The training hall buzzed with a low hum, filled with curious glances and quiet tension. Rivet stepped in, his boots clicking against the sleek floor. The space was massive—larger than any auditorium he'd ever seen—with holographic displays flickering mid-air, digital boards flashing schedules, and surveillance cameras tracking every movement.
But all of that blurred when his eyes locked onto a familiar figure.
"Keshav?" Rivet said in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper.
The boy turned. And as soon as he saw Rivet, his face lit up.
"Rivet! You made it!" he shouted, rushing over.
The two embraced tightly, slapping each other on the back with a laugh of pure relief.
"I thought you forgot about me," Keshav said.
"I thought you weren't coming," Rivet replied. "Your name was way down the list—I didn't notice it."
"Well, looks like we both made it through."
Before they could exchange more words, the lights dimmed.
A single spotlight hit the stage.
Silence fell.
A tall man stepped forward, dressed in a perfectly pressed military uniform, his presence commanding every heartbeat in the room. The medals on his chest glinted under the light. His jaw was sharp, his voice even sharper.
"I am Colonel Vikrant Rathore," he began, his tone cutting through the silence. "Welcome, cadets."
Rivet felt the air shift.
"You are not here to be pampered. You are not here to be coddled. You are here… to be forged."
He paced slowly across the stage, his boots echoing like thunder.
"This is no ordinary training program. This is the future. You stand at the gates of a facility built not just to create soldiers—but protectors of the most powerful nation on Earth."
Behind him, holographic maps appeared—projecting various training zones, mountainous terrains, urban warfare setups, AI-assisted modules.
"This program is modeled after the Indian Armed Forces' elite regimen—but enhanced, evolved, and executed with technologies most people still dream about."
He pointed to one of the modules.
"You'll undergo physical training that will break you. Simulations that feel more real than any battlefield. AI drones will monitor you 24/7. Your rooms, your performance, your vitals—everything will be tracked."
The screens shifted to show smart rifles, obstacle courses, drones flying in formation.
"You'll be trained in hand-to-hand combat, survival in harsh terrains, cyber warfare, and satellite communication. There will be psychological tests. Night operations. Emergency drills. You'll run, fall, bleed, rise—and repeat."
He stopped walking and looked directly at the cadets.
"But if you endure it... you won't just walk out as cadets. You'll walk out as warriors. As soldiers of a new India."
Rivet's heart pounded.
"This isn't just about you. This is about your future, your country—and every beta back home who believes in you."
A long pause.
"Training begins tomorrow. 05:00 AM. Uniforms on. Hall A-17. No delays. No second chances."
He gave one sharp salute. "Jai Hind."
"Jai Hind!" the cadets shouted in perfect unison.
As the lights returned to normal, Keshav turned to Rivet with a wide-eyed stare. "Bro… what did we just sign up for?"
Rivet smirked, clenching his fists with quiet fire.
"Exactly what we were born for."
To be continued…