Chapter Seven
Hide and Seek
(part 1)


    Cipher paced slowly through the three rows of young men and women before coming to the front and facing them all. His quite calculated voice filled the room, “Do you know why you are all here?”
There was a moment of silence before one of the Potentials stepped forward a little and Cipher nodded at him, so he spoke. “To serve.”
Cipher pointed at him. “That is correct. You have all been carefully selected and now you will slowly be weeded until there is only one left. If you fail you don’t get another chance.”
A redheaded male suddenly stepped forward and clenched his fist while raising his voice. “And that should be me! I-” He stopped abruptly as Cipher stood face to face with him.
The Potential paled and slowly looked down at himself. He coughed once and then fell to the floor.
Cipher wiped his knife on a cloth and sauntered to his previous location. “How kind of 428jae to give us such a well timed demonstration.”
Then he turned and walked back to his office. Upon entering M.I.N.D. came to life, “Sir, your general is waiting for you in the adjoining map room.” Cipher paused in front of one of the massive windows and propped his chin on a fist which balanced on his other arm's wrist.
He muttered under his breath after a moment of silence, “So general, that is your angle.”
He turned from the window and waved two fingers in M.I.N.D.s direction. A door on the side of the room slide open. The general respectfully acknowledged Cipher before speaking. “These Potentials….I was under the impression you were building an army with them?” 
“You are worried about your position.”
He crossed the room and put a hand on his subordinate’s shoulder. “I must give you points for being so subtle about it but I am disappointed that you would be insecure enough to spend time thinking about this.” He looked sideways into his general’s eyes a little over his shoulder. “You have shown yourself to be a soldier for a long time now….don’t destroy that by pettiness.”
The general squirmed under his leader’s loose but hard grip and subtle chastisement. “I will always be a loyal soldier.” Cipher turned from him with a smile, “That's what I want to hear.”

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