The environment in the experimental room had grown serious. Earlier, some firefighters had been relaxed, treating the situation as just another technical exercise. That attitude had shifted. Now, they were paying close attention, taking the training with the quantum AI technology much more earnestly. The lecture had been thorough, and many of them had actively engaged in discussions about how to properly operate the new systems. It seemed they had finally realized the importance of the work at hand.
In the observation room, positioned above the experimental floor, Yasushi stood alongside Kraften, the scientist leading the experiment. He glanced down at the group below, his expression thoughtful. "It's clear some of them aren't exactly thrilled with you," he commented, his tone casual yet laced with pointed observation. "Look at their expressions. Even from up here, it's obvious."
Kraften didn't respond immediately, his attention fixed on the team of firefighters preparing for the next test. This one was crucial — it involved the specialized suits they'd designed. These suits, powered by advanced quantum technology, were being tested for performance and safety, compared to the standard gear firefighters typically used.
This test was the second-to-last for the day, and the tension in the room below reflected its significance. Though most of the participants seemed ready to push forward, there were still a few who carried lingering resentment toward Kraften for reasons he likely understood all too well.
"As explained earlier, this test is meant to push the suits to their limits," Kraften's voice crackled over the speakers. "The helmets you're wearing are made from the same material and function in a similar way. We'll begin by exposing you to moderate heat, gradually increasing it. If you notice anything out of the ordinary — be it a malfunction or signs that the suit isn't holding up — report it immediately. We'll maintain communication with you throughout. The countdown to the test starts now. Thirty seconds."
Furuya hung back with his group, keeping a safe distance from the others. They hadn't interacted much with the fire department members beyond a brief meeting with the chief earlier. The chief had urged them to observe for now, expressing his own uncertainty about the state of mind of his colleagues.
"Not all of us have the suits, though some have glasses, and others are using goggles," Furuya remarked. He looked around at his friends and his girlfriend, his tone calm but purposeful. "We all know what we're doing for now, right?"
Nandini and Yinhaie nodded in agreement, their expressions serious as Nandini added, "It's better if we stay here and monitor everything closely. If anything seems off, like the Chief Bacaro mentioned earlier, we'll need to report it immediately. If the disgruntled firefighter acts up, we have to get them removed before anyone else gets hurt or put in danger."
Before the conversation could continue, a bell rang out sharply, signaling the start of the next experiment. Around them, various props began to light up, their glow quickly escalating into flames. Just as in the first experiment, the Quaffers were deployed to extinguish the fires.
Further away, two large structures had caught fire. These buildings contained dummies that the firefighters were tasked with rescuing. To complete the mission, they would need to rely on both the Quaffers and the capabilities of the new suits to navigate the perilous conditions and bring the dummies out safely.
Chief Bacaro raised his hand, signaling in a way his men instantly recognized. Without the need for words, the group divided into two parts. Bacaro took charge of one group, joined by one of his most dependable subordinates, while the other group was led by two of his trusted allies.
The first group approached the building and moved inside with purpose. The air crackled with heat, the walls encased in dancing flames that seemed to threaten everything within. Yet, when they stepped into the inferno, the expected burn never came.
Instead, there was an odd chill — a coldness that ran counter to the destruction around them. Despite the illusion of safety, no one spoke. Each step forward was calculated as they advanced deeper.
The placement of the training dummy was no secret. It was part of the exercise, meant to test both their courage and precision. Moving with an unspoken understanding, one of Bacaro's men raised his Quaffer and fired a stream that cut through the fire near the stairwell, creating a narrow path. The team advanced, careful not to disturb the unstable surroundings as they climbed to the second floor.
The hallway above stretched ahead, with charred walls framing the path to their objective. They navigated the corridor, the glow of the flames painting the path ahead as they reached the final door.
Inside, they found the dummy positioned amidst the simulated blaze. One man moved quickly, dousing the flames with the Quaffer while another secured the dummy, ensuring it was intact. The task complete, they turned back, retracing their steps while extinguishing any stray embers along their path.
As they began making their way back, they moved carefully but with the confidence brought by their suits' advanced quantum technology. Tasks like this would typically be overwhelming, yet the suits not only resisted the intense heat surrounding them but also maintained a cool interior, adding an unexpected level of comfort.
Descending the staircase with urgency, they activated the Quaffer. The device released a compact bubble of energy that expanded outward, extinguishing the fire instantly upon contact. Once the area was safe, they continued through the charred remains of the building, stepping out into the open without so much as a scratch among them.
After covering a bit more distance, they placed the rescue dummy gently on the ground. Taking a moment, they inspected themselves and their gear. Despite the fire's intensity, their suits showed only minor surface markings from the ordeal, with no actual damage compromising their integrity.
"These suits are unreal," Bacaro remarked, his voice breaking the quiet that had followed the rapid series of actions. Though the task had only taken minutes, the tension made it feel far longer.
"Alright, let's head to the other building. We can check on their progress and lend a hand if things are going south. Everyone else here seems to have the fires under control," he said, scanning the activity around them. The others were occupied, dealing with the scattered flames left over from earlier incidents, their focus sharp despite missing the Quaffers they hadn't had a chance to try.
The group murmured their agreement and moved toward the second building. As they approached, distant shouting filtered through the walls. The sound grew louder with each step, drawing concerned looks from a few of them.
"It sounds like they're struggling in there. You finished your section so fast that I didn't even get updates from you," Kraften's voice came through the earpiece, calm but purposeful. "I recommend you step in, get them out of this mess, and wrap this up. Afterward, we'll debrief in a different room and review the footage. Their behavior is starting to resemble a playground spat, and we need to address it before this experiment gets any more derailed."
Bacaro winced at the commotion ahead but pushed forward with his group in tow. As they reached the living room, the scene was an embarrassing mess. The other group was locked in a screaming match. Two of Bacaro's subordinates were caught in the middle, trying to leave but being blocked by four others intent on keeping them there.
"Enough!" Bacaro barked, his voice cutting through the noise and forcing them all to stop. "What the hell is wrong with you people? Do you even realize where we are? This isn't some playground argument! We're in the middle of an experiment that's probably burning through a fortune, and you're here wasting time on this stupid ego contest? Shut it down and get out of this building now!"
The sheer force of his words snapped them out of their petty squabble. The ones trying to leave took the chance and bolted, while the smaller group holding them back still looked sour. Bacaro's patience was stretched thin, but he wasted no more time dealing with them.
"Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath, turning on his heel and heading for the exit as the flames began creeping further through the structure.
Bacaro and his group moved out immediately, following the first team. Not long after, another sound reverberated, signaling the end of the current experiment. Despite the urgency of the situation, it was obvious there would be discussions later about how clumsy and immature the second group had been.
Up in the observation deck, Kraften pressed a hand to his forehead, his frustration plain. "This was an absolute mess. I expected a lot more professionalism from them. The fire department is supposed to be prepared for high-stakes situations like this. The police handled their part far better."
Xinyi crossed her arms and scowled at the screens. "Their egos got in the way. I've heard plenty of stories about fire crews being solid under pressure, but maybe this generation is different. Or maybe life hasn't knocked enough sense into them yet."
The video feed from the building's fireproof CCTV cameras displayed the obvious difference between the two groups. Bacaro's team worked methodically, while the other stumbled through, a display that bordered on embarrassing for anyone watching.
"I'll handle the situation myself and return in about half an hour. Do whatever you want in the meantime. This doesn't involve your group, so they can stay out of it," Kraften said, then turned on his heel and exited the room, accompanied by a few others.
Yasushi, Jingliu, and Xinyi stayed behind for a moment, exchanging a few glances before Yasushi spoke up. "How about grabbing some food? Feels like it's been a while since we ate."
Xinyi raised an eyebrow. "A while? It's barely been two hours. Still, I won't argue — watching all that earlier was irritating. Annoyance always makes me hungry."
With that, the three headed out, Yasushi pulling out his phone to type a quick message in their group chat. He asked if anyone wanted him to bring something back while they were out. The response was immediate, and the chat filled with requests.
+-+
"Hear anything while we were out?" Xinyi asked, breaking the silence as they picked at their food in the modest room they had taken shelter in.
Laura didn't look up from her plate as she answered. "A few arguments that got pretty heated. Some people stormed off, too. Most likely the same ones who thought it was smart to start shouting matches in a building about ready to burn down."
Furuya added while setting his utensils down, "Things got a bit physical. It wasn't completely harmless, but nothing serious either. Still, there were some threats tossed around — especially toward the lead scientist on this whole thing. A few others got dragged into it too before it settled down."
Yasushi frowned as he paused to chew. "How long ago did they take off?"
"Half an hour," Yinhaie replied, walking into the room alongside Nandini. The latter's furrowed expression suggested she wasn't bringing good news. "From what we gathered, those same people tried coming back, probably looking to teach Sir Kraften some sort of twisted lesson. Security caught them outside before they could cause more trouble."
Everyone froze, forks halted mid-air. None of them had expected the troublemakers to actually return, let alone escalate things further. Relief that the situation hadn't spiraled any further mixed uneasily with the realization of how reckless the opposition had become.
"They're being detained right now and questioned. We sent a scientist with a few of our people to share the account we documented. We even managed to record parts of the exchange as it happened. If they keep trying to deny the truth, it won't work out in their favor," Yinhaie elaborated, her tone calm but with an underlying edge.
"That's good," Yasushi said, considering the implications. "That means we can carry on with these experiments without any major disruptions. There's only one more to go, right? Do you know what it involves?" His gaze settled on her as he awaited her answer.
Yinhaie gave a slight nod. "Yes. Based on what we overheard, it's going to take place outdoors. It requires a much larger space than we've used so far. This time, we'll be working with something that wasn't utilized during our time in London. It's entirely new."
"Something new?" Yasushi repeated, his interest sharpening. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of device or method they had developed during that period, and why it necessitated such a vast area for testing.
Yinhaie smiled, a quiet confidence in her demeanor as she replied, "It would be better if you see it yourself rather than us explaining it to you. The final experiment will start in a few minutes, so just wait until then. I think you'll find it... interesting."
Yasushi nodded in agreement, trusting her judgement without hesitation. When he turned to look at Nandini, her slight nod signaled the same sentiment — whatever awaited him, he was bound to like it. The rest of the meal passed in relative quiet, broken only by the occasional conversation about unrelated topics to keep the room from falling into an oppressive silence. They picked at their plates, the time stretching in the anticipation of what was to come.
When the moment arrived, they were escorted outside to a secluded area behind the cluster of old, neglected buildings. The location, surrounded by similarly abandoned structures, ensured complete privacy. There was no chance of anyone watching, not even by accident.
As Yasushi scanned the area, his eyes landed on the setup in the distance. For a moment, he couldn't decide whether to laugh or furrow his brow. "Cannons?" he asked, one eyebrow arching in disbelief.