Four teenagers—barely eighteen—walked down the pristine white halls of Genesis Corp's main facility, the hum of machinery and distant voices echoing around them. Despite the monumental day ahead, they were wrapped in casual conversation, their steps light.
"Man, I still can't believe we're doing this," said the black-haired boy with a broad grin, pumping his fist into the air. "Exploring another dimension? That's straight out of a dream!"
This was Agent Alpha, Genesis Corp's Battler. His body was toned from years of relentless training—morning jogs in sub-zero weather, sneaking past lockdowns, even enduring near-constant colds. His doctors warned him. His instructors tried to stop him. Nothing worked.
"If I'm gonna start the day right," he always said, "a little cold air's worth it."
"I know, right? Just imagine the people we'll meet! The languages! The stories!" chimed in the bubbly blonde girl beside him—Agent Gamma, the Artist. She mimicked his fist pump with a giggle.
Her sunny energy was infamous in the facility. Always talking, always smiling—even when nobody wanted her to. Rumours practically spawned from her lips. After her habit got a few staff members in trouble, Genesis Corp banned rumour-spreading altogether. It didn't help. She just made up her own stories based on snippets of conversations she overheard. Most gave up trying to stop her.
"I'm more curious about the plant life," said the quiet, brown-haired boy adjusting his glasses—Agent Beta, the Doctor. He tapped his cheek thoughtfully. "New medicinal herbs, maybe… Imagine what kinds of healing we've never even dreamed of."
He rarely spoke unless around people he trusted, and even then, words were sparse. His sanctuary was the greenhouse he received as a birthday gift at age ten—a gift that became his world. He spoke to plants more than people. His mentor once joked that the flowers knew more about him than any human.
Trailing slightly behind, immersed in a book, was the last of the group: a tall boy with long, black hair braided neatly down his back—Agent Omega, the Researcher.
He didn't look up until Gamma tapped his shoulder. "Hey, are you going to tell us what you're excited about, or are you going to let us guess?"
He sighed, snapping his book shut with practiced precision. "If you must know, I'm interested in the wildlife. The beasts inhabiting this other world may offer data unlike anything in our archives."
His voice was sharp and precise—like he'd swallowed a textbook. Everything about him was tidy, efficient, and controlled. Yet his appearance told a different story.
"You always talk like you're reciting from a science journal," Alpha grinned, slinging an arm over Omega's shoulder. "Lighten up, man. We're friends—not your subordinates."
"It's amusing you believe that," Omega muttered, brushing the arm off with mild disdain.
"C'mon," Alpha teased with a wink. "You like us. A little."
"You, specifically, are the one I like least," Omega retorted, stepping ahead. "Now hurry. The director is waiting."
Beta tilted his head. "He doesn't like us, huh?"
"Nah," Gamma shrugged with a smile. "He does. He just doesn't like the big idiot the most."
"Hey!" Alpha crossed his arms. "I'm right here, y'know."
"Oh, we know," Gamma smirked. "We just don't care."
Their banter continued until they entered the Launch Chamber, a massive room filled with engineers, scientists, and technicians monitoring screens and calibrating instruments. At its heart stood the gleaming black jet that would take them through the dimensional rift. On the far end, a massive circular machine—the Gate—hummed with energy, lines of light beginning to pulse along its edges.
In the observation room above, a group of high-ranking officials watched the preparations unfold. At the centre stood the man who led it all—the Director of Genesis Corp.
His voice echoed through the chamber via the loudspeakers.
"Today marks a new chapter for humankind. No longer are we bound to our dimension. No longer are we observers of the stars—we are travellers of them.
This journey began generations ago, when my great-grandfather witnessed the first breach. He saw the beasts with his own eyes and vowed that, one day, we would follow them—understand them—not fear them. Today… we fulfil that promise."
The room erupted into applause. The four teens were summoned to the observation deck, where they stood before the Director and another figure—a tall man with a diplomatic presence.
"Agents Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omega," the Director gestured to them, "allow me to introduce the President of the United Nations. He and his council have come to witness this historic launch."
The teens bowed.
"It's an honour to meet Team Origin in person," the President said warmly. "You represent not just Genesis Corp, but all of humanity."
After brief exchanges, the teens turned to leave—until the Director spoke again.
"Agent Omega. A word in private."
Outside the room, the atmosphere shifted. Omega crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. "What do you want now, old man?"
"Don't speak to your father like that," the Director snapped.
"I'll speak to him however I want."
The Director pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm trying, alright? Trying to talk to you. One father to his son."
"And whose fault is it that we don't talk?"
"I couldn't stop what happened—"
"Oh, don't give me that. You run everything here. Everything. But you couldn't control one incident? Pathetic."
Omega turned to walk away.
"I just wanted to say…" the Director hesitated, then added softly, "I'm proud of you. Be careful out there. Stick with your friends. And… please come back. You're all I have left."
Omega paused for a moment.
Then, without looking back, he walked away.
Back in the jet, the four took their seats. The interior was more luxurious than they expected—custom leather seats, elegant lighting, and polished interfaces.
"Wow," Gamma said, eyes sparkling. "They pulled out all the stops for us."
"I could get used to this," Beta agreed, settling in.
Alpha sat up front, fingers twitching with anticipation. Omega, calm and collected, took the rear seat, his eyes already scanning data on a console.
"Team Origin ready," Omega announced into the comms. "Sir, you may proceed with portal activation."
Outside, the engineers had cleared the chamber. The Gate began to glow, rings of light swirling faster and faster, forming a vortex of shimmering energy.
"Open the gate," the Director commanded.
"Power stable. Initiating countdown—"
"Team Origin, entering portal in—"
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One…"
"Lift-off!"
The jet engines roared. With a blast of light and sound, the ship launched forward, crossing the event horizon of the dimensional rift—
—and vanished from the world they knew.