Horizon || ATEEZ Space AU

Chapter 9: Xeno 12

No matter how hard she stares, Soojin can't find a weakness. None of the Project team members wears a guilty face and the unknown signature hasn't yet been traced to any of their wristbands.

The security camera screen in front of her shows all ten of the trainees making their way onto the trams for their final Dome battle. Both respective leaders look composed but Soojin can tell they're nervous. This is their last chance to prove they deserve the position.

"Who has a motive?" Her secretary Jiho tries to be helpful from where she sits next to her, enjoying a kimbap box for an early dinner.

"Too many of them," Soojin sighs, sitting back and rubbing her eyes. "Initially my suspicions were directed at Choi Jongho. I looked into it and his grandmother is Choi Jieun."

"You think he's looking for her?" Jiho asks, surprised.

"If he is, he doesn't have anything. He came to me before the crash, frustrated about the communications lockdown." Unconvinced with such little evidence, Soojin pulls up a different file.

"Choi San? He wouldn't jeopardise Haneul's position," Jiho scoffs. "Unless she's the one who leaked confidential information?"

Again Soojin shakes her head. "She was reassigned to a different position before the exam. It's unlikely within the time frame, but I'll keep my eye on it."

"Who else?" Jiho asks with her mouth full.

"Kim Hongjoong," Soojin goes on. "His father was killed in the Kim Woomin crash  and then blamed for negligence by the board- not our brightest moment, I'll admit- but it gives him incentive. Not to mention the test plane incident."

"Well that's not helping you narrow it down," Jiho groans in frustration. "Who isn't suspicious?"

"Junyoung, Youngseok, and Seonghwa. So far they all seem perfect. Almost too perfect in Seonghwa's case. Especially since I gave the Moscow regional office a call and they have no record of his attendance at the exam."

Jiho blanches and lowers her chopsticks before laughing nervously.

"They're teenagers. How bad could they be?"

"Jung Wooyoung," Soojin deadpans, pulling up his file. "He's known to the system for showing up in places he shouldn't be. Not to mention we know Kang Yeosang's mother has made shady deals in the past. I've also caught Song Mingi lurking near the archives on cams. And he's childhood friends with Jung Yunho so that puts both of them on my radar."

"Alright, what if it's multiple?" Jiho posits. "You said yourself several of the boys knew each other prior to acceptance. Do you think they could all be in on this?"

"What are the chances of all of them passing if they planned to extract information from us earlier? Their test results speak for themselves, they deserve to be here." Soojin counters, and Jiho tilts her head in acknowledgement.

"It is a bit far fetched. Still, with their launch coming up, what can you even do about it?"

"That's what's worrying me," Soojin concludes, exiting the member profiles and reapplying her lipstick. She's due in the Project Coordination Council meeting room for a live viewing of the round. It's time to make some final decisions. "We don't have the time or resources to take a chance. Ultimately, the Citadel will have to handle it."

There's enough pressure from the PCC to make sure the team is properly trained, vetting them based on loosely founded suspicions is just too much to ask of her.

"Well, either way," Jiho shrugs and packs away her now empty box, pulling up the cams again and settling in. "This final round will be one to remember."