"Please find your teammates and gather them. Your next journey will be a tour." an AI voice announced.
Everyone in ths room scattered around like pigeons chasing crumbs of bread. I waited for Shin Hayato and Cassandra to come. As I looked behind me, suddenly Cassandra drew her vibro dagger, nearly slicing my neck.
She murmured,
"I won't forget what your parents did in the past."
Then she lowered the blade.
As I took a breath, a man in his thirties came and introduced himself.
"I'm Shin Hayato, the captain of this team. I suppose this young blonde man knows who I am," he said, side-eyeing me.
I finally remembered him after seeing him again. He was the man in the doorway earlier.
While Shin Hayato continued introducing himself, I noticed Arlo hiding behind Sheng Yue. I crouched and asked him softly,
"You okay, little buddy ?"
Arlo only nodded. As I stood up, the same AI voice echoed again, instructing us to pack our stuffs. Shin Hayato waved his hand for us to move. Cassandra left first, followed by Sheng Yue and Arlo.
I sprinted through the hallway since my suitcase was still in the interview room. Just when I reached the door, Dr. Aurèle appeared, holding my suitcase,
"Searching for this ? Next time, please pay attention to your belongings. Our staff won't be responsible for your loss."
He tossed the suitcase towards me before and walked away. I hurriedly open it, checking for anything missing. But before I could fully open my suitcase, a robot suddenly jumped out and flew excitedly in circles.
It was the same robot I had fixed. Its screen lit up with a cheerful "(•ᴗ•)" before switching to :
[Technician recognized.]
Then, it pulled out a sign that definitely wasn't in my suitcase earlier.
"I'm IRIS, I'll accompany you as a reward for fixing me."
It couldn't speak, only beeping softly, but that seemed enough for me. I grabbed my suitcase and walked away with IRIS perched on my shoulder.
I regrouped with the others at the designated location. The only person who had arrived is Cassandra. I sat at the lumen bench, crossing my legs, waiting for someone to break this quiet and tense atmosphere.
"Can't believe we met again, Aléssio,"
Cassandra said, easing the tension.
I smiled,
"It really is a suprise to meet again. And how's life so far ? I assume you've been enjoying it ?"
She scoffed,
"You really know how to get on people's nerve. And if I'm right, that robot of yours is one of your dumb invention. Do I must mention—"
"Are we interrupting something ?" Sheng Yue cut in as she approached. Arlo sat beside her, exhausted from carrying all of Sheng Yue's belongings.
IRIS flew toward Arlo, greeting him with a small beep. Arlo tilted his head and poked IRIS' screen. IRIS' display flickered into an angry and annoyed "(¬_¬)" before jabbing Arlo's forehead hard and flew back to me, turning its back to him in protest.
Arlo rubbed his forehead,
"What is that thing ? It looks uglier than my father."
Sheng Yue smacked the back of Arlo's head, reminding him to respect his parents. Arlo rolled his eyes, clutched his teddy bear tightly, and mumbled something we couldn't hear. We waited 5 minutes for Shin Hayato to come.
Sheng Yue sprawled on the lumen bench beside me and groaned,
"Where is he ? Why is our captain so slow ? Shouldn't he be working as a businessman instead ? It's gonna be annoying to have someone who looks like a father bossing us aroun—"
"I beg your finest pardon ?" Shin Hayato growled. He walked towards us,carrying several items. He set them on the lumen bench, precisely between me and Sheng Yue.
"Pick your assigned equipment. The guide told me to hand them out. As for Sheng Yue... she won't get any."
Sheng Yue protested,
"Excuse you ! What do you mea-"
Shin Hayato tossed a small drone to her. It was a compact, black-matte reconnaissance drone that hovers using a silent internal propulsion system. Its angular panels shifted for balance and quick maneuvering, giving it a sharp and predatory looks. On one of its panels, there was a label read: Spectra-Y. In the center of its body, there was a single blue luminous lens that glowed like an unblinking eye, constantly scanning its surroundings.
While everyone grabbed their items, Shin Hayato handed mine to me.
It was a ChronoLume, a polished silver pocket-watch with a hidden holographic interface. Cyan rings pulsed across its surface. Normally, this object is used for scanning, storing blueprints, and keeping encrypted notes.
But this ChronoLume was unusual, there was a reset button on its interface that most ChronoLume didn't have.
I glanced at Shin Hayato who was now handing out Holotags to each of us. These Holotags identified our names and our units. I took the Holotag and looked at the unit. It was written that I was from unit 20, it wasn't suprising. There were countless units since a lot of people had passed the test.
Suddenly, the AI voice returned,
"Hello everyone. Now that you know your team and unit, I shall announced your next phase. But before the mission is revealed, Dr. Aurèle requests that all personnel return to their chamber to store your belongings. After that, regroup at the lobby. For those who chose the division of pilots, please proceed to the runway to view your assigned spacecraft."
Sheng Yue waved a good-bye and headed out. We rushed to our unit, dropping our belongings there, except for the equipment that Shin Hayato gave us.
None of us knew that our mission would be far more difficult than we expected.