It Takes Two for One

The TSM training grounds were unlike anything Wrex had seen before. The complex spanned several acres, with sleek, futuristic buildings connected by open courtyards illuminated by soft, ambient lights. Despite the serene appearance, an air of tension filled the space, as if it were aware of the monumental tasks it hosted.

Their mentor, Qov, stood at the center of the gathered group, his towering figure commanding attention. His voice cut through the silence, sharp and authoritative.
"You are here to earn your TSM licenses, but let me be clear: we offer no such thing as laziness here. You are in need of something beyond this."

Confused murmurs rippled through the group. After all, weren’t they here to drive the specialized TSM vehicles? What did physical training have to do with it?

Qov ignored their questioning looks, continuing, "Your first eleven days will be devoted to building your lower body strength. Running, sprinting, endurance. If you cannot handle this, you have no place here."

Wrex remained quiet, his thoughts racing. Physical training wouldn’t be an issue for him—he’d spent years honing his body and mind. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than just preparing for vehicle operation.

The group of ten was quickly divided into pairs, and to Wrex’s surprise, he was partnered with the strange girl he’d encountered the previous night—Loria. She didn’t seem fazed by the assignment, instead giving him a sly smile as they prepared for their first task: sprinting in opposite directions for intervals of 25 seconds.

As the training began, Wrex noticed something unsettling about the others. Their movements were almost too synchronized, their expressions vacant, as if they were drunk on something or operating on a pre-programmed script. It was unnerving.

Wrex caught himself staring at one of the participants, a young man whose face seemed oddly familiar. He quickly dismissed the thought. "In a new city, there’s no way, right?"

The training passed quickly for Wrex, his body accustomed to physical exertion. But as the day wore on, he couldn’t shake the sense of unease. Loria, for her part, seemed to breeze through the exercises, occasionally throwing him knowing glances.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, marking the end of their first day, Loria approached Wrex. Before she could speak, another participant interrupted, pulling her aside. She cast a quick glance at Wrex before walking away, leaving him with unanswered questions.

Longof, like many other cities in the 8 Superentis, was a fortress of technology and control. Every city was guarded by special devices that monitored and scanned anyone attempting to enter. Only the invited or those with proper identification could pass through the barriers. This extended even to apartment buildings, where the entrances were equipped with advanced security systems that verified residents before granting access.

Wrex, walking back to his apartment, was reminded of the rigid structure of this world. He didn’t mind the security—it was what had kept the world peaceful for so long—but there was always the nagging thought: "What if it wasn’t enough?"

As he neared his building, Wrex spotted one of the TSM vehicles parked nearby. It was sleek yet reminiscent of older cars, a fusion of nostalgia and advanced engineering. Its body gleamed under the streetlights, encased in a translucent plastic-glass barrier that he knew could prevent any radar or scan from penetrating. Powered by Montlaif and an unknown secondary energy source, these vehicles were designed for covert operations, usable only at night.

"These look very familiar," Wrex thought, "but I don’t know why."

Just as he reached his apartment building, Loria appeared out of the shadows, her presence as sudden as it was startling.

"Hey, handsome," she said with a smirk. "Care to share a drink before the night's end?"

Caught off guard, Wrex hesitated before nodding. Together, they headed to a nearby café, its quiet ambiance a welcome respite from the day’s intensity.

Once seated, Loria leaned forward, her piercing gaze locking onto Wrex. "So, before we order, I need to ask you something. Do you remember my face? Or anything at all?"

Wrex frowned, his anxiety rising. "What do you mean by that? I barely remember your name—I just met you today, right?"

Loria chuckled softly, her expression unreadable. "Don’t worry about it. You’ll evaluate everything in time. There’s no need to rush."

Her cryptic words hung in the air as they exchanged a few more pleasantries. But just as Wrex was starting to feel comfortable, Loria abruptly stood up, placing a folded note on the table.

"Read it when you’re ready," she said with a smirk before disappearing into the night.

Wrex unfolded the note as he walked back to his apartment. Scrawled across the paper in elegant handwriting was a single sentence:
"The dynamic light comes from your eyes."

The words felt both familiar and alien, stirring a vague memory he couldn’t quite place. Shaking his head, he tucked the note away and resolved to focus on the days ahead.

The night in Longof was silent, yet heavy. Wrex drifted into a restless sleep, his mind swirling with the day’s events. But his slumber was abruptly broken by the shrill sound of an alarm.

Bolting upright, Wrex struggled to shake off the haze of sleep. He hurried to his window, scanning the front yard below. In the dim light, he saw a silhouette—tall, unmoving, and eerie.

Moments later, a small group of people in strange uniforms appeared, their movements deliberate as they searched the area. Their presence was unnerving, their uniforms sleek yet unrecognizable.

"What are they looking for?" Wrex wondered, his heart pounding.

The group moved with precision, scanning the area methodically. Wrex ducked away from the window, not wanting to draw their attention. His mind raced with possibilities. Were they after someone? Something?

He stayed by the window, watching until the group disappeared into the shadows. The alarm ceased, and the city fell silent once more. But Wrex’s mind refused to settle.

As he lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling, the cryptic words from Loria’s note echoed in his thoughts:
"The dynamic light comes from your eyes."

What did it mean? And why did it feel so important?

This was just the beginning—a prelude to something far older, far more significant than he could yet comprehend. The future was waiting, and it wouldn’t be long before it came crashing into his present.