7 hours since leaving the old hideout
I didn't expect much from today.
After just 7 hours since escaping the ruins of our last hideout, everything had changed. The quiet, the stillness, even the illusion of control. Gone. We were in a new underground facility—one clearly structured but buried in fatigue and the scent of rusted steel.
Still reeling from earlier, I tried to find solace in routine—debriefing, cataloging supplies, going over what little intel we had managed to salvage.
But the knock at the door shattered what little calm I had built.
Ashford opened it without ceremony. His usual cold stare flickered, replaced—briefly—by something unreadable.
"Silverbrook," he said. "Archie Hall is here. Says he wants to introduce the rest of your squad."
My stomach knotted. We hadn't even unpacked fully. And already?
Ashford stepped aside. The man behind him—tall, broad-shouldered, his hair military-short and streaked with gray—strode in like he owned the oxygen.
Archie Hall.
One of the government's senior coordinators. A man who could call you a hero and a disposable pawn in the same breath.
He clapped once, echoing sharp in the metallic room. "Let's not waste time."
I noticed Akio and Amara stiffen beside me, eyes fixed.
"Julian Silverbrook," Hall began, "I trust you remember the mission parameters?"
I nodded slowly. "Gather intel. Survive. Return with what we can."
"Good. Then it's time to meet who you're working with. Squad 12-V—your field unit."
I'd almost forgotten that name.
We'd been so focused on staying alive these last 7 hours, the idea of a 'squad' sounded foreign now.
Hall stepped aside and motioned toward the hallway.
One by one, the figures filed in.
"Fred Vanis," Hall announced first. "Demolitions and frontline charge. Bit loud, but his instincts are sharp."
Fred grinned, messy brown hair half-falling into his eyes. "Nice to meet ya, team! Hope you like things that go boom."
"Brent Halder," Hall continued. "Close-quarters and heavy arms."
Brent barely acknowledged us, nodding once. Buzzed hair, thick shoulders, and a scowl that looked permanent.
"Tyven Marr. Fast, agile, reconnaissance background."
A wiry teen leaned against the doorway frame, flipping a coin between his fingers. "Sup."
Hall turned. "And now for the girls."
He gestured behind him as four entered in quiet formation.
"Alice Kiro. Tactical support."
Alice had bright eyes that scanned the room in half a second. Her ponytail swayed, but her expression was unreadable.
"Mina Roque," he continued. "Engineering. Specializes in infiltration tech."
Mina gave a brief nod. "Hello."
"Calla Vint. Sharpshooter."
Calla's gaze was calm, almost serene. She didn't speak, just tapped the small scope slung to her side.
"And Sariel Wyn. Medical."
The last girl was slim and moved quietly. She gave a soft smile. "I'll do what I can."
They took their places along the bunks and lockers, waiting for the next order. A full squad—seven of them.
Eight, if you counted me.
"Wait," I said. "You mentioned one more?"
Hall didn't respond at first. Just turned toward the hallway again.
"He was delayed," he said cryptically. "But he's here now."
A moment later, a tall figure in black entered, walking with calm precision.
Sharp jaw, striking eyes, a warm yet unreadable smile.
"Eliar Kael," Hall said. "Tactical specialist. He'll be coordinating with Julian and supporting in-field."
Eliar bowed his head politely. "Pleasure to meet all of you."
He had the charm. The quiet confidence. He smiled at Akio and Amara like he already knew them.
Still, something about him felt… curated.
He was nice to everyone. Too nice.
But I kept that thought quiet.
This was our squad now. No more questioning it.
---
Later
The squad settled into the room—knives on bunks, gear repacked, banter rising and falling like waves. Even Fred and Tyven had started comparing field scars.
I sat on the edge of a crate near the far wall, just watching.
Then the screen facing the bunks flickered.
First once.
Then again.
The black screen flared red.
"ALERT: FRIORÉ DISTRICT BREACH – VEX CORP SIEGE IMMINENT"
I stood.
That map.
Those winding patterns.
It was the same.
Phase 3.
"Wait," I muttered. "That's… that's Phase 3."
"What?" Amara said, moving beside me.
"The map from earlier… I didn't realize it until now. I forgot."
I clenched my jaw. I had seen this layout before—but in our rush, in the chaos of escape 7 hours ago, I dismissed it as theoretical.
But it wasn't.
It was real. Right now.
Ashford loomed over my shoulder. "They're launching an attack."
"What's in the Friore District?" Brent asked.
"Old infrastructure," I replied. "Pre-Vex power hubs, data tunnels. The kind of stuff that's easy to hide weapons in."
A beat passed.
"And impossible to defend once it's compromised," Calla murmured.
The screen changed again.
A live feed.
Corporal Hall.
"Squad 12-V," he said. "Change of plans."
Everyone stopped.
"Vex Corp has launched an assault on Friore District. This is no longer a drill. This is Phase 3 in action."
I swallowed hard.
"We believe this is a diversion. Beneath that district lies a cache of pre-Vex data—if they extract it, they gain access to twenty years of defensive architecture."
Mina's eyes widened. "That includes this base."
"Yes," Hall confirmed. "Your mission is to intercept, retrieve, and extract. Julian—mission guidance falls to you."
I nodded.
No buffer.
No transition.
Thrown right into the fire.
Hall gave one last look. "Twenty minutes. Gear up."
Then he was gone.
Silence.
I looked at the map again.
Phase 3.
I thought it was months away.
Now it's here.
And I had forgotten.
I stood, clearing my throat.
"Alright, we move. I'll pull up layouts. Amara, Akio—you're with me on comm coordination. The rest of you gear up fast. This is a short-range strike. We're in and out with the data."
Eliar passed by and gave a small smile. "Let me know if you need support."
I nodded. But my mind narrowed.
I'll keep an eye on him.
On all of them.
Because if this really is Phase 3…
Then the real war has just begun.