Chapter 3: Going to the Y.S.C

"Hey Tenet, why are you here?" 

Tenet turned to Arthur confused. "Because I signed up?"

Arthur shook his head, "You didn't get signed up, you volunteered."

Tenet looked at him for a moment silently. By Arthur's expression he could tell he wasn't just going to let this go.

"I forced my parents to sign me up, we ain't rich. With the rising bills both my parents working all day ain't enough. We were eating less, well, my parents were at least. So I told them I wanted to join the Y.S.C, and forced them to sign me up."

Arthur turned away, his face a cold mask. "Alright then let's go."

"Go? To Y.S.C?"

Arthur snorted, "No."

Tenet turned back to look at him, "What do you mean no?"

Arthur gave a cold nod, "You're not going to Y.S.C. I didn't submit your contract yet so I can technically deny it. If money is your only reason, then fine. I'll get you a part time job. You can give the money to your parents."

Tenet froze. He knew by the sinking feeling in his stomach he was lying to himself. At least partially. If he had been completely honest, he'd be happy with the new arrangement. But he wasn't 

"Wait."

Arthur turned back to him, his eyes cold and eyebrows raised in an expression of mock surprise. "Okay then Tenet. So why are you here? And don't give me some self-sacrificial bullshit."

"I don't really know. I just feel like I should. I'm not lying about my parents needing money, and I am doing it so they have more, especially so my little sister can eat more. But it's not everything, I feel suffocated here. Going to school, then killing myself in fees to educate myself more. Nothing in their interests me, it's all suffocating and boring and grey. I don't want that. I want something different."

There was a heavy silence for a moment.

Then Arthur spoke up, "you're not going to Y.S.C Tenet." His voice strained as he tried to hold back anger. "Freedom and just because. That's your reason? No, it's clear to me you have no idea what you're signing up for. You're in a scouting process to join the G.S.C. You know what that is? It's humanity's last chance for us to win the race against time and save ourselves before the Earth completely dies. Do you know how many people died because of the Cataclysms? Billions. Can you imagine that number? Can you picture what a Billion men women and children look like? I'm a scout. I look for future heroes to throw their lives at humanity's feet so that maybe, maybe we get a chance at staying alive long enough to see our grandchildren grow. I'm not looking for a boy that wants fun and freedom without a purpose or sense worth a damn."

Tenet stared at him, hurt filling his dark eyes. He could see it now. How much of an immature idiot he must look like in Arthur's eyes. His own words sounded weak and naïve, even to his own ears. He dropped his eyes from Arthur's cold eyes.

"You're wrong", he muttered in a low voice.

"Oh?"

"I'm not going for fun. I don't have a purpose, but that's exactly the reason why I should go. Maybe there I'll find my purpose, maybe I'll realize I want to do something worth a damn. If not, fine. At least I'll know that it isn't for me instead of wondering my entire life at what I could've been. You don't know me. Maybe I'll be a hero, but it ain't for you to decide for me. It's me, I get to choose. So you're not taking this chance away from me." He finished in a fierce tone, glaring hard at Arthur. 

Again, silence stretched, the tension becoming palpable as the car smoothly continued driving itself, its engine a low hum. Then Arthur broke into a fit of rampant laugh, his mask of constrained anger falling away to manic mirth. 

Wiping away tears he smiled at Tenet. "I just had to be sure. Alright then. You pass. Let's go to Y.S.C."

Tenet gave a heavy sigh of relief, feeling the pressure slide off his shoulders. He hadn't expected Arthur to test him like that. Nodding away he turned away, watching the view. 

Arthur hummed a merry tune, his finger rhythmically drumming on the car dashboard. 

Tenet imagined a shadowy figure swinging on lampposts and buildings, keeping up with the speeding car. It was something he often did as a pastime on the odd chance he got into a car. 

"Hey Arthur, you got any advice for me?" 

Arthur thought for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. First thing is don't try and under perform. You'll regret it. Try as hard as you can and reap the benefits of any extra attention given to you. Mediocracy isn't a safe place to be there. Make good friends with instructors and peers but don't trust anyone. Unless they save your life, but even then don't. Make sure to be important to your teammates, but not too important."

Tenet cocked his head slightly in confusion. "I meant to try my hardest, but not try to be too important."

Arthur nodded, giving a reminiscent smile. "It'll make sense after a week there. Trust me."

Tenet laughed, "I thought you said not to trust anyone" he responded in a joking tone.

Arthur gave a short chuckle but said nothing further. 

As Tenet turned back to the window, he heard Arthur continue speaking, his voice somber and soft.

"Try hard, but don't kill yourself. Don't try and succeed at the risk of your mental health. It's fine if you fail Tenet. But come back whole Tenet. I don't want to have to drive a zombie back."

Tenet stayed silent for a moment, before saying in a low voice. "Alright."

It made sense to him now why Arthur tested him about going to Y.S.C. His thoughts cast back to Lanky Kevin. He was just looking out for me. 

...

As the sun fell, its calm mature light being slowly eclipsed by the horizon, the car began slowing as it turned onto a side road. They had been in the middle of nowhere for a while and Tenet had long since gotten bored of the view of nothing and the road. 

Soon a huge military gate came into view. It was manned by a squad of guards, all armed to the teeth. They tensed upon seeing the car, but relaxed immediately after. 

He guessed they recognized Arthur's car, he must be coming in and out of here quite often.

A man with a wide chin and sharp jawline covered with stubble approached, saluting Arthur. 

"Evening Captain", the man said. "Credentials if you will."

Arthur nodded, "Lieutenant." He handed his ID. 

The man scanned it and then handed it back. After saluting, Arthur's car soon rolled inside. 

Tenet raised an eyebrow, "Woww, never knew I was with such an honored  

Arthur snorted, "The G.S.C is basically a World Government when they decide to stop fighting each other. Everyone will have an Army title, think of it like a job title rather than a military ranking. 

Tenet nodded, imagining people one day saluting to him and calling him captain. I wonder how that would feel, he thought. He chortled to himself as he imagined people jumping to do his orders and saluting every five seconds. 

The inside of the base felt like a citadel in of itself. After another half an hour or so they reached a huge central building that looked like a giant bunker, twice as large as Tenet's idea of colossal. 

"All of this is for the Y.S.C" he asked in amazement.

Arthur shook his head, "This is just a G.S.C facility. Y.S.C is just a part of this."

Tenet nodded, that made more sense. 

"Also, if you do fail, they'll muddle your memories so you won't be able to remember this place too well," Arthur added.

Completely ignoring the fact his memories might get wiped, Tenet asked in shock, "You can do that?"

Arthur nodded, smiling at Tenet's childlike interest.

"Come on the Tenet, need to take you to your dorm."

They got out of the car and entered the building, entering some sort of reception. 

Suddenly the floor seemed to shake as Tenet heard a roaring sound. 

Then he realized it wasn't a feral beast of terror but a giant man who was sauntering over to Arthur.

"Arthur", he boomed. "Good to meet you again. It's been too long." 

"Otto, it has been a while, but let's catch up later. Got to sort this one out first."

He grabbed Tenet's shoulder, thrusting him in front of the giant like a sacrifice.

Otto loomed over him, "ugly tiny thing isn't he?" Then he threw his head back as another seismic wave of laughter shook the floor. Tenet gritted his teeth, he was average height. Well almost average. "Been docked have you boy?" 

Tenet shook his head, "I volunteered."

That seemed to stun the old giant who stared at him, his jaws dropping open. Looking up at Arthur he asked in a more normal tone. "Is he a legacy Arthur?"

Arthur smiled thinly, "I don't recruit those monsters. You know that Otto."

Otto looked back down at Tenet, then grinned. "I like you boy. You're tiny and ugly but you got spunk. I'll look forward to seeing you in my class."

With that he lumbered away, exiting the building.

Arthur gestured for him to keep following.

"Arthur, is volunteering really that rare?" He had known of course it wasn't exactly a common thing to do, but he hadn't expected it to be so shocking. 

Arthur shook his head, "it is rare. But don't worry, all it'll do for you is make the instructors pay attention to you, which is what you want."

He nodded before asking another question, "what are legacies?"

Arthur sighed, "Waiting for you to ask that. It's more like who are legacies. They are sons of rich and powerful families trying to become more family by making their children gain positions in the G.S.C. Unlike you they train their kids to excel in Y.S.C in order to try and expand their power. Don't worry about it. Focus on Y.S.C. Legacies won't have much influence here."

Tenet nodded, he wasn't surprised there was some sort of Elitist way of expanding influence. He found it strangely comforting, it reminded him that people were always the same. 

Arthur stopped at black door with the number 8 on It. "I submitted your application on the way over here. You're number 8. Don't forget that. And here." He handed Tenet a thin smart watch. It looked more like a bracelet. "If you had a phone I would've taken it. But then again, if you could afford a phone perhaps you wouldn't have been here. It's got my number and your father's work number. Don't hesitate to get in touch. Don't lose the watch. It's your access here." 

Tenet clasped the watch around his left wrist. It turned on, showing a number 8. 

Arthur sighed heavily, "That's it then Tenet. Everything you wanted is right there. Just don't forget what I said."

"Thank you Arthur, for everything. Lecture and all."

Shaking Arthur's hand firmly, he watched as the coordinator left him outside the door. 

Taking a deep breath he stepped through, ready for his new life.