Senior Officer Russel and Medical Officer Miyuki immediately escorted Gizelle, who was currently in control of the body, into a dedicated private interview room. The room featured a mirror that was clearly a one-way observation window for monitoring the interview's progress from the next room. After settling Gizelle inside, Russel and Miyuki stepped back out, leaving Gizelle alone.
Gizelle and Grey, observing the room from their merged vantage point, immediately began scrutinizing it.
"Hmm… there's a camera in the corner of the room," Grey noted.
"Yeah, and that mirror is definitely not just a mirror," Gizelle added.
"Just like our third life, huh… the difference is that time it wasn't on Earth," Grey recalled.
"Hehe, you're right, Big Brother. We were always getting hauled into places like this since childhood at the base with Dad," Gizelle replied.
"Yeah… those were the days, weren't they… before you killed me," Grey countered.
"Sorry," Gizelle muttered, lowering her head.
"Just forget it… but please, don't be careless again. I'm not the same me I used to be—always desperate for a partner, stupid, and a simp for the woman I loved, because now I'm completely sick of falling in love… so please trust me," Grey urged.
"I do trust you… but I also need you to trust me. I genuinely want to fix our relationship," Gizelle replied.
"Okay, let's start building that trust now and move forward. There's no point living in the past we've already relived six times. I want to live in peace and quiet now, and for that, we need to get to the front lines, become strong enough so no one can defeat us, and since you're in my body, we live as two," Grey declared.
"Yes, thank you, Big Brother. I promise I won't screw up again, because honestly, I'm really tired. Being able to see the future isn't a good thing, because I can't just see the good parts; all the bad stuff is visible and even felt," Gizelle replied.
After waiting for about an hour, "Click," the door opened. Gizelle turned to see Russel, Miyuki, and a stern-faced, middle-aged man in a crisp military dress uniform, adorned with a formidable amount of rank insignia and medals, like a general or a war hero. He was solidly built and dark-skinned, though his face wasn't completely visible due to the cap he was wearing. Gizelle snapped to attention, turned, and immediately rendered a salute. Naturally, Russel and Miyuki returned the salute.
"Take a seat, kid," Russel said.
"Yes, sir," Gizelle replied.
Gizelle turned back and sat down with straight posture. Russel and Miyuki sat on either side of the table. Grey, watching through Gizelle's eyes, saw Russel bring his folder and Miyuki bring a container box—which looked like a medical kit—and place it on the table. Then, the general sat in the middle and took off his cap. Instantly, both Grey (watching from the 'window' inside) and Gizelle (sitting across from him) were utterly shocked.
"Huh… Nick Fury? Oh, wait… the actor… Samuel L. Jackson?" Grey asked in their merged head.
"A-are we about to be recruited for the Avengers?" Gizelle asked in their head.
"Before we begin, allow me to introduce him. This is Abraham Johnson, one of three Marshals who commands all our military operations, and he just happens to be visiting the base," Russel said, introducing Abraham.
"Oh… different guy… not Nick Fury," Grey and Gizelle murmured simultaneously in their heads, sounding disappointed. "Yes, sir! My name is Grey, and when I am in the female form, my name is Gizelle," Gizelle stated firmly.
"At ease, soldier," Abraham said calmly.
"Yes, sir," Gizelle replied, immediately lowering her hand.
Then, Abraham leaned forward, placing both elbows on the table and jutting his head out slightly. He stared at Gizelle with a faint smile, his sharp eyes seeming to scrutinize her face and peer right into her soul.
"Um… Big Brother, why is he looking at me like that?" Gizelle asked in her head.
"No idea… I totally thought he was Nick Fury for a second… but he's not. Makes sense, though… this is a parallel Earth, and everything's weird," Grey replied.
"Yeah, we're in multiverse, hehe," Gizelle quipped.
After he seemed satisfied with his look at Gizelle, Abraham took the folder from Russel's hand and opened it. He then leaned back in his chair, relaxing as he reviewed the contents without saying a word. Grey and Gizelle were completely baffled by Abraham's mannerisms and body language—his appearance, style, demeanor, and authority were all eerily similar to a certain fictional character who led a secret organization and recruited superheroes to save the world.
"Clap," Abraham closed the folder and turned to Miyuki.
"General Miyuki, would you kindly prove your theory to me?" Abraham asked casually.
"Yes, Marshal," Miyuki replied.
"Huh… prove what?" Grey and Gizelle asked simultaneously in their head.
Miyuki opened the container she had brought, pulled out a thermos, poured hot water into the lid, and turned to Gizelle with a smile.
"Your hand, please, Soldier," Miyuki said.
"Yes, ma'am," Gizelle replied.
Gizelle immediately placed her hand on the table. "Crrrs," Miyuki poured the warm water onto Gizelle's hand.
"Okay, Big Brother, tag," Gizelle said.
"Yeah," Grey replied.
Gizelle's body immediately emitted a bright flash of light that caused Miyuki, Russel, and Abraham to shield their eyes with their arms. When the bright light faded, Gizelle's body had transformed into Grey's male body, which now looked notably bulkier, straining the clothes, and was sitting across from Abraham.
"Hooo… fascinating," Abraham murmured, observing Grey and resting his hand on his chin.
"If he is exposed to cold water, he will revert to the female form. This may seem strange and illogical, but the proof is right before our eyes," Miyuki stated.
"It's a bizarre symptom, but it's clearly present," Russel added.
"We were still intending to run a few more tests on him," Miyuki continued.
"Alright, I get it. No more tests needed. Please keep this confidential from the other Marshals and officials; he'll be directly under me. This is our military's secret. (He looked at Grey) Starting next week, you're in the military academy. Congratulations, Soldier, you've been accepted," Abraham said, extending his hand with a smile.
"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," Grey said, giving a sharp salute before shaking Abraham's hand.
After releasing the handshake, Abraham turned to Russel and then to Miyuki.
"Russel, Miyuki, place him in the Special Unit with the others at the academy," Abraham ordered.
"Huh… Special Unit? The others? What's that supposed to mean?" Grey and Gizelle asked in their head.
"Yes, sir," Russel replied firmly.
"Excuse me, but may I ask a question, sir?" Grey suddenly interjected, raising his hand.
Russel, Miyuki, and Abraham immediately turned to look at Grey.
"Go ahead," Abraham said.
"What exactly is the Special Unit?" Grey asked.
"Ah, right. The Special Unit is our military's classified project that houses unusual youths who possess unique powers like yours to be trained as elite soldiers and become the front line in our war against the Shifter and Cherub factions," Abraham explained.
"The Shifter and Cherub factions?" Grey asked, confused.
"You'll learn all about it at the academy. Think of it this way: the Shifters and Cherubs aren't just mindless monsters attacking humans indiscriminately. They're organized, just like humans, possess extraordinary power, and have high intelligence," Russel clarified.
"The Special Unit is the one specifically created to handle and fight them," Miyuki added.
Grey and Gizelle immediately went silent, trying to process and discuss everything they had just heard. But then, they suddenly had to work hard to hide the giddy, racing excitement in their shared heart by maintaining a completely poker-faced expression.
"Yey...We actually just became Avengers," they both concluded in their head.
"But after this, we're going to test your combat skills, so don't get too comfortable yet, kid," Russel warned.
"Yes, sir!" Grey replied loudly.