The soft chime of a new email interrupted Simon Knight's quiet routine. He glanced at the subject line, then immediately sat up straighter in his chair. From: The Chancellor. Simon's fingers hovered for a second over the mouse before he clicked it open. His heart pounded a little faster, though he wasn't sure if it was from anticipation or something deeper—something unspoken that had lingered in him since the last meeting with Chancellor Voss.The email was brief, but Simon felt the weight behind each word.

---

Simon,

I wanted to personally thank you for your leadership and vision in improving our assessment process. This will change everything.

Your contribution to identifying the Dreamers and ensuring the stability of our society will shape the future. I cannot overstate the importance of what you've set in motion.

The roll-out will be gradual, but I can assure you it will have far-reaching effects, well beyond what the public is currently aware of.

One more thing, Simon. I haven't forgotten about the soldier genetic program. I know you were uncertain, but I really want you to reconsider. It's vital to the long-term success of the Regime. You're uniquely suited for this initiative, and I truly believe you're special. There's no one else quite like you.

If you're concerned about your place in the future, you could always take the assessment test yourself. I trust it would confirm your exceptional standing.

Think about it.

Best regards,

Chancellor Voss

---

Simon leaned back, a slight frown creasing his brow. He stared at the email, rereading the words carefully. "This will change everything." The phrase echoed in his mind, carrying both pride and a gnawing unease. He had made significant progress with the Dreamer initiative, more than anyone else could have, but the Chancellor's tone was deliberate, withholding something. The exact timeline, perhaps. Or the extent to which the assessments would evolve.

Simon clicked away from the email, trying to push aside the creeping doubt. The idea of taking the test himself...it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He knew who he was—or at least, he thought he did. After all, he had always been steadfast, always done the right thing according to the Regime. Hadn't he? The question lingered, irritating like an itch he couldn't scratch.

And then there was the matter of the soldier genetic program. Simon had voiced his reservations about it days ago. The ethics of enhancing human soldiers through genetic modification and dark magic still felt like a dangerous line to cross, even for someone as loyal to the Regime as him. But the Chancellor's insistence was clear. He needed Simon's approval, and he wasn't likely to drop it anytime soon.

Simon stood and walked over to the window, letting his eyes trace the city skyline as it stretched beyond the orderly rows of buildings. Everything was in its proper place. Clean. Controlled. Exactly as it should be.

But when the Chancellor had praised him, said he was "special," Simon felt something shift inside. The word clung to him in a way that felt too personal, too deliberate. Had the Chancellor sensed Simon's recent doubts? Was this a way of drawing him further into the fold? The offer to take the assessment was almost like a dare. An unspoken challenge.

Yet Simon couldn't deny it. Somewhere deep down, a flicker of curiosity stirred. Could the test really confirm his place in the future? He'd designed part of the process, after all. He should trust it. But the mere idea of sitting in that sterile chair, wires attached, allowing the machine to determine his worth—it unsettled him.

Simon shook his head and returned to his desk. He was too wrapped up in it, overthinking things. He had work to do, things that required focus. He closed the email, pushing the Chancellor's words out of his mind. For now.

---

The Facility

In the underground facility, Chancellor Voss observed the new batch of assessment subjects, his face an unreadable mask of authority. The sterile room hummed with technology, the lights flickering cold and harsh above the rows of unconscious teens strapped to stretchers.Dr. Helena Lorne stood beside him, her sharp eyes focused on the data streaming across the large screen in front of them. The program's test stage was proceeding according to plan, just as Simon had envisioned, though Voss hadn't shared that particular detail with him. Simon didn't need to know every aspect of how his ideas were being implemented—at least, not yet.The Chancellor clasped his hands behind his back, watching as the next subject's data rolled in.

TEST RESULTS: PHYSICALITY: BELOW AVERAGE EMOTIONS: STABLE PERSONALITY: COMPLIANT SUGGESTED ROLE: FARMER

"Another success," Dr. Lorne said, her voice calm but efficient. "He'll be placed in one of the agricultural districts. No need for any further intervention."

The Chancellor gave a small nod. "Good. Move him to the next room."

Two guards entered and swiftly removed the boy from the stretcher, wheeling him out of the testing area. He would wake in another room, unaware of the simulation he'd undergone, and simply accept his new role. No resistance, no rebellion. The program worked like a well-oiled machine.

As the next subject was wheeled in, Voss turned to Dr. Lorne. "I want no discrepancies with the results once we roll this out to the schools."

"There won't be," she assured him. "The algorithm is flawless. Any Dreamers will be rooted out before they even know what's happening."

Voss nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as the new subject's test results began to load.

TEST RESULTS: PHYSICALITY: AVERAGE EMOTIONS: STABLE PERSONALITY: DREAMER SUGGESTED ACTION: EXECUTE

"Dreamer," Dr. Lorne said, her tone almost clinical. "Initiating protocol."

The Chancellor's gaze didn't waver as the injection was administered, and the teen on the stretcher went limp within seconds. Another threat neutralized before it could ever become a problem.

Voss allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. The system was nearly perfect. Next week, they would begin testing at the schools, quietly and efficiently identifying those who were compliant and those who posed a risk.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Simon didn't need to know when it would happen. He'd played his part well, but Voss had always intended to keep certain elements close to the chest. Simon had his doubts about the genetic soldier program, and that was an issue Voss still needed to address. But for now, Simon was too valuable to push away.

As the guards prepared the next subject, Voss spoke, his voice low and controlled. "Make sure we have the schools fully prepared for next week. I want no mistakes."

Dr. Lorne nodded, tapping her tablet to log the recent results. "Understood."

The Chancellor glanced briefly at the screen before walking toward the exit, his mind already drifting to the next stage of the plan. Soon, the assessments would reveal everything they needed to know, and those who threatened the system—like Simon's father once had—would be dealt with swiftly.