Griffin MacAlister, stood at the forefront of a large room, next to another fellow, with whom he was somewhat acquainted.


Most of the time that he was allowed out of his cell, had been restricted at first. People didn't often interact much, due to everyone's various reactions to all the terrible things that were being done to them, during the beginning phases of the procedure and cause the guards were assholes that found any reason they could, to push their weight around. Social interactions being one of them. Even if they were non-violent and quasi-friendly.


However, the latter series of phases, dealt more with training, exercise and honing your skills. Learning how to fight, handle a weapon, stay out of sight and hunt down targets. That's when Griffin, went from a primarily solitary existence, to spending quite a bit of time with the others and when he wasn't sparring or playing a much more violent style of "hide and seek" he was free to roam and for the most part, do as he pleased. He even had a roommate by that point. Carl. The man that was standing next to him. Who seemed friendly, when Griffin originally met him and had a good sense of humor, so they got along. Right off the bat. Still Griffin couldn't help but think... this guy didn't belong there.


Mostly because Griffin experienced interacting with Carl, during practice exercises and training and he wasn't very good. At anything. Like at all. Carl was awful. Seriously. The worst. Threw up a lot too and cringed at the sight of blood or broken bones. A great majority that were his own. But Carl was a nice guy, so it wasn't like Griffin had any particular beef with the man. Griffin simply thought, Carl didn't belong there and while that sort of thinking would have made him feel like a judgmental asshole, in the past. He literally, felt nothing and that made a part of him wonder, if he should be concerned. If maybe this was an affect of everything, he had underwent and gone through. It was a fleeting moment of curiosity and didn't last long.


Although, standing in the front of that huge room, one that was so big it could have been an arena of some kind and even had an upper portion stationed above, secluded by glass, sort of like a skybox. Griffin found himself reflecting back on those instances. Was there a connection? He had never been in this room before and up until that moment, didn't even know it existed. Strange. It was almost like Carl and him were on display but for what and why? Griffin looked back at his peers, all standing in a line behind them, along with a mixture of lab coats and armed guards surrounding the perimeter of the entire area and it only reinforced his inquisitiveness. Yet before he could ponder anything further, a set of double doors; located at the northwest corner of the colossal room, opened and out walked Maxwell Maximus.


Maxwell was dressed as fancy as ever, looking every bit the part of a high profile, lawyer or businessman. This was the first time Griffin seen Maxwell, after getting into his car on that faithful day, Griffin's life would change forever. Watching Maxwell stroll into the room at this particular juncture, one would think that Griffin would despise the very sight of Max but oddly enough, he felt nothing. Not a damn thing, whatsoever. Not anger or frustration, hell... not even stupidity, for signing that damn contract that Maxwell provided. Griffin felt nothing.


When Maxwell reached the utmost, center of the room and all eyes were on him, he smiled. Allowing his eyes to pan around, he seemed to take everything in and contemplate it all, hitherto speaking. When he did finally talk, his voice came out loud and clear, projected the way an actor must learn to do in order to recite lines in a play and be properly heard by an audience. Every word was enunciated perfectly too. Firm and forthright, while he stood tall with pristine posture, confident and clearly a man that felt like he was in control, at all times. With zero doubt or concern, ever entering his mind.


"Hello! I bet you all are wondering, why you've been gathered here today? Well, allow me to clarify that for you, today is a type of graduation ceremony of sorts. With the exception that not everyone is graduating and continuing towards the next chapter in the book of their life's journey. In fact, most of you are not moving forward, you are merely witnesses to this event. When one person excels onward to greatness."


As Maxwell paused briefly, he shot a gaze above, to the glass encased booth; which now seemed to house several dark forms that couldn't properly be made out or seen clearly and nodded. From there, he quickly returned his attention to the rest of the room and promptly, continued.


"One person? But there's two men standing in the front of the room? How could there be only one advancing?"


Always the showman, Maxwell feigned a bit of shock and gasped, then laughed.


"Well, that's where the 'fun part' comes into play... you see, one of these men is the embodiment of everything we hoped to achieve, when initially coming up with this program. He is the prime example, astounding in every way imaginable and then some, if I've heard correctly, anyway. I mean, it's not like I've been keeping tabs, behind the scenes, checking in and observing things, in order to obtain an accurate analysis of my own."


Obvious wink.


"Oh goodness no, I would never do such a thing and on top of that, without reason or just cause. No. Far too busy for that sort of nonsense and paranoia. Why taking that specific type of action, could be seen as me intruding onto someone else's territory. Stepping on toes and such. Considering there's an abundant supply of highly educated, immensely dedicated and devoted individuals, that are responsible for determining such things, per their own carefully collected evidence and painstakingly thorough research. And I don't cross boundaries like that, it's rude."


A laugh that instantly faded into a serious, stern expression.


"Except when I do because most of you are fucking imbeciles, that should have been aborted and never been permitted to grow into adulthood, where you would somehow move onto working here and wind up... WASTING EVERYONE'S TIME!."


Max cleared his throat.


"Rest assured, your failures... and you know who you are, have been documented and you will be dealt with accordingly."


Instantly composing himself, Maxwell switched back to all smiles and cheer.


"Now then, since I took the liberty of deriving the true conclusive deduction, based on all the factors that presented themselves and with the help of my ever knowing, always amazing colleague. A man of little words... or rather, no words and one arm, that some of you may have seen lurking about and not even realized, what he was really doing here or how truly involved he is when it comes to the program. Hey, I bet a few of you even mistook him for the janitor, a mentally inept dullard hired as some kind of tax write off. Yeah. We don't do that here but your ignorance has been noted and filed away, for future evaluations. Anyway, with my partner's aid, I was able to accurately ascertain a correct verdict and he's standing in front of you all. Right now."


Hand hastily raised, Maxwell vaguely waved in the direction of Griffin and Carl.


"Here comes the "fun" part. Yay!"


The lord of deception, hopped in place.


"Like I was saying, one of these men is the epitome of everything, we have been striving to create. Our apotheosis. The quintessence of perfection, when it comes to what this program was designed to manifest. That is a living weapon. The other is a worthless, piece of refuse, that will never be anything of importance. Ever. Should he have furthered, he would have done so and died. Minutes within his first day out in the field. Probably costing the organization millions of dollars and the lives of individuals far greater than him, in the process. Tragic, I know. This is the thing though, I am so tired of making the tough calls and deciding what should be done. That's where you come in gentlemen."


Maxwell placed his full on, attention on Griffin and Carl.


"I'm going to let one of you be the rightful evaluator and show..."


Raised arms, done in a dramatic fashion.


"Everyone in attendance."


Then dropped.


"Which of you, is which. Because the one that is light years beyond the other, well he'll simply know how to handle the situation, without ever being told. While the awful, shit show of a failure, will be practically quaking where he stands and nearly pissing his pants... why I'm astonished the evidence hasn't presented itself in a stream of urine, right down his leg, where it formed a growing puddle on the floor in front of us all. That's how certain I am, that he's not only pathetic and unworthy of any fate besides inevitable death but I also happen to know, that he knows precisely what role he plays here, today. So without any further ado... gentlemen, cast your votes cause it's time for a..."


Before Maxwell could finish his statement, Griffin MacAlister pulled out a gun and shot Carl. Point blank. In the head. Without glancing his way, for even a microsecond. Not even when Carl's body hit the floor, with a loud thump, did he fix his focus on the man with whom he shared sleeping quarters. Instead, Griffin stared straight ahead, unflinching and holstered his weapon.


"That's what I'm talking about! This is why you all were allowed to bring weapons, why there are armed guards, snipers hidden all around and my fantastic associate watches just out of the realm of sight, in case someone got stupid ideas and needed to be handled. Because none of you were supposed to assume the outcome and act on that alone. It's also why only one man did. The man that was supposed to supply judgement. Not thinking or second guessing, taking time to process and weigh it all out but knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, what needed to be done. Then instantly, carrying that task out, with zero hesitation. Thus completing the final phase and graduating."


With a clever grin, Maxwell strode over to Griffin MacAlister, outstretching his hand.


"Congratulations, you passed with flying colors and now it's time to make us proud, to live up to that potential and change the world. The only way a man of your talents and skill set can alter it."


Griffin accepted this short-lived, gesture and Maxwell took a moment to bask, upon Griffin. The way a proud father would.


"You will do phenomenal things, of this there is no question. Hell, I look at you and I get the shivers simply thinking about all the magnificent things, I know that you will accomplish out in the field. There's only one thing I want to know. You see, we don't use our names, not our ones supplied at birth anyway. Not in the field. It's for security. The organization's and yours. You understand, right. Of course you do, I'm not even sure why I asked. All the fumes from the insufficient waste that I breathed in today; minus present company of course, must be taking its toll. With that being said, what pray tell, shall we call you?"


Griffin took a glance around the room, lifted his eyes to the booth above and then, looked back to Maxwell, with a smirk.


"The Mechanic."