Operation: Hollow Ground
They arrived at Zhu Yuan's apartment, and she was the first to hop out of the car, determined to prevent any potential awkwardness. She quickly scurried around, tidying up the Living Room, Bathroom, and Kitchen like a whirlwind on a mission. If anyone could turn chaos into a semblance of order, it was Zhu Yuan—albeit with her casual shorts peeking out beneath her uniform.
After a frantic few moments, she returned, peeking through the door like a secret agent on a reconnaissance mission. "Okay, you may come in," she announced, trying to sound casual but feeling anything but.
Qingyi and Seth entered first, their eyes widening as they took in Zhu Yuan's apartment for the first time. The walls were adorned with a plethora of certificates, medals, and recognitions from her illustrious career. It was like a mini-museum dedicated to her awesomeness.
There was Zhu Yuan, wearing her official uniform with the necktie hanging loose—definitely not a fashion statement—while she sat on the edge of her three-seater couch, waving them over like a friendly host at a cozy dinner party.
"Sit with me," she said, her voice brightening the room. The two unhesitatingly plopped down beside her, claiming their spots as if it were a cozy couch-sharing arrangement.
"I'm quite jealous of your achievements, Captain," Seth whispered, his eyes darting around the wall of trophies like he was in an episode of Cribs: Officer Edition. Zhu Yuan couldn't help but smile, pride swelling in her chest.
"You should have more visitors to see this," he continued, "instead of keeping it all private! What's the point of having a trophy wall if it's only for your eyes? You need to hold a 'Look at How Awesome I Am' party!"
Zhu Yuan laughed, a sound that mingled with the homely ambiance of her apartment. "Trust me, I'd throw a party, but I can't risk having everyone knowing how often I trip over my own feet in here."
Qingyi chimed in, "Or how many snacks you keep hidden in the kitchen! I caught a whiff of something delicious while I was coming in!" She flashed a cheeky grin, as if already plotting a raid on the snack cabinet.
"Ugh, you two are impossible!" Zhu Yuan teased, feeling the warmth of their camaraderie wash over her.
Qingyi ever vigilant, used activated a device to deter any suspicious bugging device. "Cautiousness starts here…"
After a while Elias knocked on the door she stood up and opened it. Elias had his laptop briefcase, he sat down on the floor beside the coffee table. "Mind if I put my device on your coffee table?"
Zhu Yuan put some of her things aside to make room for his laptop.
"Okay… Thank you Captain" he whispered. The room went silent while Elias is sitting at the floor intently staring at the screen with a clickity clack of the keyboard.
It's 30 minutes before midnight; Zhu Yuan biting her lip is worried that the meeting with the proxy is canceled. Elias looked on them with a mark of everything is good on his side.
"Phaethon is ready." Zhu Yuan just nodded. With a final click on the button; their voice meeting started.
"Phaethon? -you there?" Elias inquired, it took probably a while before they reply.
"Mr. Smith, yes… -who else is with you?" they inquired. Zhu Yuan biting her lip in tense; she and Qingyi we're aided by Phaethon not long time ago. Seth attentively staring at the screen.
"I have two officers with me from Janus Station… -Don't worry Phaethon, they can be on this my case." He winks at Zhu Yuan's team. Seth was kinda worried because they are talking to Proxy, with her Captain.
"Janus Station? -ah, we have friends there. So it will be fine." Phaethon replied, Zhu Yuan evidently blinked clearing her throat that Phaethon was referring to them, she cut the inquiry and asked directly.
"Phaethon, we have a special package that we need to retrieve. -But it's inside the hollows. Do you have a guide on how to dive there safely?" She asks, Qingyi looking at her.
There was a brief silence from Phaethon, seems like they are talking behind the muffled microphone because they heard Zhu Yuan's familiar voice. "I'll grab a map for you so we can check."
"I think Hollow Sector 5 is the location where the sanitation department dumps the majority of the trash, but we're not sure what Zone it is." Phaethon displayed a map on the screen, the dim light casting an eerie glow across the room.
"They have three zones: A, where they dump the trash directly into the dimensional rift; B, for recycling trash; and finally C, a landfill for digital refuse."
Zhu Yuan felt her heart race at the mention of the dimensional rift, a chaotic vortex that swallowed everything in its path. "I think we have to rule out Zone A. Obviously, they're dumping the trash directly into the rift," Qingyi stated, her voice steady but with an underlying edge of concern. Phaethon paused for a second, the tension palpable in the air.
"Yes, the most obvious answers are Zone B and C. Zone B can be infiltrated safely with Agent Smith, even if it is heavily guarded. Zone C, however, can be a little dangerous—it's littered with Scavengers, Ethereals, and it might even corrupt anyone due to the high concentration of Ether." His words hung heavy in the room, a stark reminder of the risks they faced.
Zhu Yuan exchanged glances with Qingyi and Seth, the gravity of the situation settling in. The prospect of encountering corruptive forces in Zone C sent a shiver down her spine. "To add… I just need a device ID so we can scan the whole area, ruling out which Zone is the most probable," Phaethon continued, the urgency in his tone underscoring the seriousness of their mission.
"Device ID? -Scan?" Zhu Yuan asked, her brow furrowed as she tried to process the implications.
"Yes… it's an decryption device. I'm afraid it might get destroyed by scavengers," Elias replied, his voice low but firm. The weight of his words settled over the group, and Zhu Yuan felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. They were on the brink of venturing into uncharted territory, where dangers lurked beyond every corner.
The room felt smaller, the shadows creeping in as they contemplated their next steps. Zhu Yuan took a deep breath, trying to steady herself amidst the swirling tension. "We need to be prepared for anything," she said, her voice resolute. "If we're heading into the Hollows, we need to have a solid plan. No reckless decisions."
"Agreed," Qingyi replied, her expression serious. "We'll need to coordinate our movements carefully, especially in Zone C. We can't afford to get caught off guard."
Elias nodded, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the screen. "Let's gather what we need, and then we can decide the best approach."
As they strategize, the atmosphere thickened with anticipation, each moment drawing them closer to a confrontation with the unknown. Zhu Yuan knew they were standing on the edge of something dangerous, and she could only hope that they were ready to face whatever awaited them in the dark depths of the Hollows.
"Okay, as we promised, we will be guiding someone who may want to venture out into the Hollows, either Zone B or C," Phaethon stated, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of urgency.
"Mr. Smith, do we have a device ID?" Zhu Yuan asked, her heart racing as the stakes continued to rise.
"Yes, but the primary suspect, as I told you, has gone dark. However, the suspect in your station—he may know it," Elias replied, his eyes focused on the map, tracing the potential paths through the Hollow zones.
"We definitely need info on that suspect then," Zhu Yuan mused, her face marked with concern and urgency.
"Phaethon, anything to add to wrap up the meeting?" Zhu Yuan asked, her tone precise as she wrapped up the session, the warmth of her apartment contrasting with the serious nature of their discussion.
"We'll let Agent Smith know," Phaethon replied, their voice steady.
As Elias turned off his laptop, the tension in the room began to dissipate. Zhu Yuan stretched out, her arms reaching high before she stood up from the couch. With a slight swagger, she walked toward the kitchen, a comfortable haven filled with the scents of home. She untied her hair, letting it fall freely, and pulled out an ice-cold beer from the refrigerator.
Qingyi and Seth exchanged glances, clearly amused.
"Captain, asking permission to grab some of our snacks, over." Seth joked, adopting a mock-serious tone as if they were on a covert mission.
Zhu Yuan nodded in response, her eyes drifting to the dimly lit living room. Elias, still seated, glanced over at her. "Captain, should we have a midnight snack? Or does this wrap up the day?" he asked, his tone light, yet curious.
"Come on… get your snacks—I'm not serving you those," she shot back playfully, her voice teasing. They both ran into her kitchen, settling down at the table, while Zhu Yuan remained by the refrigerator, sipping her beer.
"Didn't know you were drinking beer, Captain," Seth remarked, glancing at her. Zhu Yuan shot him an irritated glance, but the corner of her mouth twitched with amusement.
Elias watched her, noting the way she looked in her casual home attire, with her uniform jacket still on. He couldn't help but admire her well-toned figure, especially her legs, exposed just above the knee.
"You look great, Captain. Never knew you could rock the casual look so well," he complimented, a friendly grin spreading across his face.
Zhu Yuan felt the heat rise to her cheeks unexpectedly again, causing her to sputter slightly as she spilled a bit of beer. "Thanks…" she stammered, feeling a blend of flattery and embarrassment.
Qingyi chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Careful, Captain! We might need to keep a mop handy if you keep spilling!"
Zhu Yuan shook her head, laughter bubbling up. "Just keep your eyes on your own snacks, you two!" The atmosphere felt light and homey, a stark contrast to the earlier tension, as they settled into the comfort of each other's company, the warmth of friendship enveloping them like a well-worn blanket.
That night wrapped up shortly after Zhu Yuan finished her can of beer. She stretched out with a sigh, clearly ready to call it quits.
"Captain, I should head back to my place," Elias suggested, looking at him though he didn't seem particularly eager to leave.
Zhu Yuan waved him off. "It's not safe to travel back, and it'll weigh on my conscience if something happens to either of you. Just crash here." She gave him a look that left no room for argument.
And so, they stayed. Zhu Yuan, feeling the day's weight, took a quick shower and headed to her bedroom, with Qingyi trailing behind her. "No offense, but I'm not dealing with either of you until sunrise," Zhu Yuan muttered as she disappeared into the room.
Meanwhile, Seth and Elias stared at the living room floor—no one daring to claim the couch. It was as if both silently agreed not to ruin the captain's furniture, so the floor it was. Pillows were hastily tossed down, and they settled in.
"Mr. Smith?" Seth asked, staring at the ceiling. Elias was still working on his laptop, the glow casting a shadow over his face.
"Yeah?" Elias responded without looking away from the screen.
"How long have you been into PUBSEC?" Seth couldn't help but press, curiosity bubbling up.
Elias chuckled softly. "I think probably more than half a decade, -I was recruited in PUBSEC just out of luck probably."
Seth, ever the eager officer, turned his head toward Elias, wide-eyed like an excited puppy. "Out of luck? -does that mean anything Mr. Smith?"
Elias let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Seth, it's getting late. We'll talk about this in the morning... with coffee. Trust me, this isn't bedtime conversation."
Finally closing his laptop, Elias prepared his makeshift bed, while Seth begrudgingly stopped his questions, letting the quiet of the night take over. Just two officers on the floor, exhausted from the day's chaos.