I knew that if I took the exit heading to Sector D, the Guards would think I’m headed to the Library, so that’s exactly what I did. As I walked down the hall, I came upon my target, the security control room.

*On Break*

Perfect.

I made a swift but steady sidestep to the immediate left, just before the view of the camera, standing between the door hinges.

*Authorized Personnel only*

I see. This is a problem.

With the camera on a ten seconds rotations, I had to move quickly.

Luckily, I have memorized Zod’s ID password since I was 9. I punched it in, and then entered the control room. I tactfully closed the door behind me then walked over to the computers. A quick scan of the software got me familiarized enough to begin locating Zod’s office. He must be meeting Cage there. I’m sure of it.

I’ve got to get there somehow!

I’ve never been to his office before. It’s on the floor above mine and I’m not allowed up there.

Found it!

I shut off the camera outside the control room, and then slowly peered my way outside. I rushed over to the door leading into the stairways. When I got on the other side, I could hear footsteps climbing up and down the stairs. In one quick motion, I lunged myself over the staircase railing gripping tightly and swinging beneath the ceiling. I raised both legs and wrapped them onto the sliding metal as I began to pull myself across. I took out a screwdriver I’d picked up in the control room from my pocket and began removing the screws of the vent. After successfully reaching inside, I rested the bar up against the opening so as to appear closed.

Owing to my impatient character, the journey to the west seemed infinite, and frustration began to consume me. Not to mention, these tiny vents are a 5ft10 inches cluster phobia’s worst nightmare. It felt like a dark, cold fish can, and I was the packed tuna.

I tried to calm down. Pausing, and then scanning my photographic memory of the blueprints for directions.

Ah, I should be close,

I continued my crawling straight ahead. When I came upon the intersection, I had anticipated I turned left.

Just a bit further…

I continued crawling for about 20 spaces like a dog chasing a ball I crawled away. Then I skidded to an abrupt halt, bent down further, and then squinted to gape through the vents holes.

This is it!

I took out my screwdriver then got to work. When it was done, I slowly scuffled down through to fall steadily on my feet.

Then I heard an evident voice approaching. There was no time to hide. The door creaked open and in came Zod.

Thankfully, he was alone.

“Surprise”

The notes fell flat on the floor and his gimlet eyes flashed with ire and disbelief. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?” He shouted.

“Pipe down, will you… You don’t want people to know I’m in here, do you?”

He heatedly shut the door behind him then barged towards me, “You recalcitrant brat! Do you know how much trouble you’ll be in if they find out what you’ve done?”

“I’m guessing a whole lot?” I jeered.

“How did you pull this off?”

I fervidly started walking about the office then ambled over to the bookshelf while completely drowning out his noise and banter. I couldn’t help but notice something.

“Is this him?” I asked.

But I received no answer. Instead, I was met with silence. After a few minutes, he gradually dropped his shoulder, went over to his chair collapsed in torpor.

“Yes, that’s him.” He spoke lightly. He was successfully subdued. “You are much like him. You know?” Slouching forward he propped his elbow on the table to reach for the second picture of them together. His dimmed eyes became a mural of pain.

“But he wasn’t half as obstinate as you.” He laughed.

I have seen pictures of him in the past, but I was never allowed to keep any of them. Speaking of which

Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen any pictures of her.

I turned to face him and boldly ask. In the past, we agreed to never discuss them too much as to not distract me from my training.

But I can’t seem to find a single picture here either.

“Zod, where is my…”

KNOCK! KNOCK!

What a perfect timing…

“Just a minute,” he frantically called out after jumping up from his chair to rush towards the door. If he had turned back a second sooner, he would have seen me hastily reaching behind the drapes and hid. Assured that I was out of sight, he opened the door.

“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”

“Looking for me?” Taken aback by this question he vacuously asked. “Where else did you expect me to be?”

“There’s no time to explain,” The professor replied, “It’s about the Cyclops project. Are you free now?” He asked.

Zod looked over his shoulder then quickly shrugged aside his concerns for me. He figured that I’d gotten myself into this mess, so I’d better get myself out. Besides, I was obviously capable of doing so.

“Let me just grab a few things, I’ll be right…

*Incoming Voices* “Doctor Zod!” He was being greeted by a pair of twins at the door, so he wasn’t allowed back into his office just yet.

“Hey, how have you kids been?” He smiled.

They were wearing lab coats, sneakers, and jeans. They seemed about average height, 5ft 6/7. But what really caught my eyes was their seraphic white hair and glowing blue eyes. Two of the most beautiful girls I’d ever seen. One of them had shoulder-length hair while the other had extremely long white hair that complemented her plush pink lips as she brushed her hair between her ears. she was stunning.

They chatted for a while, and I stared in awe. She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen in real life or otherwise. Well, technically, she is the first ‘girl’ I’ve ever met. So that’s not saying much, but still. She was a damn beauty.

The Professor and the twins finally stepped off, leaving Zod to catch up with him momentarily in his Lab. I tried to eavesdrop as much as I can but the distance made in an inexorable fact that I could not listen intently.

So, Professor Cage is their Dad?

Zod stepped back in his office then closed the door behind him only to meet me with an unrelenting stare. In an attempt to charm him and then capitalize off his pity, I became excessively compliant to his demands.

“All right, I will come to check on you after Cage and I have finished.”

“Got it…” I hastily responded.

He pulled out a chair beneath the vent, “Off you go.”

Now’s my chance!

“Zod…” I called out.

“Yes Ryun,” He answered.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“Did you hit your head in those vents?” He confounded. “That’s Professor Cage. He makes the A.I’s you train with. You know, the machines you take pleasure in ripping to shreds?”

“Not him Genius… the girl.”

“Oh…” He impulsively now uttered having some realization about true objectives.

“I see what’s going on. My little Ryun is experiencing his first crush huh?”He chuckled.

“What, no!” My dimples reddened. Subconsciously pressing my lips together in a thin line I mumbled: “It’s just my first time to meet a girl that’s all.”

“Sora and Tora are the professor’s twins. They’re known for beauty and brains, the dynamic duos of the science department for youths. They turned 15 just last month, a great party it was. Too bad they lost their mom a few years ago. See something you like?”He teased then guffawed at my humiliated expression.

After a few sessions of going at it, he finally calmed down then said seriously. “Ryun, I know that this isn’t the life you envisioned for yourself but I’m working hard to change things. Please, just be patient okay?”

“Fine…”I acquiesced.

I’ll forget about her... for now.