"It did hit hard, didn't it?"

Huh?

Zane inquired as I pulled a chair to sit down. I tilted my head a bit confused about what he meant. It's not merely once or twice I got hit recently, he should be more specific.

"He hadn't took it yet." Fortunately, Bell was here too, and she wasn't as confused as I was.

"Really?" Zane looked at me strangely, "they weren't joking when they said north people are descendants of bears." he muttered.

I ignored him as I took a canned bean laying on the table and opened it. Then using a plastic spoon I started my breakfast. Cold, mushy, and too damn salty beans.

"Oh right, friend Vic, since you didn't take it yet, don't forget to let me know when you would."

"...why?"

"Precaution, I guess." He shrugged.

I looked from Zane to Bell sitting next to me, eating canned mushrooms and corn. She didn't like beans from what I gleaned, but I don't doubt she will not care if she didn't have a pick.

Precaution.

That's a beautiful word. It also made me think about how I should use the drug. I need to test it most and foremost before even planning on using it. After all, its effects are unknown. They will be positive presumably, yet the fact is they may also be negative, or nothing at all.

"How many do you guys still have?"

Since they aren't as valuable as Eric or even Bell made them seem, I want to try and get more. Not for free of course, I can always find a way to pay the price as long as it's within reason. Even the one Zane gave me out of 'friendship', I will pay for it once I was able to. fundamentally, the word free is etched on the other side of the favor's coin.

"I don't know about the others, but for myself I had one."

I turned to Bell.

"Mmh?" she raised her eyebrows when she sensed my gaze "You are still interested?"

"Maybe?"

Since the effect of the drug is not confirmed, making a deal for a second dose is foolish. This is what anyone with a shred of common sense, let alone business sense, will say. It's also what I think. The issue is...

"Unfortunately, I'm not interested in selling anymore."

This damn woman knows that too.

"Why is that?"

"Well, I only have one, you see."

"Is that so?"

"And who knows what might happen, I should be careful after all. It's not like I can teach you that, you know better than I do when it comes to being a careful person."

I smiled "I'm sure nothing bad will happen."

I felt repulsion raising when said those words and gramps raspy voice cursed me.

"Hope so."

"Still, I'm quite in a hurry right now," A hint of sadness appeared on my face, and most of it isn't faked, after all...

"Oh, really?"

This toned witch...

"Yes, and I will need an additional coffee, if you could h-help me out I will be grateful."

Has won.

"Oh, if you need my help that much, then it's only right to help," She said as she reached into one of the many pockets of her military jacket then pulled out a transparent tube "here you go." and she handed it to me with a smile.

I gnashed my teeth as the realization settled in. She was prepared, she fucking planned it. She didn't mention it intentionally, then placed a non-selling tag on the drug, and with the lack of any other option, other than asking the other three, she caused the value I mentally placed on the drug to soar.

It's a basic advertising strategy, really; scarcity increases the perceived value.

Stolen story; please report.

Therefore even if TS3 isn't valuable, which isn't the case, the fact that it might be valuable and I won't be able to obtain any.

I understood and accepted this fact before I asked her for 'help'. What I don't accept and what pissed me off is to play in her hand.

I silently gnashed my teeth as I swore I will get my revenge; I will screw this woman, figuratively of course.

... and maybe literally.

"Thanks," I said as I grabbed the transparent tube, Bell however didn't let go of her side.

"Why do I feel like you didn't mean it."

The perceptive bitc-beautiful woman, yes beautiful and pretty.

"Of course I mean it," I tried to smile with the most grateful smile I could, while I shower her with praise in my head.

"It's good then." She nodded, letting go.

"Haah, good for you friend Vic, now you have two candies, how about you try one after we finish our meal," Zane cheered from his side of the table, I don't know if he meant any though "...it's advised to consume it with a full stomach."

"Is that so?" I didn't know that.

"Yes, yes," the hat-wearing guy nodded "while TS3 is a special energy stimulant, and it's its own energy, it also acts on the body's stored energy. So it isn't uncommon for those who uh... consume it regularly to lose weight."

Consume it regularly? I tried not to frown. Those words could also be translated into 'addiction'.

Earlier when I asked him about the side effects he hadn't said anything about addiction, and now he tried to sugarcoat it. Or is it me seeing shadows where there aren't?

Possible.

The soldiers who consume it on a regular basis may not have done so voluntarily. They are soldiers after all, with just one word from the top, and they will comply.

Still, I made a mental note of this before I asked "What about the others shouldn't we wait for them or regroup with them?"

"Team leader gave strict orders to stay put," Zane shook his head, "besides, they found the control room and I don't think they will need our help anytime soon."

"Why is that."

"That my friend is a secret."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, they just want to keep it only between the three of them."

I raised an eyebrow. I thought it was confidential information they won't allow an outsider like me to get privy off but even Zane and Bell aren't allowed either. Is this why they are ordered to stay put here?

What is in that control room? ...No I shouldn't be curious. Too many cats had fallen for it already, and I don't want to join them.

Still, since there won't be much action, it's the perfect time to test the drug. I was worried at first about the side effects, which puts you in an exhausted shape after the drug effect wears off. But from Zane's words, it seems, or at least he believes that the other three, for one, busy, and two, don't want us around.

"Alright then, let's test it after we finish our meal."

With the decision made, I focused on the food in front of me. Which made me recall the problem I slept with; the food origin.

"Why are you guys eating canned food when there is fresh food in there?" I asked framing the intended question with another one.

"We like canned goods."

"We don't know how to cook."

I sighed and focused once more on my food. They either don't know or don't want to talk. But I would put my bets on the latter. Is it confidential too?... I doubt that.

We didn't talk much after that. Even Zane who usually never shuts his mouth stayed silent. I noticed his eyes darting from time to time to his backpack, but didn't inquire and just ate my salty beans.

"Follow me."

After we finished our meal we stood and Bell said to me as she headed out of the canteen. I raised an eyebrow but still did follow. Though I turned around when I noticed Zane didn't move.

"Go ahead first," He said after he caught me looking at him "I'll be there in a moment."

I nodded and walked after Bell who passed a corridor to another. I quickly realized the section of the place we are walking in hadn't been explored at least I wasn't there when they explored it.

After three hatches, door walls, and countless turns and twists, we arrived at what I assumed was our destination. In front of us is a large double door. The double door is wooden with the center part made of glass, allowing a see-through.

"Here we go." Bell grabbed one of the door's handles and then pulled the door open before walking in. And I followed inside.

A breakroom.

The room is relatively large, its size is perhaps eight to ten times the room I slept in. Though the paint is still white and with no decoration whatsoever. Five white identical seater couches, two refectory tables, a set of chess on one of them, and one ping pong table.

"Here will do, don't you think?" Bell approached one of the couches lying against the right wall and sat, across from her is the refectory table holding the chess sets and another couch on the other side, which I sat on.

"...yeah." I affirmed as I felt the comfort of this marvelous couch. The bed was also comfortable, I liked the bed. But this couch has nothing to envy to it.

"So?" Bell titled her head, "what are you waiting for?"

"Zane?"

I was a bit nervous, honestly. I'm going to take a drug the government made. Me. While I might not be an anti-vaccine advocate, I'm not far from it.

"You shouldn't," She shook her head as she took a chess piece for the sets "he is probably drinking himself to death right now."

I frowned. It felt like a CEO in the Bahamas who learned his employees weren't doing any unpaid overtime anymore... betrayed.

I don't like it, but I could do nothing about it.

I shook my head as I took the transparent tube containing the drug. I gave it a long look before turning to Bell "Go ahead." she said.

Unscrewing the lid.

I hesitated for a moment and after a deep breath, I brought it to my lips and drank it.

It tastes like nothing, the texture is viscous and it felt piquant on my tongue.

Spicy, oily water.

After drinking it I waited for a moment as I felt its fiery path from my throat to my stomach. And after that nothing. I waited a little more, and a little more, and still nothing.

I looked at Bell hoping she would give some answers.

"It's already in effect, but you will only sense it should you run out of steam, anyway try using your gift."

I was a bit skeptical but she know more than I do. And she doesn't seem to be playing any tricks. Hence I did as she suggested and focused on activating my ability.

I closed my eyes and tried to push all my feelings and emotions down.

[Click]

After two seconds or three, I heard the clicking sound in my head. My vision turned blue and then...

"Ugh."

Headache and dizziness hit me like a flood hitting a mouse.

I blinked and looked around. Nothing. My gift didn't activate? No, it did activate, I heard the sound, but... it shut down.

What the hell happened?!