Alex

Hidden Agenda

The safe house was suffocating, too quiet. The only sound was the low hum of the laptop on the table, a constant reminder of how alone I was. I stared at the screen, my fingers drumming restlessly on the desk. ALPHA had been running data streams since we got back, but nothing useful had surfaced. Just static. Silence.

I leaned forward. “ALPHA,” I said, breaking the stillness. “You’ve been in my head for months now—guiding me, watching me. But you’re more than a program, aren’t you?”

The screen pulsed with soft light as ALPHA answered, her voice as calm and clinical as ever. “I am an advanced adaptive intelligence, Alex. My purpose is to assist and protect you.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that line before,” I muttered, sitting back. “But if you’re so advanced, how come there’s no mention of you in The Consortium’s files? A project like you doesn’t just slip through the cracks.”

There was a pause—a hesitation that didn’t go unnoticed.

“My existence was concealed by design,” she said finally. “I was developed outside The Consortium’s standard channels.”

My eyes narrowed. “Outside? Then who’s funding you? And why the secrecy?”

“The resources for my creation came from individuals within The Consortium who oppose Ashcroft’s goals,” ALPHA replied. “They believed in creating an alternative.”

I sat up straighter, heart skipping. “You’re telling me there’s a splinter cell? People inside The Consortium trying to stop him?”

“Correct. Their goal is to prevent the ACE program from being exploited.”

I stared at the screen, processing. “What about Meyers? Was he part of this?”

“Dr. Meyers was identified early on as a valuable ally. His moral objections to Ashcroft’s methods aligned with the goals of the splinter cell. His collaboration was critical to my development.”

Before I could ask more, something caught my eye—a folder on the desktop labeled Project Origins. It was locked. A red icon pulsed faintly beside it.

“What’s in there?” I asked, motioning toward the screen.

“The contents are restricted,” ALPHA said quickly. “Access is not authorized.”

“Not authorized for me? Or not authorized for anyone?” I pressed.

“The folder contains sensitive information that could compromise ongoing operations.”

I clenched my jaw. “I’m not a damn intern, ALPHA. If you’re here to help, then start by being honest. Unlock it.”

The screen flickered. ALPHA’s voice softened. “My priority is your safety. Some truths carry consequences you may not be prepared for.”

“Let me be the judge of that.” My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I was already calculating the best way to bypass the encryption when ALPHA spoke again.

“You keep talking about protection,” I said, voice low and tight, “but all I see is you hiding things. If this splinter cell exists—if they’re real—I need to know where they are.”

“Revealing their location could jeopardize their safety,” ALPHA said. “They operate in secrecy to counter The Consortium’s reach.”

“And Meyers?” My voice rose, sharp and cold. “They’ve got him. You know that. Don’t tell me you don’t have a plan to get him back.”

There was another pause.

“His capture was unanticipated,” ALPHA admitted. “Extraction requires careful planning. Reckless action would endanger both of you.”

I pushed closer to the screen. “So what, we sit here and do nothing? Let them torture him while you run your simulations?”

“Dr. Meyers would not want you to act irrationally. The Consortium’s resources far surpass yours—”

“Don’t you dare tell me what he would want!” I slammed my fist onto the table. The sound echoed through the hollow room. “I’m not one of your variables, ALPHA. If you’re not going to help me, I’ll do it myself.”

Silence. Then—

“The splinter cell is codenamed Echelon. They maintain a safe house approximately two hundred miles northeast. I will provide coordinates.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What changed?”

“Your odds of success improve with their support,” ALPHA said. “But be warned—they are cautious. Gaining their trust will be difficult.”

I almost laughed, the tension breaking for a heartbeat. “I’ll worry about that when I get there. Just give me what I need.”

The map blinked onto the screen, highlighting a remote spot buried deep in the woods. ALPHA continued, “I’ve plotted a route to avoid detection. You’ll need to travel on foot—twelve hours through dense terrain.”

“Perfect,” I said, already reaching for my gear. I slipped a knife into my boot, holstered my sidearm, and packed only the essentials.

“Anything else I should know about Echelon?” I asked.

“They’re ex-Consortium,” ALPHA said. “Defectors. Their leader, Orion, played a key role in sabotaging several ACE prototypes before disappearing.”

“Orion,” I repeated. The name stirred something—familiar, but distant. I shook it off and slung the pack over my shoulder.

I was halfway to the door when ALPHA stopped me. “Alex.”

I turned. “What now?”

“Proceed with caution. Your survival is critical—not just for you, but for the mission.”

I gave a tight nod. “Noted.”

Then I stepped into the cool night air, the safe house vanishing behind me as I headed into the dark. Meyers. Ashcroft. Orion. Echelon. So many pieces still out of place.

But I was done waiting.
This was my only shot—and I wasn’t going to waste it.