Lem sat in the stallion reading a tabloid. He wouldn't return to the research facility until Rex and Chase concluded their exam. They were his responsibility and children of a man he'd greatly respected. He couldn't bring himself to simply leave. 

However, he'd noticed a good number of children exiting the building. Had they failed? The professor was familiar with the seekers. After all, they provided the facility with useful data. He was also aware of the extreme initiation methods they practiced. The brothers weren't weak by any means but could they handle such a test of aptitude?

Lem then spotted a blonde-haired man approach the building and stop in front of its gates. He was dressed in a navy blue attire and both of his hands were covered in white gloves. Many knew him as the hero Lucas Evermore, The Wraith of the Forsaken. 

Lucas hadn't expected to come here now of all times. Although, considering how much she cared for her friends, the request wasn't that surprising. Since he was such a high ranking officer he could simply walk inside and demand to see the test for himself. Nevertheless, he'd no desire to cause a scene. No, he'd wait here until it finished. Those were his orders.

"Please, see how Rex and Chase are doing on their tests. I want to know if they passed." He remembered being summoned to her quarters early that morning, finding the girl having breakfast on the balcony of her bedroom with a pair of maids. 

Lucas arrived on the terrace which provided a perfect view of not only the water basin encompassing the entire royal castle but her kingdom itself. A titanic cement wall surrounded the royal grounds, bridges curving over the basin, and extending to the castle's personal island. Enforcers and royal servants conducted their normal activities below, however, from this height, they looked like scrambling dots. It surely was a sight to behold. "Would you do this for me, Lucas?"

"Your majesty," he started. "I should remind you the king wouldn't want me to spend my time on such matters. Have you already forgotten you're supposed to notify him whenever-"

"My father is busy with meetings today. If you're quick about it I doubt anyone would realize you're gone," Alice replied sipping on a cup of tea. She placed it on the circle table as the sweet wind gently lifted her white hair. "And don't fret over the spy either. This individual only has eyes for me. They shouldn't care for my servants. You'll be fine."

Lucas hesitated. "I . . . I have concerns, Princess Alice."

"My father said he wanted me to stay in the castle, not you. I'll take responsibility should you get caught. You were merely obeying my commands." Her disquieted eyes reflected in the rippling tea. "Rex . . . Chase . . . They're my friends. I'm worried about them."

"Say no more," he sighed in defeat. "I'll disembark for Seeker HQ this instant. With luck, I should be able to make it there before the test is over. You'll be the first to know their results, your highness."

Before he left she'd shot him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Lucas. I can always count on you."

The things I do for her. Lucas raised his head at the waving azure flags of the Seeker Corps. Just by staring at them caused memories of his hardships to erupt. He hadn't been here in a long while yet he remembered the pain all too well. Hopefully, he could return to his princess bringing good news.

* * *

Everyone stared in shock and terror as the candidate 387453 howled cries of anguish. 

Nobody was more concerned than Chase. He pressed his hands against the glass, watching helplessly at his distressed brother. It revisited him. The feeling of wanting to protect his family no matter the cost. Rex knelt on his knees, his head slamming to the metal floor. All he sensed, felt, and thought of was the dolor. He struck his fist onto the floor repeatedly, drool pouring out his mouth. His eyes watered and legs trembled. Soon his vision turned blurry. Just as he believed he'd faint because of the unbearable pain the aching subsided.

"Candidate 387453, as we stated before, all applicants are allowed a total of three chances. Do you wish to initiate your second try?" asked a male examiner.

The atmosphere turned still and silent. Nobody knew what to expect. After experiencing such despair giving up seemed inevitable. At this point, it looked to be that Rex fell into the category of those who couldn't withstand neuronic waves. Commander Keith sighed. Seeing Rex sit there in defeat indicated to him his fire had doused out. 

His motivation of becoming a seeker had dissipated. Whatever dreams he'd hoped to obtain by enlisting in the Seeker Corps were no longer in his reach. It was sad but so was reality. This was why Keith's jaw dropped when the examinee gradually nodded. He rose from his spot, wiping away a line of spit, and pointed a thumbs up to the examiners' booth. His dilating pupils reverted to normal. In fact, his entire demeanor transformed. He was ready to take his second chance.

"Is he insane?!" an applicant shouted.

"Did the waves damage his brain?!"

"This idiot doesn't know when to give up, does he?"

"Do you think the examiners will stop the test if he doesn't surrender? There's not much more someone could do if they've already failed, right?"

The applicants went into an uproar. What reason was there for him to retake the exam? It was unorthodox. It was stupid. It was reckless. Only Chase knew the truth. Those three terms perfectly described Rex. He wouldn't raise the white flag just yet. 

The second round started thereafter. Similarly to his first attempt, Rex released an overpowering scream, the waves crashing against his brain like a tidal wave. He dropped to a knee whilst grabbing his head. Another squeal of anguish escaped him and before he knew it the test ended once more.

"We can't allow this to go on!" a male examiner argued. "That boy might kill himself!"

"I agree. If he can't resist them now he simply has no place here," replied a female seeker.

Their argument ceased when Commander Keith slammed his mechanical arm on the table beside him. "Are you soldiers blind? Can't you see the young man down there is willing to give everything he's got to join us? His type is rare. Most would've given up by now. Yet here he is asking to be tested again after failing twice. Don't we as examiners, as well as seekers, owe him a chance to prove himself?"

"You seem rather fond of him, Tin Man."

Behind them, a tall man with spiky dark hair strolled inside the room. He'd a pair of green eyes, golden earrings, a scruffy goatee, and a cocky grin split on his face. He came dressed in an informal attire: A jacket accompanied by ripped jeans and a pair of shiny black boots. He stopped next to Maria, the woman foxily moving away. He reeked of alcohol.

Keith rose to greet him. "Ah, Commander Zeke. Didn't think you'd show."

"Well, I'd nothing better to do." His drunken eyes sharpened at the sight of the recovering candidate. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the kid they found outside Sanctuary, right? The one adopted by Professor uh . . . Hunt?"

Keith frowned. "Correct."

"Are you playing favorites because he's the son of your former best mate?! Oh please tell me I'm right! You naughty seeker!" Zeke scoffed, elbowing Keith in his gut.

Commander Zeke certainly was a character. Keith knew him since they both were cadets. Just like back then, he'd a way of getting under people's skin with his impish comments. He also had a slight drinking problem. Since they were the same rank Keith couldn't do anything to control him, unfortunately. "I judge every applicant equally. I'm just honoring young Rex's resolve. Don't you find something admirable regarding his refusal to surrender?"

"Even if I did h- he hasn't passed the test. Determination and skill are two different things."

"Luckily for him, he has a final chance," Keith grinned.

Zeke sneered. "If he can hardly survive a minute what makes you think he can withstand five? You're giving him too much credit. You've only been in Sanctuary for three days and already you're getting soft? That's adorable!"

"I say it's worth a try," Maria spoke up.

"Then what are we waiting for?!" the drunken commander announced, raising his arms. "I bet five blights he fails!"

The pain returned, Rex quivering in place. It felt no different but he hadn't wavered. He bit on his lower lip in an attempt to bide the suffering. His eyes filled with tears, salty water draining down his cheeks. His fists were so tightly clenched he could hear them cracking quite clearly. 

Endure! Endure it! He couldn't afford to fail again. It was now or never. Deep in his gut, something rushed up and burst out his mouth. Bile splattered on the floor. Before someone could deactivate the waves he lifted his right hand to the examination booth. Said examiners, including Keith, were stunned at his starch.

Zeke whistled through his fingers. "Talk about a show!" he laughed.

Chase's head clouded with doubt. He'd taken the test already and so became somewhat familiar with the neuronic waves. Why as Rex's so different, he wondered. The more he dwelled on it the more he came to realize certain aspects weren't adding up. A few other applicants attempted the test a second time but none of them had vomited. Hell, even their screams weren't as pain-filled. Of course, this could just be a huge coincidence. 

However, Chase didn't believe in coincidences. Rex's test was rigged in some capacity. Perhaps he wouldn't have acted had Rex not expelled more of the silver bile. The brother furrowed his brow. He'd to do something. Without thinking he darted down the hallway, the red-haired girl being the sole person to notice his abrupt departure.

Chase sprinted to the end of the hallway and around the corner towards the restricted room. Chase slowly approached the door, quietly creaking it open. The tiny chamber was exceedingly dark, only kept illuminated by multicolored buttons scattered across the control panel built into the wall to his right. Above it was several screens displaying the different examination rooms. His instincts proved to be correct yet again. This was the control hub. The man sitting at the panel was the same seeker he'd spotted prior to the test.

"Dammit! Why won't this kid give up?!" he cursed. He turned a dial on the panel as far as it could go. The man's eyes were fixated onto the lower left screen displaying a struggling Rex. "What the hell is wrong with him?! Any normal person would've collapsed!"

Without letting another second pass Chase kicked open the door. Needless to say, this alerted the seeker at the control panel as well as the man leaning on the wall across from him. He'd forgotten but there was indeed a second soldier that had accompanied the first. It hardly mattered now. His brother needed rescuing.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing here?! This room is for authorized personnel-"

Chase dashed straight for him, cutting the soldier off mid-sentence. He used his momentum to tackle into the man's stomach. The surprise attack caused him to trip leading to the soldier clumsily dropping to the floor. He couldn't tell if they carried weapons. Taking into account they were seekers there was reason to believe so. In order to win, Chase had to incapacitate them to a certain degree. 

Targeting the remaining seeker, Chase struck him in the shoulder with a spiraling jump kick, ignoring the electric pain reverberating through his left leg. The power of the attack removed the soldier out his seat though it wasn't enough to make him unconscious. He laid on the floor groaning whilst clasping his shoulder wound. Some seeker you are, Chase thought. With the control panel free, he searched for the dial which regulated the waves. He located it near the top of the panel, quickly turning it to its lowest setting.

Rex detected the change almost immediately. The pain he'd withstood for nearly four minutes disappeared. Releasing a disgruntled moan he faceplanted onto the white tiles Keith gawked in confusion before marching out the room with Maria and Zeke following behind. He could sense the disturbance in his headquarters. The hell's going on in the control room?!

As for Chase, he found himself getting grabbed by the collar and flung to the wall. He slid to the floor as the man's shadow cast over him. A light rifle aimed for his head, the weapon brandished by the first soldier he'd momentarily subdued. Consumed in his desire to save Rex he failed to notice his enemy's reciprocation. "You shouldn't have done that," the man spoke in a fractured voice. "Why did you come in here? Answer me now!!"

"I suspected something was wrong . . . And I was right." Through shattered eyes, Chase glanced at the control panel. "You two are trying to make Rex fail by amplifying the neuronic waves! I'm glad I got here before you permanently damaged his brain."

"You don't know what you're talking about! You interfered with official seeker business!"

"Official? Nice try but I'm not as stupid as you may think," Chase grunted. "Commander Keith doesn't know what you've been doing here, right? Admit it!"

"Shut it kid!!" the man snapped. "Even if that were true, you won't be around to tell him!"

"So you're going to kill me?"

"I can talk my way out of anything, you brat. I'll tell him I spotted you indulging in suspicious activity prior to assaulting us. I then had no choice but to put you down for good," he grinned. "Since I'm a seeker they'd have to believe me . . . And since you'll be dead your brother will be too distraught to continue the exam. It's a win-win situation for me."

Chase scowled. "You bastard!"

"First things first," He lowered the weapon at Chase. "Sorry, kid. Some things are just-"

It happened in the blink of an eye. Before the idiotic seeker could fire his weapon a fist met his lower jaw. It must have been one strong strike as it was enough to make him drop the light rifle. He crashed onto the floor on the opposite side of the room with a loud bang, a line of blood escaping his mouth. Looming over Chase was the girl with red hair, kicking the firearm away from him.

She inspected the stunned boy calmly and said, "A word of advice, never take your eyes off your opponents. You might end up losing your life."

Chase would've responded if it weren't for Commander Keith and a few other individuals arriving at the scene. "Would someone mind explaining what the hell happened here?!" Keith growled.

The redhead pointed to the seeker she'd just defeated. "Why don't you ask one of your men?"

Commander Keith looked at the downed soldier rubbing his head. "Limely? What is the meaning of this?"

"Allow me," Chase interrupted, returning to his feet. "I thought Rex- Candidate 387453's examination seemed unfair so I came here to investigate. I discovered they were sabotaging the aptitude test by increasing the neuronic wave levels."

"How did you know this was the control room?" asked Maria.

"I didn't. I took a guess and hoped I was right," he answered with a shrug.

The commander stomped to Limely, kneeling to stare at him straight in the eyes. "Lieutenant Limely, is this true?"

It took a while for the seeker to answer, all of his confidence depleting just by staring into his superior's stone-cold eyes. "It is, sir."

Keith slammed his mechanical arm against the wall, Limely gulping in terror. When he removed his metal fist a huge dent remained. "I should have you shot for this act of treason!! And what pray tell is your reasoning?! Speak dammit!!"

"It's because . . . That kid came from outside Sanctuary-"

"Yes! I'm well aware! What does this have to do with anything?!"

"Well it's obvious he came somewhere capable of supporting human life! If he were to leave Sanctuary and die in the field we would never be able to gain such crucial information! I purposefully made his test more difficult, I admit that! But I did so with the intention of preserving humanity's best chance at finding a new home! I did it because I support the Seeker Corps' goal, sir."

Zeke grinned. "That has to be the stupidest thing I've heard today. The king had the brat interrogated when he'd been discovered. Turns out he didn't remember anything of importance. I thought this to be common knowledge?"

"He's just a child!" Limely retorted. "He may not remember anything now but we can't dismiss the possibility of those memories resurfacing! When they do we need to make sure he's alive to tell them! It could be our best chance-"

"I've heard enough!" Commander Keith snapped. "Remove these two maggots! From this day forth they're no longer members of the Seeker Corps!"

A pair of seekers picked Limely off the floor and led him out the door. As he left he shot a foul glare at Chase. The other seeker, the one Chase had kicked, whined and begged. "Please, sir! I was only doing what Limely told me! I didn't mean to break the rules! I swear it! Please don't fire me! Without this job, I'll be kicked out of Cordra District!"

"You should've considered this prior to harming an innocent child! Consider yourselves lucky I'm not handing you over to the enforcers!!"

Chase waited until the two good for nothing soldiers were escorted out of the room before speaking. He hesitantly walked up to the fuming commander and said, "Sir, I wanted to know how this will affect my brother." The man looked at the monitor displaying a fainted Rex. A small group of applicants and seekers surrounded him, lifting the unconscious boy gently off the floor. This examination hadn't gone according to plan. They'd need to conduct an intermission in addition to providing Rex with a medical examination.

"His health comes first," Keith muttered. He turned to Maria and ordered, "Take him to a medical bay at once."