A Test?

Kai sat in the hospital room where his uncle lay, gazing down at the card given to him by Nathan. Although Kai wasn't particularly fond of the A.M.I., he recognized the importance of attending. It would provide valuable insights into his abilities. Moreover, he harbored a curiosity about other mask users his age.

Glancing back at his peacefully slumbering uncle, who had been in repose for quite some time, Kai found himself yearning for guidance and advice. Despite his uncle's imperfections, he was a reliable source of wisdom, someone Kai could always turn to when in need. However, Kai anticipated the predictable response he would receive from Rick.

Turning the card over, Kai focused on the barcode at its center. A small circle on the corner of Kai's forehead lit up, emitting a soft beep. The beeping ceased, followed by a distinctive click, and then a voice resonated directly into Kai's mind.

"Hello, you've reached the A.M.I. Recruitment Network. Please provide the name of the person who gave you this card, and I can patch you through to your sponsor," a robotic voice intoned. Kai took a deep breath, realizing this was a step he needed to take, even if it meant sacrificing his summer freedom.

"Nathan Dark," Kai spoke, his gaze fixed on his slumbering uncle. A beep resonated in Kai's head, and the voice returned, "Contacting Grandmaster Nathan Dark, please hold." Kai was taken aback; the title "Grandmaster" sounded significant, and he couldn't deny feeling a touch of apprehension given his usual lack of respect.

The voice ringing in his head snapped him back to reality. "So, Mr. Mendoza, have you decided what to do regarding the A.M.I. training program? I hope your answer is yes, of course." Kai could almost feel the man's cunning smirk; he shivered, knowing he had no choice. It was either yes or nothing. Kai sighed and finally spoke, "Well, it's not like I can say no here, and my house is in cinders, so yeah, I'll attend the training program."

"Good, and since I'm your sponsor, your food and housing are all paid for. I'll send you the details; the orientation is in a week. See you then." A beep sounded from the implant in Kai's head. Silence filled his mind as he looked toward his uncle, hoping he was making the right choice. Kai reclined in the chair and shut his eyes; stress washed over him as he fell into slumber.

Kai peered into the mirror, adjusting the tie on his suit. He had purchased the suit shortly after the call from Nathan, spending most of his spare cash on clothes since all his other belongings were scorched. With the tie finally in place, Kai admired himself in the mirror.

He had rich brown skin and loose, curly black hair. His eyes were a piercing blue, previously brown before the incident. At first, it was a little odd—his eyes standing out against his dark skin and hair—but he was starting to get used to it.

Kai stepped away from the mirror, leaving the hotel room where he and his uncle stayed. Since the man's discharge from the hospital, they had been house-hunting and were currently lodged in an inexpensive hotel. Stepping onto the street, Kai made his way to the train station, traversing the vibrant streets of Nova City.

The academy lay in a more affluent district of the city. Kai had only been there once before, attending his father's funeral, a somber occasion that his family had entirely financed. It was also the sole instance Kai had encountered his family, aside from Rick.

Kai strolled along the street, admiring the unique graffiti decorating the walls of buildings. As he approached the station, he descended into the subway, paid his fare, and took a seat on the train, closing his eyes. Today was the day—no turning back now. Opening his eyes again, he scanned the train. Four A.M.I. members were aboard; security had been heightened since the last incident. This was unusual; A.M.I. was typically indifferent to most crime in the poorer areas of the city. Perhaps it wasn't just a random, one-off attack after all.

"Now arriving in Horizon Gardens," a voice echoed through the train, interrupting Kai's train of thought. He stood up from his seat and stepped off the train, immediately noticing the stark contrast between this station and his local one. It was notably cleaner, and despite the differences, Kai pressed on, making his way into the city.

The buildings in Horizon Gardens were impeccably maintained, devoid of graffiti, and towering three times the size of those in his neighborhood. The contrast left Kai in awe as he navigated through this polished and expansive urban landscape.

Kai finally reached his destination, a tall black building with large pane windows lining the front. Stepping through the front entrance, he observed people in suits wandering about. Walking up to the receptionist's desk, he spoke, "Excuse me, ma'am. I'm here for the A.M.I. training program orientation."

The woman looked up from her computer, adjusting her glasses. "Name and sponsor, please," she requested. Kai sighed and replied, "I'm Kai Mendoza, and my sponsor is Nathan Dark." The woman's eyes widened slightly as she said, "Of course. Take this badge and go to floor three, room twenty-seven." She slid the badge onto the counter and turned away, her attention returning to her tasks.

Kai expressed his gratitude to the woman and walked towards the elevator, choosing to ignore the subtle shock in her expression. Stepping onto the elevator, he pressed the button for the third floor. Upon arrival, he exited and navigated his way to room twenty-seven with a determined stride.

He reached the door and held the small golden badge to a camera on the door. The door opened, and Kai stepped inside. The room was occupied by roughly a hundred people, all seated, with a muscular woman at the front behind a podium. Kai found an open seat toward the back and settled in, waiting for the event to commence.

Ten minutes passed before the woman cleared her throat and began speaking, "Hello agents of tomorrow.My name is Christina Deyvinne, just call me miss Deyvinne, I'm going to be your instructor for the summer. I hope we get along." The woman had a powerful commanding voice that perfectly matched her tall muscular frame.

The woman continued on "I'll be teaching all of you the basics of Kao control and how to be a proper member of the A.M.I and hopefully some of you can get some actual field experience." the woman shifted her gaze directly onto Kai and spoke "and I expect big things from some of you. Now before i show you to your rooms, i need to administer a small test." A mask covers the woman's face, and pressure overtook the room.

It was bearable at first but it slowly grew heavier, people around kai were starting to faint, kai had instinctively activated his mask and he still was struggling to stay awake just as he was about to give out the pressure was relieved. Roughly thirty students had fainted leaving only seventy students left standing.

The women smirked "I guess we have some actual talent this time, anyone still awake come with me, the woman grabbed a marker, scribbled something on the board and left the room Kai and the rest of the students left the room.