As the girls walked behind the two men, the Director and Max, they remained silent, passing through scenes on all sides: tents, heavy machinery, and workers moving at double speed. Alice, positioned slightly to the lower left, studied everything around her, trying to understand what it was all for and why everyone seemed to be working so intensely. There must be more to this, she thought.
She turned her head and fixed her gaze on the two men ahead, who had begun to talk. She couldn't quite make out what they were discussing, but whatever it was, it sounded important. They won't mind if I eavesdrop, would they?
"So let me guess..." the Director began. "Your old man rejected your proposal, am I right?"
"Yeah. Yeah, he did," Max replied as they continued walking.
The guy in the upper-left box formation spoke again. Alice listened in quietly.
His voice was strained, edged with frustration, almost aggressive, and so tired it sounded cracked. The old man he kept mentioning had made his side project nearly impossible to manage, telling him to leave it to the big guys-the ones with higher pay grades. It was clear he was furious. He believed he was more capable than anyone assigned to the job. And it wasn't because he'd used his family's money to buy his way in, no. He'd ground himself down and worked relentlessly to make a name for himself. But after being rejected, he'd turned to the Director-or, as he'd just called him, uncle.
Alice's eyebrows shot up. That's his uncle?! The realisation made her gasp inwardly.
"...If he finds out I've broken protocol and contacted you of all people, I'm toast," Max said, while his uncle, the Director, listened intently.
"I wish I could help you, kiddo, but it seems my hands are tied-"
"But you don't have to," Max cut in.
They stopped.
"What do you mean?" the Director asked, studying Max with curiosity.
Max replied, "I'm saying all of this might be connected."
The Director frowned, clearly not following. Seeing this, Max clarified, choosing his words more carefully-almost translating his thoughts so his uncle could understand.
"The Myfecta you're currently observing and keeping tabs on may be connected to every other incident that's been happening across the country for the past few months. If you'll let me speak with you privately, I have all the evidence right here." He slid his bag forward for the Director to see. "Enough to make my point undeniable."
The Director paused, thinking.
He looked down at his nephew. "If you're right about this... then you can join us."
Max's eyes lit up like fireworks. His plan was finally coming together. He'd expected to be told to pack his bags and leave-but that wasn't the case. For his uncle to decide so quickly meant there were other factors at play, reasons strong enough to let him stay.
Before Max could say anything else, a soldier rushed over and whispered something into the Director's ear. The man's expression shifted instantly from calm to grim.
"I'm sorry, Max," the Director said. "Our discussion will have to wait. There's been a complication."