Killing Grimm; Graveyard of Gods

Chapter 1, TECHON LABS.

United States, Washington DC.

In the heart of the nation’s capital, where the majestic edifices of power and history stand tall, a cutting-edge facility nestled among them had become the beacon of technological marvels. TECHON Labs, renowned for its groundbreaking research and innovations, was on the cusp of unveiling a revolutionary discovery.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to TECHON Labs. My name is George Brown, lead researcher and beta tester of the Blessed Gem project. Today, we will introduce you to a discovery unlike any other. Please, follow me for a tour of our workspace."

George Brown, a middle-aged man with thinning hair, a meticulously groomed beard, and a pair of glasses perched precariously on his nose, wore a lab coat that fluttered slightly as he began to walk. His voice carried a tone of authority and enthusiasm, resonating in the sterile, high-ceilinged corridor. The walls were adorned with sleek, modern designs, punctuated by occasional displays of futuristic gadgets and holographic interfaces.

The group of fellow scientists, distinguished by their white lab coats and badges indicating various prestigious institutions, followed him like a line of obedient ducks. Their expressions ranged from mild interest to feigned amazement at the various innovations George pointed out along the way. But their excitement was palpable, driven by the promise of witnessing the Blessed Gem—an artifact rumored to grant extraordinary abilities.

As they navigated the labyrinthine corridors of TECHON Labs, the ambiance grew more intense. They passed rooms filled with shimmering technological wonders, devices emitting soft hums and beeps, and screens displaying streams of complex data. The scent of antiseptic mingled with the faint ozone of high-tech machinery, creating an atmosphere of scientific rigor and cutting-edge experimentation.

Eventually, the group arrived at a large, imposing hall. This hall was stark and bare, devoid of equipment or furniture, its vastness echoing with their footsteps. It felt more like an execution chamber than a security checkpoint.

George turned to face the group, his smile kind yet firm. "My apologies, friends. Before we proceed further, we must conduct a short security check. TECHON has experienced numerous break-ins recently. To prevent any unauthorized access to our technology, and most importantly, our Blessed Gems, we need to ensure everyone’s identity. Thank you for understanding."

A murmur spread through the group, but they nodded in agreement. The value of an object that could grant humans unique abilities was beyond monetary measurement. It was a matter of utmost security.

With a rumble, one of the doors leading further into the facility opened. It was massive, large enough for six men to walk through side by side, and was guarded by two armed men in black uniforms, their faces concealed by tactical masks.

"Now then, please form a single line and present your IDs. I’ll personally verify them," George announced, his tone taking on a menacing edge.

The scientists quickly formed a single file, each one stepping forward to answer a few simple questions after presenting their IDs.

Soon, it was the turn of a young female scientist with exaggerated glasses that looked more suited for a door-to-door salesperson.

"Your ID, miss," George said, extending his hand.

"Here you go," she replied, handing it over without hesitation.

"Where are you from?"

"Washington," she responded, her voice steady though she sensed George's scrutinizing gaze.

"How old are you?"

"A gentleman should never ask a lady her age," she replied with a hint of frost in her tone.

George glanced at her ID, noting the date of birth. According to it, she was twenty-one. Of course, it could be a forgery, but he had no way of knowing that yet.

"Alright then, that’s not important anyway," he said, suddenly pulling out a glass-like screen and placing her ID on it before turning it on.

"What are you doing?" she inquired nervously.

"Just verifying your identity, miss," George replied indifferently.

"Oh."

The device buzzed, its screen flashing with an alert.

"It says this ID doesn’t exist, Miss Elain Knight," George said condescendingly, glancing at the name on the ID.

"Please try again, Mr. George Brown. Your tech here at TECHON may not be all that you know," the lady said with a smile.

Annoyed, George signaled the guards to prepare to apprehend her in case it didn’t work the second time.

Suddenly, the screen turned green, approving the ID.

"What the hell," George muttered, starting to doubt his own creation.

"See? Not all that," Lisa Knight smirked, turning George’s shock into annoyance.

"Come on, let’s move on," George grumbled, leading the group ahead. Lisa maintained a pace that kept her at the end of the line.

[Jesus, that was a close call. I almost got taken by the bad guys,] Lisa said quietly into a hidden comm on her shirt collar.

~Well, we’re actually the bad guys here, Lisa,~ a man’s voice responded through the comm.

[What do you mean? This fits the scenario of underdog heroes taking on a massive organization to save children from being trafficked.]

~Except we’re breaking in to steal a mystical gem that can grant superpowers so we can abuse its abilities.~

[Steal, abuse—such strong words, Wacky.]

~It’s Jacky, and we’re here.~

The final door to the laboratory opened. The doors were massive, looking like something out of a supervillain’s lair.

The interior was filled with strange creatures in glass cubes. Some of them seemed alive, occasionally snapping at the group as they passed.

~This is the perfect time to slip away, Lisa.~

[On it.]

Pretending to accidentally bump into one of the scientists, Lisa elicited an annoyed glance but no words.

"Sorry, bro. I’ll try to be more careful."

The person merely huffed and continued admiring the cubes.

Lisa took a weary glance at the group, especially at George Brown, and relaxed when she saw him engrossed with those closer to him, not paying her any attention.

"This is my cue," she whispered.

Lisa slipped away, following a straight path through a hallway in the opposite direction from the group.

[Wacky, can you find the room where the gem is stored?]

~Yeah, already did. Surprisingly weak defenses for the largest corporation in Washington... Nah, just kidding. I’m just too good, hahaha.~

Lisa smirked at Jacky’s peculiar antics.

~Take the next door to the right, climb up straight, and use the stairs to lower the possibility of running into anyone.~

[Now what?] Lisa asked, standing before a small, normal-looking door.

~That’s it. Go in.~

"Always the normal-looking ones," Lisa muttered, opening the door.

As soon as she stepped inside, an AK-47 was pressed to her forehead. "Arms in the air, ID and permit, miss," a stern voice commanded.