Ray shuffled down the hallway like a zombie, his shoulders slumped, his steps slow and heavy. "I'm dead," he muttered over and over again, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dead. Completely, utterly dead."
His dramatic monologue continued as he trudged toward the deck. "I don't want to meet the protagonist and his harem. Why me? Why now? I should've stayed in bed."
Finally, he reached the sliding doors leading to the deck. They slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the meeting room. Ray stopped in his tracks, his heart racing. Standing before him were all the heroines he had been trying to avoid—and the protagonist himself, Captain Leon Voss.
Ray's breath hitched as their gazes turned toward him. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to step inside. "S-Sorry I'm late," he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.
In his head, his thoughts spiraled. This is scary. This is terrifying. I am so dead. Just blend in, Ray. Blend in and don't cause any more trouble.
He glanced at Zara, who was standing near one of the monitors. She wasn't even paying attention to him, her focus entirely on a data pad. Ouch, Ray thought, wincing slightly. Still hurts, even though it's probably for the best.
Then his eyes drifted to Lyra. She wasn't scowling at him like he had feared. Instead, she was looking at Captain Leon with a soft, almost dreamy expression, her gaze filled with admiration. That makes sense, Ray thought, nodding slightly to himself. She's head over heels for him.
Before Ray could spiral further into his internal monologue, Captain Leon began speaking, his commanding voice drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, team. We've got a new mission. Intelligence reports suggest a rogue mercenary group has taken control of a key supply station in sector 7. Our job is to neutralize the threat and secure the station."
Vice Captain Aria Steele stepped forward, her tone firm and precise. "The group is heavily armed, but disorganized. Their defenses are strongest near the main control room, so we'll need a coordinated assault."
Lyra Cross leaned forward, her fiery hair catching the light. "I can get us in close," she said confidently. "Give me a decent landing spot, and I'll drop us right in the middle of their defenses."
"As reckless as ever," Jade Hart said with a faint smile, sipping her tea. "I'll cover us from a distance. Take out the sentries before Lyra goes in guns blazing."
"Blazing works," Lyra shot back, smirking. "It gets the job done."
"Don't forget," Mira Vale interjected softly, "we'll need a med station nearby. If they're heavily armed, I'm going to be busy."
Leon grinned, his charm on full display. "Don't worry, Mira. We'll keep you safe. Can't have our star medic getting hurt."
Mira blushed faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you, Captain."
Zara looked up from her data pad, adjusting her glasses. "I've upgraded the plasma rifles and added a few extra energy cells. We should be good for a prolonged fight." She smiled nervously. "As long as no one trips over anything…"
Lyra snorted. "Just don't trip over yourself, Zara."
Zara's cheeks turned red. "I'll try not to!"
Astrid Vance, ever the diplomat, folded her hands elegantly. "If there are any hostages, I'll handle the negotiations. But let's hope it doesn't come to that." She glanced at Leon with a playful smile. "I'm sure the captain will charm his way through any trouble, as always."
Leon laughed, his charisma lighting up the room. "I'll do my best, but it's the team that makes it all happen."
Selene Drake, who had been leaning against the wall silently, finally spoke, her voice low and calm. "I'll handle the guards near the control room. Just give me a window."
The room erupted into a mix of strategy and banter, the team's dynamic both professional and relaxed. Ray, standing at the back, watched quietly, his smile twitching nervously. They're all so comfortable with each other, he thought. And here I am, trying not to breathe too loud.
As the meeting was wrapping up, Ray hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Uh, hey, boss," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "What do you want me to do?"
Everyone turned to look at him, their expressions a mix of surprise and mild confusion, as if they had forgotten he was even there. Ray could feel his heart drop. Great. Just great. They forgot I existed.
Zara glanced at him briefly, adjusting her glasses before going back to her data pad without a word. Lyra, however, shot him an annoyed look before turning back to gaze at Leon. Figures, Ray thought. She's too busy mooning over the captain.
Leon blinked before breaking into an apologetic smile. "Oh, Ray! Sorry, buddy. I kind of forgot you were here."
Ray's shoulders sagged. Ouch.
Ray took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Actually, boss," he said, his voice more steady, "let me fight in this mission today."
The room went silent. Everyone stared at him, clearly surprised by his sudden request. Zara blinked, finally focusing on him. Lyra crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"You? Fight?" Lyra said, her tone skeptical. "Are you sure about that?"
"Yeah," Ray said, nodding. "I'm serious. I can help. Just give me a chance."
Zara hesitated before chiming in, her voice uncertain. "I mean… you're usually more of a support guy, right?"
"And support is important," Mira added softly. "We don't want you to get hurt."
"I can handle it," Ray said firmly, looking at Leon. "Let me help with the fight, boss. I'll be useful."
Leon rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing around the room. "Well, what do you all think?"
"If he wants to, let him," Selene said simply, her tone neutral. "As long as he doesn't get in the way."
"He'll probably trip over Zara," Lyra muttered under her breath, earning a glare from Zara.
Astrid smiled warmly. "If Ray thinks he can contribute, I'm all for it. Everyone deserves a chance."
Leon nodded, turning back to Ray. "Alright, buddy. If you're sure about this, you're in."
Ray let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thank you, boss. I won't let you down."
The group began to disperse, leaving Ray standing there with a mix of excitement and nerves. Well, I asked for this, he thought. Time to prove I'm not just a background character.
Ray walked down the corridor, his mind racing as he tried to shake off the awkward tension from the meeting. "They looked at me like I was nothing," he muttered dramatically to himself. "Like I'm just some background character. Ugh, pull it together, Ray. You've been through worse… I think."
He took a deep breath, rubbing his temples. "Okay, okay. Let's focus. Weapons. I need weapons. Old-school style mixed with this new tech. I was an elite mercenary in my past life, and I can be one here too. Different ball game, same skills. Just gotta adapt."
With that pep talk, he straightened his posture and headed for the armory shop. As the door slid open with a soft hiss, he stepped inside. The familiar glow of high-tech gadgets and weaponry filled the room. Zara Quinn was sitting at a workbench, tinkering with what looked like a plasma core. She glanced up when he entered, her cheeks flushing slightly before she quickly turned her attention back to her work.
"What do you want, Ray?" she asked, her tone brisk but not unkind.
"I need my weapons," Ray said simply, stepping further into the room. "Something to strap to my back, something for my legs… and maybe a few extra gadgets."
Zara raised an eyebrow, pausing her work. "That's pretty vague, you know. What exactly are you looking for?"
Ray grinned slightly. "Two plasma swords and two laser guns should do for now. Oh, and any tech that might give me an edge out there."
As he moved around the armory, picking out the weapons and gear, Zara watched him closely. "You're really going all out for this mission," she said, her voice laced with curiosity. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
Ray strapped the plasma swords to his back and secured the laser guns to his thighs, his movements deliberate and confident. "Yeah," he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I can handle it. Trust me."
Zara adjusted her glasses, her nerdy, smart demeanor showing through as she muttered to herself. "You're either really brave or really reckless… maybe both."
Ray chuckled, glancing at her as he grabbed a few additional gadgets. "Probably both," he admitted. "But I've got a job to do, and I'm not planning to mess it up."
Just as Zara was about to get up to help him, her chair wobbled, and she stumbled forward. Her clumsiness struck again, but Ray caught her before she could hit the floor.
"Whoa, you okay?" he asked, steadying her.
Zara's face turned red as she straightened herself, brushing off imaginary dust. "Yeah, I… I'm fine. Thanks," she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Ray gave her a confident nod. "No problem."
He adjusted his gear one last time and turned to leave the armory. Zara watched him go, her mind swirling with thoughts. As the door slid shut behind him, she unconsciously touched her lips, her cheeks warming.
Why am I thinking about that kiss again? she thought, her blush deepening. It was just an accident! Get over it, idiot.
She shook her head, trying to focus on her work, but the memory lingered stubbornly. "Good luck, Ray," she murmured softly, her tone both nervous and hopeful.
Ray wandered through the halls, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. His head hung low, and his hands flailed dramatically as he muttered to himself. "First day reincarnated," he groaned, his voice filled with despair. "And what do I do? Kiss Zara on accident. Bump into Lyra so hard I probably gave her a concussion. And now, I'm about to go on my first mission in this crazy new world. Am I nuts?!"
He stopped in his tracks, running his hands through his hair and pacing in a small circle. "Seriously, what am I doing? Who even does this?" His voice rose in volume as he threw his hands up. "Why couldn't I just have a normal, peaceful reincarnation?! No! I had to end up in a high-stakes space mercenary company with a harem of terrifyingly competent women and a protagonist who's so perfect it's infuriating!"
Ray slapped his cheeks to calm himself, taking a deep breath. "Okay, okay, breathe. Calm down. You can do this. You've got skills. You've got… swords. And guns. You'll be fine."
Just as he started to regain his composure, a shadow loomed in the hallway ahead. Ray's heart sank, his stomach flipping as he recognized the figure. Selene Drake, the group's assassin, emerged from the shadows with her usual grace and quiet intensity. Her piercing eyes locked onto him, and Ray felt an icy chill run down his spine.
"Oh no," he whispered, his voice trembling. "It's Selene. Why is it Selene? Of all people, why her?!"
Selene approached him silently, her movements so fluid it was as if she were gliding. Ray tried to smile, but it came out as a nervous twitch. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Don't freak out, he chanted in his head.
"Ray," Selene said, her voice low and calm, yet carrying an unmistakable edge. "We need to talk."
Ray stiffened, his mind racing. Oh no. Oh no. She's going to kill me. She's definitely going to kill me.
"Y-Yes, Selene?" he stammered, his voice cracking. "What… what can I do for you?"
Selene's gaze narrowed. "I want to make one thing clear," she said, her tone icy. "Do not mess up this mission. If you do, it won't just reflect poorly on you—it will jeopardize the entire team."
Ray nodded furiously, his head bobbing like a bobblehead. "Of course! Absolutely! No messing up! Got it!"
Selene took a step closer, and Ray instinctively stepped back. "And," she added, her eyes narrowing further, "do not make things difficult for the captain. He has enough to deal with without you causing problems."
Ray's mind spiraled into panic. She knows! She definitely knows! About Zara, about Lyra, about everything!
"Don't worry!" he blurted, his voice rising several octaves. "I won't mess it up! I promise! You can count on me! Totally dependable Ray here!"
Selene's expression didn't change. She studied him for a long moment before finally stepping back. "You better not," she said coolly. "Because if you do… you'll have to answer to me."
Ray gulped, nodding so quickly he felt dizzy. "Yes, ma'am! Absolutely, ma'am!"
Selene turned on her heel and walked away, her presence leaving a lingering chill in the air. Ray stood frozen in place, his knees trembling. That was the scariest conversation of my life, he thought, his mind racing. I can't mess this up. I can't mess this up. I CAN'T MESS THIS UP!
He leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. "Get it together, Ray," he muttered. "You've faced worse… maybe. No, definitely not. This is the worst."
After a few moments of dramatic self-reflection and a lot of internal screaming, Ray straightened up. "Alright," he said, trying to sound confident. "Let's do this. No messing up. No dying. Easy, right?"
As he started walking again, his dramatic monologue reignited. "I was an elite mercenary in my past life," he said, his voice growing louder with determination. "And now, in my new life in this sci-fi space mercenary world, I can still be elite!" He clenched his fists, only to pause and clutch his head. "But what if I'm not?! What if I screw this up?!" He groaned loudly before shaking his head. "No. Focus, Ray! You've got this!"
He took another deep breath, his pace quickening as he headed to prepare for the mission. "It's just a different ball game. Same skills, new arena. I can still do this. I will do this!"