Escape.
The figure stood, cold, alone and imposing, arms clasped behind his back, as straight as a steel post. Unmoving, he waited, knowing infinite patience. The room in which he stood was dark with only the light from unattended computer screen readouts left to reflect from the dead dark glass of his mask. The occasional bright flare would emanate from one of the many quietly murmuring machines which would illuminate him in his entirety, revealing the name tag stuck to his chest - Alpha.
What could have been an eternity passed, it made little difference to him. He was told to wait, and wait he would until his body crumbled and fell apart from age. He made no sound or movement, barely breathing - the heaving of the breath in his chest almost seemed nonexistent.
Eventually, another figure entered the dark room, distinctively smaller than Alpha, and with much less military grace. He took a step past Alpha, and stopped, not caring to face the infallible soldier.
The man took a deep breath, and sighed.
"He is one of your subordinates." said the man finally.
"Sir, affirmative sir." responded Alpha, his already deep and raspy voice made to sound like gravel scraping on steel by his masks respirator.
The man turned suddenly, his eyes full of malice and anger, but not without the slight wariness a man has when he points a gun at a rabid dog.
"Then where is he?!" he shouted.
Alpha remained impassive. His mask more than hid his face; it destroyed any hope of gauging his responses, not that he would have made any beyond complete and utter obedience.
"How did he escape? How did you let him? You are a team leader! You are supposed to be the finest, the strongest; the smartest! But you let a series 3 get the better of you!"
Alpha did not, would not and could not bristle at the slight upon his ability. He simply did not care. It was not his place to care. It was his place to do.
"Sir, he hid something from us. We did not know sir." said Alpha, no emotion showing in his words.
"Yes and the support team assigned to him as well, or so I hear! He remembered, Alpha! No one but you and Beta should remember!"
The man took a step closer to Alpha and pressed a bony finger accusingly into his chest.
“It is your responsibility, your place to notice these things Alpha! I have half a mind to have your body destroyed and your mind wiped from the program; both you and Beta.”
Alpha continued to stand motionless, even the threat of permanent death did not move him. It was merely an occupational hazard.
The man removed his finger, and pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. Slowly he turned again, facing away from Alpha, and looked again on the swirling mass of darkness in the centre of the room.
“Take India. Take whoever else you want, but make sure you take India.” He let out a long sigh.
“And for Christ sake. Bring Echo back.”