Jane and Qingyi crashed at Zhu's apartment that night. Zhu couldn't bring herself to let them walk home, even though they were more than capable of defending themselves. The thought of something happening to them on the way back weighed too heavily on her conscience.
By morning, Jane was already up, clad in one of Zhu's oversized shirts that she'd borrowed the night before. She and Zhu pulled off the casual night look effortlessly—naturally, both women had that kind of allure. Jane was at the kitchen counter, coffee brewing as she moved around with the comfort and confidence of someone who seemed perfectly at home in Zhu's space.
Zhu woke to the rich aroma of her favorite coffee drifting through the room. Sliding out of bed, she grumbled internally, Did Jane already brew my coffee? Without waiting for me? Slightly irritated, she opened her bedroom door, only to spot Jane lounging comfortably on the couch, remote in hand, flicking through morning news channels.
"Jane, really?" Zhu muttered; her voice raspy with sleep. "You're getting way too comfortable here—sitting in my spot, touching my things without permission." She trailed off with a sigh, too worn out to put up much of a fight and headed straight for the bathroom.
"Oh, morning, Captain," Jane greeted casually, taking a slow sip from Zhu's favorite mug.
"Where's Qingyi?" Zhu called from behind the bathroom door, her voice slightly muffled.
"Headed out around six," Jane replied, settling deeper into the couch. "Apparently, she got a call and had to rush back to the Quarters." She took another sip, glancing toward the bathroom door. "So... feeling any better?"
"Uh, well, now you've gone and reminded me of him again," Zhu muttered, sitting on the toilet with her chin propped in her hands. "Better? The city's in chaos, there was a heist—I'm nowhere near 'better.'"
Jane let out a dramatic, sarcastic sigh. "Work talk already? Seriously, can't you leave that outside? Not even close to what I was hinting at!"
Zhu rolled her eyes, even though Jane couldn't see. "I know, I know. But how am I supposed to move on if you keep bringing him up?"
Jane's eyebrows shot up over the rim of her coffee mug.
"Move on without closure? You're kidding, right? Zhu, that's like trying to walk out the door with one shoe on."
"I just need a peaceful morning, Jane." She replied, deep down, Zhu knew she didn't really want to move on without facing what she felt for him—however unsettling and uncharted those feelings were. Just admitting that, even to herself, brought an ache she wasn't ready to let go of.
After getting ready, Zhu and Jane headed to the Quarters. Zhu's phone buzzed with a text from Qingyi about suspect E-112 over at ERI; he was showing signs of improvement, and they needed to dig into why he'd ended up inside the Hollows in the first place.
"Everything's spinning out of control—there's the cold case, the protests, the heist, this patient..." Zhu murmured to herself, her steps quickening down the hallway, "...and Elias, always on my mind." Sitting on her desk, on her table a box of desserts again. "...and these desserts."
"Captain, we're ready to roll whenever you are," Qingyi's hand landed on Zhu's shoulder, pulling her out of her swirling thoughts. Everything seemed tangled, and she felt almost numb from the weight of deciding what to tackle first.
"Zhu, I'll join forensics on the heist. You go with Qingyi and handle her lead," Jane suggested, giving a reassuring nod.
"...and obviously I'll be patrolling Lumina Square, keeping things under control in my area," Seth chimed in, his voice marked with determination smiling.
Hearing the concern in all their voices lifted something in Zhu. She managed a small smile, and with Jane's expertise now in the mix, she dared to hope that maybe—just maybe—things would turn out okay.
Zhu drove the mobile with Qingyi on the driver's seat towards ERI, she was all silent. Her eyes focused on the road, hoping that they won't end up on another traffic due to chaotic protests on the streets. Qingyi is beside her being busy tapping on her tablet.
"Did you mention to Jane regarding our patient on ERI?" Zhu asks, her voice marked with concern.
"No, why Captain?" Qingyi replied. "She's obviously not tied with our investigation so I know telling anything regarding him might complicate things."
Zhu was relieved upon hearing this, after the exhausting drive with the morning rush hour, they have arrived on the ERI. The guards gave them a knowing look and nod at them, "Deputy Yanagi is waiting for us on the holding area." Qingyi muttered.
"She's here? Waiting for us?" Zhu was surprised, she parked their mobile quite tensed by Deputy Yanagi's presence and even waiting for them as they stopped.
"Does HSO S6 deputy have some concerns regarding the patient or... just wanted to meet us?" Zhu's trail of thoughts stopped when someone knocked on their car. It was Deputy Tsukishiro Yanagi, holding a clipboard. She gave her a smile rolling down the window.
"Deputy, hi good morning." She greets.
"Hi Captain Zhu, how've you been?" Yanagi greeted with a small smile, nudging her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she leaned against the Mobile.
Zhu stepped out, stretching her legs with a tired sigh. "I've been doing fine... just entangled in a mess of cases." She paused, glancing at the streets filled with noise and activity. "The city's in chaos, the heist. You know how it is."
"Cheer up, Captain," Yanagi teased, giving her a playful nudge. "Miyabi knows you NEPS folks can handle anything the city throws at you!"
Zhu chuckled softly, though the tension was still evident in the slight crease between her brows. As she and Yanagi began walking toward the holding area, Qingyi joined them, her presence lightening the mood immediately.
"All fine and shiny on my end," Qingyi chimed in, a cheeky grin on her face. "Though, I'm more emotionally stable than Captain here."
Zhu rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips. "Emotional problems, huh?" Yanagi's curiosity piqued as she nudged her glasses again, her gaze shifting between the two.
"Is it because of the city's chaos, or... something else?" Yanagi asked, her voice softening a little as she glanced at Zhu, sensing the undercurrent of unease. "You need a break. Come join me and Soukaku for dinner sometime. We could all use some downtime."
Zhu's smile faltered just a bit as she hesitated, the mention of a mysterious agent with a complicated case still lingering unspoken between them. She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts swirling in her mind. "That's a good idea. Just give me a call. It's been a while since we've had a hearty meal with the team."
As they reached the holding area, the stark contrast between the hustle of PUBSEC and this quieter place settled around them. The stillness of the room reminded Zhu of just how different the departments felt. She wondered what it'd be like working in a department like this—more paperwork, less chaos, but still just as critical.
"So, how's Miyabi?" Zhu asked, finally shifting the conversation. Her best friend, the chief of HSO S6, was always in her thoughts, especially now with everything happening. She'd been dying to tell her about the mysterious agent who'd been occupying her mind—and probably her heart.
"Miyabi's at the Scott Outpost as always," Yanagi replied, her voice tinged with a little exhaustion. "She's out on a mission inside the Hollows today. The usual. And me? I'm here buried in paperwork." She sighed dramatically. "You know how it is. It's always the paperwork."
Zhu's face softened with understanding. She could relate all too well. "Miyabi and I were great artists back in the day," Zhu joked, her lips curving into a smile. "I'm thinking of switching careers and ditching all this for a paintbrush."
Yanagi snorted softly, rolling her eyes as they settled into the chairs in the holding area. "You're not fooling anyone. You'd miss the action too much."
Zhu leaned back in her chair, the faintest trace of a smirk still playing on her lips. "Yeah, maybe. But I could do without all the stress." She glanced over at Qingyi, who was still casually tapping away at her tablet. It was clear that they all shared the same exhaustion. Still, in moments like this—talking to people who understood—it almost felt like everything would be okay.
They were escorted by a vehicle, a Military Personnel Carrier, the ride to the holding area was quieter than expected. The soft hum of the engine and the occasional clink of equipment in the back made the air feel thicker. Zhu glanced out the window, trying to shake off the unease that had settled over her since learning about the patient's condition.
Qingyi, ever the lighthearted one, decided to break the silence, though her tone carried a hint of teasing. "So, Zhu, how's that mysterious dessert sender treating you? You know, the one who's been sending you those lava cakes every day."
Zhu immediately stiffened, her fingers tightening around the armrest as a flush crept up her neck. She shot Qingyi a look. "Can we not talk about that right now?" she replied, trying to keep her voice neutral.
Yanagi, ever the instigator, leaned forward, her glasses gleaming as she flashed Zhu a playful grin. "Oh, come on. You can't leave me hanging like that. Who's the secret admirer?"
Zhu groaned, her lips twisting into an amused yet slightly uncomfortable smile. "I'm not sharing unless you share yours," she countered, raising an eyebrow. "But... I'll definitely share the story outside of work."
"Oh, I see how it is!" Yanagi chuckled, clearly enjoying this moment of levity. But her eyes sparkled with curiosity, clearly eager to get any hint of a juicy story. "Well, I'll take that deal."
Zhu smirked, glad for the brief distraction, but her smile faded when she nudged the conversation back to more pressing matters. "So, how's the patient? Anything new?"
Yanagi's expression shifted as she glanced down at the clipboard in her hands. "E-112 is recovering, but he's still in a bad state. He's unable to speak and is confined to a wheelchair." She flipped through some papers, her fingers tapping lightly against the edges. "We've got him in an isolation chamber for now. It's a precautionary measure."
Zhu nodded, taking in the information but her mind racing. There was something about this situation that felt wrong. "Isolation chamber?" she repeated, her tone a little more serious now. "And what's with the setup? How can we talk with him?"
Yanagi handed her a tablet, her demeanor becoming more businesslike. "Yeah, that's the deal. E-112 can't talk, so you'll have to write your questions here on this tablet. His only means of answering will be through a 'yes' or 'no' button placed on his hands inside the chamber."
Zhu furrowed her brow as she took the tablet, her eyes scanning the screen. "He can't talk, but he can press a button? That sounds like a setup for something... strange," she muttered under her breath, her suspicion growing.
Qingyi, who had been quietly observing, she shot Zhu a side-eye, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Zhu felt her skin prickle with a growing unease. There was something more to this patient than they were being told. Something that didn't add up. The fact that the answers would be limited to yes or no didn't sit right with her. And Yanagi's businesslike tone, while professional, did nothing to soothe her nerves.
She glanced at Yanagi, her voice lowering. "So, how's the patient holding up mentally? Any signs of... resistance to the procedure?"
Yanagi shrugged lightly, but there was a hint of something guarded in her eyes. "We're doing what we can to make him comfortable. But you should understand, Captain—this is a delicate situation. E-112's connection to the Veil... well, that's still up for debate. We don't know the full extent of what he knows."
Zhu's eyes narrowed, the pieces of the puzzle starting to click into place. "A connection to the Veil, huh?" she muttered, her thoughts racing.
She glanced over at Qingyi, who was already looking at her with the same suspicion. The tension was palpable, like an invisible thread pulling them into something darker than they'd expected. They were about to uncover something far more dangerous than they'd thought.
Zhu raised an eyebrow, her fingers hovering over the tablet as her mind raced. "Yanagi, can you tell me about this 'Veil' thing?" she asked, her tone now more serious, her brows knitting in concern. She had already encountered references to the 'Crimson' Veil from Elias and the forensic team's evidence, but she needed to hear it directly from Yanagi—needed to make sense of the fragments.
Yanagi paused, adjusting her glasses with a deliberate motion. The shift in her demeanor was subtle but unmistakable. "I may have spilled that out," she began, voice dropping a few notches, "but since you're a trusted friend of ours in NEPS..." She let the words trail off, her expression becoming more serious, her eyes narrowing as she studied Zhu.
"We are not quite certain yet. There's someone pulling the strings beyond our knowledge. It's dangerous to spill out too much. We need to gather more intelligence before we act."
Zhu's stomach tightened at the uncertainty in Yanagi's voice. The Veil was a thread she had been trying to piece together, but hearing it mentioned like this, with such cautious restraint, only deepened her unease.
Yanagi continued, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry. We'll keep NEPS in the loop once we've gathered enough intelligence. For now, let HSO handle it. We're still working on getting the pieces to make sense of it all."
Zhu's eyes flickered to the tablet in her hands, her fingers almost mechanically typing in her questions. But her mind wasn't on the patient just yet. She was still turning over Yanagi's words, feeling a gnawing sensation in her chest. How about Elias? Can he be tied with the Cold Case and the Veil? What's the Crimson Veil? A different one? she mused silently, her thoughts a swirl of doubt and suspicion.
Her bite on her lower lip was almost unconscious. The implications of the Veil felt like they were closing in on her, and she couldn't ignore the nagging thought that Elias—whether as Jaxon or otherwise—was tied to something bigger, darker than she had ever anticipated. Was he in over his head, or was he part of the game?
As she typed another question to the patient, the weight of the situation pressed on her. The Veil wasn't just an organization—it was a shadow that seemed to hang over everything, over her, over Elias, and possibly even over the person she was about to interrogate.
She hesitated for a moment, then gave back the tablet to Yanagi. Who is reading her questions for the suspect intently.
Yanagi's eyes scanned the list Zhu had typed, and her expression remained neutral, though Zhu caught the subtle way her fingers tightened over the tablet's edge. A faint glint flashed across Yanagi's glasses as she settled a thoughtful hand against her chin, her gaze flickering briefly back to Zhu, who was lost in her own musings.
Yanagi took a measured breath, maintaining a calm exterior as she processed the depth of Zhu's questions. Without a word, she adjusted her posture, her nod almost imperceptible, as if both acknowledging Zhu's diligence and quietly containing her own thoughts. "You've certainly covered all angles, Captain," she remarked, her tone steady, with a supportive glint in her eyes.