(Pierre's glasses view)
Granitz's camp line: "We got a situation."
Granitz's camp line: "F01 out-of-control."
Granitz's camp line: "Repeat! F01 out-of-control!"
Granitz's camp line: "Inform the admiral immediately."
Granitz's camp line: "F01 is heading to the institute."
…
—
"What if those weapons turn against us?" Pierre interjected, his voice calm but cutting through the noise like a blade. The room fell silent, all eyes on him. "Can you guarantee the Reich's safety, Admiral, when you're playing with minds?"
Karl locked eyes with Pierre, unflinching. "I understand your concerns, Acting Director, but I swear to protect Granitz from any threat." He raised his right fist, a gesture of victory that drew roars from the soldiers. "The Reich's strength is our unity. This code will ensure our dominance."
"If my project is to be transformed into such an unethical thing, I would rather erase the whole thing," Elena declared. But this was not heeded as Freja confronted her. "Sorry, my dear, but the military has acquired your protocol." "You remember, everything on this Granitz island is under the Granitz camp's control."
Elena's heart raced, her mind reeling. She wanted to protest, to reclaim her work's purpose, but the crowd's fervor overwhelmed her. Pierre glanced at her, his chilling smile and subtle head shake signaling his retreat from the debate. She felt powerless, her breakthrough tainted by Karl's ambitions. Stepping down from the stage, her legs trembled, the applause now a hollow echo.
As the crowd dispersed, Elena lingered near the console, her thoughts a tangle of pride and dread. Pierre approached, his hand brushing her arm. "You were brilliant up there," he said softly, but his eyes were distant, fixed on where Freja and Karl now conferred near the exit.
"They're going to weaponize it, Pierre," Elena whispered, her voice breaking. "Everything we built…"
The sudden blare of incoming calls cut through the conference room, officers' comms lighting up in unison. Karl reached for his device, his jaw tightening, but before he could answer—
BOOM!
The building shuddered, a deep tremor rattling the walls. A piercing emergency alarm wailed, signaling an attack. The audience erupted into chaos—scientists gasped, soldiers tensed, and panicked murmurs swelled into shouts. Karl activated his comm, switching to speaker as he barked,
"Report!"
"Admiral!" The voice crackled with urgency. "F01 is out of control!"
"What?" Karl's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp.
"F01's at the base of NRE, sir!"
"Where's the army?"
"Ground floor, sir, defending the entrance gate!"
The line burst with gunfire and distant screams, each sound amplifying the crowd's fear. Karl's face hardened. "Keep reporting," he ordered. "I'm heading down. Send live footage now. And prepare my suit."
The room descended into pandemonium—colleagues clutched each other, some whispering prayers, others frozen in shock. As Karl issued commands, Pierre stepped onto the stage, his voice calm but commanding. "Everyone, stay calm. I trust our admiral to protect us."
His words, laced with a subtle challenge, sparked a flash of rage in Karl's eyes, though the crisis demanded his focus elsewhere.
Pierre stepped forward, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Everyone, follow the emergency protocol. Head to the nearest exit and evacuate the building. The Granitz army will handle the intruder." He gestured toward the glowing emergency exit signs, guiding the panicked audience with steady authority.
Karl's face twisted with barely contained rage, his eyes flashing at Pierre's commandeering of the situation. But the crisis left no room for personal grudges—Pierre was right. Karl and his forces had to confront the threat. Freja approached, her voice a low whisper. "Karl, are you wearing the chip or suit?"
Karl shook his head, his jaw tight. "Not today, Mother. But we'll manage." His tone brimmed with confidence, though Freja's eyes betrayed deep concern.
"Find a safe place," Karl urged, softening his voice. "I'll handle this. No need to worry." He reassured her with a quick nod, then rallied the soldiers in the room, leading them toward the stairwell to confront F01 on the ground floor.
As Elena descended the emergency stairs beside Pierre, she leaned closer, her voice urgent. "Any plans?"
Pierre's gaze remained fixed ahead, his expression unreadable. "One or two."
"Tell me," she pressed.
"Not yet," he replied calmly. "Evacuating everyone comes first."
A faint smile tugged at Elena's lips. "You're acting like the real director."
"Just doing my duty," he said, his tone steady but laced with resolve.
Together, Pierre and Elena guided the scientists and staff through the exit, emerging into the cool air behind the NRE building. The distant sounds of gunfire from the front entrance confirmed F01's position. Employees huddled in anxious clusters, some turning to Pierre for answers.
A trembling researcher pushed through the huddle of evacuated employees, her voice quavering. "Mr. Therma, what's happening?"
Pierre turned to her, his dark eyes steady despite the distant gunfire echoing from NRE's front entrance. "An intruder's attacking the facility," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "We don't know their motive yet, but the Granitz army is handling it."
Elena stepped closer. "I heard the officers call it F01," she added, glancing at him. Her chest swelled with admiration for his composure, even as her mind raced with questions about the creature's origins.
Another scientist, his lab coat askew, stammered, "F01? Is it one of ours? Did it come from the labs?"
Pierre raised a hand, his tone measured but firm. "We don't have details yet. Speculation won't help. Our priority is keeping everyone safe until the army neutralizes the threat."
A young technician, clutching a tablet, piped up, her voice shrill. "But what if it breaks through? The barricades—"
"It won't," Pierre cut in smoothly, his gaze locking with hers. "The Granitz forces are trained for this. They're reinforcing the entrance as we speak. Focus on staying with the group and following the soldiers' escort."
Elena marveled at his ability to calm panic with quiet authority. "Should we contact the mainland?" she asked, her voice low, testing his strategy.
Pierre shook his head slightly, his expression unreadable but resolute. "Not yet, Elena. We stabilize the situation here first. No need to escalate until we know more." He turned back to the crowd, projecting his voice. "Stay together and move with the soldiers. They'll guide you to a secure zone."
The employees nodded, their fear tempered by Pierre's confidence.
As Granitz soldiers arrived, their boots pounding the ground, Pierre exchanged a quick glance with Elena, giving her a silent signal.