nuguseyo2013 for everyone, part 2
Hyunsik had been thrown straight into the mix with little time to react. He had however, formed a good rapport with Ilhoon, who had made sure he was feeling welcome. When he woke up after his first day on the ship, feeling rather surreal at how quickly events were progressing, Ilhoon had herded him into the dining hall for breakfast.
“Do you like porridge?” Ilhoon asked, holding out a bag of dried instant porridge. “We usually make a big batch and add dried fruit. Sometimes Eunkwang makes fried eggs, if we have any.”
Hyunsik sat down and observed as Changsub hobbled through the airlock door, a blanket tied around his shoulders and a fuzzy hair band pushing his hair up and away from his face. “Porridge is fine,” he said, and laughed as Changsub sat down across from him and put his head directly on the table.
“Coffee,” Changsub groaned into the table.
“I’m getting there hyung,” said Ilhoon while he dumped the instant porridge into a pot.
“Do you need any help?” Hyunsik stood up.
Ilhoon shook his head, “Nah, you’ll have your own turn cooking,” - he rubbed his nose on his sleeve - “we rotate. And just to let you in on a little secret, none of us are great chefs. But if you want to help, you can get Changsub hyung his coffee.”
“Please thank you,” Changsub said.
Getting out of his seat, Hyunsik walked over to the kitchen area where Ilhoon was heating up the porridge concoction on an electric stove. The coffee was percolating and draining down into the metal coffee pot to Ilhoon’s right.
“I haven’t seen one of these model’s since I was a kid.” Hyunsik gazed at the coffee maker and remembered when his mom used to prepare coffee for his dad. “I thought you’d be using the instant blend.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t want to work, you know, because it’s old. But it still works, most of the time. We found it in a junk store. It gives you that layer of grit that the instant blend doesn’t get when not processed.”
Steam rose off the machine.
Hyunsik retrieved a mug from the cupboard he’d seen Ilhoon take the dishware out when he first sat down. “Smells nicer too.” He might just have a cup himself.
Slowly, the rest of the crew came in from the ship’s quarters. Eunkwang came in pulling his suspenders over his shoulders and sporting a wide yawn - Hyunsik set out another mug. A wet haired Sungjae and a wide-awake Peniel stepping into the room together soon followed the captain.
Taking the coffee pot out of the machine, Hyunsik poured the hot liquid into a mug for Changsub and took both the mug and the pot to the table. “Your coffee,” he said as he set the mug down. Changsub turned his head to the side and gave him a half smile before straightening up and taking the mug in two hands.
“Anyone else?” Hyunsik asked.
Eunkwang and Sungjae gestured they’d have some, but Peniel shook his head and said he didn’t drink coffee.
“Peniel, I thought you drank coffee?” Sungjae asked in surprise. Hyunsik turned around and went to retrieve two mugs.
Ilhoon was stirring a spoon around in the pot, “Peniel hyung,” he reprimanded.
Hyunsik let out a small chuckle while he poured coffee into two more mugs. Behind him, he could hear Sungjae let out a bark of laughter. A pitcher of a fruity drink sat at the table for whoever wasn’t drinking coffee, so Hyunsik didn’t feel bad about not pouring any more drinks.
“That was hot chocolate,” said Peniel.
“We have hot chocolate?” Sungjae asked openly, and Hyunsik shrugged. He gave the coffee to Eunkwang and Sungjae and sat down because Ilhoon was heading over with the porridge pot. Plunking a ladle into the food, Ilhoon sat down and breakfast began.
There wasn’t much talking during the meal. Everyone focused on chewing, swallowing, and repeating the process. When Hyunsik had reached the end of his bowl, Sungjae stared at him with a look of concentration on his face.
“Hyunsik, where are you from? And how old are you if you don’t mind me asking?”
Hyunsik set his spoon down, “I’m twenty-six, and I grew up on New Seoul.”
“Hyung,” Sungjae said, correcting himself, “were you involved in the war?”
Hesitating, Hyunsik was surprised that he felt ready to discuss his past with this group of men, which he’d only known for a day. Never mind the flopping sensation his stomach made everytime someone called him hyung. It made him feel closer to home than he’d been in a long time.
Ilhoon interrupted, “Sungjae you shouldn’t ask him that.”
“It’s okay, and yes I was. Joined in the second year of fighting when I was nineteen. Fought for a little over two years before the war ended.”
Sungjae’s eyes were wide open.
“We have no love for the coalition here,” Eunkwang said, and Hyunsik turned his face to look at him. “We’ve all come from a place where they’ve made it tough to get by. It’s kind of a relief knowing we all have something in common. But I’m sure there’s more than that, right?”
“Yeah.” Hyunsik did find himself at ease with this crew.
Sungjae reached over the table to ladle himself some more porridge, “Hyunsik hyung’s just like us. Eats Ilhoon’s horrible cooking and doesn’t complain.” He laughed and suffered a glare from Ilhoon.
“It’s not that bad,” Ilhoon stated, “I burnt the meat one time months ago, get over it.”
“What’s this stuff clumping at the bottom of the pot then?” Sungjae scraped at the pot vigorously, churning up small chunks of hardened on food.
“I’m not Minhyuk hyung!”
Hyunsik smiled so much that morning that his cheeks tired out. He didn’t mind the compliments paid to his apparently beautiful smile.
//
They were three days away from Boris Landa and counting.
“Here,” Sungjae said, the hologram projector zoomed in with the flick of his fingers, “we’ll have to take out the security feed here at the outside conduit panels. It’s not as heavily guarded. Probably only a guard or two.”
Eunkwang leaned over the table, “If we take out the guards, and then we gain access to the conduit and loop the feeds, we’re going to need someone on the inside to get the recognition access for the west lab.”
“Yes I know,” replied Sungjae, “I can get us the access codes, but more than likely it’s a fingerprint scanner.”
Hyunsik had done enough espionage during his stint in the war to provide a few ideas, “Then we’ll have to have someone on the inside.”
“Yes, we managed to get an invite plus guest. Bought it off the man we traded the info for about the building security.” Eunkwang tapped the projection and it zoomed back out. “Here comes the tricky part, we’re going to need to have a couple. A believable couple. Hyunsik, do you think you’re up for it?”
“I’m ready,” answered Hyunsik calmly, “who will I be with?”
Eunkwang grinned, his face lightening up and eyebrows lowering, “Ilhoon has been interested in getting outside of the ship.”
Sungjae swiveled his chair around and Hyunsik was certain he was holding back laughter.
“Ilhoon’s smart, he’ll be fine. But, what’s our cover going to be?”
“That is,” - Eunkwang rummaged through a folder on the table - “here it is, you guys are going to be Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lee.”
“Mrs.?”
“Yes.” Eunkwang passed him the invitation, “Mrs.”
//
Two days away from Boris Landa, and progress was developing at a fast pace. Thankfully, Hyunsik wasn’t the one to break it to Ilhoon that he had to dress up to play the part of a woman. Not that the rest of the crew didn’t try to push the issue on him because he was new. Hyunsik didn’t let them convince him otherwise.
He was wrong, and here he was, staring at Ilhoon wearing the sleek, pink dress and short black wig wondering why Ilhoon looked like a natural at this. If he were wearing a dress, he’d look like a shaved gorilla trying to dress up for a fancy dress party. If gorillas still existed.
“You look like a girl,” Hyunsik said. “We’ll uh…” He felt a loss for words. “We’ll slip right in.”
“I’d hope so, I’m not wearing this thing because I want to. If I have to do this to get Minhyuk hyung out, I’ll do it. But he so owes me after we break him free.” Ilhoon scratched his sleeves, “This lace is so itchy.”
“Do you want to go over the plan one more time?” Hyunsik tried so hard not to stare.
“Sure, not that I have to do much, right?”
“Right.”
He wasn’t enamored with Ilhoon. It was normal to like a girl in a pretty dress; except Ilhoon wasn’t a girl he was a boy. Hyunsik’s had to look away to get his thoughts back in order, to slow his heart rate back to something normal.
“If anyone asks, I got a handsome military man on my own merit,” said Ilhoon, twirling his fake hair around his finger, “I deserve nothing but the best.”
Hyunsik stared at the hologram projector a little more firm intent than before.
//
Boris Landa was only a day away, and Hyunsik had nervous energy flowing through his body when he should have been sleeping. In less than twelve hours, he’d be doing his first job on the Melody. They’d be breaking into the Genesis laboratory and recovering the crewmember that had been abducted. Hyunsik was interested in finding out more about this Lee Minhyuk he kept hearing about in passing.
First, everything would have to go according to plan.
Climbing out of bed, Hyunsik put on a shirt and opened the door to his cabin. With a soft mechanical whirring, the door opened to the dark hallway lit only by several lights wired by the ceiling. He passed by the shut doors of the rest of the crew. After two days, he had learned a lot about the five people aboard the ship.
Changsub was funny and comical, especially after he’d woken up or having been stuck in the cockpit by himself for too long. Sungjae had too much energy and in his youth became easily distracted by things; however, he was sharp. Peniel, well, Hyunsik hadn’t spent much time with him yet, but he was kind. The captain Eunkwang reminded Hyunsik of his superior in the war, familiar and a jokester.
And Ilhoon, Hyunsik liked him best.
The kitchen was empty like Hyunsik had thought it would be when he laid in his bed debating getting up for a walk before trying to go to sleep again. He got himself a glass of water before sitting down at the table and scanning over the dark room. Stuck on the wall were pictures of planets, flyers for vacation spots, and a few photos with what appeared to be the crew together. Hyunsik was sitting too far away to make out the figures.
Maybe he’d be up on that wall one day too if things worked out. He hadn’t realized a few days ago how comforting the thought was - staying with the Melody. Now that he was on the ship, the thought of leaving and going somewhere else was outlandish.
Finishing his glass, Hyunsik headed back to his cabin. Somehow he would get himself to fall asleep. They had an early start after all.
//
A loud knocking came at his door, and Hyunsik bolted upright.
“Wake up call!” came Eunkwang’s voice from the other end.
Hyunsik threw his bed sheets off and grabbed the set of clothes - they stiff collared dress uniform for the event - he’d left out the other day. He opened the door at record speed, and almost ran Peniel over. Peniel dropped his clothes on the metal floor, the black pants and white dress shirt falling straight out of his pants.
“Sorry,” Hyunsik said, and helped Peniel pick them up.
“Do you see my bow tie?” Peniel asked; he too was playing a role today.
Hyunsik spotted the bow tie hanging off the bundle Peniel was carrying in his arms. “Right here.” He plucked it out and set it on top.
“Thanks.” Peniel gave him a small smile.
“No problem, you ready for this?” Hyunsik asked because this was Peniel’s first time being involved, but they’d needed an extra person to pull it off and Changsub had to stay with the ship in case something went wrong.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Peniel said, shrugging his shoulders, “I’m feeling pretty good.”
“You’ll do fine, Eunkwang said everything checked out. Plus, I’ll be there in case something happens.”
They walked together to the shower room at the very end of the hallway right before the dining hall.
“As long as it’s you doing the fighting and not me.”
Hyunsik opened the shower room door with his elbow; there was no combination to key in. “I’ll keep you out of trouble.”
“I think you’ll like Minhyuk hyung when you meet him,” Peniel said as he followed Hyunsik inside. “You both have some things in common, and not fighting you know?”
Hyunsik set his clothes in a shower stall, “Then I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
//
The invitation they’d received allowed them to walk right into the reception without any questioning. A Mr. and Mrs. Lee was called out by the reception staff as they walked into the room, Ilhoon’s arm linked with Hyunsik’s. In his shoes, Hyunsik had stuffed lifts in to give him added height so he matched Ilhoon’s height in heels.
Ilhoon scratched at the lace around his shoulders, “Where do you think we’ll find her?” He faltered on his heels, leaning into Hyunsik.
Scanning the crowd, Hyunsik took in the evening’s guests. Plenty of wealthy benefactors and clients were attending the reception for Genesis’ new launch. There was only two hours before the announcements started, so they needed to find the head doctor before time ran out.
“I don’t think she’s arrived yet.”
“Great, just great,” Ilhoon said, “I’m going to be stuck in this dress for hours.”
“It looks nice on you.”
“Thanks, next time you wear the dress, muscles and all.”
Hyunsik took a champagne glass off a waiter’s tray. Under his nondescript black hat all serving staff was wearing, Peniel gave him a wink and walked away, slipping a small metal tube into his hand.
“Got it,” Hyunsik said and let the tube fall to the bottom of his pant’s pocket. “A dress would show off my great arms.”
Before entering the building, they’d been subjected to a scanner. All foreign objects were not allowed inside the building for safety reasons. The workers were not checked as vigorously, allowing Peniel to easily slip the tube with their tool to get access to the locked doors inside.
Ilhoon grabbed the champagne glass out of Hyunsik’s hand and downed it in one shot, a grimace on his face when he swallowed the last of the bubbly drink.
Hyunsik prodded further, “I’d look great in pink too,” - he patted Ilhoon’s hand in reference to the dress he was wearing - “but I think I’d prefer to be in blue.”
“Okay that’s enough,” said Ilhoon. He stepped in front of Hyunsik and tugged at the waist of his floor length pink ball gown, rearranging his fake chest (Hyunsik looked in the other direction). “We have almost an hour and a half left and she’s not here. What should we do?”
Hyunsik knew he’d be able to find the doctor the moment she came inside. He was constantly monitoring the exits and entrances. For now, all they could do is play their roles and try to fit in.
He bowed in a stiff fashion, the pressed collar of his dress shirt grazing the top of his neck.
“Would you honor me with a dance Mrs. Lee?”
Ilhoon’s upper lip twitched.
//
After forty-five minutes, the head doctor came in through a side entrance. She was wearing a dark dress, blending easily with the crowd, but Hyunsik recognized her by her long brown hair with a touch of grey at the roots (exactly like in the picture Eunkwang had shown him).
“She’s here,” Hyunsik said abruptly, stopping in his place on the dance floor.
“Oh thank god.” Ilhoon’s hand fell down off Hyunsik’s arm and his other hand unclasping his. “I can’t do another waltz.”
Hyunsik led Ilhoon off the dance floor, weaving through the crowd to tip off Peniel that he needed to make his way towards the left side of the room to start the hand off.
“Where’d you learn how to waltz?” Hyunsik asked.
“The captain. You?”
Hyunsik raised his shoulders; “I saw it once in a video, seemed easy enough.” He’d been flipping through video channels on his parent’s telescreen once and ballroom dancing was playing. It hadn’t taken him long to figure out the steps on his own. Though, that had been many years ago.
“Seriously? Is there anything you’re bad at?”
“Hopefully nothing I have to be good at. I’m not that great at keeping old friends.”
They were mere seconds away from the doctor now, and Hyunsik stopped before approaching her. “Remember, we just need to get a fingerprint, and I’ll do the talking.”
Slipping on a pair of gloves, Ilhoon nodded his head and placed a hand on Hyunsik’s arm. Hyunsik could feel Ilhoon’s apprehension. Ilhoon, being the ship’s mechanic, probably didn’t do much of the ship’s espionage. From what Hyunsik knew about Ilhoon, he was a quick learner, and he’d have to learn fast.
He straightened his back and approached the doctor. She was talking with a short man wearing glasses who looked wholly unimportant because Hyunsik would provide her a more interesting conversation. “Excuse me, Dr. Choi.” Hyunsik bowed his head along with Ilhoon, who was hanging off his arm and looking very much the part of his admiring wife.
A bubble of apprehension sat in the pit of his stomach, he hadn’t done this type of work since the war. Surprisingly, he was amazed at how easy it was to slip back into a role - to play the part of someone else and fight dirty.
“I am Mark Lee, and this is my wife Ilsoon. I want to congratulate you on your work. My wife and I have chosen your company for our future child. Your success has led us to hope for the best we can get.”
Dr. Choi’s lips upturned, “Thank you and I believe congratulations is in order for the both of you too. Are you on the waiting list?”
“We’ve been deliberating about in vitro for a while now. It’s not my wife’s fault,” - Hyunsik made a point to gaze remorsefully at Ilhoon - “we’re so rich and we haven’t found a good solution to having a child.”
“We offer several services here at Genesis that will suit your needs. I’m assuming you’re going for in vitro treatments?”
The man she was talking with bowed out and left them now that the doctor was in full sales pitch mode.
Hyunsik pursed his lips and put a hand over Ilhoon’s on his arm. “My wife is practically sterile and I have a low sperm count. We’ve considered adopting, but we really want a child of our own flesh and blood to carry on our family legacy.”
“I see…” She nodded her head in thought, “we have a way to combine your genes and provide you with a child, and surrogate services if necessary. Genetic screening and gene options is available. It is going to be expensive to complete the process.”
“We are prepared to make a large donation tonight for your cause, say three million bits. The lab could probably use the money to fund further research for people like us.”
Her eyes widened and Hyunsik knew he’d hit the jackpot.
“Yes of course, your donation would go towards improving Genesis’ programs. Your offer is very generous, and I’m sure we can see that you’ll get your name at the top of the list Mr, and Mrs. Lee.”
Hyunsik brought his hand up to shake Dr. Choi’s. It was the signal for Peniel to head over with the drink tray. “Thank you Dr. Choi, I know we’re making the right choice.” He loosened his shoulders; he had the doctor right where he wanted her.
Peniel took the opportunity to interrupt their conversation, “Can I offer you a glass of champagne?”
“Yes thank you,” Hyunsik said, “Dr. Choi, can I offer you a toast?”
Dr. Choi waved her hand in front of chest, “Oh I don’t drink.”
Hyunsik had to think quickly, and took two champagne flutes from Peniel, holding one out in front of Dr. Choi, “Then please take one and say the toast with me, my wife will be more than willing to take it off your hands.” This had to work, she had to touch the glass or else the mission would get trickier than any of them had imagined.
He needed Dr. Choi to touch the reactive glass that would make an imprint of her fingerprints that they could later lift and use to enter the lab door without triggering the alarm. Captain Eunkwang was counting on them to get the prints while he and Sungjae were disarming the security and planting the key access into the lockdown area where they suspected Minhyuk was being held.
Thankfully, Ilhoon had the smarts to keep his mouth shut.
Dr. Choi took the flute and held it in the air.
“To the future of Genesis,” Hyunsik said, raising his glass and clinking it with Dr. Choi’s and then Ilhoon’s. He downed the glass and let the bubbling alcohol sooth the small jitters he’d developed over the conversation.
“Let me take that from you,” Ilhoon said, and when Hyunsik took his glass down from his face, he saw Ilhoon grinning and holding two champagne flutes.
“Hopefully we’ll be seeing you soon here at the lab,” said Dr. Choi.
Hyunsik smiled, “I believe we will be. Thank you for your time doctor.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
No, Hyunsik thought, i>it’s all mine.
He turned to walk away, time was of the essence, but Dr. Choi reached out and touched the back of his shoulder.
“Excuse me, have you always had that birthmark?”
Hyunsik leaned back on the heel of his foot, “Yes, since I was a kid. Should I have it removed?”
“No, no, it’s just genetically interesting to me. Sorry to bother you.”
“Not a problem doctor.” Hyunsik smiled at her, but he was unsettled by the smile she gave him in return.
//
They slipped outside the hall, feigning Ilhoon’s need for fresh air, and headed towards the left side of the building. Ilhoon shucking his heels and walking barefoot down the hallway. They had to work fast now since Peniel would have alerted Eunkwang and Sungjae that the prints had been taken.
Hyunsik felt his nerves rise up as progressed towards the meeting location where Captain Eunkwang and Sungjae were waiting for them to let them into the building at the west entrance. The hallway was only half lit because the lab was shut down for the event. However, Hyunsik knew that there were still people working around the building that could find them snooping around.
Hearing the light sound of footfalls, Hyunsik stopped and grabbed Ilhoon’s arm next to him, pulling him into an unlocked room. He clamped his hand over Ilhoon’s mouth and placed a finger over his own lips. They ducked down below the door, out of range from anyone trying to look through the small window at the top.
Hyunsik took a deep breath and evened out his breathing. Through the connection between his skin and Ilhoon’s he could feel Ilhoon’s stilted breaths puff past his fingers.
Outside the room, static broke the silence before a rough voice spoke over a communicator.
“Is the west hallway empty?” The static cut out.
Heavy footsteps walked past the room they were hiding in.
“There’s nothing here sir, must have been something else. I’m going to sweep the east wing now.”
Hyunsik waited until he could no longer hear the sound of the guard’s footsteps before he took his hand away from Ilhoon’s mouth. Ilhoon took in a few deep breaths.
“How did you know that guy was there? I never heard a thing.”
“Maybe you weren’t listening for it.”
Ilhoon got himself up, “If you say so,” he said quietly. Hyunsik brushed past him and opened the door. The hallway was empty once again, so they hurried to the meeting point. Hyunsik didn’t want to run into any more surprise visitors.
“It’s here.” Ilhoon pointed ahead to the door that led to an outside service room. Eunkwang and Sungjae should be waiting outside with the materials to lift a print off the glass.
Hyunsik took the access card he’d been given out of the tube in his pocket and handed it to Ilhoon, who swiped it. The door lock changed from red to green, letting Ilhoon turn the handle and open it. Hyunsik took the key back and placed it in his pocket for safekeeping.
“Let me go first.” Hyunsik put his hand on the door.
Ilhoon stepped back to let Hyunsik squeeze past him into the service room. The sound of multiple fans buzzing away rang loud in his ears. He gestured for Ilhoon to follow him with a wave of his hand. They didn’t get but three steps into the room before Hyunsik found a gun being pointed in his direction. He froze on instinct.
“Oh, it’s just you two,” Sungjae said, and he lowered the gun.
Ilhoon chucked his shoe at him, “Did you just point your gun at us?”
“You could have been guards!”
“Yook Sungjae!”
Hyunsik made his way to Eunkwang and handed him the champagne flute. After escaping the event through a side door, Ilhoon had wrapped the flute up in a plastic bag, which Hyunsik had stuffed down his jacket into a specially sewn in pocket.
“Good, this will only take a minute. Ilhoon, you can get changed.”
“Finally,” Ilhoon said, badgering Sungjae for the bag with his clothes to put on. Hyunsik turned away so he could give Ilhoon some privacy, but Ilhoon just stripped in the middle of the room without a care.
Hyunsik coughed into his fist, “Did Peniel radio in?”
Sungjae nodded, “He’s on his way back to the shuttle.”
“Good.”
The room they were in was hot, noisy, and filled with electronic cables and computer system card terminals. Hyunsik supposed this must be where the lab kept its backup system and controls.
“And, we’re good to go.” Eunkwang held up the completed transfer plastic; it was hard to see, but a faint purple residue on the plastic showed the ridges of a fingerprint. He placed the champagne flute into the bag of supplies they’d brought along for Sungjae to do the system hacking and extraction. “Ilhoon, you should be good to head out to the shuttle.”
Ilhoon hoisted the bag over his shoulder. “Good luck.”
Hyunsik was glad to see him go, none of them could tell what they’d find when they got into the lab where Eunkwang’s informant told him Minhyuk was likely being kept.
“Here,” Eunkwang said, “don’t want to go in empty handed.” He gave Hyunsik the gun he’d packed away for the job earlier.
The familiar weight felt reassuring in his palm.
Eunkwang cracked his knuckles, “Let’s get Minhyuk back.”
//
Since Sungjae had hacked into the security feed, they were getting the security radio transmitted into wireless receivers hooked over their ears. They had guns, knowledge of where the guards were, and the access to enter the security locked door.
Eunkwang swiped the card key and pressed the fingerprint to the touch pad while Sungjae and Hyunsik watched for any unsuspecting worker. The door beeped, but wouldn’t let Eunkwang open it.
“It’s not working, the access card isn’t working. It must have gotten demag’d somehow.”
“Shit.”
Hyunsik remembered that they had the spare card in his pocket that he and Ilhoon had used to gain entry to the service room. He lowered his gun to dig it out of his pocket. “Here, use this.”
Eunkwang’s face was relieved, “I thought we were screwed there.”
He swiped the card and pressed the fingerprint to the screen. This time, the lock beeped and flashed green allowing them to turn the handle.
“That went really well,” Sungjae said, “other than the card not working and almost leaving us, you know, fu-”
Eunkwang put a finger to his lips to cut Sungjae off. He entered first, raising his gun. Hyunsik followed behind him. They entered into an open room constructed of all grey metal walls. Two hallways split off on both the left and right with the wall directly in front of them covered with huge windows. Desks and shelves were full of binders stuffed with papers, and computer terminals were built into every desk.
Eunkwang lowered his gun and nodded his head to the side, “Sungjae.”
“Got it.” Sungjae took a seat at one of the desks and began typing away at the terminal, using a small device he had in his pocket to plug into the power source at the bottom of the machine.
“This is how we’re getting paid. I didn’t tell you on the ship, but the guy I got all the information from wanted files from the lab’s main computer. He’s paying a lot for these files, so it’s kind of suspicious, but we needed him to get Minhyuk back.” Eunkwang spoke softly, keeping his voice quiet in the empty room. They couldn’t have chosen a better time to break into the lab with everyone busy at the event no one was working.
Handing over whatever information Eunkwang’s informant wanted might be a bad idea in the long run. But, some evils couldn’t be avoided. Unless they looked at the files, they wouldn’t understand what the man wanted with them anyway.
Hyunsik walked around the room and took notice of all the binders that had names of different planets on them. One in particular interested him; it had New Seoul written along the binder’s edge. He reached to touch it, but was interrupted before he could pull it off the shelf.
“I’ve found him,” Sungjae said. “He’s to the right in room 1148.”
“We’ll go check it out. Stay on radio,” said Eunkwang, looking straight at Hyunsik with a firm expression falling over his face.
Hyunsik stepped back from the binder and walked with Eunkwang down the right hallway, trying to forget his intrigue and get back to the job at hand. They passed by several doors, all locked, all with tiny bars and a slot near the bottom. An uneasy feeling settled in Hyunsik’s stomach. This didn’t seem like a lab to him, more like a prison.
“1122…1124…1126…” Eunkwang counted the creepy doors as they walked down the long hallway.
“This doesn’t seem right,” Hyunsik said slowly, “why aren’t there any guards at all?”
Eunkwang kept counting up, “Maybe we’re lucky and caught them off guard. 1138…1140…”
“Or something else…”
Hyunsik hand’s tightened around his gun, the collar of his dress uniform dug into his neck again. These rooms were eerily familiar to a story his mother used to tell him in order to scare him when he was younger. Eat your vegetables Hyunsik, or the bad men will take you away to the grey hallway and lock you in one of the doors.
“Here, here’s 1148.”
The room where Minhyuk was being held was the second to last room in the hallway. Eunkwang began to work at the door right away. A similar lock was on the door, except there was no fingerprint scanner, just the key card slider and a number pad.
Hyunsik’s nose tickled. He rubbed at the itch, but it became worse and worse until he sneezed. “Can you smell that?” He sneezed again into his elbow, but now the tickling feeling began to seep down his throat.
The door unlocked with a heavy click of a deadbolt being slid out of place.
“Smell what?” Eunkwang had his hand of the door handle.
The feeling was uncomfortable, so Hyunsik did his best not to breathe in deep. Though, he was beginning to feel light headed. “Nothing, must just be me.”
Carefully, Eunkwang opened the door and revealed the tiny cell like room that was inside. A man lay on a simple bed shoved to the side. He had a small needle sticking out of his hand leading up to an odd machine that was dripping fluid into his vein. Eunkwang holstered his gun and shot to the man’s bedside.
“Minhyuk,” - Eunkwang shook the man’s shoulder - “Minhyuk, wake up.”
Hyunsik watched with concern as Minhyuk came out of his sleep, disoriented and dazed as if he’d been in a deep slumber for a long time.
“Captain?” Minhyuk had trouble speaking, speech slurred and tongue thick. “Captain? What you doing?”
Eunkwang’s eyes lit up, and Hyunsik had never seen a gentler smile come across Eunkwang’s face. “Rescuing you.” He helped Minhyuk sit up, “Do you know why you’re here?”
Shaking his head, Minhyuk took Eunkwang’s assistance. “They found me.”
“Who are they?”
Shifting back and forth, Hyunsik didn’t like the way Minhyuk’s eyes found his. How was it that his eyes were so piercing?
“Who that?” Minhyuk pointed at him.
Hyunsik opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was clogged and all he managed to croak out was, “Hyunsik,” in a raspy voice.
Eunkwang gave him a concerned look, “That’s Lim Hyunsik, he just joined the crew. Hyunsik, you really don’t look so good. Let’s get Minhyuk up and get the hell out of here.”
“You shouldn’t have brought him here,” Minhyuk said, his eyes were crazed and half-lidded. “He’s the one they’re looking for.” Minhyuk swung his legs over the bed and then removed the needle from his hand with a sharp tug. The machine began to beep, and Hyunsik began to get restless.
“Who is looking for who?” Eunkwang asked, slinging Minhyuk’s arm over his shoulder.
Hyunsik opened the door, “Captain, we should get going.” His throat was feeling uncomfortable, and if he didn’t get fresh air, he might get sick, or worse, have an attack. He was sure he’d taken a pill before they left. Minhyuk seemed to be under the influence of some drug they’d been feeding him, so he paid little attention to whatever nonsense he was spewing.
There would be a chance to introduce himself at a better time.
“Him,” Minhyuk said, voice shaky, “he has the same birthmark.”
Hyunsik had about had it up to his ears in comments about his birthmark. He was going to get it surgically removed next time he had the chance.
Eunkwang tugged Minhyuk out into the hallway, “Okay Minhyuk, you’ve been on some good happy juice we’ll talk about this later. We have to get out of here.”
With what strength Hyunsik had left, he grabbed Minhyuk’s other arm and slung it around his shoulder. They walked down the hallway as quick as they could, holding the majority of Minhyuk’s weight.
“Hyung, we need to get out of here. There’s some alarm going off and I think they’re headed this way.”
Eunkwang gave Hyunsik a strained look, eyebrows drawn down, “Shit.”
Luckily, Sungjae met them in the hallway in a panic. “Hyung!”
Relieved, Hyunsik let Sungjae take his place carrying Minhyuk. He wasn’t sure how much longer he would last on his own two feet.
He wasn’t expecting them to run into a trap when they got back to the lab entrance. Four armed guards stood in their way, and at the lead was Dr. Choi. She was holding a large gun of the likes Hyunsik had never seen before.
“I knew it was you, coming in here and trying to ruin the event,” she began to say, “I haven’t seen you since you were a baby, but that birthmark only comes from one place. This lab.”
Eunkwang pointed his gun at the guards, “We don’t want any trouble lady. You kidnapped our crewmember, we’re taking him back, and nobody needs to die here.”
“Minhyuk? He knows what he did wrong years ago by escaping the program and running off with the others. But I do have to thank you for bringing me this one here. We’ve been looking so long. Those seizures haven’t slowed you down at all these years have they?”
“Don’t talk to me like you know me,” Hyunsik replied.
Dr. Choi frowned, “Sims, Jacoby, disarm these intruders and call the police.”
The guards started to advance in on them and Hyunsik panicked. He didn’t want to end up in one of those rooms, and he didn’t want Eunkwang, Sungjae, or Minhyuk to have to go into one of them either.
Something inside him reacted like it did back when he was in the war. When part of him shut down and his fighting instincts took over. It was a blur, one second he was kicking the gun out of the guards hand, and then next he was jabbing his knee into the stomach of another. In the chaos, he was sure he saw Eunkwang and Sungjae disarming the other guards as well.
He punched the last guard standing in the gut and watched him fly into the desk behind him, dislodging papers and making them rain down all over the lab.
What he couldn’t predict was being hit over the head and having a needle jabbed into his arm. He yelled out in pain, and fell backwards. Dr. Choi stood over him, administering some substance into his blood stream that instantly made him feel woozy. Hyunsik wobbled fell down to his knees.
“You stay away from him,” Eunkwang said, “or I’ll shoot.”
“You won’t be able to get out of here, not with him like this,” said Dr. Choi. “Save yourself instead, there are more men coming.”
Eunkwang knocked her out with the butt of his gun. “She talked to much.”
“Hyung,” Sungjae said, “we have to run.” He pulled the needle out of Hyunsik’s arm with a quick tug.
Hyunsik used the last bit of strength he had left to pull himself back up on his feet, using Sungjae as a guide, he made it back outside of the lab with Eunkwang pulling Minhyuk along by himself. They avoided guards by taking the quickest exit back to the service room.
From the service room they left out the side door and found Changsub waiting there for them with the shuttle.
Hyunsik grabbed his bleeding arm and all but collapsed into the shuttle.
He probably wouldn’t be getting to that nice medical facility on Boris Landa after all.
//
Hyunsik woke up in the medical bay, lying down on the examining table with gauze wrapped around his knuckles and a pain in his arm where the doctor had stabbed him with the needle. He was glad to be still in one piece and that no one else got hurt. What had happened to him, he still didn’t understand.
“You’re awake.”
Hyunsik turned his head and saw Minhyuk sitting on the second examining table pushed against the wall.
“Minhyuk?”
“Yes, I’m Lee Minhyuk. Thank you for helping get me out of there.”
“’s no problem. What happened to me?” His throat felt raw, the after affects of whatever he’d been breathing in at the lab.
Minhyuk leaned forward with his legs crossed and his hands gripping the edge of the metal table.
“Eunkwang and Sungjae got you out of there, but you were just as out of it as I was from those drugs they give you to stay quiet. That gas you were breathing in, it’s something in the ventilation systems that only affects certain people.”
Hyunsik swallowed, “But why?”
“Because you’re the one that got away. They’ve been looking for you for a very long time. Genesis doesn’t just help people have babies they do experiments on babies. You, me, and a bunch of other people are their test subjects. They’re trying to genetically create a super human.”
Hyunsik blinked, “Are you saying that I’m not normal?”
“Don’t you at times feel things that others can’t?”
He had a point, there were many times in Hyunsik’s life where he reacted to things that others could not. During the war, he’d been able to scout out the enemy’s positions better than anyone, which was part of the reason why he had a promotion so young. He somehow knew things the others didn’t.
“Sometimes…” Hyunsik said hesitantly, “Sometimes I can do things.”
“You’re strong aren’t you? And your hearing, you can hear things before other people can. Eyesight and sense of smell too. We’re all like this. Different. They made us this way.”
“What can I do? If they’re after me because I’m their experiment that got away, it isn’t safe for me to be here.”
Minhyuk kicked his feet out and hopped down off the table, “This is exactly the place where you want to be. They can’t find you here. Not on the Melody, not in space. We’ll figure out what’s wrong with you.”
“But you were caught. I can’t endanger your crew.”
“My crew? I think this crew is just as much yours as it is mine. You should have seen them visiting when you were passed out cold before Peniel threw them all out.”
“Really?” Warmth settled in Hyunsik’s chest.
Minhyuk smiled widely, “Really.”
“Then I think I’ll stay, see how things go.”
Eunkwang’s voice came from the doorway, “Good choice.”
Hyunsik smiled back when he saw the rest of the crewmembers crowding around the doorway. They must have been giving him space, or maybe they had some messed up genetics that he didn’t know about too.
Eunkwang’s right, he thought, it was the best choice he’d made in a long time.
There was something about the Melody that Hyunsik felt proud to call home in the wide universe he lived in.