Jenna: Before you continue... can I ask you something?

Nikita: Sure, Jenna... That's why we're here, isn't it...

Jenna: When did you realize you were a "special" individual?

Nikita: You're going to have to be more specific...

Jenna: What I mean is, when did you find out about your superior intelligence?

Nikita: You think I'm smarter than I really am, just look at what happened to me... But before all of this, there wasn't really any one specific event...

I began to understand I was above average when I could do strange things other kids couldn't.

Jenna: Yeah, that's what I mean, what skills were "easy" for you?

Nikita: This one stands out, when I was four years old I could add huge numbers together in my head... Over five digits sometimes. I added these numbers together faster than anyone could even believe, sometimes in only one or two seconds. Adults were shocked.

Jenna: I see, that's pretty amazing... Have you ever measured your IQ?

Nikita: Jenna, that's a bit off-topic, let's just continue with the story.

Jenna: The reason I ask is because we have a lot in common... I'm just curious is all.

Nikita: IQ tests fail to measure a lot of aspects of the mind, but I did get it tested... I scored just shy of 200.

Jenna: Oh, my... You're one in 10 billion... That's absolutely... remarkable.

Nikita: You're extremely attracted to intellect, I can see it in your eyes. Contain your emotions, Jenna... because I haven't gotten to the darker side of my story yet.

Chemistry... forensics... justice, that's the next phase of my story. The Triad is still in the distant future, but we're getting closer.

Before I continue, I just want to say... I've been wronged so many times throughout my life, and when I gained all of my power and money, I realized one very important thing...

Jenna: And what is that, Mr. Volkov?

Nikita: You'll only ever discover your true strength when you've been so badly hurt, that you'd almost consider dying instead.

A new phase of my life begins...

New Phase

• 🔍Recall life after saving your brother. → Go to Page 2.
• 🔍Recall other details after saving your brother. → Go to Page 3.
• 🔍Recall discussing happiness with Pavel. → Go to Page 4.

His security "job" actually paid quite well, which should have been a glaring red flag, but at the time we just needed any and all the money we could get. After this traumatic event, I check up on Victor Morozov... He was fine, but I started to worry a bit more when I saw all of the empty bottles of liquor. His issues were just getting worse, so I made him a promise that we would help with money when I get my new job. I didn't know where I wanted to work... but I wanted to fight crime.

My brother and I spoke about our future, it was a deep talk. He asked me what kind of work I wanted to do and what I defined as happiness. I didn't see that coming, but I guess when you stare death directly in the eyes, your perspective on life changes. My brother changed quite a bit after that night in the storm.

My brother asked me what happiness meant to me. I thought for a long time because every time I arrived at a definition, I found that it wasn't completely accurate. After a long time, I ended up telling him "purpose"... at which point, my brother pulled out a small note card that had the word "purpose" written on it. That was my brother for you, always one step ahead. I don't know who was smarter... him or me. After I said purpose, he told me: "You see, brother, that's proof that we are deeply connected... You saved my life... and I'll never forget that, Niki, I love you."

College Classes

• 🔍Recall college life. → Go to Page 5.
• 🔍Recall criminal justice class. → Go to Page 6.
• 🔍Recall chemistry class. → Go to Page 7.
• 🔍Recall computer science class. → Go to Page 8.

College was paid for by the government, but my brother and I still didn't complete it. In fact, my brother didn't attend at all because he had to make money for us to live. His short-lived security job paid a lot but was only enough for a couple months. I only attended college for one year before I moved on with my life.

Criminal justice was my biggest interest because I wanted to put an end to crime... My parents were taken from me and my brother almost died at the hands of criminals. The intro courses in college were far too basic for me, so instead, I sneaked into high-level classes and skipped the intro classes. This was part of the reason I didn't actually complete college. I never took any of the basic courses so I technically have no degree.

Chemistry interested my father, Sergei Volkov, quite a bit. I decided to learn more about chemistry because my dad, who knew I enjoyed car magic at the time... told me something very interesting when I was a little boy... he said: "My son, chemistry is nature's sleight of hand, it can create... real magic.

Maya Belsky

• 🔍Recall Maya Belsky. → Go to Page 9.
• 🔍Recall how I met Maya. → Go to Page 10.
• 🔍Recall an after-class conversation with Maya. → Go to Page 11.
• 🔍Recall the post-exam conversation with Maya. → Go to Page 12.
• 🔍Recall telling Maya I wasn't in the class. → Go to Page 13.
• 🔍Recall telling Maya a secret. → Go to Page 14.

I took advanced computer classes because I knew computers were the future of our species. True story, Jenna... computers were the tool I used to gain my first massive amount of wealth. I'll tell you that story later.

I met Maya in chemistry class, and it's just as cliche as you're thinking... it's a love story.

After a couple weeks of my new chemistry class, Maya asked me about oxidation reduction reactions. Our teacher had already covered it pretty deeply, but I guess she forgot some of the details. After I explained what I knew, she mentioned that she didn't see me in any of the lab experiments... which is because I wasn't actually part of the class. I was just sneaking into the lectures. I explained how I didn't have the time to attend that part of the class. Maya was shocked because she said without the lab sessions it would be almost impossible to succeed in the class.

Maya followed me as I left class and kept asking me questions. Honestly, I didn't want to get tangled up with anyone... I just wanted to learn some fundamentals so I could get a high-paying job and create a bright future for myself. But... Maya was so curious about me, she asked me how I was going to pass the class without lab sessions. I replied: "The question isn't how, but why."

Then she asked me why I wouldn't care to pass or fail the class. I explained to her that I didn't need to pass, I didn't need to fail, I didn't need to prove anything to anyone, all I needed to do was create a bright future.

Maya asked me if I solved the last question of the exam, and I replied to her: "What comes next if I say yes?"

I think Maya liked me quite a bit... even from the first time I spoke with her, something about her dazzling eyes gave it away. She asked if I passed the course, and I said that I did, which surprised her greatly because I never attended any lab sessions. She once again asked me why I didn't attend the labs... and because she was relentless, I confessed to her that I wasn't in the class at all.

Telling Maya I was not a part of the class... well, of course, this compelled her to ask more questions, which I knew would happen... so I suppose part of me wanted to talk to someone. Living in the darkness for so long becomes loopy, you start to wonder where it begins and where it ends. She followed up with asking why I wanted to sit in the class and not get credit for it. I answered by telling her that I had no time to take the previous courses that led up to this one but I needed to learn some basic chemistry. I'm thinking back and I'm realizing that almost everything I told Maya just intrigued her more... I must have been a huge mystery to her...

I remember I told her about how my parents vanished... it was hard for me to talk about. Maya was only the third person I even spoke to about my parents. For over 10 years, I still held the burning question in my mind... where did my parents go? Who took them? What happened? She asked me about my plans and my goals, which I had already seen coming so I had a reply ready for her: "The plan isn't for us to choose, Maya, one's life plan is seeded by what gives them pleasure, which is derived from happiness and is ultimately defined by a purpose. But purpose must be backed by passion, and we both know that we don't choose passion, it chooses us. So from the moment our minds were conceived, our DNA already pushed a future life path onto us... It's all connected.