33 Where it had all began

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Dr. Claire's Backstory_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Let our clocks intertwine with all the past memories abide.

And let your voice hum the silence throughout this bountiful night.

'Tis a story of a young girl, as I was, who fell deeply in love inside the world

of SCIENCE.

Like usual, we celebrated New Year's Eve, January 1, 2041, inside our own research department, on the nearby terrace, with our cold can of beer. Dr. James, who'd been staring from afar, had these benevolent look on his eyes, as if studying the entire galactic sphere. On the other hand, Andrew Turner was still working on his computer, generating the specs of DNA from our present project.

"Andrew~ you might want to have fun for a little while, don't you?"

"Second. I'm still quite unsure what must be done from these Type Zx Virus."

"What seems to be problem?"

"I don't know…The DNA samples seems to be unstable after compounding some of its data used with the Ophiocordyceps unilaterali."

He pulls his back away from the monitor and resigns from the documents that he was thoroughly immerse with. Nevertheless, he's a proud yet a workaholic man, neglecting his own basic needs. After this night, we'll once again resume in our original post and continue our research assignments. How I wish we could all spend our lives together like the usual, back from our old college days.

"Do you remember that time you were so drunk and you have to take a piss outside when the bar had coincidentally closed down?"

"And you know what? Andrew kept banging the lift's door outside his apartment, yelling 'IS ANYONE HOME' you could've seen his face, James!"

Andrew's burrows his face and hid himself at the nearby bench seemingly ashamed from the teasing remark me and Newton had claimed.

"It wasn't that bad, Andrew. Besides, those were the bitter yet foolish memories left of our past…your past. Cheer up" I went to his side and gently stroke his back. Like a dog wanting for attention, Andrew rose from his chair and fixes his tie.

He was feared by our residents, and was honorifically hailed as the "Mad Scientist" in our prime; yet was socially awkward within our circle. I too obtained a nickname, and called me "The Lab Rat" as countless of my experiments failed yet was proven to be an outstanding innovation for other enterprises. On the other hand, James had his own fan club, and reigns for being one of the most handsome man that had ever lived in this planet. Despite his remarkable features, James remained calmed and lived a joyous life with his lovely wife and an adorable daughter.

Unfortunately, his daughter had encounter a terrible disease, and the most treacherous one—Cancer in the lungs. As of this day, we humans have yet been able to formulate a counterfeit for the mutated genes of these fast reproductive cancer cells. The doctor claimed that her daughter's days are set and numbered;

Which was why Andrew intiated the so called project, the "Ophio-TypZx virus", where it can detect and eliminate all sorts of harmful structures of bacteria, and even numerous amounts of dead cells living in our body. The virus was akin to a miracle drug, and the ingredients used were the combination of the common anti-bacterial capsule being engineered using the famous fungal parasitic Ophiocordyceps unilateralis plant that could withstand and fully-control the nervous system of our brain and reinforce our cells to reproduce a massive army of our enhance immune system.

It was fundamentally our dream, being able to produce a legacy that no man could have ever wish for. It is apparent that we, the three geniuses of our time, will accomplish our pipe's dream.

"Cheers, for the Type Zx virus"

"For the Type Zx virus!"

The clanking of our cans reverberates with the massive colourful explosions occurring from above, thus ending our night.

Morning had came, therefore resuming our day. Despite our project being well anticipated by the world, we had yet to announce our progress to the public; knowing the risk and expectations brought by from our miraculous drug, which may cause an enormous turmoil between the enterprise and the tycoons of world. It may even unravel the resuscitation progress of a nearly dead human body due to the effects of the so-called fungi of the peculiar parasitic species. It was evident from the experimental rodents stored inside Andrew's lab.

However, he had kept his observation for himself, as he lowered his head and hurriedly went back from his personalised dusty room.

"You found a new symptom, which could overlie the potential cure…didn't you?" I asked, unamused from what I've noticed with his gestures.

"Yeah…I can't hide anything from you, huh?" Andrew Chuckles on my comment, and faintly flashes me a smile.

But it was indeed the unbearable truth. The rodents we saw reanimated from the dead and infected countless amounts of lab rats near its vicinity, and Andrew…had no other choice but to properly extinguish them all.

Although magical as it seems, the letter Z written in the "Type Zx" documents was none other than a joke of its 'zombie-like' characteristics held from the chemical components of the said fungi. These parasites latches on a formicine ant and would slowly control its mind, and unhesitantly lead it to its unwavering demise. It will steadily suicide itself and patiently wait the body to be rigorously devoured, thus ending its deadly yet profound process.

These oddly looking fungi had shown promising results manifested in the enhancement of anti-bacterial drugs, hence our current research.

The drug was already completed by our research team, and the only thing we needed now was a safe report manifested from our typical rats stored in our facilities.

In spite of which, Andrew's first experiment from the 'TypeZx' project had failed drastically, leaving us no choice but to classify this phenomenon as a 'code-red' research topic. It was far too dangerous amongst our peers, so placing our resentments aside, me and Andrew decided to burn the documents ablaze.

But of course, we needed the opinion of Dr. James who's also a part of the project as of date. However, after hearing the news, he hysterically pleaded Andrew's change of heart and resume what we've long started.

Well, that was all Andrew had been wanting us to see. The truth had never beseech the surfaces of the world, and was kept well-hidden out from the public's domain. Journalists had written various articles even before the collapsed of the world, making Dr. James a wanted man. I, on the other hand, was forced to work under the protection given by Andrew himself, and was now trapped on the residence of the main branch of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. in Tokyo, Japan.

"Do you mind guarding the whole laboratory for me? I'll be off to the vast sea, towards the SSS Anne Cruise, 'gathering' the materials required for my additional research; but of course, what I meant is the pendant you've provided to your daughter"

A voice of a familiar man approached me in the shadows and grabbed me unto his arms. His figure had transformed 10 years younger, much similar from the youthful face unbecoming from the past. The freckles from his forehead, and the eye bags resting beneath his eyes were nowhere to be seen, and 'twas replaced with a skirmish face of dignity yet adverse as it seems.

He pinned me to a wall and snicker from the thought. His pupils were no more beaming with the excitement, which it had been painted exclusively during our research. Alas, Andrew was no longer the person whom I've remember, and changed…for the worse.

Was it the undeniable success from the rewards of our project?

Or a hidden rivalry between him and Dr. James?

I brush these thoughts aside and focused on my present surrounding. His clasps around my wrist immobilised my hand, as he lean on further closer to my ear.

"Relax, my dear Claire. I won't hurt you nor your precious daughter. All I ask is for me to obtain that pendant of yours. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes"

"Gladly!"

Upon hearing my reply, he soon releases me from his shackles and leisurely walked away, headed for the chopper, which was ready to take flight.

I could only gaze upon his image slowly fading away with the black automobile flying across a distance. Soon enough, I was left powerless once again, while the regret dwelling inside had soon relinquished my heart. My daughter, Paula…I miss her so much. All I could pray was for Fleur to stay by her side, and wish their luck from the crisis of the world.

But, I for one, would never sit idly for a response. I too must be on the move and arrive first before Andrew could even muster.

Nonetheless, how?

Lost in thought, I stumbled upon a human-sized capsule covered in azure hue, which was perfect for my physique.

"Could it be?"

It is indeed similar from what I've thought.

Long before, our group had participated in a junior year's contest held inside our school. The genre was conducted based from our 'scientific' research that we kids could never smoothly handle. While most of the children missed out these…strange boring experience, I, James, and Andrew took the bait and joined the science fair, thus created a capsule-like flying automobile that could be able to transport a single person to a specific length of distance nearly, with the speed of light, which was also marked from its high quality radar installed to its system. Amused from what we've tinkered, our batched had earned the respect and reward money from the small competition. It was furthermore funded by multiple scientists who had been able to perceive our first great invention.

I opened the translucent glass and hover myself on the comfy linens enveloped inside. Once my body had been comfortably resting on the soft surface of the temporary bed, the glass began shifting its windows, steadily caving me inside.

I soon noticed a small red sprouting button, about a size of a fist, encrypted with the word 'start' to its centre. I then swiftly pounded my knuckles on its scarlet round surface and awaited its response, only to find out that…

"EEEEH?!"

It needed batteries for it to take flight.

I rested my head from the palm of my hand and began sulking silently, fazed from the anti-climactic event.

Dejected, I walked away and feared that I was now unable to do anything from then on...

My two little feet carried me to an open room filled with the same flying capsule from before that was voided with life…or batteries.

Observing the neatly arrange coffins (as I've described from my youthful years), they were truly packed and well stored each with heavy duty charged cell.

"Now that's what I've been talking about!" Amazed from what I could see, a twisted curl rose up from the edges of my mouth, as I slowly clasps both of my palms in a mischievous manner.

I soon repeated the previous process, and slammed the red button with all my might. The transparent screen reflected from the glass slowly consumed my sight and dimmed the whole surroundings, with nothing to be seen. It was akin to an abyss, gazing heavily towards my direction.

Moments later, a bright light illuminated my face, and a box like settings, which you could easily distinguish similar from a game, had popped out from my head.

As the system goes, it was indeed the miscellaneous instructions program at the very beginning, written in English.

: Where do you like to travel? :

A voice similar to S1r1, the famous robotic woman inside the human smartphones, resounded in my ear.

"Uhm, now that I think about it, where else should I go?"

Recalling my previous thoughts, Andrew had mentioned that he was aiming to travel at a certain ship called the SSS Anne. But, why?

Whatever it is, it was not my primary concern. Probably, if I would just…

"S1r1, lead me to the great SSS Anne"

: SSS Anne, at the nearby coast of Papua New Guinea, voyaging near the Pacific Ocean. If you wish to travel to this location, kindly press any button to continue:

"Well, don't mind if I do~"

Using my index finger, I pointed at the blank space from above and confirmed the current destination. Afterwards, the capsule began to levitate and slowly positioned itself outside the open roofs of our enclosed research facility.

: Observe safety protocols to all passengers; please cover your eyes during the travel. Do not lean nor punch the glass. It is very fragile. Have a safe trip! :

"Fragile? What do you mean by thaaaaaaaaaa—"

With a violent swoosh, the capsule flew with the clouds akin to the speed of light, capable of flying up to Mach 6.70 (about 7,200 km/h), similar from the North American X-15 aircraft.

It was stupidity improved by Andrew himself, as if…he had a lot of time to play around with.

As my head dizzily swayed from the hasty flight, the capsule safely arrived at the large cruise sailing the sea. The pod then landed on the water bed and gently stayed afloat, still mildly rocking from the gushing waves. I hurriedly opened the glass and took a long leapt forward unto the breech of the ship. Fortunately for me, I had tightly grasped my way and carefully landed on both of my feet on an isolated door.

"Here goes nothing"

I rolled up my sleeves and pulled the rusty doorknob, and entered the omnimous ingress with caution. The lonely corridors reminded me of our previous school at night. Luckily, the lights dangling from above showered me with its little comfort of light.

Eventually, Andrew's chopper reached the outskirts of the boat and landed on the helipad. And thankfully enough, he had yet to see me inside.

I steadily marched my way closer between the paintings hung from the wall, unable to admire the artist and its art. However, my body had pulled me into a complete stop as soon as I saw a trail of blood leading itself to the door behind.

"What happened?"

Lost in thought, I hurriedly approached the wooden door and observed its peculiar designs.

"Locked" I murmured, as I took out one of my handy tools out from my pocket and tackled my way, hoping to be unsealed.

With a resounding click, I had successfully solved the mysteries of the knob, and soon abruptly checked inside. The vermilion liquid paved away a path and guided me inside the master's bedroom, where a young girl laid supine on the ground, comforting her wounded belly, which seems to be oddly poisoning her insides.

"Hey! Are you alright?" I screamed to the unconscious girl, as it looked me with its weak eyes, desperately wanting to survive.

"200…201…202…" With her last breath, she had ended her number at 202, the moment she had met my eyes.

"Don't worry. I'm here"

I briskly took out one of my wonder drug hidden inside my coat and briskly choked it in her mouth. By pushing the girl's head upwards slightly, but carefully, whilst shaking her skull and jaw.

With all said and done, I've successfully managed to digest the pill inside her flimsy body. Her wound, which had been mercilessly opened from before, had slowly mended on its own after her quick incision of the drug. Her organ, which had been gravely cut, returned to its original form, as if the skewered cut had been a long lost dream.

"Feeling better already?"

I asked, while gently caresses her silky black hair hanging on her shoulder.

"Andrew…Turner"

The anonymous girl had called out his name, as if…she had knew him from the start. Was this also his doing?

"That scoundrel"

I looked at the watch, as I was reminded by the time.

"It'll be over if Andrew finds me here. Now now, little girl. Don't worry. I'll take good care of you~"

I gently placed her on the soft king size bed, wondering what to do.

"It'll be bad if someone finds out that I've kidnapped a girl…yikes. Let's see…oh, A PIECE OF PAPER! Just what I needed!"

Fortunately, a piece of paper, which seems to be the last strap of what was left from the sticker notes used in telephone numbers, was scattered on the floor.

"Pen pen pen….Oh god, no…I guess blood inks will be fine"

Unable to find another alternative for a pen, I began humbly thinking of using the girl's own blood to the little scrap of paper on my hand, and carefully wrote the word "SAVE" in the middle.