The next morning began with Alex groaning into his pillow.
The sting in his ribs hadn't gone away, and his dreams were a chaotic mess of glowing creatures, sarcastic consoles, and hovering death. He rolled over and came face to... controller. Genesis hovered silently above him like a judgmental drone from the underworld.
"**RISE AND GLITCH, CHOSEN HOST.**"
"Why are you like this?" Alex muttered, yanking the blanket over his head.
"Because if I allowed you to oversleep, this world would likely collapse by next Tuesday."
"Can it collapse *after* I graduate high school? Or maybe when I'm old and yelling at kids from my porch?"
Genesis beeped smugly. "Breakfast. Shower. Dress. You've got a full day of being emotionally overwhelmed."
"Whoever programmed you definitely had a grudge against peace and quiet," Alex said, rolling out of bed.
"I can't confirm or deny that."
Alex dragged himself to the bathroom. "Don't follow me."
"Noted."
After his shower and getting dressed, Genesis zipped itself into Alex's backpack, finally giving him a moment of quiet. Downstairs, Alex entered the kitchen to find his mom, Mei Steele, flipping a sunny-side-up egg.
She glanced over her shoulder. "You look like you lost a fight with a paper shredder," she said, handing him a thermos of tea and giving him a once-over. "Did you sleep? Or did you sneak out to fight ghosts with your imaginary friends again?"
Alex choked on his toast. "No ghosts. Just... dreams. Weird dreams."
Mei passed him the eggs and bacon. Alex practically inhaled the plate.
"Hey, slow down—you're not a vacuum," she said, eyeing him.
"I want to be early today," he mumbled between bites.
She raised an eyebrow. "Good. Better not be skipping class again."
"Nope. Fully present. Mind, body, and totally shredded soul."
She kissed his cheek anyway and checked the bandage on his forehead. "Be careful. And try not to get suspended *again*."
Alex smirked. "One time. And I was *framed*."
"Framed for setting off the fire alarm with your ramen cup?"
"It was boiling! Science happened."
With that, Alex slung his backpack on and stepped outside. The bus was the usual chaos: teenagers everywhere, the tired old driver barely holding it together. Alex's main goal now was simple—make it to school without Genesis blowing their cover.
But Genesis had other ideas.
Every few seconds, it buzzed softly from his wrist. A few nearby kids glanced at him. Alex gulped.
**Monridge High**: A box of hormones, bad cologne, and unspoken grudges. Alex slipped through the halls, keeping his head down. He'd always been background noise here—and today, that was exactly what he wanted.
Genesis stayed quiet on his wrist. Mercifully.
First period math was uneventful. He nearly nodded off, but Genesis zapped a warning into his wrist like a passive-aggressive caffeine patch.
Second period—history. Alex headed to the back and slouched into his seat.
That's when he saw her.
Lena.
Medium-length black hair tucked behind one ear, hoodie slightly oversized, earbuds in. Just another new student—except... not. Alex's stomach twisted. Something about her sparked in his brain, like déjà vu with a glitch.
The bell rang. Students trickled out.
As Alex gathered his books, he bumped right into her.
"Oh—sorry!" he stammered.
Lena caught herself and looked at him—confused, not annoyed. "You okay?" Her gaze lingered on his bandaged forehead.
Alex quickly covered it. "Yeah, yeah, just... bad peripheral vision. Happens."
She blinked, gave a small nod, and walked past him like it was nothing. But to him? His heart did a triple axel.
Genesis hummed. "**Unstable heart rate detected. Symptoms suggest early-stage infatuation.**"
"Shut *up*," Alex hissed.
---
**Gym class**: where dignity went to die.
Darren and Blake were already in the locker room when Alex walked in. The moment they saw him, the tension hit like a wall.
"Well, if it isn't the meatloaf from yesterday's alley special," Darren grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Blake chuckled. "Your face still looks like it lost a bar fight with a frying pan."
Alex clenched his jaw. "Nice to see you too."
"Did you tell Mommy?" Blake sneered.
Alex ignored them and opened his locker.
Genesis stirred on his wrist. "**Allow me to assist. I've cataloged their weaknesses—skeletal range and emotional immaturity.**"
"No! No weird revenge shenanigans! I'm blending in. Remember?" Alex hissed.
"**Blending ineffective. Hostility detected. Suggesting performance-based humiliation.**"
"No!" Alex snapped—out loud.
Heads turned. He winced.
"Great. Now they *definitely* think I talk to myself."
"**Technically, you do.**"
"I need a mute button for you."
Out on the court, teams were picked. Of course, Alex ended up opposite Darren and Blake.
The whistle blew. The game began. Alex froze while the others played. He was hoping to avoid the ball entirely.
"**Heart rate elevated. Analysis: you suck at basketball.**"
"Thanks," Alex muttered, drifting uselessly near half-court.
"Just don't screw up," he thought. "If the ball comes to me, just pass. Easy."
From the bleachers, a few girls were watching. Great. Just what he needed: an audience for his public humiliation.
"**Judging by your physical stats, you are... disappointingly average.**"
"Shut up. Let me *focus*."
Darren and Blake were already flexing on the court, racking up points.
Alex glared. "You've got to be kidding me."
Then—Genesis buzzed.
"**That's it.**"
"What are you doing?" Alex whispered.
**[ Level =3]
[XP added: +12]
[DOWNLOAD DATA: BASKETBALL EXPERTISE.]**
**[SYNCING TO HOST: ALEX STEELE]**
**[(0%...45%...79%...) TRANSFER COMPLETE.]**
The ball came to Alex—fast.
Time slowed.
His body moved.
Pivot. Dodge. Step back. Shoot.
**Swish.**
He landed, blinking. Shocked.
Whispers filled the gym.
Coach Magellan blew his whistle. "Who *taught* Steele how to shoot?!"
Another play. Alex dribbled past two defenders, spun, and scored again. The gym buzzed.
Alex grinned.
Darren scowled.
Blake tripped over his own foot.
"**Victory tastes like plastic and teenage pride,**" Genesis whispered.
Alex shrugged, smug.
Gym ended and Alex went outside to take in air. That should've been the day's weirdest moment.
But it wasn't.
Outside, behind the gym, the sky flickered—just for a moment.
A tear appeared in the air. Like ripped fabric.
Something dropped out: a beast. All jagged code and red glitch-light.
The field was empty. Except Lena.
She stood, facing it. Calm. Almost... calculating.
Alex didn't think. He ran.
"Wait—no!" Genesis warned. "You're not ready!"
Too late.
He tackled the creature. It hissed, claws slashing—
Everything went black.
Then—
**[System rebooting.]**
**[Host status: critical.]**
**[Reconfiguring.]**
[Level=7 ]
[SYNCING PROTOCOL ENGAGED.]
Alex's eyes snapped open.
He wasn't *just* Alex anymore.
Light pulsed through his limbs—digital veins. A black-and-blue suit hummed around him, alive with code. He stood, transformed.
Not a superhero.
Something else.
The creature turned.
Alex raised a hand. Energy surged.
He leapt—striking mid-air with a scream and a flash.
**BOOM.**
The beast shattered into red code, dissolving.
Alex landed on one knee, panting.
Lena was gone.
Genesis buzzed. "**Well. That escalated quickly.**"
Alex swayed.
The world tilted.
Then—he collapsed.