First Impressions and First Orders

"Under you?" Aiden repeated, raising an eyebrow as he crossed his arms.

Selene only grinned. "Figuratively speaking, of course. But I do have the authority to manage your assignments, so in a way… yes." She turned her attention back to Elias, Dr. Varis, and tilted her head slightly. "I assume you want them properly briefed before throwing them into the deep end?"

Elias gave her a knowing smirk before addressing Team 12. "You'll take orders from me directly, but Selene will be your contact when I'm unavailable. She has access to every clearance level necessary to keep this facility running efficiently."

Vivian glanced at the woman again, her expression unreadable. "You're former CIA, right?"

Selene placed a manicured hand on her hip. "Oh, I see someone's done their homework. Yes, I was. Covert operations, intelligence retrieval, the occasional honey trap if the mission called for it." She winked playfully.

Bao exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Fantastic."

Selene chuckled. "Oh, you'll love working with me, don't worry."

Elias cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track. "Now that you've met my assistant, it's time for your first real introduction to the facility. This place is more than a research lab; it's a self-sufficient military hub designed to protect the future of warfare. Every inch of this building serves a purpose, and you need to understand how to navigate it."

He gestured for them to follow as he led them out into the main corridor.

The halls of the classified research center were unlike any standard military base. Every corner was meticulously designed with security and efficiency in mind. The walls were reinforced with advanced alloys, and the ceilings housed an array of automated surveillance Cameras.

"Everything here is monitored at all times," Elias explained as they walked. "There are no blind spots in this facility. If an unauthorized person steps into a restricted zone, security knows instantly."

Vivian looked up at one of the drones, its small red light blinking as it registered their movement. "Comforting."

Desmond exhaled. "Or unsettling."

Jiro took note of the reinforced blast doors positioned at key intersections. "Are these lockdown barriers?"

"Exactly," Elias confirmed. "If an emergency occurs, the entire facility can be compartmentalized within seconds. If something goes wrong in one area, it won't spread to the rest of the facility."

Aiden whistled. "They really don't want anything leaking out, huh?"

Elias gave him a side glance. "Would you?"

That shut him up.

The next section of the tour led them to a heavily secured part of the facility.

"This is where things get more interesting," Elias said as they approached a heavily reinforced entrance, different from the others.

The door had no visible keypad, only a retinal scanner and a voice-activated security prompt.

"Access restricted. Clearance required."

Elias stepped forward, and the AI system immediately responded.

"Dr. Varis recognized. Sole access granted."

The doors hissed open, revealing a laboratory unlike anything they had ever seen.

Unlike the sterile corridors they had walked through earlier, this room was personalized. It wasn't just a research space, it was his domain.

High-tech workstations lined the walls, holographic displays projected complex blueprints, and an entire wall was dedicated to real-time data analysis of his ongoing projects.

Jiro immediately took notice of something. "This system, is it separate from the main facility's network?"

"Good observation," Elias nodded. "This lab is isolated from the rest of the research centre. Only I can access it. Even high command has no direct control over what happens here."

Bao's expression hardened. "They really gave you that much authority?"

Elias smiled faintly. "They had no choice."

The implications were clear. The military didn't just trust him. They needed him.

Vivian studied the lab, her eyes lingering on an unfinished prototype on the far workstation. "So what are you working on?"

Elias only smiled. "That's classified—for now."

After sealing the lab behind him, Elias led them to a different sector—one where security personnel operated in the shadows.

A large observation deck overlooked a training facility filled with elite operatives running drills, testing new weapons, and analyzing real-time combat data.

"This," Elias said, gesturing toward the scene below, "is where you'll be spending your time when you're not protecting me. Advanced combat simulations, weapons testing, and intelligence operations—everything you'll need to adapt to this new role."

Bao was already analyzing the soldiers below, studying their tactics. "These aren't standard military operatives, are they?"

Selene leaned against the railing beside them. "Perceptive. These are off-the-books specialists. Some are from black ops teams, others are former assets pulled from agencies worldwide. They don't officially exist."

Aiden exhaled. "So we're working alongside ghosts."

"You are," Elias confirmed. "And you're going to have to be better than all of them."

Jiro tilted his head. "And if we aren't?"

Selene smirked. "Then you won't be here very long."

Silence.

The implication was clear. Failure wasn't an option.

The Final Stop – Strategic Command

The last stop of their tour was the Strategic Command Center—the heart of the facility.

Unlike the sterile hallways and private labs, this space was filled with massive holographic displays, classified reports, and live surveillance feeds from multiple locations worldwide.

Desmond's brows furrowed. "This… isn't just for the research facility."

"It's not," Elias confirmed. "This command center has access to global military intelligence. Every major operation, every significant movement—we can see it from here."

Bao's expression darkened. "That means if someone tries to move against you… we'll know."

"Exactly."

Elias turned to face them. "This facility is more than just research. It's a war room. And as of today, you're not just my bodyguards—you're my first line of defense against anyone who tries to interfere with what we're building here."

Aiden exhaled slowly. "So no pressure, then."

Elias smirked. "None at all."

Selene clapped her hands. "Well, that concludes the tour. Any questions? No? Good." She stretched lazily before glancing at Elias. "Now that we've done the formalities, I think it's time for their first actual assignment, don't you?"

Elias nodded. "Agreed." He turned back to Team 12, his gaze sharp. "Your first operation starts tomorrow. Be ready."

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "And what exactly are we doing?"

Elias smiled. "You'll find out soon enough."

With that, the doors to Strategic Command slid shut, and their new reality officially began.

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