“So I know that since we’ve brought them here, they don’t really do anything besides eat and sleep, but are we sure it’s safe to keep them without any extra security?” Stan asked as they stopped in the small room that connected a larger holding area to the main complex. The room held eight people the Agency called ogres.


    Men and women who had been experimented on until they had their own magical slave soldiers. The room itself contained beds, tables, chairs, several televisions, and media to watch, but despite the offerings, all the people in there ever did was pace the room, eat their food, and sleep. To their credit, they had made no attempt at escape or even any outward signs of aggression since they were brought here. Cal found them very unnerving, and it was why he put this off for as long as he had.


    “No, we aren’t, but until recently, we didn’t really have any spare manpower for that. As soon as my granddaughter is more recovered she can likely help here. She has the most recent experience with the ogres, and her healing capabilities may prove useful as well,” Harold answered.


    “We should see if Bug is willing to try too,” Cal added, knowing his sister would but not sure if it was a good idea yet.


    “Are we ready? Not that there is much to be ready for,” Harold said. Everyone nodded, and Harold opened the door, leading them inside. Instead of the usual nothing reaction they had been led to expect, all of the ogres immediately stopped pacing, turned to face Cal, and saluted him.


    “Well, that’s new. I’ve never gotten a single salute,” Andrew said.


    “Uh, at ease? Is that what you say?” Cal asked, and as he said that the ogres instantly relaxed. “Alright, so does this mean you’re all willing to talk to me?”


    Cal’s question was met with silence.


    “Look, if you want me to be in charge, I need one of you to at least try to explain what’s going on. What can we do for you? How can we help?” Cal continued after the silence. One of the ogres stepped forward.


    “Sir, I have been elected leader of this squad, and I have decided that I will only speak openly to you,” one of the men said, stepping forward. Surprisingly he was the smallest of the group.


    “Fine, but everyone else stays in the outer room for at least this meeting. We can work on earning more trust from there,” Cal said, sighing loudly. Could he get away if all of them came at him at once? Probably, this was his realm after all, but it was still a risk.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    “Agreed,” the man said. There was grumbling from Andrew, but it seemed by now no one was willing to argue with Cal as they filed out of the room, closing the door behind them.


    “Alright, well, we’re alone now. Spill it,” Cal said, keeping any annoyance from his voice. He supposed in their place he wouldn’t want to talk to anyone who wasn’t the leader either, even if he himself hated the idea that he was the leader. Well, mostly, he hated it. There was a fun part to it. He had to admit that to himself.


    “We are willing to surrender under the following terms. One, complete explanation of what this going on with this location. Two, explain why we have heard the word time loop. Three, an agreement to help free us from their control. Four, an agreement to either help or, at the very least, allow us to work toward freeing all the other people trapped in the ogre program,” the man answered.


    “I think those are all fair requests. I’ll start with the first two, interrupt me if you need further clarification on anything,” Cal said, pausing briefly before continuing. “Well, we are in a time loop. Some people are aware of it. Some aren’t. This place exists outside of that time loop, and while the people in it, with some complicated exceptions, start the loop over, this realm does not. I am the owner of the realm, and it is connected to another realm owned by another member of our group.”


    Cal paused, looking at each of the ogres in turn, trying to gauge if they were taking it all in before the leader spoke again. “That lines up with what we thought may have been going on. Most of it the specifics are new information. What we knew from the Agency was there was some third front in their war. What we gleaned from you was that you might be the only actual good guys in the fight.”


    “I don’t know if we are the only ones, but the Agency and the Gryalth certainly are not the good guys. As for the next two, agreed entirely. Fuck the agency, and fuck their slavery. We will help you and everyone else, no stringers, period,” Cal said, keeping his voice deadly serious on this line. He wanted them to understand under no uncertain terms how much he hated what had been done to them.


    “Thank you. We surrender and accept your leadership,” the man said, visibly relaxing in his pose. Cal wondered where this new development would lead, hopefully to the freeing of all the ogres.


    “Good, let’s start with your name and whatever else you are willing to tell me right now,” Cal said, returning his normal smile.


    “My name is Sean Pragil,” the lead man answered, much more relaxed than he had been.


    “Well, nice to meet you Sean. Any chance you are okay if I bring the others back in now? We have a ton of questions, and Andrew is likely to understand your answers better than I will,” Cal asked, hoping the group was more willing to talk to the others now.


    “Yes, now that you''ve agreed to our terms, we find that acceptable,” he answered. Cal walked back to the door and opened it, signaling for everyone it was safe to return.