Sables walks in, and the students kiss the ground behind him in gratitude. The room fell silent, tension in the air as Voss turned from the holographic display. His face weathered with losses, eyes narrowing to slits beneath thick brows. Light caught silver streaks at the sides of his comb over as he demanded an explanation for the presence of outsiders.

"I've brought help! These are Saviors!" Sables explained, trying to make him understand.

The wrinkled lines of his face softened, his shoulders relaxing from their rigid posture as satisfaction spread across his features. "Why, you've outdone yourself, Sables! Excellent work."

"We're only Savior students. Just here to check out the problem, so don't go getting your hopes up." Nera's voice cutting through the momentary optimism.

"Students or not, we need all the help we can get. Just see for yourself." Voss turning toward the panoramic window behind him.

They all approached the glass, offering a perfect view of the recently visited bloodbath below. The Border Alley had transformed into a battlefield. Cold bodies lay across the no-man's-land, discarded and forgotten in death. Their forms are small from the height but unmistakably human. The frontiers of both sectors had dug into the earth, creating networks of trenches from which they exchanged fire. From this vantage point, the difference between the combatants was evident—flashes of white Spirit Energy came from the Theta, while conventional muzzle flashes flickered from the Iota.

Voss clenched his fist, the veins prominent beneath his skin like rivers of frustration. "As you can see, our weapons are no match for theirs. Somehow, they've managed to get their hands on Spiritual Artillery, something only the officers of the Circuit Corp should have access to. At this rate, we'll run out of ammunition and be overrun by those savages."

"We can help you," Jai pronounced.

Nera's face tightened, setting aside her personal feelings. "No, we can't! We can't just fight the very citizens we're meant to protect."

"We sure as hell failed at that already, haven't we!?" Jai paused, composing himself. "What if we don't have to fight?"

Nera's arms crossed, curious. "Get on..."

"Think about it. If the Theta Sector is in ruins, how do you suppose they got any access to that type of weaponry? I'd assume they'd be fighting with sticks and stones by now."

Kalla's patience ran thin. "Get to the damn point, Jai!"

"What I'm trying to say is, they must be getting some sort of military aid from another sector."

Sables leaned forward, adding to the developing strategy. "So if we cut off their supply, then we can fight back and take some land!"

Jai snapped, extending his pointer finger toward Sables with emphatic approval. "Exactly!"

"It's brilliant," Nera admitted, her voice carrying unexpected admiration.

Oh god, I can't stop blushing! Am I staring too hard? Look away Nera, look away!

Jai stood tall, confident as he announced their plan of action. "Alright Voss, we'll take care of this for you guys. Meanwhile, hold out until we create an opening for you to counterattack."

"What about me?" Sables asked, itching to help.

"This is too dangerous for you Sable, we'll need you on the frontlines," Voss informed him, brooking no argument.

Sables nodded in acceptance. "Right."

The meeting concluded, so Jai, Nera, and Kalla made their exit as Sable wished them good luck, grateful for their help. The agreement was sealed, and the plan set in motion. Outside the room, perched high above the Iota Sector, they confronted the dizzying descent that awaited them. Jai and Kalla approached the edge cautiously, peering down at the ground far below. The sudden pressure of Nera's hands against their backs caught them completely unaware, pushing them off.

Followed immediately after, she jumped off the ledge to join their plummet. Their screams tore through the air, muffled by the rushing wind that pressed against their faces, making it hard to breathe. As they reached terminal velocity, a curious calm settled over them—a fleeting moment of tranquility between fear and the surging adrenaline. 

Kalla settled into concentration, her body adjusting midair as she activated her ability to fly, slowing her descent with invisible hands. Jai, lacking such capabilities, could only surrender himself to gravity's pull. He closed his eyes tightly, muscles tensing in anticipation of an impact that would mean instant oblivion.

Instead, a large rush of water rose from below, its surface glimmering in the moonlight. It enveloped Nera and Jai, decelerating their fall through carefully modulated resistance. Jai opened his eyes to find himself face to face with a curious coy fish, observing the strange intrusion.

Finally touching ground, the water retreated with controlled grace, flowing back into the pond from which it had been summoned, leaving them dry. Kalla descended slowly, her laughter cascading above them, unrestrained and infectious.

"Didn't know you had such a sense of humor Nera," she managed between chuckles.

"Of course I do. More importantly, when did you learn to fly!" Nera's voice carried genuine amazement, her eyes wide as she stared at Kalla.

"Today, actually, all thanks to Jai." Kalla's response was casual, avoiding the significance of such an achievement.

Jai remained folded on the ground, coughing up water.

"You okay Jai?" Nera asked, concerned.

After a final hacking cough that cleared the last of the liquid, Jai straightened. "We really need to come up with a better exit plan."

Nera's face contracted in an apologetic grimace. "Right right, sorry."

As the adrenaline left his system, Jai's breathing normalized, and his usual composure reasserted itself. "That was intense though! You're control is amazing. I really thought I was dead there for sure! You got me good Nera. Im starting to get used to all this action."

The unexpected praise triggered a visible reaction in Nera, flushing red and twisting a strand of hair around her finger.

"Thanks," she managed through nervous laughter.

Jai, oblivious to the effect of his words, redirected their attention to the mission. Setting off toward the Theta Sector, they moved out from the safety of Iota territory.

The Theta Sector materialized was a vision of hell brought to earth. Air shimmered with heat that rose from flaming mounds of rubble scattered across the landscape. Every structure was destroyed in some way, reduced to skeletal frames. Streets were torn open, exposing infrastructure like wounds revealing bone. This devastation had earned Theta its reputation as the most wretched sector in all of Quadrant 2. The Eta Sector, in particular, harbored deep hatred for them, blaming them for the countless deaths of lives cut mercilessly short. While universally despised, the Theta Sector remained untouchable—feared enough that interference was rare.

The moment they stepped into its boundaries, the temperature surged to a scorching 90 degrees, a heat that defied the mid-autumn climate. Jai stripped off his shirt, the fabric clinging to his skin as he peeled it away. Nera similarly adapted, reducing her attire to a practical sports bra that allowed the meager breeze to cool her skin. Kalla alone refused to compromise, stubbornly keeping on her dress despite the discomfort.

"Beauty is pain. This is nothing." She stated, vouching for her well being.

They had successfully avoided the conflict between the sectors, but the interior offered no better environment. Approximately half the buildings were actively burning, flames licking at broken windows and doorways. Most disturbing was the treatment of the deceased—bodies stacked in piles that represented a grotesque attempt at organization. Jai found himself unable to look away from these improvised memorials to the fallen, his gaze fixed on the unseeing eyes and rigid postures of the dead.

"This is just... ungodly," he whispered. His fists clenched with such force that his nails broke the skin of his palms, blood welling up and dripping onto the scorched earth beneath his feet.

Nera observed the physical manifestation of his rage with growing concern, her lips parting to offer reassurance. Before she could speak, a woman's shrill voice carried across the desolation.

"BEHOLD! THE SINS OF THIS SECTOR! THEY ARE ALL DESTINED TO BURN! BURN FOR ALL ETERNITY!"

Jai's head turned toward her, his attention captured by the raw emotion in her voice.

"Probably just a protesting resident, just ignore her," Kalla advised, her tone dismissive as she wiped sweat from her cheek.

Jai moved toward her anyway, driven by the possibility of information that might advance their mission.

As the distance between them grew, Kalla seized the opportunity presented by Jai's absence. Leaningcloser to Nera, her voice dropped to a whisper. "So, when did you start catching feelings for Jai."

The question struck Nera like a physical blow. "Is it that obvious?!"

"Ha! Are you kidding? You are so bad at hiding it.," Kalla confirmed with gentle amusement dancing in her eyes. "So, when did it start?"

"Earlier today, he complimented my hair," Nera admitted, her confession carrying the weight of vulnerability.

"Awwwwww, that's so cute." Kalla responded with warmth.

Nera's expression transformed, seriousness overtaking embarrassment as she fixed Kalla with an intense gaze. "You better not go spreading this secret."

"Of course not! You've already been doing the same for me. Id only be returning the favor." Kalla's pledged.

"Good, it's a deal," Nera declared, extending her pinky finger to Kalla.

Their fingers interlocked, and they sealed the promise with a touch of their thumbs, a ritual reinforcing their trust. Meanwhile, Jai was engaged in gathering potential information.

"It's dangerous out here ma'am, you could get hurt," he cautioned, his voice gentle.

The woman responded with surprising lightness. "Nonsense, I'm not destined to die here. Fate rules that the Theta Sector will perish in time."

"Well... you got that right. Listen, we're here to help. Have you anythin that looks out of place around here?" Jai asked, encouraging an honest answer.

"Oh heavens no, I haven't seen anything like that around here," she replied, adjusting her glasses innocently. 

Jai laughed, appreciating her spirit. "I see. Well, thanks for your cooperation. Stay safe out here ma'am."

He jogged back toward the girls, prepared to report the lack of intel. Behind him, the woman resumed her chants of the sector's sins, her words rising and falling. A gunshot cracked through the air, silencing her protest mid-sentence. She collapsed to the ground, limbs splayed against the broken concrete. Rushing back, Kalla reached her first, fingers seeking a pulse at her neck.

"No pulse... she's gone," Kalla stated bluntly, shadows darkening her expression.

Nera looked for its origin, spotting the shooter atop a nearby building, weapon still raised. "There! Jai, let's go!"

Jai dropped beside the fallen woman, his features frozen in disbelief. "I... was just speaking to her. So... why? Why is she now dead... at my feet?"

"Don't worry Jai, I'll give her a proper burial. You just make sure to catch the bastard," Kalla assured, briefly touching his shoulder.

Jai's grief hardened into resolve as he joined Nera. They tracked the female sniper, who carried a duffle bag containing what was most likely to be disassembled Spiritual Artillery. She led them toward a building still intact amid the devastation—the Item Emporium, a massive store guarded by officers of the Circuit Corp.

The suspect entered unchecked, creating a diversion that allowed Jai and Nera to slip inside. Within the labyrinthine arrangement of shelves, the woman drew a conventional pistol and shot the pursuing officers. Jai stopped to assist the wounded while Nera continued the chase alone.

Running down an aisle, Nera snatched a bottle of water. Quickly opening it, she chugged it while sprinting. The woman shot back, but Nera was ready. Expelling a precise mist that she instantly froze, she immobilized both the shooter and her bullet mid-trajectory. Only the woman's face remained unfrozen, her panicked breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. Nera approached, ready for questioning.

"Who do you work for?" Nera demanded, positioning herself in the woman's line of sight.

"Nobody, I swear! I'm just a citizen, so please don't kill me!"

"I don't plan to kill you, I just need to know where the hell you got that gun on your back."

"If I tell you, do you promise to let me go?"

Nera's expression remained impassive. "Yes."

"The Circuit Center! Officers have been handing these weapons to everyone! I've done nothing wrong!"

"Wrong, the gun itself is neither good nor evil. It's only as dangerous as the person who wields it. " Nera said, turning away as Jai approached.

"Hey! You said you were gonna free me!"

"I lied," Nera replied coldy.

Jai delivered a precise blow to the back of the woman's head, the impact rendering her instantly unconscious. With a subtle gesture, Nera released her control over the ice, allowing it to melt and recede. They departed the Item Emporium, moving swiftly to avoid the additional officers intent on arresting the incapacitated woman.

"Thanks for that," Jai whispered as they exited.

"Don't mention it," Nera responded with silent understanding.

Outside, Kalla awaited them. "Got any leads?"

"Yeah, there's something bigger behind this. Let's hurry," Nera replied with determination. "We're stating to gain unwanted attention, let's lay low for a bit and investigate."

"Right!" Jai and Kalla called out in unison.

Next stop, the Circuit Center!