"So what now?" Jai asked.

"It's standard protocol to escort you to your new home." Ms Minawa replied.

Jai cocked his brow. "Which is?"

"You're very own dorm room— at Sanctum, the School for Saviors." 

"Sanctum—sounds legit. Just let me go get my things."

Jai turned back but was quickly ordered to stop.

"Not so fast. I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little before you can come back here. Data entry and paper work, you know how it is..."

He nodded slowly as if he knew what she was talking about. "Right, then lets get a move on."

"Agreed." Ms Minawa stated, putting her fingers up to her ear. She pressed upon an ear piece hidden behind her hair, calling for the escort OPP.

The same sleek black OPP from before was unveiled as the shadows peeled away from the light. This time, it was much less intimidating. Hovering with an angelic presence it was initially intended to have. It stationed itself overhead, beaming a pillar of light from its center that slowly lifted Both Jai and Ms Minawa up and into the vessel.

"Genius!" Jai exclaimed. "How is it doing that?!"

"I have no idea," Ms Minawa responded. "But it sure is handy."

After being fully pulled into the interior, the hatch below them closed shut. The light cut off and set them down nicely within the Zenith-Z3V. Inside was a empty lounge. Red velvet armchairs sat neatly against the wall, each fitted with a side table and cupholders. Across from them, a one-way window that allowed them to admire the city as they traveled.

"Welcome Herma Minawa and Jai Jinsei." An automated voice announced.

"Who was that?" Jai questioned.

"Omni," Ms Minawa answered. "He's an AI that only serves the Sanctum. You'll get to know him quite well during your time there."

Scattered light formed, vibrating into a hologram. A translucent humanoid body with no specific design attached. The basic form of Omni's physical code.

"Hello Jai, I am Omni. It's a pleasure to meet you." He stated, as Jai waved his arm through his permeable body.

"Genius," Jai whispered to himself. "It nice to meet you too, Omni."

He bowed as he the light that formed him dispersed. The particles wisped around Jai like fairy dust before vanishing.

"How does it work?" Jai blurted again to Ms Minawa.

"Again, Jai. You're asking the wrong person." She replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Sorry! Sorry," Jai responded quickly.

Ms Minawa sat down in one of the chairs and gestured for Jai to sit. Following orders he sat on the cushions and sank into them. Jai let out a sigh as he folded into himself. "I've never felt anything this comfortable in my entire life." he stated.

"That comfy huh?" Ms Minawa asked.

"Mhm," Jai responded quietly.

"You know, that brings up the question as to why you we're living in the sewers. As I told you before, you're a hard person to find. You have no emblem with you, so I assume you have no registered Sector under your name. Such a thing has never once happened before. We found you in Sector Omina, but who's to say that that's where you've always lived. So I'm quite curious—."Ms Minawa turns to Jai. "What happened to you?"

Jai had already fallen asleep in the chair, snoring quietly. His fingers twitched, stuck in a light sleep. Ms Minawa chuckled softly, being sure not to wake him.

Her smile faded, “Poor kids still on the defensive. Must have never realized just how exhausted he really was.”

Ms Minawa turned to the window, *It’s protocol to announce him to the school, but this was never smooth from the start. So I see no reason not to let this one slide.* She thought, watching the skyscrapers blow by.

***

Unconscious, Jai was suspended deep within an ocean. Cradled in the fetal position, his hair swayed as the currents twisted and twirled the strands like tendrils. The warm water carried his naked body in an almost maternal gentleness.

Plants and animals didn’t infest these waters. Sunshine didn’t penetrate it's surface. And trash wasn’t littered throughout the gaps. Only the ring of the ocean filled its purified expanse. It's pitch climbing higher and higher until it reached a piercing shriek. 

Jai’s eyes shot open, consciousness flooding back. Air bubbles escaped in panicked silver spheres, rising toward the distant surface. Jai drove his hands to his mouth, clamping it shut. His muscles straining as he fought against the urge to inhale.

He instinctively swam up, the crushing weight of the ocean pushing him back. Desperation fueled his movements. Each stroke leaving swirling eddies in their wake. His lungs burned for oxygen, only seconds away from salvation. Then finally, Jai breached the surface, gasping for air.

He found himself assaulted by torturous rain that struck his skin like gunfire. Each droplet nearly the size of a grape. Spinning around, his search for safety was met with an endless stretch of ocean. Its surface constantly disturbed by the impact of raindrops.

Jai flipped his soaking wet hair off his face, blinking hard against the relentless downpour. A thick sheet of storm clouds covered the entire sky as far as the eye could see. With no options left, Jai did the only thing he could—swim.

Time became meaningless as he swam for what felt like hours. His fingers growing more wrinkled and tender with each stroke. After many hours Jai's muscles fatigued, failing one by one like collapsing infrastructure until he couldn’t swim any longer. Consciousness began to fade as his face repeatedly slipped above and below the waters surface. Just before blacking out a distant voice called to Jai.

*Jai…. Jai…. Come find me…. Jai…* it called. It was a woman's voice.

He reached his arm out towards the voice before the ocean finally reclaimed him. Water rushed into his lungs, burning him from the inside out until he could no longer think.

***

Reality flooded back as Jai shot up right, his arm still reaching out. Sweat soaked through his clothes, clinging to parts of his skin. Each breath was heavy as his heart pounded violently. Adrenaline still freshly pumping though him. The vivid imagery of the nightmare slowly released its hold on his conscious.

*A dream.

"You alright hon?"

Jai looked to his left to see Ms Minawa sitting beside the bed, calm and collected despite the scene.

"Y-Yeah, I think so. Just a nightmare is all." Jai assured, catching his breath.

*Must have been the first deep sleep he's had in years,* Ms Minawa thought.

She leaned forward, intrigued. "A nightmare? Well now I've gotta here it! I've always found these stories to be the best." 

"I would, but I can't seem to remember."

"What! Not a single thing? You're kidding!" Ms Minawa wailed, leaning back in her chair.

Jai concentrated, looking for a hint of remembrance, but comming up short. "Nope. Nothin. Sorry."

Ms Minawa slapped her thighs and got up, "Bummer." She said as she walked around to the other side of the bed, approaching the door. "Well, it's time to get you situated, but sorry to be the breaker of bad news, but you stink. So when you're ready, get yourself cleaned up and dressed. You know how don't you?"

Jai met her gaze with a blank face that told her all she needed to know.

"Right. Follow me hon, looks like this will be a heavily detailed tour."

Following her lead Jai hops out of bed and goes to inspect the bathroom together.

"So this is a bathroom? I've never seen one like this before." He pointed to the shower. "What is this?"

"A shower." Ms Minawa answered. "Not to pry, but is all of this new to you?"

"Pretty much. I've been homeless for as long as I can remember."

"Really? You seem quite sharp though."

"Well I actually would steal books from libraries. I taught myself to read and just learned what I could get my hands on."

"You taught yourself? That's incredible, but also explains a lot. Not to worry though, we'll fill in all the blanks for you here at Sanctum. I'm positive you'll catch on."

Jai stepped in the tub, curiously fiddling with the handle. "How does it work?"

Ms Minawa turned the knob all the way to the left, starting the water. 

"Genius!" Jai exclaimed. He goes to touch the water, but burns his hand on the scorching stream. "Hot! Ow ow ow! Too hot!"

Ms Minawa bursts into laughter. "You really don't know how a single thing works!"

Jai stares at her, not amused.

"Sorry hon, this is just so new to me. You'll need to turn the knob the other way to cool it down to the temperature you want. Once you do that, pull this part here and bam! You've got a running shower." Ms Minawa explained. She stood up and pulled the curtain out. "Now strip. You wont be needing those clothes any longer."

"Strip? I thought you were supposed to wash you're clothes with you? You know, a two in one sort of deal."

Ms Minawa chuckles. "That's not a bad idea, but no. Hand over the clothes."

Jai strips and tosses the clothes up and over the shower curtain.

"What a mess, I can't believe you even wore these. We'll be getting you a uniform, so don't worry about these anymore." Ms Minawa stated, balling up the clothes.

"Wait, I still want those clothes." Jai pleaded, pulling back the curtain. He tightly gripped its fabric, "They're—important to me."

Ms Minawa understood, "Ill see what I can do," she whispered quietly.

"Thank you" Jai responded, pulling back the curtain.

"Now i'll be back, so get to showering." Ms Minawa said, leaving the bathroom. "And use soap!" She added right before shutting the door.

After a bit Jai finally got the water at the temperature he liked, proudly pulling up the pin to get the shower head running. What came next could only be described as heaven on earth. Each droplet like an angels kiss, washing away the sin. Jai let out a sigh of sweet relief as the warmth washed over him.

Using the soap, Jai washed himself thoroughly, getting every nook and cranny. He then grabbed the shampoo to read the instructions on the back. "Apply to hair, lather thoroughly, rinse with water. Seems easy enough." He thought. Squeezing a glob into the palm of his hand Jai began to scrub his hair. The water stained brown as it washed away the dirt and grime, giving color back to his dulling hair.

Jai suddenly shouted in pain, loud enough for Ms Minawa to hear. She busted back into the bathroom. "What's going on? Jai?"

"My eyes! They sting god damn it!"

 "You're fine, you just got some shampoo in you eyes. It'll calm down once you rinse them out."  She informed. "Now you know to close your eyes next time."

"Right." Jai answered, putting his face under that water and opening his eye. A droplet his pupil and a flash of the forgotten dream hit him. The image clear in his mind. "An ocean."

"What?" Ms Minawa asked.

"My dream, I was in an ocean."

"So you remembered? Awesome! But what was the scary part?"

"I drowned," Jai stated bluntly.

"Oh."

"But I remember someone was calling for me. They were asking me to find them."

"Its probably nothing, dreams are just random like that." Ms Minawa insisted.

"Probably..." Jai said softly, shaking off the thought.

Shortly there after, Jai dried off and learned how to brush his teeth before finally getting dressed in the uniform Ms Minawa brought back. It was a slick black button up shirt and dress pants, accented with blue streaks. Accompanied by black socks and black dress shoes.

Jai slipped into them sloppily. "Its so tight! Do I really have to wear this every day?"

"Its the dress code so its only mandatory during school hours. But you'll get used to it. Promise."

"And my old clothes?" Jai asked liked an interrogator.

"Its a secret, but I assure you they aren't gone."

"Good," Jai said, bluntly. "And thank you," he quickly added to be polite.

Ms Minawa smiled, putting her hands on her hips in preparation. "Want to see your new home?"

Jai's face lit up with excitement "Absolutely!"

They walk out from the master bedroom into a space identical to that off a penthouse, just smaller in scale. Featuring its own living and dining rooms, as well as an entire kitchen. The entire right wall was replaced with reinforced window, built for a good view. This larger room then led to a slightly smaller third room that remained empty. Ready to be filled with anything Jai's heart desired.

Jai breathlessly looked around his new home, starstruck by every little detail and luxury. By the end of it, he stood at the window completely silent. The sun rose in the distance, its light shimmering across the sea. One by one, the skyscrapers of Cell City caught its light. It's rays finally found Jai, striking him with its blinding glory. The warmth of the sun covered Jai entirely, not casting even the slightest shadow. And in the basking of his new life, he broke down.

"Is this—real?" He asked through muffled cries. "Am I still dreaming?"

"Yes," Ms Minawa said stepping closer, resting her hand on his shoulder, "And no."

She waited until Jai regained his composure. His shoulders relaxing as he took his the final deep and shaky breath.

"Ready to see the rest?" She asked.

Jai sniffled, wiping his eyes. "Ready."