that could kill. She takes her place on the stage as she received her medal symbolizing her exit from the facility, taking a bow in front of all the prefects and directors who had nurtured and mentored her through the difficult years.

She who was once about to be rejected,

Is now showered with acceptance.

‘So this is the face of the girl with the Cinderace trait?’

The military man said with curiosity in his eyes. As the girl enters their view deck.

‘Yes, I do have a face.’ Said {135}

The military man laughs as he signals his secretary to move.

She approaches the girl with a tablet in hand. On its screen it said:

-Mission Log-

[Enter Name]

The girl looks back at the secretary with a confused look.

‘But I don’t have a name…’

‘Correct, Come with me.’

…

…

‘They say people who “gain” the Cinderace trait have survived tremendous amounts of stress. It is rare to have one already in your genes.’

The military man said.

‘Half true.’

A man in a white coat replies. He entered the room as soon as the two women left.

‘Why is that?’

The man in the white coat adjusts his glasses.

‘The trait “is” genetic.

And tremendous amounts of stress is the key to unlock it.

But not everyone unlocks it as quickly as she did.

Though her abilities were rough. The process was easy.’

The military man looks at him with eyes awaiting conclusion.

‘She was similar to subject {001}.

Eerily similar.’

‘To Tatiana?’

The military man asked fervently.

‘Yes, the namesake of the trait herself.

All of the methods we teach here was because of her condition.

Although “some” adjustments were needed, it was a small deal.’

The military man looks at him in surprise as another figure enters the room.

{GENERAL?}

‘Ah yes sir, Good afternoon.’

{DOCTOR?}

‘Good afternoon sir.’

{SUBJECT 135? IS SHE ON PROCESS?}

‘Yes sir she just left with my secretary.’

The military man said as calm as he could physically achieve.

{GOOD, SHE WILL BE IN YOUR CARE NOW}

MAKE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF HER

His eyes said.

.

..

…

{WE HAVE ANOTHER THREE CINDERACE POTENTIALS COMING}

{ATTEND TO THEM DOCTOR}

‘Y-yes…’

{AS FOR YOU}

He looks at the military man as he nods in confirmation.

They disappear from behind the doors of the Auditoriums view deck.

…

…

‘You sure are taking your time young lady.’

The secretary said as the girl stood in front of, what the facility calls: “Entity Identity”

A wide wall.

Filled with names.

‘This will be me until I die.

What is a minute?

An hour?

Besides…

Isn’t it your job to wait?’

The woman chuckles, but felt annoyed at the girl’s words.

It has been an hour already.

She wanted to leave.

‘I’m curious about something Miss Secretary…

We’ve been in here for the past hour and you still have not called me by my register code.’

The secretary was peeved by her question.

But she had no other choice.

‘It’s a personal code of mine for project graduates. This is your day.

I just think it is best not to remind you of your hard years of training.’

The girl took a deep breath.

‘I see.

How many of us have you processed?’

The woman looks back at her memories. And all of the men and women whom she had granted names in this facility. Each with their own unique reason for the names they had picked.

‘About fifty. Why do you ask?’

‘Nothing, you must’ve felt special feelings seeing people get their identities for the first time.

I am sure you know.

Only a handful of us make it.’

The woman nods.

‘I do.

Which is why I don’t use your register.’

‘Use it.’

The woman was taken aback.

‘W-what?’

‘I said use it.’

She turns around from the wall and starts walking towards the secretary with engulfed eyes.

‘I have seen plenty. Decommissioned.

Days where you can talk to someone in the morning only to disappear in the evening.

Many held on out of fear.

I am one out of the pitiful few that understood what needs to be done.

Why we are all here.

All my life so far I have been identified by my register.

It is the only thing those who have lost know about me.

Honor them.

Send me away from who I was…

Into who I am now.’

She looks into her eyes as she hands over her tablet.

On it were two specific words.

‘Understood.’

The secretary said as a meek smile appeared from the corner of her lips.

‘Subject Registry Number {135}

I commend you for completing the eight to twenty eight program.

I hereby thou announce your chosen name.’

The woman looks into the young lady’s eyes with confidence.

‘Welcome to the world.

Lady Miles Kadena.’

…

…

Present day

[Setting] Hotel room #524

[Location] Batangas City [Philippines]

‘Fuck you Miles…’ The man with the long scruffy hair said as he tried to escape from being bound to the chair he was sitting on.

‘{127} or should I call you Geeno Blitz?’ Miles said mockingly as she paced back and forth in front of him.

‘Fuck you! Out of all the 8-2 agents, I just had the luck of the fuckin draw.’ The man shouted as he spit on Mile’s boot. Miles looks back at him with disgust.

She gives him a swift kick to the face.

With the same booth he spat on.

‘Yes! Very lucky indeed.’ Miles replied.

‘So who ya workin for now eh Miles? CIA? Interpol? SAS? Or maybe some other upstart company I’ve never heard about?’ He yelled once more, clearly holding back some pain.

‘Have you heard of the company called MPI?’She asked.

‘Hah! I knew it! You were always rescuin’ the little ones, giving them a little “push” eh Miles? So humble… I mean really, you touched my heart--’

She kicks him again.

In the groin.

‘M.P.I… Geeno. It stands for Miles’ Personal Intuition. And I am here to bust your ass simply cuz I feel like it.’ She replies, mocking him with her tone as the man called Geeno looks at her with steam blowing out of his ears.

‘Bullshit!’

‘Oh yes really.’ She replies, her eyebrow raised as he squirms in his seat trying to rip the rope that tethered him to his seat. ‘You really think you could escape without your suit on?’

‘I don’t need the suit!’ He responds in anger.

‘Well so far you look like you do.

Gotta hand it to those two. They managed to make you bleed.

Carbon composite suits don’t rip.

Not with bullets at least.’ She said as she took a spot near the television, leaning her back on its wall.

Miles takes her metallic hands and pressed and holds both of her thumbs on the center of her palms as the metal systematically unlatches from her body revealing her arms underneath. The suit drops to her feet with a clink and a thud, in the same manner a chainmail would when taken off, as she reveals her body wrapped in a dark two piece tight suit that she loosens by twisting her wrist watch. Making her look like she was wearing a black shirt with matching leggings.

‘Done seducing me?’ Geeno snarks.

‘Oh you were seduced?’ She replies unabashed, as she picks up her gun from the side table beside her and cocks it in position.

‘What’s your purpose Miles?’ He asked, his eyes focused on the gun.

‘To distract you…’ She responds.

The man looked confused as Miles just stared at him with her gun in hand.

Doing absolutely nothing.

This went on for the next twelve hours.

…

…

12 hours later.

[Setting] Basement Room 33 - Palace of Midas - Beauty Parlour

[Location] Marikina City [Philippines]

‘Hello?! Miles?’

A distraughtly sounding Lando Sulit picks up his cellphone in the middle of a gaming session. It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal had it occurred a minute earlier but he had just triggered a pivotal boss fight that he had to pause.

‘Hey Babe.’

‘Miles don’t start--’

‘I got no time. I have a package arriving in two hours. Be at the front door.’

‘Wha-- two hours? How ya gonna send it? Do you even know whe--’

‘Lemme guess… Spider and the fly?’

‘Fuck…’

‘You’re actually quite easy to track Lando.’ Miles said with a light chuckle. ‘You hardly change your key locations.’

‘Goddammit Miles… just… ugh nevermind…’ He said, his tone, deflated.

‘Anywho see yah in two hours!’

‘Wait Miles what?!’ He tries to get another word in but she had already cut the line, leaving Lando in a panicked mood. He thought of calling Bert to assist but he had just left that afternoon to get some family time back at his home. Whatever it was that he planned to do, he has to do it all on his own.

‘Fucking vaccuum, where the heck did I fucking store you?!’ He grumbled as he frantically searched around the space he was staying in. He also came across his own scent while doing so. Getting instantly conscious about it as he adds “shower” part of his to do list.

Thankfully she called again.

She’ll be late because of traffic.

And so he felt relaxed.

For now at least.