An hour earlier.
The air felt especially heavy today. When the lights in the detention block suddenly went out, then came back on, the alert Ling vaguely guessed what had happened, yet she could do nothing. The most she could do was stand before the iron bars of her cell and make herself as visible as possible.
Just then, the bed melted like viscous lava, gradually taking human shape behind her before finally becoming a burly man with brown hair and a black leather jacket. He stood silently behind Ling and patted her shoulder.
"Eh?" Ling froze, then spun around in a panic. "W-w-w-who are you?! How did you get in here?!"
She clutched the barred cell door behind her so tightly that she looked ready to burst through it at any moment.
The burly man extended his right hand toward Ling. His face was utterly expressionless, like a lifeless corpse, and he spoke stiffly. "If you want to live, come with me."
"I... Why should I trust you?" Ling asked timidly.
"I am your bed. More precisely, I became your bed at 05:47 on the second day after you were imprisoned."
"I have a letter from your sister. This will allow for better cooperation." A note appeared in T-X's right hand, though it had been empty just moments ago.
Ling accepted the small note T-X handed her. She could tell from the handwriting that it was from her sister, and it contained a few simple words.
T-X's voice was stiff yet forceful, carrying the even pace and pauses of a machine. "I am the enhanced logic weapon system neuro-mechanical combat/infiltration unit T-X. You may call me T-X. I know you have many questions, but this is an emergency. This is your only chance to gain freedom and reunite with