Captain Kessler leaned on the table, his sharp eyes fixed on Commander Graves. "Tell me more," he ordered.
Commander Graves nodded and brought up a tablet. "Sir, I've been watching Clive Bixby closely for the past month. His behavior has changed a lot compared to when he was at the minor HYDRA academy. Back then, he followed routines, stayed consistent, and didn't stand out much. But about a month ago, things shifted. He's started training harder, isolating himself more, and acting much more alert and cautious. It's like he's constantly on guard, which is very different from before."
She tapped the tablet, showing videos on a central screen. "Here's footage from his time in the minor academy." The clips showed a younger Clive, clumsy during combat drills, struggling to keep up, and casually chatting with other students. "Now compare this to the recent footage," she said, switching to new clips.
In the new videos, Clive was more focused and precise in his movements. He avoided unnecessary conversations, kept his distance from others, and performed better in physical drills. "Notice how much more calculated and aware he is," Graves pointed out. "His entire demeanor has shifted."
Captain Kessler watched the videos in silence, his face unreadable. Graves continued, "To make sure these changes weren't just psychological, I expanded our surveillance. For the past month, Clive has been visiting a cave away from campus. At first, we didn't notice anything unusual. But I authorized the use of special sensors after monitoring him for days."
She brought up a graph on the tablet. "The sensors detected strange energy readings inside the cave. These aren't the same as what we recorded from his mother, but they're still significant. This suggests Clive has awakened his mutant abilities, though they seem to be in the early stages."
Kessler spoke again, his tone steady. "What about Charles Xavier? Has he shown any interest?"
Graves shook her head. "No, sir. If Xavier knew about Clive, he would've made a move by now. That he hasn't suggests Clive's powers are still weak and hard to detect—just like his mother's were when she first awakened. Her behavior also changed when her abilities emerged, just like Clive's. If his powers are anything like hers, they could grow quickly. For now, though, he's still developing."
Kessler studied the data on the tablet, his expression unreadable. "And the energy fluctuations in the cave?" he asked.
Graves leaned forward. "They're consistent, but we haven't figured out what they mean yet. If Clive is experimenting with his powers, this could explain them. While these readings aren't identical to his mother's, the fact that they exist is enough to confirm he's awakened. If his potential matches hers, HYDRA could gain another powerful asset."
Kessler placed the tablet on the table and looked around the room. His tone was firm as he spoke. "We can't take any chances with Clive Bixby. If he really has awakened his mutant abilities, leaving him here is too risky. His behavior changes, the energy readings from the cave, and the possibility of him inheriting powers similar to his mother's make him too valuable—and dangerous—to ignore."
He turned to Commander Graves. "Get everything ready. Clive will be moved to headquarters immediately. We need him under close watch where we can study and control his abilities."
Weiss spoke,"We can transfer him and his group under the pretense of a special training visit, sir. He won't suspect anything. My team can be ready within hours. Once he reaches the headquarters, we can control him no matter what kind of ruckus he causes."
"Do it," Kessler said with a sharp nod. "Graves, gather all the surveillance data from the cave and academy and send it to headquarters. I want every detail on his behavior and those energy fluctuations."
Graves saluted, her voice reluctant but obedient. "Understood, Captain. I'll handle the arrangements."
Kessler's gaze swept across the room. "This is now our top priority. If he's anything like his mother, he'll be a force to reckon with, and we need to ensure he fights for HYDRA."
The room stayed quiet as the group absorbed Kessler's words. After a moment, he stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "You all have your orders. I want him at headquarters within 48 hours. Move quickly."
As the room cleared, Captain Kessler turned to Commander Graves. "Graves, stay behind," he said firmly. The others exchanged quick glances but left without question. Once the door shut, Kessler faced Graves, his voice calm but serious.
"I know why you're worried," he began. "But let me assure you, what happened in the past won't happen again. The changes in Clive's behavior are temporary. They're just part of his powers awakening. He won't lose his memories, and his loyalty to HYDRA won't be affected. In fact, HYDRA is the only thing he can rely on, and we've made sure of that. But all this would remain true only if we help him during this period."
Kessler paced slowly as he continued, "The higher-ups planned all of this carefully. They decided to put him in the academy instead of isolating him at headquarters for a reason. Being here has helped him connect with HYDRA naturally, making him feel like he belongs. That connection will ensure his loyalty. He doesn't have anyone else, Graves. He only has us. The reason we are going this far is only because we don't want to repeat what happened in the past."
Graves hesitated, her expression uneasy. "Sir, I understand, but—"
Kessler raised a hand to stop her. "If you need more answers, speak to your mother. She was involved in the decisions about Clive's training from the start. I'm only explaining this much because of her position. But don't let your personal feelings cloud your judgment. Clive isn't just a boy; he's a valuable asset. We can't afford any mistakes."
He paused, his tone firm. "The higher-ups have already told me to transfer him to headquarters of such situation arises. If we don't guide and control his abilities, he could lose his mind—or worse, become unstable like his mother. We can't take that risk. We weren't able to do anything to help his mother control her ability due to the lack of information, but now we do and we won't lose this opportunity."
Graves nodded slowly, her concern giving way to reluctant acceptance. Kessler softened his tone slightly. "Make sure everything is ready for the transfer."
Graves saluted. "Understood, sir."
With that, she left the room, her mind still racing. Kessler watched her go, his face unreadable, then turned back to his tablet. Clive's future—and HYDRA's plans—had to succeed, no matter what.
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