The soft chime of the dormitory alarm stirred Kaela from a restless sleep. Her eyes fluttered open to the dim glow of the overhead lights as they brightened gradually, simulating a natural sunrise. Around her, the other recruits stirred, some groaning, others moving with practiced ease.
Kaela sat up, rubbing her face. The questions from last night still lingered in her mind, but she had no time to dwell on them now. Today was her first day of Genesis training.
Iris yawned and stretched. "Up and at it, newbie. Don't want to be late."
Rhea, already sitting up and tying her boots, smirked. "Unless you like being singled out. The trainers love making examples of fresh recruits."
Kaela swung her legs off the bed and stood, feeling the weight of the day ahead settle over her. "Right. No pressure."
After a quick change into the standard-issue Genesis uniform—a fitted black and blue ensemble with subtle neural-linked seams—Kaela followed the others out of the dormitory and followed the corridors, she didn't know where the secrete was so she just followed the others.
The morning routine at Genesis was efficient, almost mechanical. Kaela followed the stream of recruits as they moved through the sleek corridors, the soft hum of hidden machinery pulsing through the walls. The hallways were lined with glowing interface panels, each displaying rotating schedules, performance metrics, and cryptic symbols that she had yet to understand.
Her stomach rumbled—a sharp reminder that she hadn't eaten since she arrived. As if on cue, Iris nudged her arm.
"Come on, newbie. First stop of the day—breakfast."
The recruits filtered into a vast dining hall, its walls a mix of dark metal and illuminated blue panels. The ceiling stretched high, embedded with a soft, artificial sky projection that mimicked the shifting hues of dawn. Long, metallic tables lined the space, each one equipped with holographic menus displaying meal selections.
Kaela hesitated before stepping into line behind Iris, Amira, and Rhea. They tapped their selections on the glowing interface, and within seconds, trays of food were dispensed from the automated serving units.
She examined her tray—nutrient-dense protein bars, a side of what looked like fruit gel, and a cup of some dark liquid that smelled like coffee but had an almost electric scent. Not exactly home-cooked, but it would do.
As they moved toward an empty table, a voice called out.
"Well, well. Look who finally made it to Genesis."
Kaela turned to see a young man with sharp, symmetrical features and piercing blue eyes standing with a tray in hand. His platinum blond hair was neatly cropped, and his uniform was pristine, fitting him like it was tailored.
"I assume you're talking about me?" Kaela asked cautiously.
The boy smirked. "Who else?"
Iris groaned. "Don't let him get to you. That's Theo, He likes to hear himself talk."
" I know him, we met yesterday" Kaela said as she stared at Theo
Theo placed his tray down across from them. "Correction—I like to introduce myself properly. And … Kaela, the newbie who made quite the entrance yesterday, did you had a good sleep yesterday night?!"
Kaela narrowed her eyes. "Of course, even though i was unconscious for three long days but i still had a good sleep ."
"Oh, that's nice to hear" another voice chimed in. A tall, wiry recruit with warm brown skin and sharp golden eyes slid into the seat next to Theo. He had an easygoing energy, his uniform slightly disheveled compared to the others.
"Am quite sure you all know who I am " he introduced himself with a nod. Theo turned and saw Lian "oh it's the Primal, wonder how you got into genesis cos clearly that brain of yours needs a lot of repair before becoming a genesis, i bet that you won't last a week here in genesis before you change factions."
" you know damn well that I can survive"
"As if" Theo turned to Kaela " you tell us, you think this Primal will last that long?"
" why are you saying that as if it's a bad thing?" Kaela asked Theo about addressing Lian as Primal
" he's just jealous" Iris answered
Kaela shot a look at Iris. "Jealous, Seriously?"
Iris shrugged, stuffing a piece of protein bar into her mouth. "What? Lian is a Primal, he's been in the safe place his whole life, his brain isn't in pieces nor rebooted…. He's a normal human being compared to us reboots, there's literally only few of them in this facility compared to reboots like Theo here, whom I even I'm quite unsure of how he got here in the genesis when he should've been in the vortex, he can't use his brain maybe his body is useful."
Lian chuckled. "She's not wrong, though." Theo got annoyed by iris' comment and aimed his fist at Lian.
Kaela and the others were shocked when his fist landed on Chris' palm
" that's enough Theo"
Theo smiled at Chris as he stared at him " well well, Look who came in his shiny armor to rescue another primal like himself?"
Theo turned to Kaela " see that, primals stick together against us reboots, maybe you should find your own squad before hanging around with the wrong ones"
Iris stood up and faced Theo " just what exactly is your problem?!" She asked
"Primals, primals are my problem"
He faced Chris and told him " even the ones who were rebooted for being useless in their faction" Chris turned Theo and threw a punch at him on the face, which Theo ended up falling down and everyone staring at them.
" Just because am in genesis do not forget for a moment that I've forgotten how to use my fists"
Theo smiled while Lian smirked at Theo " leave" Chris commanded, Theo stood and rub away the blood coming out of his lower lip, he faced Kaela who was shocked this whole time and told her " careful who you surround yourself with" Chris was about to throw a punch again when he was stopped by Lian.
Iris sat down with Kaela " he's a compete ass hole" she stared at Chris and smiled warmly at him " thanks Chris"
Lian also thanked him what he has done, he smiled before staring at Kaela who remained quiet this entire time and finally left them alone.
The moment he left, Amira and Rhea came running and sat beside them " well well well, early in the morning and their's already some hit, I wonder how they'll be in training"
" with the couch around I barely think they'll be anymore drama than there's already is" Amira shared her thoughts as they continued having their breakfast
" Kaela.." Lian called, Kaela stared at Lian with wide eyes before she finally responded "hmm" Lian smiled at her " don't worry, you'll get used to it"
Would she though, cos violent wasn't really her cup of tea, maybe they were correct putting her in genesis, god knows how she'd survive in vortex or Aegis. But then again
Where did Chris came from?!
She asked herself when her attention drifted elsewhere.
Across the room, sitting alone at the far end of a table, was Chris.
He was eating in silence after the commotion he caused or even ended, his expression unreadable as he methodically worked through his tray. There was something oddly controlled about the way he moved—every motion calculated, every bite precise. Unlike the others, he wasn't engaged in conversation or laughter. He simply sat there, absorbed in his own thoughts.
Kaela found herself staring.
There was an air of mystery around him that she couldn't quite shake and the question she asked yesterday returned in her mind " where did he go for a whole month in the wasteland, how did he survive?"
She couldn't get the answers she was looking for though her entire being was begging for him to tell her about it, but she sigh and continued staring at him, she thought while The others spoke of him like a legend—Genesis's golden boy, a tactical genius, a survivor of the wastelands. A Reclaimed.
And yet, here he was. Just a boy eating breakfast alone.
As if sensing her gaze, Chris suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, time seemed to stretch between them.
His dark eyes held hers, steady and unreadable. There was no immediate recognition, no flicker of familiarity—just a quiet intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
Kaela swallowed, unsure of whether to look away.
Before she could decide, Chris broke the gaze first. He turned his attention back to his tray, as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't been staring at him like an idiot.
"Kaela."
She blinked, snapping back to the present. Iris was watching her with a knowing smirk.
"What?" Kaela asked, feigning innocence.
Iris chuckled. "Nothing. Just… you're staring at Chris like he's some puzzle you're trying to solve."
Kaela scoffed, reaching for her drink. "I was just—" She paused, realizing she didn't have a valid excuse.
Amira nudged her playfully. "Don't worry. You're not the first girl to look at Chris like that."
Rhea smirked. "But you might be the first one he actually looked back at."
Kaela rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink, hoping they'd drop it.
But even as the conversation around her continued, she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever connection she had just felt with Chris—it wasn't over yet.
and into the training sector. The facility was vast, all sleek metallic corridors and glowing interface panels. She felt small in the grand design of it all.
The recruits arrived at a large circular chamber, its ceiling stretching high above with an array of hovering drones stationed along the perimeter. A group of trainers stood at the center, each one emanating an air of quiet authority. Among them, Kaela recognized one face immediately.
Chris.
He was a …. Trainer? Wasn't he chosen in this faction yesterday so… how?!
He was standing near a tall woman with silver hair tied into a sharp ponytail. His gaze flicked over the recruits, pausing briefly on Kaela before moving on. If he felt any recognition, he didn't show it.
The woman—undoubtedly the head trainer—stepped forward.
"Welcome, Genesis initiates," she said, her voice crisp and commanding. "Your training begins now. Unlike Aegis, we do not break you with physical trials. Unlike Vortex, we do not throw you into the wild. We are Genesis. We forge minds, not bodies. Your greatest weapon is your ability to think."
Kaela swallowed, feeling the weight of the words settle in her chest.
The woman continued. "You will undergo a series of tests designed to measure your ability to analyze, strategize, and lead under pressure. Some of these will be simulations. Others…" Her lips curled into something almost resembling a smile. "…will not be."
A murmur rippled through the recruits. Kaela exchanged a glance with Iris, who simply shrugged.
The woman turned to Chris. "Ryker. Explain the first trial."
Chris stepped forward, his voice smooth and even. "This exercise is called 'The Cascade.'" With a tap on his wrist panel, the chamber transformed. Holographic structures appeared, shifting into the outline of a futuristic cityscape, complete with roads, buildings, and an active data grid. "You will each be assigned a crisis scenario. Your job is to resolve it. There is no right or wrong solution—only results."
Kaela studied the cityscape, already feeling the weight of an invisible test press against her.
Chris's gaze settled on her again, just for a fraction of a second. Then he looked away.
"Let's begin."