048. Torschlusspanik

Karabash, Russia.
Bayu smiled and took a long breath. Breaking the mental chain that bridged communication through telepathy was quite simple. He just needed to remove the clip earring that served as the transmitter for a while. Talking with his son during a mission proved to be harder than he thought. After what he estimated to be enough time, Bayu then put it back on. Andrei was the first to criticize the man. According to him, Bayu's actions seemed like abandoning his juniors.
"It's time for them to fly on their own," Bayu retorted. "We can't keep working like this, Andrei. We might grow more experienced with each case we solve but we can't stop the growth itself. We humans grow old. Oswald knew that. He stepped back from action and contributed all his skills and experiences in the form of instructions from behind the desk. It's time for us to act as supporters and continue the cycle of regeneration!"
"No need to throw yourself into the fray to let the young ones spread their wings, Bayu." Oswald retorted.
"It seems I'm experiencing what the Germans call *torschlusspanik*," Bayu explained. "The death of my comrades made me realize that I am the only senior field agent of Division 96 left. I know I can't keep being the director and decision-maker for the next generation. But, as long as I stay among them, their movement will be hindered by the hierarchy of our cultural etiquette."
"I should’ve known," Oswald muttered. "You’ve been scheming all along, haven’t you, old wolf? Is that why you left two recording chips in my bloody jacket?"
The man chuckled through his labored breaths. "The world has changed a lot. I believe that the younger ones will be more capable of adapting to the new world that we stumble along trying to follow," he continued. "As parents, our duty is to prepare our children to face life's challenges independently. I hope that the next generation of Division 96 can do everything in their own way. And I hope you are willing to help them as you have helped me and my predecessors."
For a moment, everything fell silent. Bayu's words put his two comrades in contemplation. Suddenly, the man noticed a glimmer of light in the distance. The vastness of the multi-layered metal tunnel prevented him from slipping away unnoticed. And he didn't know what he would face. The lack of oxygen and the high consumption of blood sugar from the telepathic link slowly gnawed at the man's stamina. However, EPCU needed evidence to justify its task force's act. And OCK also needed evidence for EPCU to agree to reimburse the operational costs.
"This will be the last time we talk," said Bayu. "I will only activate the visual transmission. It's an honor to work with all of you!"
Without waiting for a response, he severed the two-way communication in the telepathic link. With determined steps, Bayu approached the light at the far end of the tunnel. His right hand caressed the pocket of his pants to ensure that the thumb-sized bomb named the Black Capsule was still there. Despite its small size, the bomb had a power of four kilotons of TNT, almost parallel to the strength of the atomic bombs that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.
Unlike the bomb dropped by the plane named Enola Gay, the Black Capsule did not result in prolonged radiation. Nevertheless, any metal would melt from the heat of its explosion. That devastating bomb was developed through the collaborative efforts of EPCU units from the US, Japan, and Germany. Unfortunately, the high production cost meant that only wealthy countries could possess the sophisticated explosive.
As he approached the end of the corridor, the smell of copper became increasingly acrid, and bitter in the back of his throat. Bayu sensed movement as the light blinked there. His hands delved into the pockets of his jacket, gripping a mjorask-made dagger, whose production cost rivaled that of the Black Capsule. EPCU units in third-world countries could only afford vaendrium-made bladed weapons, even though both metals were originally developed by Division 96 with the assistance of beings from other dimensions.
At the end of the corridor, a large metal gate adorned with intricate carvings was illuminated by lights from the ceiling. From its form, Bayu could discern that the gate possessed technology beyond human civilization's current mastery. It was a sight that shouldn't be found dozens of kilometers below Karabash.
However, it was the figure Bayu saw in front of the gate that made his eyes widen. No words were fitting to describe the horror-inducing creature. The being was a fusion of a human skull with joints and muscles made of metal adorned with cables and pipes at various angles. Despite its terrifying appearance, Bayu acknowledged a peculiar beauty in the creature that resembled a grotesque dystopian-futuristic work of art.
Bayu stood just a few strides away from the enigmatic figure. However, the creature seemed oblivious to his silent approach. The man's logic worked in tandem with his gaze, investigating every detail in his surroundings. Like every member of Division 96, Bayu possessed the ability to see clearly in the darkness. Yet, the creature before him appeared no different from an ordinary human in need of light to see clearly. Unfortunately for the creature, the illumination in the area only reached the vicinity of the gate.
Bayu felt confident that he could easily incapacitate the being. However, the unfamiliar technology of the gate intrigued the middle-aged man, overpowering his fighter's instincts with curiosity. With no opportunity for stealth, Bayu straightened his posture and calmly walked toward the gatekeeping creature.
"*Savargha*!" he greeted in the Eldest Tongue.
Instantly, the skeletal creature erected its form, wielding a spear with a razor-sharp blade that emitted a greenish glow directed at Bayu. Its posture mirrored that of a well-trained warrior confronting an unwelcome threat.
"*No mortal soul doth endure where thy footsteps fall! Who art thou?*" it demanded.
The creature's words startled Bayu. Not because of its voice, dry and cold like the heavy gusts of wind through metal pipes, but because the creature spoke in a language resembling archaic Russian with a dialect and word arrangement he had never heard before. The creature's language sounded ancient to Bayu's ears. Unfortunately, despite mastering more than six languages, Bayu was unfamiliar with ancient languages other than the Eldest Tongue.
"Do you understand my words?" he asked in Russian.
"The Light has taught us the language of surface dwellers," replied the creature, then repeated its question in a much more modern language, "Who are you?"
"I am Bayu. I do come from the surface," answered Bayu. "My arrival is to investigate the existence of your kind. Based on my findings, I will decide whether to assist, leave be, or eradicate your kind. Now, can you open the gate for me, Friend?"
The creature remained completely still. Despite its entire head being a skull, Bayu noticed a wrinkled black membrane inside its eye sockets. Amidst the skin resembling folded bat wings, pale blue eyes stared sharply in his direction.
"Alright then," Bayu said lazily. "Come at me!"