Drowner: Becoming Defekt

Kai

The elevator hums softly as it descends, a rare luxury compared to the clunky, out-of-service ones I'm used to. A few seconds later, it jerks to a halt, the doors sliding open with a quiet ding. Cold air hits me immediately, sharp and refreshing, filling my lungs.

I step out, and what I see leaves me momentarily stunned. The underground space is vast, a seamless blend of high-tech and practicality.

To the left, a massive PC setup dominates the corner, elevated slightly on a small platform you'd need to climb a short flight of stairs to reach. The screens glow faintly, displaying what looks like a mix of security footage, maps, and endless lines of code. Seated at the desk is someone I haven't seen before. Their face is obscured, a black hoodie draped low over their head, with a cap pulled snugly beneath the hood. The intricate design on the back of the hoodie glints faintly under the dim lights.

On the opposite side of the room is what I can only describe as a training ground. The space is wide open, with padded floors, punching bags, and an assortment of gym equipment neatly arranged. A large wall is mounted with various weapons—batons, knives, even a couple of swords. It's clear this isn't just for show; this is where people get serious.

The hum of conversation draws my attention back to the main floor, where I spot a few more people. They're seated around a table near the center of the room, a mix of casual and focused, their faces partially obscured by the dim lighting. It feels like stepping into the heart of something bigger than myself—something both chaotic and organized, welcoming yet intimidating.

Luna steps out behind me, her hands casually in her hoodie pockets. "Welcome to the base," she says with a small smirk, her voice carrying a note of pride. "Your new home."

"Home?" I ask, taking it all in.

"Yep," she replies simply. "Don't let the fancy setup fool you. It's not all fun and games down here."

She moves ahead, signaling for me to follow as I keep glancing around, trying to piece together what I've just stepped into.

"I'll show you everyone. C'mon!" Luna says, her tone laced with excitement as she strides confidently ahead. I follow, trying to match her energy, though every step feels heavier under the weight of all the stares.

The moment we approach, the room quiets. All eyes are on me.

Caden is the first I notice—his piercing gaze meeting mine, unreadable and unflinching. No expression, no sign of hostility or welcome, just a quiet intensity. Vlad, on the other hand, doesn't bother with subtlety; his glare is so sharp I half-expect him to leap out of his chair. Then there's the kid—Ethan, if I remember correctly—sitting cross-legged on a couch, completely disinterested, his fingers flying across his phone screen as if none of this involves him.

I clear my throat, trying to ease the awkwardness. "Hi everyone, I'm Kai Silv—"

"He's Caden," Luna interjects, cutting me off without hesitation. "His power, as you probably already guessed, is lightning. Then there's Vlad—he can amplify his strength up to ten times." She points to the hulking ginger, her tone matter-of-fact. "And that's Ethan, Caden's son. He's not a Defekt."

Her words hang in the air for a moment before she turns toward the elevated PC station. "Oh, and that's Eugene up there." She points toward the guy hunched over the glowing monitors. He doesn't look up, the soft tapping of his keyboard the only acknowledgment of his existence.

Caden finally speaks, his voice calm but firm. "You caused quite the mess this morning."

I swallow hard, unsure if Caden's words are meant as a reprimand or just an observation. "Yeah, uh… sorry about that. I didn't exactly have control." Luna already told me everything that happened after I passed out in the warehouse, but hearing it put this bluntly still stings.

"That's… interesting," Caden says, standing up. Before I can blink, he's right in front of me, his intense gaze locking onto mine. "I've never heard of a dual Defekt."

"Dual Defekt?" Luna and I say in unison, both of us staring at him.

"Yeah," Caden replies, his tone carrying a mix of curiosity and excitement. "One with two different powers. First, those shiny balls of yours—" His son snickers at the phrasing, and Caden shoots him a brief glare before continuing. "—and second, that… state you enter. Have you got a name for it yet?"

"No, I—"

"Perfect. We'll call it the Predator State," he declares, cutting me off like this is just another experiment to him. "As for those energy spheres, I'm still figuring those out."

"But what do you think it is, that Predator State?" Luna asks, tilting her head with genuine curiosity.

Caden rubs his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing. "I don't know. If I were to guess, I'd say it's his body operating at peak efficiency—moving in perfection. No human can fully utilize their strength and power, but that state allows him to do just that. It's like your instincts take over, using the most effective moves to neutralize your opponent."

I glance at Luna, but she's just as intrigued as I am.

"But…" Caden continues, his voice taking on a contemplative edge, "what I don't get is the targeting. What made you attack me without finishing the fight with Luna or Vlad? You didn't even try to run. It's almost like…" He trails off, staring past us like he's piecing together a puzzle. "Perhaps it targets the strongest person in the vicinity."

I feel my stomach twist. The strongest person?

Luna breaks the silence with a sigh, her voice cutting through the tension. "He's a nerd when it comes to Defekts and their powers," she says with a playful roll of her eyes. "Just ignore the way he talks about you like you're some kind of science project."

I manage a faint smile, but my thoughts are still racing. If what Caden's saying is true, this "Predator State" isn't just a power—it's a danger. For everyone, friend or foe.

"Are you sure about this, Dad?" Ethan finally chimes in, his voice carrying just a hint of boredom as he remains glued to his phone.

"He's sure," Vlad grumbles from the corner, arms crossed like he's ready to crush someone at any second. "But I'm not." His voice is gravelly, loaded with suspicion.

Ethan, still absorbed in whatever game he's playing, doesn't even look up. "As long as he doesn't mess with my save files, I don't care."

Luna stifles a laugh and elbows me lightly, her grin reassuring. It's like she's silently saying, Don't take it personally. They're always like this. "Relax, everyone. He's here to help, not cause more problems."

I nod, though it feels more like I'm trying to convince myself than them. "I'll do my best to… fit in."

"Ugh," Vlad grunts, rolling his eyes as he turns and stalks off toward the training area.

Great. Nothing like a warm welcome.

Caden watches Vlad walk away, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't mind him. He'll come around… eventually," he says, though there's a hint of doubt in his voice. He steps back, giving me some space, and his sharp gaze softens just a little. "You've got potential, Kai. But potential means nothing without control."

"Right," I mutter, still feeling the weight of everyone's judgment.

"Don't take it personally," Luna says beside me, her tone light. "Vlad's always like that with newcomers. And Ethan—well, Ethan's Ethan. Just don't touch his phone or his games, and you'll be fine."

"Noted," I reply, glancing toward Ethan, who's still engrossed in his phone. He doesn't even flinch.

Caden claps his hands, snapping everyone's attention back to him. "Alright, enough standing around. Kai, you're here now, so it's time to see what you're made of. Training starts tomorrow morning at 06:00."

I blink. "Wait, what kind of training?"

"The kind that keeps you alive," Caden replies bluntly. "Luna, show him to his room. He'll need the rest."

Luna nods, motioning for me to follow. "C'mon. You'll get used to the military tone eventually."

I trail behind her as we walk deeper into the base. The tension in the room starts to fade as we leave the others behind. The hallway is quieter, lined with metal walls and dim overhead lights that give the place an industrial feel.

"So, how bad was that?" I ask, breaking the silence.

Luna smirks. "About average, honestly. Vlad's bark is worse than his bite, and Caden… well, he's intense, but he means well. Rebecca's the one you'll want on your side, though."

"I'll keep that in mind," I say, though I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything.

Luna stops in front of a door, punching a code into the keypad beside it. The lock clicks, and she pushes it open, revealing a modest room with a bed, a desk, and a small closet.

"Here you go," she says. "It's not much, but it's yours."

"Thanks," I reply, stepping inside and dropping onto the bed. The mattress is firm, but it's better than anything I've had recently.

Luna lingers in the doorway for a moment, her expression softening. "Hey," she says quietly. "You did good back there. Don't let them get to you."

I glance up at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. "Thanks, Luna."

She nods, her smirk returning. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's gonna be rough."

With that, she closes the door, leaving me alone in the quiet room. I lean back, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day replay in my mind. Dual Defekt. Predator State. Training.

This is my life now, I guess.

Ah, shit—I forgot to say hi to Eugene.