4 - Primitive

With his bright red aura shining in the eyes of Liam, captivating him with both appearance, and words, Kensuke spoke words Liam would've never expected.

Kensuke stood out of his seat, keeping constant watch on the man in front of him.

--

"It's no secret that everything around us moves at a slow pace. Multiple generations pass by humanity with no change to show for it. Even slight changes to the way we live take multiple lifetimes, and the form we take now is the form we will always have."

The smirk on Kensuke's face faded away as he spoke. He tilted his head downward, no longer staring into Liam's eyes. His blankly inscrutable facial expression gave Liam a certain chill that he wouldn't get from seeing it on someone else.

The sheer change in expression so quickly -- it haunted Liam. Every movement of the President that Liam couldn't read made him feel the same haunting anxiety, as if he was around someone that posed a threat to him.

"Our primitive bodies. Our primitive minds. As we speak, we're being held back by them. I am, as are you. Although I, myself -- I feel as though I'm more enlightened than anyone else in this world. I feel as though I'm the most qualified to be speaking to you right now."

Kensuke smiled darkly. His constant change in expression as he spoke made Liam keep a constant watch on him.

"Yes… that would be correct. Have you wondered certain things the same way I have, Liam? I'm sure not. The human body is filled with organs -- ones that could kill us at any moment if turned off by a single entity, being the one giving us consciousness as we speak."

Kensuke jerked his head toward Liam once more, keeping that agonizing grin across his slightly wrinkled and dirty face.

"Why are we just okay with being this way? Why do we submit to the fact that we are simply just prototypes for the perfect being. We're cast aside for eternity once we're no longer needed by life. That ideology disgusts me, and I strive to find out why people accept such things."

At the very next moment, Kensuke jolted his hands onto his forehead. He sat back down, as if he was in pain.

--

"We are primitive."

Kensuke spoke, slowly and uttered in a quiet tone.

"We are primitive."

"We are primitive."

"We are primitive."

"Don't you agree, Liam?"

--

Liam stared into Kensuke's eyes, not knowing how to respond. Liam's eyes were about as open as Kensuke's in that moment -- both with the eyes of madness without an outlet.

"Imagine as such. A miracle, one that could alter our bodies in such a way to further our species in such a way that evolution could occur in our lifetime."

"We could truly shape the path for our next generation, and even for ourselves. A miracle that directly affects our vital organs, and pushes them to work harder and find ways of improvement. It could edit our genetic code and make Humanity into anything we desire. Doesn't that sound like a perfect idea?"

With the eyes of madness, and the tainted mouth of instability, Kensuke spoke.

"Ha-ha-hah."

Kensuke, pausing for a moment quietly cackled, concluding his words. As he did so, Kensuke cracked each finger on his hands. Not once during this did he look at Liam.

Kensuke knew Liam had a sense of fear. It was so potent in the room that he could almost smell it. It was a sense of fear only coming from one of two people in the room.

"I apologize." Kensuke spoke concerningly.

"I see." Liam replied.

--

"A miracle."

--

"That is correct. Within the coming weeks -- maybe months. I plan to advance this world into perfection. It is my one true goal, and has been for years. As our overseer, the drug that allows us to do this will be partially in the hands of you."

"--A drug?" Liam asked.

He wasn't sure what he expected, but to think that a plan such as his could be solved with a drug seemed inhuman to Liam. His mind trailed in many directions, wondering exactly what Kensuke could be thinking about, though nothing of any sort came to mind.

"Everything becomes greyer each time I think about it. The more I see the world, the more monotone it becomes. I believe this world could only be lit once more with great change."

"--Monotone." Liam replied.

Kensuke smiled tauntingly.

"Indeed so."

A world of grey. It was something that resonated with Liam deeply, being the only thing, besides auras that he saw. People's auras were a secret to be kept by Liam. Not once did he tell a soul. It's not like someone with enough sanity would believe that something so special existed, let alone belonged to him.

Liam believed, without Kensuke's knowledge, that the two of them truly saw eye to eye, even if it was only about one detail.

His brilliant red almost shined more than it had before. It was the red of people he'd seen in the past, all of which different people with different personalities.

"How could such a thing even be distributed among so many, if that's your real goal?"

"The process will be somewhat simple. You, along with your partner, and many others, will conduct tests during a trial to see new effects in the latest version of the creation."

It didn't answer his question at all, which gave Liam a sense of uncertainty.

--

'Why be secretive at this point? You're practically telling me it all. Unless, are you not?'

Liam thought.

--

"I...see. My job is to ensure any issues with the project are reported, and any effects of it are logged. It's something I've dealt with in the past."

"Precisely."

"Doesn't sound like the shut-in work life you told before."

"There's a time for both. You'll realize that soon enough."

'The hell…?' Liam thought to himself. Had it not been for the intrigue that captivated him, and a yearn to learn more about Yvette, Liam would've walked out.

"This drug...Give me a name, even if it's just a code-name." Liam replied. It wasn't the only question on his mind, not nearly. Even so, it was the easiest to ask at that moment.

Kensuke finally looked into Liam's eyes, flashing a deep smile of piqued interest and awe.

"For now, at the very least, the working name is 'EVO', also known simply as the Evolution Project to some."

Liam stood, towering over Kensuke's figure while attempting a menacing look. Something about it let Kensuke see right through it, not acting nearly as frightened.

"What stops me from leaking that name?" Liam asked coldly.

"You know not the clearest idea of the project in this building. What's there to leak? A project to curve evolution with no merit coming from you won't exactly be a scientific breakthrough."

With his words, Kensuke stood. He was slightly taller than Liam, standing maybe an inch or two above him.

"Liam, I'm not sure you're aware of this -- though, just know that I've been very careful with my words. Never let it leave your mind that I will always be above you. In knowledge, and in power."

With a gulp, Liam's confidence was shattered, as was his ability to stand.

Sitting down, Liam replied.

"Understood, Kensuke."

"I expect you'll be able to do as required, even if it may be out of your comfort zone to do such tasks. I do hope that I made no mistake in deciding that you were fit for this job."

--

'No mistake? Comfort zone?' Liam thought.

…

…

'What bullshit.'

--

"I don't think we'll have any problems as of right now, though, we'll talk after I see that contract."

"You sound keen on returning tomorrow."

"I might be. Let it be known that I haven't decided. Not quite yet."

Kensuke let out a mischievous grin at Liam's short, yet meaningful statement -- at least to Kensuke. He sat back down, slowly lowering himself toward his seating as if doing so carefully not to accidentally touch something.

"I trust that this will be the beginning of your start at NTANIS. I, along with others, hope to see you here tomorrow, Liam."

"I appreciate the offer, President."

Liam enjoyed saying Kensuke's name, though when it came to situations such as that, he hesitated slightly. It would feel odd to Liam to not address him with honorifics, but already knowing a first name must've meant Kensuke had taken a liking to him.

"This one on one was lovely, though I'll have to dismiss you. I'm not sure even Yvette knew this, but to set up your account in our work system, just check a drawer in the small desk for information."

"I appreciate the help." Liam replied, standing up in a hurry, rushing toward the door.

Just before swinging open the main door to the halls, Liam took another look at the aura Kensuke had. It truly was like none other, in that the brightness isn't comparable to anything he had seen.

It would easily outshine someone standing next to him, which broke a rule he had witnessed overtime with his ability.

It stressed him out, Liam didn't really even like to look at it for long, though even with that, he struggled to take his eyes off of it.

Wordlessly, Liam exited the room of Kensuke, and began trailing back down the hallway he came from -- leaving the man of many expressions to himself.