Each step echoed with a plastic resonance as the three strode down the quiet hallway. An unexpected tranquility lingered about, befitting the exhaustion of a long day's decline.

"Damn," Kel murmured, sleepily glancing at his phone. "12:30 already? No wonder I'm so freakin' tired."

"These training days seem to last forever, but once they're done, it's like you don't even know where the time went." Samus added, staring off into space as she walked.

"Heh, reminds me of school." Connor remarked.

Kel snickered. "I hear that."

Threshold after threshold passed them by as they neared the living quarters.

"You two don't mind if I walk with you to your room do you?" The Hunter asked.

"Nope."

"Not at all." Kel looked back, "I mean we're pretty much friends now, right?"

Samus chuckled, "Yes, we're friends."

The young man couldn't help but smile, "Best…day…ever."

They soon arrived at the steel door sealing the entrance to their bunk room. Kel typed the four-digit code into the small number pad on the wall, disabling the locking mechanism and allowing the plate to slide open. He stepped in, looking back to Connor who stood hesitant outside the door frame.

"You're not going to bed?" Samus asked.

"Nah, I'm too awake to sleep. Where's the gym?"

Kel laughed, "The gym? Are you being serious right now?"

"I've still got energy, and I don't plan on wasting it." Connor put flatly, turning back to the Hunter, "So…where do I go?"

"I'll show you." Samus answered, looking over to Kel as she turned to leave, "Good night."

The young man smiled as the door began to slide shut, "Good night."

The moment his head hit the pillow, he dropped straight out of consciousness.

…

The bounty hunter led Connor down another long corridor which seemed to stretch on forever. At long last, they reached the walkway's end, centered by a single door. The vast gym stretched out before them as they stepped inside, packed wall to wall with all the equipment any one person could ever need.

Connor oozed with interest, "Ooh!"

"It's all yours."

"What?"

"No one ever comes around here this time of night."

"Aw yeah, score!" the young man excitedly dashed for the various instruments.

The hours passed like minutes as Connor allowed his unbreakable drive to take control of him, working tirelessly, pushing himself to every limit he could reach. Eventually, fatigue began to take over, as he went and laid down on a nearby bench, shutting his eyes for a few minutes. After a little while, he started to feel as though something was moving, or crawling across his face. He then opened his eyes, and saw a familiar face.

"Chelsea?" He said in disbelief.

This must be a dream… he thought.

It soon became clear that it wasn't. The girl was really there, but how? Connor's tired brain struggled to jog its memory. Then, it hit him: He remembered speaking with her a few months back when she had brought up the idea of joining the armed forces in service of her country and race. Clearly, she hadn't had much trouble getting in. All things considered, it did not matter to Connor why she was there, or how she had found him…all he knew was that the girl he'd always loved was there with him, and nothing was more important.

He slowly sat up, hugging her gently, "Hey, how's my angel?"

Seconds from response, the girl was abruptly silenced by the blaring alarm.

"What the fu- What's going on?"

The look on Chelsea's face was grim, "We're under attack."

…

As Kel slept, the same unsettling images blurred across his mind's eye, only much worse than before. The blue-haired girl remained, this time, raising her head. Deep crimson eyes stared back at the young man like the eyes of a demon. Kel froze, unable to move. The girl reached out, gently placing a hand on him. He expected it to be cold, but was surprisingly met with warmth. His vision suddenly flashed as a euphoric relaxation started to crawl over him. It was as if all of his troubles had simply melted away. Then he woke.

"Wh- what? What the hell is going on?" he asked, half conscious as Samus desperately shook him awake.

"We're under attack! The space pirates and the covenant have launched a coordinated strike on the base, we have to move!" the Hunter replied, practically dragging him out the door.

"Wait! My weapons; I need them!"

Kel quickly ran to the bedside table, snatching his spiker, his knives and as many clips as he could hold. Then he bolted for the door, ears ringing from the screaming siren.