When I woke up in the morning, there was no one beside the bed. Only the sound of water running from the shower could be heard. Most likely, Dima was washing up.
I went downstairs, grabbed some feed for Kara, and tossed it in front of him. Stroking his mane, I whispered:
"Today you'll taste freedom, my boy."
Dima appeared behind me.
"You can use the shower if you want. I laid out some clean clothes for you."
"Thank you. They'll be here soon. You should get ready too."
I went upstairs and dipped my head into ice-cold water. Dima's face had fallen; after last night, we hadn't spoken much. She was caring, maybe expecting the same from me. But I wasn't ready for that. I couldn't leave someone in tears behind me. I was a soldier, an assassin; I had to focus on my mission. I had to climb from the very bottom to the very top.
After the shower, I put on the clothes Dima had prepared. When I came down, we almost looked like a couple. Dima, with her tousled hair, was watching me. I handed her a phone.
"What's this, Kara?""A phone. Inside is the number I wrote yesterday so you can reach me.""And where will you go?""I'm not going anywhere. I'll escort you until you cross into Turkey.""And then?""Then I'll settle my business here and return to the country. Whatever happens, stand tall in life. Promise me."
Tears welled up as Dima nodded. From a distance, a black car appeared. When they reached the door, I told Dima to return home to collect her belongings. I walked over to the men and warned them:
"No one will use my code name or my real name. They know me as Kara. Address me that way."
They nodded, waiting for us to get into the car. Dima climbed in nervously.
"Kara, who are these men?""Friends, Dima. They're here for you and me."
The journey passed in silence. As we neared the entry point, procedure required sacks to be placed over our heads. Dima clutched my arm tightly, trembling with fear. I held her hand and whispered:
"Stay calm. Everything is fine."
The car stopped. When the hoods were removed, a voice said:
"Say your goodbyes. This is where your paths split."
"Remember what I told you at home. And don't cry."
With tears, Dima hugged me one last time, then left with the team. I was taken to another car. I thought I was returning to the farm, but the route was different. When I asked, they answered:
"You're heading to headquarters now."
After a one–two hour ride, we arrived. Karahan and Caner were waiting. Caner rushed to me, embracing me tightly.
"Where the hell have you been, man? I thought you wouldn't finish the mission!"
Before I could reply, Karahan cut in:
"He already finished the mission. But our general here had other matters to attend to."
Caner turned to me with a mocking grin.
"Looks like someone's in trouble, huh?"
Karahan called me upstairs. I followed him with heavy steps. In the room, he motioned for me to sit, then stood across from me.
"So this will be our base now, sir?""We'll stay here until the others arrive.""By 'we,' you mean… I don't understand, sir."
Suddenly, he slapped me across the face. Without giving me time to react, he threw a few more punches. My temper flared—I pulled out my gun and aimed it at him.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"This is the training you've had for months? This is your contribution to the system? Losing control of your emotions and letting them dictate your actions?"
I froze. Slowly, I lowered the gun and stood at attention.
"You're right, sir. I didn't act according to my training."
"I brought you here to lead these men. You're special! Your mind, your way of thinking—it's different. Never mix emotions with your duty."
"I didn't break the rules, sir. My conscience simply chose to help."
Another slap landed. Just then, the phone rang. Karahan's face darkened. He threw the phone to the floor.
"Alpay, Tarık is dead."
I stood in shock. I had trained and fought beside Tarık for months. He was the fastest of us all.
"What do you mean, sir?""He was captured and killed. The mission failed.""And the only thing you care about is the result?""No. What matters now is retrieving his body and finding out whether he leaked information."
"So all you care about is information?""The mission comes first. If something ever happens to me, I expect the same from you.""Fine. Then send me there.""No. Serhat already returned before you. You'll stay here with me. We'll take Caner too. The others will handle different tasks."
I nodded, holding back further protest—I could be punished. Together with Karahan, I went downstairs into the command room. He began briefing the teams:
"Serhat and Levent, take six men with you. Bring Tarık back. The location is a cave, full of traps. If even Tarık was captured, it won't be easy. Your cameras will stay on 24/7. We'll monitor you from here."
Yaman spoke up:"What about those of us staying behind?""Yaman, you'll head to Hatay, near the Turkish border. There's an item—bring it back. Take five men with you. Caner, you'll monitor Yaman from here. Radios must stay connected at all times."
Everyone nodded. Soon only Karahan, Caner, and I remained. Karahan lit a cigar.
"You've all passed missions, but most died or gave up. For now, I've split the team. Once these tasks are done, a new operation will begin.""What kind of mission, sir? Where, when?""You'll join an operation with the Alfa-Romeo team."
He tossed a file onto the table.
"Inside are the files from when you were first brought here. Your progress, your training, everything. Once the others return, a new team will be formed. With the Alfa-Romeo operation, you'll return to Turkey. First, you'll observe your families from afar. Then you'll rejoin them and embed yourselves within their lives."
"Embed, sir? What exactly do you mean?""You heard me right, Caner. Each of you will be placed with a noble family—as their guard, their informant. When the time comes, you'll finish the job."
I completed his sentence:"And until the next team comes to execute us…"
Karahan smiled proudly.
"Exactly, Alpay. But only you and Caner know this."
Caner was shocked."What about the rest? They're our friends. This is betrayal of the system! I didn't join for this."
Karahan eyed him carefully.
"Well done, Caner. Just like your teammates, you gave the right answer. If you had accepted this offer, you'd be dead tomorrow. The system raised us for its purpose. That's what we live for. Understood?"
Caner saluted and left. Karahan turned to me, motioning toward the inner room. We stepped inside.
"I tested Caner. I wanted to see if he was like you.""And what about me, Karahan? What do you have in mind for someone like me?""The system raised you too. But my plan is different. You're not like the others. One day, I'll bring the system down. And before I have soldiers, I need a friend I can trust. Will you stand with me?"
He looked me straight in the eyes, extending his hand. In the other, he held his cigar.
"They're soldiers. I am an assassin. I don't belong to any system. I aim for the top."
I clasped his hand, took his cigar, and lit it.