"Hey…"
Vinh's voice was low.
"HE78… do you think… that thing will work?"
HE78 didn't answer immediately.
He stood in front of a device.
A large metal structure, unfinished.
Wires were connected in precise patterns, fixed in place with mechanical locks that left almost no room for error.
"…It will."
He finally spoke.
"Once it's connected to the control system…"
A brief pause.
"…I'll be able to operate it."
Vinh didn't reply.
He stepped back, leaning against the cold metal wall behind him.
There was a small gap.
He looked outside.
A long corridor stretched forward.
Straight. Clean.
No shouting. No chaos.
Only… operation.
Transport carts moved in formation.
Each one perfectly spaced.
No deviation. No collision.
On them—weapons.
Sorted by type. Size. Function.
Not being prepared.
Already calculated.
Further ahead—
the Dejteo.
They weren't much different from humans in shape.
Two arms. Two legs.
But every movement was precise.
No wasted motion. No hesitation.
One group transported weapons.
Another inspected them.
A third handled small vessels.
Those vessels were moved through controlled gates.
Doors opened.
Closed.
Not even a fraction of delay.
Vinh narrowed his eyes.
Another door opened for a moment.
He caught a glimpse inside.
Empty compartments.
Lined up in rows.
No seats. No control systems.
Just space.
For containment.
For people.
Vinh's heartbeat shifted slightly.
"Vinh."
Apoloziro's voice came from behind.
Calm. As always.
"If we get out of here…"
A pause.
"…what do you think we'll do?"
Vinh turned back.
His eyes no longer fixed on the gap.
"What will we do…"
He frowned slightly.
"Hongco and I…"
"…we'll follow the arrow."
Apoloziro stopped.
"The arrow?"
His voice lowered.
"What are you talking about?"
Vinh shook his head.
"I don't know."
A brief pause.
"…but I can see it."
Apoloziro said nothing.
"Not with my eyes."
Vinh continued.
"…but I know it's there."
The air in the room grew heavier.
"As if…"
He hesitated.
"…I was chosen."
Apoloziro stared at him.
"Chosen… for what?"
Vinh lowered his voice.
"…a Displayer."
The word fell into the space.
No one reacted immediately.
Apoloziro spoke first.
"What is a Displayer?"
Vinh didn't answer.
He turned to HE78.
"Hey…"
"…do you know?"
HE78 remained still.
"Hmmm…"
A quiet sound.
"…Displayer…"
He repeated.
"…are those who…"
A pause.
"…are seen."
Vinh froze slightly.
Apoloziro narrowed his eyes.
"Seen… by what?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
HE78 continued.
"…or…"
A very brief pause.
"…things that shouldn't exist."
The air tightened.
Outside, a Dejteo unit halted.
A command was issued.
Not loud. Not clear.
But all of them moved at once.
They changed direction.
No questions.
No delay.
Vinh clenched his hand.
"We're not…"
His voice was low.
"…prisoners."
Apoloziro looked at him.
"…we're being prepared."
No one disagreed.
Further away, another section opened.
Something was brought out.
Slowly.
Secured by multiple layers of locking systems.
None of them could see it clearly.
But from the way the Dejteo moved—
it was obvious.
That thing—
mattered more than everything else here.
HE78 stopped working.
"…It's soon."
Vinh turned.
"Soon what?"
HE78 didn't look at him.
"…when they start choosing."
The lights in the corridor dimmed.
Not a power failure.
A transition.
Everything slowed for a fraction of a moment—
then resumed.
Exactly as before.
And somewhere—
a new phase—
had already begun.