The medical check-up went smoothly.
"Excuse me," the male doctor said politely as he slid a sensor under Jody's arm to take her vitals. She remained seated in the wheelchair as he recorded the data on a nearby monitor.
"Next, I'll need to examine your legs… and take a blood sample."
"We have to draw blood too?" Jody asked, wincing.
"Yes, ma'am."
Soon, she was guided through a leg extension test and lower-body X-rays by a nurse in a uniquely designed uniform. Jody couldn't help but hope—deep down—that maybe, just maybe, the organization's medical knowledge, which already seemed twenty years ahead of the modern world (judging from that elevator), might help uncover the cause of her osteogenesis imperfecta.
Then came the final step—bloodwork.
Prick.
A full vial of blood was drawn and sealed inside a sleek gray sample bag, locked tight.
"…Weird," she thought, watching how meticulously they handled her sample. For just a standard blood draw, they were treating her like some VIP. Still, she figured the doctors had their reasons.
On Sera's side of the room:
"Let's check your weight."
"…Huh? Oh—uh…"
Sera hesitated as she stepped toward the digital scale. The machine itself looked far too precise—clearly designed for the highest level of accuracy.
Nurse: "Worried it'll show too much?"
"Very funny…"
Sera looked around nervously. The boys were pressed up against the observation glass, peering inside. They could definitely see the number on the scale.
"Um, can… can you pull the curtain, please?"
The nurse raised an eyebrow. "…You want it closed?"
"Yes, please."
Understanding, the nurse obliged and pulled the curtain shut.
Swish.
"…Caught on," Mickey muttered from outside, frustrated he couldn't get a glimpse from nine meters away.
"Tone it down, Electrix," Jade said, shooting him a glance.
"He eats like a black hole. Bet she's over seventy-five kilos—easy," Syd said confidently, arms crossed.
"You two…" Jade sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I honestly don't know how she puts up with you both."
Syd: "Weaklings don't survive. If she can't handle it, she should've said so."
Mickey: "What the hell, man…"
"By the way, Electrix, what happened to your hair? It's halfway to your knees," Jade asked, reaching out to touch his now-flowing locks.
"Guess who's responsible," Mickey replied with a deadpan smile.
"Let me guess… Sera Pina Gilmore?"
"Can someone please get me a barber? I need to trim this down. It's out of control…"
"You actually look pretty good with long hair. Shame to waste it," Jade mused.
Then Syd asked, "Hey, Jade. What do you think the odds are… that Jody might be wind-aligned?"
"I think she is," Jade replied without hesitation.
"Oh yeah? What if she's not?"
"You don't think she's an Elementalist, Agent Barrett?"
"I'm hoping she's not."
"Ooh~ And what are you betting?"
"I'll buy lunch."
"How about you make lunch instead? When was the last time you cooked—two months ago?"
Mickey: "Two months. Tom kha gai. Spicy jungle curry. Delicious."
"No thanks. I'm lazy."
Jade sighed. "It's a shame, really. Deadman Denji's on assignment in North Korea. Otherwise, you'd get to meet him today."
"Damn. Missed my chance to meet the big guy…"
"…Speaking of Jody Johansson," Jade said, turning serious.
"Hm? What about her?"
She hesitated, then continued. "Could you talk to her? Try to get her to trust us a bit more. Maybe during your break. I just get the sense that she won't fully cooperate unless you're involved."
"…"
"She trusts you."
"…"
"…Yeah. Alright."
"Because if her test results come back positive, we'll have to call a global summit. Grandmaster Anong will be arriving here in person."
"…"
"We'll need to send her blood to the high-security lab. While we wait for results, we still have a bit of time."
"True," Mickey said.
Right then, Jody's check-up finished. The nurse wheeled her out, and the others approached. Syd stepped in and replaced the nurse without a word.
"Hey—! Syd!" Jody yelped, trying to get up, but he pushed her back down.
"I've been dying to do this."
"Do what—whoa!?"
He tilted the chair back, sending her flailing briefly before returning her gently to a level position.
"You had it coming, glass-bones."
"Syd, seriously. Don't mess around like that," she laughed.
Swish.
The automatic doors opened again.
Sera walked out, clearly dragged along by the nurse.
"That scale's busted, I swear… Can I weigh in again—ugh."
She stopped beside Jody and Syd.
"So? What now?"
"We're taking you to your quarters," Jade said, already leading the way.
Syd pushed Jody's wheelchair, hanging back with the group.
"You do realize your life is now in my hands, right?" he said with a devilish grin, gripping the handles tightly.
"And your secrets are in mine," she replied with a sly smile.
Syd tipped the chair again in frustration.
"Try bringing that up again and you'll be rolling like a dog."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Wanna test that theory?"
"Nope. I'm scared. Happy now?"
"Good. Stay scared."
"…Honestly, I can walk on my own, you know. I don't need to be wheeled around like this."
"Protocol. Safety first."
"Oh…"
They took the elevator down to another floor.
Ding.
This level was completely different from the others. It looked more like the lobby of a five-star hotel than a secret base. Plush carpeting, warm lighting, elegant walls.
"…Whoa…"
Sera immediately thought of her own luxury hotel suite. It wasn't as futuristic as the upper floors, but it still radiated refinement.
"These are your quarters," Jade said, stopping in front of two side-by-side rooms. Luggage had already been delivered—two bags for Jody and four for Sera, neatly arranged at the doors.
Sera: "…That's… seriously efficient."
"If we couldn't handle something as simple as that, how could we run the world?" Jade quipped with a smirk.
Sera: "…Creepy…"
"Poor guys were breaking their backs hauling your bags, Sera. Unlike Jody's—light as a feather," Mickey muttered.
Sera shot him a sharp glare, but he whistled innocently and looked away.
"Make yourselves at home. In two hours, these two will escort you to the next location. Use that time however you like," Jade said before bowing politely and taking her leave.
Jody glanced at Syd's wristwatch—5:57 AM. That meant a meeting was scheduled at exactly 8:00.
"Alright, go. Get your lives together," Syd said, giving her wheelchair a push.
Jody braked it with her hands until it rolled to a stop near her bags. She stood up and walked to the door, pausing awkwardly.
Mickey stepped in and pressed a panel.
Beep.
Swish.
The door slid open.
"Thanks, Mickey."
Inside, it was like a luxury hotel room—compact but fully equipped. A wardrobe, separate bathroom, mid-sized bed, and ambient lighting built into the walls.
There was a wooden desk with a power hub for charging or plugging in laptops, a widescreen TV, and a personal Wi-Fi router mounted in the ceiling. No windows, though.
Everything was sleek and modern, hinting at hidden functions.
Jody wheeled her suitcase inside and began exploring.
There was even a mini-fridge next to the bed.
The boys followed her in. Syd explained the layout while Mickey pointed out helpful features.
Syd: "This is basically like a dumbed-down hotel room. TV, bathroom, all that. And the most important thing—Internet. But look, come here."
Mickey opened the wardrobe and pressed a hidden button.
Fsssshh—
"That sound… That's a hydraulic system, right?"
Mickey: "Yep."
Syd: "Now check this out."
"What's behind the door?"
Syd: "Yo, nerd. Step outside."
Mickey stepped out. The door closed.
Jody noticed a small screen next to the door—and Mickey's image appeared on it, standing outside flashing a peace sign.
"…Is this…"
"Touchscreen peephole," Syd grinned.
"Whoa…"
"The door's soundproof, so you'll have complete privacy. If you tap here, you can talk to whoever's outside without actually opening it."
He demonstrated by pressing the screen.
"Two plus two?"
Mickey (outside): "Four."
"729 x 36?"
Mickey: "26,244."
"What was the model of the SpaceX rocket tested in Texas after the Falcon 9 exploded?"
Mickey: "…."
"Silent. Guess that one was too easy."
"Syd."
"Oops. Sorry."
He turned back to her.
"So? You get how this place works now?"
"…So… no one outside can hear what happens in here?"
"Not even the next room."
"…"
Suddenly, the memory of what nearly happened on the plane flashed through her mind.
"Meaning… if you ever get lonely or… your hormones go rogue again, you've got full privacy for that too."
"…Didn't we agree not to bring that up again?"
"Just making sure it doesn't happen again," Syd said, stepping closer.
"Anyone else would've avoided you forever after that."
"…"
He wasn't wrong.
"You don't feel weird about it?" she asked quietly.
"Do you?"
"…A little."
Jody looked away—unusual for someone who usually locked eyes like a lizard.
"…Yeah. Same."
Hearing that from him calmed her nerves. At least they were both on the same page.
They respected each other enough to move past a hormonal accident.
"If it wasn't me, you'd have lost a friend, Jody."
"…Maybe you're more mature than I gave you credit for."
"Oh? You think about me?"
"Are you sulking again?"
"Just deciding which hand to punch you with."
"Don't~"
They never truly figured out who made the first move. But what was done was done.
As long as they could still call each other friends, that was enough.
"…Get settled," Syd said as he unlocked the door and stepped out.