shackles

Rain pounded against the windows of the safe house, like countless tiny fingers scratching at the glass. Shao Wei sat beside Shao Chen, watching the steady waveform on the monitor. Seven days had passed, and his twin brother remained slumbering, only the occasional flutter of his eyelids hinting at a glimmer of consciousness.

From the kitchen came the sound of a coffee machine, followed by a hushed discussion between Si Qi and Li Wei. Ever since stopping the Nirvana Protocol, they had been taking turns caring for Shao Lin while assisting Interpol in analyzing the data seized from the Ouroboros stronghold.

Shao Wei rubbed his solar plexus, where a blood vessel had been aching since this morning. Over time, the strange connection between him and Shao Lin hadn't weakened, but had become even sharper. Even without physical contact, he could sense Shao Lin's basic state—for example, right now, beneath the appearance of deep sleep, Shao Lin's consciousness was actually quite active, as if he were in a long dream.

"Eat something."

A cup of hot coffee was handed to him. Si Qi stood beside him. The stubble on his chin made him look a bit more mature than his actual age. He wore a loose black T-shirt, the collar tilted to reveal his collarbone, where the faint scar from Wei Lin's dagger still remained.

"Thank you." Shao Wei took the coffee, his fingertips briefly touching Si Qi's. Even in this tense moment, this simple contact still made his heart beat faster.

Si Qi looked at the bed: "Any changes?"

"My brain waves are more active than yesterday." Shao Wei took a sip of his coffee, which was bitter with a hint of sweetness. Si Qi remembered that he liked to add a spoonful of sugar. "Did Li Wei find anything?"

Si Qi sat down on the edge of the bed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knees. "Bad news. Interpol discovered a hidden list in their Berlin base. It contained over two hundred names, labeled 'Sleepers.'"

"A new experimental subject?"

"It's worse." Si Qi lowered his voice. "It's ordinary people who have been secretly implanted with chips, mainly politicians, military officers, and entrepreneurs. Wei Lin's plan is bigger than we imagined - he not only wants to control the existing Alphas, but also wants to create a hidden army."

Shao Wei's coffee cup stopped mid-air. "How many on the list have been confirmed?"

"Only thirty-seven have been verified so far, but..." Si Qi's words were interrupted by a burst of rapid alarms.

Li Wei rushed into the room, the tablet in his hand flashing a red warning: "Tokyo! Another experimental subject has awakened!"

Three people gathered in front of the screen, watching a blurry surveillance video: in a high-end apartment in Tokyo, a middle-aged man suddenly rolled off the bed, scratched the back of his neck in pain, and then his movements stiffened strangely, and his eyes became empty.

"It's the same state as those Alphas controlled by Wei Lin." Li Wei zoomed in on the image. "Look at his wrist."

A snake-shaped tattoo could be vaguely seen under the man's rolled-up sleeves. It was simpler than Wei Lin's, but it was undoubtedly the mark of "Ouroboros".

"Interpol has confirmed his identity." Li Wei pulled up the file. "Yamamoto Yuji, a senior advisor to the Ministry of National Defense, attended NATO's Alpha Military Cooperation Forum last year."

Si Qi frowned: "Forum... Wei Lin must have been exposed to and implanted the chip there. The question is, why is it only being activated now?"

"The sixth activation point," Shao Wei said suddenly, a flashback hitting him. "Before Shao Lin fell unconscious, he mentioned 'more than one activation point.' Interpol only found five, but Wei Lin prepared a sixth, possibly with a delayed activation."

Li Wei tapped away at the keyboard. "That makes sense. If the primary protocol is interrupted, the backup system will automatically awaken the 'Sleeper' as a contingency plan." She pulled up a global map. "The question is, where is this sixth point?"

The three of them fell silent, each thinking. The sound of rain filled the silence until a hoarse voice came from the hospital bed:

"maritime."

Shao Wei turned abruptly. Shao Lin opened his eyes, his icy blue eyes sharper than ever, yet more weary. His blond hair was wet with sweat and plastered to his forehead, and his breathing was rapid but regular.

"Shao Lin!" Shao Wei grabbed his hand, "How do you feel?"

"Noisy..." Shao Lin frowned, his eyes sweeping across the room, "Too many sounds... your heartbeat, his breathing, her fingers tapping on the keyboard... it's all too loud."

Li Wei and Si Qi exchanged a confused look, but Shao Wei immediately understood - Shao Lin's perception ability was enhanced and beyond the normal range.

"The connection deepened," Shao Wei explained softly, then said to Shao Lin, "Try to focus on one voice. My voice. Can you do it?"

Shao Lin's pupils contracted and expanded, finally locking onto Shao Wei's face. "Better... a little." His voice was dry and broken, as if he hadn't used it in a long time. "The sixth activation point is at sea... a mobile platform... Wei Lin mentioned it... called 'Omega Station'."

Li Wei immediately searched the database. "Got it! A private marine research platform, registered in the Cayman Islands, operating in international waters of the Pacific last year." She pulled up satellite imagery. "It looks abandoned."

"Bait." Shao Lin struggled to sit up, and Shao Wei quickly supported him. "The real facility is underwater... connected to the submarine cable... global communication node..."

Talking seemed to have exhausted his energy. Shao Lin leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes, but his fingers were still tightly grasping Shao Wei's wrist, as if he was afraid that if he let go, he would fall into the abyss.

"You need to rest." Si Qi handed over a glass of water. "Interpol can handle this Omega Station."

Shao Lin did not take the water, but suddenly opened his eyes and looked directly at Si Qi: "You dreamed of Kyoto last night... There was a little girl in red clothes in the snow... She gave you a piece of candy..."

Siqi's expression changed: "Why are you—"

"I saw it too," Shao Wei interrupted, feeling a wave of unease. "Through the link, Shao Lin can now receive our...leaked thoughts."

Shao Lin's expression twisted. "It's not just receiving... it's invading." He swallowed hard. "Your emotions... are like a flood... I can't tell which ones are mine..."

Li Wei professionally stepped forward to check Shao Lin's pupil reaction. "Information overload. His brain is adapting to the increased connectivity." She pulled out a syringe. "A sedative will help—"

"No!" Shao Lin stepped back suddenly, almost falling off the bed. "The boundaries can't be blurred anymore... We need to be clear..." He grabbed Shao Wei's shoulders, his nails almost digging into his skin. "Teach me how to block... Please..."

Shao Wei had never seen this usually cold and reserved brother so vulnerable. He gently hugged Shao Lin, as if comforting a frightened child: "Breathe. Follow my rhythm."

Their foreheads touched, their breathing gradually synchronizing. Strangely, Shao Wei could feel Shao Lin's consciousness slowly closing like a door, blocking out any excessive perception. It wasn't a complete severing of the connection—it was more like turning down the volume.

"It worked." Shao Lin finally relaxed, tired but awake, "Thank you."

Li Wei's tablet rang with alarm again. She checked it, her face grim. "Three more 'sleepers' have awakened. In Washington, London, and Singapore. The pattern remains the same—sudden onset, followed by behavioral changes."

"We have to find a way to shut down all the chips." Si Qi walked to the window, rain snaking on the glass. "Not just block the activation signal."

"Mother's research..." Shao Lin suddenly said, looking at Li Wei, "There is an encrypted file in the hard drive... The title is 'Lullaby'..."

Li Wei quickly pulled up the file: "A triple biometric key is required... What does this mean?"

Shao Lin and Shao Wei looked at Si Qi at the same time, then at each other. A silent understanding flowed between them.

"The pheromones of the three Alphas," Shao Wei explained. "The three of us. Mother foresaw this day."

Si Qi walked back to the bedside, and the three of them formed a tight circle: "How to do it?"

"It requires synchronization... a fully trusted link..." Shao Lin's voice grew weaker, and his eyelids began to twitch. "It's not control... it's an invitation..."

His head dropped forward, and he fell asleep again, but this time his breathing was more steady, more like ordinary exhaustion than coma.

Li Wei checked the monitor. "He's just asleep. His brain needs rest to adapt to these changes." She looked out the window at the increasing rain. "We have to act quickly. Every minute that passes, more 'sleepers' could be activated."

Si Qi nodded: "I will contact Interpol and arrange an operation against Omega Station."

"No." Shao Wei said suddenly, "We need to go in person. If 'Lullaby' requires the pheromone keys of three Alphas, then—"

"—We need to be there." Si Qi finished his sentence, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Then it's settled."

Li Wei began to prepare equipment: "I'll arrange transportation and logistics. You guys..." She glanced at the sleeping Shao Lin, "take good care of him. We need him to recover as soon as possible."

After Li Wei left, Si Qi sat down next to Shao Wei, and together they looked at Shao Lin lying on the hospital bed. The rain cast flowing shadows on the window, adding a sense of fragility to the blond Alpha's face.

"Can you feel him?" Si Qi asked softly, "even now?"

Shao Wei nodded. "Like... the static from a distant radio station. Fuzzy but constant." He shook Si Qi's hand. "Can you do it, too?"

"A little bit. Mainly emotional fluctuations, not specific thoughts." Si Qi rubbed Shao Wei's knuckles with his thumb. "Will this connection... last forever?"

Shao Wei didn't answer immediately. In fact, he suspected that this connection would not only persist but also deepen over time. Siqi's mother's research had mentioned the "self-reinforcing nature of emotional connections"—the more they were used, the stronger they became.

"I don't know," he finally said honestly, "but if it helps us prevent more tragedies, it's worth it."

Si Qi leaned forward, resting his forehead against Shao Wei's. "The three of us will face this together. No matter what happens."

This simple promise weighed heavily amidst the sound of rain. Shao Wei closed his eyes, taking in Si Qi's presence and the steady slumber of Shao Lin in the distance. They were bound together by fate—or perhaps a mad experiment—but that didn't mean they had no choice.

As Shao Lin said, this is not control, it is an invitation.

The rain continued all night. The next morning, Shao Lin's condition had improved significantly. He could eat on his own, control the extent of his connection, and even recall more details about Omega Station.

"The underwater laboratory." He sat at the dining table, tapping his fingers on his coffee cup. "That's where Wei Lin kept the original chip design and the genetic samples of all the test subjects. 'Lullaby' must be performed there because it's the only place with a transmitter powerful enough to cover the entire world."

Li Wei pulled up a map of the ocean. "The nearest military base is in Guam. Interpol has coordinated a research vessel for cover, and it should reach the target area in two days."

"It's been too long." Si Qi frowned. "Based on the current rate of awakening, there may be hundreds of 'Sleepers' activated in two days."

Shao Wei looked at Shao Lin and asked, "Is there any way to remotely trigger 'Lullaby'? Even if it's just to temporarily slow down the activation?"

A thought flashed in Shao Lin's eyes. "Perhaps... local interference." He turned to Li Wei. "Are those 'sleepers' who have awakened communicating with each other?"

Li Wei checked the data: "It seems to be connected through an encrypted satellite channel. Why?"

"If I can access one of the chips..." Shao Lin's voice was dangerously calm, "theoretically, I can trace the signal path back to Omega Station and send out interference pulses."

Si Qi immediately objected: "It's too risky. If we're tracked—"

"It's decided." Shao Lin stood up, suddenly showing the strength of an Alpha. "Prepare the isolation room. I need to be completely focused."

Li Wei opened her mouth to say something, but finally just nodded and went to get ready. Si Qi looked at Shao Wei, his eyes filled with silent questions - can you stop him?

Shao Wei shook his head slightly. He knew better than anyone that once Shao Lin made up his mind, it was almost impossible to change it. This stubbornness, he realized bitterly, was a trait they shared.

The isolation room, repurposed from the safe house's basement storage room, was covered in electromagnetic shielding material. Shao Lin sat cross-legged in the center, before a laptop connected to various peripherals. Li Wei had already imported the chip data of a captured "sleeper" into the system.

"In theory, you can access his chip through this analog interface," Li Wei explained, "but once the connection is established, the other party's main control terminal will also sense you."

Shao Lin nodded expressionlessly: "How long do you expect the connection to last without being discovered?"

"Three minutes at most. Any longer than that—"

"Enough." Shao Lin interrupted her and looked at Shao Wei and Si Qi who were standing at the door, "I need you to be on standby in the next room. If... my brain waves exceed the safety threshold, inject this immediately." He handed Li Wei a pre-filled syringe.

Shao Wei stepped forward: "There should be a better way—"

"There's no time." Shao Lin's voice was rarely warm. "Brother, trust me."

This was the first time Shao Lin had so clearly acknowledged their blood relationship. Shao Wei was speechless and could only nod.

The three of them left the room and watched Shao Lin through the monitoring screen. He took a deep breath, attached two electrodes to his temples, and began to operate the computer.

The brain waves on the monitor became active almost immediately, changing from a steady ripple to a violent sawtooth pattern. Shao Lin's body trembled slightly, but his fingers continued to move rapidly on the keyboard.

"He's connecting..." Li Wei stared at another screen showing the code flow, "Oh my God, it's too fast..."

A minute passed. Beads of sweat formed on Shao Lin's forehead, and his lips began to turn pale. Suddenly, his entire body tensed, as if struck by an invisible electric current.

"The brain waves have exceeded the threshold!" Li Wei exclaimed, "We must interrupt it!"

Shao Wei held down her hand holding the syringe and said, "Wait a little longer."

On the screen, Shao Lin's lips curled up in a triumphant smile. His fingers completed the last bit of code input, then he yanked off the electrodes. At the same moment, all the devices flashed simultaneously before returning to normal.

The door was flung open. Shao Lin staggered out, his face pale but his eyes bright. "Success... The interference pulse has been sent... There will be no new awakenings within 48 hours..."

Then his knees gave way and he fell forward. Shao Wei and Si Qi simultaneously stepped forward to catch him.

"Price?" Si Qi asked briefly, helping Shao Lin to the sofa.

"The connection... has deepened." Shao Lin pointed weakly at his head. "Now I can sense all the 'Sleepers'... It's like hundreds of radio stations playing at the same time..."

Shao Wei placed a wet towel on his forehead and asked, "Can it block it?"

"Partially." Shao Lin closed his eyes. "But it's worth it...it buys time..." His voice became increasingly quiet. "Omega Station...must be destroyed...Lullaby..."

When Shao Lin fell asleep again, the three of them tiptoed out of the room. Li Wei checked the computer records: "He did succeed. The interference pulse has been sent, covering all known 'sleepers'. But..."

"But it's only temporary," Si Qi continued, "We still need to go to Omega Station to perform 'Lullaby'."

Shao Wei looked out the window at the sunlight, the sky clear after the rain. In two days, they would be heading to the Pacific, facing unknown dangers. But at that moment, looking at Shao Lin sleeping soundly on the sofa and Si Qi standing firm beside him, he felt a strange sense of calm.

Regardless of the outcome, they are no longer experimental subjects, no longer pawns. Their choices, their emotions, their sacrifices - these are all real and not controlled by any chip.

Li Wei's tablet suddenly rang with an emergency alarm. She checked it, her face drastically changing. "Another 'sleeper' has awakened! But he's not on the list... In Moscow..."

"The interference pulse failed?" Si Qi asked.

"No..." Li Wei enlarged the image, "This person... is different."

The photo shows a tall, thin, middle-aged man standing on the edge of Moscow's Red Square. His sleeves are slightly rolled up, revealing not a simple snake tattoo, but two intertwined snakes.

"Twin snakes..." Shao Wei felt an inexplicable chill, "What do you mean?"

Li Wei's voice was filled with unprecedented tension. "According to Wei Lin's files, there's a more secretive faction within Ouroboros... They believe there should be two control hubs, checking and balancing each other."

"Another 'Mr.'" Si Qi understood, "Wei Lin is just one of them."

Shao Wei looked at the sleeping Shao Lin and suddenly realized that this battle might have just begun. Somewhere, there was another controller like Wei Lin in action, and they had been exposed.

In the distance, on a tall building beyond the safe house's surveillance range, the lens of a telescope briefly reflected the sunlight before disappearing into the shadows.