Below, Aria stumbled, her exhaustion becoming more apparent with each faltering step. Her hand trailed along the wall for balance, her breathing growing heavier. Her focus sharpened as she spotted something glinting in the dirt. A length of metal, dented and worn. She snatched it up, gripping it tightly.

The drone adjusted its position, its lens whirring softly as it refocused. “Aggressive action is unnecessary. Assistance is imminent. Conserve strength.”

Aria let out a bitter laugh, then swung the rod against the wall. The metallic clang reverberated through the pit.

“I don’t need your help!” she snarled.

She struck the wall again, harder this time. The vibrations jarred her arms, yet she didn’t stop.

On the rooftop, Coves’s jaw tightened as he watched her. He keyed his comms again. “Base, target is engaging with environmental structures. Potential risk of self-injury. Status of Scooters?”

The reply was prompt. “ETA reduced to three minutes. Hold position and monitor. Do not intervene.”

Cove exhaled sharply. Observing from a distance was his protocol, but his instincts told him this was different. 

Aria’s behavior was volatile, and she was nearing her breaking point.

Her attacks slowed. The rod slipped from her grasp, clattering to the ground. She fell to her knees, one hand braced against the gravel as her body sagged under the weight of exhaustion.

Cove toggled his comms once more. “Base, target has collapsed. Current condition appears critical. I’m moving to intervene.”

There was a pause, then a clipped response. “Acknowledged. Proceed with caution. Maintain communication.”

Cove slung his rifle over his shoulder and dropped silently from the rooftop, his boots hitting the ground with practiced precision. Keeping low, he approached Aria’s position, using debris for cover.

She was hunched over, her shoulders rising and falling with labored breaths. He stopped a safe distance away, positioning himself within range of his weapon. He activated the external speaker on his headset.

“Identify yourself.”

Aria didn’t respond, her head barely lifting at the sound of his voice.

Cove tried again, his tone calm this time. “This is a secure operation. Assistance has been dispatched, but I need you to confirm your identity.”

There was a flicker of recognition in her movements. Her head tilted slightly toward the sound, but she still didn’t speak.

Cove adjusted his stance. “I’m not here to harm you, I promise. I need you to cooperate so we can ensure your safety, do you understand?”

Her lips parted but no words came. She swayed slightly, as if on the verge of collapse. Cove’s gaze darted toward the sky as the faint hum of the approaching Scooters reached his ears.

“Base, Scooters are arriving on-site. Preparing for transfer. Target is unresponsive but stable.” He reported over the comms, then shifted his focus back to Aria.

The mechanical whir of the Scooters grew louder, their lights cutting through the shadows as they descended into the pit. Cove exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as backup finally arrived.

The low rumble of engines and the hum of energy cells echoed through the pit as the Scooters arrived. 

S-11 led the way, moving alongside a convoy of small vehicles bristling with scanners and mounted weaponry. S-24 followed on foot too. Both units were armed, their weapons scanning the area for any potential threats.

From his vantage point, Cove watched them approach. He remained crouched behind a stack of debris, his focus flicking between the Scooters and the unknown woman still slumped on her knees.

S-11’s convoy came to a halt a short distance from his position as S-24 stepped forward, her voice sharp and protocol-driven.

“E-107, situation report. Is the area—”

Cove silenced it with a curt hand gesture, then pointed toward the woman in the center of the pit. S-24 fell silent, raising her weapon slightly in preparation.

Overhead, the drone’s robotic voice once again attempted an approach.

“Subject, remain at ease. Reinforcements have—”

The sentence ended abruptly as a jagged piece of metal shot upward, striking the drone’s core with deadly precision. Sparks erupted, and the drone spiraled out of control before crashing into a heap of shattered components on the ground.

The Scooters reacted instantly, their weapons snapping into a ready position as they scanned for the source of the attack.

Aria stood now, swaying slightly but exuding a defiant energy. Her hand was still outstretched from the throw, her chest heaving with exertion. Her face was half-hidden in shadow, and each breath came in ragged, painful gasps.

Cove’s comm crackled in his ear. “E-107, report. Why have we lost connection to the drone?”

He ignored the question and kept his eyes on her. She muttered something under her breath, almost inaudible but heavy with exhaustion and frustration, “I don’t want your help.”

She turned to face them, scanning the Scooters and Cove. No fear showed in her eyes, only determination and sheer fatigue.

S-24 took a cautious step forward. “You have to stand down. We are here to assist. Comply with—”

Before she could finish, Cove rose, silencing the unit, “Hold your position.”

Aria's body tensed, her fists clenched as though preparing for another fight. Cove exhaled slowly. He lowered his weapon and stepped forward. His voice was calm, measured, the way he would have wanted someone to speak to him in her situation.

“I know you’re tired, and it’s crystal clear you don’t trust us.” He paused, watching her carefully. “But we’re not here to hurt you.”

She didn’t respond, her posture stiffening. Cove took another cautious step forward, raising his hands, both palms open and empty.

​Her gaze started to wander toward the rest of the group, but Cove acted fast, making sure she didn’t get drawn to the armed men and women behind him. Anyone in her shoes would have felt the weight of it.

“Listen to me. You’re in an O.D.S. training ground. This," He gestured around, "is a controlled space. You’re safe.”

Her eyes flickered. A little of the tension left her shoulders. Cove pressed on.

“We’re with the Odyssey Division. We track, fight, and eliminate Aberrants. That’s why we’re here. We're training. Everything in here is under control and closely monitored. We saw your fight.” His voice softened. “You’re not our enemy, and we are not yours.”

Her breathing slowed, the fire in her eyes dimming slightly. She swayed on her feet, her body finally succumbing to exhaustion.

“Just let us help you,” Cove added quietly.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground, her body limp.

The Scooters exchanged glances, lowering their weapons slightly.

Cove moved to her side, kneeling beside her. He pressed his fingers to her neck, looking for a pulse. It was faint but steady.

“Base, target is down but stable,” he reported into his comm. “Vital signs weak. Requesting immediate medical assistance.”

A moment later, the faint hum of engines grew louder as a flying vehicle descended into the pit, its searchlights sweeping the area. The retrieval team descended from the vehicles, moving with practiced efficiency. Among them was a sergeant, his armor marked with insignias denoting his rank.

The sergeant gestured toward Cove. “E-107, you’re with me. Command wants a full debrief.”

Cove gave a curt nod, his eyes lingering on the woman as the rescue team moved to secure her. She lay motionless, her face pale but peaceful, as though the weight of her struggle had finally lifted.

He didn’t think she relaxed because of his words. She was scanning for safety, looking for a moment to let her body finally rest. His explanation might have given her just enough of those signs to finally let her exhaustion take over.

As the rescue team prepared to lift her into the vehicle, Cove followed the sergeant toward the transport, his mind already working through the details of his report.

He didn’t think his day would end up like this...

Behind him, the pit fell silent once more, save for the faint hum of machinery and the soft rustle of wind over steel.