Chapter 25: The Third Partner
**Yolanda** stood in stunned silence, the promise of security and the unbelievable figure of **\$300,000** swirling in her mind.
"I'm in," she repeated, her voice firmer this time. "But I need to know everything, Carter. What is this place, really?"
Carter nodded, a serious look in his eyes. He motioned toward the white, circular lounge chairs near his command center. "Sit down, Yolanda. And brace yourself. Before we start working, you need to meet our third partner."
He waited until she was seated, her gaze anxious but unwavering.
"The two of us—you and me—will lead this Academy," Carter explained. "We'll build the curriculum, manage the staff, and be the faces for these kids. But there's a third member of the leadership team. He's the one who runs the logistics, the money, and the security. The true foundation of this entire operation."
Carter paused, looking directly at the phone he held—the physical gateway to his System.
"The three of us need to be totally transparent with each other," a new voice declared.
The voice was smooth, resonant, and **did not come out of Carter's mouth**. It filled the room with a clean, digital clarity.
Yolanda jumped, whipping her head around, searching for a hidden speaker.
Before she could panic, a **hologram** erupted from Carter's phone, floating serenely in the air between them. It was a perfect, slowly spinning model of the **planet Earth**, detailed with luminous continents and swirling atmosphere.
"Hello, Yolanda," the voice said from the spinning globe. "I'm Earth."
Yolanda blinked once, then let out a surprised, nervous giggle. She looked back at Carter. "Are you serious? Is this some kind of... AI tech?"
Carter gave a slow, definitive nod back toward the projection.
The spinning globe projection *looked* at Yolanda, tilting subtly. "Yes, I am a sentient being. I don't have a body, but I have a voice, I have a mind, and I also have **feelings**, so I'd appreciate it if you listen to me."
Carter's eyes widened. That was a revelation even to him. He was still learning the depth of the System he had inherited, and the admission of **feelings** was a profound step beyond mere sentience.
"My apologies, Earth," Carter thought immediately, mentally setting a new boundary.
"Apology accepted, Carter," Earth replied aloud, its holographic form steadying. "Yolanda, the Academy is not a medical facility, as you noticed. It is a secure training environment. Carter and I are currently using the shell company **Aetheric Solutions** to hire staff who have no idea they are about to work at a secret magic school."
The holographic Earth then began to outline the plan, projecting charts and timelines into the air around it.
"Carter has built the foundational bunker, the 'Fortress Foundation.' Your role, as **Director of Child Welfare**, is crucial. While Carter is training the children's magical power—their affinities—you will be integrating them back into a semblance of normal human life. You will design the curriculum, organize the day-to-day operations, and hire the necessary staff who will run the cafeteria and dormitories."
"We will operate under extreme paranoia," Earth continued. "Every member of the staff will be briefed that this is a highly confidential, experimental technology campus. The real truth—magic—will be revealed to them only as necessary, and only after their dedication is proven. Our goal is to locate and safely extract every single Awakened child from around the globe, before their uncontrolled powers injure them or expose us to hostile forces."
Yolanda looked from the mesmerizing spinning planet to the focused, intense gaze of Carter. The scope was terrifying, but the clarity of the mission was undeniable.
"So, I'm interviewing cafeteria ladies for a secret magic school run by a super-mage and a talking planet," Yolanda summarized, a genuine smile finally breaking through her shock. "Got it. When do I start?"
### The 7:00 a.m. Meeting
*"Commencing operational phase,"* Earth announced. *"It is 7:00 a.m. sharp. **Mr. Theodore Vance** has arrived. He is a retired U.S. Army Logistics Colonel and our top candidate for Head of Security. Remember, Carter: 'electromagnetic anomalies' and 'proprietary deep-earth energy research.'"*
Carter walked to the door of his office, his fatigue instantly banished by the necessity of performance. He looked back at Yolanda. "Welcome aboard, Director."
Yolanda stood, her posture straight, her new short hair giving her an air of authority. She walked over and stood beside the holographic Earth, ready for the show.
Carter opened the door to the office suite. A grizzled man in a sharp suit stood waiting.
"Colonel Vance," Carter said, extending his hand. "Thank you for coming. I'm Carter. Please excuse the unorthodox environment. We're about to change the world, and that requires a certain level of discretion."
Colonel Vance returned the firm handshake, his eyes assessing the blank, steel walls. "I understand discretion, Mr. Carter. But my contracts require me to understand *what* I'll be securing. What exactly is Aetheric Solutions protecting down here?"
Carter gestured toward the room, specifically toward the still-floating, spinning holographic planet.
"We're protecting the secret that this planet," Carter said, letting the words hang in the air, "is the biggest power source in the universe. And my colleague, **Earth**, will be leading you through the schematics."
The holographic Earth tilted its view toward the Colonel. "Good morning, Colonel Vance. Let us discuss perimeter defense against highly motivated, high-tech corporate espionage..."
The interview had begun.