When the video ended, he slid the tablet back, and his composure returned.
"Walk me through it. What do the victims have in common? What are your scientists saying?"
"We're calling it the 'Nightmare Curse.'" She leaned forward. "Everyone who survives wakes up with broken memories. But they all describe of experiencing a nightmare."
"Is that all you've got?"
"That's all I know, Master. My clearance only goes so far." A pause. "If you want the full picture, you'll need to talk with my director."
The café noise filled the silence between them. He picked up his cup, drained the last of his coffee, and set it down.
"You've got my attention. So where are we headed?"
"It's within state. We can leave now if you're ready." She slid the tablet into her bag.
"Let's go"
He left a few bills on the table and followed her out.
A black SUV waited by the curb. They climbed inside, and drove off.
Miles of desert replaced the city. Just scrubby trees and empty fields reaching for a horizon that never came closer.
Roughly an hour later, they reached the first gate.
Several watchtowers overlooked the area, giving visibility from above, and even if all of that failed, Elaine explained that a single satellite was constantly monitoring the site from orbit.
Beyond the fence, the road stretched for another five kilometers. Hangars lined the perimeter, and a full airstrip held jet fighters, helicopters, and even B-3 bombers.
"ID." An armed guard stepped forward, flanked by twenty more men. They wore desert camouflage.
"Elaine Smith, Senior Agent I." She handed over her card.
Two men swept the vehicle with detectors.
Three minutes later, they nodded, and the gate creaked open.
"You've come a long way since the last time I saw you," he remarked.
"It's been two decades, Master . It would be embarrassing if I were still that clueless girl who always needed your protection,"
"Two decades, huh…" he murmured. "I suppose it feels long to you. For me, it just slipped by. Maybe that's for the best. Living this long is hard enough as it is."
She gripped the wheel a little tighter. "Master. I know you don't like talking about this, but… I'm curious. How old are you?"
Rain exhaled heavily, the fatigue in his eyes impossible to hide.
"I don't know the exact number of years… but I've been around since the dinosaurs still roamed the planet."
She accidentally hit the brake. She knew he was old, but hundreds of millions of years?"
"Keep your eyes on the road,"he scolded her, like a driving instructor.
"Yes, Master."
She bypassed the parking lot entirely, driving them into an underground passage. Metal walls swallowed them as their vehicle descended.
"So, Master, getting back to the topic… can I ask if humans really came from apes?"
"Do I strike you as an ape?"
"Wait… you already looked that handsome—" She stopped "I mean… you looked like that from the beginning?"
"Relax, I was joking."
Elaine smiled helplessly and kept driving. Deep down though, she was very curious whether he was pulling her legs or not.
The tunnel finally opened into a massive underground chamber, its ceiling soaring five stories, high enough to house a small town.
Dozens of military vehicles filled the space: tanks, armored personnel carriers, missile launchers, tactical jeeps, and rows of cargo trucks, and so on.
Stepping out of the vehicle, men in black coats waited for them.
A man in his sixties with graying hair stepped forward, extending a hand.
"I'm Director Jackson. It's an honor to finally meet you properly."
"I remember you. You're the agent who fell into the water while chasing me forty years ago."
Jackson laughed once. "I walked right into that one. Master, please come with us. I'm sure you want to see them right away."
Rain nodded and moved forward, but Elaine's footsteps never followed.
He turned. "Come with me."
"She doesn't have clearance for—"
"Then promote her. You're the Director."
Jackson didn't hesitate. He turned and shake her hand.
"Congratulations, You've been promoted to Honorary Senior V Agent."
Her mouth opened, then closed. Just like that, she advanced by four ranks. She wanted to thank her master, but he didn't look interested in such menial things.
They rode in small electric vehicles deeper into the facility.
The tunnel opened into a control room. Metal walls curved inward, lined with wall-sized monitors. Each showed a different training area with reinforced walls.
Rain stood near the front, hands behind his back.
He noticed many with superhuman strength, but the ones manipulating elements caught his attention the most.
"Is this live?"
"Yes." Jackson nodded. "If you want, I can arrange for you to meet them."
The director stopped mid-sentence, sensing danger.
Rain couldn't contain his excitement any longer, and the same wide grin appeared again.
Only when he noticed their growing discomfort did he step back and return to his usual self.
"Please lead the way."