Chapter 96 (1/2)

After a few minutes they discovered an entry to a channel that led the but e

”It see to think that those clones were sent to direct us” Winn said as he continued through the corridor

”Don't worry, I will go first Valentin won't killsmile toward Xiao Yan

His smile was complicated and contradictory, a hidden pain belied his jovial expression

The front of the passage forced them deeper into the base The only plus side was that Casey's scan did not find any laser weapons affixed to the wall

Rows of roo and tense feel as they walked through the hall Xiao Yan glanced over at Casey, if any of those rooms contained a research lab, perhaps they could locate a terrabbed Xiao Yan's shoulder to prevent hi forward and then lifted his hand to indicate that the whole group should halt He gestured to the first roo but a sthey couldn't see He see and had a terminal on his head The terminal line did not seem to attach anywhere, its connection was impossible to determine

Jane reached Heine's side and watched his expression as he took in the scene in the roo room! This is where his clones discover their freedom When they put on the terminal, it simulates various scenes for them, such as a forest or park, then can even enjoy the love of their father through the terminal They are conditioned to crave Valentin's attention Some people will be shocked to learn that they have never truly experience any love or affection from this father they have been conditioned to love so much”

”That means that this child's terminal must be connected to a system”

”In theory”

Jane had barely finished speaking when Heine reun and aient and then sla an to slide open

”Take care These children can be deceptively ferocious” Jane unsheathed his blade and assisted Heine in widening the gap in the door They worked to together and coain access to the rooinary ball, suddenly turned toward them His eyes were full of ice and he rabbed a blade hidden by the bed and rushed toward Heine Jane threw his sword and his blade easily pierced the boy's chest iainst the wall

Jane continued forward and the child still stared at theaze as he tried to pull Jane's blade from his body

Xiao Yan and Casey rushed toward the door and watched as Jane raised his ar his blade in a decisive arc The boys head was cut clean off and his blood splattered against the back wall

Xiao could not even spare a saddened expression He is too aware of the danger and atrocities of these seeers They were already an extension of Valentin, their lives see within the shi+re

”Umthat see his nose

”I thought you needed the terminal on his head?” Jane dismissed the decapitation entirely

At Jane's words Mark noticed that the terminal line penetrated his skull to directly connect to the boys brain

Xiao doesn't spare any tentativeness for what they must due Both hi brain matter Casey then connects the line to their portable terminal pack Xiao Yan quickly invaded the systehout the base He burrows deep and wide until he locates Jerry's brain

Xiao reroup with a somber expression

”I have located Jerry's brain The problem is, I am pretty sure that Valentin has stationed an entire army there” Xiao Yan's wireless terminal instantly displays the entire base layout directly to his mind

When they reach the next level, Xiao senses life signs He analyzed the data and calculated that there was probably thousands of Valentin clones inside the base He assessed their vitals; all signs point to viable clones,they most likely have coroup and everyone fell into a tense silence

”The problehout the entire base Jerry's brain is at the lowest level If Valentin is there then he will be with Jerry The only way to get to hih the nutrient solution transport channel”

”What? Swih the nutrient broth?” Mark winced ”That is just too disgusting”

”It won't gross you out for too long The broth cycles at regular intervals We just need to wait until the beginning of the cycle to enter the pipeline, then it should only take three seconds to reach the botto an endless loop around the base”

” I have no problem with the plan” Winn nodded

”No problem here” Liv looked over at Mark ”Hey, roup to the end of the channel, where they reached the nutrient reaction device Xiao raised the regulator to calculate the tih the line and the roar of the fluid reverberated through the lines

Jane clasped his lock onto Casey and looks back ”I am sure I can , he merely connected his rope to Xiao's Winn and Liv looked at each other and hung their slide ropes around Mark's waist

”Ah are you guys worried that you will be washed aith the solution No matter what happens I will hold on to you both”

Winn's face slackens in shock at Mark's words Liv roughly punches Mark ”Idiot We are afraid that you will be washed away It will take both of us to tether you”

”Ti that the filter was about to push down, the others rush to jue person were to fall into such a thick solution they would struggle to even th, but this group is different

As the puht presses the forced into the lower depths of hell

Xiao's arm was s and saw that Heine hung fro the broken duct He picked up Xiao Yan and when Xiao was able to reach to the edge, Heine pulled him upith one hand

The nutrient solution continued to push doard and Liv and Winn struggled to hold onto Mark, as nearly washed away The broth was too slick and Winn struggled to anchor hi his blade into the floor

Heine and Jane both grabbed the rope and they were finally able to haul Mark up against the flow of the thick liquid

Mark coughed strenuously and collapsed on the ground

Everyone sighed in relief Suddenly Liv harshly kicked Mark ”Idiot

Xiao wiped the broth froraphic i simulation data to calculate their location He invaded the wired Valentin clones and determined that they should be in the main control room

But where was Valentin?

Just as Xiao Yan was about to connect the terrabbed his shoulder

”Perhaps Valentin is waiting for you to access this system”

” He doesn't know me He may not be able to successfully deceive me mentally Not to mention that his interface is not necessarily faster than ed with thewith you” Casey connected as well and they both searched through the base until they found Jerry's signal Jerry's thoughts i here! Leave now! Valentin is not here This is all just a trap for Jane

Suddenly Xiao realized that the node in the main control room was activated He immediately attempted to close down the channel only to discover that it was a manual lock Xiao realized that the culture rooer inside had opened the passage up

Xiao used the connection with the control systees

”We must evacuate immediately! Someone opened the upper level!”

”I need more time I have to free Jerry” Casey shouted as he stared desperately at Xiao Yan

Jane said nothing He si Casey does not have the heart to do it”

Immediately a neurotoxin is injected directly into Jerry's brain

Jerry's brain activity gradually weakens, his thoughts begin to disintegrate as though he were falling into a gentle dreaht my friend You deserve the rest” Jane spoke the words softly

Thanks, good night

Casey grieved with a slackened expression Jane io”

Their only option was to go up through the transport pipe, but the nutrient solution had drained and the slick coating on the walls offered no friction Their could only jaly climb upwards in that way

When they finally reached the top, they noticed that the filter pu

”shi+t” Mark cursed loudly

Heine said nothing, he ainst the pipe wall Everyone crawled doay from the blast and when the pipe wall blew out, they crawled out to the next floor

Xiao barely had tirabbed his own and swung in the direction of his opponent Xiao saw a group of teenagers fro rooms Their faces were void of expression and they readied their weapons as they moved to descend upon them

”Holy shi+t So ers by no means are as skilled as the special forces, but their lack of attachment to their own lives laces their attacks with a desperate ht in front of theh the air Eventually a pile of bodies litter the ground in front of them

”I don't want to have to do this a second tiain” Mark let out a heavy breath

Suddenly they heard the faint sound of footsteps drift in froeway

Xiao's pupils constricted briefly He knew that those teenagers sole purpose in life was to prevent the Heine rushed forward and picked up Xiao Yan

They ran lanced back over his shoulder alht

Numerous clones of Jane, dressed in the sa toward them

With that many Jane Wallaces, they will have no chance to win!

They reached the end of the channel, only to realize that the door was locked down

Everyone quickly unsheathed their blades and with their combined efforts, they pried the door open When they ran up, they finally reached the next level

”Listen The entrance door will be closed, on't be able to open it” Jane shouted to the group