"Potentiation is permanent, truth is transient…Kings are fools, and fools don't sing" - a common saying from the records of ancient mankind.
" All batch 059 trainees report to Dive Room 003 for First Dive to commence", the overhead speaker blared across the Synthesia Academy.
The halls of the academy burst into instant cheers and applause.
"Potentiation is permanent, truth is transient…Kings are fools, and fools don't sing!!!"
"POTENTIATION IS PERMANENT! TRUTH IS TRANSIENT! KINGS ARE FOOLS, FOOLS DON'T SING!!!!"
The crowded hallways sang in unison as a path was cleared through the crowd for the batch 059 trainees to walk through to Dive Room 003.
"Hey Milena, if you die during the dive, can I have your powerlock gloves? Oh and you leftover soup in your locker I saw your stash just now " fellow trainee Layka jested as the pair sauntered to Dive Room 003.
"Ayyy shut it Layka! Six years of working our asses off and a 67% chance we make it out alive during potentiation. I need to reconsider my life priorities…" Milena rolled her eyes before bursting out in self-deprecating laughter.
"Good luck and godspeed!"
"Come back as Afferents!"
"Smash your way through guys!"
The crowd of junior trainees and aspiring candidates screamed words of encouragement as batch 059 arrived at the door of Dive Room 003.
Jericho, cadet commander of batch 059 does a brief headcount before twisting open the doorknob of the room, ushering his batchmates in quickly.
With the entrance of the last trainee, the door clicks shut and the resonating voices of the crowd are drowned out by a serious, intent silence.
—
The First Dive (fondly called "Potentiation" by all trainees) is the initiation trial for all aspiring Afferents, sort of a trial-by-fire event.
Trainees looking to become full fledged "Afferents" within the Synthesia Organization first get a neural implant called the Cuneate Line before commencing their training. During potentiation, this implant is activated for the first time, sending the trainee into a full fledged neural dive.
The Cuneate Line is humanity's most revolutionary innovation of all time. Instead of sending the user into the depths of their own thoughts, it does the complete opposite by projecting thought (neural hyperspace) into its own external reality.
This is made possible by the Cuneate Line itself, which overloads the sensory command centers of the brain. In return, the overloaded sensory information is amplified as human thought and projected outwards, oscillating the elementary particles that make up reality through brain waves.
In this scenario, all input and output into the brain becomes mashed into one entity, causing a breakdown of the physical self, and all thought to be willed into existence so as to not violate the paradox.
Perception and manifestation become synonymous.
Free from the physical self, the individual then becomes a manifestation of neural energy, breaking any barriers for interacting with reality itself.
This is why by crossing fully into neural hyperspace for the first time, trainees gain a first exposure to any latent reality manipulation abilities they have. Some will exhibit the control over realities as a combative tool, while others might find themselves adept at navigating great distances through multiple realities.
In the years since the First Advent, a catastrophic event which saw the emergence of a new hostile entity called the Sentients, more and more individuals have taken up the calling to become an Afferent and fight off the hostile Sentients.
—
Back in Dive Room 003, the team is given a final briefing and equipment checks for the upcoming dive are performed. Milena watched as the rest of her batchmates from Batch 059 took up their positions in their respective dive machines and strapped in one by one.
Final hugs were exchanged and firm handshakes sealed the promise of a reunion. But this was no tearful scene. Every trainee had a clear goal. Survive and become an Afferent to protect humanity.
"Good luck Layka, see you on the other side!", yelled Jericho, one of the trainees, before the color went from his eyes and his body disintegrated into neural hyperspace.
"Ah you idiot, there IS no other side to see you on!" Layka grimaced in a half nervous smile, before she too disappeared into neural space.
"Trainee #012 Milena, you are up. Remember, if you land in an infested reality, do not panic. Generate body atmosphere first. Then find a safe zone to experiment with your new abilities. May you survive potentiation. Good luck and godspeed" Jakob, the lead trainer gives Milena a final brief before commencing the dive.
A series of rhythmic taps on the monitor of the dive machine and the seat Milena is strapped in starts to recline slowly. As the reactor core whirs to life within the machine, a throbbing headache in the centre top of Milena's head starts to increase in intensity.
Milena could feel tiny electrical shocks radiating from the source of this headache, traveling through neurons into her spine and extremities. An uplifting sensation washes over her and a sense of euphoria sets in.
She felt like she could do anything in the world with her willpower alone.
The final flashes of light from the brightly lit dive room flicker across Milena's eyes and all she hears are the words "potentiation is permanent" echoing in her head before she finally passes out into neural space…
—