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LOCATION: VOSS TOWER, 20TH FLOOR
CITY: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
DATE: OCTOBER 20, 2025 | TIME: 7:00 AM
Mallory sat at her desk early in the morning, a cup of green tea steaming beside her as she reviewed the list. Sixty-four CEOs to call. Again.
But the tone of these calls would be very different from the last time.
Oh, how much the world could change in four short months.
She filtered the list by time zone and prepared to get started.
Her task today was to deliver what essentially amounted to a half-truth.
Voss Holdings had decided to gift a dose of Vitalyx and Rejuvenex to each CEO—and to one person of their choosing.
It was expected that each leader would either select their spouse, significant other, or their top deputy at work. Any of those choices would be acceptable, since the integration would ensure confidentiality through System-imposed contracts.
She decided to start with Richard Levens of Kaylon Systems—the replacement for Greg Simms, who, she had heard, was still searching for a new job four months later.
Well, it wasn’t Mallory’s fault if rumors of him being fired for a misogynistic tirade against his boss’s executive assistant got out.
Right?
At 10:00 AM Eastern Time, Richard answered the special encrypted phone he had received at the summit in June.
"Mallory, good morning. How are you holding up?"
"Thanks for asking, Richard. I'm doing well, all things considered. Good morning."
"So—what can I do for you today?"
Mallory smiled, and you could hear it in her voice when she replied.
"Actually, this is about what we can do for you. You've been selected to receive Vitalyx early. We’ll be sending you a dose by personal courier. One week afterward, you’ll receive your dose of Rejuvenex. Since you’re still in your forties, you’ll require only one dose of the second compound."
Richard's shock was obvious.
"Wow, Mallory... I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"Oh, it gets a little better," she said, a playful edge in her voice.
"You’re also able to choose one other person to receive both doses. This can be your wife, or a deputy at work—it’s up to you. Eventually, everyone will receive these compounds. This is just early access."
Richard thought for a moment.
"Is there any danger? Are they still experimental? I mean..."
"No, Richard," Mallory said. "The compounds are fully developed and tested. In fact, I’ll tell you off the record—I’m one of eighteen people who have already taken them. I feel incredible. Words can't even describe it."
He hesitated again.
"Is it selfish of me to choose my wife instead of someone at Kaylon?"
Mallory laughed lightly.
"No, Richard. It’s completely understandable. I’d probably do the same if I were married, honestly. And confidentially—the global rollout is only a few months away. Choosing your wife doesn’t let anyone down. It just delays it for them by six months or so. Not really a big deal."
"In that case," Richard said, "I choose my wife. Will the doses be sent to my office or our home?"
"We’ll deliver them to your home," Mallory confirmed.
"Someone will reach out on this phone to schedule a delivery time. The shelf life isn’t the concern—it’s the security. And I’m sure, working at a defense contractor, you're used to protocols that would make my head spin."
Richard laughed.
"Yeah, that's for sure. Alright—what can we expect?"
Mallory outlined the next steps:
- A text to confirm delivery scheduling,
- First Vitalyx drop,
- Rejuvenex delivery one week later,
- And a required follow-up session at Voss Tower two weeks after that for evaluation—where they might be unavailable for a week or so.
They wrapped up the call on a wave of genuine excitement, and Mallory moved on to her next call.
One down. Sixty-three to go.
Mallory continued her calls until she got to Colin Mercer. She was looking forward to this one.
After their initial brush-up back in June, Colin had become one of the people she trusted and relied on the most.
She had once questioned Voss’s reasoning for not putting Colin on the Round Table.
When she'd asked, Voss had only said that Colin had a slightly different path.
It hadn't meant much to her at the time—but if there was one thing Mallory had learned, it was to trust Elliot Voss’s judgment above all else.
And now?
Now she could be the bearer of good news. For a good man who deserved it.
It was nearly the end of the day, but she found herself still full of energy.
She dialed the number for his encrypted phone, and he picked up immediately.
"Mallory. How are you today?"
"Hi, Colin. It’s nice to hear your cheerful voice. I’ve got some good news for you."
"Oh yeah? Lay it on me. I'm always happy to receive good news."
Mallory smiled at his tone. The strain they'd endured months ago was behind them now, and their friendship was stronger for it.
"Well, you’ve been selected to receive a dose of Vitalyx and Rejuvenex. And of course, since you're aware of everything at this point—an induction into The System."
Colin grinned widely. She could hear it through the phone.
"Oh fuck yes, Mallory. You are making my day. Thank you so much. I'll be honest—Ronan cued me in when he was here last. Told me not to say anything, but hey... we’re all friends here, right?"
Mallory laughed loudly.
"Ehh, why am I not surprised? Honestly, I thought you should've been part of the first group, but... since you’ll be second, I’ll try not to complain. Too much, anyway."
"Hey, I’m no pioneer," Colin said easily.
"I'm happy you all went first. Plus, someone had to keep an eye on all the data systems while you were inside. Now that The System is safely deployed in the arks, I don’t have to worry about that anymore. And being included in the second round? I couldn’t be happier.”
He paused, a smile evident in his voice. “Now—what can I expect?"
Mallory explained the basics, then added:
"You’ll also have the option to select a second person to receive the treatment."
Colin didn't even hesitate.
"Oh, Ronan didn’t mention that. This is fantastic! My partner—Leah. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I went without her. Heh, and she probably wouldn’t ever let me live it down either!"
Mallory smiled warmly.
"I figured as much. I’m sure she’ll be able to find someone to cover Barnes & Brews while you two are... unavailable for a week or so?"
"Yeah, she’s got good people to run the coffee shop when she’s out. No problem.”
He paused, then added more seriously: “But hey—how much can I tell her? I know we have a strict—"
Mallory cut him off gently.
"Colin. I trust your judgment. She obviously needs to understand the confidentiality, but if your long-term partner of—what is it now, twelve years?—If she doesn’t understand the need for discretion, given what you do for a living... Well. I’m sure she does."
"True that, Mallory," Colin said, his voice warm. "Thanks again. So," he added, a grin in his voice, "what are the details?"
She walked him through the delivery schedule, the timing of the two doses, and the need for a roughly week-long trip to San Francisco two weeks after the second dose.
The timing wasn’t quite as strict this time as it had been for the first cohort, but they still wanted the second group kept as tightly together as possible.
As she was wrapping up her final calls for the day, Mallory's desk phone buzzed.
"Ms. McInnis," her assistant said. "There's a call for you. Valerie Connors—Chief of Staff for—"
Mallory sighed.
"Senator Langston. Send her through."
The line clicked, and a crisp voice filled her ear.
"Ms. McInnis, hello. This is Valerie Connors. Senator Langston would like to meet with you. Would you be available to visit Washington? His schedule is open tomorrow afternoon—"
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The absolute nerve of this man.
Mallory weighed her options.
Denying him would cause noise, maybe headlines.
Not worth it.
Finally, she acquiesced.
"Fine. I’ll be there tomorrow. 1 p.m."
There was a hesitation.
"Uh, his schedule won’t be open until three. I’m sorry, Ms. McInnis."
Mallory’s voice went cold.
"Listen, Valerie. I’m free to meet him in his office across the country at 1 p.m. your time.
Take it, or leave it."
Silence.
It stretched.
Ten seconds. Twenty. Thirty.
Finally, Valerie's voice returned, just a shade tighter.
"Understood. Thank you. Senator Langston will arrange his schedule to accommodate you."
Mallory allowed herself the thinnest of smiles.
"Fine. See you tomorrow."
She hung up without waiting for a reply.
Then she turned to her calendar and calmly made arrangements to be in Washington, D.C. the next day.
<
LOCATION: REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT
CITY: WASHINGTON, D.C.
DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2025 | 12:30 PM
On Tuesday morning, Mallory woke at 3:00 AM, cutting short her activities in Grimwatch to head to the nation’s capital.
The System’s alarm feature had been handy — even in Grimwatch, it gave you a one-hour countdown to ensure a timely return.
She still wasn’t sure what happened if you didn’t heed it, but so far, she hadn't needed to find out.
She showered quickly, dressed in slim-fitting business attire—a crisp white blouse, a navy blue jacket, and a matching skirt that fell just below her knees—and headed for Hayward Executive Airport.
The Voss Holdings Gulfstream G650 was fueled and ready.
Wheels up at 4:30 AM.
Mallory settled in with her green tea, reviewing notes preloaded on her air-gapped, encrypted laptop—another collaboration between Colin Mercer and Ronan Vale.
They touched down at Reagan National Airport at 12:30 PM Eastern Time.
A black Lincoln Continental was waiting on the tarmac.
Twenty minutes later, she was striding through the marble halls of Capitol Hill, heels clicking a steady cadence as she made her way toward Senator Langston’s office.
Back when Mallory was still in law school, she had interned for Barrett Langston—then the junior U.S. Senator from Michigan.
Now, less than fifteen years later, he had risen to Senate Majority Leader.
It wasn’t his age—he was already well into his seventies—but the sheer speed of his climb that had always surprised her.
She had often wondered how he had consolidated so much political capital—enough to be voted into leadership term after term without any serious challengers.
Part of the answer, she knew better than anyone.
The scandal had broken during her internship—
and Mallory had handled it with such ruthless foresight and masterful strategy that it caught Elliot Voss’s attention.
Langston’s first major bill after he was elected had loosened federal regulations on a specific class of "green-tech" companies—making it easier to obtain grants, purchase land, and patent technologies. On the surface, it sounded like innovation policy.
But pull back the veil, and the truth emerged:
The bill was laser-focused on an industry space so narrow that only three companies qualified—
all three tracing back to the same founder.
Langston’s college roommate.
Kalamazoo College, class of ’77.
Worse:
That same old friend had quietly assembled a Super PAC that funneled tens of millions into Langston’s Senate campaign.
Hidden behind layers of shell donors, disguised as grassroots enthusiasm.
Mallory’s job had been to find landmines like this before the press did—and quietly defuse them.
But this time, it was too bold. Too public. Too dangerous.
It took every bit of finesse she had.
First, she convinced the donor to dissolve the Super PAC quietly.
Then she orchestrated the restructuring of all three companies—removing any board members connected to Langston, severing visible ties.
Even Langston’s wife, who sat on two of the boards and collected six figures for a handful of meetings a year, was quietly pushed aside.
Next, Mallory helped Langston’s team draft a sweeping "reform bill"—targeting campaign finance abuses and corporate favoritism—turning Langston from villain to crusader almost overnight.
Finally, she buried the remnants so deep that when the media finally started tugging at the threads, all they found was random scraps leading nowhere.
And her reward?
Publicly fired.
"Failure to properly vet PAC donors."
The perfect fall girl.
Mallory had passed the Bar, but her name was radioactive in legal circles.
No firm would touch her. Langston had made sure of that.
Fortunately, Elliot Voss had been watching—as he always did.
And the day after her Bar results posted, she saw the ad and the rest, as they say, was history.
From her very first day on the job, she had never looked back.
And now, for the first time since all of that had taken place, she was walking into his office.
Mallory McInnis was not in the mood for bullshit.
Not today.
She entered the outer office and approached the receptionist, flashing her visitor’s badge.
Behind the desk, Chief of Staff Valerie Connors rose smoothly to greet her.
"It’s so nice to meet you, Ms. McInnis. I’ve heard so much about you. Thank you for accommodating our schedule and flying all this way on such short notice."
Mallory shook her hand briefly, releasing it with measured formality.
"Nice to meet you," she said.
"So. What can I expect here?"
Valerie smiled a little too tightly, matching Mallory's frosty professionalism.
"The Senator is just finishing up a call. He’ll be ready to see you shortly. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Water?"
"No, thanks."
"Alright, if you’d have a seat, I’ll bring you in as soon as he’s ready."
Mallory nodded once and sat down.
With her boosted stats, she noticed things most people would miss.
Her 39 Perception caught the subtle flicker: the "in use" light on the office phone went dark almost immediately after she sat.
He was done.
But he made her wait anyway.
Fifteen minutes.
Of course.
With Langston, everything was a power play.
But Mallory had 54 Charisma so she decided to use it.
At exactly 1:15 PM, she rose smoothly, adjusted her jacket and skirt, and turned toward the door.
"I’m out of time," she said coolly.
Valerie and the receptionist visibly panicked.
Valerie rushed to knock once on the heavy inner door before slipping inside.
Seconds later, she returned.
"The Senator will see you now."
Mallory didn’t bother hiding her eye roll.
She walked forward without another word.
The Senator’s office was a study in political theater.
Deep curtains had been drawn back to let harsh afternoon light pour in behind Langston’s desk, casting him in shadow while blinding anyone entering.
Amateur move, Mallory thought.
He hasn’t changed at all.
Langston didn’t rise.
He just watched her, assessing, smiling the kind of smile politicians practiced for hours in front of mirrors.
He gestured lazily to the chair across from his desk.
"Mallory. Good to see you after so long. Have a seat."
Another little power move.
Another little insult.
Mallory sat, crossed her legs, and leaned back, completely unhurried.
She said nothing.
Langston leaned forward slightly.
"I know what Voss was up to," he said, voice low and conspiratorial.
"I know about the serum that cures everything. You know I can bring down your whole house of cards if I want to. Press. Investigations. Red tape that would strangle your entire organization."
He paused, waiting for a reaction.
Mallory gave him none.
"But there’s no need for that," Langston continued.
"I want it."
She kept breathing steadily, her gaze flat and unblinking.
So that's what this is about.
She crossed her arms and looked out the window, making him wait.
Finally, she turned her gaze back to him.
Her enhanced Perception caught the microtremors in his hands.
The sheen of sweat gathering along his temples.
She said, almost gently:
"You know, I would have gladly given it to you... if you had asked nicely.
Why threaten me?
Isn’t what you did all those years ago enough?
Or have you started to believe the lies you told so many times about who I really am?"
Langston bristled.
"So—what—you’re going to refuse me?"
His breathing was ragged now.
Mallory tilted her head slightly, studying him.
"Is it cancer?"
He blanched.
He had told no one.
He was sure he had hidden it.
"How could you... Yes," he said, voice cracking.
"My liver.
And before you ask — it's excruciating."
Mallory stood.
"Look, Barrett.
Listen carefully."
She let the command settle into the room like a weight.
"I'll have a courier deliver your dose tomorrow.
You'll feel better in twenty-four hours.
But hear me now:
If one word about this leaks — I will turn it off and you will go back to suffering as you are now."
Langston’s eyes widened in fear.
"You can do that? Exactly what is this drug—?"
"I will share nothing with you," Mallory cut in sharply.
"You'll take it.
You'll suffer through a very ugly day of... evacuation.
And after that, you'll feel better than you have in decades."
She stepped forward, towering over his slumped form.
"My advice?
Find somewhere private with a very good bathroom.
You'll need it."
Her voice was clinical, detached — utterly in control.
She turned toward the door — then paused.
"Valerie," she said, almost as an afterthought.
"She’s good. I like her."
Langston, still catching up, blinked.
"Yes," he rasped.
"She's extraordinary.
The only staffer I’ve had who could have matched her was... you."
Mallory pretended not to hear the regret in his voice.
She smiled coldly.
"Then the courier will bring two doses.
One for you.
One for Valerie."
Langston stiffened.
"But—but my wife—"
Mallory cut him off with a single sharp word:
"No."
She pointed at his chest.
"You will do exactly as I say.
Or you will get nothing."
Langston’s mouth worked soundlessly.
Mallory leaned in.
"You’ll watch that young woman bloom in front of you—healthy, vibrant, unstoppable—while you sit there knowing you forfeited every extra favor you could have asked for."
She stepped back, heels clicking sharply.
"And if I find out you’re mistreating her—
I’ll make you regret it."
She turned on her heel and strode for the door, the sunlight gleaming off her hair like molten copper.
At the threshold, she glanced back one last time.
"Enjoy your cleansing, Senator.
It’s going to be ugly.
You haven’t lived the best life."
The door swung shut behind her.
And Senator Barrett Langston, once one of the most feared men in Washington, slumped back in his chair —
hands trembling,
eyes closed,
thanking whatever gods still listened that someone like Mallory McInnis hadn't decided to crush him completely.
After she exited the Senator’s office, Mallory walked straight over to Valerie’s desk.
"Is there somewhere we can talk privately for a few minutes?"
Valerie blinked, surprised, but nodded and stood, leading her toward a small side room nearby.
Once inside, she closed the door and gestured to a chair as she also sat down.
"What can I do for you, Ms. McInnis?"
"Call me Mallory," she said, sitting across from her.
"No need for formalities."
She leaned forward slightly, voice dropping into something almost conspiratorial.
"Look. I like you.
And frankly, I feel bad that you have to work for that insufferable man.
So I’ve decided to give you a gift."
Valerie’s brow furrowed, confused.
Mallory continued smoothly.
"Tomorrow, a courier will arrive with a small package addressed to you."
She explained the process carefully — the first dose, the initial effects, the aftercare.
Then she added, casually but firmly:
"One week later, you’ll receive another package.
That one is only for you — not Barrett.
You’ll take it just the same.
And two weeks after that, I’ll need you to come to San Francisco for a week or so."
Valerie’s eyes widened.
"I’ll make sure the Senator approves your time off," Mallory said with a small, knowing smile.
"All you have to do is trust me.
Can you do that?"
Valerie hesitated — then nodded, slowly, with a spark of curiosity behind her eyes.
Because Mallory McInnis had decided something during her discussion in the Senator’s office:
The second wave of the Tutorial would have one extra name.
Valerie Connors would be inducted alongside the second cohort.
Having someone embedded inside Washington — someone loyal, capable, and already battle-tested — would make everything coming next much easier.
Outside, the late afternoon sun had turned the Capitol dome into a blazing torch against the sky.
Mallory texted her driver.
By the time she stepped out of the building, the Lincoln was waiting at the curb, engine idling.
She slid into the back seat without a word.
An hour later, she was back on board the Gulfstream, taxiing toward the runway.
The flight attendant approached her with a smile.
"Green tea again, Ms. McInnis?"
Mallory shook her head, a slow, rare smile curving her lips.
"No, thanks.
Today, I think I want the Macallan 25.
One ice cube.
Thanks."
She leaned back into the plush leather seat as the engines roared to life, lifting her westward into the sky.
Mallory McInnis would enjoy this flight home.