The remainder of Evantra’s week was spent scoping out the facility and familiarising herself with the patrol routes. Noelle had been dragged onto various projects, providing support as a lab tech, while Benjamin attended to broader tech support for the facility.

  Since their induction, they had learned a few valuable details about the facility. Despite his initial appearance, Antoinne rarely seemed to be in his office or around the base. Noelle suspected that it was because he rotated between different installations as he pleased, travelling to Earth using the Veilsurge Demteria had secured.

  Benjamin’s discovery provided a different explanation.

  “There’s a gap in the security systems. We have access to the systems for all of the floors above ground, Amitabha. But the facility has a basement level that’s outside our purview. It’s likely a closed loop and local network.”

  Evantra thought to herself for a moment before nodding.

  “What I’ve seen lines up with that. Some of the more experienced guards are discreet about where they take their shifts. They don’t go out into the jungle to clear out Veilcreatures. That must be where they’re going.”

  “It’s the same for the lab techs. The Head Researchers often aren’t present in their offices or the laboratories accessible on the other floors. When I’ve pressed and asked questions, I’ve just been instructed to leave my questions in the form of a message,” Noelle said. Evantra carefully examined her friend. Whatever reservations had been present during the briefing previously were nowhere to be found.

  “Then it looks like our best course of action is to create a significant diversion. Whether that means sabotaging the creatures that Demeteria have in holding—”

  “The what?” Evantra hissed at Noelle.

  She simply nodded.

  “It seems as if they’ve been transporting creatures from the Hanging Gardens to populate the jungle and to expand it. Some of the more… problematic specimens have been housed in level three. And this research facility, as advanced as it is, has some distinct similarities to Rosewood College… including a bunker.”

  “And you’re proposing…”

  “A technical malfunction frees the creatures, sending the facility into lockdown. Power defaults to backup generators and the security feed is suspended. Then, the three of us make our way to the basement using my permissions to get through the checkpoints barring the way.”

  Noelle paused.

  “Strangely enough... it seems like there are records that some creatures got loose about a month ago. The facility activated its lockdown protocol. It might be a little harder for us to pull it off, depending on what countermeasures they’ve added,” Noelle said pursing her lips.

  “And you’re sure they won’t be able to trace it back to you?”

  “Before I left… my sister prepared a generic account for me before transferring my privileges over if I ever needed to use it. They won’t be able to track it back to us so long as we don’t get caught. At worst… I might end up losing my privileges once they investigate the account, and they might escalate the issue to my family. But I can’t think of any other way we could sneak in there short of gradually building trust with the Doctor over time and rising up the ranks… and who knows how long that could take? But…”

  “But?”

  Noelle fell silent.

  “It would mean endangering the workers in the facility. We can’t get the facility to go into lockdown without putting them in the way of some risk.”

  Evantra gritted her teeth in frustration but eventually nodded.

  “Alright… I’ll keep trying to gain Antoinne’s trust. In the meantime, let’s figure out just what creatures they’re keeping on the third level. If I can infiltrate the basement myself without putting you, Ben and the other workers at risk… we’ll give it a shot.”

  “And if he keeps holding you at arms length, Amitabha?”

  Evantra let out a sigh.

  “Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Don’t worry… I haven’t forgotten. Every day we spend here is another day we’re at risk of being discovered. But it seems like there’s plenty on our Doctor’s plate to keep him occupied. Slow and steady. But if an opportunity presents itself…”

  The trio silently exchanged a nod.

  ***

  “Sir… if I may ask. What is the purpose of these scouting missions?”

  Evantra was seated beside Doctor Antoinne in an all-terrain vehicle as they drove through the jungle bordering the research facility. At a distance, the jungle had seemed imposing, but close up, Evantra finally comprehended the sheer scale on display.

  She watched as unfamiliar birds took off from perches high above her, soaring through martian skies. The sound of insects and other fauna filled the slightly humid air around her. The convoy was comprised of three ATVs that had taken off in different directions.

  Apart from her usual guard duties, these ‘scouting’ tasks were her second, primary responsibility.

  “Excellent question, Millie. We’re always on the lookout for rare flora and fauna.”

  “Doesn’t Demeteria choose which creatures to introduce into the environment? Why would you be searching for new species of flora or fauna?”

  Doctor Antoinne gave her an approving smile as he pressed down upon his bucket hat. Evantra had considered coasting along, avoiding conversations with him. But she knew that even that tactic wouldn’t have escaped the perceptive researcher’s notice.

  It was better to ask the obvious questions.

  “Good, good. Are you familiar with seedlings?”

  “Yes, sir. You’ve introduced them into different controlled environments to observe their mutations?”

  “Precisely. If you continue impressing me with your insight, Operative Millie, you might find yourself with additional bothersome responsibilities.”

  “So long as they’re accompanied by a pay rise, sir.”

  Antoinne laughed heartily, scratching at his brown beard with white streaks. He gave her a warm smile that made Evantra’s own waver. She had done this once before. Back when she had infiltrated Caliburn to learn more about the trove seeker, their motives in Wisptown and potential involvement with the murders.

  It never got any easier. Getting to know her targets while being prepared to betray them.

  “You look like you have something on your mind, Millie. You’re welcome to share it with me if you wish,” Antoinne said with a kind smile.

  Evantra felt a chill run down her spine but smoothly pushed it aside as her eyes lingered on her environment.

  “Do you ever get overwhelmed by your goals?” she said. “Cybernetic dysregulation. It’s been a condition that virtually every megacorporation and government has been trying to crack. More heavily modded ghostslayers mean more firepower against the Veil, after all. Do you ever feel like its…”

  “Hopeless?” Antoinne offered, smiling at her from behind his pair of circular glasses. “All the time, actually.”

  “Then… how do you find it in yourself to continue?”

  “Faith.”

  Antoinne laughed at the involuntary look of disgust that flashed across Evantra’s expression before she had the chance to disguise it.

  “From the looks of it… it seemed like you were critical of your parents’ beliefs. And perhaps it is an unsatisfactory answer… but I have faith.”

  “I envy you, sir.”

  “Oh, no, Millie. I think you misunderstand. I would certainly envy someone with blind optimism, but I would also pity them for their ignorance twice over,” Antoinne continued, carefully surveying their surroundings.

  “My faith is born not in a belief in a higher being, or even from a belief in myself.”

  The researcher fell silent before he turned to face her.

  “What is it born from?”

  “A little bit of madness.”

  Evantra returned the researcher’s wistful smile, before turning to survey her surroundings.

  “I suppose you would have to be a little crazy to dream as big as you are, sir.”

  “And what do you aspire for, Millie?”

  “Me, sir? Nothing as lofty.”

  “Please. It takes a certain level of arrogance to look down on another’s goals. I would not stoop to that level, I can guarantee it. If age has taught me anything… it is that we are all united by similar struggles, just tweaked in little ways here and there.”

  Evantra remained silent for a moment before delivering her answer.

  “To become the captain of my own ship.”

  Evantra blushed as one of the other operatives nearby snorted, revealing that they had been eavesdropping on their conversation. Still, she believed it was necessary that she engaged with Antoinne, if only to reassure him of her sincerity. She had also framed it that way aiming to endear herself to Antoinne, knowing the man’s parental instincts.

  “Then you are asking for the world and more, my dear,” Antoinne said with a grin and laugh. “Control is something we all long for, especially in this world of ours. A goal just as grand, if not more so than mine.”

  “I respectfully disagree, sir. Yours is a grander and more noble goal.”

  Antoinne laughed.

  “The desires of a ruler of a province and the serfs they prevail over are separated by small nuances. And the same can be said of good and evil. In many cases, the only thing that separates a noble goal from a rotten one is perspective, and nothing more.”

  Antoinne waved away his words.

  “But forgive the musings of this old man. For your purposes? I would not be so arrogant to suggest that you relinquish it,” Antoinne stepped forwards, and Evantra felt her hair stand on end as the man’s kindly eyes drilled into her own.

  “Perhaps there was once a time when your dream was possible. When magic was within our grasp for a brief, beautiful moment. But in its absence… this is what I would advise.”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Antoinne gripped her shoulder firmly.

  “Have the madness to dream, whether it comes to fruition or not. At the very least, you’ll be unburdened by regret when you reach the end of your journey. And when you find yourself paralysed, rather than searching for the most optimal path, simply avoid those you know not to take.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Antoinne turned away from her with a nod before continuing to inspect their surroundings.

  “It’s strange, don’t you think? Regret. A feeling we are so terrified of being shouldered with. So much so that we dedicate the bulk of our lives to running away from it.”

  As Evantra’s eyes hovered over the grizzled researcher… she began to wonder just how many regrets the old man shouldered.

  “Halt!”

  Guard Captain Harold’s voice emerged from the front of the transport. The man turned to Evantra and the rest of the operatives in the ATV.

  “Sweep the area. Secure it for assessment.”

  “Yes sir!” they echoed.

  They emerged into a small clearing. Evantra noticed that some of the foliage had caught on fire, and there looked to be the remnants of a scuffle – perhaps with a powerful Veilcreature. Evantra filed out further into the clearing, heading into the bushes.

  Her eyes carefully scanned the area. She occasionally spotted the odd bullet casing on the ground, as well as the telltale signs of a gunfight. She frowned, crouching to pick up a casing.

  Strange…

  This isn’t the standard issue ammunition that they equip the guards with.

  Do Demteria have Ghostslayers or other operatives running around in the jungles for some reason?

  “Clear,” she intoned into her comms.

  She discreetly pocketed the casing, making a mental note to inform Ben and Noelle of her observation. At the sound of the Captain’s whistle, she retreated back to the transport, watching as some of the researchers disembarked the vehicle, along with Doctor Antoinne.

  The man gave her a smile, and waved for her to walk over to him.

  “I enjoyed your conversation today, Millie. Please swing by later this evening for some tea if you would like to further continue our chat. It’s been so long since I’ve been blessed to have such delightful company,” he said with a warm smile.

  “It would be my pleasure, sir.”

  ***

  Two weeks ago

  [Recovery]

  Evantra felt her body grow sluggish as she activated her skill. The familiar sensation of being weighed down, burdened, as every muscle fibre protested against the sudden strain. She could feel her heart thumping heavily as her body attempted to instinctively acclimatise itself to the effects of the skill.

  Evantra moved.

  Ade's kick lashed out a hair's breadth over her head. As she crouched, she winced as the surge of lactic acid in her quadriceps burned, threatening to make her knees buckle. She resisted the urge, pressing forwards and throwing out a sharp jab towards the man's liver.

  Ade recovered effortlessly from his kick, arms boxed in close to his trunk, absorbing the blow. Evantra chasséd back before retaliating with a kick of her own.

  "Nice one!"

  Ade casually ducked underneath it, fluidly advancing into her proximity. He drove his fist into her right kidney, causing pain to blossom all across her body, exacerbated by the effect of her skill. She gasped, and Ade touched his other glove lightly to her chin.

  "Evantra, you overextend yourself when you kick. It leaves you open to your opponents' blows. Focus on your recovery," Uriel intoned calmly from outside of the ring.

  "Ade, good work. But you made three mistakes. You should have been able to dodge her liver jab; you were complacent. The second, you should have closed in when she was distancing herself for the kick, eliminating her opportunity to recover. Both of you take a break, I'll be right back."

  "Wait, what was the third!"

  Ade called out to the departing ghostslayer, who turned on her heel, elegant red lips curving into a smile.

  "You should have knocked her out."

  "Asshole," Evantra whispered under her breath, glaring at the retreating back of her newest mentor.

  Turning down the tea sessions was a mistake.

  "You know she can hear you, right," Ade whispered back loudly, making no move to conceal his words. Evantra whirled on him with a glare.

  "Delulu Dreamer my ass. Nothing about your skills is 'delusional'. No wonder you made dancing around that yaoguai look easy," Evantra muttered, releasing [recovery].

  She let out a soft breath of relief as a cool sensation suffused her muscles. She was gradually learning to condition herself to move as per normal under the strain of [serenity], which allowed her to replenish her stamina upon releasing the skill.

  Just like she had previously speculated, the skill did in fact return considerable training gains at an accelerated rate. However, it wasn't a crutch that she could rely on to extend her stamina indefinitely. Every use of the skill left her a little more exhausted, but she could feel her basal stamina levels rapidly building as she trained.

  Evantra shot her friend a glare, but was surprised when Ade only looked on in silence. He was bare-chested, and Evantra could see his chest rising and falling with the exertion of their exchange. It was then that she noticed that she wasn't similarly fatigued, and it was clear that her friend had noticed.

  "You're built different, Dora," he said with a shaky grin, extending a glove which she met with her own. "You're learning at a ridiculous pace. I'll have whatever you're on, thank you very much."

  Evantra pushed aside the pang of guilt in her chest as she grinned back.

  "Oh? I thought you were all natural?"

  Ade let out an exaggerated sigh.

  "That's where the delusion comes from."

  They hopped off the ring, taking a seat on the benches a short distance away from where Noelle was training. Sally was at her side, instructing her with some new exercises. Only two weeks into their preparations, she could see that Noelle herself had improved significantly in her weightlifting form and cardiovascular endurance. Coach Senju's training was paying off greatly, but it didn't seem like the grizzled ex-slayer held Evantra in any higher opinion.

  "You know... when I fight people like you, I wonder if I should just hang it all up and give up on this pipe dream."

  Evantra head swivelled towards Ade in alarm.

  He smiled, lips drawn into a tight line as he let out a sigh.

  "Every now and again... you come across a monster like yourself. The way you take to the training... it's like it's in your blood. Your aggression. There are times when I'm afraid you'll grow claws and rip my eyes out," he shuddered, making her avert her eyes and clear her throat. "Now those are the people who can get away with becoming organic slayers. Crazy people. Like you and my stupid sister."

  Evantra shoved him in the shoulder, causing him to exaggeratedly wince and nurse the inflicted arm.

  "Where's the fight-crazed maniac that I know?"

  "He's on holiday," Ade grumbled.

  Evantra watched her friend glance over at his girlfriend. She knew that while Sally's close combat technique was a far cry from Ade's own, she was closing the gap with every exchange. Before long, Ade would have trouble keeping up with her.

  She felt for her friend.

  Those with ambitions to become ghostslayers while remaining organic faced an impossible wall to climb. Ade would need to prove his potential before he obtained a sponsorship, selling his soul to a megacorporation for the opportunity to get equipped with prohibitively expensive tech.

  "Hey."

  Ade glanced over at Evantra, who scratched at the back of her head, her black hair tied up into a tight bun.

  "I get it. The feeling that no matter how fast you run, how hard you train, it just won't be enough."

  Ade's eyes hovered over her, before his shoulders shrank an imperceptible degree. Then, something seemed to come over him. His hand lashed out faster than she could react to shove her in the same way that she had him.

  "Ow! What the hell was that for?"

  Evantra groaned, glaring at her friend from where she was sprawled out, climbing to her feet. To her surprise, a wild grin had spread across his face, and his hands were on his hips as he looked down at her.

  "Sike."

  Evantra glared up at Ade, before her foot lashed outwards, attempting to hook onto the back of his ankle. To her chagrin, Ade simply leapt onto the bench, out of her reach.

  "You don't get to complain. You have talent. So stop whinging and get those gloves back on."

  Evantra raised her eyebrow as she climbed to her feet.

  "Fighting really is the one and only solution to all of your problems, isn't it?"

  Ade leapt onto the ground, hooking a sweaty arm around her shoulders as he leaned in conspiratorially, as if preparing to share a nugget of deeply profound wisdom to quell the writhing helplessness within her.

  "Yes," he said simply.

  Evantra glared at Ade as he laughed.

  "How the hell do you do it?"

  "It's all noise, you know?"

  Evantra paused, turning towards Ade.

  For a moment, she had been expecting one of his signature quips, a witty retort or roast. This time, Ade simply looked at her calmly.

  "What others say about you. What you say or think about yourself. Don't let anyone define your limits. As soon as you do, people gain control over you. Your own thoughts limit you. We aren't training this hard just to conform to other people's expectations, or to the limits imposed by our own insecurity, are we, Dora?"

  Ade grinned.

  "I'm going to be right there with you when you enrol in the Academy. I don't care how many souped-up nepo babies I'll have to knock flat on their ass to do it. So... what are you waiting for? It's easy. Surprise yourself. I know that you have it in you," Ade said.

  Evantra watched him smile and nod, before he began to walk towards the ring.

  Ade still hadn't mentioned Megabuilding Z5.

  Just a little longer, Ade.

  Then you'll know that I'm a fraud when I tell you the truth.

  Evantra slapped herself, wincing as the blood rushed to her cheek.

  Stop with that talk. You've got no excuses.

  She rose, trailing her friend to the elevated boxing ring at the heart of the Training Grounds. She rounded on him in the ring as Ade began to warm up.

  "So you'll plough through the nepo babies to make it in, huh? Even Sally?"

  Ade's eyes darted left and right.

  "Especially Sall--"

  "BABE."

  Ade froze, the blood draining from his face as their faces swivelled towards the blonde girl standing with her hands on her hips right outside the ring.

  Ade began to sweat.

  "Baby, I promise I'll make it up to you afterwards--"

  Sally huffed, before stomping her way back towards Noelle with fury plain across her expression. Noelle blanched, shooting them a helpless, accusatory glare at the current state of her trainer, knowing that she would be the one to bear the fallout of their antics.

  Ade shifted his gaze towards Evantra, who was idly whistling and doing her best not to make eye contact with him.

  "This is how you repay my kindness, you're DEAD, Dora. DEAD."

  "I'll make it up to you with some cybernetics."

  Ade froze, jerking up his head to meet her eyes from where he was stretching on the ground.

  "Noelle and I were thinking of working out a deal with Uriel for you--"

  "No thanks."

  Evantra started in surprise at the steel in his tone as he cut her off.

  Ade winked.

  "I'll make it there myself."

  He rose, and the pair of them turned towards their approaching mentor who was carrying something in her arms. Evantra gulped as Uriel deposited a stack of weights in the ring, and she watched on as Ade immediately began fixing an inordinate amount of them onto his limbs.

  "Don't get too confident, Dora. If you aren't careful, I just might take your spot at the Academy."

  As Evantra fixed the weights on herself, she couldn't help but feel a hint of envy surface within her as she eyed her crazy friend.

  "There's no way I'd underestimate you. I'm a lot of things, but I'm not stupid, Ade."

  "I know quite a few people who would have a lot to say about that statement," he said with a grin as he approached her, raising his fists.

  She activated [recovery] once more with a grin of her own.

  ***

  Evantra was seated alone on the benches in the Training Grounds. Their session had wrung out every modicum of energy from her body, and she was confident that she would black out the moment her head hit her pillow.

  The area had long since emptied, with Ade, Sally and Noelle returning home. When Noelle had asked her, Evantra had simply stated that she was fitting in a little extra training.

  In truth... she was after the silence.

  Her thoughts churned in her head. But these weren't just relegated to her concerns about her own abilities.

  "Wraith. There appears to be something on your mind."

  She looked over as Benjamin Yang approached.

  "I didn't know that monks could teleport out of the shadows."

  "If preachers get claws, it is only fair that we get something too," Benjamin said softly with a serene smile.

  "What's the real reason you're around so late?"

  Benjamin chuckled, taking a seat beside her.

  "I delivered an urgent commission, and dropped by your apartment. Noelle told me that you were still training."

  Evantra smiled, but fell silent. The pair of them sat together, watching as some of the floodlights overhead shut off with loud clunks that echoed through the Grounds, leaving them in the dim light that remained.

  “Wraith… I think it would be best to place our trust in Noelle.”

  Evantra looked up at her friend in surprise.

  She let out a sigh.

  "Figures. Monks are also capable of reading minds."

  "Amitabha Buddha. It is no great feat to read your mind, Wraith."

  Evantra rubbed her fingers over her palm as she contemplated her next words. Benjamin waited patiently for her to continue.

  “What if she’s holding back information pertinent to the mission? Ben… she hasn’t been the same since making it out of Caliburn’s blockade with Lucas and Carmen. I’ve asked her about it… but she’s been hesitant to talk to me. Has she spoken to you about it?”

  Benjamin’s face fell as the monk shook his head.

  “She has not, Amitabha. But we have all had to surmount our own trials. Some of which we have to endure ourselves. I trust that Twig knows when to place the mission before her personal goals. She has advised us that Antoinne is not to be trusted, and we will act accordingly. If you are concerned that Antoinne might recognise her, Uriel and Jack have made arrangements to have her work under one of Antoinne's competitors. He is religious in keeping his lab techs out of Antoinne's hands."

  Evantra sighed.

  "Great. So she's talked to them about it... but not us."

  Benjamin laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  “I have great faith in her. I know you do too. I am sure you can attest to the fact that Twig has surprised all of us in many respects in recent times, wouldn't you agree? As for her willingness to disclose her troubles to us... that will come in time. When she is ready. Do you doubt her?”

  The silence drew on as Evantra let out a slow breath. She spent another moment tracing the lines of her palms before she dropped her hands, looking back at Benjamin.

  “No. No, I don’t doubt her. But I’ve also learned the hard way that withholding things from the people that care about me has put me into a world of trouble.”

  “Then that is a lesson she will have to learn for herself.”

  Ben smiled at her.

  Evantra whispered under her breath.

  “I just hope it isn’t one she learns at our expense.”

  ***

  Present day

  Evantra bit her lip as she paced in her quarters. Her discussion with Antoinne still rang clear in her mind.

  Perhaps it was because of his willingness to be open about his goals with her, but the man was growing on her. If it hadn’t been for Noelle’s insistence, she would have been more open to trying to reason with him.

  What if we ask Antoinne about Project Darwin directly?

  Would he be willing to aid us if we simply disclosed our goal to him?

  Evantra gritted her teeth, recalling Noelle's words of caution.

  No.

  He's getting in my head.

  She let out a sigh, preparing to depart for Antoinne’s office.

  “EMERGENCY. ALL PERSONNEL, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE BUNKER ENTRANCE ON YOUR RESPECTIVE FLOOR. EMERGENCY.”