"Ahhh Ein. Right there, it's so good!" Mobius moaned as he hit the right spots.
Ein continued with his ministrations, even adding a bit of electricity to up the sensitivity. "You like that Moby? You know I like it too, let's do this more often."
Mobius sighed with satisfaction. "Yeah, I didn't know that I needed this in my life. You honestly should've done this for me more often."
She stood up as she stretched. Receiving a massage from him before working on trying to sequence his genome and insert it to other people.
"Okay, I can work more now. I feel refreshed." She clenched her hand and rolled her shoulders. Feeling light and relaxed.
Vill looked on in interest. "What did you do Ein? I could tell there was something special to it." Mobius looks like a brand new person already.
Ein snapped his fingers and an arc appeared between it. "I used a bit of controlled electricity to relax the muscles. It's very useful, Mobius, you'll probably know that in the future." He grinned.
Both of them got confused a bit. "Anyway, let's go! I would like to map out the composition of your body and make something wonderful!" Vill was all jittery.
He got into a tank and it filled with water. The operating table couldn't handle his weight now. And they scanned him thoroughly.
Vill watched on in excitement as she saw how his body worked. "Woah, his body is like a fortress." They saw that he has a literal ton of dense muscle fibers packed like a can of sardines. Cranked up to 11.
Mobius looked on with dazed eyes. "If the honkai isn't here, he would simply be indestructible. He even has layers of endoskeletal platings in droves." Amazed by his physique as she licked her lips.
Vill nodded. "Oh, I just had an idea. Let's make the whole suit of armor as a mesh next time. In a molecular level, just like his body. It's all tight and makes a nanocrystal like lattice."
Ein got out of the tank and smiled. "Like what I did with my body? Neat, right? Well, Mobius. Any luck on sequencing something in my dna that would make super soldiers?" That will help immensely.
She frowned and shook her head. "Honestly, your dna is a mish mash of different genomes that would be impossible in any living being. You're like a chimera with the shape of a human." She thought of alternatives to perfect the genome.
He shrugged. "Well, we could always look for other ways. How about you Vill? Did you have a burst of inspiration for the mark 2 of the suit?"
Vill smiled and nodded happily. "Yeah! The molecular structure of your body helped me have an idea, I don't know if it's possible though."
He patted her on the back. "Ha! Don't lose hope yet, look at Mobius. She's been having failures for years, but it didn't put her down. She's basically engineering something as well, it will take some time. But we'll find something suitable for your idea." He smiled. They all then discussed possible future projects. Vill returned to her workshop after an hour and continued to work on the 4th divine key.
Ein sighed heavily. "Damn, I didn't know I would be working more in this life. I'm even more swamped with work, I basically have no time offs. But it's fun."
He took a walk to rest up a bit, he arrived at his sakura tree, it's now blooming beautifully with pink petals. It was still small, but it was blooming now.
Taking a seat, he took out a bottle of wine as he poured it in a cup and put it on the ground. "Hey mom, dad. I've completed your legacy you know? Me and Mei even started to make an amazing satellite that could harvest or dispose honkai energy."
Looking at the sky, he smiled. "She has a boyfriend now too. Shocker right? I didn't know she had it in her too. But mom, you're gonna love this. I have 4 girls you know?" He laughed.
"Eden's a super star, Himeko's born to be a soldier, Elysia is a sweetheart, and Mobius. You know her, she can be a bit prickly but, she's just too much of a nerd."
He stood up and dusted himself. Looked at the tree for a bit, then left. While walking back to the base, he saw Himeko teaching Hua marksmanship.
"Nyahallo Hime, Hua." He waved to them. "Right at marksmanship huh? Hua, you have good dynamic vision and reflexes. Your decision making is also quick." He nodded with satisfaction.
Hua got a bit sheepish as she scratched her cheek. "No, Dr. Ein. Captain is just an excellent teacher."
Himeko sighed. "Hello too Ein. And what's with your greeting? Hua really is a good student, she catches on real quick. She'll be field ready in a week at this rate."
Ein frowned, shook his head and sighed. "You won't understand the greetings of an elite Hime. And don't be too modest Hua, give where credit is due you know? Although your words also compliment me as I'm Himeko's teacher so that transfers to you." He smiled tenderly.
Hah, I remember the scrubs at the hospital back then. Med students that were still learning, good times.
Hua smiled. "Thank you Dr. Ein." She then got all fidgety and nervous. "Umm, can you perhaps teach me more about martial arts? I grew up in a dojo you see? I just can't let go of it." She gave a sad smile, confirming that her father that owned the dojo didn't survive the eruption.
He patted her head and nodded. "Sure thing. How about we go have a spar inside my training room? Nobody's ever got in there besides Mobius and Mei now that I think about it."
They went deep underground as they saw a huge training ground with big blocks of metal, either dented horribly or has big rings on top for hooks to lift it.
"Now then, we're in Shenzou, so you must have practiced martial arts here? Then you specialize in quick attacks. Come Hua, don't be shy. Oh by the way, use gloves, thick ones." He ushered her with his hand.
Hua were given some gloves by Himeko as she charged at him and gave a flurry of blows. He was like an eel as all her attacks no matter the chain were dodged like he didn't have bones, standing on the spot. Bending in inhuman ways.
She frowned, noticing that he didn't even move from where he was standing. "Hah!" She gave a sweep on his legs. Ein flipped from his position and stood upright using a single finger. He then taunted her to try harder.
She started to get impatient as she released blow after blow until she ran out of gas. "Hah, hah. Dr. Ein, you know that I can't have battle experience even if this is training if you just dodge everything."
Ein patted her head. "Ohh you're getting impatient, I've been observing you of course. At first your chain of attacks would've hit me if I wasn't flexible enough, but after that, you had some major problems. You're quick to lose your head Hua. Isn't martial arts about patience and finishing the fight instantly?"
She nodded with a frown as she grit her teeth. Forgetting her discipline and teachings. "I understand sir. So what would you point out that I could do better?" She asked with conviction in her eyes.
"Hmm, honestly? You're too easy to read, 7 year old me could've probably beat you up." He shrugged. "Basics are fine, but if you stick to it like a mantra, you're just asking to be punched in the face. Let's make you more flexible and stronger physically, attacking at angles that aren't expected will make you more versatile."
She nodded and internalize his words. She bowed deeply "Thank you for your tutelage Dr. Ein, but may I see how you fight? I'm honestly curious." She thought about Himeko's words that he is a technician as well.
He scratched his cheek. "Uhh, I don't know if I could fight someone like how you want, oh I know, how about I limit myself to an average guy and you and Himeko try to hit me?"
Himeko frowned from the side and sighed. This girl, making me fight him again. "Hua, let's go. I'm telling you though, this won't be fun."
They let her rest for a few minutes as they got into position. Himeko went first as she gave a barrage of strikes and tried to grapple. He said he'll limit himself to normal right?
His arms snaked around her while she was trying to throw him as pushed on a specific spot on her knees and hips to offset her center of balance and took her down like a kid.
Hua tried to attack him but blocked everything while entangling Himeko in an arm bar as she tapped out immediately. He then got up and started to strike Hua with intense and precise strikes that would take her out in an instant. Thankfully he didn't went through with it or she'll be in a world of pain.
They both sighed as they were dismantled quickly. "You guys still have a lot to learn~ Well, in your defense I could see you guys with my eyes closed. But I limited my reaction time and strength to an average joe. The secret is practice, I didn't calculate your moves as well, just reacted to what I saw."
Himeko clicked her tongue. "I told you it won't be fun, he literally moved like a normal guy and still beat us up. Ein, can you show Hua how strong you really are?"
"Hmm, how about you girls stay over there and shield yourselves." They walked to a thick bullet proof glass that was bolted near a wall as they looked at him.
He then walked to a huge block of metal. He kicked it lightly as the metal was dented like it was clay, he slowly ramped up his power as he then jumped high in the air and gave it an axe kick that split it in the middle. The ground shook as Hua saw his monstrous strength.
"Umm, captain?" He voice shaked. "Is my eyes wrong or that block of metal there split like a fragile piece of cracker." She was in disbelief.
Himeko patted her on the back. "That isn't even his strongest attack. He can send that block flying hundreds of meters away but the training ground won't hold."
He ran to them as he smiled. "Now you guys must be starving right? Especially you Hua, you should eat a lot more. Do you have anything you like?"
Himeko smiled. "Hua, don't be shy. He is also the greatest cook I've seen, he could make anything." Drooling from imagining his decadent meals. They are separated now after all and couldn't eat it on their missions.
Hua shyly said. "I like noodles, they're my favorite. Good ones were a bit pricy so I couldn't eat them often."
He took out a table as he set up the meals. "Here's some xiao long bao, wantons, meat buns, and hand pulled noodles. Eat a lot okay? You need a lot of calories so your body could be stronger."
Hua gulped, seeing all the delicious looking food on the table. "I can eat a lot Dr. Ein, I'll take you up on your offer." She started to eat as she moaned from it's deliciousness.
"You know, the captain of squad 4 likes ramen. He even requests it all the time, so don't be shy and tell me if you want some noodles okay? I've got tons of food and they're all steaming hot or fresh and cold."
They ate happily as the never ending feast stuffed her to the brim. Hua stuffed her face with the dumplings and meat buns, then washed it down with the spicy broth of the noodles.
She never had a feast like this in her life. Living off on a dojo in this technological age didn't make a lot of money, so she ate like it wasn't going to happen again.
After eating she noticed that they were looking at her and smiling. "Sorry captain! Dr. Ein! It was just honestly too good so I couldn't help myself." She lowered her head in shame.
He waved his hand nonchalantly. "No, seeing you eat my food with so much gusto was honestly heartwarming. I'll pack Hime some food everyday so you guys would be eating healthily. Himeko's a shit cook after all." He laughed boisterously.
Himeko puffed her cheeks and glared at him. "You said you wanted to taste what we can make! I never said I was good at it you bastard." She grumbled.
Hua looked at their exchange and smiled. She remembered her friend back in sapphire that unfortunately died. She was my only friend too. These people are very nice, I wish you could hang out with them as well. She smiled with a tinge of sadness.
...
Ein was in a dark room with Mei and Mobius. "The infected are hiding and spreading corruption to other people. This is getting out of hand." Mei said with an annoyed tone.
"How about we have a clean up crew? Honestly, they are spreading like wildfire right now." Mobius proposed.
Ein raised his hand and gave them a file. "We need special forces, I'll be making them in secret, the higher ups don't know this. Agents will be scouting specialists and train them in these operations. I'll call it COCOON, they'll infiltrate areas and clean them up the ones that are too far gone. We can collect the antibodies for emergency serums then."
Mei and Mobius looked at the file and read it. After a few minutes, they nodded in agreement. "This would be quite extensive, you sure you could manage this on top of your duties?" Mobius asked with a raised brow.
"You might only care about this in your lab Mobius, but money makes the world go round. I have tons of it, and I could make people spin around and do my bidding because of it. Have you already forgotten the times your lab had budget cuts? You drank with potential investors even though you're bad with alcohol and Klein would carry you back every time."
I'll deal with those guys by myself. He planned to make them disappear, they'll reappear eventually. "Don't worry about budgets Mobius, I'll handle it. And those guys? They're going to Brazil."
Mobius and Mei got confused. But didn't pry, he looks dangerous right now. Leaving nothing much to imagination.
"Okay then, this meeting is adjourned? Ein. We need to speed up the 4th divine key. So Cocoon wouldn't be swamped with clean up as well." Mei said with urgency.
They all nodded and Ein made a call. "Hey, I'll assign you a big project. Get me some people, yes the ones who can clean a house. We've got plenty of dirty ones."
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Cocoon is made, Kalpas and Sakura are near. Though I'll introduce Phyllis first, the story would slow down a bit as new characters are introduced to flesh them out a bit. Thank you for reading, ciao.