24: Chapter 4 On the Brink of Losing Control

"...Xiao Qi...?"

Lei Kun's low, gravelly voice, as if sanded down by coarse grit countless times, echoed softly within the cramped shelter, carrying a near-shattering shock and disbelief. That name, a name he thought had long been buried in the bloody dust of the past, now escaped his own lips, directed at the girl curled in the corner, surrounded by dangerous ripples of purple energy.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

Ling Yue snapped her head towards Lei Kun, Data Streams raging wildly within her electronic eyes, filled with shock and doubt. Lin Feng was also stunned, utterly unable to comprehend the scene before him—how did this veteran soldier, who had just fought alongside them with mountain-like steadiness, know this girl who escaped from the lab? And use such a... familiar form of address?

Meanwhile, Subject Seven (Xiao Qi?), who had been on the verge of losing control from fear and pain, trembled violently the instant she heard that address. The energy fluctuations around her stalled for a split second. Her enormous eyes, flowing with a purple luminescence, slowly lifted, gazing blankly, confusedly, at the tall, unfamiliar figure blocking the tunnel entrance.

"...Who...?" Her faint voice trembled violently, like a candle flame in the wind.

It was this momentary stall and confusion!

Lei Kun moved! His motion was swift as lightning, yet carried a strange gentleness that seemed at odds with his build! He didn't use any weapon. Instead, he yanked something from the inner pocket of his tactical jacket—not a piece of military gear, but a very old, worn, and faded **plush rabbit keychain**!

One of the rabbit's ears drooped limply; the other had been clumsily stitched back on with mismatched thread.

He held up this object, so out of place and even somewhat ridiculous in the surroundings, thrusting it forward forcefully yet clearly into Xiao Qi's line of sight.

"Xiao Qi... look... Judy... your favorite Judy..." Lei Kun's voice was abnormally hoarse, even carrying a barely detectable choke. He tried to make his expression look gentle, but the fierce scar rendered the attempt awkward and distorted. "...Remember? ...You said its... other ear... was bitten off by... by 'Big Bear'..."

When that shabby rabbit keychain entered her field of vision, Xiao Qi's pupils contracted to pinpoints!

"Ah—!!!"

An even more piercing shriek, seeming to contain endless pain and chaos, erupted from deep within her throat! But this time, it wasn't merely a precursor to pure energy loss of control; that shriek was filled with indescribable emotional impact!

The purple energy around her didn't calm; instead, it erupted like a tsunami! No longer ripples, it transformed into a substantial, violent shockwave, sweeping outward in all directions!

`>> Psionic Energy Surge! Catastrophic Levels!`

`>> Warning: Telekinetic/Empathic Feedback Loop Detected!`

"Look out!" Lin Feng only had time to shout before an invisible, massive force slammed into his chest. He was thrown backward as if hit by a speeding hovercar, crashing heavily against the shelter wall. Agony instantly washed over him, his vision darkening.

Ling Yue was also caught by the shockwave, but her new mechanical arm instantly erupted with powerful force, stabbing into the ground to stabilize her. Her metal feet scraped across the concrete floor with a grating sound, her electronic eyes filled with alarm.

Lei Kun, taking the brunt of the impact, was struck head-on by this enormous psionic energy! He grunted, his powerful body swaying violently, a trickle of blood even escaping the corner of his mouth. Yet, through sheer terrifying willpower and physical resilience, he stubbornly held his ground! He didn't retreat. Instead, he stepped forward again against the raging energy flow, his gaze still locked onto Xiao Qi. That shabby rabbit keychain remained tightly clenched in his hand, as if it were more important than any weapon.

"Xiao Qi! Look at me! It's Uncle Lei!!" He practically roared the words, his voice cutting through the energy's howl. "Look at me! Don't let them control you! Remember! Who you are!!"

His roar, like a great bell, pierced through the energy's shriek and through Xiao Qi's consciousness, submerged in fear and chaos.

Xiao Qi clutched her head, letting out a pained wail. Purple energy surged around her like out-of-control lightning, lifting and tearing apart the clutter within the shelter! Graffiti and glowing stars on the walls shook loose and fell.

But Lei Kun's words and that rabbit keychain acted like a key, forcefully prying open the tightly sealed doors deep within her memory!

Fragments! Countless chaotic, bloody, warm, shattered memory fragments flooded her mind like a bursting dam!

[...Warm sunlight... running on grass... laughing as she hands a small wildflower to a young man in a military uniform with a bright, hearty smile... He calls her "Xiao Qi"... She calls him "Uncle Lei"...]

[...Cold laboratory... white lights... needles... cries of fear... "Uncle Lei... save me..."...]

[...A huge, roaring, out-of-control mechanical teddy bear ("Big Bear")... biting off the ear of rabbit Judy... fragments and stuffing flying... a figure lunges forward, shielding her, a huge wound ripped open on his back by mechanical claws, blood flowing... That was... Uncle Lei...]

[...Alarms... explosions... chaos... someone pulling her hand, running in the dark... "Live... Xiao Qi... no matter what..."... That was the last voice... then... pushed into a dark pipe... farewell forever...]

"Ah—!!! Uncle Lei!!!"

Xiao Qi let out a heart-wrenching cry. No longer an energy roar, it was an emotional outburst filled with immense grief and the shock of reunion! The purple energy around her, as if losing its support, abruptly weakened, retracted, and finally dissolved into fine electric sparks that vanished into her body.

She collapsed forward, utterly drained, and was caught tightly in the arms of Lei Kun, who had rushed forward.

"It's alright... Xiao Qi... it's alright... Uncle Lei is here... Uncle Lei found you..." Lei Kun's voice trembled badly. This man, seemingly forged from steel, now holding the girl in his arms—light as a feather, like a broken doll—actually seemed a bit at a loss, only able to clumsily repeat these phrases. Those large hands, accustomed to gripping guns and killing enemies, were now gentle as if touching the world's most fragile treasure.

Lin Feng struggled to his feet from the floor. The old injury at his ribs and the new impact pain made him grimace, but he was completely stunned by the unimaginable scene before him, forgetting the pain.

Ling Yue also slowly straightened up. The Data Streams in her electronic eyes returned to normal, but her expression was extremely complex. Watching Lei Kun and Xiao Qi embrace, her eyes flickered uncertainly, as if calculating something.

So... the solo mission coordinates The Engineer previously sent Lei Kun... were they just a decoy? Or did The Engineer already know about Lei Kun's connection to Xiao Qi, deliberately luring him here this way? Just how big was this game being played?

At that moment, Lin Feng's device suddenly vibrated again! This time, it wasn't a message but a forcibly incoming communication request. The sender's identifier—a cold, metallic Wrench symbol.

Ling Yue's device chimed simultaneously.

The two exchanged a glance. Ling Yue took a deep breath and chose to accept.

The processed, emotionless voice of The Engineer immediately came through, speaking slightly faster than usual:

["Reunion time is over."]

["External psionic scan source confirmed. It's The Cleaners' special unit, the 'Baku' squad, specializing in psychic tracking and suppression. They've locked onto the recent energy burst and are regrouping. Estimated arrival in two minutes."]

["Lei Kun, take The Key and evacuate via preset route Beta to the alternate rendezvous point Gamma. Ling Yue, Lin Feng, you evacuate via route Alpha, draw off some attention."]

["The emotional stabilization and initial guidance of The Key are crucial. Lei Kun, you have full responsibility. Use 'that' protocol if necessary."]

["Execute the order."]

The communication cut off abruptly.

The Engineer knew everything happening here! Even had preset evacuation routes prepared! He/she called Xiao Qi... "The Key"?

Lei Kun gently hoisted the semi-conscious Xiao Qi, exhausted from emotional turmoil and energy depletion, onto his back, securing her with prepared straps. His face had regained its usual sternness, but deep in his eyes was something heavier and more complex. He glanced at Ling Yue and Lin Feng, his voice low. "Do as he/she says. See you at point Gamma."

Without another word, carrying Xiao Qi, he moved like an agile tiger, swiftly disappearing into another hidden exit of the shelter.

"Let's go too!" Ling Yue suppressed all her emotions and questions, charging first towards the original pipe entrance.

The two emerged from the shelter. In the alley lay several corpses clad in black tactical gear and wearing strange helmets—clearly the vanguard of the Baku squad, silently eliminated by Lei Kun.

In the distance, new footsteps and a dizzying low-frequency hum were already approaching—more Baku squad members closing in!

Without hesitation, Ling Yue and Lin Feng sprinted towards route Alpha as instructed by The Engineer!

A new escape had begun! And this time, they not only carried their own safety, but were also entangled in a heavy past and the fateful vortex of a girl who was like a 'key', powerful enough to shake the world.

The whispers behind them were no longer illusions, but real pursuers drawing near.

The path ahead led to the unknown, and also to answers.