Zara stood rigidly, her back straight as her superior, Commander Alden, paced in front of her with a frown that seemed permanent. His voice was a low, angry growl as he berated her for the third time that day.
"Zara! This is the third time this week you've let a mission slip through your fingers! How do you explain that?!" Commander Alden's fists clenched at his sides.
Zara remained silent, her eyes glazed over as she nodded meekly. She couldn't focus on his words. Her mind was elsewhere, distracted by the scene unfolding behind her.
Behind her, Seraphine was crouched down beside Alphenluev, who was sitting quietly in the hangar. Seraphine, looking as elegant as ever in her simple white clothes, was carefully trying to feed the massive mecha. She held a large spoon full of what appeared to be some kind of mechanical oil, trying to push it into the cockpit as if Alphenluev were a child who needed to be spoon-fed.
"No, no, you need to eat this. It's good for you, trust me," Seraphine said softly, offering the spoon to the cockpit, as though Alphenluev could somehow eat it.
Nandya stood nearby, shaking her head. "Seraphine, it's a robot. It doesn't eat!"
Seraphine paused, her golden eyes narrowing at Nandya. "You're just jealous because you can't feed it. It needs sustenance to run, okay? Everyone knows that."
"No, Seraphine," Nandya replied, her voice exasperated. "It's a machine. It's not like you can feed it. You can't feed a robot. It doesn't have a stomach, it has—"
"A brain," Seraphine interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. "Just because you don't understand how it works doesn't mean it isn't true."
Nandya crossed her arms, her lips curling into a frown. "You have the brain of a fish, Seraphine."
"You're one to talk, fish-brain," Seraphine shot back, not looking at Nandya but still maintaining a haughty tone.
"I'm serious, Seraphine!" Nandya snapped, her voice rising in frustration. "This is a robot! You can't just—"
Meanwhile, Zara tried to focus on the dressing-down from Commander Alden, but it was impossible. The constant back-and-forth between Seraphine and Nandya was making it hard to concentrate.
"Zara, are you even listening?!" Commander Alden barked, slamming his fist on the table, pulling her attention back.
"Sorry, sir!" Zara snapped to attention, looking apologetic. "I was just… thinking."
Alden narrowed his eyes. "Well, think on this, soldier! We can't afford any more mistakes, or you'll be on kitchen duty for the next month!"
"I understand, sir. I'll do better," Zara said quickly, her voice quiet.
"Good. Now, pay attention."
The moment he turned his back, Zara's gaze immediately drifted to the argument behind her again.
"You've got to stop this nonsense," Nandya sighed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Why can't you just believe me for once?"
Seraphine, undeterred, reached for another spoonful of the oil-like substance, determined to feed Alphenluev. "I do believe you, I'm just telling you, this is the best way to take care of it! You're just not seeing the big picture, Nandya. It's all about the connection."
"The only connection here is the one that's going to short-circuit the mecha!" Nandya snapped back.
Zara shook her head, trying to suppress a chuckle as she realized she had been standing there, watching the two of them argue like children, while Commander Alden continued his rant in front of her.
"Zara!" Alden snapped, shaking his head as though he had just realized she was zoned out again. "What are you laughing about?"
Zara straightened up, a sheepish smile on her face. "Uh, nothing, sir. Just thinking about... how I'm not on kitchen duty yet."
Alden gave her a stern look, clearly not amused, but Zara couldn't help it. The chaos unfolding behind her, the ridiculousness of the situation, made it hard to keep her composure.
"Well, if you don't shape up soon," Alden continued, "you might just find yourself in the kitchen with those two."
Zara fought to keep a straight face. "Yes, sir!" she said in an overly serious tone, while her eyes still lingered on Seraphine feeding a spoon to Alphenluev, and Nandya rolling her eyes in disbelief.
"Good. Now get back to your duties."
"Yes, sir!" Zara snapped to attention again, but her mind was still wandering. The whole situation was ridiculous.
As the argument continued behind her, Zara couldn't help but feel that perhaps this was the real punishment.