Chapter 43: Chapter 9.5: Research Lab Part 2 Unlike Sera’s more laid-back reaction, Rosa was definitely the opposite. She let out a low whistle, clearly impressed, and her smile kept getting bigger as she checked him out from head to toe.
With a playful wave, Rosa pointed out his freshly cleaned uniform and his slightly damp hair, clearly enjoying every second of it.
"Well, well. Look what the bath module spat out." Rosa gestured dramatically at his clean uniform and still-damp hair. "I barely recognize you without the eau de apocalypse cologne."
Clara glanced at Jin, then quickly looked away, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "You look... um... much better. Cleaner. Not that you looked bad before! I just meant"
"Clara," Jin said gently, saving her from her own embarrassment. "Thank you. All of you. For taking care of me while I was asleep"
He ran a hand through his still-damp hair, his usual earnest expression tinged with sheepishness. "I guess I got so focused on making sure everyone else was okay that I forgot to take care of myself."
"That’s very like you, idiot," Sera said, and despite her measured tone, there was something almost fond in her voice.
"The bath module was incredible, though," Jin continued, settling into a chair across from them. "I’ve never seen anything like it. The way it combines traditional design with advanced purification systems..."
He paused, his expression becoming more thoughtful. "It reminded me of something... from before. A memory of my mother talking about how important it is to maintain not just physical cleanliness but spiritual purity."
The girls exchanged glances, sensing the shift in his tone.
𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"She said that a clear mind and a clean body were the foundations of proper discipline," Jin continued, his gaze distant. "That’s something she always emphasized in my training."
Sera leaned forward slightly, her analytical mind clearly processing this new information. "Training? What kind of training?"
Jin shook his head slowly. "I’m not sure yet. The memories are still... fragmented.." He looked at each of them, his expression earnest. "But I know it’s connected to why we’re here. To this Vault. To all of this."
As they absorbed his words, Jin felt a growing urgency within him. The memories of his training, the sword forms that seemed to flow through his muscles, the name Tsurugi—it was all pointing somewhere. The stun baton at his side felt like a child’s toy, a placeholder for something he was meant to wield.
"I think we need to explore the Research Labs," he said suddenly, his voice filled with a certainty that surprised even himself.
Sera raised an eyebrow. "The Research Labs? That’s on the other side of the sector. We haven’t secured that area yet."
"I know," Jin replied, meeting her gaze steadily. "But I have a feeling that’s where we’ll find answers. About why we’re all here."
Before anyone could respond, Asha’s voice cut through Jin’s consciousness. "Subject Jin’s hypothesis aligns with available data. The Research Labs were designated as a high-security area with specialized containment protocols. There’s a 20% probability of finding information about Project Phoenix, and a 70% chance of locating equipment related to the Tsurugi Zaibatsu’s involvement."
Jin relayed this information to the others, watching as their expressions shifted from surprise to consideration.
"The Research Labs would also have advanced equipment," Clara added thoughtfully, her fingers already tapping at her tablet. "Medical supplies, research data, maybe even working terminals that could tell us more about what happened before the Vault was sealed."
"And weapons," Rosa said with a grin. "Research facilities always have the good stuff."
Sera studied the holographic map, her tactical mind already assessing the risks. "The area is partially powered, but security systems might still be active. We don’t know what kind of containment protocols are in place, or what kind of... specimens might still be there."
"I’ll go alone if I have to," Jin said quietly, his resolve clear in his tone.
"No," Sera said firmly, surprising him with the quickness of her response. "We stick together. That’s non-negotiable." She looked at each of them in turn. "But Jin’s right. We need answers, and the Research Labs are our best bet."
A small smile touched Jin’s lips. L
"Clara," Sera continued, shifting back into command mode, "I need you to map out the safest route to the Research Labs. Include maintenance shafts, emergency passages, anything that might give us an advantage."
"Rosa, inventory our weapons and equipment—we need to be prepared for whatever we might encounter."
As Clara pulled up the Vault schematics and Rosa began organizing their supplies, Jin felt a strange sense of rightness settle over him. The fragmented memories, the emerging skills, the connection to his mother—it was all leading to this moment.
"Asha," he thought, "is there anything specific I should be looking for in the Research Labs? Anything related to my family?"
"The Research Labs contain multiple specialized sectors," Asha replied. "However, one area in particular shows restricted access protocols linked to the Tsurugi designation: Sector 7B, designated ’Advanced Combat Research and Development.’ There’s a 92% probability that this sector contains information or equipment related to your family’s involvement with Project Phoenix."
Jin’s fingers twitched with anticipation. A sword. His mother’s sword. It might be there.
"Ready when you are," Clara said, pulling up a highlighted route on the holographic display. "This maintenance corridor will take us most of the way there. It’s not on any of the standard maps—it was designed for emergency evacuation of sensitive materials."
Sera studied the route, her expression serious. "It’s tight, dark, and unmonitored. Perfect for avoiding detection, but dangerous if we get cornered."
"I’ll take the lead," Jin said, checking the stun baton at his side. "If anything gets past us, I can hold them off while the rest of you escape."
"We’re not leaving anyone behind," Rosa said, her usual playful tone replaced by something harder, more determined. "We go in together, we come out together."
Jin looked at each of them—at Sera’s steady leadership, at Clara’s quiet competence, at Rosa’s fierce loyalty—and felt a warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the uniform he wore.
"Then let’s go find some answers," he said, his voice filled with a determination that surprised even himself.