The heavy-duty truck roared to life with a disgruntled cough and settled into a rough idle that vibrated through the cheap seats. Wes jammed the gearstick forward; the vehicle lurched onto the uneven track leading away from the Unus stronghold. He didn't bother avoiding the larger rocks or deeper ruts.
CRUNCH! BANG!
The truck slammed over a boulder half-buried in the dirt which sent everyone in the back bouncing violently.
"Gods, Wes! Watch it!" Maya yelped as she braced herself against the side panel. "Are you trying to shake the Bulb right out of the Queen back here?"
"Yeah, ease up, Sniper Boy," Dodo grunted while he shifted his considerable bulk. "My metal arm's rattling."
Wes glanced in the rearview mirror; his expression was impassive. "My credits bought this heap," he stated. His voice was flat but carried over the engine noise. "If you don't like the ride, feel free to walk back to the Exchange. You might beat us there at this rate."
Rackell shot him a glare but didn't argue the point; she knew he wasn't bluffing. She turned back to the others. "Forget him. Good hunt, team. That Queen's resonance signature was slippery. It took us three days just to pinpoint this warren."
Dodo puffed out his chest. "My tracking was spot on, though. I followed those pheromone trails straight here, even through that collapsed sector near the old Scar Zone border."
"Your tracking led us straight into an ambush," Maya retorted, though without real heat. The adrenaline had faded and was replaced by the familiar post-mission buzz. "Good thing Nala's shields held against that resonance screech. I've never felt anything quite like it from a Category-2."
"It's why the Exchange put such a high bounty on it."
Nala spoke softly. She inspected one of her fairy-like Characters which hovered near her wrist, then let it fade back into her Resonance Socket. "Targeted resonance disruption is rare and dangerous."
Rackell nodded. "Exactly. The kind of Unus that pops up more often these days. Things haven't been quiet since those tremors near the Great Rift last cycle. It seems like the deeper Unus hives are getting stirred up."
She sighed and ran a hand through her sweat-matted hair. "More work for Harmonics like us, I suppose. It keeps the Guilds busy and the GRDF (Global Resonance Defense Force) off our backs, as long as we deliver the Bulbs."
"And keep the cities safe from anything nastier which might crawl out," Dodo added. "We can't have another Upheaval incident like what Port Resonance suffered."
The reminder of the true apex predators – the ancient alien entities whose dormant remnants seeded the world with Unus after the Great Planetary Devastation centuries ago – cast a brief chill over the conversation.
Harmonics, humans adapted with Resonance Sockets to assimilate the power-constructs called Characters derived from Unus Resonance Bulbs, were the frontline defense against the lesser threats, but the memory of the Upheavals was a constant, looming shadow.
Wes listened passively to their chatter, the familiar cadence of mission debrief mixed with bravado and complaint. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a slightly crushed cigarette, and stuck it between his lips. He didn't reach for a lighter but instead leaned slightly towards Rackell in the passenger seat and held the cigarette out expectantly.
Rackell rolled her eyes; a familiar exasperation crossed her features. "Seriously, Wes? Again?"
She sighed dramatically. "Fine. Last time." She snapped her fingers. A tiny, perfectly controlled flame erupted from her fingertip and touched the end of Wes's cigarette. He inhaled deeply then leaned back without a word of thanks.
"You know for someone bonded to a Character, you could at least get one that makes fire. It would save me the trouble." Rackell said after she extinguished the flame and examined her fingernail.
Wes's hand tightened slightly on the steering wheel. A flicker of something unwanted – a memory sharp and painful – pricked at the edges of his mind. He pushed it down and took another drag.
Maya, who picked up on Rackell's comment, tilted her head. "Yeah, actually… I don't think I've ever seen you use a Character besides Aroth. And that's just… well, the sniper thing." She frowned thoughtfully. "You joined the crew six months ago, mostly handle transport and long-range support… How many Characters do you actually have, Wes?"
Dodo leaned forward from the back; a wide, curious grin spread across his face. "Yeah, Wes! Don't be shy! We all showed ours. Rackell's got Ignis Cascade and Lament Fuego, Maya's got her Wave Tail and Static Whip, Nala's got her Shield Pixies, and I've got Shadow Maw and Terra-Fist! What else are you hiding besides that fancy gun-arm?"
The probing questions, the casual curiosity – they felt like sandpaper on raw nerves. Wes didn't answer. He stared fixedly through the dusty windshield while the smoke curled around his head.
The truck hit another bump which jostled them, but Wes seemed completely detached now; his gaze was distant. The sounds of his teammates faded into a dull hum as his mind slipped backward, pulled inexorably towards a time he desperately tried to forget.
A decade ago…
The high windows of the Aegis Academy's primary assimilation chamber was graced by the rising sunlight. Gleaming chrome and sterile white surfaces reflected the nervous energy of the gathered youths. Today was the Day of First Resonance, the day they would attempt to bond with their first tempered Unus Bulb, effectively generating their first Character.
Among them, a younger Wes Callahan stood out. He appeared to be around twelve years old. He wasn't just noticeable for the expensive, tailored Academy uniform that hinted at influential backing, but also for the easy confidence that radiated from him. His hair was brighter, glowing blond, his eyes held a spark of eager ambition absent in his older self, and a cocky smirk present on his lips. He wasn't Wes Callahan, the sullen truck driver. He was Wes Callahan, the prodigy.
'Today's the day.'
Young Wes Callahan thought confidently.
'I'll pass this test, bond with a powerful Character, and become a Harmonic everyone respects. Mom and Dad will finally have something to brag about.'
He adjusted the collar of his crisp Aegis Academy uniform. He felt certain success was not just possible, but inevitable.
A nervous-looking boy beside him, fidgeting with his standard-issue tunic, overheard Wes muttering to himself. "How can you be so sure, Callahan?" the boy whispered, eyes wide with apprehension. "My older brother failed his First Resonance twice."
Wes glanced at the boy with faint disdain before rolling up his right sleeve. Intricate, faintly glowing lines marked his wrist – his Resonance Socket.
"See this?" Wes asked rhetorically. "I was born with it. Didn't manifest later like most of you lot."
He gestured dismissively at the other anxious students milling around the vast assimilation chamber. "Mine has had twelve years to develop, to mature. It means my affinity is naturally higher."
The classmate gasped; his eyes fixed on the Socket. "Wow… Born with it? That's incredibly rare! Does that mean… you'll have a higher chance of bonding?"
"That's the hope," Wes replied smoothly; his smirk returned. He lowered his sleeve, basking in the boy's admiration.
Murmurs populated the hall as the children discussed their chances. For many from less privileged backgrounds, becoming a Harmonic wasn't just about power; it was a ticket to a better life, a respected status in a world constantly threatened by Unus. Wes, already blessed by birth and wealth, saw it as his rightful destiny.
Their chatter abruptly ceased as a deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber and cut through the nervous energy like a physical force.
"Students of Aegis!"
All heads turned towards the elevated platform at the front. An old man stood there, tall and imposing despite his age. A long, silver beard flowed down his chest, but his eyes held the sharp vigor of a seasoned warrior. A complex, star-like Resonance Socket glowed subtly on his forehead. This was Headmaster Gadkrill Thorne, a legendary figure whispered to be one of the Top 10 Harmonics in the known world – individuals whose bond with their Characters granted them strength rivaling the terrifying Upheavals of old.
Headmaster Thorne began to address them.
"Today, you stand at a precipice. Before you lies the potential for greatness, the chance to join the ranks of those who defend our world, those who harness the very essence of Resonance."
He paced the platform slowly.
"The tests you face now are more than mere evaluations. They are the first steps on a path that will define your future, shape your destiny. Will you rise to the challenge? Will you seize the power that lies dormant within you?"
He allowed the weight of his words to settle over the young audience. Their eyes shone with fervent hope. Thorne then gestured towards a side entrance.
"To guide you through the technical process, I introduce Doctor Elara Vance, head of Resonance Dynamics at this academy, and the architect of our testing protocols."
He gestured towards a large, complex machine humming nearby, orbiting rings of light casting shifting patterns on the floor.
A sharp-featured woman in a lab coat stepped forward. Doctor Vance adjusted her spectacles and addressed the students with brisk efficiency.
"Thank you, Headmaster. Recruits, the apparatus before you will measure your innate Resonance Signature. This quantifiable metric indicates your body's natural capacity to harmonize with and channel the energy contained within a processed Unus Resonance Bulb. A higher signature correlates with a greater potential to successfully assimilate and control a Character."
The test began.
Students were called up in batches.
Wes watched impatiently, arms crossed. He saw classmates approach the machine, place their hands on designated pads, and watch nervously as numbers flashed on a screen.
Most scores hovered between 20% and 40%. A few managed to break 50%, earning impressed murmurs.
He noted one girl, Elizabeth Pellesh – recognizable from her family's prominent crest – achieve a strong 55%.
'Not bad,' Wes conceded silently, 'but still miles behind me.' He remembered his preliminary private assessments; he knew what was coming.
"Callahan, Wes!"
His turn. Wes strode forward; his earlier confidence returned tenfold. He placed his hand on the pad and began channeling the smug certainty he felt. The machine whirred, lights flickered, and then the result blazed across the screen: 67%.
A collective gasp went through the remaining students and instructors. Doctor Vance raised an eyebrow and exchanged a significant look with Headmaster Thorne, who merely stroked his beard. So far, it was the highest score by a significant margin.
An instructor directed Wes towards a designated area for those who passed. He walked tall, catching Elizabeth Pellesh's eye as he joined the small group of successful candidates. He gave her a deliberately patronizing grin.
"Congratulations, Ms. Pellesh. Made the cut, I see."
Elizabeth shot him a look that could curdle milk but said nothing.
Wes shrugged internally. 'Just wait,' he thought. 'This is only the beginning.' He wished his parents could have been there to witness this, but their usual business kept them away. He'd call them later with the good news; they'd be pleased.
Stage two commenced.
The handful of qualifiers, fewer than twenty out of the initial hundreds, were led into a secure, sterile facility deep within the academy. Rows upon rows of glowing tubes lined the walls, each containing a dormant, processed Resonance Bulb harvested from various Unus. In the center of the room stood another complex machine, this one featuring a reclining chair surrounded by articulated arms holding sophisticated scanners and emitters.
Doctor Vance explained as she gestured towards the central apparatus, "This is the Assimilation Nexus. It facilitates the delicate process of bonding your Resonance Signature to a compatible Bulb, thereby manifesting your first Character."
She brought up a holographic display showing a categorized list. "These are the available Bulbs deemed suitable for initiates. They range from Utility types to Combat types. The potency and nature of your resulting Character depend heavily on the Bulb chosen."
The instructor stepped forward. "Selection priority is based on Resonance Signature scores from the previous test. Callahan, you scored highest. You have first choice."
Wes didn't hesitate. He scanned the list, bypassing the simpler options. "I want the strongest one available."
He pointed towards a designation marked with multiple hazard warnings:
[Bulb Type: Proto-Guardian / Source: Alpha-Grade Sentinel Unus / Category: 3-Omega].
Doctor Vance frowned immediately. "Mr. Callahan, that Bulb possesses an exceptionally potent and volatile resonance pattern. It's highly recommended that first-time Harmonics begin with something more stable–"
"I can handle it," Wes interrupted firmly. He met her gaze without flinching. "My signature is 67%. I qualify."
Doctor Vance glanced towards Headmaster Thorne, who stood observing silently near the back.
Thorne gave a barely perceptible nod. He knew the Callahan name and the influence behind it; intervening directly was politically unwise.
"Very well, Mr. Callahan," Vance conceded with a tight tone. "Proceed to the Nexus."
Wes confidently settled into the chair. He was excited for the results. Cables were attached to his Resonance Socket.
The other students watched with a mixture of envy and apprehension. They whispered amongst themselves; they knew their own scores limited them to less powerful choices. Only Elizabeth Pellesh watched with narrowed, calculating eyes.
The assimilation process began. Lights dimmed, machinery hummed louder. Wes felt a strange energy flow into his wrist, cold at first, then rapidly heating. Screens around the chair displayed fluctuating data streams. Suddenly, a jarring rejection wave hit him. His body convulsed violently in the chair; alarms blared softly.
"Stabilize the energy flow! Modulate the frequency!" Doctor Vance barked orders.
"On it!" An assistant frantically adjusted dials.
Wes grit his teeth against the painful static flooded his senses. Then, something shifted. The jarring sensation smoothed out, replaced by a powerful, resonant hum that seemed to fill his entire being. On the main screen, a number began to climb rapidly:
[SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 12%… 34%… 58%…]
"Impossible…" one of the lab assistants breathed.
[SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 75%… 88%… 93%…]
Doctor Vance stared, eyes wide behind her glasses. Headmaster Thorne stepped forward, his usual stoicism was gone. Now visible astonishment took its place. "Ninety percent… I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime."
[SYNCHRONIZATION RATE: 97%… 98%… 99%!]
The number locked at 99% and held steady. A profound silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft hum of the Nexus.
"Ninety-nine percent…" Vance whispered in awe. "Stable… The historical archives mention legends… a figure centuries ago… but never confirmed data…" Her eyes darted towards Wes. "This child…" A sudden, intense scientific curiosity was overriding her caution. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to strap him to a dissection table.
Wes felt an overwhelming power flow through him. His vision blurred. He felt his body changing and expanding. A brief, shimmering image overlaid his own – an imposing figure donned in intricate, dark green armor, radiating immense protective energy. It lasted only a second before fading.
The world tilted. Darkness encroached at the edges of his vision. He heard alarmed shouts, felt hands grabbing him as consciousness slipped away. But even as he fainted, a triumphant thought echoed in his fading mind:
'Ninety-nine percent… A prodigy… A genius…' He had done it.