Invisible Hollow Incident | A Zenless Zone Zero Fan Story

Chapter 5: PubSec Checkup

Muffled voices, the sensation of laying on something soft yet doesn't feel designed to be slept on, that's the only thing Cyrus is able to perceive, trying to get up he finds he can't, not because he is restrained in any way but his body just doesn't respond. Terror shoots through him as he tries and fails to establish what is going on, who iss speaking, with his eyes currently closed he can't even tell where he is. Cyrus tries to move again, this time putting all his focus on attempting to just create some movement in his right hand, for a few moments it appears to be unsuccessful again until suddenly, finally, he gets a couple fingers to twitch. As if spurred by that small movement, something akin to a spark of energy jolts through his body and he quickly sits up as all his senses snap back into focus. Finally being able to look around, he find he doesn't recognise where he is, though it doesn't appear to be in any house, but a breakroom of some kind.

"I have to do something, they won't be here for an hour at best! He shouldn't even be here, he should be in a hospital!!!"

"His name pinged on the file Zhu Yuan, you know the protocol that's meant to be followed with that. You already pushed it enough by allowing her to come along as well."

"What was I meant to do? You saw that look as well, as soon as she saw him there was going to be no convincing her to stay behind."

"Protocol is there for a reason, you should already know that."

"Huhhhh... Qingyi, sometimes a little empathy goes a long way you know."

As the conversation gets closer, Cyrus pulls himself up to his feet, the initial burst of energy now tapering off, he is still able to stand but it requires significant effort to keep himself balanced. Just as he gets himself up the door opens, standing in the entrance way is two fully uniformed, fully armed pubsec officers. Instinctively, Cyrus goes to take a step back but almost looses balance and instead ends up just learning back on the arm of the couch.

"What's going on? Where am I?"

"Slow down, you're okay. I'm Zhu Yuan, she's Qingyi, we're in the Pubsec office in Lumina Square though you aren't in trouble, don't worry."

"Can I leave then?"

"You were passed out due to blood loss, we can't let you go until we are sure you're better."

Cyrus indicates to himself standing up.
"Well, I'm fine, see?"

Qingyi takes a step forward and glances him up and down.
"Please, you can barely stand."

"I don't care, I just want to go back and get what little sleep I have left so I can get to school. If it was really that bad I shouldn't be here I should be in a hospital."

Zhu Yuan and Qingyi exchange a look, seemingly making sure they are both in agreement with something before Zhu Yuan turns back to Cyrus.
"Yes, normally we would, but your name came up under a database that requires us to follow... certain protocols."

"What database? What protocols?"

"It's highly classified, even being in a specialist department I can only access certain sections. It comes from straight from the Defense Force so even if I wanted to I can't send you home just yet."

"It has to do with... *that* hollow doesn't it..."

Zhu Yuan's expression drops on hearing that.
"Oh... you're from..."

Qingyi, taking advantage of the momentary silence steps up in preparation to say something, but just as she starts another voice can be heard getting louder from the behind the door.

"... really can't be up here, they will come down when everything's been cleared as okay. Please! Just slow down!"

The door swings open and in walks Anby, shortly followed by yet another public security officer, based on his attire and gear, he seemed to be from the same department as Zhu Yuan and Qingyi. Anby seemingly not even registering the three officers in the room walks up to Cyrus.

"Do you feel okay? Does anything hurt."

"No, nothing hurts surprisingly, I'm feeling okay. How did you get here?"

"Good. I drove here."

"That's..."

Qingyi walks up to the pair of them.
"Miss Anby here wanted to come with us when I said you needed to be brought to the office, so we could patch you up properly and securely contact the defense force base, and wouldn't take no for an answer. Now, as I was going to say, now you're awake, Cyrus, I would like to give you a proper health check over."

"Wait, what do you mean "contact the defense force.""

"Being part of the Special Response team we do have some training in managing injuries, but we still need a professional to come in and properly look you over. Since your name registered under a certain dataset, that professional has to come directly from the Defense Force."

"Like I said, I'm fine, it's not the first time that injury has bled, I'm going to have it looked at in around a day anyway."

"If you're fine than let me give you a check over."

"Alright."

"May I stay up here?"

Qingyi turns to Anby, weighing up a bunch of factors in her mind.
"Would you go down if I told you no?"

Anby shakes her head.

"After the persistence you've shown tonight, I wouldn't doubt it either, don't know why I bothered asking. Yes, I think it's okay if you stay but..."
She looks over to Zhu Yuan.

"I don't see a problem with it."

Qingyi sighs.
"Good, now back to the task at hand, could you sit down for me please?"

Cyrus sits down as Qingyi begins to check him over. First having a look around to check for any other injuries that may have been missed of which, there is only a couple minor scrapes on one of his knees. She then runs him through a quick vision test before checking his temperature.
"Well, you are running a little hot but that's to be expected after just coming out of a hollow, your body would still be flushing some of the corruption out of your system. The only thing left to do now is check your pulse."

Qingyi grabs Cyrus' arm, pressing her thumb just below the underside of his wrist, for a few seconds she doesn't move until a confused look slowly washes over her face. Taking his other arm she does the same thing as the look of confusion intensifies. She looks at Cyrus.
"You are absolutely sure you are feeling okay?"

"Positive."

Qingyi continues to hold his arm for a bit longer before finally dropping it and stepping back. She stands there for a while, contemplating what to do.

"I'm willing to give you the all clear but you need someone to keep an eye on you that can call if anything happens."

"What?"

"According to the readings I'm getting, your heartrate is so fast you should be dead. Since you aren't dead and everything else seems normal, I think it's more than likely something is just malfunctioning. Still, just incase, if something does occur, it would be better if you are with someone that can get you help."

"I can do it."

"I thought you would Anby. Really, I would prefer it if you stayed here, but if you really want to leave you can."

"I still want to go."

"Alright."

Standing back up Cyrus finds himself feeling a lot more steady as he and Anby follow Zhu Yuan back out the station.
"Hey, just before you go, I want to thank you for helping with the missing child, especially you Cyrus, he may not have gotten out in time if you weren't there."

"I didn't really do much."

"Well, maybe you didn't, but it still probably made the difference to whether the kid got out or not. Anyway, I have to get back inside and make sure a report gets done up, I'll be seeing you in a few days anyway."

"Huh?"

"Oh, you didn't know? Me and Qingyi will be going to your school to give a talk next week."

"I do now."

"Anyway, I should really got on that report."

Giving them a small wave Zhu Yuan goes back into the station as Anby and Cyrus start on their way back to the Play Store.