The sleek conference room fell into stunned silence as Rachael concluded her presentation. The holographic displays flickered off, leaving only the harsh fluorescent lighting to illuminate the faces of the board members. Their expressions ranged from skepticism to barely concealed fear.
"Are you sure you set the trials to max?" Rogor's voice carried his usual condescension, his perfectly pressed suit a stark contrast to his disheveled hair – evidence of hours spent watching the simulation feeds.
Rachael's heels clicked sharply against the polished floor as she turned to face him. Her lab coat swished with the movement, the dream keeper insignia catching the light. "This was the most gruesome trial ever, Rogor." Her voice carried an edge of steel. "We set a hybrid for them. The most that has ever been done was a marine animal. These kids haven't just survived – they've proven their strength and ability."
From the corner, a dismissive snort. "Psst, it's just a fake experience anyway," muttered one of the younger board members, his holographic name tag identifying him as Dr. Chen.
Stanley's eyes flashed dangerously. "I don't care what you all think. The director and I have seen the potential in these kids." She turned her gaze directly to Rogor, then to Mr. Patel, who sat uncomfortably in his expensive chair. "Or would you prefer your daughter, Mr. Rogor, or your son, Mr. Patel, to suffer eternally from the shackles? Then by all means, find other solutions." Her words hung in the air like ice. "Because we all know only three dream keepers survived the last incident. Our hands are full, so if you'll please excuse us."
Her exit was punctuated by the soft whoosh of the automatic doors, leaving behind a room full of chastened board members.
Meanwhile, in the medical wing, consciousness returned slowly to the four teenagers. The sterile white room was a stark contrast to the warehouse of their shared experience. The soft beeping of monitoring equipment created a steady rhythm as they stirred from their month-long slumber.
Asher was the first to attempt standing, his legs trembling like a newborn colt's. The medical pod had kept his muscles from atrophying, but his body still needed to remember how to move. The synthetic fabric of the medical senery felt foreign against his skin.
Derek blinked rapidly, his politician's son composure momentarily shattered as he gripped the sides of his pod. Yuno's researcher's instincts were already kicking in as he examined the equipment around her, while Kira remained silent, her copper hair tangled from the neural interface sensors.
"The director will be with you shortly," announced a crisp voice from the doorway. A team of officials in pristine uniforms stood ready. "For the meantime, you will be escorted each to freshen up."
Before any of them could form words with their unused voices, before they could process the jarring transition from their shared nightmare to this clinical reality, they were being led away. Their wobbling steps echoed down separate corridors, each supported by an official.
The simulation might have been "fake," as Dr. Chen had dismissed it, but the changes it had wrought in them were very real. Their interfaces still glowed in their minds, their weapons still felt like phantom limbs, and somewhere in their consciousness, the mystery boxes still pulsed with unknown potential.
In her private office, the director watched their vital signs on multiple screens, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The Academy's newest recruits had survived far more than a simple test – they'd survived the impossible. And soon, they would learn just how real their experience had been.
On the other side of the facility, what seemed like a dorm emerged before them. Asher's eyes lit up as he observed his new surroundings, his journalist's instinct cataloging every detail. This was more than what he'd bargained for. The sleek stairs curved elegantly upward, divided by rich, homey-looking furniture on the ground floor that formed what appeared to be a common room. Leather sofas in deep browns and burgundies created intimate seating areas, while warm lighting cast a welcoming glow across polished hardwood floors.
The first floor presented itself differently, with large, imposing doors standing sentinel along the corridors. They moved quickly past, ascending to the second and highest floor. At the very end of the hallway was a seemingly darker room, set apart from the others by its location and appearance.
The official guiding Asher spoke for the first time, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet hallway. "This is your room. Get ready. If you are needed, the alarm will go off."
"But I don't have my clothes," Asher's voice carried a note of uncertainty.
The official's response was swift and mechanical. "All you need is within this door, and your belongings from your apartment have been brought." Before Asher could express gratitude, the official vanished down the hallway, footsteps fading into silence.
Kira, usually observant, moved through the space in a daze, following her female official without her typical curiosity. Her room revealed itself in washed-up pink and gold hues, spacious and elegant. A king-sized bed dominated one wall, while a standing mirror reflected the warm light.
The dresser beside it gleamed with a subtle sheen, and a walk-in closet housed all her necessities. By the window, which stretched from floor to ceiling, sat a cushioned window seat with a clock mounted nearby and a bed lamp casting soft illumination. The bathroom occupied the left side, with a desk positioned at its far end.
Derek found his room to be as sleek as his former living quarters, perhaps even more so. He sank onto the bed, admiring surroundings that mirrored Kira's in layout but differed in color scheme – his featured cool grays and deep blues, reflecting his more reserved personality.
Yuno, true to his upbringing, began with a yoga session. His Asian heritage and temple upbringing manifested in this ritual, believing it would usher in good fortune. His room, though identical in structure, carried subtle touches of his cultural background in its decorative elements.
Asher settled onto his bed, minutes ticking by as his mind replayed the encounter with the creature. Questions multiplied in his thoughts, but he decided to reserve them for the mysterious Stanley. The walk-in closet revealed itself to be fully stocked, and beside it, a suitcase containing his personal belongings – his headphones a tangible reminder of his former life with podcasts.
After a refreshing bath, he dressed in new clothes, the unfamiliar luxury making him feel slightly uncomfortable. His contemplation was interrupted by an invisible alarm, its message clear and commanding:
"Each person assemble in the theatre in 30 minutes. You will be addressed."
The sound echoed through each of their rooms, marking the beginning of whatever came next in their unexpected journey.