The Zetta Sonic
Wine Glass

The name is not foreign. Dominic is being seconded as a medic in the city. He met Vanessa more often and spent time with the doctor. Even before the incident at the dock, these two doctors were spending time in a small restaurant not far from the dam.

“Sorry, I'm late.” Doctor Vanessa pulls up the chair. His curly hair has been rolled neatly and simple makeup still survives even though the night has come.

“Stuck jammed?” Opposite him, Dominic's doctor set aside the tablet PC he was reading. He took Vanessa's wine glass and filled it up enough. “I don't know this place serves delicious canape wine. We should spend more time together.”

Vanessa wasn't impressed. The woman just shrugged her shoulders. He packed his bag so he could sit comfortably. A waiter came to bring a menu. Without having to look at the menu, Vanessa knew what she wanted. Just a snack.

The restaurant serves cheap wine with regular food. However, the atmosphere is comfortable. Sofa soft, light dim light, also soft music. Suitable for casual conversation. Instead of having dinner there, Vanessa prefers to go there after mealtime. Visitors have diminished considerably. The table at the end, his favorite spot, was also always empty.

Unlike the other tables, this table is only equipped with a short sofa. The size of the responsibility to be used sitting next to each other and is wide enough to be used alone. Vanessa believes Dominic likes the place as much as he does. This was the last time they spent time together there.

“How many lives did you finish today?” Vanessa asked back.

Dominic chuckles. “Solve? I saved lives, not solved them. Today I gave seven stitches to a banged up agent, nagged a back office clerk, also helped a cat who couldn't get out of a tree.”

“You should learn to lie better than that.”

“No need,” Dominic said while daubing a thin smile, “because I have no intention of lying to you.”

Vanessa's turn smiled amusedly. “You must have trained such seduction many years.”

“True. I'm training for now.”

Vanessa is now frowning. He did not like the direction of the conversation and immediately replaced it. They talk about all kinds of things. Starting from trivial things such as cold weather that makes fun, complaining about ICPA systems that are sometimes too convoluted, also new drug variants. That conversation almost always ends with Sonic.

“He who is the source of congestion today?” Dominic asked me the same thing. Neither he nor Vanessa's doctor drove the car from the ICPA. The car was equipped with advanced navigation connected to the main office. With the help of operators, they will not be stuck in traffic.

Vanessa shakes. “Only small incident.”

“You know it's only a matter of time, ‘kan.”

Vanessa sighs. He has been getting a lot of questions from his fellow colleagues at ICPA. Since Damon news and videos turned into monsters — somehow — can spread to ICPA around the world, various possibilities feel a little more real. Sonic can also turn into a monster. As long as they don't know why Alex is staying while Damon isn't, that fear will always be there.

Moreover, Vanessa has just seen how Alex a little release in match practice some time ago. That really scared him. Surely that thought was reflected on his face as Dominic again asked.

“Who? Sonic?” Vanessa shook her head slowly. “Of course not. He. my patient. I'm more afraid of the power that's around him.”

“Nadira?”

“So far, I've seen Nadira do anything for Sonic. Many things. Facility, mind, time. He's very busy, remember? But, Nadira always took the time when there was a problem with the Special Force. Actually it's natural. Special Force is under his direct control not Fergus.”

“That scares you?” Dominic.

“If Nadira wants to devote everything so that Sonic can do many things, I now worry Nadira will do many things as well so that Sonic remains in control. Including..” Vanessa stops. He doesn't want to continue. Nadira has a lot of hands out there. That woman can do a lot of things.

“Baadvertising,” Dominic continued, “before you said I was just approaching you about Sonic, I think we better change the conversation.” Dominic pulls himself close to the table. He poured more wine into his empty glass and Vanessa's glass. Then, he raised his glass to a toast. “We're doctors. We save lives, not solve them. That's not our part.”

Vanessa chuckles at hearing it. He raised his glass. “For the better world.”

“For the world which—”

Dominic's words are interrupted by Vanessa's phone ringing. This made the woman put her glass back. With the other hand, he gestured for Dominic to wait. Again, the look on his face changed drastically after seeing the message on his phone.

“Bad news?” guess Dominic.

“Very,” replied Vanessa with a soft look. “Sonic is being pursued by.. Kloster?” The word at the end of Vanessa's sentence sounded doubtful. “This is crazy. Are they here too? I have to get back to headquarters.” He put his phone in his bag and took his wallet.

At that moment, Dominic stood up. His body crossed the table and his hand hurriedly held Vanessa's hand, stopping her from taking any money or cards. “To prepare for the worst?”

The question made Vanessa stop. He frowned at his interlocutor. “No one will get hurt. They just.. need me.” Vanessa was hesitant again.

“Indeed. They need you. They need the best doctor who is sure of all his actions.” Dominic smiles. “You're brilliant. Believe in yourself as you believe Sonic will not turn into a monster.”

That smile is definitely contagious. “Thank you.” Her voice softened. Vanessa got up and gave a light hug. “Maybe we should spend more time together.”

Dominic escorts Vanessa out of the restaurant and rushes back to her desk after the woman gets into the car. Just like Vanessa, Dominic also gets a message on his phone. While grumbling, he pressed a button to call back the sender of the message.

“You know, you just messed up my date,” she said as an opening. “Now, explain why you let Kloster roam here, Mark!”