The acrid smell of chemicals filled the air as the guards coughed and sputtered, their eyes watering from the noxious fumes that hung thick in the atmosphere.
The girl, still on the ground, glared at the retreating figure of the man who had crashed into her.
She scrambled to her feet, her movements swift and precise, brushing off her dirt-streaked uniform and assessing the chaotic scene unfolding around her.
"What in the world happened here?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the din with an edge of authority that belied her youth.
Despite the mess, her tone was steady, used to issuing commands even in the midst of confusion.
The guards around her exchanged uneasy glances, uncertain how to respond to the unexpected turn of events.
One of the older guards, a seasoned veteran with a graying beard and a steady gaze, stepped forward, trying to make sense of the chaos.
