A certain recording in the Sentient Building Research Center 18 years ago:
"Commencing injection of the human DNA.." a researcher announced.
"We got a pulse!" Another one exclaimed.
Blurb…
"What's that weird noise?"
"It's coming from the capsule."
"Look! The mutation's complete, I can't wait to move on to the next stage!"
"Buildings talking to humans and having intelligence, here we come!"
"Wait, it's spreading too fast."
"The container broke! This is ba- ARGGGG!"
"It.. It absorbed him.."
"Everyone, evacuate the research center!"
"Nether, get out of here quick!"
~
This footage was recently recovered by the Explorers Unit.
Nether, also known as 010, listens to the video, memories of his childhood threatening to resurface. 010 is the only person in the Technology and Maintenance Unit. Even so, the young man is extremely proficient in his role. He's 23 years old and has highly light blue hair to match his profile.
Meanwhile, Hexa eyebrows furrow, deep in thought. Her codename is 006 and she's part of the Research and Cure Development Unit. Also the leader of the Numbers, the young woman is 21 years old, long white hair ending in black strands.
"That's the end of the clip," she says, sighing in disappointment.
"Obviously." Nether remarks.
"Interesting, you were there when it happened, 010?" Hexa asks.
"You're going to question me to no end, won't you?" He assumes mock grudgingly.
"No, just share whatever you want."
"That's probably all I've seen back then," he shrugs.
The girl closes the footage with a click and reviews the analysis in the form of a shared online document written by the Explorers Unit that came along with it. After reading the last line, Hexa turns back to her colleague.
"Alright, you can leave now," she nods.
"I'll get back to my work then. Try not to drown in overthinking, 006." He mentions teasingly as he leaves.
Once Nether left, Hexa went into contemplation despite his warning. "18 years ago…The start of everything we're currently trying to fix." She thought silently. Two years have elapsed since the team
has been working on an antidote to restore the city, and the first test wasn't successful. Her eyes closes as her recollection about it surfaces.
~
Soloenn injected PrototypeCureOne into the mutated building, the fruit of their research and months of developing and editing the serum. However, a second later, the building collapsed, though some parts did return to its original state. Hexa casted a protective shield around everyone to safeguard them from debris that are falling.
~
She shakes her head out of the lingering memory as she makes her way to her hexagonal shelves to organize some files. Then, the 006 opens a virtual chat screen that appears before her on her wrist. When the 'Chat' activates, it transcripts the voice of each Number to the screen. The young woman reads the messages;
Chat:
008: I tested PrototypeCureTwo on the president's house!
010: No, you didn't.
008: Just kidding.
003: We're just at an abandoned sentient house.
004: So how did the test go?
007: No casualties so far!
~
006 closes the screen, sighing. Hopefully, her team members make it back alive from their task.
~
Back at the assignment site, Hysteria and Quixe are inside a sentient house to test PrototypeCureTwo. The small establishment, deserted with rusty walls, dim lighting and mutated wood in every corner seems to give off a sinister sight out of a horror movie. They inject the serum into the core transformation (the zone where the mutation starts) of the building and it suddenly explodes, leaving acids and corpses scattered all over.
Chat:
003: Oh my god, guys, are y'all alive?
008: We're fine, our bodies and heads are still functional. It's a pretty unique experience.
003: And your limbs?
007: They're literally almost ripped to shreds.
003: That is not reassuring. Hold on, I'm coming.
Yiana heads inside the building use her ability, healing, on them, restoring 007 and 008 back in one piece. Once done, they all head back to their headquarters.
~
"So what happened?" Hexa demands.
"The serum blew off the house," Quixe exclaims proudly.
"Seriously?What happened during the testing stages?" 006 asks, her tone a bit surprised.
"We were too lazy to do them," Hysteria admits, looking sideways.
"Hey, testing is better in live action don't you think?" Quixe suggests.
"Ah yes, because laziness is such a good reason." Their leader reprimands sarcastically.
"It's called 'testing stages' for a reason. It's to prevent damages like these from happening." Hexa continues with her lecture.
"Yeah yeah,looks like someone's real fun." Quixe mutters sardonically.
Hexa exhales in exasperation before dismissing them. She watches the pitter patter of the rain outside, as times like these always calmed her mind.
"Just reminding you that tomorrow's assignment will be at the forgotten lab in the forest far from here." 008 mentions as he turns on his heels.
"How kind of you." 006 replies sarcastically.
Assignment #131
Objective: Stop the spread of the mutated area.
Location: XXXX
Member(s) dispatched: 003, 006, 008