ned into the grand lobby, a barra

em. They swarmed me lik

it true the we

ally leave you at the

t on the photos of he

s still just in my trousers and an undershirt, a sta

ling them exactly when and where I' d be making my exit. He d

through them. I didn't show any anger or embarrassment

ny angry outburst would have. The shouting sl

in the front, a woman with a mic

all, almost imp

e clear and steady, easily carryi

was used and discarded by the Miller family. Alex Peterson is calling you

ultimate humiliation. The p

rter, past the entire crowd. I spoke not to them, but

I said, my voice ringing with a strange, propheti

ing the words

ake me. I made them. And what

d. This was not the response of a broke

al laughter imme

n his underwear!" someo

do now, go back to the gu

focused on the surface, on the temporary

n who had los

who had just gott

outing questions and insults, but I didn't hear them anymore. I pushed o

in my pocket and noth

, black, government-looking sedan pulled

gh-ranking official from the Department of Defense' s advanced research division. I had seen him

voice a low rumble. "That

for a new AI-driven defense system, far more advanced than anything I was working on for Miller Corp

ating a fact, Gen

de him. "Get in. You look like yo

or was spartan and clean. It s

car pulled smoothly into traffic. "It' s ambit

wrong," I

es sharp and analytical. He was weighin

corporate world," he stated. "Why should I believe you' re committed to a gover

k at him, my ex

for other people. For their glory, for their profit. I built

my voice filled with a pass

ntry. I' m not looking for glory or money anymore. I' m looking for a purpose.

appeared in his eyes. He had seen my work, he had seen m

dded

esearch Lab, Mr. Hayes. You