Review and Contract

The room shifted as everyone quickly arranged themselves into a single file. Oliver continued, "We'll be handing out new badges before assigning you to your test platoons."

He paused, glancing around the room. "Where are Bui Brunsik, Wes Oakley, and Tidwell Reiver?"

Kikaru stepped forward, her voice clear and steady. "Good morning, Sir. They're still in their pods. The shard imposed a penalty on them for failing to meet the physical and other listed standards."

Oliver frowned. "What kind of penalty? Is it permanent?"

Kikaru glanced briefly at Elias before replying. "It's hard to say. Their movements have been restricted, like playing with inverted controls on a game controller. If they meet the shard's—or the Doctor's—requirements, the penalty should lift."

The Chairwoman stepped forward, her voice commanding. "That's enough. Move aside, young man."

Oliver bowed slightly and stepped out of her way. Everyone's eyes shifted to the Chairwoman. Her dark complexion and streaked hair hinted at her age, but her presence was sharp and commanding.

She took a moment to scan the group. Then she spoke. "I trust the last few weeks—or days, depending on how long you've been here—have been enlightening."

Her gaze settled on the group as she continued. "A new opportunity has arisen, and I want to test three of you in a platoon squad setting."

She pointed to Kikaru, Paul, and Colby. "Step forward."

The trio exchanged glances, surprised, but complied without hesitation. They moved to the front, standing at attention.

"You'll be working with Platoons Romeo, Juliet, and Gunter on a hostage situation in the southern continent of Veyrion," she stated firmly. "This mission is critical, and I expect nothing less than full commitment from all of you."

"This is the first test of integrating shard users within platoons," the Chairwoman began. Her voice was measured, her gaze steady as she scanned the room. "You will answer to the squad leader and only engage if another shard user appears or if more than half of the platoon is killed."

She paused briefly. "You each have one question. Make it quick."

Colby stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Ma'am, when are we leaving, and where exactly are we going?"

"You're leaving immediately," the Chairwoman replied without hesitation. "Grab a change of clothes. If everything goes well, you'll be back by evening."

Paul stepped forward, a smirk tugging at his lips. "And what exactly do we get out of this?"

The Chairwoman's expression remained unchanged. "You get fresh air and a chance to prove the shards haven't driven you all mad. The world will eventually learn about people like you. With the failure to locate all shard users in time, we need stability and success stories to prepare them."

Paul's smirk faltered slightly, and he stepped back into the line. Kikaru raised her hand next, bowing as she asked, "Chairwoman, why was this mission chosen for us?"

The Chairwoman's tone softened slightly. "Out of all the profiles reviewed, you three are the most stable and the least likely to cause issues. On top of that, your scorecards have been highly regarded. That made the decision simple."

She straightened, her tone returning to its earlier firmness. "Now get ready and—"

"Wait a second," Elias interrupted, stepping forward. His voice carried a sharp edge. "What about me? Why wasn't I selected?"

For the first time, a flicker of irritation crossed the Chairwoman's face. She turned slowly, her eyes settling on Elias. "Who are you again?"

Her gaze sharpened as she took in his face. Recognition dawned, and her expression cooled. "Ah, that's right. Elias Kael."

She folded her arms, her voice even but dismissive. "Your numbers are too low. Your Ikona ability seems like it could hold others back. That's why you're being left off this mission."

Dot's voice rang out, her tone sharp and indignant. "Well, that's just because we haven't had as much time as the others! More unfairness!"

Elias stood quietly, his face calm despite Dot's outburst that only the shard users could hear. After a short pause, he smiled faintly and bowed. "I see. So I just need to work harder."

The Chairwoman's expression didn't change, but her words came with a biting tone. "Boy, I know your bones aren't brittle or broken. Why are you shaking like a small dog?"

Elias straightened slightly, his voice steady despite the effort. "Because my body is currently under a punishment. Every sense down to my muscle fibers has been flipped around. It's taking all my concentration just to maintain this posture."