Badass in Disguise Chapter 238

Author's POV:

"I must say, my luck is quite extraordinary," Queen of Clubs laughed. "When I need something, it simply appears - even rare human genetic material."

At the mention of "human genetic material," the woman standing behind the Queen of Clubs - Selene - glanced subtly at Jade, her expression carefully neutral.

"Shadow was my most brilliant, most perfect creation," Queen of Clubs continued. "Such a waste of potential. Such a shame she had to die."

Jade met her gaze with sardonic eyes, watching Queen of Clubs feign grief with crocodile tears.

"Don't worry," the woman said, her lips curving into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Your genes will help us create a new generation of operatives. Isn't that poetic? Using your DNA to create assassins who will forever serve the organization you despise most."

A team of researchers approached Jade's cell, carrying syringes and collection vials. The glass wall slid open just enough to allow their instruments through. One of them extracted blood samples from her arm while another prepared a yellow serum in a large syringe.

The needle pierced Jade's skin, and immediately she felt warmth spreading through her veins, followed by a wave of weakness. Her limbs became useless, unable to resist as they connected various monitoring devices to her body.

"Three months," Queen of Clubs instructed the head researcher. "I want her complete genetic sequence extracted within three months. And I expect preliminary data in 48 hours."

With a satisfied look at Jade, she turned and walked away. Selene glanced at the glass chamber one last time, then at the laboratory she'd apparently never seen before, before following her superior.

Back on the ground floor, a subordinate approached them. "Ma'am, radar and signals have been restored. The vehicle outside has departed as well."

Queen of Clubs nodded before heading upstairs.

Selene followed behind her. "Ma'am, are you planning to clone her?" she asked suddenly.

"Are you interested?" Queen of Clubs replied without turning around.

"I've only heard about this technology but never witnessed it. Is she the first test subject?"

Queen of Clubs turned, eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What exactly do you want to know?"

"Nothing specific," Selene said carefully. "I was just wondering - Shadow's genes were so powerful. Did you ever extract them? Perhaps Ace of Spades, King of Hearts, and Umbra might still be alive if you had."

"Shadow was my most cherished, my proudest kid," Queen of Clubs said. "How could I bear to use her that way?"

She suddenly turned, studying Selene intently. "If I had known things would turn out like this, perhaps I should have been more ruthless back then. Now Ace, King, and Eclipse are all dead. Our organization has suffered heavy losses and begun its decline."

"The organization won't decline," Selene assured her. "Aren't you planning to clone her to strengthen Shadow? Soon, the organization will regain its former power."

"That's far from enough," Queen of Clubs said thoughtfully. "So, Selene, are you willing to contribute to Shadow's cause?"

Selene's mind flashed to Jade's warning in the car: "The organization is experiencing severe personnel losses. Soon there will be another 'failed mission' report - including you."

"My life belongs to Shadow," Selene declared. "I'm willing to follow any command from Shadow, including giving my life."

Queen of Clubs nodded with satisfaction, patting Selene's shoulder approvingly.

"Ma'am, that girl's combat abilities rival Shadow's, and she's extremely cunning. Let me watch her downstairs," Selene suggested.

"Go ahead. I'll open the door for you."

Selene returned to the first floor, standing before the bookshelf, waiting for Queen of Clubs to activate the mechanism from the control room upstairs.

---

Days passed. Jade's body was covered in needle marks, connected to various monitoring equipment. The researchers had submitted their preliminary data to Queen of Clubs, who seemed pleased with their findings. The scientific team finally had a break, and the laboratory grew quiet.

Only Selene remained, diligently guarding the glass chamber. Jade hung limply, head lowered, either asleep or unconscious. For days, they had been injecting muscle relaxants, completely stripping her of mobility.

In the deep of night, Selene's voice broke the silence. "Did Dusk die like this too?" Her tone was soft but cold, mechanical and emotionless.

Jade's body tensed slightly at her words. She slowly raised her face, expression blank as she stared at Selene.

"I see you don't know," Selene observed, her face equally expressionless.

The silence returned, heavier than before. Hours passed, and outside the fortress, the desert night concealed movement in the darkness. Multiple unmanned drones with blinking red lights approached the facility's perimeter, their engines nearly silent in the still air.

In a synchronized sequence, the drones detonated around the fortress's communication towers and external structures. The explosion rocked the foundation, sending vibrations throughout the building. Dust rained from the ceiling of the underground lab.

Selene frowned, looking up at the ceiling as a second, more powerful explosion shook the facility. "Stay put," she muttered sarcastically, knowing Jade was incapable of movement. She headed toward the exit to investigate the disturbance.

In the trash bin near the fallen drone, something stirred. A tiny metallic sphere, resembling an eyeball, detached itself from the drone's remains. It moved with remarkable precision, navigating through the facility while avoiding detection. The sphere made its way across the laboratory floor, scanning for threats before approaching Jade's glass chamber.

It hovered before her face, its lens focusing on her.

"Master," Ethan's voice emanated from the sphere.

"I thought you wouldn't make it in," Jade replied weakly. "Now hurry up."

The sphere emitted a concentrated laser beam that precisely cut through her restraints. The energy field between the metal cuffs flickered and died. Next, the laser traced a neat line across the glass chamber, creating an exit point. The sphere then released a small vial of clear liquid, which Jade immediately drank.

The antidote began counteracting the muscle relaxants almost instantly. A tingling sensation spread through her limbs as feeling returned. She flexed her fingers experimentally, grimacing at the pins-and-needles sensation of circulation returning.

Upstairs, Queen of Clubs watched in horror as the security monitors went dark one by one. "The cameras in the basement are down," she snapped, immediately heading toward the underground laboratory. "Lock down all exits!"

The underground lab was extensive, with the research team living in quarters within the facility. Hearing the commotion, they emerged from their rooms and rushed to the main laboratory, concerned about their precious data. Their faces drained of color when they saw the isolation chamber cut open, the restraints severed, and their subject missing.

"Where is she?" the lead researcher demanded, his voice cracking with panic. "Find her immediately! The genetic sequences—"

"Looking for something?" Jade's voice came from behind them, causing them to whirl around in terror.

She studied their faces, recognizing each one from her days of forced immobility. Without hesitation, she grabbed the lead researcher by his throat and dragged him toward a heavy metal door at the far end of the lab.

"Open it," she demanded, pushing him against the door.

"I'll die first," he spat, his eyes wild with a zealot's determination.

"How noble," Jade replied coldly. With a swift motion, she twisted his arm until the bone snapped with a sickening crack. His scream echoed through the laboratory as his eyes bulged in agony.

She pushed his face against the retinal scanner, forcing his eyelids open. The scanner hummed, a green light confirming his identity. The massive door hissed open.

Maintaining her grip on his neck, Jade pushed him through the doorway, her eyes already scanning the new environment for threats and opportunities.