Ray walked through the halls, his footsteps echoing faintly against the metallic walls. His mind wandered, replaying the events of the mission and the interactions on the deck. The team's camaraderie was impressive, and even though he felt like an outsider at times, he couldn't help but respect their dynamic.
As he turned a corner, his pace slowed, and a sudden thought struck him. "Wait a second," he muttered to himself, coming to a stop. "I… I forgot someone. The seventh one."
He rubbed his temples, trying to piece together the names and faces of the team. "Lyra, Jade, Mira, Astrid, Selene, Zara…" His eyes widened. "Eve! Evelyn 'Eve' Stroud. How could I forget her?"
Ray started walking again, his pace more hesitant now, as he talked to himself. "Eve… the ship's chief navigator and tactician. She's sharp, calculating, and not someone you want to get on the bad side of. If I forgot about her, it's probably because I've been subconsciously avoiding her."
He let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, avoiding her sounds about right. She's scary in her own way. Always planning, always calculating, and always two steps ahead. I'd be a fool to try and figure her out."
Ray's voice lowered as he muttered, "And let's not forget… like the others, she's totally in love with the captain. I've seen the way she looks at him when she's teasing him, like he's the only one in the galaxy who can keep up with her."
He sighed, shaking his head. "So yeah, definitely not getting involved there. I'll just keep my distance. She's way too intense, and the last thing I need is to accidentally cross someone like her."
Straightening up, Ray quickened his pace, eager to focus on anything else. "Alright, Eve, you stay in your lane, and I'll stay in mine. No need to mess with the ship's mastermind. I'll just keep my head down and stay out of her way."
His thoughts shifted as he walked. Evelyn "Eve" Stroud wasn't just another member of the team—she was the one person he knew better than to mess with. And that was more than enough for him.
Ray wandered through the halls, his footsteps aimless as he tried to process the day's events. As he passed by a door labeled "Training Room," he stopped. His gaze lingered for a moment before he pushed the door open, revealing a spacious room filled with all kinds of equipment. Weights, resistance bands, combat simulators, and, in the far corner, a practice dummy stood silently, waiting to be used.
Ray stepped inside, letting the door slide shut behind him. He looked around and then fixated on the dummy. "Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to blow off some steam. Can't keep all this pent-up energy without doing something about it."
Walking up to the dummy, he took a deep breath and got into a fighting stance. "Let's see if I've still got it," he said quietly. He threw a quick jab, followed by a roundhouse kick that landed with a solid thud against the dummy.
"Not bad," he muttered, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "But I've got to be faster. If I can't take down a dummy in seconds, what good am I?"
He launched into a flurry of punches, kicks, and strikes, each movement precise and fluid. The sound of his fists and feet connecting with the dummy filled the room, accompanied by his grunts and the occasional, "Hi-yah!" or "Take that!"
As he continued, he began talking to himself. "Okay, Ray. Quick jab, follow with a cross, and then… spin kick! Yes! That'll do it!" He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, stepping back to reassess the dummy. "Not bad, but you're still standing. Let's change that."
He charged forward, delivering a powerful elbow strike, followed by a sweep kick. The dummy wobbled but stayed upright. "Stubborn, huh?" he said with a smirk. "Fine. Let's see how you handle this."
Unbeknownst to Ray, Zara stood just outside the room, her gaze locked on him through the small window on the door. She'd been passing by when the sounds of his training caught her attention. Curiosity got the better of her, and now she couldn't look away.
"He's… good," Zara thought, adjusting her glasses as her cheeks flushed slightly. "I didn't think he had this kind of skill."
Her thoughts continued as she watched him unleash another series of attacks on the dummy. "He's so focused. And his movements… they're not just random strikes. They're deliberate. Calculated."
Ray, oblivious to his audience, threw a spinning back kick that finally sent the dummy toppling over. "Yes!" he exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air. "Take that, you lifeless hunk of foam!"
Zara covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, her cheeks turning an even brighter shade of red. "What am I doing?" she muttered under her breath. "Why am I watching this idiot? I… I love the captain! Not him!"
Her mind flashed to the accidental kiss, her blush deepening. "That was supposed to be for the captain… not this moron!"
She shook her head furiously, trying to push the thoughts away. "Focus, Zara. You love Captain Leon. He's the love of your life. The one you're going to marry someday. You've already decided that!"
But despite her internal berating, she couldn't bring herself to look away. Ray reset the dummy and started again, his movements more exaggerated this time as he began mocking his imaginary opponent.
"What's that?" Ray said in a faux deep voice, pretending the dummy was talking back to him. "You think you can take me? Ha! You've got no chance!"
He threw a punch, then added, "Oh no, Ray! Don't hit me! I'm just a harmless dummy!"
He laughed at his own antics, landing another combination of strikes. "Too late, dummy. Should've thought about that before you insulted my sword skills!"
Zara's lips quirked into a reluctant smile as she watched. "He's such a goofball," she thought, her blush softening but still present. "But… he's having fun. He's not just practicing; he's enjoying himself."
Ray ended his mock fight with a dramatic spin kick, sending the dummy toppling again. He wiped his brow and laughed. "Victory! Dummy defeated! Who's next?"
Zara turned away quickly, afraid he might catch her watching. As she walked down the hall, she muttered to herself, "Idiot. He's such an idiot… but still. Ugh, why am I even thinking about him? The captain is the only one who matters. I'm supposed to focus on him. Not Ray." She adjusted her glasses again, trying to shake the flustered feeling lingering in her chest.
Ray stepped into the training room once again, his plasma swords humming softly as he activated them. He approached the practice dummy with a grin, spinning the blades expertly in his hands. "Alright, dummy," he said, his tone light. "Let's see how you handle this."
He began with a series of fluid strikes, his blades cutting through the air with precision. Each swing landed with a satisfying whirr against the dummy, the sound of energy crackling with each hit. "Not bad, huh?" Ray said to himself, laughing. "Still got it."
As he continued, he started adding flair to his movements—spins, flips, and exaggerated swings. "And now for the grand finale!" he announced dramatically, leaping into the air and bringing both blades down in a cross slash. The dummy shook but remained upright. "Tough crowd," he muttered, chuckling.
Unbeknownst to him, the vice captain, Aria Steele, had been standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. She watched with a small smile as Ray practiced, her eyes lingering on his movements. But when he started spinning in circles like a showman, she couldn't hold back.
"Ray!" she called out, her voice sharp yet not unkind.
Ray froze mid-spin, his eyes wide as he turned around. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her—Aria Steele, standing there in all her commanding beauty. Her silver hair caught the light just right, and her piercing eyes seemed to see straight through him.
"V-Vice Captain!" he stammered, lowering his plasma swords. "I… uh… didn't see you there."
"Clearly," she said, stepping into the room with an amused expression. "What are you doing?"
Ray scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Just… uh… trying not to get rusty, you know?"
Aria raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Not rusty, huh? With all those tricks? You looked more like you were auditioning for a circus." She crossed her arms, her tone teasing. "Why not have a real practice match?"
Ray's heart nearly stopped. A practice match? With her?! His mind spiraled into panic. She's the vice captain! I'll look like a fool! What if I mess up?!
"Uh… sure!" he blurted out, his voice cracking slightly. He mentally screamed at himself. What are you doing?!
Aria's smile turned almost predatory as she stepped to the other side of the room, drawing her own plasma sword with a smooth, practiced motion. "Alright," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Show me what you've got."
Ray took a deep breath, his hands gripping his swords tightly as he moved into a battle stance. "Okay, here goes nothing," he muttered.
The two circled each other for a moment before Aria lunged forward. Their blades clashed, sending sparks flying. Ray barely had time to block her strikes, each one faster and more precise than the last.
"Not bad," Aria said, smirking as she pressed the attack. "But you're too predictable."
Ray gritted his teeth, focusing on her movements. He parried one of her strikes and countered with a quick slash, forcing her to step back. "Predictable, huh? Let's see about that."
The match continued, their blades humming and clashing in a blur of motion. Ray's nerves faded as he fell into the rhythm of the fight, his confidence growing with each successful block and strike. Finally, he saw an opening. With a quick maneuver, he disarmed her and used his momentum to pin her to the ground, his blade hovering near her shoulder.
Aria blinked up at him, surprised but smiling. "Well, I'll be damned," she said, her tone light. "You won."
Ray let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and laughed. "I did? I mean… I did! Yes!"
Still holding her down, he realized just how close they were. Aria's expression softened for a moment as she looked at him. "Not bad," she said. "You've got more potential than I thought."
Ray's face turned red as he scrambled to say something. "Uh, thanks! You… you were amazing too!"
They both laughed lightly, the tension easing. But then Aria's usual commanding tone returned. "Alright, Ray," she said, her smile turning into a smirk. "You can let me up now."
"Oh! Right!" Ray stammered, quickly releasing her and stepping back. His mind was screaming again. Oh no, oh no, I held her down for too long! What was I thinking?!
Aria stood, brushing herself off as she looked at him with a mix of amusement and approval. "Good work, Ray," she said, giving him a rare, genuine smile. "You've earned that victory."
Ray scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Thanks, Vice Captain."
As she turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder. "Don't get cocky," she added with a wink, before walking out of the room.
Ray stood there, frozen for a moment before collapsing onto the floor, his swords clattering beside him. "What just happened?" he muttered, his face burning. "I… I beat the vice captain?! And… she smiled at me? What is my life right now?!"
Ray left the training room, his mind a whirlwind of frustration and embarrassment. "What the hell is wrong with me?" he muttered, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. "First, I reincarnate into this world, then I accidentally kiss Zara, bump into Lyra, and now… slamming the vice captain to the ground and holding onto her for way too long? What the hell, Ray?!"
He groaned loudly, rubbing his face as he walked. "I'm a walking disaster," he continued, his voice rising. "Why can't I just be normal for one day?!"
As his stomach growled, he sighed and changed course. "Alright, alright. Food. Maybe I'll feel less like a complete idiot if I eat something."
He made his way to the mess hall, muttering to himself along the way. "What's even for dinner? Knowing my luck, it's probably some weird sci-fi protein bar or something."
When he stepped inside, the mess hall was quiet, the usual hum of activity absent. Ray scanned the area and walked over to the kitchen, deciding to make something himself. "Okay," he said, rolling up his sleeves. "What's something I can cook? Something from my old world…" His face lit up with an idea. "Yeah, I can make that!"
Ray started gathering ingredients, talking to himself as he worked. "Alright, so first, chop this… then mix that… and a little bit of seasoning here. Perfect." He smiled, feeling a sense of normalcy as he focused on cooking. "This might actually turn out okay."
As he stirred the pot, the door to the mess hall slid open. Ray glanced up and froze. Captain Leon walked in, his presence as calm and commanding as always. "Oh, uh, h-hi, Captain!" Ray stammered, nearly dropping his spoon.
Leon looked over and smiled. "Hey, buddy. What are you doing?"
"Oh, uh, just… making some food for myself," Ray replied nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I was… kinda hungry."
Leon nodded, walking closer. "Smells good. How about making enough for two?"
Ray blinked. "For… for you? Sure! Of course!"
He immediately started doubling the portions, his hands moving quickly as he tried not to overthink the situation. "No pressure, Ray," he muttered under his breath. "Just cooking for the captain of the ship. No big deal."
As Leon leaned against the counter, he watched Ray with interest. "You're pretty good at this. Where'd you learn to cook?"
Ray shrugged, trying to keep his voice steady. "Back in my… uh, my old life. Cooking was kind of a hobby for me."
"Well, it's impressive," Leon said, his tone warm. "Not everyone on this ship knows how to make something from scratch."
Ray laughed nervously. "Thanks, Captain."
As they waited for the food to finish, Leon tilted his head. "So, Ray, tell me about yourself. Where'd you come from before joining us?"
Ray hesitated, his mind racing. What do I even say to that? "Uh, it's a long story," he said finally. "Let's just say I've had a… unique path to get here."
Leon chuckled. "Fair enough."
Ray decided to turn the tables. "What about you, Captain? Where… where did you find everyone? You know, the team?"
Leon's expression softened, and he leaned back slightly. "Each one of them has their own story," he said. "Lyra was the first. She was a pilot for a different squadron. I saw her potential and recruited her. Jade came later—I met her during a mission where she'd already infiltrated an enemy base. Smart, resourceful… she's incredible."
He continued, his voice filled with fondness. "Mira's our medic. I found her in a war-torn region, saving lives. Astrid was a bodyguard for a high-ranking official. Zara… she's a genius engineer. And Selene… well, she's not the easiest to explain. Let's just say I gained her trust during a complicated mission."
Ray listened intently, his nervousness fading as the captain spoke. "And Evelyn?" he asked, curious. "How did you meet her?"
Leon smiled. "Eve… she was running circles around a crew of pirates when I found her. The best tactician I've ever met. She's sharp, witty, and keeps everyone in check—including me."
Ray hesitated before asking, "Do you… do you love them?"
Leon nodded without hesitation. "I do. Each of them is special in their own way. They're more than a team to me—they're my family. And yes, I love them."
Ray's hands paused as he thought about the weight of Leon's words. "That's… really incredible, Captain."
Leon patted him on the shoulder. "You'll find your place here too, Ray. Don't worry."
Ray smiled nervously, plating the food and handing Leon a dish. "I hope you like it," he said, his voice steadying slightly.
As they ate together, Ray felt a little less like an outsider and a little more like part of the team.
After finishing dinner with Captain Leon, Ray walked back to his room, the weight of the day finally settling on him. As the door slid shut behind him, he collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the metallic ceiling. "What a day," he muttered dramatically, throwing an arm over his forehead.
He sighed deeply, his thoughts racing. "This morning, I woke up reincarnated in a whole new world. A sci-fi space mercenary world, no less! And what did I do? Kiss Zara by accident, bump into Lyra like an idiot, and then… slam the vice captain to the ground and hold on way too long! What the hell is wrong with me?!" His voice rose as he berated himself, gesturing wildly to no one in particular.
Ray groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I'm a walking disaster. A total mess. If reincarnation was supposed to make me cool and collected, it's doing a terrible job."
He sat up slightly, propping himself on his elbows. A small, reluctant smile crept onto his face as he remembered the mission. "But… that was kind of awesome," he admitted, his tone softening. "Using plasma swords and laser guns… fighting those guards… and actually winning!" He grinned, his excitement bubbling up. "I mean, come on! Sci-fi weapons? How cool is that?!"
Leaning back down, Ray let out a chuckle, his smile lingering. "Maybe I didn't totally mess up today. Sure, it was chaotic, and I'm pretty sure everyone thinks I'm a weirdo, but… I fought my first mission as a space mercenary. That's something, right?"
As his thoughts began to slow, his eyelids grew heavy. "Alright, Ray," he murmured to himself, his voice trailing off. "Let's see what tomorrow brings… hopefully less embarrassment… and more…" His words faded as sleep took over, his breathing evening out as he drifted into dreams of plasma swords and intergalactic adventures.