He paused, then added without hesitation, "The young officer behind me, Cole, he wasn't implanted. He's too new to his position. Naive. The President saw someone who still believed in him, who would follow orders without question. That alone made him valuable. He didn't want to ruin that blind loyalty with control, at least not yet. He thinks the kid might awaken powers in the future, so he plans to raise him like a loyal dog..."
The words were cold, blunt, and unfiltered. The Commander General didn't bother softening the blow for Cole's sake; he was a soldier. And if this truth hurt, it was pain that would open his eyes.
Kisha, hearing all of this confession, fell into deep thought. It was true, not all soldiers had microchips implanted in their bodies. And it was also true that Cole looked like an unsuspecting golden retriever, someone who could be treated like a harmless, obedient companion, a breath of fresh air in that suffocating place.
