Robert Cross had been the driving force behind two presidents on both sides. He played the government like the corporation it was. He moved people and ideals like checkers. Advancing opposing ideas at different times kept the money flowing. No one suspected him at all. He was wholly insulated through intermediaries and shell companies started by people he had dirt on.

The night was unusually warm but dark. There was no moon in the sky, and it was quiet. Alex walked confidently up to the small, well-groomed house and peered inside a window. The house was asleep. He almost whispered the word, Minerva. That would have activated his onboard A.I., and his little extracurricular field trip would have been a bust.

I woke with a start, the dream so fresh in my mind I could still feel the wetness of the blood. A scream was falling back down my throat. I cleared it and took a deep breath.

Alex pushed himself off the floor, launching his body at his opponent. The speed at which he was moving was astonishing. He covered a twenty-meter distance in less than a second. His opponent and teacher sidestepped him easily and tripped him.

The dark-haired man walked up to the reflective glass doors of the towering building. Massive letters hovered near the top of the tower; they read The Sotir Group. The man paused for just a moment to make sure he looked right. He smiled to himself, knowing he carried his 190 pounds well on his six-foot frame. He opened the doors with a smile of confidence on his face. He walked up to the security desk. His blue eyes were full of pleasantries.

The dark-haired man walked up to the reflective glass doors of the towering building. Massive letters hovered near the top of the tower; they read The Sotir Group. The man paused for just a moment to make sure he looked right. He smiled to himself, knowing he carried his 190 pounds well on his six-foot frame. He opened the doors with a smile of confidence on his face. He walked up to the security desk. His blue eyes were full of pleasantries.