THE OMEGA RECRUIT

Scott stood at the edge of the launch deck, the roar of departing and landing ships echoing around him and blasts of wind tugged at his clothes.

He had a moment of clarity and for the first time he asked himself, "What do I want...."

He had never dared ask himself that before, he had always believed he was meant to be a scholar, nothing more, nothing less.

 I mean, it's the family legacy, an unspoken path, but it seemed his path was different. 

He thought about his life, his goals, his dreams, his failures, and his identity. Every memory, every regret, every decision.

All those memories rose to the surface of his mind like fragments of a puzzle finally starting to fit.

"You said, the reason why I failed the honors exam and others, some inferior to me, passed...., was destiny ." Scott said to him.

" And the reason why I was selected to be a nano soldier was also destiny."

He continued, voice low but steady with growing confidence.

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Then I guess destiny and I got a score to settle."

Scott said with renewed confidence and hope in himself.

The wind settled. For a moment, it was just him and the sky, quiet, clean, free. It felt like a beginning.

 A spark lit behind his eyes. His shoulders squared, and for the first time in a long time.

Hope surged through him, not the blind kind, but the kind born from defiance. 

The kind that rises when the world says, "You can't."

And you say, "Watch me."

He wasn't just drifting anymore. He felt he had found his place.

Maximus cracked a smile as the sun shone on both of them and bathed them with golden light.

 The scenery looked like something out of a movie. The sun, wind. The entire setting felt like paid actors. 

Scott wore a look of fierce intensity, and Maximus mirrored him with an expression of unwavering resolve.

" ok .... since we just had our cool little master and student moment, it's time for you to get yourself ready,"

N

Maximus said facetiously

He turned back and starts heading for his office.

Scott smiled to himself, suspecting his sarcasm was just shyness in disguise.

"Wait…" 

Scott stepped back, his thumb hovering over his comm. 

"I need to make a call," he said his voice calm but urgent.

Maximus narrowed his eyes 

"Sorry, Scott" he said flatly, "but calls to the outside world are strictly forbidden in Protocol."

He froze.

A sharp pain hit his chest as Maximus' words sank in.

He had left home not knowing the conversation with his mother would be his last.

The thought twisted in his gut.

" But since I'm the barracks chief, I'll allow it."

He said, the edge in his voice softening. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Scott blinked surprised.

He nodded, grateful but quiet, and pressed the call button.

It rang for a few seconds before the screen lit up with his mother's face.

Her brows were furrowed, her lips were pressed into a tight line, and the background behind her was dim, the kitchen light casting long shadows against the walls.

She had been very worried.

"Scott..? Is that you?"

She said, kvoice trembling through the speaker.

 " Yes Mum it's me," Scott replied.

" Oh my God! Scott, you had me worried." 

Scott's mother said with fear and desperation in her voice.

"I'm fine.., Mum"

 Scott replied in a smooth and calm manner 

"You said failing the exams wasn't the end, remember?"

"Yes..." She said softly, uncertain where the conversation was headed.

"Well, l mum, I feel like I've found the next thing I want to focus.. on."

Scott said boldly to his mother.

She had expected this—at least, part of her had." You accepted it, didn't you," she said quietly.

"Wow, you know me well," he said, trying to lighten the mood.

"So… the call-up letter, was real.., right?"

He replied, slow but calm,"Yes."

"But how?", she asked, curious but still laced with worry.

"I don't know, Mum. But the biometrics, image, everything checked out," Scott explained, trying to make sense of it.

"Are you sure..., this is what you want?" she asked, her voice edged with concern.

"I... don't know. Not yet. But it just feels right," Scott replied. 

"Heh."

She gave a weak laugh, part joy, part sadness.

" I remember telling you vividly, this is a scholar family, and in family scholars are made.

She looked down for a moment.

"I want to apologize to you, Scott."

Those words hit harder than expected, and they made Scott tear up a little.

He felt overwhelmed with emotion.

"I just wanted to tell you … I thought I was upholding your father's legacy, the family legacy."

" pushing you and your brother to become scholars. But in doing that, I overlooked the important things, your mental health… your well-being."

She continued.

" The truth is, I was trying to prove something. I wanted to make a point, but I lost sight of what truly mattered".

 She clenched her fist.

"I just wanted to prove that, even with your father gone, you and your brother could still become great scholars and achieve greatness… maybe even surpass him.

"I was wrong, Scott… and now, all I want is for you to do what truly makes you happy."

For a moment, the pain, the heavy silence of the past, all of it melted away.

 Tears welled up in both their eyes as they looked at each other, sharing a rare, beautiful moment of and pure understanding.

" Bye, mum," he whispered.

"Goodbye Scott." She replied.

"Wow... Scott, how beautiful."

Maximus said sarcastically rasing an eyebrow as he looked at Scott.

"A touching moment, Should I start clapping or give you two a minute?"

He continued as he turned on his heel and began walking back toward his office, boots echoing against the steel floor.

Scott followed, running after him trying to keep up.

 "Sorry sir."

 Scott muttered, embarrassed.

  "Well, that's the only one you've got"

 Maximus muttered under his breath.

"What...did you say?"

 Scott said, trying to catch his breath.

"Looks like the gate man likes you." Maximus said, trying to change the conversation.

"I don't think so."

Scott replied.

"What's with that?"

 Maximus said confused, he expected Scott to be more excited

"I never knew gate men were that important in protocol" Scott replied curiously." 

 "You didn't read up, did you?"

Maximus said, with a smirk.

"Well, since you don't know, let me educate you. Let's call it.. a free lesson."

 They walked down the hallway as Maximus continued. The metallic floor echoed beneath their boots, and distant drills hummed in the background.

"In protocol, there are two types of soldiers, the nano-infused and non-nano-infused."

"For example, I am a non-nano-infused soldier, but I am also augmented."

"Oh, the 'metal arm."

Scott said, gesturing toward Maximus' left side.

He paused mid-step, glancing at his arm. The metallic limb caught the overhead lights, its chrome plates gleaming faintly. 

He stared at it for a moment quietly, almost emotionally, before nodding.

" Yes, Scott, the metal arm."

He continued.

"The basic nano soldier can live for about 300 years, a mid-grade soldier can live for about 1000 years, while the more advanced one can live for about 5000 years."

"Wha— so the gateman—! ".

"Don't interrupt me" Maximus said, cutting him off.

"Sorry....sir."

Scott replied quietly.

He continued,

"When a Nano General wants to go on vacation or take leave, nine out of ten times they choose to stay at the Protocol Cadet Training Center."

He smirked.

"And since those old fogeys are so battle-hardened and tough, they can't just sit around and relax, so they take up a job."

" So that means!!."

Scott said surprised.

"Yes Scott, one of the top generals in protocol is fond of you."

Scott looked at him, mouth and eyes open with shock.

" Yeah.., take that all in," Maximus said smugly.

He took a brief look at Scott's face and added, "Wipe that look off your face."

Scott noticed and relaxed his face a little bit embarrassed.

They stopped in front of a reinforced steel door. The panel beside it blinked green as Maximus stood in front of it. 

The door slid open with a hiss, inside his office was, sleek, functional, and cold.

Maximus sat on his chair with a sigh of familiarity. Scott sat opposite, but was clearly uncomfortable.

"Okay.., I'm going to process your documents and get you ready." 

With a swipe, he pulled up Scott's documents and began the process."

Scott's heart raced. This was thrilling but also terrifying. He had no idea what waited ahead.

 He paused the process and gave Scott a long look. He was bare boned and was clearly malnourished.

" You need to put some muscle," he teased 

But Scott couldn't care less, already adapting to Maximus' remarks.

They both stood up. He extended his hand for a shake, Scott reciprocated, and they had a short but firm handshake.

 "You've got a firm grip Scott," Maximus said, holding his hands tightly and meeting Scott's gaze with a nod of approval.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent Scott the coordinates of the Barracks.

"There. You're officially in, Don't get yourself killed." Maximus said.

Scott smiled faintly and replied. "I'll try not to."

Maximus gave a final wave as Scott stepped out, the door hissing shut behind him.