_AUGUST 19, 2078_
_NEFARION_EAST GATE_
_5:24am_
AUTHOR'S POV
Snow fell in East Gate. Clouds blocked out the sun and the cold winds traveled around within the gate. Of course people were still out even when all this snow was all over the place. The last thing you'd even expect is to see some idiot wearing summer clothes out there in the streets.
One slightly shivered as she stood outside the suite balcony. She knew about the cold weather but decided it would help distract her from her thoughts anyway. Puffs of smoke came with every exhale she took as she hugged her body for heat.
She flinched feeling a sudden invasion of warmth. Her head snapped to the side but her eyes softened seeing Nine. "Are you sure you'll live out here when it's so cold?" One held onto the jacket Nine had placed over her shoulders as she eyed him realizing it was Four's jacket.
"But... Isn't this Four's???" She stared at the material, knowing very well who owned the damn thing.
"He asked me to give it to you. He saw you standing out here about to freeze to death." his voice was filled with mischief but he casually tucked his now freezing hands into his pants' pockets.
"I'm doing fine though..." She insisted, moving to take off the jacket. But Nine was quick to land his grip on her shoulders saying, "Keep it on. You know very well how rarely he ever shows this much feelings towards anyone."
One couldn't help but blush. Four was cold but his heart was always warm, especially with the right people. Nine retracted his hands, going back to his previous posture as One took a glance behind her to see if said Wraith was anywhere in sight. But to her dismay, he was nowhere to be seen. Fighting the pressure on her shoulders, One urged herself to start a little conversation with her old leader.
"How were you... All these years?"
Nine took a moment to answer, "We've been alright. But things drastically changed..."
One faced him, her eyes showing concern but she only waited for him to continue.
"It was just different..." When he didn't continue, One made him.
"How different?" She had asked. Nine didn't even seem to hesitate with his answer. "Five cried every night for the next two months after you.. died. Eight wasn't as cheerful as he was and he's been much, much more secretive. Six made himself busier than he should be... He even forced Raske to give him more missions as a way of distracting himself. He's also been hiding himself away and only comes out when needed.... Three... He wouldn't crack any jokes for a long while. He's been sitting in his room staring at his computer for almost 20 hours straight.....As for me, I've just been as busy as ever. I've been looking for KAIROS ever since.... I hate to say it but I only stressed myself more than I thought....."
He stopped speaking. The lump in his throat threatened him to try and speak once more, but he couldn't do so. His head drooped down as he stared at the white snow that started to cover the streets of East Gate. One knew he was missing out on one more of her old Alpha members. Her heart pumped too hard that she clutched Four's jacket tight in her palm.
"And Four?"
Her voice came out soft and almost inaudible. Her red eyes searched Nine's face for any sign of attempts to speak about the assassin. "He.." His voice cut off on its own once more. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, Nine looked back to One who was obviously desperate to hear any news about her old partner.
"Four had it the hardest." He stared hard at One. "...He.. was... Hyung got... Suspended...... again....." One took note of that. She remembered when Seventeen had died, Four was suspended from missions for a while. And it happened again after Project Angmar. After he killed her.
"He wouldn't speak or meet with anyone. Let alone leave his room. He locked himself up. I had to request that he was excused from missions for the time being, considering he just got back from the Project and was still recovering from the migraines he started having."
"He had more migraines?" One blurted out. Nine sadly nodded. "He still does after all these years. Those Angmar Augs really had bad effects on him... But Dr. Park wouldn't even consider her own failure and called Four a failure......" Nine faced One, a sad memory replaying through his eyes. One couldn't say a word. She didn't think it would've gotten that worst.
"How about you? I'm sure there's quite a story to tell after your death." Nine emphasized as he stood there with his hair starting to turn white from the falling snow. One's hair was nearly the same. Her long locks looked like an ombre of white and red because of the snow.
She held the jacket tightly around her shoulders as her head dropped. "Can you gather the team? I think it's time Seventeen and I told you what really happened." She requested. Nine nods slightly, turning on his heel and placing a hand behind One, urging her to follow him back inside. She only walks forwards and let Nine lead her back while he closed the glass doors of the balcony.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Gathered around the living room of the suite, Nine had called in everyone once every member was awake. You've all chatted a little while One fixated her thoughts on explaining everything.
"By the way, Nine. While I was dead, who lead my goddamn Team???!" Seventeen asked out loud, everyone's attention moving to hear an answer from Nine.
"Well, Ten handled the team. Sergeant Raske decided that since she was by far the second-in-command when you were leader, with you gone, they'll do fine leading the team." Nine answered, his eyes wandering off while he recalled things.
"They did? Well I hope they won't get too mad when I get back! Hahaha!" Seventeen always was a competition especially with the Feralis of Beta, Ten. The fearsome soldier who was apparently pushed out of Alpha since Nine ranked higher when he entered PHASe.
(A/N: Incase y'all got confused or forgot, Ten prefers to be called by neutral terms such as 'they', 'their', 'them' instead of 'he' or 'she'. Also, In the latest update of the game of TTEOTS, it was revealed that Ten actually HATES Nine because Ten's been working her whole life to be in Alpha but was pushed out by a high school kid who passed her rank through a test paper. I know, harsh right? So basically, if Nine hadn't entered PHASe, Ten would've been Nine in Alpha instead.)
"Hopefully not. They did mention they were still missing their leader and that your tactics couldn't be brought out the same way you did." Six added, a sad smile on his face.
"I miss my team... I miss being with them." Seventeen muttered as she leaned on the couch with Four sitting right next to her. "They'd be more than happy to welcome you back, I promise." Three speaks up beside Nine.
"This is a really great thing for PHANTASM. When you and One return, we'll have at least three Wraiths in total now since Project Angmar... No one's been able to enter the Wraith classification in the last five years. There were quite a lot who wanted to take the test and become one of the master assassins, but none of them even survived the test itself." Nine explained, his hands clasped together, apparently trying to warm them up from the cold entering the suite as he slouched in his seat.
"Yeah. Four's been the only Wraith counted alive while you were gone. There were even times when other teams had to request for his help in their missions since they lost their Wraiths." Three stated as he glanced at the assassin who was already looking back at him with crossed arms and legs on the couch.
"But of course, even with all the help and support I was giving, Dr. Park still had the nerve to call me a failure." Four coldly stated out loud. The room fell silent hearing his harsh words. But no one could blame him. Even Zero felt a slight anger bubble up in his stomach. You notice his fist clench as his brows knit together in frustration. You reached for his hand and held it tightly. His head turned to you and you gave him a reassuring smile. His body softens at your little action and he engulfs his larger hand around yours.
"I'd like to start explaining... how I'm still alive..." One suddenly suggested. Everyone's heads turned to her direction beside Eight and Five as she clasped her hands together.
"Go on..." Three gave her a soft gaze, waiting.
One lands her eyes on Seventeen, an action not going unnoticed by you. Said Wraith nodded her head as a sign for One to go on and speak. And she did.
"After Project Angmar's final results... it was concluded that the Angmar Augs failed and everyone but Four died... I thought I was too... But I woke up in a residential home... And I clearly remember that at that time, Seventeen was supposed to be dead. But she was right there when I woke up." She paused and gave Seventeen a glance and noticed how everyone's widened eyes were also drifting towards her.
•the day after the events of Project Angmar•
_OLYMPIA_PHASe_PHANTOM ALPHA'S ROOM_
_6:39am_
Silence and a heavy atmosphere surrounded the entire room of Phantom Alpha. A tear slid down Five's cheek as Eight tightly wrapped his arms around the Shifter in an attempt to calm him down. He had been crying nonstop since the day before. Eight sobbed as well, his eyes red as he patted Five's back in comfort.
Leaning against the wall with his still form, Six had crossed his arms as he stared at the ground. His mind was empty but at the same time, his heart was painfully full. Full of pain and sorrow. His breathing threatened to go at an unbalanced pace as he fought back his feelings from breaking him apart. Witnessing such a horrible event left a trigger in his head. A trigger that had him want to completely disappear into thin air and possibly from existence.
Silent taps on a tablet screen caused by a pen in the utter silence of the room was all that could be heard besides Five and Eight's silent sobs. Three gulped down his own saliva as his eyes watered. His glasses laid on the desk in front of him while a tissue paper was clutched tightly in his left hand. He knew of horrible events that occurred in PHASe's history but he never thought the current occurrence from yesterday would be way worse than anything that's happened before. With him close to losing his mind, he let go of the pen and tissue in his hands and brought them up to massage his temples and wile away the tears at the corner of his eyes.
He wasn't the only one losing his mind. At this point Phantom Alpha's leader had it the worst. Nine slouched on their couch with both of his hands covering his face. His fingers disheveling his hair in the process. He sighed deeply and brought his face up. The tips of his fingers still covered up to his nose, letting his eyes visible as he stared at certainly nothing. Having the role of a leader was already stressful enough. But having the role of the highest ranking strategist and Phantom Cell leader, it was more than enough to have him depressed. He couldn't even look at his members without feeling a lump in his throat or feeling like he failed everyone.
"Shhh... Stop crying now...." Eight patted Five's head. Eight continued to sob but put up some strength to be a good hyung to their team's current maknae.
74 Wraiths died all in one day in their very own agency. Only one was mysteriously lucky enough to have survived. Holes made pressure upon the teams that have lost a Wraith member. It was quite a different story for Alpha for one of their Wraiths died with the hand of the other.
"LET ME GO!!!"
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU BITCH!!!" A booming voice echoed outside the corridors and just a few meters from Alpha's door. Nine rushed to stand up along with Six trailing behind him. Nine stepped out of their door and his eyes widened in horror with the scene unfolding before him.
Their Feralis, Two, was gripping Dr. Park by her neck at the wall of the corridor. "Two let her go!" Nine called out. Said female had her yellow augs activated, her eyes a bright yellow as anger boiled up in her entire body. "L-let g-g-o—!" Dr. Park's strained voice was heard as she held Two's wrist in an attempt to help herself breathe. Nine ran towards them and pried the Feralis off but miserably failed. Being a Feralis, the young operative had the strength of a superhuman, a special characteristic of her class. With their unique strength, Feralis' are able to carry around weapons possibly heavier than themselves.
And on cue, another certain Feralis came with a huge scythe being dragged on the floors. "Stop that right now!" Ten yelled down the hall and came to help. They dragged their scythe between the doctor and Two to separate them. Once Nine was able to push Two away, Ten stood in between to give the doctor some space to breathe.
"FUCKING LET GO!!!" Two pushed Nine off like it was nothing. Her augs glowing brighter by the second.
"Oh no you don't." Ten stood tall, towering over Two as the blonde gritted her teeth in anger. Ten had to hold her back so Dr. Park wouldn't get hurt. Said doctor was helped by Six to regain air as she stood up from sliding down the wall when Two nearly choked her to death.
"Two listen to me!-" Nine started but was cut off immediately by the angry Feralis. "Don't tell me to fucking listen when that bitch caused One to die! Her stupid little project just had to involve every single Wraith and she pushed them all only for them to die including my sister!!!"
"Two we both know that wasn't Dr. Park's intentions." Nine calmly stated but to still no avail, Two shrugged him off and went passed Ten and Six, pushing them off, to land a punch on the doctor's jaw.
"TWO FUCKING LISTEN TO ME AND STOP IT!!!" Ten grabbed her shoulders, making her face them. "None of us like what happened okay!? So calm the fuck down because there's nothing we can do now that it's done!" Two pushed them away.
"That's exactly the point! She just had to make some stupid theory that she can make even better Wraiths from our very own master assassins." Two's voice dripped with anger and sarcasm as Dr. Park stared at her with a bruised jaw.
"And it's easier for you to say to just forget it! The Wraith in your team didn't have to suffer from those failure of Angmar Augs to die! EVEN FOUR IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THAT SHIT!!! I'M FUCKING GLAD HE SURVIVED BUT JUST LIKE THE REST OF THOSE WRAITHS HE SUFFERED AND HE'S STILL SUFFERING!!!!"
Nine, Six, and Ten's eyes widened hearing her outraged statement. It was true so to say. Four survived but the pain brought by the Angmar Augs didn't stop and Beta's leader, Seventeen, a Wraith, died weeks ago as hostage under KAIROS and never got to be tested in Project Angmar along with every other Wraith or even her older twin brother, Four.
Their hearts ached hearing that come from her. They knew it was only formed from anger but they weren't going to tolerate such a harsh statement.
"Two that's enough! Come on!" Nine began pulling her towards Alpha's room along with Six helping to pull her with them. Ten stood in front of the doctor with their scythe ready in hand incase Two was able to slip from Nine and Six's grip. Thankfully enough, they were able to pull her into the room without much trouble.
"Nine let me go!"
"Two shut up!-"
"I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL HER FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE!!!"
The new commotion caused everyone in the room to face the doorway where Two struggled to push Nine away and go back out to the corridors to beat up the doctor. Six had locked the door and Nine grabbed her shoulders to keep her in place. His eyes narrowed and his brows knitted together as he raised his voice. "I didn't like what happened not one bit but you will learn your place and accept the faith all those Wraiths and your sister were given! I know it hurts so much but we can't do anything about it! And even if I am a superior officer of PHASe I don't have the ability to bring back the dead and neither does the Science Department or Dr. Park!"
Five flinched at their leader's raised voice of anger and stress. Even Three was taken by surprise and almost dropped his tablet by accident. Two stared up at the Architect, her augs finally disappeared and her yellow eyes returned back to being gray. Finally letting it go, tears stained her face as she dropped her head. Her whole form shook and trembled as she cried. Nine took her in her arms and patted her back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell like that..." Nine whispered as he hoped to calm her down.
"I hate it. I fucking hate this! Just kill me then!! I don't have any other reason to stay an operative without my sister!"
Two went on rambling about dying and about how she hated Dr. Park while everyone looked at her with sympathy. Half of them looked away, shutting their eyes and clenching their fists.
"It's not fair! It's not fair Nine! She didn't deserve to die!!"
As she continued rambling, Three no longer tolerated the situation and got up from his chair. Nine let go of Two and let her face the Oracle. Three was always like a mother in their team. He knew what to do best during times like these. Only, they wished these times never occurred.
"Shhh.... It'll be alright... It'll be alright." He embraced her this time and Two buried her face in his chest. The purple streaks in her blonde hair messed up while Three embraced and patted her.
_LAB_
_7:16am_
"Dr. Park forgive Two. You must understand how hard it must be for her. One was her sister.... I'd feel the same way losing a member of my family." Nine spoke with Dr. Park at the side of the lab. A scanner beeped over Dr. Park's left eye but she ignored it for the meantime.
"Of course, Operative Nine." She nodded. Nine gestured a thanks before walking away next to Three. The Oracle was standing next to Four's bed. Tucking his hands into his pants' pockets, Nine strode towards the bed as he and Three scanned their teammate.
Bandages were in almost every part of Four's body, his head, his arms, his torso, nearly everywhere! A patch was also taped at his left temple, a purple bruise showing underneath. His lips were busted. His skin was paler than it already was. Wounds scattered over his form. An I.V. needle was stuck into the back of his right hand while an oxygen mask covered his mouth and nose. A deep cut was in the right side of his torso but thanks to the advanced technology of PHASe's health department, the wound didn't last too long and became a thin line 95% healed. He looked dead, in all honesty. His heart rate was stable at the moment so he was still alive.
"How is he alive?" Three mumbled. But Nine caught it. But other than that, he stayed silent, unable to answer his question. "How is it that the Angmar Augs killed 74 Wraiths but he alone is still alive?" Three asked again. This time, Nine answered, "I don't know hyung." They were thinking of asking Dr. Park, but neither of them were in the mood to even simply ask. They were glad Four was still alive. But One's death caused their hearts to ache and their minds to deteriorate.
Nine glanced over to the American doctor standing by her monitor, checking Four's vitals and such. He knew enough to know that what he was reading through that screen was impossible to be true.
'His vitals are different in description... It can't be. Has his body truly accepted the Angmar Augs? It says right there that his vision and line of sight can become as clear as a sniper rifle's scope. His agility increased as well. His reaction time is incredible... but even with all that his mind is completely calm.'
Nine stared at the readings and turned to stare at Four. Dr. Park walked away and out of the lab without a word, Nine could only guess she's still as busy as she ever was. Taking his chance, Nine approached the monitor and read more of the descriptions for a clearer understanding.
_Subject 004, Min Yoongi
_Class: Wraith
_Acceptance of Angmar Augmentations: 92.0000172%
_Failure Rate of the Acceptance of Angmar Augmentations: 7.9999828%
_Increase in Agility: 83.1625824%
_Increase in RT (Reaction Time): 99.0000096%
_Classification Rank: ALPHA
_Augmentation Control: 94.0019274%
_Angmar Augmentations Control (current conclusion): 3.0000591%
Nine couldn't believe the information he was reading. "Three have a look at this." He called out to the Oracle who was currently busy tapping on his tablet. "What you got??" Nine pointed to the monitor and Three began reading right away. It didn't take too long for his eyes to grow wider. "Are they serious!? His control over the augs as a current conclusion is way low but the increases in his abilities are incredible!.... Looks like Dr. Park succeeded...." Three exclaimed as Nine looked back at the Wraith, amusement dancing in his eyes.
A small smile formed on Nine's lips as Three continued to read about the new information. The leader sighed mumbling under his breathe, "Jae Eun would have been proud of you hyung...". A certain peace enters his mind with these new results.
_PHASe_UNDERGROUND BASE_
_9:42am_
SEVENTEEN'S / MY POV
It's been weeks. 5 to be exact. I place my hand over my chest where my heart is. It's amazing how I'm still alive. I really thought I died... I remember clearly how that bullet went through my heart. I'm not even sure if what I have in my chest is a heart. I honestly don't know how I lived. KAIROS gave me a chemical agent but I doubt that thing helped me live. It's just too impossible.
PHASe. I haven't stepped in here for quite a while now. I was planning on coming back and telling everyone 'quite cryin I ain't dead'... But three weeks ago, when I woke up, I heard that my brother got suspended from his missions. He lost control over himself after I.... Died. I didn't return then. I ran away instead. I blamed myself for letting all of this happen. And I was afraid. So I thought if he completely forgot then that would be good, right? Hello be able to continue being an Operative even without me.
And my team..... Phantom Beta...
I left them without a leader.... I hope they're still doing alright without me. I wasn't even the original leader to begin with. Ten might lead them.... They were kinda like my second-in-command in the team. I trust that they'll do fine without me.
'It's time I threw that codename Seventeen away... It's useless now.'
Peeking to my left then the right, I dashed through the familiar corridors of PHASe. I was heading to the underground base of the building. I heard about Project Angmar. It was a mess. A fucking mess. Every single Wraith is now dead. But I heard my brother was still alive for some unknown reason. But I'm glad he survived.... But One.... Alpha's second Wraith....
Good thing I still remember the passcode for these stupid door panels. After the door slid open I make sure it was locked right after I entered the facility then start looking around. All the dead bodies of the Wraiths are in here. They were stacked together as a huge pile of humans. PHASe is probably planning on burning them is they're piled up like this. I look around, moving aside one body to another.
'One where are you?'
Ultimately, I was looking for red hair. She's gotta be somewhere around here... And I better hurry unless I wanna get caught by a staff or someone.
••••••••••
I've been digging through these bodies for the last THIRTY MINUTES! This is insane! 74 Wraiths in total. Dammit! I shake my head in frustration. I stick around for fifteen more minutes and I finally spot One's body. I went over to grab her and separated her from the rest of the bodies.
One thing I've noticed while going through these dead Wraiths, all of them have the outline of their augs permanently printed on their faces. There were some of them who were wounded. Dry blood made the place reek I've been wanting to barf since I got in here, to be honest. Even One was wounded.... there was a stab in her chest. A few bruises here and there.... Her augs' outline was on her face as well. Wonder how bad that damn project was to have caused this.
Sighing, I got up and pulled One's body over my shoulder. I'm taking her with me away from here. She may be dead. But not for long.
I'm bringing her back.
I stop in my tracks on my way out. Turning back, I leave One for a moment in a hidden pathway. I passed the corridors and walked inti the third floor of PHASe where the lab was. I carefully peek through the door's window. No one was inside. So I let myself in.
Seeing him like this.... I couldn't help but tear up. What was Dr. Park thinking!? This is a fucking disaster! There is only one Wraith left in all of PHANTASM because of that stupid project! I can't see him like this. Bandages all over him, an oxygen mask over his mouth, an I.V. needle sticking into his hand..... he literally looks dead! His skin is so much paler than it usually is! I reach forward attempting to touch his face. But I hear voices and hear footsteps from afar. My augs activate and I see Dr. Park with Sergeant Raske through the walls of the lab coming this way. I spare Yoongi another glance and sprint out.
I was able to exit PHASe the way I got in without anyone noticing. I avoided every CCTV they have and I wasn't caught at all. To say that this was no big deal, was an overstatement. I memorize the building well enough to know where their stupid CCTVs are and where those hidden pathways are built in.
The neighborhood at the edge of the city's borders was quiet. It was normal actually. I've been living in a house here for the last five weeks and I got to experience what a normal life as a citizen actually was. Being an Operative is damn stressful and your days are full of work, work, and goddamn work! You'll never get a break unless given one. That is, you aren't given one at most times at all! Fucking shits just control you like some machine for their own good.
Well... That's how we Wraiths were treated...
Fuck that bitch. I'm almost convince she's a KAIROS scum. The moment I woke up five weeks ago, I woke up in this house.
I found a note stuck under a knife in the kitchen. KAIROS got the place for me. But I cannot accept that note they left...
'The house is yours. We've also gotten you things we know to be your style. Think of it as a thank you gift for your cooperation with KAIROS.'
Under that letter was their Insignia of the Blue Wings. I felt guilty reading that. It was as if I outright betrayed PHANTASM.
Groaning, I left One in my living room for the mean time to change into more comfortable clothing. Bringing Kate back to life would be a piece of cake... Especially with the left over of that chemical agent KAIROS gave me. I was able to find a way to figure out how the damn thing worked. I'm telling ya it shocked the hell outta me.
I literally died when that bullet shot me! I don't know how I got here when I'm sure as heck PHASe took me back. But seeing that note had me thinking KAIROS took me away or some shit.
And about that thing again, yeah I died. Like legit died. But that chemical shit was able to get my heart to beat again. For an unknown reason, I knew it was Pri's doing. She had all sorts of information about random shit and this sure is one of them.
I was hoping this would work, so I gave the rest of that shit to Kate. Right now, I'm just waiting to see if it could've worked. And I hope it does.
••••••••••
I'm back in the city again, just wandering around. Last night, I found out Kate had changed her position on the sofa where I left her. She was also breathing... That shit worked! I was so glad but she hasn't woken up yet.
Funny thing is, there's this huge smoke coming from PHASe's rooftop. I got too curious and found myself hiding from plain sight on the rooftop moments later. Nine was there... Dr. Park, Sergeant Raske, even Ten, Commander Klein, and lots more other Operatives and supreme officers.
I stare at the huge inferno meters from where everyone stood. The bodies of the dead Wraiths were being burned. Good thing I got One out just in time. I never thought they could be so cruel.
I leave them. I couldn't bring then all back even if I wanted to and neither can they. This world has changed from all these years. I swear I know I had been reincarnated for sure. I know I was alive back around 2019 or something.
There's this skyscraper in the center of the city where I climb up to when I don't have a place to go to at the moment. Usually, I come here with Yoongi, my brother. The sunset is just beautiful here. And I love how the winds go through my hair when the night darkens the city. I sigh, the feeling is different. It's been different ever since I died. Shrugging those thoughts off, I stand up and head hack down.
Once I reached the house, though, Kate still hasn't woken up. Her position's again though. Guess she's been moving quite a lot even though she's unconscious.
Kaitlyn noona is a good friend of mine. She's almost as cold as my brother but she's a really great person. She can show affection when she wants to. She knows very well how to show she cares. And I find it cute that she bickers with Yoongi during spare time. Hyung doesn't usually open up well with people at first. You gotta get on his good side if you really wanna be called his friend.
Ah that reminds me, Five and Eight hyung. I noticed how my brother first treated them when they all first met. He was as cold as ice I tell ya. Hahaha! They didn't stand a chance and often backed away in fear that Yoongi might snap their necks in half. I befriended them, telling them it'll take some time to have him warm up to new people. He wasn't always like that though.... There were times when he would smile a gummy smile, make aegyo, stuff like that.... But it all changed when the Blue Wings began striking Olympia. People died and suffered because of them. They were cruel freaks and hyung..... Yoongi hyung decided he'd protect us.... By signing up for PHASe.
Mother and I didn't want him to leave. We were afraid he wouldn't survive out there. But we underestimated his determination to keep us safe. We found out later that he was already a trainee in no time. Soon enough, he was an active Operative in the field. He was placed in he Wraith Class since he was pretty much good at killing people.
But dad died...... followed by mom...
When hyung found out, he wanted to send me to some far away country out of danger as his way of protecting me. But I didn't really listen to him. I entered PHASe and signed up. Hyung got surprised and a little mad when he found me in the same class as him. I became a Wraith like he was.
'What the hell are you doing here!?'
'You can't just send me away hyung.'
'But why enter PHASe!? Kid this isn't a place for you!'
'Yeah? Well then why do you think I'm a Wraith like you?'
'Wait what? You're a Wraith!? God this is not happening....'
'It sure is hyung. So listen, I'm not going anywhere and hide in some shit of a country because those assholes killed our parents and I wanna rip their fucking heads off!'
'Since when did I allow you to curse that much young lady?'
'Mom and dad didn't mind. And you know fucking well I ain't no lady, hyung.'
'This is wrong! You can't be here! You should've just left like I told you to!'
'To be safe? You said you'll protect me. How are you going to protect me when you're not even with me?'
'.....Fine. But please you little-! You better live through this life you understand?..... I can't lose you like we've lost our parents..... I'd rather lose everything else but you, hear me?'
'.....Of course hyung. I know that damn well..... Besides, we're twins, what could happen?'
I died protecting him when he said he'll be protecting me..... That's what happened. I wasn't even really paying attention to the news on my TV screen. I just turned it on and spaced off.
"Screw this shit."
I left to the kitchen and grabbed myself some water. But while gulping it down, something interesting caught my attention from the news.
"Citizens of Olympia are highly discouraged to exit their homes until further notice. The Blue Wings, KAIROS, was reported to be taking hostages from the city streets just to get away from the cops and more especially, PHASe Operatives.... Another-"
My attention got driven away from the screen when I hear a groan coming from the couch. I turn my head, a small smile forming on my face seeing Kate slowly sit up on the couch.
"Ugh... What the-!? Where am I??"
I wait for her to notice me... But I suddenly felt like hiding... like I was afraid. But her eyes land on me casually sitting on a single chair just a few steps from the couch she sat on.
I slightly activate my augs, my eyes flashing red. I read her vitals which seemed to be normal... well her heart rate raced faster than normal the moment she saw me.
"Wha- How... That-that's impossible you were- what!? J-Ja-Jae Eu-Eun???"
I could only smile at her. It sure is hard to see the dead come back to life. "Hey noona..."
She gets up but stumbles forward. I get to her just in time and placed my arms under hers. I'm like 4 years younger than her, I think, but my height is 4 centimeters taller than her! "Aish don't rush yourself noona..." I mutter out. She looks up at me and holds my shoulders. I remain silent seeing a tear escape her eye.
"You're alive..... y-yo-you're o-ok-ay...." She proceeds to hug me tightly and I just stand there stiff.
'Is this how Yoongi hyung felt when noona hugged him? I can't move!'
Being a tomboy had its perks.... and some disadvantages. But in my case, you know I honestly think I should have been born as a literal boy. The way my brain thought about things and how I felt whenever I was near girls was.... the typical type of how men acted and felt. I feel like a guy stuck in a girl's body.
"N-noona..." I sound like a kid dammit.
"O-oh right s-sorry I forgot.... I just..." Yeah, she knew about that weird fact. Hyung told her. "I just missed you. Your brother would-"
I stare at her pause. Her eyes widen as she spaced out. "Noona?" I held her shoulders. She looks back at me. I then realize why she stopped talking.
"You know it's not his fault... right?"
I heard about what happened. Hyung lost controland killed a few of the other Wraiths himself and.... One included. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean for it to come out like that-!" I push away my triggers and hug her back. "I know noona... I know." She hugs me back then and I let go soon enough to let her sit back down. I brought her some water and painkillers incase she gets a sudden headache.
I sit back down in my spot and face the TV again, switching through channels to look for something worth my watching. "Where are we?" Noona calls from behind me. "Uh in my house...." she gives me a skeptical look. Course she won't settle with just that simple answer. Remembering I kept the note KAIROS left, I had her read it then just explained afterwards. I was ashamed of telling her about what I did. But I had to at least tell someone. And right now, she's the only whom I can share my story with.
"Noona I'm sorry... I never meant to hurt anyone especially you and hyung." I looked down at my hands, avoiding her gaze. But she kneels in front of me and holds my hands. I look into her red eyes as she smiles at me. "I understand that Jae... Because we're sharing the same situation now. We're both back from the dead... And I think it's best if we don't show ourselves just yet." I nod at her. "Ne... I was actually planning on attacking KAIROS myself...." Reckless, yeah I know. Fun fact though, Dr. Park wasn't so sure about my class when I went through their test. She once told me that I was right in between Wraith and Feralis. I had to retake the test at least three more times before she and the Science Dept. concluded I fit more in the Wraith Class. So here I am now, a dead Wraith brought back to life.
"You know we can't do that... We're greatly outnumbered. But maybe we can try figuring out their next plans instead. It could be a lot of help too. Then maybe... We can go back to PHASe. We can't stay hidden forever........ But speaking of which, how are we both still alive?"
I bit my lower lip, "Yeah about that... there's this little factor I didn't mention earlier...." she looks at me waiting to hear the rest of the story. "I'm also alive because of some chemical agent KAIROS lent me. Somehow, it managed to keep me alive..... I had a little bit more and gave it to you.... it worked as I hoped anyway..." I wait for her reaction. She blinks, taking in the information as she nods slowly. "I see...."
Feeling a change in the atmosphere, I get up and lead her to my room where I gave her some spare clothes to change in. "Thanks Jae."
"No prob noona..." I smile at her.
"Seven-" I cut her off.
"No need for that noona... Technically I'm not an operative anymore considering I'm dead." I state and she shook her head. "No need to be that harsh on yourself kid." I rose a brow at her. "Yeah fine fine. Jae Eun then.... Then don't you call me One anymore got it?" I just nod with a side smirk.
"So... What are your plans kiddie?" She asked while adjusting the pants I gave her. I frown at her though. "Why do you and hyung love teasing me so much huh?" She giggles and look towards the ceiling. "Sorry sorry... You really are just like a little brother." I only nod, taking in a deep breathe to compose myself. "We could go look for KAIROS... For the last five weeks that I've been wandering around, I went to KAIROS' place. I wasn't able to get in too far though... They could've caught me by then. But I heard from Temperance that they're planning on a move..... in like three years of four, I dunno. And uh, we should probably follow them. I know for a fact that PHASe wouldn't be able to track them out of Olympia if they couldn't even track them in here. But it's your call, noona... You were in a higher ranked team... I'll just listen to you...." I leaned back on the wall with my arms crossed and hopefully noona gives me an answer. She looked away, probably thinking.
"If we follow them... How will we?" She asked out of nowhere. I blink twice and thought to myself for a while. "I can still get access to a transport vehicle.... I know a guy from outside the wastelands. She eyed me. Usually she and hyung would doubt me but I've always proved to them that I can handle things on my own.... They keep babying me!
"Well fine.... You always find a quick way through things anyway..... You get that vehicle ready incase we need to hurry in following KAIROS. Three or four years right? They can leave all of a sudden and we might never know." I sigh. Looks like it's just gonna be the both of us for long time...
•a year later•
_WASTELANDS_
_12:53pm_
ONE'S POV
Jae Eun's alive.... she's been alive for the last five weeks and we never knew. She's always been great in hiding almost as great as Six but as an operative... She's beyond most operatives... It's pretty impressive actually. Four never told us about her before and it only shocked us when we all met during a mission. Alpha and Beta joined together once. When we saw her for the first time, I honestly doubted her. I thought she wouldn't be able to handle missions considering she was way younger than us. She's a year younger than Five! And when I heard from Nine that she was Beta's leader, I was actually afraid and confused.
Confused on why PHASe was sure on having her lead Beta. I knew Beta had a different leader back then, he was removed from Beta and entered a different Phantom Cell, then we find out this Seventeen was the new leader. Afraid because.... When I saw the look in her eyes after killing one KAIROS Operative.... I knew that look anywhere.... The eyes showing pure acceptance towards the action of being a murderer without regret or guilt..... It came from Four. Later on he revealed they were twin siblings. It was a huge doubt but they shared the very same aspects of being a Wraith and in person. Especially in the point of killing.
I, on the other hand, worked my way to Alpha with my sister, Two. Life was torture for the both of us. Our parents left us at an early age, leaving me to watch over Freya, Two. Freya, however, was a little rascal. She followed me everywhere I went and did the things I do. We were brought to PHASe after a KAIROS attack during evacuation. We were rescued... And given a chance to live a different life. Sergeant Raske was an active operative that time. He was the one who rescued Freya and I. He had Dr. Park give us a chance to become trainees. Miraculously, we survived through it. I was able to enter the Wraith Class. I met Four and Six as a trainee. Freya got into Feralis. A class of reckless and powerful operatives. I was afraid she might need me while we were separated in classes, but she did greater than I expected.
When we were ready, we were ranked in Alpha. I earned the codename One and since Raske was retiring, Two became Freya's codename. I could brag all day about how great we were doing in the field along with Alpha. Four and I had quite a strong partnership as well. I guess you can say we were quite close like how he was with Six. Being a Wraith meant sacrificing yourself to be the team's offense or defense, whichever they needed. Four proved that more than once. He took a bullet for Five, Three, and Nine. He didn't even hesitate. But that was a challenge for me. I took me a long time before I could openly take a bullet. Funny story, I took it for him... for Yoongi. He wasn't the only Wraith in the team, so I had to do what I had to do.
Right now, I'm in the wastelands outside of Olympia. Jae Eun went on ahead last night to look for her friend and borrow ourselves a vehicle for transport. I had been walking for God knows how long. I'm really tired, but I promised Jae I would follow her out today. I let her get ahead of me so she can get to her friend early.
"Why does the sun have to be so hot?" mumbling to myself really wouldn't help though, would it? Jeez I gotta get outta here.
"No! Please spare me!"
Just my luck, I turn to my right. Not too far from my position, I see a poor old lady being mobbed. These jerks, they don't know when to quit. I dash over as people from some tribe tried helping as well. Just before the man hits the old woman, I grab his wrist and twist his arm. He groans, falling to his knees as I looked him in the eye. I feel him shiver under my gaze. But it didn't last too long. His free hand grabbed a knife from his belt, I avoid his attempt to hit me but the moment he gets free from my grip, he maneuvers his way to aim the knife at the old lady. And just like the Wraith I am, I stand in front of her, letting the knife sink into my back. It hurts but I can't let him get away. I turn back around and seeing he doesn't have any weapons now, I grab the old woman's stolen purse and taking my own blade, I thrust it into the man's arm. Blood spills from his shoulder as he runs away. I let him go, what I had to do was done anyway. Get the purse back.
"Oh my dear, thank you so much!"
Turning my head, I smile at the elder, "It was no problem ma'am... I couldn't just stand there and watch him take what's yours and possibly hurt you." I wince, I nearly drop to my knees but stable myself. I feel my blood leaking from my back.
"Oh my! Come, our tribe can help you..."
"Oh there's no need. I can take care of it myself!"
"Nonsense child, come. Please, this is the least I can do for you for saving my life."
She kept insisting so I had no choice but to follow her to her tribe. I was able to hold on longer but the leakage is too much at this point.
"Come! Come help this young woman she's hurt!!"
I hear her call for people but I could only feel the blood on my back. I reach behind me, trying to grab the knife, that's when I feel a pair of arms hold me steady. To say that the tribes of the wastelands are better people than most of those within the city is a hundred percent true. Just one look at each of them, you can tell they want nothing but peace.
"Please come this way... I'll be helping you."
Here I am now, sitting on a mattress with a girl wrapping a bandage around me. I stare at the knife now laying on the ground with my blood spread over its blade. I turn to the girl bandaging me. "Here you go um..." I smile realizing I haven't introduced myself at all, "Kaitlyn... Or Kate for short.". She returns the smile. Her smile is beautiful, just like her whole being and her personality.
"(Y/n)."
"Thank you for cleaning my wound." I reach out to the new clothes (Y/n) had lent me.
"Thank you for helping our elder... Who knew what could've happened if you hadn't helped..... Usually city dwellers aren't that kind. So thank you, really." She continues to smile at me. I can't help but see her in a different way. There's just something special about her...
"It's really no problem. I just like helping out those who can't help themselves... The world's gotten cruel these passing years... You just gotta lend a hand when you can." I tell her. She nods and tucks her purple hair behind her ear.
"Yeah I know, right? Those jerks just never seem to learn... Oh uh, I hope you don't mind me asking but... What are you doing outside of Olympia?" She asks suddenly... But there's really no point in hiding thing now is there?
"I'm looking for some people... I want revenge on them actually." I tell her. "But why?" I look away for a second. "...They hurt people I cared about... They killed those who were innocent and had nothing o do with their shit..." I felt my fist subconsciously tighten around the handle of my blade.
(Y/n) could only nod at my answer. "I understand why you wanna go after them, whoever they are. Maybe I can be of some help?" My eyes widen and I immediately lift my arms, "Oh no , no! I wouldn't want to get you into the trouble I'm in." I can't have her tag along... She doesn't even know who KAIROS are. She'd get killed out there!
"Well at least let me give you a few things before you leave."
(Y/n) stands up, leaving me to fetch the things she wished to give me. The pain on my back was unbearable. If this were PHASe, that wound would've been completely gone by now. I reach behind me, groaning as my back muscles yell at me to stop moving. And I do stop.
'I've never truly felt how painful it was to have a slow-healing-wound...'
I shouldn't even feel pain. Much less emotion. I've failed miserably with that certain characteristic of being a Wraith.
Honestly.... I only appear tough now because I was such a failure back then. I used to get scold a lot by either Dr. Park or Sergeant Raske. I broke down on one of our later missions with Alpha as a Wraith.
They thought I was ready...
I thought I was ready...
I wasn't...
I was out there in the field alongside Four and Nine. We were chasing down a suspected KAIROS Op. We caught him. He refused to share information with us. Three concluded we didn't need him. So... Nine commanded a kill.
By me...
But I couldn't do it. Four held the man in place so I can finish him. But I could only stare and shake while holding my gun. I shook in my spot. Four was calling me, telling me to shoot the man. But my mind was blank. My body didn't move and I felt.... fear. I was afraid of killing someone.... Memories of my parents' deaths came back to me. I was just a kid back then.... But I remember clearly how they were killed. I saw it all happen in front of my eyes!
...I was afraid I would be like them... Killing people because they had to. And when I was told to kill the man just because we had no more use for him..... I broke down on the spot. In front of the KAIROS Op, in front of Nine..... In front of Four.
I remember shaking uncontrollably and falling to my knees. Four was distracted and it gave the man an opening. He escaped Four's grip and attacked him. Nine was somehow able to get me back to my senses... When I realized what was about to happen, my body moved on its own.
.....My hands wrapped around him as I stood in place... taking the bullet for him.
I woke up in PHASe's lab, being scolded by Dr. Park and Raske. They told me I needed to learn to control my emotions and my own decisions. I was given further punishment after that. I hadn't seen Four for maybe two weeks. Two was worried ... a lot! But I couldn't even explain to her how I lost my shit. Nine told me later that Four finished the kill for me. And when I met him again, he was the one who taught me how to control myself in the battlefield.
"Here, Kate unnie..."
I snap my head up seeing (Y/n) holding a small bag. I peek inside it, seeing a few things I found to be truly useful. "Why do you even have these?" I almost chuckle. It was quite unbelievable seeing she's able to hand me a knife. One that's used in combat. She gave me some food and extra bandages as well. "The wastelands can get dangerous so we try to hold on to something we can use to fight. But you can take that, we have lots more to use."
"Thank you." I say smiling.
"You're welcome. I'm glad I could help. Oh and our elder would like to personally thank you again before you leave." She helps with stand up and damn this is harder than I thought. I meet with the old lady again as she gave me thanks. I thanked them in return especially (Y/n) for helping me with my wound. Saying my last farewell, I leave into the night.
I can't help but feel happy while I make my way to look for Jae Eun. To think that the world has advanced so much is amazing. But it's sad to think that the people couldn't even change. If anything, they become worse. I'm glad people like (Y/n) still exist. People with kind hearts.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I never thought such a city can exist. Criminals are everywhere no matter where I look, no matter where I go. It's a mess. Jae Eun and I entered a city called Nefarion, a city of every damn criminal there is. Thieves, murderers, drug dealers, name it. KAIROS left Olympia, and like we planned, we followed them. And this is where they are now. Jae Eun's gained lots of 'friends' too. She's got connections all around the city now. We even have our own places to stay here. All the while we've been hiding, we've been looking for KAIROS Ops. We've seen Mags more than once enter clubs in the late evenings. Temperance made a few appearances here and there. But we never got to see Priestess. I got some info that Icarus and Artemis stayed back in Olympia, doing dirty work for Pri. I don't know if PHASe has noticed yet. But they better, or else we'd have a really hard time looking for the exact location of their hideout on our own.
During the months we've been here, I hate to admit it, but I work as an ambassador for drugs now. Jae Eun suggested it would be easier that way to get connections. And well, she was right. I met this club owner, Seraph Luminae, she's a stripper actually who deals with drugs in her club. Drugs are very common here, so my job just got a lot easier than I thought. Luminae grows her club fortune while I provide the drugs for her clients. Without me, her client wouldn't get what they want. So she can't have me leave her organization. And of course, with the clients, I've gained limitless connections. One of them is even the daughter of the richest man in the East Gate of Nefarion. I'm not sure about the kid though, I only see Jae Eun in clubs now... She says she's been busy with her own little work and looking for Mags but I have a feeling there's more.
I don't ask her about it. She never bothered telling me anyway.... That's until I caught her...
It was by far the worst that could happen... But we just hoped for an antidote of some sort. It was all that can help her now....
Life went on as it is. And then... Jae Eun suddenly tells me Alpha is in the city. It's been four years since we saw them... I wonder if they're still the same team I left...
'I wonder how Freya is.....'
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And there you have it guys! Sorry it took so long. The damn chap came out longer than I thought. But here you are peeps! Enjoy, comment, and vote!!!!!!