A few days later...
The sun rose to a new beginning. Early in the morning, Sterling watched the super-laptop – A portable computer with the power of a super computer process countless pieces of information in nanoseconds. Countless lines of code and text ran up and down the small screen. They had just chipped a piece of bark from a tree. The laptop was now checking its genetic material, molecule arrangement and atomic structure.
Suddenly, another researcher came through the tent's entrance.
"Sir, we just got the circumference of the tree. It's 14.75 meters."
"Good job. I'll enter it." Sterling said as he approached the computer.
He activated an empty slot in the program, naming it 'circumference' and adding the given measurement. The computer paused for a moment, then went back to processing. Sterling stepped back, sighing. He gazed around the lab. The laptop connected to every mechanism, automatically controlled any scanner or microscope with extreme precision.
'God, the technology of the modern age never ceases to amaze me.'
Sterling adjusted his glasses and stepped outside. The scene was quite peaceful, really. He could hear the raven and the crows – the only birds he had seen since entering this forest, chirping away. He walked past the fire and in the corner of his eye, he saw David. Sitting quietly while staring into nothingness, it got Sterling intrigued.
"General, what are you doing out here? Alone at that."
David leaned back. "Well, it's nothing. I'm just communicating with my lieutenant general."
"I see…"
As sterling spoke, a cloud of dust rose up in a straight line parallel to them. David was unfazed but Sterling was reeling from shock. As the dust settled, Sterling wiped his glasses and tried to find the cause. Once he could see clearly, he saw a…cheetah?
'A cheetah? They're not supposed to be in forest but wait…something's off…'
Sterling looked closer, realizing the cheetah skin was inverted. It had dark skin with yellow stripes covering its entire body. The cheetah slowly approached the scientist. Sterling, knowing how it behaved normally, didn't trigger it. The cheetah halted and licked his hand. Sterling patted it on its head, showing affection. Just then, David snapped back to reality and screamed.
"OH! WHAT IN GODS NAME IS THAT?!"
The cheetah in fear, backed off. Then, in the next second, with an immense acceleration, it rushed through the forest.
"David, you damn bastard. I just had him."
"Oh, it couldn't have been that important. It's just different color." David panted heavily, clutching his chest.
"It's a genetic mutation not just colors." Sterling rushed back to camp.
He frantically looked around, searching for someone. Finally, he saw Arthur approaching him.
"Hey, sir Sterling. Are you okay? I heard someone screaming from here."
Sterling smiled and grabbed Arthur by his shoulders.
"Oh, Arthur. I needed you. See, there was a strange cheetah that came by with inverted skin and I'd really like to study. So, if you could just get a DNA sample or learn it's behavior, I would be indebted to you for life." Sterling rapidly spats words.
"Not quite sure that I'm following you, sir." Arthur replied perplexed.
"Oh, right. I need to you to get a DNA sample of an inverted cheetah that just came here. Get your team and go now, before it goes too far!"
"But, sir. You need to report this to the higher ups before I can do anything."
"Ah, Damn it. This protocol is driving me crazy. Gather your team while I inform Nyx."
"Yes, sir." Arthur said slowly.
Sterling grumbled and entered another tent. There David, Lancelot, Charles and Nyx were happily enjoying some tea. Charles noticed his research partner first and held his cup.
"Ah, Sterling. Mind having a cup of tea, would you?"
"This is not the time, Charles. I think I just found a new subspecies of the cheetah."
Charles dropped his cup. The generals stopped mid-sip. Nyx slowly put her cup down in amusement.
"Are you for real?" Charles exclaimed.
"I am! This morning, I got to touch it but David scared it away."
Nyx's sharp eyes locked onto David. David shrugged and replied in a calm tone.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. We can find it later."
"Did you or did you not see that things acceleration?" Sterling reprimanded.
"Why do you always have to mess things up, general." Nyx sighed with annoyance.
"It's not my fault."
'How the hell isn't it? You're the one who scared it away.'
Nyx grimaced in her mind, rubbing her temples as the other continued to talk.
"Alright, Shut up!" She shouted.
The room instantly went quiet. Nyx placed her hands on the table, intertwining her fingers.
"So…who do you propose we send to hunt down this new cheetah?"
"Arthur, of course. He's the best man for the job."
'No, it's because he's your favorite. We're all just side characters in his story, aren't we?'
Lancelot gave a side eye to Sterling. Sterling didn't notice and continued talking.
"I've already told him to gather his team. Now, I just need your permission."
"Well, you've got it."
"Really? Alright, I'll send them immediately."
Sterling rushed out, leaving the others in disbelief.
"That nerd is too excited about this…" David muttered under his breath.
"Don't underscore his passion, Mr. David. It's the least he has." Lancelot sipped his tea.
"I figured you generals wouldn't realize how big of a discovery this is. If this is a chaos mutation, then it's another story entirely." Charles reprimanded as he exited the tent.
The three officers were shocked hearing Charles's statement. Lancelot quickly stood up and shouted.
"Hey, wait! The hell do you mean by chaos mutation."
"Calm down, general. I think we all heard it." Nyx signaled.
"Chaos mutation doesn't happen in humans but animals frequently have it. Even back on the continent, there are lots of cases like this." David crossed his arms.
"So, do you finally realize important this is?" Nyx crossed her legs.
David shrugged. "I do but it's still not my fault that cheetah ran away."
Nyx rolled her eyes and looked at Lancelot.
"At least, you have some conscience."
"Thank you, supreme commander." Lancelot replied with a kind smile while sitting down.
David glared at Nyx who shrugged it off. He then, looked at Lancelot who's smile never faded.
'This prick. I know you're a different man under that mask of yours. You're no different from me!'
David shifted in his seat. The air became quiet and the lights suddenly started flickering.
'If this is a new type of chaos mutation, then…it's going to make chaos mutation research mainstream.'
Nyx thought, swirling the tea.