“Okay…” This tick sounded weird, and I had so many questions about it, but only two and a half minutes to complete this test, so I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
“The analytics team will participate in the investigation remotely and inform you of any actions/remarks alongside the elements during their arrival. Web is installed in the bedroom, kitchen and living room area, the bathroom remaining undated for privacy reasons. Should any events happen in the premises not covered by cameras, you are to report them via the audio connection of any of the other surface.”
“Wait, they are going to record this? Why not bring a team here, like we always do?”
“Harrow…” the darkness in the general’s gaze made me keep my questions to a minimum. He had nothing to do with this and by the looks of it, he was annoyed as hell that his access to me was removed for such a long time. This had to definitely have come from higher up, someone with the power to overrule a general of an entire region.
“Understood.”
“Your welcome letter, which is to be destroyed after verbal acknowledgement of receipt and memorization, will contain a secure code to be entered in a secret location that will be detailed in the contents of the same. You are only to use it in case of extreme danger, fire or threat upon your life.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you entering the premises on your own free will?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Were you coerced in any manner to enter the premises?”
“No, sir.”
“Are you medically fit to satisfy and achieve the tasks of this assignment?”
“Yes, sir.”
“State your full name, rank and unit for the record.”
“Ellyana Harrow, Captain in the Intelligence Unit of the Human Realm.”
The last tick brought a full chorus of cherubs singing in my ears. With a final look to merit his attention, Milosh threw a letter across the table and pointed to the door with his pencil.
“Off you go then, Harrow. Have fun with the faerie.”
The metallic door in front of me slid open to reveal a pitch-black space. My eyes strained to the point of popping out of their sockets, trying to spot something, anything in the heavy darkness but I knew the drill. The location would not be made available to me until I ripped open the envelope.
At the sound of rustling paper, a small light turned on right above me, illuminating over my head, enough to allow me to see the letter, but not anything else around the space. Okay, message received.
Generally, an initial letter told me more about the subject I was supposed to interrogate, the process and their background and any challenges and KPIs I had to follow throughout the month. Truth be told, it never took me a month. Which is why I had drawn positive attention. I hoped.
I understood pain, it had been a constant companion since childhood and I knew, better than anyone, what a person in pain needed to hear. What they needed to be made to feel in order to see me as the friendly face, the only light strong enough to save them from the darkness they had been put through.
Instead, this letter was short, only three paragraphs, telling me what I already knew.
“Dearest Captain Harrow,
We are delighted to learn of your acceptance of this appointment trial, and we take the opportunity to congratulate you in advance for your appointment as Major of the Intelligence Unit of the Human Realm.
We also want to pass our congratulations to the youngest female Captain in your region and know that we are delighted to meet you in person and discuss more about your future plans upon completion of this appointment trial.
The rules have already been explained to you, so we only take the opportunity to wish you good luck and may you have a fruitful trial. Please wait for more instructions to be delivered directly to yourself. Your secure code is 6803334435/465325 to be inserted on the keypad behind the metal case in the safe.
Warm regards,
PDD”
PDD? I did not recognise that unit, as far as I knew there were no PDD units in the Human Realm. Well, whatever it meant and whoever they were, I found myself under their employment for the next month, so I better start working.
6803334435/465325
