Lodging Quarters
The small lodging quarters were utilitarian, like most accommodations on the base, but the faint hum of climate control and the warm glow of the overhead lighting gave the space a sense of calm after the chaos of the previous week. A gray couch dominated one corner of the room, worn but inviting, its fabric stretched taut over years of use. Across from it stood a metal table cluttered with datapads, Asus's jacket, and a half-empty mug of stale coffee.
Crystal sprawled across the couch, her sock-clad feet hanging over one armrest, while her head rested on a cushion at the other. She was dressed in an oversized base-issue sweatshirt, the hem brushing against her thighs, and a pair of shorts that peeked out whenever she shifted. Her hair was still damp from a recent shower, curling slightly at the ends as she flicked through a holopad in her lap, scrolling lazily through a newsfeed.
Asus sat at the metal table, hunched over a datapad. His eyes scanned the glowing screen, flicking between casualty numbers, troop movements, and debrief notes. The soft clink of his fingers tapping against the metal table punctuated the otherwise quiet room. His posture was tense, his jaw clenched as he flipped to the next report.
Crystal glanced at him from the couch, one hand reaching out to snag the remote for the small monitor mounted on the opposite wall. "You know," she said, her voice cutting through the silence, "for someone who just survived a crash landing, you could stand to relax a little."
Asus didn't look up. "This is me relaxing," he replied dryly, tapping the screen of his datapad to zoom in on a map overlay.
Crystal rolled her eyes, tossing the remote onto the couch beside her and sitting up slightly. "Right. Because nothing screams 'relaxation' like casualty reports and deployment stats." She stretched, her arms reaching high above her head before she flopped back against the cushions with a dramatic sigh. "You're going to fry your brain if you keep staring at that thing."
He finally looked up, his dark eyes meeting hers. "Someone has to know what's going on out there," he said simply. "We're not exactly in a position to sit back and pretend everything's fine."
"Everything's not fine," Crystal shot back, her tone softening as her teasing gave way to something more serious. "But killing yourself with stress isn't going to fix it."
Asus let out a dry chuckle, though there was no real humor in it. "Funny, coming from someone who nearly passed out on me mid-crash."
"Hey!" Crystal protested, sitting up straighter. "I didn't pass out until after the crash, thank you very much." She smirked, her tone turning playful. "Besides, you were the one steering us into the ground like a lunatic. Pretty sure I was the calm one in that situation."
"Calm?" Asus arched a brow, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. "I seem to recall a lot of screaming coming from your side of the cockpit."
Crystal huffed, crossing her arms. "Okay, fine. Maybe I wasn't calm. But I still got the landing gear down... kind of."
Asus shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You did good, Crystal," he said after a moment, his tone sincere. "We wouldn't have made it without you."
The compliment caught her off guard, and she felt a faint warmth creep into her cheeks. "Thanks," she said, her voice quieter now. She shifted awkwardly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before changing the subject. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow? More sitting around reading reports, or do we actually get to do something useful?"
"Depends on what Command has for us," Asus replied, his gaze drifting back to the datapad. "But if they give us another day of downtime, I might actually take your advice and relax."
Crystal grinned, leaning back against the couch. "See? I knew you had it in you." She grabbed the remote again, flicking on the monitor to a random entertainment channel. "Now, stop stressing and watch something mindless with me. You might actually enjoy it."
Asus sighed but didn't argue, pushing the datapad aside and settling back in his chair. "Alright," he said, his tone teasing. "But if this involves any kind of reality holodrama, I'm out."
Crystal laughed, the sound light and genuine, and for the first time in what felt like weeks, the tension in the room seemed to fade.
The Next Morning
The faint hum of the base's morning announcement system filtered into their quarters, signaling the start of another day. Asus was already awake, seated at the table with a steaming mug of coffee. He glanced at the door panel as it lit up, flashing the daily schedule. For the second day in a row, it showed nothing but a single line:
"Standby Orders: All Units on Leave."
Crystal stirred on the couch, the blanket she had stolen from her bunk tangled around her legs. She groaned softly as she stretched, her arm flopping over the edge of the cushions. "Morning already?" she mumbled, her voice groggy.
"Morning," Asus replied, sipping his coffee. He watched her blearily blink at him, her hair a wild mess of tangles from her restless sleep. For a moment, he considered letting her sleep in, but then he remembered the weight she'd been carrying since the crash. Unlike him, she wasn't designed for this life—wasn't hardened by years of training and war. She needed a break, even if she didn't know it yet.
"Good news," Asus said, setting his mug down. "We've got another day off."
Crystal sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. "Another day?" She frowned slightly. "That's rare. Command must be feeling generous."
"Or they're waiting for the Obake to regroup and hit us harder," Asus said flatly. Then, catching himself, he softened his tone. "But that's not our problem today. Get cleaned up. I'm taking you out."
Crystal blinked, caught off guard. "Out? Out where?"
Asus shrugged. "You'll see. Just hurry up."
The air outside the base was crisp, the sky above painted in hues of soft blue and white. The surrounding terrain was rugged but beautiful in its own way, with jagged hills rolling out toward a distant horizon. Asus led the way, dressed in his casual duty fatigues, his jacket slung over one shoulder. Crystal followed, her curiosity piqued. She wore a simple long-sleeved shirt and cargo pants, her hair pulled into a loose braid.
They walked along a well-worn path that led away from the base, the hum of machinery and distant drills fading behind them. Crystal glanced around, taking in the scenery. "You've been here before?" she asked.
"Once or twice," Asus replied. "Figured it'd be a good place to clear your head."
The path opened up into a small clearing with a rocky outcrop overlooking a shallow river. The water sparkled in the sunlight, its gentle current winding through smooth stones and patches of green. A few benches and makeshift picnic spots dotted the area, remnants of soldiers seeking their own escape from the grind of war.
Crystal stopped, her eyes widening slightly as she took it all in. "Wow... I didn't know this was here."
Asus smirked. "Most people don't bother leaving the base unless they have to. Thought you'd appreciate the change of scenery."
Crystal turned to him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I do. Thanks, Asus."
He nodded, gesturing toward one of the benches. "Come on. Sit down. I brought something."
They settled on the bench, and Asus pulled a small thermal container from his bag. "It's not much," he said, handing her a metal cup. "But it beats mess hall rations."
Crystal sniffed the cup, her smile widening as the rich aroma of spiced tea filled the air. "You made this?" she asked, surprised.
"Don't sound so shocked," Asus replied with a mock-offended tone. "I'm not just a glorified combat drone, you know."
Crystal laughed, the sound light and genuine. She took a sip, letting the warmth spread through her. "This is really good. You're full of surprises, Trick-shot."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of the river and the occasional rustle of leaves filling the gaps. Asus leaned back, watching the water while Crystal let herself relax, the weight of the past week lifting ever so slightly.
"You've been through a lot lately," Asus said finally, his tone quieter. "I figured you could use some time away from it all."
Crystal looked at him, her expression softening. "Yeah... I guess I have." She glanced down at her cup, her fingers tracing its rim. "I'm not like you, Asus. I wasn't... made for this."
"You don't have to be like me," he said firmly. "What you've done—what you're doing—it's enough. You don't need to be bred for war to make a difference."
Crystal hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Thanks. That means a lot."
Asus stood, stretching his arms. "Come on," he said, offering her a hand. "There's a trail up there that leads to a better view. You'll like it."
Crystal took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. "You're not secretly trying to turn this into a training session, are you?" she teased.
"Not everything's a drill, Crystal," Asus replied with a faint smirk. "Sometimes, it's just about enjoying the quiet while you can."
As they walked up the trail, the tension that had hung over Crystal for days seemed to fade, replaced by a sense of calm she hadn't felt in a long time.