Wednesday, 8 May, 6:41am
"Gaz, I swear. You had to see it. The way she looked. Freaking weird. The fact she even looked at me might be weirder, actually, I mean, her eyes were laser focused! I'm serious! What's so funny?"
"Lumari? Lumari Kruger? Mate, if you think Joze is out of your league, then Lumari's in outer-fucking-space. There's no chance! Just get your head out of your bloody head and ask Joze out. You know you fucking like her, and for some highly illogical reason, she seems to fancy you quite a bit too, mate. Lumari! Ha! I don't think I even stand a chance there!"
The young men converse on personal experiences and happenings that have transpired since their arrival at GAARD three days ago. They start their morning by enduring a run through the compound as soon as sunlight breaches the horizon. The facility is already beset with activity as its diverse staff begin their business for the day. The sun hangs low on the eastern horizon, barely visible as it peeks over the stoney peaks lauding over the HQ, but its rays paint the western landscape and dark waters of the Mediterranean in a pristine palette of gorgeous golden hues that amplifies the color and charm of everything it brushes. The mountains' shadows lay low between their valleys, but the compound's position, facing the coast, still hides it from direct sunlight, leaving a thick layer of cool, crisp air blanketing the compound..
They had spent most of the previous day taking part in the orientation program reserved for new recruits. The graduate group were thoroughly lectured on GAARD's expectations of its employees, various rules and regulations that were applicable to them, and a long technical breakdown of the organisation's structures and hierarchies. They would then go on to their various medical and mental evaluations and testing, which each candidate passed with flying colors.
Most of the graduates would spend that evening socializing in an American-style pub that was housed near the base's residential area, while others retreated early to the dormitories to socialize in more intimate settings or engage in other personal proclivities. Reyn, Ghazal and a few others elected to spend their evening huddled around the lounge TV to watch a popular talk show interview with members of Bladestorm, a popular Strike Team that played a critical role in the last invasion gate defence. Later they would delve into deep discussion and debate about the strengths and weaknesses of their favorite archaners, with Reyn in particular giving a rather lengthy, deeply impassioned and obsessively detailed speech on why Ayame Kurosawa, his favourite archaner, was, in fact, the greatest of the profession.
"What! No! That's not it at all! It was just the way Lumari was looking at me! It was weird, man." Reyn retorts as he releases an exasperated sigh.
"Forget about Lumari you damn plughead. Jocelyn, mate! What's the plan there? It's been, what, 2 fucking years already? Are you actually planning on watching her have some other wanker's kid? Just ask her out, you bloody pillock! I swear. It physical hurts watching you you crush on her so hard for years while doing abso-fucking-lutely nothing about it. Pathetic, mate, honestly. I've seen her practically throw herself at you and you fucking dodge like fucking ninja. Nut up, soldier!" Ghazal states pointedly as he shakes his head in disappointment.
Ghazal's statement burns through Reyn's as the crude truths destroy the fragile wall of excuses he has built to protect his ego. "Screw you, man! I-I'm gonna ask her, I'm, uh, just figuring out some shit, ok. Fuck!" He cringes at his own words, almost able to taste the self-doubt and indecisiveness in them as they leave his mouth. Ghazal's cutting comments remind him of his weakness of indecision which provokes his pride into action, forcing Reyn to process a slew of swift, calculated considerations that leave him with a simple answer to rescuing his ego. "Actually, you know what, Gaz, fuck it! I'm gonna ask out! Before we finish the recruitment integration. Before we become archaners. I'll ask her out! Ok!?"
Ghazal's eyes almost escape their sockets as he basks in Reyn's radiant eruption of confidence. " Mate! What the fuck? A-Are you, actually? Is this… wait. Are you making a decision on this? Are you actually serious, mate?" He sputters as he tries to make sense of Reyn's sudden commitment, but looking at his friend shows him a face filled with apprehension, but eyes fiercely burning with pride. "Holy shit! You're actually going to do it!
Reyn breaks into a chuckle at his friend's exaggerated, but deserved reaction. "No, you're right Gaz. I've been bitching out on this for way too long. I like her. I really like her. So I should ask her out. It's that simple, right? It's not complicated. I've just been too…"
"Holy fuck, yes! Yes! That's exactly it, mate. I can't believe this. Reyn Mitchells, my little Reyn Mitchells!" Ghazal mimics crying playfully, wiping away pretend tears. "I can't believe I'm still alive to see this. Thought I would definitely be eaten by some gate monster before you grew out those lovely little bollocks, mate. Fuck me! Seriously though, what has gotten into you? Since you came out of the Prism you've been different. Honestly, it's so fucking weird. You seem, I guess, more focused? You're not so stuck in your head, you know? Am I right?"
"Yes! Totally right, Gaz. And it is weird. Since the Prism, I've just had this clearness in my head." Reyn says, gesturing to his forehead. "Like, I'm in control. Not just a passenger anymore. I don't know when it started, but, I've just never felt like I was in control. Like my damn head would be on its own fucking mission all the damn time. Calculating and figuring shit out, and I'm just a passenger along for the ride." Reyn's face grows sullen as he speaks. "I kinda figured out how to, I-I dunno, like, split that from my mind you know. Like, I could be me, but my brain was still kinda doing its own shit in the background and sometimes it would kinda just take me along for the ride, and I couldn't stop it." Reyn finishes with a sigh and the 2 briefly stop to calm their breathing. "Ugh, I dunno, it was just weird. Like I wasn't all there. But, yeah, since the Prism, I'm finally feeling like I'm in control. I don't know what the fuck the aether did, but it's been incredible."
Ghazal sits his hand gently on Reyn's shoulder as he's bent down trying to catch his breath. "This is fantastic! Seriously! Mate!" Ghazal exchanges his gentle shoulder rub for an echoing slap to the chest as Reyn rises from his moment of rest. "I'm not even gonna try to understand what you just said there, but it sounds like you've just figured out your head problems, right! Mate! We are getting sloshed tonight! A little trauma bonding and celebration of the new you!"
Reyn rubs his burning nipples as he bellows with laughter. "Ah! Yeah, yeah, sounds like a plan, Gaz! I've needed to let loose for a while." He says smirking as he slaps Gaz deftly on the back. "Hey, maybe you'll carry me back to bed this time!"
Ghazal stumbles forward from Reyn's friendly lovetap but quickly leaps up and fists the air. "Reyn fucking Mitchells! I've been waiting too fucking long you damn wanker!" He yells, sending birds flying from nearby trees. "Reyn, this is huge, right? Right? I swear mate, I thought your own brain would eat itself someday. Glad to hear you've finally got a handle of it. Good on you, mate. Seriously!" He points his clenched fist at Reyn and beams him a smile filled with earnest admiration, which Reyn meets in kind. "Well, all that lovely mental growth and healing aside, I do have another concern on my mind, mate." Ghazal's face turns serious as he looks Reyn sternly in the eye. "The shit you did in the Prism. It was weird, mate. And not really the good kind, you know what I mean?" He asks as his eyes seem to grow deeper with distress.
"W-what? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Look, mate. Just be careful, ok. That's all I'm saying. GAARD's not the type of place that really overlooks odd things. They don't like things they don't understand, you know." Ghazal shifts his head and raises his brow in a peculiar way, signalling that something was off and caution was needed. Reyn understood the sign and shifted closer as they ran, listening more closely as his friend spoke in hushed tones. "I've heard things, mate. Stories and rumours mostly. You know how things go on the forums. But, there's truth to it. Archaners with weird abilities that just disappear. GAARD silencing people. Weird experiments. They are up to some shady shite here, mate."
Reyn furrows his brow and gives a cautious chuckle. "Are you serious right now? I didn't take you for a conspiracy theorist…"
"Look, Reyn, I'm bad at explaining this kind of thing, ok. All I'm saying is you should probably keep your head down, mate. Don't give them a reason to look, you know. They love investigating shit. They've already got their eye on you because of the Prism business. What can I say, I'm worried, mate. Something just feels off here, ok. Just don't let them think you're a threat..."
"W-what the fuck is that supposed to mean? A threat? Then every archaner's a threat by that logic. Look at the shit Vera Vertaski pulled just this week. Fuck. She could probably rip this whole base apart in 5 minutes if she really wanted to. Why the fuck would I be a threat, man? That's…"
Ghazal grabs Reyn's nape fiercely, choking out his words, but Reyn senses his friend's genuine concern. "Reyn, listen to me. This shit just reeks to high heaven mate. I don't know. Maybe you're right, maybe I'm being paranoid here. But a little caution never hurts, right? That's all I'm asking you, mate. These people don't care about shite but their mission. Just don't fuck with their mission, ok. That's all." Ghazal smiles, but Reyn can clearly tell the deep and honest concern emanating from the quiver in his eyes.
He finds some logic in his friend's words and takes them into deeper consideration. The mystery of his resonance potential is factually strange. An anomaly, unknown and potentially dangerous to GAARD and its mission. "Ok, ok. You got a point, Gaz. I'll keep it in mind, ok. Happy now? Let's get back, I'm starving!"
Ghazal chuckles, though his face and body seems to let off a relieved sigh. They finish their run and make their way back to the dormitories to get ready for the day's activities at the Forge.
"Argh! My arse!" Ghazal suddenly exclaims as the two near the dormitory entrance. He suddenly collapses onto all fours, sinking into soft grass lining the path, flicking and wiggling his right leg while yelping in pain. "Pulled! A muscle! Rub! Rub it!" He yells at Reyn, poking and flailing the ailing appendage towards him. Reyn bends down and quickly starts beating and stroking at his friends thigh and posterior.
"I swear to god! Why do I always end up doing this shit?"
"Shut up and rub! My fucking leg's gonna snap itself!" Ghazal cries out in-between clenching his lips and buttocks.
"Hm. You guys should probably do that in your room. Actually, didn't they speak about this in the sexual harassment talk yesterday, Chunmei?"
Reyn quickly turns his head towards Jocelyn's voice where she and fellow graduate Chunmei Zhang snicker at the sight of the two men's physical interactions. Reyn throws himself off Ghazal and jumps to his feet, leaving his friend to vigorously punch and curse at his own backside.
"Joze! Um, Hi. Hi, Chunmei. Um, I-I was just helping him…"
"You American's, so shameless. Do you like it when people watch you defile his manhood? " Chunmei asks sincerely with an inquisitive smile.
"Jesus, Chun!" Jocelyn blurts out with a giggle as she nudges at her friend. "Relax, Mitchells, I'm kidding. I saw what happened. You ok, Gaz? Need some help there, buddy?"
"Just peachy, Joze!" Ghazal responds, though his face is thoroughly winced.
Jocelyn chuckles at the sight of Ghazal's misfortunes, but her face straightens to a soft smile as she turns her attention back to Reyn, inspecting him slowly from foot to forehead, a reflexive bite finding her lower lip as their eyes meet. "Looking good, Mitchells. Ready to get your ass kicked today?
Reyn chuckles in return as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and runs his fingers through his hair. His tall, sweat-drenched body glistens under the trickles of sunlight that creep over the mountains behind them, a soldier's physique sculpted by the military-minds at Brannon-Brook for optimal performance on the field. "Yeah, ready as I'll ever be, Joze. You uh, you look…"
"Not gonna lie, we're freaking out here. Heard it hurts like a mother!"
"Oh, y-yeah, I heard it's brutal. Can't say I'm looking forward to it, you know. But, uh, they say there's healers, so…"
"Hm. True. Anyway, we are just heading back to the dorms to get ready. Have you guys eaten yet? Chunmei makes a crazy good omelette. Wanna join us when you're done rubbing butts" Jocelyn says with a snicker.
"Hey! What are you saying, Jocelyn?" Chunmei protests as she slaps Jocelyn's shoulder while pouting intensely. "You didn't say anything about these strange men eating with us!" she whispers in protest.
A gust of wind sneaks its way up the path towards the group and snatches the women's hair, throwing them into a wild flurry. The combination of Jocelyn's auburn follicles flying and dense sunlight funnelling through the green leaves of the trees behind her hits Reyn's vision like a perfectly painted picture and he finds his eyes raptured and his heart beating against his ribs as his affection for her grows, yet again, slightly stronger.
"Oh, no, shit! Fucking wind! Argh!" Jocelyn yells in fury as she fiercely tries to control her flailing hair. Reyn chuckles at Jocelyn's reaction but his body instinctively pulls itself towards hers, compelling his mind to plan a comprehensive approach on to meet the moment, but a swift kick from Ghazal to his shin painfully relieves him of his considerations. He reluctantly helps his friend up and the two limp back to the dormitories with Jocelyn and Chunmei in tow, discussing their fears of the day's forthcoming events over a perfectly prepared platter of egg fu yung.
Once reaching his own room, Reyn drags his body to the bathroom, sliding into the shower, toothbrush in one hand and mobile phone in the other. He browses his messages and notifications while multi-tasking his personal hygiene routine.
"Morning buddy! How'd the assessment go? Little update would be nice, ya know. But whatever happened, I know you made mom proud. - Love, Dad." Reyn smiles at the sight of his father's devoted concern, he can clearly envision the bespectacled man greeting him with a spine-crushing hug when they next meet. While Reynold Mitchells, his father, was no fan of GAARD nor Reyn's wishes to follow in his mother's footsteps, he respected his son's wishes and the dream Reyn shared with his mother.
"Hey Dad, I think it went well. Don't think I can discuss the details yet. But I'll keep you updated, promise. Tell Kacey I send lotsa love." Reyn responds, smiling as he types. He scrolls through more messages. Two from Ghazal. One of general yet crude encouragement regarding their venture into the Forge, and another reminding him of his commitment to pursue Jocelyn. A message from Dean Rickardson of Brannon-Brook containing some generic platitudes and well wishes to his graduates, and a few from GAARD regarding his recruitment details.
Reyn slips out of the shower, drying himself awkwardly as he continues scrolling through news articles and interest boards. He wipes the steam from the main bathroom mirror to prune errant hairs from his face, taking a moment to soak in the reality of his situation. His mind begins to race, but he finds himself at the wheel. Controlling almost all of the inputs and outputs of his mental processing and reaching logical conclusions that sit well with his psyche. He was no longer constantly overwhelmed with trying to process endless possibilities and probabilities, he had achieved a consistent mental clarity. Ghazal's words and worries suddenly wander into his thoughtstream and he contemplates the nature of his resonance potential and possibilities they hold. He considers the ARCH-types he may control and the power he may wield but his thoughts begin to drift into wild conjecture and visions of ripping apart enemies and tearing through realities as visions of fantastical abilities start to manifest in his mind. He chuckles to himself, the stream of thought felt more like a naive child's dream than any reality he would find himself in. "Focus, Reyn!" he pouts, jokingly berating himself in the mirror's reflection.
He moves from the bathroom, grabbing his neatly prepared clothes on the way out and slips into the uniform that GAARD had assigned to the Brannon-Brook graduates. A sleek, black, chinese-collared, two-piece lined with chrome-buttons and yellow embroidery. The G.A.A.R.D. logo proudly emblazoned across the wearers' heart. "Not bad." He snickers to himself. He finishes his preparations, loading his pockets with the day's accessories and popping an energy bar into his mouth as he heads for the door. He checks the time on his phone before he leaves. "Shit, 7:35!" He shrieks, but a news notification grabs his attention and immediately sours his mood.
"INVASION IMMINENT? G.A.A.R.D. warns world governments to immediately strengthen evacuation protocols and aetheric defense measures in the latest meeting with delegates at the bi-annual I.G.S.I. Conference."
He reads intently as the notification scrolls down his phone's screen. It's been almost 14 months since the last invasion, a gate opening above a major city could happen at any open moment. Strike Teams would once again be called to action to bring down the enemy defenses and collapse the gate. A city will be left in ruins and humanity will once again have to rebuild its hope in a survivable, sustainable future. Reyn brushes aside the thought and rushes out his room and through the dormitory lobby, dodging fellow graduates as he weaves his way out of the building. Outside Ghazal waits impatiently for his friend.
"Taking your sweet time, mate." Ghazal moans, "Come!"
The two men begin a brisk walk toward the G.A.A.R.D. HQ, the Mediterranean sun showering the morning in its soft, warm light. The fields and paths that littered the facility were all glistening in greenery as countless drops of dew adorned them. They quickly make their way to the main administration building where Agent McCain and most of the other Brannon-Brook graduates would be waiting near the large entrance doors.
"Morning graduates. I trust you all had a good rest. We'll have a long day ahead of us, so, let's get started, shall we?" Agent McCain says as she welcomes the group and leads them towards the elevator at the back of the lobby. "Today you'll be getting your ARCH-units done at The Forge. I'm sure you've all heard the rumours and the horror stories." she says as her mouth spreads into a knowing grin. "B11, GAIA." McCain orders aloud as soon as they all enter the elevator. The robot voice descends and welcomes the agent, affirming her instructions and whisking the group down into the facility's depths. "The procedure lasts for about 30 minutes." McCain begins, "They're gonna use some very powerful, very precise lasers to etch an aetherite-infused biomechanical circuit into the subcutaneous layers of your skin." McCain winces as she talks and some members of the group join her. "It's gonna hurt. It's gonna hurt a whole lot. But it's the fastest, most accurate way to get it done. You don't wanna know what we had to put up with 10 years ago." McCain's wince seems to turn to grief as she tenses up, remembering the slow, painful, manual, surgical processes she was subjected to almost a decade ago. "The procedure leaves almost no scars or wounds. But the pain lingers. We have a healer on standby to fix you up once the procedure is done."
Some signs of relief fill the elevator and Ghazal further breaks the tension with a question. "When do we get to test our ARCH-units, Ms. McCain?" Ghazal asks, his face more flirtatious than inquisitive.
McCain snickers, appreciating the enthusiasm despite what torment laid just ahead for the group. "It's Agent McCain, Ghazal." She responds with a playingful sneer while eyeing Ghazal. "We scheduled your ARCH-type synchronizations for Friday. Testing of your synchronizations and aetherics will happen next week when we kick off your training program. But, if I were you, I'd focus on getting through today's procedure, first." The group nods in timid approval at the agent's advice.
The elevator comes to a halt 11 floors below ground and the agent quickly slips away into the darkness exuding from beyond the doors, shortly returning, again with a box full of eyewear. "This way graduates!"
They move from the elevator into another long, brightly-lit corridor where its white walls are marred by an ever growing number of ducts and pipes that snake through the area, twisting between each other in increasingly complex patterns. Various wires line the path, neatly tucked and constrained against the walls and ceilings, while grates and grills hide various whirring machines and spitting valves. The far end of the corridor opens up to a large, dimly lit, industrial-style chamber filled with bustling people and noisy machinery.
"I know, not very inviting, right." The agent says as she leads the group down the corridor. "The Forge is one of our most critical and fragile pieces of equipment. Due to the crazy amounts of electrical and data processing needed to run the procedures performed here, we've had to make some unplanned adjustments to our infrastructure as you can see. Some of it, not so charming."
They continue through the ever narrowing passage eventually entering the large room at its end where they find the air buzzing with overwhelming electrical energy that pricks at exposed skin. All manner of wiring and pipes lay out a chaotically ordered path across the floors and walls, all culminating at a transparent cage in the room's center. Above the cage stood an immense, menacing machine that stretched to the ceiling. A grotesque contraption featuring extensive electrical circuitry, machinery, pipeworks and what seemed to be strands and rods of aetherite, weaved dazzlingly into its bizarre structures.
"Welcome to the Forge!" A voice slips out from between the many computers and consoles that lined the area and Dr. Ravinok pokes out his head from behind a screen before quickly vanishing and materializing again in front of the graduate group. "This is your next step on your path through the Crucible, one step closer to becoming archaners, Brannon-Brook! Now, come, come. Sit over here." The doctor gestures for the group to move deeper into the room, directing them to an audience's section, half-hidden in a dim-light corner. "This is the Forge. Not very pretty, I know. But very, very powerful. She consumes almost a billion volts for every pulse she produces. The Forge will mold your bodies into new forms today! Now come, sit here and watch the process, I will call you when your turn comes. Do not hesitate, please, there is no time for theatrics." The doctor explains, his hands weaving a tale of their own as he goes into details about the bio-augmentation procedure. "My assistants will lead you to the dressing room over there, quickly put on the clothes they provide and listen to any further instructions they give you. They will then take you to the Forge's operating chamber, strap you into its harness and we will start the augmentation process." The doctor lets out a difficult sigh and hardens his eyes as his voice grows softer. "It will hurt. But necessary is the pain when we forge mighty weapons, yes?"