10 minutes later

The elevator dinged, and it’s doors opened, so I stepped out, I walked into a short hallway, with two large guards carrying assault rifles and wearing titanium armor twice as thick as my own.

After the hallway, there was a small room with a desk with computers and two keypads on it, to the right, with a female receptionist sitting in the chair behind it.

At the end of the small room were two metal automatic doors, with a red light above them, signifying that it was locked.

I stepped forward, and one of the guards reached their arm out, stopping me with their palm.

“Cooper asked for me.”

With an annoyed, gruff voice, the other guard said “He’s busy. He’ll call for you when he’s done.”

I stepped forward further, only for both guards to push me back with their rifles.

“Look sir. I said—”

”I don’t care what you said. I could kill every single person in this building in a fight if I so wished. Don’t fucking test me.”

The guard on my left pointed their gun at me, and said “Sir! If you continue to refuse to follow instructions, we’ll have no choice but to incapacitate you.”

I moved forward, placing my chest against the barrel, before saying “Do it. I fucking dare you.”

The door’s light turned blue, then green, and the doors opened, revealing a seemingly chipper white man with green eyes and slicked back brown hair in a black and white suit and tie.

“Steve!” the man greeted, opening his arms invitingly, “Sorry about the guards. You know they’re just doing their jobs…”

“Sir… he just… threatened the entire building.”

“I heard. And that’s your fault. He’s our best soldier, and anybody with half a brain of knowledge about him knows not to piss him off.”

…

“But eh, mistakes happen! We all make them. After all, I wouldn’t be born without mistakes!”

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Hesitantly, the guards stepped to opposite sides of the hallway, letting me through. I followed Cooper into his office, and the doors closed behind us.

His office had a small desk in the far back, with nothing but a computer and just enough space for a paper and pen, and on the left wall was a bunch of “trainee of the month” pictures. I was on every single one for the past 2 years.

“So…” Cooper trailed off, walking behind his desk and running his hand along the top of the leather chair.

“I bet you’re wondering why I wanted to speak with you.”

I said nothing.

“Well, I just wanted to congratulate you on finding a unit. I know you prefer to work alone… but it’s best that you learn to work with others so you get to your maximum potential.”

He then sat in his chair, leaned back, and added “You know?”

“Quit with the bullshit. Do you have a mission for us? Or do you just want to flex your power and wealth on me again?”

Cooper put his fingers to his chest, made an offended facial expression, and said “I would never! Though… that actually reminds me. Your team won’t be able to go on any real missions for a bit. Legal stuff. It tends to get in the way of action.”

“I said…”

”I know, I know. ‘Quit with the bullshit’,” Cooper interrupted, swaying his head side to side, “I heard you the first time.”

Cooper swung his chair around, making the back of his chair face me.

“I wanted to talk with you about… Josh. He’s been lying to us.”

“More like just hiding the truth. As skeptical as he is, I can tell he isn’t lying about anything.”

Cooper swung his chair back, completely unconvinced, and replied “You haven’t been near him. Whenever there’s been a power outage, he’s always been in the building. He’s been ‘begging for forgiveness’ from you and acting innocent for months.”

“Oh, and you haven’t?” I mocked.

“Oh, hah hah. Very funny.”

…

“Look, it’s not that I don’t trust him… I know he wouldn’t betray us. But he’s also more than he appears.”

“Before you ask me anything… no. I refuse to do any favors for you, unless it’s an order. Even then, it depends on the order.”

Cooper stepped up from his chair, turned around, and locked his hands behind his back.

“You ever been betrayed, Steve?”

“Not without me figuring out they’re a traitor first.”

“If you manage to figure out they’re a traitor… then they aren’t one. It’s the ones you completely trust that can betray you.”

…

I took one step back, turning halfway around, before Cooper said finally “Your team’s first assignment should be in a couple months. Maybe less, if you get lucky.”

As soon as he was done talking, I finished turning around, and left the room. I then saw Dylan. We started walking to the elevator.

“What is it dad?” A twinge of guilt plucking my heart upon saying the final word.

“I wanted to ask if you wanted to lead the team.”

“First, none of them, aside from Issac, truly trust me. Second, you were already doing a pretty good job leading them.”

“I’ve never been a good leader.”

“But… you have.”

“You’ll know what I mean one day…”

I sighed.

“Look. I know it’s difficult, working with other people you haven’t yet learned to trust… but these are good people. Issac and I have worked with them for years.”

“Yeah. And your unit was the worst one in the U.S. government until I came along. Even still, they haven’t gone on a single mission with me yet.”

Groaning slightly, Dylan took a moment to think.

“Just… give them a chance. Ok? For me?”

“Alright… this better work out.”

Everything ends up fixing itself eventually. Except humanity. We’ve pretty much fucked ourselves over. :3