Tech Tree

"Hey." I heard a faint voice as I started to wake up.

"Hey, perv!" The voice yelled trying to get my attention.

"What Naomi!?! You're still not over what I said yet?" I responded as I sat up on the bed and looked at her. She was in her pajamas which was a white shirt and shorts and her hair tied up. I felt a rush of pain in my head as I got up.

"Why would I be over it? I have to live with you!" She said as she threw a pillow at me. I caught the pillow and threw it back to her bed.

"Whatever dude. Why are you waking me up this early?" I asked.

"Because it's Thursday, march 11. The day we get our results on the operator test. It's 8:30am and we only have 30 minutes to get ready." She replied.

"Quit your yapping, it's too early for that shit." I said while getting up from the bed. Naomi grew angry and walked away from the room.

…

I headed towards the bathroom and closed the door behind me. I faced the mirror and started fixing my hair.

"She needs to let that incident go." I thought before opening the mirror cabinet. I started to search for something to relieve my headache but most of the things belonged to Naomi.

"Maybe I'll ask her to rest her hands on my head again." I thought as I closed the mirror and looked down to turn on the faucet on the sink. Water started running out the pipes and I cupped my hands to hold the water. I looked back into the mirror and immediately jumped as I looked at what was my reflection.

"Hey. Did I scare you?" The reflection asked me. He wore a black cloak with a white crow symbol in the middle with some of my features: long grey hair, my nose, my mouth. However, he had one purple eye and the other red.

"What, you don't know how to talk?" The figure said while facepalming.

"Is this real?" I said while looking down at the water that stopped touching the sink.

"Hm, I see. You are suffering from Time's misguidance." The figure said while rubbing his chin.

"What do you mean?" I responded, confused by what he said.

"You can't remember anything, correct?" He asked.

"Yes, I can't. I'm trying to just get by now first." I replied. The figure started laughing before covering his mouth trying to hide it.

"Well, let's start with the fact that you protected Naomi like I asked you." He said seriously.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You burned Zero's left eye out completely. I admit it was nice to watch from a different view." He said with excitement.

I stayed silent and didn't say anything. The figure slowly started to fade away and the water started to fall again.

"Interesting. It looks like my time is up. The truth is coming, Mordecai." He said as he turned around and waved before completely being gone. The water touched the sink and time resumed as if nothing happened. A sudden knock hit the door and I turned to it's direction

"Everything okay there?" Naomi asked. I sighed in relief.

"It's Naomi." I thought.

"Yeah, I'll be right out." I said turning off the faucet.

"Guess this is the new normal." I said while drying my hands on the towels and exiting the bathroom.

…

Naomi had changed out of her pjs into a new set of clothes: a black blouse, indigo short skirt with black stocking, and some black boots. I couldn't take my eyes off her and started to admire her.

"Why are you looking at me?" Naomi asked.

"Oh nothing. I just like your outfit." I responded.

"You are a pervert. " She replied as she set a plate of eggs and toast on the dinner table. A cup of orange juice stood in front of the plate and the table was nicely set.

"Thank you my highness." I said as I sat down on the table and started eating. Naomi sat across the table and started to indulge in the food.

"This is good!" I said, already finishing my plate.

"Is there more?!" I finished as I held the plate up. Naomi looked up shocked and didn't know how to react

"Sadly, there isn't. But, you can have the rest of mine." She said while bringing her plate.

"Are you sure?" I said feeling bad but Naomi shook her head.

"This is the first time I've cooked in 2 years. I didn't expect it to succeed." She said while handing the plate. I took the plate and began eating the food without chewing.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't realize I'm this hungry." I said. Naomi started to giggle as I finished my second plate. I looked up to her with food all over my mouth like an infant.

"So, when will you apolo—." Naomi began to say but an alarm clock interrupted. She took out her cell phone and started to panic.

"It's 8:57am. Let's go!" She yelled as she headed for the front door.

"Let's go." I said leaving the table and running out the door.

…

We walked down the hallway together towards the main hall quickly. Everyone was already gathered up talking among each other with smiles and laughter. I'll admit it was nice to see after such a tedious entrance exam.

"Mordecai! Naomi!'' Jenna said while motioning us to come over to her. She was with Isabel in the center of the red-lit room while Lilac and Yoru stood in a corner.

"Hiya! How is everyone?" Naomi said as she walked over. I walked away to a corner and leaned back against the back.

"Couldn't be better. I just wanna get these results and train with Isabel." Jenna said while looking over to her. Isabel was looking at me with a worried expression and didn't hear what Jenna said.

"Why is Mordecai isolated himself? Did he apologize to you?" Isabel asked.

"No. He is so aggravating!" She replied.

"Isabel really ignored me!" Jenna thought.

Lilac walked over towards me and leaned besides the wall.

"Still down bad, Hashimoto?" She asked.

"She won't let it go. She was calling me a pervert this morning." I said while crossing my arms.

"Did you apologize yet?" Lilac asked.

"Now that I think about it, no. However, I should." I said coming to a realization.

"That's what I like to hear." She replied while walking back to Yoru.

"Everyone, gather quickly. We don't have time." Dove said as she came through the door. We all turned around and faced the Thors. "As you know, today you will officially be the first class of 1010 G.C!" Dove stated.

"

"Mordecai, are you fine?" Dove asked.

"Couldn't be better. " I lied as my head was pounding.

"Perfect. We will list ranks from top to bottom." Dove stated.

"Wait, what does G.C stand for again?" I asked Dove. "It means Guilty Condolences. It represents the years that humans have existed on earth while sinning. This is all according to the book of Moriya." Dove replied.

"Thank you. Sorry for interrupting." I said.

"Ahem. The highest rank in our system is 'Modigga'. Modiggas are captain level operators respected by everyone in our beloved nation. They run classified operations, and get the most riches after successful missions. Finally, they have access to newly built mansions built across town to live in." Dove finished.

"What riches are now offered?" Yoru asked.

"Gold, the currency used across the world. This is the only thing we have adopted from other countries." Dove responded. Yoru nodded his head in response.

"Our two new Modiggas are.." Dove paused a little to look at everyones' tense faces. "Yoru and Lilac." Yoru jumped into the air with joy after hearing his name.

"We did it Lilac!" He said while picking her up.

"Put me down now!" Lilac said with a straight face as she was in the air.

"You guys performed beyond our expectations. I will be your new captain and make sure you continue to succeed. We will start our first mission tomorrow so be ready." Dove stated. The two nodded their heads at their new captain.

"Yes ma'am." They said in sync.

"Next, we have our lieutenant rank. This rank is known by most people and is usually called to regular operations. They make decent money and are given nice homes within city walls. Our two new Lieutenants are.." Dove paused as she tried to make it very tense.

"Jenna and Isabel." Dove stated.

Jenna and Isabel sighed in relief after hearing the good news.

"Isabel, let's do our best to rank up!" Jenna said while clenching her fist.

"Sounds like a plan." She said, smiling as the two fist bumped .

"Your captain will be Luke, and he will train you to the fullest." Dove finished. The two looked at Luke who was playing with his own fire. The two laughed awkwardly in sync as a reaction.

"Now everyone, please follow your new captains and I hope to see you on the battlefield. Naomi and Mordecai will stay behind with Obi for further instructions." Dove stated as she opened the door and motioned everyone to get out.

…

Obi walked toward us with a radiant smile. He looked back to make sure that everyone left before he began to talk.

"Dove wanted me to talk to you both in private." He said.

"What is it now, dad?" Naomi said while shaking her head.

"Wait, Obi is your dad?" I said loudly.

"Yeah, I thought you knew." She replied.

"Oh.. I see." I murmured embarrassed.

"I'm so happy to see you on good terms with my little girl." Obi said while clapping.

"Dad! Stop calling me little already!" She said while rolling her eyes.

"Haha, my little girl got jokes. But, let's get back to business."

Obi's smile faded as he became serious. "You two placed low on the exam due to your weaknesses. The other Thors believed you were Lieutenant rank but I say otherwise. Therefore, you guys are both snake ranks." Obi stated.

"What the hell is a snake rank?" I snapped back after hearing the disappointing news.

"Snakes are the lowest ranks for those who have little experience in the battlefield. They get little money, normal housing and little respect in the city." Obi answered while crossing his arms.

"Hmph." I said and walked over to the couch behind me.

"I don't care." I finished and sat down.

"What does that mean?" Obi asked, confused by my response.

"My power will speak for itself. I can feel it rising inside me." I said while looking at my arms. My scars filled up with my purple aura as I clenched my fist.

"This is why I picked you. Your confidence is admirable." Obi exclaimed.

"Mordecai's mentality is on a different level. I only met him for a day but he's persistent." Naomi thought as she listened to the two bickers.

"Captain, what do we do now?" She interrupted. Obi clears his throat before giving an answer.

"Yes, we need to head to the tech department downtown and retrieve your new equipment." He said while walking towards the exit.

"You can go without me. Not interested in this ranking system anyways." I said while sinking into the couch. Naomi grew angry at my remark and slapped me in the face.

"You're coming whether you like it or not, idiot!" She yelled while dragging me off the couch. I sighed as we left the armory.

"Let's take my car." Obi said while taking his keys out of his pocket. The sound of a horn went off and a white car appeared in front of the sidewalk.

"I call shotgun!" Naomi said hopping into the passenger while smiling and putting up the peace sign. Obi laughed a little and walked to the driver seat.

"I love my daughter." He said.

I walked to the car and entered the backseat creeped out by his daughter complex. We cruised past a couple of houses in the area before heading downtown. I noticed the smiles on everyone that we passed by as we headed towards our destination.

"Have you seen the city during the day Mordecai?" Obi asked, breaking the silence.

"Not really. Just been trapped in the Holy Armory for a day." I replied.

"I think you'll find this city rather calm than most. Since this is a newly established nation, there are few to no problems." Obi stated.

"You don't say.." I said as we passed by the parks with kids playing together.

"Where is the Tech lab?" Naomi asked.

"Within the business district. We are in the general population district. Lots of transportation, entertainment, and people are found here." Obi answered. A train passed above us as we entered a tunnel.

"The city is innocent now.. that's why it's beautiful. Corruption will take its youth." I stated as the orange light lit the tunnel.

"I guess so.." Naomi responded, confused by what I meant. We exited the tunnel and entered into the business district of the city. Tall buildings hung over us while the sun shone down. Obi stopped in front of a giant metallic dome that glistened in the sunlight. At first glance, I couldn't see anything inside.

"We're here." Obi said as he parked the car inside a parking lot. We exited and entered the building with little knowledge of what's behind the doors.

…

A retina scanner was on the wall just like the holy armory and we each scanned to verify our identities. A noise went off signaling the wall to open.

"What's happening?" I asked.

"C'mon." Obi said while walking into the opening with Naomi following behind. We walked into a huge lab full of equipment and advanced technology. Monitors hung across the room with different screens showing data. A bunch of scientists were running around holding glass tubes filled with unknown entities.

"Cool." I thought. The lights were an indigo color making the room a little dark.

"Ah, Obi. Nice to see you." A dark skin woman in a lab coat approached us.

"Great to see you Sierra." Obi replied. She wore a white blouse with a black mini skirt with a lab coat. The heels she wore showed off her tall legs while her maroon eyes expressed joy.

"Naomi, how are you sweetheart?" Sierra said while fixing her long black hair into a ponytail.

"Wonderful, how about you? How's your boyfriend?" Naomi asked. Sierra pouted as Naomi finished her sentence.

"We broke up. Didn't have time for him." She said, shaking her head.

"Oh, again?" Naomi said while laughing awkwardly.

"Hopefully she finds the perfect one.." Naomi thought as Sierra turned her attention to me.

"You must be the new guy. Nice to meet you, I'm Sierra Centrae." Sierra stated.

"Centrae.. are you related to Isabel?" I said as we shook her hand.

"We are from the same clan, but I'm not related to her. And sadly, I don't have any powers." Sierra said while frowning.

"Wow, that got depressing fast!" I thought as I looked at the other two for help. They turned their heads and started whistling to avoid responding.

"They're both not helping me!" I thought while clearing my throat.

"You may have no powers but that doesn't mean you're not strong." I responded.

"Thank you!" She said with her face lit up.

"Shall we go upstairs?" She said while walking towards the elevator. I turned back to the other two who were trying not to laugh.

"We did him dirty there!" Naomi whispered into Obi's ear. Obi laughed a little before realizing I was listening the entire time and cleared his throat. I walked away from the two of them and joined Sierra who was in the elevator.

"Everything okay?" Sierra asked as the other two followed behind me.

"Yeah, just locker room talk." Obi said as the elevator closed.

…

The elevator ascended to the fifth floor and opened to an empty white room.

"What is this?" I asked.

A white modern bridge connected to a white tree-like structure.

"This is the tech tree. Scientists use this tree to store advanced technology intended for operators on the field. This tree is a disguise from enemies who try to enter this building." Sierra said as we crossed the bridge towards the tree.

"This equipment is probably the most advanced technology in the world now. As a Thor, I can confirm that their technology has benefited me much." Obi commented.

"Is that so?" Naomi asked sarcastically.

"Not now Naomi." Obi replied in a serious tone.

"The hell was that about?" I thought as I looked back at the other two.

We reached the front of the tree and Sierra knocked on the bark bringing out another retina scanner. She scanned her retinas which triggered a hidden door to appear and opened it. The room is filled with various tech such as weapons, communication devices and gear.

"Impressive.." I thought.

The interior of the room was made of wood yet it was cold inside. I walked over to the gear and looked at the two different cloaks hanging on a rack. The first one was a white cloak with the letter 'L' written on the back. The last one was a black cloak with the letter 'M' on the back. The words 'Holy Nation' were written in small letters on the bottom of both cloaks.

These are nice cloaks." I said while touching the cloak.

"Ah, these are the latest gear we created with a hint of swag or whatever the kids call it." Sierra replied while digging into a desk in the back of the room. I looked at the black cloak closely and suddenly felt a weird chill.

"Wait.. that looks familiar.." I thought as I looked closely at the black cloak.

Flashbacks of this morning entered my mind as I remember the man in the mirror again. He was wearing the same black cloak but with a crow instead of the letter 'M'. I turned the black cloak hoping to find a clue but there was no crow on the cloak.

"Hm, this mysterious man may show up again and I still have no clue who he is." I thought.

"I found it!" Sierra said holding a small case and placing it on the table.

Obi walked over and began to fix her hair.

"Be careful. Almost messed up your hair." He said as he finished.

"Tha-Thanks!" Sierra said embarrassed. I looked over to Naomi who was lost in her own thoughts.

"What am I going to cook tonight?" She was thinking before I tapped her shoulders.

"Wha-What?" She said while coming back to reality.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, I was just thinking of something." She said, smiling.

"I'm sorry for what happened at the exam." I said. She smiled as I finished the sentence and nodded her head.

"I forgive you." She replied.

"Okay you two. First, congratulations on joining the ranks. You now have access to the equipment in this lab." She said as she took two black earpieces out of the case and handed them to us.

"This earpiece I just handed you is X-foliates. Scientist Jerold is the creator who is now too busy to say hi. They allow you to communicate through your thoughts instead of talking. This way, the enemies cannot hear any comms in the midst of battle." She said as she dug into the case.

"Wow, how is this even possible?" I replied while putting on the earpiece.

"You'll be surprised how smart Jerold is." Naomi replied as she examined the earpiece.

"Simply put them on and tap on it to join voice comms you have access to." I tapped the X-foliate and a hud in front of me with a bunch of functionalities.

"Loading Mordecai Hashimoto." The H.U.D read and loaded 3 columns: Voice channels, Data, and Operators. I clicked on the 'Operator' column and viewed a list of all operators online. The queen was on top followed by the Thors, Modiggas, Lieutenants, and snakes.

"A bunch of familiar faces." I thought as I scrolled through this list. I clicked on the 'Data' column which had a help guide for the X-foliate.

"This is some amazing tech! This will surely give us an advantage!" I exclaimed as I thought about future operations.

"Don't get too pumped yet! I have yet to show you what I've created." Sierra interrupted as she dug in the case again.

"There they are!" She said, taking out two pens.

"Two pens?" Naomi asked, confused.

"These aren't regular pens. These are stimulants that heal wounds during a battle." She said excitedly while handing them to us.

"Cool, these can help a lot." I said taking one.

"I used them all the time back in the day when she first made these." Obi said while laughing. Sierra blushed a little after hearing his comment which I noticed.

"Why is Obi flirting with her? Isn't he married?" I thought.

"Wait.. is he a player?!" I asked myself.

"Do we get a cloak?" Naomi asked.

"Unfortunately not. These cloaks are for higher ranks. I'm currently working on some for you guys." Sierra replied while checking her watch.

"Oh shucks! I'm late for a meeting!" Sierra said while putting the case back into the draw.

"Everyone out!" Sierra pushed all of us out of the room. We all jogged across the bridge and went inside the elevator. She pressed the first floor button and we went down to where we originally met. The elevator opened and Sierra pushed all of us out.

"Sorry! Gotta go! Keep in touch!" She said before the elevator closed and went up. We exited back into the lobby and started stretching.

"So what now?" I asked. Obi looked at his watch and looked back at me.

"Let's go home." He said as he walked towards the exit.

"Oh yeah… this is my home now." I thought as I stood there.

"Mordecai!" Naomi yelled as she held the door for me.

"Sorry, I'm coming." I replied while walking to the exit.