Kapitel 38: 38;UNBREAKABLE WILL
[Back at the space arc]
Dr. Nana leaned back in her chair, exhaustion etched into the fine lines around her eyes. The soft hum of the space arc filled the room, a constant reminder of the delicate balance between survival and extinction. The faint glow of the overhead light reflected off the countless vials and apparatus cluttered on her desk. Her glasses, slightly askew, dangled between her fingers as she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to alleviate the ache that had been building for hours. She sighed deeply, her chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm, but the weariness did not leave her.
Before her was the latest attempt in her ongoing battle—a delicate array of chemicals and biological samples under the glare of a microscope. She'd been working tirelessly, pouring every ounce of her expertise into finding a cure for the serum that had transformed Leo and the other hunters. Or, at the very least, an extension to their tragically shortened lifespans. But every test, every hypothesis, every theory collapsed under the weight of failure. The results were always the same—disheartening.
She rubbed her temples and leaned forward, her gaze dropping to the desk where a crumpled letter sat among the clutter. Her fingers hovered over it for a moment, hesitant, before she picked it up. The paper was creased from how often she had unfolded and refolded it, but the ink remained as bold as the day it was written.
The letter was from Leo. Written a month ago, shortly before his departure to Earth.
Her lips trembled faintly as she read the words once more, her voice barely audible as she whispered them to herself.
"Ms. Nana,
Don't worry about me. Focus on yourself. I know you've been working tirelessly, day and night, to keep everyone on this arc alive. I wish you good luck with your research, but that's not the main reason I'm writing this letter.
I wanted to say goodbye.
And thank you. For always being there for me. For saving me when no one else would.
Thanks and goodbye."
~Leo
Beneath his name, he had drawn a small, rough sketch of himself. It was barely recognizable—a crude, childish doodle of a stick figure with an oversized head and an arrow pointing to it labeled Leo. A weak smile tugged at the corners of Dr. Nana's lips as she traced her finger over the drawing. It was so typical of him—Leo had never been one for words, but his actions spoke volumes. Even in a simple letter, he managed to leave an indelible mark.
She let the letter rest on her lap as her mind drifted. An image of young Leo flashed before her eyes—the determined fire that burned in his gaze, a reflection of the same stubborn resolve she had seen in Sleek once ago. For a moment, the weight of exhaustion lifted, replaced by a rekindled determination.
"I won't fail you," she whispered to herself. "Not you, not Sleek. I'll find a cure. I promise."
Her thoughts spiraled backward, pulling her into a memory that felt as vivid as the present. She had told herself she wouldn't dwell on the past, but sometimes the memories came unbidden, and today was one of those days.
It was a month ago. The sterile, white-walled lab aboard the space arc had been quiet, save for the faint hum of machinery. Dr. Nana stood at the door, her hands gripping the metal frame as she watched Leo from a distance. He was sitting on the edge of the examination bed, his posture upright, his jaw set with an unwavering resolve. The moment she stepped into the room, he looked up at her, his piercing gaze meeting hers.
"I'll do it, Ms. Nana," he said, his voice steady, filled with conviction. "I'll take the serum."
The weight of his words hit her like a tidal wave. She froze for a moment, glancing around to ensure no one else was within earshot. Then, without thinking, she strode toward him, her footsteps quick and purposeful. When she reached him, she placed both hands on his shoulders, gripping him tightly.
"Leo," she said, her voice trembling, "are you sure about this?"
He met her gaze head-on, his eyes unflinching. "Yes. I'm sure."
Her heart sank. The same determination she had seen in Sleek all those years ago was now staring back at her. She stepped away from him, her hands dropping to her sides as she turned toward her desk. Removing her glasses, she pressed her fingers against her eyes, as if trying to block out the emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
"No," she muttered to herself. "This can't be happening again. This feels like Sleek all over again…"
Leo's brows furrowed. He stood and took a cautious step toward her. "Ms. Nana… is there a problem?"
She shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No… I can't make the same mistakes again. I have to tell him."
Turning back to him, she squared her shoulders, her expression a mixture of resolve and sorrow. "Leo, you need to know something."
"What is it?" he asked, his voice calm but curious.
She motioned for him to sit, and he hesitated briefly before complying, lowering himself onto the edge of the bed once more. Dr. Nana followed, sitting beside him. She placed her hands in her lap, intertwining her fingers as she gathered her thoughts.
"Leo," she began, her voice heavy, "the scientists didn't want me to tell you this. But you deserve to know the truth."
He remained silent, his gaze fixed on her.
"The serum," she continued, "has a… significant defect. If you take it, your lifespan will be drastically shortened. You'll… you'll die within three years."
The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating and oppressive. Leo's expression faltered for the first time, his jaw tightening as he looked down at his hands. His fingers clenched into fists, his knuckles white. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, he lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers once more.
"If it means taking revenge on the formlings and saving others in the process," he said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands, "it doesn't matter if I die in three years. It's better than sleeping for another three years and doing nothing, isn't it?"
Dr. Nana's heart ached at his words. She saw the pain he was trying to hide, the weight of the decision he had already made. She sighed, her shoulders slumping as she looked at him with a mixture of sadness and admiration.
"Nothing I say is going to stop you, is it?" she asked.
Leo shook his head.
The memory faded, and Dr. Nana found herself back in the present, staring at the letter in her hands. Her chest tightened as she placed it gently back on the desk. Her resolve hardened as she reached for her glasses, sliding them back onto her face.
"Don't worry, Leo. Sleek," she murmured.
"Aunty Nana will find a cure for you. I promise."
With renewed determination, she turned back to the microscope, her eyes scanning the latest sample. The faint glow of the lab surrounded her as she resumed her work, the hum of machinery once again filling the room.
No matter how many sleepless nights it took, she would keep her promise.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein