Days passed since Val's grueling battle with the Void's shadow. He had barely caught up on rest when Dr. Lewis and General Luis summoned him to HQ's strategic office for an impromptu meeting.
Val strode into the room, his steps steady but cautious, his left eye still bearing faint traces of bruising.
As he entered, he noted Dr. Lewis and General Luis standing by a large screen displaying various personnel files and tactical notes—among them, prominently displayed, was Corporal Reyes's profile. His gaze flicked over it, bemused.
"Glad you could join us, Val," General Luis greeted, his usual formality softened with a hint of amusement.
Dr. Lewis, arms crossed and looking thoroughly entertained, tilted his head toward the screen. "We were just discussing Corporal Reyes," he began, his eyes twinkling. "A low-ranking officer who seems to have made quite an impression on Team Unknown."
Val raised a brow, catching the playful tone immediately. "Is that so?" he replied, trying to hide his grin.
General Luis nodded, deadpan but with a glint of humor. "It seems he's proven… adaptable. We were wondering," he continued, keeping his voice serious, "if you had any intentions of recruiting him."
Val nearly choked, managing to disguise it as a cough. "Wait—recruiting Reyes?"
Dr. Lewis nodded sagely. "He does seem to have survived a series of… unusual trials under your guidance. Teleportation sickness, impromptu sparring, and he hasn't run away yet," he said, his tone dry.
Val leaned back, arms crossed. "Oh, come on. We all know he nearly fainted during the training drills—and don't get me started on the way he panicked when Fon 'helped' him with target practice," Val said, grinning despite himself.
General Luis sighed, feigning a tone of pity. "Ah, but that's part of his charm. He's resilient! Even when you and your team practically scare him half to death daily."
Dr. Lewis gave a short chuckle. "And yet, he's here. Which makes us wonder… perhaps he has potential?" He leaned forward, studying Val. "Are you certain you don't see him fitting in with Team Unknown?"
Dr. Lewis folded his arms, leaning against the table. "Look, Val. Corporal Reyes has shown resilience—and while he might not be the most… 'battle-hardened' recruit, we think he has potential."
"Potential to what, faint every time he enters our gym?" Val muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, then gave Dr. Lewis a resigned look. "Let's be honest, he's practically terrified every time he so much as sees us. How do you expect him to fit in?"
General Luis raised a brow, fighting back a chuckle. "I seem to recall a time when you weren't exactly the model of composure, Val. Remember your first teleportation?"
Val rolled his eyes, shifting uncomfortably at the memory. "Touché, General."
Dr. Lewis continued, his tone more serious. "Reyes may not look the part yet, but you and your team have been… let's say, thorough in your training. And he's still here. We think he has what it takes if he's given a chance."
Val sighed, reluctant to admit the truth in their words. "Fine," he said, crossing his arms. "But if this goes south, you both are cleaning up the fallout."
"Noted," Dr. Lewis replied, not missing a beat.
Just as they exchanged final glances, the sound of a familiar voice drifted in from outside the briefing room, loud and unmistakably panicked. "I told you, I can walk on my own—stop pushing me!"
Val's smirk returned as he activated his mask, slipping back into his usual enigmatic aura just as the door opened to reveal Corporal Reyes. Two junior officers stood beside him, looking equally amused and slightly exasperated, as they nudged him forward, and soon left their colleague.
Reyes looked up, his gaze snapping to Val's masked face, a flicker of nervous recognition darting across his expression. He straightened immediately, almost snapping to attention on instinct, as if the very sight of Team Unknown's infamous leader commanded him to stand taller.
"Uh… sir," Reyes stammered, his voice somewhere between a squeak and a whisper. "Reporting in as… as requested."
General Luis cleared his throat, struggling to keep his face neutral. "Corporal Reyes, given recent circumstances and your… unusual training with Umbra, we've decided to place you on probationary status with Team Unknown."
Reyes's jaw dropped, and for a moment, he just stared blankly. "I… probationary status… with… Team Unknown?" He repeated, barely managing to string together a coherent sentence.
Val crossed his arms, leaning slightly forward. "That's right, Corporal. So get ready. You think the training so far was intense?" He let the question hang, his tone enough to send a chill down Reyes's spine.
Reyes gulped, his face pale but determined. "Yes, sir! I… I won't let you down!"
"Good," Val said, his voice carrying a note of amusement. "Because with us, you're either in it, or you're out."
The formalities of the briefing had gone by in a blur, and Corporal Reyes found himself trailing closely behind Val, feeling both proud and terrified.
He'd barely had a chance to process his probationary assignment to Team Unknown, and already he sensed something unusual in the air.
Val hadn't given him any specific orders, only a single command: Follow me.
As they walked, Reyes noticed Val's head tilt subtly, as if communicating something silently—no doubt through the Mind Link he'd heard so much about. He knew little of its workings, but seeing Val in action had given him some idea of its precision and power.
They took a series of turns through HQ's corridors, heading into a restricted wing Reyes hadn't accessed before. The area was quiet, empty, and the muffled echoes of their steps only added to the tension building in Reyes's chest. Val stopped outside a seemingly nondescript door and gave a single nod.
"After you," Val said, his tone unreadable.
Reyes pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately feeling the faint hum of an energy barrier pass over him—a security feature that reminded him just how exclusive this part of HQ was.
He barely had time to take in his surroundings when he recognized the setup as the HQ's private cafeteria, a large, informal space with a few scattered tables and chairs. He spotted Bo, Riggs, and Fon lounging in relaxed poses, clearly waiting for them.
"Finally!" Riggs said, shooting a look at Val. "Thought you were never going to get here."
Bo grinned, his mask tilting slightly as he leaned back in his chair. "Good of you to join us, Corporal," he said, a mischievous edge in his voice.
Reyes hesitated at the doorway, suddenly aware that he was standing in the unofficial den of Team Unknown—the area of HQ few people dared to enter, let alone interrupt.
"Uh, thank you," Reyes stammered, not entirely sure what he was thanking them for. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was the only one in the room not in on some sort of private joke.
Val took a seat at the head of the table, motioning for Reyes to join him. "Corporal," he began, his voice calm but with a glint in his eye that made Reyes's stomach tighten.
"Since you're on probation, we figured you deserved… a proper introduction."
Reyes blinked, unsure of what to expect. He took a seat, glancing around nervously. He felt like he was about to be hazed, but the curiosity in him outweighed the fear.
Riggs leaned forward, his arms crossed, and his voice dropped into an ominous tone. "You've worked with us on the field, sure. You've seen what we do. But you haven't seen us."
Reyes's eyes widened, his pulse quickening as he began to piece together what they were implying.
"You mean…" he started, glancing around at each of them, unsure if he was allowed to finish the sentence.
Bo's chuckle rumbled through the quiet cafeteria. "Yes, Corporal. The masks." He paused for effect, tapping a finger against his own mask. "Let's just say, it's a rare privilege."
Fon grinned, his amusement barely contained. "Only a handful of HQ staff have ever seen our faces. So consider yourself lucky, Reyes."
Reyes's face flushed with a mix of excitement and nerves. He had never expected this; the idea of seeing Team Unknown unmasked had always been the stuff of rumors and speculation. He found himself almost holding his breath as he nodded, his heart pounding against his ribs.
"Ready?" Val asked, his voice casual but his eyes gleaming with barely concealed mischief.
Reyes's hands fidgeted as he glanced around, acutely aware of the team watching his every reaction.
With a quick tap to the small panel at the side of his mask, Riggs deactivated it, revealing his sharp, mischievous eyes and a faint smirk that spoke volumes. "Surprised?" he asked, one brow raised, clearly enjoying Reyes's reaction.
Reyes blinked, taken aback by Riggs's ease, the faint lines of humor adding warmth to his otherwise intense gaze. He nodded, his voice a little breathless. "Definitely… not what I expected."
Fon followed suit, pressing the side of his mask to deactivate it. The mask retracted smoothly, revealing his youthful features and a grin stretching ear to ear. "Bet you thought we'd all look like stone-faced assassins," he teased. "Sorry to disappoint."
Bo tapped his own mask, the technology instantly deactivating it to reveal his calm, unruffled expression softened by a kind smile. With a raised eyebrow, he gestured toward Reyes's stunned expression. "Haven't passed out yet, Corporal? Impressive."
Reyes chuckled nervously, a part of him finally relaxing. For all the legends that surrounded them, they seemed… normal. But before he could fully settle, he felt a shift in the room as all eyes turned to Val.
Val reached up, pausing for a moment as he met Reyes's gaze. With a slight nod, he pressed a hidden control along his jawline, and the mask flickered out of view, revealing his face for the first time.
His medium, red fiery hair, now grown to a striking resemblance of his two older brother, Exeo's and Ember's, framed his features. His red eyes, vivid and intense, held a fierce, unyielding strength, making Reyes feel as though he were staring directly into the fiery gaze of a Bellator heir.
Reyes felt his breath catch. The resemblance was uncanny—the jawline, the eyes that practically burned with the same red fire he remembered from years ago. Ember Bellator. Exeo Bellator. The names flashed unbidden in his mind, and his lips parted in a whisper he didn't realize he'd spoken aloud.
"You… you look just like… the Bellator brothers…"
The room fell silent. Bo and Riggs exchanged glances, barely holding back their laughter, while Fon's eyes lit up with pure mischief.
Reyes continued, oblivious to the team's knowing expressions. "I remember them… the Bellator brothers. Cold, serious… trong, cunning…" He shook his head, still piecing it together. "But I would've sworn —"
He stopped abruptly as realization struck. His gaze snapped back to Val, the truth dawning on him with an almost comical intensity when he remembered one of the news about the youngest Bellator.
He stammered, his eyes wide, "Wait… you're the youngest Bellator? Valens Bellator?"
Fon couldn't hold back a snicker, tapping his fingers on the table with mock excitement. "Bingo. You've been in the company of the real deal this whole time. Took you long enough to figure it out!"
Reyes's mouth opened and closed, his gaze flicking over the team, as if willing them to tell him this was some kind of elaborate prank.
Val held back a chuckle, his expression part amusement, part exasperation. "Well, Corporal," he said dryly, "I may not be exactly like my brothers, but… welcome to Team Unknown."
Riggs laughed, nudging Bo. "See? Told you he'd have a dramatic reaction."
Reyes, still caught in a mixture of disbelief and awe, could only manage a nod, his gaze flickering between each of them. He was beginning to realize that in Team Unknown, legends were simply part of the day-to-day—and that he'd be along for the ride.