This story will be a spin-off/prequel to my novel “Saving Ava” and will center around the Character of “Ghost.” He is one of the main antagonists, an extreme zealot for his country, The Confederation, and one of the most intelligent, cunning, and icy men in the world.

I want the main conflict to be the when Ghost finally get’s to choose his name, signifying his graduation from a trainee to a full fledged elite soldier

The final incident is going to be an ultimate loyalty test. First off, Ghost and all his ‘kind’ are genetically grown human beings designed to be soldiers. They start off with nothing more than numbers for names and they all have genetically identical twins (clones made from splitting embryos). The loyalty test is a fight between clones who’ve been brought up in the same classes, gone through the same exercises and done pretty much everything from the day they were born up until their test of loyalty together.

It should be noted that individuality is a kind of reward. As numbers they are easily forgotten and slightly more expendable. When they choose a name, it is of great significance because they can then refer to themselves in the first person and they are allowed to explore their ‘identity’ in more depth (although they are still under constant surveillance from implanted bio-chips). The better and more renowned they become within their ranks, the more privacy they are allowed, but I’m getting ahead of myself. I really want this short story to show the development of this character from standard issue trainee into the complete and total zealot, Ghost.

None of the trainees know that they will eventually have to kill their twin, so an incredible bond forms between them through numerous teamwork exercises and training scenarios. (These include live as well as complete virtual reality exercises)

As a side note, all trainees and soldiers are administered a drug from their day of birth until the day they die called ‘Prize.’ This drug helps to enhance their sensory capabilities, but after just a few years of daily use it becomes completely necessary for their survival because the withdraw from missing just one day is crippling, two or more days and it becomes lethal. (This again helps to insure loyalty to their country).

I was hoping to find some suggestions or a little brainstorming help to guide me in showing this development. I don't really want the reader to identify with this character because he's one of the main antagonists in my novel, but I want the reader to gain a fearful respect for him (Think Alex from A Clockwork Orange)

What POV should I start with? End with? What kinds of incidents or missions would be good for showing the bonds between the character and his clone/brother? Most important, how should I hook the reader and make him/her care about someone whom I outwardly detest but deep down feel a kind of sympathy for?

When I think of Alex I think of a character that disgusts me, and later, evokes pity.

Yes. That's almost exactly what I want the reader to feel about this character, total and utter disgust followed by pity. But I guess the difference between Ghost and Alex would be that Alex had complete choice in what he became and Ghost does not, however, he accepts his place with total allegiance to his makers.

In this short story, I want the characters around him to "fear-yet-respect" him as you said. But really, I want the reader to witness the development of such warped and distorted ideals through Nazi-esque Brainwashing techniques from the POV of the Brainwashee.