"Demoted"

Sanno was the first one to take a bite, "I'm hungry, I'll go first!" he munched the brownies as if not worrying about anything. It was like he's reading the Head Scientist's mind. He knew that every action he's been doing must have a purpose.

Dr. Logan was 80% convinced that Sanno was innocent. At the same time, he knew that Roy was such a timid and quiet person, so he's actually not the type to eat first.

"Maybe the two of them are innocent," the Head Scientist thought.

Paul Azirean called Dr. Logan after a long while. The head scientist went out of his room and answered the call. "Yes, Paul... Did you find anything?"

"Sir, we're done investigating their place," Paul replied. "We found nothing suspicious... We're just waiting for the DNA report. We've submitted them in the DSP Lab (DNA Sequencing and Profiling Laboratory)."

"Did you check Angeldame's birth certificate?" Dr. Logan asked. He wished that he wouldn't have to face that rival doctor again. Sanno Angeldame didn't look a bit like Dexter Angeldame. In terms of personality, too, they're different. He hoped that they just had the same surname, but not related. "Who are his parents?"

Paul looked at the photo sent by his men. "Vivian Angeldame and Sander Angeldame..." he said.

"Then we just have to check for the DNA samples if they match," Dr. Logan said, feeling a bit relieved that he didn't hear about Dexter Angeldame.

"But sir," Paul continued, "We also saw some adoption papers. And a death certificate of his father Sander... and also some pictures of his mother Vivian and a man named Halter Ruckins which it says here that she remarried... Should we investigate further?" He felt that they're going to stray far from the main problem.

"If we know that the DNA test for Sanno Angeldame and his mother will become negative, and there are documents for that, then we won't have to continue the test. I also observed him in my office. Seems like he's innocent. Both him and Roy," Dr. Logan said. "Now that I'm somewhat convinced that they're innocent, how's the investigation going within your team?"

Paul was saddened and disheartened about having to investigate his own teammates. He grew attached to the whole team, and felt that each one of them were equally important. He believed in them; they're all innocent. "Do I have to...?"

Dr. Logan was disappointed in him. If it wasn't because of his loyalty to him and his assistance in operations in and outside the research facility, he would have kicked him out during that incident with Dr. Brown. "I understand that it would be hard for you. But please put D.M. Cadre first, before your personal feelings."

The Head Scientist was right. He's working for D.M. Cadre, and not for his teammates. "I'm sorry, sir," he uttered. Paul and the whole security team, especially the cybersecurity team, had lost their confidence in their job, because of the two hacking incidents. It was really hard, facing a very clever enemy. The whole team felt that they were too weak, and they were losers.

They're good programmers, it's just that, their enemy was too strong.

Paul and his team were having a hard time finding out the identity of their enemy. They didn't know that they were already facing a master hacker's predecessor.

"I'm going to send some people to investigate you and your team," the Head Scientist said coldly. "Thank you for your loyalty, Paul. But this is the end of your career as the Head of the Security team."

It's understandable that his boss wouldn't want him as the leader anymore.

Twice. He failed him twice.

And it's not just any mistake. The enemy got confidential files, and they let a mutant escape. Who knows what else the enemies had in their minds.

"Yes, sir, I understand," Paul said. He loved his job, but the Head Scientist was right; he should step down.

"But I still want you to work for me... Perhaps not as a head of a team," Dr. Logan explained. He could find a lot of skilled and intelligent security heads to replace him, but a loyal person would be hard to find. When the Head Scientist had decided, he told Paul, "Don't worry about your team. I will keep them if the investigators say that they're innocent. Just continue your work in the basement... and focus on being an interrogator."

After the interrogation and the caretakers' working hours...

Sanno had prepared the documents for him to formally leave the research facility.

"Oh, you're leaving, too?" Lia asked Sanno, when the four of them met at the e-train platform after work. Lovely had left, and now her best buddy. "Does that mean, I'll go back to Makylee alone from now on?"

Sanno laughed at Lia. If there's anyone in the group whom he truly cared for, it's her. Not romantically, but as a good friend. All the Thursday nights going to Makylee and the Saturday mornings going back to the research facility had all been fun, thanks to their non-stop chitchats.

"Don't worry, I'm still going with you," Sanno said. He had decided to apply at a part-time job somewhere, probably in Griller's Heaven, the fast-food restaurant, or the convenience store. Besides, his mission's not yet finished. "My mom needs me here, so I'll just have to look for a part-time job... It'll be tough though, in terms of money..."

Again, he acted as if he badly needed money, when in reality, he could buy the whole convenience store.

"Sanno, don't worry about money, I still have a job," Sanya said, worrying about Sanno's bad spending habits. She was worried that he had already spent all his savings for her branded, expensive stuff that he kept on giving to her willingly.

"Ms. Mayheart will pay for your meals from now on," Gem said, teasing the two. "How about us Sanno's batchmates? Aren't you going to treat us to Griller's Heaven?" she laughed, and it was supposed to be a joke, but then Sanya nodded and agreed to treat them to dinner.

"Yeah!!" the meat lovers Sanno and Lia excitedly shouted. And the four of them took the e-train out of the research facility.