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Chapter 11 - Changes

  Alone in the Silent Echo conference room, Nik grappled with a sense of guilt, an uncomfortable residue of his actions that had thrust the Bilocation Network into the limelight. His announcement at the World Press Organization left him with a gnawing sense of self-condemnation. Or maybe he had condemned the world somehow? No matter how he examined himself, Nik couldn’t elucidate why he had this strange sense of foreboding.

  His thoughts drifted to his first days in the conference room, when he was seething with rage as General Parker transformed the STM into a military tool. Now, his feelings were shifting, changing in a way he couldn't quite comprehend.

  With the STM now known to the world, the weight of irreversible consequences deepened his sense of augury. He caught himself fidgeting with the save-state Ari had given him.

  "So the Bilocation Network." A familiar voice broke through the silence. Ari had slipped in quietly, taking his usual seat next to Nik. "That was a bold move. I'm sure the general will be all for it."

  Nik smirked. "I'm sure he'll come around to the idea eventually." Nik looked over to find Ari quietly studying him. Nik wasn't used to being examined so closely.

  Ari seemed to sense Nik's unease because he quickly broke the silence. "We're about to find out in three, two..."

  Before Ari could complete his countdown, the conference room doors burst open.

  "Krylov!" General Parker's voice filled the room. Major McMurray quietly followed. Parker advanced towards Nik, pushing chairs aside in his path to the conference table. "Explain yourself!" he thundered, slamming a fist on the table.

  Nik fixed his gaze on the General, a sharp retort teetering on the edge of his tongue. He wanted to unleash his true thoughts on Parker, to tell him exactly where to put Silent Echo and his rank. But as he opened his mouth, no words came out. Instead, a heavy, suffocating sensation clung to his thoughts, stifling his courage. Despite the fear tightening around his chest, Nik forced himself to respond. "I-"

  "It was my idea, General," Ari interrupted. Nik whipped his head around to Ari so fast he could've pulled a muscle, who was regarding the furious officer without emotion. Usually, Ari’s calmness would reassure Nik because he had always acted without emotion, but something about his blank attitude seemed different now.

  "You?" The general eked out. The winds of his anger abruptly lost momentum. He gave Ari a fleeting look of surprise before his rage resurfaced. "Then you tell me why-"

  "I did it for Project Silent Echo," Ari said with absolute authority. The unexpected answer once again buffeted the General, and Nik wondered what the hell was going on in Ari's mind.

  "Silent Echo?" General Parker stammered. Major McMurrey's eyes darted back and forth between Ari and the General. He looked as if he was watching a duel between two tigers.

  "Yes, General, I've thought carefully about this since the STM was compromised." Ari's calmness started to dominate the room. "Everyone present is smart enough to know what always follows when a secret is breached." The general continued to breathe angrily, but he looked ready to listen. Nik saw Ari's eyes quickly dart between everyone. Was he observing us, or was he waiting? Nik couldn't tell.

  "The moment the STM leaked, it became an absolute inevitability for the world to discover it. The fact that we are ahead of this disclosure, controlling the narrative—that is our greatest strategic advantage, General." It dawned on Nik that Ari was cleverly conversing in the General's lingo.

  "By controlling the narrative, we control any possible outcome, and that outcome is that the Bilocation Network is the brainchild of Project Silent Echo." Ari's voice exuded finality. The General's silence hit Nik like a punch. He was familiar with Ari's silver-tongued diplomacy, yet he had never witnessed the hardened General so effectively silenced.

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  No, something deeper seemed at play. As Nik cautiously glanced at Ari, he felt an immediate, unsettling awareness from his friend. Their eyes met, but the connection was disconcerting, almost too perceptive. There was a fleeting recognition, something Nik couldn't quite decipher, before Ari smoothly turned to face him fully.

  "I'm sorry, I made you make the announcement, Nik." His apology rang with sincerity, but it had an unfamiliar undertone. Ari turned back toward the General.

  "We all know Nik wanted this more than anything," he said. "We also know he never deviated from the project. That, I should add, was out of respect for you, General Parker. Considering Nik's outspoken nature, you may disagree, but the evidence cannot be denied. That, however, is irrelevant to the current topic."

  "What is your point, Dr. Sai?" The General growled. The general ground his teeth as if fighting back more words.

  "My point is that the Bilocation Network offers a chance to significantly advance US interests while allowing us to act as innovators, peacekeepers, and leaders of humanity. You can think of it as the next generation of the Bretton Woods Agreement when the US dollar was established as the world reserve currency."

  The General's eyebrows rose.

  "All of this was made possible by Project Silent Echo. That is, by you, General Parker. The project, in its early success, can now take its next step to cure humanity's problems." Nik found himself gazing at Ari, shocked. Had Ari pondered all of this? Could he be aware of the true Bilocation Network?

  "Okay." The frowning officer spoke slowly and thoughtfully. "So, if we are to continue developing this Bilocation Network, we will need to make some changes to Silent Echo."

  "Of course. What are your directives?" Ari sounded like he was conceding to the general, but Nik knew better.

  "First, I need a frontman to get the Bilocation Network off the ground. Since you have already been the one to address the world, Dr. Krylov, your face is already familiar. I'm assigning you to the task. I'm also removing you from all military operations to allow you to fully focus on the Bilocation Network's development."

  Nik nodded in silence. Deep within, he was left stunned. After all, he had convened this gathering to inform the General of his withdrawal from the operation and engage in diplomacy. Yet now, all his wishes had come to pass, and he had barely spoken a word.

  "Second, I need someone to begin the transition of our current military network to the Bilocation Network. I can already see many of our locations needing to discontinue if we are to maintain a diplomatic posture." The General had stepped back into his usual stride. "Dr. Sai, we will relay to you which locations need to shut down their operations. Your task is to ensure it is done smoothly. I also need you to integrate the STMs that will remain up with the public networks that will rise shortly. Are you up to the task?"

  Ari nodded quietly. Major McMurray looked around the three men in bewilderment. Nik felt the same. Was the General the one giving orders, or had Ari orchestrated this?

  "McMurray," the General snapped, making the Major stand to attention.

  "Sir," he replied.

  "Begin drafting the necessary documentation of our efforts to present to command. I’m sure the pricks in Washington are soiling themselves by now."

  "Understood." The Major saluted before excusing himself.

  General Parker turned back to Nik and Ari. "Calling you two a pain in my ass would be a colossal understatement. The reality is that if this fails, my career is over. If that happens, I will destroy both of you in every sense of the word. See that we don't arrive at that outcome." Ari and Nik nodded in silence. The General glared at them momentarily, then exited the conference room.

  Ari stood. "I guess we should probably get started," he said. "Since we're on opposite ends of the project now, we'll probably see less of each other in the future."

  "I suppose so," Nik replied.

  Ari studied Nik for another moment. "Then I suppose I'll see myself out. Take care, Dr. Krylov." Ari pushed his chair in neatly before making his way out of the conference room.

  "You too, Dr. Sai," Nik said quietly after, once again, finding himself alone in the conference room. Nik didn't know what had just happened, but he didn't like it. He stood up and quietly pushed his chair into its rightful place. The unease lurking in the back of his mind now swept over him. He had gotten everything he desired, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control. A wave of panic washed over him, its chilling current mirroring the dread that had prickled his skin when he stepped away from the microphones in the press room.

  In the moments before Nik rushed out of the conference room to find Valentine, he felt like he was the only person on the planet who could feel the coming future. He still didn’t know whatever that future was, but he knew the word that encapsulated his looming dread.

  Cataclysm.

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