You're Fired, Cheng Xin

After leaving the metal "cage" and returning to the Planetary Defense Council, Vader seemed to have changed.

Vader's report was—

Fourth Wallfacer's Plan: All systems normal.

He served in the United Nations' Planetary Defense Council intelligence agency, which was responsible for monitoring the four Wallfacers' plans for any signs of "self-interest"

or abuse of resources.

The Planetary Defense Council accepted the report, too.

Everything seemed to have returned to normal.

But had it really?

Holding a cup of coffee, Cheng Xin took a deep breath and pushed open the door to Vader's office.

The lights were off.

This had become one of Vader's strange habits since his return. He always kept himself in the dark and hated bright lights.

Vasim had asked him about it once. The answer he got was: "Someone like me doesn't deserve to stand in the light."

A very strange answer.

"Mr. Thomas—"

Cheng Xin stood in the doorway and looked at Vader. "Here's the coffee you asked for."

Vader said nothing.

Though he sat in darkness, his vision seemed entirely unaffected. Even through several meters of shadow, Cheng Xin could feel the cold emanating from his eyes. It was like facing a sinister snake, flicking its tongue—the sticky, icy sensation made her deeply uncomfortable, even... afraid.

Vader had changed!

Cheng Xin swallowed. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, and sweat began to bead on her skin.

The Vader of old had seemed extremely cold, rational, and ruthless. He was less like a person than a precision instrument.

He had been frightening, too, but—nothing like this. He had never made her feel such terror.

She was very perceptive. That was one reason she had been chosen, and it was why she could so clearly sense that the "exterior" Vader had presented before was completely different from his inner