Deviant: No Longer Human

Wang Xiao\'s frown deepened, but after a moment of reflective silence, his skepticism surfaced. "Can... she really do that?"

Eveline\'s response was nonchalant, as if discussing a routine matter. "Shouldn\'t be hard for her as long as the person hasn\'t been dead for too long..."

Wang Xiao\'s face darkened with the implications of her words, stirring a mix of hope and doubt. "Do you know where she is?" he asked, his voice carrying a newfound resolve.

Eveline replied with a detached tone, "No idea."

Wang Xiao\'s expression tightened, and he turned his gaze toward Luna, who remained encapsulated within the golden cocoon, seemingly oblivious to their conversation.

He let out a heavy sigh, realizing that the answers wouldn\'t come easily and that he might have to undertake the things in his own hand if there was any chance of changing the grim reality.

_____

Gaia\'s Facility!

Nestled in the heart of Binntal Valley, was far more than just a bunker.

Encircled by imposing barbed wire, the compound resembled a military base.

The surface buildings served as the headquarters for the Pantheon Network, presenting a formidable front to the world.

Beneath this façade, however, lay a hidden world—a sophisticated underground facility bustling with some of the top scientists and researchers from around the globe.

These brilliant minds were engaged in cutting-edge biotechnological research for an organization known only as Zero.

Within one of the surface structures, which bore the sterile, orderly appearance of a hospital, in one of the high-tech medical rooms.

Here, Dr. Rebeca, a woman of striking appearance, was closely observing a patient on life support.

Her blonde hair was pulled back neatly, accentuating her sharp facial features and the spectacles perched firmly on her nose, which added to her authoritative aura.

She wore a pristine white lab coat that highlighted her professional demeanor, her presence commanding yet distinctly feminine, underscored by her curvaceous figure.

Beside her, almost in contrast, stood Li Zhiming, a man whose build was like that of a giant, with broad shoulders and hands that could easily be mistaken for anvils. His eyes, red and weary, betrayed his emotional turmoil as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Despite the somberness that Li brought into the room, Rebeca seemed unfazed, her focus entirely on the patient.

"Her body looks intact surprisingly..." Rebeca whispered, her voice carrying a clinical detachment as she examined the monitors and readouts.

She was unaware that the preservation of the body was the work of Eveline, whose interventions were often silent yet profound.

"Unfortunately, she has no pulse," Rebeca concluded, her tone turning grim as she delivered the news.

Hiss!

The news delivered by Dr. Rebeca seemed to reverberate through the sterile room, echoing off the walls with a weight that could be felt physically.

Bam!

Li Zhiming\'s reaction was instant, his grief manifesting with sudden, raw power.

His large fist collided with the nearby wall, a stark, thunderous impact that sent a tremor throughout the entire facility.

"!!"

The vibration was not just physical but emotional, stirring a tension in the air.

Dr. Rebeca, typically composed and professional, frowned at the disruption.

Her expression was a mix of disapproval and concern—not just for the integrity of the facility but for the man whose pain seemed to know no bounds.

Behind Li Zhiming, four armed guards tensed, their hands tightening on the automatic rifles they carried.

Trained to respond to any threat, they remained still, their presence a silent reminder of the high-security environment of Gaia\'s Facility.

Yet, in this moment, their weapons seemed irrelevant against the emotional onslaught of a man.

Li Zhiming, breathing heavily, turned back to face Dr. Rebeca, his eyes red and raw. "You must do something, Doctor," he pleaded, his voice a pleading whisper that betrayed his desperation. "There must be something... anything..."

Dr. Rebeca adjusted her spectacles, her gaze softening as she looked at the man crumbling before her. "Mr. Zhiming," she began, her voice steady yet empathetic, "I understand your pain, but without a pulse, our options are severely limited.

The life support is maintaining her bodily functions, but revival..." Her voice trailed off, not wanting to extinguish all hope but needing to be realistic about the grim prognosis.

Li Zhiming\'s shoulders slumped, a defeated giant in the sterile light of the hospital room.

The guards behind him shifted uncomfortably, unused to the display of raw emotion in such a controlled environment.

"Please," he said, his voice barely audible, "check again. Anything you can do. She\'s all I have left."

Rebeca nodded slightly, moved by his plea. "I will review every possible option once more," she promised, knowing full well the limits of science but also understanding that sometimes, hope was as crucial as treatment in these desperate situations.

As Li Zhiming stepped back, allowing her to proceed.

Dr. Rebeca observed Li Zhiming\'s grief-stricken posture, the giant of a man now looking smaller, his hope hanging by a thread.

She cleared her throat gently, drawing his attention back from the depths of despair. "Mr. Zhiming, there is still something critical you need to know."

Li\'s head lifted slightly, a spark of interest flaring in his weary eyes.

"The life inside her is still alive. The babies vitals are stable for now, and it\'s possible to extract them successfully," Rebeca disclosed, her words filling the room with a renewed sense of urgency.

"!"

Li Zhiming\'s posture stiffened, his grief momentarily overshadowed by a surge of cautious hope. "The babies... my grandchildren?"

"Yes," Rebeca confirmed, nodding solemnly. "But we must act swiftly. We need to move her to the basement facility here at Gaia\'s. It\'s equipped with specialized cryopreservation technology that can maintain her body in a state that is safe for the babies. If we delay, or if the procedure is done above ground without the necessary precautions, we risk losing them too."

Li Zhiming\'s response was immediate and resolute. "Do whatever it takes, Doctor. Please." His voice, though still heavy with sorrow, now carried a firm determination.

Dr. Rebeca turned to the guards standing by. "Prepare for immediate transport to the basement level. Ensure the corridor is clear and secure." The guards nodded, their earlier readiness shifting into action as they communicated the orders through their earpieces.

Turning back to Li Zhiming, Dr. Rebeca added, "I will oversee the procedure myself. We\'ll need your authorization to proceed with everything. Time is of the essence."

Li nodded, his hand absently brushing tears from his cheek. "Anything they need, anything at all," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the life support indicators blinking beside Anran\'s still form.