People were moving away from the back corner like grease before lye. Some pushed their way down isles yelling at those in front. Others jumped seat backs to get distance heedless of the people they landed on.

Whamm!

Double doors slammed open, rebounding, as if inconsequential, off a white-robed man yielding black batons. He spilled through, back peddling and pursued by a pair midnight figures also yielding similar batons–the Texier security force.

In seconds the attendee retreat was an all-out, chaotic flood to flee.

More white figures followed in moments, all locked in combat with one or more black clad figures. The men in white moved inhumanly fast, but the Texier guards, wrapped in near-impenetrable graphene bodysuits, matched them, pressing the assailants back.

The spectacle of sleek, matte-obsidian figures battling hand-to-hand with the attackers attired in flowing white held a mesmerizing, unworldly grace.

Bendik’s poetic eye imagined them as shadow warriors and twisted soul ghasts. Chosen colors inverted from those iconically associated with good and evil, and pitched against each other for the fate of all.

In truth, the reality of was not so far removed.

The Texier security force were hard-headed ex-special forces. All hand-selected by his director of security, Oliver Ward. Oliver booked no excuses when it came to his job, and these guards reflected that. His skill in combat, leader’s mindset, and hardline integrity were the backbone of his division.

These qualities, along with his affable nature and quick wit, made Oliver one of the few that Bendik called friend.

Watching the seemingly scripted chaos, Bendik found himself grateful for Olli’s foresight. Upon assuming command of Texier Security, he’d reworked company threat management policy. Of note right now, Olli banned guns on all Texier sites, then approached Bendik with a simple question: Could Bendik create something to stop guns from functioning on company property?

Olli had explained that a firearms ban enforced via inspections and propellant sniffing would burden his men, inconvenience everyone, and ultimately be ineffective. A determined enemy strike team could simply cut a fence, ram a gate, or mule weapon pieces separately on multiple vehicles.

Preventing a resolute adversary from smuggling guns in without turning each Texier property into Fort Knox was simply impossible. The only viable solution was to impede the capacity of firearms to function.

So, Bendik created it.

And in so doing, he’d been inspired. A wild idea had begun to roll around in his head. It wasn’t the idea, the one that might save humanity from themselves. But it was an essential piece of the big one.

World shaking ideas aside, in that meeting, Olli had also explained why he wanted the policy. “Violence and threatened violence with a gun are easy,” he’d said. “Point and shoot sums it up. A child, a ninety-year-old cripple, or even a trained goat, strapped with a Glock and a remote targeting system, can pose a lethal threat with a gun.

“But, being an effective killer without a gun is harder. You need talent, years of training, and a place to refine those skills without getting arrested. Not to mention the will to walk the killer’s path and, the luck to survive it all.”

Bendik could clearly remember Oliver’s cold eyes and short laugh when he concluded, “There’s not many of us and I plan to hire the best. At least, the best that aren’t amoral fuck-tards.”

Olli had seemed more a piece of cold steel at that moment than a human being. A man transformed into a purpose-built tool.

Bendik had been, and still was, glad for the perspective. Since that day he’d been mindful of having assumed responsibility for directing the lethal weapon that was Oliver Ward.

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The man didn’t know it, but in being who he was: a deadly, clever, and insightful tool serving a larger purpose–he’d given Bendik that role to fill. And in the mindset elicited, Bendik gained deep insight into the mind of the enemy. In his battle for humanity, that mental window was an invaluable gift indeed.

Taking upon himself that burden had been a beautiful moment that expanded his understanding and clarity of purpose. From that moment and others like it, Bendik had learned to be ready for these beautiful moments. And so, he moved through life like a curious cat, willing to play his part whenever one arose.

With firearms set aside and decked in Texier body armor, Oliver’s men were arguably the most dangerous in the world. They’d saved his life twice, three times including today, and Pete’s as well, which was nearly as important.

Squinting, Bendik could see the little ways the Texier force outclassed the white robbed men. The clash should have been no contest. But it was. Their robes moved unnaturally, independently interfering with attacks and amplifying reaction times.

Their combat batons looked eerily similar to the Texier weapons. Trained to strike and then grapple, submission if possible, deadly force only if necessary, his men shouldn’t still be going toe-to-toe with the enemy.

But the fight was continued. None managing to wrestle the white-robed men to the ground. Bendik got a horrible feeling, a pit of dread in his core. He could recognize his innovations even in their most subtle guises… and this was not subtle. These men were enhanced with Texier nanotech.

His hand unconsciously reached to grip Pete’s shoulder, as fury swelled within. Despite his precautions, screening, and absolute security protocols, somehow, someone had stolen tech that his own guards weren’t even equipped with yet.

His anger rose. This was the exact thing that could not happen. He had to do better, they had to do better. These secrets could not get out.

Pete pulled on his arm. “End, your suit.”

Bendik activated his graphene body armor with a double-tap to his breastbone. The sleek black shell surrounded him in seconds.

“Olli has this. Let’s go.”

Bendik followed Pete, half turned back, watching, and broiling inside. “Alice, link me to Oliver Ward.”

“Yes, Mr. Texier,” replied the QI, and a moment later, a puffing voice was in his ear.

“Yes, sir.” The voice said around heavy breathing.

“Olli, those men are wearing stolen Texier Tech. You are authorized to use the fog. I’m transmitting the lock release now.”

The man on the other end grunted, Bendik paused at the door, holding Pete back. A crack, like the noise of slapping two flat boards together, sounded, and a pained grunt followed. “Lock release received. What about the form shift.? That’d end this– JT LEFT!”

The hollered command was echoed from the back of the room as Olli’s black form bull-rushed a swirling figure in white, overwhelming his defenses, and pushing him into another enemy who was near to getting the drop on a Texier man.

The two ghasts tangled, then quickly separated. But with a, “Dahhh!” in his ear, Bendik just caught Olli’s baton snake in and land a jag. The opponent staggered and collapsed.

“Sorry sir. These fuckers are tough.” He grunted again, now fighting side by side with JT. “The form shift?”

“No. I want that card in our pocket. It’ll scare people. The fog seems more benign, even if it’s not.”

Pete pulled insistently on his arm. “End!” Bendik complied, following.

“Understood, we’ll contain them, sir,” Olli confirmed. “All exits are sealed. We’re engaged at the south research building and the main gate with smaller forces. You’ll have to use your personal tram.”

“I understand. Pete and I are headed that way. And Oliver…”

Another crack and a grunt, “Yes, sir.”

“I need answers. Find out what they know. Do whatever you need to.”

There was a long pause filled with the sounds of scuffling and grunting. “Acknowledged, sir, send word when you’re safe. D-Sec out.” The link ended.

Bendik and Pete reached the unmarked door, it opened to Pete’s touch, and they ducked inside. Steel security panels dropped behind them, and the mag-lift started descending.

Bendik seethed. He couldn’t stand traitors, and somehow, he had one in his own house. “That was our tech, Pete.”

His companion nodded, “I know. I saw it too.”

“I won’t have theft. There’s too much at stake for us to fuck up. We need to do better. I’m shifting my focus until we find the rat. The new screening protocol is now our top priority.”

Pete looked grim, but he nodded, “Ok, I’ll put more resources into genetics and intracranial.”

Bendik nodded grimly, “Focus on the genetics, I’ll get Alvin’s help, and we’ll take on the intracranial part. We’ll need it for Austin’s VR project anyhow.”

He paused, and silence filled the maglift car. As the door opened onto the small subterranean platform with the waiting tram car beyond, Bendik looked at Pete. “We’re going to bury them, Pete. These leghopping bastards are going to die. If I have to do it myself, I swear they will.”