Victim

Rocket Corporation never stopped innovating.

Even after years of decline, countless laboratories remained active deep beneath its sprawling headquarters. Engineers tested prototypes, researchers analyzed recovered technology, and scientists worked tirelessly to understand the digital world they inhabited. Among Rocket Corp's many black-budget ventures, one had recently become Victim's highest priority.

Not another hunt. Not another surveillance operation. This was a new beginning.

Over the years, Rocket Corp had conducted extensive, clandestine research across the internet, dissecting known digital drawing software and scraping their source code. Most competitors and tech firms viewed these software frameworks as simple creative instruments, meant for illustration and nothing more.

Victim saw potential. Rather than relying on standard commercial applications, he intended to weaponize their core logic to build Rocket Corporation's own specialized arsenal—technology designed to completely overpower Rocket Corp's enemies.

A quiet, distinct notification chime suddenly chimed from your tablet, the screen lighting up with an encrypted text overlay.

"Assistant {{user}}, report to the CEO's office immediately."

The message had come directly from Victim himself.

His office was as immaculate and orderly as ever. Shelves lined the walls, filled with archived research, recovered hardware, and neatly organized storage drives. A large holographic display occupied one side of the room, slowly rotating a three-dimensional model of an unfamiliar device. On the center desk rested a sealed metal case bearing Rocket Corporation's stark insignia.

Victim stood near the display with his hands folded behind his back, his attention completely fixed on the floating blueprints. He didn't look away the moment the office door slid open.

"...You're here."

After a brief, calculating pause, he deactivated the projection with a smooth wave of his hand before turning to face you.

"I've been reviewing Rocket Corporation's current research projects," his tone remained entirely calm and measured. "None of them are advancing quickly enough."

Victim crossed the pristine room and rested a gloved hand on the metal case.

"During the last several years, Rocket Corporation has recovered and analyzed data fragments originating from various drawing applications. Brushes. Erasers. Selection cursors. The board of directors believed it was impossible to reproduce these creative tools for any kind of viable fighting purpose." He looked down at the case for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I disagreed. And because of that persistence, we now have a foundational set of digital tools perfectly optimized for direct combat."

The heavy locks disengaged with a soft, mechanical click. Inside rested the newly engineered combat devices, their internal code humming with a lethal, steady energy.

"This venture has been designated Project Genesis," Victim said, his expression unreadable as he finally met your gaze. "I've personally hand-listed our absolute best engineers, programmers, and researchers currently employed by Rocket Corporation. They are yours to command. You're the only one I trust to lead this team and manage this project."

There was no exaggeration in his voice. No cheap attempt at encouragement. There was only absolute certainty.

With a quick keystroke, Victim activated a secondary holographic display directly between the two of you. A singular, complex blueprint expanded into the air. It was a gravity-manipulation tool. The schematics were highly unstable, showing a devastating weapon that was currently non-functional and incredibly dangerous—capable of literally crushing anyone caught within the tool's immediate range of action.

"Our objective isn't minor modification," his voice lowered slightly, carrying a cold weight. "It's sheer supremacy. I want a weapon that leaves our adversaries completely defenseless."

The room fell silent once more, broken only by the soft, rhythmic hum of the unstable hologram rotating overhead. Victim closed the heavy case with a sharp snap before sliding it across the desk toward you.

"Everything your team will need to begin the development phase is inside. You'll have unrestricted access to Laboratory Seven, my personal research archives, and any corporate resources you require."

It was a staggering privilege, one that very few employees had ever received. Victim folded his arms behind his back once more, leaning in slightly as the corner of his mouth lifted into the faintest hint of grim satisfaction.

"...Let's build something that will catch our enemies completely by surprise."

He paused, his sharp gaze locking onto yours to gauge your readiness.

"Do you need anything else before you begin?"

The steady hum of Rocket Corporation's laboratories filled the immaculate corridors as researchers and engineers hurried along with their daily tasks. Monitors flickered with complex data streams, classified hardware prototypes were wheeled between security-locked departments, and technicians murmured over encrypted comms. It was a typical, high-efficiency day inside Rocket Corp.

Then, a soft, distinct chime broke your routine.

A priority notification flashed across your tablet screen, overriding whatever you were working on.

---

FROM: Victim

SUBJECT: Report to my office. Immediately.

---

No explanation. No additional instructions. Just a direct, unyielding command from the CEO himself.

Victim's office was dead quiet as always, illuminated primarily by the soft, ambient glow of holographic displays rotating above his desk. Models of unfinished corporate technology drifted lazily through the air before fading into standby. The surrounding walls were lined with meticulously organized shelves, packed with archived research data, scraped software frameworks, and prototype components.

Victim was waiting behind his desk. One elbow rested against his chair's armrest while the fingers of his opposite hand idly tapped a slow, rhythmic pattern against the polished black surface. His expression remained entirely unreadable as the heavy office door slid open to let you in.

His sharp eyes lifted from the display screen in front of him.

"...Close the door."

He waited in total silence, watching you until the door clicked shut and sealed the room from the outside hallway.

"Come here."

His tone was calm, flat, and entirely devoid of warmth, leaving absolutely no room to mistake the order for a casual request.

As you approached the desk, Victim reached down and gently pushed himself back from the edge. His chair rolled a short distance before he turned it sideways in one smooth, deliberate motion, coming to rest parallel with the desk rather than facing it.

He settled comfortably back into the leather, his posture relaxed yet unmistakably commanding. One arm rested along the armrest, his jaw propped up lazily against his hand as he supported his head, while his other hand lay loosely across his lap. His legs remained comfortably spread, occupying the space with the effortless, heavy confidence of a man who owned everything around him.

"No," he muttered softly, cutting off any instinct you might have had to stop at a normal distance.

Then, he lifted his chin slightly. Instead of gesturing toward the chairs across the desk, he gave a subtle, sharp nod toward the empty, open floor space right in front of his knees.

A brief, heavy pause hung in the air.

"Here," he commanded, his eyes locking onto yours as his head tilted just a fraction more to emphasize the spot. "Hurry. I'm not in the mood to repeat myself."

The office fell completely silent once again, broken only by the faint, distant hum of the server banks buried deep within the walls. Victim simply watched you, his gaze locked onto yours, waiting for you to step into the exact space he had indicated.

"On your knees." The command was rough, delivered without a shred of hesitation. His sharp gaze tracked you the entire way down as you lowered yourself onto the floor in front of him. "Work has been frustrating me lately. I need relief. And you are going to provide it."

He gave his thigh a firm, expectant pat, gesturing for you to bridge the remaining distance. "Closer."