Ava sighed heavily as she finished checking on the last of the survivors. Her hands were covered in dirt and grime, her mind still reeling from the chaos that had unfolded just hours earlier. The remaining engineers—only twelve of them—sat quietly, huddled together near the remains of the convoy. They had survived, but only barely. The toll was clear in their weary eyes, in the way they clung to each other, desperate for some semblance of safety.
Her footsteps felt heavy as she walked toward the overturned vehicles, now nothing more than crumpled metal and debris scattered across the forest floor. The once-proud convoy was reduced to wreckage, their supplies and equipment lost to the ambush.
Ava crouched next to one of the vehicles, running her hand along its bent frame. The damage was extensive. It would take too long to repair these, she thought bitterly. Even if she had the tools, the parts, and the time, it wouldn't make a difference. The convoy wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
With a frustrated grunt, she pushed herself up, her eyes scanning the wreckage for anything useful. After a few minutes of searching, her gaze landed on a small package tucked beneath one of the seats. She pulled it out carefully, her fingers brushing off the dust.
A pack of rations—one of the few remaining items of food. Ava exhaled in relief. At least it's something.
She found a portable heater among the wreckage and used it to warm the food. As the heater hummed softly, she stood there, arms crossed, watching the steam rise from the small metal tray. The scent of the warming meal filled the air, reminding her of better times, of simpler times.
Just wonderful, she thought with a wry smile. Looks like we'll be following her for a while then. Her eyes drifted toward the direction where Sera and Zyra were. It's not like we had any particular destination in mind, right?
The heater beeped softly, signaling that the food was ready. Ava opened the tray, revealing the contents inside—soup, the kind that came in emergency ration packs. The smell was comforting in its simplicity, though it was a far cry from the homemade meals her father used to make for her. The memory of those meals brought a pang of nostalgia to Ava's heart, her thoughts briefly drifting back to her childhood.
Dad's soup always tasted different, she mused as she took the small spoon that came with the tray and dipped it into the soup. Richer, warmer... but this'll do. She took a slow bite, savoring the warmth as it spread through her body.
But even the warmth of the soup couldn't erase the bitter memories that surfaced.
Her father had been a brilliant man, an inventor who had worked tirelessly in his small lab, creating devices and technology that most people couldn't even begin to understand. But his brilliance had attracted attention—unwanted attention from the local government. They had wanted to use his inventions for their own purposes, and when he refused, they took everything from him. Everything, including his life.
Why'd I tell them that lie?
Ava stared down at the soup, the spoon trembling slightly in her hand. She had lied to Sera and Zyra about who she was, about her abilities, about the convoy. She wasn't a leader—not really. She had stepped up because there was no one else left, but deep down, she knew that she had no idea what she was doing.
She had told them she was capable, that she could help. She'd promised Sera that she could build her a Specialization Unit, that she had the skills to be useful. But the truth was... she didn't know if she could.
Was it a lie to survive? She pondered the thought.
The food in her hands felt heavier with each bite. It wasn't just about survival, though. The lie was more than that. She wanted to be useful. She wanted to prove herself to them, to these powerful women who had fought like nothing she'd ever seen before. Watching Sera tear that mask off, seeing the raw, brutal strength that both Sera and Zyra wielded—it had left an impression on her.
Was I just trying to get closer to them? To stay with them because I know I wouldn't survive out here alone?
She took another bite of the soup, the taste now bland, her thoughts clouded with doubt. Was this really who I am?
The question gnawed at her. She had grown up in her father's shadow, always trying to live up to the expectations of being the daughter of a genius. But what did she really know about herself? About who she was?
Her eyes flicked toward the group of engineers, the survivors who looked up to her now as their leader, as their protector. It was a role she had never asked for but had taken on out of necessity.
They trust me because I'm all they have left, she thought with a bitter smile. But do I trust myself?
She wasn't sure anymore. But she couldn't show weakness. Not now.
Ava let out a long sigh as she finished her meal, the warmth from the food doing little to ease the growing weight in her chest. She set the tray aside and stood up, brushing off her pants. Her hands still trembled slightly, but she clenched them into fists, pushing the doubt aside.
What does it matter?
She had already told the lie. She had already taken on the role of leader. Whether or not it was the truth, whether or not she was capable—it didn't change the fact that these people needed her. And for better or worse, she was staying with Sera and Zyra.
She wasn't going to survive on her own out here, that much was clear. And even if her reasons for staying were selfish, even if she had told a white lie to protect herself, it didn't change the reality of the situation.
All I did was say a white lie... she thought, trying to convince herself it wasn't that bad. It's not like it's going to hurt anyone.
But deep down, the doubt remained.