The hum of moving vehicle filled my ears. Emotions surged through my head, a tense calm settled over me, soon it begin twisting into anxiety and worry. yet I sat here, unmotivated, nothing planned for the future.
“Well the future that has already bet set in stone is hard to change anyway”. as I sighed, not humming my lips, just breathing out through my nose.
“This might not be that bad” that thought had been echoing in my head for a while now.
“Yeah… perhaps, not so bad…”
I am 26 years old. My name is Eric Rossvolt. Never in my life in would I think to be sitting here, crammed in with twenty other people, moving toward a place with little to no hope for return. It seemed like my life flashed before my eyes as I stared blankly at the floor of this vehicle.
I am a mundane man. A failure.
Well, at least that’s what I would say to myself.
I have achieved nothing in life at my age, except for being in debt. That would explain a lot, including the stupid decisions I’ve made throughout the years. I graduated from higher education as a scholar, but to no avail—I couldn’t hold down a job seriously and ended up pursuing my own self-indulgent passion: studying the world.
One would argue—why in the heavens did studying cost me so much that I ended up in debt?
Well, I was basically a NEET. But not entirely, since my freelancing job got me some money. But due to my lack of self-control recently, I fell into what people nowadays call the credit card rabbit hole. I kept abusing my limit, and when the bills came, I had no money to pay. It was my fault.
And now, here I am, taking responsibility.
The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t pay the debt. The problem was that I lost my purpose when my mother passed away several years ago. With nothing to keep me on track anymore, I just started living in hedonism and selfishness. I didn’t want to burden my family, especially my sister—who had worked her ass off for years to get where she was as a functioning member of society.
So instead, I took on debt and failed to pay it.
And then I saw an ad.
A job. Lucrative pay.
Despite knowing full well that I might not come back alive—or worse, never leave this job for the rest of my life—I signed up.
But that’s fine.
I’m sure it’s fine.
Yeah…
Ah, shit.
The air in the vehicle was thick with silence. Some recruits kept their heads down. Others tapped their knees anxiously. A few looked far too calm—like they’d seen worse. Maybe they had. Or maybe, they were just patriots who wanted to fight for their species’ greater good.
Whichever it was, all of us—including me—were screwed up in the head.
Eric kept his head down. He wasn’t the only one avoiding eye contact. seems like almost everyone has lost in thoughts.
Three hours had passed since we departed, and we still hadn’t reached our destination.
Damn. This sitting position is awful.
I have to keep my eyes on the floor not because I like pondering or anything but the woman across from me hasn’t broken her glare since we boarded the murderous glare, her arms crossed, muscles tense, as if daring someone to test her.
So, I’d rather not look at her. I’d rather just keep my eyes on the floor.
Hmm… what’s next in my mind?
The philosophy of our existence?
World trivia?
What in the heavens have I signed myself up for?
Well, at least my personal background is done.
Check that off the list.
(Eric rambling in his mind.)
Spark of conversation started.
“Guess this beats rotting on Earth-1,” someone muttered.
“Beats starving, you mean,” another voice said, dry and bitter.
Across from Eric to the left side beside the woman before, a man with a jagged scar running down his jaw leaned back against the steel wall, arms crossed. His uniform was crisp, but something about him felt off—like he didn’t belong.
“Ain’t like they forced us,” he said with a smirk. “We all signed up, didn’t we? Debt, bad luck, or just a ticket off that shithole—makes no difference. You want in, you fight. You live, you get paid. You die, well… guess you won’t be around to complain.”
Eric said nothing. He just keep his head down while the scarred man tap his fingers against his knee, restless. The rumors were true, then. The military denied it, but some of these recruits weren’t just desperate people, some of them probably criminals
“Damn Rift screwed everything up,” a soldier muttered across from him. He was older, grizzled, and wore his uniform like it barely mattered. He let out a bitter chuckle. “Should’ve left it alone. Not like any of us are ever seeing what’s on the other side.”
The younger recruit next to him frowned. “They say Earth-2 wouldn’t exist without the Rift.” He hesitated, lowering his voice. “They say the nobles have technology we can’t even imagine. Cities floating in the sky. Clean air.”
The older soldier scoffed. “Yeah? And you think they’re giving that to you?”
a man with jagged scar reply. “shithole is shithole they treat us like we don’t deserved anything”
No one replied after that.
Eric still staring at the floor. The hum of the engines keep him awake, as like a steady reminder that there was no turning back.
One hour later, the vehicle stops moving. The driver yells at us and tells us to get out and start moving.
“Get all of your asses off the car!”
The hatch slammed open.
The window on the back of the car opens, we scatter out of the car immediately. Oh boy, I wouldn’t have believed it with my own eyes, but this military base is awesome. Ships are flying down and up like a busy port, planes are moving in and out, and many vehicles are also in sight. If it weren’t for the job, I would’ve loved to ask a few questions here and there to the people around and explore, but alas, I can’t do that right now.
as Eric and his group walk to the center of the base’s field, he also sees some holographic posters video advertising the military campaign, the exact same video Eric saw when he decided he wants to join the conscript, the video display a cinematic view of the moon and the moon’s military’s base and how the “rift” hole in the moon was epicenter of it all, the singularity points of the miracle advancement of human civilization, and besides that he also says campaign that advertise the chance to going to “Earth-2”.
At present, there are many people situated in this military base. A few dozen military vehicles are starting to come out, dropping off the recruits. This is a paid conscript job, a position where individuals get paid to serve as conscripts for years to aid military operations. One might wonder why conscripts are getting paid. Well, unlike going out to war, this operation is about venturing into the unknown.
A loudspeaker starts echoing a voice while a large hologram of the military logo is displayed in the front of the field.
“ALL RECRUITS, LINE UP TO THE FRONT!” the speaker echoes.
Suddenly, someone from the military steps in to get us lined up. With a harsh manner of speaking, the person seems to be one of many in charge of this ceremonial event. He appears to be a man somewhat around my age or older.
“Move it, maggots! Get your asses in line and fall in behind me—NOW! MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE IT!”
We don’t have much choice but to obey the instruction. Our group from the car lines up accordingly. After everyone in the field is lined up perfectly, the hologram changes from the logo to a display of a person. I would say he is quite famous—almost everybody knows him, at least on Earth-1.
“ALL TROOPS, GIVE SALUTE TO GENERAL EDWARD R.VON VALZVEIN!” shout with a loud voice vibrates through the air from the front of the formation.
Everyone on the field snaps to attention and salutes, including me, raising our hands with mechanical precision.
“My thanks to all of you who have gathered here today—officers on duty and our newly recruited soldiers who have chosen to join us in combating and tackling the unknown. I would love to go on and talk about how this is the most important mission of our civilization, but that narrative has probably been drilled into your heads a thousand times already. Instead, I would rather keep this ceremony short and concise—straight to the point with no bullshit. Once again, pardon my vocabulary, but I’d rather give you the truth than some fairy tale.”
(As the General continues speaking…)
“Damn, can you believe all of this started with some hole in the moon? My grandpa used to say the old world went to hell over it” said one of the man in my group line from the back.
(In Eric’s mind) Ah yes, the classic tale of how our civilization and humanity discovered the hole that cracked in the moon. This would be an interesting story if he talked about the wonders of the technological breakthroughs that came from that singular event. Three hundred years ago, our civilization made it to the moon in 1969 and discovered a hole in the sky that was pouring out a liquid-like substance, creating like a sea in the moon. The whole world was in chaos at this discovery. Many religious organizations believed this was a message from God, a warning of the apocalypse, or something else divine. Evangelists and other radical groups emerged with conflicting theories. Eventually, all nations on Earth-1 had to decide what to do about the moon. They agreed to explore and study the mysterious said hole and the phenomenon surrounding it—especially why it was not visible from telescopes on Earth.
A joint venture among all nations came into fruition, leading to the creation of a lunar base to explore the strange sea of liquid pouring from the hole in the sky. What they discovered was beyond comprehension. The liquid pouring from the hole wasn’t just shallow water—it was a dimensional gate to another world.. This world was vast, but at first sight the land was barren, and covered with crystallized sludge of dark blue hues. The atmosphere was dense with mist-like substances swirling around, matching the eerie blue environment.
With this discovery, even more chaotic situation follows. Every nation wanted a piece of this new world, triggering a race for exploration. To prevent conflicts, an organization called the League of Lunar Exploration was formed to mediate and ensure fair division among Earth’s nations. However, just four years after the organization was established, exploration efforts remained slow due to increasing tensions. Conflict between nations couldn’t simply be resolved by forming an organization, and soon, war broke out. Initially, it was minor skirmishes, one nation against another, but it quickly escalated. Alliances were formed, and soon, continental-level wars erupted. Earth-1 became a barren wasteland due to these conflicts.
In the end, the victor was the nation that uncovered the secrets hidden within the rift. They used their newfound power to conquer the others, forming a singular world government. Ironically, this democratic world transformed into an absolute monarchy to maintain order. A hundred years later, that government fragmented into more smaller families monarch. It’s funny—one singular event led to all of this… and now, we have Earth-2, the discovery of artifacts, and everything that came after and–
(Eric snaps back to the speech.)
“And that’s what matters most! So ONWARD, SOLDIERS! FOR HUMANITY!”
Eric blinked and then the speech was over? He had been so lost in thought he hadn’t heard a word of it.
Ah crap, I don’t even know what he was talking about. Ah well, probably not that important anyway.
Eric quickly fixes his demeanour and straightens his posture.
“Alright, you maggots! Fall in line and get your asses to the Med Bay—NOW! Move like you’ve got a purpose!” the officer snapped, his voice carrying the weight of authority. We stiffened, then fell into formation, moving swiftly toward the facility, every step heavy with the urgency of the command.
the group arrived the the medical facility, lining up with them are hundreds of other recruits, straight up front to end in a line forward and in horizontal mirroring each other, which makes quite neat and well spaced formation.
A particular man was also in this crowd, his name is Jaxon Pyre, just like Eric, he has his own reason to enlist in here. within all the sea of anxious faces. he seems to be a calm and collected person, as he scanned all of his surrounding, his gaze moves from one to another, searching…for what, he wasn’t sure himself. maybe just to be cautious or just distracting his mind.
Then he saw her, she was standing near the front of the line leading to the medical facility, her blonde long beautiful hair. Blue eyes give this vulnerable yet determined gaze, she is looking straight ahead with occasionally turning hear head around the side for her surrounding. She was small, almost fragile-looking, amidst the hardened faces of the people around here. Just like…
Jaxon’s fixated on her, he is frozen, his breathing seems halted for a second. “Annyla?” echoes in his head.
The thought hits him, slammed into his head hitting like a nail in a coffin. His heart beating faster, and harder as if it would crush against his ribs, a frantic beating inside against the silence of his controlled exterior.
“It couldn’t be. It wasn’t… Annyla.. she’s on the moon, not here” the thought flashed into his mind
“It’s not her, Julius. It can’t be.” He talk to himself, but the doubt lingered, just like poison that still left out in his body. He quickly averted his gaze, focusing down on the floor.
Even if it were her… The thought still won’t faze out. “No”. Said it to himself in his mind.
“You couldn’t it. Not after what you’ve done”.
The sins he did, the beast he had become and for years, as he remember the familiar, sickening scene that he carried.
“Her smile… the way she used to look at me… like I was the only person in the world…” He quickly squeezed his eyes shut, there was no escape, a fleeting image of their happier times flashing before him.
“I’ll wait for you, Julius. Always.” Her voice, filled with her love and trust, echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of what he had once destroyed.
The group line moves forward. He kept his eyes down, his jaw tight. his teeth tighten as he shut, He could feel her presence, the warmth of her presence radiating back to him through the cold air he felt. He knew, somehow, deep down, it wasn’t her. But he even so he couldn’t… he wouldn’t look again.
“If I look… even if it’s not her… the resemblance… It will crush me… I don’t deserve to see her… not after…” The whispers of doubt crept in again, fueling his self-loathing.
An hour passed. He stood rigidly to follows the line, emotionless, a statue carved from regret. The echoes in surrounding fall to silence in his mind. The weight of his past pinned down on him, suffocating, crushing. He felt like he couldn’t breathe for a moment there.
“Julius, tell me what’s wrong… please…” Her voice, pleading, filled his mind.
“I hurt her… I hurt her so much… I pushed her away…” this echoing thought went on and on. He raises his hand and the officer of line notice, and response.
“What is it maggot?” shout the officer from the front side of the line.
“Where’s the toilet?” utter Jaxon, his voice was flat, devoid of emotion, and he’s not making eye contact.
“On the left back! you better get your ass back before the injection phase!” shout the officer back to him.
He was unresponsive and ready just to go to the said direction, at this point he seems needed an escape the crushing weight of her presence and of the memories that threatened to consume him.
Jaxon walked away, his steps stiff and uneven, like a doll with broken strings. the echoes come back.
“I love you, Julius… even I don’t loath you darling for any of this…” Her words, whispered through with her tears, pierced like an arrow to his heart.
“Stop it! Stop it!” his dismission to keep him on track as he quickened his pace, desperate to escape the torment.
He found the restroom, a grimy cubicle far away in a corner the medical facility. He locked the door behind him and leaned against the cold metal wall, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
“Safe… I’m safe here… I’m safe…” but even in the solitude, he couldn’t escape the memories.
The image of her face was burned into his mind like a slavery marked that he cannot erased. he convince himself that It couldn’t be her, that the one standing on the line was somebody else, and yet that somebody else, cause him this much pain.
But the guilt ripped his confidence, this what he must face, his own fear the relentless tormentor. He squeezed his eyes shut ever harder with hope trying to block out the memory of her, of what he’d done. Her screams… her eyes… begging me to stop…
“Julius… please… I beg you…” He remembered the way she would reach for him, her touch gentle despite the pain he inflicted. “Please… tell me what’s wrong, love… let me help you…”
And then he saw it clearly. the cramped toilet suddenly turns into the place where he remembers, the event of that that, in their room, He saw himself, his hands wrapped around her slender throat, he watches with his own eyes, by his own hands grab tightly into her delicate skin, as if he wants to crush her. He saw the anything but fear in her eyes, she was sadden, the way she pleaded with him, as her lips curved into a gentle, loving smile he mutter
“I just want to help you my dear, Julius… please let me…help…” the voice split into pieces she gasps out of breath, her tone filled with unwavering affection, even in the face of his brutality, shattered the last vestiges of his control.
The dam inside him broke.
A sob escaped, a choked sound of pure agony. He slid down the wall to the toilet down, his body shaking uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face, his heart and head feels about to burst into oblivion. He buried his face in his hands, trying to stop the sounds of his grief.
“Alfred… Annyla… what have I done…” “It wasn’t me… they made me… they told me…” The lies echoed in his head, it was hollowed words. He couldn’t accept the truth, even now it was too late to accept it.
“Annyla…” he mutter while tears still raining down.
Her name was the reason for his conviction, a plea for forgiveness that he knew would never be granted, and will never deserved. The memories flooded back, the pain, the regret, the shame. He saw her face, bruised, with her torn clothes, and tear-streaked, heard her cries for mercy, mercy for not to stop the torment but mercy to tell her what is his rage for.
“I’ll tell you anything love… just… please tell me love… why you never speak of anything?” The memory of her desperation twisted the arrow in his heart bleeding him to death. He remembered the way she would try to soothe him, to calm his rage, even as he pushed her away.
“Julius… please… just talk to me…” Her pleas for connection, for understanding, only fueled his self-hatred.
“No…no…no…” He repeated the word over and over, like a mantra to self-loathing. He was a savage, nay a Monster. He had destroyed the one person who had ever loved him with every fiber of her beings and ask nothing but understanding in return.
“I’m sorry… Annyla… I’m so sorry…” He sobbed even harder, the weight of his guilt crushing him even more. He remembered the way she would always look at him, her eyes filled with a love, now he knows he didn’t deserve it, even as he choked the life out of her.
“I believe in you, Julius… I know you’re still in there… talk to me love”. as he remembered he sobbed, the air surround him feels like force that pinned him down even further, his body crumble.
The guilt felt like a physical weight, crushing him, suffocating him. He was drowning in it, lost in the darkness of his past. the past he cannot change.
“I’ll find you… I promise… I’ll make it right… somehow…” But even as he made this vow, the whispers of doubt returned to him, louder than ever.
“Too late… it’s too late… you’ve ruined everything… you don’t deserve her love…”
Seconds turns to minutes, the time he spends in this cubicle passed as he curled up tighter, his body shaking uncontrollably. He remembers memory, he was back there, in the chambers of House Valzvein, the air thick with tension and lies. He was shouting at her, his voice filled with rage, fueled by lies and manipulation. He saw her flinch, her eyes wide with fear her hands trembling, but even then, even as he hurt her, as he torture her, she reached for him, her gentle touch, and her voice soothing.
“Please… Julius… please…”.
He didn’t know how long he stayed there, curled up on floor, lost in his grief. for him a moment there felt like eternity and time ceased to exist. There was only the pain, the regret, and the haunting image of her face, the mark he lefts on her, he should’ve executed if not for her defence to protect someone she loved. he sins would be reminder for him, and her voice from distant past would be the bell that rings it.
“I just want to help you, Julius… please let me…” Her words echoed in his mind, this is his constant reminder of his failure.
“I have to find her… I have to… I have to atone for my sins…” But even as the thought formed in his mind, a cold voice whispered in the back of his head.
“Too late… it’s too late…”
Half an hour later in the line, Eric notice a man went back to a line, the officer of his line seems shouting to the man but the man seems unresponsive. it seems that it’s the man that went to toilet before, not long after that he hears mumbles from the surrounding people around him, including in his group.
The line in the Med Bay was moving slowly, each recruit stiff with anticipation. Some looked nervous, eyes darting around, while others stood there with a nonchalant, almost bored air. The clatter of boots echoed in the sterile, metallic room as people shuffled forward.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
A tall guy with a rough face, probably in his mid-thirties, cracked his knuckles nervously, his voice low but steady.
“Yo, you heard what they’re doin’ with that serum? They say it’s supposed to make us survive in space and all of that bullshit… But, man! I ain’t too sure about it.”
A younger recruit standing nearby replied to him.
“Pfft, man, just relax. I mean, you ain’t gotta be some superhero shit to do this job. It’s not like they’re looking for Olympians or somethin’. They just need warm bodies to shove into those spaceships bro. We’re just fodders bro period.”
Another guy, thin and wiry with a scruffy beard, who is clearly anxious. He kept checking his watch like the minutes were dragging on forever.
“You think they’re actually gonna give us superpowers or something? I heard it’s like some kinda—”
“Nah, man,” interrupted the rough-faced guy with a laugh. “It ain’t about super strength or nothing, it’s just… for survival. Like, you gotta be able to breathe up there IN SAPCE for god’s sake, not die in the cold environment and all those sciency things they said, that kind of shit. Ain’t no magic serum, just science, tho i wish it was magic serum, i can’t cast spell other than fucking candle fire”
“You saying that now, but if I start gettin’ buff or somethin’… I’m gonna be real confused,” the wiry guy muttered, shaking his head.
“What? you thought this would be like a game or somethin’? i ain’t seen or heard shit about that thing make someone buff or somethin’ like that, if they were that good, it would’ve been sold like candies in black market for sure!” replied the younger recruit.
meanwhile as they talking Eric still bowing his head down, his gaze focused on the floor, the sound of the surrounding pass through him, he’s almost dazing.
few recruits on the back muttered loudly to his buddy, “You think they’re gonna turn us into a mindless soldier or something? like for real? i am worrying to death man”
The guy beside him just shrugged, casually flipping a coin in his hand up and down. “The hell is there to worried about?, I ain’t worried. Whatever they put in me, I’ll sleep through it. I don’t even care, man. Just get me outta here so I can get to work and be done with it, i want my pay and bounce back home.”
Another recruit seems to have his worry taken over him, as his eyes widen, he whispered to the guy next to him, sounding like he was regretting this whole decision.
“H-h-hey man.. What if… what if it goes wrong? You heard the stories, right??? right??? Some of the guys didn’t make it past the first injection!!. Ain’t no way they’re telling us everything, there’s gotta be some shady shit government conspiracy going on!”
The guy beside him rolled his eyes.
“Dude, c’mon man, you stressing over something that ain’t even happened yet? You signed up for this, just like everybody else. if this ain’t gonna kill you, the next thing on the moon might!” said the guy sarcastically while chuckles
The recruit shuddered, his hand twitching like he wanted to scratch his arm but didn’t dare to.
“DAMN IT, ah shit, well, I ain’t exactly ready to become some mutant or dying early man.”
The older recruit from earlier, still pacing in line, chimed in with a grin of confidence “Look, it’s simple, alright? You get the shot, boom, you survive the ride, boom, and when this is all over? You get paid. boom! That’s the deal. Ain’t no need to be all dramatic about it.”
A short pause before the young recruit spoke up again, with a dry chuckle.
“I mean, what do we even have to lose? We were already stuck on Earth-1, the shithole planet, man. This is a one-way ticket to better or worse. Either way, we ain’t realistically coming back so the outcome is the same. you either die here or die after or better yet survive”
hearing the conversations sparks some of the others in line gave awkward laughs, though the tension didn’t really break.
The grizzled soldier at the front of the line gave an impatient grunt, looking over the recruits, clearly done with the chatter.
“Alright, enough talkin’, you maggots. The serum’s comin’ your way soon. It ain’t a miracle cure, but it’ll make sure you don’t croak halfway to your destination. Now shut up, take your dose, and get ready for whatever’s coming next.”
As the recruits move forward, Eric didn’t budge. He just kept staring at the floor, letting the voices swirl around him. The uncertainty, fear, and despair are all floated in the air. This wasn’t a typical military enlistment, and he knew it. the requirement wasn’t about being physically fit or young—anyone could sign up for this, as he remember the requirement he read for the enlistment. The thing was, most of them probably didn’t know what they are walking into. That was the thing with desperate people. including Eric, they didn’t care about the risks anymore. They just wanted “out”.
Another contrast scene can be seen within the huddled group of women and girls around the crowd. whispers echoing their shared worries, uncertainty, and fear about what lies ahead. Their voices blend into a low hum of the air, making this despair and doubt tension keep present on the surrounding.
One girl whispers to another, her voice trembling, “I don’t even know why I’m here… I can barely make ends meet. Shouldn’t I have just taken the easy way out? Why even risk my life for a promise that seems like it’ll just swallow screwing me and killing me up?”
The girl beside her shifts uncomfortably, eyes glancing down at the floor, her face etched with regret. “Yeah… I get it. Everyone keeps talking about it like it’s some glorious opportunity, but… I mean, I we could’ve just done something else, you know? I mean, like… right! there’s adult entertainment, right? Easier money, no risk of death… Why are we even doing this? agh why i’m such a dumbass”
Another girl, let out her voice mixed with bitterness. “Yeah, maybe we’re all just throwing ourselves into a grinder for nothing. my debt’s stacking up and couldn’t pay it, even if I were not be here I’d still be chased by mafia that I owed money to. I can’t live a live either way in and out of this, the only choice for me is forward and I’ll take whatever scraps I can find.”
In the midst of all the voices, a girl stands out—a girl who’s locked into a determined silence. She’s a little younger than the others, maybe 21 or 22, and there’s something different about her. Her eyes are sharp, her posture confident, even as the tension fills the air. She doesn’t seem to share the doubts of the others. She hasn’t spoken a word yet, but there’s a fierce air around her.
A girl next to her glances up nervously, then whispers, “She’s different. Look at her, she hasn’t even flinched. Doesn’t seem to be scared either…”
It’s like there an unshakable intensity in her gaze. The others can feel the cold aura that surround her as if she carrying an unspoken promise that she won’t break, no matter the odds.
The whispers fade for a brief moment as the girls all seem to realize something, one by one each of them. They wonder if they were foolish for questioning the path ahead, the path that they clearly choose by themselves, a consequence of their action, a responsibility. What could be worse than being stuck in debt, suffocated by circumstances? Wouldn’t it be easier to just disappear, leave all of this behind, rather than throw themselves into a battlefield? the echo of this thought humming in their minds, they realize despite all of this there’s still this girl with the determination, the one who hasn’t moved or wavered by the circumstances of her own choice.
A voice rises from the group, softer this time, hesitant, but it’s filled with hope. “Maybe she’s the right one to follow…”
Another girl, hesitant, speaks up in a barely audible voice, “I don’t know… perhaps she knows something we don’t or maybe she’s just… tired of all the pretending game”
The young girl, finally speaks, muttering the words not at anyone but just looking straight up, “You think the world’s going to stop spinning just because we don’t want to fight and take responsibility of our action? You think you can just hide forever or run? If you’re not willing to fight for yourself, no one else will. So stop wasting time thinking about how to escape and you shouldn’t be here and any of that. Because when the time comes, you’ll wish you make a stand for yourself”
Her words hang heavy in the air, the tension lifts up. The others stare at her, feeling unsure, but they can feel the weight of truth in her words. There’s no escaping what’s coming. like it or not, this is their choice. Some will fall, some will rise, but there’s no turning back now.
All the recruits are now inside of the medical facility, Eric notices that inside building is massive, the celling is beyond reach, with this huge space empty field to fit all the recruits, even though it’s inside a building the light is almost as bright as the sunlight outside, instruction to stop and maintain position was given by officer that each of the group follows. The foremost position of the recruits notice that not far on the front there are some figures, they come in pair with each of them standing beside a bed that attached in some kind of machinery.
mutters and whispers humming in the crowd of recruits.
“Wait why they need priestess there? what is she supposed to do” a skinny man in not so far group from Eric muttered.
“Eh? probably for emotional and spiritual support? I mean people get nervous and you heard the rumor right? people could died because of the serum” replied a ill postured man from the back of the skinny man’s.
“What the hell?! they even goes as far as provide priestess to deliver us to our death? this is sickening!” replied the skinny man
“You’re as good as dead if you’re already apply yourself here, face the consequences” said a girl from the skinny man line too on the front
the skinny man looks worried but no further wants to continue the conversation.
Eric, take a glance for a second to see what people are muttering about, he lift his head and lean a bit to the side and look at the front and sees exactly what they’re saying before, Eric position is number 12 in his group line, the distance is not that far to see what is in front of recruit groups. as he focus his sight he sees there are dozens tactical dress medic, equipped with full suit with googles and wearing facemask , not far beside the medics there are what seems to be a priestess wearing a black robe with white laces and their half-up of their faces are blocked by visor.
“Why the priestess even there? and what is with the medic full tactical suit?” Eric muttered in his mind.
Beside them both there’s the bed that attached to some kind of machinery, Eric best guest that it would be the machine to inject the serum and bed indicates that each person need to be lying down in order for the serum to be administered.
Eric also noticed the big screen behind where the medic and priestess are standing, not long after he noticed that, the screen flickered to life, revealing what it seems to be a holographic avatar, stylized like a cartoonish cat girl with blue colored ears twitching rhythmically. The design of the avatar perfectly matched a the height of a girl around eighteen to twenty years old, the body is what people would describe as a fit, with not too slender but not too much muscles and weight, her oversized eyes yellow eyes are giving this glowing like rift-energy, her tail that swished back and forth, and a voice that sounded like honey poured over static.
“Hiiii, recruits! 🎀 I’m Negi-chan, your favorite Vtuber! here to guide all of you!!” she chirped, her avatar bouncing in a way that to seems like celebration opening of a show. and then rainbow sparks and gas started to come out below the screen to seems like a celebration mark.
“Today’s Negi-chan will guide everyone to finish the medical procedure! be sure to stays calm and keep your spirit up! and no need worry! the procedure is super safe and super fun! Just lie back, take a deep breath, and let Kaelion Industry’s patented Vita-Serum work its magic!”
Behind her, a CGI animation showed smiling soldiers transforming into glowing, muscular heroes while a jingle played: “From despair to hero’s destiny!, Kaelion’s got your back—yay!”
The scarred man near Eric snorted, his voice dripping with disdain. “The fuck is this shit? They mocking us?”
The wiry woman with the scarred cheek, rolled her eyes. “Kaelion’s always gotta brand everything. Even our deaths.”
The guy with the jagged scar, grinned despite the tension. “Yo, that’s Negi-chan! She’s got 100 million subs on XeonTube. Didn’t know she did corpo ads too.”
One muscular guy from the back was crying and screaming “NEGIII CHANNN!!!! MY IDOLLL!! OHHH MY GOOOD!!!! I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND YOUR IDOL MEET!! BUT NOW I’M GLAD I COME HERE!!! I DON’T CARE IF I’M DYING OR NOT AS LONG AS NEGI CHAN IS HERE!!!”. Everyone seems to be surprised and and some are weird out with his reaction
A wiry recruit near Eric shuddered, his voice trembling. “Why’s her voice sound like that? Like… wrong?”
Negi-chan’s tail glitched for half a second before snapping back to normal. “*Everybody must be worried about the rumored side effects yes? well I’m here to inform everyone that less than 0.01% of recruits experience temporary side effects! so you can rest assure that it would be fine! because i will be here with all of you! nyan!” she winks her left eye while making a pose where her hand make peace sign on the top of her right eye.
“💉 But don’t worry! If your body destabilizes, you’ll receive a generous compensation package and free rehab at a Kaelion wellness center! and get paid as sick duty too!” as she continue her lines while resetting her position back to standing normally.
A nerdy recruit near the front of the line piped up, his voice tinged with excitement. “Dude, did you know?? her fandom started to connecting lore about her and they revealed that she might be actually an AI that made by some genius hacker or something! and her Creator is apparently rumored to be Tier 5 person!”
A cynical woman in the back scoffed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. “Compensation package? Yeah, right sure, like they’ll dump your corpse in a recycler and call it ‘pension’.’”
A young girl, barely out of her teens, panicking, her voice trembling. “She’s… looking at me. Why is she looking at me?”
A annoyed recruit near the front of the line muttered under his breath, his voice low. “Priestesses and anime girls. ‘Real professional’.”
The recruits shuffled forward, the line inching closer to the medics and their ominous machines. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made your skin crawl and your stomach churn.
Negi-chan’s smile stretched too wide, her teeth sharpening briefly into needlepoints. “Remember, guys! 🌟 All of you are the hope that will bring humanity closer to conquer the Unknown! Think of the adventure! Think of the credit bonuses! Now, say ‘nyaa~’ and let’s get started!”
The screen flashed a card that says “Start!”.
“All right recruits! step in the line! one by one each of one of you maggots, first of your group MOVE!” instruct the officer that accompany each group.
The lines have yet to make a move. each first person on the groups have to be the first one to go, the screen also flashed again the word “BATCH 1”, the tension increase in the air, many whispers and murmurs can be heard in the surrounding, few seconds have passed, the first one to make move towards the medic team is a person from the line three, and not long after, each one of all the first line move forward, some seems as if their legs are made of noodles that can’t barely hold their body to stand, some move like your everyday clinic visit to doctor, some reluctant and some even looking back at their line only to get confused reaction from the other people.
“GOD DAMN IT RECRUIT! WHEN I SAID MOVE! YOU MOVE IMMEDIATELY TO THE DAMN PLACE!” shout the officer from the line the person that look back.
“Y-Y-Yes..” said the recruit nervously and stuttered, while moving quickly forward with their legs crossing each other and then fell. you can feel some people hold their laugher because of the tension. the officer looking at the fell recruit and shout.
“DAMN IT, FOR GOD’S SAKE WAKE UP AND GO!!“ the officer quickly facepalming himself and sigh as he shout.
“Y-Y-Y-Yes!..” said the recruit and then quickly standing up and move to the medic team.
There are 10 lines of the group for this phase, first batch of recruits who stepped forward, their faces are mix of dread, hopeful and some even nonchalant. each by one of them step in to the vicinity where the machine and the medic team standing, the medics in their tactical suits stood ready to give the instruction. The priestesses, with their visor hiding half-up of their faces, concealing the eyes and their emotions, but the exposed lips give glimpse of gentle smile to seems comforting and reassuring the recruit that all is going to be fine and all right, both of the priestesses and the medics in each group presence both comforting and unnerving. The screen then switched out to Negi-chan’s holographic avatar, her ears twitching as she give the encouragement to the first batch of recruits.
“Hiiii, Batch One!! Let’s us begin the phasing! Remember, this is but a beginning to reach your dream!, but with one step more will follows! every steps is going make you closer, Nyaa~!”.
Every single batch 1 recruits facing the medics, and then the medic would ask each one of them question before administrating the serum.
From the farthest right there’s a burly man with a shaved head and a permanent scowl appearance. The medic begins asking him some questions.
“State your name and where are you from” utters the medic with crisp voice towards the man with their hands holding a tablet like device that seems to be a validation device to validate and cross check the recruits’ data.
“Darius, and why where I’m from matter?” replied the man, his voice a low snarl, as if daring to challenges the medic officer.
“I said once again, where are you from?” repeat the medic still ignoring the Darius.
“Tsk, i come from nowhere!” the man replied again but this time his tone vibrate in the air to signify his annoyance.
“I will repeat this one last time, where are you from?” replied the medic still nonchalant and ignoring the man’s reaction.
“I SAID WHY DOES IT MATTER!! JUST INJECT THE SERUM ALREADY!!” shout the man fiercely, his voice echoes throughout the room.
“The rules are stated in your contract when you’re signing up to this and become an enlistment, one of them is to answer what question you’ve been given to by your superior” said the medic still not stutter or have any meaningful reaction to the man’s anger.
“WELL I SAY FUCK EM’ RULES, MY NAME IS ENOUGH TO TESTIFY MY IDENTITY RIGHT??!!” shout the man again this time louder than before.
The medic officer sigh and then placing the tablet to their vest, immediately after that grabbing the man’s arm, the sudden motion followed by her arm swinging the man’s body, the swing made it seems so easy as if she was flipping a cloth out of the bed, and that said cloth was being forcefully thrown with out of the bed with blink of an eye. the man flew out to the sides and then recoil by the impact to the ground, leaving him scream with agonizing pain while lying down paralyzed. there was no room for reaction to the carried motion by the medic, by the time the man reacted, he was already felt the result of his action and the consequences.
“Agghhh!… ugh…!” said Darius lied down paralyzed, the impact would’ve been move devastated if he has smiler build.
The medic officer then walks straight up to the Darius, they firmly utter the same words as before again.
“Where are you from?” while looking down on Darius, as if nothing just happened.
The voice tone coming from the medic hasn’t changed, it’s still crisp and firm without any anger emotion mixed in, as if this is regular occurrence. the officers that accompany the groups also doesn’t budge a bit, as if this also not the first time they’ve seen something like this. meanwhile the lined up recruits all in disbelief and utterly shock about what just happened.
Eric himself wonder how can medic be that strong? lifting someone that massive clearly doesn’t seems viable if you’re a regular human, this echoing thought of his is not unique to him, everyone in the lines mutters words and whispers echoing the same thought after seeing this.
Darius, trying to get back on his knees struggle to keep his composure, while the medic just standing in front of him with no gesture of showing to help him.
“That was… ugh!, unexpected.. ugh…” as Darrius utter his words while waking up and begin to stand back again.
“Heh.. heh… HAHAHAHA… THAT WAS REAL PAIN! this is it!” said the man while laughing and muttering his words while breathing heavily and out of rhythm
Darius look at the medic that standing in front of him, he had to tilt his head down to see the medic eye to eye, staring at each other. While the medic googles and the mask hides their expression, Darius let out smiles while looking at the medic and then he let out his word.
“I’m from Westcrust!” shout him confidently now.
The medic pull out their device again from the vest and then write something on it.
“Proceed” the medic replied to Darius while pointing at the injection stage where Darius supposed be before.
“Got it!” Darius obeys the medic instruction and then walk confidently to the stage. The medic followed after Darius. while this happening, voices could be heard from the crowd again.
“Did that man just said WESTCRUST??!”
“Hell nah they even invited criminal in here??! What the hell? I thought this is supposed to be for a clean and responsible citizen”
“Well, since when do you think someone in debt and cannot pay their own debt a responsible citizen?”
“Now when you said it like that, it seems that everyone who got here are all just want someway out of the mess that happened in our life… well I guess criminal is one way or another just the same…”
“Yeah… for real..”
Eric heard this and also wonder himself.
“Westcrust? I think I remember it somewhere? well whatever is not that it matters where everyone from anyway at this point” mutter him in his thought.
The priestess glance and let out a gentle smiles toward Darius while he tries to lay down on the bed.
The priestess then ask Darius with soft voice, “Is there anything you would like to pray for Mr. Kroll? i would gladly offer my help to ease the tension and pray for you”.
Darius rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, spare me prayers. I don’t believe in any of that crap.”
The nurse shot him a sharp look. “Show some respect. This isn’t a joke.”
Darius let out sigh, he hesitated, then muttered, “My kid. Just… I hope… no… make sure that she’s taken care of if this goes south.”
The priestess smiles and then puts her hands together to pray.
“By the breath of Aztoim, whose form is beyond our knowing, with this prayer I offer nothing but my faith. Darius, May your daughter and your family be blessed. May they find hope in the face of the unknown and conquer it. May our plea be heard, O Aztoim.”
The machine begin moving, then wrapped Darius’s left arm with its ring like part, it rotate and then stops, the medic soon followed by pressing the something on their tablet device. then the sounds of something got released from high pressure air coming from the machine. Darius’s body tensed, his muscles bulging, pupils dilating, he face expression froze. For a moment, it looked like he might resist, but then his body relaxed. The screen above flashed:
“PASSED, CONGRATULATIONS, DARIUS KROLL!”
Negi-chan appears in the screen and then clapped her hands. “Yay! Another hero for humanity! Nyaa~! Remember everyone!, Keep up your spirit! Don’t give up, because we counting on you!”
While Darius was causing ruckus the other stage in line had a faster process. A young woman with small posture and blonde hair stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her eyes filled with hope yet she was trembling but determined.
The medic in front of her ask her the same question as the one Darius’ received. “Name?”.
“My name is Lena Rynalla” she said to the medic while, her tone was soft you can sense her voice filled with bravery.
“Where are you from?” continues the medic asking.
“Endrosia River Coast” she replied the question immediately.
“Lay down and we shall proceed” the medic writes on their tablet and then instruct her to lay down on the injection machine’s bed.
“O-Okay!” she obeys the instruction.
The priestess besides the nurses then get closer and tilt her head down to Lena and then talk to Lena with the same soft voice as with Darius before, “Is there anything you would like to pray for Ms. Rynalla? i would gladly offer my help to ease the tension and pray for you”.
“U-Uh.. yes! I hope I can provide my brother by working here and deepen my faith to Our Lord Aztoim!” he said nervously while facing the priestess.
The priestess smiles and then let out the prayer, and Lena closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. “Please, God, watch over my little brother. He’s all I have left.”
“By the breath of Aztoim, with this prayer I offer nothing but my faith. May her wishes comes true may the light shines upon her way and may her plea be heard, O Aztoim.”
The nurse nodded sympathetically as the priestess begin her prayer and activated the machine. Lena’s body twitching and moving quite a bit for seconds as the serum flowed through her veins. For a moment, it seemed like she might not make it, but then her breathing steadied. The screen flashed:
“PASSED, CONGRATULATIONS, , LENA RAYNALLA!”
Negi-chan cheered on the screen. “Yay! a Brave soul joins the mission! Nyaa~! See, everyone? The path to better future is paved with courage! Don’t forget to keep your spirits high!”.
in the furthest left stage there’s a man that went ahead and cut the line, Jaxon Pryde, he stepped forward. the officer tried to hold him down but it seems he was too fast for the officer to catch, the medics seems to make a gesture to let the man take first turn.
“I’m going first I don’t have time for this queuing for your death ticket bullshit” said Jaxon.
“Fair enough, you managed to passed our officer, go ahead I will allow this once” replied the medic.
“Does anyone want to to protest over this?” the medic asked Jaxon’s line.
They swing their head to sides in harmony
“Alright then” mutters the medic.
but in the lines there seems to be whispers.
“Dude just cutting in line to his own death ticket, what a weirdo, even the first place was like, alright go ahead hahahaha” laugh one of the man in Jaxon’s line.
“Yeah if he wants to be the first nobody is going to be protesting in the first place!” said another one in the front line.
Jaxon then approach the medic and then as per protocol the medic ask for his information.
“Name?” asked the medic
“Jaxon Pryde” his reply.
“Where are you from?”
“Proxia”
“Ah great another criminal, I’m glad he went first” mutter one of the woman from Jaxon line.
None of their mumbles bother him in any way, he seems to be focusing on the injecting phase, the medic soon write something on their tablet device.
“Alright lay down” the medic instruct Jaxon to lay down on the injection machine.
His response is much of taking action rather than uttering words, as he immediately walks to the machine as instructed. the priestess that standing nearby also take her turn and approach Jaxon.
“Mr. Pryde is there any-” the priestess voice was cut short, interrupted by his immediate respond.
“To the people who are burden and to justice upon the sinners, Milady” as he interrupt the priestess.
“Very well Mr. Pryde” replied the sister while giving her gentle smile towards Jaxon.
The medics begin pressing the button to proceed with the injection, and simultaneously the priestess also say her prayer.
“By the breath of Aztoim, by thy mercy Lord, please answer to our call, our prayers. May the people be freed from the shackles of their burden, may you guide us to bring justice to the sinners! and may you prevail us through upcoming trials!, O Aztoim”.
The prayers and the injection phase carried in the same motion, as this happening Jaxon started to remembering his past again once more, his eyes widen, his hands trembling and his fear and trauma come back at him, his past life flashing before his eyes. the shacking keep continues.
“Wait what’s wrong with that dude?? why he’s shaking that much??!” a panicked recruit mutter from the line.
Many more same sounding like panicked and surprised reaction are coming from the crowd, this goes noticeable enough to each line officers started to issue warning and instruction to the recruit to keep their mouth closed.
Back to Jaxon, his position still unchanged, he still shaking but more heavily now, his pupils are gone, and now his eyes are pure white. in his mind while in this state, appear a nostalgic figure again, a figure that haunts him to this day.
“Julius… you ruin me” said a woman figure in Jaxon’s mind.
“No… no… Annyla”
“NOOOOOO!!” as he shout he begin frantically shaking violently.
“AGhhhhh!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!” he is now trying to break free from the machine.
The priestess and the medic stays collected, seems to know what to do in this situation. The priestess pulled something from her sleeves, a pendant like object with small chains that act as its binding as if this thing is a neckless, and then she begin enchanting.
“█ █████ █████ us ████ █████ ██ protect us from███ █████ ███ ██ ███████ ███ Bring████ █████████ ██ ██████ ███ ███████ and bring your mercy to heal ███ ████████ █████████”
As the priestess said the enhancement her pendant glows bright with dark blue color, and then as the the light shines the medic pinned down Jaxon back directly at his chest to the machine. this act makes Jaxon stop his sudden movement and then calmed him down.
“Calm down recruit” said the medic to Jaxon.
His gasping more than he could utter his words, while breathing heavily he looks at the celling of the facility. while the medic release her hand from his chest and the priest stops her chanting and then goes straight to see Jaxon.
“Are you okay Mr. Pryde?” the medic tone was directed to him her voice was soft with sense of comfort.
“I-uh… did I passed??” still looking at the celling, and seems to be purposefully ignoring the priestess.
The priestess then smiles and look at medic, they give a nodded gesture to each other. and then the priestess utter her response.
“Yes, but you need some time to adjust and rest first, you will be taking a break from-” her words get interrupted again.
“Please, no break, I have to pass and go to the next phase” said Jaxon, with his still out of breath tone.
“He might be able to take the post serum treatment” said the medic to the priestess.
When the priestess hear this words, she seems worried and also undecided. while also hearing this Jaxon, once again insist on keep going.
“I don’t know what is your post serum treatment, but if that could speed things up, please do so, this is one way ticket I cannot go back now” his response to both the medic and the priestess.
But before they could respond, another batch not far from Jaxon, there was loud noises, sounds like a siren, seems like an alert has triggered.
in the big screen behind all the stages, a warning sign appears. “OVEREXCEEDER DETECTED. INITIATING CONTAINMENT PROTOCOL.”
Everyone who is in the lines, focus their attention toward the screen in an instant. the anxiety and tension increase in this exact moment, as they heard a loud siren noise and scream from the stage near Jaxon was. their attention shifted to there, this included Eric, and all other people who are on the stages.
Negi-chan’s avatar being to appear again in the screen, now the attention was split between the screen and the scene in the stage, and as she appear her voice turned cold, yet her tone remained cheerful.
“Oh no! It seems Recruit Elliot Raine has gone overexert his own limit. But don’t worry, everyone! The situation is under control! Safety first, after all! Nyaa~!”
The scream from the stage is getting louder, the recruit that lying down in the machine breaks it violently, the medics and priestess beside the machine quickly dodge the after effect of said action. the body of the recruit turns to this really dark blue color, soon the recruit body begin to under some sort of transformation, while transforming the recruit screams.
“ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRHISEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” screeching loudly, it’s so loud that most of the people in the vicinity started to cover their ears. the chaos started to erupt from this, most people seems to be terrified, but none of them could move, because the facility is closed, and even if they want to move, their gaze are fixated on this creature and most of the people are afraid to even flitch a muscles. Eric’s breath caught in his throat.
“Well crap, this wasn’t in the contract” echoes in his mind.
The creature then fully transformed, the recruit turns into something like a man with unrecognizable head, it seems that the head was a mashing of some kind of crystal mixed together, the creature standing tall above the rest of all humans in here, with its hand stretching far and at the end of their arm is claws like hand, after it transform, the creature then open its mouth and screeching.
“█████████████████████”. and then begin rushing towards the priestess.
The “Creature” [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1104316965998301246/1338159708585984084/IMG_7754.jpg?ex=67aaba98&is=67a96918&hm=d04f6d0292542febe810e35ba5b65f45aa788a79d52391fe46d0e2370c00b563&]