Eli had been part of Squad S for only a few days, but questions had already begun to eat away at him. It didn't make sense. S.O.S. trained every squad to respond to dangerous, high-stakes disasters. The idea that Squad S was somehow "special" seemed more like a label than anything else. And yet, he couldn't ignore a nagging feeling that there was more behind the decision to form Squad S.
That morning, Eli found himself standing outside Commander Steve's office, nerves and curiosity mingling. He knocked, and after a moment, Steve's calm voice invited him in. The commander sat behind his desk, a look of surprise passing over his face as Eli entered.
"Eli," Steve said, setting aside a stack of reports. "What brings you here?"
Eli took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Sir, I've been thinking about Squad S. I just don't understand why we were chosen specifically or why we need a 'special' squad when every other team has gone through the same training. Is there… is there something different we should know about?"
Steve's expression darkened slightly, and for a moment, Eli thought he might shut down the conversation entirely. But then Steve leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as if weighing a heavy decision.
"Eli, what I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room," he began, his tone grave. "You're right to ask questions, and you deserve answers, but understand that this knowledge comes with a burden."
Eli nodded, his curiosity intensifying. Steve's tone was unlike anything he'd heard from the commander before, and it only fueled his need for answers.
Steve continued, his voice low. "What you know of the world, Eli—the disasters we respond to, the natural forces we train against—it's only part of the picture. You see, humans live in what we call the third dimension, or 3D. Everything we perceive around us, all of reality as we know it, exists within this dimensional framework."
Eli frowned, feeling a mix of confusion and intrigue. "The third dimension? You're saying there's… more?"
Steve nodded, his gaze steady. "Yes, Eli. Beyond our dimension, there exists something called the fourth dimension, or 4D. It's a realm that most humans can't perceive, one filled with beings and forces far beyond our understanding. These beings, we call them the Unknown. They exist outside the rules of our world, and they're not bound by our physical laws. For reasons we still don't fully understand, some of these entities occasionally breach our dimension, causing what we perceive as natural disasters."
Eli's mind reeled as he tried to process this revelation. The idea that there were beings beyond human perception, beings capable of causing earthquakes, storms, and fires, was both terrifying and fascinating.
"Wait," Eli said, his voice shaking slightly. "You're saying that some of these disasters… they aren't natural? That they're… caused by these 4D beings?"
Steve nodded grimly. "Exactly. Over the years, we've begun to notice patterns, strange occurrences in the data we gather after certain disasters. Unusual energy signatures, distortions in space-time—things that can't be explained by any natural phenomenon we know. For a long time, we kept this information classified, fearing what it would mean if the public found out."
Eli leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "But why tell us now? Why create Squad S?"
Steve looked away, his gaze unfocused, as if remembering something painful. "Because, Eli, we've come to a point where the Unknown is becoming more active. They're appearing more frequently, and with greater force. Squad S isn't just here to respond to disasters. You're here to combat these threats directly. You'll be trained to detect the presence of these beings, to respond to disasters caused by them, and—if necessary—to engage them."
Eli felt a chill run down his spine. He had never imagined that his role in S.O.S. would involve something so otherworldly. His training had prepared him for fires, earthquakes, and storms, but not for creatures from another dimension.
"Does… does anyone else know about this?" Eli asked quietly.
"Only a select few," Steve replied. "And now, you and the other members of Squad S. We're trusting you with this knowledge because we believe you're capable of handling it. But understand this, Eli—this isn't something you can just walk away from. Knowing what you know now, there's no going back."
Eli swallowed hard, feeling the weight of Steve's words settle heavily on his shoulders. The truth was mind-boggling, but a strange resolve began to build within him. He had joined S.O.S. to save lives, and if that meant confronting forces from another dimension, then he would face that challenge head-on.
"What do we do next?" Eli asked, his voice steady.
Steve smiled faintly, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Next, you and the rest of Squad S will undergo a new phase of training—one designed to prepare you for encounters with the Unknown. You'll learn how to detect their presence, how to shield yourself from their influence, and, if necessary, how to engage them directly."
Eli nodded, his mind racing with questions about what this new training would entail. But he pushed them aside, focusing instead on the task ahead.
Steve leaned forward, his expression serious once more. "Eli, I need you to understand something. This mission, this purpose… it's not just about saving people from disasters. It's about protecting the very fabric of our reality. The Unknown is unpredictable, and the breaches between our world and theirs are becoming more frequent. If we don't stop them, if we don't find a way to keep our dimensions separate, we could be facing a catastrophe far beyond any natural disaster."
Eli felt a shiver of fear and excitement. The stakes were higher than he'd ever imagined, but a sense of determination burned within him.
"I'm ready, sir," he said, his voice resolute.
Steve nodded, a look of respect in his eyes. "I had a feeling you would be." He stood, signaling that their conversation was coming to an end. "Get some rest, Eli. Your training begins tomorrow, and it will be unlike anything you've faced before."
As Eli left the commander's office, his mind buzzed with the knowledge he'd just gained. The world as he knew it had changed, but he knew one thing for sure: he was ready to face whatever lay ahead, even if it meant confronting beings from another dimension.