The hallways stretched endlessly, illuminated by sleek blue-white panels embedded into the metallic walls. Soldiers and researchers moved with practiced efficiency, their uniforms crisp, their expressions sharp.
Keon followed Azira and Darlic, still absorbing everything.
Then, Azira abruptly stopped and grinned, motioning ahead. "Alright, newbie. Time for the essentials."
Keon blinked as they entered a massive, multi-leveled cafeteria.
---
CAFETERIA
A grand, open space bustled with activity—long steel tables lined the floor while high-tech food dispensers and live cooking stations operated on the sides. The aroma of spices and grilled meats mixed with the distinct scent of something synthetic. Soldiers, engineers, and officers gathered, eating and chatting, their voices blending into a steady hum.
Keon's eyes drifted to a separate, more refined section—round tables, comfortable chairs, and a softer ambiance. Clearly for higher-ranking officers.
Azira clapped his shoulder. "This is where you fuel up. Trust me, you'll need it."
Keon nodded slowly, taking it all in.
---
BATHROOMS & SHOWERS
The next stop was a corridor lined with automated bathroom pods—sleek, private compartments with biometric access.
Darlic gestured toward a sign. "Each floor has one. Showers have temperature modulation, auto-clean functions, and water-recycling tech."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "So, basically, I step in and walk out fresh?"
Azira smirked. "Unless you like being dirty."
Keon rolled his eyes, muttering, "I was just asking."
---
DORMITORIES
They moved deeper into the facility, stepping into a long hallway filled with numbered doors. A glowing sign overhead read: RECRUIT DORMITORY SECTOR A
Azira leaned against a doorway, arms crossed. "This is where you'll be crashing."
Keon scanned the area. The halls were quiet, the lighting dimmer for a more relaxed atmosphere.
Darlic tapped a panel, and a metallic door slid open, revealing Keon's room.
Inside was a minimalistic but sleek space—a reinforced bed, a small workstation, a storage locker, and a window overlooking the mechanical district.
Keon took a step inside, testing the bed with a light press. Firm. Efficient. No unnecessary luxury.
Azira smirked. "Not bad, huh?"
Keon exhaled. "It'll do."
Darlic checked his wrist device. "There are other areas, but these are the key ones. Any questions?"
Keon glanced at them, then at his room. "…Nah. I'll figure the rest out."
Azira stretched. "Then let's keep moving. One last stop."
MEDICAL HALL
As they walked into the next sector, the atmosphere shifted. The air smelled clean, almost too clean. The walls shimmered with sterilized white panels, and faint mechanical sounds hummed from the equipment.
Rows of med-pods lined the sides—sleek, capsule-like chambers designed for rapid healing. Screens displayed vital signs, and robotic arms adjusted IVs and scanners with precision.
Doctors and medical staff, dressed in streamlined white-and-blue uniforms, moved efficiently between patients. Some soldiers rested on reclined medical beds, bandaged and recovering. Others sat for quick checkups, their Esperia abilities being examined through high-tech monitors.
Keon slowed his pace, observing the advanced medical technology.
Darlic gestured to the pods. "These handle minor injuries in minutes, major ones in hours. As long as you're not completely obliterated, you'll walk out fine."
Azira chuckled. "They can patch up a guy who got his arm blown off in under a day. Pretty neat, huh?"
Keon narrowed his eyes. "…And for anything worse?"
Darlic's expression darkened slightly. "Then you better hope your luck holds out."
Keon exhaled. "Reassuring."
Azira smirked, nudging him forward. "Come on, rookie. We've seen enough for today."
As they walked away, Keon stole one last glance at the med-pods, watching as a wounded soldier was carefully lowered into one.
Something about this place felt… ominous.
Like it had seen far worse than just injuries.
As they continued their tour, the trio entered a high-tech, heavily secured sector. The walls shimmered with dark metallic plating, glowing blue circuit lines running through them like veins of energy. Unlike the previous areas, this place had a restricted feel—only authorized personnel moved around.
Keon's eyes scanned the massive, interconnected workstations, where scientists and engineers tinkered with weapons, suits, and advanced gear. Some worked at holographic design panels, while others tested prototype armor on reinforced dummies.
Azira motioned toward the entrance. "Welcome to the R&D Equipment Division."
Keon's brows raised slightly. "…So, this is where the cool stuff happens?"
Darlic chuckled. "More like where they decide what's 'too dangerous' to use."
ARMOR & ESPERIA SUIT SECTION
Keon's gaze landed on a row of specialized suits—each tailored for different Esperia users.
Kinetic Exo-Suits: Designed for enhancing physical strength and speed.
Energy-Absorption Suits: Built for Esperia users who manipulate or channel energy-based abilities.
Aerial Combat Gear: Outfitted with lightweight, high-mobility tech for airborne combat.
Prototype Rift Adaptation Suit: A suit still under testing, meant to stabilize spatial distortions.
One of the scientists, adjusting the high-tech gauntlet of a suit, turned toward them.
"Ah, you must be the new recruit." He pushed his glasses up and grabbed a datapad. "Keon, correct?"
Keon nodded, scanning the suits. "So… which one's mine?"
The scientist smirked. "That's what we're about to find out."
WEAPON & GEAR TESTING AREA
As they walked further in, Keon saw racks of specialized weapons. Unlike traditional firearms, these were built with Esperia integration—some humming with energy, others shifting their forms on command.
One caught his eye—a sleek, black-bladed weapon that vibrated subtly.
Keon reached for it, but the moment his fingers got close—
ZAP!
A sharp static shock surged through his hand, and he pulled back instinctively.
Azira snickered. "Not all weapons are friendly to outsiders."
Darlic gestured at a nearby testing chamber, where an officer was wielding a shifting rifle that converted from a sniper to an assault mode in real-time. "This is where they match weapons to recruits based on their Esperia compatibility."**
Keon hummed. "…And if I don't match with anything?"
Azira grinned, patting his shoulder. "Then they make something just for you."
The scientist gestured toward a circular platform surrounded by scanning drones.
"Step in. We need to analyze your Rift Signature and physical parameters before assigning your base equipment."
Keon hesitated for a moment, then stepped onto the platform.
A blue holographic grid formed around him, scanning his body structure, Esperia signature, and movement patterns.
Data flickered across multiple monitors as the system worked through various possibilities.
Then, one of the engineers whistled. "Well, that's interesting."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "…What?"
The scientist adjusted his glasses. "Your Rift energy readings are unstable but powerful. Most standard suits won't fully integrate with you."
Azira tilted her head. "So what does that mean?"
The scientist grinned. "It means we're going to have to get creative."
Keon exhaled. "Why do I feel like that's either really good or really bad?"
Darlic smirked. "Welcome to R&D, rookie."
The scene ended with holographic blueprints flashing across the screens—designs shifting and adapting as they began crafting Keon's custom gear.