Re-entry into Quantico

"Brother."

"What is it?"

"Are you coming to the base with me?"

"No."

Lake, who was drinking coffee from his mug, waved his hand and said, "I’m going to the Navy Yard first."

Betty asked curiously, "The Navy Yard?"

Lake said, "I’m here to assist with the investigation, not to lead it. It doesn’t matter if I go to Quantico when I have no mission, but if I have a mission, it’s better to go with others."

Why are the federal military branches so special?

Because just as there are investigation bureaus outside, there are also ones within the military.

There’s the CID, which is responsible for Army crimes, NCIS, which handles Navy cases, and also the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service…

Cases involving the military cannot be interfered with from the outside.

Especially cases from Quantico.

Lake didn’t want to be noticed by the generals at the Pentagon, so it would be better to directly bring NCIS people along to investigate that nuclear physicist at Quantico.

Eight o’clock in the morning.

A small red building in the Navy Yard, this is the NCIS headquarters.

Ding!

The elevator door opens.

In the office area of NCIS Investigative Office Director Jethro Gibbs, Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo was, as usual, chatting with Ziva David, who came from Israeli Mossad, at her desk.

As for Timothy McGee, he was at his computer desk, once again enduring Anthony DiNozzo’s prank.

Lake called out to Ziva, who had her back to him, "Ziva!"

Ziva, who was chatting with Anthony, immediately turned her head.

Anthony DiNozzo also looked up.

When Ziva saw Lake standing not far away, her eyes lit up. She stood up, bypassed Anthony, and walked directly towards Lake.

However…

It wasn’t a hug, but an attack.

Seeing Ziva’s attacking posture, Lake chuckled, took off his military cap, sidestepped, blocked Ziva’s long leg with one hand, and then spun behind Ziva, placing his military cap at her neck. "You’re dead again."

Ziva and Lake hugged.

When Lake was in the military, he was on a mission with Israeli troops. At that time, when agents from Langley were present on the federal side, Israel naturally sent Ziva.

This is how Lake and Ziva met. Although their relationship wasn’t very good, it definitely wasn’t very bad either.

After Ziva let go of Lake, she looked at him, who was dressed in a neat white Major’s uniform that day, and praised, "You look very handsome in that."

Anthony DiNozzo walked over, looked at Lake, and extended his hand, "NCIS Very Special Senior Agent Anthony DiNozzo."

Lake shook his hand. "Department of Homeland Security, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations, Lake Edwin."

"Department of Homeland Security?"

"Any problem?"

"No."

Anthony said, "I have a friend in the Department of Homeland Security, but I’ve never heard of military personnel in the Department of Homeland Security."

McGee, who had just escaped Anthony’s prank, walked over and explained to Lake who he was while shaking Lake’s hand, "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Major Edwin."

Lake shook his hand and then said to Ziva, "I’m here to see Gibbs."

Ziva pointed upstairs, "I’ll take you."

Lake nodded.

Anthony watched Ziva and Lake leave, then looked at McGee, "Rookie, who is he?"

McGee shook his head speechlessly, his tone carrying a hint of admiration, "Major Lake Edwin, one of the recipients of the Purple Heart Medal."

Anthony was instantly impressed.

Upstairs.

In the office of NCIS Office Director Jenny Shepard.

Gibbs was arguing with his old flame and his superior, Jenny Shepard. "My case, my rules, I don’t need…"

A knock sounded at the door.

Gibbs turned and looked at Ziva, who opened the door, "What is it?"

Ziva was about to speak.

Lake appeared from behind Ziva, looking at Gibbs with a smile, "Gibbs, I hope you weren’t complaining to Director Shepard about my interference."

Gibbs looked at Lake, who had appeared. "Lake?"

Lake said, "Believe me, I didn’t want to come, but there’s no helping it. Since I’m the only one from the Department of Homeland Security qualified to get involved in this case and authorized to investigate military matters, I’m here. But I promise you, I absolutely won’t steal your case. I’ve only brought my eyes, not even my brain."

Gibbs: "…"

If Lake’s ultimate bottom line was never to be deceived or used, then Gibbs’s principle was simple: anyone who interfered with his case would be bitten.

Moreover.

Lake and Gibbs had a long history together, dating back to their participation in the Desert Storm operation.

Half an hour later.

Lake and Gibbs descended the second floor, talking as they walked.

In the office area, McGee opened Lake’s military file and briefed DiNozzo about Lake’s experiences.

DiNozzo looked at the densely redacted sections of Lake’s publicly accessible file, looking somewhat surprised. "Jesus Christ, is this guy another Gibbs?"

The next second.

DiNozzo’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at the silent McGee and Ziva beside him, not daring to turn his head. "The boss is behind me, right?"

McGee and Ziva nodded subtly.

DiNozzo immediately put up his mental defenses. "Come on, boss, I’m ready."

As he finished speaking.

Smack!

Gibbs gave DiNozzo a "loving pat" and walked expressionlessly toward his desk. "Grab your gear."

The three of them quickly headed to their desks.

"Boss, is there a case?"

"Quantico. No case."

"…"

DiNozzo, stunned as he reached for his handgun, looked at Lake, who smiled and tilted his head. "I’m not another Gibbs. At the very least, I’m not very skilled at woodworking."

DiNozzo: "…"

Quantico Military Base.

Three cars, one after another, entered the Quantico base after being inspected.

Lake got out of the car. Whether it was his imagination or not, even though he was accompanying Gibbs and the others this time, he still vaguely felt that the base was unwelcoming to him.

Perhaps it was just his imagination.

Lake had no intention of stealing the spotlight. Just as he had agreed with Gibbs, he would only use his eyes, not his brain. If Yusuf Atta Mohammed, whom Langley suspected, had a plausible reason, Lake guaranteed he would immediately clear his name without a second thought.

The physics laboratory at Quantico was built on the Potomac River, near the Quantico Military Airport.

"Brother!"

Betty drove a base golf cart from a distance, got out, and smiled at Lake. "You’re here?"

Lake grunted.

Betty asked curiously, "Aren’t you going to ask me how I knew you were coming?"

Lake thought of the moment he showed his credentials and smiled. "I guess the moment I entered the base, everyone here already knew a Department of Homeland Security investigator had arrived."

Betty nodded and held up two fingers. "Two minutes. This news has spread throughout the entire base. Is this kind of treatment something you’ve never experienced before?"

Lake smiled and changed the subject. "I’m here to investigate a case. What are you doing here? Go play somewhere else."

Betty said, "I came specifically to tell you that you can’t get in right now."

"Why?"

"Once the laboratory starts, it won’t open again until it’s finished."

"…Why?"

"…"

Betty sighed. "Big brother, the person you’re looking for, like my boyfriend, is a nuclear physics expert. Nuclear, nuclear, nuclear. Even if I explain it simply, the danger level of this stuff isn’t something you, who studied art, can understand."

Lake: "…"

Was he being looked down upon?

What was wrong with studying art? It broadened one’s horizons, cultivated one’s temperament, and most importantly, art could foster character and increase emotional intelligence. Although Lake sometimes regretted not studying law or medicine, that was merely a fleeting desire for more.

Let’s put it this way.

Lake felt that if he had studied law or medicine, after a few heartbreaks, would he have chosen his future path, following his heart and not the path of law?

Could he?

Art could.

Isn’t there a saying that men who study art have a hidden skill for being philandering, experiencing many relationships without getting hurt, and always walking by the river without getting their shoes wet?

Lake was quite satisfied with his profession.

Soon.

Gibbs on the other side received the same news from the gatekeeper: no one was allowed to enter until the experiment in the lab was finished. If something went wrong, it would be a big problem.

Lake and Gibbs discussed it and decided to wait there. Anyway, in a little over an hour, the experiment inside would be over.

Idle time.

Lake looked at Betty curiously, "Who proposed this experiment, your boyfriend and that Yusuf Atta Mohammed?"

Betty shook her head, "It should be together. They’ve been researching for over a year. He and Dr. Mohammed are the lead researchers for the Biotechnology Strength Enhancement Project."

Lake raised an eyebrow.

Biotechnology Strength Enhancement Project?

The name…

Felt odd.

Lake asked, "What is this research about?"

He asked casually and didn’t take it too seriously.

After all, the federal military conducted all sorts of research, and there were many strange and peculiar ones, like researching poop bombs, which they euphemistically called the Human Biological Waste Explosives Laboratory.

Betty looked at Gibbs and the others not far away and whispered, "Brother, do you remember Dad’s dream?"

Lake blinked and looked at Betty.

General Thaddeus Ross’s dream.

Yes.

General Ross wanted to have another child with Karen, but Karen wasn’t very interested. After all, Karen already had a full house of children, and Lake and Betty were grown up.

So, were there any other aspirations?

Yes.

During World War II, the Super Soldier Serum that created the perfect soldier, Captain America Steve Rogers.

…Wait a minute!