TIC 77

 Chapter 77

The base urgently opened its access portal. Just as the transport craft entered—and the portal was preparing to seal shut—it was discovered that the portal’s control nodes had gone haywire. Three enemy craft tailgated their way inside, unleashing a frenzied barrage of fire within the tunnel before finally breaching the portal and penetrating the base itself.

All three enemy craft were eventually successfully shot down inside the base. However—true to the "Tide Surge" organization's signature modus operandi—the cabins of their aircraft were packed to the brim with zombies.

Although Xiao Yan had barely ever met Major Ling Xiao, the fact that he held the rank of Major meant his combat capabilities were absolutely no less formidable than Wen En’s. Even if these zombies were bound to inflict some casualties, losing *twelve* special forces operatives... that was simply too staggering to comprehend!

The instant the hatch opened, Xiao Yan understood the reason why.

Unlike the mindless, instinct-driven zombies of the past, these creatures instantly scattered in all directions; their movement speed appeared—at a conservative visual estimate—to be at least twenty percent faster than that of ordinary zombies.

The Special Task Force was scrambled for an emergency deployment. Yet, these zombies seemed to possess actual intelligence; they actually knew to target the special forces operatives' necks. After the first operative had his neck snapped by a bite, the remaining troops immediately grasped the gravity of the situation and went on high alert. Previously, these zombies knew nothing but to blindly lunge at their prey; now, however, they demonstrated the ability to take cover, coordinate with one another, and even execute organized attacks! They behaved exactly like trained soldiers!

Encountering fast-moving zombies was not, in itself, a fatal threat to special forces operatives; but the moment those zombies began to coordinate their actions, the tables turned instantly and catastrophically.

Take, for instance, the young operative shown in the video footage: just as he was in full pursuit of one zombie, another dropped down from above him. He instinctively swung his blade upward to parry the overhead attack, but the very zombie he had been chasing suddenly wheeled around and tackled him to the ground. In an instant, another four or five zombies swarmed over him. Although he managed to kill the one that had tackled him, the others swiftly seized his limbs, pinning him down and rendering him completely immobile. Finally, a zombie clamped its jaws around his head and tore it clean off—leaving nothing but a gruesome, bloody mess on the screen.

Xiao Yan did not avert his gaze; instead, he stared wide-eyed at the horrific scene unfolding before him. This—this could already be classified as a Level 3 threat! “Lieutenant Xiao Yan, there’s no need to hide under the covers; I’ve already spotted you.” For once, Major General Gordon wore not the slightest trace of a teasing smile.

Pushing back the covers to reveal his head, Xiao Yan adopted a completely unconcerned air. A dead pig, after all, has no need to fear boiling water.

“As an exceptional researcher, I wonder what your take is on everything unfolding before us?”

“All viruses... are constantly evolving to adapt to their environment and their hosts... However, if these were deliberately unleashed by the Surge Organization, I believe the attack on Base 24 was, in reality, an experiment. These zombies—rapid in their movements and... possessing a certain degree of intelligence—are likely the results of the Surge Organization’s experiments.”

“Your conjecture is quite accurate.” Major General Gordon nodded, sweeping his hand across the display to switch the visual feed.

The scene now playing on the holographic projection showed the zombies—after having rampaged unchecked through Base 24 for a full hour—suddenly clutching their heads in unison. *Bang!* Their skulls cracked open, sending yellow brain matter splattering across the screen.

Xiao Yan’s shoulders gave a shudder. He hadn’t realized that Hein had kept him occupied in that office for two whole days; following that, he had slept for another two days. Having gone four days without a single morsel of food, his stomach—jolted by the gruesome imagery—began to retch uncontrollably.

“Therefore, Colonel Burton: now that news of this has reached Shire, the populace is in a state of panic. Your Special Operations Force is the most formidable combat unit in Shire; Military Command has issued orders for you to return to Shire before sunset tomorrow.”

With those words, the communication link was severed.

Xiao Yan glanced at the time displayed on the bedside console; they needed to depart immediately.

As he threw back the covers, he realized that neither he nor Hein was wearing a stitch of clothing. The rugged contours of the other man’s shoulders, his elegant yet sensual collarbones, and—shrouded in shadow—that massive, erect member standing at attention... A sudden wave of heat surged through Xiao Yan’s body. He averted his gaze in embarrassment, only to realize he had absolutely no idea where his clothes were.

Hein rose slowly, making no attempt to conceal the powerful physique he presented to Xiao Yan. With a light tap of his finger against a specific spot, a full military uniform slowly slid out from within the wall panel.

“Thank you.”

Xiao Yan kept his head bowed, not daring to look Hein in the eye. When Xiao Yan finally donned his military uniform, he realized that Hein was still sitting by the bedside, stark naked; with his chin tilted slightly upward, his gaze remained fixed upon Xiao Yan.

“Colonel, we should be heading out.”

Xiao Yan struggled to suppress the frantic pounding of his heart. Within this confined space, the scent of Hein Burton permeated the air, ceaselessly stirring his emotions—a sensation that felt, at times, like a crushing weight upon his heart, and at others, like the fleeting brush of fingertips, only to vanish the moment he attempted to savor it.

Hein finally rose to his feet. He approached Xiao Yan, adjusting his collar and smoothing down his shoulder insignia.

Xiao Yan lowered his head, his eyes unexpectedly locking onto that impressively *massive* member. Though it appeared deceptively quiescent now, it still radiated a latent, predatory power; its sheer size—witnessed firsthand—left Xiao Yan feeling a lingering sense of trepidation. The mere thought that his own body had actually managed to accommodate it struck him as utterly inconceivable.

Yes... and it had hurt like hell...

Hein slipped into his combat uniform with swift, crisp movements—efficient and utterly devoid of any hesitation or sloppiness.

“Let’s go.”

Opening the door, they stepped out into the corridor.

Due to the recent attack on Base 24, the entirety of Base 2 was now on high alert, placed in a state of emergency combat readiness.

Lieutenant Colonel Raven approached them at a brisk pace. “Colonel, I don’t have the time to see you off personally! I wish you a safe and successful return to Shire!”

“Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Raven.”

Perhaps it was merely an illusion, but the liaison officer accompanying Lieutenant Colonel Raven kept his head bowed low, his entire face flushed a deep crimson.

For Xiao Yan remained unaware that, when the door to that liaison officer’s office had finally opened, he—having since drifted into a stupor—had been carried out in Hein’s arms. He had been draped in a thin decorative throw blanket from the sofa, yet his exposed calves were still covered in telltale marks—a sight that had nearly caused the liaison officer to suffer a nosebleed on the spot.

Not to mention that when the liaison officer had subsequently stepped back into his own office, he had discovered the room in utter disarray. The armrest of the sofa had been overturned during Xiao Yan’s struggles; white stains were scattered everywhere, and the air hung thick with a heavy, lingering scent.

The liaison officer still vividly recalled the icy glare of Colonel Burton; he knew, with absolute certainty, that had he uttered a single superfluous word, he would have met his end beneath the edge of the Colonel’s blade. Three aircraft took off, bound for Shire.

Hein and Xiao Yan were the last two to board.

However, it was the cockpit hatch that Hein opened. "What are you dawdling for, Lieutenant?"

Xiao Yan hurriedly stepped inside; almost simultaneously, Hein yanked him in with a firm grip.

This was the most combat-capable of the aircraft.

"Colonel... the pilot..."

"You and me."

With a resounding thud, the hatch slammed shut.

The aircraft cleared the launch tunnel.

A surge of excitement coursed through Xiao Yan; once again, he was co-piloting with Hein.

Systems initiated, flight path set, engines locked. Whether Hein was accommodating him, or if their minds were simply naturally in sync, remained unclear; they hadn't even needed to calibrate their neural links, yet the aircraft lifted off from the base with flawless stability.

It was a peculiar sensation—his mind and Hein's were linked together through the flight control system.

In the cabin behind them, Mark wore a sullen expression. "I used to be the one who piloted the aircraft."

Liv lifted her leg and planted her boot right on his face. "You big oaf! If the Surge Organization were to hack into our flight controls, who do you think would be the more reliable one to have at the helm—you or Xiao Yan?"

"Me, of course!" Mark declared with absolute confidence.

"Hah..." Liv shrugged her shoulders in exasperated resignation.

"Besides, we’re not actually going to run into the Surge Organization, are we? Just look at the insignia on this craft—we’re Hein Burton’s unit!"

Xiao Yan was fully immersed in the sensation of the flight system when, suddenly, Hein’s lips brushed against the corner of his mouth, then slid inward between his parted lips. Xiao Yan instinctively turned his face away; framed against the shifting stream of system data, he saw the elegant curve of Hein’s eyelashes. Forced to submit to the intrusion of the other man’s breath, he felt the aircraft plunge into a sudden, violent dive.

Mark braced his hands against the cabin walls and glared at Liv, his expression demanding: *Who was it that claimed this guy’s piloting skills were better than mine?*

Yet Hein showed no sign of stopping; he deepened the kiss, his tongue delving further into Xiao Yan’s mouth. Just as the aircraft appeared poised to smash into a towering ginkgo tree—a venerable specimen easily two or three centuries old—it abruptly pulled up, soaring over the canopy in a breathtaking maneuver.

Xiao Yan’s heart pounded wildly, threatening to break free from his chest, as Hein finally withdrew from his mouth. “Colonel! You...”

“You must learn to focus.

No matter what happens—even if a zombie has already sunk its teeth into your neck—as a pilot, you must remain utterly undistracted.”

There wasn't a ripple of emotion on Hein’s profile; it was as if the turbulent surge of desire from moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.

*“Damn it,”* Xiao Yan cursed inwardly. He was no longer naive enough to believe that the man’s sole intention had been merely to teach him “focus.”

They flew across an entire desert, heading toward a region of heavily weathered, rocky terrain. This peculiar landscape captivated Xiao Yan’s attention; perhaps he would never have the opportunity to witness it a second time in his entire life. Sheets of sunlight slid across the scene, casting vast swathes of shadow—a dance of light and...

Suddenly, the system detected an anomaly hidden within the rocks. Before Xiao Yan could even react, Hein had already activated the fire control system, and several missiles rained down.

The instant the rocks shattered, two aircraft burst forth from the billowing clouds of smoke and ash.

In an instant, Hein’s unit shifted into combat mode.

Two friendly aircraft reported engine malfunctions; simultaneously, Xiao Yan felt something breach his operating system—an Interceptor!

“Lieutenant, focus on piloting the aircraft.”

Almost instantaneously, the entire burden of the dual-pilot system shifted onto Xiao Yan’s shoulders alone. Meanwhile, Hein’s consciousness detached from his physical body, infiltrating the two malfunctioning aircraft to take remote control of their flight paths.

Remote piloting required an exceptionally robust mental capacity—let alone controlling two aircraft at once. Xiao Yan now fully grasped the true extent of Hein Burton’s power.

At that very moment, the enemy aircraft launched a missile strike against Xiao Yan.

He was forced to push their speed to the absolute limit, weaving the aircraft through the narrow crevices of the rocky terrain and utilizing the jutting rock formations as shields to deflect the enemy’s relentless barrage.

“Engage the fire control system, Lieutenant.”

Xiao Yan’s consciousness expanded rapidly, instantly interfacing with the fire control system. Issuing the attack command was simple enough; however, he also had to calculate the precise firing angles in a split second—otherwise, a wild, indiscriminate barrage risked injuring the comrades flying in their wake.

A laser-guided missile shot forth, blasting away a massive section of the rocky cliff face.

Mark pressed his hand against his eyes, a gesture of mock regret over the slight deviation in the shot. But what he hadn't anticipated was that an enemy aircraft would be struck by the falling rocks; in the very next instant, a second missile pierced through the debris and hit its mark.

Liv gave a soft snort. "Don't underestimate Xiao Yan; his mind is far more agile than yours."

If Xiao Yan—single-handedly piloting a dual-system craft while operating its fire controls without any formal training—was already a miracle, then Hein—remotely controlling his subordinate's aircraft while simultaneously hacking into and crashing the remaining enemy craft—was nothing short of a god.

The hatch of the crashed aircraft was violently torn open, and over a dozen zombies scrambled out.

Those were the "mutants" Major General Gordon had spoken of!

Using the aircraft's systems to measure their running speed, Xiao Yan couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.

"Liv! Take over the controls for me!"

"Yes, Colonel!"

As soon as Liv entered the cockpit, Hein leaped out.

"What is the Colonel doing?!"

Xiao Yan instantly tensed up.

"Don't worry; he's just going down to test exactly how formidable these mutated zombies are."

Sure enough, the moment Hein landed, the zombies charged at him.

Hein drew his twin blades and lowered his center of gravity, instantly severing the legs of one zombie; however, two others dodged his strike and launched a simultaneous assault against him.

Their speed was blindingly fast; watching the scene unfold, Xiao Yan broke out in a cold sweat.

Almost in the exact same instant, the tips of Hein's blades pierced through the back of their skulls—once again, Hein had shattered Xiao Yan's understanding of the limits of human reaction speed.

Hein returned to the cockpit, placed his hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder, and leaned in close. "Shall I record this?"

It was a deep, incredibly sensual voice. Xiao Yan swallowed hard. "Yes, Colonel."

"Good."

The data captured during that skirmish would serve as crucial input for analyzing the behavioral patterns of these mutated zombies.

"They haven't reached human-level intelligence yet." Xiao Yan quickly skimmed through the footage of the recent battle, then played it back in slow motion. Although they were capable of launching coordinated attacks, their combat style bore a striking resemblance to the tactics seen in the video replays of the attack on Base 2. Xiao Yan surmised that they must have undergone some form of training before being released.

Even considering solely the fact that their operational speed had increased by one-fifth, this already represented a formidable threat to the Special Missions Force.

Before sunset, the three squads led by Hein successfully returned to Shire.

However, the armed troops standing by in the corridor filled Xiao Yan with an inexplicable sense of dread.

The moment he stepped out of the aircraft, soldiers from the armed detachment swiftly advanced and seized him by the shoulders.

But they were no match for Xiao Yan; with a casual sweep of his arm, he easily brushed them aside.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Second Lieutenant, we are under orders to escort you to the Interrogation Unit."

"What? You lot in the Interrogation Unit are far too impatient!" Mark stepped furiously in front of Xiao Yan, blocking their path.

The other Special Forces soldiers, too, fixed the intruders with murderous glares.

To the Special Forces soldiers, Hein Burton was like a towering peak standing firm in the deepest recesses of their minds; and when that mountain nearly crumbled, it was Xiao Yan’s X-2 project that restored their faith. Not to mention, the research behind X-2 held immense significance for the entire Special Missions Force.

The Interrogation Unit was the most detested branch within the military establishment; even soldiers with completely clear consciences would find themselves contemplating resignation after enduring their interrogations.

Hein Burton slowly approached Xiao Yan. "Lieutenant General Averell is waiting for you. It concerns the mutant zombies."

"Colonel Burton! We are here under the orders of Major General Hiti to take Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan..."

Hein cast a cold, piercing gaze in their direction; the soldier instantly choked on his words, rendered speechless.

The Special Missions Force departed, while the Interrogation Unit soldiers remained standing frozen in the corridor, unable to move for a long time.

In truth, during the journey back, Xiao Yan had already steeled himself for interrogation. There were no secrets hidden within his mind—save for his extraordinary feelings for Hein.

It had been a long time since he last visited the Central Academy of Sciences; compared to a year ago, the place felt much more desolate. Even the researchers were now entirely new faces.

This was his first time entering Lieutenant General Averell’s office. Unlike the austere simplicity of Major General Gordon’s office, Lieutenant General Averell’s workspace was elaborate and intricate, permeated by the aura of cutting-edge technology. He sat in quiet stillness amidst a surging ocean of data, the flickering holographic screens casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across his face.

“Please, take a seat—Colonel Burton, Lieutenant Xiao Yan.” Lieutenant General Averell tapped his fingers in the air; instantly, the flowing liquid titanium before Xiao Yan coalesced into a solid table, just as a liaison officer entered carrying two cups of black tea.

“We have thoroughly analyzed the data contained within the microchip left behind by Colonel Burton. Since the physical constitution of every Special Forces operative—as well as the activity level of the X-virus within them—varies from individual to individual, the specific composition of the X-2 virus required for each case must also differ, albeit subtly. Yet, these very subtle distinctions are the critical factor determining whether the X-2 virus can successfully displace the X-virus currently residing within their bodies. Given the highly classified nature of this research, only a select few senior researchers have been granted access to this project. From the time you were abducted by the ‘Surge’ organization until your return to Shire today, we have managed to finalize the viral formulations for only two individuals: Major Wynn and Major Ling Xiao.”

“Actually, during this interim period, I’ve developed a new concept.”

“A new concept? What is it?” Lieutenant General Averell tilted his head, resting his chin in his hand.

“We could establish a predictive model through quantitative analysis.”

“But that would necessitate extremely complex computational processing. Our other researchers have already deemed such a concept impossible to execute.”

Xiao Yan blinked, hesitating as if to speak, then holding back.

Lieutenant General Averell narrowed his eyes. “Are you implying... that *you* can do it?”

“I simply feel that if we were to rely solely on brute-force computation, the resources required would be...”

"The sheer volume of quantitative data is indeed staggering. However, everything in the universe follows a pattern; all our quantitative data can be anchored to the basis of the X-Virus..."

Just then, a holographic video feed activated before Lieutenant General Aivel.

"Sir, I am Admiral Sharif’s Chief Liaison Officer."

The figure on the screen rendered a crisp military salute.

"Greetings."

Lieutenant General Aivel shifted his posture in his seat.

"Admiral Sharif requests a word with Colonel Hein."

"Understood."

Aivel’s gaze pierced through the holographic projection to settle upon Hein’s face; although Hein had clearly heard the conversation, he showed absolutely no intention of rising.

What could Admiral Sharif possibly want to discuss with Hein?

Xiao Yan looked over with curiosity, yet Hein’s expression remained utterly impassive—indeed, trying to glean any information from that man’s face was as futile as chasing a pipe dream.

"I will personally look after Xiao Yan; you have nothing to worry about. He is a researcher at our Central Academy of Sciences."

Only then did Hein rise. He cast a brief glance at Xiao Yan before exiting Aivel’s office.

"Xiao Yan..." Lieutenant General Aivel took a deep breath. "At this moment, the standing of both the Central Academy of Sciences and the Special Task Force is—to put it mildly—extremely precarious."

"Because of Jane Wallis? And Casey?"

"Precisely. That is why the High Command cannot permit anyone—anyone at all—who might potentially be affiliated with the 'Surge' organization to infiltrate these two most critical branches of the military." Lieutenant General Aivel brought up a video feed, watching as Hein walked out of the Central Academy and boarded the mag-lev vehicle Admiral Sharif had dispatched to retrieve him; then, he pressed a specific button on his screen.

"I know that you are now nearly as formidable as a Special Forces operative, but you cannot possibly stand against the entirety of the Shire. Do you understand, my boy? You possess talents that no one else does; therefore, while people may harbor great hope in you, they also—at the very same time—fear you."

The office door slid open, revealing an entire squad from the Interrogation Unit; weapons drawn, they leveled their sights directly at Xiao Yan.

"I understand, Sir." ”

Lieutenant General Aivel turned his gaze toward the Major leading the interrogation unit, his brows knitting tightly. The Lieutenant General—known for his customary wisdom and refined demeanor—now wore an expression of palpable indignation.

“It seems Major General Hiti truly lacks the ability to properly discipline his subordinates, allowing them to draw weapons right here in a Lieutenant General’s office. What is this—are you planning to execute me?”

“No, Your Excellency! Please, do not misunderstand! Lieutenant Xiao Yan’s potential threat level...”

“That is *Lieutenant* Xiao Yan! Furthermore, he poses absolutely no threat. It was my duty to entrust a subordinate in whom I place my complete trust—and of whom I am immensely proud—into your hands. By the same token, should any harm befall Lieutenant Xiao Yan while he is in the custody of the interrogation unit—whether by intent or by accident—it will again be my duty to ensure that your entire unit pays the price.”

Cowed by Lieutenant General Aivel’s imposing presence, they holstered their weapons.

Xiao Yan departed in the custody of the interrogation unit.

As he was being escorted out of the Central Academy of Sciences, numerous researchers paused their work and flocked to the doorways, their voices rising in a sudden murmur of speculation.

“That’s Lieutenant Xiao Yan! He’s the one who synthesized X-2!”

“I heard he’s also the one who developed the degradation agent used to counter the Tide Organization’s biochemical weapons!”

“But why is he still only a Lieutenant?”

“Apparently, it’s to keep him from attracting the attention of the Tide Organization!”

“Good heavens—the interrogation unit again! Do they persecute every researcher who makes a significant contribution?”

Xiao Yan steadied his mind, silently reassuring himself:

*It’s alright. There is nothing to fear.* His stance had never wavered; Valentin’s lies regarding so-called “immortality” held no allure for him. With a clear conscience, he had nothing to dread.