A team of people wearing protective gear arrived and put the corpse on the 
stretcher, taking him away. Everyone walked away and went their separate 
paths.

"Who could've done this?", asked Samuel, shaken.

"That's a question we won't be able to answer. I think the real question is why 
would they do it?", Marina asked.

"They probably found out he leaked the information. But I don't think they 
know who he gave the files to.", I said, scratching my head.

"We still need to find a way to get the password.", said Elena.

"There might be some clues at one of the SKYTECH branches. We should look 
when we get there when the operation starts.", Ethan suggested.

"I'll look around the base for any clues while you're gone.", added Samuel.

"Be careful when you look around." I advised.
"Oh, don't worry. This old man knows how to take care of himself.", he 
assured.

We went our separate ways. Elena and I went to the orphanage to visit Lily.

"My, my, if it isn't 2 familiar faces? Tyrell, Elena, how have you been.", asked 
an old woman with grey hair in a cheerful mood.
"We've been great Mrs. Edwards.", I responded.
"Come to see Lily again?", she asked, her voice warm.

"Yes, we've been wondering how she's doing."

Mrs. Edwards chuckled. "You 2 sure are acting like her parents. Are you sure 
you're not dating?", she teased. 

Both Elena and I laughed. "Of course not. We've only known each other for a 
few weeks.", I said.

"Well, love has no limits.", Mrs. Edwards chuckled.

Lily came to us running, giving both of us a hug. "I missed you!", she yelled 
happily.

"We missed you too Lily.", Elena said as she kneeled and poked Lily's cheeks 
tickling her. Lily burst out laughing.
"Lily, there's something we need to tell you.", I said.

"Hmm. What is it?", she asked.

"We're going to go on a mission tomorrow.", I said.

"And we might not be back for a while.", Elena added.

Lily looked down, saddened. "When will you come back?", she asked, her 
mood now down.

"We're not su-"
"We'll make sure we come back quickly.", I interrupted Elena.

"P-Promise?", she asked, sobbing?

"I promise.", I assured her.

We gave her a hug, while she cried for a moment. When we were walking 
away she asked. "Be safe, okay?", she said.

"We will.", we replied, smiling.
"You better keep your promise, Tyrell. To a kid it means everything.", advised 
Elena, her voice stern.

"I'll make sure to fulfill it.", I said.

We went and regrouped with Ethan and Marina.
"We got selected and we're part of team 6. We'll be going to branch 4.", said 
Marina.

"Branch 4?", asked Elena.

"That's what the researchers named them. Branch 4 is located South-west of 
the city.", Marina answered.

"I see.", I replied.

"Can you also see deez nuts?", Ethan joked. His laughs muffled by his mask.

A loud smack could be heard as Marina slapped his head.
"What was that for?", he asked, rubbing his head.

"This is supposed to be a serious conversation.", Marina scolded.
"Have a sense of humor, sis.", he said.

We laughed a bit, before continuing. "The other 4 have been selected as well. We'll be travelling with them. Currently everyone is packing up resources, weapons etc.", she said.

"We should probably start packing as well.", said Elena.

We went to the storage room where the researchers were handing out 
weapons, ammo, clothes and other things. We started packing weapons, food 
and clothes as well as first-aid kits. Elena tosses me a pistol with a magazine.

"A gun? I'm fine with my sword, I even got them re-sharpened yesterday.", I told her.

"Just take it.", she said. "You're gonna need to shoot at a long range somewhere there.", she advised.
"…Thanks.", I said, gratefully.

We packed all our weapons into cars. Each with enough space for everything and extra fuel for days. The 4 of us kept our preferred weapons on for the rest of the night.

I with my swords. Elena with her pistols. Marina with her bow and arrows. Ethan with his assault rifle.

"Did you pack enough arrows?", Ethan asked Marina, giving her another quiver 
full of arrows.

"Yeah, yeah. I have more than enough.", she replied.

"Just take it, just in case."

"Fine.", she said as she took the quiver. "Thanks."

I could see a smile form under Ethan's mask. He still cares for his sister no matter how many times she yells at him or hits him. We finished packing and left to the eating hall. After dinner everyone on the base left to a hill to go 
stargazing.

Everyone was partying and having fun. Others hugging their loved ones as they were selected for operation "Haven Retrieval". The Researchers 
gave us all durable protective shirts. They had a sun emblem on them and at the back the word "Haven" was written.

After a few hours we went to our separate rooms to rest. I laid on my bed and entered the notepad app on my Eralink.

[Note Entry]
Date: 04 March 2024 21:44

Today was the day we prepared for operation 'Haven Retrieval'. Everyone was 
able to relax tonight. I don't know how to feel about this. Am I scared? Am I 
eager to find out more information about this cure? Will I find more clues that 
my father left behind?
All these questions keep flooding my mind. But what I know is I have to protect everyone. They 
mean a lot to me. I also need to keep my promise to Lily. A child like her would 
be broken to find out the person who saved her, died and broke their promise.
It still angers me that I don't know the password to this 'Dr_J._Hawthorne file'. 
I'll just have to find it one way or another. Who even is Director J. Hawthorne? 
What was he planning? 
All these questions with no answers. I hope that there will be better days 
ahead. Tomorrow will be a new dawn. I'll make sure we find that cure no 
matter what. For a better future. For a better generation.
-Tyrell Mitchell

End of Chapter 9.