The room fell into a tense silence after the broadcast faded, the distorted voice lingering in everyone's thoughts. Mallory absently scratched behind Scraps' ears, her usual sarcasm replaced by a pensive expression. Across the room, Altair was already working at his console, fingers flying over the keyboard as he muttered calculations under his breath.
"Does he always look like that when he's solving the apocalypse?" Zara asked, tilting her head as if studying an exhibit.
"Pretty much," Vanessa replied, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Except this time he's wearing a ridiculous apron, which really takes the edge off the life-or-death situation."
Mallory smirked, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her unease. "You guys ever get the feeling that no matter how many times we win, we're just one step away from the next disaster?"
"You mean like life in general?" Kaelyn asked, methodically checking her gear. "Yeah, welcome to adulthood."
