"Your level of awareness is weak and your reactions are too slow. Had I been a member of the Surge you would have lost your brain."
This cold monotone hypothesis and oppressive speech can be none one other than Heine Burton..
Xiao's arm is press tightly to his side. Although he wasn't in pain, he was gripped in such a way that he couldn't move.
Heine slowly releases his hold. He then readjusted his grasp and yanked him close, his wrist pulled close to his ear. His chest was pressed against Xiao's back, the warmth of his body radiating and searing where they connected. In his illusions Heine would lick Xiao ear as his breath trailed over his neck, the connection of reality and delusion formed a torturous overlap.
"Next time confirm that it is safe before you exit the lab. Do you understand or not?"
"Mnng... Understand!".
"Come on, you should go back and rest."
Why was Hein Burton standing outside of his lab?
Xiao Yan was puzzled.
Heine entered Xiao's room first and confirmed it was secure before leaving, he acted as if Xiao's safety was of the utmost import to him.
"Colonel Burton..."
Xiao looked at Heine's back. He was trying to seize the moment when Heine was relaxed to speak, but in his nervousness he was unable to regulate the volume of his voice and the inquiry inadvertently became a rattled shout.
"What's wrong?"
"I... my research needs blood samples. Can I collect 5 ml of your blood?"
At that moment Xiao pushed aside his embarrassment and relied on his position as a researcher to ask, although he could have easily gone to Mark or Liv to help him.
"You can."
He stood stunned and waited until Burton left the room. His lips twitched and then widened into a grin.
A blood sample from Heine Burton! Even Casey has not gotten his hands on so precious a sample. It is said to have the most perfect viral load ratio.
At the next training session, Xiao did not see Heine. Because Heine is not present, Winn and Mark relax the training schedule. Casey took the opportunity to slip away.
Winn and Mark sat on the side of the track, drinking idly and chatting. After Xiao finished his hour run, he stopped to kneel down next to them. Mark yanked his body over and rubbed his head.
"Rookie, what are you doing?"
"Have you seen Colonel Burton today?"
"Boss is out on duty."
Lately, probably because Heine had spent so much time personally instructing Xiao Yan, Winn was quite good to him.
Xiao Yan's face fell. At his obvious disappointment, Mark let loose a suggestive whistle. "I knew you were interested in the Boss from the very beginning. That kiss at the nuclear power plant was deliberate, right on the mouth too. Falling into his arms... You like the boss!"
"Ah is that how things turned out this way?!" Win he doesn't know if he was joking or not. "But the Boss is such a clean freak! Every mission, he is the only one to come out spotless. Xiao Yan you must be really special if the Boss let you kiss him!"
Xiao Yan gave Mark a stern look. " Do you have the nerve to repeat that to Colonel Burton?"
As Xiao Yan went to stand up, Mark caught Xiao Yan's wrist. Then he hesitated for a moment, but he still pushed past the feeling blocking his throat. "Ah...Our special task force is not omnipotent. You need to learn to protect yourself as soon as possible."
He narrowed his eyes, Xiao Yan realized that Mark's remarks were definitely related to Heine's mission.
"Hey! What happened?"
Mark looked at Winn and Winn nodded. "It's nothing to tell him. He is a researcher. Maybe the samples, brought back by the Boss, will be handed to him."
"Well, you know that Jan Wallace's troops left the Shire to perform a mission. We have a very important transit platform that was occupied by the Surge Group. Colonel Wallace's task was to recapture this platform. Colonel Wallace ended up paying a high price for this mission. The Surge developed a drug that reacts with the x-virus, it entered a soldier through a bullet, affecting cellular respiration by causing oxygen deprivation and eventual death. The x-virus, that was our edge in the field, has become a knife turned back on us. Colonel Wallace's forces are stationed on the platform and Burton is tasked with bringing back the samples. "
Xiao Yan was taken aback. "So Colonel Burton is in danger?"
Winn exchanged a knowing smile with Mark. "There is nothing in this world that can kill Heine Burton, except the X virus in his body."
Xiao Yan lowered his eyes to ponder the situation when Mark jerked his head up. "Hey! What are you thinking?"
"I was thinking that perhaps the Surge wave organization was inspired by the virus 'Sharon' and developed this kind of biochemical weapon for the special forces--which used specific genetic markers in the virus to produce."
"What is that?"
"I used to wonder why zombies would attack humans but not their own kind. That's because the comet virus that infects them has a unique genetic marker that allows for host identification."
"I don't understand." Mark scratched his head. Conversely, Winn showed a look of great interest.
"For example both of you are Caucasian with blue eyes. Those traits are determined by your genes. I, being Asian, have different genes that cause dark eyes. Those differences are something we can use to distinguish each other. If Mark decides that an enemy is not of his race, then he will use blue eye color to make that determination. In a sense the comet virus does the same thing. Genes that are coded but the function is unknown. That segment was the 'blue eyes' of the comet virus."
Mark nodded blankly, understanding nothing but 'blue eyes'. Winn continued to look very intrigued and gestured for Xiao to continue his explanation.
"The x-virus increases the abilities of our special forces but a virus may have been introduced that targets a specific gene. Your x-virus increases your mitochondrial content and you need more oxygen available than someone without the virus. They may have found a segment that causes a disruption in the presence of oxygen in cells. Molecules along the cellular surface of your mitochondria transfer electrons and eventually react with oxygen. Without oxygen, the final reaction cannot occur and the entire chain is jammed and no ATP is generated. It is possible they targeted that portion of your x-virus. That segment being your x-virus's 'blue eyes'.
"So what you are saying is that the Surge has targeted a gene strand from the x-virus?"
"Exactly if you destroy that gene strand, you destroy its expression in the body, such as the oxygen concentration in your cells. Your body's abilities are rapidly increased, even if the oxygen concentration is kept at a normal level, it would not be sufficient for your bodies."
Winn suddenly looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes brimming with admiration.
Xiao felt his posture straighten as his head expanded with confidence. Ah, what a wonderful feeling to be admired by a special forces soldier.
Mark scratched his head and said, "Although I didn't understand it, I think Xiao Yan is particularly powerful."
"It's nothing. Certainly isn't something that Casey wouldn't have thought of." Xiao smiled and looked in Casey's direction.
Mark grinned, in total disbelief. "That scrap of wood? At first I thought he was a little girl. Didn't realize he was a man for a long time!"
" Appearance has nothing to do with the brain!"
At the end of this day's training, Xiao Yan returned to his dorm and was about to take a shower when he noticed a message in his contact. The sender was Heine Burton.
Xiao Yan had just taken a sip of water, upon reading it he nearly choked and quickly opened the file. There was only one short sentence: What you wanted is in the research room.
"What I wanted?"
Xiao Yan suddenly realized that it was Heine Burton's blood sample!
He slammed open the door and rushed out, the two special forces guarding the door silently followed. He arrived at the lab, to open the sample storage cabinet, and found a row of blood samples. Not just the five milliliters he requested, but at least 50 milliliters were lined up! This greatly exceeded Xiao Yan's expectations.
Heine had not forgotten Xiao's request before he left. This greatly improved Xiao's impression of the cold Heine Burton.
In fact, this guy is not so difficult to approach.
As long as he gets his approval, he will be respected.
Xiao Yan took out blood samples, eager to start his research. Although he wasn't sure that he would have access to the weapon agent sample brought back by Hein, Xiao Yan was still interested in the cellular oxygen gene of X virus.
Xiao Yan immersed in thoughts, diverts his attention to the ocean of data in front of him. He is not even satisfied with the processing rate of a single terminal and begins to calculate and analyze the data using two different terminals.
Such an endeavor is a heavy strain on his brain and soon Xiao Yan falls asleep before even disconnecting from the terminal.
Time runs backward and he finds himself outside of his research room the day he was pressed against the wall by Heine.
Only everything is off from the original track of events.
Heine grabs his chin and kisses him hard. His mouth is almost violent and his body presses with such force he finds himself bound to Heine. In the face of Heine's immense strength, Xiao's struggles seem ridiculously feeble.
He can't fight against his overwhelming invasion.
Xiao Yan had never imagined someone could kiss another person so hard.
His clothes are torn off of him and Heine quickly thrusts into his body. No matter how he shouted and begged, his body was forced to endure this unending possession.
Heine's passion is almost cold. He pushed hard against Xiao, forcing him to lift his left leg, and every collision against his body penetrated deeper.
Xiao's tears soak his face. No matter how loudly he cried, no one was in the hall to hear. It seemed as though the entire space was constructed for the sole purpose of Heine's invasion.
"Ha--" Xiao Yan suddenly opened his eyes and gasped, he reached up to wipe off the sweat from his forehead, "My God..."
What a dream...
He disconnected from the terminal, took off his helmet and looked at his trembling fingertips.
Xiao Yan, what happened to you? That is Heine Burton!
He swallowed the overload of saliva in his mouth. As Xiao Yan lowered his head, he saw that his pants were wet...
God, to feel all that even in my dreams, he thought. Don't psychologists always say that a dream reflects one's hidden desires. He always dreams of being pressed down beneath Heine Burton. Can he say this is a mere illusion anymore, or is it that he longs for Heine Burton.
Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, you... You shouldn't tremble like that, right? This is too tragic!
Must have been locked in this place for too long!
...Or is it because you gets uneasy when Heine is not looking at you?
He got up to leave and remembered Heine's warning. He must ensure the area is secure before leaving. He called out and confirmed that security was outside the door, exhaling in relief.
The next few days, Xiao compared Heine's blood with that of Mark and Liv. He found that the virus was much more active in Heine than the others. Twice as active, in fact. The x-virus's rapid replication is related to speed, strength and the ability to heal. At the same time, it means that the virus is rapidly consuming his body. When the viral load becomes too high, that will be his end. With such high rate already, Xiao worries that day may suddenly come at anytime.
Gradually Xiao's head starts to loll to the side and just when he was about to fall asleep, the system disconnects and the terminal is removed from his head.
Xiao abruptly wakes up, "What the hell?"
He opened his eyes to see Heine kneeling in front of him.
Xiao's thoughts fall from a great height only to be caught by Heine's elegant icy blue eyes.
"You...you're back..."
"Yeah." Heine's fingers briefly thread through Xiao's fingers, an illusively surreal action. Then his hair lifts as he abruptly rises.
"Go back and rest." His tone leaves no room for argument but contains none of his usual oppressiveness.
"Yes, Colonel."
Xiao Yan did not expect Heine to return to the Shire so soon.
Heine followed Xiao back into his room and watched as he got into bed before he turned to leave.
"Colonel, did you really bring back the agent that killed the special forces?"
Xiao resists the impulse to reach out and grab a hold of Heine.
"Yes. Why?" Heine unexpectedly returned to Xiao Yan's bedside and slowly sat down, instantly Xiao sits up.
"Nothing...I just..."
"You feel curious, and want to study it..." Heine's simple explanation cuts to the heart of the matter.
"Yeah, but even if I want to study it, you have to hand it to Casey."
Xiao Yan knew that, although the Academy had assigned a research room to him, he was just an ordinary researcher and was not on Casey's level.
"The remains of the special soldier who lost his life because of this medicine will be sent to the Shire in three days."
Sure enough, the special forces were killed.
Xiao Yan understands the meaning of Heine, he can use the blood sample from the fallen soldier to analyze the drug.
But even if Heine told him this, he fears that he still will not have the chance to study the blood samples.
"Good night."
Heine's fingers gently brush against Xiao's forehead, his black hair running through his fingers..
At that moment Xiao Yan's eyes widened, his thoughts seemed to condense and he subconsciously wanted to keep this moment forever.
Heine got up, heading straight to the door and left. In the quiet of his room, Xiao has a sense on inner turmoil that almost collapses him. He wants to cry out.
Colonel you can be as cold as you want, crust my shoulders and break my bones...all these things can heal eventually.
But if the hope I hold in my heart is not reciprocated that is the real tragedy.
Do I really want to walk this road of longing?
Three days later, Maya and two special forces escorted a temperature controlled sample box to Xiao Yan's research room.
"Hey! Baby! Did you miss me?" Maia winked jokingly and set the box in front of Xiao Yan.
"This... what is this?"
"I was just ordered to send this box to you. As for what was inside, that is not my responsibility." Maya straightened his hair and stood in front of Xiao Yan. "How do you feel that my hair is especially nice today? Isn't it Shiny? It's a new hair care product!"
Xiao is baffled if the sample box is for him then it should unlock with his prints.
A mere finger touch and a row of blood samples lay in front of him.
Xiao Yan stunned and looked to Maya and asked, "This is..."
"The remains of special forces killed because of the new Surge biological weapons. Don't waste it... For the sake of research, they drained the bodies dry." Maya took a breath and lowered his head. He smiled tightly. "If it was our team on that mission, maybe you would be studying my blood samples."
At his words, Xiao's hand shook and the image of Sharon filled his mind. Xiao spoke with unexpected force shaking his voice, "That kind of thing can't happen, I would lose my judgment."
Maya patted on Xiao Yan's shoulder and smiled and said: "Well, this is your field. I won't bother you!"
After that, Maya left the research room. Xiao Yan's sifts through the array of blood samples. They are enough to do many tests and analysis. This will make a big difference in his research. He can finally get his project off the ground.
He is eager to crack into the blood samples and begin his analysis. He only had a cracker for lunch, this was one of the few times he was able to overlook the dreadful taste of the ration biscuit. Feeling so drained, his lunch felt like a stimulant was being injected into his veins.
Then Heine was standing in front of him with his arms crossed.
"Colonel..."
Heine doesn't say anything. Xiao Yan begins to feel bad, he has training tomorrow and should be getting to sleep. Heine's slender fingers close out the holographic display, forcing Xiao to disconnect from his terminal.
"Go to bed."
"... Yes, Colonel."
Xiao Yan lowered his head and silently followed behind the sea, his back is so distant but feels inexplicably close.
Uncontrollably he begins replaying those dreams that he had, his face heats and reddens at the thought.
This is really the rhythm of death!
Colonel, please do not show up in my dreams again!
Suddenly, the person in front stopped and Xiao Yan's nose nearly smashed into him. Heine looked at him, his brows slightly arched. "Did something happen?"
"No...nothing..." Xiao Yan quickly followed and opened the door and fell asleep.
Physical training is almost over and their final assessment is coming soon. All of the trained researchers were worried, especially Casey. His whole body was wracked with nervous sobs.
"What if I don't pass the fitness test? I won't be wouldn't be able to train in combat skills! Combat training only takes half a day, I can use the rest of the day to continue my research project! If I have to spend all my time on physical training, I will die!"
Xiao Yan escorted Casey to the side of the track, but doesn't know how to comfort him.
"You say that, yet every time you grab me you are so insanely strong. I would have thought you would be good at physical training."
"You can say that, now that you are so cocky!" Casey stared at Xiao Yan. It was lovely and terrible. It was exactly the same intensity as the Casey that was his research project manager. Xiao Yan couldn't help but pinch his cheek.
Casey is different from Xiao Yan. In the past three months, he basically just returned to the room and slept. Xiao Yan was able to continue his research after he got used to training.
"You know, Jan Wallace's troops were hit by Surge organized attacks. Some of the special forces died. Maybe the military department will suspend this shit training of our fellow researchers. We must invest in research to find the answer. This is the right way! Freedom!"
Xiao Yan was paralyzed. That meant that Casey didn't get the samples to study. Why did he get it? If it is a confidentiality study, Xiao Yan knows that he is not qualified.
He saw that Heine was watching the pair was standing in the distance. He was listening to Winn report on the training situation.
His eyes were so deep that Xiao Yan cannot guess the emotion running through Heine.
"Boss, Major General Xi of the Interrogation Unit has sent a liaison officer to get you ... he says that you haven't been to him for an assessment all year." Winn finished this sentence, holding his breath while waiting for Hein's reaction.
"Yeah." Heine looked up the data Winn had sent to his contact but didn't react to his words.
Winn swallowed, closed his eyes and prepared for the difficultly ahead. He whispered: "General Xi said that... Colonel, if you decide to refuse... He will submit an assessment report that you are temporarily unfit for battle... ..."
"Yeah." Heine closed the contact and looked at Winn for a moment. Winn had an illusion that his bones were crushed to powder.
When Xiao Yan's eyes returned to the direction of Hein and Winn's conversation, he saw that Winn stood alone. Heine had already walked away.
Half an hour later, in a quiet and spacious room, a man in the military uniform was sitting at his desk and drinking a cup of coffee. When a grim blond man came to stand in front of him, Major General gently lowered his cup and greeted him with a great deal of familiarity.
"I haven't seen you for a long time, Colonel Burton. I almost sent your assessment report."
"You didn't write a report at all, what would you'd like to know MajorGeneral?" Heine stood in front of the other person, the cold sight of his indifferentexpression caused the General to frown.