THE REAL PROTEGE

El Padre:

"Too late. I'm already the favorite. It synced with me like we were soulmates in a tactical opera. Even Ling Li nodded. Nodded. That's basically a standing ovation in her language."

Shi Min finally looked up, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Shi Min:

"Just send me the full report. I'll review it between transferring the last of the neural interface protocols and convincing Wushing not to alphabetize the missile inventory."

Wushing (off-screen):

"It's already alphabetized. You're welcome."

El Capitan:

"Shi Min, you need a vacation. Or a clone. Or both."

El Padre:

"Or better yet, you could've been here. You missed the helmet toss. Even the perimeter guards smiled. I saw teeth, Shi Min. Teeth."

Shi Min:

"I'm logging off before you start reciting victory haikus."

El Padre:

"Too late. I already wrote one."

He cleared his throat dramatically.

Steel beast glides through fog.

Victory blooms without blood

Shi Min missed it all.

El Capitan (applauding slowly):

"Bravo. That's going in the next tactical memo."

Shi Min (sighing):

"Wushing, mute him."

Wushing:

"Already done."

El Padre's voice cut off mid-laugh, his face still smug as the screen faded to black. Shi Min leaned back, rubbing his temples.

Shi Min:

"Remind me never to let him near the poetry module again."

Wushing:

"Noted. Also, I saved the haiku. It's oddly... inspiring."

Shi Min "...."

Live from Myanmar — Ling Li Responds

The following day, an uncanny stillness enveloped the medical wing of Camp Phoenix, where even the air felt charged with anticipation. The only sounds breaking the silence were the soothing whir of sterilization drones gliding effortlessly through the sterile atmosphere and the percussive cadence of Pharsa's boots striking the polished floor like a precise metronome. At the heart of the diagnostics bay stood Ling Li, her intense gaze fixated on a transparent screen, adorned with swirling streams of data pulsating rhythmically in a hypnotic dance of neural sync protocols.

Just as Rockie began to dive into the depths of a critical report, a sudden alert sliced through the tranquility like a bolt of lightning — sharp and jarring. A soft chime resonated, followed by a steady pulse — a call to attention that seemed to reverberate through the very walls. Ling Li's bracelet ignited with a breathtaking cascade of colors, not the usual red or yellow, but a mesmerizing interplay of gold and white, signaling the activation of an urgent protocol — the twins were in motion.

Without a moment's hesitation, she tapped the screen, conjuring a live feed that blossomed into three distinct panels: the vibrant images of Kim Kim and Chin Chin flanked by an intricate diagnostic overlay of the Xu Conglomerate's monolithic Shanghai headquarters. The structure itself appeared to shudder and sway, lights flickering ominously in a chaotic ballet of illumination, doors swinging wide like open arms inviting an unseen presence to slip through, while scent systems adjusted nervously to an altered atmosphere. Emotional resonance crackled in the air, hinting at a disarray within — a harmonization teetering on the edge of chaos.

Ling Li's eyes narrowed, sharpening with a fierce determination. "Pause the inspection," she commanded, her voice a steady anchor that cut through the brewing intensity as she strode purposefully toward the secure communications room, with Pharsa trailing behind like a vigilant shadow. Rockie remained rooted in place, his nimble fingers expertly rerouting the neural sync data to Ling Li's private channel, an action executed with practiced finesse.

Inside the comms room, Ling Li initiated the live relay, her movements fluid and confident. The screen pulsed, flickering once before establishing a connection. Four Eyes materialized, his appearance slightly disheveled, hair tousled as if he had just emerged from a tempest. Beside him stood Jack, arms crossed, his posture radiating a palpable sense of readiness. In the background, the twins animatedly engaged with a vending unit that had just dispensed an eccentric snack, whimsically labeled 'Existential Egg Tarts,' their expressions a delightful blend of curiosity and mischief.

Ling Li bypassed any customary greeting, urgency simmering in her tone as she set the stage for the impending conversation. "The twins harmonized seamlessly with the building — a strange unison of existence between flesh and architecture."

Four Eyes tilted his head, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "They didn't mean to," he replied, disbelief threading through his words.

"They never do," Jack interjected curtly, leaning casually against the doorframe, tension radiating from him like heat off a pavement.

"The infrastructure's responding as though the twins are intricately woven into its very essence. It isn't merely biometric; it's a profound bond — one that is both behavioral and emotional. The scent diffusers tune into their unspoken moods, and the kinetic sculpture pivoted gracefully to face Chin Chin the moment she stomped in frustration."

Ling Li's gaze sharpened, intensifying like a laser beam. "That building was never programmed for emotional input," she asserted, her voice steady yet charged with urgency. "I embedded a dormant protocol two years ago — a failsafe, an insurance policy. It was never intended to activate."

Four Eyes raised an eyebrow, astonishment evident on his face. "You embedded a protocol and didn't bother to inform me?" he questioned, incredulity woven through his tone.

"I didn't anticipate my children would possess such raw power," she replied, the weight of her words settling heavily into the thick silence that enveloped them.

Off-screen, the twins resumed their gentle humming, a soft melody that floated like delicate smoke through the air. Behind Four Eyes, the lights flickered in a ghostly rhythm, casting fleeting shadows that danced across the walls. Suddenly, the temperature shifted, as if a hidden door had creaked open, allowing a delicate breeze to whisper through the vents, carrying the intoxicating scents of jasmine and zesty citrus that mingled harmoniously with the hum of advanced technology.

Ling Li exhaled slowly, her breath deliberate, as if weighing the gravity of each word. "They're syncing with inheritance code," she stated, her tone unwavering but edged with urgency. "That means the system perceives them as extensions of both you and me."

Jack's brow furrowed, running a hand through his hair, thoughts tangling like climbing vines. "So the building's essentially parenting them," he remarked, incredulity lacing his voice.

Ling Li maintained her serious demeanor, her eyes gleaming with resolve. "Contain it. Don't suppress it. Allow them the freedom to explore — but monitor everything closely. If they trigger the inheritance clause, the entire network could recalibrate in ways we can't foresee."

Four Eyes nodded, his expression set in concentrated resolve. "Understood."