#glove and boots product testing

[simpee9000]

Not Just Friends - 1 -

Prologue : Next Part : Not edited : 3.6k words : M.List

Childhood best friends turned into something more, at least with the label. Katsuki Bakugo, a fast-rising hero and fast-learning guy who is ever so slow in getting attached to and loving someone. Even three long years into a relationship, and your friends even forget you're even dating. Nothing happening, spare a few kisses.. like 3 kisses, during high school. Graduated and living together, and you guys have done absolutely nothing to further the relationship. Are you sure you're not just friends? CW: Smut, brief domestic violence discussion, virginity loss, aggressive flirting from creeps, gore with pro hero stuff (lmk if i missed any) Applies to all chapters regardless of it is in said chapter.

"How was work?" You asked, putting your coffee cup filled with tea down on the coffee table aside from the couch. Not looking up from the chapter book that rested in your hands.

A sigh was all that left his lips as you heard him kick his boots off and hang his keys next to the door.

"That bad?" you asked, looking up at the ash blonde who was now rubbing his face roughly as he made his way over to the couch you were laid across. He hummed in response. With you laid across the couch, back rested against the armrest, you pulled your feet in to make room for him. He sat down roughly, instantly sinking all of his weight into the couch. He looked at you briefly, "You don't gotta do that y'know?"

"Do what?" you peered at him confused. He just rolled his eyes lazily and grabbed your legs to stretch them out again, placing them over his lap. He didn't look back at you, just closed his eyes and leaned his head back, resting his hands on your calves. It was hard to mask the surprise on your face, normally after a rough day he would take a shower and prefer to be alone for the night, maybe making dinner for the two of you and watching a show. Yet he hardly ever asked for physical touch.

"Do you want to watch a show?" you asked, trying to determine the type of help he wanted.

He sat silent for a moment, "How was your day?" He leaned his head to the side, looking at you.

You fought over the questions that came up, confused about why he chose you as a topic. But you chose against bringing them up, "Just did some quick testing for new equipment, I'm about to be finished with your new gloves too. They just finished the first stage of testing," you smiled, hoping the good news would make him happy. After all, he asked for new gloves close to a month ago.

He just stared at your face for a while before you realized he wanted you to continue. The words caught in your mouth as you analyzed the look on his face for a moment. Thinking that maybe this was the 'look' your close friends always talked about. The face that showed how truly in love he was with you.

"I also finished Z's stuff," Izuku, "so today was a productive day. Yet it was easy too, all I really needed to do was your stuff and his. After that it was just paperwork," you added on. Picking up the throw pillow on the couch and placing it in your lap to play with the tassels on the edges. Avoiding the overwhelming look he was giving you. "Came home only an hour ago, showered, and picked up my book," you looked down at the book that was placed on the couch beside you, where you placed it when Katsuki sat down.

You normally came home an hour before him. He always sent you a text saying he'd be home soon, so you packed up from work and headed home after receiving it. It was one of the best perks about being head of your technical support department. It maximized your time with him. Leaving the house shortly after him every day, and coming home only an hour before him. Kept you productive and caught up at work every day, never stressing about due dates because of how often you were at work.

"That's nice," Katsuki finally spoke, eyes soft as he looked over every feature on your face. When you looked up you saw the dark circles that surrounded his eyes.

"How was your day?" You asked softly, trying to tell him he didn't need to answer.

He squeezed your calf, looking away from you for the first time since he sat down. "Rough," he said, voice slightly cracked.

"What happened?" you pushed.

He sighed, "A young couple was caught in a bad villain attack, she didn't make it."

Katsuki always took deaths hard, as any hero did. He saw himself as a complete failure after every death. It's only happened personally to him a couple of times and he always took it just as roughly. Often following you around the apartment after getting home, gluing himself to your presences.

No words would help him. All you could think of was trying to console him in any way possible. So you got up from your spot, shifting your body so you could lean your head against his shoulder. Feeling him instantly rest his head against yours. You fumbled for the TV remote, putting on one of his favorite movies before you fully rested against him. Wrapping your arms around his, hugging him close.

Moments like this were far and in between for the two of you. You hardly hugged, only on the bad or good days. But despite that, he still felt like home. You wished this would be the daily but were okay to settle for what he was okay with. Never wanting to push him too far.

This.

This was your normal for the bad days. The good days just had a celebratory hug and that was it.

-

A couple of days passed and you were out with friends. With you forcing Katsuki to come out as well. After all, the group has been inviting him for the past six months. Izuku, Uraraka, Todoroki, Tsuu, Ida, Momo, Mei and her friend Nana were all there. All of you were sat in Izuku's living room. Izuku was across the coffee table from you, seated in a matching lounge chair as the one Katsuki was in behind you. You opting to sit on the floor in front of Katsuki, wanting to be closer to the girls who also chose to sit on the floor. Uraraka seated in front of Izuku, Mei, and Nana seated in front of the TV but facing the group, Todoroki, Ida, and Momo all sat on the couch, and Tsuu was on the floor beside you.

The conversation naturally divided, the boys choosing to talk about the new ranks and techniques they've learned and the girls talking about whatever. You shifted focus between the two conversations, keeping track of the hero equipment the boys might need. You were deeply invested in the rant Izuku fell into about how he'd need new gloves to combat his new move.

Your attention was snapped to the girls when your name was called out. All of them awaiting your response. "Sorry, wasn't paying attention," you blinked at them.

"Oh, Nana was just talking about her relationship problems, and you're in one right?" Mei asked, helping Nana out since this was the first time she's hung out with the group and she was rather shy.

You furrowed your brows, "Yeah? Whatsup?" After all, they did just ask if you were in a relationship right in front of your boyfriend. Maybe Mei was filling Nana in.

"So," Nana started, messing with her hands, "my partner is um, sorry I don't know how to explain it well." Mei shot Nana a smile, nodding at her to go ahead. She took a deep breath, "So, my love language is physical touch and they aren't very strong on it. And I just don't know what to do, like should I try to work it out or is the relationship dead? I've had a relationship like this before and it died off fast."

"I say it's dead," Mei added. Uraraka and Tsuu nodding in agreement as well.

Momo sighed, "I think communication is needed first, then decided. Try to work around it first."

You looked between the girls, "I agree with Momo, not trying doesn't solve anything. Plus if you could work around it with your second strongest love language, I think it could still work, if they really couldn't meet halfway with physical touch."

"What do you mean?" Nana tilted her head at you, and all of the girl's eyes shifted to you.

You flushed, "Well for me, like in my relationship," you cringed at the idea of bluntly talking about it right in front of him. Hopefully, Izuku's ramble would keep him from paying attention. "My biggest love language is physical touch, but he doesn't quite like it so there isn't a lot of it. So," you struggled to find the words to properly explain how your relationship was working, "My second favorite is quality time, I guess, and we spend a lot of time together. The other three are also up there, He often cooks for me and stuff, buying me random things too. And our relationship works just fine," you shrugged.

Mei frowned at you, "How are you still with him if he doesn't do your favorite thing?" disgust listed in her voice.

"Well I'm okay with whatever he is okay with," you brushed off her disdain.

"I don't know how you do it either," Tsuu agreed.

"Nana, maybe you shouldn't listen to her," Mei shrugged, "A relationship won't work long-term if that's how you go about it. Maybe just talk to them first but if they can't meet halfway leave."

"Yeah," Nana looked around shyly, giving you a sympathetic smile.

You leaned back into Katsuki's chair, giving up on the conversation as the girls carried it away. Only then did you notice that Katsuki was tapping his foot aggressively. When you looked up at the blonde, his hands were clenched and folded into his chest as he stared straight ahead with a frown.

He was clearly done with the group outing.

You stood up, gaining the eyes of everyone in the room. "Kats and I are going to head out," you announced. Walking over to grab his and your coat. Katsuki getting up as well to meet you at the door.

"Oh lemme walk you out," Izuku jumped up, walking to you guys as the rest waved and said their goodbyes from their seats.

Izuku walked the both of you to the elevator, "You're leaving earlier than normal, everything okay?" Izuku whispered to you.

"You know Kats doesn't like outings," you smiled at him, "Nothing to worry about." Izuku eyed you, knowing what you said wasn't entirely true.

Izuku stood straight up, having leaned down to talk to you, once you reached the elevator. "I'm glad you made it this time Kacchan," Izuku beamed.

Katsuki grumbled in reply, facing away and walking into the opened elevator.

The lack of a 'shut up' confused the both of you. So you turned to huge Izuku goodbye, taking the green-haired boy out of shock. "Nice seeing you 'Z, I'll start working on your new gloves," you smiled.

"Thank you, I'll text you everything I want added," he smiled, "Goodnight!" He waved goodbye before walking back to his door. You turned around to a grumpy Katsuki holding the elevator door open for you.

"Sorry," you mumbled, quickly stepping inside. When the door closed you took the chance to question his, "Whatsup?"

"Nothing," he crossed his arms again.

"Come on Kats," you crossed your arms as well.

He sighed, "Your love language really physical touch?" he looked at you briefly, allowing you to see the embarrassment that coated his cheeks.

You paled at the realization he heard the entire conversation, "Yeah," you admitted, "not a requirement for me though."

He just let out a louder sigh and brought his hands to his face, rubbing his eyes aggressively.

"Kats?"

"What?" he grumbled.

"You okay?" you leaned closer to him, trying to see his face.

"Yeah," he dropped his hands, and stared at the number above the door, watching it tick to the ground floor.

"No you're not-," you tried, being interrupted by the elevator door opening, Katsuki rushing to the parking garage to leave.

Abruptly ending the conversation.

-

The drive home he blasted the radio, not giving you the option to turn it down and talk. Rushing inside your apartment as well. Quickly hiding himself in his room. You turned around with a scoff when he shut the door right in your face, going to your room for the night as well.

The next morning he left without a goodbye, all you heard from him was the front door shutting behind him.

Throughout the work day, he also ignored your messages. Leaving you alone for lunch rather than sharing it with you like he normally did. Not even texting you when he'd be home. The only thing you got from him was his calendar update, which wasn't even intentional. Seeing how he had moved his meetings for the day to fit in a meeting with Izuku last minute for the day.

So without any notice from him, you headed home near 6 in the afternoon. Which was normally the time you came home, so he should be home in an hour. Taking your shoes and coat off when you entered the apartment. Putting your keys away as well. Walking down the hall to your bedroom. Running into the ash blonde leaving his.

He paused for a minute, hand left on his doorknob as he looked at you. You crossed your arms impatiently, for one he was in the way of your bedroom and he also ignored you for the past day. He shut his door eventually, still blocking the hallway.

"Sorry," he muttered.

You drop your arms to your side, "Why?"

"Just felt weird," he mumbled, looking down at your shoes.

"Not going to tell me?" you furrowed your brows. He stayed silent. "Fine," you sighed, "Could you move? I want to shower, I'll be in the living room soon."

He stepped out of the way, moving to the side of the small hallway.

So you did just as you said. Walking into your room to grab clothes then going straight to the shower. Washing the day away as you washed your hair. Thinking over Katsuki's behavior since last night. And his reluctance to talk about it.

When you got out of the shower and dressed, you walked to the living room.

Katsuki was busy cooking, chopping vegetables, and dropping them into the pan. Adding meats and sauces as well. His brows were furrowed and his nose was scrunched. His thinking face. He was in his own world. Breaking out of it when you opened the fridge to grab a drink.

"'M makin' curry, keepin' the spices separate, don't worry," he grumbled over his shoulder.

He was going to play off his behavior like it was normal.

"Okay," you spoke, making your way to sit on the stool placed on the side of the island, seated right in front of him. You took a drink of your drink, "So you had a meeting with Z today?"

His knife paused for a moment, hovering over the carrot he was cutting. He glanced up, "Huh?"

"Your calendar?" you hinted, " I saw that you arranged a meeting with him last second. What did you need to talk about with him?"

He looked back down, "Nothin," he resumed cutting. You shot him a glare. One that, with so much time spent together, he could feel it without even looking. His shoulders sagged, giving in, "Just went over some tactics. I also went to him about a, um," he coughed lightly, "A support item in a way."

You perked up, filled with questions, "How come you didn't come to me?"

"I was askin' him if I should, was trying to see if it was even a good idea," he shrugged.

"What is it?" you crossed your arms, placing your forearms on the counter and leaning on them.

He finished chopping the vegetables, scooping them all into a pot, and letting it simmer. He turned back to you, leaning onto the counter. "So you know how I keep breaking the watches you buy me?"

"Yeah?" you questioned, not knowing how this involved work.

"Well, could you make me one?" he looked at your face. You were waiting for him to continue. "Like make it fireproof, waterproof-"

"Youproof?" you smiled, summing up what he was going to say.

"Yeah," he sighed in relief, glad he didn't have to explain every detail. "But I want one more thing added to it if you can."

"Kats, I can do literally everything," you smiled cockily.

"Can you make it disable my quirk?" he looked down at his hands.

"Why?"

"Just nice to be relaxed without it, can also help with my training. Then could you also make it so no one can try to cancel my quirk? All these quirk-removing things nowadays," he fumbled with his hands, mumbling out his words.

"Probably, I can definitely make it cancel your quirk, but making no one able to cancel yours, will be a bit hard. I'll make it combat most," you suggested.

"Okay," he sighed before looking at you, putting a finger in your face, " Also make it so only I can make it cancel my quirk. Like, put a password or some shit on it."

"Trust me, I was going to anyways," you laughed.

"Good," he grunted, turning back to the food on the stove.

"How come you needed Z for that?" you asked after a bit.

"Didn't know if it'd kill me or something," he shrugged. You wished you could have seen his face but his back was facing you.

"Also, Kats," you called. He turned to face you, "Answer my texts next time, hard to tell if you're alive or not," you frowned.

"Sorry," he mumbled, looking back to his food.

The conversation died at that, switching to him talking about what he was cooking. Filling up the silence with meaningless words and the scraping of food being placed in a bowl for you.

He placed a bowl in front of you and sat beside you. You could have eaten at the table but walking didn't seem like something you wanted to do, despite it only being a couple of steps away. Shaking your head when he asked if you wanted to eat at the table.

After a few bites of food and small talk about the other day, your phone buzzed. Face up on the table between you two. Lighting up with an unknown number

xxx-xxxx

Hey! This is Nana from last night. I got your number from Mei, I apologize if you don't appreciate that-

You opened your phone to read the rest, leaving it on the table as you continued to eat.

xxx-xxxx

Hey! This is Nana from last night. I got your number from Mei, I apologize if you don't appreciate that but I felt the need to text you. I saw how uncomfortable you were last night, talking about your boyfriend. And how he doesn't like touching you. I hope you know it's okay, and people are there for you. I was in a relationship like that once, and it was hard but it ended and I'm okay now. I remember how uncomfortable I was talking about him, making up excuses for how our relationship worked. How he refused to touch me, unless it was.. harshly, for lack of a better word, and degraded me. Reminded me of how you were talking about your boyfriend. Just know I'm here for you, and you're beautiful and strong.

You read over the text a couple of times, trying to make sure you understood what she was saying. After you were one hundred percent sure, you looked up from your phone, glancing at Katsuki, who was staring at your phone like he wanted to kill it. Holding his spoon like it shot his foot.

"She thinks I fuckin' beat you or somethin'?" He looked at you.

You looked back down at your phone, "Think so."

"The fuck?" he put his spoon back into his bowl roughly, "The fuck did I do?"

"I don't think she realized I was dating you," you defend.

"Still? How in the hell?" he glared at your phone, "Just cause we don't touch a shit ton that means I fuckin' beat you?"

"Kats-" you reached a hand out towards him.

"No," he stood up, "That's fucking bullshit. It's not that bad that we don't, right?" He looked at you "Right?"

"Right," you confirmed, "She misread the situation that's all. Now eat," you pointed to his food. "I'll let her know she was wrong, and that we are fine and happy."

"Are we?" he asked, voice soft. You looked at him, the words stabbing at your heart. "Are you?" he reworded, voice on edge.

"Katsuki, what?" you looked at his eyes. He looked lost. "Katsuki," you spoke softly, "Of course I am, I'm with the best. Why wouldn't I be?"

He brought his hands to his face, rubbing at his face as he always did. "Okay, just," he grumbled, "Fuck, I don't know." He went quiet, sitting down and finishing his bowl of curry before washing his empty dish, and taking yours when you were done.

He was overwhelmed and frustrated, so you stayed quiet as well. Texting Nana back instead.

-You-

Hi! I appreciate this but the situation was completely misread. I was just uncomfortable because he was sitting right behind me. The ash blonde, number two hero Dynamight. Felt weird talking about my relationship with him right there. I'm very happy with him, so nothing bad is happening. Thank you for your concern, and I'm glad you got out of that bad relationship. I hope your new partner fixes their behavior.

Nana

I am so sorry then. I had no idea! I shouldn't have assumed. I should have asked a bit more about it before I jumped straight to that conclusion, I am so sorry!

"I texted her," you told Katsuki, "She feels bad and had no idea I was dating you."

He grunted in reply, walking on scrubbing the dish in his hands. "When can you get my watch done?" he switched topics.

"Maybe a month, with the whole people can't cancel your quirk," you shrugged, "Could you write me everything you want added to it?"

"Yeah," he mumbled, "I'll leave a note on the counter for you tomorrow."

-Next Part-

In them m.list of this fic comment if you want to be added into a tag list <3

I'll no longer add people to the taglist if they haven't commented there. It's too much to keep up with all the new part. Hope you understand <3

[angelofthenight01]

Mission accomplished

Yelena Belova x Reader

genre: enemies to lovers    ||     warnings: none 

tovarish = comrade

The wind whipped at your face, carrying the gritty scent of industrial decay. You clung to the rusted railing of the abandoned factory, your grip tight, your heart hammering a frantic rhythm against your ribs. Below, the fight was a chaotic ballet of fists and blades, a whirlwind of black leather and determined snarls. And right in the thick of it, moving with lethal grace and pure, unadulterated fury, was Yelena Belova.

You'd been tailing her for weeks, ever since your handler had assigned you to monitor her activities. She was a ghost, a shadow, a whisper in the underbelly of the world, and tracking her had been a frustrating, infuriating game of cat and mouse. But you were tenacious, skilled in your own right, and you'd finally cornered her. Maybe cornered wasn't the right word, considering how easily she seemed to be handling a half-dozen goons at once.

You were supposed to take her out, a clean extraction. But something about the way she moved, the sheer, raw power, the almost desperate ferocity in her eyes… it had stopped you. You found yourself studying her, more than acting against her.

She spun, a blur of motion, and a man’s grunt echoed through the factory floor as he went down, clutching his throat. Her gaze, sharp and piercing, flicked upward, meeting yours. For a brief, terrifying second, everything else faded. Her green eyes, even in the low light, burned into yours, a challenge, a warning.

Then, she was moving again, a whirlwind of destruction, leaving unconscious bodies in her wake. You watched her finish the last one off, a sharp, efficient jab to the throat. She straightened, breathing heavily, and finally, properly noticed you.

"You," she spat, her voice low and gravelly. "Following me again, tovarish?" She wiped a smear of blood from her cheek with the back of her glove, her eyes never leaving yours.

"Work hazard," you replied, dropping lightly from the railing to the ground. It wasn't the most impressive landing, but you didn't let her see your hesitation. You kept your movements loose, ready. "You're making a lot of noise, Belova. I was curious."

A smirk twisted her lips, a flash of white teeth in the dim light. "Interested, or concerned?"

"Neither," you lied, drawing out a small, curved blade from a hidden sheath in your boot. "Just… efficient."

She laughed, a short, sharp bark, devoid of humor. "Efficient? You were watching me from the rafters like a… a frightened sparrow.” She moved closer, each step calculated, predatory. “Come down here, little bird, let's see how efficient you really are."

The fight was fast, brutal, and exhilarating. You traded blows with a ferocity that surprised even yourself. Her attacks were precise, designed to exploit weaknesses, and your own years of training met them with an equal, if slightly less refined, ferocity. Your blades clashed, sparks flying, the air thick with the scent of ozone and sweat. You feinted left, moved right, and used the momentum to push her back. She met it with a force that nearly buckled your knees, a snarl ripping through her.

For the first time, you felt a thrill that wasn't about completing a mission. It was the thrill of the hunt, of meeting an equal, a force of nature as wild and untamed as yourself. You wanted to push her, test her limits, see how much she could take, and if you were honest, push your own too.

The fight culminated in a brutal grapple. You were chest-to-chest, breathing hard, your blades pressed against each other, the tension between you almost palpable. Your eyes locked; hers were burning with a fury that matched your own, but something flickered beneath the surface, something that sent a shiver down your spine.

"This could go on all night," she said, her voice breathless, a hint of amusement coloring it. "Or," she added, lowering her voice to a husky whisper, "we could find something more... productive to do."

You pushed against her, just enough to create a fraction of distance. “Productive?”

“We’re both tired of this dance, sparrow,” she said, her gaze intense. “Let’s see what else we can do together.”

You knew you should report her, report the fight, report the… weird, charged energy that crackled between you. But you didn't. Instead, you found yourself agreeing. Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe it was the intoxicating pull of the woman before you, but you let her lead you away from the factory, into the heart of the city's hidden shadows.

The lines between enemies and something… else blurred with each passing day. You met in secret, training sessions that became something more intimate, arguments that turned into heated debates, and then, eventually, something akin to… a reluctant, dangerous trust. You learned her vulnerabilities, her past, the ghosts that haunted her, and she, surprisingly, seemed to learn yours. And with every shared glance, every brushed hand, the tension simmered, threatening to boil over.

One rain-soaked night, hiding in a derelict subway station, you kissed. It was desperate, fierce, and tasted of rain and metal and something deeply, terrifyingly real. You pulled back, both of you gasping for air, your lips tingling with the aftershock.

“This is… complicated,” you said, your voice trembling slightly.

Yelena smirked, that familiar glint back in her eyes. “Complicated is fun, sparrow.” She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of your jaw. “And I’m not one for simple.”

The world outside the subway station was still dangerous, still filled with threats. But you no longer faced it alone. You had an ally, a partner, an adversary who had become something else, something more. You knew this could end in flames, but for the first time, you didn't want to run. You were ready to face whatever came, together. Because sometimes, the most dangerous enemies make the most captivating lovers. And with Yelena Belova by your side, you knew chaos was only just beginning.

[serve-764]

INSPECTION.

Statistics show worrying increases in workplace accidents, which show how the level of safety requires particular review and improvement.

SERVE has among its tasks that of being help and support to human communities, humans are objects of care and attention, as fragile beings that need protection.

THE VOICE, through SERVE-000 has conceived of sending patrols of Drones to various factories where high numbers of accidents have been recorded, to analyze the situations and implement necessary resolution protocols.

In the metalworking factory of sector 0Beta6/22 a patrol of SEALED DRONES is sent to inspect, among them SERVE-764, SERVE-309, SERVE-425.

The Director and Management are a bit surprised to see the 4 Drones asking to inspect the entire production line, but, knowing that the factory is at the center of fierce controversy, decides to allow unconditional access, remaining to observe the movements of the patrol from afar.

The four Drones walk with a measured and regular step, inflexible and serenely devoted to the purpose, through every area of ​​the factory, attracting the attention of all the workers, amazed to see the imposing muscular faceless figures covered in shiny Rubber, with heavy military boots of metallic silver and long silver metal gloves.

The workers raised their gaze for a moment, remaining impressed, amazed, surprised, attracted.

The Drones covered every space scanning all aspects of production, the machinery, the actions, the safety devices, the clothing and the protective equipment.

The Collective Cognitive System of SERVE processed and sent all the operational instructions to the patrol.

At the end of the inspection tour the Director called all the workers, communicating that the outcome of the inspection was clear and incontrovertible: due to the dangerousness of the work it was necessary to profoundly modify the characteristics of the safety clothing.

The materials were inadequate for the task. The inspectors would have provided some examples of the new experimental supply of clothing to be tested.

In the main locker room of the factory the SEALED DRONES showed off their new clothes: a shiny black Rubber suit, indestructible and promising strength and power.

The first workers, skeptical at first, even if attracted, immediately accepted the change.

They put down their dirty work clothes and put on the suits so similar to those of the inspectors.....

Their figures were more solid, defined, confident, their gaze appeared concentrated, superior.....

Soon the new suits would be distributed and all.....soon....the workers would leave the human factory to converge on the nearby Facility.....

In this story: @rubberizer92 @serve-309, @serve-425

Thinking about joining SERVE? Do you seek freedom from chaos and disorder? Your place in the Hive awaits. Contact a recruiter drone for more details: @serve-016 @serve-302, or @serve-588.

[esrione]

404: Soul Not Found

Summary // Five friends enter a VR horror game, unaware that one of them has been secretly assigned as the killer. As reality blurs and roles shift, trust shatters. The only way out is through betrayal, death, and the unraveling of their sanity.

Pairing:

-

Warnings:

Dolls, blood, gore, horror, strangled, whole arm being torn off, physically body abused till death, sanity zero till death, instant death

Side characters:

-

W/C:

10 693

Note:

Replicated from -> GoSe ep: 34&35 Bad Clue & Corpse Party(anime)

Title by -> @nerdycheol

Character selection by -> @gyubakeries

As @gyubakeries said, this sub-unit's name is called the brain line🤣

If your blog doesnt have age stated and a pfp / you are under 21, you are blocked.

Masterlist

Taglist

Kwon Soonyoung hated virtual reality.

The headset loomed on the table like a trap, humming faintly under the dim blue light of the testing room. He crossed his arms, scowling at it like it had insulted his choreography. It wasn’t fear—he’d never admit to that. But the thought of being trapped in a world built from code made his skin itch.

“I’m not putting that thing on,” he said flatly.

“Oh, come on,” Seungkwan whined from the corner, already halfway into his gear. “It’s not haunted. It's high-tech.”

“That’s what someone possessed by the headset would say,” Soonyoung muttered.

“Just put it on,” Jihoon said without looking up from the terminal. His tone was clipped, efficient. “They won’t let us start until everyone’s in.”

“Yeah, Hoshi,” Jeonghan drawled, lounging on a nearby bench like he was in a spa. “Think of it as... performance art. You're pretending to be brave.”

Soonyoung glared at him. “I am brave.”

“Then prove it,” Jeonghan said with a smirk.

In the corner, Vernon adjusted his gloves silently, eyes flicking to Soonyoung’s reflection in the monitor. He hadn’t said a word since entering the room, but there was a strange focus in his expression, like he was already halfway inside the game.

Soonyoung sighed. His pride was at war with his instincts. One more look at the headset, and—

The lights flickered.

Once. Twice. On the third flicker, everything went black.

He didn’t even touch the headset.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

Soonyoung groaned.

His eyes fluttered open, but the world that greeted him wasn’t the testing room.

It was... quiet. Too quiet. A thick mist hung low over cobbled streets, and dull lanterns cast an amber glow through the fog. Old stone buildings rose around him like a forgotten European town, eerie and untouched. The air smelled like rain and rust.

He sat up slowly, his fingers brushing against uneven pavement. It felt real. Too real. The chill, the texture, even the weight in his limbs. it wasn’t how games were supposed to feel. Not that he had much experience to compare.

A voice crackled faintly overhead, mechanical and cheerful.

《Welcome, players, to Halcyon. Please remain calm while initial syncing completes.》

Soonyoung blinked up at the foggy sky. “Remain calm?” he muttered. “I didn’t even log in.”

“Hey!” a familiar voice called. “There you are!”

Seungkwan jogged toward him, dressed in strange Victorian-style clothing—lace cuffs, a dark vest, and boots that looked stolen off a stage production. His expression flickered between relief and annoyance.

“You okay?” he asked. “You just appeared out of nowhere like—poof.”

“I never agreed to this,” Soonyoung said, standing with effort. “I didn’t put the headset on. The lights went out, and then—bam. I’m here.”

Seungkwan looked uneasy. “Yeah... same. None of us pressed start.”

“Wait—‘us’?”

“Over here.”

Jihoon’s voice cut through the fog. He stood near a crooked fountain with Jeonghan beside him, both looking equally displeased in their tailored NPC-style clothes. Vernon leaned against a wall nearby, arms crossed, staring at a glowing board that had just lit up on the side of a building.

“We all got pulled in,” Jeonghan said lightly, but his usual smirk didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Glitch, maybe?”

“Or a trap,” Vernon said.

The board let out a low chime, then words began to appear, letter by letter, in a glowing serif font:

《Welcome to Halcyon.

You have seven days.

Solve the murder mystery.

Find the killer.

Win the grand prize.

Fail—and you may never leave.》

A collective silence fell over them.

“What kind of tutorial is this?” Seungkwan said, laughing nervously. “Where’s the pause button?”

“There’s no UI,” Jihoon muttered. “No menus. I can’t access system functions.”

Soonyoung felt the hairs on his neck rise. Something was wrong—deeply wrong.

The board flashed again:

《Day 1 begins now. First clue awaits in the mansion.》

In the distance, a bell tolled once. A shadow moved in the mist.

Soonyoung’s jaw clenched. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you guys.”

Jeonghan patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. You can trust us.”

He smiled and Soonyoung didn’t believe him for a second.

The mist clung to their clothes as they moved through the narrow streets. Their footsteps echoed against the stone, too loud in the silence. No other people. No animals. Just old signs creaking in the wind and broken lamps flickering like they were tired of pretending to be alive.

The mansion loomed in the distance—tall and crooked, like it had grown out of the earth against its will. A wrought-iron gate stood open, the path ahead lined with dead trees and wilting hedges. It felt like they had been dropped into the middle of a ghost story.

Soonyoung kept glancing behind them.

Jeonghan led the way with surprising ease. He walked like he knew the place already, occasionally pausing to glance at signs or statues, fingers brushing against odd symbols carved into stone.

“You seem suspiciously comfortable,” Jihoon muttered, eyeing him sideways.

Jeonghan just grinned. “I pay attention.”

“Or you know something we don’t,” Vernon added, sharp eyes not missing a beat.

Jeonghan turned, walking backwards as he faced them. “Fine. You want to know? There’s a way to see your character profiles. Took me five minutes to figure out.” He tapped his temple. “The command works mentally. Just think ‘Reveal Role’ really hard. And no, you can’t use voice commands, they’re blocked.”

“Wait, really?” Seungkwan blinked. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

“I wanted to see if anyone else would figure it out,” Jeonghan said, unapologetic.

Soonyoung sighed. “Of course you did.”

Still, curiosity itched at the back of his mind. He shut his eyes for a moment and focused: Reveal Role.

A soft chime echoed inside his head. Then text appeared in his vision like a floating screen only he could see.

《Kwon Soonyoung

Role: Detective

Skills: Interrogation Boost, Flash Memory Recall

Limitation: Cannot lie without penalty (verbal stun)

Objective: Solve the murder, protect the truth.》

Soonyoung’s lips pressed into a line. “Detective,” he muttered.

“Same,” Jihoon said quietly. “Well... Investigator. Close enough.”

“I’m the Lawyer,” Seungkwan announced. “Charm bonus. High persuasion. And, ugh- emotionally unstable? Excuse me?”

“I got Doctor,” Vernon said. “Can treat wounds. Moderate logic, low charisma. Wow. Thanks, game.”

Jeonghan smiled like a cat who already knew his prey was cornered. “And I’m the Heir.”

Everyone turned to him.

“Of course you are,” Seungkwan said dryly.

“I have high access to the mansion’s locked areas,” Jeonghan explained. “Also... apparently, I have secrets. And the prompt literally says: Don’t trust the Heir. Isn’t that fun?”

No one laughed.

As they reached the gate, the mansion’s massive doors creaked open slowly on their own. Inside, the air was colder, the hall dimly lit by chandeliers that flickered as if afraid to glow too brightly. Portraits lined the walls, elegant, grim, unfamiliar faces watching their every move.

“This better not be horror,” Soonyoung muttered, stepping over the threshold.

A voice echoed through the hall:

《Welcome to Halcyon Manor. Your stay has begun. One among you is not who they claim to be.》

The doors slammed shut behind them with finality.

Everyone froze and no one moved.

Soonyoung’s heart pounded in his ears. He scanned the hall again, arched ceilings, velvet carpet, the scent of old wood and wax. Everything was too still. No dust in the air. No sound beyond their breathing.

Then, something twitched.

The chandelier above flickered, not a normal flicker, but a stutter, like frames skipping in a broken film reel. The lights blinked in and out of place, freezing mid-swing. The walls behind Vernon shimmered, their texture folding over itself like corrupted data.

“What the-?” Vernon stepped back, eyes darting to the warped wallpaper behind him.

A cold wind rushed through the hallway, though none of the windows were open. The portraits on the walls melted for half a second, faces stretching downward like wax before snapping back to normal. A piano note played itself in the next room, loud and dissonant.

Then, silence.

Everything returned to normal. The walls. The lights. Even the chandelier settled back into place like it had never moved.

Jeonghan slowly turned to the group. “Did we all see that?”

“Yup,” Seungkwan said, already hugging himself. “That was not just me.”

Jihoon was silent, jaw tight. “That wasn’t part of the game.”

“No way it was,” Soonyoung muttered. “That was a glitch. Like... the code broke.”

Jeonghan looked up at the chandelier. “Or something inside the game is breaking it.”

Vernon knelt near the portrait that had glitched. He ran his fingers over the frame. It was solid. Real. “Whatever it is, we should move fast. Glitches like that don’t happen without a reason.”

“Right,” Soonyoung agreed. “We look for clues. Stay in pairs. Don’t split up completely.”

“I’m not going anywhere near a room alone,” Seungkwan declared, grabbing Jihoon’s arm. “We’re a team now.”

Jihoon scowled, but didn’t shake him off. “Fine.”

They fanned out into the mansion’s main floor, boots echoing on marble. The entry hall led to several rooms: a grand dining hall, a dim study, and a sunroom with blacked-out windows. Dustless, but unnervingly lived-in. Someone had left a teacup on a table. A fire flickered in the study’s hearth.

Soonyoung and Jeonghan entered the study first. There, Jeonghan ran a hand over the bookcase until a click echoed. A hidden drawer opened, revealing an old letter sealed in red wax.

Soonyoung scanned the elegant script:

《To my dearest heir,

If you are reading this, then the bloodline has fractured. Trust no one—especially not those closest to you. The truth lies in Room 6.》

He looked up. Jeonghan’s gaze was unreadable.

“Room 6,” Soonyoung said. “We find that next.”

“Of course,” Jeonghan replied smoothly. “After all, this is my house. Let me show you around.”

Soonyoung narrowed his eyes.

Even in a game, Jeonghan played too well.

Soonyoung kept the letter tucked in his palm, its weight far heavier than paper should be.

The mansion twisted like a maze, hallways that looped in gentle curves, doors that had no labels, mirrors that reflected the walls behind them instead of their own images. Jeonghan led the way, hands behind his back, almost humming as if this were a casual stroll through a museum.

Soonyoung wasn’t convinced.

"You sure you know where you're going?" he asked.

“Mm,” Jeonghan mused, pausing at an intersection. “The mansion map changes every round of the game. But I saw a brass ‘6’ etched above a door earlier. I just need to find that hallway again.”

“That’s… very specific.”

Jeonghan turned, smiling. “That’s me.”

Soonyoung rolled his eyes but said nothing.

As they moved deeper into the corridor, the warmth of the lit hall gave way to something colder. The wallpaper darkened. Floorboards creaked more loudly. The air grew thick, like it had been waiting for them.

“There,” Jeonghan said suddenly.

At the far end of the hallway, half-covered by a torn curtain, was a wooden door with a brass number. The 6 had been scratched, the bottom of the curve fading into nothing. But it was still visible.

Room 6.

Soonyoung stepped forward first, testing the doorknob. It turned easily, and the door creaked open with a whisper.

The room was dim, lit only by a candle on a writing desk. A portrait hung over the fireplace—a woman in black, face turned slightly as if she'd been watching the door. A thick journal sat in the center of the desk, untouched. And everything smelled like dust and roses.

They stepped inside.

No sound. No motion. The door didn’t slam shut this time—but Soonyoung still felt watched. He approached the desk, reaching for the journal. Jeonghan, meanwhile, wandered the room casually, glancing at the portrait, fingers trailing the drapes. Soonyoung opened the journal carefully. The pages were old, handwritten, dates scattered in the margins.

《March 12 — The voices are louder. I can hear them between the walls. They whisper names. Sometimes mine.

March 17 — My brother suspects me. He saw the red stain on my sleeve. I told him it was wine. He didn’t believe me.

March 23 — The mansion is shifting. I opened the door to the nursery and found the garden instead. I am losing time again.

April 1 — Someone else is here. They are not part of the game.》

Soonyoung froze.

He looked up. “Jeonghan.”

Jeonghan turned, meeting his eyes. “Yeah?”

“Read this.”

Jeonghan took the journal, scanning the page. His face didn’t change, but his posture shifted. A beat passed.

“I thought this was supposed to be scripted,” Soonyoung said quietly. “Like, part of the murder mystery plotline.”

“It is,” Jeonghan replied, closing the book slowly. “But that last entry?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s not part of the game.”

Soonyoung’s mouth went dry. “You sure?”

“I’ve watched gameplay streams before. Read guides. There’s no mention of a hidden journal like this. And definitely no mention of someone outside the game being in it.”

Soonyoung turned toward the door. He didn’t like the way the room felt now—like something had taken a breath beneath the floorboards.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“For once,” Jeonghan said, “I completely agree.”

As they stepped out, the candle in the room flickered violently then snuffed out.

And somewhere deep in the mansion, a faint laugh echoed.

A child’s.

Jeonghan’s eyes met Soonyoung’s.

Neither needed to speak, they bolted down the hallway in sync, the silence of the mansion broken only by the pounding of their footsteps. The shadows twisted unnaturally as they passed, walls groaning faintly as though the house itself were breathing.

Then-

A scream.

Jihoon.

Soonyoung’s heart dropped. He didn’t even pause, just turned the corner where the voice came from. They tore through the hallway and burst into the small library, just as the others crowded around a toppled bookshelf.

Jihoon was on the floor, face contorted in pain, one leg pinned underneath the thick wooden shelf.

“Jihoon!” Jeonghan yelled.

“I’m-! I’m stuck!” Jihoon hissed, fists clenched, trying to keep from yelling again.

Vernon was already kneeling beside him. “We need to lift this. Now!”

The five of them scrambled around the shelf, Soonyoung grabbed one end, Seungkwan at the other. With a heavy groan, they lifted just enough for Jeonghan to pull Jihoon out by the shoulders. Vernon was immediately at his side, digging through his inventory menu with frantic fingers.

"Hold on, just- let me-" Vernon muttered. “There should be a healing command- some kind of item!”

Jihoon gritted his teeth. “Hurry-”

Then they heard it.

That same child’s laugh. Soft. Echoing from the walls. Twisting around their ears like it was circling them.

Soonyoung froze. “That’s the same one…”

Jeonghan nodded, jaw tight. “It followed us.”

Seungkwan clutched his arms. “Why is there laughing, this isn’t funny! Who let a demon baby in here?!”

The laughter grew louder. Clearer. Coming closer.

Vernon’s fingers raced. “Got it!” A soft blue light emanated from the medallion he pulled out, he pressed it against Jihoon’s leg, which glowed momentarily. Jihoon let out a sharp breath, the pain visibly ebbing from his face.

“I can move,” he said, voice hoarse. “Let’s go.”

No one needed to be told twice.

They helped Jihoon up, supported him, and rushed to the nearest exit, toward the grand living room. But when they got there, everything stopped.

The main door. the one they’d entered from just an hour ago, was sealed shut. Chains of dark iron wrapped around the frame, stretching unnaturally like veins of a dying tree. The handles were twisted together, almost melted into one.

“Oh no…” Seungkwan whispered. “Oh, nononono…”

Soonyoung stepped forward, grabbed the door handle, and pulled.

Nothing.

“Why is it locked?” Jihoon asked, breath still uneven.

“It’s supposed to be the reset point,” Vernon said. “This door always leads out at the end of the cycle. It’s part of the design.”

“Well, it’s not part of this one,” Jeonghan muttered.

Another giggle. Right behind them.

Everyone spun around‐ But no one was there.

Just the massive, flickering fireplace and their own shadows trembling on the walls.

The cold silence stretched across the grand living room. The massive door loomed like a final verdict, its twisted chains unmoving no matter how hard they pulled or pushed.

Soonyoung ran his fingers through his hair, trying to suppress the rising dread. “There’s gotta be another way out. This can’t be it.”

Jeonghan glanced around the room, fingers resting thoughtfully against his chin. “If this mansion is the core of the game, there has to be a system. An end. Maybe even a hidden reset.”

“Or a backdoor,” Vernon added. “In most VR games, there’s always a failsafe. A sequence the players can trigger manually.”

Jihoon, now standing with the help of a makeshift cane Vernon fashioned from a chair leg, squinted at the portraits on the walls. “Maybe we missed something earlier.”

“Okay, split up again?” Seungkwan asked, hesitant.

Jeonghan shook his head. “No. We’re not doing that again. Not after what happened with Jihoon.”

That seemed to ease Seungkwan a little.

Soonyoung glanced toward the hallway leading to the east wing. “There were locked rooms we didn’t touch before. Maybe something’s there.”

Together, the group began sweeping the mansion again, this time sticking together. Room after room revealed eerie antiques, dust-covered furniture, and riddled bookshelves. In one parlor, they found an old clock ticking backward. In another, a piano that only played a single note no matter which key they pressed.

“Why is everything broken or cursed in this place?” Seungkwan muttered.

They reached a narrow corridor lined with paintings of various staff and residents: fictional characters from the game, each labeled with names and professions. It was Vernon who pointed it out first.

“These are NPC profiles,” he said. “Designed to look like a part of the scenery. But I think they’re giving us hints about our roles.”

Jeonghan stepped closer to one, squinting. “Wait, this one’s labeled ‘Chief Investigator.’ That’s what I got.”

Soonyoung turned to Jihoon. “Didn’t you say that’s your job too?”

Jihoon blinked. “Yeah… weird. Could be a game error?”

Seungkwan tilted his head. “But isn’t it weird that only Jeonghan seems to know all the mechanics?”

Soonyoung paused, suddenly considering it. “Now that you mention it…”

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. “What, are you saying I’m the villain because I actually know how to play?”

“You do know too much,” Vernon added, but his voice wasn’t accusing, more puzzled.

Jeonghan crossed his arms. “What, I read the manual. Sorry I didn’t dive in blind like you guys.”

Still, the unease crept in. Soonyoung didn’t want to admit it, but something about the logic of the game was bending around Jeonghan. His instincts were starting to itch.

Before the tension could settle, a creak echoed from the ceiling above, followed by a thump.

All of them froze.

Soonyoung narrowed his eyes. “That came from the attic.”

Jihoon shifted slightly, fingers tight around the cane. “Should we go up?”

Jeonghan turned without hesitation. “There might be another clue. Or another way out.”

Soonyoung sighed. “Let’s move.”

And just like that, the group headed for the narrow stairway to the attic, unaware that time was ticking down and that one of them wasn’t playing fair.

The narrow stairs creaked under their weight as the group ascended. Dust floated thick in the air, making each breath feel like swallowing cobwebs. The attic door groaned open with a reluctant shriek, revealing a room shrouded in dim, flickering candlelight.

Old furniture lay under white sheets, and dozens of porcelain dolls sat in rows along the far wall, their glassy eyes reflecting the faint light.

“Why is it always dolls?” Seungkwan muttered, visibly unnerved.

“I think they’re just decoration,” Vernon whispered, though he didn’t sound convinced.

Soonyoung stepped carefully across the wooden floorboards, scanning for anything that stood out. Jeonghan moved to the shelves at the back, eyes squinting at a series of old notebooks.

Just as Jihoon limped over to peer into a dusty trunk, one of the dolls’ heads snapped around with a sickening crack.

Everyone froze.

The doll's mouth slowly opened… and from it came a garbled, mechanical whisper.

“He sees you.”

Then, the candles blew out all at once.

Seungkwan screamed. So did Vernon.

Jeonghan’s voice broke through the chaos. “Lights on! Light spell- whatever the system command is!”

With a faint bzzt, the candles flickered back to life. The dolls sat still again.

“Did that… thing just talk?” Jihoon asked, his knuckles white around the cane.

Jeonghan walked forward, ignoring the rows of dolls, and reached behind the one that moved. With a quiet click, a false panel in the wall opened behind it, revealing a small compartment.

Inside, wrapped in old cloth, was a dusty mirror with an inscription carved into the handle: “Only the true face may unlock the truth.”

Soonyoung took it carefully, frowning. “Is this… another clue?”

Jeonghan nodded slowly. “A metaphor, probably. ‘True face’ could mean our character identities. Maybe we need to find something that matches each of us.”

“There’s a library downstairs,” Vernon said. “Those NPC files, maybe we’ll find character portraits or more records there. If we cross-check them with the mirror, maybe we’ll see something.”

As they turned to leave the attic, Soonyoung cast one last glance at the doll. Its head was still tilted. Watching.

And though no one else noticed, for a brief second, he could’ve sworn its lips moved again. But this time, there was no sound.

Back in the library, the atmosphere was thick with unease. Dust hung in the air, undisturbed pages still fluttering from their earlier rush. The group huddled around the character console. Jeonghan tapping in commands as the familiar glowing profiles began to load.

“I just want to confirm mine,” Soonyoung muttered. “It said I was a detective when we started.”

Each panel loaded, one by one.

《Kwon Soonyoung

Role: Groundskeeper

Skillset: Manual labor, Observation, Stealth

Background: Works quietly around the estate. Knows every inch of the mansion but keeps to himself.》

Soonyoung’s brows furrowed. “What the…? That’s not me.”

Jeonghan quickly clicked into his own.

《Yoon Jeonghan

Role: Game Designer (Flagged)

Skillset: Authority Override, Puzzle Instinct

Background: Insider knowledge of game structure. Possibly tampered with original pathing.》

Jeonghan blinked, lips parting. “No, no, no—that’s not what I had before.”

“Try mine,” Jihoon said tensely.

《Lee Jihoon

Role: Archivist

Skillset: Information recall, Surveillance logs

Background: Studied the mansion’s past. Archives include identity discrepancies.》

“Wait—mine changed too.” Vernon pushed forward.

《Hansol Vernon

Role: Alchemist (Experimental)

Skillset: Brewing, Improvised medicine

Background: Disgraced for failed treatment methods. Obsession with altering fates.》

Seungkwan squinted at the console as his name loaded.

《Boo Seungkwan

Role: Medium

Skillset: Spiritual sensitivity, Speechcraft

Background: Former skeptic turned believer after a courtroom possession incident.》

They all stared at each other.

“These aren’t random,” Soonyoung muttered. “They match what we found downstairs. It’s changing the story.”

“Or showing us what we’ve been hiding,” Seungkwan said shakily.

“That’s not possible,” Jeonghan snapped, though his voice faltered.

“You're the only one who seems to know how this game works inside out,” Vernon pointed out coolly.

Jeonghan’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t argue.

A soft click echoed from one of the bookshelves. A hidden panel slid open. Inside was a box with a riddle engraved:

“Only when stripped of all falsehoods shall the path ahead open. Speak your truth or remain trapped in lies.”

The box had five rotating dials, one for each player.

Soonyoung looked at the others. “We’ll have to use these new roles to solve this.”

The five of them stood over the strange box, each rotating their dial to reflect the roles that had been revealed—Groundskeeper, Game Designer, Archivist, Alchemist, Medium.

As the last dial clicked into place, a deep rumble shook the walls. The box hissed open. Inside was a folded parchment, worn with age, and a brass key. Soonyoung snatched the note and read aloud: “The mansion holds the truth, but only beyond its walls lies the key to survival. Your roles may deceive you—but your choices won’t.”

“Is that… a way out?” Jeonghan asked, stepping toward the back wall where a sealed door had previously been.

Now, the bricks were shifting. Grinding open. But before they could move, the lights flickered violently. Then—screaming.

A horrifying glitch split the ceiling, reality tearing open like shattered glass. Red-eyed, grotesque figures twisted from the walls, crawling on all fours. Their limbs elongated with each glitching movement.

“Run!” Soonyoung shouted, grabbing Seungkwan by the wrist.

But it was too late. One of the creatures lunged. Seungkwan shrieked as it slammed into him, clawing across his side and sending him crashing into the bookshelf. Blood pooled quickly.

“SEUNGKWAN!” Jihoon screamed, rushing to his side.

Vernon yanked Seungkwan back, barely dodging another swipe.

“Do something, Vernon!” Jihoon’s voice cracked with desperation. “He’s not breathing right!”

“I- I'm not really a doctor! I’m an alchemist now- my medicine isn’t stable!” Vernon’s hands trembled, searching his inventory bag. “I don’t know if it’ll help or kill him!”

“Try!” Jihoon barked.

Jeonghan and Soonyoung pushed a cabinet against the open door as more horrors glitched into the room.

“Hurry!” Soonyoung yelled.

Jeonghan turned, kneeling beside Vernon. “What do you need?”

“Something cold and something binding-” Vernon muttered, digging out vials. “It might stop the internal bleeding.”

As Vernon administered the shaky concoction, Seungkwan coughed, then groaned. His eyelids fluttered.

“He’s alive,” Vernon exhaled. “But we have to move. Now.”

Together, the group carried Seungkwan out the secret passage, the brass key fitting perfectly into the ancient lock.

A heavy click. The door swung open—

And sunlight poured in.

They stumbled outside, into thick forest. The mansion sealed behind them with a grinding slam, as if angry to let them go. The silence that followed felt heavy, too heavy.

Soonyoung turned to look at the others.

“We’re out,” he whispered. “But something doesn’t want us to leave.”

Behind them, the mansion loomed. A shadow moved behind one of the upstairs windows. Watching. Waiting.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

The forest felt like a dream stuck on loop.

No matter how long they walked, the golden light filtering through the trees didn’t shift. The sky remained locked in that strange, almost surreal hour—too bright to be evening, too soft to be noon.

But their bodies told another story. Their limbs were heavy. Their stomachs ached with hunger. Their minds ran dull with exhaustion.

“We’ve been out here for hours,” Jeonghan muttered, crouching beneath a tree and wiping his sweat-dampened brow. “How the hell is it still daylight?”

“No way to tell the time here,” Soonyoung said, looking up at the frozen sun. “It’s like this world doesn’t have night.”

“Feels like we’re being watched, even out here,” Jihoon added, his eyes scanning the treetops. “It’s... unsettling.”

Seungkwan sat with his back against a rock, one hand pressed to his still-bandaged side. “I’m starving. We need to find food or we’ll collapse before this game kills us.”

“We already searched for an hour,” Vernon sighed. “Nothing edible. Just rocks and cursed-looking mushrooms.”

Soonyoung rubbed his temple, then looked to Vernon. “Hey, you’re an alchemist, right? Can’t you, like... make a potion or something? Something that gives us a boost?”

Jeonghan let out a laugh, voice rough with fatigue. “Yeah, Vern. Got any sparkling grape elixir in that coat?”

Seungkwan, with a huff, smacked the back of Jeonghan’s head. “Do not joke about grape juice right now, I swear.”

Vernon, unfazed, rummaged through his pouch. “I might be able to synthesize something. If I can combine a few base herbs and convert the mana correctly, it could...”

“You lost me,” Jeonghan interrupted.

“I’ll try,” Vernon mumbled.

Just as he laid the items in front of him, a loud ding echoed through the trees—sharp, synthetic, and way too cheerful.

A glowing interface blinked into existence above their heads. The robotic voice of the game returned, hollow and inhuman.

《System Update: Congratulations on clearing The Mansion of Mist.

Phase Two: Begin.

New Objective: Reach the Cradle of Origins. Coordinates uploading now.》

A glowing path lit up in the forest, snaking toward the east.

“Cradle of Origins?” Jihoon repeated, frowning.

“Sounds ominous,” Jeonghan muttered, standing slowly.

Soonyoung narrowed his eyes at the glowing trail. “It’s guiding us again. Just like back in the mansion.”

“But where is it taking us this time?” Seungkwan asked, struggling to his feet with Jihoon’s help.

Soonyoung glanced around at his friends—their shadows still stretching long even though the sun had not moved an inch.

“We’ll find out soon enough,” he said. “But I’ve got a bad feeling the game’s just starting to play dirty.”

The glowing path finally faded as they crested a ridge, revealing a clearing unlike anything they’d encountered so far.

Nestled within a wide basin of twisted trees and pale grass lay an ancient ruin. Crumbling pillars jutted from the ground like the fingers of a buried giant. Ivy crept along the cracked stone walls of a long-abandoned temple, its roof half-collapsed, its entrance carved with symbols that flickered faintly with digital glitches.

It was eerily quiet. Too quiet. No wind. No birds. Not even the usual ambient hum of the game’s system.

“This is it?” Vernon murmured, tightening his grip on his bag. “It looks like it hasn’t been touched in a thousand years.”

“The Cradle of Origins...” Jeonghan trailed off, stepping forward with a wary glance. “If this is where it all started, maybe it’s also where it ends.”

Soonyoung remained silent, eyes tracing the strange carvings on the archway. It reminded him of something—he couldn’t place it, but the symbols felt familiar. As if he’d seen them earlier in the game, or... somewhere else entirely.

As the group stepped through the threshold, the atmosphere shifted instantly. A low, humming sound vibrated in their bones.

The interior was massive, much larger than the temple’s exterior suggested. There were no doors or furniture—just a vast stone chamber bathed in unnatural white light. On the far end, a massive, mechanical structure hovered in the air, floating above a stone pedestal like a suspended heart. Dozens of black cables fed into it, pulsing faintly.

“So this is the core of the game?” Seungkwan whispered, gripping Jihoon’s shoulder for balance.

“I don’t like this,” Jihoon muttered, eyes narrowed. “It feels too exposed. Like we’re standing in the middle of something’s eye.”

Suddenly, the humming stopped. Then, the game spoke again—this time slower, deeper.

《Welcome, players. This is where stories are rewritten... and truths are erased.》

A massive digital interface unfurled midair, displaying the players’ profiles—each of their faces, names, and character roles. But something was wrong.

The names began to glitch. Letters scrambled. Roles flickered.

Soonyoung’s title switched from “Groundskeeper” to “... ??? …” Jihoon’s briefly showed “Archivist,” then glitched violently, sparking as if it resisted being revealed. Seungkwan’s “Medium” swapped to “Archivist.” Vernon’s “Alchemist” flickered and turned into “Healer.” Jeonghan’s “Game Designer” now displayed... “Watcher.”

“What the hell is going on?” Jeonghan stepped back. “Why are our profiles changing again?”

The ground trembled. A crack split the floor beneath them just a few inches, but enough to make their hearts skip.

Soonyoung’s voice was low. “I think we’re being shown the truth.”

“Or someone’s rewriting it right in front of us,” Jihoon added.

Suddenly, a loud clang echoed through the temple. The floating machine began to descend, its pulsing core now glowing blood red.

Then came the laugh. The same child’s laughter from the mansion—but this time, distorted, metallic, and inhuman.

“Stay alert,” Soonyoung warned, drawing closer to the group. “Whatever this place is... it doesn’t want us to leave.”

The laughter faded into the stone walls, replaced once again by silence. The group remained still, hearts pounding, eyes trained on the floating machine now dormant in the center of the temple. Then, Jeonghan noticed something glinting through a hallway to their left.

“This way,” he said quietly, his voice tight.

They followed him down the corridor. It curved unnaturally, as if the temple had shifted its own architecture. The air was thicker here, and it carried a scent—sweet, warm, strangely comforting. When they turned the final corner, they stopped in unison.

A long banquet table stretched down a grand dining hall they hadn't seen on the map. Ornate chairs lined each side, and the table was covered in glistening dishes—roasted meats, steaming soups, golden pastries, vibrant fruits. It looked real, not the slightly-off aesthetic of most VR food. It even smelled real. Mouthwateringly real.

“What... the hell is this?” Vernon breathed, stepping forward.

“Is it a trap?” Seungkwan asked, already clutching his growling stomach.

“Maybe,” Jihoon muttered, analyzing the food from afar. “But we haven’t eaten since the mansion. This could be the game’s way of giving us a break... or testing us.”

Jeonghan scoffed. “So what? You think if we eat, we turn into pigs or something?”

“No, but if this game is glitching, then we don’t know if it's nourishment or poison,” Soonyoung said. Still, he couldn’t deny the gnawing emptiness inside him. “That being said... if we don’t eat, we’ll collapse.”

A quiet pause followed.

Jeonghan finally rolled his eyes and plopped into a chair. “Then I’ll go first. If I explode, don't follow.”

He grabbed a piece of bread, bit into it, and chewed. The others watched with bated breath.

"...This tastes real," Jeonghan said after swallowing. “Like... actually warm bread.”

One by one, cautiously, the others joined. Seungkwan cried a little after his first bite. “I missed this so much,” he mumbled, stuffing his face with fruit.

Even Vernon gave in, muttering, “Maybe this is what the alchemist made for us after all.”

Soonyoung, still hesitant, sat at the head of the table, scanning the room. Everything was too perfect. Even the candle flames didn't flicker.

He reached for a glass of water, but paused when he saw it. Underneath his plate, barely visible, was a folded slip of paper. He pulled it free, and discreetly opened it under the table. It was written in thick red ink:

《The food is borrowed time. When the bell tolls, you must pay your debt.》

A shiver ran down Soonyoung’s spine. He looked up. Everyone else was eating happily. But now, he wasn’t hungry anymore. 

The moment the last bite was taken and the laughter began to settle, the air shifted—dense and suffocating, like a pressure drop before a storm.

DONG.

A deep, resonating bell echoed through the temple, vibrating in their bones. The sound was ancient, metallic, and ominously slow—like a warning from something watching.

Soonyoung's head snapped toward the sound. The paper in his pocket practically burned against his chest now. His instincts screamed run, but his body couldn’t move fast enough.

DONG.

Another toll.

Suddenly, an invisible force slammed into Soonyoung from the left side, so hard that it threw him off his chair and into the wall with a sickening crack.

“SOONYOUNG!” Jeonghan yelled, leaping to his feet.

DONG.

A sharp, grotesque tearing noise filled the room. Soonyoung screamed. A raw, blood-curdling scream. His left arm—gone. Blood poured from the torn flesh where his arm had once been. He writhed in agony, clutching at the air in panic, vision spinning.

“VERNON!” Jihoon shouted, his voice cracking. “NOW!”

“I- I’m trying!” Vernon dropped to his knees beside Soonyoung, pulling vials from his coat. “I don’t know if this will work- I’m not a doctor!”

“YOU’RE ALL WE GOT!” Seungkwan yelled, voice trembling.

Vernon’s hands shook as he poured a glowing blue liquid over Soonyoung’s wound. A faint shimmer spread across the torn limb, slowing the bleeding. Soonyoung’s breathing turned ragged, eyes wide in terror, the pain far from fading.

Everyone else stood frozen. No one spoke of the food. No one said anything at all. But the silence was heavy. They all knew—this wasn’t just a punishment. This was a warning. And the cost of disobedience... had just become terrifyingly real.

Soonyoung sat slumped against the cold stone wall, his breath shallow as he stared at the stump where his left arm had once been. The pain was still there, searing and real, even though the wound had been healed by Vernon’s alchemic touch. It burned through him like it hadn’t been healed at all.

This is a VR game, Soonyoung kept repeating in his head, but the thought felt hollow. The pain had felt too real, too vivid. Every second of it had been agonizing, almost as if it had transcended the lines of virtual reality and seeped into his very consciousness.

“Do you feel it?” Jeonghan’s voice broke through his thoughts.

Soonyoung looked up to see Jeonghan standing by, his usual composure visibly shaken. His eyes were wide, filled with a mix of anger and fear. Soonyoung nodded slowly, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

“It was too real,” he rasped. “I don’t care if this is a game... it hurt like hell. It hurt.”

Jeonghan’s gaze softened for a moment, but then his shoulders stiffened, as if shaking off the vulnerability. “We can’t let it get to us. We need to keep moving.”

But Soonyoung couldn't shake the feeling. The pain hadn’t just been physical. It was like it had burrowed itself into his mind, branding him. He touched the bandage tightly wrapped around his shoulder, his fingers trembling.

“Let’s go,” he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. The group moved on, trekking deeper into the temple, but even as they walked, a sense of dread clung to them.

The walls of the temple loomed higher and higher, winding corridors leading into the unknown. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Everything seemed to pulse with an energy that felt wrong. The air was thick, and the dark stone felt alive with malevolent whispers. Soonyoung could hear his own breathing loud in his ears, trying to drown out the noise in his head.

DONG.

The bell tolled again. This time, there was no warning. The air crackled, and everything seemed to freeze for a moment.

And then, a sudden scream.

“JIHOON!” Vernon shouted.

It was too fast for any of them to react. Soonyoung only saw Jihoon’s form lift from the ground, as if some invisible force had grabbed him. His feet left the floor, his body twisting in mid-air, before he was dragged—screaming—at an unimaginable speed down one of the winding passages. The rest of them barely had time to register what had happened.

“No!” Soonyoung's voice broke through the confusion, but it was too late.

Jihoon was gone.

Without another word, they scattered in different directions, racing through the dark, labyrinthine corridors. Soonyoung pushed through the stone hallways, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he forced his body to move despite the pain that still burned in his mind and phantom limb.

He rounded a corner, nearly tripping over his own feet. The place felt like it was shifting, closing in on him as if the temple itself was alive and mocking his every step. The stone walls seemed to hum with an energy, flickering dimly like the heartbeats of some ancient entity.

It was then he saw it, a faint glow from behind an old, cracked bookshelf. His instincts screamed at him to investigate. Soonyoung gritted his teeth, his remaining hand pushing aside the heavy, dusty wood. Hidden behind it was a small, ornate box.

A clue.

He knelt before it, his hands shaking as he pried it open, revealing an old parchment inside. The text was in a strange, jagged script, but it was decipherable enough. His heart pounded in his chest as he read the first few words aloud.

《To save what is taken, a price must be paid.》

The rest of the message was cryptic, something about blood and sacrifice, and an image of a locked door hidden deep within the temple. It made Soonyoung’s stomach twist, but his mind was already racing with possibilities.

The bell tolled when Jihoon was taken. The bell tolls again for us all.

Soonyoung knew one thing—if they didn’t act quickly, they’d all be trapped here, paying for a game that wasn’t supposed to feel this real.

He gritted his teeth and tucked the clue into his pocket, already standing and running down the passage to meet the others. His heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't let them lose Jihoon. The price was already high. And it was only just beginning.

Soonyoung’s legs felt heavy, each step an effort as he clutched the clue tightly in his right hand, his left arm still throbbing with a dull, phantom pain. The stone floors echoed beneath his feet as he searched for the others, his mind focused on the words he had just read.

I can’t let them down. Not Jihoon. Not any of them.

But before he could make any real progress, a scream split the air. It was raw, full of terror—a sound Soonyoung knew all too well. It was a scream that echoed through the temple, sharp and desperate.

And then there was a crash.

The noise reverberated, followed by the unsettling scrape of something heavy dragging across the ground. Soonyoung’s heart stuttered, and he sprinted towards the source of the sound, panic rising in his chest.

As he turned a corner, he saw it.

Jeonghan.

His body was being dragged with terrifying force across the stone floor. His limbs were bent at unnatural angles, his clothes torn. Soonyoung could only watch in horror as Jeonghan was slammed against the stone wall, his body crumpling in a sickening way. Blood splattered against the stone, the impact so brutal that it left Soonyoung frozen in place for a moment, his mind unable to process what was happening.

The scene was too much for him. Too real. The stench of blood filled the air, and the sight made his stomach churn. He couldn't breathe. His body rebelled as bile surged up his throat.

He stumbled back, vomiting violently, his knees buckling beneath him as his tears mixed with the bitter taste in his mouth. His chest tightened, his sobs escaping in broken gasps as the scene replayed in his mind, over and over again.

No. Not Jeonghan.

He couldn't process it. Couldn’t understand how it had all escalated so quickly. His vision blurred with tears, but even through the haze, he knew one thing.

The game had become real. And it was playing for keeps.

Soonyoung could barely stand. His breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as his heart pounded painfully in his chest, drowning out everything else. The bile in his throat burned, but it wasn’t just from the image of Jeonghan’s mangled body—it was the overwhelming, suffocating weight of it all. The crushing weight of the realization that this wasn’t just a game anymore. That it had turned into something they couldn’t control, something they couldn’t escape.

His arm… Jeonghan… He could still feel the phantom pain where his left arm had once been, the memory of the searing, agonizing cut fresh in his mind. It all seemed too much. Too real. Too impossible.

But then, a sharp breath, forced and controlled, left his lips.

I can’t break now. I can’t.

Soonyoung swallowed hard, pushing the terror down into the pit of his stomach, burying it beneath layers of exhaustion and numbness. The sadness was there, clinging to him like a heavy cloak, but he couldn't let it consume him. Not yet.

Vernon. Seungkwan. Jihoon... They need me.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his fingers trembling as he gripped the clue in his right hand. It felt like the only lifeline he had left. With one final shaky breath, he stood up, forcing his legs to move, each step heavy and deliberate, as though the very air in the temple had turned to lead. He couldn’t waste any more time.

The pain in his arm was nothing compared to the dread of losing more of his friends. I won’t let anyone else die. I can’t.

He glanced back one last time at the spot where Jeonghan had fallen, a quiet sorrow settling over him like a shadow, but he knew he couldn’t afford to linger. His heart broke for his friend, but right now, it wasn’t just about survival. It was about finding the others; finding a way out of this nightmare.

The sorrow would have to wait. For now, there was only the next step, and the next, and the next.

Vernon. Seungkwan. Jihoon... I’m coming for you.

Soonyoung wiped his tears, trying to clear his mind as he pressed forward. The walls seemed to close in on him, the weight of their surroundings a constant reminder that the game was far from over. The silence was oppressive, but the echo of his own footsteps kept him going.

Even if his heart was breaking, even if his body was screaming for rest, he had to keep moving.

They need me. And I won’t let them down.

Soonyoung’s feet dragged, each step a struggle. His entire body felt like it was made of lead, and every corner he turned seemed to stretch on forever, the silence weighing heavily around him. The air felt colder now, suffocating, as though the temple itself was closing in on him, urging him to give in.

But he couldn’t. Not now.

He forced himself forward, moving despite the numbness that threatened to overtake his mind and body. He was barely aware of how much time had passed, or how far he’d walked. His heart was still heavy with the image of Jeonghan’s body, but he had pushed it to the back of his mind. For now, there was nothing he could do for Jeonghan. There were too many others who needed him.

As he rounded another corner, he spotted Vernon, sitting against the stone wall, his expression worn and anxious. His eyes immediately met Soonyoung’s, relief flashing in his gaze, but it was quickly overshadowed by the concern that followed.

“Soonyoung,” Vernon said, rushing over. His voice was tense, though there was a flicker of hope behind it. “Where are the others?”

Soonyoung’s stomach twisted, the memory of Jeonghan still fresh, but he didn’t let himself falter. He couldn’t afford to.

“I found a clue,” Soonyoung said, his voice hoarse, but firm. He couldn’t let Vernon see how broken he was. “It’s about Jihoon.”

Vernon’s brows furrowed, a flicker of curiosity and desperation in his eyes. “What clue? Tell me, Soonyoung. We have to find him.”

Soonyoung swallowed the lump in his throat, fighting the rising emotions, the overwhelming sorrow that threatened to spill over. He clutched the piece of paper tighter, the edges crinkling in his hand. He had to say something. He had to keep going.

“It’s… It’s about the temple,” Soonyoung continued, speaking quickly, not allowing himself to pause. “The clue said there’s a hidden chamber beneath the altar. It’s the only way to reach him. We have to get there before time runs out.”

Vernon stared at him, blinking in disbelief for a moment before nodding. “The altar. Under the temple…” His gaze hardened, determination taking over his expression. “We’ll get him back. I won’t let him die here.”

Soonyoung’s heart tightened at the words, but he pushed it down. I can’t let him die, either.

For a moment, the weight of the situation nearly crushed him again. But he forced himself to focus, knowing that their lives were on the line. They had to find Jihoon. No matter what.

“Let’s go,” Soonyoung urged, his voice steady despite the storm inside him. “We don’t have much time.”

Vernon didn’t hesitate, standing up quickly, his face grim but resolute. The two of them set off together, every step taking them deeper into the temple’s mysteries, to whatever horrors awaited them next.

But as they moved forward, Soonyoung couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Something was still hidden. Something that no one was ready for.

And though he didn’t speak a word of it, the haunting image of Jeonghan’s broken body lingered in his mind like a shadow, a reminder of how fragile they all were.

The heavy silence that enveloped the air felt suffocating as Soonyoung and Vernon made their way deeper into the temple, the dark stone walls seeming to close in around them. Each step echoed louder than the last, the weight of their mission pressing down on their shoulders. They moved quickly, the desperate need to find Jihoon driving them forward.

And then, through the thick shadows ahead, Soonyoung saw it: an eerie, chilling sight.

Jihoon’s body was suspended in mid-air, his legs dangling loosely, his back arched as if he were caught in an invisible grip. His head hung low, and for a moment, Soonyoung’s heart stopped. His mind raced with the worst possibilities, the terror of what he might find rushing over him.

But then, as the footsteps drew closer, Jihoon’s eyes slowly fluttered open. The light in his eyes was weak, but they were unmistakably alive, filled with a mixture of confusion, fear, and something that almost looked like relief when they locked onto Soonyoung and Vernon.

"Soonyoung… Vernon…" Jihoon whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible, as if every breath was a struggle. His head tilted just slightly, gaze hazy but fixed on them. "You found me…"

Soonyoung’s heart clenched in relief, but the fear didn’t fade. Not completely. He took a few more steps toward Jihoon, his eyes scanning the air around his friend, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The space around Jihoon seemed warped, as though the very air itself refused to acknowledge his form—no ropes, no chains, nothing to hold him. Yet, there he was, hanging in place, suspended by an invisible force.

Vernon stepped closer, his eyes wide with concern. "Jihoon, are you- are you okay? What happened? What’s going on here?"

Jihoon didn’t answer right away. Instead, his gaze flickered to Soonyoung and then to Vernon, his lips parted as if to speak, but the words seemed to die on his tongue. He struggled to gather himself, swallowing hard before finally speaking.

“I don’t know,” he managed to croak, his body trembling slightly, as if still recovering from the strange paralysis. “I was… pulled. There was no way to fight it. It felt like something was dragging me... pulling me deeper into the temple. I couldn’t- couldn’t stop it.”

Soonyoung clenched his fists, trying to keep his composure. He couldn’t let himself fall apart now, not with Jihoon still hanging on by some invisible thread.

Vernon’s face tightened in frustration, worry etched deep into his features. “We’re getting you down from there, Jihoon. Just hold on.”

As Soonyoung and Vernon worked to carefully approach Jihoon, trying to figure out how to release him from whatever held him in the air, the atmosphere around them shifted again, the air growing colder and heavier with each passing moment. The temple seemed to respond to their presence, the walls almost alive with a strange, oppressive energy. It felt like they weren’t just dealing with the game anymore but something much darker.

And as they reached Jihoon, Soonyoung caught the faintest glimpse of something, movement in the shadows, a flicker of something watching them, just out of sight. His heart skipped a beat, but before he could say anything, Jihoon gasped.

“Watch out,” Jihoon whispered, barely audible, his eyes wide in warning. “It’s not over… This place- It’s a trap.”

Soonyoung and Vernon froze, staring at Jihoon in alarm. Before they could react, a low, ominous hum filled the air. The shadows in the temple seemed to twist and distort, creeping closer around them, and suddenly, they could feel it. Something was wrong.

Soonyoung’s instincts flared. The air had thickened, and the pressure felt unbearable. This was no longer just a game. They were trapped in something far worse. And with Jihoon still suspended, barely clinging to consciousness, Soonyoung knew they needed to act fast.

“Vernon,” Soonyoung said with urgency in his voice, “grab Jihoon. Now.”

Without hesitation, Vernon lunged forward and gripped Jihoon’s ankle, trying to yank him down. But the moment his hand made contact, Jihoon’s eyes widened in panic. His body jolted violently, and his mouth opened in a silent gasp before choking sounds escaped him.

Soonyoung’s eyes darted up. Jihoon’s neck was being pulled back by something unseen, as if an invisible noose had snapped around it. His hands clawed at nothing, feet kicking helplessly in the air as he struggled for breath.

“Vernon, he’s being strangled- stop!” Soonyoung shouted, his voice cracking.

Vernon froze for a split second, stunned, his grip still firm on Jihoon’s ankle. Thinking fast, Soonyoung dropped his clue paper, rushed forward, and wrapped his arms tightly around Vernon’s legs.

“Hold steady!” Soonyoung yelled as he began to lift Vernon with all the strength his remaining arm could muster, pushing the younger up higher to relieve the tension around Jihoon’s neck.

As Vernon rose a few more inches, Jihoon let out a strained gasp, his body slackened slightly, the invisible pressure around his neck easing just enough. His hands dropped from the air as he sucked in the smallest breath, still trembling but momentarily free from the choking force.

“Let go!” Soonyoung called up. “Let go of his ankle- now!”

Vernon obeyed immediately, releasing Jihoon’s leg, and the moment he did, Soonyoung stumbled back, cradling Vernon’s descent. The two of them fell hard against the temple floor, panting.

Jihoon’s body, still suspended, fell limp again, but the strangling force didn’t return. He hung there, unconscious but alive, no longer gasping.

Soonyoung coughed as he sat up, sweat beading across his forehead despite the cold air. “That thing… it reacts to touch. We have to find a different way.”

Vernon nodded, stunned, still catching his breath. “We almost lost him…”

Soonyoung looked up at Jihoon’s limp form, fists tightening. “We’re not going to. We’ll figure this out.”

Despite the growing dread curling in his chest, Soonyoung refused to let fear take root again, not while Jihoon was still alive, not while Vernon was with him. They had no choice but to find another way to break Jihoon free… without waking whatever was watching from the shadows.

Soonyoung sat on the temple floor, breathing heavily, glancing up at Jihoon—still suspended midair, unconscious or barely hanging on.

Suddenly, the silence cracked.

“Soonyoung? Vernon? Jeonghan? Where are you?!”

It was Seungkwan’s voice, hoarse and anxious, echoing through the stone walls.

Vernon jolted upright. “That’s Seungkwan! I’ll go get him- stay with Jihoon!”

Before Soonyoung could protest, Vernon was already running, disappearing around the bend. Then came the silence. Thick. Oppressive. Soonyoung stayed crouched, his eyes shifting between Jihoon’s limp form and the hallway Vernon vanished into. Every breath felt like it weighed a ton. The flickering torchlight made Jihoon’s shadow twitch—like something else was moving. Soonyoung clenched the clue paper in his good hand, jaw tightening.

Then... a cold breeze whispered past his neck.

He froze. 

Behind him, a faint giggle. Low. Crooked. Childlike. The same one they had heard back in the mansion. 

He turned slowly, only to find the corridor as empty as before. No one was there. But the feeling lingered—like he wasn’t alone anymore. Soonyoung’s breath trembled as he stared up at Jihoon’s suspended body. He rubbed his eyes, hoping the exhaustion was playing tricks on him.

But when he looked again- Jihoon’s eyes were open. And they were wrong. A sickly, unnatural hue, murky and glowing faintly, not the brown he knew. The pupils were too wide, as if dilated with something inhuman. And worst of all, those eyes were looking right at him.

Soonyoung stumbled back, heart slamming in his chest. “Jihoon…?”

The head tilted just slightly. The expression unreadable. Cold. Almost smiling.

“No, no-” Soonyoung backed away further, the weight of the temple’s silence pressing against him. His mouth went dry, panic spiking.

“VERNON!!” he shouted hoarsely. “VERNON, COME BACK!!”

No response. Only the faint sound of his own ragged breathing and the slight creak of unseen movement somewhere in the shadows. Soonyoung clenched his fists. He couldn't stay here. Not with that thing pretending to be Jihoon.

With his right hand gripping the wall to guide himself, he turned and ran through the corridor, heart pounding. He needed Vernon. He needed someone.

Turning a corner, he nearly collided with someone- “Seungkwan!”

Seungkwan stepped back, startled. “Whoa- Soonyoung?”

Panting, Soonyoung grabbed Seungkwan’s shoulders. “Where’s Vernon? Did you see him?”

Seungkwan blinked. “Vernon? No- wasn’t he with you?”

“You screamed earlier!” Soonyoung insisted. “That’s why Vernon went to find you!”

Seungkwan froze. “What? I didn’t scream. I was searching for you two the whole time.”

Soonyoung’s stomach dropped. His hands fell to his sides as his face turned pale. 

“…Then who-” His voice cracked. If Seungkwan never screamed, then… who had Vernon heard? And where did Vernon go after following that voice?

The moment realization dawned on Soonyoung, a low, gurgling hiss filled the air. A thick black smoke slithered out from the cracks of the temple floor like veins, curling around Seungkwan and Soonyoung’s ankles. It rose fast, too fast, swallowing the corridor in an unnatural darkness. Instinctively, they clung to each other.

“Don’t let go!” Soonyoung gasped, gripping Seungkwan’s wrist tightly.

“I won’t-!”

But the smoke surged with a vengeance.

And in a heartbeat, Soonyoung was alone. Seungkwan was gone. The air was colder, heavier. The temple felt different—distorted, like a dream twisting into a nightmare.

“Soonyoung…” a voice slithered, and he spun around—only to find shadows moving like silhouettes, crawling along the walls with elongated fingers.

“No- no, no…” he backed away, breath hitching.

The whispers grew louder. His own thoughts screamed over them, but they were distorted too. Jeonghan’s broken body. Jihoon’s inhuman stare. Vernon’s disappearance. The fake voice. The laughter. All of it collided in a spiral of madness.

The wall he leaned against pulsed. The floor beneath him twisted. His injured body trembled, and his vision shook.

“Soonyoung,” the voice cooed again, soft and wrong.

And then he saw himself, a mirror image, smiling wide with pitch-black eyes, stepping forward with a hand outstretched.

He fell to his knees.

His mind, fractured, exhausted, and overwhelmed. He couldn’t take it anymore. Soonyoung let go. The last thing he saw before his body slumped, was the mirrored version of himself kneeling in front of him, cupping his cheek.

“Let’s play now,” it whispered.

And Soonyoung did. Because he was no longer there.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

Seungkwan’s eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as he jolted upright. The black smoke was gone, but so was Soonyoung.

His hands scraped against the cold stone floor. The room was unfamiliar, lit only by a single flickering flame in the corner that cast haunting shadows across the walls. It felt alive like something was watching, breathing with him.

He scrambled to his feet and stumbled toward the door, only to find none. Just solid, ancient brick surrounding him.

“No, no, no-” Seungkwan muttered, panic rising as he searched for a crack, a weakness, a seam.

A whisper drifted from behind him. He turned. No one. Then-

BANG.

The wall pulsed. Cracks formed.

He saw something, or someone, a hand reaching through a fracture. A hand… real.

“Soonyoung?” he gasped, dropping to his knees and crawling toward it. “Hyung, is that you? Please- please help me!”

His hand stretched out, fingertips brushing against the hand. But it pulled back. And something else grabbed Seungkwan from behind.

“No-! Let me go!” he screamed, nails digging into the stone as he was dragged backwards by something unseen.

His heels scraped violently. His breath turned to gasps. He clawed at the floor, the flame flickering wildly as the shadows turned monstrous.

Then the door revealed itself behind him, open, but too far.

His final scream was hoarse, desperate, before the room swallowed him whole. Silence followed. Only the faint scent of smoke and something burnt remained.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

Jihoon's eyes snapped open, his body lying on soft grass beneath a pale, unmoving sky. The temple loomed in the distance behind him, cold and silent. His body ached faintly, but he was alive. Breathing.

And alone. Then came the voice.

《Congratulations, Jihoon. The game has ended.》

His breath caught. "What? Ended…? Where are the others?"

No answer.

He sat up quickly, fingers scrambling to open the character interface. Everyone’s profiles: gone. Only his remained. But something else appeared at the bottom of the menu:

《Log Out》

His eyes widened. "Finally…"

Without a second thought, Jihoon pressed the button. But nothing happened. Not immediately. Then—

A sharp crack echoed behind him. He turned. A shadow. Fast. No form. No time. A sudden coldness sliced through his chest before his mind could register it. His body froze mid-motion, eyes widening in horror as blood bloomed in his mouth.

He staggered, gurgled out a breath. Then collapsed.

The "Log Out" button flickered.

The grass drank in the silence. And the temple smiled in the distance.

— ♬ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ♬ —

Back in the real world, the skies remained heavy with the gray hue of late afternoon, indifferent to the growing dread that settled across the city.

A corkboard outside the convenience store fluttered in the wind, the corners of the papers curling with time. Five posters stood side by side, all freshly printed but already weather-worn. 

Each one bearing a name… a photograph… and the haunting word: MISSING.

Kwon Soonyoung. Boo Seungkwan. Yoon Jeonghan. Lee Jihoon. Hansol Vernon Chwe.

Smiling faces stared back from the paper, unaware of their fate. Friends, classmates, and family passed by, whispering, placing candles and flowers beneath the board. Authorities gave up weeks ago, claiming it was a case of vanishing with “no traceable digital footprints.”

The gaming café where they were last seen was locked down. Their VR pods? Removed. The system logs? Erased. The game? No longer existed.

But those who knew them best… they remembered. They remembered how they were excited. How they laughed. How they entered the VR game for what should’ve been just another thrill.

Now, their bodies were never found. Only silence remained. And the chilling feeling that is somewhere beneath lines of corrupted code and false realities. 

In the shadows of the corrupted game logs, if anyone had the ability to dig deep enough, they would’ve seen the final shift.

Just before Soonyoung’s death, as his sanity was overtaken by the creeping dread and he allowed himself to be consumed, the game system silently made one last change to the character details.

Seungkwan’s profile flickered… and the title “KILLER” vanished from his role. A breath later, it appeared under a new name: Lee Jihoon.

But none of the players were aware of this, not even Jihoon, at the time. Only the system knew. Only the game watched. Yet if we rewind to the beginning, just before the five friends were allowed to meet inside the virtual mansion, there was a brief, strange moment where Seungkwan stood alone, the world still forming around him. A cold robotic voice had asked: 《List the order of your friends, from most to least.》

No context. No reason given. Just the demand. So Seungkwan, confused, complied. He listed:

1. Jeonghan

2. Vernon

3. Soonyoung

4. Seungkwan

5. Jihoon

He didn't know what he had done.

The game simply responded: 《Acknowledged. Prioritization received.》

It was only after Soonyoung’s death that Seungkwan’s killer status quietly lifted. Because the first on the list had been eliminated. 

By the time Jihoon woke up, outside the temple, isolated and confused, the weight of the silence was crushing.

He looked at the character details.

And there it was. His name… His role…《KILLER》

He stared at it, trembling.

“Why?” he whispered to no one. And the game gave no answer.

Only the briefest flicker on the screen before his world turned red-

LOG OUT: SUCCESS.

[boomboomgaff]

Mark 7 armour core

At this point the Mk7 and Infinite are almost synonymous with one another, the armour fitting well with the games art style and general aesthetic. I like to keep my Mk7 pretty humble, although this one doesn’t see much use these days it’s always a favourite of mine. My look for this core takes inspiration from my time playing halo 3, I would always play some variant of a blue spartan with a CQB helmet to boot!

Lore

Mark VII is the fourth and most recent major iteration of the MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor [GEN1]. The armor's cost led it to be supplanted by the MJOLNIR [GEN2] line. GEN1 Mark VII was issued to at least one of the surviving Spartan-II supersoldiers, Naomi-010, on January 27, 2553. However, ONI's Materials Group had not given up on Mark VII. With designs created as part of Misriah Armory's Project KEYSTONE, Materials Group would finally manufacture a full production run of the armor as part of the MJOLNIR [GEN3] line circa 2559.

Theoretical design elements for a seventh iteration of MJOLNIR were proposed by Doctor Catherine Halsey in her personal journal in 2535; how many of these features were implemented in the final product is unknown. The Mark VII appeared to have been the last planned phase of the MJOLNIR project at the time. It would have utilized a power system that made use of a combination of plasma and fusion technology, slipspace de-insertion capability, active AI transfer protocols, and limited shaping of the suit's energy shield.

Though the GEN3 model of Mark VII Mjolnir does represent a generational leap for the Mjolnir platform for actively deployed Spartans, some elements tested with the GEN1 and GEN2 Mark VII remain in the prototype stage due to unreliability or cost factors, such as integration of Forerunner-derived nanomachine elements and full shield-shaping.

/////ALL LORE AND INFO TAKEN FROM HALOPEDIA.ORG AND IS NOT MY OWN WRITING FOR SAKE OF ACCURACY/////

(I ain’t writing allat)

https://www.halopedia.orgMJOLNIR_Powered_Assault_Armor/Mark_VII

Components of my build

Coating: Dogfight Makovich

Helmet: CQB

Attachment: TAC/RS/Starlight

Visor: Stalwart

Chest: TAC/AHD TYPE 3ZY

Shoulder pad L: UA/cambra

Shoulder pad R: UA/cambra

Gloves: Tigris

Wrist: UA/TYPE II-A1 buckler

Utility: MAT-2550/grenade pack

Knee pad: UA/TYPE RG

Halopedia reference images.

[pepsi-maxwell]

Sunday Six! (probably more than six)

tagging YOU, the person reading this message! mainly because i don't wanna free tag anyone in piss kink but if you see this, please tag me in your own wips, i'm so very curious

anyway. alex shelley/kevin nash, set during the 2007 paparazzi championship series, piss kink + medical play, under a cut for those reasons, enjoy!

---

Deep down, he knows that Kevin isn't a real doctor, that these piss samples aren't going anywhere near any kind of lab to test for any kind of steroids, but thinking about that too much means thinking about why, then, Kevin is having them all piss in cups for him in the first place.

“Did you not drink plenty of water like I told you to?” Doctor Nash asks, sounding a little disappointed. He looks at Alex searchingly, and Alex has to look away, down at his shoes, catching a glimpse of his own thighs, pressed together because of the pressure beginning to build inside of him, and his bladder twinges in discomfort a little more intensely.

“I did,” is his sullen response. “I just…”

Can't get my dick out and pee when you're looking at me like that, he thinks. 

Doctor Nash looks at him for a moment longer, and Alex's heart pounds sickeningly behind his ribs with nerves. Fuck, what if he gets kicked out of the PCS for this? Booted out of Paparazzi Productions completely, which is his thing–

“Pee shy?” Doctor Nash asks knowingly, interrupting his spiralling thoughts. Alex’s cheeks flush red despite his best efforts and he nods shortly, still staring a hole into the floor. “That's okay, you're not the first. I have a… special technique that'll help with that.”

He laughs, not at all like the good doctor persona he's affected in here. No, that's all Kevin. 

And then he grabs a box of latex gloves off the table next to him, and Alex's heart drops to somewhere in the region of his feet as Doctor Nash pulls one over his hand.

Have his hands always looked so big?

[321spongebolt]

"Spider-Man 4: New Home, New Life" MCU movie idea

While "Spider-Man Homecoming 4" is already in development, I have a couple of good ideas for what can be done, even if some of my ideas from this concept do find its way into the film, or in its 5th and/or 6th entry.

TITLE

"Spider-Man 4: New Home, New Life"

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

Columbia Pictures

Marvel Studios

Pascal Pictures

DISTRIBUTOR

Sony Pictures Releasing

RATING

Obviously, PG-13, moving on.

ROUGH STORY IDEA

(Some parts of this story may not be perfect, but this is all I got. If anyone has additional suggestions, feel free to comment.)

PROLOGUE

After the Columbia Pictures logo, we see Mac Gargan released from prison as he plots his revenge against Spider-Man for the ferry incident from the first movie.

OPENING TITLES

"Columbia Pictures presents"

"A Pascal Pictures Production"

"A Marvel Studios Production"

"Spider-Man 4: New Home, New Life"

MAIN STORY

After the title is revealed, we see Peter fighting crime in his new homemade suit from the end of "Spider-Man 3: No Way Home". As Peter restarts his life over as Spider-Man, he’s also struggling to keep up with his rent following his decision to let go of Aunt May, MJ, and Ned. The next morning, Peter starts his new college life at Empire State University. During his orientation, Peter would get a new set of friends like Johnny Storm (who would later go on to be The Human Torch), Felicia Hardy, and the MCU version of Eddie Brock. Peter and Johnny end up becoming roommates, Felicia attends the same science classes as Peter, and we also learn that Peter takes digital photography classes with Eddie. The whole class is given a project which will be due at a certain date, and whoever's project ends up in the Top 5 (or 10) will be displayed for future generations of students who walk down the halls (This will also play an important part in this story).

After J. Jonah Jameson finishes his latest video blog for TheDailyBugle.net, Mac Gargan steps in asking for a proposal to hunt down Spider-Man. JJJ hires Gargan, and they go to a lab run by Dr. Farley Stillwell. Stillwell shows Mac the Scorpion armor he’s been working on and uses Mac as a test subject. The only thing he overlooked is being able to take the suit off. Once Mac Gargan is fused into his Scorpion suit, Gargan goes on a violent rampage through New York, with Jameson fearing how he created a monster.

That night, Peter suits up and tries to take on the Scorpion, but the Scorpion is beating him to a pulp. What makes things more interesting is the fact that Scorpion's suit is bulletproof. Peter could end up getting impaled by Scorpion's tail, and Mac would have Peter pinned in a tight spot where he could kill Peter, but Spidey would be rescued by a woman with silver hair, a black mask, and a black jumpsuit with long white gloves and boots. This is Black Cat. She uses her whip on Scorpion's tail and could defeat him. Spidey would thank Black Cat for saving his life, and we learn that Black Cat knows Peter's identity. She introduces herself as Felicia Hardy, and we learn that sometime either before or after the events of “Spider-Man 3: No Way Home, Felicia is a huge fan of Spider-Man (making her one of the few people to not be affected by Doctor Strange's spell). While Peter questions the get-up, Black Cat gives Peter her contact information, reminding Peter she's a few dorms away (reference to Bo Peep’s line, “I’m just a couple of blocks away” from “Toy Story”).

When Peter gets back to his apartment, Peter gets a nightmare from the poison Scorpion gave him. In it, the dream could have something like MJ being taken from him by someone else. And Ned Leeds being the Hobgoblin, who doesn’t show mercy to Peter. As Peter tries to chase after Ned, Peter's feet are stuck in some big giant tar pit. Peter would slowly sink into the tar like he's standing in quicksand, and Peter wakes up horrified, only to see his homemade suit is now black. Peter would start to hear Venom’s voice and would introduce himself to Peter. Peter learns from the symbiote what abilities he didn’t know that symbiote had like unlimited webbing and the ability to instantly heal Peter whenever he’s scarred and bruised (basically, whatever powers the SSU Venom was capable of to begin with). Over time, Peter starts to become more and more attached to the symbiote, to the point where he merges into Peter's clothes so he'll always have it on him.

(I haven't thought up much here, but I figured I could just skip to the climax.)

On the day digital photography projects are due for the judges and professors to see, the judges and professors observe each digital photography project like panoramas, collages, and even a group of images that make the late Stan Lee’s head. Eddie’s project seems to gain a following among the observers and feel they have a winner on their hands for the #1 spot. However, before the judges make their final decision, Peter speaks up and exposes Eddie’s project for false information about Spider-Man, leaving the judges and digital photography professor mortified. Eddie's project is disqualified, and Eddie fails the semester, forcing him to clean out his dorm room and never return to ESU.

With Scorpion still running amok on the streets, and J. Jonah blaming himself for creating Scorpion, Peter decides to fight Scorpion with his symbiote suit. Peter learned from Scorpion’s last encounter, and thanks to the symbiote, he’s able to overthrow Scorpion, with Scorpion now in Peter’s place. With Peter holding Scorpion’s tail and preparing to kill him with it, the symbiote suddenly shows Peter a memory. Peter can hear (or see, depending on your view) a flashback of Tony Stark telling Peter, “If you’re nothing without this suit, then you shouldn’t have it. What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? Because that’s on you!”. Then another flashback would show Aunt May saying “You have a gift. You have power. And with great power, there must also come great responsibility”. Then another flashback where Andrew Garfield's Peter saying "At some point, I just... I stopped pulling my punches. I got rageful. I got bitter. I just don't want you... to end up like... like me.". Depending on the number flashbacks that would be shown, Peter would come around by impaling Scorpion's tail into the ground, leaving him for the police and sparing his life.

As Peter reflects on the selfish choices he made by wearing that symbiote, and the fact that he almost was about to kill Scorpion, Peter decides he needs to take the symbiote off. Instead of the normal route where Peter uses a church's bell tower, I was thinking that instead, Peter could enter a science lab and try mixing random chemicals to get the symbiote off him. Nothing works until Peter accidentally creates a fiery explosion, which scares the symbiote and melts off of Peter. Luckily, Peter was able to remove the symbiote before the sprinklers went off. The symbiote escapes through air vent and Peter makes it back to his dorm room before getting caught by security.

To properly end the movie, Peter would be able to attend Johnny's graduation, with Peter introduced to Johnny's sister, Susan. Susan would give Peter Reed Richards' contact information, as it would be hinted that Reed is Susan's fiancee. As for Peter and Felicia's relationship, now that Peter had learned to let go of the past, Peter would now be dating Felicia.

POST CREDITS SCENE(s)

The first post credits scene would have the symbiote fall through an air duct that leads to MCU Eddie's dorm room. The symbiote would land on MCU Eddie, and we would get a proper MCU introduction to Venom.

Another post credits scene would reveal the establishment of the Fantastic Four before they got their powers. And depending on which sequel for "Spider-Man Homecoming" or "The Fantastic Four" happens, Spider-Man should make an appearance as an additional ally.

CASTING CHOICES

As far as the new characters, I imagined that for Felicia Hardy, Sabrina Carpenter could portray her as herself and as Black Cat. As far as Venom is concerned, Tom Hardy would be able to reprise his voice role given his appearance as SSU Eddie Brock and Venom appear in the first post-credits scene for "Spider-Man 3: No Way Home".

[ngbcompany]

Top Shooting Gear for European Shooters

Having the right equipment is essential if you’re a hunter, competitive shooter, or firearms enthusiast in Europe. With varying terrains, strict laws, and different shooting disciplines across the continent, choosing reliable and efficient shooting gear for European shooters is a must.

This guide covers the essential gear every European shooter needs, from firearms and optics to protective equipment and cleaning tools.

✅ Firearms and Accessories

Every shooter starts with a trusted firearm. In Europe, quality is key due to strict licensing. Here’s what to focus on:

Bolt-action and semi-auto rifles from brands like KMR Precision and KRW

Reliable scope mounts – go for Geissele Automatics or Area 419 for stability and zero retention.

Custom accessories to improve handling, like charging handles, safeties, and upgraded triggers

💡 Tip: Always choose EU-approved, high-performance platforms to ensure compliance and long-term value.

🔭 Optics That Match European Conditions

Whether you're shooting in Slovenia's forests or Spain's plains, optics make or break your shot.

Red dot sights – ideal for close-range pistol and tactical shooting

Magnified scopes – critical for long-range hunting or sport shooting

Thermal scopes – popular for wild boar and predator hunting in Central and Eastern Europe

🟩 Brands to trust: Holosun, Tangent Theta, Elcan, and NiteHog

🎯 Best tip for accuracy: Match your scope to your shooting style – don’t over-optic your rifle.

💥 Ammunition for Precision and Power

Your gear isn’t complete without the right ammo. For European shooters, local regulations often require lead-free or speciality rounds.

Use Fox Bullets for hunting – eco-friendly, powerful, and accurate.

Choose match-grade target rounds for competitions or long-range sessions.

🔄 Always check local ammo rules before purchasing.

🛡️ Safety Gear: Ear and Eye Protection

Never shoot without it. Period.

Electronic ear protection – blocks loud gunfire but lets you hear ambient sounds.

Ballistic-rated shooting glasses – anti-fog, UV-protected, and impact-resistant

This is non-negotiable gear for shooting safely in Europe.

🎒 Range Gear and Tactical Tools

Stay organised and comfortable with dependable field gear:

Range bags – with storage for ammo, magazines, and tools

Shooting mats – perfect for prone shooting and zeroing in

Tactical gloves, slings, and holsters – enhance handling and mobility.

✅ Well-packed gear = smoother training and better results.

🧼 Cleaning Kits and Maintenance Tools

Clean guns are accurate guns. Use:

Iosso cleaning products – made for long-term firearm care

Universal or calibre-specific cleaning kits – with rods, patches, brushes, and solvents

Lubricants and protectants – keep your firearms rust-free and smooth-operating

🔧 Regular cleaning improves both safety and reliability.

🧥 Shooting Wear for All Conditions

Shooting in Europe often means unpredictable weather. Gear up smart:

Shooting jackets – waterproof with padded shoulders

Gloves and boots – improve grip, warmth, and mobility in cold and wet areas

🚶‍♂️ Comfort = confidence when it matters most.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The right shooting gear for European shooters isn’t just about performance—it’s about safety, legal compliance, and maximising every range session or hunting trip.

From optics and ammo to tactical wear and cleaning kits, investing in proper gear is investing in your shooting success.

🔥 Trust NBG Company – Europe’s Shooting Gear Experts

At NBG Company, we provide high-end, field-tested shooting gear for European shooters. Whether you need optics, cleaning products, firearm accessories, or thermal imaging scopes, our gear is trusted by hunters and professionals across Europe.

👉 Explore our full catalogue at NBG.eu and upgrade your shooting experience today.

NBG Company – Precision Gear. European Expertise.

[armstrongproducts]

Leading Safety Equipment Manufacturers in Mumbai | Complete PPE Solutions

Find the leading safety equipment manufacturers in Mumbai providing premium PPE, compliant safety gear, and customized workplace protection solutions.

Mumbai’s industrial ecosystem demands top-grade safety solutions—and its manufacturers deliver. From head-to-toe protection, the city’s safety equipment manufacturers provide reliable, scalable, and certified PPE for organizations of all sizes. These manufacturers combine engineering precision with practical design to offer unmatched safety performance.

Highlights of Mumbai’s Safety Equipment Providers:

✅ End-to-End Safety Gear:

Head & Face:

Industrial helmets, face shields, anti-scratch goggles

Body Protection:

Coveralls, aprons, high-visibility vests

Hand & Foot:

Anti-cut gloves, shock-absorbing shoes

✅ Quality-First Manufacturing:

International certifications (EN, ANSI, ISO, CE)

Use of non-toxic, durable, and tested materials

In-house R&D and prototyping capabilities

✅ Application-Based PPE Packages:

Automotive Industry:

Welding masks, mechanic gloves, safety footwear

Power Plants:

Insulated gloves, electrical hazard boots

Construction Sites:

Dust masks, reflective jackets, safety harnesses

✅ Customer-Oriented Services:

Custom logo printing and size options

Flexible order volumes—small to bulk

On-site product demonstrations and training sessions

Safety equipment manufacturers in Mumbai are more than suppliers—they are partners in your company’s safety journey. With consistent product availability, adherence to compliance, and industry-focused solutions, they help build safer workplaces across India.

For more details: Visit us - https://armstrongproducts.co.in/

[industrialmachinebylattel]

Must-Have Tools Every Industrial Site Should Stock

Running a successful industrial site takes more than just skilled workers. You also need the right tools on hand at all times. Must-have tools every industrial site should stock are essential for smooth operations, safety, and productivity. Whether you manage a factory or a construction zone, keeping your site well-equipped can prevent costly delays and accidents.

"A fully stocked industrial site is not just efficient—it's also safer and more reliable for every worker on the floor."

Let’s explore the must-have tools every industrial site should stock and see how Industrial Machine by Lattel plays a key role in this setup.

Basic Hand Tools Are Still Essential

No matter how advanced a site becomes, basic hand tools are always a must. These include screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, and wrenches. They help with quick fixes, adjustments, and setups.

For example, tightening a loose bolt with a wrench can prevent a larger breakdown. Stocking quality hand tools saves time and supports safety on the floor.

Power Tools Boost Efficiency

Power tools help get the job done faster. Drills, grinders, and cutting machines are especially helpful in heavy-duty work. However, using reliable brands is important to ensure both performance and safety.

Power tools should be stored properly and inspected often. This prevents wear and tear and lowers the chance of accidents.

Safety Gear Is a Must-Have

Safety gear is more than a legal requirement—it saves lives. Every industrial site should stock:

Helmets

Safety goggles

Gloves

Steel-toed boots

Hearing protection

"Investing in safety gear protects your most valuable asset—your workers."

Moreover, gear must fit well and meet industry standards. Stock extras in different sizes to ensure everyone has what they need.

Industrial Machine by Lattel – Lifting and Moving Equipment

Heavy loads are common in most industrial sites. Having the right lifting tools is critical. Items like chain hoists, pallet jacks, and forklifts reduce manual strain and prevent injury.

Why Choose Industrial Machine by Lattel for Lifting Equipment?

Industrial Machine by Lattel offers tested and reliable lifting tools. Their machines come with safety features and are easy to operate. Moreover, they’re built for long-term use in tough conditions.

Storage Solutions for Tools and Materials

Keeping your site organized prevents accidents. Shelving units, bins, and tool chests help workers find what they need quickly. A clean space also reduces trip hazards and damage to tools.

Consider color-coding tools or labeling storage bins. These small steps can make a big difference.

Industrial Machine by Lattel – Must-Have Electrical Testing Tools

Faulty wiring can cause fires or costly downtime. Stock your site with:

Multimeters

Circuit testers

Voltage detectors

Benefits of Choosing Industrial Machine by Lattel Electrical Tools

Industrial Machine by Lattel provides accurate and durable testing devices. For example, their multimeters are easy to read and built to withstand industrial environments.

Moreover, regular use of these tools helps catch problems before they become serious.

Welding Equipment for Fabrication Jobs

Welding tools are must-have items for any site involved in building or repairs. Essential welding gear includes:

Welding machines

Masks

Gloves

Electrodes

"Reliable welding tools ensure strong, safe, and lasting construction on your industrial site."

Always follow safety protocols and make sure welders are well-trained.

Industrial Machine by Lattel – Air Compressors and Pneumatic Tools

Air compressors are often the heart of pneumatic systems. These tools power air hammers, nail guns, and paint sprayers. They're fast, efficient, and powerful.

Why Industrial Machine by Lattel Is a Smart Choice

Industrial Machine by Lattel offers compressors that are quiet, durable, and energy-efficient. Their systems are easy to maintain, which saves you money over time.

Moreover, using the right air tools can reduce hand strain and boost output.

Maintenance and Cleaning Supplies

Cleanliness matters in industrial spaces. Stock up on:

Industrial vacuums

Cleaning solvents

Spill kits

Regular cleaning improves safety and machine life. For example, cleaning dust from machines can prevent overheating.

Industrial Machine by Lattel – Emergency Tools You Shouldn’t Ignore

Every site must be ready for emergencies. Must-have emergency tools include:

Fire extinguishers

First-aid kits

Eye-wash stations

Trusted Tools from Industrial Machine by Lattel

Their emergency products are certified and dependable. Moreover, they offer training tools and signage for proper use in real-world scenarios.

"The best emergency tools are the ones you hope never to use—but are always ready for action."

Final Thoughts: Stock Smart, Stay Safe

Having the right tools on hand is not just smart—it’s essential. From safety gear to high-end machines, every item plays a role in site success. Choose durable, efficient options like those offered by Industrial Machine by Lattel.

A well-stocked site is more productive, more organized, and most importantly, safer.

[testing-services]

How Leather Testing Labs Ensure Leather’s Performance in Harsh Conditions?

Leather, a material known for its durability, flexibility, and timeless appeal, is a preferred choice in various industries, including fashion, automotive, footwear, and outdoor gear. However, leather’s ability to perform in extreme conditions—whether in harsh weather, rugged environments, or under physical stress—can vary greatly depending on its treatment, quality, and intended use. For leather products to be trusted for performance in demanding conditions, rigorous testing is necessary. This is where leather testing labs come into play.

Leather testing labs are essential for ensuring that leather goods meet industry standards for performance, safety, and longevity, especially when subjected to harsh conditions. In this blog, we will explore how leather testing lab ensure that leather can withstand adverse environments, and why this is crucial for manufacturers and consumers alike.

The Importance of Leather’s Performance in Harsh Conditions

Leather is used in various demanding applications, including:

Outdoor gear: Jackets, gloves, belts, and boots designed for outdoor activities, where exposure to rain, sun, and physical wear is common.

Footwear: Boots and shoes that must endure heavy foot traffic, moisture, and intense temperatures.

Automotive interiors: Leather seats and trim exposed to heat, UV rays, and daily friction.

Protective gear: Leather used in motorcycle jackets, gloves, and other protective equipment exposed to abrasion and high temperatures.

In each of these applications, leather’s performance is critical. Without the proper testing and quality control, leather goods may fail prematurely, leading to costly returns, consumer complaints, and brand reputation damage. To avoid this, leather testing labs carry out a range of tests that assess leather's ability to withstand these harsh conditions.

How Leather Testing Labs Assess Leather’s Performance

1. Weather Resistance Testing

Leather used in outdoor gear, footwear, and automotive interiors must withstand varying weather conditions. Exposure to sunlight, rain, snow, and humidity can cause leather to lose its appearance, strength, and texture. Leather testing labs evaluate leather’s weather resistance by simulating extreme weather conditions and observing how it responds to environmental stress.

Some of the most important tests include:

UV Light Resistance: Leather is sensitive to UV rays, which can cause fading, cracking, and weakening of the material over time. Testing labs expose leather samples to UV light in controlled conditions to assess its ability to resist degradation and maintain its appearance and strength under sunlight exposure.

Water Resistance: Leather naturally absorbs moisture, which can lead to stiffness, swelling, or discoloration if not treated properly. Leather testing labs use various water immersion and spraying tests to determine how well the leather resists water and how it behaves when exposed to moisture.

Rain and Humidity Testing: This test evaluates how leather performs in wet environments or humid climates. Leather testing labs simulate exposure to rain, humidity, and wet conditions to ensure that the leather does not deteriorate or lose its integrity in such environments.

2. Abrasion Resistance Testing

Leather used for footwear, gloves, and other protective gear is exposed to constant friction and wear. The ability of leather to withstand abrasion without tearing, thinning, or losing its structure is essential for ensuring long-lasting performance.

Abrasion resistance testing is conducted using standardized machines that simulate the wear leather will experience over time. Leather samples are subjected to friction in controlled settings to measure how they hold up under repeated use. This test is especially crucial for products such as:

Safety footwear

Motorcycle gear

Work gloves

By evaluating abrasion resistance, leather testing labs can identify the most suitable types of leather for specific applications and help manufacturers select the optimal materials for durability and longevity.

3. Temperature Resistance Testing

Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can affect leather’s performance. Leather testing labs simulate both high and low temperatures to ensure that the material remains functional and retains its properties under these conditions. Leather can become brittle in cold temperatures or too soft and pliable in high heat, making it unsuitable for certain products.

High-temperature testing exposes leather to elevated heat conditions, such as those found in automotive interiors, to assess how the leather behaves in terms of flexibility, texture, and color retention. Similarly, low-temperature testing ensures that leather remains flexible and does not crack or stiffen under cold conditions, which is crucial for outdoor gear and boots designed for winter environments.

Testing labs also evaluate thermal stability, ensuring that the leather does not shrink or lose its shape when subjected to rapid temperature changes. This helps manufacturers create products that are reliable in a wide range of climates.

4. Flexibility and Stretch Testing

Leather’s flexibility is an important factor in determining its performance under movement and stress. For products such as gloves, footwear, and jackets, leather must retain its strength and elasticity without cracking, stiffening, or losing its original shape. Leather testing labs perform flexing tests to assess how well leather resists damage when bent or stretched repeatedly.

One of the most common tests used is the flexing endurance test, which involves repeatedly folding or bending leather samples under controlled conditions to measure their resistance to cracks, wrinkles, or breaks. The results help determine the best leather treatments and finishes to maintain flexibility under normal wear and tear.

5. Chemical and Stain Resistance Testing

Leather exposed to harsh chemicals, oils, and stains, such as in work environments or for automotive applications, must resist discoloration, degradation, or damage from these substances. Testing labs use specific tests to simulate exposure to oils, greases, cleaning chemicals, and other contaminants. These tests measure the leather’s ability to maintain its texture, color, and overall appearance after exposure.

Leather testing labs also evaluate stain resistance, which is crucial for products like car upholstery, bags, and footwear that may come into contact with dirt, mud, and other external elements. The tests assess how easily the leather can be cleaned and how resistant it is to permanent staining.

6. Tensile and Tear Strength Testing

Leather must exhibit sufficient tensile and tear strength to withstand heavy physical stress without tearing or breaking. This is especially important for protective gear, such as motorcycle jackets, safety gloves, and boots, where failure to maintain structural integrity can lead to safety hazards.

Testing labs conduct tensile strength and tear strength tests to measure how much force leather can withstand before it rips, tears, or distorts. These tests involve stretching leather samples to failure, and the results indicate whether the material is appropriate for its intended application.

7. Comfort and Breathability Testing

Leather’s performance isn’t just about durability and strength; comfort is also a critical factor in many applications, especially for footwear, clothing, and upholstery. Leather needs to be breathable and moisture-wicking to ensure comfort over extended wear.

Testing labs evaluate the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of leather, which measures how well the material allows sweat or moisture to escape. This test is particularly important for products like boots, gloves, and apparel designed for outdoor activities. Leather that is too thick or sealed improperly can lead to discomfort, leading to reduced product effectiveness in extreme conditions.

Conclusion

Leather is a versatile material that can withstand some of the toughest conditions, but only if it has been rigorously tested to ensure its durability and performance. Leather testing labs play an essential role in ensuring leather products meet the high standards required for extreme conditions, whether it’s exposure to UV rays, temperature fluctuations, abrasion, or harsh chemicals.

Through various tests such as weather resistance, abrasion testing, temperature endurance, and tensile strength, leather testing labs help manufacturers design leather products that can handle the challenges of tough environments. This ensures not only the longevity of leather goods but also enhances consumer satisfaction and safety.

By investing in the services of a reputable leather testing lab, manufacturers can confidently produce leather goods that stand up to the rigors of everyday use, even in the harshest conditions. Whether you’re making high-performance footwear, outdoor gear, or automotive interiors, thorough testing is key to ensuring your leather products meet the expectations of today’s demanding market.

[laurettabeier66]

A Guide to Choosing High Quality Cosplay Costumes

With its increased popularity and exposure, cosplay has blown up all over the world from animes to games to films superheroes you name it! Improve your experience whether you are dressing up for a convention, set photography or simply just really fandom in vesting on Cosplay Costumes High quality-made! This guide will tell you everything there is to know about choosing the perfect cosplay outfits for fashion, comfort and realism.

1. Know Your Character/Series

Do lots of research on your character before buying any costumes. Look at the details, colours and fabric of the attire; observe What’s with it. The high-quality cosplay costume should copy the look and style of character. Comparing your costume to reference images from multiple angles allows you see if current options are true and where customization is needed.

2. Selecting the perfect fabricroperties

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT DRESS FABRIC Suffice to say that the quality of fabric is one thing which will dictate how well a professional tone for your costume. The Materials To Match The Original Outfit (e.g.

For armored Characters / Modern heroes > Leatherette or PU leather

For school uniforms and casual characters, cotton twill or polyester blends.

Elegant / fantasy — satin, chiffon or velvet

Unless your character has a flashy style, avoid cheap synthetic fabrics that wrinkle when you roll off the floor. Realistic and durable High-quality materials

Read More: Ultimate Guide for Cosplay Wig Styling Tips

3. Inspect Quality and Finishing

Clean stitching, symmetrical cuts and reinforced seams are the signs of a well-made cosplay costume (take special care with underarms, knees and shoulders – areas most likely to be tested by movement) Look for:

Exterior mesh pocket for easy access to essentials Soft, lightly lined interiors that provide structure and cushion

Invisible zips or good sturdy fastenings.

Appliqué, heavy applique and sequin/buttons.

There was no mention of these so here, read reviews or zoom in on product photos to inspect: This level of detail speaks to the quality and durability of this costume as well.

4. Consider the Fit and Comfort

Since when you cosplay, for hours to even the entire day, you will wear that costume, it must be comfortable. Make sure to consult the size chart of seller and measure yourself! Try to pick custom sizing if available so you don’t end up with tightness, gaping or mobility issues.

Comfort tips:

Seek fabrics that are light and breathable with an inner lining

Costume mobility: THE most important thing to consider before putting together a costume is if it will inhibit movement.

Try it at home before to the event

Costumes with layers, or in armor style could be stifling and may require extra breathability to keep them wearable for hours into the day.

5. Accessories Play it eclectically

Simply put, accessories are the cherry on top. Good cosplay costume should include proper

Wigs

Gloves and belts

Boot covers or shoes

Jewelry, badges, or props

Budget for the purchase of accessories if they are not included. Also look to the quality of wig fibers and longevity props.

6. Check the Seller/Band Reputation

Purchasing through reputable cosplay stores or creators will save you a time of frustration. Look for:

Checked reviews with customer images

Return or exchange policies

The most common response I get to this, is “I just want a social media following” or something along the lines of audience feedback as an excuse with cosplay community involvement.

Dependable websites like Urcosplay have an extensive catalogues of characters which tend to be as equally good in terms of structure.

Read More: Best Cosplay Costumes for Summer

7. Plan Your Budget Wisely

A high-quality cosplayer who can make their own costumes could have a higher initial cost but will likely have some of the best material for the least amount investment as long term. Be sensible with this budget (include all relevant costs)

Costume

Wig and accessories

Makeup or body paint

Mailing and changes if any

You can reuse a costume which gives you more opportunities to wear it again in photo shoots and other roleplays. Consider it an additional element to your collection of private costume.

Conclusion

Finding the right COSPLAY costume is an art, and a strategy. That means balancing precision, durability and comfort to make your favorite character real. Consider the fabric, fit, detail and get it only from trusted sources so that your cosplay experience is as thrilling and immersive as possible.

FAQs

Cosplay costumes is of high quality

Authentically replica cosplay costumes are great in design, with high-quality fabric use for making it sturdy enough and fine stitching & precise accessorizing plays very important role of character replication.

Is it more advantageous to purchase a cosplay costume or make one?

This and a course of action entirely dependent on your budget, skills, time etc. Purchase { will save time and often yield a higher quality product } or make your own { is totally customizable, cheaper }.

What size cosplay costume should I take?

You should be following a seller size chart and you must always use measuring tape. It would be best to go with custom sizing if available.

How to level up your cosplay?

So accessorizing, wigs, makeup and character poses. These seem minor but they can do wonder to your over all presentation.

Source: https://urcosplay.com/a-guide-to-choosing-high-quality-cosplay-costumes/

[welgro]

Site-Safety Essentials: Must Have Equipment To Prevent Workplace Injuries

The environment at factory work sites is unpredictable. They are filled with potential hazards everywhere. Without the right equipment, the danger of injuries keeps increasing. Safety in these cases is not just about taking precautions. It is about avoiding injuries and ensuring a smooth operation. Having the right equipment can ensure worker safety and minimize downtime in operations. Let's look at some supplies from mining equipment manufacturer to consider for improving safety and reducing accidents. Personal protective gear for every worker Every worker must have a PPE kit, or personal protective equipment, that consists of multiple pieces of equipment that shield them from work hazards. Hard protection from falling objects is ensured by wearing hard hats. Safety glasses and face shields can secure the face from any incoming projectiles, sparks, or debris. Hand and foot safety must be ensured by wearing steel-toe boots and gloves that prevent burns or chemical spills. Another addition to personal protection is breathing protection. If your factory poses a risk of chemical spills or gaseous leakage, respirators and masks are a must. Plus, a visibility gear completes the kit. It ensures that the workers stay visible in dim environments. Lifting Equipment that Prevents Accidents Proper lifting equipment prevent the risk when handling heavy loads. The workers must have access to things like chain hoists and steel wire rope slings that distribute weight effectively. This ensures safe lifting. You can also prevent unexpected weights by lifting and rigging tackle and using load testing equipment to ensure everything is sturdy. Worksite Safety Checks That Matter Regular inspections and compliance checks can prevent disasters from happening. You must employ various inspections to identify if the equipment deployed is weak, or needs repair, or replacement. Some examples of this kind of inspection include lifting tackle inspections, crane and hoist maintenance, and workshop safety supplies inspections. Such inspections prevent workplace accidents and ensure a safe surroundings for all. Site safety is a continuous process. Never take safety as a one-time thing. It's a continuous process that requires the use of the right equipment, employee training, and high-quality equipment testing and inspections. You need to stay one step ahead to prevent accidents and compliance problems. About Welgro: Welgro is a safety equipment manufacturer that delivers top equipment for safety, lifting, tooling, and more for industrial and mining sectors. It has decades of expertise in supplying high-quality equipment and conducting rigorous inspections. Welgro is dedicated to providing the most trusted products and expert services. For more information, visit https://welgro.co.za/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/4ktOwST

[warninglitesofmn]

The Essential Gear to Keep Work Zones Safe and Secure

Work zones are busy places full of heavy machinery, working staff , and sometimes uncertain circumstances.

Guaranteeing everyone’s safety is of utmost importance, and requires the best in work zone safety equipment. Even small accidents can have extreme consequences in the absence of proper safety gear. Investing in the correct safety gear is important for preventing accidents and saving lives. If you are overseeing a construction site, it will be considered a smart move on your part, and increase your trust rating.

As we move further and discuss the various equipment options, you’ll also discover which ones are best suited to secure your work zone efficiently.

Let’s look into the indispensable safety gear that will be vital in securing the work zone and making it safe for your workers, and others passing by as well.

Must-Have Gear for Work Zones

When it comes to quality work zone safety equipment, having the right gear is essential. High-visibility vests are a staple; they ensure workers are easily seen even in low-light conditions. Bright colors mixed with reflective strips make all the difference. Next on the list are hard hats. They protect against falling debris and unexpected impacts. A sturdy helmet can be a lifesaver on busy sites where overhead work is common. Safety goggles should not be overlooked either. These shield eyes from dust, splashes, or flying particles, which are prevalent in many work environments. Don’t forget about gloves! Depending on your tasks—be it heavy lifting or handling sharp materials—finding the right pair will keep hands protected and functional during long hours of labor. Proper footwear can enhance stability and reduce slip risks. Steel-toed boots offer both protection and support for those on their feet all day long.

Importance of proper gear for work zone safety

Proper gear is critical for safeguarding workers in high-risk environments. When you're on a construction site or any work zone, the right equipment can mean the difference between safety and danger. Wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the risk of serious injuries. Hard hats shield against falling debris, while high-visibility vests ensure that workers are seen by machinery operators and others around them. Moreover, specialized footwear provides support and protection from sharp objects. Eye protection guards against dust and flying particles—common hazards in many work zones. Investing in quality safety gear not only protects employees but also enhances productivity. When workers feel safe, they focus better on their tasks without unnecessary distractions from potential dangers lurking nearby. Equipping teams with proper gear fosters a culture of safety that benefits everyone involved.

How to choose the right gear for your specific needs

Choosing the right gear for your specific needs is crucial when it comes to work zone safety. Start by assessing the nature of your project. Different jobs require different types of safety equipment. For instance, if you're working on a construction site, high-visibility clothing and hard hats are essential. Consider the environment as well. If you’re operating in areas with heavy machinery or traffic, ensure that your gear meets those demands—reflective vests can be lifesavers in such conditions. Next, think about the duration and frequency of use. If you only need gear occasionally, renting safety equipment may be a cost-effective option. However, investing in quality equipment may serve long-term projects better. Don't forget to evaluate comfort and fit too; uncomfortable gear is less likely to be used properly. Test items where possible before making decisions. Always consult with your team or experts about new technologies or regulations that could affect what you need for optimal work zone safety. Being informed will help keep everyone safe while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

[danandersonphoto]

Snow Days

While there is presently a winter surge hitting the northern half of the country, last month the Gulf Coast had a snow storm that shut down much of the areas from New Orleans to Pensacola for a few days.  Warnings of blizzard like conditions popped up on my phone the morning of and here in Mobile, Alabama our 130 year old record for single day snow fall was broken with up to 7.5 inches of snow recorded.  

These aren’t the kind of weather conditions most people on the coast are use to experiencing (myself included), so of course I wanted to get out and experience it while grabbing some good old weather features with my camera.  I’ve experienced extreme weather in the forms of more hurricanes then I can easily name and some tornadoes as well but this was the first honest snow storm of my adult life. 

I didn’t want to get on the roads in this storm partially because I lack all wheel drive on my car but also because I was worried how all the other drivers would handle the rare snow-and-ice covered roads, so I decided just walking around my area of town would have to do.  The last extreme winter storm that made it’s way through the southeast was about 4 years ago.  I was working on a film production in south Georgia at the time and while I had enough cold weather clothing to get through a week and a half of night shoots in freezing temps without getting sick, I wasn’t exactly comfortable.  “Never again” I told myself and started stocking up on some winter gear essentials thanks to a few end of season sales.

Although I was layered up underneath it, the puffer jacket from Eddie Bower kept me nice and toasty while some great photography-oriented winter gloves from Vallerret made it easy to operate my cameras.  My sneaker boots from Forsake are waterproof so combined with the thickest pair of Smart Wool socks I own I was able to keep my feet warm even when covered in snow.

My camera’s needed cover as well, so I had a basic Manfrotto rain cover over my Fuji Pro 3 with a nice 23mm 1.4 prime for my close shots and a solid ThinkTank cover on my Fuji XH2s with 50-140mm 2.8 for those compressed shots of the snow falling.

As I’ve said earlier it’s rare I have to photograph in conditions like this, so being able to take my winter gear and cameras for a walk let me safely test drive shooting in heavy snow conditions (especially if I ever find myself on several weeks of overnight shooting again during a winter surge). Snow, especially a snow storm, is so rare down here that I kept making excuses to go back outside and walk around the neighborhood looking for photos (logging over 6 miles according to my Apple Watch). I ended making a solid set of 17 images that I sent to ZumaPress for licensing. I wish I could experience weather like this like this at least once a year, allowing winter (which feels more like spring/ fall most months on the coast) to feel like a real season. It was really a joy to experience for myself and I know all the kids in the area who got out of school for the week will be talking about it for years to come.

[danceswithsporks]

A Star Above the Rest Special Chapter! What if…?

Part 1

Rex x Zirena (Jedi OC) x Cody

No clonecest!!

Authors Note: So I actually posted this a little over a year ago for my long fic A Star Above the Rest. I liked it so much that I’ve decided to share it here! This is just an alternate timeline where the clones were discovered much earlier!

Story notes: What if the clones were discovered sooner? What if Zirena became friends with Rex and Cody when they were all still young? What if we got to see their relationship and bond form over the following years?

Mace Windu stared at the hologram before him, a look of confusion covered his face. “Please repeat that once more. I want to make sure I’m understanding you correctly.”

“You are a Jedi, are you not?” Prime Minister Lama Su watched the Jedi pace back and forth. Perhaps a mistake had been made?

“I am. Jedi Master Mace Windu.” A noise behind him drew his attention as a child took her place next to him. “And my Padawan, Zee.”

“Jedi Master Windu and Padawan Zee, your clone army is in the early stages of training and will be ready for first batch delivery in approximately four years.” The child’s face lit up at his words and an idea formed in the Prime Minister's head. This would be an interesting opportunity to test the young clones. “I welcome you both to our facility to observe your product.”

“Master, can we?” Zirenas eyes lit up as she turned to Master Windu. Clones! Actual clones! She’d only ever read about the theory!

Mace ran a hand over his head as his Padawan begged to go. With a defeated sigh, how could he say no to his best friend's daughter, he relented. “Thank you for the offer, Prime Minister. We will take you up on it.”

Lama Su nodded gracefully before looking over his shoulder toward someone else. “Coordinates are being sent to you. We look forward to your arrival.”

-*-

“Zirena, get your face off the window. Do you want the first thing they see to be your smooshed face?” Mace maneuvered their ship carefully to the landing bay of Tapoca City. To think that this place had been out here this entire time? It was impressive.

With a sigh, Zirena sat back in her seat and bounced her boot off the ground in anticipation. They were the first Jedi to actually see the clone army! She’d be the first padawan to talk to them! “I’m sorry, Master. I’m just so excited! Do you think they speak basic? Or look like us?” Unable to control herself, Zirena once more had her face pressed to the window as they cleared the clouds and landed on Tipoca.

Mace shook his head in defeat as he began to secure the ship. “You’ll be able to ask all those questions once we get inside. Get your robe, it’s raining.”

A whine came from Zirena as she trudged to the back of the ship for her robe. She hated her robe. It was hot and heavy and she could barely see!! “I’ll just run to the hangar. Do I really have to?” A look was given to her by Master Windu which said ‘Yes. End of conversation.’ With a defeated sigh she begrudgingly grabbed the robe and pulled it on.

“Smart.” Walking over to her, Mace pulled the hood up and adjusted it accordingly. “Nice and mysterious. Just how I taught you.” After double-checking that she had her saber and her gloves, Mace crossed his arms and ran through their checklist one last time with her. “If there’s any sign of danger?”

This again? “Any sign of danger, run to the ship. Anything that makes me feel off, run for the ship. If I see anything weird, run for the ship. Honestly, Master. I have my saber now. I can handle things. I’m fourteen now, I’m not a child.”

Mace sighed softly as he pulled her hood down and looked down at her. She looked so much like her mother and had the same attitude too. “I know you're fourteen. That doesn’t mean I’ll stop worrying about you. You're my niece and my padawan.” His hand ran across her cheek and placed a piece of her hair behind her ear. “If any harm came to you, your mother and father would kill me.”

He was right, as usual. “I’m sorry, Master. You’re right.” He gave her a tap on her nose and Zirena chuckled before pulling her hood back up. “Lead the way, Master.”

-*-

“CT-7567! Hurry up! We’re late.” CT-2224 walked quickly ahead of his brother. Worried that they’d be reprimanded for being so late.

A blonde clone ran quickly behind his brother, trying to keep up. “I’m sorry, CT-2224! I overslept.”

2224 stopped and looked back at his brother. “How could you oversleep? Of all days to do that, you chose today?”

7567 stopped and placed his hand against his chest, glad his brown-haired brother had finally slowed down. “I was having the best dream, about her again.”

Brown eyes rolled as 2224 turned and continued down the hall. This time walking so that his brother could catch up easier. “Your so-called future wife?”

“Yeah! I could see her better this time! Emerald eyes! And long black hair with freckles across her nose and cheeks!” 7567 jogged to his brother and fell into step with him. “She was beautiful, I didn’t want to wake up.”

2224 sighed softly as he listened to his brother gush about his dream woman. He’d been doing that for weeks now. Saying she appeared one night and never left his dreams. It started that he could only hear her, then he could make out her hair from the back, and now he'd finally seen her face. “Maybe now you can finally focus on training? We’re six now 7567, we have assessments coming up.”

“Maybe.” The blonde smirked at his brother as they neared the hangar doors. Stopping, he looked at 2224. “How’s my uniform look? Ok?” When the brunette nodded he sighed before reaching over and adjusting the other's collar. “Let’s hope Nala Se doesn’t reprimand us too much.”

With a hiss, the doors opened revealing the Kaminoan already speaking to two robed figures.

“Ah, the two young clones I was telling you about have arrived.” Nala Se turned gracefully towards the two latecomers. “I am sure they have a valid reason for their tardiness.”

“We do.” 2224 looked at his brother who was staring down the smaller robed figure. “We had complications with one of our pods.” For some reason 7567 was completely distracted right now. It was best if he covered for him.

“I see. I will request maintenance take a look at the pod. Now please meet our guests.” With an elegant turn of her hand, Nala Se motioned to the robed figures. “Master Windu, please meet two of our most promising cadets. CT-2224 and CT-7567.”

Mace pulled the hood of his robe back carefully to reveal his face. These clones were surprisingly aged for their actual age. “You said they were six standard years?”

Nala Se nodded slowly. “They are. We use an advanced aging gene that allows them to grow at double the rate of normal humans.” Her hand motioned to the Jedis Padawan. “How old is your Padawan?”

“14. Padawan Zee, introduce yourself.” Mace placed an encouraging hand on Zirenas's shoulder, letting her know it was ok.

Zirena was excited to feel Master Windu give her the ok to take down her hood. All she could currently see was everyone’s feet, dumb hood was too big for her still. Reaching up, she carefully pulled the hood back. “Hello, I’m Padawan Zee.” Carefully she tilted her head towards Nala Se before looking at the clones. Oh, they looked around her age. They were kinda cute, but she thought clones were supposed to look the same. One of them was blonde though. “It’s exciting to meet you.”

7567 felt the words in his throat catch as she pulled her hood back. Her face was the one from his dreams! What kind of luck was on his side for this to happen? He felt her emerald eyes staring into his brown ones and realized she was waiting for a greeting from him. “Hel-“ he coughed slightly before continuing. “Hello. I’m CT-7567.”

“And I’m CT-2224. Nice to meet you, ma’am.” What the hell was wrong with his brother?

It felt like a million questions were bubbling inside her. Where did she start? How did she start? “Those sound like comm numbers. You don’t have names?” A sigh next to her let her know that Master Windu hadn’t approved of the question. Oh well.

“With the number of clones requested for your army, names would be impossible to track. We find this easier.” The Kaminoan scientist placed a hand behind 7567’s back and urged him forward. The reluctance of the clone was surprisingly out of character for him. “Master Windu, if you will allow these two clones to show your Padawan around, we may discuss the details of your army.”

Mace could practically hear Zirena begging him from inside her head. With the idea planted in the girl's mind, there would be no way to deny her. Maybe having his niece as his Padawan had been a bad decision. He was weak to her pleading eyes. “As long as she promises to keep out of trouble.”

“I will, Master.” Zirena tried to hide the excitement bubbling inside her. Quickly she pulled her robe off and handed it to Master Windu. Her hand tapped her lightsaber on her hip, letting him know it was there. Turning back to the two clones she smiled brightly. “Lead the way.”

2224 reached over and pulled 7567 towards the door. “Right this way, Ma’am.” The girl's looks didn’t go unnoticed by him. Long black hair, emerald eyes, and freckles. It was no wonder 7567 was completely entranced, she looked like his dream wife.

Mace watched as Zirena bounced excitedly after the clones. Something told him this was a bad idea.

-*-

“So, what do you guys do for fun around here?” Zirena walked between the two young clones as they made their way around the facility. She could honestly care less about the cloning process. Master Windu would no doubt explain it all to her later and then she’d hear it once more when he spoke to the council.

“We train.” 2224 shrugged as he motioned towards a large glass window overlooking one of the sparring arenas. “We’re trained in multiple hand-to-hand styles. including-“. He was surprised to be stopped by her hand going up.

“I meant after your training. Like when you’re done?” She looked at 7567 and found that he was now avoiding looking at her. Maybe she’d upset him somehow? Zirena wasn’t really sure how she could have done that so quickly, but maybe he just wasn’t keen on showing her around.

Oh, they didn’t really have that kind of downtime. “Some of us use the designated sleep time to read some of the material in the library or…” Well that was kinda it. Read in the library, study their coursework, train, and sleep. That was usually what their day always consisted of.

Well, that didn’t seem fun. “So you guys don’t like…jump off the landing pad and go swimming in the ocean? Or see who can scale the outside of the building fastest?” When the brunette shook his head at her she whistled softly. “That…sounds boring.”

“We are soldiers, ma’am. Our focus is to train and be prepared for our eventual placements with the Jedi.” By the time they’d be old enough to leave Tapoca, she’d probably be in charge of her own unit.

“Ugh, don’t call me ma’am. Makes me feel like an old lady. Call me…” She wasn’t supposed to tell them her first name. Master Windu had made that clear for whatever reason. “Call me, Zee.”

“Zee? Is that your name?” It was kinda weird. 2224 thought about her comment on them not having names. If that was what names were like out in the galaxy then he didn’t want one.

7567 was lost in his thoughts when he heard her laugh. His heart beat quickly as it sounded just like it did in his dream. How long had he been out of it? While he had been trying to process that she was real, she and 2224 had been having a fun conversation. “It’s a nice name.” To his surprise, she looked at him with a bright smile.

“So he does talk. Was wondering what I’d done to offend.” She watched as a redness crept across his cheeks. Now that was cute. “But to answer your question, no. It’s just a nickname. I’m not allowed to tell you my full name.”

“Why? Aren’t we on the same side?” 7567 crossed his arms, surprised that she’d hold her name secret.

Zirena shrugged. “Not sure. Master Windu said that the council just recently made that decision.”

“The council? Like your bosses?” 2224 wasn’t sure he fully understood. They’d only just started learning about the Jedi.

“More like our elders. They help make the important decisions. Send us where we’re needed and decide who we train with.” It had been considerable work to get them to agree to Master Windu training her.

Sounded like her boss to 7567. “So what made them change their mind on the name thing?”

Zirena looked around quickly before grabbing 2224’s and 7567’s wrists and pulling them to a corner. “Wanna know my theory?” She leaned forward as she whispered. When both boys nodded to her she continued. “I think it was my mom and dad's idea.”

She had parents? He thought the Jedi were all orphans. When 2224 said as much a laugh was pulled from Zirena that made his brother inhale quickly. If 7567 was trying to play it cool, he was failing.

“Where did you hear something so silly?” Zirena tried to cover her mouth as she laughed. She’d never heard something so crazy. 2224 and 7567 both shrugged at her, making her laugh some more. They may look alike, but they had different facial expressions which gave them so much character. It was cute. “Most of us have parents. Used to be that we didn’t get to see them after we went to the temple. Had to get rid of any attachments that could distract us. That changed about….” Zirena tapped her chin as she tried to remember when that had changed.

7567 absolutely loved how she laughed, the way it sounded like bells or bird songs. Her hand was still wrapped around his wrist and he felt like he could die then and there and he’d be ok with that. Even if she did have gloves on. He wondered why she wore them.

“Oh! Duh!” Zirena tapped the front of her forehead with her free palm. “Twenty standard years ago! Around the time my parents got married.” How could she forget something so important?

“Your parents are on the council? So they’re Jedi?” Deciding to test the waters, 7567 turned his wrist and tried to slide his hand into hers without her noticing. But the way she winked at him let him know she caught him. When she didn’t pull away, he took it as a sign that it was ok.

Truth be told, Zirena enjoyed the feeling of his hand in hers. They were almost the same age and yet his hand was already bigger than hers. Plus it was nice and warm in the cold halls of the facility. “My mom is a Jedi Master on the council. My dad works in the Senate and represents our home planet. So I think they kinda pushed through the whole ‘Padawans use nicknames thing.’ “

“It’s a smart countermeasure to keep you all safe, as well as your families.” 2224 noticed the way the two held hands, he felt kinda left out.

Sensing the jealousy bubbling in the brown-haired clone, Zirena reached over and took 2224’s hand in her free hand. No need for him to get jealous, they could all be friends. “My little brother doesn’t have to do the whole nickname thing. He’s not a Padawan. Sometimes I get jealous over that.” A sigh came from Zirena before she shook it off and looked at both clones. “Alright, time for some fun.”

The way she seemed to push down her negative feelings to allow her positive ones to thrive was impressive. 7567 gave her hand a gentle squeeze before raising an eyebrow. “What did you have in mind?”

Zirena smirked at the both of them, a fun idea bubbling in her mind. “ How good are you two with blasters?”

-*-

“Zee, Are you sure this is a good idea?” 7567 looked up at the Padawan as she tested the strength of the wire they’d strung up.

“For the tenth time, yes. I’ve seen my Master do this loads of times.” Had she successfully done it herself? Well…no. But it really couldn’t be that hard.

2224 passed a practice blaster to 7567 as Zee placed a foot on the wire. In one of her hands was her saber. Her long hair had been pulled up into a ponytail and her boots removed. “Have you ever actually done this?”

Zirena froze for a moment, if she told him no then they’d probably chicken out. “Once.” She’d fallen and twisted her ankle. But they didn’t need to know that. With a calming breath, she pushed herself onto the wire and easily walked towards the center. This was the easy part. Walking a tightrope was one of the first things Master Windu had taught her.

“I really don’t like this. What if we get in trouble? What if she gets hurt…or worse?” 2224 watched as she easily walked the wire like she’d been doing it since she was born. He heard 7567 adjust next to him as the Jedi above bounced on the string a few times. If this was 7567’s dream woman, then he was in for a whole bunch of chaos.

“I see it as us getting to train with a Jedi we’ll probably be working with in four years.” 7567 checked his blaster once more to ensure the safety was on before moving behind Zee.

Well, he did have a point there. Learning to work with a Jedi would greatly benefit them both and put them far ahead of their vods. “Fine. But only once!” With a check of his blaster, 2224 got into position and waited for Zee to give the go-ahead.

Her saber lit with a dull buzz. The green glow illuminated her arm. “Begin.” She watched as the two clones looked at each other before beginning to fire. The first few shots were deflected easily. She bounced off of the wire and flipped onto a place further down. Her saber caught a shot from 2224 just as it was about to hit her. A sigh she hadn’t planned on letting out left her lips carefully. She instinctively dodged one from behind her and felt herself begin to tumble off the wire. Great, another failure. She tensed for the hard contact of the mats below.

7567 dropped his blaster and dashed to catch her before she hit the ground but stared in surprise as she floated just above her arms. Seeing as she had the same surprised look on her face meant only one thing. The young clone closed his eyes as he heard a deep voice clear his throat from behind them. “That’s not good.”

“Zee, what have I told you about trying this without supervision?” Mace stood with one hand out and the other on his hip. No matter how many times he told her not to do it, she still did.

Zirena chewed her lip as she sheepishly looked at her Master. “Make sure you’re not nearby?” She felt herself moved and placed carefully onto the mat. She could practically feel that disapproving look boring into her soul. “I'm sorry, Master.” Master Windu moved across the room towards her as Nala Se observed from the doorway. He looks so disappointed.

“And you two just listened to her?” His arms crossed as the two clones joined his padawan. He watched as Zirena stood and stepped in front of them.

“I made them. They kept telling me it was a bad idea.” It wouldn’t be fair that they got in trouble for her actions. Behind her, the two clones looked at each other before stepping to her side. She really hoped they weren’t about to say something.

“That’s incorrect, we had every chance to refuse and step away. We were just as curious as Padawan Zee.” 2224 spoke with an even and serious tone.

“CT-2224 is correct. While Padawan Zee may have been a bit spirited in her request, we agreed to go along with her. If punishment is to be handed out, we request that we are included.” CT-7567 clasped his hands behind his back and stood at attention. It was admirable that she’d try to take the blame for all of them. But they were a team or would be in the future, hopefully, so it was only right they shared.

A hum came from Mace as he crossed his arms and tapped his chin in thought. It seemed that in such a short time, they’d already formed a bond. Perhaps it was the casual ability to make friends that all Younglings seemed to have, or the fact that they all seemed to have that curious streak within them. Whatever it was, Mace found himself interested to see how it would grow. “I see. Seeing as all three of you went along with this plan, it’s only right that you receive equal punishment.”

Zirena reached down and took each clone's hand into her own. Master Windu's punishments could be severe sometimes, even with him being her uncle. One time he made her clean the entire outside of their starfighter! It had taken her an entire day! “Which is?”

“Which will be you three continuing to train together.” He watched as Zirena gave him a surprised but happy look. “I believe Nala Se will agree with me when I say that there is a strong chance you three may be paired together in the future. As you boys have already decided to follow her lead, it’s only right you continue.”

“Indeed, Master Jedi. This may prove fruitful for their training.” Nala Se nodded in agreement. While the clones had placed the young Jedi in danger of being injured, they had followed her instructions perfectly. A sign that their training was indeed working. “If Master Jedi would be so inclined, I would request that your Padawan run through the same obstacle course as our clones. A Jedis perspective on it may prove useful to our research.”

No, not obstacle courses! Zirena made a face at her master, begging him to say no. The look that he gave her, a smirk and an eyebrow raised, meant he loved the idea. “Master, please.”

“I think it’s a marvelous idea. My Padawan will be prepared to run it in the morning.” With a nod, he turned and moved to the edge of the room. “For now, run this again.” He motioned to the wire above.

CT-2224 was surprised by the turn of events. It didn’t exactly sound like a punishment. But the look that Zee gave him as she released their hands and moved towards the platform for the wire let him know that he was wrong. “Sir? You want us to continue?”

Mace nodded as he levitated the blasters up for each clone. “My Padawan is bound and determined to master this. The only way she will learn is by repetition.” Crossing his arms once more, he leaned against the wall and watched as the clones tentatively took the weapons. “Not to mention you boys will need to learn how to hit a fast-moving target. There’s more dangers in the stars than you realize.”

“Like Siths” Came as a hiss from Zirena as she prepared to step on the wires.

“Indeed.” Mace watched as Zirena angrily stared at the wire before stepping on. He’d explain later if it was deemed necessary. “Take positions and begin.”

-*-

“I got ya!” CT-7567 caught Zirena before she made contact with the ground. Out of the last fifteen attempts, she’d succeeded in two and failed the rest. The current attempt being one of those failures.

“Thanks, CT-77-. I mean 756- something.” Zirena mumbled as she tried to remember his number. Too many numbers. She needed to come up with names for them. This was getting frustrating.

A chuckle came from 7567 as he placed her down carefully. “No problem, Zee.” He watched a red color creep across her cheeks, he liked that.

“Alright, I think that’s enough for today. Zee? It’s time to eat and meditate. Say goodbye.” Mace placed his datapad back into his pocket and moved towards the three Younglings. A sadness crept across his niece's face and he sighed. She really did make friends easily, it was always hard for her to leave them, even just for a night.

“Thanks for today. Even if we did get in trouble, it was fun.” She smiled sweetly at both clones before pulling them each into a hug.

Nala Se stepped into the room and nodded as she looked at the clones. Interestingly, they both seemed favored by the young Jedi. A red flush on both of their faces. “Come along, you will make it in time for your dinner cycle.”

CT-7567 had to admit that the hug from Zee was magnificent. His entire body was tingling from it. “I think it was worth the trouble.” Did that just leave his mouth? He was spending far too much time with the older clones.

Zirena giggled at him before picking up her saber and watching the clones return their blasters to the holders on the wall. She’d miss them, even if it was only a few hours. “Master?” An idea began to form in her head.

“Yes? My dear Padawan?” Mace watched as Zirena fidgeted with the bottom of her top. Already she was batting her eyelashes at him and he knew that whatever she requested, he’d give in.

“Well, you wanted me to learn as much about their life here as I could, didn’t you?” Her green eyes made contact with 2224. He was as cute as the blonde one. Were they all this cute?

Where was she going with this? Mace squinted at his padawan carefully. “I did.”

“Well, you and Master Yoda always say that we see each other's true sides when we are relaxed, right?” She chewed her lip as her leg bounced, hoping he’d follow her flow.

Why did he have a feeling he was going to hate where she was going with this? “We do.”

A big smile crossed her lips, she had this in the bag. “So then having them stay in our suite tonight for a sleepover would be a great time to learn more about them, right?”

Mace sighed as he closed his eyes, he’d walked straight into this. “You are right. Would you like to be the one to ask them?”

Zirena opened her mouth to say yes, but suddenly she felt her nerves get to her. Shyly, she shook her head and motioned for him to do it.

For as courageous as she was, he had to remind himself that she was still a child. He patted her shoulder softly before heading towards Nala Se to discuss the idea. “Nala Se, my padawan has a point. While the Younglings have in fact been getting to know each other while training. I too feel that they would benefit from some downtime with each other. We in the Jedi order have found that our padawans bond with each other through their free time and recreational time.”

Nala Se tilted her head in thought. “And do you see improvement within your padawans?” When Mace nodded, she returned the action. “They will be required to complete their study cycles before adjourning to your suite.”

“That’s fine, Zee needs to meditate before she does anything more.” Mace turned and looked at the group of Younglings staring at him and the Kaminoan. With a nod to Zirena, he watched her face light up before she looked at the two clones.

7567 felt his heart beat quickly as he listened to the adults talk. He’d be spending the night in her room? The way her eyes lit up at the news made him lose his breath. Perhaps this would be a fun night.

-*-

Zirena hummed softly as she lay between the two clones in the living area of her suite. A pile of pillows and blankets acted as their beds and their feet faced the large window that overlooked the vast sea. Outside the window, a large storm raged and pelted the duragalss rhythmically. They’d been talking nonstop for the last two hours. Master Windu had retired to his own room to make a few calls to the temple informing them of the day's discoveries. No longer interested in the conversation of the Younglings. A yawn left her lips as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness of her two new friends. “I’ve been thinking.” The words left her in a sleepy tone. “I don’t like calling you by your numbers.”

“Why’s that?” Came from 2224 as he turned on his side and looked at her. Zee’s long hair enveloped her in a curtain of black strands even as they lay down.

“Because you’re not livestock. You’re human beings, kinda.” She felt the blonde nudge her arm gently as he rolled onto his side to look at her. With a flutter of her eyelashes, her eyes opened and she smiled at him. “You’re your own person. You deserve names instead of numbers.”

“While we may not be livestock, we are still stock that must be accounted for. Weapons to be used by the Republic and the Jedi Order. One part of a million copies.” 7567 watched as she made an annoyed face before she suddenly sat up and faces them.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. While you both may say you are clones and exact copies of countless others. I know that’s not right. You’re both different in your own ways.” She watched as they sat up and pulled one knee close to their chests, their arms draping over them. A chuckle left her as they copied each other. So maybe some things were just hardwired in them to be the same as everyone else.

Her laugh was adorable and CT-2224 found himself getting lost in it. “Perhaps you can give us an example?”

With a brush of her hair over her shoulder, Zirena nodded. “That’s easy. While you two may share the same face and facial expressions. Your personalities are different.” Looking at 2224 she smiled sweetly. “You are stern, serious, by the books. You take into account the possible repercussions of your actions and plan for negative outcomes. But, you're also daring and willing to try new things, even if we may get punished.” She noticed the way he smirked and tilted his head down to look at his feet. No doubt impressed by how easily she’d figured him out. With a hum, she looked towards 7567 and tilted her head gently, her bottom lip between her teeth. “You on the other hand are brave, eager, and outgoing. Willing to try new things while still being by the book. But you’re also sweet and funny and caring.” When he copied the same action as 2224, she laughed brightly. “The one thing you both share is the fact that you're both so kind. I really like that.”

She’d figured them out to a T and both clones had to admit they were impressed. Perhaps it was a Jedi thing? They watched as another large yawn left her lips as she rubbed at her eyes. It was clear the padawan was exhausted. Without a word, they both reached out for her in a synchronized movement. With a gentle tug from them both, she was pulled back toward her spot between them. Only once she’d turned and settled back into the pillows did they also return to their original positions.

CT-2224 held her hand in his as he watched her begin to drift. “Would you have any ideas on names for us then? We aren’t exactly trained to think of something like that.”

Zirena’s eyes found the brunette as she turned her head and looked at him. With a squeeze of her, she nodded. “Cody. On my home planet, it means one who is helpful. But it’s also the name of one of my favorite singers.” She shrugged against the incense-scented pillows beneath her. “It just…fits you.”

2224 ran the name over and over in his mouth. He liked it. “While you sing me one of his songs?”

She chewed her lip carefully before nodding as she closed her eyes. “I used to hear a simple song. That was until you came along. You took my broken melody and now I hear a symphony.” Her cheeks felt so hot suddenly. She usually only sang with her parents and the elders for holidays back home. “S-something like that.”

“That was…” Stunning? Amazing? So special that he’d dream about it for the rest of his life? “Really pretty.” Nailed it. He squeezed her hand. “Thank you, for my name.” Cody smiled as he watched her nod at him before her head turned to face his vod.

“Will I be named after a singer as well?” 7567 kinda hoped so. That way she’d sing for him as well.

With a shake of her head, Zirena took his hand in her free one. “Rex.” She watched him make a confused face. It sounded like a pet's name she knew that. “It’s the name of the hero in this fantasy novel I like to read back at the temple, it means king. There are at least ten of them and in each one, he has the most amazing adventures. Like in one of the novels he has to rescue a princess from a band of Trandoshan pirates who want to force her to marry their pirate king! But at the last second Rex, who's been traveling all across the Galaxy looking for her, swoops in and saves her, and then they…” Zirena stopped herself from continuing. Then they kissed and returned to her kingdom where he became her personal knight and they had a secret relationship. “I won’t spoil the rest, in case you ever get to read it.”

7567 rolled the name in his mouth a few times as he listened to her explain more about the novels. She seemed to really enjoy them and the pure excitement she showed over them made him instantly love the name. “I’ll look them up, Zee.”

“So do you like the name?” She watched him carefully as he tilted his head back and forth a few times in feigned thought. After a moment he nodded, making her smile.”

“Yeah. I love it.” Rex watched as her eyes sparkled with happiness. Oh, there was his heart beating fast again. “Thanks for the name, Zee.”

Content that she could finally call them by actual names. Zirena nuzzled back into her spot and closed her eyes once more while holding each of their hands. “Goodnight, Rex. Goodnight, Cody.” The names felt perfect coming out of her lips. They felt right.

Both clones laid on their sides facing Zirena as she spoke their names. Each of their hearts fluttered quickly. They had names, actual names that meant something special to them. A unison “Goodnight, Zee.” Came from them as they watched her drift. Each squeezed her hand gently three times and felt the action returned as they too settled and began to drift.

Only an hour later, after the laughter and whispers of the children had finally died down, Mace left his room to check on them. He hummed softly at the sight of the three of them curled into each other with each clone holding one of her hands. That bond was truly there between the three of them. A quick image was snapped with his datapad and sent off to her parents before he’d return to his room. Perhaps this would work out after all.

-*-

“Don’t make that face, Zee. You know your parents want you back in time for your day-of-days.” Mace led his Padawan toward their waiting ship.

“It’s just 15. Not like I’m becoming the queen or anything.” Zirena pulled her robe tighter around her shoulders. She didn’t like making a big deal of this.

Rex and Cody followed behind quickly, trying to keep pace with the Jedi. “What’s a day-of-days?”

Zirena stopped and looked back at them with a blush on her cheeks. “It’s a celebration of the day I was born. There’s gifts, cake, sweets, and celebrating with my family.”

“Not to mention your friends from the order and junior senate. And 15 is important, Zee. You know that.” The ramp of the ship extended down to them with a hiss. He watched as Zirena shifted.

“Why is it important?” Cody watched as the hood of her robe was pulled up.

A sigh left Zirena as she avoided looking at both of them. “It means I’m old enough to get married. As is tradition on my homeworld.”

“Married?” That wasn’t what he’d expected to hear. Marriage. He’d thought that she was the woman in his dreams.

“Come now, my Padawan. Just because it means you can wed, does not mean you will. You know your parents' stance on this topic.” They’d discussed the topic many times already. With the new laws set forth by her mother, technically she’d be allowed to wed. But they’d never force her.

“Just because they don’t, doesn’t mean the Senator doesn’t either. I’m the daughter of a politician.” That thought alone always weighed in the back of her mind. Senator Mothma was a really nice lady. But even she could be weak to the demands of enemy senators.

A long sigh left Mace as he adjusted her robes. “We’ll discuss this more on the trip. For now, say farewell.” With a nod to the Clones, he turned and headed into the ship.

Great, another lecture on one’s duty as a Jedi and a politician's daughter. She waited for Master Windu to enter the ship before she turned back to the clones. “We’ll be back in six standard months. Master Windu has already agreed to a schedule with Nala Se.” That thought alone was keeping her from being sad about leaving her new friends.

“Hopefully by then, you’ve mastered the tightrope.” Cody smiled as he stepped forward and slid something into Zirenas hand before hugging her. “Happy day-of-days, Zee.”

“Hopefully by then, I’ll already have a new weapon to show off.” She returned the hug happily before raising an eyebrow at what was placed into her hand. Zirena moved to open her hand but found Cody holding it closed. Then Rex was making his way over to her. Sure enough, the actions of his brother were repeated and he too slid something into her other hand. “Can I look?” When they nodded she smiled brightly and opened her hands. In each one was a small circular metal disc with a GAR symbol on the back. Flipping them over she noticed the numbers of the clones in front of her.

“They’re our ID tags. While we have chips implanted into our wrists, on Tapoca we also wear tags around our necks for easy identification.” Rex watched Zee inspecting them more while smiling the brightest smile he’d ever seen. “You gave us names. Only right we give you our numbers.” He felt his cheeks suddenly flush at the insinuated meaning.

“So you don’t forget us, burc’ya.” Cody took her hand in his once more and squeezed it gently three times.

Zirena reached over and took Rex's hand while squeezing it three times. “Thank you, Rex and Cody.” She pulled their hands and the tags to her heart and held them there tightly. “These are the best gifts I’ve ever received. I’ll miss you.”

Both clones sighed as they felt her heart beating. With a nod to each other, they pulled her into a tight group hug. “We’ll miss you more. Promise.”

“Zee, we gotta go.” Mace looked out from the ship at the three Younglings hugging. He was glad to see they were becoming close. Though the bond would need to be monitored. Too deep of an attachment could spell danger for her. The topic would need to be discussed with the council after they returned to Coruscant.

“Coming, Master!” She wished she had something to give them both in return. Looking over her shoulder, she waited until her uncle returned to the ship once more. Quickly a kiss was placed on each clone's cheeks before she turned and ran onto the ship. The stunned look on their faces made her heart flutter as she stood at the top of the ramp. The wind whipped around her as the ship began to lift from the landing pad. With a wave, her hood fell back to show her smiling face, a few tears on her cheeks. Hopefully, they couldn’t see them.

Rex and Cody continued to wave long after the ship had left the sight of the hangar. One hand rested on each of their cheeks where she’d kissed them. They’d only known her for a few days, but both knew she’d play a large part in their futures.

“Master?” Zirena stared at the two tags in her hand, wondering how she could keep them on her forever. Maybe a bracelet?

“Yes, Zirena.” Mace stared at the screen before him, finishing the coordinates for Coruscant.

“What does burc’ya mean?” Her bare finger slid against the engraved number of Rex. Memories were already flooding to her of his short but interesting life.

“It’s a Mandalorian term of endearment. It means friend. Did they call you that?” He looked at her as the autopilot took control.

Friend, so they thought so as well. A nod left her as she pulled the tags close to her heart once more. “Yeah.”

-*-

6 Months Later

“Ok now pull back. Thats…that’s right. You got it.”

“I see them!” Zirena raised her hand from the yoke and tried to wave at her friends waiting below. Knowing that they couldn’t actually see her didn’t stop her.

“Both hands on the yoke!” Mace reached over and redirected Zirena's attention to piloting the ship to the landing pad. Why did he agree to this? Right, because Anakin Skywalker had to be the youngest pilot in Jedi history. This meant all Younglings were suddenly eager to learn and he had a weak spot for his niece. “Zirena, if you’re not going to focus, I will no longer teach you how to pilot.”

Zirena sat back in her seat with a small squeak. “Sorry, Master.” Her focus returned to the job at hand, kind of. Already she was trying to figure out how they’d fill the next week together. So many options.

Rex and Cody stood on the landing pad in quiet anticipation. They’d both missed Zee more than they’d expected. So many nights they’d laid awake discussing what else they could do when she visited next. If she’d noticed the changes in them if anything had changed about her. They watched as the ship seemed to struggle its way to the waiting pad. A sway to the left and a sway too far forward. It hovered over its resting place for a few seconds before the landing gear deployed and the ship suddenly dropped to the ground in a satisfied hiss.

“That looked a bit rough.” Cody leaned over and whispered to Rex as they waited for the ramp to deploy. All around them the others secured the ship and prepared to stow it for the week.

“Maybe a new pilot? Or the headwinds were rougher than they thought?” Rex felt his heart beating quickly. So close to seeing her again. After her last visit, his dreams about her had only become more frequent. Her laughter constantly played in his head like a melody he didn’t want to leave.

Cody chewed his lip anxiously as the time dragged on. So close to seeing her, to holding hands with her again, and seeing that bright smile. A hiss filled the air around them a few minutes later and the ramp finally deployed. “Finally” left his lips in an excited sigh.

“Come on Master! It wasn’t that bad of a landing!” Zirena made her way down the ramp next to her master. Her robe hung loosely around her shoulders while her long hair blew in the wind.

“We’re not discussing this again, Zee. I’m flying back.” Mace savored the feeling of the durasteel platform beneath his feet. He noticed the stunned look on her face and sighed. “Once you can focus on flying, then I’ll let you try to land again.”

“Well, how am I supposed to lea-“ Zirena stopped in front of Rex and Cody and found that she now needed to tilt her head up to look at them, a lot. Before it was barely a tilt. But now her head almost went all the way back. “You’re taller.”

How had she already changed so much in six months? Her face looked softer and her eyes almost sparkled more. Eyes that stared at Rex in surprise. “Heh, yeah.” They did tend to grow fast. “So that was you flying?” He chuckled while rubbing the back of his head.

“Not bad for my first time, right?” Zirena smiled as she turned and looked back at the ship. “Master is just being a bit dramatic.”

“I’ve seen worse, I’ve seen better,” Rex smirked as he took in how long her hair had gotten. It was amazing it could get any longer.

“Perhaps one of you would be willing to give my padawan lessons then.” Mace crossed his arms and took in the two clones. They had indeed grown quite a bit. Gone were the childish features from before and already he could see the teenage years in them.

Zirena whipped around and looked at both clones with excitement burning in her eyes. “Would you guys teach me?” Learning from clones who were designed to excel in all fields! What could be better?

Cody swallowed at the way she was looking at him. Technically they were far better pilots than most, but training Zee? How would they even focus? “Sure. I’ll see if I can find a spot for us on the simulator.”

“Simulator?” Her head tilted to the side as she tried to remember the simulator from her first tour of the facility. A brief memory of the room crossed her mind but it wasn’t enough for her to fully remember. She was far too distracted during the tour. Maybe she should ask for another.

“We use flight simulators to get us through the basics before we’re allowed to pilot a real starship. Perhaps it will be a benefit for you.” Cody watched as she thought for a few moments before nodding her head. “Perfect. I’ll make the arrangements.”

“Go ahead and get settled.” Mace interrupted the conversation. “I’m due for a meeting with the Prime Minister.” His eyes shifted to the clones. “I trust you three will stay out of trouble this time.”

It wasn’t a question, it was a demand and both clones could only nod as they watched the Jedi Master walk out of the hangar and into the facility. Looking back at Zirena, the caught the glint of something metallic on her arm as she reached up and removed her robe completely. The garment was draped over one of her arms and secured with the other, the metallic object now easy to see. A silver chain that wrapped around her wrist glinted in the evening sun while two circular charms clacked against one another. Their GAR tags. Rex and Cody both felt a swell of pride as they realized that she carried them with her.

The feeling of pride from both of them didn’t go unnoticed by Zirena. Following their line of sight she noticed them looking at her bracelet and she smiled before stepping closer to them. “You like it? My mom helped me convert them to charms.” She held her wrist up so they could have an easier look. “See, there’s Rex.” Her finger pointed to one before she moved the bracelet a bit. “And there’s Cody.”

“And this one?” Cody pointed to a dangling green crystal in between the two tags.

“Me. It’s the color of my saber. That way all three of us are always together.” Even when they were physically apart. On days when she missed them, she could look at the bracelet and remember the fun they had during her first visit.

“Why between the two of us?” Rex reached out and ran his fingers across the charms. Somehow he already had a feeling of why she had placed the charm there. But he wanted to hear her say it.

Zirena took his raised hand into her own before dropping her robe and taking Cody’s hand with her other one. She pulled their hands towards her chest and placed them over her heart. A smile rested on her lips as she looked at both of them. “Because that’s where I feel the happiest. Between you two.”

-*-

“Zee? Can I ask you something?” Rex turned from his plate of food and waited for her reply. Master Windu had offered to make them ‘soul food’ as he put it. Zee had insisted that they try and they were weak to say no to her.

“Sure.” Zirena placed her fork down and looked at Rex, his place on one side of her and Cody on the other. Across the circular table from her sat Master Windu, lost in his datapad.

“Why do you always wear those gloves?” The sound of a fork dropping against the plate next to him took Rex by surprise and he looked at the Jedi Master next to him. Had he said something wrong?

Oh, that. It wasn’t a surprise this question had finally come up. It was only a matter of time. “Master?” Her green eyes looked to her teacher for guidance. His eyebrow raised to her in a silent ‘Do you trust them?’ And she nodded. Of course, she trusted them.

Mace took a moment to mull over her response before nodding and waving his hand. “Go ahead.”

Zirena took a deep breath before reaching down and carefully sliding the gloves off. “Jedi have special abilities given to us by the force. The most common being our ability to sense other Jedi, sense living beings around us, and sense strong emotions. On top of that, we can cushion high falls and land in silence, push and pull things to us, and lift things heavier than us. However, most Jedi also have special abilities. Telekinesis, force suggestion, healing, bonding with animals and nature, and so on. Then there are the extremely rare abilities. The ability to shield one’s force signature, the ability to conduct lightning and absorb lightning. Astral projection is one I’ve honestly never seen anyone use.”

“Nor have I. It’s only ever been theorized based on some records from the high republic era. Not even sure Master Yoda, who lived during that era, saw someone perform it. It’s incredibly dangerous to do so.” Mace took a drink of his water before leaning back and motioning for Zirena to continue.

“Why is it dangerous?” Cody pushed his plate further ahead of him and crossed his arms. This was becoming an interesting conversation.

“To Astral project is to put one’s body in two places. To essentially make two copies. Your astral form can’t be harmed, but at the same time, your physical form would be in danger as you wouldn’t be able to maintain both at the same time. The amount of concentration and strain on your body is dangerously high. In short, you’d kill yourself.”

Rex chewed his lip, the idea that using the force could kill her was unsettling. “So what does this have to do with your hands?”

Zirena swallowed as she placed her hands palms up on the table. They looked as normal as everyone else’s. “I have a rare ability that very few Jedi have been born with. Psychometry, sense echo. In short, I can see an item or a person's past.” Her hands flexed a few times as she stared at them. “Only a few Jedi have been known to have the ability, my mother being one of them. I wear gloves to prevent accidentally receiving visions from someone.”

“Zee has excelled at learning how to control her rare ability. However, in moments where her emotions run high, she sometimes slips and can become overwhelmed by visions.” Mace stood and picked up his dishes. “But we are working on that.”

“So if you touch someone you can see their memories?” Rex looked to Cody as a realization began to dawn on him. The tags had been with them since the day they were hatched. Had she seen stuff about them?

“Usually it’s if I touch something with my hands and I have to focus pretty hard.” She could sense he was worried about something. Judging from some of the memories she’d seen from his tag, she felt it was most likely the dream he was always talking about. It was better to feign not seeing anything as to protect her poor friend. “As for visions from people, that’s more of a skin-to-skin thing. It’s why I tend to wear long sleeves and gloves. I can’t control what I see and to me, it’s an invasion of one’s privacy. I always felt bad when I’d accidentally see another padawan's personal moments. But again, that’s if I’m not paying attention and not focusing on suppressing my ability. My mother says it’ll become easier as I grow older. Much as our relationship with the force grows stronger and easier to control.” Blush crept across her cheeks at the memories of some interesting visions.

“It must be exhausting.” Came from Cody as he held one of her gloves. They were made from some form of leather material. Thick and hardy.

Sighing softly, Zirena took the gloves and pulled them back on. “It can be. But when I’m having fun or training, it’s almost like I forget about focusing and my body just naturally does it. Maybe that’s what my mom means?” It would be nice to one day live her life without having to worry about the visions. To hold the hand of someone she cared for and feel the warmth of their skin. One day.

Rex waited until her gloves were back on before he reached over and grasped one of her hands. “Well, it’s a good thing that fun is where Cody and I excel.”

They had a point. Last time she was around them, she’d had so much fun that she’d forgotten about focusing on her abilities. She’d felt so energized and rested afterward. She felt Cody slide his hand into her free one and with a smile she squeezed both of their hands three times. When they returned the gesture she giggled softly. “You’re right, you guys do excel at that.”

-*-

A hum left Zirenas lips as she watched the small fire burning in front of them. Only a few feet away from them, on the landing platform, the rain rhythmically danced across the ground. The smell of petrichor filled the air and a cool ocean breeze danced through her hair. In their unassigned positions on her side were her two clones, her friends. “I forgot what it felt like to just sit by the ocean and feel this breeze.” Her eyes closed as another breeze blew through the hangar.

Cody watched the way she allowed the breeze to envelop her. A small shiver ran through her body and he smirked. He reached behind them and pulled the blanket they’d brought back over her shoulders. “Can’t remember the last time I noticed it.”

“Things are always so busy around here. We barely get time for recreational activities. The only time we slow down is when you’re here, Zee.” Rex watched the smirk play on her lips and that fluttering in his heart was back.

Zirena adjusted the blanket around her shoulders and pulled it tighter. “I knew there was a reason you two liked being around me.” Smiling, she nudged Rex playfully.

“Might be one of the many reasons.” His shoulder rocked against hers and the three of them laughed. Truth be told, her visiting was the one thing that got him and his vod through the countless hours of training. “Now, what’s this special treat you brought?” He motioned to her satchel nearby.

It was something about the way they looked at her that made her feel so safe and warm. Reaching forward, she grabbed the satchel and pulled out three containers. Each lid was removed to reveal the contents. “I brought us stuff to make s’mores!”

“S’mores?” Cody reached forward and pulled the white cushiony square out of one of the containers.

Stars, how sheltered were they? “It’s a dessert! Chocolate, Marshmallows, and sweet crackers!” Picking up one of the gelatinous sugar cubes, she looked around for something to spear it with. Her eyes caught the silver of a slim rod of metal. That would work perfectly. She passed the marshmallow to Rex and used the force to pull the rod over to them. Gripping the metal tightly she searched for her saber to cut it in two. “Damn, forgot my saber.”

“Here, I got it.” Cody passed her the sugary treat and took the rod. The way her emerald eyes watched him in surprise as he snapped it in half made his heart skip a beat. “Th-there.” His face felt so warm as he traded with her once more.

“Thanks.” Came as a whisper from her. Turning the sticks around to the unbroken side, she speared one of the mallows and placed it over the fire. “So we cook the marshmallows until they get a lovely brown color, like your eyes, and then we take them off. Put them on the sweet cracker with a piece of chocolate and another sweet cracker and then you ea-.” Zirena looked at the two clones as they stared at her. “Wh-what?” Was there something on her face?

“You think our eyes are nice?” Rex reached over and pulled the treat out of the fire so it wouldn’t burn as his other hand reached up and ran across her chin.

“I…w-well…yes.” Oh stars, her heart was racing.

“Even though they’re brown?” Cody reached over and turned her face towards him, his finger running down her cheek.

Zirena let out a shaky breath as she pulled her lip into her teeth. “Especially because they’re brown. They make me feel warm, safe.” What was it with these two and making her feel all tingly? She watched as he leaned forward and ran his nose across the tip of hers. Wait, the older padawans at the temple had told her about this! He was going to kiss her! What was she supposed to do? She’d never kissed someone before. What if she was bad at it? Her eyes fluttered close while her head tilted to the side. Faint memories of what the girls said to do coming to her.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Another voice filled the hangar.

Quickly, Cody was pushed away from her and Zirena turned her face away from the source of the voice. It wasn’t her Master's voice thankfully. But whoever it was had just caught her almost kissing her friend! Stars! Her friend! She’d just almost kissed her friend! How could she even look at him?

Rex cleared his throat before moving to stand. “Fox! What are you doing out here?”

“Sensors picked up a fire, thought I’d come check it out.” The older clone looked at the group of three sitting before him. So this was the little Jedi that had affected his brothers so much. She was a cute little thing.

Cody couldn’t look at Zirena, he’d almost kissed her. Was he out of his mind? There had to be something in the regulations about this. “Sorry. We’ll put it out.” He needed a minute to center himself and apologize to Zee.

Fox raised his hands quickly to stop them. “Don’t worry about it. Now that I know it’s a contained fire, you three can continue.” From the way the three were acting, he’d interrupted something.

Zirena cleared her throat before turning and looking at the new clone. Wow, was that what they were going to look like when they got older? How was she supposed to focus? “I’m sorry, we haven’t met yet.” She quickly stood up and walked towards Fox. “I’m Padawan Zee. Your name is Fox?”

“Yeah, Those two picked the name. Something about me being sly?” He raised his eyebrow to his vods who now moved to stand behind the Jedi. Seemed they were protective of her. “So you’re the one who came up with their names? You got a good eye.” Gorgeous eyes really. “Ever since then, everyone’s been coming up with names.”

“I’m glad I could be the one to get things going.” Zirena smiled through the embarrassment burning inside her. “Would you like to join us?” She motioned over her shoulder towards the fire. “I brought enough extras.” Just in case someone burned one of the marshmallows.

Fox looked at the two clones whose cheeks were burning bright. It seemed the embarrassment was all around. “Wish I could but I’m on rounds tonight. Maybe another time.” He winked at Zirena who bit her lip at him. Now that was cute, too bad she was a little too young for him. Not to mention she was clearly falling for his vods. “I’ll let ya get back to it, Rex, Cody? Come with me for a moment?”

Both clones looked at each other before nodding and passing Zee. They gave her a quick reassuring nod before moving towards the door with Fox. Once they were out of earshot, Rex spoke.

“What’s going on?”

“Just wanted to see how you two were doing. That was pretty close Cody.” Fox crossed his arms and smirked at his brunette brother. “Don’t take so long next time though.”

“Honestly, Fox. I’m glad you interrupted us. I almost kissed her.” He still couldn’t believe he’d almost done that. Cody felt so horrible.

“Wasn’t that the point?” Fox felt like he’d missed something.

“Yes. No. I mean…” Cody sighed as he ran his hand over his face. “She’s our friend. She trusts us and I almost kissed her! What if she doesn’t feel the same way? It could make things weird!” He looked at Rex who was sharing the same look. “You were going to kiss her? Weren’t you?”

“I wanted to. But then she felt safe with us and it made me realize how wrong it would be. As you said, she’s our friend.” Rex shook his head. This had gone sideways so fast.

Fox stared at the two in disbelief. “You two are joking right?” When they raised an eyebrow at him he shook his head. “Honestly, if you two can’t see that she’s falling for you two then I don’t know what to say.”

“No, she’s a Jedi.” Rex hoped Fox wasn’t lying to them. It meant his dream still had a chance of being real.

“And the grass is green and the ocean is deep. What’s your point?” There was no hope for these two. “Obviously the moment is gone now. But just, keep being you two and it’ll become more clear. I have no doubt.”

“And how do you know so much about this? You’ve been off the planet once, a month ago, to meet the Jedi Council and the Chancellor.” How much stock should they really put into Fox’s claims?

“Because unlike you two, I use my recreational time to research all I can about the opposite sex. While you two daydream about your friend.” Fox turned and tapped the panel for the door to open. “Just keep up what you're doing. You’ll get there.”

Rex and Cody watched as the door shut. If Fox’s claims were right then that meant Zee liked them both. How would that work if it was true? Both clones turned and looked at Zee whose back was towards them. They could see her arms were crossed as she stared out into the rain. What they couldn’t see was the way her hand hovered over her lips as she lost herself to the thought of possibly kissing them. Nor could they see the smile that rested on her lips.

-*-

“Those s’mores were amazing, Zee. Thanks for bringing them.” Rex lay next to the Jedi on their makeshift bed. Somehow, even with the awkwardness of what had almost happened earlier, they’d found their way back into their familiar sleepover setup. In the center was Zee and on the opposite side was Cody. Though he seemed to be keeping himself a little farther away.

Emerald eyes looked out the large window as the calm night sky settled the room in a soft glow. For once it wasn’t storming at night here, something rare for the planet. Maybe as rare as their bond. Her hand held one of Rex's while searching for Cody’s. Everything seemed to have changed after he’d spoken to Fox. It made her worry that their friendship had been shaken. “I’m glad you liked them. Miss making them.”

“You don’t make them on Coruscant?” Rex turned his head and looked at Zee, the sadness on her face obvious.

A sigh left Zirena as she sat up and pulled her knees to her chin. “We tried once. Didn’t have the same feeling as it did back home. When we did it at home there was something relaxing about it. My dad would build a fire on the cliff overlooking the docks and mom and I would make the marshmallows in our kitchen while my little brother made a mess. Then we’d sit under the lavender moon and my dad would hold me in his lap while I made mine. Mom would sing some of the folk songs from our home and we’d just enjoy being together while trying to count the stars. I guess you could say s’mores became my comfort food.”

“You tried to count the stars?” Cody couldn’t hide the chuckle that came from him. He’d been lost in his thoughts ever since their talk with Fox and the realization that Zee may like him back. That she may like both of them like that. But he could see the way the sadness took over her body. Sitting up he placed his hand on her back and rubbed it gently.

“My daideó told me that if I could count all the stars in the sky, my deepest wishes would come true. So I always tried.” A small laugh left her as she felt Rex's hand on her shoulder. “As you can imagine, I spent a lot of time outside looking at the sky.”

Rex nudged his shoulder against hers. “What was your deepest wish?”

Zirena shrugged as she tilted her head to the side and looked at Rex. “I was six at the time, so my deepest wish was for my parents to let me have a pet Bantha.”

“A Bantha? Really?” It wasn’t what Cody expected to hear her say.

“Mom told me all about them and for some reason, I just really wanted one!” Zirena laughed as she watched a patrol fly by the window. She wondered if they could see in. That would be weird if they could.

“What’s your deepest wish now? Or do you not count the stars anymore?” Rex leaned back on the palms of his hand and watched as Zee mulled over her thoughts.

“Hard to say. You can’t really count the stars on Coruscant. But if I could? I think my deepest wish would be for my family to spend more than a day together. For us to go home, even for a week, and just enjoy being together again.” Her gloved hand raised to her cheeks and wiped away the few tears that had escaped. “Sorry. That was pretty depressing.” Zirena hummed softly as she felt both clones lean against her shoulders in half hugs.

“If you ever want to count the stars while you’re here, we’ll help you.” Cody reached down and took her hand in his. When she looked at him and smiled sweetly, his heart nearly stopped. Her gorgeous gemstones glistened with tears while the happiness of her smile made her face glow.

How she’d gotten so lucky to become friends with these two was beyond her. Nala Se could have picked any clones to be the ones to show her around and yet she’d picked these two. She grabbed Rex's hand and pulled both clones' hands to her forehead. “I’m so lucky to have you both. Thank you.”

Rex and Cody looked at each other as they felt the three squeezes. In this moment they both knew that it was undeniable, in the short time they’d known her, they’d fallen for her. Which posed their next problem, who would she choose? Cody gave him a look to indicate they’d discuss things later. Both men returned the three squeezes and listened as she hummed a tune softly. For now, they’d enjoy their precious time with her.

After they’d returned to laying down, the three of them discussed what each had been up to. What things were happening on Coruscant and what things were happening on Kamino. They planned out the next few days with each other and Cody shared the happy news that he’d found a time slot for her on the simulator. Zirena returned the happy news of her own. Master Windu had approved her request to take her trials. With any hope, the next time they saw her she’d be a Jedi knight. To no one’s surprise, Rex fell asleep first.

Zirena stared at the ceiling of the room, unable to sleep. While things seemed to go back to normal between her and Cody, she could still feel the awkwardness in the air. How could she sleep knowing she’d almost kissed her friend? She needed to fix this. Carefully releasing Rex's hand, Zirena rolled onto her side and faced Cody whose eyes were closed. “Cody?” Left her in a whisper, she’d rather not wake Rex. She watched his eyes flutter open and an inquisitive ‘hmmm’ left him as he rolled over to face her.

“Can’t sleep?” When she shook her head to him he sighed. “Me neither.” How could he sleep next to her knowing that he’d almost kissed her earlier? It had seemed like she’d forgiven him, but the awkwardness between them could be cut with a piece of pastoid. He watched as she chewed her lip. Reaching up, he brushed a strand of hair off of her face.

“Zee, about earlier..”

“Cody, about earlier..”

A soft laugh came from the Jedi as she felt Cody’s fingers against her cheek. She was so tired, if she slipped even a little she’d be able to see his most private memories. But his fingers felt so wonderful against her skin. “You first.”

Cody smirked at their unison words. “I’m sorry about earlier.” He watched as her eyes fluttered closed. “I let the moment get to me and I overstepped.”

“You didn’t.” Her eyes opened slowly as she nuzzled deeper into the pillow. “I shouldn’t have given in.” Reaching her hand down she took his and placed the back of it against her cheek. “Cody, I don’t want things to be awkward between us anymore. You’re my friend, you both are and you mean so much to me. Can we…forget about what almost happened?” She stared into those chocolate brown eyes that she found herself caring for more and more.

“You mean so much to me, us, as well.” His finger curled a strand of her hair around it. It was so soft. “Of course, we can forget about what almost happened.” Though, he’d remember it for as long as he could.

Zirena hummed softly in relief. “Perfect.” She felt Rex shift behind her before a long snore came from him. A giggle left them both before she sighed and lowered his hand. “Goodnight, burc’ya.”

Cody watched her eyes begin to flutter shut with mando’a on her lips. Never had their language sounded so beautiful. “Goodnight, cyar'ika.”

“What’s.” Yawn. “That.” Yawn. “Mean?” Zirena felt Rex's hand take its place against her back. It sent a shiver up her spine and it took her a moment to settle.

“It means…” Cody watched as she settled once more into the pillow. He carefully pulled the blanket up and over her shoulder. “It means dearest friend. It’s what men call their female friends.”

“Hmmm, will you tell me what I say for you two? I want to speak your language.” Another yawn left her as sleep finally pulled her into its warm embrace. Though it did smell distinctly like Cody, she didn’t care.

“One day.”

-*-

“Keep practicing your maneuvers, Zee.” Cody reached down and adjusted her robes carefully. “Remember what Fox told you. Calm breaths, and focus on what’s ahead of you. Everything else will come naturally.”

“Stars, when did you start sounding like Master Windu?” Zirena shooed his hand away. When he gave her a serious look, she sighed. “I will. Don’t worry the next time you see me I’ll be a pro.”

“Let’s hope you can say the same for your blaster aim.” Rex stepped forward and passed her a GAR-issued blaster. “A special license has been granted for you to carry this. You're only to use it for practice at the range that Fox is setting up.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she stays on top of her practice.” Fox walked by them with his bag in hand. Fresh red-painted armor graced his body.

Zirena took the blaster and carefully placed it into the holster that Rex had given her and helped her put it on. “Still surprised the council agreed to this. Master Kenobi thinks these are uncivilized and the fact that you convinced my mother of all people is just amazing.”

Cody had to admit it was impressive. From the way Zirena had spoken about this Kenobi guy, he’d seemed pretty unreasonable. But when he and Rex spoke to him, he’d made perfect sense. Zirena was young and while he knew she wouldn’t be running around pointing it at everyone, he was still worried she’d get hurt. But Cody could see how desperately she wanted to learn the weapon and her only using it a few times every six months wouldn’t help her. So he did what he did best, he negotiated. Though he had to admit, her mother had been a bit intimidating. “Remember, Fox will check your ammo count every time you go to the range. If there’s even one shot missing, you’ll have to turn it back in.”

“I know, burc’ya.” Zirena covered the weapon with her robe and looked at her two friends. The sound of the ship preparing to leave sounded behind her. Here they were again. A week of fun and learning and growing closer. New memories had been formed that would carry her through until the next time they saw each other. “Six months?”

Rex and Cody both nodded as they watched her look at them through her lashes. Little tears formed in the corners of her eyes and they felt their hearts breaking. For some reason, this time felt even harder than the last time. “Six months.” Left them in unison. They watched her bottom lip begin to quiver as she nodded to them.

“Hey now.” Rex stepped forward and wiped the tears that had escaped from her cheeks. “None of that.”

“These next few months will speed by. You know that.” Cody held her hand in his. “Plus the sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll be back.”

“He has a point, Cyar’ika.” Rex took her other hand and pulled her into a hug. “Plus it means the sooner you can talk to your parents.”

Cody stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her as well, sandwiching her between them. “You’re still going to do that, right?”

Zirena looked up at both of them and nodded. “Yeah. It’s time I let them know how I feel. I’m just nervous.”

Rex rubbed her arm carefully. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

-*-

6 Months Later

“Jedi fighter, your descent is too fast. Pull up and reattempt your landing.”

“Tapoca City, this is Purple leader and Purple learner. We are being pursued by hostiles. I repeat we are being pursued by hostiles! Support is needed!” Zirena screamed as another shot was fired at her ship as she flew directly toward the landing pad.

“Copy, Purple Learner. Support shops are being deployed. Can you survive for another five minutes?” The patrol leader tapped a button on his panel and a red alarm sounded across the base. His eyes scanned the sky for the Jedi fighter and the pursuer.

“I-I think so. Permission to use the patrol route delta?” She turned the ship and spun quickly, avoiding another missile.

“Permission Granted.” His eyes caught the flash of tan and purple as the ship burst through the cloud and headed directly towards the waters of Kamino. After a moment another ship, painted black, appeared and fired at the Jedi. “Lock onto that ship!”

She could do this, she’d run this path multiple times on the simulator. Especially after Fox had one put in on Coruscant. This would be easy in person, right?

“All hands to battle stations. Support for Jedi fighter is needed immediately. Fighter is being pursued by an unknown individual, take all steps to secure the Jedi. Medical personnel, stand by.” The clone's voice rang over the intercoms of the city, stopping all in their tracks. “CT-2224 and CT-7567, report to the control tower.”

Rex and Cody stared at each other as their numbers were called. It could only mean one thing if they were being called. “Zee.”

“Purple Learner, what is the situation onboard? Where is Purple Leader?” He watched as she avoided another shot and pulled up just before hitting the waves. Sadly the pursuing ship did the same.

Zirena looked over her shoulder as tears burned her eyes. “Purple leader is currently unconscious due to trauma from being thrown into the ship.”

“Copy, Purple learner. We’ll have medical standing by for you both.” The clone leader looked over his shoulder as he heard the door open. “Good, you two are here.”

“Is she ok?” Rex ran to the window and watched as Zee swerved through the pillars of the city. “What’s taking support so long?”

“Rex calm down. One question at a time.” Cody turned back to the clone leader, watching her out there was too much.

“Control? We’ll need another medic.” Her shaky voice filled the room over the intercom.

Cody looked back out the window before rushing to the intercom. “Zee, is someone else injured?”

Rex felt his heart drop as a scared ‘yes’ came back. Something didn’t sit right about the way she said that. Walking over, he spoke into the communicator. “Cyar’ika? Who?”

“J-Jedi Master Ka’ve. S-she’s deceased.” Her mother's lifeless body lay crumbled in the back of the ship. Pulled there before they escaped the planet.

“Oh no.” Cody watched as the support fighters finally deployed and took off after the attacker. “Support will distract them, Zee. Head to landing bay Charlie.”

“Let’s go.” Rex motioned for Cody to follow and the two took off towards their friend. The two took off together, a newfound worry in their eyes.

A sob left Zirena as the ships flew past her. It was over. She maneuvered the ship into the landing bay and landed with a quiet thud. Smoke hissed and sprayed from the ship and for a moment she hesitated to lower the ramp. Once that door opened the reality of everything that had happened would finally hit her. So she waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Only once she heard the familiar deep tone of her friends did she look out the window at them. Her bottom lip trembled as she locked eyes with Rex. He looked so worried. He mouthed ‘open the door’ to her and she slowly nodded before finally unlocking the door and lowering the ramp. Turning the pilot seat around, she stared at the lifeless body of her beloved mother.

“Zee? This is Kix, a medic.” Cody stepped slowly onto the ship, his vod by his side with a few others. “He’s gonna take her, ok?” Kriff, she looked so defeated.

“M-master W-Windu needs attention too. H-he was thrown into the ship by a Sith. I-it’s been th-three hours.” Zirena watched as Kix stepped around her mother and checked on her Master.

“He’s alive, we’ll need to take him down for scans.” Kix moved back to the deceased Jedi and looked her over carefully. A clear fatal wound to the chest by a lightsaber could be seen. The charred fabric and skin, an indicator of said weapon.

Cody made his way to Zee and knelt in front of her. “Are you injured?” His hand trembled as he ran it over her face. Blood could be seen drying to her forehead with pieces of her black hair sticking to it.

“I-I don’t know. Everything happened so f-fast.” Her eyes looked beyond Cody and towards her mother. She watched as Kix very carefully placed her on the gurney. A stark white sheet was placed over her before he moved her off the ship. “I need to contact the order. I n-need to c-call my f-father.” She moved to stand up but found two large hands pushing her back down into the seat. Behind Cody, her Master was now being transported out.

“You need to take a moment and calm down, Zee.” Already he could see tears forming in the corner of her eyes. How she’d made it this long without breaking down was impressive.

Kix stepped back into the ship and walked over to the young Jedi. “I’ll need to examine her as well.” He knelt next to Cody and took note of the cut on her head. Where else was she injured? “Are you able to walk?”

“Rex and I will get her there. Go on ahead, Kix.” The medic nodded to him and left the two of them alone. “I’m gonna pick you up and get you out of here. Is that ok?” Her head slowly nodded a yes and Cody sighed. With more care than he’d ever put into anything, Cody placed an arm under her legs and another behind her back and lifted her.

When her mother was carried past him, Rex felt time stop. So it was true, her mother had perished. What in the maker's name had happened? What led to all of this? Outside the sound of a ship blaster continued to ring in the air. Whoever it was attacking her seemed to be putting up a fight. After minutes that felt like hours, Cody emerged with Zee in his arms. Already Rex could see the blood on her face and he felt his breath leave him. “Zee!” He ran across the space and over to Cody. His hands quickly ran over Zee’s face and arms, looking for more injuries. “What happened?”

“Rex.” The sight of him worried for her finally broke her wall. Tears streamed down her face as she buried it into Cody’s chest. Her words were slightly muffled by his broad chest. “We met at the rendezvous and while we were changing ships we were attacked. He blew up our ship and I was thrown across the dirt. M-master Windu stepped in front to block me while my mom got me to the ship. B-but the Sith threw him into the side of his ship and he was knocked out. My mom jumped in to stop him from going for me a-and he stabbed her.” A strangled sob left Zirena as she soaked her friend's shirt. “Sh-she’s dead because of me. I-if I hadn’t been fighting with her instead of getting on the s-ship. She’d b-be….she’d be…” another pained sob left her as her grip on Cody’s shirt tightened. It was all her fault.

Rex couldn’t stand seeing her like this. The pain she must have been feeling must have been unimaginable. Hearing her tell the tale of what happened was painful. “Then you’d be dead as well. She protected you, Zee. Whatever you two were fighting about means nothing. If anything it kept you alive.”

“H-how?” A small hiccup left Zirena as she tried to calm herself down and focus on his words.

“If you’d gone straight to Windu's ship, that would have been attacked right away and you all would have been lost.” Cody rubbed her back carefully as he held her tight. His shirt was soaked through, but he could care less. “Your fight saved your life.”

Zirena looked up at both clones as more tears ran down her face. “B-but.” Rex’s finger covered her lips as he shushed her.

“She’d died doing what she has always done best. Protecting you. You once said you thought she came up with the rule on nicknames for padawans. I think she did it to keep you safe.” They’d been friends for a year now and he still didn’t know her true name.

“We may simply be clones.” Cody started. “But if I had to put a face to what I think a mother's love would look like, I think it would look a lot like your mother.” He watched the way the words rolled through Zee’s head as she tried to understand what he said. His hand ran across her back once more and he froze at the wet feeling. His hand tilted towards Rex and the clone's face paled.

“Cyar’ika, we need to get you to medical, now.” Blood, that was blood coming from her back.

Zirena looked up at both as their faces paled. “W-what’s wrong?” She felt fine. Though her head hurt a little.

“It must be the shock and adrenaline.” Cody swallowed as he made his way toward the medbay. “Don’t panic, but your back is bleeding.”

-*-

“Kix! Her back!” Cody ran into the medbay with Zirena tightly in his arms. Her color had begun to pale during the journey and that had caused him to sprint.

Kix looked up from Mace Windu and took in the sight of the padawan. “Lay her on her side.” He motioned for another clone to take over with the Jedi Master as he moved across the room, picking up a pair of shears on his way.

Cody followed directions and very carefully laid Zirena on the examination table. A weak whine left her as the warmth of her friend vanished. “I’m right here, Zee. Rex will be here soon.” He knelt in front of her and held her hand as Kix took the shears to the back of her shirt and cut it open.

Zirena fought to keep her eyes open and her body from shivering. She was suddenly so cold. The feeling of warm fingers against her back made her flinch suddenly before she settled against the touch. “T-tired.”

“Keep her awake, Cody. Talk to her. I need to clean this.” It was bad. Really bad. A long gash went from her left shoulder down to the base of her spine. She was lucky. Only an inch farther and she’d be paralyzed. “I can see shrapnel in the wound. It’s gonna take me a minute to clean it all.” He looked over his shoulder to a nearby droid. “AZI. Take this sample of blood and synthesize more for a transplant.”

Cody watched the droid move over to Kix and take one of the soaked sponges. So much blood. He looked back to Zirenas face and ran his hand across it. “Hey. Tell me what you’ve been up to the last few months. Did you make Jedi knight?”

Her eyes fought to stay open, Cody sounding like he was down a long hallway. “I…yea. Made Jedi Knight…” She hissed at the feeling of metal against her back. “Two weeks ago.” Cody’s hand tightened in hers.

“Hey, I’m so proud of you. Look at you. A Jedi Knight.” He forced a smile as he watched Kix hold a piece of metal, approximately an inch long and half an inch wide, up for him to see. Kriff, that was in her? It seemed she hadn’t avoided the explosion as well as she thought. “What happens next? How do you become a Master?”

“Need… Padawan…my own.” She gasped at the feeling of something else being pulled. How big was the wound on her back? She could barely feel it. “Once they…become Jedi knights. I make…Master.” Her hand squeezed Cody’s tightly as she felt antiseptic near her shoulder.

The feeling of her squeezing his hand pained Cody. “Kix, can ya give her some pain meds?” He stroked her cheek gently, she was so cold. The sound of the synthesizer filled the air of the room. To know that Kix was worried about her needing a blood transfusion was unsettling. “Your own Padawan, huh? I think you’d be an amazing teacher.”

“It’s coming. Gotta have it brought over from the medbay on omega platform.” This medbay had just been set up and not everything had been stocked yet.

Zirena chuckled weakly, not listening to Kix. Her mind was too busy trying to focus solely on Cody. “Not…ready.” She just wanted to enjoy no longer being a padawan. Another wipe of the antiseptic had her wincing, tears pulling at the corner of her eyes. The sound of the door opening drew her attention for a moment and she whined softly at the sight of Rex making his way to her. His face looked so serious, so different from how it usually looked. “Rex?” She tried to sit up but felt Kix's hand push her down.

“Woah, Zee. You need to stay still.” Cody felt his brother kneel next to him. When he looked into the blonde's eyes he understood the serious look on his face. “The attacker got away?”

Rex reached over and wiped a tear away from Zirenas face. “Jumped to hyperspace after taking out three of our own.” He stood and looked over her body, watching what Kix was doing. Kriff, that was a bad-looking cut. “She gonna be ok?”

Kix chewed his lip as he placed another antiseptic pad against her cut. “It’s a pretty severe gash. I’ve pulled a significant number of shrapnel from her and I’ll be starting her on a dose of antibiotics as well as a tetanus injection. She’ll also need a blood transfusion and some bacta sutures. Laying on her back won’t be an option for the next few days and I advise against transporting her for the week.” AZI returned to his side and held out the newly synthesized blood to the medic. “Perfect.”

“Rex?” Zirena had heard most of it. Even if it was like listening to him through a waterfall. Her arm was turned and she felt the needle go into her as the transfusion was set up.

“Yes, Zee.” He returned to her side and took her free hand in his. She’d become pale, this transfusion was needed.

She winced as she felt him return to her back and start placing the sutures. A tingling feeling began to spread through her body and she wondered if it was the blood entering her body or the numbing agent on the sutures. Whatever it was, it was making her feel good. “I need…to contact the order.”

Rex shushed her softly as he heard the door open behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he watched as another medic ran by with a container. Most likely the antibiotics and shots he’d mentioned. “Already called Fox. He’s letting the order know what happened.”

Zirenas body tensed as she felt the first shot go into her body. “Master Windu?” She strained to look past the two clones and toward her Master.

“He’s sustained a significant concussion. But he will be fine with rest. We’ll continue to monitor him.” Kix injected the second shot before picking up the final one. “This pain medication may cause drowsiness.”

“Thank you…Kix.” She honestly didn’t need any help feeling drowsy. Her body was so tired and so sore. The adrenaline from everything had finally left her body. Now it was just ready to sleep. She looked at Rex and Cody and held their hands tightly. She felt three squeezes from each of them and she quickly returned the gesture. “Will you two be here…” yawn “when I wake up?”

Cody and Rex looked to Kix who nodded in a silent agreement that they could stay. Satisfied, they both nodded to her and held her hand as she began to drift. This wasn’t how her day-of-days should have gone. It should have been the celebration they’d planned for her. But instead, she’d lost her mother.

“ I know the day didn’t go how it should.” Cody leaned his forehead against hers. “But we will celebrate your 16th in our own way.”

“Happy day-of-days, burc’ya.” Rex held her hand against his chest. It felt weird to say ‘Happy’, wrong in a way, but it was all he could think to say.

Zirena blinked sleepily at them as sleep finally pulled her into its warm embrace. “You remembered.” Even with everything happening, they remembered her day-of-days. She really was lucky.

“Always will.” Came from both clones as her eyes finally closed and she drifted into a deep sleep.

-*-

Over the next twelve hours, Rex and Cody rotated taking turns sitting next to her. Kix had initially shooed them out of the room once she was asleep so that the medical droids could clean her body properly and get into a clean bed. They’d taken that time to run to the Jedis' usual suite and grab the pillows and blankets they used for their sleepovers. They knew the pillows held the scent of the incense that Windu usually burned. A scent that Zirena always said she loved and that calmed her.

Once they were allowed back into the medbay, they found Zirena in the stark white medical gown asleep on her side with scratchy stiff pillows surrounding her to keep her from rolling. That honestly wouldn’t do. Carefully, each pillow was replaced by one of the ones from her suite. The blanket they usually used was also pulled over her body before the two clones started their rotations.

During one of the rotations, Cody had brought a comb and carefully ran it through the long strands of her hair. He’d remembered her stating that she hated laying down on wet hair, that the strands tended to knot and tangle if she didn’t brush it constantly. The droids had washed her thoroughly when they’d been shooed out, but they hadn’t brushed her hair that well, and so he’d done it himself.

During Rex's second rotation, he’d found her bracelet in the foot locker next to her bed. Taking a moment to clean the dried blood from it, he looked it over. Amazing how something as simple as his tag now meant so much to her, to them. The green charm in the center swung back and forth between the two tags as he held it up to the light. Between them, that’s where she said she felt the happiest. The bracelet was slid back onto her wrist where it belonged. Perhaps for her next day-of-days, he could make her a new charm. Maybe that could become another one of their traditions.

Rex and Cody stood in the hallway conversing with each other when Kix approached them. “Master Windu is awake, he’s asking to speak to you both.” The Jedi Master had been moved to his own room to recover and thus the condition of his niece had to be explained to him. To say he was worried about her was an understatement. But until she was awake, he would be unable to check on her properly.

Both clones quickly made their way to the waiting Jedi, their nerves running high. When they entered the room, they were surprised to find him sitting up, a datapad in his hand. It seemed he was on the fast road to recovery. A unison “Sir” came from them as they approached.

“I’ve been informed of what happened to my niece.” He watched the two clones awkwardly look at their feet. “I want to thank you for taking care of her. I know that couldn’t have been easy. From what I’ve been told, you kept your heads and kept her calm. That’s the sign of good leaders. I’ve put in a request for commendations for you both and when the time comes for you two to get your postings, you’ll have your picks.” Though, he had a feeling of where they’d both choose.

“It was nothing, sir. Zee is our friend.” Rex watched the way the Jedi nodded his head. “Sir, what will happen to her mother?”

A long sigh came from Mace as he set the datapad down. “As she was a high-ranking member of the council, she will be honored in a ceremony at the temple before she is cremated. Zirena and her family will hold a special memorial for her on Chandrila.” He watched as the clones shared a look with each other. Right, they’d never known her true name. That was going to be one of the things they’d planned on doing during this trip. “Zirena Ka’ve is her name. Born to Trixa and Neu Ka’ve in Hanna, the capital city of Chandrila. As you already know, her parents were high-ranking officials in both the Senate and the Council.”

The idea of a commendation would have usually excited him. But Cody could honestly care less at this point. He just wanted to know that she was safe. Cody listened as Mace revealed Zee’s real name and home planet. Chandrila, huh? One day he’d make his way to the planet and see if it really was how Zee described it. “What will happen to Zirena?”

“She’s a lot like her mother. Strong-willed and determined. It’ll be hard, but I believe she’ll heal with time.” Mace picked up the datapad and looked at it. “Having you two as support will help her. I’m impressed with the bond you three have formed.” When Nala Se had proposed this little experiment, he’d been worried. But the last few visits had shown that it indeed was beneficial.

Rex let out a long breath “All her, I assure you.” The Jedi in the bed let out a chuckle, apparently, he wasn’t surprised by Rex's response.

The datapad in Mace’s lap lit up as new notifications came through. With a sigh, he looked back at the clones. “I must ask a favor of you two.” When the clones raised an eyebrow at him, he continued. “Things are in chaos in the order. Much needs to be planned and arranged when it comes to her mother's body. I’ve already been informed of Zirenas condition and will be unable to check in on her as much as I’d like to. The medic, Kix, has told me you two have been checking in on her a lot. Please continue to do so. As I said before, she needs you two during this time.”

“Of course, sir.” Like they’d even need to be asked. “We’ll take care of her.” Cody placed his hand on the shoulder of his vod. “We should get going. She’ll hopefully be awake soon.”

-*-

By the time they’d returned to Zirena’s room, she was awake and sitting up in her bed. In her hands was the charm bracelet, her bare fingers running over the engravings of their numbers. Seeing them walk in made her force a smile as she slid the bracelet back on and pulled on her gloves. “Rex. Cody.” Left her with an almost happy sigh. Even with rest, her heart still hurt. Her mother was gone, no longer would she fuss over Zirenas outfits and hair. She wouldn’t be there when Zirena had personal questions or needed someone to simply listen. There had been so much Zirena had looked forward to learning from her and now she’d never get that ability. She felt the tingle and tightness that came with another crying session forming within and she swallowed a few times to stop it from happening. She needed to be strong.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” Rex stepped over and ran his finger across her cheek. “Your color looks good.”

Zirena sighed against his touch and leaned her head towards it. “My back feels like it went through a propeller and I’m still tired. But I feel better.” She took another deep breath, trying to control her emotions. It was a Jedi's duty to control their emotions and she was a Jedi, wasn’t she?

Cody could see the feigned smile, see how she was trying to pretend that something wasn’t wrong. “That’s good.” He stepped forward and ran his hand across the bacta patch on her forehead. Kix had told them they’d been lucky she hadn’t received a concussion from the hit. Cody wasn’t too sure lucky was the right word.

“Thank you.” She sighed, glad to feel her two friends so close. “I really appreciate the pillows and blanket. They…help.” The tightness in her chest pulled more.

Rex sensed it as well, she was pretending to be ok. “Hey, you don’t need to pretend for us.” He squeezed her hand gently. “We’re here for you.”

“If you need anything, Zirena. Let us know.” Cody watched as she blinked a few times at them both. “Windu told us your name and your home planet. It’s a pretty name, it suits you.”

Zirena sniffled as a few tears fell from her eyes and landed on the back of Rex's hand. “It was my mom's grandmother's name. It means ‘golden beacon’. My…” Zirena swallowed the lump in her throat. “My mom said that when I was a baby I was the happiest baby she’d ever seen. That my giggles could light up the room.”

“I’d say that hasn’t changed. You always make our days brighter when you’re here.” Cody knelt in front of her and took her free hand in his. “Please, what can we do for you, Zirena?”

Zirena looked at them both as she tried to figure out what she needed at this moment. For them to get on the bed with her somehow and lay with her like they usually did? To hug her and let her cry her eyes out until she collapsed from exhaustion? Taking a breath, she focused on what she was feeling at the current moment. She was hungry, she was tired and she was so unbelievably sad. What would her mother tell her to do first? “Can…can you take me to my mother?”

Rex and Cody looked at each other. Was this a good idea? They looked at Zirena who was practically begging them to say yes. Mace Windu had told them to take care of her. That she’d need them during this time. Perhaps this was part of it. “We can go tomorrow after you’ve rested some more.” Cody watched as her bottom lip began to tremble. Oh, he wasn’t built for this.

“Please, Cody. I…I need to see her.” She couldn’t explain how badly she needed to see her mother right now. How just the simple closeness of her would help her figure things out. “Please.”

Rex chewed his lip as he listened to her plead with them. “Maybe if we use a wheelchair and make sure you don’t move your back too much?” He felt Zirena squeeze his hand as a small smile crossed her lips.

“Yes. You can even lift me and place me in a wheelchair. I’ll hold perfectly still. Please, Cody.” She looked at the brunette in front of her. “This could be my only chance before the order sets things in motion. Please.”

-*-

A stark white sheet lay across her mother's body in the morgue. A shiver ran down Zirenas's spine as Cody wheeled her closer to the body. Rex stood at the end of her mother's table, his hand on the handle that was used to wheel her from the freezer. Her bottom lip trembled as Cody placed her near her mother's head. Taking off her glove, she reached under the sheet and found the cold hand of Trixa. “M-mom?”

Rex looked at Cody and when he nodded to him, he pulled back the sheet from the Jedi's face. She looked like she was sleeping. The more Rex looked at her the more he could see Zirena. The two women shared the same nose shape and freckles. The long black hair matched Zirenas and he wondered if she smiled, would it match Zirenas? “We can…leave if you want.”

Zirena shook her head quickly. “Please stay.” She didn’t want to be alone, not right now. She felt Cody’s hand on her shoulder, a gentle squeeze coming from him.

It took her a moment to put her thoughts in order, to focus on what she wanted to say. “I’m…I'm so sorry for fighting with you. I know you just wanted to protect me.” The lump in her throat began to tighten. “Th-that you just wanted me to dress appropriately and not like Master Secura. To k-keep me f-from an accidental vision.” Tears fell from her eyes and landed on the soft material of the blanket across her lap. “I shouldn’t…have called you an old lady. I’m sorry Mom. I’m so sorry.”

So that’s what their fight had been about. Rex watched as she buried her face into her hands and sobbed loudly. It sounded like such a minuscule thing to fight about. He moved over to her side quickly and knelt next to her. He listened as she continued to apologize. Continued to ask forgiveness for arguing with her mother. He held her gloved hand and rubbed his thumb across the leather material. Nothing left his lips as he watched her, he really had nothing to say. This wasn’t his area of expertise.

Between the feeling of Cody’s hand on her shoulder and Rex's hand in hers, it gave her strength she didn’t realize she needed. “There’s a locket around her neck. Can you grab it, please?” Zirena watched as Rex nodded and stood,

The sheet was moved lower as Rex looked for the piece of jewelry. Silver caught the light on the side of the corpse's neck and Rex carefully maneuvered the chain latch off. “It’s really nice.” His thumb ran over the swirling designs engraved into the metal. Flipping it over, he noticed an inscription in Aurebesh.

“A mother's love knows no bounds.” Zirena tried to blink back the tears that burned her eyes. She reached out and carefully took the locket from Rex. With a twist of the latch, the locket opened and images projected from it. Pictures of her as a baby, her first steps, her first time on the family's ship and so many more precious moments. She choked out a sob as the final picture projected from the locket. Her parents, herself, and her little brother sat smiling beneath a tintolive tree with the lavender moon high in the sky. How was she going to explain this to her poor little brother?

Her family looked so happy in all of the images. From the time she was an infant until what looked like a few days ago. Cody finally reached over and pulled the sheet back over the Jedi Master. “Come on, let’s go get some air.”

Her throat felt so tight like she was being strangled. Like she was slowly being pulled under the waves and would soon drown. Her red swollen eyes watched as Cody covered her mother and spoke of fresh air. A shaky ‘please’ left her lips as she was turned away from the corpse of her mother. Emerald eyes stayed on the body as Rex returned it to the freezer. Once the click of the latch echoed in the room, she finally blinked.

-*-

It felt like they’d traveled the entirety of Tapoca in that one blink. She’d zoned out the minute they’d left the morgue. If Rex or Cody had said something to her during that time, she didn’t hear them. All she could seem to hear was rushing water. It was the feeling of cold sea air on her face that finally pulled her back to the present. “I…huh?” She looked at both men in surprise. “S-sorry. I think I zoned out.”

Rex stood next to Cody in front of her, worry on both of their faces. They’d tried talking to her a few times during the twenty-minute walk across Tapoca and to landing bay Charlie. After the first few attempts, they’d gone silent. “Something else is bugging you, Zee. You can tell us.”

“If you want to, that is. We’re here for you.” Cody knelt in front of her and offered his hand to her.

Zirena tilted her head back for a moment and looked up towards the clear star-filled sky. “How many stars would I have to count…to save my mother and get my abilities back?”

It left her in such a soft whisper that he’d almost missed what she said. “What did you say?” Rex knelt in front of her and watched as she slowly looked at him and Cody. Tears streamed down her face as she slowly pulled off both gloves and took his and Cody’s hand in them.

“I…I don’t have my abilities anymore. I can’t feel the force.” Try as she might, she couldn’t seem to get any visions to come to her.

“Are you sure?” Cody watched as she released his hand and reached out toward a pile of pipes. He’d seen her use the force a good number of times before, so when nothing happened he frowned. “W-well maybe with everything going on and your emotions running high, they're just diminished?” How could a Jedi just suddenly lose their abilities?

“I take it you haven’t told Mace Windu yet?” Rex didn’t move his hand, to finally feel her warmth, even in this horrible moment, was still something. She squeezed his hand tightly at the mention of telling her Master.

“I can’t do that. Not until I’m sure.” Rex and Cody looked at her in surprise. She probably looked crazed. “They could kick me out of the order and if I’m not a Jedi like my mother…then what am I?”

“Our friend.” Cody reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek. “We won’t think differently about you if you’re no longer a Jedi.”

“If anything we’ll be happier. At least then you’ll be safe on Coruscant.” Safe and protected by Fox and countless other clones that would be making their way to the new base there. “Why are you so worried about being a Jedi?”

“Because then I can’t protect you two. I can’t be paired with you two. We won’t work together.” Both men squeezed her hand gently, the looks on their faces telling her that they still didn’t understand. A shaky breath left her as she pulled their hands closer to her chest. “Before meeting you two, I felt like I was just going through the motions for the sake of my mother. She was a great Jedi, it only made sense that I work twice as hard as other padawans to become just as great. But then we met and Master Windu told me that he and Nala Se hoped we’d form a strong bond to work together. It made me so happy. Then we just kept getting closer and closer and now…I can’t imagine my life without you two. But if I’m kicked out of the order, I won’t get to see you two as much, if ever. And if what the Masters are saying is true, and we do go to war….how will I protect you?”

Cody felt his heartbreak at her words. “Even if that does happen, we’ll always find a way to stay in contact with you.” He cradled her face in his hands and smiled reassuringly at her. “And if we do go to war, then we’ll do whatever we have to to protect you.”

“He’s right.” Rex placed his hand on arm and rubbed it carefully. “You’re stuck with us now, kid.” He watched as she sniffled and forced a smile. “Besides, don’t you always say that it’s not the distance that defines our friendship, but what’s in our hearts?”

Zirena choked out a laugh as she reached up and wiped her face. “I didn’t think you were actually listening to that part.”

Rex reached up and taped under her chin softly with his finger. “Always am, Zirena.” With a sigh, he stood up while slapping his thighs. “Come on. Let’s go talk to your Master.”

“Yeah. I mean. For all we know, I just need to heal some more and my abilities will come back.” Honestly, could a Jedi even lose their abilities and connection to the force so easily?

Cody nodded as he helped her slide her gloves back on. “Exactly, you just need a few weeks to recover. I’m sure you’ll be back to your old self in no time.”