INT. CGO LABORATORY
"I'm so glad you're back, Miss Arsenault!"
He hugged her—it felt like being embraced by a ball of light.
Doctor Riko's presence was always comforting.
But their reunion was interrupted by a ringing phone, and he quickly excused himself.
"Sorry about that. The doctor's always like this. Sometimes I think he acts more like a dad," Mika whispered.
From the moment Erion told her they were going home, to the second they landed in Y'Ruen and went straight to work, Evah felt like she was in a trance.
Like she was floating in the void—aware, but not really present.
Does Doctor Riko know I'm still in danger?
Am I just overreacting? But Erion said the same thing.
What if someone comes after my family...
"I'll protect you."
Erion's voice echoed like a ghost in her head.
That includes my family too, right...?
Still shaken, she pulled out her phone and typed the name of her former employer.
Her finger hovered over the search button.
The screen suddenly felt cold.
She knew what she might find. But it still made her stomach drop.
"World's Best Hospital of the Year"
"Patient Safety Excellence Award"
"Gold Se—"
Before she could even whisper the words, her phone was snatched from her hand—swift as always.
The entire lab was busy. Only now did they notice: Erion was inside the lab, standing right in front of her.
"You're one rebellious Bunny," he said, holding up her phone like bait.
"Give that back!" she snapped, lunging for it—
—but he had already slipped it into his pocket.
"You're banned from using a phone."
His expression was that of a strict dad who just caught his daughter texting a boyfriend.
"You can't do that!" she protested.
"Try me," he replied with a low, smug voice and a teasing smirk.
She was about to argue again—but then the other assistants started greeting him.
"Good morning, Major!" three lab helpers called from behind her.
In a flash, Erion put on his most dazzling smile.
Two-faced! she screamed inside.
How did he know I was searching something?
Did he bug me?
This jester...!
She was still fuming when Doctor Riko's voice rang out across the room.
"Erion!"
Riko strode over—slightly taller and broader than Erion—and hugged him like a father embracing his son.
"Let go, Riko. I told you to stop hugging people," Erion said, chuckling.
"I'm just glad you're safe."
Then he turned to Evah and smiled warmly. She returned it with a small one of her own.
"Did you hug her too?" Erion glared at Riko, disapproving. "This is why you need a girlfriend."
"I don't want to hear that from you, Major General," Doctor Riko replied, shaking his head.
Before Riko could say something again, Erion swiftly grabbed his arm and twisted it—just enough to gain the upper hand without hurting him.
Evah watched in awe.
Always like this. Erion can flex his inhuman strength anytime he wants.
And yet he says he's powerless…?
"Hey—let me go! You're gonna break my arm!" Riko yelled.
"You're being dramatic."
Erion let go and raised both hands in surrender while Riko checked himself for injuries.
The whole lab burst into laughter.
Some of the assistants leaned in to Evah and whispered, "It's normal. Only Dr. Riko can mess with the General like that."
Erion began to walk toward the exit—still smiling, still with both hands in the air. But before leaving, he turned back to her.
His usual playful expression vanished for a split second.
Blue eyes—sharp. A warning.
"Don't try anything stupid… or you're dead," Evah imagined.
Then, just as quickly, he was back to being the smiling Major General—beloved by everyone.
Evah sighed and quickly returned to her table. The same workstation she had once approached with excitement now felt strangely foreign.
She reached for one of the glass samples, holding it up as if studying a project she both recognized and had forgotten. Her laptop hummed to life, the familiar folder of projects opening on the screen.
But her movements were slow, her hands heavy—each action dulled by a quiet emptiness.
This was my dream job, working with Dr. Riko. I shouldn't be like this, she reminded herself.
And then, as if her thoughts had conjured him, the sound of a metal ring clicking against itself drew closer. A familiar voice followed.
"Miss Arsenault, how was the vacation?" He winked as he smiled.
He might be the only person in the laboratory who knew—at least in part—what had really happened.
"Just Evah, Doctor. Please," she insisted.
"Okay, okay—Miss Evah," he teased, leaning in a little as his voice softened.
"Are you okay?" The concern in his tone was genuine.
Evah rested one hand on the table. For a moment, she wanted to tell him everything—that she wasn't okay, that nothing had really been resolved, that Newfangled was still out there.
But… Erion had said no one could know.
And with Erion, she never really had a choice.
If it's necessary, he'll tell him, she told herself.
So she gave the doctor a faint nod.
Even then, his eyes still held a lingering, almost comforting concern.
"It's all good, Doctor," she said, this time standing straighter, as if willing her own words to be true.
"I can help now." She smiled faintly. "I apologize for the leave of absence."
The doctor returned the smile and shook his head, dismissing her apology.
The conversation began to flow naturally again—updates on projects, new planned implementations, ongoing experiments. It was her language, the one she loved, each word stoking the embers inside her. The fire in her, nearly smothered under the suffocating sand of fear, flared back to life, crackling brighter with every exchange.
On the glass tablet, the two of them worked side by side, creating a checklist and setting schedules for the projects.
Then… something flickered at the edge of her thoughts.
Something she hated.
Should I ask him?
It was a promise she wanted to keep, but her curiosity was stronger.
"Doctor…"