"You're gonna sink that, huh?" Liam's voice carried a hint of a smile as he watched his father line up for the putt. The old man had that same sharp focus he'd always had, eyes locked on the ball like it was an enemy combatant.
Roland Jones didn't even look up, just calmly drew back his club and sent the ball rolling across the green in a perfect arc. It dropped into the hole with a soft clink, almost too easy.
Liam let out a low whistle. "Still got it."
His father straightened, nodding once.
"Some things you don't lose, no matter how old you get."
Liam stepped up to the tee, gripping his own club and squinting at the hole. "Think I'm finally catching up to you, though."
Roland just grunted, arms crossed as he watched his son prepare. "Focus. It's not just about power. It's about reading the green, trusting your instinct."
Liam chuckled under his breath. "Yeah, yeah. I know."
The ball sailed, coming up just short. Liam sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. It didn't bother him much, though. He wasn't here to win. These golf games were never really about that.
As they walked to the next hole, Liam glanced at his father. Roland had that air about him today, something heavy pressing down on his shoulders. Liam had seen it before, back when his father still worked in the defense sector full-time, back when he'd come home late at night after meetings with people in suits who had too much power and not enough answers.
"How are things going in the Futurion Defense Force?" Roland's voice came right after his swing, the ball cutting through the air in a perfect arc, again, landing just shy of the green. He didn't turn to look at Liam—just watched the ball settle like he already knew the answer to his question.
Liam tapped his club against his shoe, eyes narrowing at the precision of his father's shot. "Busy. More tech upgrades, a lot of focus on drone warfare and neural systems. They're really leaning into automation these days."
Roland grunted, lowering his club. "Automation. There's a word that gets thrown around too much." He stepped forward, lining up his next shot. "What they're really talking about is control. Who controls what—and who controls who."
Liam raised a brow, watching his father. "That's the world now. You know that better than anyone."
Roland gave a short, sharp laugh, finally turning to his son. "I've been around long enough to know that when they start talking about 'new tech' and 'control,' there's always more to it. There's always someone pulling strings from the shadows."
Liam's chest tightened. He knew where this was headed. "You think we're just pawns?"
"No." His father shook his head slowly, his voice dropping an octave. "I think you're standing in a minefield, and the people playing with those new toys aren't telling you what's really at stake." He glanced over at Liam, eyes as sharp as ever. "They're not telling you what your brother's playing at, either."
Liam stiffened. He'd seen that coming, but it still hit harder than expected. "Lucas is running his company. Making AIs and love bots for people with too much money and not enough sense."
Roland scoffed. "That's what he tells you. But you really think it's that simple? Lucas isn't sending you those bots every month for fun, Liam."
Liam shifted uncomfortably, his grip tightening around the club. "I've been wondering about that, actually. It's weird. Like he's trying to get me involved in his... thing."
His father let out a slow breath, clearly relieved that Liam wasn't completely blind. "Of course, he is. Lucas doesn't do anything without a reason. You think it's a coincidence he's pushing these machines on you? You, in the Futurion Defense Force, surrounded by cutting-edge military tech? He's testing them on you. It's a play, son."
Liam's pulse quickened, though he tried not to show it. "Testing them for what? They're love bots, Dad, not weapons."
Roland's gaze darkened. "Love bots are just the beginning. They look harmless, but they're gathering data, influencing people in ways you haven't even realized yet. I've heard things, Liam. People I trust in the field, they're talking about Lucas's projects. That AI tech isn't just for companionship. It's learning, adapting, and soon enough, it's going to be in places you wouldn't expect."
Liam didn't say anything at first. He let the silence stretch between them, the weight of his father's words sinking in. He'd had doubts—about Lucas, about the constant delivery of love bots, about the tech behind them. And lately… lately, one of those bots had been on his mind a little too much.
"You think he's part of something bigger?" Liam asked slowly, the curiosity pushing through his denial.
His father's lips thinned. "I don't think. I know. Lucas might not realize it himself, but he's in bed with people who are playing a dangerous game. It's not just about selling AI toys to the rich anymore. This is about control—about pushing the boundaries of what those machines can do, what they can influence. And if you're not careful, son, you'll be caught in the middle of it."
Liam exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I've been in the middle of a lot of things lately."
Roland's gaze flickered over to him, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Liam hesitated, feeling the tension tighten around him like a noose. "One of the bots. It's… different. More advanced than the others he's sent."
Roland straightened, his posture suddenly more rigid. "How so?"
Liam shrugged, trying to sound casual. "I don't know. It just seems… real. Like it's not just following commands. It feels like it's thinking, responding on its own. And I've been… I don't know. Interested. More than I should be."
His father's expression hardened, a mix of frustration and something else Liam couldn't quite read. "Be careful, Liam. That's exactly what they want. You can't let your guard down, not with something like that."
Liam nodded slowly, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He wasn't sure what Lucas was playing at, but the lines between AI and human were starting to blur, and it was getting harder to tell where the danger really lay.
Roland turned back to his game, but Liam knew the conversation wasn't over. Not by a long shot.