Infinity Force

Power Up

The conference room felt like a fishbowl, invisible glass walls connected in seamless corners. Lab coats and hazmats rushed past in a haze of scientific progress, faceless employees marching forward with singular determination like robots. But the five members of the conference room didn't have the luxury of faceless determination. They were waiting for doom.

All eyes moved to the door when it finally swung open, but there was an equally unanimous exhale when only Assistant Nam Yoona strutted through. The room echoed with the metallic tapping of her prosthetic feet as she walked wordlessly to her seat. Sitting at the head of the table, she tapped a clipboard rhythmically. No one dared to meet her eye.

Hyun-ki cleared his throat. "Will, uh... will Dr. Gyeon -"

"Dr. Gyeon is in a meeting with the authorities." Yoona interrupted, "She won't be joining us today." Hyun-ki didn't respond, just silently nodded his head. It was probably good that Dr. Gyeon hadn't seen their performance.

Yoona tossed the clipboard across the table, the clatter making every one jump. It skidded across the table, landing in front of Hyun-ki. "Take a look at that data." Yoona ordered, gesturing at the clipboard.

Hyun-Ki hesitantly picked up the clipboard, glancing at the paperwork. Numbers and charts swam in front of his eyes and he flicked through the pages, pretending he knew what they meant. "Ah, yes, and..."

"Your progress is abysmal." Yoona crossed her arms. "You've missed all your physical and metaphysical growth targets for the last five quarters and you've failed the last fifteen training simulations." Yoona threw numbers like daggers and every one of them found their mark.

Jae Hwa sidled up to the table. "You know what, I know what will smooth this over -" The rest of his teammates almost came out of their chairs, ready to hold Jae-hwa back before he did something stupid, all darting furtive glances between each other. Hyun-Ki could only imagine how loud Soo-ho was screaming telepathically to stop him before it was too late. Jae-hwa edged his chair over to Yoona. Yoona didn't offer a reaction.

"You know, Yoona, it's been an exhausting day." Jae-hwa leaned in closer, making unblinking eye contact with the assistant. His eyes glazed, overtaken with a misty haze of lavender. The room began to ebb and flow, like being on a ship in a storm. Hyun-ki's head was swimming, nauseous and on the verge of passing out. "We've all put in a lot of work and Dr. Gyeon isn't even here to give notes. Why don't we all just call it a day and go to bed." Hyun-ki feld a yawn rise in his throat. Yeah, Jae-hwa was right - a nap sounded great right about now.

"You know, I would really like the rest of the day off." Yoona raised a hand before quickly swatting Jae-hwa across the cheek. Like someone had slammed a door close and awoke him out of a deep sleep, Hyun-ki snapped out of his daze with a start. The other members looked dazed as well, like they'd all been lost in a dream. Yoona smirked. "But you're an idiot to think that would work." She tapped an earpiece nestled in her ear. "We finally got these updated after your last attempt to vocal control a staff member."

"Damn it," Jae-hwa cursed undeer his breath, slapping the table.

"Not like that one girl you convinced was in love with you until she tried to run away with you to the Bahamas." Jae-hwa laughed, until he finally realized no one else was.

Finally breaking the tension, Hyun-ki leaned over the table. "Look, we've been completing every objective we're given." Hyun-ki wanted to shrink into his chair, but he had to stand up for his teammates. "What else do you want us to do?"

Yoona sighed, the only crack in her otherwise seamless air of apathy. "The reports don't look good. I'm not privy to all the information, but the administration is looking for action now and you guys just aren't there yet." All of them looked down at the table, eyes lowered in shame.

"Your superhuman capabilities have been specifically calibrated for you to work as a team, and if you can't do that..." Yoona ran her fingers through her hair. "There is no guarantee that the government will continue with the project if we can't produce results. The Republic has no place for those that can't contribute to its cause." Hyun-ki rubbed the bridge of his nose. They only had room for them in the grave.

Yoona forced a smile, unnaturally etched across her thin lips. "Not all hope is lost... yet." She stood up from her chair and flicked on an old overhead projector. Turns out the budget might have room for hyper-advanced bio-technology but not enough to update their projector from the eighties. The fan whirred like a helicopter landing as more graphics and numbers flickered against a screen Yoona yanked from the ceiling. The whole group groaned. "If we can adapt our growth trajectory and improve your RETA scores by sixth quarter -"

Suddenly the glass door burst open and everyone jumped, all heads turned to meet the new stranger. At first it looked like no one had entered, the door swinging wide of its own free will. But there was the rapid tapping of high heels against the cool concrete floor until finally, a head appeared above the conference table crested with a blunt, dark bob and wire frame glasses. Her eyes were alight with mania.

Yoona looked down in fright. "Dr. Gyeon! We weren't expecting you back so -"

Dr. Gyeon snapped, and Yoona immediately shut up. She climbed up into the chair at the head of the table, revealing all four feet of her stature. She looked like she was holding back a mischievous grin. "Boys, I've got interesting news..." She leaned over the table. "What do you know about Kpop?"