- Wake up! – S-1 exclaimed.
She had entered the barracks, only this time later than usual, already past mid-morning, and noon just on arrival; Mari, Hee-hong, and Young-ho were the last to get up, whether due to the fatigue of the first, the heartburn of the second, or the heavyness of the third. As had become their custom, Mr. Bae, haggard as always, and the anxious assistants, stood in a horizontal row in front of the twin, waiting for her to give them more tasks to do in that endless cycle, just a few days away from driving them crazy.
- Be calm. I have no more tasks for you...
Everyone stared at each other as Mr. Bae and the actors approached to find out what was happening. The makeup artists were upset at having been raised in this way, so as not to have to do some ugly work, such as cleaning cells, changing pipes or mopping the training field:
- So? – said Ji Na
- What do you want now? – added Min Guk
- You should be notified; the deadline I gave you passed almost a week ago.
Mari was the only one who, more involved in this matter than the others, understood well:
- Wait, do you mean that...
- Affirmative. The SAHASRARA machine will get you home this time.
Everyone was suddenly more awake than ever. For a short time, they were anxious and afraid, the despair returned to their hearts at the thought that, possibly, they were being deceived with a joke in very bad taste, but S-1, as always, did not seem to be mocking them, nor smiling in any way.
- Take all your possessions. The supplies the Division gave you for personal use will be disposed of. So, we will go first to the waste processing area, and then head to the testing area.
- Hey you…
It was Hee-hong, with the unfriendly face he had kept in these months when seeing her "evil twin":
- What is it, Jin Hee-hong?
- Don't even think I'm gonna forgive you that easily. I still think you're all horrible monsters.
- Noted. - she responded - Be happy, for you will never see me again.
The actress said nothing else, directing her gaze away while the twin turned to the exit:
- We should go now.
The silence filling the barracks gave way to a hubbub of activity as everyone, with hopeful expressions on their faces, began to rush and grab the things they'd brought with them, which was very little anyway, loading then the supplies S-1 gave them into their bags. The twin left without saying anything else, and Mari immediately understood she had to follow, as did the others, who immediately followed her in turn, carrying their packages as best they could; behind them, the door of that damp and cold barrack closed, never to see those peculiar visitors again. They went on down the hallway, and the young actor would soon move forward to catch up with Mari, almost hitting Hee-hong with the sack on his shoulder as he passed her, who fortunately moved away in time despite carrying a package heavy and disbalancing enough:
- Is it real... are we... really going to leave now? Just like that?
- I think so - Mari replied - Looks like we're finally going home.
- It feels weird.
- Weird?
- It would be easier for them to... just hope that's not the case. If something happens I...
- Don't worry, we'll be fine, okay?
He took Mari's hand, walking alongside her:
- Hey what are you doing? - she asked.
- No matter what happens, I'll be with you, it's the least I can do.
Mari blushed:
- Young-ho, I... appreciate it… really…
They arrived at a place protected by guards in dirty yellow overalls, the reception on one side, and the scanners on the other. The interior hall looked equally dirty, and a smell of ashes mixed with pestilence reached their nostrils despite the numerous exhaust ducts arranged in the ceiling:
- Leave the bags on the band to be scanned and processed. Look out well, put Division-given supplies only.
The secretary and the director shuddered at the sight, and thanked fortune itself they were not the contents inside those plastic sacks:
- Oh, sure, I'm going first. - she said, gently putting down her bag.
The half-rusted metal bands abruptly came to life with a few clicks and took its load inside, disappearing behind plastic blinds never to be seen again. The others followed her example and left their packages, while S-1 watched her counterpart and got to get off:
- Very good. Follow me, the director is waiting for us. Some of our agents will join us on the way, so don't worry.
Such a statement, made while everyone was preparing to follow her as she left that place, did not do much to relieve their anxiety, said in that typical dull tone. And just as they went inside one of the elevators to the lower levels, they were approached by some of those strange young men, a couple of them whose faces were already well known:
- Ma'am - Hae Jun greeted.
Behind her were Yoo Ah Ra and Hwan
-Hey Sacred Beast, why did you call me...
- You'll know in due time, scum – Hae Jun interrupted – just obey.
The wrecker fell silent and snorted through his nose, which was seen by everyone with the same disgust as always; everyone went down to a level illuminated by yellowish lights that intermittently went off and made a constant hum. Finishing the tour, they turned to the right, through a narrow corridor ending in ascending steps which ended in the new chamber, its portal a result of months of work, mounted on a more solid platform and curved handles. The three internal rings were already rotating, and the blue-white bubble shone peacefully, emitting pulsations at the same rhythm as a sea current flowing onto a beach illuminated by sunset.
Just leaning on the steps' railing going up the platform, Raon has been waiting for them:
- But look who finally showed up. Good evening sleepy head, did you rest a little?
-Those horrible mats are not good for lying on; You should change them... - Hee-hong responded, boldly.
- I wasn't talking to you - she replied with disdain - Very good - she added, standing up - Today is a good day...
Mari, upon seeing the portal shining before her, got paralyzed by mixed feelings. She remembered how much suffering she had gone through, the pain, the fear that had come out of that luminous sphere, but she also felt anxious, desperate, joyful knowing she would finally go home.
- This will be the last time Mari enters the portal – S-1 said – but it will also be the first and last time all of you will do so. It's only a one-way trip to your own world.
Mr. Bae smiled from ear to ear and both the secretary and Ji Na hugged him crying with emotion, murmuring happily about how the whole confinement in that place would end; Hee-hong didn't seem happy, possibly because she had debts to pay.
- Engineer Ye – Raon exclaimed – enter the coordinates; Soo Young, synchronize the biocom. I authorize portal transporration.
- At your order - the engineer responded back.
- Copied – the subordinate replied.
The rings slowed down while the static enveloped everything and the smell of ozone invaded the environment to quickly subside and disappear. The vortex increased in size, remaining stable and with what seemed like an undulating iridescent surface which, however, revealed with complete transparency what was on the other side.
Raon approached Mari and held out a hand:
- It seems this is our farewell, Kang Ma-ri.
The actress now understood her, she knew there was a justification for what her counterpart was, however, this did not exonerate her of her crimes, nor did it make them close, much less friends. What was true is that from her understanding came the abandonment of the hatred she had for her role, and its change of into raw compassion:
- So it looks, Raon – she responded.
The actress timidly stretched the director's hand, and the latter, going back a step, smiled:
- You go first. And don't think about coming back; you were an annoyance enough.
- Others can follow when she gets on the platform. Remember to leave in an orderly manner - S-1 said, and added – This is my goodbye to you; I'm sorry for the inconvenience we caused.
Raon went cold upon hearing that; again, her twin was doing something out of protocol, and as always, not being able to compete with her power, she allowed it without making a fuss. Deep down, she knew that it wasn't really a product of fear of S-1 turning against her, but because she recognized her need to talk.
Mari climbed the steps, followed by her companions; once up, Young-ho puts his hand on her shoulder, and they both look at each other smiling, while Hee-hong, seeing that, twisted her gaze, desperate to continue. Mr. Bae and the makeup artists remained almost close together, the two girls behind the guy, with the secretary further back, nervous to the bone seeing at the portal's supernatural shine in front of her, surrounded by a bizarre environment just as Mari had described it. The actress sighed, incredulous, and after taking one last look back, she looked at S-1, Ah Ra, Hae Jun and that unpleasant Hwan smiling repulsively.
Raon was amidst them, arms crossed, jacket over her shoulders, smirking half-mockingly at her:
- What are you waiting for? Weren't you in a hurry to leave? Seriously, I pity you still wanting to be a dumb idol.
- I hope... when you achieve whatever you want... you can be happy with the consequences.
Raon in turn warned her sincerely:
- You saw what is out there, it depends on you if you take care or not. You... better do it.
- I will - she replied - Thanks for helping us, S-1, Ah Ra, and... thank Soo Young for me.
- You forget something... - the director retorted.
- And thanks to you, Raon, for keeping your promise. Goodbye…to all of you.
Turning towards the portal, she extended her arm towards it and was instantly sucked inside alongside Young-ho; Raon saw Mari fall on her feet directly onto the soil and walk several steps towards the ruined house nearby, a place the director recognized too, as it looked the same as the place she found Ji Gong. Hee-hong hurried to follow them without further hesitation, as did Mr. Bae, taking his employees so they wouldn't be left behind; in an instant, there was no one on the platform, and the Awoken Ones who contemplated the scene relaxed, standing in a circle as their superior called on their attention:
- Very well, I kept my word. Now can you return to work as usual, Dr. Yoo?
- Do we have any other alternative, Raon?
- If you find one, then go ahead. - she replied - Send people back to store the specimen. Dismissed.
- Bah, what a boring piece of rubbish - the wrecker shouted - Should've stayed watching...
- About that, my dear...infra-being...
- Tell me Raon, tell me if I can blow this whole place to pieces and...
- No. Go to admin Hoo, she assigned a mission made especially for you...
- Aishhh, shit - he grumbled - But I wanted to... - he added.
The wrecker, with a reluctant face as always, chose to leave in a hurry when he met S-1's gaze.
- Ma'am, the portal will close in 20 seconds. Will you need the machine for any other operation?
- It will be all for now. Order your people to take off the projectors.
- Right away.
Hae Jun interrupted, as the rings spun again contracting the vortex and the machine shut off:
- Director, you wanted me here for some reason...
- Simple. I've chosen you and agent Jin to be the first of a new temporary task force.
- Task force?
- One which uses this machine here. I need to carry out certain... reconnaissance missions.
Staff came to take away the biocom, which Soo Young, after disconnecting its computer-printed mind from the module, would help pack inside the amniotic capsule.
Hae Jun had asked, meanwhile:
- Has Kang Shin…agent Jin been informed of this?
- He will be. You'll tell him.
- Did he really...?
- He just returned from his special assignment.
- Is he okay…?
- The retrieval in Siberia was a success, that's what I care about.
- Ow, I see, of course. It is...very good news. - Hae Jun replied, looking aside.
Ah Ra hurried out with the staff alongside Soo Young and the cloned body; the medic saw Hae Jun getting a little nervous, and knew perfectly what was it about, her companion not quite reacting beyond a condescending smile. The director noted it too, and replied to agent Min:
- Huh, I still don't get it - Raon said sarcastically - what excites you so much about this?
- What? No, nothing, ma'am, I just feel...satisfied...with the results. You see... agent Jin is a colleague with whom I work quite well as a team, and I was worried about... losing... efficiency. - she lied.
- So there's nothing to worry about...Am I right, sister?
- You are. - S-1 stated - Due to the fact agent Min mentions, we reassigned them both together.
She then turned to Hae Jun, half-smiling:
- The high-level performance in-synchronization you both have is a fact I'm well aware of.
- I appreciate it...the value you see in us, vice-director.
S-1 nodded, hiding her smile so that his sister wouldn't see it. Meanwhile, the machine finished its shutdown and the operators disconnected the systems around them:
- You won't come out immediately as you can see, but be attentive. Soon your schedule and objectives will be assigned, and new equipment will arrive in the security area for you. When the time comes, be ready with it before reporting to this same place.
- Yes, ma'am. We'll be ready for it - she confirmed, bowing.
Hae Jun retreated hastily, and happy to the point of almost not being able to contain it. She placed a hand on her chest, relieved, and after leaving the area, she stopped for a moment closing her eyes, whispering infinite thanks to God. At the chamber, the director said to her twin:
- You're turning too soft, sister. I thought you hated them more than me.
- Don't feel more attachment than you - she replied - I... simply do what is useful to our goals.
- I will buy it, if that suits you. Whatever...
The lights began to go out as the two leaders walked out of there too, staying behind the rest:
- I'm going out for a few days. Alone. So take care of all this meanwhile, got it? - Raon said.
- Again…? – S-1 questioned
- Again.
- This is the third time. I don't understand why you decided to go there if you just didn't...
- Your role is not to question my private life, elder sister. You know…
S-1 didn't want press the topic further, and referring to something else, she continued:
- What Mari said. It makes me wonder what you're looking for with the grand plan, if not even...
- Kang Ma-ri is no longer here, and it doesn't matter what she thinks.
- Sister…
- Why are you being so questioning now? It was you the one who wanted them to leave the most, it was you who said they were getting in our way.
- It does not mean I despised them personally. Don't distort my words.
- Forget about those people already. It's no longer your concern if they live or die.
- But you...
- I'll take charge of it from now on. You just saw it.
Raon didn't wait for any response, and simply walked forward, while the engineering technicians passed by her to dismantle the four projectors, bowing as she passed. S-1 looked at her twin with a serious, and somewhat sad expression, while the employees bowed to her as well.
Meanwhile, Hae Jun had returned to the habitation area and upon entering her barrack, she closed the door and knelt, crossing herself to pray in silence while waiting for Kang Shin to arrive, deep down wishing that what Raon said was true, because she'd already lied or omitted to her before. Religion or politics were completely forbidden topics for discussion or expression within the National Intelligence Service or any of its subsidiaries, and the same was true with the Dragon Division, even more strictly due to who now led it. This formal rule did not prevent, however, that, after the death of Raon's predecessor, some among the hundreds of Awoken Ones, especially former deserters resulting from such an event, began to develop certain "personal beliefs".
The agent still remembered her personal journey, that so-overexploited "encounter with herself" she had away from the agency like others did, an opportunity they had especially as they managed to stay hidden for longer, having a certain chance to rediscover some of their inner, lost humanity. That was true, at least before they were "reintegrated" by the one among them who planned to, and then achieved to eventually take control, Ark-2, who now called herself Kim Ra-on, and her twin sister, the fearsome S-1 Sacred Beast who, in the wake of the 2021 Shanghai Incident, would become known to all the Awoken Ones. She would be feared to the core by many who learned of her involvement in the deaths of former director and vice-director, their creator's brother; everyone would know not to look for her, nor challenge her, and instead go to hide after the Busan Incident.
It mattered little now; when she herself was found by S-1, it is true that she had tried the most desperate measures such as to never return to the Division, but after a futile resistance, her victor, despite glaring at her with those shark-like eyes, did not finish her off to drag her away, extending a hand instead to help her get up. Hae Jun knew she had no choice but also knew that, perhaps, and as she learned after having known good people, who accepted her with open arms, this was one of those tests given by God, so that she herself would give the same chance to those who previously harmed and persecuted her. And her waiting bore fruit, being that once she returned, she would know him, one who called himself Kang Shin; it would be during their harsh re-training both would find strength in each other, a shoulder, an ear to listen, thus forming a bond that nothing, neither time nor distance, would be able to break, a bond beyond brotherhood.
She would also discover the twin was not just a bloodthirsty monster, or an angel of death as many others believed, but that, although always distant, hid an unexpected warmth inside. As she tested each and every one of them beyond their limits, the twin didn't appear to have intentions of just harming for pleasure like her predecessors, but to really better them all, even if only as weapons.
The reason both she and Kang Shin were separated was a mission failure to Division "temporary associates" in Myanmar, who planned a military coup which went awry after Coalition intervention, getting the worst part as Raon removed her from the field and to the security team of Shanghai lab. She almost felt herself dying on the inside, for there she would see those who made her suffer a lot during childhood, those whom she had not been able to forgive; it was a relief for her to discover, after arrival, that none of the Dogu Team members was there, nor Mina, their leader and her main bully, nor any of the other three. One day, while having an early morning snack on patrol, she asked a firstgen colleague about them, and thus she knew they defected years ago, being responsible for freeing S-1 from her confinement, lead by Raon, then betraying her and being killed off by the twin.
Knowing this, she felt bad for feeling grateful to the vice-director, but she did nothing to get that thought out of her. Today, once again the twin favored her, and for that she could openly thank her, for Kang Shin was the most important person in her life; the only one who loved her well.
A male voice greeted her, interrupting her prayer:
- Hae Jun...
She turned around, and her face beamed with a smile:
- Kang Shin...you came back...
She rushed towards him and gave a strong hug, which he soon reciprocated with affection; they stayed like that, feeling the beating and happy heart of the other, without the world existing for them for a long time, in a place where no one could hurt them, where home was. Their family.