General Ivan steps into the interrogation room. The regular meeting rooms were currently being renovated, so this is where he had to meet to Architect. It had happened a few times before. Still, the plain gray walls, the barred windows, and soldiers walking around outside sent a chill up his spine. He took a seat, and waited anxiously. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> The Architect walked down the hall. General Graß walked beside him, with armed guards escorting them. "What do you think he wants to talk about?" says Graß. "Not sure. Could be about the war, although I didn't get the sense that the Red Army was having trouble up north." Graß chuckles. "You think you'll have to execute Protocol: Scarlet Awakening?" The Architect laughs. "General! No, I don't think so. He trusts us. Maybe they've finally gone soft. Although it is always fun to watch." "Ha ha ha ha!" They reach their destination. "Sir, we're here," says one of the guards. The Architect gives a salute to him, then opens the door. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> "Welcome back, General Ivan." Ivan looks up. The Architect takes a seat. "Now, what did you want to talk about?" Ivan mentally took a deep breath. "Sir, remember when you passed Standardization Protocol #058?" The Architect suddenly got more tense, his posture changing. "Yes, I do." "You said that you and High Command wanted reforms, that we could not stand united if we were not equal." "Yes, I did say that, what-" "Is that still true? Was it ever true?" The Architect looked taken aback. "Excuse me? Sir, if you feel like MY orders were not 'enough,' High Command and I are more than happy to grant more equalities to your and Field Marshal Pierre's people." "Oh, really? Because apparently the only reason you and High Command even passed that Standardization Protocol in the first place was because you were threatened by a multitude of nations!" The Architect stood up. Ivan followed. "How do you know that? The only records of that incident are in-oh." The Architect calmed down a bit. "The stolen records. Let me guess, the Backyarder raid on the FFGS HQ found the documents, they handed it over to you, and you read them. General, you know you don't have the clearance for that." Ivam looked a bit surprised. "You knew what was in them?" "No, not until now. Of course we just got them back from you, so we didn't have a chance to review them." "So you admit it?" "yes Ivan, we don't care about YOU, or the Tans. We care about OUR safety, surely you must know this. You're a- Red!" The Architect laughed. Ivan didn't get what was so funny. "I trusted you. All of you. And you lied," said Ivan. "Yes, what did you expect? We wouldn't ACTUALLY give you equal rights on our own accord! Although it is a shame," The Architect walked in front of the flag. "I was hoping you would be more competent that your predecessors. But your curiosity got the best of you. Well, as they say, curiosity killed the cat." "You're going to k1ll me?" Ivan drew his pistol. He hadn't planned any of this, what he was about to do was treason of the highest order. The Architect stared down the barrel of the pistol. and smiled. He was very calm, which worried Ivan more than anything.
