Chapter 3: Heavyweight

The ginger twins, Jed and Fin, bid their farewells after bombarding Samuel with questions. Left alone with Reina, an awkward silence settled in. Reina continued to eat, unfazed, while Samuel scanned the surroundings, attempting to break the silence.

"I talked to Dr. Vice."

Reina hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze still fixed on her food. Samuel hesitated before posing another question, "Would you think I'm crazy if I said that I want to rejoin this squadron?"

Reina side-eyed him, her sharp hazel eyes piercing through the air. "You weren't honest with Jed. Why is that?" she questioned.

Taken aback, Samuel quickly gathered himself. "Why should I tell him everything? I don't know him that well, and this is the first time I've met these twins. I don't think I should answer anything unnecessary at the moment."

Reina looked back at her food, her demeanor indifferent. "Interesting."

Sensing something amiss in her attitude, Samuel decided not to delve deeper. "I'll head to the lab to have them look at my leg before training. Feel free to join me," he offered.

Reina stood up, tray in hand, and walked toward a wall where trays could be automatically washed and put away. On her way back, she passed Samuel and uttered, "I already have plans," before continuing on her path, leaving Samuel slightly confused. "What's wrong with her today? Did I do something wrong?" As these thoughts circled his mind, he cleaned up his tray and exited the cafeteria.

Heading toward the laboratory, Samuel approached what appeared to be an armory. Despite the initial confusion, the laboratory itself served as an armory, a fact that would become clearer shortly. As he neared the entrance, a familiar circular gate, similar to the one at the barracks, awaited him. This time, however, there was a substantial platform on the ground.

Upon stepping onto the platform, Samuel's entire body underwent a thorough scan, retrieving various data. Subsequently, a stern voice emanated from Samuel's communicator.

"Reason for visit?"

"Check-up, sir."

"Go to Section B#13."

A panel appeared on the communicator showcasing all kinds of sections. While pressing on the B#13 option, Samuel waited for a couple of seconds before a green light of affirmation appeared on his communicator.

Instead of the gate opening immediately, everything behind it remained classified as Section A. The platform beneath Samuel started making heavy sounds as it detached from the ground and slowly descended, akin to an elevator. Samuel reached his destination swiftly, passing by various gates and witnessing colleagues, from explorers to scientists, moving in and out on similar platforms. As he walked toward a different gate, his body underwent another scan before the gate opened.

Upon the gate opening, the clamor of engineers working on colossal machines, from spacecraft to armored vehicles and heavy exploration suits, reverberated through the air. The distinct odors assaulted Samuel's senses as he navigated the well-known path—wafts of melted metal, splashes of lumigold Essence from planet Darium, a new fuel replacement, and the distinct aroma of hardworking individuals.

As Samuel approached his destination, ascending stairs leading to a transparent room, the scene unfolded before him. People were testing armored suits, one undergoing charging with Vioflux Cells, a vital resource from the planet Quasarith Minoris. Amidst this, a sudden event caught Samuel's attention out of the corner of his eye.

Scientists struggled to free a soldier trapped inside an armor, a situation appearing serious though no sounds penetrated from the outside. As the door opened for Samuel to step in, a familiar voice resonated with urgency, "Quick, get that helmet off him! He's not breathing, for God's sake!

Samuel observed as the professionals efficiently tended to the unconscious soldier, relieved when they successfully revived him. As the chaos settled, a sweat-covered, dark-skinned woman emerged from the room, passing Samuel with determination. However, Samuel intercepted her, gently grasping her arm.

"Hey, Mom, I'm here for a check-up," he informed her. His mother turned around, briefly assessing him before sighing, "Go to my office and wait there. I'll join you in a few minutes. I have some small things to fix. Ten minutes tops. Get yourself something to eat while you wait, or did you eat already?" Samuel interrupted, "Mom, it's okay. I got this. Do your thing. I'll wait inside your office."

His mother gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked away, waving her hand. "Get me some water, pretty please," she called out before disappearing around the corner. Samuel chuckled and approached a wall next to his mother's office, tapping it for a panel to appear.

A voice inquired, "The usual, sir?" Samuel casually replied, "The usual."

Turning toward the office door labeled "Dr. Valkan," he entered the room. Inside, there was minimal furniture—just a desk, a chair, and a couch against one corner. Various moving pictures adorned the walls. As he walked toward the couch, one picture caught his eye—a snapshot of Samuel in a running posture. It depicted him during the initial army application process, excelling in a speed measurement exam and securing first place in that category.

"Man, those were the days...if," Samuel mumbled, shaking his head to dismiss the thought, and then relaxed on the couch. Minutes passed, and during that time, a small robot on one wheel delivered a pack of peanuts and two bottles of water on a small tray.

After precisely ten minutes, the office door opened, revealing a grumpy Teresa Valkan loudly complaining, "These incompetent fools of partners I have can't even listen to my premeditated warnings. And now they want to shove the blame on me! Who do they think they are? Harold, with his big forehead that can cover both ends of the skull, has the nerve to tease in that situation! Urgh, men!" Steaming, Teresa sat down on her desk chair with her feet on the table. Samuel unbotheredly tossed her a water bottle, and Teresa effortlessly caught it.

After siping her water bottle, Teresa calmed herself down, and Samuel knew to be silent and wait patiently.

Teresa glanced at her son, contemplating momentarily before asking, "Why?" She knew her son too well, and nothing more needed to be asked.

Samuel shrugged his shoulder but pondered on how to formulate his words before speaking. "I don't want to feel helpless. I know I should have come forward with it sooner, but I needed time and, I guess, friends to make me realize that I've been doing nothing for the last six months. It was just hard for me...this leg is a blessing and a curse at the same time, and it keeps reminding me every day. I want to do better."

Teresa grew slightly frustrated. "Stop! And here I thought you actually tried to change. I won't help you with that mindset." Samuel also became a bit frustrated because her response hadn't come close to any of his expectations. "Wait, what? Mom, please, this is different, and how many times do I need to say that things could have been different if—"

Teresa interrupted, "Again with the 'what if.' The reality is that it happened, and you've got others back home. That is all that matters because that is the reality we are living in right now.

"Don't get me wrong, Samuel. I do understand your frustration, feeling powerless when you think you have the power to change the situation. I know that all too well, but regardless of that fact, I cannot foresee the future. Putting yourself in a position of self-blame will harm your own growth." Samuel retorts," You haven't been there to know how it was!" Teresa continued," And I am glad I didn't; I have seen the reports, and I have seen you, You! I can't even say I am glad to have you back in one piece cause you weren't in one piece, Samuel. You weren't there too see what i witnessed that day. With a small quiver in her voice, seeing a dark gloom over Samuel's eyes, Teresa sighed. "Jaya, prepare my workstation."

An artificial intelligence projection appeared in the middle of the room, showcasing a small spherical ball with data running throughout it on a hologram. It answered back with the same voice that had responded to Samuel earlier when he had ordered the usual. "Understood, Ma'am."

Soon after the response was spoken, the office started to transform slowly. Walls opened up, showcasing her workplace with all kinds of tech and machines lying around. Not wasting any time, she walked towards a workbench and gestured for Samuel to follow and take a seat.

"I will tell you this only once. I will be monitoring your every movement from this day forward. I will make it so that your leg will be fully functional and up to standard before the recruitment phase starts. But then again, I will talk to Vice, and if he says that you aren't ready, that's the end of it, and you won't ever bring it up again. Deal?"

Samuel's mood slightly improved, and he answered with determination, "Yes, Ma'am." Teresa chuckled at her son's stiff behavior. "Oh, right, forgot to mention this. You also should talk with your father. No 'buts' in this matter, understood?" Samuel was startled a bit. "Seriously, you are bringing in the Heavyweight," he thought.