A/N: For May 2022, while working on SSotFDV, I got an idea to make a one-shot about two characters who show up for a very short amount of time.

Of course, this isn't canon aside from what happens with the Wielders.

That being said, I hope you enjoy!

Lake Vostok Logs: December 2044

Researcher's Log: Entry #273
Date: 10.12. 44
Time: 23:43

While we may have had some interesting discoveries in the past, these most recent ones take the cake. The other day, a frozen scorpion of all things emerged from the depths of Lake Vostok.

Upon further study, this specific species appears to have existed in the middle east several centuries ago. This has left myself and the other researchers here at the observation post asking several questions, such as the means of which this scorpion ended up in Antarctica of all places. Our best guess is that this unfortunate soul stowed away with some ancient humans who traveled here to learn more about the world, but for all we know, Antarctica could've been a much different place a long time ago.

I will say though, I am personally happy that this thing didn't come back to life once we unthawed it. They would have to pay me a lot more than they do now to be in the same room with a live scorpion, much less one that was hundreds if not thousands of years old.

My next log shall have an updated analysis of this scorpion, so stay tuned.

This has been Vera Belsky. Signing off...

The woman sighed as she put down the tape recorder, looking at the time once again before taking a moment to stretch. "Long night, Vera?" A man asked, entering the lab with a tired expression on his face.

"Luka? You're still up at this hour?" Vera, who was equally as tired as the man, asked.

"I could say the same to you, you know." Luka chuckled, leaning on the nearby wall. "Still doing those logs of yours?"

Vera chuckled. "Just finished up with the one for today, actually." She said. "I know no one listens to these, but I like to do them regardless. I like to think of them as a backup set of records in case, heavens forbid it, the Noise come knocking at our door."

"Like that'll ever happen in this frozen wasteland!" Luka laughed. "Still, it's good to have hobbies that pass the time out here, net?"

"Do you have any hobbies you partake in out here, Luka?" Vera asked.

Luka paused before answering. "Well, ice fishing sure is interesting out here, that's for sure." He joked.

Vera laughed "I'm serious. Is there anything you like to do in your free time?"

"Alright, alright." Luka sighed. "In all honesty, and this stays between the two of us, da?"

"Of course." Vera said.

"In my free time, I like to listen to that one Japanese Idol, Kazanari Tsubasa." Luka said. "I won't lie, her music is very inspiring stuff."

"You can say that again." Vera agreed.

"You listen to her music, too?" Luka asked.

"Da. Mostly while I work." Vera answered. "To be honest, I've always wanted to go to Japan and see her perform live. Perhaps after our time at this frozen lake is over, the both of us can go watch her live?"

Luka smirked. "Sounds like it'd be a fun venture. But first, we gotta make sure we get out of here alive, meaning no dying from overworking yourself." Saying this, Luka left the lab. "Good night, Vera."

"Good night, Luka." Vera replied as she too left the lab for the night.

Researcher's Log: Entry #281
Date: 18.12. 44
Time: 10:31

We're under attack! We were supposed to meet up with some agents from the Squad of Nexus Guardians, known better as "S.O.N.G.", this morning, but something happened. Just as they were to arrive on our base, a monster emerged from the lake.

The agents were fighting to try and stop the monster, but from what I've heard, things have gone south. Myself and the other researchers are currently in the process of evacuating the post.

In the event this place is destroyed, I am bringing these tapes with me so that not all is lost in our research.

This has been Vera Belsky. Signi-

An explosion outside shook the observation post, causing the researcher to drop her recording device. "Der'mo!" She shouted, quickly going to grab the recorder off the ground.

As she had said in her recording, the post was under attack and most of the other researchers had already evacuated, leaving her and a couple others left on the base. "Vera! Come in, Vera!" Luka's voice called out over Vera's communicator.

"I'm still here, Luka." Vera answered. "I'm on my way out now. I should be at the trucks shortly."

"Please hurry!" Luka shouted. "All hell is breaking loose out here and the last thing I want is for either of us to be cannon fodder!"

Vera put away her communicator and headed for the nearest exit. Unfortunately for her, several small red and tan drones were waiting at the door's exit, their lasers aiming right for her. However, as luck would have it, a girl clad in pink armor and wielding large sawblades came to her rescue, destroying the drones while shielding Vera from the lasers of more drones. At first glance, Vera assumed this girl just had an impressive arsenal of weaponry, but she noticed that, the whole time she was fighting, she was singing.

As impressed as she was at this girl's multitasking abilities, she didn't have time to waste listening to her song. So, without a moment to lose, Vera ran for the trucks, only for another explosion to send her flying. But, as luck would have it, a girl in orange armor grabbed her, doing what she could to ensure that Vera did not suffer any injuries.

Once they stopped moving, the girl got on her feet and shook Vera. "Are you okay, ma'am?" The girl asked in Japanese, a language Vera thankfully understood well enough. However, before she could respond, the girl noticed several drones darting towards them, as well as a massive, what could only be described as a giant robot, prepared a giant laser that was aimed right at them. "Over here, too?!"

The girl got on her feet and stood in front of Vera. The researcher heard a younger voice over the orange armored girl's headset, but she couldn't make out what she was saying. "I don't understand a word you're saying!" The girl shouted as she punched the incoming laser. Much to her surprise, the girl was blocking the laser, redirecting its beam towards the smaller drones in the sky.

As this was happening, Vera watched as the girl's gauntlet started transforming. Moments later, the girl was able to perfectly reflect the laser back at the robot, and with help from other warriors who Vera had managed to get glimpses of as the girl was blocking the laser, successfully knocked the robot onto its back. With the monster seemingly down, the girl turned to Vera. "Can you still run?" She asked.

"Y-Yes." Vera answered.

"Good." The girl said. "Then hurry to S.O.N.G.'s designated evacuation point!"

"R-Right. Thank you!" Vera said, quickly running to the trucks nearby.

As she ran, Luka emerged from one of the trucks as the other one took off. "Vera! Hurry!" He said, reaching his hand out to grab Vera and pull her into the truck. Once she was inside, Luka turned to the researcher who was at the wheel and shouted, "Drive!"

The driver slammed his foot on the accelerator, getting as much distance between them and the monstrosity the girls were fighting. Meanwhile, Luka was comforting Vera, who was still shocked by what she saw. "That was way too close, Vera." Luka said. "We should've left with the others, none of that research was worth dying for."

"Net. I wasn't going to let my tapes get destroyed by that thing." Vera argued. "I had to make sure we at least had something should the base fall."

Luka sighed. "You and your tapes... Either way, I'm glad you're still alive." He said. "I just hope those agents from S.O.N.G. can handle that monster."

Hearing that, Vera looked outside the window to see if the girls were still fighting. "Luka, come look at this!" Vera shouted. "They sent that thing flying into the air!"

Vera watched as the S.O.N.G. agents had sent the giant robot flying. Suddenly, a flash of light bursted from the ground. "What is that light?" Luka asked.

"I don't know..." Vera said.

After what felt like mere seconds, the light on the ground bursted out towards the robot, connecting with the behemoth and exploding in a giant ball of fire. "Proklinam! The robot exploded!" Luka gasped, before turning over to Vera, who had pulled out her recorder once again. "Vera..."

Researcher's Log: Entry #282
Date: 18.12. 44
Time: 10:37

Through an insane miracle, the agents from S.O.N.G. managed to destroy the giant robot that was attacking our post. I know S.O.N.G. was known for their incredible feats over the past couple of years, but to see it happen in front of me was surreal.

Vera...

In a second, Luka.

Thanks to them, our base was spared any further destruction. As for what remains of that robot, once the coast is clear and we're allowed to return to base, our team shall see what we can salvage from the raging behemoth.

Until the-

The recorder suddenly clicked off, because Luka had pressed the button to end the recording. "Luka! What was that for?" Vera shouted. "This is something that's too good to pass up on adding to my logs!"

"Better than something like this?" Without warning, Luka leaned in and suddenly kissed Vera. "I won't deny the fact that your logs have been a good way to keep our research from being lost, but recordings can be remade, you cannot be."

"Luka..."

"You almost died today, Vera. If that happened, I don't think I would be able to continue on as a person, much less a researcher." Luka continued. "The thought of losing you has driven me to do something I should've done weeks ago. So how about I do it in a way that you might understand?" While Vera was still in shock from the kiss, Luka grabbed the recorder and started recording.

Researcher's Log: Entry #282-2
Date: 18.12. 44
Time: 10:38

This log is exclusively for the listening ears of one Vera Belsky.

I know I may only talk to you as both a fellow researcher and as a friend, but the truth is, I love you. I've had this feeling for quite some time now, but I haven't had the, to put it bluntly, guts to confess this feeling.

So, as I am sitting here with you in this truck, I shall record this confession, so that you may listen to it as many times as you care to, until death comes to take you from this world. I only hope that you share these feelings that I've openly confessed to you.

Sincerely, Luka Poletov.

Vera looked at Luka, tears welling up in her eyes. "You... You truly feel that way?"

Luka nodded as he too felt tears start to form in his eyes. "Da." He said. "And I have a confession to make, back when I said I listen to Kazanari Tsubasa in my free time, it was half-truth. You see, I've also been listening to your recordings as well..."

This statement opened the floodgates that were Vera's tears as she threw herself towards Luka in a hugging embrace. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that!"

Luka wrapped his arms around Vera. "So, I know my confession wasn't the most... Romantic, per say, but, Vera-"

This time, it was Vera's turn to take Luka by surprise with a kiss. "Da." She said. "Ya tozhe tebya lyublyu, Luka."

And so, the two researchers embraced each other for the rest of the time they were in the truck, and even more so when they arrived at S.O.N.G.'s evacuation point. To them, this was the happiest moment of their lives, and they weren't about to let anything else stop them from embracing that happiness, even if the biggest discovery of all time was closer than they thought...

A/N: And with that, we end the one-shot!

So yeah, Vera and Luka are the two people at the observation point at the beginning of XV (namely the girl Hibiki protects from the laser blast and the guy who was with the girl in the truck as they evacuated the scene.

I figured, since so little was known about them, why not turn this small interaction into a much larger love story? Thus, Vera and Luka were born!

Honestly, it's very refreshing when I get the chance to make a one-shot that isn't crossover related, as much as I like making crossovers.

But with that being said, thank you for reading this one-shot. I shall see you all in the next one!