The Navigator tried to calm her irrational thought. A lot of people were blonde and women - both of them speaking together right now were women. The percentage of them that were both and actually made up Operatives was something Ev might know or could find out quicker than her… but that wasn't important.
"You say it was a blonde… what kind of modifications did she do?"
"Yeah, blonde woman. Real… intense. Actually-"
She paused and studied Naia's face then lifted her hand a few inches above her own head to measure with a squint.
"You look a lot like her. Same eyes and height."
The reality around her seemed to tilt. Wasn't it Theia? Here. Why? Naia tried to keep her voice steady as she tried to make more sense of it.
"Did she say anything? Perhaps where she was going next?"
"Sorry, ma'am. Didn't even leave a name on the log. Classified, I guess. But she left quite an impression."
The soldier shrugged and gestured again for her to follow. Naia's thoughts raced with intrigue. What was she doing out alone? Rather, if she was here and no one stopped what she was doing… then wasn't it approved by V/O? Then why hadn't they-
She shook her head. The mission - her own - had to come first. She could ask all the questions she wanted later. But as she raised her staff and started to hum, Naia couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. Again.
It was the same feeling she had when learning that the woman would be joining their squad. It made her realize that while her professional successes were good… it didn't entirely solve her personal issues. She still felt like an imposter and replacement, if she let herself think about it too much.
"We're all ready, Navigator!"
A technician's shout pulled her out of her thoughts and back into the present. Naia channeled cerulean energy into the array of resonators and started weaving an enormous net of harmonized space. The power stretched out into the distance and it felt... better than usual. Even more than the other new versions she'd been so happy with.
'That must be her work. Interesting. I wonder what she did to them?'
She'd have to see if she could find the schematics - surely any of these changes had been logged somewhere on mil-net. Naia gingerly continued humming and manipulating the energies of the shell until it was within stable parameters. The technicians would have to do the rest of the monitoring from there. Her side of things was done.
Her terminal chimed with the mission update. She figured that someone high-up on site must have been paying close attention. The Navigator knew some of the tacticians could get... competitive. It wouldn't surprise her to learn that a conversation was already being had bragging that this base completed the same project quicker than the last she was at.
Such a 'stable' variable as her in the process would leave all the glory to the technicians and their prep.
As she started to ready herself to leave, the soldier that had led her earlier approached again. The woman smiled and held out her hand to shake.
"Thank you! It's nice to meet someone who can make me look better than the senior Operatives."
Naia returned the smile and shook her hand. She felt she just learned who sent in the completion notice so fast.
"It's no problem. I was just doing my duty. Do you need something else?"
The woman brushed back her hair as she let go and nodded.
"I was wondering if you'd like to grab a drink before you go. I have some time before I need to report for my next assignment thanks to your quick work."
The Navigator paused and blinked. She could read the emotions pretty clearly. This was flirting? With her?
"Um, I don't think I should... I have a..."
For a moment she was stuck on what to call Evander. Lover was simple to think in her head, but sounded a bit blunt. Partner made things sound more serious than they'd ever discussed. Luckily the young soldier was sharp enough to notice... or at least the quick red glow of her eyes did.
"Oh, so you're not a free agent. Got it. Can't blame a girl for trying."
The woman winked easily and walked off. Naia stood there for a while, just a little shocked at what happened. She never recalled anyone acting that way toward her before. Then again, she was usually working with her squad. Was that something... normal? To be approached and-
Her terminal made another noise of alert and she hurried to look. It only made her want to groan.
'I've been assigned another mission after the next... it's almost like Orfea doesn't want me to rest back at home.'
---
Evander stood before the holographic display at Vanguard Command. His eyes scanned the intricate web of mission data and his fingers moved swiftly; adjusting parameters and analyzing the outcomes. His tactical visor reflecting the glow from his eyes bathed his face in red light.
A notification of an update blinked in the corner of his vision. Another solo mission was assigned to Naia. His jaw clenched.
Logically, he understood the strategy. Naia's abilities were valuable and strong. She was in the top percentile of wielders of that power. Spreading her across multiple operations maximized overall effectiveness. Just like they did with Poros.
Yet something about it didn't sit right. It felt like they were being targeted.
He pulled up Naia's mission log and studied the pattern of her deployments. Efficient, yes. Clearly picked by a tactician. But the frequency of them... Evander calculated the physical and mental strain, frowning at the projected outcomes.
"You're wearing that look again, sir."
The squad leader turned to find one of his subordinates watching him. He smoothed his expression. It wasn't good to show personal concern at work.
"Just analyzing our resource allocation. It could use adjustments."
The man nodded - not entirely convinced - and moved on. Evander returned to the display. His mind eventually drifted to Theia. Her absence was... unsettling. No updates; no mission reports. It was as if she'd vanished into the ether of classified operations.
He was even beginning to think she might be a covert operative.
He shook his head to clear it and better focus on the task at hand when his terminal chimed. A message from Naia. His heart rate increased slightly as he opened it and skimmed its contents.
/ Evander, I heard something strange today. A blonde woman - matching Theia's description - was here recently. Made modifications to the resonators. Do you know anything about this? /
He read the message twice. Theia, operating independently? Without his knowledge? It didn't add up unless…
Evander's fingers hovered over the reply button. He knew he should report this. Protocol demanded it. Something held him back. The need to understand and to control the situation overrode his usual adherence to V/O rules.
/ I'll look into it. /
He typed back. With hesitation, he added another line.
/ Remember to factor in adequate recovery time between missions. /
He sent the message. Then he began formulating a plan to uncover the truth about Theia's activities. As for Naia... He glanced at her mission log a brief moment again.
The red glow of his visor intensified as he dove back into his calculations. He was determined to regain control of situations rapidly spiraling beyond his grasp.