Sergeant Henry: “Let’s proceed the operation.”

The contact panel start to pop out on the monitor containing the details about different officials on the Imperium.

Sergeant Henry:” Just take a good look of your communication log Sir.”

General Torres stunned on what he saw.

General Torres: “Throughout my service here in the Imperium, I don’t’ have such idea that this kind of comprehensive monitoring exist. Yes, I know how FBI works on my childhood days because it being portrayed in the cartoons. Spying civilians, displaying random people on their screens like they are fugitive or whatsoever, they have special soldiers that conduct investigation etc. but this? This is more way complex and detailed.”

Sergeant Henry clicked one of the buttons that corresponds to a specific Imperium official. Suddenly, his personal data was displayed along with his personal front data, biography, recent actions, and recent communication logs.”

General Torres: “I admit it, I got scared for a little bit.”

Sergeant Henry: “Just hang on sir. There are more that I want to show you right now.”

Sergeant clicked a secret key combination on his keyboard and a small text field appeared on the center of the screen. He typed a long password and has been granted an access to some sort of surveillance activity. He connects one of the official personnel’s personal data and then all of his recent live activities that being caught on hidden cameras throughout the Imperium’s sector were all displayed on the screen organized.

Sergeant Henry: “Let say we would like to investigate this official, we can easily trace his activities 24/7 from his room to his office, to his shipyard, even on public orbital station we can trace his movements. There is a protocol here in Communication Department that every perimeter here in Imperium was monitored efficiently while reducing its detection from public and also the communication relay is needed to be quick as possible to be reliable enough. Yes, all of us need privacy in terms of communication and no one can get such information about you because it is yours and no one can abuse you but for the sake of our safety from invaders, we need to access all of Imperiums’ members’ documents so that we can protect and guard you all of the time. The Constitutional Arrays of the Imperium said that the Communication Department is an independent section of the Imperium aims to assist the Secretarial Department to make regular reports and updates that can help this guild to progress systematically and effectively. All of the members of Communication Department were all filtered by the department heads in order to preserve its loyalty, reputation and power over the members.”

General Torres: “Hayst… You still don’t know how to focus on topic do you?”

Sergeant Henry: “I’m just saying. Maybe additional information can help.”

General Torres: “Yes, it’s helpful but is more helpful if you proceed to next step, right? Mr. Constitutional Sergeant.”

Sergeant Henry: “If your wish to, then let’s proceed.”

He cleared his throat.

Sergeant Henry: “So here, we can see how you is day going on, what do you do at exact what time? Etc. If you dig deeper to your contact list, we can see these personnel.”

He clicked the drop-down menu of one of General Torres’ recent contacts.

Sergeant Henry: “These were strongest affiliation or connection with this contact of yours. So let say we clicked on Sir Feltzer’s tab on your contact list.”

He clicked on Feltzer’s tab, and it starts to load.

Sergeant Henry: “So this is it. Feltzer’s personal data. His full name was General Justin Feltzer Asuncion. Born on Wacten, District 8, Planet Igneous. He is 37 years old right now. He is the 4th General of Communication Department of our industry; Metallurgist Association and currently staying at Honorado Orbital Station here in Planet Martumbres and assigned as interior supervisor for the last 67 hours. If we are going to see his patrolling pattern, He likes to patrol Honorado’s shipyard and spent 5hrs more than other Honorado’s quarters and offices. He also checks the bridge after your meeting there that’s why you spot him earlier on the other corridor. After that, he proceeds to Armory section and check for our guns. Right now, he is hanging out with our gang on the canteen without me. Ha! How touching was that. He neglects me.”

General Torres: “Oh, don’t complain too much. You choose to leave them unattended do some ridiculous things were in closed quarter. Don’t blame them for your selfish act. It is your responsibility after all.”

Sergeant Henry was suddenly silenced, being affected on what General said.

General Torres: “Oh don’t be so emotional mate. Just focus on what we are doing. It’s surprising that you are soft hearted HAHAHA.”

Sergeant Henry: “I’m just envy to them.”

General Torres: “For what?”

Sergeant Henry: “Isn’t it obvious? Our gang was so happy hanging out without me despite of my outstanding contribution to them. They neglect me all the time. It’s also rare to receive rewards from my General.”

Meanwhile, General Torres slightly laughing on Sergeant’s story.

General Torres: “HAHAHAHA Oi oi oi oi Henry, you really don’t know how to focus do you? If I will hear another extracurricular story of yours, I’ll punish you merciless. You’re wasting our time. Our job is to create new things and pave new way toward success. There is no time for small chit chat distractions. Keep focused. Keep on track. Keep your eyesight on your goal. And yeah, may I ask you a little thing. What is your lifetime goal by the way?”

Sergeant Henry: “Uhmm to be the greatest hacker? But I’m satisfied right now. I’m a member of one of the strongest departments here in Imperium. I can do what I want in terms of hacking.”

General Torres: “Good, you want to be the greatest hacker.”

Sergeant Henry: “Absolutely yes.”

General Torres: “And you said that you are satisfied now at your current position.”

Sergeant Henry: “Yes”

General Torres: “Then how can you be so satisfied right now despite you have a goal?”

Sergeant Henry: “Wait what? I can’t understand you.”

General Torres: “You spoke firmly that you have a goal to be the greatest hacker. Then you contract it by saying but and drop some reason of yours. The question is, why you contradict your strong thought? How can it be so casual to you to neglect your goal in front of upper people than yours? Please explain.”

Sergeant was silenced again.

General Torres: “I’ve got the news the hackers were said to be violent and dangerous. Their moves were excellent yet deadly. It is sad to see that your hacker ego was being hurt and get destroyed by some small validation from your gang. Yes, you have outstanding contributions on your company. I know that because General Feltzer get used to tell your achievements to me. The other question is, despite your reputation as the HacKing of your company, why do your gang members neglect you? It’s way too ironic to be honest and too unrealistic to see a powerful individual like you being left out or being thrown outside the group. And it is too impossible for a composed man like you built by series of deadly experience and mission suddenly become emotional over such relationship or connection problems. The big question is WHY? WHY!? Answer!”

Sergeant was terrified on General’s tone. His face became frightened because he felt anger from General Torres.

Sergeant Henry: “I DON” T KNOW SIR! I’VE JUST DOING MY BEST IN MY FIELD TO HELP OTHERS. DON” T SCOLD ME HUHUHUHU.”

General Torres make a disappointment face again toward sergeant.

General Torres: “Idiot! It’s not to be answered! You must—AARGGHHH never mind. I know what is wrong with you.”

Sergeant Henry: “Really sir? What is it?”

Sergeant made a happy face towards General Torres begging for his answer to spit out.

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General Torres: “What a disgusting attitude. It’s a prank tho!”

Sergeant Henry: “What?! You lied to me.”

General Torres: “I have no reason to lie on you because I don’t have any idea to hide from the start.”

Sergeant Henry: “Can you make a straight point? It’s not made any sense sir.”

General Torres: “It’s either you are true that I don’t’ make sense here or you are too dumb to make any sense.”

Sergeant Henry got frustrated and walked out.

Sergeant Henry: “You are wasting my time. I will go to my quarters, and I will cancel this hacking procedures. We can’t get any further here. Thank you for inviting me on the mission. You can proceed without my guidance.”

Sergeant close the computer and detached General’s holophone. He packed his materials and leave the room.

General Torres: “Hmmm. I’m afraid to say that you are weak, scumbag and worthless. You’re walking out in front me because you noticed that I’m offending you personally. This is a sign of disrespect and I’m tolerating them. So, I’m giving you another question. Are you ready to be disposed like I’ve used to do with our prisoners or war?”

General Torres give Sergeant a strong eye contact with dangerous smile intending to kill him. Sergeant Henry was silenced again, frightened and run outside the room.

General Torres: “So you chose death? So be it. It’s a shame that you will die along with unspoken goal.”

He put out his power crystal inside his coat. It reflects bright yellow color with dark spots inside the crystal. Its size exactly fit his palm. He broke and crushed it with his bare hands. Loud crack of crystal fragments can be heard echoing the room. Suddenly, the lights on nearby corridors and rooms shut down. The scene turned into pitch black where you can’t see anything. Sergeant Henry hides on a small storage room to avoid being spotted by General Torres.

General Torres: “Where are you? Mr. Henry? Death is coming.”

Sergeant Henry terrified when he heard general’s whisper. The storage room where he hides was just 4 rooms away from the room where they conducted hacking procedures. He thinks silently how he will defeat General Torres. At his current state, he can’t defeat such strong power of the general. He is just a communication expert, not a combatant.

Sergeant Henry: “Curse you Sir! I just want to do my job. I don’t want to fight you.”

General Torres heard what Sergeant said and he replied.

General Torres: “You don’t want to fight me because you are too good to fight your ally, or you are just a wimp who can’t throw a punch at anyone? PATHETIC! HAHAHAHA.”

Sergeant Henry: “You are the one who is pathetic. If you want a fight, then fight me like man. Don’t use your power crystal. You need that stuff to defeat me? How weak you are.”

General Torres: “Oohh you start debating at me? Interesting. Give me what you got mate.”

The two talking each other through voice and telepathy. Sergeant talking to General despite he doesn’t see him because General Torres was on “Astral Mode” giving him the ability to transcend his soul into a free roaming. His physical body was disintegrated a bit, vanished and fused with the soul. The radiation of Power Crystal was transferred on General’s Spirit. In other terms, he gains superhuman powers through extracting all the radiation inside the power crystal and became a mutated entity. The color of Power Crystal can also affect what can of attribute and mutation will happen in the host. In terms of General Torres situation, he turned into a walking electrical power house who can roam freely on any metal surface. In Astral Mode, all of host’s senses was increased giving him the ability of special ability like Telepathy.

Sergeant Henry opened his holophone and tried to access the electrical section of the Honorado Space Station and fix the problems. Unfortunately, it’s not working.

Sergeant Henry: “Dam it! My password is not working. I should call the guards.”

He opened the communication window on his holophone and tried to contact the soldiers. Unfortunately…

Sergeant Henry: “What? There are no active contacts. It's impossible. There are hundreds of individuals aboard on this station. Why is there are no active contacts?”

He noticed something on his holophone.

Sergeant Henry: “The UI of my holophone was outdated? There are some missing features on my holophone.”

He start to survey the storage room.

Sergeant Henry: “Some random stuffs and scarps… Wait a minute… Why is my teddy bear here? I’ve playing with this in my room 3 hours from now. There is something wrong here.”

General Torres still searching for Sergeant Henry pretending he can find him but actually he knows where he hides.

General Torres: “Where are you my little mouse? Don’t be scared to me. I’m your friend.”

Sergeant Henry step outside the storage room and faced General Torres.

General Torres felt Sergeant’s spiritual resolve and come to see him.

General Torres: “So you are ready for your punishment? Don’t worry I will make this quick.”

Sergeant Henry: “Then come quickly. I don’t care what kind of punishment is that, but I’ll make sure that this punishment of yours have no effect on me.”

General Torres: “So be it.”

General Torres started to march towards Sergeant Henry. Sergeant starts to whisper on himself.

Sergeant Henry: “As I’ve though. He marched me to intimidate me. I will try to mock him. If It goes to plan, then I am being trapped on a cage dimension of General’s.”

He furnished his thoughts.

Sergeant Henry: “Do you think that you can intimidate like that. Come on attack me! Punish me! That is what you want right?”

General Torres: “Don’t ever mock your opponent unless you are ready to get crushed merciless.”

General Torres raised his right arm, aimed at Sergeant and start to create a spell.

General Torres: “ELECTRON QUICKDRAW”

A quick blinding lights shine from General’s fist blinding Henry’s eyes then a sonic energy bullet shoot from Torres’s fist traversing the distance between him and Henry’s.

Sergeant Henry was shocked to that attacked and he know that his attack never misses so he quickly sidestepped and dropped on the ground.

The energy bullet hit the storage room, crushing every piece of items inside.

Henry was terrified on what he saw then he realized something new.

Sergeant Henry: “The damage is too deadly than normal. Is he really want to kill me? Things are getting worse. If I had only my Power Crystal, I can deal with him.”

General Torres suddenly disappeared on his sight.

Sergeant Henry: “Hey where is he now. Where!?”

General Torres: “Are you looking for me? I’m right here behind you!”

He touched his back and cast another spell.

General Torres: “ELECTRON OVERCHARGE”

A strong electric charge flow from Torres body and transfer it to Henry’s spinal cord, electrifying his nervous system and muscles making him paralyzed for a moment. Henry loses his total composure and lies on the floor pathetically.

General Torres: “Pathetic wimp. You are nothing but a piece of thrash with a junk goal hiding on the back of mind can’t even make and efficient move to make it real. A loser who can’t even defend his dignity and composure, letting those rag rats eat yourself and throw out like thrash when you have nothing to offer. If you were a true hacker, then hack your way out on this nightmare of yours. If you can’t, then say sorry because I am an Apex predator seeking weak people to tear apart and crush into pieces. As a predator it is a grave sin to see myself being toyed by other into their will. But it is so damn good to see others offering themselves to get played and manipulated as I want. Let’s get be real mate. I want to give you another question and please, please, give me the correct answer. Would like to lie there on the floor forever and get toyed as I want? Or let’s kill each other like a real hacker who want to delete a Trojan on his computer? Hmmm it is yours to decide. I hope that you make a good decision or else…you will die here, pathetic wimp.

Sergeant Henry don’t make any move. Strong electric waves are flowing on his brain preventing him to move even his mouth or fingers, can’t move at his will.

General Torres: “Oh come on boy! You’re not listening to me. Maybe the shock was too strong. I was too carefree. Hey Henry! Come on! Come to your senses!”

There are still no respond from Henry.

General Torres: “HEELLLLLOOOOO!! Wake up! This is just a simulation. It’s impossible for you to be paralyzed like that HELLLLOOOO!!?!?!??”

Sergeant Henry suddenly comes to his senses.

Sergeant Henry: “Wait is this only a simulation!?”

General Torres: “YES HENRY! ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID?!”

Sergeant Henry: “Wait… So… My prediction is true!! HAHAHAHA.”

General Torres: “Then why you doubted your instincts? I know that you know that this is only a simulation!”

Sergeant Henry: “Because…”

General Torres: “Because what?”

Sergeant Henry: “I’m scared…”

General Torres: “HAHAHAHA Remember this pal, yes it is true that risk is scary. It is normal to be scared in all of things that is are dangerous because it is what told us. And it is your opponent. Scared to lose something you love, scared for rejection, scared to make a move because you will have enemies on your path. And what do we do when face an enemy?”

Sergeant Henry: “Defeat and eliminate for sure.”

General Torres: “Correct. It is the best for us soldiers to maintain our composure whatever is the scenario. We need to be focused, stay alarmed and stay informed what is happening. Trust your instinct all the times because no one can help you to escape your miserable situation except yourself. We need to hack and reprogram our minds to have to courage and defeat every obstacle in our path. We soldiers are trained to be disciplined and stay focused during our mission right? WE MUST ACCOMPLISH OUR TASK NO MATTER WHAT. There is no different when you want to save your computer from a Trojan who wants to destroy your computer. You know what I mean?”

Sergeant Henry: “Uhmmm create a systematic procedure to clean up or format your hard drive without harming your important files and delete the Trojan from the system?”

General Torres: “That is… wait what? I don’t want you to answer the computer thingy. I am asking if you get my point?”

Sergeant Henry: “Uhmmm no?”

General Torres: “Tsk, Did you know why I conduct such simulation exclusively for you? Huh?”

Sergeant Henry: “Uhmmm no…”

General Torres: “TO KILL YOU HAHAHAHA”

The simulation was turned alive and hellish once again. General Torres turned into a Walking Electric Powerhouse again.

Sergeant Henry: “Wait wait wait wait! I’m not prepared for sudden change of topic!”

General Torres: “The you have committed another sin on yourself. May your spirit forgive you for being such an idiot. Let’s improve your lesson. BREAKING BONES!”

Torres give a give punch Henry’s stomach immobilizing him once again. Henry fell to the ground unconscious. Torres get his holophone and contact General Feltzer.

General Torres: “Mr. Feltzer, I think he can’t handle this anymore. He might get strained and mentally paralyzed if we continue the simulation.”

General Feltzer: “It’s alright. I’ve finished rallying medical personnel here in the bridge. If we’ve detected such fatal injuries in your simulation, we stop the simulation immediately. But for the time being, just continue honing his skills.”

General Torres: “Sir, we don’t have enough time to train under trained pilots like him. We must consider experienced pilots to accompany us to our mission.”

General Feltzer: “Have patience Torres but make haste. I believe that Mr. Henry’s exceptional skill is helpful and can provide higher success rate in our mission. Don’t worry about the preparation of our fleet. Preparations are going as planned and scheduled. Just focused on developing his confidence and hacking skills.”

General Torres: “Copy Sir!”

They cut their communication session.

General Torres: “I’m sorry mate. But I have to hack your mind by force.”