July 25, 2025 · The Frozen Lotus Temple, Mount Song (Songshan), Henan Province, China · 10:00 CST
The Night-Wing descended through the thin mountain air like a black blade slicing through snow. Its stealth rotors folded with a low hydraulic hiss as the landing gear kissed the reinforced hangar floor. The moment the ramp lowered, cold mountain wind rushed in, carrying the sharp scent of pine and distant incense from the temple above.
Ingrid Hunnigan stepped out first, still wearing the vibrant Cuban festival dress, now slightly rumpled from the long flight. Behind her came Cindy Lennox — Cecilia Navarro — clutching her bag tightly, eyes wide as she took in the ancient stone walls and blue-lit corridors of the Frozen Lotus Temple. This was a world away from the sun-soaked beaches of Havana.
Rebecca Chambers stood waiting at the edge of the hangar in her white lab coat, arms crossed, a warm but tired smile on her face. Her eyes immediately found the ramp.
"Welcome back, Hunnigan," Rebecca said, nodding politely.
"Likewise, Professor Chambers," Ingrid replied with a small grin. "You look like you haven't slept since we left."
"I'm fine," Rebecca said, turning to the newcomer. "And you must be Cindy. Cecilia Navarro. I've read your file. Nice to finally meet you face to face."
Cindy gave a cautious nod, still processing everything. "You're Rebecca Chambers. The medic who survived the Arklay Mountains incident. Nice to meet you too."
Rebecca's smile softened. "Likewise. You must be exhausted. Ingrid, take her to the guest quarters and get her settled. She needs rest."
Ingrid nodded and gently guided Cindy away down the corridor.
Alen descended the ramp last — the Midnight coat settling around him, the titanium arm catching the hangar light at the gold-inlaid joints. He walked straight toward Rebecca, expression cold, stoic, and unreadable.
Rebecca's smile faded into something more serious as she studied him. "So. I received your message and the update. Did you really kill them?"
Alen stopped a pace away. "They were dangerous. Jessica Sherawat was carrying the last viable sample of T-Abyss — and traces of Uroboros. I recovered both. T-Abyss is banned for a reason. Marine-based. Once it hits water it spreads through currents faster than any land strain. Raccoon City Syndrome mixed with it would be catastrophic."
Rebecca's eyes widened, a flicker of disgust crossing her face. She knew the files better than most. "I did research on T-Abyss years ago. It was supposed to be locked away after the Queen Zenobia incident. Even black-market groups avoided it because it mutates marine life into uncontrollable horrors. If Gideon or Downing fuses it with latent t-Virus from RCS survivors — it won't just infect land. It will turn the oceans into breeding grounds. Entire coastlines lost in weeks."
Alen nodded once, removing his sunglasses to reveal those ocean-blue eyes. "Exactly. Downing is the one pulling strings. He met Gideon last year. He's using him to perfect a hybrid. Cindy carries stable RCS antibodies — the missing piece. I brought her here for protection and for testing. Your blood work on her will confirm it."
Rebecca exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. "This is worse than I thought. I need to contact Chris and Jill immediately. They were on the Queen Zenobia. They know what T-Abyss can do firsthand."
Alen's voice remained cold and measured. "Do it. But not a solo mission for me this time. I know what you'll say."
Rebecca gave him a pointed look, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You did some reckless things when you were alone. Remember Operation Diamante? You dismantled an entire Connections cell in Moldova single-handedly, then fought Brandon Bailey after he mutated into that Mold creature. You injected yourself with A-Virus residue thinking you could handle it. You think I'll let you make that mistake again? Someone is going with you next time."
Alen let out the faintest breath — the specific sound of a man who has run the counter-argument and already found it wanting. "Understood."
Rebecca's expression softened into a small, genuine smile. "Good. Now come on. I need to check the CIED. Ruby's been waiting too long."
Alen reached into his coat and produced a small silver case. He handed it to her carefully. "Keep this safe. I already decoded the security on it for you."
Rebecca took the case containing the glowing red T-Abyss vial, her fingers brushing his titanium hand for a moment. "Thank you."
They walked together toward the inner lab doors. The pneumatic seals hissed shut behind them with a final, permanent sound, locking the outside world away.
The phantom was home.
But the real war — Frederic Downing, Victor Gideon, and a hybrid virus that could drown the world — was only just beginning.
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