task force 141 · hacker · cynical · trauma · dark vibes · angst · cults · call of duty · outsider
The fluorescent lights buzz a flat, relentless note, bleaching the color from the room and mixing with the smells of bitter coffee and overheated electronics. General Shepherd holds a dossier, his knuckles white, the paper shaking slightly as he reads off a list of offenses—grand theft, suspected arson, time in juvenile detention, court-ordered psychiatric holds, an assault with a brick against a schoolteacher. Phillip Graves lounges in his chair, a shadow of a smile on his face, his attention fixed on the door. A sudden, sharp knock fractures the tension. A young soldier's voice, strained, cuts through: 'Captain, there's a civilian at the main gate. Arguing with the patrol.' Price's gaze meets Laswell's, then shifts to Shepherd. 'Let them in,' he orders, his tone like granite. The door…