As warm water ran over him, Scott thought to himself
" I stood there, water dripping off my face, thinking back to the hollow days, the ones where I didn't leave my room, didn't talk, didn't feel. Just games, food, and a life wasting away, stuck, invisible to the world."
" NEVER AGAIN "
Scott muttered as running water trickled down his face.
After his shower, he dried off, ran a comb through his hair, and stood before the mirror.
The face staring back felt unfamiliar — tired eyes, hollowed cheeks, a stranger shaped by depression and neglect.
--He cracked a faint smile, just enough to catch a glimpse of the person he used to be in the reflection.
After getting dressed, he turned to leave — then paused.
His room was still a disaster. With a quiet sigh, he rolled up his sleeves, tidied up, and ordered the housekeep-bot to dispose of the trash.
"Scott!" Why are you late?
his mother called from the hallway,
She comes out of the hallway,with a hand on her hip, brow raised
I ordered some food, thinking you'd come out early."
She continued.
Sorry, Mom... I was just arranging my room,"
He replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
She squinted at him.
"Why didn't you use the housekeep-bot?"
"Yeah, you know... I just wanted to do some cardio. Get my bones moving,"
Scott replied, trying to sound casual
"Aww, that's so sweet. I thought you were doing something else…"
She winked.
"You know what I mean, haha!"
"Mum!"
Scott groaned.
"Oh, come on! Can't a girl crack a joke? You know this is how I got your father!"
"Yeah, yeah… you've said that like a hundred times."
"Relax, sweetheart. I'm just teasing,"
She said, placing a hand on his shoulder as she walked past toward the kitchen.
"Come eat. The food's getting cold, and I made your favorite".
Scott sighed, following behind her
"Scott, I've scanned the documents… and they seem pretty real.
His mother said quietly, handing the file to him across the table.
Scott took the folder without a word, flipping through the pages.
Military insignias. Clearance codes. A passkey with his name burned into it. All stamped, certified, and official.
His stomach tightened.
"I'm sure it's just a mistake,he muttered, eyes still on the file. He tried to keep his tone light, but it came out thin brittle.
He pushed the papers aside and focused on his food instead
His mother didn't press. But her eyes lingered on him, quiet and searching.
After eating, Scott waved his mom goodbye and left for Protocol. This was the first time he had left his house since last year.
The moment he stepped outside, a wave of fresh air hit his face, unlike the rancid stench he'd inhaled in his room for months.
He watched the rush of different people different races, species, lives going about
their lives — and it made him feel… nostalgic and a little bit Alive.
But the feeling faded just as quickly, and his mood sank back down,
"Huh, imagine something I did my whole life suddenly got this hard."
He noticed the people passing were starting to stare at him. Then it hit him — he'd developed a habit of talking to himself...
then it hit him — he had developed a habit of talking to himself after being a hermit for so long. He looked around. People were staring.
Embarrassed, he hurried to the teleporter, with a shaky hand, entered his passkey, hoping the call-up letter hadn't been a prank.
"Where's the location, kid?" the gateman asked.
"Protocol,"
Scott said sheepishly.
"Whoaaa, so you're one of *those*?"
The gate man asked curiously.
"It's nothing."
Scott mumbled.
"Bro, stop being humble! That's impressive. It's okay to brag a little!"
People walking by began overhearing them, and a small crowd started to form.
"Yo, is he an Academy member?"
"Did he pass the Protocol test?"
"Isn't that like, *super* hard?"
They started whispering.
"Please open the gate and enter the location."
Scott said, trying to escape the attention.
"Oh! Sorry, sir,"
The gateman said, snapping to attention.
*BZZZZT!!!*
The gate buzzed open. Scott stepped through. As the light engulfed him, the gateman shouted,
"Please don't forget me when you become a NANO SOLDIER!!!"
Scott smiled awkwardly and muttered
"Sure"
As he vanished into the light.
He opened his eyes.
He was standing in a new location — a sprawling futuristic city. In the center stood a massive building, towering like a fortress.
All around it, men, women, and aliens were engaged in physical training. Ships flew overhead, buzzing like insects.
Others were running drills, assembling gear, and shouting orders.
Scott took it all in — the noise, the movement, the sheer scale.
A year ago, he couldn't even leave his room.
Now… he stood at the gates of something bigger than himself.
Maybe, just maybe, this was his second chance.
He wasn't sure what the feeling was... but all he knows is that it wasn't fear. Not this time.
The place felt like a military zone — a proper barracks. Soldiers moved everywhere, each clad in distinct uniforms representing different units.
Scott turned to the nearby gate officer and asked.
"Where am I?".
The officer gave him a once-over, looking slightly amused.
" He's probably just excited. "
The man thought.
"Well"
He said, his voice rough and seasoned,
"Welcome to Protocol City. And that big building in the center? That's Protocol."
He pointed toward the massive structure.
"And that's where you'll be trained to become a NANO SOLDIER.