December 2070. McLean, VA. United Nations of America.

Oskar skillfully navigated through the invisible perimeter Amal maintained around Valorus HQ. Liam had no doubt that his old friend already knew someone was coming to visit. He had the surrounding blocks wired into his own security feeds. However, the mode of Liam’s transport marked him as a VIP, and none of the armed guards would’ve appeared to check someone else’s credentials. Amal liked it quiet around this neighborhood, so quiet it remained.

Oskar parked the vehicle and glanced at his new boss through the rearview. “You need any backup?”

“Nah, this’ll be a friendly meeting,” Liam assured him. “Amal is an old friend, and while it’s going to be a hard sell to get him to join Apex, I don’t think he’ll be offended by the offer. I don’t know how long this will be; I might be shut down immediately, or he might want to discuss it. Either way, stay here, and I’ll give you a call if something changes.”

“You got it,” Oskar nodded and rolled down the windows before cutting the engines. He seamlessly settled into the hurry-up-and-wait mentality veterans were familiar with.

Liam got out of the car and adjusted his suit jacket out of nervous habit. It had only been a few months since he had last visited Valorus, but it felt like a lifetime ago. He was a new man with a new purpose.

As a courtesy, he strode confidently into the lobby and stopped by the guard desk. He knew his way to Amal’s office, but he was no longer an employee of a company with the free reign it entailed.

“Ward,” the guard at the desk greeted him. “What are you doing here? I thought you quit?”

“I did,” Liam rescinded with a shrug. “Just here to see Amal. He in?”

“Yeah, let me call him,” the man said as he picked up the phone. A few moments later, the guard hung it up.

“Boss says you can go up. I don’t need to show you the way, right?”

“Nah, I got it. Thanks, man.” Liam replied with a chuckle.

The former employee passed the memorabilia and photographs that decorated the walls. They felt familiar and yet alien at the same time. As he passed the wall with the names of the fallen, he touched it as he passed out of respect. He reached Amal’s office and knocked politely.

“You don’t have to knock, Liam,” Amal called from inside.”Come on in; I’ve made us some tea.”

Liam obliged and immediately noticed that something was wrong with his friend. Amal’s normally peaceful, slightly yellowed eyes were bloodshot and raw, as if the man had many a sleepless night. There was a nervous agitation to his movements that only someone who knew him like Liam would notice.

Amal crossed the room and handed him a mug of hot tea before sitting in one of the chairs and gesturing for Liam to join him.

Unsure of where to begin, Liam sat down and placed the mug on the coffee table. “Hey, brother, how are you doing.”

Amal took an exploratory sip before answering. He smacked his lips and placed his tea down as well. “To be honest, my friend, not well.”

“What’s going on?” Liam asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Your last contract is causing me more trouble than I initially suspected,” the head of Valorus made a disgusted face.

“Tell me what you can,” Liam leaned forward, intent on his friend’s predicament.

“The government still has no idea who was behind the attack. They’re looking for heads, and my grace with them has just about run out–me and Redwater, it would seem,” he amended. “It looks like we’re going to lose the contract. They’re even considering shutting down the facility and moving the operation elsewhere. Ellis isn’t confident they can resume research if they can’t trace down the source of the attack, and the longer this goes on, the more likely it is they’ll cancel the contract.”

Liam frowned, not entirely understanding the problem. “So what if they end the contract? It’s not like you tied significant resources up in the facility?”

“Remember how I told you that completing this contract would put me Valorus on the map? How it would lead to bigger and better things?” he pressed.

“Sure,” Liam shrugged. “It might take longer to reach your goal, but there will be other contracts, right?”

“No,” Amal flatly replied. “The government has lost faith in Valorus. Since they can’t confirm we weren’t a part of the sabotage, they’re more inclined to write us off entirely. No more contracts and no more opportunities.”

“Shit,” Liam breathed.

Amal nodded. “I’m not one to curse, but I echo the sentiment entirely. If we’re blackballed by the government, Valorus could only take the smaller security jobs private companies offer.”

“And Valorus personnel are the best of the best,” Liam added. “If Valorus only took those gigs, you’d lose ninety percent of your people overnight.”

“You see my predicament,” Amal agreed. “Redwater is already scrambling to offer their company to the highest bidder. I’m sure you’ll see an announcement in the news shortly. They’d rather be absorbed into another company than lose access to government contracts.”

Liam winced and leaned back in his seat. He didn’t want to take advantage of his friend’s predicament–a problem he was entirely responsible for. However, the CEO saw how it would help Apex. He wasn’t sure how his old mentor would react to the knowledge that Liam was behind Valorus’s downfall. The news would eventually come out—it would have to. He couldn’t hide that information from his executive team indefinitely.

“About that,” Liam said slowly, “I might be able to help you.”

“Oh,” Amal leaned forward in his seat, “You have more information you can give me?”

Amal’s eyes were almost feverish in their intensity. The sight made Liam uncomfortable, but he didn’t see a better way to navigate the troubled waters he found himself in.

“No, I don’t,” Liam admitted. “But I have way out for your company if you’re interested.”

“I’m listening,” Amal’s voice held a hard edge.

“I’m the head of my sister’s company now. We’re working on some cutting-edge stuff, and I came here today to see if you and Valorus would be interested in joining us.”

“Joining you?” Amal quizically tilted his head. “In what capacity?”

“We’d like to buy Valorus outright and use it as our private security forces,” Liam offered tentatively.

“You mean your own private army,” Amal corrected, and Liam shrugged helplessly, not willing to admit to the accusation out loud.

Amal settled back into his seat, his features set hard in concentration. “I looked into Apex when you left, Liam. I wanted to check in and ensure you were doing alright in the civilian world. I’ve seen your books, and there’s no way you could purchase Valorus. You’re running a shoestring budget with funds provided by multiple institutional investors.”

An adrenaline spike flooded Liam’s body, but he kept his expression neutral. He hadn’t expected Amal to investigate the company. If he had seen their books, he would have had high relationships with the government. Those records weren’t public. The only people with access were the investors, comprised of government cutaways.

“I think it’s somewhat strange that you left your last contract and became the CEO of a technology company within a week–no matter that it’s your sister’s company,” Amal idly commented as if he were discussing the weather. “How’s your tea, by the way?”

Liam realized he hadn’t tried it and reflexively picked up the mug and sipped. “It’s good,” he said without actually tasting it.

“Look, Amal, if you’ve seen our company records, you know I already had a significant percentage of ownership in Apex. It isn’t so strange that my sister would appoint me the CEO. She’s more of a tech person any–”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Commander! Apex interrupted. I have detected flunitrazepam in the tea. It’s a chemical compound intended to depress your central nervous system and cause you to become unconscious.

Liam thought furiously. Flunitrazepam was also known as a roofie. He had used it extensively during his time on Delta Force and in the CIA. They would slip them into a target’s drink, and they'd be abducted in 20 or 30 minutes. The target would wake up to eight hours later inside a black site awaiting interrogation.

I’m assuming my implant filtered out the compound?

Yes, Commander.

Good. Call Oskar and get the car started. I’ll end the conversation quickly and make it to my car. He’ll think I will pass out somewhere in the hallways, and he can bag and tag me there. Instead, I’ll escape in the car before he’s any wiser.

“Excuse me, old friend,” Liam said when he returned to the present. “I lost my train of thought.”

“You explained to me how you didn’t commit treason against the Party and the country,” Amal dryly replied.

Liam frowned and stood from his seat. “Wow, Amal. I spent eleven years working for you, not counting the time I spent with you in the Army. Accusing me of treason is ludicrous.” His offense was feigned. He simply needed to end the conversation and get the hell out of there.

Amal reached into his jacket and pulled out a pistol. He aimed the weapon squarely at Liam. “Why don’t you sit down, old friend, and finish your tea,” he gestured at the mug on the coffee table with the barrel of his pistol.

Liam didn’t react immediately, considering his options. He couldn’t get trapped in the building once Amal realized the drug had no effect on him. At any point, up to fifty contractors were rotated to staff headquarters. Things would get bloody quick if he had to forcefully make an exit.

“You’re not seriously threatening to shoot me over a vague suspicion,” he protested.

“Deadly serious, Liam.” his mentor countered. “You’re the only one left with motive and opportunity. It’s enough to merit an interrogation, and I need to give the Party something to chew on instead of threatening my company.”

“I refuse to take part in this, Amal. I’m sorry you’re having trouble with your company, but it has nothing to do with me,” he growled.

He turned to leave the office, and in that split second, Amal pulled the trigger twice and fired the pistol center mass. The rounds caught Liam in the midsection, and the impact caught him off guard. He fell to the ground, gasping for his breath as the wind was knocked out of him.

Without hesitating, he drew his Glock from its holster while simultaneously, Apex flooded his brain with a biochemical cocktail that sharpened his focus, made him forget the pain, and made time feel like it had slowed. The AI also updated his HUD with a targeting reticule, firing arcs, and other useful ballistic information.

However, Liam was an experienced operator. He didn’t need the extra details and fired his weapon from the ground. His return fire caught Amal in the shoulder and the knee. The man roared in pain as his spasms made him drop the pistol.

Liam stood up, and the crushed slugs that had impacted his carbon nanotube clothing fell to the concrete ground with a tinkling sound. He quickly kicked away Amal’s pistol, which slid under the desk. After that, the CEO dragged Amal from his seat and tossed him to the ground with one burly fist. Once on the ground, he was a good target for a series of nasty kicks Liam delivered to his skull. Hopefully, it would be enough to incapacitate the man while he escaped.

He didn’t wait and rapidly turned to leave the office, hiding his gun underneath his jacket but still gripped in his fist.

Block any alarms if you can. Liam ordered Apex.

I’m sorry, Commander, I can’t. The facilities network is closed to me. I could take the time to crack its protections, but that would take about as long as it takes you to reach the nearest exit. It isn’t far.

As Apex said that, directional markers appeared on his HUD and guided him toward the nearest stairwell. Liam picked up his pace to follow the trail and winced as the action brought a fierce spike of pain to his gut.

It feels like I’ve been shot, he complained.

The clothing isn’t perfect protection, Commander. It can only protect you from penetration. The force was still transferred to your body. I could block your perception of the pain, but I don’t yet have a nuanced understanding of human physiology. I’d rather save it as a last resort if it's not affecting your performance.

Yeah, leave it alone for now, Liam agreed.

He hadn’t progressed down more than half the hallway before blaring klaxons lit up the hallway, and the overhead lights turned blood red.

“Shit,” he cursed.

He had just reached the stairwell when he heard boots pounding from below. He considered turning back, but then he’d be caught in an open hallway without any cover. Valorus HQ wasn’t a big building, and Amal’s office was only on the second floor. He’d have to fight his way down, but at least he held the high ground.

Having decided on a course of action, Liam slipped into the stairwell and waited for the first head to appear. The first Valorus trooper caught a direct shot to the skull that rained gray matter on the men coming behind him. His HUD made his shots uncannily accurate, even with a pistol.

The Valorus personnel screamed in alarm and immediately began calling for backup. Liam couldn’t let them blockade him in the stairwell, so he took the fight to them. He came down the stairs like a raging storm. Shots fired from his pistol and rained down on the crouching operators. Each bullet stole another life, and soon, a stream of blood was pouring down the stairs. In minutes, the stairs were empty of combatants, and Liam’s HUD helpfully informed him he still had one round in the chamber and six more in the magazine.

As he descended the steps, he put his pistol back in its holster and picked up a rifle from the twitching fingers of a dead operator. He checked the chamber, then pulled out the magazine to get a count. Once he confirmed the bullets, he reseated the magazine in less than a couple of seconds. He might be older, but his battlefield reflexes were still intact.

He moved close to the bottom floor door and looked through the window. Seeing no one from that side, he checked the other side too. All clear, he opened the door and sprinted out of the stairwell toward the emergency exit at the rear of the building. When he was almost to the portal, he heard shouting behind him. He slipped into the shallow alcove of a meeting room entrance. He checked inside to confirm there were no hostiles and then took a knee at the alcove's corner.

I’m inside their systems, Apex announced as the alarms abruptly cut off. Two men are waiting for you to leave cover.

A small window appeared in the corner of his HUD, showing the camera feed from the hallway.

I’ve deleted all footage of you in the facility and corrupted the audio file collected in Amal Jahar’s office. There will be no proof you were ever here.

Liam didn’t acknowledge the AI. Instead, he used the camera feed to line up his subsequent shots. When he was ready, he burst from cover and killed both assailants in the head with the help of his HUD. Danger temporarily neutralized, Liam turned and sprinted to the emergency exit and found Oskar already waiting for him. He jumped into the back of the SUV, and Oskar raced off, tires squealing.

“Fuck, jefe. Is that blood yours?” Oskar commented when they escaped the perimeter of Valorus HQ.

Liam briefly checked the mirror above his seat. “No, it’s theirs,” He said, desperately trying to calm the flood of adrenaline in his body. Now that the fighting was over, he was going through the comedown. His teeth were slightly chattering, and his hands were trembling.

“Get me to the airport, Oskar,” he ordered. “I’ve got a change of clothes. I’ll take the next flight out. Dispose of my clothes, the rifle, and the car. When you’re done, someone will pick you up and take you to the airport as well. I’ll see you in California this evening.”

“You got it, Mr. Ward,” Oskar assured him. “I knew something didn’t feel right—I should’ve listened to my instincts.”

“I’m not sure how you could’ve helped beyond what you already did,” Liam chuckled darkly as he reassured the young man. “But next time I go anywhere, I’m taking you with me just in case.”

“I’ll be ready,” Oskar promised.

While the younger man drove, Liam changed out of his blood-stained clothing into a clean duplicate. He used the complimentary wet wipes in the vehicle to remove the blood splatter from his face, neck, and hands. When Oskar pulled up to Reagan National Airport, it looked like the firefight was a figment of his imagination.

Liam passed through the airport like a ghost. Apex shielded him from electronic surveillance and even took the time to erase his presence from all forms of observation on his entire journey. As far as the UNA government was concerned, Liam had never left California.

Apex guided him through secure corridors and maintenance hallways designated for airport staff. The experienced operator walked through the spaces like he belonged there, and no one stopped him to ask him what he was doing or where he was going. Once he got to the terminal, he boarded the next flight heading to LAX under an assumed name. The alien AI quickly subverted all identity verification, and Liam boarded a military logistics aircraft without incident.

Liam couldn’t help but analyze the situation during the flight. Amal had betrayed him in a way he hadn’t expected. Also, the middle-aged contractor had definitely felt his age during the firefight. He felt slow and out-of-shape. Without his years of experience and the HUD Apex provided, he likely would have died on that stairwell to younger, better men.

Apex, can we leverage any technology to return me to prime fighting condition?

There is Commander, but Apex Industries doesn’t possess any fundamental technologies to begin development. I could simply give your people the schematics, but that would go against your standard orders to encourage innovation rather than merely hand out technology.

Liam considered the problem. Are there any companies in the world developing the basics of the tech? We could purchase them and get a head start.

Yes, Commander. I’ve identified at least seven companies that may be useful to Apex. Shall I provide a list for you and your sister?

No, this is taking a higher priority than I originally intended. Purchase the companies in ways that can’t be traced back to Apex and move them to Puerto Rico. You’ll also need to have a place for them to base out of until we start constructing our new HQ. I give you my permission to act as me in any capacity you feel would be helpful.

Acknowledged. Commander. When should this be done by?

Is March enough time?

It is more than adequate, Commander. The new staff must be lodged in expensive tourist hotels until we’ve built up our infrastructure.

For some reason, I don’t think they’ll complain. Liam chuckled.