Published at 22nd of May 2026 6:47 am

Chapter 32 Preparation (Kai POV)

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(Kai POV)

Vivienne approved of the plan. All that's left is for you to sign off, and I'll begin getting everything together, I said to Nobody.

The idea that I need to get him to sign a permission slip so that I can take Subjects Thirteen and Ten out is irritating. Not that I'd tell him. There's no telling what he's thinking or feeling under that helmet. It doesn't matter if it mimics the face underneath it; he's shown to be more than capable of masking. And if he's in a mood, then he's just as likely to appreciate a verbal jab as he is to attack me or send the brutish lesbian. Because our relationship isn't like the ones he has with the others. I know what he's really like. All of them are under the impression we're working for a man who can be reasoned with and who cares. I know the truth. Beneath that mask is a creature, a monster whose thoughts, desires, and disposition are alien to us. Thinking of him as a person who can be predicted is foolishness. His brain would be glorious to study; to see what makes him tick, and to map out his neural network. I'm sure it would be unlike anything ever discovered. I wouldn't care if he turned out to be the fucking devil himself; his support is what allows me to pursue any research I can think of.

I've read it over, but I want to hear it from you. What exactly have you done to the Subjects to make them controllable? Nobody asked.

Ugh. Knowing he's so young only makes it more annoying to have to explain myself. Thankfully, I have a new nanite program running, one that transforms thoughts into electrical charges that can be used to tighten my facial muscles. I've got so many nanites running inside me, I've lost count. If my research bears fruit, I can start modifying cells and gene splicing, and that'll require a level of nanites operating inside me that dwarfs even the current number. I understand Nobody's concerns about releasing Thirteen and Ten into the public when they are both the subjects and evidence of what we've been doing. But those two aren't normal by any means.

As stated in the files I sent you, I have so much technology and nanites inside of them that they couldn't disobey us if they wanted to. Which they don't. But as I know you prefer much more tangible precautions and failsafes, they have two thermite packages inside them. One is at the base of their skull, and the other is lodged between the T12 and the L1 vertebrae. Then I have two different kill commands. One of them will flood their veins with coagulants, causing clots to rapidly form until they either cut off oxygen to the brain and cause a stroke or a DVT forms in their legs, which will result in a pulmonary embolism. The other kill command is the Reverse Iron Maiden, and as the name suggests, it will cause the nanites to attach to the skeletal structure and then form into spikes that will pierce out of their body until they bleed out or they rupture enough vital organs, I smiled at him.

I'd be lying to say that I wasn't looking to be praised for my incredible ingenuity. Just because I think the precautions are unnecessary doesn't mean I would slack off or create an inelegant solution. No, my designs are inspired, revolutionary, and exquisite. A lesser intellectual might be happy with a single kill switch, but not I. Nobody's commands and restrictions only breed innovation. He might be the first being I've ever met that I respect, despite his lowered mental capacity. I've yet to meet anyone who could match wits with me, but he's got a certain gravitas to him that draws people in. He's able to instantly discern a person's usefulness and promptly file them under tool or trash. Besides the lunatic, everyone that he's picked up has proven to be more than meets the eye. He was even able to recognize my genius within moments after meeting me.

The lips on the face projected on Nobody's helmet are moving. Oh, he's been speaking to me. I activate my neural upgrade, the one I didn't tell Nobody about. He's not strictly speaking against me bio hacking myself, but he's been quite vocal about me being the first test subject for experimental enhancements. The implant, which is connected to my cerebral cortex, keeps a record of my sensory information in a cloud server. Downloading the last few minutes, the playback begins at fifteen times the speed. The pulse of pain and heat that spreads throughout my skull is an unfortunate downside I haven't been able to resolve yet, but it's worth it for this kind of instant recall.

Those precautions are acceptable for me. I'll allow you to take Thirteen and Ten out for a field test, but don't make me regret that, Kai. If you haven't already, I'll need a way to access their kill switches. In the event you become incapacitated or they are captured, I will not risk anything getting out. In regards to the mission, Rorschach has been unable to find out who from the Heroes' Union will be part of the escort. Do not mess this up.

The heat and pain subside as soon as the replay ends, and from what I can tell, I am no worse for wear. It's been maybe ten seconds.

I have everything planned out, and I'm ready for any obstacles. I've spoken with her, and she confirmed that The Triad is likely to try to send someone to rescue their captive members. I am more than prepared for the idiots from the Union and any Triad members who might show up. My contingencies have contingencies, and I've perfectly planned out every variable. I'm not saying nothing will go wrong; I'm saying I'm ready for when it does. I've got this under control, I promised. And Ill give you access to the kill commands.

If Tuesday can handle a field mission, then why would it be difficult for me?

You're right. You haven't disappointed me yet, so theres no reason to believe youll begin now. I'll look forward to seeing the results of your debut, Nobody said.

Vivienne and Isaiah have no flair; they're boring. I refuse to do anything less than a performance that matches my genius. Miles debut as Atonement went off with a bang; it was memorable, but ultimately a failure. My introduction will be a spectacle, I can promise that, I said confidently.

I have zero doubt that you have a monologue prepared, he said to me.

He's right, I have written a monologue for my debut. You only get one chance at an introduction, so why wouldn't I make the most of it? I may not be a field agent like the other five, but I won't be outdone by my lower-minded colleagues.

I'm using this mission as a test for more than just the Subjects. The thing leaning against my workbench is one such idea. What began as a flying platform to get around the rather expansive domain that is my laboratory has grown to become something sleeker and could now be called a hoverboard. It's faster than the previous versions, and its black form is long, curved at both ends, and is closer to a snowboard than the original concept. The seam in the middle allows it to split into two separate halves, which gives it an extra bit of utility.

I check the time on my alarm drone. Only two hours left till I have to stop. Nobody made me make it after our talk about rest and sleep. I'm not sure what irked me more, the fact that he claimed I wasn't at my best and my work was suffering, or the fact that he was right. I stand up, stretching my limbs out and head over to the mini fridge Vivienne set up. I grab a sandwich and sit back down at my workbench to triple-check my gear and make any improvements I can with the limited time I have left before tomorrow's performance. A black orb lifts off the table, a red light in the center glows bightly, the hexagonal focusing crystal lenses making the drone look like an evil eye. Beholders. That's the perfect name for the creation. I have twenty of them built, and they are the most powerful combat drones I've created yet. There are four different lenses inside the machines, and instead of having the lenses shift and move, risking damage, the outer shell moves to block or release the beam. The outer shell is made of a tungsten alloy with a polycarbonate coating on the inside. The polycarbonate coating and tungsten alloy transform the absorbed heat back into energy for power. At the center is a gyroscopic four-way laser generator. At the end of each of the four pathways is the custom crystal lens that alters the beam being produced.

The four different firing modes are a single-fire plasma shot, a circular thin beam to cut through most mundane materials, a ultra wide beam that trades accuracy for power, and a weakened blast if Im trying not to put holes through people. They are extremely deadly and for good reason. I'm about to enter combat with two different opposing forces against me. I need every advantage I can get. I believed I'd have enough time to create my shielding drone before the mission, but now there isn't enough time. It'll have to wait til after. All it means is that I need to avoid getting shot. Thats the plan.

I finish my sandwich and head over to the cells. Its time to let them know whats going on. Over at the monitor, I glance around, checking to see if anyone else is here, before I enter a code into the console. Selecting Ten and Thirteens cells, I press enter, and the floor starts to shake slightly as their cells begin rising out of the ground. Both of them notice the change and react accordingly. Ten rolls out of bed, landing low on the ground in a pose that shows shes ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of movement. As always she moves with the dexterity and grace of a Terminator bred with predatory felines. And my enhancements only make the description more apt.

Thirteen rises up off his bed like a vampire out of a coffin, and the grin on his face makes it clear how excited he is. The metal plating on his face from what Hassan did to him only adds to the psychotic energy he exudes. I offered to rebuild it, but he preferred the new look instead. Every part of the left side of his head: the eye, the ear, the cheek, the side of his head, and part of his forehead, is encased in a white metallic alloy similar to polished porcelain. His ear was replaced with a sensor embedded inside a shell that is shaped like an ear and connects directly to his brain. I tried to create a cybernetic eye, but the TIDE was so bad it crippled me for half a day. So I had to settle for growing him a new one and altering it with my nanites. Changing the composition of the retina and tripling the amount of photoreceptors inside the eye. Its resulted in better lowlight vision and increased clarity for him. If it continues to perform well, then Ill eventually build off of the framework of it for my own eyes.

I walk over to the open space between the two cells, standing there for a moment to admire the work Ive done on both Subjects. The stitchwork is impeccable. Of course it is, I did it. The first step toward the Homo Superior. Ill upgrade you until your break free of the chains of our evolutionary ladder. If anyone can do it, it would be me. I am the greatest mind on the planet, and if God made us in his image, then Ill show him how much better we could be.

Subject Thirteen. Subject Ten, I said, addressing them both. Tomorrow is the day weve spoken about. Where the two of you will accompany me on a mission and if you perform well we can continue with the testing and trials. If you dont perform well, Ill detonate the explosives Ive put inside you both and then piece you back together. Failure will not be tolerated. You will follow my orders or I will inflict suffering on both of you the likes of which only exists in the nightmares of sadists. You wont die, and Ive shown I can keep you alive far beyond the limits of modern medicine. Death will not save you from me. Do you both understand?

Whats the mission? Subject Ten asked.

She cares more for the parameters than the threat of torture.

There is a transport carrying two Cowls to an omnimax prison. The mission is to abduct both Cowls inside. The security is in the form of a yet unknown number of Heroes Union members, three separate armored vehicles carrying BNA agents in the standard gear, and then the driver of the transport. A third party, the Triad, will likely strike at the transport because the two Cowls are theirs. Most likely there will be Cowls as part of The Triads forces, as well as regular gang members, I answered.

Is there anyone Im not allowed to kill besides the two Cowls? Subject Thirteen asked.

All other casualties are acceptable, but if we are able to capture additional Neuvohumans that would be considered a bonus. Regardless, all that matters is the success of the mission.

Its doable. Are we going loud or is this a smash-and-grab evac? Ten asked.

Loud. This is meant to be a display of what you are both capable of and what I am capable of, I answered, a smile tugging at my lips.

I accept, she said.

Now youre speaking my language. The sounds of their screams will echo in the minds of the observers. A baptism of blood that will ease my tired soul. THE BUTCHER WILL GRIND THE FLESH AND BONE INTO PASTE!

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