It took Kirin and her squad almost a day traveling to get out of the sands. The purple desert is vast and empty. The civilization they were in before was just merely a dot on the map.
During their travel, they encountered multiple Zakana. They were the Zakana that scattered all over the sands after the Loyalist's fleet arrived. At some point, they had to stop going directly to their destination as the numbers of the aliens are too many and too risky to charge ahead. They had to get to a safe place before strategizing an engagement. This happened often and greatly increased their time to reach base N6.
Currently, it is night. Kirin used her eyes to secure a perimeter in which they will settle down for the night. Once clear, they sat down on the sand. Fortunately for them, the moon is bright and gives them a small vision of their surroundings. After checking her squad, Kirin proceeded to check what they have got. The materials added to Kirin's eyes by Lonara are materials for a small camp, consisting of wood, tents, sheets, and a limited amount of food that are already cooked and only needs heating up. They had to make do with what they had, as there are no other sources of resources around them.
"That was close. They seem to be more dangerous when they are afraid" Terra was still a little shaken after the recent engagement with the Zakana. "It's crazy to think that they fight viciously when afraid" Sterling sighed. "Also, little Chirlin here is getting a bit more confident" She smiled as she turned to Chirlin. "You're quick to adapt to your surroundings, ain't you?" She said. "Yeah, she's getting better with that Resolver. She definitely had more kills than before" Kirin spoke while she was working with her eyes.
"But, don't get too confident yet. You can't just charge without us, or at least your sister. I know you're small, but that's not an excuse" Apparently, Chirlin became confident and started using her small figure as an advantage in facing the aliens who are way taller than her. "You saw them right?! They were having a hard time hitting me!" Chirlin insisted. "If I can't kill them, I distract them for you!" She added.
"No, Chirlin. That's reckless" Kirin then walked to the center of their circle. "Step away for a sec'" Her squad stood up and moved away from her. Her eyes grew brighter and emitted bright light toward the sand. As she maintained the light, things started to materialize on the ground. "Ooooh!!!" Chirlin was the loudest to be amazed at the sight. The figure of the materials being made is firewood. After the woods materialized, the lights return to Kirin's eyes and returned the eyes to its former brightness.
"You guys know how to start a fire right?" She asked them. "I do" Marve raised his hand slightly. "Good. Show me" Kirin looked at Marve and stepped back. With the squad's eyes on him, he approached the woods. "Uh... We need something to start a fire" He looked down and scanned the woods. "I thought you knew how to start a fire?" Kirin asked while forcing herself to hide a smile. Marve felt slightly ashamed. "I do, I just need something to start the fire, even just a spark would do, and something that's easy to burn" He told Kirin.
"Ain't these woods easy to burn enough?" Kirin asked. "Unless we have a flamethrower, it will be difficult to ignite woods with small tools, it will take us some time" Marve shook his head. Kirin turned to Chirlin. "Hey, kid" Chirlin perks up to her call. "You know how to start a fire?" They all turned to her. "You need tinder! As Marve said, we need something easy to burn if we don't have a flamethrower!" She replied with such energy. "Why are you mentioning flamethrowers on starting a campfire?" Kirin scratched her head.
"Well, there's some other wood-looking stuff here" She works on her eyes to select a material. She proceeded to materialize something besides the woods. The moment Kirin finished the work, the squad came closer to look at the new resource. "Oh, those are tree barks. Excellent fire starter" Marve took the barks. "Any of you kindly arrange the woods" He asked the others. "Let me do it!" Chirlin was the first to answer and quickly went to pick up the woods. Kneeling down on the sand, she arranges the woods. The others watched her carefully.
"Do you like it this way?" She laid the woods to stand and lean on each other. The woods were properly placed and don't fall off. She then looked up at them. "Or do you want it on a circle and the timber in the middle?" She asked. "What's the difference?" Kirin crossed her arms. "Uh... the appearance?" Chirlin scratched her head. "It would differ on how long you can fully ignite the campfire. But right now, I don't think a different setup is necessary, that will do"
Marve crouched down beside Chirlin and began putting the barks in the center, underneath the woods. "Now, with the barks in place, we just need something to light it up" The two looked up to Kirin. "Let me see..." While Kirin was looking through their available resources, Marve narrowed his eyes. "Miss Kirin... you know you can just your eyes to set it on fire, right? We probably didn't even need these barks, just a laser beam to one of the woods and it will spread fast" Kirin held herself from smiling. "Looks like we don't have anything to start a fire" She laughs awkwardly. "Because Miss Lonara knew you have those eyes" Marve shook his head.
"Fine" With a sigh, Kirin charges up her eyes. They gradually light up bright red. As it gathers strength, Kirin quickly fires before it becomes stronger. A brief laser fired from her eyes and burnt through a wood. The two slightly jumped back. Through the searing hole, the fire quickly spreads to the wood and eventually to the rest of them. With little effort, they made their campfire for the night. "See? If we started by lighting up the barks, it will take a bit of time before the woods starts to burn" Marve stood up, satisfied at the fire they created.
"You two have experience camping?" Kirin asked the two. "My old man and I used to hunt small animals as a hobby back then. We would stay in the wild for a few days, he'd teach and show me how to start a basic fire" Marve replied. Kirin nodded. "A real-life experience is a better experience, right, Chirlin?" They turned to Chirlin. She jolted. "Y-yes...?" She asked, fidgeting her fingers. "You need to turn that knowledge into actual experience. Just learning from the internet won't be enough" Chirlin wasn't sure what to say about Kirin's advice.
Kirin reached for Chirlin's cheeks and pinched them. She then went ahead and produces the materials for the tents. "Do you guys know how to set up these small tents?" She asked. "Terra?" Kirin laughingly called Terra. Terra laughs shyly. "I'm sorry, Miss Kirin, but I don't know how" She replied. "Hey, don't be mean. I will teach you all about it" Marve shook his head and took the materials. The squad stood around him as he shows them how to properly set up a tent.
Once he was done, he watched the others do it. He would correct the girls' mistakes when he sees them. After a while, they were able to set up their own tents around the fire. Kirin yawned as they gather around the fire. "That was fun! I also know how to build a tent, but it looked a bit hard in real life" Chirlin said as she sat on the sand. "Watching you was boring. It isn't that hard to create such a small tent" Kirin said to them. "I'm pretty sure they got it quickly, Miss Kirin" Marve told her and she nodded. "I know" She lightly swings her hand to him.
The rest of the squad sat down around the fire while Kirin remained standing. "We could be setting up camp like this a few more times before we reach N6. The Zakana around these parts are not maintained by anyone. They will give us much trouble and it will take us some time before we reach the base" She walked around them in boredom. "Hey, did you know? Camping used to be a hobby? Setting up camp, in the wilds, staying far away from the civilization for a while?" Sterling spoke up. "Really?" Kirin's attention was caught by her words.
"I've read from the books relating to Krygstek and our studies that our ancestors loved setting up small camps with their friends or families out in the wilderness. It can be a vacation from work, hangouts with friends, bonding with families, or simply a breather from a busy city. Of course, this activity died when the Narukh'za and Krygstek left and the Arkulan military was formed. I assume that there were some people that still do camping from time to time, but camping became dangerous when the Zakana started appearing" Sterling sighed. "I can tell, camping like this with friends without a care in the world must have been fun"
With Sterling finishing up her story, they fell silent for a while. "...Camping without a care in your in the world, huh..." Kirin imagined the thought. "My entire life, I've set up camps like these with soldiers often. Never have I set up a camp for leisure... Now that you think about it, camping like this with friends sounds fun" Everyone smiled at her. "So, you have read books about the Krygstek too, huh" Kirin asked Sterling. "Yes. Some of the details I read from the books about the Narukh'za needed some clarity that can be read from the books of Krygstek. Since I started reading a book about them, I might as well read a bit more about their side of history" Sterling nodded.
"Have you read anything about Ariana Lewis? One of their Creators?" Kirin asked, slightly flushed. Sterling giggled at her. "She was mentioned sometimes at some point. The one part she was the main topic of was a battle between her and an unknown Loyalist's army. Mostly talking about how her laser weapon almost burnt all the Narukh'za in a small time" Sterling giggled once more. "Why do you ask, Miss Kirin?" She asked. Kirin began twirling her hair. "I told you, she's my best friend in Krygstek. I wanna know what she became after I was gone" She said.
"Well..." Sterling paused for a second. "She became even more dangerous than how we previously heard her from you, Miss Kirin. It was said that the Narukh'za feared her name. When you mentioned her, she was just a new Creator, right?". Kirin nods. "Every Narukh'za feared the Krygstek. Their robotic army alone was enough to drive them insane. They put a lot of effort into taking down those robots but they barely cause casualties among the Krygstek" She laughs.
"I wanna meet her..." Chirlin said as she looks up at the skies. Niela went and patted her head. "You will definitely get along, you two. Ariana likes cute girls like you" Kirin winked. "Is she a meanie?" Chirlin asked. "She's far from a mean person. Like I told you, you'll get along" Kirin scoffed. "She might even like all of you, but she just has a special spot for kids"
"If she likes children, then she must have a child of her own now, right?" Chirlin asked a question that made Kirin burst into chuckles. "I don't know about that. One time I asked her about finding a partner, she said she has better things to think about. Unless the Narukh'za calms down, there's no settling down for them" They fell silent afterward. The squad told Kirin that it was time for dinner. Kirin produced the meals they have and heated them with the fire.
After their dinner, they headed to their own tents. Kirin remained outside sitting by the fire and appears to be in deep thought. "Camping, huh" A voice suddenly came through her eyes, Kirin slightly jumped. "I forgot that you can listen to us" She slightly laughs as she opens up a video transmission to Lonara. "Oh, I wish I was at home" She saw Lonara in her pajamas, laying on her stomach and hugging a pillow with one arm. "I haven't slept for a week, I needed this rest" She stretches her arms and legs. "The Narukh'za was cooperative and helped us clear the Zakana. After a while, they departed from the planet. Once again, the sands around are quiet and the army is slowly transitioning back to their usual duties. I had assigned a commander to supervise the base temporarily while I rest"
There was a trace of jealousy on Kirin as she watches Lonara on the bed. "Looks like you're used to soft beds now, Kirin, look at you" Realizing it, Kirin became red. "Y-you're saying that as if I'm used to sleeping in tents like this!" She quickly covered her mouth as she yelled. "We're still trying to figure out how to materialize mattresses. You will have to sleep on the tents with just sheets for a while" Sigh escaped from Kirin's mouth.