Super Human ( ONC2024)

Chapter -5: Benefit Of The Doubt

Nishi was escorted to the 18th floor by Qourtez, the elevator humming softly as they ascended. This was the home of her new team—the so-called Elite Team. As the doors slid open, her mind drifted back to General Hunter’s words during the briefing. His comments about the team echoed in her thoughts, especially his warning about the Chief.

"Don't expect the Chief to be easy to handle... let's just say he's... unique."

That cryptic remark piqued her curiosity, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. Unique? She had dealt with all sorts of characters before—what could possibly be so different this time? Her heart quickened with anticipation.

Stepping out of the elevator, her sharp eyes scanned the bustling surroundings. The 18th floor buzzed with advanced technology—holographic displays floated above desks, and officers manipulated them with swift hand gestures. People conversed with AI like old friends, pulling up data and reports with casual ease. For someone like Nishi, who had witnessed centuries of tech innovation, this wasn't unfamiliar; it was simply overwhelming.

"Back in my day," she mused, "we thought touchscreens were revolutionary. And now..." Her thoughts were interrupted as a drone zipped past her, almost brushing her shoulder. She had to stifle the urge to swat at it.

"...Yeah, now these things are like household flies."

As she observed the officers effortlessly swiping through holograms and chatting with their virtual assistants, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place. Nishi felt like a dinosaur trying to pass as a sleek, futuristic predator, but instead ended up looking more like a confused T-Rex in a space suit.

She pushed her glasses up again, the lenses flickering with a tinge of silver—a device that not only aided her declining eyesight but also concealed her superhuman energy from prying eyes. Though she appeared to be a young adult, her true age crossed the line centuries ago. Now, at the age of 280, she was pretending to be a 22-year-old human, about to meet this 'unique' boss.

Honestly, Nishi felt beyond annoyed at times. The urge to call Trox Merel, her Preslenian supervisor, to give him a piece of her mind was insatiable. Who in their right mind concocted this backstory? A 22-year-old human girl rising to the rank of senior inspector? Really? What was she—a prodigy among prodigies? What was he even thinking? And to make things more complicated, Kabbo had to be here as well. Now she wondered if this was a trial or punishment for her past actions.

“Kabbo! He’s going to make things hard, isn’t he?" she sighed at the thought while obediently following Qourtez. Right! This was his domain, and here she was, stepping into it again. Although she was relieved that he was healthy and... breathing, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his presence would certainly complicate things.

Nishi followed Qourtez down the long corridor, her mind still racing with thoughts of Kabbo and their shared past—the one she always wanted to leave buried. Suddenly, Qourtez stopped with a polite warning, and the automatic door in front of them slid open with a soft ting, revealing a large office filled with a mix of Superhuman and human officers. At the head of the room stood a tall, well-built man, arms crossed, either deep in thought or, more likely, taking a discreet nap—his eyes half-closed.

“That’s Wonder,” Qourtez whispered, pointing at the man.

Nishi frowned. “Wonder?" Her eyes sharpened with recognition as she studied him carefully. He was the guy she met last night.

“He’s your Chief,” Qourtez mumbled and stepped inside.

Wonder, as if sensing Nishi’s presence, straightened abruptly, his eyes snapping open. He looked directly at her, his gaze flashing with the same curiosity she had seen the night before. Then, without warning, his face broke into a wide, easy grin.