Do you want to trap me?

As I chatted with my brother's roommates, a shrill alarm tore through the air. The sound, piercing and urgent, immediately made me understand that something serious was happening. My heart was racing as my brother, suddenly serious-faced, rushed to the window to assess the situation.

-What is going on ? I asked surprised 

-It's a high level alarm, he replied, his authoritarian tone contrasting with our casual conversation a few moments earlier. 

-Something big is happening in the army. You have to stay here," he added, turning to me, his eyes reflecting both urgency and protection. You are not a soldier

I nodded, aware that I had neither the training nor the experience to deal with what was happening outside. My brother, accompanied by his roommates, stormed out, leaving me alone in the room. The silence that followed was oppressive, broken only by the distant sound of soldiers' boots moving quickly and orders shouted through the corridors.

Sitting on my brother's bed, I tried to calm my nerves. The minutes passed slowly, each outside sound amplifying my worry. Then, without warning, the door burst open, and I jumped, my heart beating even faster. A man entered the room, his movements quick and precise. It was Sheng Xing.

-Sheng Xing? I whispered, surprised to see him here.

He didn't waste time explaining. With a quick gesture, he closed the door behind him and turned to me, his eyes shining darkly.

-You have to come with me, he said in a tone that admitted no contradiction.

-What ? For what ? My brother told me to stay here, I replied, caught between worry and incomprehension.

-The situation has changed, he replied, his voice deep and full of urgency. There are things you need to know and places you need to be. Trust me.

Despite my doubts, something in his eyes and his attitude convinced me to follow him. 

No, I'm kidding, I thought, if I had the choice of course I would have stayed in my brother's room 

I stood up, and in an instant we were out of the room, plunging into the organized chaos outside. Soldiers were running in all directions, the atmosphere was saturated with tension and determination.

Sheng Xing expertly guided me through the corridors, avoiding the most crowded places. Every step we took brought me closer to something unknown and potentially dangerous, but I felt I had no choice. For some reason I was now involved in what was happening.

We finally arrived in a control room, where screens and consoles were buzzing with activity. Officers, focused and busy, appeared to be managing a large-scale crisis. Sheng Xing motioned for me to follow him to a quieter corner of the room.

-Listen, he began, there is an imminent attack. We need all the information we can to understand and counter this threat. You, as the brother of one of our officers, are now involved. I couldn't leave you in this room.

The reality of his words sank into my mind. The alarm, the emergency, everything made sense. I was now a piece of a puzzle much bigger than me.

-Okay, I said finally, ready to face the unknown. What do I have to do ?

Sheng Xing gave a mischievous smile that I didn't see. The situation was serious, but at least we were not alone.

-Accompany us on our mission and serve as a psychiatrist for my pheromone disorders