"Please watch your step as you exit the train," sounded the automated public announcement speaker.
The second level of Arioton was a city in and of itself. Industrial facilities were spread throughout the platform, and clusters of commercial and residential buildings stood out in the distance before giving way to the gas giant that made up the background. The smell of food and ionized air that normally greeted new arrivals tickled Anton's nose. The same super-silicate canopy design from the third level ensured that all the streets had a sealed-in atmosphere. The levels below the canopy consisted of garages and entrances, with the actual buildings constructed above the canopy, and used a reinforced, airtight design while keeping a glass exterior.
Anton continued to follow the walkways with Heydar following until the pair arrived at a building with the League's insignia. Above the canopy, the transparent frame of the building was made of a double layer of the same super-silicate and was framed with nanotube-reinforced titanium support beams. An exceptionally sturdy building for a harsh environment.
"Reminds me of Nindurn," Anton said.
"The building?" Heydar asked.
The two heard the clattering of canisters behind them and turned to see Kevin with a male civilian apologizing for spilling soup on him. His rig was stained and a couple noodles were hanging off of his arm and elbow guards. He brushed off the noodles and waved off the civilian before catching up to them.
"I take it you're here for a test too?" Anton asked.
"Mine was supposed to happen two years ago," Kevin responded. "They had to postpone it several dozen times." He brought out a rag and cleaned off the rest of the broth still dripping from his armor. "So what were you all talking about? Nindurn?"
"Yeah, Anton said the building reminds him of Nindurn," Heydar said.
Kevin looked up to the building and gazed for a few seconds before nodding.
"I agree. Back in Nindurn, we had to use that exact same design just to withstand the hurricanes there. And there was a thicker atmosphere. Anton, you ever do that exercise where you run through the storm moving cover to cover?"
"Yeah, some of the particular gusts felt like I got shoved down by someone else," Anton answered.
"So this particular world is used for military training in harsh environments?" Heydar asked.
"Indeed. In fact, the top brass back home considered it ideal."
"You think I should visit?"
"No, not unless you want to complain about how you can't see anything because it's always dark and raining from the cloud cover."
"Fair enough. Let's head inside."
The trio then walked into the entrance and were greeted by two Zeshani security guards. Then they were guided into an elevator and taken up to the thirteenth floor. Anton already had a bad gut feeling.
When the doors opened, they stepped into a hallway with a wall on the left and windows to the right, giving a decent view of the city's residential buildings up until the view reached the edge of the astropolis, after which, the gas giant seemed to always take up the background. Anton was somewhat hoping to see some stars. They were led down the hall before stopping at a metal door with a hand scanner off to the side. One of the guards swiped a card across, letting the door unlock and open with a hiss and the cranking of gears.
Inside was a room full of equipment and monitors, and at the center was a platform with a torus-shaped structure, seemingly appearing to have no distortion and every inch of it's surface chromed. A male scientist with blond hair and green eyes walked up and called Anton over first.
"Alright, step onto the platform. If you need to sit, feel free to sit there as well. It won't interfere with the test."
Anton did as he was told, and the scientist spoke up again.
"Alright, just a few questions for the registry before we begin. Your full name?"
"Anton Volante."
"Age?"
"Twenty-three years."
"Huh, would've mistaken him for eighteen," Heydar spoke as the scientist continued.
"Gender?"
"That should be obvious," Anton answered with a snarky tone. Heydar suppressed a giggle while the scientist sighed.
"Alright, male. Nation of citizenship?"
"Alzitor Republic."
"Alright. Sending to the registry. Sir, we can begin the test."
Another scientist with an armband nodded and a third scientist began typing commands for calibration. Then they gave the command to begin, and the torus began spinning until it reached a speed of thirty revolutions per minute. Since he was told it would take a couple hours, he sat down with his legs crossed and closed his eyes to meditate, if only to pass the time.
"Beginning scan in three, two, one."
----------
"Anton? Hey, Anton!"
Anton opened his eyes and looked up to see Heydar and the scientist. Kevin wasn't in the room, likely waiting outside.
"Scan's finished, you may step off now."
"How long has it been?" Anton asked.
"Just over an hour," Heydar answered. "Guess they made some workarounds in the software. It's not easy figuring out how to use black box tech."
"What, it runs on magic?"
"Hmm... maybe. Not entirely sure, but I've seen some people use magic in my time in the Dimension."
"What, like the illusion magic tricks, or the deck of cards?"
"No. Actual, legit, from-the-mind-and-soul magic. And tech based off of it."
"You're kidding."
Heydar stared at Anton with a straight face.
"... You're not kidding. So magic exists."
Anton got up and followed Heydar out of the room while Kevin went in.
"Yeah, I was as confused as you were the first time my old squad told me," Heydar continued, "Didn't believe it until they showed me a sacred geometry rune that promoted health and restored a kid's crippled leg."
"And is this Metaphysical Compatibility Test going to show if I can use magic?" Anton asked.
"You don't need to see it. If you come from the regions that don't have magic, chances are you don't have magic either. Doesn't stop you from learning it, however."
"Things are just going to get weirder, aren't they?"
"That, I can definitely guarantee. There's all sorts of things we might never understand."
"Looks like I'm gonna have to stick to the expedition motto."
"And what would that be?"
Anton stood up, and in overly dramatic fashion with a baritone voice, spoke, "Prepare yourself, and confront the unknown."
Heydar got a good laugh out of it. The door opened and Kevin came out as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Ahh... that was uneventful," Kevin said, "Which is a good thing considering my luck."
"Don't jinx it," Heydar responded.
Suddenly the scientist ran out, clearly nervous about something.
"Never mind. You jinxed it."
"For the love of Planck..." Kevin responded.
"A-A-A-Anton V-Volante, your readings-"
"Calm down, and breathe," Heydar said as he grabbed the scientist by the shoulders and held him still. "What about Volante?"
"These..." The scientist paused to take a few large breaths, "These readings are off the charts! His compatibility... tech, weapons, potential interactions with black box devices... his compatibility is so perfect that it's as if he was someone... or something... made using metatechnology."
"Are you sure?" Heydar asked firmly. "This isn't something to joke around about. Entire nations have been destroyed in wars over the possession of metatechnology."
"Y-Yes, we're sure! I-I-I'll send a copy!"
The scientist began to frantically type on his touchpad, and a chart appeared on Anton and Heydar's holograms.
"What in Oblivion..." Heydar whispered.
The statistics were maxed out in all potential forms. It was a clear sign that whatever caused Anton to have such a broken chart, it wasn't natural. Heydar closed his hologram and looked over to Anton, giving a nervous chuckle.
"Guess you really are the chosen one."
"Ugh... don't you start making jokes already," Anton responded. "I already have this broken static chart thrown in my face as-"
Anton stopped when he noticed something in the distance getting brighter. Heydar and Kevin turned to look as well. Out in the distance, an expanding ball of flame shined brightly, quickly joined by several others. Clustered flashes of light signaled the arrival of a fleet. Illuminated in the middle was a capital ship, a battlecruiser teal in color and approaching. Alarms went off as tracers filled the empty space.
"We need to go, now!" Heydar shouted.
Just as the three started running, Anton glanced out the corner of his eye and noticed the electric flash of purple from the battlecruiser's bow.
"Get down!"
Then everything went black.