VI: The Weak and the Strong

    "You have done well for the last four years Midnight.  It is good to see my experiment finally work the way I wanted it to," Carver congratulated as he watched some soldiers practice at the outdoor firing range from within the nearby armory.
    "Thank you, sir.  It is good to see that I have met your expectations."
    "Not only did you meet them, you exceeded them in ways I could only dream of.  Command agrees that you are now our best soldier, considering how well you have been handling your operations on the field.  They are considering the idea of promoting you to an officer position as we speak."
    Midnight was silent.
    "You are everything this project stands for.  Sure, we have the other two that made it to this point, but we both know that they are far behind you in terms of skill and ability."
    "Questioning their abilities is not a wise move Carver."
    "Oh?  What makes you believe they are more competent than I believe they are?"
    "They simply haven't reached their full potential.  You can't rush progress."
    "Hmph.  Very well, believe what you wish about them.  Anyway, besides the upcoming promotion, you will be glad to know that I will also be creating a new squad just for you to command.  Consider it as my own gift for making the project a success."
    "But isn't the new commander still on the fence about this experiment as a whole?  I mean, the evidence from your former chief scientist is still in the database."
    "Unfortunately, you are correct.  Still, I think I am starting to persuade him with news of your success.  He has scheduled a final review for next week."
    "What if he doesn't approve of it and ends the project?"
    Carver was silent, but Midnight turned to see an icy stare come from his eyes.  "I suggest that you don't muddle in other's business.  I have my plans, regardless of what occurs, that you can believe."
    "My apologies, sir," Midnight responded, even though he knew something was amiss.
    "Besides, I am confident that the experiment will be able to continue onward for not only our soldiers, but for the creation of new ones as well.  With a stronger army, Red Eye will be crushed under our might."
    "It sounds like you don't have any faith in the soldiers that we currently have," Midnight remarked before crossing his arms.
    "There are always ways to make them improve.  The faster, the better though."
    "Hence why you are choosing to inject energy from crystals that have so far primarily been used to power factories and vehicles."
    "You have been researching the crystals, haven't you?"  Midnight didn't respond.  Carver tried to pierce into the mindset of his puppet, but he couldn't get a thing out of him.  "You should at least be glad that you are out of that phase."
    "It has only been a week since you announced that.  The pain that I felt throughout the years is going to be near-impossible to forget completely."
    Carver's blood slowly began to boil.  "Look at what it has resulted in though.  You can't tell me that you aren't happy with your current life."
    "Figures you still remain ignorant of what this new form costs to me."
    "Hm, I thought you would have forgotten what occurred at the beginning by now."
    "You are dumber that you appear."
    Carver was about to respond until a mess of yells and screams broke out.  The two quickly turned to the window to see that one of the trainees, a black bear, turned his rifle and started firing upon his instructors and fellow trainees.  Missed shots ricocheted off the building's bulletproof walls.  The fox gasped, but Carver closed his eyes and pulled out a custom-built pistol from his pocket."
    "Take him down Midnight.  That is an order."
    He reluctantly took hold of the pistol.  "Why not just injure him?"
    "Clearly he is weak if he allows his mind to snap and go on this killing rampage.  If he is in such misery over his life, then terminating it is the only way to go."
    His star test subject gritted his teeth.  Some of what Carver had said rung true, despite how much he hated to admit it.  The grip on the glock tightened as he stepped out of the armory doors.  Carver returned to the window to watch the event unfold.
    The bear had just finished slaughtering the last of the instructors when Midnight stepped out.  Even as the homicidal subject aimed his weapon at the approaching fox, Midnight calmly took aim with the pistol.  It didn't even take him a second; several shots were fired, their grouping perfect as each bullet struck the bear in the chest.  Its eyes went wide and dropped the rifle before falling to the ground.  The crimson blood had already begun to stain his fur when Midnight hovered over him.  He could hear its breathing getting lighter and faster; death was imminent.  The bear just stared at the fox.
    Midnight knew him since shortly after arriving, at least which is what his memories made him believe.  The bear had been in Carver's experiment for six years, but progress was slow from the start.
    Inside, Midnight grieved for the bear as it laid there, dying.  He was about to turn away from what he just did, but he could hear faint words escape its mouth.
    "Midnight...my freedom is now at hand."
    The fox clenched his hand into a fist.  He then continued to return to Carver as the bear released its last breath before death took him in its embrace.
    Carver was waiting outside of the armory now, lightly clapping his hands.
    "Well done Midnight.  A military is only as strong as its weakest mind.  With him gone, we will be stronger."
    "You just witnessed what your project has cost to those involved and around them and that is all you can say?!"
    "I suggest that you stay calm.  I don't need this project going pear-shaped at the last minute."
    Midnight relinquished the sidearm back to Carver's command.  "It already has."
    "Not as long as you remain sane.  I'll inform headquarters about what happened here, so leave this business to me.  For now, return to your quarters," Carver suggested as he moved towards the site of the slaughter.  Several bodies now lay strewn across the small part of the land.
    Midnight just stood in place for a moment, even as Carver walked away to tend to the bodies.  He then turned around to look at the person that made his life what it is now.
    "I hope this experiment finally does come to an end, so that other lives aren't lost in the way that I and the others have lost ours."
    The fox then finally departed for his quarters, left to his thoughts about another life that was lost because of Carver's cruelty.