Iva waits for me right outside the mission room. "C`mon man, let`s head to the lab. We get to play with all the cool things." His eyes take on a mysterious glint.

　　He leads the way to the science wing. At least I`ll be able to explore one of the secured areas before I`m kicked off the squad. This is where he spends most of his free time. The entire squad gravitates to their specialty when off duty.

　　Luce is always in the armory and Fletcher at the shooting range. Kane runs the officer`s evening combat classes to keep them in shape. Addy is the one I can`t catch. And the captain is the one I can`t shake.

　　My nightly exploring always leads to her. She goes to the officer`s wing after dinner, but never stays. If I go to the library, she`s there too. If I track Addy, I end up bumping into the captain. She`s like a beacon. No matter how much I tamp down my abilities that odd internal tracking pulls me to her.

　　And I`m not willing to figure out why. Because it makes me think about the Blaze demons hunting. And I can`t think about that now. Right now, I need to focus on finding out what I can before I leave. And it won`t matter once I`m gone, once I`m away from Centrum, once I`m away from her.

　　Iva turns down Algar Hall, the science and tech wing named after his family. All the doors require security clearance so I`ve never followed him this far. We stop at the first metal door on the right with a simple keypad entry. Iva taps his wrist device, the keypad blinks green, and the door lock clicks open.

　　"After you." He waves for me to enter.

　　I walk into the room spare parts go to die. Metal shelves fill the entry with wires, chips, and computer parts stacked every which way. Tall chrome work tables span the room with no rhyme or reason to their position. I`m too afraid to step away from the door and knock something off the shelves. Iva squeezes past me with a nod to a table in the back corner.

　　The workstation is covered with wrist devices like he wears but in varied conditions, most incomplete. One is identical to his and another one is made from some kind of translucent metal. Mini touch screens are piled on one side of his table with microchips and wires cluttering the other.

　　"This is your workstation?" I ask, taking it all in.

　　I reach out to pick up a computer chip that`s so thin it looks like a needle. Iva smacks my hand. My forearm flies into a defensive block on instinct.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

　　"Don`t touch my babies." He says, shaking a finger at me. "We`ve got to see if you have what it takes for that privilege, don`t we?"

　　I lower my arm to my side and stay as compact as I can. His babies are everywhere.

　　"This way." We walk to a door with another glowing green keypad, but this one has a DNA scanner.

　　Iva keys in the access on his device before placing his thumb on the DNA capture pad. The slide of a thick metallic lock rings hollow, like a bell, before the door pops open. He sucks the small bead of blood from his thumb. His eyes brighten when he turns back to make sure I`m following.

　　"This is where the good stuff is."

　　I follow him into the vault like room. The floor is misty and glows an eerie green. It`s cool and damp inside. A strange high-pitched hum is in the air. It vibrates over my skin like passing through a spider`s web.

　　"Gotta keep it chilled for this type of technology." He says moving aside so I can step in further.

　　The room is filled wall-to-wall with the advanced weapons the Elites use. Rows and rows of glass cabinets and shelves stretch deep into the cavernous vault. The traps Iva sets during live combat training and the launcher Luce uses are in a glass case. Another cabinet has rows of neatly displayed arrows in various designs, sizes, and materials.

　　I thought what we use during combat training was all there was. Weapons made special for the Elite Squad only. Because there`s no way Centrum would sit on a hoard of weapons that could save countless warrior lives.

　　"Why are they just sitting here?" I hadn`t questioned the advanced tech or anything else since Kane`s warning.

　　But I can`t hold back now. My hands curl into fists the further I walk. We`re surrounded by the very weapons to push back and possibly end the demon threat forever.

　　"Yeah, that`s what I`d like to know." Iva mumbles too low for normal ears.

　　I spin around to stare at him. Not caring if he knows I can hear him from where I stand, as impossible as it should be. Iva straightens up. We study each other silently for several long minutes.

　　"Who`s all this for?" My whispered question sounds like a hiss breaking the silence.

　　Iva shifts his weight to one foot. The dark purple tint around his eyes stands stark in the neon glow and he releases a heavy sigh with a droop of his shoulders.

　　"It`s what I keep asking. You see how effective it is." He says, his gaze fixed on an unseen end to the vault. "All the warrior lives we could save with this tech. Lives we`re running out of. They`d never have to risk close combat to take a demon down again. Hell, even a civilian could use it."

　　He shakes his head before he drops his chin. Thick, floppy brown curls fall back over his face. I`m frozen. The Elites are being kept in the dark and the unexpected revelation is sour in my stomach. Iva suddenly straightens up and glances over his shoulder.

　　"As a tech specialist, it`s my job to work with the scientists. Both in the technician lab here, and in the biological department. Together, we create devices that give the Elites the most successful outcome."

　　He`s turned into a damn tour guide. His face is blank and he`s standing too still. He`s said more than he should, especially to me. Centrum treats me like any other warrior, but I haven`t shaken the decade of being labeled a traitor. My suspicion is marrow deep. With his severe shift, I know we`re not alone.

　　"Ready to start warriors?" A pale middle-aged man in an oil-stained lab coat turns from the vault`s entry.Iva exits with a jerk of his head for me to follow. My jaw clenches as I take one final look around. Elites are the only warriors in our nation trusted enough to live in Centrum Building and fulfill secret ops. And they`re not trusted at all.