Chapter 25:
The tension in silence spoke louder as each person was in their own distinctive mood and thoughts.
Gullius turned his attention back to the two young ladies, checking their vitals. His sensors blinked over Hae-won, then Iseul.
"All vitals are completely stable," he reported. "Not a single injury, scratch, or bruise on Young Miss. She is unharmed—healthier than ever."
Everyone in the room stared at Hae-won's pod. Disbelief cut across their faces.
'What just happened?!' The same thought flowed through each of them.
Then Gullius added something that froze them all:
"It is… unusual. Young Miss's DNA signatures appear almost identical, mixed in some aspects, with young lady Iseul's blood."
Shock rippled through the group.
Choon-hee blinked, her mind reeling. Wait… how could that be? she thought, scanning Iseul for any clue. What did she do? How is this possible?
Chul-jun's fists clenched instinctively. This doesn't make sense. Are they… connected somehow? His jaw tightened as he studied Iseul, confused and uneasy.
Chang-min's mind raced. Shared DNA? That's… impossible. And yet… the readings don't lie. He frowned, shifting from foot to foot, uncertainty gnawing at him.
Ji-ho's brow furrowed, eyes narrowing as he glanced at both girls. This could explain so much… but I still don't understand. What happened here?
Joon-seok's heart pounded, chest tightening. What did Iseul do? Could this be… linked to her gift? His eyes flicked to Loadon, silently pleading for answers.
Gullius's voice broke their thoughts.
"As for young lady Iseul-ya, she is not well. Vitals indicate extreme blood loss, deep scratches, and bruising. She will require stitching. More pressing—she requires immediate suppressant treatment."
'Exteme Bloodlost?!'
They all mentally shouted glancing at Hae-won then Iseul.
'Was it just a coincidence?' That's what's they wanted to believe but it wasn't too many coincidences like such in this interstellar universe.
Lost in their own separate revelations no one noticed load on change in Demeanor.
Loadon's eyes flared purple.
His massive frame shifted behind Gullius, optics burning into the butler mech.
"Not valid," he growled. "Creator does not approve suppressants. You will kill my Creator."
Choon-hee and the others jumped looking over
Gullius's optics narrowed. "I am Butler Gullius. I am programmed in welfare, battle, medicine, and radiology. The young lady exhibits extreme radiation poisoning. She requires suppressant treatment to stabilize."
He extended a medical injector, pressurized fluid hissing as it readied.
Before it could touch the pod, Loadon's hand shot out, clamping around Gullius's arm. Steel crumpled under his grip like paper.
"Loadon said Creator does not approve suppressants! You will kill my Creator!"
Armor rippled across Loadon's body. Plates locked into place, hidden weapons bristling. The floor groaned beneath him as he shifted into hostile elimination mode. His frame vibrated with lethal energy, optics pulsing like stars.
"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Choon-hee jumped back, heart hammering. Chul-jun and Ji-ho mirrored her panic.
Is he really about to attack Gullius? Choon-hee thought, gripping her gift tightly, ready to intervene if necessary.
This… this isn't normal, Chul-jun mused. Iseul's creation is going berserk over her health… I didn't expect this level of loyalty.
Focus, Ji-ho reminded himself. We need to keep everyone calm and make sure she's safe.
Loadon's hands trembled as he hurled Gullius across the room. Metal collided with the alloy wall in a deafening crash.
"Loadon, stop!" Joon-seok shouted, rushing forward. His mind screamed, This isn't the time for a fight. Protect her, not escalate!
Loadon planted himself between the pods and the others. Weapons at the ready, he glared down.
"My Creator does not authorize suppressants."
Gullius rolled upright, sparks trailing from his shoulder. He gripped a solar flare sword that hissed to life, glowing white-hot. The walls vibrated from its static charge.
"Just because I am a butler robot does not mean I am soft metal!" he shouted, voice cutting like a blade.
"Does this unidentified rogue mech challenge me?!" His optics flared. "Do you want to kill your Creator Miss Iseul by denying treatment?!"
Chul-jun stepped forward, fingers sparking with comostia energy calling on his gift powers. Ji-ho followed, hands raised, voice trembling. "Butler Gullius is only trying to help."
Chang-min clenched his fists, voice strained. "Come on, Loadon! We would never hurt Iseul-ya. She's practically our kid sibling!"
Loadon pivoted slightly, pulse weapon extending from his arm. Barrel glowing, it aimed at Chul-jun's head.
"Loadon will not repeat himself a fourth time. Loadon does not wish to talk to you any longer."
Choon-hee's sharp voice cut through the tension. She stepped forward, chest heaving, eyes locked on Loadon.
"Stop your butler! Listen to her creation. It would know better than us. We know nothing about her gift. It's clearly a mutation—something undocumented. If he says the suppressant will kill her, then we should believe him."
Chang-min's jaw tightened. "You… what?!"
"No!" Chul-jun's face flushed red. "Do you dare take responsibility if she dies?!"
Gullius remained defensive, optics never leaving Loadon. "How can you trust a rogue and an unidentified creation? We are still unsure of his origins. We must not believe what he says!"
Choon-hee whirled, finger pointed at them. Her other hand rested on her hip, stance firm.
"I dare! But do you dare give her suppressant after her creation just told you it would kill her? If you do, you're no better than walking her to her grave!"
She gestured toward Loadon. "I'd rather trust the creation than gamble with her life on assumptions. Nothing about Iseul-ya's gift is normal."
Choon-hee paced a few steps, taking a deep breath, voice calmer now. "It's clear he is not a normal mech. He was created from her gift. He would understand her better than any of us."
Everyone exchanged uncertain glances. The possibility sank in. Could they trust this mech?
Choon-hee's voice softened, letting them process.
"And maybe that should count for something; maybe he knows more than we give him credit for."
She motioned to him from top to bottom with her hand. " im guessing he was made from the same thing as her gift. He would understand it."
Her words deflated the lingering anger in the room. Choon-hee turned away, brushing off her hands.
"Gullius," Joon-seok said quietly but firmly, "listen to Loadon."
He looked up at the towering mech. "But tell us—why can't we give her suppressants? Why would it kill her?"
Loadon's optics flickered once. His mechanical voice carried weight, silencing everyone.
"Creator's gift naturally absorbs radiation, converting it into infinita force. Suppressants weaken her gift. If administered, suppressants will make her gift dormant, unable to convert radiation. Excess radiation will overload her body. Suppressants will kill Creator."