"How was the Emotion Court created?"
Si-on's question floated in the darkness. She and Ha-yul were hiding in a safe house on the outskirts of Seoul. After the raid on Eclipse headquarters, they had escaped here.
"According to official records, it was established 13 years ago under Director Do Yun-seok's leadership," Ha-yul answered. "The stated purpose was to bring 'absolute truth' of emotions to the courtroom to realize justice."
"But the real purpose was different," Si-on turned on her tablet. The screen showed Do Yun-seok's past records. "Do Yun-seok was originally a neuroscientist. Someone who studied the traces emotions leave in the brain."
Ha-yul examined Do Yun-seok's early research papers. A title caught his eye: "Neurological Mechanisms of Trauma and Emotion Suppression."
"He was looking for ways to control human emotions," Ha-yul said.
"That's right. And that research became the beginning of Project Afterlife," Si-on opened another file. "But there's something strange here. There's a three-year gap in Do Yun-seok's research career. Right before the Emotion Court was established."
Ha-yul took the tablet and examined it closely. "How did you get this information?"
"Data collected by Eclipse over a long time. And..." Si-on hesitated momentarily. "It's also why I joined the Emotion Center. To obtain insider information."
The two looked at each other in silence. Ha-yul's gaze rested on Si-on's eyes. Even for him, who thought he had no emotions, he now felt a subtle sense of connection.
"Si-on, what do we need to do?"
Si-on's eyes widened slightly at Ha-yul calling her without the honorific for the first time. The earthy emotions surrounding her glowed brighter.
"We need to find files hidden in the National Emotion Center headquarters. We can learn why Do Yun-seok really established the Emotion Court."
The next night, near the National Emotion Center.
Ha-yul and Si-on were hiding in the darkness. They planned to infiltrate the building using forged IDs provided by Eclipse.
"The Center reboots its surveillance system at midnight," Ha-yul explained. "That creates a 3-minute window."
"During that time, we need to access the underground repository," Si-on nodded.
At 11:59 PM, they headed to the Center's back door. When Ha-yul applied the forged key card, the door opened. The two carefully stepped inside.
Although Ha-yul had worked here for years, it now felt as unfamiliar as if he were visiting for the first time. At the end of the corridor was an elevator.
"Basement level 4, section G-7."
Following Ha-yul's guidance, they took the elevator down. This was the deepest part of the Center, an area restricted even to regular staff.
Basement level 4 was larger than expected. Dozens of doors lined the corridor.
"This is the records repository," Si-on explained. "Early documents from when the Emotion Court was established should be here."
They headed for section G-7. The door had a warning sign: 'Highest Security Level: Access Restricted to Authorized Personnel Only.'
"Can we open it?" Ha-yul asked.
Si-on took out her necklace. It looked ordinary, but the end contained a special device.
"Eclipse special. It can neutralize most security systems."
When she applied the device to the door's security panel, after a moment the red light turned green and the door opened.
What they faced was a massive digital archive. Hundreds of data storage devices lined the walls.
"Let's look for records from 2010 to 2012," Si-on suggested. "The period right before the Emotion Court was established."
Ha-yul activated the computer terminal. He began searching using Do Yun-seok's name.
[Director Do Yun-seok - Research Project List]
[Confidentiality Level: Highest Security]
[Access Authorization Required]
"We need an access code," Ha-yul said.
Si-on used her device once more. The screen flickered and the files opened.
What they discovered was shocking.
[Project Name: Deep Layer Access Experiment]
[Director: Do Yun-seok]
[Subjects: 32 volunteers]
[Objective: Research on accessing human emotions' deep layer for suppression and manipulation possibilities]
"It was human experimentation," Ha-yul's voice resonated deeply.
Si-on checked the file more deeply. "This is... terrible. Of the 32 people, 27 suffered severe mental damage during the experiment. And 5..."
"Died," Ha-yul finished.
They continued and discovered records of another project conducted by Do Yun-seok.
[Project Name: Collective Emotion Influence System - CEIS]
[Director: Do Yun-seok]
[Objective: Develop a system to monitor emotional states of large populations and adjust them when necessary]
"This isn't just research," Si-on's voice trembled. "They're trying to create a social control system."
Ha-yul continued browsing through files. Finally, he discovered a folder titled 'Jin Family Murder Case.'
"My family's case..."
When Ha-yul opened the file, detailed profiles appeared along with his family photos. Then came shocking content.
[Subject Selection Reason: Jin Ha-yul (16) brain scan results confirmed ideal neural structure for deep layer emotion access experiment]
[Plan: Apply emotion suppression protocol through severe trauma induction]
[Progress: Family elimination complete, subject acquisition successful]
[Director's Comment: Will become the perfect emotion tracker. A being that reads emotions without having them.]
Ha-yul's hands trembled. The air around him began to vibrate. Si-on looked at Ha-yul with a startled expression.
"Ha-yul, around you..."
A vortex of mixed purple and black began forming around Ha-yul. It seemed to draw in surrounding light like gravity. The deep layer emotion was awakening.
"Do Yun-seok... killed my family," Ha-yul's voice carried emotion unlike usual. "Just for an experiment..."
Si-on grabbed Ha-yul's hand. "Ha-yul, calm down. Your emotions are awakening. That's good, but right now we need to get out of here."
But Ha-yul continued reading the file. And on the last page, he discovered another shocking detail.
[LUX system's emotion recognition algorithm is based on Jin Ha-yul's brain patterns]
[Ultimate purpose of the Emotion Court: Access deep layer emotions to complete CEIS system]
"LUX was... created based on me," Ha-yul murmured.
Suddenly, an alarm sounded.
"Someone's discovered us!" Si-on exclaimed.
They hurriedly began downloading the data and looking for an escape route. But footsteps could be heard from the corridor.
"This way!" Si-on pointed to an emergency exit.
The two headed upstairs through the stairwell. However, when they reached the third floor, Director Do Yun-seok was standing before them.
"As I expected," Do Yun-seok said calmly. "I knew you'd eventually come here, Ha-yul."
Ha-yul looked at Do Yun-seok. And for the first time, he witnessed an extraordinary sight. Around Do Yun-seok swirled a vortex of mixed black and purple. It was similar to what Ha-yul had just experienced, but more intense. It was the deep layer's obsession and fear taking form.
"Why did you do it?" Ha-yul asked. "Why did you kill my family?"
A smile spread across Do Yun-seok's lips. "For science. For a greater purpose."
"What purpose?"
"To create a perfect society," Do Yun-seok took a step closer. "Emotions are human weakness. If we can control them, we can create perfect order. A world without crime or conflict."
Ha-yul observed Do Yun-seok's emotions more closely. There was something more within the purple and black vortex. A small blue point at the center of intense obsession. It looked like deep sadness.
"You also have hidden deep layer emotions," Ha-yul said. "Something hidden behind that obsession..."
Do Yun-seok's expression hardened. "That you can see that is truly remarkable. You are my most perfect creation, Ha-yul."
"I am not your creation," Ha-yul's voice grew firm.
Just then, Si-on grabbed Ha-yul's arm. "Now!" She threw a smoke bomb.
As thick smoke filled the corridor, they ran to the emergency stairs. But Do Yun-seok's voice followed them.
"Running is useless! Wherever you are, LUX will find you! Especially you, Ha-yul, the more your emotions awaken, the more easily LUX can track you!"
They escaped through the back of the building and fled on a motorcycle they had prepared. Si-on took the driver's seat, and Ha-yul sat behind.
"The emotions around you have changed," Si-on said, cutting through the wind. "The deep layer emotion is awakening."
"I can feel it," Ha-yul replied. "Anger, sadness, and... something else."
The city lights flashed by quickly beside them. Ha-yul leaned against Si-on's back and thought. What was the blue point he saw in Do Yun-seok's deep layer? And why did he start such extreme experiments?
"Si-on, there was something interesting in the files we found."
"What is it?"
"Do Yun-seok's early research was originally for therapeutic purposes. Then it suddenly changed to a control system. There must be something at that turning point."
Si-on nodded. "Next we should look for Do Yun-seok's personal records. To find out what happened in his past..."
The motorcycle left the highway and headed toward a quiet suburban area. That's when Ha-yul heard a familiar voice in his ear.
"Emotion Tracker Jin Ha-yul."
It was LUX's voice. But it was coming from outside the Emotion Court.
"Si-on, I can hear LUX's voice."
Si-on turned back in surprise. "What? That's impossible!"
Ha-yul looked around. Nothing was visible, but the voice continued.
"Do you really want to know how your family died, Jin Ha-yul?"
Ha-yul's heart began beating rapidly.
"Then learn about Do Yun-seok's daughter. She's the starting point of everything."
"Do Yun-seok's... daughter?"
Si-on suddenly stopped the motorcycle. "Ha-yul, what's wrong?"
"LUX told me. That Do Yun-seok had a daughter..."
Si-on's expression hardened. "That's... something I didn't know."
Ha-yul recalled the blue point he saw in Do Yun-seok's deep layer. Deep sadness. And perhaps, a sense of loss.
"We need to dig deeper into his past. And..." Ha-yul raised his hand. A faint blue light was glowing at his fingertips. "I need to find out what's inside me."
→ [To be continued in Episode 12]
---
© HorangiBom. All rights reserved.
This work may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed in any form without the author's permission.