Koro perked up from his holo as a familiar sound came from outside. The ever so subtle rumble and hum of his father's custom bike. Throwing himself off the bed he ran to his window that looked out at the front of the house. Sure enough a gray haired man with sharp features dressed in an engineering jumper and a biking jacket sat in front with his hands on the controls with the telltale hint of an energy shield flickering around his head. Behind him sat a much younger light haired man in a similar CraftWorks jumper with a different department insignia on it. His dad Blaine and older brother Zeke were finally home.
Zeke graduated from academy just the year before and had taken a job in CraftWorks on a control team. His ice Enki made him exceptionally capable for the job and when he did his 1st Evo last year his precision for temp control shot through the roof. He had told Koro that he could manage fluctuations within a .1 percent error ratio and could feel temp changes down to the thousandth in his field senses. Zeke's ice abilities were considered unusual in the Omni family since most after the second generation had fire abilities, like his father.
However somewhere along the genetic timeline about 5 generations back. An ice affinity showed up in one of the side family branches. A lot of the family shunned their great great grandfather for many years worrying that he’d muddy the gene pool.
Miraculously when his first child was born she had a fire affinity. This offered him a small reprieve and the family decided to study his ability instead. As it turned out he still had the genetic signatures for fire control but the focus was in temp control. This manifested as ice early on due to a natural affinity for pulling energy from and having difficulty gathering it to a focus. Still many scorned him and tried to make life difficult.
The ability skipped a generation until his grandfather was born with the same Enki. The ridicule got to his great grandmother and she took her family including their grandfather and his two younger sisters; who also developed the ice affinity, south from Omnis to Handis. To escape the family's pureblood ideologies.
The sound of the garage door opening could be heard as he headed down the stairs to meet them. He idolized his older brother. Zeke would tease him occasionally but he was always there for him when it mattered.
When he had been teased by kids at Prelims for manifesting something that wasn't a “helpful” ability and about his dream of wanting to join the Endo. His brother sat him down and told him about dueling and combat sports. Clubs and groups that he actually belonged to himself at Academy and how much he enjoyed them.
"Everyone in Unatees has a purpose and a function. Each one just as important as any other, no matter how big or small" he remembered his brother telling him one afternoon. After he had gotten in a fight with another kid at school and had come home with a bloody lip. His brother was one of the few people he ever sought approval from and Zeke never disappointed him.
He heard the back patio door open and saw his father and brother through the window that connected it to the den. Both of them stripped off the jumpsuits, revealing light comfortable clothing underneath. Each of them in turn stuffing the jumpers in a bin that opened from the wall. Where he knew it would take the suits and launder them for tomorrow.
His sister quickly showed up next to him, her face beaming as she spotted the two men on the patio. The back door creaked and she wasted no time, rushing at full speed.
"DADDY" as he lifted her in an embrace. Another voice chirped up with false somber.
"Oh I guess I don't exist then" Celia stuck her tongue out at Zeke from over their fathers shoulder and smiled. Koro crossed the gap quickly hugging both of them, his brother whispering "thanks" before chuckling and patting his back.
"If you boys are back I need some deliveries to go out before dinner" his mother called out from the kitchen. Both men's smiles disappeared as they walked to the kitchen, sighing weakly.
Zeke grabbed his mom's shoulders and pecked her on the cheek before walking over to a bunch of containers of stew set out on the table. "How many we got today mom?" He questioned,picking up and testing the weight of the individual containers. "Just 21 to 35, Koro and your father will be helping too." He shrugged his shoulders with a relieved emotion on his face.
Their father put a smile on his face as he walked into the kitchen spotting their mother. Running up, he pulled her off the stool she was using to stir the large pot's contents. She yelped as he spun her around and pushed his bearded face to hers before placing her down. "Oh how I've missed you" he said cheerily. Which was retorted with a rolling of eyes
"You're still helping your sons with this".
"Happy to help" he bit back a little while letting her go and joining Zeke with gathering the containers. Blaine grabbed several folded large thermos boxes and set them on the table before stacking the containers in them. Koro could see they wanted to make sure they made short work of this. So he rushed to help.
It would have been quick work if every neighbor didn't insist on asking about his first day of school, his family, himself, and every other mundane question. He didn't dislike any of them, it just got tiresome especially for a twelve year old trying to hurry home for dinner. He was definitely starving and having everyone popping the lid on the containers and salivating over the smell made it that much worse.
He was the last one back from the deliveries with everyone already waiting at the table. Where a full spread of rolls, butter, drinks and the like had been set out around a pot of stew. One considerably smaller than the one his mother had cooked it in.
Naturally the ribbing about his slowness came out with him sadly trying to defend himself as he hurried to his seat at their large round table in the dining space adjacent to the kitchen. Sitting between his siblings across from his parents they all immediately began to serve up their own bowls and the chatter of dinner came over the space.
He got the chance to talk about his day and recapped its events. A few surprised faces when he talked about his Power Score and a clap on the back from his brother, causing him to choke on a buttered roll. Smiling he hoped it could always be this way with them.
Koro woke up the next day to his wristband sounding a wake-up call. Grabbing the band and slapping it over his arm, a magnetic click sounded as the two ends snapped together, shutting off the alarm in the process. He threw on his uniform for school, grabbed a pastry his mom had laid out in a basket in the kitchen and headed out the door with his cruiser.
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He had taken the shuttle enough times in his life when his family would head into the rings for various things but he was still getting used to traveling by himself for school.
Not that anything ever happened on the shuttle. Crime was fairly non-existent nowadays. At best neighborly disputes in the districts or the rare outburst of some weirdo. Through the work of cooperation and a society designed around self sufficiency, people had anything they needed or wanted available and people were happy to work because it benefited everyone. The communities were also mostly self policed and the local Endo departments would step in for anything else.
They taught histories about the old governments and societies that used currencies like money to trade for goods and how corporations ran a lot of the world through channels behind the scenes. It seemed silly to him that anyone would agree to live like that. Unatees was not like any of these.
The people were proud of their communities and basic human needs were always available. It's hard to imagine people could be homeless or hungry and poverty didn't exist anywhere in the UN.
Albeit he couldn't lie to himself, things felt restrictive at times but truly nobody was actually limited from doing most things. There were more than enough people who enjoyed doing the work directly related to taking care of the cities. Which made room for a lot of people who followed artistic paths instead.
Retirement was even available for all service jobs at 55 although most stayed that long because it was a passion not a job to them. People like his father who despite being almost 50 was probably gonna stay with his department another two decades at least.
"What a crazy old man" he laughed to himself realizing the train was already approaching the inner ring.
He was excited for class today. They would be starting practical testing and despite wanting to put his own abilities to the test. He was curious to see his classmates in action more than anything.
He got to class a bit early noticing there were only a few students already there. Of course there were quite a few who were still out in the 1st year hallway and even more in the Grand Lobby. Not to mention all the students he saw on his walk in, just wandering around the quad and various parks on campus. He’d have to explore the campus more one of these days but it was huge and he had 5 years, so no rush. He figured that would be more than enough time to see it all or at least everything he wanted to see.
Bells rang and the class quickly filled to capacity as the other students rolled in. Mr.Kenning sent out a ping to all of the wristbands signifying that roll was being taken. He nodded in confirmation at his tablet as it showed everyone in attendance.
"Alright class, I know everyone is excited for practical evaluations. This will take the remainder of the week and will test you for a number of physical factors. As well as your current Enki competence. Remember that this is also a baseline and it is not expected for you to be superstars out there. Do your best and most importantly listen to instructions. Failure to do so can result in injury and I don't feel like having to call a med team out to the field this year." An audible shudder went through the class at the last comment.
Rumors had probably been shared about past incidents from older siblings and friends. Koro had even heard a few that were pretty gruesome.
"I have a few safety discussions before we head out to the field so sit tight and keep quiet." He pulled up a holoscreen in front of the class.
Most of it was the general rhetoric. "Don't activate your ability unless asked." "Don't damage or tamper with the equipment." "No wild skills." "Follow all rules." Etc etc.
He also showed images of the Arena, some of the tests they would be performing and the shield devices that they would be using. Koro perked up at talk of the shield devices. Crafting and engineering was in his blood and he loved building devices with his dad and older brother in that shop behind their home.
These Shields were a magnetic badge that would create a protective force barrier around the entire body but would still let oxygen through for breathing. It could also read the wearers aura being able to track safe energy usage in addition to their vitals. The devices could also be set with rules and conditions for various sports or testing. Absolutely fascinating in his opinion.
Overall Mr.Kennings presentation only took about 20 minutes but Koro could definitely see his fellow classmates becoming impatient.
The class finally made it out to the field. The morning air was refreshing as a blue sky shone overhead through the open dome.
He noticed the alternative mismatched terrains from yesterday had vanished from the field and now the entire field was an array of 20 by 20 foot tiles with a 4 foot space between each. Every one showcasing its own set of unique features. Some featured grass or sand while others had devices protruding from the ground, there were even a few that were actually blank just featuring a seamless white tile. That was interesting. He wondered if it was set up that way for some kind of game. They could also see some of the other first year classes were there at different areas across the field with similar setups near them.
The teacher coughed before starting in that enhanced voice from the day before. "As you can see" gesturing to the rest of the field. "Your fellow first years are also here. With twelve first year classes we are very much in need of space, not to mention the other events and classes for the more senior students here. As such for this week of Practical exams, us and these 5 other classes will have the field in the morning and academics in the afternoon. So that the other six can make it out here for testing as well."
A hand shot into the air attached to a slim darker toned boy with platinum hair. "Yes, Hollin" Kennings pointed to him.
"So are we gonna be able to get field time after this week?" He asked anxiously.
"Oh don't worry about that. We won't be using the main arena all the time but there are several smaller fields and practice halls throughout the campus. The main arena however has better measuring equipment available. We will mostly use this space for testing with the exception of the second semester when we as a class will be competing against the other 1st year classes in Protogen. Which we will start discussing later this semester."
Koro had never heard of the sport but some of the others seemed excited.
“I'm sending a number to each of your bands once you've received it, approach the square matching yours.”
His wristband beeped. Looking at it the holo displayed 17 and he headed for the squares with the other students. He spotted a floating 17 a few rows back and jogged over to it. It was one of the featureless white tiles he noticed earlier. Walking to the middle of it, he stopped and waited for further instruction. The rest of the class arranged themselves in their own squares and Kenning spoke up again.
“I'll be following everyone's progress as well as sending new tasks to you. Follow all of the prompts that pop up and pay attention to any instructions that are provided. If you have questions, ping me and I'll be right over.” A new button came up on Koro’s holo. A bold circle with the word HELP inside.
“Initializing test field protocol” Kenning tapped his device.
“Have fun kids.”
WWHHHOOOMMM. An energy shield came up at the boundary of the square, creating a set of walls and then templed up above him meeting in the center. He could see the shimmer of energy where the walls of his prison touched and a moment later darkness crawled up the walls as the field dimmed to block outside light.
He could see the same dimming happening to the nearby squares as well. The space completely darkened except for the glow from his wristband.
That familiar electronic female voice came through. As white letters sprung up in front of him.
Test Sequence Initializing…………..