The morning air at the outpost was crisp, a sharp contrast to the simmering tension between the assembled squads—Counters and Absolute. They stood in uneasy silence outside the elevator, the hum of machinery underscoring the palpable unease.

Rapi stood near the control panel, her neutral expression betraying a hint of impatience as her arms remained tightly crossed. Anis leaned casually against a railing, her fingers tapping out an idle rhythm on her hip. Neon sat perched on a crate, flipping through a weapons manual and muttering about potential firepower upgrades. Marian stood slightly apart, her hands clasped and posture rigid, her silence more pronounced than usual.

Opposite them, Absolute maintained their disciplined formation. Emma, the squad's nurturing presence, offered a warm smile in an attempt to diffuse the tension. Vesti fidgeted with her gloves, her eyes darting nervously between her comrades. Eunhwa, however, radiated palpable frustration.

"He's late. Again," Eunhwa snapped, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel.

Rapi remained stoic, but Anis let out an exaggerated groan. "Of course he is. You know how it goes—he keeps us waiting, strolls in all smug, and bribes everyone with—"

"Apple pies," Neon interjected, suddenly alert. "Wait, are we talking apple pies?"

Eunhwa scoffed, her voice laced with irritation. "Are you all seriously fine with this? How has he not been discharged? A commander should set an example, not drag their feet and hand out pastries like we're on a field trip."

Emma's smile faltered slightly, and Vesti shrank back.

Neon shrugged. "I mean, the pies are really good."

Eunhwa exhaled sharply, as if restraining the urge to strangle someone. "Unbelievable. Absolute has to put up with this nonsense?"

Before anyone could respond, the distant thud of boots against the pavement reached them. A moment later, John strolled into view, unbothered and unhurried, carrying a familiar bag.

"Morning, everyone," he greeted, his tone light, seemingly oblivious to Eunhwa's piercing glare. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Eunhwa took a step forward, her frustration evident. "Again, Commander? You think this is funny?"

Unfazed, John held up the bag and gave it a shake, the warm scent of fresh apple pies wafting through the air.

"I come bearing peace offerings," he said smoothly.

Neon was already beside him, practically vibrating with excitement. "Gimme."

John chuckled and handed her a pie, which she unwrapped with an eager squeal.

Anis rolled her eyes but extended her hand. "For someone this bad at being on time, you're shockingly good at bribery."

Emma accepted hers with a polite nod. "This is very kind of you, Commander."

Vesti hesitated, glancing at Emma before reaching out. "Thank you," she murmured.

Eunhwa stood firm, arms crossed, her scowl deepening. "You seriously think this excuses your behavior?"

John met her glare with his usual easy demeanor, extending a pie toward her. "I think it makes it slightly harder for you to stay mad at me."

For a moment, it seemed she wouldn't relent. Then, with an exasperated huff, she snatched the pie from his hand.

"I hate you," she muttered.

John smirked. "Love you too."

Eunhwa didn't take a bite, but she didn't throw it back at him either.

Marian, observing the exchange, slowly accepted a pie as well. She studied it for a moment before taking a tentative bite.

Rapi finally spoke, her voice even. "Commander, we should get moving."

John nodded, taking a bite of his own pie before stepping toward the elevator. "Right, right. Oh—Hana's not joining us, correct?"

Rapi shook her head. "She was reassigned to another squad. We'll be proceeding without her."

John exhaled, then shrugged as he entered the elevator with the others. "Shame. I liked her."

The elevator hummed steadily as it ascended toward the surface, the metallic vibrations filling the tense silence between the two squads. The air inside was thick with unspoken grievances, and though John's lighthearted demeanor had softened the edges of the tension, the undercurrents of rivalry remained sharp and unresolved.

John leaned lazily against the side railing, arms crossed, his eyes watching the numbers climb on the display. His usual smirk was gone now, replaced by a rare moment of thoughtful focus. After a few beats, he tapped the comms device clipped to his collar.

"Shifty, you there?" he asked, his voice cutting through the stale air like a blade through cloth.

The comms crackled briefly before Shifty's crisp, professional voice came through, clear and sharp.

"I read you, Commander. What's the status of the teams?"

John glanced around the elevator, eyes briefly meeting Rapi's steady gaze and Eunhwa's cold glare before answering. "Tense, but no one's shot each other yet. We'll call that a win for now."

Shifty didn't bother to hide her exasperated sigh. "Understood. I'll keep this brief. The mission parameters haven't changed—your objective remains the same: investigate the center of Area H and secure any Heretic fragments left behind from the last engagement."

Neon perked up from her seat on a nearby crate, fiddling with her rifle's sight as she listened in. "Any updates on enemy activity around the crater?"

"Minimal movement so far," Shifty replied. "Alva particle concentrations have dropped significantly. That means the site's stable, and you shouldn't need to initiate a purification sequence before entry. But don't let your guard down—there are energy fluctuations around the perimeter, likely residual effects from the last battle."

Eunhwa's voice cut through the comms like ice. "What's the travel time from our landing point?"

"You're about a day and a half out if you keep a steady pace," Shifty answered. "Expect rough terrain. The area's still unstable, so avoid unnecessary detours."

Rapi's eyes didn't leave her tablet as she spoke, her tone cool and efficient. "Any signs of Rapture activity nearby?"

There was a pause. "That's the strange part. Satellite scans aren't picking up any significant Rapture movement around the crater. Either they're keeping their distance, or they're waiting for something."

Anis snorted from her place beside the railing, arms crossed casually. "Yeah, 'waiting' is just Rapture speak for 'we'll ambush you when it's funniest.'"

The elevator shuddered slightly as it neared the top, the heavy doors preparing to open onto the harsh, wind-swept expanse of the surface.

John exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, teams—once we hit the ground, I want formation tight and comms clear. We've got a long walk ahead, so keep the chatter focused unless something important comes up."

Eunhwa crossed her arms, glaring daggers at him. "Let's just hope your idea of focus involves arriving on time for once."

John offered her a lazy smirk in return. "Don't worry, Captain Perfect—I'll make sure the pies are warm next time too."

Before Eunhwa could retort, the elevator doors slid open with a heavy groan, revealing the stark, pale expanse of the surface beyond. A cold wind swept in immediately, carrying the scent of rust and dust, the sky above cast in a perpetual gray gloom.

John stepped forward, boots crunching against the cracked earth as he took in the desolate ruins stretched across the horizon. The remnants of structures, skeletal and broken, loomed in the distance—silent witnesses to humanity's defeat.

"Day and a half to the crater," John muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Let's not make it any longer than it has to be."

Eunhwa moved ahead of the teams, her posture stiff with authority. "Absolute, take point. Counters, follow in formation."

John watched her for a beat, then turned back to his own squad. "You heard the lady—tight formation, eyes up. Let's move."

The cold wind swept over the barren surface, carrying the scent of rust and ash. The metal ruins of a world long lost cast jagged shadows across the cracked ground. Both squads—Counters and Absolute—moved cautiously through the wasteland, tension hanging heavier than the dust in the air.

Rapi led the Counters, her expression cool and focused, every step measured. Anis followed closely behind, her usual energy simmering just below the surface, ready to bubble over at the first opportunity. Neon trailed slightly behind, humming to herself as she adjusted the sights on her shotgun, while Marian kept to the back, her crimson eyes distant, as if seeing something far beyond the ruins ahead.

Absolute moved in a tighter formation. Emma walked at the center with her usual composed grace, keeping the squad's spirits afloat with her calm demeanor. Vesti stuck close to her side, occasionally glancing at the other squad, her nervous energy making her fidget with the strap on her weapon. Eunhwa, at the front, marched with deliberate, stiff precision, her eyes forward and expression hard as steel.

The silence between the two squads finally shattered with Eunhwa's voice, low and cutting.

"I still don't understand why we're wasting resources working with a third-rate squad," she said without breaking stride, her words sharp enough to slice through steel.

Anis immediately perked up, flashing a toothy grin. "Third-rate, huh? That's better than first or second. Three's higher than one or two, after all."

Neon, never one to miss the opportunity for chaos, chimed in, her voice syrupy sweet. "Yeah! Third place means we're trendsetters. You're just jealous."

For the first time since they'd set foot on the surface, a small giggle escaped Vesti's lips, an involuntary, almost startled reaction.

Eunhwa's head snapped toward her, icy eyes narrowing. "Vesti."

Vesti immediately straightened up, her face pale. "I—I'm sorry, Captain. Won't happen again."

Emma let out a soft sigh but said nothing, focusing instead on maintaining the fragile balance between civility and outright hostility.

John, walking somewhere between the two squads, decided to break the ice before things escalated. "So, about Site H. I've heard some stuff, but I never actually bothered reading the mission report. What really went down there?"

Eunhwa's gaze hardened. "We fought a Heretic. Matis and Absolute nearly lost everything in that crater. During the peak of fighting lightning struck the heretic, giving us the victory"

Anis couldn't resist. "Nearly, huh? Sounds like you needed some serious backup to make it out alive."

"We didn't need your sarcasm, Third-Rate," Eunhwa snapped, venom dripping from her tone.

Anis's smirk only widened. "Hey, at least we survived two Heretics at once. No backup, no fancy reinforcements. Just us and sheer determination. Sounds like we're the real heroes here."

Eunhwa's lip curled in disdain. "Dumb luck. That's all it was. Maybe if Marian hadn't hesitated, you wouldn't be here playing soldier."

The playful spark in Anis's eyes flickered, her grin turning sharp. "Luck, huh? Then what would you call surviving a Heretic because nature itself took pity on you? A lucky lightning bolt doesn't exactly scream 'elite squad' to me."

The jab landed harder than Anis probably intended, and Eunhwa's eyes flashed dangerously. "At least we didn't survive because of... pity." She turned her gaze toward Rapi, who had been silent the whole time, her face an unreadable mask. "Tell me, was it mercy? Did Modernia let you live out of sentiment? How does it feel, knowing your old friend nearly stabbed you in the back?"

The group stopped in their tracks.

Marian's eyes darkened, her hands curling into fists by her sides. Anis's smirk vanished instantly, her voice low and tight. "You're crossing a line, Eunhwa."

Before Anis could say anything more, Rapi's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "That's enough Eunhwa."

Eunhwa turned, her expression contorting with unspoken frustration. "You don't get to say my name, traitor!" Her voice echoed across the desolate plain, every syllable laced with raw anger.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Even John, who usually brushed off tension with humor, looked dead serious now. Neon's cheerful expression faltered, and Vesti's shoulders hunched under the weight of the outburst.

Eunhwa's own breath came heavy and ragged, as if she'd finally realized how far she had gone. "...Damn." She turned on her heel and stormed ahead, leaving the group behind.

The squads stood still for a long moment.

John broke the silence with a sigh. "Well... that went well."

Anis shook her head slowly. "I swear, that woman's got a fuse shorter than a shotgun barrel."

Emma moved quietly to Vesti's side, offering a reassuring touch to her shoulder. "She's not angry at you," Emma said softly. "She's angry at herself. And Rapi."

Marian, silent and distant as ever, finally spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Let's just keep moving."

Vesti, face slightly flushed, shuffled up to Anis.

"Um..." She cleared her throat, glancing nervously at the others before looking up at Anis. "Can you... teach me how to talk back like that?"

Anis blinked. "Wait. What?"

Vesti's hands clenched at her sides. "Eunhwa's always so... intense. I want to talk back properly. Like you did."

A slow smirk crept onto Anis's face. "Oh, sweetheart. You're in for a hell of a lesson."

The journey continued without further incident, but the atmosphere remained strained.

Marian, walking a few paces behind, kept mostly to herself, her mind turning over Eunhwa's words from earlier.

"At least we didn't survive because of... pity."

She had tried not to react to it, had forced herself to keep moving, to pretend it didn't bother her.

But it did.

Even now, she could feel the weight of that accusation, pressing against her thoughts. And that terrified her.

John slowed his pace until he was walking beside her again.

"Alright, I'll bite," he said casually. "What's on your mind?"

Marian hesitated. "It's nothing."

John gave her a flat look. "Lies."

She sighed, fingers clenching slightly at her sides. "…It's just what Eunhwa said."

John exhaled, half expecting that answer. "Yeah, figured."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then—

"I don't remember what happened that day," Marian admitted, voice quieter now. "I don't know what I did. Or didn't do."

John scratched his jaw, thinking for a moment before speaking. "You were Modernia back then. Whatever choices were made—it wasn't you."

Marian didn't respond right away.

"Maybe."

John glanced at her. "Maybe?"

She exhaled, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm here now."

He watched her for a moment longer before nodding. "Yeah. You are."

The conversation drifted into silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Marian still had questions, doubts that gnawed at her—but for now, she kept moving forward.

John, walking beside her, made sure she wasn't walking alone.

After several hours of trekking, the group had made a small camp to eat and refresh before moving again. Everyone had split into groups, with Anis and Vesti moving to the edge of the camp. They crouched low and spoke conspiratorially, their voices low and hushed.

Anis leaned in close, her lips barely moving as she whispered something into Vesti's ear. Whatever it was, it made Vesti's entire face turn red.

The younger Nikke pulled back instantly, her eyes wide with a mix of horror and disbelief. "A-Anis! I can't say that!"

Anis grinned, her expression the perfect mixture of mischief and amusement. "Sure, you can. You just gotta own it."

Vesti looked like she was experiencing a full-blown existential crisis. "But—but that's so—so mean!"

"That's the point!" Anis shot back, clearly having the time of her life. "It's gotta sting. That's how you get someone like Eunhwa off your back. You think she pulls her punches when she talks to you?"

Vesti fidgeted, clearly unsure.

Anis let out an exaggerated sigh, draping an arm over Vesti's shoulders in a mock display of guidance. "Look, kid. You wanna learn how to talk back, right?"

Vesti nodded hesitantly.

"Well, you can't half-ass it. You gotta commit. Hit 'em where it hurts." Anis smirked, tapping a finger against her temple. "And trust me, this one? Guaranteed critical hit."

Vesti swallowed hard, her hands clenching into tiny fists. She took a deep breath. Okay. Okay. She could do this.

And just like that, the perfect opportunity arrived.

Eunhwa approached the group, her expression as unreadable as ever. She stopped just short of them, cool and composed, arms folded neatly across her chest. "We're moving in ten. Get your gear in order."

Vesti froze.

Anis nudged her. "Now or never."

Vesti's heart was hammering. Her mouth felt dry. But she squared her shoulders, took a breath—

And, in a voice that only slightly wavered, she blurted out—

"Wh-why don't you… join the itty-bitty titty committee!"

A dead silence fell over the camp.

Anis looked insanely proud.

Emma broke first, doubling over with unrestrained laughter, nearly dropping the mug she was holding.

John, who had been taking a casual sip from his canteen, made the terrible mistake of swallowing at the wrong time. He coughed violently, having almost choked to death.

Rapi visibly paused in the middle of checking her gear.

And then there was Eunhwa.

She stood completely still. No expression. No sharp retort. Nothing. Just a slow blink as she stared at Vesti like she was trying to process whether or not that had actually happened.

For a long, agonizing moment, it seemed like the world itself held its breath.

Then, in a voice that was dangerously even, Eunhwa finally spoke.

"…Get moving."

She turned on her heel and walked away, her footsteps just a little too stiff.

Vesti, who had been holding her breath the entire time, exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging. "I—I think I messed up."

Anis clapped her on the back. "Kid, that was art."

Vesti still looked uncertain, glancing at Anis for reassurance. "But—she didn't even react—"

"Oh, she reacted." Anis smirked, watching Eunhwa's retreating form. "Trust me. She's thinking about it."

Eunhwa was thinking about it.

And the fact that she was thinking about it annoyed her even more.

She hadn't meant to linger on it, truly. But as she stood just ahead of the group, waiting for the next move, she found herself turning to Emma.

"What do you think?" she asked, her voice quiet but sharp.

Emma, assuming this was about the mission, hummed thoughtfully. "About Counters? I'd say they're a lot more capable than they get credit for. I mean, you saw them in action against—"

"That's not what I meant."

Emma blinked, tilting her head. "Then…?"

Eunhwa hesitated. Then, after a beat, she muttered—

"…Do you think it's true?"

There was a pause.

Emma frowned, confused. "Do I think what is true?"

Eunhwa's jaw tightened slightly. "…What Vesti said."

Emma stared at her for a solid three seconds.

Then her entire expression changed.

A slow, delighted smile spread across her lips.

"Ohhh," Emma purred, stepping a little too close. "Is that what this is about?"

Eunhwa immediately regretted everything.

Emma leaned in, wiggling her fingers playfully. "Well, I wouldn't know. I mean, 've never had any—I"

Eunhwa took a sharp step back. "Emma."

Emma grinned wider.

"…personal experience with your body," she finished with a dramatic pause.

Eunhwa visibly stiffened.

Emma laughed, reaching for her. "Maybe I should check—?"

Eunhwa darted away so fast it was almost comical.

"EMMA, NO."

Emma's laughter echoed behind her.

Later that night, they set up camp. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dust and old metal. Both squads had settled in, some checking their gear, others eating in silence, and a few already resting in preparation for the long day ahead.

John sat on a weathered crate a little apart from the others, comm device in hand, its dim glow casting a faint light over his face.

Shifty's voice crackled through his earpiece. "Alva particle readings are stable, no environmental hazards. But there's something else."

John smirked, already knowing where this was going. "Let me guess, the lingering tension?"

"More than I expected," she admitted. "Feels like half the squad is ready to start throwing punches."

John sighed, flicking through the reports. "That's what happens when you shove people with history together and expect them to play nice."

Shifty hesitated before asking, "You know the story behind it?"

John didn't look up. "Not really. Rapi and Absolute have something between them, but she's never told me much."

"And you've never asked?"

John chuckled, shaking his head. "Not my style."

Shifty made a thoughtful noise. "Still, you? Not curious?"

John finally glanced up, rolling his shoulders. "Look, I don't pry. If Rapi wants me to know, she'll tell me. If she doesn't, then it's not my place." His gaze drifted toward the fire, where Rapi sat quietly, methodically checking her weapon, her expression unreadable.

Shifty exhaled. "Yeah… I get that. It's not exactly right to talk about someone behind their back either."

John tossed a small rock into the fire, watching the embers spark. "Exactly. Some things, people carry on their own until they decide to put them down. Pushing for answers just makes things worse."

Silence stretched between them before Shifty finally said, "Fair enough."

John scanned the camp. Eunhwa and Emma were off to the side, speaking in low voices. Vesti was poking at the ground with a stick, while Anis sat near her grenade launcher, downing a can of soda. Marian, hands clasped, stared into the distance, lost in thought.

Rapi remained focused on her weapon, but there was a weight to her movements, something heavier than just the mission.

John exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Tomorrow's gonna be a hell of a day."

Shifty let out a short chuckle. "Good luck."

The line cut out, leaving John alone

Rapi sat slightly apart, hands resting on her knees, her expression unreadable. Eunhwa was on the opposite side of the camp, arms crossed, her usual air of quiet superiority edged with something sharper tonight.

Emma, ever the one to break tension before it could snap, spoke up.

"You really don't have any plans to return to Absolute Rapi?"

The question was simple. The reaction was immediate.

Eunhwa's head snapped toward Emma so fast it was a wonder she didn't strain something. "Absolutely not."

The words cut through the air like a whip.

Vesti, who had been poking at the ground indiscriminately, hesitated before looking up. There was a flicker of something—uncertainty, maybe disappointment. "But wouldn't it be better if we were back together again?"

Emma sighed, shaking her head. "Vesti…"

But Vesti wasn't finished. She turned to Rapi, her brows furrowed, searching for an answer. "I just don't get it. You belonged with us, Rapi. Why would you—"

"Why did you leave?"

Eunhwa's voice cut through the air like steel against stone.

The question sat there, heavy, oppressive.

For the first time all night, Rapi finally looked up—straight at Eunhwa. Their gazes locked, an unspoken battle waged in the space between them.

The others fell silent.

Anis opened her mouth, perhaps to defuse the situation with her usual sarcasm, but one look at Rapi and Eunhwa's faces shut her up.

A few beats of silence passed before Rapi spoke.

"I killed a human."

The words were flat. No hesitation. No softness. Just a fact dropped like a grenade at their feet.

The moonlight flickered against Eunhwa's sharp features, but she said nothing, waiting.

Rapi continued, her voice as steady as always.

"It was during a mission against five aerial Tyrants. I threw a grenade. I miscalculated."

Emma exhaled through her nose, her expression softening as she watched Rapi closely.

But Rapi wasn't done.

"They died instantly. But that's not what bothered me."

A pause. A breath.

"I felt… annoyed."

The wind whistled and threw up dust, filling the silence left in the wake of her words.

"Not guilty. Not horrified. Annoyed. Because it meant I had to file a casualty report."

Her fingers curled into loose fists on her knees. "That's when I knew something was wrong with me."

Anis shifted uncomfortably. Neon glanced between the others, her usual energy nowhere to be found. Marian stared off into the distance, her red eyes dark with something unreadable.

Eunhwa, though…

"So, what?" The words came out harsh, but they wavered slightly at the end. "You had an identity crisis and decided to just—leave?"

Rapi didn't flinch. "Yes."

Eunhwa's jaw clenched. "You didn't even tell us."

Rapi remained silent.

And that was what did it.

Eunhwa shot to her feet, hands curled into fists at her sides. "Do you have any idea what that did to us?!"

Everyone was watching now.

Vesti's fingers twisted in the hem of her sleeve. Emma's lips parted slightly as if she wanted to intervene but didn't know how. Anis muttered something under her breath, but even she stayed quiet.

Eunhwa's voice wavered, her shoulders rising and falling as she struggled to keep control. "You didn't say anything. You didn't explain. You just… disappeared. I didn't even know you were gone until I read it on a slip of paper."

Her breathing was uneven now, her usual mask of cold confidence cracking.

Rapi didn't look away, but her voice softened, just slightly. "I wasn't the same after that mission."

Eunhwa let out a short, bitter laugh. "None of us were. But we didn't leave each other behind."

Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.

Finally, Eunhwa exhaled sharply and turned away. "Whatever. It's over now."

She walked past the group, past everyone, retreating into the dark.

No one tried to stop her.

After a long, tense pause, Anis clicked her tongue. "Wow. That was brutal."

Neon nodded slowly. "She was really mad, huh?"

John glanced at Rapi. "You alright?"

Rapi took a breath and stood. "We should get some rest."

The night was still, save for the low hum of the decoys marking the edge of the camp. John moved through the wasteland with a practiced ease, his steps soundless over the uneven terrain. His barrier had been tripped—not violently, just enough to alert him that something was prowling at the edge of their perimeter.

Rapi and Eunhwa were already awake, their figures barely discernible in the dim light. They stood near the outskirts, weapons lowered but eyes sharp. They had sensed it too.

John approached, hands stuffed in his pockets. "I'll handle it."

Rapi gave him a sideways glance. "You're going alone?"

John nodded. "Three entities. Not moving like Raptures."

Eunhwa scoffed, crossing her arms. "And you are just going to waltz up to them?"

John smirked. "Like I said, I'll handle it."

Rapi exhaled sharply but didn't argue, and neither did Eunhwa, though her disapproval was practically radiating off of her. Still, they let him go.

John slipped through the shrubbery, keeping his approach silent. He tracked the movement with ease—whoever they were, they weren't being particularly cautious.

He rounded a half-collapsed wall and found them.

Three figures stood near a rusted-out streetlight, their armor and weapons gleaming faintly in the moonlight. One of them, decked out in striking blue, white and gold, stood with a self-assured posture, her hands resting on a massive weapon that looked like it could level a building. Another, in a sleeker, more refined set of gear, was fiddling with a device, clearly frustrated by something. The third was the most relaxed, clad in red and leaning against a broken chunk of concrete with an amused smile, arms folded.

John didn't hesitate.

He stepped forward, his voice cutting through the quiet. "So, do I just assume you're friendly, or do I need to start asking difficult questions?"

The reaction was immediate.

The one in blue and gold whipped around, nearly taking out her own teammate with the sheer force of her turn. The one with the device yelped, fumbling with it. The third—who had clearly been waiting for some kind of dramatic reveal—let out an exaggerated gasp.

"Hah! We meet at last!" The golden-armored Nikke declared, pointing at him with all the flourish of a hero from an old comic book. "Commander John! I have read much about you!"

John blinked. "Great. And you are?"

The Nikke looked almost offended. "You do not know my name? The name of the mighty leader and hero of Matis?!"

Maxwell, the one still wrestling with the device, sighed heavily. "For the love of—Laplace, just introduce yourself like a normal person."

Laplace ignored her. "I am Laplace, hero of Missilis, leader of Matis, and defender of justice!" She threw a fist into her palm. "And you, Commander John, are a legend in the making!"

John tilted his head, unimpressed. "I'd say you have me confused with someone else, but I get the feeling you just enjoy talking."

"Correct!" she said proudly.

Maxwell gave John a once-over before shaking her head. "We were briefed about you. Syuen assigned us to aid your mission."

John's smirk faltered slightly. Of course. Syuen.

He exhaled. "By 'aid,' you mean spy and report back."

Maxwell neither confirmed nor denied it. "We have our orders."

The third Nikke—Drake—grinned, pushing herself off the concrete. "Man, they said you were sharp. I was hoping we'd at least get to play dumb for a little while."

John ignored her, keeping his attention on Maxwell. "So why are you out here instead of already in camp?"

Laplace's proud expression faltered for just a second, but Maxwell spoke first. "Emergency batteries ran dry mid-travel. We were coming off another mission before this one. No resupply."

John let out a slow breath. "So, you're telling me that Syuen, in all her infinite wisdom, sent her top squad to 'assist' me, and you ran out of power in the middle of nowhere?"

Maxwell shrugged. "That about sums it up."

John scrubbed a hand down his face. "Fantastic."

"I know!" Laplace beamed. "A true test of heroism!"

John stared at her for a long second, then turned back to Maxwell. "You're serious? You were just... stuck out here?"

Drake nodded. "Yep. Just standing around, waiting for some Raptures to pass so we didn't have to waste the little juice we had left."

Laplace crossed her arms, suddenly looking serious. "But no matter! We are here now! And justice will prevail!"

Maxwell muttered something under her breath about 'justice not fixing logistics,' but she didn't bother arguing.

Before John could say anything else, footsteps sounded from behind. Rapi and Eunhwa approached, their eyes flicking over Matis with obvious skepticism.

Laplace, however, grinned. "Looks like our team-up is official!"

Eunhwa folded her arms. "No one agreed to that."

John rolled his shoulders. "Well, too bad. Because Syuen did."

Maxwell smirked slightly. "Smart man."

The tension in the camp was thick enough to cut with a knife. Absolute, Counters, and Matis stood in an uneasy triangle, none of them quite trusting the other. The flickering glow of the portable camp lights cast elongated shadows across the broken ruins, making the entire scene feel even more stifling.

The silence stretched on, until—

"Well," Anis drawled, arms crossed, "this just keeps getting cozier, doesn't it? What's next? A damn parade?"

Maxwell, unfazed, leaned back against a supply crate with an easy smirk. "Not a bad idea. We could call it 'The Unplanned Collaboration of Clashing Egos.' Has a nice ring to it."

Laplace, oblivious to the sarcasm, grinned and thumped her chest. "A coalition of heroes! A beacon of justice in the darkness!"

Drake, standing beside her, stretched her arms over her head. "Ain't much of a coalition if nobody wants us here, though."

Eunhwa scoffed, arms crossed tight against her chest. "No, really? What gave it away?"

Maxwell and Laplace, however, remained unfazed. Instead, they gave nods of gratitude, much to Eunhwa's irritation.

"We do appreciate the emergency batteries," Maxwell said smoothly. "Can't exactly fight on an empty charge."

Laplace nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed! Even the greatest heroes need their tools to be in top shape! You have our thanks!"

Eunhwa, unimpressed, fixed them with a sharp glare. "And whose fault is it that you needed them in the first place?"

Maxwell sighed, rubbing her temple. "Ours, obviously."

"We got deployed straight from another mission," Laplace explained, utterly unbothered by Eunhwa's scolding. "No time to resupply. No breaks. Just mission after mission!"

Eunhwa's irritation only grew. "Then maybe—just maybe—you should have resupplied before coming here. What were you thinking?"

"Not really our call," Maxwell replied with a shrug. "Syuen wanted us here, and she wanted us here fast."

"Plus, it's all part of the hero's journey," Laplace added dramatically. "Overcoming adversity, facing impossible odds—"

"Being stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery?" Anis cut in.

Laplace faltered for only a second before recovering. "—Yes! A true test of will!"

Drake, meanwhile, had turned her attention to the campfire. "So, what's for dinner? You guys owe us a meal for all the trouble we went through."

John let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You seriously think we're feeding you?"

Drake grinned but quickly backpedaled, waving a hand dismissively. "Okay, okay, worth a shot."

Eunhwa, however, wasn't about to let them distract her. She leveled a cold glare at Maxwell. "Let's cut through the nonsense. What's Matis doing here? And don't give me the 'we're here to help' routine. We both know that's a load of crap."

Maxwell didn't even attempt to deny it. "Fair enough."

Eunhwa arched an eyebrow. "So?"

Maxwell exhaled through her nose, rolling her shoulders before answering. "Missilis Intelligence has been keeping tabs on Absolute. Syuen's been monitoring your movements, tracking your deployments, cross-referencing them with the areas you're sent to."

Eunhwa's expression darkened. "Of course she has."

"It wasn't hard to figure out what you were after," Maxwell continued. "Heretic fragments. And as soon as Syuen put the pieces together, she decided to send us in to 'assist.'" She made air quotes with her fingers.

John folded his arms. "By 'assist,' you mean get to them first."

Maxwell smirked. "You are sharp."

Eunhwa clicked her tongue in disgust. "So you're here to steal them."

"'Acquire them first' sounds more diplomatic," Maxwell corrected. "But yeah, pretty much."

Laplace, seemingly unbothered by the animosity in the air, crossed her arms and nodded. "It's only fair. The fragments belong in the hands of those who can utilize them best!"

"And by that, you mean Missilis," Rapi stated flatly.

"Of course!" Laplace beamed, entirely missing the point.

Eunhwa was just about to start another round of verbal combat when, without a word, Laplace plopped herself down on the nearest patch of ground, arms behind her head.

Maxwell followed suit, lying back against a storage crate. Drake stretched, yawned, then flopped down beside them.

Anis blinked. "Wait. What are you doing?"

"Getting some sleep," Maxwell replied lazily.

"We'll start fresh in the morning!" Laplace declared.

Eunhwa bristled. "Excuse me—"

Maxwell, eyes closed, lifted a hand dismissively. "We're part of the mission now, whether you like it or not. And we're too damn tired to argue about it."

Anis stared, dumbfounded. "So that's it? You just bulldoze in here, take what you want, and then nap in the middle of camp?"

"Pretty much," Drake said, already half-asleep.

Laplace yawned. "A hero must be well-rested for the battles ahead!"

John let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Well. This is gonna be a nightmare."

Eunhwa pinched the bridge of her nose. "You have no idea."

John made his way back toward the Counters' section of the camp, keeping his pace steady, casual—normal. The last thing he needed was for Matis to get even the slightest inkling that he was up to something. He cast a glance over his shoulder; Laplace and the others were still sprawled out, completely at ease, acting like they owned the place.

He exhaled through his nose and stepped into the warm glow of the campfire where his squad was gathered. Anis was seated on an ammo crate, one leg lazily draped over the other as she twirled her hair around her finger. Neon sat cross-legged on the ground, carefully tuning her shotgun, while Rapi stood near a camplight, her arms folded, expression unreadable as ever. Marian was slightly off to the side lost in thought.

John exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "All right, listen up."

Anis immediately perked up. "Ooh, serious commander voice? Are we about to get a speech? Do I need to salute or something?"

Neon smirked. "Master giving orders? I'm all ears."

John gave them both a flat look before continuing. "You all already know this, but I need to make it crystal clear: Matis doesn't know about me. About what I can do."

The lightness in Anis' expression faded. Rapi's gaze flickered to him, sharp and attentive.

John crossed his arms. "Absolute knows. You guys know. But they don't. And I intend to keep it that way."

Neon tilted her head, lowering her rifle. "Do you think Syuen knows about cursed energy?"

John hesitated for a fraction of a second. "…Fifty-fifty. She's one of the Big Three, and a bigwig in the Ark. If anyone's got their hands on classified information, it's her. But even if she does know about cursed energy, what she doesn't know is that I can use it."

Anis whistled. "Yeah, that'd be bad. Can you imagine Syuen's reaction? 'Oh wow, a walking, talking, fully functional superweapon! Time to shove him in a lab and poke him with sticks!'" She made an exaggerated motion like she was jabbing someone with a needle.

John gave her a deadpan look. "Very funny."

"I'm just saying, she would do it."

Rapi spoke up, her tone even. "So, you want us to keep it quiet."

John nodded. "Exactly. I won't be using my abilities unless it's a dire situation. To Matis, I'm just your average, everyday, totally unremarkable human Commander."

Neon giggled. "Master, I don't think anyone has ever described you as unremarkable."

Anis smirked. "Yeah, you do have a habit of attracting trouble."

John rolled his eyes. "Glad to know where I stand."

Rapi studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Understood. We won't say anything."

Neon saluted playfully. "Mum's the word, Master."

Anis huffed. "Fine, fine. I'll keep my lips sealed. But if things go south, I am throwing you at the enemy."

John shot her an unimpressed look. "Appreciate the faith."

Marian, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke. "Are you sure this is a good idea? If something happens—"

"I'll handle it," John said firmly, cutting her off. His voice softened slightly. "I need you to trust me on this."

Marian hesitated, then nodded slowly. "…Okay."

John let out a small breath of relief. "Good. Then let's get some rest. We're moving out at first light."

The lights flickered off as the squad settled down for the night. But even as John lay down, arms behind his head, staring up at the starless sky, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get much more complicated.