Aiden’s boots thudded softly against the stone pavent as he walked back to the training hall. His mind was in overdrive, running through strategies like pieces on a chessboard.
Every move had to count. Divide. Sweep. Regroup. The simplicity of the plan was its strength, but simplicity didn’t an it would be easy. They were dealing with unstable awakened individuals, not just rioters. People with new, raw power surging through them like live wires.
They’re scared. Untrained power is dangerous power, Aiden thought, his jaw tightening. He knew that feeling all too well.
As he reached the entrance of the building, a figure darted toward him at full speed. For a minute, his stance tensed and his eyes narrowed before he recognized the person.
"Suzanne?" he called, watching her skid to a halt in front of him, chest heaving from the sprint. She straightened, giving him a crisp salute.
"Captain!" she said with the kind of pride reserved for cadets eager to impress.
He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you running to the entrance? Didn’t I tell everyone to stay in the training room and practice until I got back?"
Her eyes lit up and looked like a kid who can’t wait to show off a new toy. She raised her hand and said, "Captain, look at this!"
She looked at her palm very intently, her brows furrowed as if she were trying to figure out a problem. The wind spun around her hand in a small spiral, making a tiny ball.
"Look! I awakened wind abilities!" she bead.
Aiden tilted his head, watching the wind ball spin and shift, its form flickering with instability. It wasn’t half bad for a beginner, but as expected, it only held for a mont before sputtering out like a dying candle fla. Suzanne’s face scrunched up in frustration.
"Ugh! I almost had it," she muttered, her lips twisting into a pout. "It’s so weak and just falls apart!"
"Don’t beat yourself up," Aiden said, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "You awakened wind abilities—that’s already impressive. Focus on control, not speed. Follow the thod, step by step. Rushing it will only slow you down."
Her eyes lit up again. "Yes, Captain! I’ll get it next ti for sure!" she said with renewed determination.
He smirked. "I believe you." His face grew serious again. "But that doesn’t explain why you’re not practicing."
Her eyes widened as realization hit her. "Oh! Right, right! I was supposed to find you. Ezzie told to ask what our new assignnt is."
Aiden sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course she did." He shook his head, glancing at her. "Go back inside and gather everyone in the main hall. I want the full unit present. And while you’re at it, bring the list of all the awakened and the status of everyone who’s close to awakening."
"Got it, Captain!" Suzanne snapped another salute, this one so fast and stiff it nearly knocked her off balance before she bolted back into the building.
The Training Hall – 20 Minutes Later
The large hall echoed with the hum of murmuring voices. Soldiers stood in clusters, so stretching, others exchanging stories of their newfound powers. Aiden stood at the front, scanning the room as Tommy stood beside him, arms crossed, watching the chaos with mild amusent.
"You’d think I was running a daycare," Tommy muttered, watching two soldiers playfully shove each other like kids on a playground.
"You’re not wrong," Aiden replied, flipping through a stack of reports. His eyes flicked over nas and status notes: Awakened, Partially Awakened—Sensing but not Harnessing.
Ezzie approached, her voice sharp and clear. "Sir, all 50 elites, 2500 squad mbers, and 500 reserve mbers are here, minus the technical crew. They’re still practicing as ordered."
"Good," Aiden said, eyes still on the list. "Alright, everyone, listen up!" His voice echoed through the room, cutting the chatter like a whip. "I know you were in the middle of training, but guess what—training ti’s over."
He let the weight of those words settle before continuing. "We’re soldiers. We respond when the call cos, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. And right now, that call has co."
His gaze swept over them, taking in every face. "As you all know, the surge knocked out all wireless communication. The police and local defense teams are doing their best, but it’s not enough. People are panicking, so of them newly awakened. And a few of them have decided it’s a great ti to cause chaos."
There was a murmur of discontent among the soldiers. So shook their heads, others clenched their fists.
"Our mission is simple," Aiden continued. "We’re to sweep the city and restore order. No questions, no delays. We’re not waiting for the military to send in reinforcents. We are the reinforcents."
He raised the docunt, tapping it with his finger. "I have all your progress right here. Out of everyone here, 83 of you have successfully awakened—and yes, that includes almost every elite mber."
A few soldiers glanced at each other, grins spreading on their faces.
"Don’t get cocky," Aiden warned, pointing at them. "This doesn’t make you invincible. You’ll be facing people just like you—newly awakened, unpredictable, and desperate. Stay sharp."
His eyes shifted to Manas and Billy, who stood at the back, both looking downcast. "Manas, Billy, you’re not off the hook either. You’re sensing the energy, and that’s the hardest part. Harnessing it cos next, so don’t sulk like you’ve been benched. You’re closer than you think."
"Yes, Captain! We’ll do better!" they said in unison, straightening their posture.
"Good." Aiden took a mont to glance at everyone. "Now, let’s break it down. All fully awakened step to the front." The soldiers shuffled into groups. "On the right—those who haven’t sensed anything. On the left—those who have sensed energy but haven’t harnessed it yet."
The soldiers moved with precision, forming three distinct groups. Aiden counted them with a quick glance. "Alright. The 500 of you in the ’sensing but not harnessing’ group will stay here. Keep training. Those of you who have awakened, we’re dividing into 84 squads of 30 mber each lead by awakened mber."
The air buzzed with excitent and confusion. Soldiers whispered to each other, already speculating who would be team leaders.
"Every 20 squad will be assigned to a direction—north, south, east, west—and sweep the city block by block," Aiden continued. "Ezzie will be stationed at the communication hub to coordinate with ground teams. Four squads will remain on standby as reinforcents."
A hand shot up from the middle of the group. "Sir! We want to help too!" It was Manas.
Tommy snorted. "Don’t you get it? Your captain’s giving you ti to train. You’re this close to awakening. You want to help? Get stronger."
Aiden nodded. "Tommy’s right. The teams will rotate. As squads finish their sweeps, they’ll return, and those of you on the threshold will take their place."
Hearing this, the soldiers who had been disappointed monts ago straightened with new determination.
Aiden smirked. Hooked them right where I wanted them. "Alright, suit up, people! I want everyone in gear in 10 minutes."
As the soldiers moved with renewed energy, Aiden called Tommy, Cole, and Yvonne to his side. "Tommy, you’re in charge of the north. Cole, take the south. Yvonne, the west. Organize the squads in your direction and maintain coordination."
Each of them nodded, faces set with determination.
Aiden turned to Ezzie. "Ezzie, get to the comms hub. Coordinate with the teams and assign squads to hotspots."
"Yes, Captain," Ezzie said with a grin, already turning on her heel.
"Move out!" Aiden ordered. The room buzzed with the sound of soldiers readying their gear. The hum of readiness—an orchestra of zippers, clicks, and clattering boots—filled the hall.
As the last soldier left, Tommy nudged Aiden’s shoulder. "You know they’re going to compete to see which squad finishes first, right?"
"Good," Aiden said, eyes gleaming with quiet pride. "That’s exactly what I want."
With that, they moved out.
The Communication Hub –
The heavy tal doors to the newly established communication hub slid open with a low hum. Ezzie strode in, her steps deliberate, eyes sharp as she took in the room’s layout.
Monitors flickered along the walls, staff scurried from one console to another, and the steady buzz of rapid-fire orders echoed in the air. It was chaos, but it was organized chaos.
She glanced over her shoulder at the four backup teams stationed outside. "Stay sharp. No one gets in or out without clearance. Full periter, maximum alert."
"Yes, ma’am!" they replied in unison, their voices firm and steady.
Ezzie stepped inside, her eyes locking on Chancellor Helen, who stood by the main display, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on the monitors. Her presence alone commanded respect, but today, there was sothing more—a quiet, deadly intensity. That’s a woman carrying the whole federation on her shoulders and still daring it to try her, she thought with a smirk.
With her back straight, Ezzie walked up and gave a sharp greeting. "Ma’am."
Chancellor Helen’s gaze were calm yet focused as she tilted her head slightly. She said, "At ease, soldier," in a calm but firm voice. "What’s the status of your unit?"
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