Barbados.
The private jet touched down just as the tropical sun reached its zenith, casting a golden sheen across the palm-fringed tarmac.
Tyler stepped off first, followed by Helena and Devin. The air was warm but not oppressive, with a breeze carrying the scent of salt and hibiscus.
A pair of luxury SUVs waited nearby—one for Helena and Devin, and another for Tyler and David.
Their chauffeur, dressed sharply in light resort linens, gave a polite nod. "Welco to Barbados, Mr. Tyler. Your mother and brother will be taken to the villa imdiately. It’s stocked and ready."
Helena touched Tyler’s arm. "You sure you don’t want to co with us first?"
"I’ll join you soon," Tyler said, smiling. "There’s just one thing I need to take care of."
Helena didn’t argue. She simply reached up and smoothed the front of his shirt with that sa motherly instinct she always had. "Be safe, alright?"
"I will."
Devin gave him a quick side-hug. "Don’t take too long. I’m going try the infinity pool."
"I’ll be there before you dry off," Tyler smirked.
With a final wave, Helena and Devin entered the SUV and were driven away, their vehicle disappearing into the lush greenery that lined the roads of the island. Tyler turned to David, who had already climbed into the second vehicle.
As Tyler entered and the door shut, David adjusted his seat and gave him a glance. "So. A supercomputing server, huh?"
Tyler raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Freya told you?"
David gave a snort of laughter and shook his head. "Of course she did. You know? She’s more competent than most intelligence agencies. Still—building a server powerful enough to run an AGI? That’s... massive."
"It is," Tyler said with a small shrug. "But it’s necessary."
David gave him a longer look, his expression thoughtful.
"You know, at this point, I shouldn’t even be surprised. You’ve overthrown a governnt, installed a president, hijacked an economy, and built your own global financial rail system. But you keep finding new ways to outdo yourself."
Tyler chuckled. "It’s not like I’m doing sothing bad, am I?"
"No, not bad," David said, then exhaled. "Just... hard to keep up sotis."
He felt that there was a reason why Tyler was doing everything he was doing, just that he can’t see it yet. He has no idea what the bigger picture was but he was sure that soon he will.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence. The SUV moved along the coastal road, weaving past stretches of pristine sand and turquoise waves.
Tourists walked the sidewalks with sunhats and cocktails in hand. The illusion of paradise was perfect.
But Tyler wasn’t here for paradise.
"I’ve been aning to ask," Tyler said after a while, "how do you feel about the people I’m about to et?"
David was quiet for a few seconds, then gave a serious look. "They’re dangerous. All of them. I’ve worked with professionals. These people? They’re sothing else entirely."
"aning?"
"They give off a kind of silence that feels... heavy. Like if you say the wrong thing, the wrong way, they’ll break your bones before you finish your sentence. That kind of dangerous."
Tyler nodded slowly. "Noted."
David frowned. "No, see, that’s the thing. I know you. You’ll say you’ve noted it, then go in there and poke the bear anyway."
Tyler laughed softly, but said nothing more.
David just sighed. "You’re lucky I trust you. Anyone else, I’d have dragged the person back to the plane."
Nearly half an hour later, their SUV turned onto a private resort road, winding through landscaped gardens and open spaces dotted with modern, ocean-facing villas.
At the far edge of the property, overlooking a secluded stretch of beach, sat a luxury beach shack.
This was where the eting would take place.
Tyler and David stepped out of the car.
David led the way down a stone path toward the structure. Seagulls called in the distance, and the waves crashed rhythmically against the shore.
As they approached the entrance of the beach shed, Tyler could already feel the atmosphere shift.
Inside, a group of seven n and won sat around a large circular table. They weren’t lounging, or sipping drinks. Their posture was upright, hands mostly visible, eyes fixed on the approaching pair.
They had seen David approaching, but their expressions changed the mont they saw Tyler.
So frowned.
One leaned back in his chair, visibly tense.
Another—a woman with sharp features and short-cropped black hair—raised a single eyebrow in what might have been surprise, or disdain.
They all knew.
They didn’t need to be told. The mont Tyler walked in beside David and not behind him, it was obvious.
This was the one who brought them all together.
This was the one behind everything.
Tyler stepped forward, silently took his seat slowly and looked each of them in the eye.
His age was obvious. But so was his poise.
When he finally spoke, his tone was even, calm, and without theatrics.
"Okay, gentlen. Let’s get this over with."
There was a silence that followed—thick and asuring.
The man seated directly across from him, an older European with weathered skin and a scar near his temple, leaned forward first.
"Is this a joke?" he asked flatly.
Tyler smiled faintly. "No. If it were, I’d have picked sothing more entertaining."
"You’re just a teenager"
"Seventeen in two days."
Another scoffed. "What are we doing here, David? We got on planes for this?"
David remained silent, letting Tyler handle it.
The woman with short hair finally spoke. "You know I investigated David after he ca to and I found out that he stays in Gumua and has had dealings with the recently ousted governnt...and the current Interim President. So tell , were you the one behind everything?"
"And what if I am? Would you all stop looking at like a child and take seriously?"Tyler t her gaze and asked.
"Co on, kid. There’s possibly no way that you were the one who was behind everything. You’re just struggling with calculus like other things," the woman smirked.
Tyler smiled and leaned back. He looked at each of them intently, making sure to make eye contact with every one of them.
"I know that you guys investigated after I sent the first ssage, with the offer to work for . You all investigated for an average of one week but got nothing. This was even after so of you contacted Langley and Vauxhall Cross. I’m sure that you all were surprised that even the most powerful intelligence agency in the world has no idea who I was. That shock turned into curiosity and that’s why most of you all here," he said calmly, watching each of them carefully.
The atmosphere imdiately beca tense. One of the younger n at the table, who hadn’t said a word until now, finally leaned forward.
"So, who are you?"
"I’m a nobody. Just like you can see, I’m just a kid," Tyler smiled.
"I call bull on that. A kid can’t possess a level of technology that makes him untraceable by even the CIA or MI6," another said, "So, tell us, who are you?"
"Like I said, I’m just your average kid. Yeah, you will find it hard to believe but that’s what it is," Tyler replied, with the smile not leaving his face.
"So, what does an average kid need the help of forr operatives and rcenaries for?" A man who looks older than the rest, asked.
"Protection. For my family, myself and my assets."
"An average kid needing protection? That’s not really average, is it? Or did the aning of the word change without my knowledge?" The older man asked, looking at Tyler intently.
Tyler sighed and looked at the man with a smile.
"I know it’s crazy but I really need protection. Especially for my family. I know you all don’t trust , so do that, I will introduce myself fully."
"I’m Tyler Reyes," he said, simply introducing himself.
The group had curious look on their faces as if they were waiting for him to say more, but Tyler had nothing else to say.
"So, Tyler? Tell , Mr Tyler. What exactly do you need protection from? Why does your family need protection? Do you have enemies targeting them? Maybe business associates?" The short haired lady asked.
"I can’t really tell you much but what I can tell you is that I’m building sothing in Gumua, which makes very unavailable for my family. It’s just my mom and younger brother, and I need soone or people watching over them so that my mind can be at least," Tyler replied.
"I understand," the lady nodded. "But I suppose you can’t tell us whatever it is you’re building in Gumua?"
Tyler smiled and shook his head. "I’m sorry. I can’t."
"Well, I guess I can’t force it out of your mouth. Besides, you won’t be here if you weren’t confident about your safety and your information leaking from here, am I right?" The lady asked, with a smile.
Tyler didn’t reply, as he just smiled.
"I thought as much," the lady laughed.
"I’m not curious about other things but I want to ask sothing. Do you make weapons oe have affiliate to any defense company or entity?" The older man asked.
"No," Tyler replied firmly.
"So, how are you going to pay us? How much are you willing to pay?"
"A minimum of $2-5M annually. In return, you will protect , my family and my assets. You won’t be actively seeking for conflicts. Just protection.," Tyler replied.
"I don’t know but I have a feeling that the simple protection isn’t going to be so simple. But I will take it. I will work with you, Mr Tyler," the older man said, stood up and stretched out his hand for a handshake.
Tyler smiled and stood, and received the handshake.
"I look forward to working with you, Ethan."
He looked at the other and the woman with short hair nodded. "If Ethan’s in, I’m not staying out."
One of the silent n finally spoke. "I’ve worked for less... and with worse. I’ll take the deal."
Another added, "As long as we’re not running covert hits for politics, I’m in."
Tyler smiled when he saw this. He has taken care of this and can finally relax with his family.
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