As the car came to a stop on the outskirts of the city, Ethan's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. He turned to face Jessica and Jane.
Ethan: "It's time for us to part ways."
Jessica: "No, as I mentioned before, I want to follow you to Taira."
Ethan: "I don't want another burden on me."
Jessica's voice trembled with determination as she wiped away her tears.
Jessica: "I must go! I hate Jackson with every fiber of my being! I despise the ZGene DNA plug-in project for what it has done to innocent lives. My husband... he was taken by Jackson Entreprise, subjected to those horrifying experiments under the ZGene DNA project. I've been tirelessly searching for a way to avenge him, but my own powers are too feeble. Taira is now my only hope for justice, for closure."
Jane: "That's why... Why were the soldiers able to find us so quickly earlier?"
Jessica's voice hardened, anger seeping through her words.
Jessica: "Those heartless bastards are always swift in their pursuit of power and money. They have no regard for human life, only their own twisted ambitions."
Jane: "I'm sorry, Jessica, for causing you so much trouble..."
Jessica: "Don't mention it. Jackson and his enterprises are responsible for these atrocities. They have stained this city with their inhuman acts. It would be a triumph if we could deliver the stolen DNA sample to Taira and expose their evil deeds."
Jane: "But what is this ZGene DNA project exactly?"
Jessica: "The ZGene DNA project is a twisted experiment, a DNA plug-in project. They use a combination of special DNA sequences inserted into the human body to generate unnatural powers that don't exist in natural organisms. My husband... His body couldn't handle the immense power unleashed by the DNA plug-in, and..."
Ethan interjected, his voice tinged with a sense of urgency.
Ethan: "If the experiments succeed, it could become Jackson's ultimate super weapon. They are currently targeting individuals working in high-risk and labor-intensive industries. They use the guise of improving work productivity and enhancing quality of life to further their research and experimentation, with the ultimate goal of weaponizing the DNA modifications. In the end, they seek to achieve complete control over humanity."
Jessica: "But it's not that simple. Only a limited number of people can tolerate the DNA plug-in, and even among them, only some experience significant changes. The project is still in development, but once it's completed, the implications are unimaginable..."
Jane: "I can't even fathom it... How could they conduct such experiments on humans..."
Ethan: "This city is not what you can imagine, Jane. It's a place where darkness thrives, where humanity is stripped away in the pursuit of power and control."
Jessica: "Ethan, have you become so heartless since coming here?"
Ethan: "No, I haven't turned heartless. I'm just... myself. I've found a place that fits my way of life, a place where I can survive."
After some thinking, Ethan make a decision:
Ethan: "I think for now, let's drop you both off in Acadia. It might be safer there."
Jane: "Ethan, come back with me and leave this dangerous job, okay?"
Ethan: "I have nowhere to go back to."
Jessica: "Ethan, if you still love Jane, just go back with her. Otherwise, you'll regret it in the future."
Ethan: "Love? I don't have love anymore. Love hasn't brought me anything but lies and betrayal."
Jessica: "I'm not sure what you've been through. My husband, when the experiment failed, managed to escape and find me. Originally, he planned to take me away from the city. But soon after, he became consumed by the aggressive powers from the DNA plug-in... I loved my husband, and even if he ended up killing me in his violent state, I would still love him."
Jane: "What happened next?"
Jessica: "Then... just before he could take my life, he suddenly dropped dead, right in front of me... I witnessed his pain and suffering. In that moment, I lost the will to continue living for myself. Now, I live for revenge."
Jessica's words lingered in the air, casting a heavy atmosphere. Ethan and Jane remained silent, grappling with their own emotions and the weight of their choices.