Aria trailed behind Wilst and Isabelle, her thoughts swirling with a mix of pride and exhilaration from her performance earlier. For the first time in a very long while, she felt as though she’d truly proven herself, not just to others but to herself. 

She was finally starting to feel like she belonged.

Their quiet walk was interrupted by a familiar voice calling out from behind. “Mr. Wilst. Ms. Isabelle.”

The three of them turned to see Sergeant Lyla catching up. Wilst and Isabelle immediately saluted her with practiced precision, and Aria, eager to mirror their professionalism, quickly followed suit. She wanted to fit in, to show that she was just as capable as the rest of them.

Sergeant Lyla offered a faint smile at Aria’s effort, but her expression quickly turned serious. “Mr. Wilst,” she said, her tone formal. “I’d like to speak with you.”

Wilst let out a small, exasperated sigh but nodded. Despite his reluctance, he respected her rank and gestured for her to proceed. Aria’s heart sank a little, watching the interaction unfold. She worried that he might be in trouble. He had been nothing but kind to her, in his own way, and the last thing she wanted was for him to face any trouble. 

Still, she didn’t know enough about him in a professional setting to step in.

As Wilst slowed his pace to walk behind Lyla, Aria found herself walking alongside her instead, their strides falling into sync. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Lyla glanced at Aria, breaking the silence.

“You know,” Lyla began, her tone instructive but not unkind, “there’s a protocol when walking with a sergeant. Operators are supposed to walk slightly behind, or, if in a group, form a protective circle around the sergeant. It’s part of maintaining discipline and hierarchy within the O.D.S.”

Aria blinked, realizing she had unknowingly breached some important rule. Smiling apologetically, she slowed her pace to fall behind. “Understood. I’ll remember that,” she said sincerely.

But Lyla shook her head. “Not necessary,” she said, her voice softening. “Not now, at least. We’re not in a professional situation.”

Aria couldn’t help but smile, feeling a small but meaningful connection forming between them. The walk continued in companionable silence until they reached the labs. Isabelle and Wilst excused themselves to return the devices to their proper storage, leaving Aria and Lyla waiting in the quiet hallway.

Taking a deep breath, Aria turned to Lyla, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “Sergeant Lyla,” she began cautiously. “I… I know I shouldn’t ask this, but is Mr. Wilst in trouble?”

Lyla raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. “Why do you ask?”

She hesitated and glanced down at her hands. “He’s helped me a lot, even before I really met him,” she said, earnest. “I haven’t known him long-” half a day, actually, she thought, “but… he may be rough around the edges. Still, he’s a caring person.”

Lyla studied her for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to Aria’s surprise, the sergeant’s lips curved into a small smile. “You’re right,” Lyla said, her tone reassuring. “Jayce can be harsh, especially on the field. But he’s one of the most talented analyzers we have. They wouldn’t discharge him. He’s way too valuable for that. The problem is that his attitude makes it difficult to find a team willing to work with him. And Jayce… well, he’s never been the type to compromise or adjust himself to accommodate others.”

Aria nodded slowly, relief washing over her. It made sense now. Wilst’s tough exterior wasn’t just a personality quirk, it was probably a barrier he’d built, perhaps for reasons she couldn’t yet understand. “I see,” she murmured. “Thank you for telling me.”

Lyla tilted her head, a curious look in her eyes. “You seem to care a lot about the people around you,” she observed. “Why is that?”

Aria didn’t hesitate. “How could I not?” she replied simply. “They’ve all helped me so much. I surely wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Before Lyla could respond, Isabelle and Wilst returned, their footsteps echoing in the corridor. Isabelle wore a bright smile, clearly pleased with how the day had gone, while Wilst looked slightly awkward, his hands shoved into his pockets.

Lyla straightened, her demeanor turning formal once more. “Mr. Wilst,” she said. “I need a moment of your time.”

He sighed but nodded, stepping forward to speak with her. Isabelle, sensing the need for discretion, turned to Aria with a warm smile. “Come on,” she said. “I’ll escort you back to your room.”

Aria hesitated, glancing at Wilst one last time. He caught her eye and, to her surprise, winked. A small smile spread across her face as she followed Isabelle down the hallway, feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

The night wrapped the base in its quiet stillness. Aria lay curled in her bed, her breathing steady as she drifted into a deep sleep. Her mind conjured a dream, a vivid, almost serene scene. 

She stood across from a stranger, their face obscured by shadows, holding up a picture of vibrant blue skies and sprawling megacities. The image was alien to her, a distant world she could only imagine.

“Have you seen this before?” she asked with an amused curiosity, her voice carrying an innocent, childlike wonder.

The stranger nodded with a faint smile, and she giggled, the sound light and unburdened. Her eyes wandered to a nearby drawing, something she couldn’t quite make out, and she opened her mouth to ask about it. Before the words could leave her lips, another voice broke through.

“It’s over,” the voice said, firm and final.

The stranger stood abruptly and walked away, their silence like a weight pressing down on her chest. A pang of sadness shot through her as she tried to call after them, but the dream shifted suddenly. The scene dissolved, the picture and drawing fading into darkness.

The room around her turned black, the walls closing in. She felt the floor give way beneath her, swallowed whole by the void. The crushing emptiness enveloped her entirely. She woke with a start, her breath quick and shallow, her heart pounding in her chest. A thin stream of moonlight spilled through the window, casting long, pale lines across her room. Aria stared at the window, her thoughts clouded by confusion.

Meanwhile, Cove trudged across the training field, his body aching with fatigue. His shoulders slumped, and his eyes carried the telltale weight of too many sleepless nights. Around him, a few of his teammates muttered complaints.

“This new schedule is brutal,” one of them groaned. “Who decided we should wake up this early anyway?”

“Sergeant Lyla’s orders,” another replied with a sigh.

Cove's thoughts drifted back to the day of Aria's test. He recalled seeing Sergeant Lyla watching them from the observation deck, her sharp gaze undoubtedly noting their lack of focus. He wasn’t surprised she’d cracked down on them.

The doors to the field swung open, and the SSD unit poured in. One of Cove’s teammates rolled her eyes, muttering, “The scooter in my assigned team is such a ‘Grindstone.’ It’s impossible to work with someone so rigid.”

Cove glanced at her curiously as she continued, “He’s always micromanaging every detail and insists on rehearsing protocols every single minute. I get that scooters are supposed to keep us organized, but it’s exhausting working with someone who doesn’t trust anyone to do their part.”

Another teammate smirked, adding, “Sounds like a nightmare. My team’s analyzer is a bit overzealous, but at least she knows when to back off.”

Cove tuned out the chatter, his mind wandering to his own predicament. Unlike his peers, he hadn’t been assigned to a team yet. He suspected it was because of his reckless behavior the day he’d discovered Aria in the pit. His impulsiveness during that moment had likely cost him.

The SSD and LDS teams had been training together recently, a necessity given their reliance on one another in the field. Close coordination between their divisions often determined survival during surface missions.

Before the conversation could continue, the division superior strode onto the field. His commanding presence silenced the group. He scanned the trainees and called out, “S-11, E-107, and S-24. Come here, I have to discuss with you.”