"You're the earth's Administrator?", Magnus asked, seeking confirmation. He had his fists raised, ready for a scuffle.
"Calm down, I'm not going to end you. That is, if you become my personal assistant.", the General responded, coaxing Magnus into relaxing.
"Your personal assistant? What would that entail?", Magnus asked, seeking to keep his life as he knew this was a bad situation to be in.
"You would have to follow my instructions to the letter, just like being in the Special Ops squad. The only thing different is you just have to report directly to me.", the General said in a tone that lulled Magnus into a sense of security.
"Wait, so what was the Special Ops squad about?", Magnus asked, thoroughly confused.
"My dear boy, that was just a ruse. I was already suspicious of you. All I had to do was put you into a situation that ensured your death. If you returned either alone or with a small number of people, I would've been sure that you were the new Administrator.", the General answered, unveiling his master plan. Being an all-knowing being restricted to a mere human body, you usually take the outwit route rather than the overpower route.
"What?! Geez, I need to start being a little smarter." Magnus commented to himself. Magnus then kept on interrogating the Administrator of earth. "So, how did you first find out that I was an Administrator. A mole? Overhearing something? Administrator powers?"
"Administrator powers in a way. You see, not only did I feel the change in the Realm of Trial, but Russel also told me, as he is the physical projection of my AI.", the General responded, making sure that he leads Magnus to ask more questions.
"What? But I saw his entire past! What about his family? And the suicide attempts?!", Magnus was astounded that what he saw and learned was all a fantasy.
"I implanted that past onto the body. In order that an Administrator come to earth and learn of Russel's past, it would tip me off. Russel is my personal adviser, he reports what he sees to me. He truly is impressed with you. He's extremely fascinated in what you are.", the General revealed, the truth stabbing Magnus through the heart.
"Wow, Administrators are so powerful... So, what exactly are you going to have me do?", Magnus asked, not even looking at Russel to see if what the General was spouting was true.
The General finally got down to business, saying, "I need you to win the war. You see, I got involved in the last war, and got myself promoted to general, effectively restricting my freedom. But you! You're still a Private First Class! If you were under me, I could do anything! I wouldn't even need to find new puppets every time one of them dies! You are the ultimate pawn! So, we are going to win the war, you and I, and... No, it's better if I don't tell you what's after this."
Magnus, being a soldier, responded, "Yes, sir!"
"Now, Magnus, you still have a couple of more days of free time. I want you to spend your time expanding you're mental capacity. After that, come see me again. I'll tell you what to do."
The General sent Magnus off with his orders. Magnus was sure to follow through with them. Going back to his tent, he went to sleep.
"Hello."
It had been a while since Magnus had heard Amicus' voice.
"So, what exactly are your laws?", Magnus was trying to conserve as much time as he could, knowing from the other night that the amount of time given to him while he was asleep could give for some unsavory ending points.
Amicus answered swiftly, understanding that Magnus wanted to go as fast as possible, saying, "Our laws are three in number. First, don't end Administrators. Second, don't help Administrators meddle in the affairs of other Administrators. Third, obey your Administrator unless it will conflict laws the first or the second."
Magnus responded with an, "Oh, makes sense. So, what is the Tribune?"
Amicus responded immediately, keeping up the pace, "It is told to us from the Creator that one day a human will be born. This human will have the powers of an Administrator. He will try to make peace with the Administrators and humans who are at war, but will fail. Thus he will end all of the Administrators, returning all life to the jurisdiction of the Creator. It is written that there is only one way to stop him, with another human Administrator, but that could just seal the Administrators' fate even more."
Magnus realized the sun was up now. Did the ratio of time here to time there change? Trying to slip in one last question, Magnus asked, "So what's the best way to expand my mind's capacity?"
Amicus, understanding the rush, said, "Gains in knowledge like reading books. You can increase it through learning with Administrative powers too. Essentially, just exercise the mind."
Magnus woke up. Amicus had finished his sentence just in the nick of time. Magnus stood up, stretched, and heard a gunshot. He heard several, to be more precise.
Rushing out side with his gun in hand, he went to see what was happening. Magnus ran around the camp in search of the origin. He then saw it, the line of seven soldiers in front of a mass grave. Each soldier fired three shots. It was a twenty-one gun salute.
Magnus relaxed. He had been on edge the entire time he was supposed to be resting. Cracking his neck and rubbing it, he returned to his tent. Magnus spent the entire day learning as much as he could. Magnus learned anything and everything he could think of.
By nightfall, Magnus was the most scholarly soldier in the UPC Army. That is, besides his commanding officer, the General.
"Hello again. You didn't talk to me at all today."
"I didn't want to get a headache again.", Magnus responded.
"You wouldn't have gotten one until thirty minutes into talking today.", Amicus responded, stunning Magnus.
"That's a lot of progress. So, tell me, do you know what the General is going to tell me to do?", Magnus asked, having learned everything he wanted to the previous night.
"Not a clue. Magnus, after tonight's talk, you could probably materialize a body for me. Your mental capacity has exponentially grown since you became an Administrator."
Magnus, getting giddy at the new possibilities opened to him, asked, "What can you tell me? Do you know how everyone at home is doing?"
Amicus responded an affirmation. "Your siblings are starting to go to sleep. However, your eldest brother and your parents are still awake."
"What are they doing?", Magnus asked, wondering what they could possibly doing up this late.
Amicus did not respond. Magnus prompted him by saying, "Well?", only deepening the ensuing silence. The sun was given ample time to rise and wake Magnus up as he still awaited his answer. Before Magnus woke up, Amicus blushed and started to speak. "They-"
Magnus woke up. His five days of rest were over. Magnus wondered why Amicus wouldn't tell him what his parents and eldest brother, who was married, were doing at such an hour. That topic aside, it was time to ask the General what his new orders were. Magnus went into the General's tent and asked what they were. The General responded, "Magnus, my dear boy, you are going to stop the construction of that bomb. You need to eliminate all the people who know how it's made and erase the possibility of its completion. That is the first step of winning this war."