Zteel

Year: 2200.

Nyota was shrouded in complete darkness.

He felt stressed. He couldn't seem to remember much. For some odd reason, the lone thought that seemed to burden his mind was his name: Nyota Atar.

The emboldened words blinked in and out persistently like the lights of a digital alarm clock, and his heart began to race. His name continued to do so until it ceased to, and his heartbeat started to regulate.

But before he could catch his breath, flashes of flames and dark figures outlining men with long coats appeared. Many of the men had hoods over their heads. Many others had torches in hand.

The vision reappeared and disappeared as though Nyota struggled to keep his eyes open.

Slowly backing away from it all, Nyota grew frightened since he had no idea what the flames were caused by. After a moment, the vision no longer faded in and out, and it seemed as though he managed to keep his eyes open.

However, he found himself surrounded by the most blood-curdling of circumstances.

The hooded men turned around toward him with malevolent grins on their faces, their eyes resembling those of demons as the hoods of their long coats and cloaks eclipsed their faces and profiles.

Their derisive laughter grew louder and louder, as well as the sounds of crackling fire, yelling, wailing and screaming in the distance.

Their uniforms were spotted with blood, and the men laid eyes on Nyota who tripped and fell as he backed away.

The skyline of burning buildings and homes could be seen behind them. Beyond the buildings was the horizon of a seashore, reflecting orange in color.

The men reached out for him, but before they got hold, Nyota yelled as loud as he possibly could and quickly arose from his rest.

He had just awakened from a nightmare.

Nyota jolted awake, his body tense and drenched in sweat. The remnants of a nightmare clung to his thoughts like a shadow. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he sat up, scanning his surroundings in confusion.

He was in a neat and organized room, lying on an unfamiliar bed. Sunlight streamed through the curtains of a large window, illuminating the hardwood floor and simple furnishings.

Nyota's gaze drifted out the window, where he saw towering buildings and a maze of skyscrapers stretching into the sky. He wasn't on ground level—he could tell that much.

Although he couldn't recall being in the room before, let alone how he got to it, his mind immediately identified it as a dorm room personalized just for him.

But how could he have known?

Nyota sat up out of bed, stood on the hardwood flooring, organized his bed sheets and stretched.

As he left the room to walk around, the smell of delicious breakfast filled the air.

"Where am I?" he whispered under his breath, the words trembling as they escaped his lips.

Nothing about the room felt familiar, yet a peculiar sense of ownership tugged at the edge of his awareness. His mind latched onto a strange certainty: this was a dorm room designed specifically for him. But how could that be true? He didn't remember ever being here—or how he got here.

As a matter of fact, he couldn't even recall the day before.

His pulse steadied as he stood, the cool hardwood grounding him. He absently straightened the bed sheets and stretched, his movements slow and deliberate, as if afraid to disrupt the fragile sense of calm in the air.

As Nyota moved toward the door, a rich and savory aroma wafted through the hallway. It was warm and inviting, the unmistakable smell of breakfast.

But something felt off.

"What's going on?" he thought, alarm flickering in his chest. His confusion deepened. He didn't recall anything from the day before, let alone waking up in this unfamiliar place. And now—someone was cooking? In his kitchen?

Tension coiled in his body as his eyes darted around for something—anything—he could use to defend himself. His gaze landed on a broom propped against the wall. Without hesitation, he grabbed it, gripping the handle tightly as he crept into the hallway.

The corridor was short, lined with doors on either side. One room stood wide open, its interior an utter mess. Clothes and empty snack wrappers littered the floor, and the stench of mustiness wafted out. Another door was slightly ajar, revealing a room in neutral order—neither too messy nor too tidy.

Between the two was a bathroom, its door shut and locked. Thankfully, the aroma of the food was heavy and filled the air. Nyota's grip tightened on the broom.

Reaching the kitchen, he stopped. A young man stood at the stove, his back to Nyota. He was tall and built, dressed casually in a white T-shirt and black dress pants. His short brown hair caught the sunlight streaming in through another window, and a pair of glasses rested on his nose.

He was entirely focused on the pots and pans in front of him, stirring and flipping with practiced ease.

The kitchen itself was a whirlwind of activity. Countertops were covered with ingredients—rice, pickled vegetables, and various seasonings. The man worked quickly, the sound of sizzling and bubbling filling the room.

The food smelled amazing. Nyota couldn't deny the enticing aroma of grilled fish—a scent he noticed for sure, although he never thought to question why—but his wariness held firm. He didn't know this man, nor why he was cooking in this kitchen.

This didn't change the fact that he didn't know who the young man was, so he continued to creep up to him until he saw a chance to strike… with a broom.

Nyota crouched slightly, adjusting his grip on the broom. Step by cautious step, he inched forward, his footsteps muffled by the steady hum of the kitchen fan and the crackling of the stovetop. The man didn't notice him—his attention was fully absorbed in his cooking.

Nyota's breath quickened as he prepared to act. His muscles coiled, ready to strike, when a sudden sound froze him in place.

The toilet flushed behind him, followed by the rush of a faucet. Nyota whipped around, his heart leaping into his throat.

He spun around as the sound of a door opening caught his attention. A boy with vibrant red hair stepped out of the bathroom, yawning and stretching. Much like Nyota, he wore only shorts and socks, looking relaxed and unbothered.

The red-haired boy paused mid-stretch when he noticed Nyota standing stiffly in the hallway, clutching a broom like a lifeline. He tilted his head, giving Nyota an amused once-over.

"Sage!" he called out, his voice loud and cheerful as he gestured toward Nyota. "He's awake!"

Turning back, he flashed Nyota a vibrant smile, his hand extending in greeting while his other ruffled through his messy, dyed hair. "What's up?" he said casually, as if talking to an old friend.

Nyota didn't move. His thoughts spiraled, his grip on the broom tightening.

"Who are these guys?" he wondered, his chest tightening with unease. "And why are they acting like they know me?!"

The boy's extended hand hovered expectantly, so Nyota hesitantly took it. The red-haired boy shook it firmly, a look of slight concern crossing his face before he turned and wandered toward the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Sage—the boy cooking—finally glanced over his shoulder at the commotion. He gave Nyota a quick once-over. "Oh," he said simply, as if Nyota's sudden presence was no big deal.

The red-haired boy made a beeline for the kitchen, reaching for a snack on a nearby shelf. Sage swatted his hand away before he could grab anything.

"Can't you see I'm already making something?" Sage said sharply, his tone more exasperated than angry. "How many times have I told you to wait?"

He tossed the kitchen towel over his shoulder with practiced ease before stepping away from the stove. "Morning, man! Good to see you," he said to Nyota with a friendly grin, giving him a hearty pat on the back as he passed by.

Sage disappeared into what Nyota assumed was his bedroom, only to return moments later to the kitchen. Nyota remained in the hallway, still processing everything, feeling a bit out of place.

"Hi…" Nyota spoke up, his voice uncertain. "I'm Nyota…"

Sage and the red-haired boy exchanged a glance, confusion flickering across their faces before they both burst into laughter.

"Uh, Nyota, we know who you are," Sage said with a soft chuckle, leaning casually against the kitchen counter. "We spent all day yesterday together. You know—got our class schedules, got assigned this dorm room, started moving in…"

He gestured broadly as he spoke, trying to jog Nyota's memory, but the puzzled look on Nyota's face remained unwavering.

"Today's the second day of cadet instruction this year," Sage added, his tone tinged with concern.

Nyota, no longer alarmed by the boys' presence, stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. He couldn't make sense of Sage's words, and his confusion was written all over his face.

"Okay." Sage sighed, taking a seat at the kitchen island. "What do you remember?"

Nyota hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck as he searched for answers. "My name, my age, and… well, I know this is my dorm room, even though I don't remember getting here."

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Not that," he said with a small laugh. "I mean, what do you remember about yesterday?"

"Oh." Nyota paused, trying to focus. His mind was blank. "I have no idea. I'm sorry—I don't even know his name." He nodded toward the red-haired boy, who was now sneaking snacks from a kitchen shelf behind Sage's back.

"Kilo! Stop that!" Sage snapped, spinning around.

Kilo froze mid-motion, a cookie halfway in his mouth and an armful of snacks in hand. He stared at Sage for a moment, then stuffed the cookie in his mouth, grabbed a few more, and reluctantly returned the rest to the shelf.

Nyota continued, still bewildered. "I didn't even know your name until he said it."

"Well, that's… odd." Sage stood and walked over to Nyota, extending his hand. "Let's fix that. I'm Sage. Sage Hikari. And that rodent over there," he added, pointing at Kilo, "is my little brother. Based on the agreement we made yesterday, we're your roommates."

Nyota gave a faint smile as he shook Sage's hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Nyota Atar."

"Pleased to meet you—again," Kilo muttered from the couch, where he'd plopped down with his phone after turning on the TV.

"Why've you gotta be so rude, Sage?" Kilo called over, not even looking up. "One, I'm only three years younger than you. Two, if I'm a rodent, what does that make you?"

"Are you suggesting I willingly associate with you like that?" Sage shot back playfully, smirking.

Kilo scoffed and sank further into the couch. "Has anyone ever told you you're a nuisance, by the way?"

Sage ignored him, waving a hand dismissively as he turned back to Nyota. "Don't mind Kilo's behavior," he said, heading back to the stove. "I'm making breakfast for us. It'll be ready soon."

Nyota took a seat at the kitchen island, watching Sage move around the kitchen. The smell of food was comforting, even though his mind was still a whirlwind.

As Sage stirred the contents of a pan, he glanced over his shoulder. "So, just to be sure—you know why you're here, right?"

Nyota hesitated, but an answer bubbled up in his mind as though it had always been there, despite his earlier confusion. "Yeah. This is a dormitory on campus for Lunanova's law enforcement and military cadets… right?"

"Correct," Sage confirmed with a nod.

Nyota furrowed his brow, more pieces of his memory starting to click into place, though he was still unsure how they were suddenly coming back. "So… what exactly did we do yesterday? And how does the rooming system work?"

"Man, you must've hit your head or something," Kilo chimed in with a laugh, his eyes still glued to his phone.

"Kilo!" Sage barked, glaring at his brother. "Shut up, you idiot! Jeez…" He turned back to Nyota, clearly annoyed.

"Oh, c'mon," Kilo said with a grin, leaning back on the couch. "I was joking! Nobody can take a joke anymore." He turned to Nyota, his expression softening. "Sorry, bro."

Sage sighed and began explaining. "So, here's the deal. The three of us are part of the same squadron—or class—of Lunanova law enforcement cadets. Yesterday, when we met the rest of our squadron in homeroom, we got to choose our roommates—up to three people per dorm."

He gestured between himself and Kilo. "We saw you sitting by yourself and thought, 'Hey, let's talk to that guy.' And here we are, rooming together."

Nyota listened intently, though his head began to ache as Sage continued.

"Yesterday was the first day of the semester," Sage said, glancing at the clock on the wall. "We spent it getting to know each other in class. Today's the second day, and we've got to be in homeroom at eight. Preferably early—otherwise, Jora's gonna be mad."

Nyota winced and raised a hand to his temple, his confusion deepening. "Jora? I'm guessing he's our teacher, right? Since we have homerooms and all?"

"Bingo!" Kilo shouted from the couch, still scrolling through his phone.

Nyota frowned. "But why don't I know you guys? If we all got here at the same time, why can't I remember any of this—or much else?"

Kilo cleared his throat dramatically and hopped off the couch, turning the TV off. "With all due respect, this is why I said you must've hit your head."

"Kilo, I swear—" Sage started, irritation flaring in his voice.

"No, he's probably right," Nyota interrupted, surprising both of them. "Either that or I've got some kind of short-term memory loss. I can't remember yesterday—or much of anything before it."

"See, Sage? He gets it now!" Kilo teased, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the counter with a smirk. "I like this guy," he said, pointing at Nyota with a grin.

Sage groaned and lightly smacked Kilo on the back of the head. Kilo just laughed and grabbed a seat at the kitchen island.

"Well," Sage said, turning to Nyota, "I guess that makes sense. I can understand why you'd be confused."

As he spoke, Sage turned back to the stove. He held his hand out, and with a small flick of his wrist, the flame extinguished itself.

Nyota stared, bewildered. "What was that just now?"

"What?" Sage asked, raising an eyebrow.

"How did you turn the stove off without touching the knobs? You just held your hand out, and it happened."

"Oh, that?" Sage laughed. "It's my ability. I can control fire—specifically Blue Flames. I've had it for a while now, but honestly, I mostly use it for cooking. Convenient, right? I love cooking, so it works out."

He nodded toward Kilo. "Kilo has the same gene, though he hasn't unlocked his power yet."

"Sure do!" Kilo called from the kitchen island, grinning as he stuffed a cookie into his mouth.

Nyota tilted his head, his mind clouded with fragmented memories. He knew abilities existed—he even knew many humans had them—but he couldn't remember if he had one himself.

"So… how does it work?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Pretty straightforward actually, I can intake any fire anywhere through my skin, regardless of flame color. Regarding what I just did, I intake any fire most efficiently through my hands, and in terms of releasing fire, I can only do it through them, at least as of right now."

Sage arranged plates of food for the three of them and placed them on the island. "Bon appétit. Later down the line, I'm betting that I can release my fire ability from all over my body."

Kilo cringed as he took a seat. "You sound like one of those cringe protags in film."

"Oh stop, we share the same genes. We're likely to have the same abilities and use them the same way. So, if I were you, I'd stop talking like that."

"Whatever." Kilo rolled his eyes and began eating.

Sage joined the already-sitting Nyota and Kilo, and the three of them ate the meal he had prepared.

"How 'bout you, Nyota?" Kilo immediately began stuffing his face with food. "Got any?"

He paused to think. "Nah, not that I know of."

"Well, I wouldn't be surprised," Sage spoke. "You're in our squadron after all."

"Meaning?" Nyota paused.

"I think Jora may have mentioned something about squadrons having different levels of potential. I'm sure it's probably something he'll go over more in depth today. Not to mention, ability genes are not too uncommon. Most people in this day and age have them."

Sage paused and looked at Nyota. "Just to be sure, you do know that abilities exist, right?"

"Yeah…" Nyota assured him, not too confident about what he knew. "Of course! But at the slightest chance I've forgotten something, enlighten me."

Sage laughed. "Well, most humans have this thing called an ability gene that allows them to have a special ability unique to them.

Unlike many other genes in your body, like the ones that determine your hair color or skin complexion, the ability gene matures as your body grows.

Later into your teen years and young adult years is when your power peaks, just as you stop growing taller."

Nyota grew excited. "Well, I guess I'll be working hard to unlock and develop mine."

He picked up a fork and began eating. First, he tried the rice and pickled vegetables mixed and his eyes lit up.

Sage laughed. "Delicious, isn't it? Knew you'd like it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the aroma of the food that woke you up."

"I don't mean to burst your bubble over there Sage," Kilo interjected, "But as much as the food tastes good, I'm not sure if that's what woke him up." He turned to Nyota. "I think I heard you yelling earlier."

"Oh yeah," Nyota paused. "Sorry about that. I just had a bad dream."

Kilo asked, "Well, what was it?"

"I don't know, it just all felt so real and surreal at the same time. It was late into the night, and men in hoods seemed to be setting a small town ablaze. All I heard was screaming and yelling and crying…

Then they turned to look at me and as I fell to the ground, they reached out for me with grimacing smiles and…" Nyota froze.

"And then what?" Concerned, Kilo and Sage paused and listened.

"Then I jolted up and must've yelled."

"Wow… that's real dark man." Kilo continued to chew his food with a full mouth.

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, we'll just pass it off as a bad dream, okay?" Sage patted Nyota on his back and he nodded his head.

"Sure… yeah, sounds like a plan."

"Come on, we can't be late. Hurry up and eat, you two get dressed and do what you need to do. We'll walk to the bus and take that to the main hall."

Being the first to finish eating, Sage stood up and started cleaning the kitchen area. Kilo went for seconds before Sage saved the rest of the food for later. Once he was done cleaning, he went back to his room to finish preparing for the day.

Nyota decided to try the fish after tasting the rice and vegetables on his plate. Despite the delectable aroma of it bringing him to the kitchen in the first place, the taste was unpleasant to him.

Kilo came back to the kitchen island from grabbing a second plate and noticed Nyota seemingly eating everything except the fish.

After eyeing his plate, he grabbed a seat. "Not a big fan of the fish, huh?"

Nyota shook his head. "Nah, not really. It has nothing to do with Sage's cooking or anything. I guess I just don't like how it tastes."

Kilo raised his plate toward Nyota. "Well then go ahead and place that right here for me!"

Nyota passed his plate over to him and he took and ate the fish with the rest of his food.

"Good looks!" Kilo assured. "It's like I said before, I can already tell I'ma enjoy hanging around you already, especially much more than Sage." He continued to stuff his face with food. "If it's one good thing I'll say about him though, it's that he's one hell of a cook."

Nyota smirked and shook his head, cleaned his plate and returned to his room to get dressed.

After the three finished getting ready, they left their dorm and departed through a hallway for an elevator. Beforehand, Sage locked the dorm door. Nyota and Kilo stood in place and awkwardly watched him.

"Wha—oh! We do need to get you guys keys, huh?" He laughed aloud.

Nyota and Kilo nodded, and they left for the elevator.

Once they got in it, Sage spoke again. "Nyota,"

"Yeah?"

"We know you're not sure what to expect or what to do, so just follow us. All three of us have the same homeroom, instructor and even schedule I'm pretty sure, so you should be fine."

"Alright, will do."

After exiting the dormitory, the three caught a campus bus to its main hall for their classes.