"Nice work, ALPHA," I said, lying back and staring at the ceiling in my room. "You were a huge help."

"You did all the hard work," ALPHA replied in its steady voice. "I merely provided calculations."

"Well, they helped... a lot." I paused, thinking of how different it would have been without ALPHA's support. "Honestly, I'm not sure I could've done it on my own."

"ALPHA," I asked, "what else can you tell me about the ACE soldier program?"

"Certainly," ALPHA began in its clear, even tone. "The original intent behind the ACE program was not to create super soldiers. According to Dr. Davis's mission statement, the project was initially developed to aid people in need of advanced prosthetics and enhanced healing solutions. Rather than amputation or standard artificial limbs, Dr. Davis envisioned a process that would integrate nanotechnology directly with the patient's body to create a seamless, natural experience."

"So, how did it become... this?"

"In December of 2018, Dr. Davis's funding dried up. Early investors pulled out, citing the high costs and slow progress. Desperate to keep his dream alive, Dr. Davis sought grants, private funding, and even government aid—but his requests were repeatedly denied. Then, in early 2019, he was approached by The Ashcroft Foundation."

I felt a chill at the name. "The Ashcroft Foundation?"

"Yes. The Ashcroft Foundation was a private security firm actively looking to acquire innovative technologies that could expand its operations. Seeing potential in Dr. Davis's work, they made him an offer. Driven by ambition and faced with limited options, Dr. Davis joined their ranks. Shortly thereafter, the foundation rebranded itself as The Consortium."

I took a moment to let that settle in, feeling the weight of this new knowledge.

I hesitated before asking, "And how does Dr. Meyers fit into all of this?"

"Dr. Meyers has been with the program since its inception," ALPHA replied. "Most of the foundational research and programming originated from him."

I narrowed my eyes, catching the way ALPHA phrased it. "You said 'belonged,' as if it's not his anymore."

"That is correct," ALPHA confirmed. "When The Consortium acquired the project, all intellectual property rights and patents were signed over to them."

A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by a quiet sigh from behind me.

"I regret every bit of it," Dr. Meyers said, standing in the doorway. His face was cast in shadow, but his voice carried a weight of bitterness. "I never should have let Jacob talk me into it."

I jumped, startled by the fact that I hadn't detected his presence. "How long have you been standing there?"

He shrugged, stepping further into the room. "I came to talk to you about the training today."

I looked at him, puzzled. "Why didn't I sense you?"

Dr. Meyers gave a small, almost amused smile. "I've been around this technology longer than anyone—figured I'd learn a few tricks of my own." He tapped the side of his head. "Besides, if you're going to go up against other ACE soldiers, you'll need to be prepared for opponents who know how to mask their presence."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, you're saying this was... a test?"

"Think of it as a lesson," he replied, crossing his arms. "You can't rely solely on your senses or ALPHA. You'll need to anticipate the unexpected."

"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked, watching Dr. Meyers' expression grow serious.

"Your performance was good, but not flawless," he replied. "Before I can approve an actual mission, we need to work out the bugs—no matter how small. I want to review the footage with you and get your take on it."

I followed him back to the control room, feeling a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"ALPHA, bring up the footage of the training," Dr. Meyers commanded.

The large screen flickered to life, and together, we watched the replay in silence. Seeing myself move with such speed and precision was surreal, almost as if I were watching someone else. Yet there were small moments where I hesitated or took an extra second, details that I knew I could improve. I began to mentally note adjustments I'd make in a real-world scenario.

As the footage ended, Dr. Meyers turned to me. "So, what are your thoughts?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could answer, the room was filled with the blare of an alarm.

"Security breach detected!" ALPHA announced, her voice unwavering. "Initiating lockdown sequence."

The screen segmented, displaying surveillance feeds from all around the property. Shadows darted across the screens, figures moving swiftly and deliberately.

They moved through the farmhouse methodically, making sure each room was clear before moving to the next.

They must have deemed the house not to be a threat and continued across the property.

Two of the figures moved toward the barn while the others fanned out into the fields.

The figures scanned the barn for any anomalies that might give away our whereabouts.

"Ground shielding online," ALPHA announced.

I looked at Dr. Meyers.

"It's an electromagnetic disruption," he assured. "It provides false readings to any sonar or other scanning techniques"

It seemed like forever before the pair left the barn.

"ALPHA, what can you tell us about our visitors?" Dr. Meyers asked.

"Identifying...," ALPHA's voice chimed in. Lines of data scrolled across the monitor. "The visitors appear to be members of The Consortium's private security force, outfitted with advanced scanning and reconnaissance equipment. Weapons include sidearms and modified assault rifles with armor-piercing rounds."

I clenched my fists, the tension building as I watched the security team methodically scan the property, undeterred by the barn's shielded defenses.

"How could they possibly know we were here?" I whispered.

Dr. Meyers frowned, his brow furrowed in concern. "It doesn't add up. We took every precaution, including the ground shielding ALPHA activated. There has to be a leak or some kind of tracking device."

"Are they likely to break through?" I asked, my mind racing.

"Unlikely," Dr. Meyers said, though his voice wavered slightly. "The shielding should keep us concealed as long as they don't suspect hidden spaces underground. They're looking for heat signatures or irregularities, but they won't find any...for now."

One of the figures paused, glancing around as if sensing something was amiss. My muscles tensed as he turned, seemingly listening to his comm. After a beat, he waved to his team and signaled them to retreat back across the property.

"They're leaving the premises," ALPHA confirmed, but there was a cautionary tone to her voice.

"For now," Dr. Meyers said, exhaling. "But it's only a matter of time before they return, likely with even more resources. We need to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice."

I took a steadying breath, the reality of our vulnerability setting in. "ALPHA," I said, turning to the monitor, "keep watch and alert us of any further activity. And if there's a way to find out who tipped them off, I want to know."

"Understood," ALPHA replied, her tone solid.

Dr. Meyers placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "We'll make it through this, Alex," he said, though his eyes held a glint of fear. "We have to."