A New Family

The SOW was the Transendental Emperor's answer to the threat 001 posed to the Sovereignty and to himself, as the guardian and the last line of defense for humanity, he couldn't afford to distance himself from Cassen or it's vicinity.

The SOW consisted of pitting two groups of indoctrinated teenagers with Transendental potential against each other, to determine the superior group,and that group's best will emerge as Vanguard 002.The groups were made up of multiple four man squads, who would later compete with each other for supremacy, but now they were in the preparation stage, before the commence of the real trial.

"My name is David, I am fourteen years old, I have a health index rating of A"

David timidly introduces himself to the rest of his squad, clearly under pressure. One of the boys walked up to him, he was taller than David, with a handsome face and strangely comforting eyes.

"Welcome! I am Nathan, fifteen years old, I am the squad's captain, nice to finally meet you!"

He said, with a warm smile, extending his hands out for a handshake.David shakes his hand and turns to look behind him expecting an introduction from the others, but he was met with indifference, the girl amongst them was busy doing push ups, completely ignoring his presence, the other boy scuffed and expressed his disdain for David's, purely unintentional bragging.

"Hm, you have a health Index rating(HIR) of A, so what! When the competition starts, apparent strength is what you need, not potential"!

He gets up from his seated position and quickly walks towards the two, but as he gets closer, he's met with the grim reality that the newcomer was slightly but noticeably taller than him, he quickly zoomed past them, in the direction of his room, his frustration greatly evident, stomping his feet as he went. David turned to look at Nathan with a questioning and troubled expression, Nathan inturn looked at David with a complicated expression.

"He normally isn't this irritatable, it just, he has been in a bad mood lately, we used to be a four man squad, but the fourth didn't survive the neural reinforcement (brainwashing) although he had an HIR of A, they were very close friends"

David understood and didn't ask anymore questions. But he was still ignorant of their names,

"What should I call them"

David remarked, scratching the back of his head, "oh sorry!", Nathan exclaimed, "The cranky one is Christopher, and our only lady is Bethany", he also adds in a low tone, almost inaudible to someone mere centimeters in proximity, "she is cold to everyone, don't try to flirt, she is a D3 level martial arts master, she will break your legs", despite the distance between them, Bethany heard him and glared in their direction, her gaze pierced like a thousand needles, making the two feel a chill down their spine.

"I was just telling the newcomer the rules"

Nathan explained laughing nervously like a young child caught lying, Bethany payed no attention and went to her room. Nathan and David exchange looks and begin to discretely laugh. Nathan finally shows David to his room, and warns him to be up and ready by half past five, they will be transferred to the cafeteria by the officers at that time, "if you're late the whole squad skips breakfast", Nathan reiterates, David nods in affirmation and backs into his room, the door closes and David can finally relax, he finds his room to already have everything he will need, he plumbs in the bed covered in white sheets in the corner of a compact room without windows, ventilation shafts were his only source of fresh air, the light on the ceiling shines in his eyes and he raises his arm to block the light, while he lies there, his thoughts wander off, and he can picture the girl from earlier in the hallway, David smiles and remarks internally, "What a beautiful smile she had".