The Zetta Sonic
White Corridors

Nadira looks more frail and old than Alex remembers. The woman sits at the end of one of the car benches while Alex is on the other side. Alex is still panting. His brain processed what he saw as well as Nadira's speech before he jumped in the car. Just as Alex was about to speak, Nadira had already spoken first.

“You smell!” sigh Nadira.

Alex rolled his eyeballs. Nadira may be more behind the table, away from the smell of sweat and blood. “I just fought to save the world—”

“No!” Nadira cuts off Alex's speech. “We didn't save the world. So are you. We just fight. Point. Don't think I'm talking about blood or sweat, I'm talking about the smell of death.”

“We only fight? That only? In that case, what's the point of me fighting Damon until—”

“You need to find your reason for fighting, Alex. After all, is that what you want to talk about now?”

Alex opened his mouth and immediately closed it back. Nadira reminded him of something more important. Even though his anxiety had not subsided, Alex's tone softened. “How is Jayden's condition? Is she okay?”

Nadira scolded. “We don't know. That's why we need to get there. Soon.”

“He was treated by ICPA doctors, ‘kan?”

“Yes, of course. I requested that Vanessa be included in Jayden's operation, but there seems to be a slight problem.” Nadira paused while looking at Alex fixedly, making sure that the boy understood the point. “The ICPA doctor team does not want Vanessa to interfere. Hopefully this is just a small matter. Maybe they don't know he's a good doctor.

“Fergus is there, right?”

“Should have.” Nadira nodded again. “Trust me. Moving in this field makes it very difficult to trust people.”

Capturing the impression that Nadira doubted the head of the capital's ICPA made him fret. The woman beside him must have understood. He throws a rare smile and pats Alex on the shoulder. Nothing else happened until they arrived at the ICPA headquarters.

Half running, Alex walked down an empty hallway flooded with white light. The hallway was too plain. No green accents or other decorations. At the end of the hallway, there was a large gray door almost as big as the hallway itself. Close to the door, Alex sees a row of waiting chairs arranged face to face. Emil was there with a bandage wrapped around from hand to shoulder. There was also Tiger. The big man was still on his wheelchair.

Seeing Alex's arrival, Tiger only nodded once. “Good work, boy. Even if you look messy.”

Emil saw Nadira's shadow from a distance. The woman was still quite far away from them. “This is the first time I've seen Nadira. Directly. Pick up agents newly on duty in the field.”

“She's a special case,” says Tiger.

“No. I just...,” said Alex, still panting.

Tiger nodded.

Alex gave a glance. “Where is doctor Vanessa? How's Jayden? What is he..”

“Do not know. We've been here since. No one has been in or out since—” Tiger's greeting was cut off when he saw the door open. “Since Doctor Vanessa made it in there.”

Someone came out of the room in a greenish surgeon's uniform. The hair and face covered in masks made them unable to recognize him easily. This person approached while removing all the coverings on his face.

Alex ran over so well to recognize him. “Doctor Vanessa, how Jayden.”

The doctor's face looked tired, a little greasy, but never once obliterated her beauty. He gave a gentle smile. “He survived, Alex. Bless you. He'll be fine.”

Nadira who just came nodding at the doctor Vanessa. “So, they finally let you in?”

“I'm ready to punch anyone who prevents me from getting in there.” Doctor Vanessa makes a fist and smiles amusedly. “There's Fergus. He helped clear up the doctor's sentiment. Without tonsjokan, of course.”

Tiger laughs. “Then everything is in order. Right, ‘kan?”

Emil spontaneously stepped aside as Tiger was about to pat his shoulder. The pat may have been a form of pleasure, but for Emil it was nothing more than an additional torture especially when his shoulder was injured. “Yes. Mission succeeded. You should be proud of yourself, Alex.”

Alex had been flirting. He was only able to take his gaze away from the doctor Vanessa to Emil and Tiger who were smiling, then to Nadira who was patting on him, as well as Henrietta who gave a knotty smile.

Alex couldn't explain how she felt at the time. His feet felt weak and relieved. Doctor Vanessa stretched out her arms, hugging the child in front of her who began to cry. Alex is convinced that he is not a bad boy. It was the first time she had cried in front of a stranger. More precisely, crying in the arms of a stranger. There was a soft pat behind his back.

“All will be fine, Alex. Just chill. You did well.” The words kept repeating in his ears.

“Thank you..” That's all that can come out of his lips at the moment.

“No, Alex. Thank ye. You saved Jayden and innocent people from people like Damon. You also managed to subdue Rando. If there's anything you have to do right now, it's a break.”

Tiredness felt a lot more pressing when Vanessa's doctor said it. Of course, he needs rest and treatment. There are still many things he has to do, including finding out why Zet-Arm is not functioning properly as well as who is behind Jayden's kidnapping. But, right now, he could imagine himself soaking in warm water then sleeping under a padded blanket.