Oliver approached the counter, his stance formal. "Good afternoon, ladies," he greeted curtly. "I don't believe I had anything scheduled here today, but I'm under direct orders."
One of the PCAs looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she scanned her records. "Good afternoon, Lieutenant. What can we do for you? I don't see any appointments listed for you."
Oliver maintained his composure. "That sounds about right for admin work. Regardless, check again. I'm escorting another shard user for processing, training, and recon under Commander Warden Geras's orders."
The PCA straightened, typing swiftly before glancing at another screen. "Which block will he be placed in? We're conducting evaluations on the current groups in about an hour."
"A Block," Oliver replied briskly. "He'll join the seven shard users already stationed there to replace the one who left."
The PCA nodded, making quick adjustments on her terminal. "Understood. Please escort him to processing. He'll need his official uniform and badge indicator for his classification."
Oliver gave a short nod of acknowledgment. "Of course."
Elias, observing the exchange, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Processing, badges, special classifications… this really feels like a fancy prison."
Dot's laughed in his head. "If this is a prison, it's definitely the high-end type."
Elias shook his head, following Oliver deeper into the facility, the faint sound of footsteps echoing off the tiled floor.
Oliver overhearing Elias stated "Come with me, and really, it's not a prison in the sense you're serving time for doing something wrong, it's preventive measures until we understand the bigger scope."
Elias adjusted the heavy pack on his shoulder again as they approached yet another reinforced security checkpoint. The first door had been intimidating enough, but this was the third—each one more imposing than the last.
A large panel embedded in the wall scanned Oliver's ID badge, followed by a retinal scan that caused a faint hum before the thick metallic door slid open.
"This place is starting to feel less like a training facility and more like a vault," Elias muttered under his breath.
Dot's voice piped up in his head, cheerful as ever. "Vaults are exciting! What do you think is inside? Gold bars? Secret alien tech? Or maybe it's just more heavy bags for you to carry."
Elias rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the encouragement, Dot."
The next hallway stretched ahead of them, lined with numbered doors—B Block, C Block, D Block, each labeled with bold, clean lettering. The muted hum of energy fields vibrated faintly in the air, and Elias noticed the occasional flicker of blue light coursing along the edges of the walls. Whatever tech they were using to secure this place was far beyond anything he'd seen before.
"What's with all the different blocks?" Elias asked, glancing at Oliver.
"Each block is a holding area for shard users," Oliver replied, not breaking stride. "They're separated by power type, compatibility, and—let's just say—personality conflicts."
Dot chimed in again, this time with mock awe. "Ooh, personality conflicts. Sounds like a high-tech version of high school."
Elias smirked faintly, but his amusement faded as they passed D Block's observation window. Inside, several individuals were sparring on a reinforced platform. One of them, a man with arms crackling in faint arcs of electricity, landed a brutal punch on his opponent, who retaliated with a burst of flame. The air around them warped slightly from the heat.
"Okay," Elias said, stopping briefly to stare, "that's… not normal."
Oliver glanced back. "Welcome to Cube X. Every block's been tailored for the people assigned to it. D Block specializes in combat shards."
"And A Block?" Elias asked, his curiosity tinged with apprehension.
"You'll see soon enough," Oliver said, striding forward.
As they approached A Block's entrance, Elias noticed the door was larger than the others. A glowing "A" was etched into the steel, and a security panel extended outward as Oliver approached. After another round of scans, the door opened with a loud hiss, revealing a clean, brightly lit room beyond.
Dot's voice rang out again. "Wow, they really rolled out the welcome mat. Is that actual polished metal on the floor, or am I imagining things?"
Elias stepped inside, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light. The space was massive, a cross between a high-tech dormitory and a cutting-edge training facility. The walls were lined with modular screens displaying data—training schedules, personal stats, and even live security feeds.
The center of the room featured a spacious lounge area with reinforced furniture, and beyond it, a fully equipped training zone complete with sparring mats and advanced workout equipment. Along one wall were glass-enclosed rooms, each marked with the name of its occupant.
"Not exactly what I expected," Elias admitted, glancing around.
"Consider it a holding area, not a prison," Oliver said as he gestured to a terminal along the wall. "This is your home for now. The system will assign you a room and provide a roster of the others in this block."
Elias approached the terminal, hesitating briefly before tapping the screen. A small beep followed, and a thin card slid out of the machine. His name was printed at the top, followed by an assigned room number. Below that, the names and stats of the other A Block occupants were listed.
He skimmed through the roster quickly. His eyes landed on Kaira Shinobi, whose description read like something out of a military recruitment poster: prodigious, combat-ready, highly intelligent. Glancing across the room, he spotted her immediately.
Kaira, with her bright yellow hair tied back in a sharp ponytail, was seated near the sparring area. She carried herself with an air of superiority, her uniform immaculate and her posture rigid. Her gaze flicked toward Elias for a moment, sizing him up before she turned away, clearly unimpressed.
Dot chimed in with a laugh. "Looks like someone's already decided you're not worth her time."