A/N: It's been a while since I've posted anything in the RvB fandom, so I may be a bit rusty! As the (uncreative) title suggests, this fic will detail Alpha's torture and fragmentation as I believe it happened. There won't be anything too graphic, but if there is I will be sure to warn you before it happens! There will be chapters in the Director/Counselor's POV as well as some in Alpha's POV to really get the story from both points of view.

Hope you enjoy! Review if you like it :)

"What are you thinking, sir?"

The Counselor's soft voice echoed against the cold, metal walls of The Director's office. The man in question was sitting at his desk, his fingers clasped tightly before him. He stared down unblinkingly at the dark mahogany wood, remaining still and silent even when the Counselor spoke.

The dark skinned man fidgeted uncomfortably in the silence. "Sir?" he tried again, louder this time.

The Director finally raised his head. He was scowling. "Yes, Counselor?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"…Yes."

The Counselor tilted his head in confusion. "Are you not pleased with the agents I have selected for the Project? I can assure you they are the finest the UNSC had to offer. Each was at the top of their respective –"

"That is not the issue here, Counselor. The agents you picked are satisfactory. The Project, however, is what ails me."

"The Project? What do you mean, sir?"

The Director took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his large nose with his thumb and forefinger. "I feel as if there is something I'm missing. Something the Project is missing." He replaced his glasses and regarded his assistant with intelligent green eyes. "Something that could make Project Freelancer even greater."

"Ah, I see." The Counselor typed a few commands into the data pad he held. He shifted in his seat on the other side of the desk to show The Director the agents' training regime. "Perhaps we could intensify their training? We could schedule another group paintball session here," he suggested, indicating a two hour resting period the agents had the next day. "And another one right after –"

"Again, Counselor, that is not the issue." The Director said, getting slightly irritated. "My agents are at the upmost physical condition. I am not concerned about that." The older man rose from his seat and began to pace. He looked out the single, small window in his office at the endless space The Mother Of Invention travelled through.

"Leave me. I have much to consider."

The Counselor got up and headed for the door.

"Counselor?" The Director said, turning slightly.

The Counselor stopped. "Yes, Director?"

"You can schedule that group paintball training session tomorrow."

"Of course, sir. Goodnight, sir."

The Director nodded and turned back to the window. The Counselor closed the door softly behind him. He headed to his quarters for the night – he himself had much to think about as well.

"You want to split Alpha? Is that even possible?"

"Yes. Yes it is." The Director motioned towards the monitor the two men stood in front of. Instantly, notes and statistics began to flash across the screen too fast for The Counselor to read. Sometimes he caught a word amongst the others. Personality. Fragmentation. Metastability.

"How long have you been researching?" The Counselor asked quietly, in awe of the amount of data The Director had gathered.

"Since our talk a week ago in which I confessed my worries concerning Project Freelancer. But I have long had desire to expand into greater things even before that."

"Greater things?" The Counselor was unsure as to how destroying the single AI given to their project would be anything other than destructive. "Can we not just apply for another smart AI? I'm sure if you argue our case convincingly enough the UNSC will oblige."

The Director shook his head almost sadly. "Only one smart AI and one dumb AI is allowed for a military project of our size. I have already applied for another countless times before. They have stopped responding to my requests."

The monitor abruptly ceased flashing and displayed a single document entitled: The Delicate Stability of the Fragmented Psyche.

"This paper is the reason it is possible," The Director said, tapping the monitor lightly. "There is no author, and therefore the legitimacy of the content is affected, but I have read through it several times and the process is described in great detail. It's quite simple. Genius, really. I cannot see it failing if we follow each step correctly."

The Counselor's eyes widened. "Someone has thought of this before? I have no previous records regarding experimentation on an Artificial Intelligence's mental abilites. How did you obtain these files, and from where?"

The Director glared at him. The Counselor took a step back and bowed his head. "My apologies, Director," he quickly amended. "I did not mean to question you. I was merely curious as to the origin of this... research."

"That is none of your concern." The older man turned back to the screen. "However, you should know that this experimentation was not done with AI, and that is why you have no record of it. I have made the necessary changes in the steps so that we can still use this process to do as we wish with Alpha."

The Counselor wanted to ask what the object of the experiement was if not an AI, but he resisted to prevent furthur agitating his superior officer. He tapped a finger against his data pad nervously. "Director, may I have a copy of these documents? I wish to familiarize myself with your ideas and have the ability to add my own informed input should a problem arise. I'd like to be prepared in case –"

"No," The Director snapped, cutting off his assistant. "You do not need to read anything. I have everything under control," he said curtly. "Just do as I tell you to and everything will go according to plan. Now, retrieve Alpha from the ship's systems and load him into Console #1 along with this data." The Director handed his assistant a small USB. It was labeled as Program Alpha. "The experiment begins tomorrow."

"Yes, Director."

The Counselor left to do as he was told. He knew very well that AI fragmentation was illegal, but he did not dare say so to The Director. He was a mere assistant, and his job was to assist, not to lead. He had accepted that long ago, and he will continue to assist until it is his turn to lead.

A/N: There we have it! First chapter done. It's short, but the next update will be longer. It will also be from Alpha's POV, so stay tuned! Please review :)