With no windows allowing anyone from the outside to peer in, the AMRI exuded an elusive, almost mysterious vibe. The secretive nature of the research had elicited nefarious rumours from the other service branches, who wondered what went on within the four walls housing these evil geniuses.

  As the defence budget increased, they requested more greenery be planted throughout its massive compound. Citing the need for natural therapy only Mother Nature could provide, it was somehow…approved. With their oversized leaves and trunks, the gigantic trees became the entrance to the mental asylum housing the craziest minds. How fitting that this forest-like design also carried a secondary use case for preventing satellite scans from locating this research institute with pinpoint accuracy.

  “–Does it bother you, young Smith?”

  Ivan folded his arms as he gazed upon the swaying branches of the cedar trees his mentee had instructed the landscapers to grow.

  “I should be redirecting the question back at you. Does it bother you, sir?”

  “I’ve passed the point of caring.” Ivan chuckled a little. “A trial by fire that was…”

  “Likewise, I don’t expect anyone to understand my core motivations. Our goals.”

  “You speak as though their words carry no weight.”

  “I don’t think the opinions of our fellow commanders matter much, sir.”

  “Why is that so?”

  Both mentor and mentee occupied their air-conditioned military minibus’s backseat, a luxurious escort vehicle compared to the other commanders who had to sit in open-air military jeeps.

  “Their faces.”

  For those lukewarm commanders whose only combat experience revolved around practising drills and evading responsibilities during their days in the Swan Contingent, witnessing the slaughter of their neighbouring citizens through a video recording had scared the living daylights out of them; these wannabe soldiers had never seen hell on earth before.

  However–

  Those sickening faces tried to portray disgust when their rawest emotions hidden in their cowardly hearts subconsciously split their gleeful happiness. Humanity has always strived to look for a scapegoat: something that would shoulder their responsibilities for them. With those undying soldiers who could charge into the battlefields without falling and getting back up without respite, it just felt eerily…perfect. It was like the ultimate proxy created to fight in place of their hypocritical oath.

  “Sir, for as long as they don’t have to participate in combat, they would agree to it. You know them better than I do.”

  “Young Smith, we have a busy day ahead." Finally, those illogical sacrifices on that cursed island made sense to him. When one pledges their life and soul toward a goal that eclipses themselves, nothing matters except fulfilling that cause. Even if he had to dip his toes into the fiery lakes of hell to harness and master the hellfire, he would willingly do it. And that was the hill Ivan would die on.

  Neptune squinted his eyes as the foliage of cedar trees blanketed the minibus in the natural abyss. “Sir, those old bastards in their high horses and exploding uniforms just can’t wait to see the great work in action.” Those old geezers who set them on this path in the name of unifying the Federation, would they fight the battle they started instead of delegating those beneath them to fight in their stead? He remembered that awful nightmare of conversing with them before that massacre.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Our timeline is tight. There’s somewhere we have to go. The runs have not been good.”

  “I’m surprised by the results. They don’t seem to tally with what I remember the last time we conducted the tests.”

  “They've been saying the runs only seem to work when we’re around. I do not want to warrant thoughts that we carry the goddess of luck on our shoulders, but it's about time we do a proper analysis and investigation into the system.”

  The final resting place of the technological regime that ruled the earth since the mythical Atlantis, the legendary tombstone that enshrined those who willingly assimilated into a monolithic hive mind that unleashed hell upon this realm thirty-three years ago. The origin of the Singularity War: the Smart Grid.

  “Do you think the higher-ups would allow us there, sir? What we have been working on were mere compartmentalised systems brought out because they don’t affect the overall architecture. It took our analysts a year to properly disengage them from where they were stored.”

  “At the command level, those officers only seek results.”

  “We have the new campaign planned, don’t you think allocating all resources toward Project Faceless will be more appropriate? Once we attain what the South has, we can always return to the…fine, I get it.”

  Neptune saw his mentor folding his arms, understanding that recognisable body language: the full stop in physical form.

  “Is this one of those ‘on a need to know basis’ things?”

  “No comments. It is up to your interpretation.”

  “Sir, you can share them with me. You know I can alleviate our problems!”

  “You can’t fathom how deep this goes–” It seemed as though Ivan was warning his mentee. “–and spirals around everyone. Regardless of geography, we have our roles to play. You. Me. Him.” There was a slight pause. “And them.”

  “Who is ‘him’ and ‘them’?”

  “I need you to focus on one thing at a time.” Ivan brushed away that question, switching subjects entirely. “Your task is Project Faceless; everything else is secondary. Do as you are told. We are all working towards the ultimate goal–”

  “Please, sir!” Neptune didn’t like the layers of secrecy within the research institute, but was forced to oblige with the numerous classification protocols.

  “We have arrived.” A feminine, meek voice spoke from the front passenger seat as the vehicle seemed to have stopped. The VC (Vehicle Commander) informed her escorts behind before addressing the transport operator beside her. “Corporal, I’ll guide you to the parking.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Brenda jumped out to assist the transport operator with gestures as he sounded the car horn, which was part of military transport protocol.

  Ivan could not help but notice his mentee’s longer-than-usual lingering gaze. He looked at his mentee with a fatherly expression and groaned loudly. Lately, he had heard rumours about his mentee’s philandering ways and had to confront him about them.

  “...You and her.”

  Neptune remained silent, refusing to look at his mentor. He was only forced to turn after hearing the horn blare again.

  “Everyone knows. You haven’t been cleaning your tracks, young Smith.”

  “This has nothing to do with my performance. I doubt my personal–”

  “You don’t get it, do you?”

  “Sir, my personal affairs do not affect Project Faceless’s performance! When have I–”

  “Did I question your performance during duties? Have I? Correct me if I have?”

  Ivan floored his mentee, making him unable to rebut.

  I heard about your…How should I phrase it? Colourful extracurricular affairs? I’m not here to lecture you on your conduct, as you have never allowed it to interfere with your duties at the AMRI. There are too many of them involved. However, she is our subordinate, and if she finds out about the rest–and god forbid the others about her…what do you–”

  “No, she won’t. Everything is under control.”

  “If you do not harbour any genuine feelings towards her–”

  “Sir, let’s go.”

  Without waiting for his mentor to exit the vehicle, Neptune left without another word. He could not understand the rationale behind his mentor’s words, for those acts he committed had no strings attached.

  Because to him, everyone–and everything–exists to serve his needs.