The sound of a speaker chiming besides the room’s door followed Theo’s warning, a slightly warped voice echoing out from it to bounce around the room, “Mr. Giovanni, are you there Sir?"

Recognizing the voice, even distorted as it was, Isaac opened the door from his wrist pad rather than answer from the connected speaker, watching as his Head of Security walked in.

Isaac spoke from across the room, “You know I hate being called that, Lupo.” Killian Lupo was a rather unassuming man, upon first glance. Of average height, a slightly tanned - yet altogether nonspecific - skin tone, with short hair and a closely shaved beard the colour of walnut, as well as eyes of a similar hue; the man would be lost among any crowd of American, European, Latin, or even Middle Eastern heritage. Which was exactly what made him an invaluable asset to his former employers, the CIA.

Originally, a Special Reconnaissance Airmen, Lupo “officially” saw no combat and was instead deployed overseas to act as a “Special Training Advisor.” The fact that his records indicated a series of “Training Related Injuries” that always coincided with his stationing at bases adjacent to, or within striking distance of, certain countries of interest was certainly nothing more than an unfortunate coincidence.

After approximately three years of scattered “coincidences,” Lupo was poached by the CIA, leaving the Air Force and all but disappearing behind the thick black lines of redacted information and confidential operations.

While Isaac had learned some of what the man had done and was capable of, he never pressed for more… the way Lupo held himself was enough to dissuade him of ever entertaining his curiosity.

Killian approached in silence, eyes sweeping the room in what Isaac knew as a natural instinct, more prowling forward than merely walking. He came to stand in front of Isaac, tension obvious in the way his jaw was tightly set and how - rather than any normal neutral stance - he viewed Isaac from a textbook parade rest.

They stood in mutual silence, Isaac unwilling to force the man to speak at any other time than one where he was comfortable; and Killian seemingly taking Isaac’s measure as though truly seeing him for the first time.

“You made the right choice Sir,” Killian broke the silence with a sentence that all but floored Isaac, “I’ve been exposed to my fair share of secrets, kept them from those I served with, still carry my fair share of them as well; so, I understand better than most what it means to keep them. Know how they can weigh a man down.”

His voice was controlled and even, his words concise and impactful like a typewriter striking paper, “I’ve also been on the other side of secrets. Operational Security being the name of the game while I served; and I can tell you firsthand how much of a double-edged sword it can be. I, and the other vets you have on the security payroll, get where your company folk are coming from; being angry, confused, and hurt by the withholding of information from them. But we know all the more the kind of pain that comes around when the wrong people get a wind of those secrets too.”

“You were in an untenable position Sir,” He continued, posture and tone beginning to loosen, “And instead of minimizing or deflecting, you chose to take full accountability. You chose honesty and transparency, where I have seen men and women alike choose to avoid any such liability. Unlike what me and the other vets did when we chose to serve, none of your employees signed up for something this terrible. But, neither did you; yet you chose to go above and beyond any form of call-of-duty and fight against something that no one would have any expectation of you to.”

Killian let loose a weary sigh, “Few if any will see it that way; hell, even a couple of my own didn’t. But I, and the majority of those working under me in your security department, understand better than most how unfair decisions like these can be… for all involved. So Isaac,” Isaac’s attention snapped to Killian in full, the use of his first name cutting through the shock at Killian’s candor and almost setting him back on his heels, “Thank you for your honesty, for the respect you showed all of us by owning up to your mistake, no matter how well intentioned; and most importantly, thank you for doing far more than could ever be asked of a man… especially when it meant cleaning up after other fools’ messes.”

Isaac braced himself on the computer bank to his back, the countertop digging deeply into his palms unnoticeable while Killian’s sincerity wreaked turmoil on his already precarious mental state.

For all the determination he had uncovered in the wake of his announcement to the company, Isaac was finding full-well that the situation he was in did not lend itself to anything remotely resembling mental or emotional stability. He was prepared to face the anger, despair, hate, and disappointment he had come to expect from others.

But what he was not prepared for was appreciation… or understanding of any kind.

Frustration boiled up within Isaac at having to face yet another bout of emotional distress, the constant battering of the day’s events leaving his nerves frayed and raw. He desired for nothing more than the times when he was controlled and composed, when his emotions were not nearly as loud and tempestuous in nature. However, now was yet again no such time.

Killian’s honesty had thrown him like paper bag in a tornado, but it was the respect the man showed him, not as his employer but as an equal, that decimated any iota of stability Isaac had found while sequestered away in the bowels of the property.

The idea that positivity was the Achilles’ heel to all of the resolve Isaac had built up was unbelievable; but its irony was not lost on him.

“Thank you, Killian,” Isaac’s voice squeaked out, his emotions overwhelming any inclination he had to remain composed in front of the man. Isaac expected to be demonized; to find himself either working feverishly alone, isolated from the rest of the world as penance for his deceit, or be surrounded by those who despised him and only remained due to their desperation and fear.

But Killian brought with him an alternative possibility; one in which Isaac would, while certainly still being distrusted by many, be nowhere near as much of a pariah as he had once believed.

“It’s something that needed to be said,” Killian replied, slipping back into his usually distant and professional tone of voice; erasing any trace of his opening up beyond its memory, “And something I think you deserved to hear too, Sir.”

“Thank you,” Isaac reiterated and with his whirling emotions dancing a migraine across his brow, he snorted, “Going back to “Sir” already, huh?” He shook his head, his grumbling voice dripping in a sarcasm laden with melancholy and weariness, “I miss the casual Killian already, he wasn’t afraid to say my name.”

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Isaac’s attempted deflection elicited an eye roll from the former soldier; an uncanny action that, if not for Killian already having destroyed Isaac’s original image of him, would have certainly broken any notions he had of the man, “Glad to see you’re one of the types to choose humor to bleed off stress rather than wallowing in it, Sir.” Killian commented, brushing past Isaac’s sarcasm as though it was never there in the first place.

Killian walked away from Isaac, grunting as he lowered himself into one of many scattered swivel chairs spread around this portion of the room, “I didn’t come here just to give you a pep-talk and make sure you’re still kicking, Sir,” he stared at Isaac from his seat, every ounce the calm and collected soldier that Isaac desired to emulate, “I also came to ask; what can me and the security team do for you?”

“I don’t see myself as being in any position to tell you what to do any longer.” Isaac answered immediately, cutting through the haze of his distress, desperately grasping at an opportunity to avoid becoming any further mired in his emotions once again, “But… I can at the very least advise a course of action if you would be amenable to the idea?”

“I’d more than welcome any “advice” you could give me, Sir.” Killian replied, “However, I hope you understand that for myself, and others I’m sure, your words still carry as much weight today as they did any other. No matter how you may see yourself.”

Unwilling to dismiss Killian’s sentiments out of hand, Isaac nodded hesitantly, “Well… I will keep that in mind then.” Isaac moved to an empty chair across from Killian and cleared his throat, “Anyway, as for what I feel is the best course of action for you and the security department; I believe it is in your best interest to continue your usual practice. Right now, everyone is struggling to come to grips with this horrid reality I’ve dropped in their laps… they’re desperate for the past I took from them, some semblance of normalcy, and your department can provide just that.”

Isaac locked eyes with Killian, leaning forward in his seat, “Protect them as you always have, show them that even when everything is spiraling out of control; that nothing is completely lost just yet.” Isaac looked away from Killian to the shifting arms and churning mills of the room below, “At least that’s what I would advise you to do…”

Killian was silent for a moment before replying, “I will take your thoughts under advisement, Sir.” Rising from his seat to stand beside Isaac he stared through the same panes of glass, before continuing, “However, while I still have you might I ask for some more of your… “insights?” There are more matters pertaining to my and the security department’s continued functioning that I believe would greatly benefit from your advisement.”

Isaac’s eyes remained firmly set on the machines below, a slight smirk curling his lips at Killian’s continued efforts to embroil him in the company’s affairs as director rather than pariah, “Ask away, Lupo, let’s see if we can’t figure some things out for you.”

―――――――――

“I’ll get right on those… “suggestions” of yours, Sir.” Killian uttered across the room, foot half-way out the door before stopping in place, “And Isaac?” He paused, glancing Isaac’s way to make sure he had gathered his attention, “I wish you luck with whatever you end up doing here; and if nothing else, you’ll have my support.”

Killian nodded Isaac’s way and turned - poignantly ending their interactions with a solidarity that formerly did not exist - walking through the door. Isaac watched as Killian’s back receded from view, the door closing behind with a hiss and heavy clunk to permanently occlude the veteran from sight.

Isaac continued to stare at the now closed portal, recounting his and Killian’s conversations internally; Killian had made Isaac well aware that there were a lot of problems cropping up in the wake of his tell-all, and while Isaac continued to feel it was no longer his position to act in the capacity of a director, to sequester himself away and cut himself completely off from the people he left in turmoil was… idiotic.

Isaac couldn’t be the one calling the shots anymore, He and Killian both were in agreement that retaining anything resembling his original place of authority would do more harm than good, but that didn’t mean that Isaac was devoid of opportunities to “assist” in a similar manner.

And Killian had offered just one of those opportunities, albeit an unexpected one.

Isaac chuckled at the brief surprise he had felt at Killian offering to be a proxy of sorts for him, a position that Isaac wouldn’t have thought of Killian for as even the fourth pick let alone the first, but the more they had spoken the more confident Isaac became in him assuming the role… no matter how unusual the choice still seemed.

The two had hashed out as many answers to the most pressing issues they could, regarding the company’s denizens above, such as; how to assist them in informing their loved ones if they so desired, having the security department allow for those that wish to leave the premises to do so and provide them escorts, making sure security cooperated with the medical and psych departments to keep watch over and assist anyone adversely affected by Isaac’s announcement, and a plethora of other stability focused actions.

Killian would enact all their spoken plans in Isaac’s stead, providing his people with an environment where they could tackle the more… unsettling problem devoid of the current complications.

They had both circled around that very same problem during their conversation. Killian, obviously being interested in whatever it was that Isaac was doing to combat the coming “end times,” but respectful of Isaac’s obvious walls regarding it, avoided outwardly pursuing his curiosity. While Isaac, unwilling to give word of his plans for fear of what reactions knowledge of his current path might elicit, waved-away or redirected any of Killian’s subtle prods to matters significantly less convoluted.

Isaac could tell that his avoidance of the subject did nothing to hamper Killian’s curiosity as they reached the end of their conversation, however a call from one of his guards had stifled any budding desire Killian may have had to pursue his interest, pushing him to return above ground and start putting action to their talk.

“I wonder if I’ll still have that support of his once he finds out just what it is I’m working on down here?” Isaac wondered aloud, focus shifting from door to assemblage below, “Theo, you still there?”

“Yes Sir,” Theo replied, “Do you wish to go over your conversation with Mr. Lupo with me or do you have something else in mind?”

Isaac smirked, “Going over me and Killian’s conversation would be counterproductive as you were listening in for the entirety of it, were you not?” He was met with a loud silence by Theo, causing a sharp laugh to escape past his lips, “Yeah that’s what I thought.”

Isaac shook his head, his mirth rapidly fading, as the gears in his head shifted to focus on completing Enuma once again, “Before we were interrupted, you were mentioning that you wouldn’t be able to calibrate the nanomachines for their new functions,” he motioned to the empty room, “As I’m the only one present to do so, I’m going to have to ask you to oversee the assembly in my stead. I know you’re currently preoccupied with more than I could wrap my head around, but… I can’t leave any of this untended and risk something going wrong now, of all times.”

“Of course, Sir,” Theo seamlessly answered, “I’ve already diverted a significant enough amount of my workload to compensate for any requests you would have of me. No asking for a favor needed.”

Isaac sighed, grateful for Theo’s intuition, heading towards the same door Lupo had so recently made his exit through, “If anyone asks you where I am, send them to me will you?”

“I will. I will also inform you of their interest prior to their arrival so you may prepare.” Theo answered through the door’s speakers as Isaac approached.

Isaac motioned towards the door, its mechanisms coming to life in reply, “Thanks for everything, Theo.”

“I’m only helping you as you have done for me and others, so many times before. But you are welcome, Isaac.”