The Institute

  File log, number 202410001. I am Zayn Thomas, Agent number 304, codenamed 'Ghost.' I meditated in a dimly lit apartment. My thoughts were always clearer in darkness, so I sat with legs folded upon the carpeted floor. A nearby lamp, set atop a glass bedside table, gently illuminated my face with its soft glow as I reclined further into my thoughts.

          I felt a dull vibration, a subtle pulse through my left wrist. Uggh, what do they want now? It was an encrypted message from my superiors through an advanced wrist communicator. The message directed me to investigate a high-tech underground organization known as ‘The Institute.’ Its existence piqued the curiosity of The Apocalypse Prevention Enterprise, also known as The A.P.E.

          Although little was known of ‘The Institute,’ it was alarming that the organization had remained undetected for such a long time. To escape the prying eyes of the A.P.E would take nothing less than extremely advanced technology and security measures. Maybe even… otherworldly technology. I needed to be careful during this mission. Gaining entry would be no easy feat, but I had faced much greater threats in the past. Draped in the 'Ghost's' signature dark attire, I set out to infiltrate the hidden facility.

As I approached ‘The Institute's’ location, I felt an uncomfortable chill envelop me. The location that my superiors provided appeared to be nothing but a barren wasteland, devoid of life or activity. However, my A.P.E-issued wrist device showed that I was, in fact, in the right location. It revealed that something lurked beneath the soil, something large and something loud.

          Fortunately, I wasn’t limited to my own human ability. Celestial beings that took the form of two ominous sword hilts were by my side. These hilts allowed me to summon the power of chaos into any weapon or shield that my mind could fathom. They were gifts from the primordial goddess Nauni, bestowed upon me during the great battle against ‘Hatred’ in downtown Los Angeles four years ago.

          I drew a thin device from the pocket of my jumpsuit. The device calculated each entry point into the underground organization. Additionally, it plotted which course would potentially have the lowest threat level. After entering a series of commands, a bright blue portal appeared before me. The warmth of its glow showered my body as I traveled through it.

The portal immediately transported me to a dark passage deep within the facility. It was cold… freezing, in fact. The faint sound of humming machinery echoed through the underground passages. I guessed this part of the structure was abandoned. 

          "S.O.P.H.I.A, activate the suit’s internal heating system," I commanded. A satisfying warmth surrounded my body, shielding me from the freezing temperatures that radiated from the lifeless metals and machinery around me. 

          S.O.P.H.I.A, which stood for Strategic Operations Program for Hidden Individuals and Agents, was the indispensable artificial intelligence that guided agents through their missions.

          Using my uncanny ability to blend into the shadows, I managed to navigate the underground structure without alerting the many guards stationed in the more populated areas. However, there was one security measure that posed a potential threat: a synthetic life form. Was it some form of artificial intelligence? Should I attack this machine? I needed to maintain a stealthy presence to learn more about ‘The Institute’.

I stood perched like an obsidian owl, high upon the platforms and pipelines that occupied the ceiling. Fortunately, the ceiling was quite high, allowing me to avoid most of the dangers below.

          I descended upon the synth like a bird of prey, slashing at its neck. The dagger failed to penetrate its surface. It seized me by the throat, its cold, lifeless fingers sinking into my flesh. Gasping for air, I struggled to break free.

Chaos energy erupted from Heba and Tao. Heba formed a sinister sword, Tao conjured a spiked mace. With a swift slice, Heba severed the synth's arms. As its grip loosened, I swung Tao's mace, crushing the synth’s head.

          I wish I could say this was an unusual encounter, but sadly, it had been one of my easier missions in quite some time. I dusted myself off and attempted to wipe away a strange green fluid that spewed out of the synth. Its stench, reminiscent of burnt rubber and rancid oil, was disgusting.

          "S.O.P.H.I.A, run a biometrics scan on the unknown fluid."

          "Biometric scan complete," S.O.P.H.I.A replied. "The detected fluid is non-toxic and poses no immediate threats."

After the close encounter, I discovered the heart of ‘The Institute.’ Surrounding me were strange contraptions and flickering monitors. Heba and Tao, the sentient celestial weapons, hummed with latent power, detecting the presence of hidden threats that were beyond my current perception.

          As I moved through the labyrinthine-like corridors, I stumbled upon rooms filled with chilling abominations. Unnatural creatures writhed in transparent containment units — their torment evident. My stoic persona could only falter under the most extreme circumstances, and the unnerving sight before me was just that. There was an intangible woman who floated with a ghostly appearance, longing for an existence that she could never have. Another woman with a skeleton for a face, a façade of bones concealing the depths of her unspoken sorrows. However, amongst all the unsettling sights, the most disturbing was a creature that was… an astronaut suit? Yes! It wasn’t an astronaut suit; that was the creature’s face and skin that resembled an astronaut suit.

          “S.O.P.H.I.A, initiate visual reconnaissance of the room. Capture images of the containment units.” My heart raced, torn between a duty to complete the mission and a desire to put an end to this madness.

Within the depths of the facility, I uncovered a hidden chamber where a group of scientists engaged in a discreet meeting. Their discussion hinted at dangerous experiments that could pose a significant threat to the world.

          One particular scientist, Dr. Nathaniel Arden, appeared to be the mastermind behind these malevolent endeavors. His obsession with power and control drove him to explore dark and forbidden paths, putting countless lives at risk. I winced at the man’s voice; it sounded like a rusty blade scraping against concrete.

          As the hours passed, I delved deeper into the secrets of ‘The Institute,’ piecing together the puzzle of its nefarious operations. The more I learned, the heavier my heart became.

          Finally, it was time to make a decision. There was enough evidence to expose ‘The Institute’ and its dangerous experiments to the A.P.E. But I was conflicted—the innocent lives trapped in the clutches of these cruel scientists. I had to free them from this suffering, even if that meant death.

          Once my superiors intervened, ‘The Institute’ might vanish, leaving the victims in the dark abyss of the world. The A.P.E's methods were cold and unforgiving; however, there may be a better way.

The deeper I ventured into the bowels of this organization, the more unsettling the experiments became. Unnatural creatures, victims of the scientists' perverse curiosity, cried out in their twisted agony. Each cry echoed, fueling my determination to put an end to this madness.''

          I entered a dimly lit room filled with ominous-looking devices. Observing the machinery, it became apparent that ‘The Institute' had gained access to technology that only ‘The A.P.E’ was sanctioned to possess.

          "This must be stopped." There was no time to wait for backup, so I prepared to face the horrors that lay ahead.

          A vast chamber stood before me, the epicenter of ‘The Institute's’ operations. There, Dr. Nathaniel Arden stood, surrounded by an array of grotesque experiments. The darkness in his eyes was unmistakable.

          "You shouldn't have come here, little girl," he taunted with sadistic pleasure. "We’ve been aware of your presence from the moment you destroyed one of our synths."

          My heart raced, yet I stood like a panther, coiled to launch lethal lacerations. "You will answer for your crimes, Arden."

Without another word, the room erupted into chaos. Dr. Arden summoned his own twisted creations to attack: nightmarish abominations of flesh and metal lunging ferociously.

          I moved with grace. A lethal dance of death. My weapons, Heba and Tao, orbited my body. Autonomously, striking down enemies.  Assassin and weapon, synced.

          My movements were a blur, each strike polished with precision. The creatures were relentless, almost never-ending. Eventually, the fight took its toll. Sloosh! A clawed monstrosity managed to catch my right arm, leaving a deep laceration. 

          Initially, it felt like a sharp sting followed by a numbing sensation. The adrenaline quickly masked the pain. I pounced a few paces backward, gripping the wound as blood poured through my fingers. 

          "S.O.P.H.I.A, cauterize the wound," I commanded. A technological aura of iridescent silver enveloped the wound, burning the laceration shut. Ahhhh! I collapsed to my knees, wailing at the agonizing pain.

          The creature stood before me, with an expressionless look of indifference. A grotesque being with twisted limbs and a towering frame, its skin mangled by grotesque scars and pulsating tumors. I refused to falter; my arrogance allowed this beast to land a successful attack. But it would be the last error I would make on this mission.

          "Heba, Tao, MEAT GRINDER!" I screamed. Heba and Tao surged into action, whirling around me at an unfathomable speed. Bodies and debris alike were torn to shreds as Heba and Tao became a vortex of blades and blood. In a matter of moments, the area was transformed into a scene of carnage, testament to the devastating power of my celestial companions.

As the last abomination fell, my attention turned to Dr. Arden, who, although bloodied and peppered by debris, had managed to escape the attack’s radius. "Please, don’t kill me!" he whimpered. "Please, I’ll do anything."

          "I hate it when they beg," I muttered to myself, "it’s all fun and games until judgment comes for its pound of flesh." I stared at the man as he pleaded for mercy, my face expressionless, my soul devoid of compassion. This man had ruined the lives of so many innocent people.

          It is men like this that turned me into what I am today, I thought bitterly. That innocent caramel-skinned, hazel-eyed girl who was forced to become a monster herself by men like this. I could never forgive them; I could never forgive him.

          "Left or right?" I demanded.

          "Huh, what do you mean?" the coward sniffled, confusion evident.

          "Left or right hand. Choose!" Annoyance saturated my words.

          "Please, no."

          "Choose now!"

          "I can’t…” His voice faltered.

          How dare this coward decide the fate of others when he isn’t even man enough to decide his own. As I knelt before the man, my demeanor shifted, now at eye level with him. His gaunt face was framed by now-damaged wire-rimmed glasses, his sharp features accentuated by a prominent nose and a narrow jawline. Bloodshot eyes sat above dark circles, portraying long hours spent in the laboratory.

          My face twisted into a grin; the audacity of this criminal left me stunned. "Fine, I'll choose then." Turning my back to the man with a deep sigh, I walked towards the exit. Behind me echoed the soft whimpers of the coward.

          "Does this mean that you’ll spare me?"

          Again, the audacity of this man, yet I felt kind enough to answer him. I continued towards the exit as I delivered my final words. "Maybe this will answer your question. Heba, Tao, meat grinder."

Upon arriving home, I sent an encrypted report to my superiors, detailing the atrocities committed by 'The Institute' and its twisted scientists. My actions, though unconventional, had borne fruit—saving countless souls from further suffering.

          In the days that followed, the A.P.E. acted swiftly, moving to fully dismantle 'The Institute' and apprehend any remaining members involved in the malevolent experiments. 

          My methods sparked a debate within the organization. Some viewed my actions as a necessary evil, while others questioned the implications of an assassin who acted on her own accord. 

          Regardless of their opinions, when judgment arrives, she will have her pound of flesh.