"Stay close… and steady."
As Tess said this, the squad approached the towering gates of the hidden Resistance Headquarters. It was still a marvel how such a place was nestled so deep and perfectly within the mountainside.
Once they got close enough, a smaller door hissed open and armed guards appeared from within. These guards in sleek black armor, equipped with advanced weaponry, scanned each member with a device that hummed faintly.
Once satisfied, the guards stepped aside, allowing them to pass through.
The massive gates creaked open, revealing an expansive hangar buzzing with activity.
Hovercrafts, drones, and armored vehicles were parked in neat rows, while engineers and mechanics worked tirelessly under bright overhead lights. The metallic sheen of the walls gave away the facility's origins, and Tess, walking at the front of the group, confirmed it.
"This used to be a top-secret military base," Tess explained, her voice calm but carrying an air of reverence. "When the world governments fell, it was repurposed by the Resistance. Every inch of this place has been adapted to serve our cause."
Rey glanced around, his sharp eyes taking in the details.
Everything from the humming machinery to the layered steel beams screamed of a structure built for endurance. His squad moved through the long, winding passageways, each stretch lined with rooms bustling with activity. Some housed armories, others acted as command centers filled with holographic projections of maps and troop movements.
He remained silent, keeping his observations to himself.
The Resistance was a far larger operation than he had anticipated. Yet, instead of awe, a faint impatience brewed in his mind. He wanted to explore further, to understand the full scale of this organization, but he knew he had to stay with the group for now.
Eventually, they arrived at the main hangar.
It was larger than any Rey had seen so far, with ceilings that seemed to stretch into infinity. Standing in the center, surrounded by officers and aides, was a tall figure clad in dark tactical gear. His presence commanded attention immediately.
Ezra.
Rey's elder brother.
As Tess approached, she bowed her head respectfully, signaling the rest of the squad to follow suit. Even Josh, who was usually the most casual among them, straightened up and mirrored her deference.
Rey, however, stood still, offering no more than a polite nod.
Ezra's piercing gaze locked onto Rey almost instantly, and the faintest curl of disdain tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Still lacking discipline, I see," Ezra said, his voice as sharp as the edge of a blade.
Rey met his brother's gaze, unbothered by the tone. He said nothing, his face a mask of indifference.
"Your squad leader has yet to put you in line," Ezra continued, shifting his attention to Tess. "I expect better from you, Captain."
Tess remained calm, her expression neutral as she replied, "Understood, sir."
Ezra's irritation deepened when Rey's disinterest became clear. "Follow me," he snapped, spinning on his heel and striding toward another corridor.
The squad exchanged brief glances before falling in step behind him. Rey walked in silence, his thoughts elsewhere. The size and structure of the base intrigued him far more than Ezra's condescending remarks.
'I wonder just how deep the facility goes and how many secrets compartments it holds… ahh, I'm really missing my old Skills right now.' He thought silently.
Ezra glanced over his shoulder, catching Rey's distracted expression.
His jaw tightened.
"Focus, Rey," he barked. "This isn't the time for your wandering thoughts."
Rey's lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smirk, but he still said nothing, letting the reprimand roll off him like water off a rock.
The group followed Ezra deeper into the heart of the HQ, the tension between the brothers only increasing in intensity.
Where one was agitated, the other was perfectly calm, creating a perfect contrast.
The room they were led to was stark and minimalist—plain walls, a long metal table surrounded by chairs, and a single overhead light casting a pale glow. The faint hum of the ventilation system was the only sound as the squad filed in.
"Take a seat and wait here," Ezra said curtly, not bothering to look back at them.
"Wait?!" Josh groaned, slumping into a chair. "We've been traveling for a day! When are we supposed to rest?"
Ezra paused at the doorway, his hand on the frame.
Without turning, he said, "When it's deemed necessary. Until then, follow orders."
With that, he exited, the door hissing shut behind him.
Josh threw up his hands. "Great. Just great. We're supposed to be soldiers, not robots!"
"Calm down, Josh," Tess said, though her own tone was weary. She leaned against the table, rubbing her temples. "They're probably just preparing our rooms or something. It's standard procedure for returning squads."
Rey, who had taken a seat in the corner, looked up at her, his expression calm but probing. "HQ was the one who called us back, right?"
Tess nodded, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Then they should've had more than enough time to prepare for us," Rey pointed out. "If they knew we were coming, why weren't the arrangements made beforehand?"
Tess opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. She looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line. Josh, picking up on her unease, sat up straighter.
"Yeah," he said, frowning. "That's a good point. What's their deal? It's not like we've been slacking off. We've done everything they've asked and then some."
Tess didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on the table.
"I don't know," she admitted finally, her voice quieter. "Maybe they're… reevaluating priorities."
Rey said nothing more, but his thoughts churned.
'This isn't just about logistics or priorities. They're holding something against us. Against me.'
He leaned back in his chair, his mind drifting to the Dragon Emperor's base.
'The destruction of the base. That's got to be it. But why? Why would HQ be upset about a base belonging to our enemy being wiped out?'
It made no sense especially because Tess and her team were able to investigate it before it got destroyed, so they had an idea of what was going on there.
'So what's their deal…?' The question gnawed at him, but before he could delve deeper, the door hissed open again.
The squad turned as a man stepped into the room, his presence commanding immediate attention.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, his uniform immaculate, adorned with insignias that marked him as one of the highest-ranking members of the Resistance. His graying hair was neatly combed, and his sharp eyes scanned the room with a mix of authority and calculation.
Rey's breath hitched ever so slightly as recognition dawned.
"Greetings," the man said, his deep voice steady and authoritative. "I am Admiral Zach Skylar, one of the leaders of the Resistance."
Tess straightened immediately, her posture snapping into attention.
"Admiral," she said respectfully, inclining her head.
The rest of the squad quickly followed suit, their earlier complaints forgotten.
But Rey remained seated, his eyes locked on the man who had just entered. His expression betrayed nothing, but internally, his mind raced.
'Father.'
Admiral Skylar's gaze swept over each of them before settling briefly on Rey. A flicker of something unspoken passed between them, but the Admiral gave no outward indication of recognition.
"I am here to debrief you on your recent mission," he continued, his tone clipped and professional. "And to discuss the circumstances surrounding your failure."
The room fell into a tense silence, with Rey's calm mask firmly in place.
Though his thoughts were anything but.