Layla's voice rang out, her usual brightness cutting through the tension.
"I'm finally released from my duty," Layla said, her miniature form smiling up at Gina from the hologram.
Gina glanced at her, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips.
"That's good. Make sure you get some proper recovery, okay?" Gina replied, her voice soft but firm.
She could see the exhaustion in Layla's eyes even through the hologram.
As if on cue, the door slid open, and there stood Layla, her real form now in front of Gina. She was already walking toward her, arms outstretched for a hug.
Layla looked worn out from her 24-hour gate guard shift, but her energy was as unwavering as ever.
"Really?" Gina sighed, feeling Layla's arms wrap around her in a tight hug. "Seriously, Layla, you should rest before your insomnia gets any worse."
"Yeah, I know," Layla replied with a soft chuckle, pulling away and turning her gaze to Tomi, still fast asleep on the bed.
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"What's up with him?" she asked, nodding toward Tomi.
"Don't worry about that," Gina waved it off, her tone shifting back to business.
She knew Layla wasn't just here for a hug. "Anyway, report. What did you notice during your post?"
Layla's face turned serious, her carefree demeanor vanishing as she stood a little straighter.
"Well, here's what I found…" she began, her expression turned serious as she stood before Dr. Gina, her usual playful demeanor gone.
"When I was guarding the northern gate, I saw something strange—there was a dark mecha roaming around," she said, tapping her wristwatch.
A flicker of light illuminated the room as a holographic image materialized above Layla's watch.
The projection revealed a towering mecha, its sleek, dark armor gleaming under the moonlight, with the intimidating visage of a wolf's head adorning its helmet.
The hologram flickered slightly as if the machine itself pulsed with a quiet, menacing energy.
Gina's brow furrowed as she leaned in, her eyes narrowing at the image.
"Umm..." she murmured, studying the details of the armor, her fingers hovering over her holographic screen.
"That looks like the remnants of the purified AI dark mechas you all encountered during the last mission," she said thoughtfully, the corners of her lips tugging into a faint, almost bemused smile.
She tapped the screen, pulling up a series of data feeds and scans of previous mecha battles.
"And I'm sure Yuri has something to do with this," Gina added, her voice laced with curiosity as she pondered how Yuri had managed to purify them.
Layla raised an eyebrow, clearly unsettled by the revelation. "But Dr. Gina, how did she purify them? Aren't the dark mecha cores supposed to be…well, unchangeable?"
Gina shrugged, her gaze still fixed on the shifting data in front of her.
"I have no idea how she does that, Layla," she admitted, her tone calm yet distracted as she worked.
Her fingers moved across the screens with practiced precision, lines of code and diagrams appearing and vanishing in rapid succession.
Layla blinked in surprise. She doesn't know? It was rare for Gina to admit ignorance—Layla had always thought of her as a know-it-all.
"But don't worry," Gina said, turning to meet Layla's gaze with a confident smile. "I'll figure it out soon enough. It's just a matter of research... and maybe hacking into her data."
Just then, Tomi stirred awake, his vision still hazy as he blinked and saw Layla and Gina deep in conversation. His body ached, the sharp memory of Malik's assault flooding back. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut all over again.
"Damn that man!" he cursed inwardly, the fear of what Malik was capable of still fresh, his heart pounding with a mixture of anger and dread.
"Are you okay?" Layla's voice broke through his thoughts. She was standing close, her golden eyes sharp with curiosity but softened by genuine concern as she peered down at him.
Tomi flinched at her proximity, her intense gaze making the room feel smaller, the walls closing in on him. His chest tightened, and memories of past trauma—of being restrained and helpless—crept into his mind. Layla's presence, while well-meaning, was suffocating.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But... could you back up," he tine snapped, his voice weak and strained.
His hand instinctively went to his abdomen, wincing as the dull throb from Malik's punch reminded him of his vulnerability. He slowly sat up, his movements stiff as Layla reluctantly stepped back, her brows furrowed in concern.
Gina, who had been busy at her holographic screens, finally turned to address them.
"Since you're awake, kiddo, I need you both out of my office," she said with a dismissive wave, her attention already shifting back to her work. "I've got research to focus on."
Tomi, still shaky, nodded in silence, eager to escape the stifling air of the room. Layla lingered a moment longer, glancing back at Gina.
"And Layla," Gina added with a stern look, "make sure you get some sleep, alright?"
"Sure," Layla replied, though the weariness in her eyes told a different story.
Tomi limped down the hallway, his brow furrowed in both pain and anger. Each step sent a sharp reminder of Malik's brutal attack, fueling the simmering rage inside him.
The memory of the captain's cold, unbothered demeanor made his skin crawl. Just as he clenched his fists, stewing in the pain, Layla's voice broke through.
"Did something happen?" she asked, her eyes scanning his face with concern.
Tomi glanced at her, his anger barely contained.
"That captain of yours is scary and getting on my nerves," he spat, his words sharp as his brow furrowed deeper.
Layla gave a small smile, seemingly unfazed.
"That's Malik for you," she said with a slight shrug. Her eyes, though, glinted with curiosity. "But I wonder why he hurt you?"
Tomi's frustration flared at her calm demeanor.
"It has nothing to do with you," he snapped, quickening his pace in an attempt to put some distance between them.
The sting of Malik's actions, combined with Layla's indifferent attitude, only made him more irritable. "Now, leave me alone."
"Shouldn't you be on recovery, anyway?" he added, throwing a glance over his shoulder, annoyance lacing his words.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Layla replied with a lighthearted chuckle, effortlessly catching up to him.
Her pace was far too casual as if she wasn't affected by any of the tension. "Anyway, thanks."
Tomi barely registered her words before she turned back to him, her smile still intact.
"By the way, since you're in such a bad mood, why don't you try gate guard duty for a change? Take a break from the rescue missions and escorting assignments with those two clowns," she said,
"It's quite fun," she continued, her voice taking on a more persuasive note. "You'll get to meet new people and interact with the civilians."
Tomi huffed, rolling his eyes.
"No thanks," he muttered, his words dripping with exhaustion.
The last thing he wanted was more interaction after everything.
"Alright then," Layla called after him as she veered off down another hallway, her voice light and carefree. "See you tomorrow at formation!"
Tomi said nothing as he continued to walk, his mind still swirling with thoughts of Malik and the gnawing frustration that had settled deep within him.
As Layla watched Tomi walk off, a faint smile tugged at her lips. She couldn't help but recall the moment he had saved her, pulling her from beneath the crushing weight of the colossal mecha.
It seemed like a lifetime ago, yet here he was—still the same hard-headed individual.
"Still stubborn as ever," she thought, her gaze lingering on him as he disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
A smirk flickered across her face, a mix of curiosity and amusement bubbling inside her. But his real path... it intrigued her, deeply. There was more to Tomi than met the eye, and she knew it.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice interrupted her thoughts, and a small figure materialized beside her.
"S-1, the head of the master of chips!" chirped Titi, her tiny form floating beside Layla, her miniature hands clasped dramatically against her cheeks.
Layla gave a half-smile, glancing at Titi.
"I know, right? But what puzzles me is why he's the sole survivor," she mused, her brow furrowing slightly as Titi reached out to touch her face, the sensation both familiar and odd.
"I don't know, Layla," Titi replied, her voice squeaky and animated. "But I'm sure it has something to do with his physical body."
Layla's eyes narrowed in thought as Titi continued. "Because you see—"
"—the chip is connected to the nervous system," Layla finished the sentence with her, her voice tinged with playfulness.
"It sends foreign signals throughout the body and is triggered by emotional states, which makes chip holders superior to any human in almost every aspect of things." She rolled her eyes slightly as she mimicked Titi's explanation.
"Yeah, yeah, Titi. You've said that about ten times already," Layla joked, shaking her head.
Titi's tiny face scrunched in mock offense, her pout almost comical. "Come on, Layla! Be serious! If only you understood the true reality of what it means to be chipped…"
Layla sighed but smiled, her eyes softening as she regarded her small companion. "To think you also tap into my emotions, too," she mused inwardly. "Impressive, indeed."
"What?! I heard that!" Titi exclaimed, her tiny voice indignant as she puffed up. Layla chuckled softly,