Lena

She sat in her father's office and waited to meet her babysitter. Accordingly, Lena's mood was not the best. She looked sullenly out of the window. The false sky showed a rainbow.

"I wanted to put one of the Shadows at your side first!" Her father stood next to her, one hand on her shoulder. "They are more than reliable."

Lena looked at him in shock. "A Shadow? These are MONSTERS! They have no feelings. Even Mina has more feelings than these cyborgs!" And they look strange! Creepy.

The girl rarely saw the shadows. Her red masks and the blood-red eyes underneath frightened her.

Her father smiled mildly. "No, child. Nonsense. Of course, they have feelings. Don't be silly. We just don't let them feel them. We won’t let them feel too much. Their brains are only fifty percent those of artificial intelligence. Their emotional center is not affected by the modifications. It needs to be anesthetized to get them to do their job. If they felt fear or love, they could not do what they were created to do. But a person is not capable of living if he does not know fear. The feelings are dull, weakened, but they are there."

"They are scary to me."

"I know. Instead, I asked for an experienced, young soldier."

Lena nodded. The rainbow disappeared. Now the sky showed a flock of birds disappearing in white clouds. One cloud had the farm of a sea monster. "Who will come?"

"I don't know."

"Huh?" She stared stunned into her father's face. "Did Mina make the decision?"

"It's called, excuse me, my child. And. No. I left the decision to Military Base Number 2. The soldiers of Base 1 are too spoiled to do this task. But those from Number 2? They want to rise in rank. They want more. Therefore, a Private is a good choice. He has his goal and will therefore protect you in the best possible way." Her father winked at her. "Or she. I don't know if it's a man or a woman... But I don't think they're sending a woman. Women gossip too much among themselves." He winked at Lena again. "Still, in Base 2 there are some women among the soldiers. Talented young ladies. More than in Base 1."

Lena wanted to roll her eyes. Of course. Because all the women from Level 2 are too spoiled to want to become soldiers. They want to wear beautiful clothes and bathe in luxury. Marry an advantageous man and live a comfortable life. And of course, because only a few women from Level 3 make it to Base 1. "Then I'm curious", she said instead.

She sat there, next to the window, dressed up like a doll. A white dress with more ruffles than she would have liked. In addition, a leather hip corset. Her hair was strictly pinned up and her leather boots reached almost to her knees. She wore a chain of tiny, golden gears. The corset was embroidered with them. Her hands were hidden under fine silk gloves. As if she were meeting her future husband and not just a babysitter. A maid had laid out her clothes. Lena was supposed to make a good impression.

Isn't it the babysitter who should dress up? Why me? But no, a lady of my status does not greet her babysitter in a nightgown. Or whatever...

Her father's clothing, on the other hand, reminded her of the strict uniform of the highest officers from Military Base 1. Only the fabric shimmered more and was provided with expensive, exaggeratedly colorful buttons and some black lace.

"Think of your manners, child! No teenage drama." Her father smiled. "Even if he's a bodyguard, be polite. Without a doubt, he will talk about us with his friends. He should have nothing to complain about. Although he is not allowed to pass on private things, he will undoubtedly talk about us. The rulers are perfect. Strict and unyielding, but kind. Fair. That's how we want to be seen."

"I know", Lena grumbled.

A little later, there was a knock on the door, and an older man, actually, her father's butler came in. "The young soldier is here. The sight of him was... Surprising!" The butler smiled a little. Then he nodded mischievously to Lena as if he wanted to tell her a secret. He was Asian. A calm, always composed man. When Lena was little, he told her fairy tales about dragons and foxes with several tails.

"Surprising?" The clone raised his eyebrows. "Send him here."

"Of course." With that, the old butler disappeared again. Bao Wang. A week ago, he celebrated his ninetieth birthday. His black eyes were the friendliest eyes Lena knew. For her, he wasn’t the butler. No. The old man was her grandfather.

A little later, he brought a young man into the office. The butler's eyes sparkled slightly.

Both Lena and her father looked at the young man as surprised as Bao Wang had done before. The soldier was tall, almost two meters tall. Lena estimated that he was in his early twenties. He had tanned skin and light brown eyes. He looked friendly. And he was attractive.

So that's what Grandpa Wang wanted to tell me... The butler knew exactly what kind of men Lena found attractive. And now he watched her reaction with well-concealed cheerfulness. Lena turned her gaze back to the soldier.

His dark blond hair was combed back, his uniform free of dirt or even a wrinkle. He was quite muscular, but not too muscular. He didn't look threatening. But part of his hair was green. Dark green. It stood out almost brightly against his straw-blond hair. The butler stood behind him and smiled, but now that Lena and her father were silent, he became nervous.

"Sir!" The handsome babysitter saluted, unaffected by the reaction of the two people in front of him, then bowed as if he were standing before a king. Well, somehow he did. The clones lived and ruled like kings. Only they did not wear crowns. "My name is Private Samuel Cold. It is an honor for me to be able to protect your daughter."

"Ah!" Lena's father cleared his throat. "Very good. Welcome, my boy. Now! Has my butler shown you around yet?"

"No, Sir." Samuel Cold shook his head. "He just showed me a few rooms on the way here."

"Do you want me to show him around?" asked the old man.

"Of course." Lena's father nodded. "Instruct him in his tasks. And take my daughter with you. She will accompany you. His tasks start now."

Lena blinked, looked at her father slightly confused, and then stood up. What did I expect? A hello, then he goes again? That he immediately follows me silently? I don't want a babysitter. But first, I guess I have to follow HIM. "Of course, father."