Everybody Wants to Rule the World

48

Trigger Warning(s): none

Legendary by Welshly Arms

~ Emira's Point of View ~

1:36 AM, MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2028. NIS HEADQUARTERS, NAEGOK-DONG, SOUTHERN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA.

"You don't look happy."

"That's because I'm not," I replied through gritted teeth.

Arlie peered through the window into Suh Hoon's office. "He doesn't look happy either. You guys were really going at it in there."

"That's the understatement of the century. Look... can we talk somewhere private? Without security cameras?"

We ended up strolling through the grassy courtyard of the compound. It was impossible to see any stars through the bright lights hanging over our heads.

"He told me Jimin was in a deteriorating mental state, that he was showing even worse symptoms and only talked about the voices in his head." I paused, and Arlie averted her gaze from me. "Did you know about this?"

She sighed. "Like I said, I haven't talked to him, but the footage makes it pretty clear that he's suffering."

"And the NIS doesn't care."

"Nobody cares. Nobody except you and me. Everyone else views him as a security risk."

"That's what Suh Hoon made it sound like." I surveyed the courtyard. "No security cameras?"

"There are a few, but they're not equipped with microphones. Otherwise, the surveillance dudes would just be hearing gusts of wind all day."

"We need to break Jimin out."

Arlie tripped over a clod of dirt. "You're kidding, right? Tell me you're kidding."

"I'm not kidding."

"Look, just because Jimin's being kept in a secure cell right now doesn't mean they're going to ki... well, I mean, maybe... but that's not the point! Even if they do decide to kill him, you've been in there." She gestured back at the array of buildings. "You've seen how many security guards they've got in there."

"I have a really bad plan."

"Then what's the freaking point?"

"No, it's bad – like, kind of evil."

"You're an innocent bean; why would you come up with a plan like that?"

"Because I'm in love with Jimin. And I..." My red, stinging eyes were indicative enough of my feelings, and Arlie sighed.

"I know you love him. I love him, too. Not in the way you do, obviously, but I don't want him to die."

"Do you think they would give him the... the d-death penalty?"

"They've definitely had the conversation. Whether they'll actually follow through or not, I don't know. But I'm not willing to risk it. What's your evil plan?"

"Okay." I sniffled and blinked until the wind dried my eyes. "First, I just need to ask... Suh Hoon told me that the world's been thrown into chaos with a resurgence from the Alters. He made it sound like Armageddon. Is that true?"

"It's not Armageddon. There's been a slight increase in mass shootings and other violent crimes, but they're not reported enough to make a dent in ordinary people's perceptions of the world. The real problems are happening in the governments, since the Alters are just beginning to show themselves. The US government's under particular strain, trying to weed out Alters from actual government officials."