*** 

Collapsing into the bathtub, Wei Zangchen splashed cool water on his face. The first bath was always the warmest, and despite what he may imply, he never took advantage of it. The electricity used by the institution was collected by solar panels, then stored in batteries. Gun Wen had forbidden him from using his own powers to top up the system, as the first time he had, they’d been so severely drained he’d vomited mouthfuls of blood. Now, they used the generators for three hours straight after sunset to make the lives of the children easier… and to ease their own consciences. The two lower levels ran on a separate filtration system, an incredibly draining system, yet one they activated nonetheless.

Every third Saturday of the month, two things happened. One was turning off the filtration system to prevent the batteries from draining to empty. The second was that Wei Zangchen would take his injections. Part of the leftover medical supplies were injections for guides and espers. These contained a suppressant type that mimicked guiding. Suppressants for secondary genders and mood stabilizers. They were originally designed for just after the children presented their secondary forms early, as esper or guide power didn’t fully emerge until roughly the age of 21, generally after secondary presentation had settled. From 21 to 24 were the hardest years, as they learned control and ran their first junior missions. Genetic markers were now traceable in the embryonic stage, allowing parents to plan for their children’s future.

Perpex was part of the string of institutions attempting to activate powers as soon as possible, subjecting the children it held to all sorts of inhumane practices. It didn’t matter so much now. When they’d found out what the director was doing… well… he was no longer capable. The data contained within the walls didn’t matter, seeing every attempt had failed, including those where precocious puberty was forcibly induced.

Knowing that someday someone might come to retrieve the information, he and Gun Wen had taken precautions, removing the worst of the experimental data from the institution. Whoever came for it now must face the disgusting reality and the dead. Beneath the ground, beneath the previous director’s headless body, lay a stone vault, created by Wei Zangchen himself. Even their old “colleagues” had no knowledge of it. By the “allowing” of him, and Gun Wen, there, the military had no idea the storm they’d delivered. Each staff member they’d killed in mercy now lay in the same sad graveyard. If the infection hadn’t spread too far into the brain too fast, they’d always give them the choice.

Closing his eyes, Wei Zangchen slid back, letting his chin rest just above the waterline. There’d been two tonight… 27 humans in total over the last 6 months. The number had risen more than he’d thought. The previous year had hit the high 80’s, and the year before that… it’d been every second day, or so it seemed… Soon it’d be their fourth year there.

Taking a deep breath, he folded his knees, before submerging his head underwater. Four years. Four years without a major gate incident within 100km of the institution that he knew of. This twisted heaven was truly the closest thing to peace he’d ever had in the 34 years he’d been on this planet. With his right hand, he felt across the floor for the injector pack left by Gun Wen, fingers slipping over the syringe then snagging the handle. Clumsily picking it up, he pushed back up, spilling water over the side of the bathtub at the same time he shoved the needle into his neck. It was best to stop thinking for the night. Two infected in one night… Where had they come from? How far had their mutated bodies wandered? Why was the number this year increasing faster? No. No. Gates were a previous life. Raising the children in their care came first. He didn’t have the time, or the means, to go thinking about scouting the area out of paranoia… but… but if transients had moved into the village…

Letting the injector drop back to the floor, Wei Zangchen opened his eyes, then flexed both his hands. The wheelchair was going to have to wait a little longer. Seeing the village children that were left had moved up to the institution, they very rarely had cause to check the village camera footage, a mostly useless relic from the days of Perpex’s power.

After soaking for half an hour, Wei Zangchen climbed out of the bath and onto the toilet seat. The injection’s warm effects on his blood had lessened now. If he’d been at an actual base, he’d have been guided back to sanity entirely by a team of well-trained and super obedient guides. Plenty of times he’d panicked when thinking of the outside world, not wanting to cross paths with old teammates and have them see his condition now. As an esper with more than one branch, he’d been shoved into the media limelight. Various articles had praised him, and the original family he’d come from had not only wealth, but powerful backers. Not coming first in everything meant being nobody. Being nobody meant no freedom and no food. They’d never take him back, even under the guise of a heartfelt public reunion. That was fine. It was far better for everyone concerned to simply think him dead.

Drying his twisted legs first, Wei Zangchen pulled his pants on. Sometimes when one of the smaller children had too much to say, they’d forget about personal privacy. It’d become second nature to keep his legs hidden. A huff of relief came from seeing them covered. Waving to Gun Wen through the camera system, he beckoned his friend to come to his quarters. Gun Wen was such a worrier that he knew he never truly bathed alone… that, and one small incident of mania had driven the man to such despair that he allowed his privacy to be invaded so completely.

Leaving the bathroom, the esper hobbled to his bed with the use of his powers. Sitting on the side, he was rubbing his cramping left calf when the predicted knock came on his door.

“Come in!”

Gun Wen entered, Xiao Li in his arms. The toddler with his face buried against his uncle’s neck.

“You called, sir? Are you cramping?”

Wei Zangchen nodded.

“It’ll pass shortly. I want you to check the village cameras. I was thinking about it in the bathroom. The numbers are rising again.”

Gun Wen nodded.

“I’ve noticed that too. Should I sweep the village?”

“No. You’re too important here. Just check the cameras and let me know immediately. Xiao Li wouldn’t stay with the others?”

“No. Bao Mei brought him back. I’d only just dropped him off.”

Wei Zangchen clicked his tongue. The girl was old enough to think she knew best. It was a case of her thinking the sun rose in the west, and no matter what, she wouldn’t change her mind. Teenaged girls were quite a scary thing.

“Leave her. I’ll bring him with me.”

Carding his fingers through Xiao Li’s hair, Gun Wen smiled.

“It’s okay, Shu Shu will take care of our little prince. Won’t I, Xiao Li?”

“You’ll have your hands full with the camera.”

“We’ll be fine. I’ve been thinking. I really believe we should get you another chair.”

Scowling, Wei Zangchen reached up for Xiao Li.

“No.”

“I thought… if we sent one of the children… two more are reaching that age.”

“They’re teenagers.”

“Yuanyun’s passed that age already. He’ll be next to leave.”

For a moment, he couldn’t place the name, then remembered. Lu Yuanyun had been a village child. He’d been spared the initial horrors of the institution, then abandoned by his family. He’d come grown enough for some to call him an adult, yet to a 31-year-old, he was still a mere child with no idea of reality.

“How soon?”

“A month, maybe two. He’s human.”

Wei Zangchen let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. Another child leaving for the greater world was all they could hope for as the children’s guardians, yet it didn’t mean he wanted to let them face the world unguarded. With a guide or esper, they could be gently mentally manipulated, sent away to find real training. Frankly, he found it easier than saying goodbye to a human child with no way of supporting themselves.

“We’ll need to prepare for him. Ask him when he plans to go, I’ll need to prepare.”

“I’ll bring it up tomorrow. How are your legs?”

“Connected. Give me Xiao Li.”

Gun Wen tickled the toddler’s side, silent laughter spilling from his pouty lips.

“No, the prince is mine.”

“I thought you’d be more inclined to leave him in my hold, lest I escape.”

Gun Wen blinked twice, then quickly handed Xiao Li over.

“You won’t. Not tonight. We don’t know if there are more out there.”

“That’s all the more reason. My mind is clear.”

“No. We’ve had this discussion before. What would I say if something happened to you?”

“The truth. That as much as I love all the children, sometimes things are unavoidable. How did you feel about them? Did they seem as if they might be part of a larger group?”

Gun Wen knew he was referring to the two infected. He sighed softly.

“I have no idea. My vision isn’t as good as yours. I only caught them in low light. Any sooner and they would have found the children.”

That was true.

“I know.”

They both knew too well. Gun Wen changed the topic.

“We stopped and collected your chair. It’s in the hallway.”

His friend was taking no chances. He wasn’t allowing him to slip into a blind spot then leave the institution. Three years together… they might as well have been married.

“I’ll be the good wife tonight. Bring Xiao Li to me before you sleep.”

“I won’t be sleeping.”

“You need to sleep.”

“So do you.”

Wei Zangchen dropped his gaze to his legs.

“Tonight won’t be a good night. I’ll rest tomorrow when the sun is up.”

“That’s no good for your body.”

“What else can we do? We have over 40 children to think of. If I can’t protect one institution, what hope do we have?”

Knowing he was right, Gun Wen sighed.

“I’ll sleep from midnight. You’re not a very obedient wife.”

There’d only ever been one man he would have willingly played wife for, but they were fated to never meet again. Teasing Gun Wen as close to having his wifely fun as he could get.

“You wouldn’t be sane if I was. Don’t forget to bring him in.”

“Yes, sir.”