"Let us now commence with combat training," Quartz declared, adjusting his glasses with his usual air of irritation. He tossed a folded jumpsuit to Saiphee, his expression one of barely concealed impatience. "Change into this. It’s required," he added curtly, his tone leaving little room for argument.

Saiphee caught the jumpsuit awkwardly, eyeing it with a mix of curiosity and reluctance. "Alright... if you say so," he muttered, glancing over at Vantheos for some kind of shared reaction. To his astonishment, Vantheos was already dressed in the sleek training attire, standing at ease as though he'd been ready for hours.

"How the heck?!" Saiphee exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Vantheos chuckled warmly, his relaxed demeanor making the situation feel less formal. "It seems like you’ve been cooped up in your laboratory too long, Mr. Scientist," he teased, the corner of his mouth lifting in a playful grin. "We Interstellar Voyagers are issued prototypes to change into our outfits instantly. The guardians of the Madams made sure of that," he explained, reaching up to scratch the back of his tousled hair.

Saiphee tilted his head, his confusion deepening. "How come we don’t have those?" he asked, a touch of envy in his voice.

Quartz, ever the sharp-tongued one, shot him a withering look. "Are you even planning to fight monsters?" he asked sarcastically, crossing his arms. "You’ve spent your days rotting in that damn lab."

"Well... yeah, because I’m a scientist?" Saiphee replied, his tone defensive but laced with humor.

Quartz let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, no shit!" he snapped, his irritation spilling over. Despite his tone, both Saiphee and Vantheos couldn’t help but chuckle at the exchange.

"Alright, alright, I’ll go change now," Saiphee said quickly, sensing Quartz’s rising exasperation. He darted off toward the changing area, leaving Vantheos and Quartz alone.

As the silence settled between them, Vantheos glanced in the direction Saiphee had gone, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "He’s... interesting," he said, breaking the quiet with a soft chuckle.

Quartz sighed, his arms still crossed as he shifted his weight. "Interesting, sure," he muttered. "Madam Ilya should’ve assigned someone with actual experience as an Interstellar Voyager to assist you. Not some random lead scientist who barely knows which end of a blade to hold," he added, his tone as sharp as ever.

Vantheos shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "It’s not so bad. Honestly, I think having a skilled scientist on this expedition could be a real asset," he said thoughtfully. There was a warmth in his voice, a quiet admiration he didn’t bother to hide.

Quartz snorted, his skepticism evident. "Yeah, useful for running tests or fixing tech. But now I’ve gotta teach him the basics of combat on top of everything else! Do you know how much work I already have to do?" he grumbled, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Vantheos tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "That does remind me—why don’t the Madams assign more secretaries to help with your workload? You’re juggling so much on your own," he asked, his tone genuinely concerned.

Quartz huffed, clearly agitated by the question. "I don’t know, okay? Stop asking questions I don’t have answers to!" he snapped, throwing his hands in the air again. "The Madams only want me because I’m efficient, reliable, and worth every ounce of effort!" he declared, his voice brimming with both pride and exasperation.

Vantheos raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "If you say so," he replied, though his tone carried a note of quiet skepticism.

As Quartz continued to mutter under his breath about his endless responsibilities, Vantheos found his thoughts drifting back to Saiphee. There was something about the scientist’s awkward charm and enthusiasm that intrigued him. He couldn’t help but wonder if Saiphee’s unorthodox approach might prove to be the key to their success. After all, there was more to being an Interstellar Voyager than brute strength and combat skills. Sometimes, it was the unexpected minds—the ones who saw the universe differently—that made all the difference.

"I’m back!" Saiphee announced as he reentered the room, his tone light but slightly self-conscious. He tugged at the edges of his jumpsuit, frowning. "Why does my jumpsuit look so different compared to Vantheos’s?" he asked, his discomfort evident as he tried to adjust the snug fit of the outfit. The half-sleeve turtleneck clung to his frame, paired with sleek leggings that seemed almost too form-fitting for his liking.

The room grew still for a moment as Vantheos turned to look at him, and an unexpected wave of emotions hit him like a meteor storm. His heart skipped a beat, and a strange fluttering sensation stirred in his chest. Butterflies. Who would’ve thought that Saiphee—the nerdy scientist who spent most of his days buried in the depths of the laboratory—would look so striking in the standard-issue training jumpsuit designed for Interstellar Voyagers?

The sleek fabric accentuated Saiphee’s lean, slender frame, and his long lilac hair cascaded freely over his shoulders, catching the light in soft waves. Vantheos found himself staring, momentarily lost in thought. He actually looks... amazing, he mused, his cheeks warming as he tried to compose himself.

"Ahem." Vantheos cleared his throat abruptly, snapping himself out of his reverie. He forced a casual grin, though his nerves were betrayed by the slight crack in his voice. "You know," he began, his tone light and slightly teasing, "you should really consider becoming an Interstellar Voyager. You’d fit right in." He chuckled, though there was an underlying sincerity in his words. The thought of Saiphee fighting alongside him, clad in that jumpsuit, was... distracting, to say the least. It made his pulse race and his mind wander to places he hadn’t expected.

Saiphee raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the suggestion. "No thanks," he replied simply, his voice carrying a note of humor. His lips curved into a polite smile as he brushed off the idea without a second thought.

Vantheos’s grin faltered, the playful spark in his eyes dimming just slightly. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted Saiphee to entertain the notion, even if just for a moment. The idea of fighting side by side with him, of seeing him step into a role that matched the jumpsuit so perfectly, had been tantalizing. But Saiphee’s quick dismissal left Vantheos feeling a pang of disappointment he couldn’t quite shake.

"Well, I guess the lab does need you more than we do," Vantheos said with a forced chuckle, trying to mask his feelings. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, glancing away as if the walls suddenly held something fascinating. Meanwhile, Saiphee continued fiddling with his jumpsuit, blissfully unaware of the storm of emotions swirling inside Vantheos.

As the silence stretched between them, Vantheos couldn’t help but steal another glance at Saiphee, his heart betraying him with a faint, unsteady rhythm. Maybe it’s better this way, he thought, though the lingering image of Saiphee in that jumpsuit, standing tall and confident, refused to leave his mind. It’s driving him crazy.  

"I hope you both realize how ridiculous you look right now," Quartz’s sharp voice cut through the room as he stepped into the scene, arms crossed and an unimpressed expression plastered across his face. His gaze flicked between Saiphee, still fiddling with his jumpsuit, and Vantheos, who seemed intent on examining the nearest wall as if it held the secrets of the universe.

Saiphee blinked in surprise, startled by Quartz’s sudden appearance. "Uh, hey, Quartz," he greeted awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

Quartz ignored the pleasantries, stepping forward and holding out a sleek, watch-like accessory. "Saiphee, take this," he said brusquely, his tone all business.

Saiphee accepted the device with a curious look, turning it over in his hands. The centerpiece of the watch immediately caught his attention: a striking design resembling an eye with outstretched wings encased in the glass. "What’s this...?" he asked, his curiosity piqued as he studied the intricate details.

"It’s a prototype weapon," Quartz explained, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "Something that’ll come in handy during combat. I specifically chose the eye design because it suits you based on the statistics you provided during your treadmill assessment."

As Saiphee slid the watch onto his wrist, a sudden surge of energy coursed through him. It was unlike anything he’d ever felt before—intense and overwhelming, as though the device had unlocked a dormant power within him. He staggered slightly, his breath catching as he adjusted to the sensation. "Whoa..." he murmured, staring at the watch in awe.

Vantheos, meanwhile, was still awkwardly avoiding eye contact, his gaze fixed on the wall as though deep in thought. Saiphee couldn’t help but glance at him, finding his behavior amusing. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "So does this mean..." he trailed off, gesturing subtly toward Vantheos, who remained conspicuously silent.

"Yes," Quartz answered, catching the unspoken question. "Interstellar Voyagers are equipped with devices like these. It’s standard for their line of work."

"That’s pretty cool," Saiphee admitted, examining the prototype more closely. The craftsmanship was impressive, and the energy it emitted felt almost alive. "Does that mean they get to wear a bunch of these?" he asked, his analytical mind already considering the possibilities.

Quartz’s expression darkened instantly, his tone dropping to a grave seriousness. "No," he said flatly. "That’s a crime. If you’re caught with two or more of these devices, you’ll be executed on the spot. No questions asked."