The industrial district did what it was meant for, produce material for the Vaadwaur war, and it didn’t sugar coat the well-being of the workers that were forced to work there. Rusted buildings, dim and flickering lights as ash-and-rain mixture failing from the dark clouded sky. On the walls were Vaadwaur propaganda that showed messages “The Supremacy Remembers. The Galaxy Forgot” and “Unity Through Obedience”.

Through the streets, constant sounds of that same propaganda echoes through the district “Prosperity follows order, Citizens of Lebria. Any kind of disobedience will be ruined. Report any disorder immediately”.

In the streets, an occasional patrol pass by, silhouettes of soldiers passing. The air smells of ozone, oil, as utter desperation was felt through the peoples’ emotion to survive. In the shadows, two cloaked figures go from shadow through shadow. One stops as the light hits her face, Alara eyes were scanning the area “Stay close” She orders as she pushes forward.

“I am not Liss” Rhixa bluntly pointed out, following Alara through the shadows, avoiding the preying eyes of the Vaadwaur. The nerves were however getting to her, she knew the risk quite well if they would capture her, her eyes followed Alara who stayed calm in front of her, creating a bravado act.

But nothing was as true, yes she masked her true feelings, Alara felt a worry crawling like a spider up her spine. Yet she kept her act together, not to show weakness. Captain Kobahl wouldn’t do the same. They halt near an abandoned warehouse as Alara looked at Rhixa. “This is the place.” They walked carefully into the area, their eyes scanning the area for any dangers as a flickering UI of a half-powered Vaadwaur terminal came in sight. “Do your magic, I will make sure you are secure.” Alara pats Rhixa on the shoulder, walking around, making sure everything is safe.

Rhixa eyes stayed at Alara for a second, only to snap herself out of noticing what she was doing and moved to the console starting to retrieve any information “Hacking” She announced trying her best to get into the system. Her mind was racing, but she felt distracted. Alara figure was the focus of her distraction. She was not willing to admit to these feelings, but ever since she joined this class her eyes always felt on Alara. She never made a move, she couldn’t as Alara was high over hills, crushing on Kobahl.

“How is it going?” A low voice came from Alara as she carefully looked outside.

Another snap back to reality as she looked at the console, “I am getting freighter schedules, reports that vaguely mention command elements nearby and….” Rhixa narrows her eyes, “A blackout emitter activity”.

The warehouse was dead silence, broken only by the quiet tapping of Rhixa’s tools and tapping. Alara nodded, “Good work, download the information and…” Her voice stops as her focus gets redirected to a certain sound. Soft stomps, getting closer, “Boots…” She mutters to herself.

But before she could get Rhixa out of the way, a Vaadwaur engineer appeared with a hovering drone to stops them. “STOP!” The drone moves forward to intercept.

Rolling over the floor, Alara grabs a metal pipe and push herself up, only to follow-up by pushing on her side in the direction of the drone. With a loud bang, she manages to take down the drone with brute force. It clashes onto the ground as her eyes looked up, too late the Vaadwaur engineer had pressed something. Blaring alerts, red lights pulses as echoing Vaadwaur shouts with stomping boots.

Quickly Alara grabs Rhixa at her color and pulls her to the side, “Move!” The steam pipes hissing made it difficult to navigate for the two, making their way through narrow alleyways near the warehouse. It leads to a broken down water treatment tunnel. Splashes in the puddles, Alara rushes.

The engineer on their heels, both young cadets parkour through the alleyway, Rhixa looked up and through the rain she could see glimpses of patrol craft searchlights trying to pin down their targets. The two manage to enter the narrow broke tunnel as it became pitch black and they both get on their knees. The sound of dripping water echoes through the tunnel, but so did the voices.

“Where are they?”

“They must have run forward!”

“These bugs are fast, but not fast enough for the Vaadwaur”

The voice slowly dim down, as Alara stands up, letting out a sigh. “That was too close for comfort.” She noticed Rhixa limping, her eyes went down to her leg. A deep cut was visible as she rips a lower part of her shirt, showing her well-trained belly. She leans down, taking care of the wound with a make-shift first aid.

Rhixa saw Alara belly and looked away “What are you doing” She felt the heat on her cheeks and for once she was glad the darkness was there to cover it.

“Treating your wound, let Liss take a look at it when we are back” Alara straps the cloth around the wound. She felt the responsibility was hers to take care of the people around her. Would Kobahl praise her if she knew about her actions? It made a smile softly.

But Rhixa didn’t know how to react, the woman she liked was treating her wound. How did she need to react to this? Act oblivious? Normal? Perfect moment to flirt? No, she had by any far any chance to hit on her right now. Rhixa blinks and looked around, well no one would be here to talk about it if something would romantic would happen? It took a good second to get out of that fantasy as she shook her head, “You could’ve had left”.

Standing up and looking now right in Rhixa face “Not happening, now stop complaining” Placing Rhixa arm over her shoulder “The coast is clear, we need to get this information back to the Lieutenant, it is vital” With that both of them started to move back to the safe house through the shadows.

Her heart was pounding, she was now in physical contact with Alara, she pulled the cloak over her head trying to cover her bushing face. The two arrived back at the safe house, as Rhixa pulled quickly away, “Thanks… I will get Liss” She quickly announced trying to escape this awkward situation. The cloak was dripping, the safe house was warm as Liss rush to Rhixa “I need some patch up…”

Liss nodded, “Why are you red?” looking confused at her, but shook it off as she kneels down to start patching up the leg wound.