GATE: First Encounter

Chapter 18

I took another sip of my drink. As I set the glass down, I spoke without averting my gaze.

"I'm not writing a story, you know. I just... wonder what will happen to me. And... I want to go home and forget all of this."

My words lingered in the air for a moment. Lynx was silent at first, looking at me, then a faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

"So... does that mean you want to forget me too?" she said, her voice mockingly hurt, though her eyes were still smiling. "And I was just getting used to you."

I chuckled involuntarily. Even that much felt good. I shook my head slightly and rolled my eyes.

"You get used to things too quickly, I think," I said. "I'm still trying to figure out where the hell I even am."

Lynx shrugged, finished her drink and set the glass down. She remained quiet for a moment. Her tail slowly curled beneath the table. This time her expression was calmer, and her voice had lost the careless tone I was used to.

"You know, Okan... I have no idea what's going to happen to you."

Her honesty was sharper than I expected. She didn't look away—she just said it, plainly. And strangely, hearing it was kind of comforting. Because I didn't know either.

"This place... it's not clear for anyone," she continued. "The war has changed shape. The command doesn't really know what to do anymore. They're just trying things. And you... whether they like it or not, you're part of the equation now."

After those words, we sat in silence for a while. The hum of the lounge continued in the background. I fiddled with my glass, swirling the liquid inside gently.

Then Lynx stood up. Her movement was smooth but deliberate.

"Come on," she said, her voice returning to that familiar, energetic tone. "There are still a few places to show you. I won't let you leave this place without knowing the base properly."

I looked up at her.

"Are you giving me a tour now?" I asked with light sarcasm.

She shrugged. "Well, it might be the weirdest training assignment we've ever had. But yeah. This base isn't all cells and silence."

We left the lounge together. This time the hallway was wider. Holographic panels lined the walls, some displaying Velocironix text, others shifting light and data feeds. A few people passed by, some nodded to Lynx, while others gave me slightly longer stares.

Our first stop was a large area at the end of a wide corridor. The automatic doors opened silently. Inside, there were various training units filled with equipment, holographic combat platforms, and group exercises in progress.

"The training hall," Lynx said. "This is where warriors practice tactics, physical endurance, and mental focus. Though some just come here to blow off steam."

Indeed, some inside were following strict military drills, while others treated the place almost like a gym. A group of Velocironix were lifting enormous weights, while others were firing at holographic targets.

"That one's the balance zone," she said, pointing to a platform. "It simulates training between two gravity layers. It messes with your organs, but... it gets addictive."

I raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't sound very healthy."

"Neither is survival," she replied, then kept walking.

Our next stop was a quieter, simpler area: a large cafeteria. Though more structured than a typical mess hall, it had a calm air to it.

"This is our mess hall," she said. "But don't worry, not everything here is sterile. Especially after night shifts—some of the conversations in here... are fiercer than the battlefield."