"Hey! Hey Lane! Did you hear what I just said?" It was a guy around in his 20s or so. Dirty blonde hair, charming ocean blue eyes and a lean figure basically male model material that most women would go kyah kyah for. And honestly his mysterious vibe would've been on point if it weren't for his sassy attitude at the moment, snapping his fingers in front of the girl who seems to be in daze.
"Oh Vif. You were saying?" she asked breaking herself from her reverie. Looking at her now, olive green doe eyes, light brown hair, fair skin, and pale pink lips, because of this child like features every single person will think she's a cute defenseless little bunny.
"Head up in space? Just why?" Vif asked his sass toned down a bit.
"Just thinking. Outside. My friends. Family. All this whatnots..."
"I know you're Lady Four and thinking this through is part of your duties but maybe tone it down a notch. It wouldn't do good to any of us and besides Ian is calling for us. All of us."
"All? All 10? Did he say why?"
"Yes. He didn't but we'll soon find out in 20mins. Colozo Holdings 35th floor room 2."
"Not thrilled to see Rusé at all. Whatever let's go then."
The two went out the little green and walk towards one of the tallest building in the next block. As they step out Lane look back to where they came from. It was a beautiful architecture. It has three floors and was almost completely made of glass, like a giant gem in the middle of an Urban jungle. Every wall was frosted but any one could figure out the place was filled with various plants of different colors and species hence the name Le Jardin.
As the two were walking the pass across a group of people in their late teens. They were wearing fitted black shirts and army green pants or shorts. It varies.
"Hey Vif! Laney!" One of them called as the others wave their arms in hello. The one who called was a tall girl, she looks like a runway model with her almond eyes and pixie like figure.
"Oh. Hi! Headed for Ground 4?" Lane smiled her eyes turning like crescent moons as she did.
"Where you guys going? Training is about to start right?" This time the one who spoke was a guy. Three words: tall, dark, and handsome. The type of male that most would define hot. Well too bad his smoldering brown brown eyes has set his sights already with someone.
"Something came up. No worries. Xendric and Eshton will facilitate," Vif answered.
"Right Xendric and Eshton... great..." the tall girl sighed as the other four with her visibly gulped.
The two chuckled at their reactions
"I don't like the idea that your subordinates, inciting fear on this trainees... You five should fear us more!"
"My subordinates? Aren't they yours at the moment?" Lane raise her left brow
"Either is fine. Anyway you guys we should really get going. Later!" Vif answered as he took a glance at his watch and making a run for the next block. Lane was about to sprint away as well but the smoldering guy grab her arm, "Leanna! I'll see you at lunch?"
If she wasn't being charming awhile ago, she is now. "Of course, Alfred." She pecked his cheek before taking off as well.
It took a record breaking 5 minute run, with only 3 to spare when both Vif and Lane made it to the venue. Thank the heavens for their good physical aspects that they weren't breaking in sweats also the air-conditioning is a great help along with the refreshments the office assistants provided.
In the room however, three others are already there as well. One sitting on the head, the other was on the 4th seat on the left side and the last one on the 5th seat on the left.
"Ian, you called?" Lane ask as she walk towards the second seat on the left.
The guy was wearing a tailor made gunmetal suit, good looking by most standards plus an air of extreme laid-back attitude. He look quite young however, around Lane's age 18-19.
"You looked like you run? That excited to see me?" he teased.
She rolled her eyes before her lips turning to a half smirk, "5.5 out of 10. Boss, you're not going to land any date with your pick-up lines."
With that Vif burst out laughing while the other guy across him cracked in smile and the other maintaining an impassive face. "Boss I didn't know it was possible for your rating to go any lower. From 8 to 5.5."
"Shut up. As if you could do better?" Ian growled.
"I think I do," Vif chuckled.
"Oh yeah? Please show and tell. On a second thought later it's about to start," Ian said as he composed himself and as if on cue. Holographic figures appear one by one on each vacant seat.
"Dix Dirigeants d'Élite: Seat number 5 Feuer Foster, 6th seat Aldane Aiko, Commander Vif Refroidir 7th seat, Dr. Satoru Ishi 8th seat, 9th seat Dr. Gregor Mendez and Masumi Juro 10th seat. Les Quatre Colonnes: Lady 4th Gen Lane Adelheid, Lord 3rd Gen. Fraisé Astucieux, Lady 2nd Gen Rusé Roseworth, First Master Lord Commander of Nizaille Point Dux Aristide. Presiding the meeting Lord Commander of McKenzie Point, CIC Ian Lou Colozo,"a robotic voice announced the identity of each person present at the meeting.
"So why are we being summoned?" The man sitting on Ian's right asked. Though it was a hologram his outstanding features didn't dull at all. If Vif was a charming male model, this man about the same age exudes a charismatic aura and elegance of a nobleman. He has piercing ocean blue eyes, clean cut blonde hair, lightly tanned skin and his lean muscles on his arms are quite evident even underneath his well kept navy blue suit.
"I bet it's because little missy here screwed up," the lady on the 1st seat on the left chuckled.
"Or it was probably that commander in chief has heard of your outburst, Lady 2nd," the 3rd seat chuckled. His air is quite playful, like a charming kid oozing in cuteness.
"It's probably not that. After all it's a common occurrence." Lane coolly said taking a sip on her bottled water.
"Like your common mishap? Or perhaps your subpar seduction skills?" Lady 2nd snap.
"Oh seduction? I heard that batting my lashes was comparable to you stripping naked in front of a heavily drugged man..." Lane's lips curved into a half smirk.
"Obviously those men knows who the real who-"
"Enough you two. Can you not do this right now and just because you know you're Pillars and none would stop you, both of would gun at it at sight."
"Thank you, Ian but please do tell why are we all here?" Dux breathe massaging his left temple.
"Ishi please..." Ian gestured to the eight seat. Dr. Satoru Ishi.
"We've finally have an understanding on what is happening. Our initial theory that everything is caused by an unknown strain of virus that targets the nervous system is wrong," Satoru Ishi started to explain. "It's not wrong that it messes up the nervous system but it's not caused by a virus. It's actually caused by an interaction of a radioactive compound. In sense, the reaction of the human composition is to rearrange its own DNA in unbelievable rate. It starts with tweaking the Telomere then goes to shutdown the other proteins or drastically modifies them. It's not perfect but basically kills all other functions other than locomotive in trade off to extend the life."
"In English please," the silent 5th seat said.
"Dr.Satoru is saying that those people are in a sense both dead and alive. Zombies basically," the 9th seat answered.
"So what of it? Didn't we accept the fact they are Zombies long ago," the 2nd seat pointed out.
"Undead Zombies in a way, yes. However that's not all. We also concluded that this was a result of uncompleted experiment. You see the subjects we observed are not totally the same. It's subtle but their genetic mutations are different and physical changes also vary," Dr. Satoru patiently explained.
"So you're saying someone deliberately made this whole mess?" Fraisé grumbled.
"Then we are investigating this matter?" Vif asked.
"That's all well in good but I have a pressing question," Dux uttered placing his arms on the table as he lean forward, "if this so, can your team find a way to reverse those effects? And are bites the only way to transmit it or we can also catch it through air?"
"Considering the rapid spread, considering the situation has become a pandemic save the people within the walls, Earth would end up completely inhabited..." Lane added.
"For now, we have not detected the presence of those compounds in the air even under those in the quarantine," Dr. Satoru answered, "We are unsure if we could undo its effects. Considering that it disposes the genes it shutdowns as it alter the DNA, unless we can reproduce those genes we can't reverse the effects."
"Thank you, Ishi," Ian then interrupted, "Gregor and Ishi I want you two to study this more in detail, place your focus on preventive measures rather than cure. There's still so much mystery as we dig deeper into this. Juro takeover Lane's and Vif's duties in defense. You two, deploy the entire Delta squad to investigate on this matter. Find everything in your power to know where and who started this mess. Fraisé secure resources for Nizaille we don't know how long this would take. Freuer immediately fly here and bring some "supplies". Aldane maintain the system and information route, we don't want any more problems than these. Rusé maintain the defenses there and Dux I trust Nizaille to you."
"Should we call the entire Delta Squad back here?" Vif asked.
"I leave that to you both. Whatever it cost. Do it," Ian answered his laid back attitude completely stripped off, with his imposing aura the only thing left.
"Freuer, how many days?" Lane placed her attention to the 5th seat.
"Five to a week. We still have to account the resources to forge some steel," he answered.
To which, Lane nodded.
"I am thinking of expanding, the population are growing Nizaille is getting smaller," Dux uttered.
"15 days, let's talk by then," Ian answered, "Any thing else?"
There was silence for 10 seconds. "Very well, adjourned." With that said the hologram started to vanish one by one. The three Dirigeants made their way out of Colozo building except for Lane who entered the elevator with Ian. "It started here? Country P?" she said.
The lift open at the penthouse atop the building as the two entered it continuing their conversation towards the living room.
"I have a hunch, but it could be in the neighboring countries or even in Country F. Anyway, any news about your father?" he asked his voice lace with concern.
"No, not yet. Mom has been down and refusing to leave her suite. I will coordinate with Vif regarding your orders but later I'll check outside," she said.
"Fine. Bring a subordinate with you. Those creatures are quite unpredictable," Ian reminded her.
"Thank you. I'll be back tomorrow or the day after," she said then made her way back to the elevator.
However before the ride reach the floor, Ian called out to her "Leanna..."
She turned her head slightly with a raise brow silently asking what. "Be careful, alright?" he said to which she just nodded.
By the grounds Vif was waiting for her, he was however occupied with his phone. Something regarding the masterful use of split screen feature of his phone. On one side he's playing a sort of Space Impact game on the other he's ranting on a group chat. Seeing this scene, Lane just shook her head before grabbing Vif towards a certain training ground a long walk from where they are.
"Tell them Ground 4, by the pool during lunch," she shrugged. It's almost 12 noon too and break is quite important. By the time they arrived the staffs had already brought the meal for the trainees in Ground 4 as well as for the officers however the both seems still not finish with their regime. So both Vif and Lane decided to wait by the pool however as soon as they settled there, their gazes landed on the trainees crossing the deathly monkey bars 100 feet from the floor.
Yes, it was designed to be difficult. And for safety measures those monkey bars were placed directly above the pool but it's still a hundred feet off the ground not to mention it's a long cross. A total of 50 meters. Lucky enough no one seems to be injured but a few looked quite shaken. A bit more later and all the 20 trainees there had finished their cross and is ready to devour their food.
Soon some other people also arrived, about 30 people. The trainees took their lunch on the other side of the pool while the 30 something new arrivals together with Vif, Eshton, Xendric and Lane settled on the other side.
"We've received news..." Vif begun to explain the report during the meeting awhile ago but Lane ultimately the one who gave the instructions. It feels nostalgic to everyone present, even though she no longer their direct superior it still feels right to listen to her orders. Not that Vif is not amazing, it's just that she though a few years younger has better insights and has always have a flawless strategy, the embodiment of the Elite Delta squadron.
When they finished the briefing, there's still an hour left before the training resumes so the trainees are free to chill.
"Al... we need to talk..."