As the morning sun rose over Harmonia Heights, its rays sliced through the facility's corridors, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper secrets. Damilare, Matt, and Ike navigated the halls with urgency, their footsteps echoing off the polished floors as they hastened toward the cafeteria. Word had spread like wildfire: Dr. Echelon's journal, a treasure trove of neurological breakthroughs, had gone missing. The usually composed officials were now racing against time to recover the stolen document.
"What's all the fuss about this journal, Dami? Is it really that special?" Matt queried, his curiosity piqued.
Damilare adjusted the strap of his bag, his expression serious. "It's not just any journal. Dr. Echelon was a pioneer in neuroscience, and this book supposedly documents all his NEC experiments."
Ike chimed in, his tone grave. "I've heard whispers. They say it's not just about advancements, but about mind control, telepathy, hallucinations— some real dark stuffs."
Damilare nodded thoughtfully. "After Edenwood, I wouldn't dismiss those rumors lightly."
"But who would steal it, and why now?" Damilare wondered aloud.
"It must be someone with access to high-security areas here in Harmonia Heights," Matt mused, his brow furrowed in thought. "Probably a top Vanguard member."
A heavy silence hung in the air before Ike broached a more personal question. "Dami, with everything we experienced at Edenwood, what do you think about Dr. Sting now?"
Damilare hesitated, his mind flickering back to the chaos and betrayal they had witnessed. "I'm not sure anymore. Dr. Sting has accomplished great things, but Edenwood... it's complicated."
As they continued, the conversation shifted to their mission at Edenwood. "I've been thinking...It's possible that the NEC-15 might have adverse effects on some citizens. Those corpses we found at the dungeon...maybe they're the ones it didn't work on." Ike proposed, as they approached their table.
Matt's eyes narrowed. "You think the Vanguard knows?"
Damilare's nod was almost imperceptible. "I'm sure they do. And that's why they're speeding up our graduation."
Ike's voice rose, drawing attention from nearby tables. "But the Singularity Alliance is supposed to be a group of neuroscientists. How do they have foot soldiers and underground dungeons?"
The cafeteria erupted into a flurry of theories and speculations.
"Maybe they're not just scientists," Matt suggested. "Maybe they're building an army."
Damilare's eyes locked onto Ike's. "World domination?"
Ike's expression turned grim. "It's possible."
Their discussion buzzed through the cafeteria that morning, sparking theories and speculations among the recruits. Their NEC-14 jab awaited, but the real question lingered: what secrets lay hidden in Dr. Echelon's journal?
As evening approached, the recruits assembled in the central courtyard. The air was heavy with anticipation.
Commander Alderan stood at attention, flanked by medical personnel. "Recruits, tonight marks a crucial milestone. The NEC-14 jab will unlock your true potential."
Leia exchanged a glance with Damilare, her eyes searching for reassurance.
"You've trained tirelessly," Commander Alderan continued. "Now, it's time to take the leap."
The medical team began distributing the NEC-14 doses, each recruit's name called alphabetically.
Damilare's heart pounded as he watched the line move forward. His voice trembled. "What if—"
"Shh," Leia whispered. "We're in this together." Ike's eyes narrowed, his jaw set.
The line inched forward, each recruit receiving their dose. The needle gleamed in the fading light.
The recruits held their breaths, their fates hanging in the balance.