The conference room was impossibly sleek, its glass walls refracting sunlight into faint geometric patterns on the polished floor. The five recruits sat in tense silence, each occupying a carefully chosen spot around the oval table, as though the right seat might shield them from whatever lay ahead.
Penny Wiseman fidgeted with the hem of her hoodie, her restless energy bleeding into the room. Leonard Bateman sat straight-backed, projecting an air of seriousness, though his darting eyes gave him away.
Sheldon Vorhees, slouched in his chair, looked mildly annoyed, while Howard Lecter busied himself inspecting the room's cutting-edge tech. Raj Torrance leaned back with crossed arms, his guarded expression betraying more curiosity than defiance.
The door slid open, and Jin walked in. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Penny stiffened, her hands freezing mid-fidget. Leonard adjusted his glasses but avoided Jin's gaze. Sheldon's slouch became slightly less pronounced.
"Good, you're all here," Jin said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. He gave the group a brief, assessing glance that made the recruits seem even younger than they were.
"Y-you're…" Penny started, then hesitated, glancing at Raj as if for support.
"Yes," Jin said flatly, cutting her off without waiting to hear the question. "I'm the one who found you all. And yes, I probably know more about you than you'd like."
That didn't seem to calm anyone's nerves.
A second figure followed Jin into the room, his casual stride in stark contrast to Jin's disciplined presence. Alex Han walked in wearing his signature mix of formal and laid-back—jeans, sneakers, and a blazer over a graphic t-shirt that read "Beta is the new Alpha." His easy smile was as disarming as the recruits' apprehension was palpable.
"Good morning, everyone," Alex said, his tone warm but businesslike. "Thank you for being here. I know the past few weeks have been... unusual for you all. But you're here now, and that's what matters."
The recruits exchanged wary glances.
"As Jin may have told you—or not—you've been chosen for this project because each of you has a talent that's unmatched. Sheldon, Howard, Raj, Penny, Leonard—you're the brightest minds of your generation. And that's not just flattery. What we're building here will change the world."
Sheldon raised an eyebrow. "Change the world how?"
Alex smiled, as though he'd been waiting for the question. "Virtual Reality. Not the half-baked stuff you see in games today. We're talking full immersion—a system that seamlessly blends the virtual and the real. Entertainment is just the beginning. Healthcare, military training, robotics—the applications are endless."
Howard leaned forward, his skepticism plain. "That's ambitious. And the ByteMark stuff we've been hearing about? Is that part of it?"
"It's a cover," Alex admitted. "A distraction for the regulators, the media, and anyone else who might pry too deeply. While they're focused on ByteMark, we'll be developing the most advanced VR system in existence."
The recruits' reactions ranged from intrigue to outright disbelief.
"Why us?" Raj asked finally. "You could've hired veterans in the field—people with experience. Why gamble on a bunch of kids?"
Alex met Raj's gaze, his expression suddenly serious. "Because veterans come with baggage. Old ideas. Limits. I don't want people who think inside the box, Raj—I want the ones who don't even know the box exists."
Jin leaned against the wall, watching the exchange with faint amusement. "Besides," he added dryly, "you were a lot easier to track down."
That earned a few uneasy chuckles.
"Track down?" Penny asked, glancing nervously at Jin.
Jin smirked. "Oh, don't worry. It's not like I had to chase you halfway across the galaxy. This time."
The recruits froze.
Sheldon frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Jin said with a shrug. "Just making conversation."
The casual delivery did nothing to ease their nerves. Penny glanced at Raj, whispering, "What does he mean by this time?"
"Penny," Alex interjected, his tone light but firm, "don't overthink it. Jin likes to mess with people—it's practically a hobby."
The recruits nodded uncertainly, though the unease lingered. Jin's expression remained inscrutable, his smirk suggesting he knew far more than he was letting on.
"Now," Alex continued, shifting the focus back to the room, "you're here because I believe in what each of you can do. But this isn't just about talent. It's about vision. What we're building isn't just a product—it's a revolution."
The room settled as Alex began outlining their roles and responsibilities, but Jin's offhand remark about the galaxy hung in the air like a stray thread in an otherwise seamless narrative.
Alex clapped his hands together as he wrapped up his introduction. "Alright, that's enough for today. Alice will show you around, get you settled, and make sure you have everything you need to hit the ground running."
The recruits looked visibly relieved at the mention of someone other than Jin taking charge of their orientation.
The sleek door opened as if on cue, and Alice entered with her usual no-nonsense demeanor. She was impeccably dressed, her glasses perched on the bridge of her nose giving her the air of someone who could organize chaos with a glance.
"Everyone, this is Alice, my right hand when it comes to running this place," Alex said. "She's the one who'll make sure your first day isn't a complete disaster. Alice, meet the team."
Alice offered the recruits a curt nod. "Follow me. We'll start with your workstations and move on to the labs."
The recruits shuffled out, some throwing hesitant glances at Jin, who had returned to his habitual position by the wall, arms crossed, radiating quiet intensity.
Once the recruits were gone, Alex turned to Alice. "Also, let Jason and Sophie know I need to see them in my office about the budget. Let's aim for twenty minutes."
Alice gave a quick nod. "On it."
—--
Alex dismissed Jason and Sophie with a nod of thanks, watching the door slide shut behind them. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep breath.
"So," Alex started, looking at Jin. "What was that galaxy comment all about? You had the recruits practically looking for escape hatches."
Jin smirked faintly, moving to the window, his back to Alex. "They'll survive. Besides, it's not like I said anything untrue."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Untrue? Care to elaborate?"
Jin turned back to face him, his expression neutral but his tone edged with something heavier. "You really want to talk about it? Fine. Let's talk about him—your little stowaway."
The AeroPhone in Alex's pocket buzzed. He recognized the telltale prickling sensation in his ears—a sign Kofi was about to make an entrance.
"Him has a name," Kofi interjected, his voice tinged with mock indignation. As Alex's AeroPhone lit up, one side of his headphones morphed into Kofi's familiar glowing visage. "Nice to see you too, Jin. Or do you prefer 'taciturn enforcer' these days?"
Jin's eyes narrowed at the sight of Kofi. "Still not used to that," he muttered, shaking his head. "You realize how much trouble this thing could cause if anyone else saw it?"
Alex spread his hands, leaning back in his chair. "Relax. Kofi's my problem, not yours. What's the issue here?"
Jin crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Kofi. "The issue is that he's not just 'your problem.' He's making moves—nudging things, giving orders, and keeping secrets. You might think you're running the show here, but Kofi's got his own plans."
Kofi's grin widened, his glowing face bobbing slightly. "Oh, Jin. Always so suspicious. I thought we were building trust."
Jin ignored the comment, addressing Alex instead. "The galaxy stuff? That was a warning. Your 'partner' here is involved in things bigger than you or me, and he's been pushing boundaries lately. You're not in control, Alex—you're a piece on his board."
"Hey," Alex shot back, his voice sharper now. "Kofi's not K-O51. He's here because of me—because we're trying to fix things. If you're going to make accusations, at least aim them at the right version."
Kofi sighed dramatically. "Wow, Alex. Thanks for the glowing endorsement. But Jin isn't wrong about one thing—time waits for no one. Not even us. You might want to pick up the pace before it all collapses."
Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. "You know, you could've just sent me an email instead of hijacking my office with cryptic warnings."
Jin snorted, his smirk returning. "Wouldn't have had the same flair. Besides, it's better you hear this now. Kofi—whatever version of him he is—doesn't make idle comments."
Kofi tilted his head, his digital glow dimming slightly. "Glad someone appreciates my sense of timing."
Jin leaned closer, his tone dropping. "Just think about it, Alex. The people you're bringing together, the projects you're starting—they're not random. Kofi's been steering you in certain directions, whether you see it or not. Ask yourself why."
The room fell silent, Kofi's glow fading back into Alex's headphones. Alex leaned back in his chair, staring at Jin, his mind racing.
"Great," Alex muttered under his breath. "Another thing to keep me up at night."