PROLOGUE
YEAR 2075
It is already dark and late at night. The scales of the running feet can be heard. His hair is gray and he is now wearing a black coat and black hat. He seems to be in a hurry and, at the same time, seems to be avoiding something. He is restless and always looks around.
He tried to cross the road but he peeked first. There are robot cops around. Because of his haste, he had no choice but to cover his eyes with a hat and a handkerchief over his mouth and quickly crossed the line. He looked back at the robot cops again and fortunately they ignored him.
He ran again and he was well on his way to his destination. To describe the place, it looks like the big stores of the 1960's and 1970's and its very old house. But inside it is a growing number of devices that automatically function with just one word.
The interior design is minimalist, the exterior is ancient. Many unfamiliar things can be seen. Maybe familiar at this time. Much has changed over the decades of Jang Seong Wook’s tenure. He is 80 years old now.
''Open the door,'' said his husky voice.
''Voice recognized. Door open,'' replied the robot -like female voice.
From its entrance, the place inside is like in the ICU of a hospital. The surroundings are pure white. Upon entering, there is a woman lying in bed and several machines are connected to her.
Seong Wook took off his hat and approached the woman.
"How are you?" Seong Wook asked with a smile and wet eyes. ''I'm already here. Do not worry. I will do everything to heal you. Just wait.''
''What do you mean, Seong Wook? Can you just let me go?'' the woman said weakly and brokenly.
''Hyeon Ah, you can't. You can live a long time. I know many ways. I will do everything to keep you alive. We have to live, shouldn’t we?'' Seong Wook insisted.
''Seong Wook, I appreciate your efforts, but if this is my time, this is it. I don't want to prolong my life. I've been lonely and alone in my life for a long time,'' replied a woman named Hyeon Ah.
''You've been alone in your life for a long time, Hyeon Ah? How about me? Who am I? You probably know that I've been by your side all this time, right?'' Seong Wook asked, confused.
''You're right. But I still feel that because the person I love is not with me and it is not you. I still feel alone,'' Hyeon Ah replied. She also started to catch her breath and tears were already dripping from her eyes. There is also a vein coming out of her face and her face is also red because of the pain she is experiencing.
''What's going on?'' Seong Wook shouted and he tried to fix the life support machines. ''Hyeon Ah!''
''I need to rest now, Seong Wook. Sorry,'' Hyeon Ah replied weakly.
''NO!'' he shouts and does everything just to keep the person he loves alive. It just got to the point that Hyeon Ah couldn't take it anymore and she completely closed her eyes.
Seong Wook immediately entered the laboratory to take a sample of the new drugs he was experimenting with. He went back to the room where Hyeon Ah was lying and forced her to drink it.
But it's too late. Even the machine could no longer restore her consciousness. Because of the frustration Seong Wook feels, he breaks all the machines and his laboratory samples.
''What's the use of it if she's gone!'' Seong Wook shouted while throwing the items he was getting. He just sat down and cried and cried.
''What's the point of living in this world without the people you need? What's the use of these?'' he whispered to himself.
As he was losing anger, someone suddenly called his watch. He also answered it immediately and a small 3D virtual human hologram appeared on the top of the watch. She is the president of Jo Seong G-Tech Yeong Seong Ah.
''Where are you now, Professor Jang?'' she asked. ''The administration is looking for you now, yet you still have no clue. We need to stop this pandemic. You still can’t find a cure. How are your experiments?''
He just stopped being emotional and regained his seriousness, ''I'm at home now, the experiment for the vaccines is still ongoing. Compared to before, it has greater potential to heal. So after that, we will start trials immediately.''
''Fortunately, we can get incentives from the government if we are the first to get a cure for this disease. Better to do it very quickly,'' the woman replied, and Seong Wook suddenly turned off his watch.
Seong Wook just dropped his hand on the floor and thought deeply. Hyeon Ah was one of the victims of the pandemic. He was too late to cure her. What is the use of finding a cure?
But Seong Wook changed his mind again today. He had to do it for the people and for himself. More people will die if he prioritize suffering because of the loss of his loved ones. He stood up again and looked around.
His face was tired and lacking in energy, but he would do his duty to the country and for the future.
