Lighting stuck the ground and thunder bombed across the sky as water rushed to the ground hitting a particularly compact floating car, within the compact vehicle was a boy his brows frowned on as he watches the rain drops collide on to the window only have half paying mind to the new reporters speaking on the radio.
"A surge in trial rifts has been appearing in Sectors 3, 7, 16, 19, and 22. Now, popular theorists are saying it's due to the increase in System users, but I'm not so sure."
"Really now? Care to explain Tom?"
"Well, Share, I think it's something more than that. Rumor has it that a recent emergence of a Doom Tower in Sector 19. And while this isn't confirmed yet, there's also a talk about an experimental weapon capable of incapacitating those select rift monsters that have abilities similar to System users."
"That's certainly interesting, an experimental weapon. But let's circle back to that Doom Tower. It's a frightening thought, isn't it? The idea that another Doom Tower could be appearing after 16 years."
"I don't think there's much to fear in that regard. Humanity has destroyed a few Doom Towers in the past, and since Sedna 9, I'm confident the Terran Dominion has taken every measure to ensure this new disgusting threat will be completely eradicated."
"Well, that's certainly a relief, isn't it? And oh, it looks like we've run out of time. Stay tuned, folks. Later, we'll be discussing the latest status on the Cubixian front."
The news report abruptly switched to a sports game where two non-System users in suits of armor were duking it out.
'Heh, sounds like it would suck to be in one of those sectors, am I right, Operator?' Nox said with a hint of pity.
'We are in one of those sectors, Nox. We're in Sector 19,' Clip replied, unbothered by the information continued to stare disdainfully at the rain drops.
"Oh…"
'Boss? Is there something wrong with the weather?' Lux asked, the question betrayed her voice which showed a neglectable amount of concern.
"Sir, we have arrived at the location," the robotic voice announced as a compartment in the back of the seat popped open.
Reaching in, Clip grabbed what appeared to be a long, black stick. Stepping out, he pressed a button, and the stick transformed into an umbrella, its design slightly larger than necessary.
"The rain hurts," he said plainly, hurrying to the door of the facility.
Inside, after presenting his ID, Clip made his way to the office of one of the screeners. The last time he had done this, it was with a man named Nathan, the same man who had sponsored his integration into the foundation. The same man Clip had pickpocketed the first time they met. Clip had always found him to be unorthodox. But today was different, screenings were typically done by a group of screeners, not just one person. Suddenly, the door was kicked open, and a green-haired man entered with a big grin on his face.
"Clip! How's it going? It's been an eternity!" The man in the lab coat spoke as if greeting an old friend his hands in his pockets.
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Clip, ever unfazed, replied, "It's been six months. I see you've been promoted. So, what are you doing here?" 'Why is he acting like were closer then we actually are, what a weird man'
Laughing, the man leaned on the table. "I'm the one screening you. I saw the reports, a savior rank, huh? And becoming a System user? Those platinum credits must be clattering in for you, am I right?"
'So that what this is about' getting a bit annoyed he simply asked "can we start the screening?"
He signed as if content with the response "ah, as boring and to the point as ever"
Taking a seat, Nathan placed his hand on the table, and a hologram of Clip's profile popped up.
"Did your veins get darker?" Nathan asked, pointing to the area beneath Clip's eyes. "Actually, your whole face looks a bit different. Hahaha, I guess that's just one of the perks of being a System user, huh?"
Clip stared back at him with a straight face.
"Do you have any new experience in the field as a retriever?"
"No."
"Have you pursued any new learning paths since your first screening?"
"No."
"Have you received any new damage to your body recently?"
"No."
"Has your condition changed in any way?"
"No."
"Do you have any problems in high-stress situations? Ptsd anxiety attackes?"
"No."
"Have there been any changes in your sleep patterns, eating habits, or energy levels?"
"No."
"Do you have any desire to change stations?"
"No."
"…" a moment of silence passed as Nathen made a face that clip couldn't understand, before asking again. "do you have any desire at all"
"No"
"Are you okay with changing stations?"
"Yes."
"Are you still loyal to the foundation?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to give your life for humanity's continued survival?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to give your life for the foundation?"
"Yes."
"Are you… okay willing to give your life"
"Yes…"
Clip didn't remember being asked these questions during his first screening, but something about them felt eerily familiar. Nathan smiled a sad smile, closing his eyes as if recalling a sour memory.
"Yup, you haven't changed a bit."
Opening his eyes, Nathan saw a small, scrawny, palely ill boy, with pitch black eyes so pitch it as if he didn't have an iris and hair that cascading to his shoulders, stained with dirt and mud clothes stained some bloody stains. The dark blue veins beneath his eyes were prominent. Nathan blinked, and suddenly, the boy was taller, and the dirt was replaced with blood and he seemed to role something that was in his pocket. He blinked again, and the boy looked at him, emotionless, his face clean, his pale skin looked less ill resembling snow a bit.
Sighing, Nathan stood up, placing his hands behind his back as he looked at the profile.
"Nothing's changed," he muttered under his breath. "You're going to be sent to a facility on the planet Sylvaris. There, you'll be trained with foundation forces to be… a soldier."
"A soldier," Clip murmured, letting the word sink in.
'So there's a chance I'll be on the front lines, facing the enemy head-on,' Clip thought. Not that he had a problem with that.