Easter Experimentation (5)

"So, I listened in for a bit, and honestly, I don't feel good about this," Furuya muttered under his breath, glancing toward Yasushi. The two of them stood to the side with their group, their quiet conversation separate from the larger commotion in the next room.

There were only ten minutes left before the experiment began. Furuya's group, along with the fire department, had been given instructions to follow. The firefighters had been trained on how to use their new quantum AI glasses, but judging by the confusion and half-hearted engagement during the briefing, Yasushi and Kraften didn't have much faith in a smooth trial.

Earlier, Kraften had even mentioned a "wake-up call" planned for anyone who ignored the safety guidelines, which didn't inspire confidence.

"I don't blame you," Yasushi said after a moment, keeping his voice calm. "But I'll make sure the others know — or maybe Xinyi and Jingliu are already handling it. Either way, just stay clear during the first test. They're supposed to be trying out the tech, and it has a lot of potential in the right hands. But if they're not going to pay attention and something happens, let them deal with the consequences themselves. Injuries are on them."

Furuya shook his head as if brushing off the thought and said, "They're probably getting paid for this and treating it like an easy day — just hanging out instead of staying at the fire station."

"Probably," Yasushi replied, his tone practical. "But let's not waste time worrying about why. Just focus on keeping yourselves safe, alright? From what we heard in the lecture earlier, all the equipment being used in these trials is stuff that me, Jingliu, and Xinyi tested months ago. Stick to what you heard and what I explained earlier, got it?"

"Yeah, I got it," Furuya said, though there was a hint of unease in his words. "I'll try."

The two continued talking, their conversation naturally drifting toward what kinds of scenarios the fire department and Furuya's group might face. They threw around ideas about what tasks could come up — rescuing animals or people from trees or buildings, maybe even handling small fires. But in the end, they didn't spend too much time trying to predict specifics, knowing the possibilities were too broad to nail down.

Not long after that, their break came to an end, and the two friends parted ways. Yasushi made his way toward the observation room, where he crossed paths with Jingliu and Xinyi. Both were occupied, brushing through their long hair, as if preoccupied with something more than appearances.

Xinyi sighed before speaking, her voice carrying a mix of resignation and unease. "Things don't feel the same in the next one. Kraften told us nothing bad would happen as long as they keep their distance from the firemen. No one's at risk, but it doesn't stop Reina and Laura from feeling unsettled."

"We can't blame them," Jingliu added, her frustration evident in her tone. "Most of those guys weren't even listening. The chief and maybe three of his men actually cared. The rest? Completely checked out."

Yasushi remained silent for a moment, as though weighing the situation in his mind. Finally, he spoke. "Whatever happens, happens. Let's just hope they keep themselves together and don't start pointing fingers at us. Otherwise, things are going to get more tangled than they already are."

When they entered the room, Kraften greeted them with a nod but immediately picked up on their tense expressions. "Something bothering you?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, his tone curious but direct. He studied their faces for a moment before adding, "Thinking about your friends, aren't you?"

They didn't speak right away, offering only a small nod in response as they moved to join him near the enormous glass window. Below, the room had been rearranged into a simulation area. A collection of mock buildings made from cardboard and other flammable materials formed a makeshift landscape. The setup looked fragile and volatile, like it had been designed to fail spectacularly.

"The goal here is simple," Kraften began, gesturing toward the scene below. "You'll use what you practiced before to handle this. Fire off the bubbles, and let the... 'Quamble,' as we've named it, neutralize the fire. It's this odd concoction — part bubble, part quantum mechanics. As for the rest, the chief and the three most capable individuals in their group will manage the bulk of it. The others? They'll miss the mark."

"You're so sure it'll play out like that?" Jingliu asked, crossing her arms as she turned to face him. Her expression was difficult to read, but her voice carried a note of skepticism.

Kraften's grin was immediate, almost smug. "Absolutely," he replied.

Kraften adjusted the microphone in his hand and leaned toward it, clearing his throat before speaking. "Alright, let's begin the experimentation phase with the firefighters. As explained earlier, input all the relevant data you've gathered into your goggles. Once everything is entered, the system will automatically connect to the devices set up behind you. We're calling them 'Quaffers' — a strange name, I admit, but don't waste time dwelling on that."

He scanned the room briefly, noting the puzzled expressions scattered among the group, and decided to elaborate. "Here's how it works. Aim the Quaffer at the fires that will be simulated shortly, and pull the trigger. It will emit a bubble-like material designed to extinguish the flames on contact — assuming you use it properly. If you paid attention earlier, your goggles will display the specific type needed for each scenario."

After a brief pause, he added with an even tone, "That's all there is to it. Good luck out there." With a quick motion, he switched off the broadcast and stepped away, leaving the firefighters to process his instructions.

After a few seconds, a sharp sound reverberated around the room, cutting through the low murmur of voices. Almost immediately, fires sprang to life around the scattered structures, their sudden appearance throwing the simulation into high gear. Many of the firefighters reacted with a mixture of surprise and urgency, scrambling to respond. The flames crackled hungrily, casting flickering light across the mock buildings, while the room buzzed with movement.

Shouts rose from the group as they grabbed their Quaffers, attempting to extinguish the fires. One by one, they aimed the devices and pulled the triggers. Nothing. Confusion rippled through the group, panic creeping into their voices.

"What the hell is going on? It's not working!" one of them shouted, his voice laced with frustration. Similar cries followed as others tried and failed, each attempt yielding the same result. The Quaffers remained unresponsive.

Amid the growing chaos, four individuals stood apart. The chief and three others moved with purpose, their actions precise and measured. They had paid attention during the earlier lectures, recalling the steps necessary to operate the devices properly.

Their hands moved to the various buttons and switches on the Quaffers, flipping and pressing them in a deliberate sequence. Once the setup was complete, they aimed the nozzles at the fires.

A moment later, a translucent bubble formed at the tip of the device, swelling briefly before detaching and floating toward the flames. It traveled steadily, making contact with the fire and bursting upon impact. The flames vanished instantly, snuffed out by the strange substance released by the bubble.

Once a few of the other firemen noticed what had happened, especially those who had ignored the instructions, their reactions ranged from disbelief to outright frustration.

They scrambled to make their own equipment work, pressing buttons and trying adjustments, but their efforts yielded nothing. Voices began to rise as several of them accused their tools of being faulty. Accusations and excuses flew, filling the air with shouts of protest.

Meanwhile, the chief and three others moved in without hesitation. With precision and understanding, they activated their equipment and began extinguishing the flames. The fire was contained quickly, leaving behind nothing but smoke curling skyward.

As the last embers died out, a stillness replaced the chaos. Those who had failed stood motionless, their shock evident in the way they stared at their useless tools.

The sharp crackle of the speakers interrupted the silence. Kraften's voice came through, calm but firm. "Some of you may be wondering why your tools failed to work. Let me explain. They weren't defective. The problem lies in your failure to follow instructions. You didn't pay attention during the lecture or practice how to prepare them properly. Think about what might happen in a real-world scenario. Imagine explaining this failure to the family of a victim."

One of the firemen, his face flushed with frustration, shouted back. "So, you set us up? You planned this to make us look bad?"

"I set you up? Don't be ridiculous. If you had actually listened to the lecture earlier, this wouldn't even be an issue. Before the session began, when you entered that room, we specifically told you that the information we'd cover would be essential for using the equipment. I am not here to babysit you or remind you to pay attention every step of the way. You're an adult — act like one," Kraften stated, his tone devoid of sympathy.

The fireman clenched his jaw, muttering something unintelligible under his breath. His frustration was palpable, but the flush creeping up his neck betrayed the sting of Kraften's words.

"Here's how it's going to go. We'll push back the second experiment and repeat the lecture. You'll return to the lecture room and actually listen this time. Do not waste this opportunity," Kraften added before the speakers cut out with a faint click.

+-+

Furuya and the rest of Yasushi's group, exempt from the initial lecture thanks to their attentiveness, had been sent to another room to speak freely. Meanwhile, the fire chief remained behind with the other three who had breezed through the first trial, though their patience was wearing thin as they waited on their slower teammates to catch up. The frustration in the air was unmistakable.

"It's crazy how that turned out, huh?" Furuya said, shaking his head. "I didn't even get to step in, but watching them panic and then blame the gear — that was something else."

Jingliu folded her arms, her expression tinged with annoyance. "They didn't pay attention, but it's not like they're rookies. They've got the training, the experience. The problem is they've relied on their usual equipment for so long that switching to something experimental threw them off. Complacency, plain and simple. Maybe this taught them a lesson… though I wouldn't hold my breath."

Yasushi nodded and turned toward Nandini and Yinhaie, their attention sharp on his movements. "What do you both think?" His tone carried the weight of genuine curiosity.

Nandini's brow tightened as her voice dropped. "I went through something like that when I started working for Lord Shiva. During my first decade under him, I grew too comfortable. That carelessness nearly cost me my life, but Lord Shiva intervened. Ever since then, I've treated every situation, no matter how ordinary it seems, with care."

Yinhaie adjusted her posture, her tone warm but reflective. "I had my own troubles when I started too, though they weren't as dangerous. Back then, I made mistakes that embarrassed me, but the senior maids took the time to guide me. Master Liang Yang's patience also helped. I owe much of who I am today to their kindness."

Nandini's voice cut back in, more pointed this time. "There's something else, though. I noticed some of the firemen harboring resentment. Their pride looks like it's been hurt, maybe tested. It's something we can't afford to ignore. I'd advise everyone to stay sharp during the next trial. From what I overheard, a researcher mentioned they'll be using experimental uniforms in it. If that's true, we need to be ready for anything."

"Experimental suits?" Laura asked, her tone betraying her confusion.

Nandini nodded, taking a moment before elaborating. "We didn't get to use them back then. At the time, they were still finalizing everything. But they're basically enhanced versions of the fireproof gear firefighters use now."

Laura tilted her head slightly, curiosity showing as Nandini continued, "These suits are designed to keep the wearer cool, even when they're running into the heart of a burning building. They're said to be at least ten times more resistant to flames and use some kind of advanced tech — or magic — to shield the user. It's like stepping into fire with a protective barrier around you."

To emphasize her point, Nandini raised her hand. A faint frost formed on her forearm, a brief flicker of ice magic running along her skin before she froze in place, realizing what she had just done.

"W-what the hell? Magic?!" Furuya blurted, wide-eyed as he pointed at Nandini.

"Oh crap," Xinyi muttered, slapping a hand to her forehead. "We forgot they didn't know…"

+-+

Furuya grabbed Yasushi's shoulders, his grip tight as his voice cracked into a shout. "Oh my god!" His words hit the air like a thunderclap. "You're like one of those anime protagonists!" His expression twisted into something between disbelief and excitement as he shook Yasushi harder.

Yasushi let out a strained laugh, the sound uneven and dry. "It's really not such a big deal," he replied, dragging a hand over his face as if trying to erase the moment. "Just don't start treating me differently because of it, alright?" His tone carried a weight that demanded seriousness.

Releasing Yasushi, Furuya flopped back into his seat, his hands dragging down his face as he exhaled hard. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I won't," he muttered, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Even if you were, like, some kind of deity or something, I wouldn't treat you any different. But man, it's wild to think about." His fingers raked through his hair as he let out a low whistle.

Yasushi rubbed the back of his neck, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Look," he began, his voice leveling out, "don't start getting ideas, alright? No trying to learn magic or tapping into ki. Trust me, I've heard it plenty from Nandini — and Hakufubuki too. Once you step into that world, there's no backing out. You'll get dragged in, and it doesn't matter if you're a rookie. The kinds of people you'd end up dealing with don't care. They'll come at you with everything they've got."

Furuya reacted, his expression tightening as he shook his head. "No, it's fine. Just knowing it's there is enough for me. I don't need to dig deeper or learn more. My life's complicated enough as it is," he said, letting out a short laugh that seemed more like a release than humor.

Clenching his fist, he struck his open palm with enthusiasm. "I'd love to hear more about it later, but right now, let's focus on what's in front of us. We've got experiments to tackle!"

Jingliu nodded, her tone light but firm. "Let's hope everything goes as planned and that none of those irritated firemen try to throw a wrench in things." The group murmured their agreement, a mix of shared concern and anticipation evident in their reactions.

As if cued by her words, the distinct sound of a bell cut through the lull in their conversation. Their brief respite was over, and Kraften's lecture for the disgruntled firemen had wrapped up. Now it was time to return to their work, going into the challenges of the new quantum technology.