CHAPTER ONE: INTO THE FLESH
An ID card swiped down through the scanner, lighting green once confirmation was initiated. The entrance door reluctantly opened, and a group of scientists walked out. A novice with their nametag as "Alreiko" sat in his car, staring at the building. This was their third day working at the Хеллерианский подводный центр (Hellerian Underwater Center). Unfortunately, today was the day of one of Russia's biggest projects. A convict from Тюрьма Черного дельфина (Black Dolphin Prison) would be transported to the facility for Project: Heartburn.
Alreiko took a deep breath and stepped out of their vehicle. They shivered as the cold winds brushed against them.
" Почему на улице должно быть так холодно...? " ( "Why should it have to be so cold outside?")
Ignoring the freezing temperature, Alreiko walks to the entrance, noticing the lack of security that often stood dormant on the wall. He assumed that they were off at this hour. The facility's entrance was shaped like a bunker, and a keypad connected to the door. Signs such as "no smoking" were plastered under the pad. Alreiko pulled their lanyard upwards towards the camera on the number pad.
A robot eye stares at the card, skeptical of its credibility, then back at Alreiko's pale face. He could see his own breath coming out of him as he continued to shiver. Despite the weather being really hot, Alreiko had temperature intolerance that was messing with his body. Once the scanner had lit up green, the entrance door opened slowly. Another group of scientists who had patiently waited then walked out, complaining about the heat as the sun kissed their skin.
Alreiko stumbled down the hallway, their knees knocking together in nervousness. The facility's layout was complex, with hallways connecting to different areas throughout the building. Forklifts drove through crowds of various scientists and workers who were conversing about the project. The atmosphere felt natural and refreshing; people conversed in high spirits, and others worried. Alreiko was supposed to sample plants in the west wing of the center, but his interests wandered to the operation recently rumored among scientists. He walked past his designated wing, traversing the crowds until he spotted "MAIN HALL" at the back wing.
" Извините, извините! " ( "Sorry, sorry!") he said, bumping into people.
People passing by him gave him weird glances when they saw his unnatural walk. He quickened his pace, and his cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. A guard suddenly stopped him from entering the main room, pushing him gently back with the buttock of their rifle.
"Только авторизованный." ("Authorized only.") the guard spoke.
"Действительно?" ("Really?-") Alreiko replied.
The screams of a woman coming from next to Alreiko alerted him. It was a lady with a lotus fazan hairpin, arguing with a group of guards after they rejected her entry. Scientists began to look over the conversation, and the guards were getting impatient.
"Вы совершаете ошибку!"("You are making a mistake!") The woman cried out, trying to get through.
She yelled, her index points at the chest of a low-ranking guard.
"Мэм, пожалуйста" ("Ma'am, please-"). The guard attempted to de-escalate the situation.
"Впустите меня!" ("Let me in!") She demanded.
"Мы не можем!" ("We can't!") They replied.
Alreiko took notice of the woman's aggressive nature. Both had a similar goal: reaching the main room. If he could reach her to discuss, then maybe his chances would not be nullified afterall. A plan came to mind.
" Мэм, вы их слышали... пойдем со мной. " ("Ma'am, you heard them. Come with me.")
Alreiko tugged on her shoulder and gently gripped her away from the guards before she could even process what was happening.
Once the two were engulfed in the crowd, she suddenly broke free from his grasp and slapped him. Alreiko didn't protest, understanding of the reaction she gave. He didn't want to raise any more negativity between them; he tried to negotiate instead. The woman was disgusted at Alreiko– frustrated that he took her away from the guards.
" Что с тобой не так?!" ("What is wrong with you?!") She protested in a low voice, trying not to attract attention.
Despite just slapping him, she was accommodating of whatever he had to talk about. It'd had to be a damn good reason, or else she'd go back to yelling again.
" Слушай, мы оба хотим попасть!" ("Listen we both want to get in.") Alreiko says, pointing at the door.
She alluded to the fact that Alreiko was going to make a proposition. She put her hand on her hip and tilted her head.
" Ну и что?" ("So what?")
Realizing that she was willing to talk, Alreiko adjusted his glasses and nervously fidgeted with his fingers.
" I'd like to help you. If you do not mind, of course, " he spoke in English, avoiding any Russians from eavesdropping. He was unsure if she understood until she nodded.
"What do you want?" she responded.
"Eh?!"
"I know someone wouldn't want to help without something in return. What do you want?"
"I want to get in, too. I want to see the project for myself."
"..."
"..."
"Вы шутите?" ("Are you kidding?") she laughed, causing Alreiko's cheeks to blush red.
"..Yes?" he muttered.
The lady wipes a tear from her eye and laughs even harder when she sees the embarrassment on his face. She knew that he would be her only chance, but the problem was that someone like him believed they could do something.
"Как долго вы здесь работаете?" ("How long have you been working here?") She asked, calming down.
"Извини?" ("Sorry?") He answered.
"Как долго вы здесь работаете?" ("How long have you been working here?")
" 3 days, I'm a novice. "
" And you believe that you can get through a top-security operation, under the eye of Uncle Ralph, while having little experience here, novice?"
She was right. Alreiko barely knew the layout of the other wings besides the west wing. His face questioned his eligibility to even find a way through.
"..I thought you would know, as long as I assisted you," he answered truthfully.
This caught her by surprise, causing her to flinch a little.
" Что? " ("What?")
She was puzzled for a moment. It wouldn't be hard to find alternative ways in, but this novice, wanting her help? Who exactly was he? She thought. A forklift driving pass caught their attention. The woman already had a plan in mind to get in undetected.
"Могу ли я доверять тебе?" ("Can I trust you?") She questioned him, eyeing the 'novice' title on his ID badge.
Alreiko nodded. There was no other option left but to ensure his trust in her anyway. The woman, when the two came to an agreement, grabbed his wrist and began pulling them towards the direction of where the forklift was headed.
" H-Hey! Where are we going?! " Alreiko yelped, bumping into a scientist who held coffee in his hand. He did not have time to apologize as the coffee burned into the person's newly bought white lab coat.
"You said you would trust me, right?"
"Yeah?! But-"
"Then shut your mouth!"
Nobody paid mind to the two low-ranking people running to the east wing. Alreiko never noticed the number of cameras being installed around the wing before. Rows of large metal shelves took up most of the area. The workers were moving boxes and supplies around the corridors, likely containing miscellaneous items. From "Wrenches" to "Weaponry", each shelf had a sign dangling in front. The two made their way through until they caught up to the lift.
"Why are you trying to reach this forklift, ma'am?" he questioned– rightfully so.
She let go of his wrist and jumped inside. Alreiko stumbled on his feet and fell over onto the concrete ground. The forklift abruptly stopped in its tracks.
"Бог..." ("God..") He uttered under his breath.
Footsteps caused him to slightly look up from the ground. The woman held out her hand for Alreiko.
"Извини." ("Sorry") She says.
The corner of his lips tugged into a faint smile. Alreiko used her hand to stand back up again. This must've been what he was trusting afterall. Her. The woman whose name she had no clue of.
"Its-"
"惠英." ("Hui-Ying") The woman suddenly interrupted.
A blush appeared across her face as she moved a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"Huh?" He stammered, unknowing what she said. Was that Chinese?
"Хуэй-Ин." ("Hui-Ying") She repeated.
The name sounded beautiful when she rolled it off the tip of her tongue.
"Хуэй-Инь?" ("Hui-Ying?") He copied her name, as if he was echoing it in his head.
" Mhm. "
Her voice went low into a soothing tone. Her previous anger dissipated for the moment while they held hands for a second longer. The forklift honked, and a worker leaned out of it to turn to the two; they appeared to be an older man with grey hair and a scar from their mouth to their neck.
"Пойдем!" ("Let's go!") The man croaked, his voice jagged from the scar.
Hui-Ying and Alreiko turned to each other and ran over to the forklift. Their carefree emotions distracted them from the operation.
The forklift began moving again once the two boarded the vehicle. The elder turned his eye to Alreiko, squinting to capture a clear vision of the person he was chauffeuring.
"Кто этот парень? " ("Who is this guy?") He asked.
"Друг." ("Friend.") She blankly replied.
The driver refused to pursue his investigation further, leaving it with a nod.
