A Certain Scientific Flashpoint

As the train doors slid open with a hiss, a wave of hot air rolled in from the platform. I stepped out quickly, letting the current of commuters push past me while I made my way toward the exit.

This was the 24th District, one of the newest and most rapidly expanding zones in Metro City.

Originally, Metro City was no more than a modest settlement, barely the size of a small town. Honestly, calling it a village might've been more accurate. But all of that changed with the Urban Reformation Project launched in 1994 and completed a decade later in 2004.

Back then, the world was still reeling from the aftermath of war, economic collapse, and decades of political fragmentation. With the fall of the old world (era), humanity needed something new, advanced and unifed.

For that purpose, Metro City was chosen as a prototype. A "Living Model" for the cities of tomorrow.

With government funding, corporate investment, and visionary leadership, especially from innovators like Dr. Sebastian Wand, the project took off. In just ten years, the quiet little town transformed into a sprawling mega-metropolis, divided into 32 organized districts, each with its own specialty.

The 24th District, where I now stood, was known as the Industrial and Development Sector. It was here that technological marvels were tested, factories buzzed with energy-efficient machinery, and blue-collar workers shared streets with white-coated scientists. It was also where A.E.T.H.E.R. Labs had established its Diagnostics Tower, looming above the skyline like a cathedral of progress.

I tilted my head back to look at it. The building's glass structure shimmered in the morning light, reflecting the sky like a mirror suspended between worlds. Even from here, it was hard not to feel small.

But more than awe, I felt something else.

Excitement, yes. But also... fear.

A quiet, creeping kind. The kind that whispered: If you stare too long, you'll vanish.

As if the tower wasn't just a structure, but a gateway that led somewhere within another plane.

Speaking of other planes, there was 'that' feeling that refused to fade. It lingered... stubbornly.

My expression hardened. In the next moment, I noticed people giving me a wide berth, veering away as if I were carrying the plague. A few glanced over, then quickly looked away.

I must've made a scary face.

Mom always told me I had one of those faces; the handsomely Innocent-looking type that looked 'welcoming' when I smile and 'terrifying' when I frowned. Apparently, I looked like someone who could murder a god.

Still, I wasn't concerned about that or the stares some pedestrians were giving me right now.

This feeling... That girl from the train carriage, who was she?

What am I even thinking?

Scratching the back of my head, I concluded that it was my imagination. Let's focus on more important things.

Looking up, I realized the building didn't look like a lab at all.

It looked like a cathedral.

Smooth black architecture, layered with a sleek chrome finish and the A.E.T.H.E.R. insignia, an upward spiral wrapped in quantum rings, was etched above the entrance. Despite its towering glass design, there were no windows. None at all. Instead, the structure relied on an internal ventilation system built into its frame. Because of that, locals often called it the Windowless Building, which I think was an odd moniker that made it sound more like a government black site than a beacon of scientific progress.

I paused, standing just before the entrance, staring up at it.

Suddenly, I felt very, very small.

How could anyone not be overwhelmed by this?

But it's not like I could turn around and bolt, right?

That would be completely wasteful, yes. And I wouldn't be able to face my mother if I did.

Steeling myself, I inhaled deeply, plastered on the most confident smile I could manage, and stepped forward.

The glass doors slid open with a whisper, and the interior of A.E.T.H.E.R. Labs unfolded before me.

"Casey!"

Striding up to me was a middle-aged man in a sharp, navy blazer. Grey curls were slicked neatly back, and a well-trimmed beard framed his face. In one hand, he held a glowing holographic clipboard. Did he come here in a hurry?

'Ah, perhaps it's that.'

Glancing up, my eyes were immediately drawn to the surveillance cameras mounted in the corners of the ceiling. There was one at the front entrance too. But unlike the bulky, industrial models you'd find in schools or subway stations, A.E.T.H.E.R Labs used much smaller versions — almost unnoticeable unless you were actively searching for them.

Naturally, someone might wonder why. If the cameras were so small, wouldn't that limit their visibility or performance?

On the contrary, their size was intentional.

A.E.T.H.E.R's micro-surveillance tech had been developed in-house, state-of-the-art, multi-directional lenses with real-time behavioral tracking and thermal mapping. In short, everything was analyzed, monitored and logged.

As one of the managers overseeing exclusive projects under the Director, Uncle Vince had full access to the facility's surveillance systems. He probably just tracked my position through the security feed. It was something he could do with a single tap from the control panel in his personal office.

Simple, efficient, and a little creepy if you think about it too hard.

But then again, that's what A.E.T.H.E.R Labs was known for: pushing the boundaries of what technology could do… even if it meant quietly crossing a few ethical lines.

Nevertheless, it was a necessary measure. It helped prevent unwelcome guests, intruders or more curtly, some random ruffian with no clue what they were doing, from breaking in and stealing dangerous materials they knew absolutely nothing about, blinded by either greed or desperation.

If I remember correctly, there was even an incident a few years ago where someone broke in and tried to steal an energy core prototype, thinking he had scored a jackpot… only for the containment seal to rupture and incinerate his entire left arm in seconds.

Following that incident, no one's tried that stunt again.

Well… maybe that's an exaggeration.

Unfortunately, there's still a concerning number of idiots out there willing to risk life and limb for the sake of a quick jackpot. It's honestly baffling how reckless people can be when logic takes a backseat to desperation or stupidity.

And honestly, I still can't wrap my head around it.

Why would anyone even try to steal from a place like this?

A state-of-the-art research facility guarded by military-grade tech, filled with experimental devices most people couldn't even begin to understand?

No matter how I spin it, I just can't come up with an answer that isn't utterly insane.

In my sleepy stupor, I hadn't realized how close Uncle Vince had gotten until he was standing right in front of me. He paused, gave a quick check to his breath, then said:

"There you are! You finally decided to show up... late, as always. You do realize you were supposed to be here an hour ago, right?"

Ah, right. There was also the matter of showing up early.

What was I supposed to say to that? I awkwardly scratched my cheek and muttered:

"Sorry about that, Uncle Vince. I kinda lost track of time. And, well… you know how traffic is these days. It's quite brutal."

Uncle Vince narrowed his eyes at me and let out a long, exasperated sigh. He took a moment, rubbing his temple, then furrowed his brows and gave me the 'look.'

It was a look that meant a lecture was loading.

And as expected,

"Casey, you should really learn how to manage your time. Time management is one of the, if not most essential skills that we must eventually learn. If you have a business meeting at 10 a.m, then it makes sense that you should be at the venue of the meeting before the designated time, isn't that correct?"

"You and I are standing in this building today only because you kept pestering me the moment you found out I worked here. You said you wanted this opportunity, didn't you? So act like it. How many more excuses am I supposed to make on your behalf?"

Lowering my gaze from his eye level, I choked out:

"I'm sorry."

Noticing my darkened expression, his expression softened slightly. The tension in his shoulders eased, just a bit.

With a short sigh, he placed a hand on my shoulder, opened his mouth and spoke much gentler this time.

"Look, I'm not trying to be hard on you, Casey. I vouched for you because I believe in you. You're smart, capable, and curious. That's a rare combination one really find these days. However, this isn't your school where you could play genius boy anytime you please. As soon as you enter this place, you have already stepped into the real world, where even the smallest mistakes can have real consequences. Especially here."

He motioned subtly to the surrounding facility. From that little gesture, I already understood the message he was trying to convey.

This place… this entire facility… it was part of something far greater than either of us. Bigger than him. Bigger than me.

It was a pulse in the heart of the future.

And I... was just a speck inside it. A single cell in a vast, living organism built.

This certainly wasn't a playground for some naive, disorganized high school student who couldn't even decide what college to attend.

Heck, I didn't even know if I wanted to go to college or not.

From another person's perspective, someone like me clearly didn't belong at the heart of the future.

The acceptance rate for new hires at A.E.T.H.E.R. Labs was notoriously brutal. Even top-tier graduates with flawless CGPAs weren't guaranteed a shot, let alone a high school student still figuring out what to do with his life.

By that logic, the only reason I even made it through the front doors was because of my connection to Uncle Vince.

At least, that's what most people would assume.

And sure, I'll admit — having him as my uncle definitely opened a door or two. But connections alone don't necessarily get you in here.

There were plenty of people with ties to A.E.T.H.E.R's upper ranks, and yet, not a single one of them made it through the selection process. Because when it comes to this place, two things matter above all else:

"Intelligence," and "potential."

If you lack either, then you're out. No second chances were given.

I was lucky in a sense. I had just turned eighteen and was already in my third year, barely meeting the age requirement. Had I been even a year younger, I wouldn't have made the cut.

But still… I wasn't here just because of my age or my uncle.

I was here because I had something they saw.

Not that I know what they saw per se, but they definitely saw something in me that belonged here.

This place may be highly selective, but it was also fiercely principled. One of its core philosophies was, after all, 'Equality.' Therefore, there was no room for shortcuts, discrimination or favouritism.

Simply put, I had only been selected because I was qualified according to A.E.T.H.E.R. Labs standards.

And that's exactly why I'm standing here —

in this place, on this day.

Disregarding my thoughts, Uncle Vince nudged me forward.

"Well? What are you waiting for? An invitation? C'mon, let's get going quickly!"

My throat felt dry.

I swallowed once, then nodded.

"Yeah."