Twenty years ago, a nuclear incident shocked the political world to its core. During a routine exercise testing the country's nuclear arsenal, a hypersonic missile malfunctioned and veered off course.
Coincidentally, it struck the house of one of the twenty members of the Central Military Commission while he was celebrating his birthday, killing him and all four generations of his clan instantly. This opened up a position in the CMC that General Alexander, with his meritorious service in the previous war, was able to take advantage of.
This catapulted him among the ranks of the most powerful individuals in the country, but his journey since then had been a rocky road. He was counted among the top five most valorous generals, but in terms of political power, he was among the weakest in the CMC. He could not compare to the premier's power and the various ministers serving the Supreme Ruler.
Colonel Biran was currently in an elevator, traveling at high speed through a secret facility towards General Alexander's private office.
It had already been five minutes since he'd stepped inside, yet the journey seemed endless. He was always baffled by the route, feeling as if the elevator sometimes traveled sideways, sometimes upwards, making it impossible to pinpoint the general's private quarters.
Although he wouldn't be able to locate it, he knew that if another nuclear device ever malfunctioned, it would be impossible to strike the general. He doubted even the Supreme Ruler knew of his location.
A gentle alert sound filled the elevator as it came to a stop. The doors opened, revealing a long hallway lined with dozens of luxurious wooden doors on each side.
At the end, a large glass wall displayed a lush garden with various exotic trees and plants.
Colonel Biran cautiously shuffled down the hallway towards the garden, knowing the general always hosted him there. As he passed the doors, he could hear voices behind them.
He knew these were the general's immediate family members, but if asked how many children the general had or what his wife's hair color was, he couldn't answer. He had never laid eyes on them and couldn't be certain they were even his family. For all he knew, they could be the general's toys, but he assumed they were his family.
He had heard that other CMC members led similar lives, with their clan members living under extreme secrecy. As much as he wished for more power, Colonel Biran did not want so much power that it forced him to live underground like a mole. Although he himself craved power, he wondered if he would ever trade places with the general if presented with the chance. Would he sacrifice his freedom for the influence the general wielded?
As he stepped through the glass door into the garden, his ears were assaulted by a myriad of bird calls and even monkey sounds. The garden was enormous, as big as ten football fields, and the ceiling was a digital display that perfectly mimicked the sky outside, complete with a day-night cycle.
Sometimes, he wondered if this was above ground and the general had fooled him into believing it was a bunker.
He followed a stone path through the subterranean forest and arrived at a wooden pavilion with simple decorations inscribed on its pillars.
Biran's breath was taken away when he saw a man with grey streaks in his hair, cross-legged with his eyes closed. He dared not advance and remained at a distance, lowering his breath for fear of disturbing the general's meditation session.
After what seemed like an eternity, the middle-aged man opened his eyes and caught sight of Colonel Biran.
Biran's breath stalled completely, and the world spun around him. His legs trembled, feeling like he was targeted by the most powerful predator he had ever met. Despite his tremendous strength and the extreme attitude he displayed in front of his subordinates, Biran couldn't help but bow his head while advancing toward the pavilion.
Under the heavy gaze of the general, Biran slowly reached the pavilion and sat cross-legged not far from the man.
General Alexander had a face as if carved from steel. His heavy eyes seemed never to relax, and his expression bore the semblance of an iron mountain. As he gazed at Biran, it felt like a million pounds of steel and rock were pressing on the colonel.
This silence lasted for another five minutes, during which Colonel Biran's clothes became soaked with sweat. He knew he had committed a grave mistake, and the general was punishing him. All he wanted to do was apologize and thank the general for not using a heavier hand, but before he could muster the courage to speak, the general handed Biran a screen playing a video of a young man jumping from a fifth-story building.
Biran recognized the young man and, while analyzing the video to grasp why the general was showing it to him, a deep voice reverberated through the air, making all his viscera tremble painfully.
"Biran, do you remember the day you first came to me, a mere lieutenant with no prospects?"
"Yes, General. I owe everything to you. Without your intervention, I would have never risen through the ranks or received the enhancements that make me what I am today."
The general's eyes seemed to harden further, if that were possible. "Indeed. I took a chance on you, molded you into a feared warrior, and yet here you stand, disappointing me."
Biran felt a chill run down his spine. He knew the general had the power to strip even his very soul away from him.
The general continued, "It took me ten years of hard work and sacrifice under the most ruthless generals and facing the most cunning of enemies to have the right to enhance my body to the level that this young man possesses. Ten years of hell, but it took this infant a measly two days."
Every word felt like a hammer drumming on his organs, and Biran could see the air itself compress as the soundwaves pushed against it. He couldn't help but speak up, fearing that if the general continued, he would sustain internal damage. "Compared to you, my general, he is still nothing but an ant."