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A faint chime echoed through the sterile walls of Room 99, signaling the passing of time. Riley's eyes flicked open, sharp and alert, he had been awake long before the sound. The clock on the holo-interface blinked 6:30. Right on schedule.
The weight of the previous day settled over him, lingering like a half-forgotten dream. He sat up slowly, his mind replaying his brief interaction with Jade. The boy was sharp—he could tell. Observant, cautious. But more than that, Jade seemed... genuine.
Ally. The word floated in his mind, heavier than it should've been. Could he afford to be making friends here? Or was he just setting himself up for a weakness?
He shook the thought away. There was no time for doubts. Not now.
A soft, artificial voice crackled through the built-in speakers hidden in the walls.
"All recruits, please make your way to Training Hall Gamma by 6:55."
Riley's brow furrowed. The voice was female, calm, and devoid of any warmth, like it had been tuned to be just pleasant enough without betraying a trace of humanity.
"Please dress into your uniforms placed in your wardrobes."
Riley pushed himself off the bed, walking toward the wardrobe embedded into the wall. It slid open with a low hum, revealing the uniform inside—sleek, night black with running patterns of neon aqua streaking down the sleeves and legs, glowing faintly. The fabric felt smooth, almost weightless, but there was something underneath the surface—like energy, woven into every thread.
He traced a finger along the glowing lines.
This is the beginning.
The project.
The screening.
He knew what he could do—all he had to do now was perform.
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By 6:40, Riley was already making his way down the endless corridors. The walls reflected the soft blue light like mirrored steel, stretching on into the distance. The air was unnervingly still, like the entire facility was holding its breath.
He wanted to see the others—observe them before they noticed him. Information was leverage, and right now, leverage was the only advantage he could carve out for himself.
When he entered Training Hall Gamma, he was surprised to find nearly forty recruits already gathered. The room was massive—walls of pure white steel, a marble floor polished to a mirror sheen. A projector loomed overhead, its lens dark and lifeless for now.
Riley's looked around the crowd. Clusters of alliances were already forming. Some recruits exchanging hushed words, others simply gravitating toward one another out of silent, mutual agreement. A few stood apart, keeping their heads low, while others scanned the room just as keenly as Riley was.
Hunters.
Observers.
Threats.
He made his way to a far corner, settling into the shadows where the walls met. Alone. Unseen.
A familiar figure slipped into his peripheral vision—tall, lean, with sharp grey eyes that flicked toward him like a knife.
Jade.
He settled down next to Riley, offering a small nod. "You're early."
"Could say the same to you."
Jade's lips twitched—half a smile. "Figured I'd get a look at the competition. What do you think?"
Riley's gaze swept over the room again. "Not quite sure."
A pause hung between them. Then, quieter—just low enough to avoid any listening ears—Jade asked, "You trust any of them?"
Riley's eyes narrowed. Not even you.
"Haven't decided yet." Said Riley.
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At exactly 6:55, the overhead projector whirred to life. A screen flickered into view, casting geometric patterns across the walls. The same female voice from before filled the room.
"Welcome, Vectors. The Screening begins now."
The term settled uneasily in the air. Vectors. like they'd already been reduced to something less than human.
"Project Echelon is not merely a test of strength. It is a refinement of mind, body, and will. Your performance will determine your future within this initiative... or your removal from it."
The recruits shifted uneasily. Riley caught the careful phrasing.
Removal. Not failure. Not disqualification. Removal.
The voice continued. "The first phase will consist of physical aptitude trials. Points will be awarded based on performance. Sparring matches will follow—three victories are required to pass. The scoring system is as follows: one point for a clean strike, three points for a knockdown."
The screen flickered again, displaying the scoring rules alongside the phrase:
Adapt. Endure. Overcome.
Riley's fists clenched at his sides.
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The next two hours passed in a blur of sweat and motion. Fitness tests. Endurance. Resistance. Stamina. Relentless repetition until bodies ached and lungs burned.
But the sparring was where Riley thrived.
His first opponent was the same recruit he'd clashed with at the meeting point—stocky, heavy-handed, too predictable. Riley dismantled him without breaking a sweat, finishing the match with a clean counter kick that sent the boy crashing to the floor.
4-0.
Match after match, Riley tore through. Not once did he let a strike land on him—his movements razor sharp, honed by years of hybrid Muay Thai and Taekwondo. The other recruits watched him differently now, not just as another participant, but as something to fear.
By the time he claimed his third victory, he'd earned his pass.
Even the Tenzashi administrators took notice—silent figures standing along the edges of the hall, their cold eyes watching everything.
Jade finished shortly after. His style was slick, bobbing and weaving, darting in and out with swift strikes. Not as overwhelming as Riley, but just as effective.
When the session ended, the projector flicked on once more.
"Congratulations, Vectors. Your journey has begun."
The voice was hollow, like the words were nothing more than procedure.
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Riley found Jade lingering by the edge of the hall, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Not bad," Jade muttered. "That counter kick... flashy, but clean."
Riley smirked. "Your weaving's slick. Wouldn't be easy landing a hit on you."
Jade's grin flicked wider. "Good thing we're not fighting each other."
Yet.
They shared a small fist bump, the gesture barely more than a whisper of trust.
On the way back to the dorms, the sound of distant voices caught their ears—low murmurs echoing through the corridor.
Riley slowed. Jade did too.
"...survival ratio..."
"...they aren't prepared..."
"You know what happened with the last batch."
Riley and Jade exchanged a sharp look.
Previous selections.
They crept forward, but by the time they rounded the corner, the hallway was empty. No sign of anyone.
As if the voices had never been there at all.
Riley's pulse quickened.
They weren't the first.
And whatever happened to the last group... no one wanted them to know.
Neither said a word on the way back.
When they reached Riley's dorm, Jade hesitated in the doorway.
"You heard it too, right?" he finally asked.
Riley nodded. "Yeah."
"So we're not crazy."
"No we aren't."
Jade leaned against the doorframe, arms folded. "They gotta be hiding something. I bet half the things we do here are all being recorded."
Riley stayed silent. His eyes flicked toward the wall screen, still displaying the system standby glyph. Watching.
"Night bro, try get some rest" Jade said lightly, but there was no humor in his voice.
He turned to leave.
"Jade," Riley called.
He stopped.
"If this gets worse…"
Jade didn't turn back. "Then we get stronger."
The door hissed shut behind him.