Vreloran was once again reluctantly hobnobbing with the secret project’s amoral scientific elite.

When he with this group of people, Vreloran felt worse than stupid, felt like a low life underachiever, felt he was some sort of marginally useful tool so they could keep their minds clear of moral dilemma. Sort of like a judge in days long past having someone else hang the convicted, pleading their own impartiality.

Vreloran had no choice but to suck it up and learn the ‘craft’ they were teaching him, even though it was uncharted territory for every last one of them, indeed, for everyone on the planet.

Yet another animal had been chosen for special disposition, and if this worked again as expected, he knew they would be itching to test this on an actual person.

Vreloran hated the idea of what he was about to do to this unknowing creature. He was not at all sure if he could handle taking the next leap beyond that exercise in their operational plan. That the creature remained alive when the test was over was a secondary matter. Since only one species could communicate how they feel after incurring trauma, no one had any idea what horrific things unfolded within a test subject.

Two hours later and after yet another ‘successful’ test, he sat alone in the facility cafeteria nursing a drink. Staring at an entertainment broadcast, his mind in actuality far away from the programme subject, his guilty conscience continued its struggle against his need to care for his family.

“This is Brellian’s doing” Vreloran mentally looked to place blame. When Brellian N’verinkar was nominated and accepted the position as chief of government, Brellian knew it was only a matter of time before ugly things began happening. And now he was one of the first people to witness just how ugly things would get.

There wasn’t much Vreloran could do. People had little inkling their leader was a masochist, seemingly devoid of any compassion and caring, but Vreloran had seen him in action, and there was little doubt this alleged leader would make good use of this latest illicit technology.

One person was going to be front and centre for taking blame, and it wasn’t going to be Brellian. If things one day reached such a point, that honour would be bestowed upon Vreloran.