Training had ended, and midnight had settled over the island. Exeo and Ember were asleep in their beds, while Riggs sat up, sipping coffee, deep in thought. Val stood by the window, gazing out with a pensive look.
Are we really the best ones for this role? he wondered silently. Noticing Val's distant expression, Riggs asked, "What's on your mind?"
Val turned, shook his head slightly, and replied, "Nothing."
As he turned back to the window, Riggs thought, You're different now. You seem more mature.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Six more months passed
One night, Riggs woke from a nightmare—an old memory resurfacing from 13 years ago, the day his mother died. He remembered crying the entire night, unable to stop even as morning came. Haunted by the memory, he left his bed to clear his head.
The cabin was dimly lit by the soft glow of the nightlights, and Riggs was relieved to see Bo sitting up on the sofa. Dark circles shadowed Bo's eyes, and his face looked weary.
Riggs joined him on the sofa without a word, not wanting to disturb the silence.
Bo glanced at Riggs, then quietly went to the kitchen, returning with a bottle of water for him. He probably had another rough night, Bo thought, observing Riggs's far-off look.
After a while, Riggs broke the silence. "It's been a long time since I had that nightmare."
Handing him the bottle, Bo replied simply, "Seems like it."
Riggs drained the water and headed back to bed. Bo lay down as well but couldn't help thinking, There's a sadness in his eyes.
Riggs remained by the window, staring out into the night until dawn broke.
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The next morning, Val awoke to an unusually quiet cabin. Bo's bed was empty, and the dim light filtering through the cabin suggested it was still early. He made his way to the kitchen, where he found Riggs already preparing breakfast.
"Morning," Riggs said, focused on the pan in front of him.
"Good morning," Val replied, glancing around. "Have you seen Bo?"
"He was up early," Riggs replied, keeping his gaze on the pan. Val noticed a slight tension in Riggs's usual calm and wondered if something was on his mind, but he decided not to press.
When breakfast was ready, they ate together in a companionable silence. Ember and Exeo soon joined, and the team ate quietly, each seemingly absorbed in their own thoughts.
After the meal, Exeo looked over at Riggs. "I need you to go to Dr. Lewis's lab later to pick up some equipment for today's training."
Riggs nodded, finishing his meal with a simple acknowledgment.
Their days followed a familiar rhythm, filled with intensive training that pushed their abilities and honed their teamwork. Bo's confidence had grown, his nervousness surfacing only occasionally. Riggs, however, often woke before dawn or stayed up late, keeping his thoughts to himself even as Val grew quietly concerned about his friend's restlessness.
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Another six months passed, bringing warm summer weather. With training coming to a close, the team decided to relax on the beach, just a short walk from the cabin. They splashed into the water, their laughter echoing along the shore.
"Aaaaahhh! This is exactly what I needed!" Riggs said, floating on his back, as if releasing all the tension from his body.
Val nodded, swimming beside him. The team exchanged smiles, soaking in the moment of peace.
"This is nice," Exeo agreed. "But let's head further out!" he called, grinning as he splashed forward.
"Wait!" Ember interrupted, pointing off to the side. "I think I saw something—like a fish!"
Everyone turned, squinting at the spot he pointed to, when suddenly, Ember's face broke into a mischievous grin.
"Gaaaahhh!" he shouted, splashing water into everyone's faces.
"Hey! What's that for?!" Exeo shouted, laughing.
Ember smirked. "Found your weakness, didn't I?"
"Oh yeah? Let's see who's really tough!" Exeo shouted, splashing water back.
"Come on, you two," Val said, trying to calm them, knowing full well Exeo's competitiveness in the water. But Exeo and Ember were already at it, laughing and splashing each other with renewed vigor.
The rest of the team couldn't help but join in, laughter bubbling over as water splashed in every direction. They lost track of time as the sun began to set.
Eventually, they heard a familiar voice. "What's all this noise? It's already dark!" Dr. Lewis called from the shore.
They stopped, turning sheepishly toward him.
"Uh…sorry," Exeo said, scratching his head, a bit embarrassed.
"We didn't realize how late it got," Riggs added with a chuckle.
Dr. Lewis sighed. "This is your last night here, so I'll let it go. But remember, the General expects you back in Clareo first thing in the morning."
They nodded, and Dr. Lewis headed back to the lab. Gathering themselves, they changed and prepared an early dinner, uncertain when they'd next get a chance to eat.
Afterward, Val stretched, sighing contentedly. "I'm stuffed."
The others agreed, tidying up the dishes.
"I'll handle these," Riggs offered, waving them off.
Exeo and Ember nodded and headed to bed, leaving Riggs to finish up. When he was done, he sat on the sofa, where Val joined him, watching him quietly.
"You seem troubled," Val said after a moment.
Riggs was silent, then looked at Val with a faint smile. "You think so?"
Val nodded. "It's the last day of training, right? Something about it's bothering you."
Riggs sighed, nodding. "Yeah. Guess I'm just…reflecting."
Val took a seat beside him, offering a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "It'll be fine."
Riggs looked at him, surprised. "Thanks."
Val just nodded and left Riggs to his thoughts, heading to bed. As Riggs lay back, he wondered, 'How does Val always notice? I've never let him see me struggling, yet somehow, he knows.'
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The next morning, they packed their things, ate a quick breakfast, and made their way to the helipad, where Dr. Lewis waited by the chopper.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
They nodded, boarding the helicopter. The trip to Clareo would only take two hours, and they slept through most of the journey, exhaustion taking over.
They awoke as the chopper landed, the midday sun bright above them. Stretching, Val yawned. "I feel like a new person after that nap."
Ember nodded, still drowsy. "It's been ages since I slept this well."
Riggs chuckled. "Better than sleeping on the sofa, that's for sure."
Exeo rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Hope none of you are getting soft on me."
They laughed, stepping out of the helicopter in their black combat uniforms. The strong wind from the chopper's blades blew their cloaks back, revealing their new physiques, lean and muscular from two years of grueling training. Even Val, Bo, and Riggs had gained several inches in height, adding to their imposing presence.
Waiting for them were three high-ranking officers: Colonel Shiko Hento, Lt. Col. Jaro Pertul, and General Carl Luis. The General, a muscular man in his 60s with a commanding air, was the first to greet them.
Exeo stepped forward. "General, we're back."
General Luis nodded approvingly. "I can see that. You all look well." He glanced at Dr. Lewis, acknowledging his efforts with a nod.
"Thank you for all your support," Exeo replied respectfully.
The General looked over the team, noticing the yawns and tired eyes. With a rare chuckle, he said, "You've all worked hard. You deserve some rest. Dormitory rooms have been prepared for you near your office."
He gestured to his left. "Colonel Hento will show you the way. After eight hours of rest, report to Lt. Col. Pertul," he added, indicating the muscular officer beside him.
Exeo and the team nodded gratefully, following Colonel Hento through the base. Along the way, Dr. Lewis separated from them, heading to his own office.
After winding through a series of hallways, they arrived at their quarters. Colonel Hento opened the door, stepping aside. "These will be your quarters," he said, smiling as the team filed in.
Bo, Val, and Riggs looked around in awe. Exeo raised an eyebrow, surprised. "This…is our office?"
Colonel Hento nodded. "Yes, and at the far end, you'll find your living quarters."
Inside were two bunk beds and a single bed. Without a word, Ember headed to the bottom bunk, muttering "Idiots" as the others debated bed arrangements. Val took the top bunk above him, while Riggs and Bo claimed the other bunk.
As they settled in, Colonel Hento chuckled, watching the camaraderie. He turned to Exeo. "Comfortable?"
Exeo nodded. "This arrangement worked well for us on the island, Colonel."
"Good to hear." Hento gave a final nod. "I'll leave you to rest. We'll see you later, Exeo."
After he left, Exeo turned to the others, settling onto the single bed. "Well, I guess this is home now."
With that, the team finally allowed themselves a well-deserved rest, preparing for the missions awaiting them in the days to come.