Dara walked through the company’s main office building on her way to the conference room. When she got to the door two male security officers opened them for her.

“Thank you” Dara told them as she made her way past them. When she saw inside she noticed everyone was already there. “Good afternoon” she greeted them before taking her seat. The rest of the people all greeted her.

There were doctors, government officials, investors, politicians, and representatives of the upper social class families. They were all there to fight for the power and services of the Zblings like usual but today was even better. Today they would get a chance to meet the new president of the company, the new person in charge of the Zblings association. They will have to make a good impression and gain the new president’s favor to get him to take their cases.

It had been silent since Dara’s entrance into the room. Now it seemed like time was dragging on. No one was speaking, no sounds were made, and the main event had not started. Finally after waiting a few more minutes the doors opened once again.

Dara bit the inside of her cheek as she saw her father entering the room. “Mr. Park, good evening” all the people began greeting him. They all respected him for he was the one who had brought hope back to the human race. The creator of the only solution to the problem that could end the human race to Dara was the monster she hoped she would never have to call father.

Mr. Park stopped by Dara’s side and gave her a smile. “How are you Dara honey” he placed his hands on her shoulders like a kind father.

“Great” she answered with a fake smile. How could she smile genuinely at the man who used her as a lab rat? A man who injected an unknown serum into her when she was only 18 and to her brother a few years later was not a person worthy of being called father. Luckily for her she had become what she is today but it could have gone the other way. It’s that thought that haunts her.

Dara had been far too busy minding her father that she had not seen the man who entered with him. 

“Hello everyone, thank you for coming. My name is Jung Byunghee and I am the new president. I know it wasn’t time for another president to be chosen but it was established last month that the previous president, Mr. Yang Seungho, was taking bribes from some of you to get the Zblings services without due process. This all led to the increase in zombies, decrease in supplies, death of Zblings, and drop in the human population.” Byunghee looked around at the people. He knew who these people were but he wouldn’t humiliate them in front of everyone else. The silent shame at the moment would be enough to reveal them. Some had begun sweating and clearing their throats feeling the stares of the others.

Dara had no idea about what had happened with the previous president. Now she understood why they had so much time off recently. They were going through some hard choices in the core of the association. “Why was I not informed about this” Dara stood out of her seat.

Byunghee smirked, “I’m sorry Mrs. Park but this is an internal affair. It was kept to minimum amount of access. We didn’t want word going out to the people who were responsible or people who might have helped Mr. Yang.”

“Without us this whole thing would be a joke. A bunch of people in suits trying to find a way to survive with their useless money.” Dara pushed in her chair and bowed. “Excuse me but I don’t think I should stay here. This seems like an internal affair.” She rolled her eyes at the last part. “She knew she would hear about this again but for now she was outraged. The Zblings are doing all the work for humans to continue to exist while people in suits and white coats boss them around keeping them in the dark.

***

The next day Dara knocked on Thunder’s door. “Cheondong…Cheondong wake up.”

Thunder grunted as he heard the noise his sister was making outside the door. He turned to the side reaching for Hyuna. When he felt she wasn’t there he instantly opened his eyes. He quickly got dressed and ran out to find Hyuna but instead found Dara and Hyeri sitting at the table eating breakfast.

“Sup Thunder” Hyeri greeted Thunder and continued eating casually as if it wasn’t strange that she was there so early in the morning.

Thunder sat down at the table where he saw a plate was set for him. “What are you doing here so early?”

“Well you had my sister here and I needed breakfast after not eating all day. I said you could have her for the afternoon. I didn’t say you could keep her.” Hyeri continued to eat. She always played around with Thunder. She depended on Hyuna a lot because she was forgetful and didn’t know how to cook.

“Where is Hyuna” he asked looking around.

Hyuna came out of the kitchen with a plate of food for herself. “Here I am” she smiled as she sat down next to him.

“Hey eat your breakfast quickly we have to go” Dara told him before continuing on her own food.

Thunder yawned, “I just woke up I can’t eat so suddenly.”

Hyuna pouted as she looked at him. “But I made it just for you.”

“Fine” he sighed as he began eating. “Why do I have to hurry?”

“There’s a meeting” Hyeri said as she stole some bacon off of Hyuna’s plate.  “Chew your food Hyeri” Hyuna scolded her.

Dara laughed seeing her friend so eager to eat. “It’s a meeting for all Zblings to meet the new president and received assignments.”

***

The four of them entered the institution already seeing commotion all around them. All twenty three pairs of Zblings were there making their way to the battle arena. The arena was the biggest room there. It was used for group simulations and for yearly rankings.

As they entered the battle arena they could see some Zblings were already sitting in their assigned seats while others were running around.

Hyeri sighed “Let’s get this over with.” She waved at them as she made her way to the sixth pair of chairs.

“I guess we’ll see each other after the meeting” Hyuna began walking towards Hyeri but was instantly pulled back by Thunder. “Where do you think you’re going without giving me a kiss?”

Hyuna’s eyes widened, “Cheondong there’s too many people here.”

“I don’t care” he shook his head. “I didn’t get a good morning kiss and now you wanted to leave without giving me a goodbye kiss?”

“But-” Hyuna stopped talking as Thunder attached his lips to hers.

Dara pulled Thunder back as the president made his way inside the room. “Let’s go.”

Thunder pulled away and smiled before following his sister to their seats. Hyuna ran to her seat with a deep red blush on her face.

“Unnie you are so red.”

Hyuna looked over to her left with her hands on her cheeks. “Am I really that red Wooram?”

“Extremely” Boram answered for her sister. Boram and Wooram are the Jeon sisters, the fifth Zblings. Being after them meant Hyuna always saw them at meetings.

“Welcome everyone, I am President Jung Byunghee. From now on I will be giving out assignments. With the increase in zombies you will all be busy for the next few months. We have to decrease zombie population by 25% or there will be serious consequences.”

Zico stood up from his seat “is that a threat to us?” Taewoon pulled his brother down back to his seat “calm down Jiho.” The Woo brothers, Woo Jiho and Woo Taewoon, were Zblings pair number 17.

Byunghee remained calm as he addressed him. “I can assure you number Zico that all of you Zblings are special to us. You all are of value and have no reason to be threatened by a normal human like myself.”

“I don’t like this guy” Thunder whispered to Dara.

Dara shook her head as she kept her eyes on him. “Neither do I. He seems wrong, like he would say anything to gain the favor of those around him.”

“Exactly” Thunder agreed with her.

“Now let’s get started.” He looked down a paper he had in his hands. “The following Zblings are to be reconditioned and will not receive an assignment. When I call your number please leave.”

Hyuna gasped when she heard reconditioning was going to be announced. “This time for sure we will get it” she told Hyeri but Hyeri scoffed. “Please, Hyuna we are great. We might not have the best teamwork but we get done.”

Hyeri’s words did not comfort Hyuna. She still thought there was a chance they would be staying behind to train and retake all the necessary tests.

“Number 4, number 21, number 7…”

Hyeri turned to the right and looked at Chanhyuk with a smile. “I’m glad you stay this time. I don’t want my brother from another mother getting hurt.” She pinched his cheek. For some reason Hyeri had a soft spot for that boy. She felt he was like her younger brother and couldn’t help but treat him like one.

Chanhyuk laughed, “I guess they let me stay because of the last accident.” He looked down at his arm that was in a cast. “You two take care.”

Hyuna giggled, the only time she ever saw Hyeri acting so nice was when it came to Chanhyuk. “Soohyun take care of your brother.”

Soohyun nodded, “I will unnie.” The two of them walked to the door as quickly as possible following the others.

 “Number 5…”

Hyuna turned to look at Boram and Wooram as they got out of their seats. “Good luck you two” she cheered them on knowing that reconditioning was a brutal process and lately she had noticed both the Jeon sisters had been tired and pale.

“I think you need it more” Boram told her.

Wooram nodded in agreement, “You are all going to have it hard out there. Make all the Zblings proud. Represent us well and achieve the goals for our sakes and theirs.” The two of them quickly made their way to the exit where a doctor was waiting for them.

“Number 22, number 11, number 23, and number 19” Byunghee finished reading off the list.

Hyuna’s brow furrowed as she looked around. She couldn’t believe they were still there and weren’t being told to stay behind.

“See, what did I tell you?” Hyeri nudged her with her elbow before turning to wave at Dara.

Dara waved back in awe. She was glad to see they wouldn’t be going through trials. Hyuna and Hyeri may not show their best work in simulations but she had already seen what they can do in real life. They fed off of adrenaline, they got things done.

“Numbers 2 and 3 leave immediately. Security will you to a private helicopter at the top of the building.“ He had assigned them to do some work for a wealthy family. One who owned almost a whole continent now and needed help getting rid of zombies in the new parts they bought. “All Zblings except 1, 6, 10, 18, and 20 leave, your missions will begin tomorrow.”

“This is bull” Zico rolled his eyes as he made his way out of the place. Taewoon sighed, Zico was a handful sometimes and he didn’t know how to control him. “Sorry” he bowed to the president before walking out.

Byunghee only smirked as the room became silent. “What a temper on that one. Totally opposite from his brother” he folded the paper he had been reading from in half. “Now for the rest of you I have two big assignments. Numbers 1, 18, and 20 you take this one.” He tossed an envelope to Thunder.

He caught it then looked over at the other side as he saw the remaining Zblings.

“Numbers 6 and 10 you will be working together” he handed the envelope to Hyeri. She didn’t even look at it before passing it back to Hyuna.

Hyunwoo and Hyunmin went over to Hyeri and Hyuna with greasy smiles. “I guess we’ll be working with you two beautiful ladies again” Hyunmin said. Hyunmin was the older of the two, the leader with poor eye sight. Hyunwoo was the younger brother with a bad boy look and tendencies. He sat in what use to be Wooram’s chair and put his arm around Hyuna. “Long time no see beautiful.”

Thunder gave the envelop to Zbling number 18’s oldest and went over to his girlfriend. He took Hyunwoo’s arm off of Hyuna’s shoulder before taking the envelope from her hands. “We’ll be joining this assignment instead.

Dara looked back and forth between her group and Thunder before running over to him. “Cheondong we can’t just reassign ourselves.”

Byunghee watched the scene carefully and understood the situation. “I’ll allow it. You two are the number one pair. I’m sure you must have some valid reason.”

Hyunwoo chuckled knowing very well why Thunder had rushed over. “Worried I might sweep your girl off her feet?”

“What did you say” Thunder was becoming angry and Hyuna did not want him to start fighting. She got out of her seat and blocked Thunder’s way. “Don’t listen to him Dongie” she placed her hands on his chest and began pushing him back.

Dara placed her hand on his shoulder “listen to Hyuna.”

Thunder didn’t respond, instead he took hold of Hyuna’s hand and walked out of the room.

Dara watched Hyunwoo as he starred in the direction Thunder and Hyuna went. “Why can’t you leave my brother and Hyuna alone?”

“I’m a sore loser” he simply answered before also taking his leave.

“Control your brother” Hyeri told Hyunmin before letting him go catch up with him. Hyunmin smirked, “he’s not one to be controlled.”

Hyeri sighed before turning to Dara. “Woah” she placed her thumb in between Dara’s eyebrows. “You need to control those creases or you’ll wrinkle.”

Dara couldn’t help but furrow her brow as s