The dining hall was loud and lively. Normally, whenever it came to dinner the only person Chase had to deal with was his brother. Now he ate while surrounded by people he hardly knew. 

Five days passed and yet he still had some adjusting to do, especially with the so-called food they were expected to consume. It made him want to apologize for ever complaining about Rex's meals.

Staring at the plate of hardened bread, strips of meat, and what was supposed to be mashed potatoes his stomach grumbled, and not with hunger. Nevertheless, he ate without a sound. Being a seeker meant he needed to adapt to any type of situation. Even ones revolving around food, unfortunately. 

Across from him, Barry acted as if the meal had been prepared by a high-end chef. He gobbled away, not leaving a scrap behind. Lone balls of potato flew off his plate. Aaron, who happened to be sitting next to him, slid over as to escape the range of Barry's projectile potatoes.

Rex didn't mind at all. In fact, he hardly noticed his friend's awful eating habits, completely ignoring the strip of meat landing near his plate. Chase wasn't surprised, Rex never ate when he was down in the dumps. 

He was already aware of Commander Zeke's warning. If Rex didn't show potential soon he might get kicked off the Seekers Corps permanently. Everything he'd been working for would disappear in the blink of an eye. Despite it not making any sense as to why the corps would want to banish seekers to Sanctuary considering their unpopular reputation it acted as a solid opportunity. 

If Rex was relieved of duty it meant they could return home alive. This should've been great news! Even so, he couldn't pinpoint the catalyst of his newfound sadness. Chase glanced at Rex, his brother poking the meat strips with his metal fork.

"Lighten up, dude. You're making the entire mood in here stink." Barry said in an attempt to lift his friend's spirit.

Aaron scoffed. "The only thing stinking is your eating habits. Were you raised in a barn?"

"No, I was raised in an alley. Big difference." He turned to Rex again and scoffed, "Don't worry about Commander Dorvan. Everyone struggles with something. You should've seen me on my first day working as a cleaner boy. I didn't even know what a mop looked like before then. You'll get the hang of it soon enough."

"I'm not entirely convinced," Rex muttered. "According to Commander Zeke, I should've completed the Full Stop exercise on my first day. You did, Barry. Alex did so as well. She'd no problems whatsoever." Chase stared at the red-haired girl sitting at the table on the opposite side of the cafeteria, recalling that he was supposedly in her debt. Whatever that meant. "The fact I failed means I'm not trying as hard as the rest of you. Well, I refuse to give up until I can complete the stupid exercise with my eyes closed."

"I don't understand, there has to be something you're not doing right," Aaron interjected. "Maybe your positioning . . ."

"It's his emotions," Chase answered abruptly. "They say the exos suits are very sensitive which is why our orders should be clear and precise. However, emotions have a tendency to crowd our minds with uncertainty and overpower our initial thoughts. Until he fixes this problem then the chances of him using the exos suit to its fullest potential are extremely low."

Aaron crossed his arms in contemplation ". . . Seems so,"

"How did you tackle this issue?" Rex stared at Barry and Aaron through desperate eyes. "I tried asking my brother but he wasn't of any help."

"Blaming me? Talk about cold," Chase replied sarcastically.

Barry scratched his head. "Let's see. To be honest, all I did was turn my brain off and focus on the task at hand. Although, I won't deny it was a lot of trial and error. I don't want to brag, but using the exos suit is easier than driving a stallion for me! I remember the first time I got behind the wheel of one of those things! Let me tell ya, I didn't have the best of days!"

"Your advice to Rex is to turn his brain off?" Aaron chuckled. "You'd find not everyone is capable of such a talent. Someone of your nature would undoubtedly have an easier time doing so compared to the more . . . Astute individuals."

"I suppose- Hey, what are you implying?!!"

"What do you think, Aaron?"

"Sorry, Rex," his friend sighed, chewing on a piece of bread. "Perhaps you just aren't compatible. Based on what I've learned throughout my short time here, either you possess the skill or you don't."

Chase stared at his deflated brother as Barry continued ranting to Aaron about his high intelligence, a claim Aaron didn't take seriously. "I'm not used to seeing you this way. You're usually overflowing with optimism."

"Having a hopeful attitude won't help me," Rex mumbled. "The only way I can advance is if I'm capable of fully controlling my exos suit . . . And that will never happen unless I can somehow bottle up my emotions."

"Are you really so terrible at governing them?" inquired Aaron.

"That's an understatement! They've pestered me ever since I was a kid!" He complained, banging a fist on the table. "Regardless, for the sake of my dream, I will conquer them. This I swear."

"Then we needn't worry," Chase grinned, leaving the table as well as a trio of reasonably confused seekers. Walking to the front of the hall to dispose of his empty plate he eyed Rex from behind and said, "You're one to always keep your promises, are you not? If your vow is to improve then I won't be surprised when you complete Full Stop and become one of the best seekers in this bridage." His brother's kind words and warm smile did little to quell his concerns but Rex appreciated his support nonetheless.

They didn't spend much longer in the dining hall afterward. The cadets gradually exited the building until there wasn't anyone left . . . Except for Rex. He sat at his table pondering how he was supposed to clear this hurdle. Chase was right, he was someone who took promises seriously. Why shouldn't he? The first person he'd met in Sanctuary valued them as well. 

Like her, he wanted to make his dreams a reality. With a defeated sigh, he tramped to the exit, hoping a good night's rest would calm his nerves. Closing the dining hall's doors he was stunned to find him waiting there. Seth sat on the last step of the cafeteria's stairs with his arms placed over his knees, quietly gazing above as the cavern's lights cut off. 

Hearing the creaking of the wooden patio, Seth glanced back, his eyes glowing. He sprung to his feet in an effortless manner then spun around to greet him. Those emerald-colored irises peered through the dense sheet of darkness while his hands remained in his pocket.

"Bout time you got here, Rexy," he sneered.

"Seth? Why are you-"

The silver-haired boy held up a finger and said, "Tomorrow at the end of the day meet me at the plateau with your exos suit. Try to be discrete."

"What the? Why?"

"Just do what I say, will ya? You want to learn how to properly use the suit, don't you?" Perplexed and speechless, Rex cocked his head. "I'll teach you a thing or two. Unless of course, you've already made peace with being shipped back to Sanctuary."

The strange boy left him standing there, a silent Rex struggling to grasp what had just occurred. The more he hung around Seth the more of an enigma the boy became. Hanging his head, Rex released a series of indistinguishable groans.

* * *

Reluctantly, Rex followed Seth's instructions, sneaking out the barracks after everyone went to sleep. He hadn't told Chase or anyone else. This was his venture to take. His problem to solve. Rex arrived at the foot of the plateau after equipping himself with the exos suit from the storage room. 

He was surprised the bunker was unlocked and unguarded. However, it wasn't like anyone would get very far if they planned on stealing one. They were hundreds of meters underground and miles from Sanctuary. Besides, one would have to be completely idiotic to steal anything with a maniac like Commander Dorvan lurking around.

Seth peered over the ledge of the plateau with a wide smirk. Once Rex made it to the top he found a whistling Seth standing in front the Full Stop course. The blue-colored streaks of both their suits emitted faint rays, providing them with a decent amount of light to combat the shadows. Ceasing his unusual melodic tune, Seth grinned, "He comes after all. I knew you were different."

"Different?"

"Yup," Seth confirmed. "All the others have the same opportunity as us to hone their skills but do you think they care? As I said, they're just here to gain a higher position in society. They're different from someone like you."

"Or maybe they don't need to because they're better than me."

Seth laughed at his comment. "Oh give me a break! If those morons can learn how to use the exos suit then you should have no excuse."

"I know but-"

"Take this to heart, my friend. It's trivial to put all your faith in a goal or promise. And it's pointless to concern yourself with those who bring no value to your life." He got into a crouched position facing the Full Stop track, his shoulder engines expelling streams of blue smoke. "To survive in this world, focus on bettering yourself!!"

Blue flames ignited. In an instant, Seth shot from his spot, shattering the earth underneath his feet, and sped for the wall ahead of them. Dust clouds trailed behind the seeker as he made for his destination. It took him under a minute to reach it, instantly stopping himself once he got close. 

Seth came to a complete halt mere feet away from the wall, tapping his knuckle against it three times before returning to Rex with a smile. It didn't surprise him Seth hadn't an issue with completing an easy practice like this. He cleared the advanced track on their first day of training without permission, much to Commander Dorvan's anger. Rex suspected he might even be better than that Alex girl.

"See? Easy, right?!" he shouted, bolting to Rex's side in a burst of speed. "Keep a constant position and clear your mind. You'll be treading sand in no time!"

"You think so?"

Seth held a finger under his chin. "I overheard your brother say you were an emotional guy. Any truth to that claim?" Rex nodded his head, averting his stare in an attempt to conceal his embarrassment. Grinning, Seth said, "Then it should be obvious what your problem is. This suit responds to direct orders. It's most responsive, however, to someone with a clear state of mind. When one's head is clouded by uncertainty usually stemming from specific memories or, in this case, emotions, the suit will inevitably malfunction. The solution: Reject any and all mental hindrances permanently!"

"I knew that already . . ."

"Then why haven't you gotten any better?" Seth responded slyly.

"Let's just say it's easier said than done."

"You couldn't be more wrong! Contrary to my charming yet stoic demeanor, I'm pretty emotional myself."

"You're joking, right?"

"I'm being serious!" Seth laughed. "I spent years developing a technique to trap all of my thoughts and memories. The reason maneuvering the exos suit is easy for me is because I'm merely doing what I'd learned so long ago." He tapped his forehead repeatedly and, with a proud grin, Seth announced, "I call it the Mind Cage. Think of it as an internal corral of sorts. Whenever I want to hide or obliviate something I store those thoughts in there."

"And it works?"

"Partially. If I maintain a solid concentration the cage doors stay shut. On the other hand, if I continue to question or doubt myself it creaks open more and more until eventually everything I've been trying to keep dormant comes shooting out like magma from a volcano! It has its benefits although it's especially handy when using an exos suit! I'm going to teach it to you! The sooner you master how to open and close your Mind Cage the better off you'll be. Trust me!"

". . . How does it work?"

"First, I want you to fabricate images that make you emotional. Past events. Cherished friends. Significant others. Focus on them as much as you can." 

Closing his eyes, Rex tried remembering everything meaningful he'd experienced until this point. When he'd been discovered by Alice. Adopted by the Hunt family. His frequent nightmares. His father's death. Even the strange dream at Seeker HQ. All of it spiraled in his brain, beads of sweat sprouting on his forehead. 

"Finished?"

"I . . . I think so . . ."

"Good. Next, is the trickiest part. Inside your mind, there exists a region to which you can upload memories and thoughts."

"I'm looking for . . . The Mind Cage, right?"

"That you are," Seth approved, folding his arms. "Find it. Lock onto it. Make it obey your command."

Part of him wanted to ask Seth whether or not this was just a huge joke but another wanted to believe this would actually work. Just when he came to a decision he detected something at the edge of his consciousness. Something alien to him. 

Is that what I'm searching for . . ? Is that the Mind Cage? 

He honed in on it like a missile would a target. The more he concentrated the clearer it became. A colossal blue cage in the shape of a cube rotated in the furthest sector of his cognition. He felt his body begin to shiver as if the temperature suddenly dropped. He didn't know why, however, just staring at the cube patterned in emerald archaic spiral-shaped markings sparked something buried within. A wave of familiarity flooded his brain.

Fixating on the sensation, Rex found himself traveling deeper inside his mindscape. There his smoggy apparition floated adrift through a blackened sea which was his consciousness. Directly ahead of him was the doors of the azure prison. It was within his reach, Rex reluctantly extending fictitious hands forward. 

Hazy fingers wrapped around its handles as he began to pull. He was met with immediate resistance, the doors exhibiting no signs of submitting to his efforts. Even so, he held no intention of surrendering. If this cage could put an end to his strife, if it could help him obtain the results he sought then he'd no choice but to have it obey him. 

The tempered scowl spread across his face, bared teeth and squinting eyes. His body became stiff, veins pulsating on the sides of his head. His arms trembled along with his quivering legs. Come on! You've got this!! The strain was excruciating yet Rex's determination to overcome hadn't dwindled.

Seth hardened his observant gaze. The opposition Rex faced was undoubtedly relentless, however, Seth had already suspected this. Since it hadn't been used for an extended period of time it'd be tougher for Rex to "re-activate" the forgotten tool. 

Although, if his will was as defiant as his Mind Cage then Rex would inevitably succeed. His grin matched the shaky smile Rex's lips sluggishly formed. Bit by bit the creaking doors gave in, revealing to him the blackened and empty void. 

Like a vacuum, his memories and thoughts rushed in, taking on the appearance of multiple glowing blue film tape. Cascading strings displaying various depictions of past events and moments in his life. 

The darkened void was soon replaced by the brilliant light of his rememberings, the intense radiance vaporizing Rex's fabricated self in an instant. His eyes opened calmly, that unsteady smile broadening.

"Am I to guess it worked?" Seth asked.

". . . Yes." He felt completely at ease as if nothing in the world mattered. Recollecting himself, Rex gave a thumbs up and said, ". . . They're in."

"Ha! That was easier than I thought!" Seth exclaimed. This outcome hadn't shocked him in the least. "But we'll never know until you take your exos suit for a spin." He pointed a finger at the Full Stop exercise and smirked, "Care to give it another go?"

Rex responded with a smirk of his own. "Let's do this."