by Riker Kane
“Yeah… Thanks.” I gave her a nod.
She winked back at me then turned around. I watched the brunette walk away, her skirt swaying with every step, almost as if she was rocking her hips on purpose.
Just as she left, a soft bell rang through the hall. The chatter quieted as everybody turned their attention toward one end of the dining hall. Chancellor Layton stood at a podium, hunched over in front of a mic. Even though he was on the other side of the room, the friendly smile on his face was still clear.
Elliot smacked his lips on his mashed potatoes then swallowed quietly when everybody around us eyeballed him.
“Ahem.” Layton cleared his throat and looked around the room. “I’ve been with the Legion for many decades. I guess that goes without saying with how white my hair is and how wide my waist has gotten. For more than forty years, the Legion Omega Defense has been fighting the good fight against the threat against humanity. That fight continues.
“A new wave of recruits has arrived to join the fight. This is always a special time. What you face ahead of you will not be easy but know that you are not alone. But you are not alone. The Vegas District stands with you. Together, we will push back the darkness.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve as chancellor. Tonight is a celebration. Let us enjoy this evening together. Thank you all.”
Everybody clapped in appreciation of the chancellor’s words and the chatter resumed. Elliot quickly went back to stuffing his face. I poked at my pasta while Quentin did the same with his chicken.
“Classes. Mastery Exams. Junction gates. We spent the whole day trying to figure all of this out and there’s still more they haven’t told us.” Quentin shook his head and let out a sigh.
“At least the food’s good,” I said.
Quentin, Elliot, and I looked at one another. We all shrugged and chuckled as we resumed our meal. I’d been through a lot in my first day on campus. But I knew tomorrow was gonna be an even longer day.
7: A Hard Decision
My first night on the Vegas Campus was a blur. After having dinner, I headed back to my dorm room and collapsed on my bed. The anxiety of the next day wasn’t enough to fight the fatigue of learning the ins and outs of the Nerve Center.
The buzz of the communicator on my desk woke me early in the morning at 0600 hours. Faint sunlight peered in through the window. I managed to stumble into the shower and wash away the remnants of my sleep.
The warm water poured over my head as I pressed my forehead against the tiles. Thoughts from yesterday were still running through my mind. I couldn’t believe it. I was actually on an LOD campus. I was recruited to be an Omega. The next chapter in my life had already started but I still thought I was dreaming.
My bathroom had all of the basic amenities I needed. Soap. Shampoo and conditioner. A toothbrush and toothpaste. Deodorant. Even some hair gel and a styling comb.
Another set of uniforms was hanging in my closet. I pulled one out and stepped into it. I’d just finished buttoning up my shirt when there was a knock at my door.
“Who could that be?”
I answered it to find Janice standing there. The brunette in her pigtails looked as cheery as usual, smiling to show off her pearly white teeth. Her schoolgirl like appearance was a pleasant sight I wasn’t used to so early in the morning.
“Good morning, recruit. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay, all things considered. I’m not used to waking up this early but I guess it’s because I’m used to staying up late.”
“There’s a soft curfew at 0100 hours. You can stay up if you want but the Junctions are usually taken offline for maintenance.”
“Considering I don’t know what the Junctions are, I don’t see myself doing that… Did you just come to greet me?”
“As the chaperon for this wave, it’s my responsibility to make sure all recruits are adjusting.”
I looked back in my room and nodded. “I think I’m adjusting just fine. The bed’s soft. You gave me all the things I need. Someone even put some extra uniforms in my closet for me.”
“You have a uniform for every day of the week. Laundry service comes by every morning. Just leave your dirty laundry in this bag right next to your door. Your clean uniforms will be delivered into your room the next morning.”
I arched an eyebrow at her. “I don’t know if I’m comfortable with someone wandering into my room…”
“Someone provided you with the proper toiletries on the first night. From now on, everything will be delivered through the compartment here.” She pointed at the small opening right next to the door. “And your uniforms will be delivered straight into your closet. LOD technology isn’t just for fighting in Pandora.”
“Apparently…” I chuckled at how convenient everything was.
“There’s something else I came to speak to you about.” Despite her friendly smile, it was obvious there was something on her mind. “Adviser Campbell would like to have a word with you in his office.”
I swallowed anxiously, hesitant to ask her what it was about. But I knew I didn’t have much of a choice. “Is something wrong?”
“He’d like to have a word with you about your class compatibility results.”
“…Is something wrong?” I repeated, my eyes widening.
She giggled softly and patted me on the arm. “Don’t worry. Adviser Campbell’s attitude is a facade… mostly. I’m sure he doesn’t have reason to give you a hard time on your second day here. Unless there’s something you can think of.”
I scratched the side of my head and shrugged. “Not that I can remember.”
“Then you should be fine. Adviser Campbell’s office is in the Nerve Center. I’ll take you there now.”
~ ~ ~
Walking through the halls on the first floor of the Nerve Center reminded me of walking through the halls in college. The administration rooms weren’t much fancier either.
Janice walked by my side before we stopped at one of the steel doors. Adviser Campbell’s name was prominently displayed on the digital display hanging on the door. She pressed the button next to the handle and spoke into a small speaker box.
“Adviser Campbell, Private Aldridge is here to see you.”
A few seconds went by and a green light outlined the door. Janice smiled and patted me on the arm. “After speaking with him, meet me back in the main lobby. I’ll go over everything with you and the other recruits.”
I gave her a nod and watched her leave.
The nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach made me laugh. I guess I just needed something to distract myself.
Campbell’s office had the same silver sheen as the other rooms. The lights were bright but not blinding. It was no bigger than the offices of my professors back in college. A window had a view of the campus just outside where men and women were getting their morning started. A small bookshelf lined one wall with digital tablets stacked inside. On top of it, the sword I watched him use on Elliot rested on a stand. Above that, there was a framed 17x11 photo of a man in armor wielding a blade just like it.
“Good morning, sir.”
“You don’t have to call me sir. We don’t follow the same protocol as the traditional military.” Campbell sat at his desk, staring at a computer monitor as he leaned back in his seat.
“Cavalier.”
I turned to him and shook my head. “I don’t know what you—”
“He’s a Cavalier.” He got up from his seat and pointed at the photo. “Cavaliers wear medium weight armor. Thicker than a Strider’s or Harbinger’s but thinner than a Vanguard’s and Zealot’s. Captain Hamilton said Cavaliers are on the frontline, right behind the Vanguards and he’d be right. They’re the head of a squadron. The perfect combination of offense and defense.”
Campbell stared at the photo. He was only a couple inches taller than me, so I was able to look him right in the eye. But at the moment, he was distracted by whatever thoughts the photo was giving him.
> “I remember when I first signed-up,” he said. “It wasn’t long after the First Event. Everybody was panicking, worrying something would happen again. When I learned about the Legion, I signed-up as fast as I could. Back then, we didn’t have compatibility tests. We just had to trust our gut. I ended up being a Cavalier. It was the right decision.”
I squinted at the photo. On closer inspection, I realized it was a younger Campbell. A full head of black hair. No scars on his face. No weathered, tan skin. Even his posture was a little better.
Campbell put his hands behind his back and walked over to his desk. “There was a time when you picked your class and pushed yourself. Now Dr. Marchal can run a brain scan and figure out what you’re inclined to. If you hate running, you’re less likely to succeed as a Strider. Don’t like being hit, you’ll never make it as a Vanguard. Enjoy smashing things, you’ll love being a Zealot. It’s all there in your brain pattern.”
He took a seat on the front of his desk and crossed his arms. “Tell me Private Aldridge, do you have an inclination for what class you’d like to choose?”
I sighed a deep breath, hesitant to admit I spent the entire night sleeping and not actually thinking about it. So I stretched the truth a little. “Well… I’ve been giving it some really deep consideration. It’s a tough choice…”
“It should be.”
“…Do I have to make the choice now?”
Campbell stared at me with a couple of beady brown eyes. I thought he was pissed. But then the strangest thing happened. His lips twitched into a half-smirk.
“Your choice might be a little harder than you think.”
I narrowed my eyes in confusion. “What?”
He reached for a tablet on his desk and handed it to me. I looked down at the display and read the numbers.
Class Compatibility
Liam Aldridge
Cavalier - 98%
Vanguard - 89%
Strider - 95%
Zealot - 92%
Harbinger - 88%
Gunrunner - 96%
“Those percentages indicate a recruit’s success rate for a specific class. Anything over 70 means a recruit’s got a good chance of making it as an Omega as that class. I’ve seen it all. Most recruits have an inclination toward one or two classes. Zero is more common than three. You’re inclined toward all six.”
I kept staring at the numbers, still not sure what I was looking at. “Wait… Are you telling me I can be any class and make it as an Omega?”
“You’re not the first. Since they’ve been started doing these compatibility tests, the results have been all over the board. When someone finishes in the 90th-percentile for every class, they’re what’s called an Adept.”
“I’m not quite there…”
“There’s a small margin of error. Brain waves are constantly changing. There’s a small fluctuation up and down. You’re an Adept.”
I held my breath for a second before chuckling softly. “Can I best honest with you, Adviser? I know it sounds important but I… I don’t know what all this means.”
The smirk had left his face. He kept staring at me with those beady eyes of his as he nodded. “It means you’re right where you need to be. Most recruits choose a class then feel it out to see if it’s right for them. You, on the other hand, can choose any class.”
“I…” My mouth hung open slightly as I tried to search for what to say. “That doesn’t sound very… simple.”
“It’s not supposed to be. Most recruits are encouraged to train in more than one class. The more you’re able to master, the more versatility you’ll have with your squadron. And if there’s one thing I know about Pandora, it’s that there’s no one class that’s better than the others.”
He walked around his desk then sat back in his seat. “You won’t be doing it all at once. Since you’re only just getting started, I recommend you choose a class and stick with it until you’re comfortable going through a gate.”
“…Any recommendations?”
“That’s up to you. In your case, there are no wrong choices.”
“Right…” I looked over at the photo on the wall then at the sword resting on the stand beneath it.
“Baker is waiting in the main hall. After she gives you a briefing, you’ll head to the third floor to see the gates for yourself.”
I gave him a nod then turned around. Just before I stepped out the door, I stopped and looked back at him. “Adviser Campbell… Are Adepts any more successful than regular recruits?”
There was no immediate response. He just stared at his computer monitor like he hadn’t heard me. I thought about asking him again before he finally answered.
“Three things determine a recruit’s success. How hard they grind, how quick they’re able to think on their feet, and how lucky they are. You have control over all three.”
His words stuck in my head, holding me in place before I stepped out to meet with Janice in the main hall.
8: Pandora
“There’s been a slight delay in the completion of your compatibility reports. Dr. Marchal apologizes to all of you. You’ll get all of the time you need to make the right decision on what class you choose. It’s probably for the best. This gives you all a chance to see for yourselves exactly what you’re heading into. We’ll be going to the third floor now. Follow me.”
Janice spoke to the new recruits then stepped into the spacious elevator large enough to hold all of us. While we ascended to the third floor, Quentin raised an eyebrow at me.
“Where were you at? You wake up late?”
“I don’t think anybody here woke up late with the alarms going off,” I said. “Just had a conversation with Adviser Campbell.”
“This way everybody.” Janice stepped out of the elevator and escorted all of us down the hall.
“A conversation with him on the second day?” Quentin looked me up and down. “I always knew you were trouble…”
I chuckled at the sudden concern in his eyes. “It was nothing like that. Picking a class is a big decision for all of us. He just wanted to make sure I made the right one.”
“It’s not a decision for me. Strider all the way. A hundred percent. No question.”
“You’re really hung up on Captain Valentine, huh?”
Quentin sighed, his eyes suddenly lost in a dream. “I was meant to be a Strider…”
My stomach rumbled, unable to hold back my laughter. I put a hand on his shoulder to knock him out of his daydream. I was so distracted I didn’t even realize the room I’d stepped in.
Janice held her arms out. “Welcome to the Junction Room.”
Some of the other recruits gasped. Others were completely speechless. But everybody was in awe. My mouth opened slightly, trying to find the words to say but nothing came out.
The room was larger than any room in the Nerve Center. Four floors high and as wide as a football field, it was obvious the Junction Room was where all of the action was. From one metal wall to the other, giant steel circles big enough for a car to roll through surrounded the room. Stairs led up to the higher floors, where even more of the same circles stood. Men and women in lab coats walked in every direction as they examined their digital clipboards and read whatever data was on it.
The older Omegas walked by in suits of colorful metal armor. Hair messy. Face covered in sweat and soot. Armor scuffed and scratched. Some of them even had blood and bruises on their cheeks. It was clear they’d been through some type of battle.
The sound of machinery from the giant metal circles whirred loudly, flashing with a light like nothing I’d ever seen before. There was some kind of wavy energy emanating from each circle that flashed whenever someone walked by them.
“This is wild…” Quentin said. “I think I saw some footage of this on YouTube…”
“I don’t think any footage would do this justice,” I said. “This technology is something else.”
“It even smells better than new electronics.”
Current World Status: Green
Threat Level: 17%
Junctions Closed: 46
Junctions Available: 121
Current World Boss Threat: Emerald Basilisk
“Pandora is compromised of multiple dimensions. As Omegas, it’s your responsibility to close those dimensions to stop the threats from spilling out onto Earth. The World Status indicates what type of environment you’ll be stepping into. The Threat Level indicates how close the dimension is to attacking us. Closing all Junctions doesn’t mean the threat is over though. Our combined efforts then turn to defeating the World Boss. When the World Boss is defeated, the dimension will collapse on itself. After that, our scientists began scouring Mana signatures for the nearest dimension threatening us.”
Elliot raised his hand. “Wait a second. Are you telling me we’ve gotta close 121 dimensions? That sounds like an awful lotta fighting.”
“We only have to close enough Junctions to weaken the dimension. But weakening the dimension increases the threat level. No single Omega is responsible for closing every single dimension. It’s the combined efforts of all of you that will do it. You can see your progress on the right side of the screen.”
Most Junctions Closed
Rhys Griffin - 7
Gregory Harding - 7
Jane Sato - 3
Most Shadows Defeated
Rhys Griffin - 211
Gregory Harding - 143
Arthur Hill - 115
“Here you can see the efforts of your fellow Omegas. Closing a single dimension is helpful to the cause but of course, working to do as much as you can is always better. Those of you who are able to finish at the top of the leaderboards will receive an additional bonus to your stipend.”
