“You understand this is not a simple decision. For over a decade the event has been sponsored by Roughworks. We have already begun making the typical arrangements. This will have to be worth it to us to upturn years of procedure.”
“To start, Chancellor,” said Margaret Kain, “Consider the renovation projects’ expenses waived.”
The students in the group began to murmur in surprise, the Chancellor raising an eyebrow as he studied her carefully.
“This is the financial incentive?” he queried.
“A start, as I said. Before you are the students and faculty who wish to petition on our behalf, physically representing their signatures. Please take their presence as a representation of the students’ support of our sponsorship as well.”
The man looked from face to face, in consideration.
“In addition to waiving the existing fees, we will also provide additional communication systems to the campus. Unity has begun to develop a method of large scale communication, similar to that of the mail carrier system, but en masse. We will equip the colleges with cutting edge technology only we can provide.”
Lily clenched her jaw. “Stolen ideas” she thought, picturing the team’s designs back in the lab.
The Chancellor folded his hands on the desk in front of himself.
“We prefer our systems developed by our alumni and students.”
Margaret caught the corner of Lily’s eye with a subtle look, causing her to shiver involuntarily. Margaret turned back to meet the man’s gaze.
“That can be arranged.”
The team was immersed in their respective tasks, each member focused and deliberate as they refined different elements of the prototype. The gentle hum of status test panels and soft clicks of tools underscored their rhythm of cohesion, Reid and Haru calibrating the signal projection module and Joss cross-referencing performance benchmarks with the original schematics. At the edge of the room, Lillian sat cross-legged near the secured workbench, meticulously organizing the interior of the team’s reinforced safe, a new introduction to the lab requested by Maven Zai, as Quinn described items for her notes. She carefully catalogued the latest additions to their archive, transferring delicate schematics and documentation into labeled storage sleeves. Her pen moved swiftly across the page of her notebook, every detail recorded with the same sharp precision that had become her signature.
"So, we have been officially contacted by Unity Innovations."
The words alone shifted the energy in the room, the air turning icy. Lillian stiffened, and Quinn turned, folding his arms across his chest. Joss studied their faces before shifting his attention to the twins.
Reid continued, "After Lillian petitioned RRA leadership to support the student presentation and their seminar, Unity reached out to Haru. They want to sponsor this team both through the exit exams and any existing and approved senior projects."
Haru put a letter on the workbench, the group collecting around it to study the content of the document.
“Funding, access to rare materials, connections…” said Reid, trailing off, “It’s everything we need to make this project, and Trial Night, a success."
Haru nodded. "They will elevate our work to the next level. Otherwise, we’ll be competing against teams with external financial backing. This levels the playing field."
"Or," Quinn interjected sharply, "it’s the first step into quicksand, to losing everything we’ve built. Unity clearly doesn’t support innovators, they buy people. Haven’t you heard their track record this week?”
Rumors and accounts had begun muddying the student’s opinion as several popular applicants had been rejected from participating or demoted from being a presenter to having only an exhibition within the hall of the event. Lillian had quietly told Quinn and Joss about several of the events she had attended recently, including the encounter in the Chancellor’s office far above them. Several mutual friends and contacts had been excluded from the event as a result of Unity’s successful sponsorship deal. Mellissa had sent outlines of reports she’d received to Quinn related to Unity’s wholesale reworking of the presenter shortlist.
“We know there might be some reservations, but there are always growing pains with new partnerships.” Reid said, glancing at Lily.
A quiet divide had begun to form within the RRA, supporters demonstrating the benefits of their agreements to others. Many students were excited by the organization’s promises of new opportunity and sponsorship for future events. Unity had also put on a large, day-long, public event where they unveiled the installation of a new, cutting-edge water filtration system, and plans for more installations along the Nioka river at the heart of Rheidenas. Modest crowds had been drawn in, and offered free lifetime services, drawing more and more into the evening as word spread. Some districts had notoriously low water pressure, and government projects to solve the issue hadn’t made recent progress, so it was a very welcome alternative to those affected parties.
Joss crossed his arms. "Quinn is still right despite that. We wouldn’t just be getting resources; we’d be selling our autonomy. And what happens after Trial Night? Do we just let them dictate what happens next with the result of the prototype?"
Reid pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket, handing it across the table to Quinn. “This was on the announcement board this morning.”
Quinn and Joss scanned the first few lines of the heading and listing below, Lily scooching over to read as well.
“CALL FOR RESEARCH ASSISTANTS & ENGINEERING TEAM
Maven Mylo Warrick | Sponsored by Unity Innovations
Seeking qualified students to assist in a cutting-edge data and computing development project under Unity Innovations. Positions available for:
- Students with strong backgrounds in chemistry and research documentation
- Five mechanical engineers with experience in prototyping and structural design
- Three engineers with exposure to digital systems
Selected candidates will gain access to rare resources, work alongside top industry professionals, and contribute to groundbreaking technological advancements.
Interested applicants should submit their credentials and a statement of interest to Prof. Warrick during the upcoming RRA-hosted project seminar.”
Unity’s name stood bold at the bottom of the page, their logo stamped in crisp black ink.
Joss exhaled sharply, exchanging a glance with Quinn and Lily. “Well… that’s not ominous at all.”
Lily lit up with understanding. “I didn’t understand it at the time, but during my training for the outreach program, I overheard quite a bit. It sounded mostly like gibberish at the time, but Maven Warrick was discussing something with one of the Unity representatives a few chairs down from me. It sounded like he was looking for sponsorship to allow him to jump on a new opportunity he had found but hadn’t received support for directly yet. During the meeting with the Chancellor though, the Unity representative mentioned a project to overhaul communication for RRA as part of the deal, she looked right at me too.”
Quinn’s face darkened. “So they do know where the leak came from. If they’re asking us directly, and now they’re sponsoring a backup…”
“I came to the same conclusion. Lysa has been seen with the Unity rep who is organizing the event, she seems to be pushing for the lead position in development of their rival project.” said Reid. “It’s too late now. We don’t have a choice anymore. We need to be the ones to succeed, we can’t lose a project this important just because it’s not the way we wanted to do it.”
Tension crackled in the air as the divide became clear, Lily shifting uncomfortably as she looked between the twins and the boys.
"Let’s vote," Haru said finally. "It’s the only fair way."
Haru and Reid voted in favor. Joss and Quinn voted against. All eyes turned to Lily. She inhaled, steadying herself.
"No."
Reid blinked. "What?"
Lillian’s voice was clear, unwavering. "I’ve seen how Unity works this week. They don’t invest in us; they invest in what they can take. And once they have one foot in the door, we don’t get a say anymore. Just think about what they did to me" she said, making a gesture in exasperation. “I was asked, but effectively mandated to sign the petition for RRA to allow their wholesale sponsorship of the senior project presentation. It’s their show now and if someone isn’t on their team, I doubt they are going to be given anything close to the time of day let alone first prize.”
Lillian had been pushing back against an influx of requests from Unity all day to appear at appeals across the city to represent their interests as their sponsored entity. She had bit her tongue and done her best to represent her research rather than follow the dozens of pages she had received outlining Unity’s ideal for appeals on their behalf.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then, slowly, Joss and Quinn exchanged a look of approval. Lillian wasn’t just their documentarian, she was one of the team now. Haru and Reid murmured together in frustration as they shifted uncomfortably. Without hesitation, Lillian flipped open her notebook and inserted it into the typewriter and began drafting a letter. She put in the effort to make it precise, professional, and definitive. When she finished, she read it aloud, finally finishing.
"...while we appreciate your generous offer, we believe our project must remain under our control. We will be moving forward independently."
Haru looked stricken. “They aren’t going to appreciate this, we should really reconsider.”
“If Unity wants to support us in the future, we should see if they are willing to publicize it on our terms. We’ll put that to the test. They say they support people, and we would be looking for public adoption and support with the technology at that point” said Joss.
With the matter settled, they turned their attention back to the work ahead. Lillian updated the project logs as Joss and Quinn fine-tuned the prototype’s programming. Haru and Reid, though still processing the decision, turned back to their calculations. The lab soon hummed with purpose once again, the steady rhythm of collaboration taking hold.
Before she left the lab, Lily pulled Quinn aside and whispered to him quietly. “Where did you get the details about Unity’s activities?”
“Astator Cairn. She’s been looking into the leak since the beginning and is invested somewhat. Why?” he asked.
“I’m going to change my presentation for the seminar. Unity reviewed my topic and outright rejected my research topic. Can you put me in contact with Astator Cairn? I want to see if she’s willing to help me dig into why they don’t want me to do this.”
“Not a problem, especially since you are familiar with Printer’s Guild now!”
Lillian rubbed the creeping fog from her tired eyes as she stacked her textbooks, a tower of words and leather. The dim glow of the room’s lamps cast long shadows across the worn, wooden table. The Sentient Science sector of the campus was eerily quiet at this hour, the usual hum of student chatter replaced by the distant rustling of pages and the occasional squeak of a rolling chair down the halls from her current study room. She sighed, reading over the insistent message on her voxcom one last time before slinging her bag over one shoulder and making her way toward the exit.
Margaret had assigned her a handler, Trenarre Dearmonte, and he had wasted no time in assigning her engagements with officials as a Unity representative. She had been avoiding her voxcom for hours after leaving the lab. The letter had been dropped into the Queen’s Runners mailbox at the top of the Sentient Science’s rainbow stairway for delivery. The mailbox was often full, as many of the students in its College were writers and authors. It was commonly said that the students and faculty couldn’t keep things to themselves.
As she stepped into the hallway, a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision made her pause. Her heart gave a small, startled jump, but when she turned, there was nothing there. Empty shelves in the room behind stared back beyond the soft amber glow of lamps above. She exhaled, shaking her head.
“Exhaustion’s playing tricks on me.”
She quickened her pace, the echo of her footsteps bouncing off the marble floor. Then;
A whisper.
Her name. Faint, barely audible, yet unmistakable.
She spun around, pulse pounding, but the hallway remained empty. The air felt unnaturally still around her. Lillian swallowed hard, forcing herself to move. She was just tired and jumpy, and she needed to sleep, that was all.
By the time she reached her room at the top of the college’s massive spiral stairway, the strangeness of the moment had dulled into the background noise of her brain. After a day full of new revelations and working with the team, she collapsed onto her bed, exhaustion swallowing her whole.
The next morning, Lillian groggily shuffled toward her door, stifling a yawn as she reached for the handle. That’s when she noticed it,a small slip of paper, wedged just beneath the frame.
Frowning, she bent down and picked it up. The handwriting was hurried, uneven.
"Stay silent. They're listening."
A chill ran down her spine.
Lillian turned the note over, searching for anything, an explanation, a signature, but it was blank. Her first instinct was to assume it was a prank. Some edgy student playing games.
With a scoff, she crumpled the note and tossed it into the trash. Ridiculous.
The knock on the door made her jump.
Nova stepped inside, her eyes shining with greeting as she immediately scanned Lillian’s face. “Good morning, you look tense,” she noted, skipping past her and plopping onto the edge of the bed. “Late-night study session get to you? I couldn’t find you in your study spot.”
Lillian hesitated. Then, with a half-hearted laugh, she leaned over to retrieve the note from the trash, and handed it to her friend. “Found this under my door this morning. Stupid pranks.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Nova’s playful expression faded the moment she read the message. “Who would leave you this?”
“No idea. Probably just some dumb joke.”
Nova folded the paper, her fingers tightening around the edges. “Lillian,” she said carefully, “I don’t think this is a joke. I came to find Anthony, he left his goggles at the house. You should come find him with me and let’s talk about it on the way.”
Lillian felt her heart skip a beat as Nova's expression turned serious. She had expected her friend to laugh it off, but instead, Nova seemed genuinely concerned.
"What do you mean?" Lillian asked, trying to keep her voice light despite the growing tightness in her stomach.
Nova considered for a moment. "I don't think this is just some prankster messing with you. I think something more serious is going on. What happened after you left the Unity meeting with the Chancellor?"
Lillian raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? You think it’s just someone trying to freak me out because of my decision to leave Unity? Maybe I should go talk to Annabelle," she suggested, trying to sound more stoic than she felt. "She might know something about what's going on."
Nova nodded, her eyes locked onto Lillian's once more. "Yeah, that's a good idea. I’m going to head over to the Ventures college for now. Keep me posted?"
“Y-yeah…” said Lily.
As the door closed, Lillian sat down on the edge of her bed, the creak of springs punctuating her anxious thoughts. After a few moments, she began her first letter of the day.
“Dear Ann,” she wrote, “So much has happened over the last few days, and even though I know you’re still away, I can’t help but wish you were here to help me make sense of it all. As I mentioned in my earlier letters, the opportunity with Unity Innovations has proven to be more complicated than I expected. They’re demanding more and more of my time, using me as their poster child while quietly sidelining my actual work.
I’ve been shuttled across the city, paraded in front of audiences while some insufferable representative speaks endlessly about Unity’s supposed achievements and their promises to ‘fix everything.’ But behind all the polished messaging, I know their intentions aren’t as altruistic as they claim.
Despite their rejection of it, I’ve decided to continue my research into the true environmental effects of the industry after the recent reforms for public safety. They haven’t officially removed me from the presentation roster, so I’ll use every moment I have to push forward. I’m certain they’re hiding something, though I haven’t uncovered it yet. When I do, I intend to make sure the truth sees the light of day.
Wish you were here.
Lily”
Lillian sat hunched over her desk, the dim glow of her voxcom casting shadows across the scattered reports and notes that surrounded her. A cup of tea sat untouched at her elbow. Mellissa’s documents were spread out before her, layered with annotations and cross-references she had made throughout the week. After Lily had presented her research to Mellissa, she had begun to make several contacts on her behalf including appointments for interviews. She scanned the names again, students who had once been listed as presenters for the seminar but had since vanished from Unity’s posted list. Some of them she recognized from previous academic discussions, others she barely knew.
She watched for the next response to the interview request she had just sent. Each conversation so far had given her a clearer picture of what was happening. Projects being reassigned. Research topics redirected. Students suddenly losing their eligibility to present without warning.
She inhaled sharply, steadying herself. Unity’s control over the presentations was now even tighter than she had thought. She was still on the list based on their agreement, to her partial surprise now that she had been openly interviewing disgruntled parties and local industrial figures. She noticed several names which had been taken off the list she had received from Unity just days before, and had begun contacting them for interview requests to get their perspective.
Quinn and Joss were already deep in discussion when Lillian entered the otherwise empty lab, her movements sharp with barely contained frustration. The heat from the furnace and forge at the edge of the room brushed the chill from her, though the space was hardly a comfort to her. She tossed her notebook onto the workbench and ran a hand through her hair.
Quinn arched a brow. “Rough day?”
Lillian exhaled, crossing her arms. “Just trying to piece together what’s actually happening with Unity and RRA. It’s worse than I thought.”
Joss leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Let me guess, Unity’s more involved than they’re letting on?”
She nodded and began pulling out her notebooks. “They’re filtering who gets to present, shifting research priorities, and removing students from the event who don’t fit their message.”
She hopped up onto the edge of the workbench and sat studying her notes as she spoke. “I just interviewed Tieran Jangosett. He received a letter with a directive informing him that his team’s project, a pollutant capture device for engines, is no longer welcome for presentation.”
Quinn frowned. “And you’re still on the list?”
“For now.” Lillian’s voice was steady but laced with defiance. “Which means I still have time to make sure my presentation is the real deal. I got another insistent message from my handler. They want me to come in to review my presentation.”
Quinn exchanged a glance with Joss. “This isn’t just about our project anymore, is it?”
Lillian shook her head. “No. It’s about making sure we keep our voices and don’t just become extensions of someone’s influence. Based on what Mellissa and I have found, Unity keeps finding excuses to get small industry and manufacturing businesses shut down. Several of the records and accounts have this going back as early as two or three years ago. Some of the now defunct facilities were acquired by Unity.”
“That is so fishy. I guess corruption should have been the logical conclusion when we first ran into them. Sorry that you’re stuck in the middle of all of this now Lily, if we’d have known the outcome of getting your research published I’m not sure we’d do it again.”
Joss rubbed his temples. “If we could just find the origin of Adeios, I’d feel so much better about this whole situation. We could just find a partner in the industry and push for production if we had every part of it sourced. The leak was a huge setback but we’d have overcome it eventually if that was the only wrinkle. Now we have this predator of an organization watching us. Why does it feel like we’re fighting a giant for basically no reason?”
“They really want what we have for some reason.” she said. “I still don’t understand why they reached out to me. Compared to the uh… “
She shuffled some papers before glancing through for a particular note. “D.Q.N.S.”
“Decentralized Quantum Network System, DQNS.” said Quinn. “Reid really nailed it with a short and sweet acronym for the project.”
“It’s growing on me. Anyway, compared to DQNS, which will completely change the way people exchange information, I’m not sure why the chemical poisoning research caught their attention.” Lillian said.
“I think we’re overthinking this. While I’m sure your research was very impressive, I think they were looking for competent students to use as a way into the organization. Simple and clean. Wouldn’t be the first time someone got in the door based on a relationship.” Quinn said, with a small smile.
“Regardless of why, we’re in this position now. I know Haru and Reid were disappointed that we didn’t move forward with the sponsorship agreement.” she said as she pictured their disappointed faces, “In a vacuum, what we were being offered sounds like a no-brainer, but every new found piece of information convinces me further that it was the right decision. There are manipulations at play and we should be careful with partnerships until DQNS is complete. I’m still going to present the evidence I find for everyone though, if they even let me onto the stage…”
Joss sighed. “I don’t think this is a fight that has a winner, Lillian.”
Lillian nodded. “You’re probably right, but I will present what I have found, and people can form their own opinions. I don’t appreciate how they are treating people.”
Quinn pulled out his voxcom. “Then we better make sure your piece is solid. If you’re pushing back against Unity, you can’t afford any weak points. Maybe Carios and the editors would help again.”
“Don’t worry. I’m headed to Astator Cairn’s office at the top of the next hour.” Lily smiled. “She offered to get my research whipped into shape for the presentation tomorrow. She’s pretty pissed with them. I have faith in her to finish turning my research into deep cutting words.”
Joss gave a low whistle. “Calling in the cavalry, then. You can do it though, Lily. Should be quite a speech, knock ‘em dead.”
She smirked, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not about fighting alone anymore. It’s about not backing down, and building a group to push back with.”
The three stood there for a moment, the popping sounds from the distant forge filled the silence, the hiss of the bellows, the sharp crack of the cooling metal. Around them, the lab seemed both safe and perilously fragile, like a thin-walled bubble against the weight of the world outside.
Quinn pocketed his voxcom and gave a nod. “Just let me know if I can help Lily. You know we’d do anything.”
Joss straightened, matching Quinn’s earnest affect. “I can help you rehearse the speech… if you’d like?”
She beamed at him, pulling a sheaf of papers from her notebook and handing it over. “Thanks Jossy. I’m sure you’ve got nothing better to do than help me!”
He flushed a bit but accepted the papers with only a slight faltering to his smile, Quinn rolling his eyes. “We get one last normal night before we throw ourselves into the flames, huh?”
Lillian laughed softly under her breath, “One last night. Alright, from the top of page two, after the initial notes.”
Lillian straightened her papers, took a breath, and started reading aloud.
"In the wake of unchecked industrialization, we must ask ourselves not what progress demands of us, but what it costs us..."
Her voice was clear but a little rushed, the words tumbling together in her urgency. Joss leaned forward, elbows on his knees, giving her his full attention. He lifted a hand halfway through her first paragraph.
“Pause after ‘costs us,’ Lily,” he said gently. “Give them a second to actually hear it. It’s a big point. Let it land.”
She stopped mid-sentence, nodding, and started again, adjusting her cadence. Quinn, had moved to the forge, listening as he worked the metal with methodical, deliberate strikes. Though his attention seemed fixed on the glowing steel, his ear was tilted slightly toward them, catching every word.
Lillian moved on to the second paragraph, her voice growing stronger.
"When information, resources, and even dreams become currency for the powerful alone, what future do we have left to inherit?"
Joss raised his eyebrows approvingly but held up a hand again. "Slower," he advised. "Don't rush the heavy lines. Make them sit with it. They're not going to get it all if you throw it at them at once."
She huffed a short laugh, brushing her hair back from her face. "I'm not used to making speeches. I'm more of a punch-through-the-wall type."
"That's why you’re gonna be good at it," Joss said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You mean it. Just show them that."
Lillian nodded, setting her shoulders and continuing, finding a steadier rhythm this time. Her voice filled the lab, threading with the sounds of hammer and anvil, and something about the mix — fire, metal, and a voice standing up against a world too big to fight — felt right.
Quinn glanced over from the forge briefly, a thin sheen of sweat on his brow, and offered her a small, encouraging nod before turning back to his work. His silent support encouraged her just as Joss’s words did.
By the time she reached the closing paragraph, her voice was no longer uncertain.
"We do not stand here today to accuse, but to remember. That every choice we make in silence, every injustice we allow in the name of progress, is a story we write for those who come after. I, for one, refuse to let them inherit a lie."
Silence followed her last words, thick and meaningful.
Joss leaned back, a slow smile spreading across his face. “There it is. That’s the one. You’re ready.”
Lillian let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, a shaky laugh escaping her. “Think so?”
Quinn set his hammer down with a final sharp clink, wiping his hands on a rag as he approached. “No one’s going to forget what you say tomorrow, Lily. Not if you speak like that.”
The fire in the forge crackled behind them, throwing long shadows across the walls. In that warm, flickering light, it was easy to imagine they could still change the course of everything, if they held the line together.
Lillian packed her notes back into her satchel, her hand lingering on the leather strap for a moment longer than necessary. Then she straightened, lifting her chin.
“Alright,” she said, voice steadier than it had been all night. “Time to see if Astator Cairn can polish me up before showtime.”
Joss hopped down from the workbench. “You don’t need polish, Lily. You’re already gold.”
She laughed, shaking her head fondly, then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek — a flash of quiet gratitude, unspoken but unmistakable — before slipping out of the lab, the forge’s warm light trailing after her.
Joss stood there awkwardly, the papers still in his hands, staring at the door.
Quinn tossed his rag onto the bench and smirked. “You’re hopeless, you know that?” he said, grabbing a pair of tongs to adjust the cooling bar of steel.
Joss blinked, playing innocent. “What are you talking about?”
Quinn jabbed a thumb toward the door. “The way you were looking at her… you’re lucky you didn’t melt into the floor.”
Joss muttered something under his breath and shoved the papers into his bag with more force than necessary. He looked up, embarrassment fading into something quieter. “We’re lucky to have her.”
Quinn nodded, his smile tugging bittersweet. “Yeah. We’ll see if she wants to stay though. Someday.”
Joss hesitated, then said, “She’s got a lot ahead of her. Bigger than some research project for a shady nonprofit. Bigger than what we could offer, maybe.” He gave a short laugh. “She’s talked about apprenticing under Inspector Brighte after the exams. Straight into the Kaiem, a career out of the gate.”
Quinn set down the tongs, the glow of the forge throwing sharp angles across his face. “Then let’s do our part,” he said. “Try not to get left behind.”
Joss tapped his fingers restlessly against the desk as he waited. The lab where Maven Zai worked was quieter than most, filled with the low hum of various machines running in the background.
When she finally arrived, her sharp expression softened slightly when she saw him.
"There’s my best apprentice," she said with a small smile. "Let’s see what’s giving you trouble."
Joss nodded, flipping open his slate to the schematics. “So, the original prototype flashes light directly into the core substance, causing partial crystallization in bursts before receiving output. It’s almost as if there are echoes. But it’s inconsistent, and I can’t figure out why.”
The Maven studied the display for a moment before pulling up her own notes and studying them. “You’re treating it like a predictable reaction, but Adeios appears more adaptive than that. The sequence needs to be calibrated based on the resonance.”
Joss frowned. “So, we need real-time adjustment?”
"Exactly," she said, nodding. "Real-time feedback. Dynamic tuning. Treat the machine like it's listening and responding... because it is."
Joss's brows drew together as he ran quick recalculations in his mind. "Minimal lag adjustments... pressure drift, ambient fluctuations, optical bleed patterns — all of it would need to sync live."
"Now you’re thinking the right way," she said, a note of pride in her voice. "You’ve got the instincts. Trust them. Trust yourself."
Joss let out a slow breath, already recalculating possibilities in his head. “This… actually makes more sense now. Thank you Liora.”
"You never need to thank me," she said warmly. "That's what family is for."
As she turned back to her notes, her voice shifted back to her usual sharp focus. "While I was annotating Lance’s archives, I found another reference. He’s had exposure to Adeios since childhood. That would explain some of his... unique techniques."
She slid a marked document across the desk toward him. "I’m heading to Rocheforge in the morning to dig deeper. If anything important comes up, you’ll know first."
A few minutes later, Joss gathered his things and gave her a quick farewell. Liora watched him go in silence, a quiet fondness lingering in her expression — pride, and an almost maternal protectiveness she rarely allowed herself to show.
From the speaker on her voxcom she heard a voice come through, clear and authoritative.
"Commander Tymora to all pilots. Report to Hangar Six for immediate ride-along deployment with active military flight units. This operation is under live conditions, and includes cadets. Full flight gear is mandatory. Briefing commences in five minutes. Operators, check in for protocols and deployment."
Liora's entire demeanor sharpened. In an instant, the gentle mentor was gone, replaced by a calm face, precise and calculating.