One, Two, Zero

The silence of the training grounds was deceptive, broken only by the occasional whistle of the wind through empty alleyways and the dull hum of the wall lasers. The recruits stood at the starting line, flanked by their mentors, as Qov addressed them one last time before the exercise.

“This is The Fast and the Slow,” Qov bellowed, his tone commanding absolute attention. “You will be grouped into threes and dropped into this mock battlefield. Your task is simple: secure three stores closest to each other and defend them until the time runs out. Each store can only be guarded by one of you at a time. The first team to control three stores wins. Remember—this isn’t about brute strength. Strategy, endurance, and wit will determine the victor.”

He paced before them, his eyes narrowing as he continued. “This is a desolate urban wasteland, but don’t be fooled by its appearance. Every corner, every shadow is under surveillance. Wall lasers will ensure no cheating, and the radars will neutralize any attempt at weaponizing this exercise. Your focus is survival, not shortcuts. Welcome to reality.”

The recruits exchanged uneasy glances.

“Good luck,” Qov added with a sardonic smile. “You’ll need it.”

Wrex was grouped with Loria and Fozic, the latter being a new addition to their dynamic. As the three gathered, Fozic broke his silence.

“Listen carefully,” he said, his voice low. “I’m going to stake everything on this. We have to win.”

Loria raised an eyebrow. “It’s just training. Why the dramatics?”

Wrex nodded in agreement. “What’s so important about this?”

Fozic glanced over his shoulder, ensuring they weren’t being overheard. “For you two, maybe it’s just training. For me, it’s a chance to prove something—to the right people.”

Before either could question him further, he added cryptically, “Don’t worry. We’re going to make it. They’ll be there too.”

The buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the exercise.

The trio sprinted into the training ground, navigating through narrow alleys and abandoned streets. Loria took the lead, her sharp instincts guiding them efficiently.

“Store at ten o’clock!” she called out.

“I’ve got it!” Wrex shouted, breaking off from the group.

Fozic stayed behind, his eyes scanning the horizon. His demeanor remained tense, as if expecting something—or someone—to appear.

Within the first hour, their team secured two stores. Loria’s strategic planning kept them ahead of the other groups, and for a moment, it seemed they might win without much trouble.

“Keep moving!” Loria barked. “We need the third store now.”

As Wrex approached their final target, he noticed something strange: an old tire covered in petals. Beneath it was a device that looked eerily similar to the Point Touch Zero prototype.

“What the…?” Wrex muttered, stepping closer.

The moment he reached for the device, a piercing alarm sounded. The wall laser tracking him changed from red to dark blue, casting an eerie glow across the area.

The alarm echoed across the training ground, stopping Loria and Fozic in their tracks.

“What’s happening?” Loria demanded, looking toward the source of the commotion.

“That’s not supposed to happen,” Fozic murmured, his expression tightening.

“What do you mean?” Loria asked, her voice sharp.

Fozic hesitated. “It’s complicated.”

“Participant number three, Wrex, has failed the test,” blared the loudspeakers.

Loria’s heart sank, but she quickly masked her reaction. If she showed too much concern, the surveillance might pick up on it.

“We keep going,” Fozic said, his tone firm. “He’ll figure it out.”

Loria bit her lip but nodded. There was no time to argue.

As Wrex tried to retreat, the ground beneath him gave way. He fell into darkness, landing in what felt like a labyrinth of tunnels. The air was damp, the walls cold and metallic.

He scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. “Where am I?” he muttered, his voice echoing in the confined space.

This wasn’t part of the training ground—he was certain of it. The tunnels seemed older, untouched by the pristine technology above.

Wrex’s instincts kicked in. He knew he had to move, but where? His thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps echoing through the tunnels.

“Hello?” he called out, but there was no response.

He clenched his fists. “Guess this is survival,” he muttered.

In the observation room above the training ground, the leaders monitored the exercise through a network of cameras. One of them, a tall man with a stern expression, pointed at a screen where Wrex’s location should have been.

“Participant number three… is off the grid,” he said, his voice tense.

Another leader leaned forward. “How is that possible? The system should track everything.”

“It’s one of the True Residents,” the tall man replied grimly. “They’ve tampered with the system.”

“What do we do?”

“Act quickly. This cannot escalate further. If it does…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the unspoken implication was clear.

Back in the training ground, Loria continued the exercise, her mind racing. She had seen the blue laser, heard the alarm, and watched Wrex disappear. She knew this wasn’t a coincidence.

But she couldn’t act too hastily. Any sign of suspicion could jeopardize her mission.

“We focus on the stores,” she told Fozic, her voice steady. “We stick to the plan.”

Fozic nodded, but his gaze lingered on the horizon. “He’ll be fine,” he said, almost to himself.

Loria clenched her fists. He has to be.

The fall had left Wrex disoriented, but it was the sheer vastness of the underground labyrinth that truly unsettled him. Dozens of tunnels stretched out in every direction, illuminated by faint, flickering lights embedded in the walls. Strange screens dotted the surfaces, displaying incomprehensible symbols and images that seemed to shift whenever Wrex glanced away.

“What is this place?” he muttered to himself, forcing his nerves to settle.

As he cautiously moved forward, the screens began to flicker more intensely. Some displayed cryptic phrases in an unrecognizable language; others showed distorted faces, their expressions warped as though caught in a silent scream.

His heart pounded, but he focused on finding a way out. Every step echoed loudly in the silence, the sound magnified by the cold metallic walls.

Then, without warning, a figure emerged from the shadows ahead.

The figure looked human but moved unnaturally, its joints clicking with each step. Its pale, featureless face turned toward Wrex, and a mechanical voice echoed through the corridor:

“Intruder detected. Protocol: Neutralize.”

Wrex froze, his mind racing. Before he could react, the figure raised a small, gun-like device and aimed directly at him.

Adrenaline surged through his body, and Wrex dove to his left, narrowly avoiding a burst of searing light that scorched the wall behind him. The heat of the blast was palpable, and the air filled with the acrid smell of burning metal.

Without thinking, Wrex bolted into the nearest tunnel, his breath ragged. He could hear the mechanical steps of the figure pursuing him, its weapon charging for another shot.

As he turned a corner, a brilliant array of lights exploded in front of him. The lights converged, blinding him and sending a piercing pain through his head. His legs buckled, and everything went black.

Above ground, the war game continued, but Loria’s focus was elsewhere. She had seen the blue laser and heard the alarm, and though she kept up appearances, her thoughts were consumed by Wrex’s sudden disappearance.

“We’re sticking to the plan,” she had told Fozic earlier, but now doubt crept in. Where did he go? What happened down there?

She knew she couldn’t draw attention to herself, but she needed more information. Without it, she couldn’t act—and couldn’t help Wrex.

“Stay alive, Wrex,” she whispered to herself, her hands clenched tightly. “Just stay alive.”

When Wrex regained consciousness, he found himself unable to move. His limbs felt heavy, as if restrained, though no visible bonds held him. He tried to speak, but no sound escaped his lips.

Three figures stood before him, their appearances shrouded in shadow. They spoke to one another in an alien language, their voices sharp and rhythmic.

Wrex’s heart raced. I can’t understand them. But… how is that possible?

Ever since receiving the universal translation vaccine, Wrex had never encountered a language he couldn’t comprehend. The realization sent a chill through him. This is beyond anything I’ve ever faced.

The figures turned their attention to him, their expressions unreadable. Their language continued, and though Wrex strained to grasp their meaning, the words slipped past him like water through his fingers.

Then, abruptly, the figures fell silent.

A bright light flooded the room, revealing its cold, sterile design. Wrex’s gaze shifted to the ceiling, where a counter displayed the number 100 in bold red digits.

The figures stepped back as small robotic devices rolled into the room. They were spherical, with glowing eyes and mechanical arms tipped with sharp tools. The counter began to tick down:

99... 98... 97...

Panic gripped Wrex as he realized the room had no visible exit. The mechanical creatures advanced toward him, their tools whirring ominously.

He struggled against the invisible force holding him, his mind racing. Think, Wrex. You’ve been in tight spots before. There’s always a way out.

The camera shifted back to the training grounds, where Loria stood alone in her captured store. She glanced up at the sky, feigning indifference, but her mind burned with questions.

What’s really going on here? she wondered. She could feel the weight of the surveillance on her, but a nagging thought persisted:

They’re hiding something, and Wrex is in the middle of it.

Below ground, Wrex’s breathing quickened as the counter hit 90. The mechanical devices crept closer, their glowing eyes reflecting his panic.