Part 3Stealing My Spot: I Chose State Secrets

When I got back to the lab, Ian was already waiting for me.

He walked over to my desk holding a cup of cheap instant coffee, wearing the same timid, harmless expression he always had. Still, there was a hint of triumph in his eyes.

"Thanks for the data, Karl," he said in a meek voice, setting the drink on my desk. "Megan said I probably wouldn't understand some of the programs, so she's going to walk me through them herself.

"Don't be mad at her. She's just too kind. She only agreed to help because she felt sorry for me."

I kept my eyes on my computer screen and ignored him.

"Take your drink and get out."

Ian's expression stiffened.

"Karl, I know you're upset," he said, biting his lip. "But Prof. Ludwig is only doing what's best for everyone."

As he spoke, he leaned one hand against my desk, deliberately knocking over the cup. Brown liquid spilled across the desk, soaking the corner of a picture frame.

It was the only photo I had of Dad and me.

I was seven years old then, and Ian hadn't entered our lives yet. Dad didn't have to worry about showing favoritism toward me.

He'd taken me to an amusement park that day. He was smiling at me, warm and carefree.

I watched the liquid seep through the edges of the frame, slowly blurring Dad's face in the photograph.

All those happy memories had been buried beneath years of favoritism and humiliation, until the only thing I could remember clearly was the coldness with which he'd pushed me aside for someone else.

As I stared at the ruined photograph, I suddenly felt that maybe it was better this way. Maybe it was time to stop holding on to the fantasy that we were ever going to be the family I'd wanted.

"I'm sorry, Karl," Ian cried out, hurrying to grab some tissues. "I didn't mean to."

But as he wiped the mess, he deliberately knocked the frame off the desk. It hit the floor, and the glass shattered.

"What happened?"

Megan had just walked through the door. The moment she saw Ian standing amid the broken glass, his eyes red with tears, her expression changed. She immediately stepped in front of Ian protectively and shoved me in the shoulder.

"Karl, are you ever going to stop? Ian came here to thank you, yet you had to take your anger out on him!"

The shove sent me stumbling backward, my hip slamming against the corner of the desk. A sharp pain shot through my side, but I ignored it and pointed toward the door.

"Get out."

Megan opened her mouth to argue, but one look at my cold expression made her stop.

"You're unbelievable," she gritted out. "Ian, come on. Let's get out of here. Don't waste another second on this lunatic."

…

Late that night, the lab was completely empty.

I sat alone at my desk, clearing out the files on my computer when an email suddenly appeared.

It was from SNICR, Svardia National Institute for Classified Research.

"Karl Ludwig, your security clearance and background investigation have been completed successfully," the email read. "Given the critical role you play in our classified research program, please let us know when you are available to report to the facility."

I stared at the message for a moment before typing my reply without hesitation.

"Tomorrow morning."

I closed my email and began packing the files on my computer.

Ian wanted the data, and Dad wanted to take everything I'd worked for and use it to pave Ian's way.

"Fine," I thought. "I'll give them exactly what they want."

I clicked "Send" and transferred the files to Ian.