Veil of Protection 01

Chapter 1: NINA

In a room devoid of personality, three agents, whose names would never appear on any official records, began their secret meeting. The space was as bland as it was functional - no windows, no decorations, just neutral walls and a dim overhead light. A large round table dominated the room, its smooth surface holding only a jug of water and three glasses. The only feature breaking the monotony was a crisp, clear screen mounted on the far wall, where profiles scrolled by in high definition - faces of people who would soon vanish behind new identities.

The silence hung heavy between them as their eyes briefly met, each agent carrying a very different idea of what it meant to protect.

At the centre of the room, Director Evelyn Wallace tapped her fingers lightly, her pale blue eyes fixed on the screen. Eve, as everyone called her, was the kind of person who made decisions swiftly and with precision. Her straight silver hair was always perfectly styled, and her expression rarely showed more than the calm confidence of someone who’d seen it all.

“Let’s get to it, shall we?” she said, breaking the silence in her usual low, authoritative tone. “However before we begin. I want to be sure this new system is as safe as you say.”

To her right, AI specialist Dr Victor Crane practically sprang from his seat, eager to defend his life’s work. For the past few years, his obsession with this project had consumed his every waking thought, leaving little room for anything else, as evidenced by his messy hair and coffee-stained shirt. His fingers flew over his tablet, quickly pulling up the data he’d spent most of the night preparing.

“Our New Identity and Navigation Assistant, or NINA for short, has pinpointed the safest locations and identities for our latest candidates,” he said, his voice buzzing with energy. “Mapping out everything from the safest evacuation routes to most effective cosmetic surgery. Our initial testing is predicting a ninety-six per cent success rate."

Director Wallace barely raised an eyebrow. “And the four per cent?” she asked.

Victor gave a small, nervous chuckle. “It’s... a margin of error. Human resistance, unforeseen circumstances.”

“Unforeseen circumstances?” Agent Sarah Munroe’s voice cut in, sharp and sceptical. She sat back in her chair, arms crossed, her posture as stiff as her cropped brown hair. Sarah wasn’t the type to get excited about statistics. She’d been in the field long enough to know that “unforeseen circumstances” had a way of turning into real problems, especially when human lives were at stake. “You can’t just reduce people to numbers, Crane. The four per cent you’re glossing over could mean the difference between life and death.”

Victor’s smile faltered, his eyes darting between Eve and Sarah. "NINA can only work with the data she’s given, just like any human agent. But unlike a human, she’s unbiased and incorruptible. She’s the most advanced witness protection system the world has ever seen. Are you saying the old system never failed?"

Sarah’s jaw tightened. “I’m saying I don’t trust a machine to handle what happens when that four per cent shows up.” She uncrossed her arms, leaning forward, her voice dropping to a low, steady growl. "People aren't predictable, Crane" Sarah continued, her eyes narrowing. "They panic. They make irrational decisions. Especially when they’ve been stripped of everything they know. You can't just input data and expect a machine to handle the fallout."

Victor sat back down, adjusting his glasses with a trace of irritation. "NINA doesn’t need to predict every variable. She’s built to adapt, like a highly trained agent - an agent with 10,000 missions under their belt. These people will be equipped with everything they need: new appearances to change their most recognisable features, and new skills derived from what they already know. NINA will give them the perfect disguise."

The director raised a hand, cutting off the exchange. Her voice, cool and composed, sliced through the growing tension. "That’s enough." Her gaze moved to the profiles, which were still scrolling on the screen. "What we’re doing here is unprecedented, yes. But so was every system we’ve implemented at one point. Victor, you’re confident about the numbers?"

"Yes, I triple-checked them myself," he replied with a confident smile.

"Alright then, Let's proceed," Director Wallace declared firmly. "Remember, the three of us in this room will be the only ones privy to this information. And I don’t need to remind you of the consequences if that changes." Her eyes sharpened, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

"Director, I want it on record that I have serious reservations about this," Agent Munroe said, her tone grave.

"Noted, Sarah," Director Wallace replied with a curt nod. "Now please bring up the first profile."

Agent Munroe tapped her tablet, bringing up the image of a bearded white male in a high-visibility jacket, his hard hat concealing his reddish-brown cropped hair. His muscular frame was imposing, each brawny arm a testament to his hands-on approach at the building site. A strong, Romanesque nose added a commanding presence to his rugged features. Without hesitation, she began her briefing, her tone direct.

(See image 01)

“Larry Stone, 29. Former lead project manager and structural engineer at Urban Vista Designs. The firm specializes in luxury residential and commercial properties - custom homes, high-end condos, and small-scale developments in affluent areas.”

She looked toward Director Wallace. “Stone was responsible for overseeing construction sites, managing contractors, and ensuring all building regulations were met. While reviewing financials for his latest project, he found major discrepancies - inflated material costs and phantom subcontractors. Digging deeper, he uncovered the largest money laundering operation New Jersey has ever seen. After reporting it to law enforcement, the head of the organization put a price on his head. His testimony is vital to taking them down.”

Sarah set the tablet down, her tone firm. “This is a high-priority case that could lead to one of the biggest convictions in state history. But if we don’t handle this properly, Larry won’t last. These people have serious power and reach.”

Dr Crane leaned forward, his voice steady but filled with conviction. "With NINA’s superior calculating power and logical deduction, Larry will be as safe as possible under her protection. She’ll place him in a location with the highest statistical chance of survival."

Agent Munroe folded her arms, her brow furrowing. "That’s exactly what concerns me, Crane. A machine’s logic can miss what truly matters - human empathy. Will NINA consider what kind of life he will live and not just how to keep him breathing? If survival were all that mattered, we would just stick people in a guarded cell and be done with it.”

Director Wallace gave a slight nod. "Sarah makes a valid point. These people aren’t prisoners. They’ll expect some semblance of normalcy and freedom in their new lives. Can NINA make decisions like this?"

Victor smiled, clearly prepared for this line of questioning. "Absolutely. NINA’s algorithms are trained from past cases. She doesn’t just focus on protection; she has learned from the human decisions that shaped successful outcomes. I can assure you, she understands the need for balance - these people will have lives, not cages."

Evelyn Wallace considered his words, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. Finally, she nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Alright, that’s what I needed to hear. Let’s move on. Sarah, the next witness, if you please."

With a quick tap on her tablet, Sarah brought up the image of a confident young Black man in a crisp white tracksuit. His extremely tall, lanky frame was toned and muscular, clearly the result of years of high-level competition. His body was honed for explosive power, built for leaping with precision and force.

(See image 02)

“Jamal Lewis, 23,” Sarah began, her tone professional. “He’s a well-known figure in the track and field world, specifically as an Olympic-level high jumper. His grace and explosive power have made him a household name. He's competed worldwide with his performances broadcast on international television."

She glanced at Director Wallace. “His public profile complicates things. We’re not just talking about a local athlete - Jamal is a globally recognized face. Hiding someone with his level of visibility will be one of our biggest challenges."

Victor Crane responded swiftly, his voice calm yet confident. "A challenge for a typical agent, perhaps, but not for NINA. She’ll analyse every feature that makes him stand out - his facial structure, posture, even the way he carries himself in public. Subtle changes will be made to render him unrecognizable. In a few months, he’ll just be another face in the crowd.”

Director Wallace took a moment to absorb this, her gaze fixed on Jamal’s profile. "We’ll monitor this case closely," she said thoughtfully. "Given his high profile, there’s no room for error here."

She then turned back to Sarah. "Let's see the next witness."

Sarah swiped her tablet, bringing up the image of a young Mexican man in a casual shirt and shorts. He appeared slightly overweight with a barrel chest. His typical Latino good looks and deep dark eyes stood out, and his sharp features and solid build suggested a confident and capable individual.

(See image 03)

“Javier Roca, 27,” she began. “A seasoned drug enforcement agent who specialized in infiltrating Mexican gangs and cartels. Known by his colleagues as 'the Ox' due to his impressive bench-pressing strength, his fluency in Spanish, street smarts, and ability to react quickly in dangerous environments made him a top asset.”

She continued, “His latest assignment had him infiltrating a powerful cartel, working his way up the ranks until he was in a position to collect enough evidence to bring down their leaders. But his cover was blown before the operation could be completed. Now, with a price on his head, we’re Javier’s only shot at survival. I hope your machine understands how dangerous the kind of men we are dealing with here are, Doctor!”

Victor Crane smiled calmly. “Correct me if I'm wrong Agent Munroe, but in cases like this, witnesses were often compromised by corrupt agents bought off or trying to protect their families. NINA can’t be bribed, influenced, or swayed by emotions. She will take good care of Javier.”

A tense silence followed as Sarah shook her head, clearly unsettled by being reminded of NINA’s lack of emotion. Director Wallace glanced over at her. “Anything else, Sarah?”

Sarah’s expression was tight, her voice clipped. “No.”

“Alright, then,” Wallace said, turning back to the screen. “Let’s move on to the final witness.”

The image on the screen showed a sharply dressed Asian man in an expensive tailor-made suit. His slicked-back pompadour and goatee beard accentuated his distinguished appearance, while his stern expression mirrored his reputation. He looked like a man of importance.

(See image 04)

“Michael Tanaka, 31,” Sarah began. “A third-generation Japanese-American stock market analyst. He grew up disconnected from his cultural roots but thrived in finance with a no-nonsense approach. Known for his sharp mind and quick decision-making, he also developed a reputation for being ill-tempered, often taking out his frustrations on colleagues when things didn’t go his way.”

She continued, “While reviewing financial data, Michael uncovered insider trading involving his firm’s wealthiest clients - people with deep ties to politics and organized crime. When he reported his findings, he became a target.”

With her briefing done, Agent Munroe slumped back in her chair. Having already expressed her concerns earlier, she had nothing further to add.

Director Wallace glanced between her agents, her eyes settling on Dr Crane. "Thanks to the both of you. As discussed, this is the dawn of a new era in witness protection. I’ll be relying heavily on your expertise as we navigate these initial cases. Do either of you have anything final to add before we proceed?"

Sarah leaned in, her voice edged with concern. "Eve, are you really comfortable with leaving the witnesses' locations solely in the hands of this machine? What happens if something goes wrong?"

The director offered a knowing smile. "I understand your concerns, Sarah. But after the Whitmore fiasco, we have to make changes. No system is without risk, but I'm satisfied with the thorough testing undertaken by Dr Crane and his team."

A heavy silence settled over the room as Director Wallace scanned their faces, ensuring everyone had been heard. "If there are no further questions, we’ll reconvene in one month to evaluate progress. As of now, I’m officially authorizing Project Veil. Victor, let's wake her up."

Dr Crane didn’t need to be told twice. His fingers flew over his tablet, tapping with precision as the screen flickered black before a series of square blocks lined up, glowing in sync as they pulsed rhythmically.

"Hello, NINA. How are you today?" he asked in an excited tone.

"I am very well, thank you, Dr Crane," NINA’s cold robotic voice replied, the blocks moving in sync with her speech. "How may I assist you?"

Victor glanced at Sarah, who shook her head in disapproval, then back to Director Wallace. After receiving her final nod of approval, his lips curled into a broader grin.

"Initiate Project Veil, starting immediately," he ordered.

NINA’s voice responded in an almost unnerving mechanical tone. "Understood, Dr Crane. Project Veil initiated."