PRDS - 4413 Part 1 Chapter 9: An Achievement

I had Claire stay right behind me. I thought that was the best way to keep her covered. As I expected, the emergency power was lighting up the inside of P4R4D1S3 a little. There was nothing, no one inside. I couldn’t hear anything but sporadic gunshots from outside. With a small suspicion in the corner of my mind, I killed my step to blend into the atmosphere of P4R4D1S3.

“Do you remember where your mother worked?”

I carefully asked Claire with a whisper.

“Once we get to Sector 3, I can show you where it is. My mom used to take me to her workplace.”

With a little surprise that the lab was open to non-staff, I showed Claire a little smile and nodded to keep her calm a bit.

Everything felt so weird. It was too quiet. I could spot no FREEMANs but their traces. Their traces spreaded to everywhere, I had to stop myself from chasing after them by the force of habit. Because going into the center of P4R4D1S3 could increase the chance to encounter the FREEMANs, I took the outer path that goes around the P4R4D1S3 to minimize the danger.

I found plenty of ‘lyfts’ that are used for public transportation in P4R4D1S3, its speed was considerable to take us to Sector 3 quickly, but the vulnerability from outside impact was the problem. Also taking lyfts might cause drawing attention in the quiet environment.

“Check this out. I had no idea we are in Sector 4.”

We were close to our goal. George found a sign that indicated we were in Sector 4, and also got the direction to Sector 3.

“We usually have our device to tell us where we are. And everywhere is pretty much the same when we are in P4R4D1S3.”

“Well, we usually don’t have a reason to leave our Sector.”

True. Leaving for duty was the only time I got to look around the other Sectors in P4R4D1S3. And it did not take a long time for me to figure out other Sectors weren’t that different.

“Which Sector are you and George from?”

“Sector 21. It should be on the other side from where we are. I still remember the map of P4R4D1S3 when I was in the security team.”

“That’s good. We can get some help from your memory. Wait, do you know where Himon Lab is?”

I could not be the only one who did not know about Himon Lab.

“No, never heard about it. Himon Lab was not the lab I was informed about. I thought there were only three labs in P4R4D1S3.”

“That’s right. That's common sense.”

I had to think about the presence of this mysterious lab. Nobody knew its existence, but it was still open to non-associates. Or maybe Claire was the special case.

“I know the way from here.”

Claire stepped up as we approached the square of Sector 3.

Sector 3 square was not so different from other Sectors’, except there is a P4R4D1S3 administrative building. It was my second time seeing the P4R4D1S3 administration, but I already knew that I had nothing to do with those people inside in the first sight. P4R4D1S3 might have saved many people, but left out lots of people too. They left not just the people stood against P4R4D1S3, but innocent people who couldn’t get a place in P4R4D1S3. P4R4D1S3 arose 20 years ago to see FREEMANs die on earth. That was how P4R4D1S3 brutally separated families and loved ones.

And Claire was guiding us to the building.

“Claire… Are you sure this is the building? You are not confused where the lab is?

I stopped myself in front of the building entrance, hesitated to go in. I reassured the lab location to make sure P4R4D1S3 administration building was not the place.

“There is a staircase that goes down to mom’s workplace.”

As Claire stopped inside, she pointed somewhere behind the infodesk in the middle of the lobby.

“Ha, what a gorgeous place.”

George commented on the size and the quality of the administration building. I also thought the administration building was built on an undeserving scale.

Even with the emergency lights, the inside of the building wasn’t fully lighted up. A few dark spaces were here and there to make us stay alerted. I took out a flashlight from my utility belt to look out for any danger in the dark. I checked every dark spot on our way to the entrance to the lab, the fact that there was nothing rather had me anxious.

“Here. I brought the briefcase.”

Claire showed me a briefcase with unknown origin. She was smiling as if she were proud of her achievements.

“Claire, where did you get this?”