I was pleased.

Well, as much as I could be considering the circumstances. At least Jacob didn’t throw the bear to my face. He looked good all things considered. He was healthy at the very least. Maybe someday I’d get to actually know him. Wouldn’t that be nice.

My glasses were dirty. Pulling out a small piece of cloth from my pocket, I cleaned them. The skeleton creaked as I applied pressure to it and I could feel it wasn’t in its best condition. I chuckled softly to myself. I was the man in charge of preparing one of the most powerful weapons of all mankind and here I was concerned about the structural integrity of my glasses. Glasses that I didn’t even actually need.

And I didn’t even have anything to drink.

I sighed as I put them back on. Riding the elevator down to the Force’s outpost alone was an experience I hadn’t felt in a long time. Even Henry wasn’t there, standing behind me like the grim reaper waiting to collect my soul.

Overdramatic, much? You just met your son for the first time in nearly all of his life. Sure you butchered it in the end, but I’d like to think you can do some damage control.

It would be for the best if Jacob and I never got much further than simple coworkers. There was a lot that needed to be done, and emotional attachment wouldn’t do either of us much good.

I slammed my hand down to my wheelchair’s armrest. There really were no words to describe how awful I was.

Oh there are some. But you like to pretend you’re too proper to use them.

Well, insane was certainly a word to describe if talking to a voice in my head was my passtime.

As the elevator doors opened, my ears were greeted by an unusual sound. That of someone giving orders. A woman was standing in front of Henry, in my position, shouting down at the poor technicians. Looking closer I noticed she was wearing wireless headphones and looking down at a tablet in her hands, although I couldn’t see what was on it from my vantage point.

“May I ask what’s wrong?” I said in German, rolling my way over to the newcomer and Meiers.

“Dame un momento.” said the woman as she turned around to face me.

She was a tan brunette with green eyes. Her angry look and professional appearance made her somewhat intimidating, but after having stared down a berserk Progression Series it felt rather substandard.

“I prefer not to have my work interrupted.” said the woman in English as she looked down at me. Her height was far from impressive, even shorter than Henry’s mediocre height, but due to my condition, it seemed like I was looking up at most people.

“And I prefer to know who’s in my base of operations.” I smirked at her. “My name is Professor John Lekkas, I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“Carolina Rosita Cardozo Rivera.” said the woman with a salute. “Colonel Carolina Rosita Cardozo Rivera. News travels fast Professor. Bad news especially. And the battle against Subject 23 was definitely bad news.” she said, quickly dropping any pretense of kindness and respect.

“Stereotypically long name, isn’t it?” I smirked. “Do you have any actual misgivings about my handling of the situation? We stopped it at an unpopulated area and the pilots are in perfect health. I’d say I handled this quite efficiently.”

The woman looked absolutely livid at me, and I took a strange sort of sadistic pleasure from that. One could never say I denied being an absolute prick. I noticed her looking over at Henry, as if debating whether or not she could speak freely in front of him.

“Do not worry ma’am.” said Henry in English as he stood in attention. “I am the personal guard of the Professor, and as such I am fully informed of the true nature of our mission.”

Colonel what's-her-face sighed before looking back at me. “This attack was Foretold. You could have just requested another part of the Progression Series. We’re already struggling to keep the semi-peace with the Eastern Alliance; you taking unnecessary risks will not help our cause. For God’s sake, you sent out children. Your own son.”

I gripped my chair tighter. “Do not question me colonel. My methods had results. Tell your bosses that if they wanted us to be on a proper schedule then they shouldn’t have had a fool experimenting on Mark Nine. Regarding the Eastern Alliance, it is not my job to play politics and fight the war. My job here is beyond your pay grade.”

The woman smirked at me this time. “Only that’s not quite the case.” She activated her tablet once more, swiping her way to a certain page before handing it to me.

I barely managed to contain myself from throwing it back to her face as I read what was on it. The Free Union’s Defence Force officer: Colonel Carolina Rosita Cardozo Rivera is given full clearance to assume military command of Unit Nine. As such she will be updated by the scientific head, Professor John Lekkas on all matters related to Project Progression.

They really screwed me over, huh?

All major superpowers of the world shifted. It all started on July twenty-fourth, 2030. A new series of discoveries and war. Untold devastation, an endless winter. And it was all just a means to an end. I was one of the few that was both brilliant and foolish enough to discover what lies behind the curtain. Which was why I was trapped in this accursed chair and organization.

“What name do you go by in your day-to-day life colonel?” I asked as I handed her the tablet back, the beginnings of a plan forming in my head.

“I’m Rosita to my friends and family. But you are not either, Professor.”

“Of course not.” I chuckled. “But I am a man with a plan. And with you two here-” I gestured to Henry and Rosita, “-I will not be able to accomplish them. So I’ll have to take another risk and tell you the truth that I discovered fifteen years ago.”

The truth behind everything. The attacks, the wars, and what happened on that fateful day. A way to make the world as it should be. I had to reveal it all, and it had to be to two people who’d, as far as I knew, just as soon put a bullet in my head for treason rather than help me.

You can’t do that! The plan. It wasn’t supposed to be ṯ̴̇h̸͎̊i̴̳̇s̸͔̿ ̶̹͑wą̴͘y!

“Finally.” I said under my breath. “You start to reveal yourself among the torrent of voices.”

“Professor? What’s wrong?” asked Henry in Greek, although I could see behind his false concern.

“I would like you two to escort me to the lower level of this outpost.” I said in English.

“There are lower levels? Such a thing does not exist!” asked the colonel, and I could make out some Spanish words muttered under her breath, and I was certain they weren’t kind.

“There is much you don’t know.” I said to her. “Most of the people in this room, in the world, know only half-truths and lies. The Progression Series, what actually happened during the year twenty-thirty and our end goal. Well, the end goal of my colleagues and higher-ups. My plans deviate a bit, and I hope I can convince you to join me.”

“Tell us then! Explain yourself!” Henry nearly shouted, reverting back to his natural German.

Do not tell them. You said it yourself that you cannot trust them. You spent years crafting this plan. And you are far too incompetent to manipulate them. You sacrificed everything! You gave them your life, your son!

“Let’s go downstairs and I will.” I smiled. “For now, let’s just say that we are all puppets, and I think it’s time to cut the string.”