Chapter 224
illa. Noelle dragged Elie away until she was sure no one was around. Then she stopped, turned around, and
Without any hesitation, she launched into a barrage of questi
luared
straight at her, eyes
“Are you a transformer toot Why are you here! Wisch lab are you from? What’s your mission?”
Elsie blinked her big blur eyes in confusion, tilting her head like a curious puppy. She didn’t seem to understand a word Noelle was saying.
Noelle frowned and gave her a light pat on the head, already annoyed. “Why do you look so clueless! Did you really hit your head that hard! Can your communicator still function! Can you contact anyone from your labı?”
Elvir thed her head again, still uncomprehending
The more Noelle observed her, the more she felt that this girl was seriously out of it. She’s really just dumb, she fought to herself, half exasperated
Since
there was no way to get information out of Elsie directly. Noelle decided to check her communicator
She reached up without asking and touched the girl’s carring, checking to see if it was still functional.
Under normal ciresimstances, the lab would never leave a malfunctioning subject unmonitored.
But when she pressed the back of the earring, there was no signal. No response.
“Hello? Anyone there! Can anyone hear me?” she called softly, Silence. Nothing.
“Maybe the earring’s broken too,” Noelle muttered, frustrated.
Unable to get anything useful, she decided to contact Brandon instead. “Come with me,” she said, pulling Elsie along toward the pavilion in the garden. There, she reached beneath her collar and retrieved her necklace, activating the embedded communicator
Within moments, Brandon’s familiar, warm voice came through. “Noelle, what’s up!”
“Brandon,” she greeted quickly
Hearing his voice, Elur suddenly leaned in,
i, her eyes glued t
Noelle quickly smacked her hand away.
Elsie gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment. Though she didn’t try to touch the necklace again, her gaze lingered on
Brandon, having heard some of the noise, asked, “Noelle, who’s with you?”
glued to the necklace. She reached for it, but Not
it with even more curiosity.
Noelle didn’t hide it. “It’s like this, Brandon. My brother Adriel came back today, and he brought a girl with him–someone like me, from a lab. But something’s wrong with her. She’s got memory issues and can’t speak properly. I was hoping you could help me figure out which lab she’s from, and maybar reach out to them”,,
There was a brief pause before Brandon’s one grew noticeably more serious. “What kind of communicator is she wearing! Necklace or earrings
“Larring,” Noelle replied.
“Check tie serial number on the back. Does it start with a ‘D’or an ’57”
Noelle did an instructed. “It wart
Brandon’s answer came without hesitation.
“She’s In
‘s from the Serpaton–Morria Alliance Laboratory”
Noelle nodded slowly, then added, “Brandon, her brain’s messed up right now–she can’t talk at all. Her communicator’s probably broken Ton Cand you help her? Or contart saneone from her lab
Brandon’s tone turned cold. “That’s not my responsibility. Sure, she’s a transformer like you, but the three regional labs are competitors. I have no prastas to help a rival Libi’s subject. If she’s lost her memory, the best thing is to dispose of her quickly”
“What dispose of her? Noelle was shocked.
But Brandon’s voice softened again, with a teasing smile. “What’s wrong? You getting attached already? Didn’t Adriel just bring her back? You can’t possibily be this sentimental
Noelle hesitated, then spoke her thoughts aloud. “Brandon, I can tell Adriel really cares about her. And since I’m still working on winning over the rest of my family, he’s the last one I haven’t gotten close to yet. I was thinking, maybe I can use Elsie in build a connection with him
Brandon thuckled. “So that’s your plan, huh? Alright. If you want to keep her around for now, fine. But listen to me–if she ever becomes a threat. you deal with her immediately”
Noelle grinned, her tone sweet Thanks, Brandon.”
Brandon laughed lightly at her cheerful voice. “Everything on my end’s almost wrapped up. Give me another week, and I’ll come visit you like to see this girl for myself.”
“Really You’ll be here in a week?” Noelle’s eyes lit ups. She smiled so brightly it showed in her voice. I can’t wait to see you, Brandon. It’s been way too long
He laughed again. “Then you better look forward to it
“will” she replied with a happy hum.
Thave things to take care of now, so 171 talk to you later”
“Okay, bye, Brandon”
Goodbye, Noelle
Once the call ended, Noelle carefully tucked the necklace back into her shirt. She noticed Elsie was still staring at her chest, so she reached out and grabbed the girl’s hands, swinging them gently with a teasing smile. “Elsie, I think Adriel really likes you.”
Elsie blinked, confused, then tilted her head again, making Noelle laugh.
She’d made up her mind. She was going to befriend Elsie–and use her to win Adriel over.
Smiling warmly, she said. “Let’s get along from now on, okay?”
Elsie didn’t seem to fully understand, but she smiled back and nodded. “Mhm”
At the Atoraka–Nowedon Laboratory, Reid had just finished reporting on his current assignments. “That’s everything for now. If there’s nothing cle, I’ll take my leave.”
But just as he turned to go, Brandon called him back. “Wait.”
“Yes?” Reid stopped and turned around.
Brandon’s expression was calm, but his voice carried weight. “Look into Adriel. There’s a transformer with him–one from the Serpaton–Mocita Alliance Lab She’s with the Anderson family now. I suspect Serpaton’s up to something. Investigate.
“Serpaton–Morria Reid’s expression turned serious. “Understood”
Two hours later, Reid returned, urgency written all over him
Brandon looked up at the file in his hands. “You found something?”
“Yes,” Reid replied, face grim. He handed over the documents. “Adriel’s been overseas on business. A month ago, there was a massive explosion in the area he was stationed. The girl he brought back–the transformer–was the only one rescued from that blast.”
“The official report blamed it on a flammable gas leak, but several of the bodies pulled from the wreckage were clearly transformer subjects. Some of them were even from our own lab.”
“That incident was quickly buried, but we took a closer look once we realized we’d lost some of our own. We reviewed the emergency signals that were sent out during the explosion. All of them had one thing in edinmon”
Brandon’s
is gaze slurprised. “What did they say?
Rejil hesitated, his face pale. “They all said the same thing–Help me. There’s a monster. A monster is here”
