𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 Meanwhile 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣 𓆣
Elias walked down the hallway, his heavy pack thudding against his back with every step. "Does it really need to be this heavy?" he grumbled, adjusting the straps as he tried to redistribute the weight.
Oliver, walking a pace ahead, glanced back. "It's standard-issue gear. Inside, you've got everything you'll need—uniforms, rations, survival kits—and, of course, a special badge to mark you as a shard user. You'll want to keep that visible at all times, at least on base."
Elias rolled his shoulders, the weight not any easier despite the explanation. "And what exactly does that badge do? Let me skip lines at the mess hall?"
Oliver smirked faintly. "No. It's to let everyone know what you are without needing to ask. Besides," he added, his tone leveling, "you're not allowed to leave the base, anyway. Not yet."
Elias stopped mid-step, turning toward Oliver. "Not allowed to leave? Why not?"
"Because it's not public knowledge," Oliver replied, unfazed. "Until the situation stabilizes, shard users like you are being kept here—studied and prepared. You'll be staying at Cube X."
"Cube X?" Elias raised a brow.
Oliver nodded, gesturing toward the transport vehicle parked just outside. "It's a specialized facility. Originally built as a bunker during the first alien invasion, now it's a training site and a place for monitoring. Think of it as your new home."
As the car started rolling down the highway, Elias settled into the passenger seat. The vastness of the desert stretched out before him, the mountains looming on the horizon like silent sentinels. The hum of the car filled the space between them as the facility came into view in the distance.
Elias leaned forward, his eyes narrowing at the enormous structure that seemed to rise out of nowhere, tucked between two jagged mountain ranges.
The facility was colossal, an imposing metallic-blue cube with sleek, reinforced panels reflecting the sunlight. Painted boldly across its side were the words "Cube X," flanked by military emblems. It was as though someone had plucked a city block and dropped it in the middle of the desert.
"What in the world is this place?" Elias muttered, unable to look away as the car drew closer.
"It's impressive, isn't it?" Oliver said. "Cube X is equipped with the latest technology. Each section is built to withstand everything from earthquakes to orbital strikes."
As they approached, the sheer scale became more apparent. Wide roads wound up toward the main entrance, flanked by lush greenery—an odd contrast to the barren desert beyond. The facility's high-tech security was evident, with drones patrolling the perimeter and checkpoints manned by guards in sleek, futuristic gear.
Walking up to the main doors as an X was layered in the black glass as it slid open and Elias asked "So wait, if that's the case then how come Elara was able to come visit me a few times if she has a shard?"
Oliver exhaled sharply, his tone clipped with mild irritation. "Some people might get special privileges due to their status, but that's an exception, not the standard."
Elias adjusted the bag on his shoulder, his smirk fading. "So, I'm pretty much a prisoner here, right?"
Oliver glanced at him, his expression unwavering. "If you choose to see it that way, sure. But when I joined the military, long before all this shard nonsense, I couldn't see my family for months—sometimes even years. I never thought of it as imprisonment, though. I saw it as an opportunity to better the world. You'd do well to do the same, Elias. At your age, I'd imagine you understand that by now."
Dot's voice piped up in Elias's mind, her tone tinged with mischief. "Wow, I wonder if he ever relaxes. Surprised someone that robotic has a family."
Elias stifled a chuckle, allowing only a faint smirk as he followed Oliver toward the counter.
At the front desk, two female PCAs sat in crisp uniforms, their hands deftly moving across their keyboards. Each monitored three glowing screens, filled with data streams and security feeds. The room buzzed faintly with the hum of equipment.