This is me

Chapter seven

"Ryder," David called from behind his desk, and within moments Ryder was before him, saluting sharply. "It's been three days since we have heard from Ethan. Is he ok?" David asked, concern on his face as he leaned back on the comfortable chair. Ryder shook his head, making David feel sick in the stomach, "No, Mr President. Ethan has not answered any calls or communications since he went to the Research Facility. While this is distressful news, I do know what happened to him." David arched an eyebrow in surprise, and Ryder hastily took a seat on the chair before the desk. "Mr President, the Research Facility controls a majority of our ship research and controls the organizational strategies for our growing ship army. Ethan disappeared, along with five others. In roughly one day, a Cell Accelerator, like the Old Particle Accelerators from Old Earth, will be used in the Research Facility as a test. Its main purpose is to give people superpowers, in order to help either our army or the streets of our Capital City. They need to test subjects. That's why six people have gone missing."

David slammed his fist onto the wooden table in fury. He waited a few moments, and then got to his feet, opening the draw in the desk and withdrawing a silvery pistol. "Where do you think you're going, Mr President?" Ryder asked, also getting to his feet, and David used his knee to slam the draw closed. "I'm going down to the Research Facility, getting those six out, and I am also going to kill anyone who gets in my way." Ryder's eyes widened as he shook his head. "No. I am sorry, Mr President, but you are not going anywhere near that Facility," Ryder said loudly, and within moment Troy and William were in the room. "Are you trying to stop me?" David asked, poison in his voice, and Ryder nodded. "Yes, sir, I am. No matter what, I am stopping you from leaving this building." David glared at each of them, and then slowly placed the pistol on the table. "Fine. Do whatever you have to do. They're not staying in that Facility for longer than a few hours." Ryder turned, nodded at both Troy and William, and the two marched out the office.

"Where did you send them? David asked, slumping back into his seat, and Ryder grinned. "They are going to tell Bolt the situation. I do not trust him, but he seemed to have a certain familiarity with Ethan. They are almost the same age, do not forget. He will want to help him, which means sending the best Inquisitors down to that Facility." David ran the limited options through his mind, and then slowly nodded. "Also, he needs to head down to the Facility anyway. The whole Army is, in fact. They're being tested one by one, just to make sure there are no incidents, like the last time an Army was gifted to a Federation." David looked up, his eyes searching Ryder's, and then he sat forwards. "What are you talking about?" he asked quietly, and Ryder suddenly looked panicked. "I thought you knew, sir. Over sixty years ago is when the...incident happened." David sighed and leaned back again, feeling incredibly tired. "Is there a recording of the incident?" he asked, and Ryder nodded. "I can bring it up for you, if you would like," Ryder suggested, and David acknowledged with a nod of his head.

Ryder got out his seat, left the office, and returned within a minute, holding a disc in his hand. "Are you sure you want to watch, sir? It is rather gruesome." David nodded, and Ryder closed the bronze door behind him. David turned around, closing the curtains of the large window, and wheeled around to face the desk, where Ryder was inserting the disc into a machine. "Let me explain what happened before you watch," Ryder said, moving his chair to be beside David, and he sat down. "There was a Federation that gifted another an entire army. What they did not know, however, was that the gifted soldiers had chips in their heads. The chips were almost untraceable. They served the Federation in a War for years, until the man behind it set his plan into motion. A Legion discovered the chips and had them removed, but before any of the others could be warned, the man-made the soldiers turn on the Federation they served. The Knights, warriors of their time, were slowly wiped from existence.

"The man was captured within a few days, once most of the soldiers except for the 783rd Legion, who removed their chips, were killed. There was a man who the leader had taken on as a Learner. The man used to be a Knight, but after turning to the leader, he became a Darkness User. This footage, from an invisible Drone, shows the leader siding with the remaining Knights as the man attacks their final stronghold." Ryder hit a small green button next to the machine, and a massive hologram appeared, taking up most of their vision.