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Chapter 1: That's How It Is on This Bitch of an Earth

Chapter 1: That's How It Is on This Bitch of an Earth

August, 2017 - [redacted], South Korea

Minkwan sighed as she rolled her suitcase into the dubiously small door of Gwangseob's residence where he spent his exile- a single, ground floor room in a small orphanage. Inside, however, was surprisingly spacious, having been converted into a laboratory with tunnels leading everywhere, no doubt fashioned out by his personal army of robots. Putting away her suitcase, Minkwan sat demurely on the water bed placed on the far end of the room, watching Gwangseob's personal assistant Hyunmin work away on the multiple touchscreens lining the other end of the place, each monitoring a different part of the country through moveable drones.

Hyunmin too had once been a felon- the notorious hacker 'Phantom', whom Gwangseob and Minkwan had found on the brink of death in a vegetative state after a failed suicide attempt. While Minkwan took pity on the broken, helpless frame of the once-brilliant mind, Gwangseob saw an opportunity to build himself an ally (literally), and with enough help, built Hyunmin a robotic body to replace his current one before uploading the man's consciousness into it.

Both men immediately clashed, each prideful and with unique skillsets to boot, but Hyunmin begrudgingly submitted to Gwangseob, knowing that despite being at his mercy, the other had still given him a new lease of life. Thus, Gwangseob gained an assistant: one who backtalked him and was snarky about every command given to him, but a helpful ally nonetheless.

Minkwan pulled up an office chair and slid herself across, gaining speed quickly before finally bumping against the outstretched arm of Hyunmin's. As always, he had instinctively reached out to catch her, so much so that he didn't even look up from his work as he did. "I'm warming up the teleportation pad for you two," explained Hyunmin, his mouth not moving despite addressing Minkwan, "You know, the usual, just a bit further than you're used to. If you throw up, just throw up on him. He's not going to rust any time soon, anyway." Minkwan choked back a laugh, punching the other lightly on the shoulder as she took in all the screens with interest.

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"Did you ever find that guy you were looking for?" she piped up, and the bespectacled figure's expression grew solemn. An awkward silence fell between them both until at last, Hyunmin informed her that the pad had been fully activated, and she gave a nod to the other before grinning. "I'm sure he's looking for you too," she added cheerfully, hopping off her seat before grabbing her suitcase, pulling it towards the elevator leading down to the teleportation room and missing the solemn, vengeful expression Hyunmin had at the thought of finally locating whoever he wanted to see again.

Pulling her suitcase towards the room, Minkwan waved her hand and the doors slid open, where Gwangseob waited next to the humming, circular structure that glowed with a faint purple tint.

"Late," the man stated matter-of-factedly, and Minkwan pursed her lips, looking over the pad with determination. They had never teleported to another country before- and this would be her first time ever heading overseas (that wasn't the school trip to Jeju Island every student had). Taking a deep breath, she balled her hands into fists before exhaling slowly, casting her gaze towards Gwangseob before giving him a small nod.

A ghost of a smile graced his features, and he offered his hand to her for comfort. They both stepped on, Minkwan dragging her suitcase to the platform- in a flash, both of them were gone.