The first thing Aria felt was a sharp chill on her back, followed by a pounding headache that blurred her thoughts. She blinked, squinting against the sunlight that filtered through a jagged crack in the clouds. 

The air was thick with dust and ash, the faint rumble of explosions somewhere in the distance sending vibrations through the ground beneath her. She was lying on her side, sprawled in the dirt of what appeared to be an enclosed field.

Her chest ached with every breath, and her arms felt heavy. She turned her head slowly, taking in the massive walls surrounding the area, their sheer, reinforced surfaces stretching high into the sky. It looked like it was a fortified space, clearly designed to keep something dangerous contained or at bay. A training ground, maybe? But the kind designed to handle something dangerous.

But why was she here?

Flashes of fragmented memories danced in her mind: fire, chaos, and the glaring, otherworldly glow of something she couldn’t make sense of. Her fingers twitched, and she clenched her fists instinctively, feeling a faint hum of energy ripple through her body. 

“What…?” she whispered aloud, staring at her hands. 

There was a strange tingling sensation under her skin, something alive, pulsating and somewhat alien to her. It wasn’t unfamiliar, but it still startled her. It felt as if something was missing. Something she should know but couldn’t remember.

A low growl interrupted her thoughts.

Her eyes snapped to the source of the sound. A hulking creature, its translucent, malformed body slithering out of the debris like a predator stalking its prey. 

Its six- she recounted… yep, six glowing eyes locked onto her. The ground shook as the massive creature lumbered forward.

Instinct took over. Aria scrambled to her feet, her body moving before her mind could catch up. She didn’t even have time to question her actions. it was as if her muscles remembered something she didn’t. Her speed surprised even her as she dodged the creature’s enormous claw, narrowly avoiding being crushed.

The beast roared, and she felt a surge of heat and pressure behind her, but strangely, there was no fear. Only an unshakable determination to survive. She grabbed a jagged metal pipe lying nearby, her hands steady as she assessed her opponent. The moment it lunged again, she sprang forward, driving the pipe into its exposed torso with unrelenting force.

Far above her, Cove locked onto the scene through the scope of his high-powered energy rifle. The target was already in his crosshairs.

“Base, I’ve got a visual,” he reported calmly into his comms. “Aberrant 6C-02 engaged with... someone.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Identify,” the commanding officer responded.

Cove adjusted his visor, scanning for a VitalLink signal, but none appeared. He frowned. “No ID. No VitalLink tag. They’re not registered in the system.”

The officer’s voice came out sharp. “You’re saying a civilian is in the pit? How the hell—”

“They’re engaging the target,” Cove interrupted. “They’re holding their own. I’m requesting permission to fire and neutralize.”

“Green light,” the officer confirmed, though there was hesitation. “Take the shot if you have it.”

Cove steadied his aim, his finger brushing the trigger. He watched as the unknown individual dodged another strike, grabbing a piece of debris and using it to deflect the Aberrant’s attack. Their movements were raw but precise, almost like a trained soldier. He hesitated, lowering the rifle slightly.

“Base,” he muttered. He zoomed his scope, tracking the fight. “They’re too close. If I fire now, I risk hitting the untagged individual.”

“If that’s a civilian and they get injured, or worse, this turns into a legal and political nightmare.”

“But ROE’s clear. No confirmed hostile lock without positive ID or safe backdrop. One bad angle and I put a round through someone who maybe shouldn’t even be here.”

Silence, then a clipped reply. “So what’s your call?”

Cove lowered the rifle a fraction, eyes never leaving the scope.
“Hold fire. They’re controlling the engagement and keeping it contained. If I take the shot now, I’d make things worse.”

Another pause.
“…Standby approved,” the officer said reluctantly. “But the second that changes, you take it.”

“Understood,” Cove replied. “I’ve got overwatch.”

Meanwhile…

Aria barely noticed the small surveillance drone zipping overhead, its sleek frame buzzing softly as it scanned her. Her focus was entirely on the Aberrant, its massive frame faltering with each successive strike she delivered.

As she drove the pipe into its core one final time, a burst of energy exploded outward, sending her stumbling back. The Aberrant collapsed in a heap of smoking, twitching limbs, its glow fading to nothing.

Her chest heaved as she fought for air. The pipe slipped from her fingers and hit the ground with a dull clang, its surface scorched beyond use. She stared at her hands, still tingling, faintly alive with residual energy.

A voice cut through the haze, amplified and metallic, coming from the drone hovering above her.
“Unidentified individual. Hold position. Retrieval team inbound.”

Aria frowned, taking a wary step back. “What…? What’s going on?”

“Remain calm and stay where you are,” the voice instructed firmly.

But Aria’s instincts screamed at her to run. Something about this felt wrong. She couldn’t explain it, but the idea of staying put, of letting herself be taken, felt like a trap. She took another step back, then bolted toward the nearest opening in the rubble-strewn field.

Above

Cove watched through his scope as the girl took off running. His brows furrowed in frustration. “They’rel fleeing. Should I intercept?”

“Negative,” the commanding officer responded. “Keep tracking. Do not engage until we know what we’re dealing with.”

Cove cursed under his breath. 

For a moment, Cove wondered if this was some kind of live test. Command loved throwing curveballs. Maybe some unannounced variables specially designed to measure reaction time, judgment, restraint, or patience. But if that were the case, the instructors would’ve briefed them, or at least signaled after first contact.

Instead, commands sounded… real. Too genuine. Either they were putting on the performance of their lives, or this wasn’t part of training at all.

Cove adjusted his scope, unease settling in, and mumbled to himself, “Who are you?”

​​

As Aria darted through the maze of debris and broken training equipment, her mind raced. The flashes of memories she couldn’t place grew sharper with every step. Brief images of someone yelling, of running, of pain.

She pressed a hand to her head, feeling the faint hum of energy beneath her skin intensify. She didn’t know where she was going, but one thing was certain. She couldn’t let herself be caught.

She staggered along the towering walls of the pit, her footsteps uneven on the gravel-strewn floor. The massive walls stretched endlessly upward, cold steel glinting faintly under the pale artificial light. Pressing her hand against the smooth surface, she searched for a seam, a door, a crack… any sign of an exit. 

None existed. Her body screamed for rest, but she forced herself onward, her breath shallow and ragged.

Above, the faint hum of the drone hovered persistently. 

Its annoying, synthetic voice echoed across the pit, “Remain at ease. Assistance has been dispatched. Conserve energy and locate a secure position to await retrieval.”

Aria ignored it. The drone’s tone grated against her frayed nerves. She clenched her teeth, her focus narrowing to a single thought. Keep moving. Stopping wasn’t an option.

On a rooftop overlooking the pit, Cove crouched low, rifle trained on Aria. He had shifted positions multiple times, but his crosshairs never left her, tracking every unsteady step. The absence of a VitalLink wasn’t just unusual, it was dangerous. Without it, there was no way to monitor her physical or mental state.

Cove toggled his comms. “Base, target remains mobile, but movement’s degrading. Possible injury.”

“Acknowledged,” command replied. “Maintain visual. Tactical support inbound. Scooters S-11 and S-24. ETA five minutes. Do not engage unless escalation occurs.”

“Copy,” Cove said, tracking Aria as she stumbled, then forced herself upright. “Confirm retrieval team status.”

“Standby. Team will deploy once the area is secured. Current parameters prioritize surveillance and threat assessment.”

Cove’s jaw tightened. Five minutes was a long time for someone barely staying on their feet in a live zone. He steadied his scope, adjusting for her unsteady gait.

“Understood,” he said aloud, though unease lingered...