The car's sleek body cut through the mist-laden air as it ascended the mountainous terrain, the narrow road winding like a serpent through the lush, green canopy. Massive trees loomed on both sides, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze, untouched by the modern world. The car's engine, a fusion of the latest electric and quantum technology, purred almost silently, its polished exterior reflecting the vibrant greenery as it sped forward.
Inside the car, John sat in silence, his brown hair slightly tousled from the journey, his pale face calm and unreadable. His eyes, an unusual shade of grey, flicked across the landscape outside the window.
Beside him, Kevin's grip tightened on the steering wheel. His gaze would frequently dart toward John, a flicker of unease in his expression. John's presence was unsettling, not because of anything he had done but because of what he was capable of. Kevin couldn't shake the feeling that at any moment, something could happen—something he wasn't prepared for.
The car approached a wide clearing, where a massive circular structure stood, partially hidden by the dense trees around it. The structure was a portal station, one of many scattered across the frontier worlds. Unlike the bustling, heavily-trafficked portals in the cities, this one was remote, hidden in a preserved forest zone where few ventured. The government had restricted access to this area decades ago, preserving it as a natural habitat. Only a handful of families had the privilege of living here, and Kevin's family had managed to secure one of those rare permits.
As the car slowed to a stop, Kevin exhaled quietly, trying to ease the tension in his chest. He stepped out first, his boots sinking slightly into the soft earth. Ahead, a lone figure stood near the portal's control panel, a small, handheld monitor in his grip. He was the only other person around, which wasn't surprising given the isolation of the area.
The man looked up as Kevin approached, his expression neutral but professional. Behind him, the towering portal ring remained dormant, its sleek metal surface dull in the low light. Kevin could feel the hum of dormant energy from the portal, waiting to be activated. John emerged from the car, moving with a kind of fluid grace that drew the man's gaze for a moment before he returned to his task.
"This is a restricted zone," the man said, his voice clipped. "I'll need to verify your identities before proceeding."
Kevin nodded and handed over their identification. He watched nervously as the man ran the data through his scanner, glancing occasionally at John. The false identity he had crafted for John was flawless—at least on paper. Officially, John was an orphan from a distant colony, his past erased, his future carefully fabricated. Kevin had ensured that John's identity would be untraceable to his family. He couldn't afford to link John's actions to them—especially not with the risks involved.
It hadn't been easy. The federal government kept close tabs on the creation of new identities, especially ones as sensitive as those coming from orphanages. Kevin's connections had made it possible, The federal government would not be concerned as long as each citizen possessed only one ID card. They would allow it without issue, as their primary requirement is that every citizen must have an identification. They would also verify the address and background of each ID card, though not too rigorously. However, if a single biometric record were linked to two ID cards, they would prioritize the case and arrest the individual involved.
The scanner beeped, breaking the silence. The man nodded, satisfied. "Everything checks out. Follow me."
Kevin breathed a sigh of relief as they were led toward the portal. The man tapped a series of commands into his monitor, and moments later, a capsule car slid silently along the track toward them. It was sleek and futuristic, its silver surface gleaming even in the dim light of the forest.
They boarded without a word, and the capsule sealed itself with a soft hiss, its interior quiet and sterile. Kevin sat tensely beside John, who stared at the large, dormant portal in front of them. As the capsule moved forward, the circular ring that had been lifeless moments before began to hum with power. The metal frame vibrated softly, and the air around it seemed to shimmer.
A low buzzing noise filled the air, growing louder as the portal activated. The once-silent structure now buzzed with life, a dark void forming at its center. To Kevin, it looked like an abyss—black and impenetrable, as though it could swallow them whole. He swallowed nervously, trying not to show his discomfort.
John, however, seemed unfazed. His grey eyes locked onto the portal, but his expression remained calm. What Kevin couldn't know was that John wasn't seeing the same black void as everyone else. To him, the portal was translucent, a shimmering veil through which he could see every place it connected to. It was as though he was looking through the fabric of space itself, his mind processing information that no one else could comprehend.
John didn't say anything, though. He had always assumed that everyone could see the things he saw, that his ability to perceive the world beyond the world was normal. In his silence, he allowed Kevin to think the portal was just a means to travel—a tool, nothing more.
The capsule shot forward, passing through the portal's dark center. For a moment, the world outside seemed to blur, reality warping around them. Then, with a jarring snap, the capsule emerged on the other side.
The portal on this side was different. Far larger, far more active. Thousands of capsules moved in and out every second, the sound of humming engines and buzzing machinery filling the air. They had arrived at one of the major hub stations—a sprawling metropolis of technology and transportation. The structure here dwarfed the remote portal they had come from, its massive ring towering overhead, illuminated by neon lights and glowing energy conduits.
The capsule doors slid open, and Kevin stepped out, his gaze quickly scanning the bustling terminal. They were no longer alone. Crowds of travelers moved in every direction, their voices blending into a low hum of chatter. Kevin felt a sense of urgency now, aware that they were just two faces in a sea of strangers. He quickly hailed a taxi—a sleek, automated vehicle that hovered silently above the ground.
"Orion Frontier High," he said to the vehicle's system as they climbed inside.
As the taxi took off, Kevin glanced at John, who was still staring out the window, his expression distant. The journey to Orion Frontier High, an academy at the edge of human expansion, was just beginning. And Kevin couldn't shake the feeling that whatever awaited them there would change their lives forever.