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" My apologies My Lord ". The scientist hurriedly apologized with a deep bow. As he started sweating profusely.
' Shit....Shit....Shit.... Just had to say that to this psycho '. He said cursing his luck.
The blonde haired man just watched him silently for a good minute. An amused look on his face.
" So, this is what this place has become huh". He murmured, voice barely louder than a breathe as he walked passed the scientist looking round the lab.
" Where it all began ". He added as what looked eerily like nostalgia crossed his sharp features.
" Alright enough staring...take me to the pope ". He said without looking at the old man In white coat.
" Of course My Lord...Please follow me ".
He said as he lead the blonde haired man towards another section of the huge laboratory passed a door that gave way to a flight of stairs.
The air changed as they went down...cooler, heavier, tinged with metal and antiseptic.
The man in front said nothing, his footsteps measured, as if this path were routine.
At the bottom, the space opened into a long chamber. Clear tubes lined the walls, thick with pale fluid, each one threaded with wires and slow-moving bubbles. Steel frames held suspended bodies or parts of them, obscured by fogged glass. Chemical canisters sat in neat rows—some labeled in faded marker, others left deliberately blank feeding into pumps that pulsed with a quiet, mechanical rhythm.
The blonde man slowed down to observe for quite a bit. A blank expression on his face.
"This way my Lord" the old man said, steering him past the first section.
They entered another corridor where the work grew more precise. Surgical lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating operating tables fitted with restraints. Racks of instruments. Needles, bone saws, gene sequencers, syringes filled with shimmering compounds—waited in sterile order.
Screens along the walls displayed shifting data, DNA strands rotating slowly as if alive.
Further in, behind reinforced glass, Seven figures lay motionless in containment pods, monitored by softly blinking sensors. The smell here was sharper, chemical and unmistakably human.
Two figures could be seen next to one of the pods. An ordinary looking young man wearing glasses. He possessed short Green hair and light green eyes and was wearing formal clothes with a white lab coat on.
He had a tab in his hands displaying a human figure as well as a chart showing the vitals.
And next to him was an old man with brown hair and green eyes wearing a ceremonial white cassock. He wore a warm smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he calmly analyzed the intruders.
" What part of no disturbances don't you understand Owen". He said as he narrowed his gaze at the old scientist.
" Cut him some slack your Holiness...not like he could've stopped me anyway ". Zero said interrupting the old man.
The pope stared at the blonde haired man for a good minute before speaking again.
" Why are you here Zero ". He finally asked. A calculating look in his eyes.
" Zero huh....been a while since I've been called that ". He murmured more to himself than not.
" No need to fret old man...I'm only here because His Highness sent me. He wants to know how much longer before it is completed ".
He enquired walking passed the pope as he observed the pods one after the other.
" Soon....it's almost done....We're taking it slow to avoid any more complications ". The pope replied in a tone that left any reason of doubt.
" Of course....we wouldn't want that now would we.... But I'll advice you be quick about it. You got the SOS....War is coming....sooner rather than later. And we wouldn't want to be caught of guard ". Zero said with a sinister smile on his face.
" Definitely... When it's time to make our move. It'll be ready. You have my word ". He replied. A determined look in his eyes.
" If you say so 'Holy one' ". He said with a laugh as he made his way out of the facility. Dr Owen followed after him. Not willing to linger too long.
And silence returned. Well except for the occasional beeping.
" F...Forgive me my Lord....I do not mean to displease you but why did you call to that man Zero and can we really afford to rush Project Hero ?".
" All will be revealed in due time little one...All will be revealed ". The Pope replied walking away as his lips stretched. Forming a dangerous smile different from his usual gentle one.