Chapter 10

“Cheng, how’ s the turnout for this year's round of bleaks?”

Swati asked, he was pacing up and down the room, his hands tucked firmly behind him, his trusty gripper still in his palm.

He looked worried, almost as if he really didn’t want to hear the answer to that question. He would stop mid lap and turn his gaze towards the still unresponsive monitors before continuing on his way.

This sort of behavior surprised Cheng, everyone in the UN was familiar with the director's obsession but no one really understood the reason behind it.

Cheng pondered what might be the reason behind his obsession. The director was someone he’d admired and took great pride in working for, he knew about his impulsive nature and frankly he didn’t mind it one bit.

He believed he’d found his place because no matter the case this man was responsible for humanity’s survival and according to Cheng, he was doing a great job at it, better than most would have.

Cheng had unwavering belief in the director, so that’s why the whole situation didn’t make sense to him, he had just informed the director of a possible incoming attack, one that might claim the lives of countless of their comrades, a situation that would warrant immediate action but for some reason the director was more concerned with the monitors?

He seemed to be more devastated with their unresponsiveness than actually the possibility of dozens of their own people losing their lives.

“Everything is going ok sir, station two has released their bleaks, they are currently undergoing a psych debrief. Station three is still accepting their recalls, they reported that 60% have already turned up for their round of bleak protocol. They estimate that they’ll have a 90% plus turn out this time”

Cheng reported, he’d delivered the news with all his enthusiasm hoping it would bring the director some kind of relief, save him from his unending turmoil. He looked at the director waiting eagerly for the second his mood would change, for the second he would crack a smile, even if it was just for a second, he would welcome the sight but... it never came, the director never smiled.

Swati let out a loud sigh.

“The calm before the storm huh?!”

He replied, continuing to pace around the room. The squeaking sound from the gripper could still be heard mid his strides, he was still pressing on it, he was still furious.

“Damn it Kade, you backstabbing asshole”

Swati shouted in a frenzy, his eyes were wild, his breathing was heavy.

Cheng took a step back, he was familiar with his boss’s raging moment, but this... this felt different this felt personal.

“Kade?”

He thought to himself, he had been working for the director for 10 years now and not once had he heard of Kade, was he perhaps the reason behind the director’s foul mood, if so then who was he? Questions swamped Cheng’s mind, questions he had no answers to.

He looked at the director, the rage on his face, his desperate need to get a response from the monitors, the mysterious man Kade just what was going on here.

“Say Cheng, just how much do you know about the reapers?”

Swati asked, he’d completely stopped his pacing. He looked straight at Cheng, his dagger like eyes fixated on him.

Cheng buckled from the pressure, the intensity of the stare felt like it was leaving holes in him, it felt strange, it felt... intrusive.

“Not much sir, just that they are a radical group who oppose the UN’s bleak protocol, and that their top officials are still a mystery even to us”

Cheng finally brought himself to speak.

“Hmm I figured you’d say that, not much is known about them but have you ever wondered why?”

Swati asked, he had a serious look on his face, it was clear this wasn’t just an ordinary question, there was more to it. Cheng took a moment to collect his thoughts, he dared not speak out of turn, not to this man and especially not now.

Of course he’d wondered about that, who in the organization hadn't. The reapers had been a thorn on the UN’s side for the longest time, a group that suddenly emerged from the shadows 50 years ago, wreaked havoc and quickly disappeared as quick as they had appeared leaving behind no trace.

The damage they’d dealt, the impression they’d left, it was clear that they had serious backing, be it financially or politically otherwise how would you explain their seemingly endless operation funds , their capability to ‘rescue ‘ and vanish with thousands of people from the cryogenic stations leaving behind no trace almost as if they’d vanished from the face of the world.

All of this was strange indeed, and it had been a question that troubled Cheng, he looked at the director, he could see it, he could see there was more to be told, he knew something, something he previously couldn’t talk about, something that was eating him up.

Cheng moved closer, he needed to let the director know he was aware of his attempt and he was ready to listen.

“Listen Cheng, the reason why the reapers always seem to be one step ahead of us, the reason why they always seem to get passed our security is because … they are us”

“What?!!!”

Cheng yelled out, he couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The reapers; an underground organization that had fought against the UN for as long as he could remember, an origination that had led to the death and abduction of thousands of people all around the world, the radical group that kids were warned against. They were part of the UN? But how? How was any of that possibly? Just what was he hearing.

Cheng felt his knees give in, he felt himself get dizzy.

**Thud**

He dropped to the ground, sweating, panting, he was having a panic attack and it was bad. Swati looked at Cheng from the corner of his eye. He understood, the news was heavy, if he was in his position he would have reacted in the exact same way. He gave him a second to recover.

He knew it was the right thing to do, but also...

Swati looked at the monitors once again, they were still unresponsive, he let out a sigh.

Judging by Cheng’s reaction he knew it would take him a while to adjust to the news, he understood, but still the worst was yet to come, he hadn't even gotten to the good parts yet.

“huuuuh”

“This is going to be a long day.”