Soza looked at me, a mix of confusion and something else in her eyes. Before she could respond, a group of people approached us. As they drew closer, their voices sounded familiar.
When the light hit their faces, Soza and I smiled in greeting. It was Vatu, Vixus, Dior, Aki, Tito, and Tia. We all embraced, the warmth of their presence a balm to my troubled mind. Everyone looked so... mature. They had all gone through a lot together and during their time apart, each had endured different challenges.
We made fun of Vixus and Vatu's diver uniforms, the group erupting in laughter. It was a rare moment of levity, a brief respite from the weight of our responsibilities.
In the midst of catching up, my holoband lit up with a notification. It was Zara. She hadn't reached out in a long time. I excused myself and walked into a street alleyway to answer the call, with Dior following closely behind.
